Hello folks,
Happy Easter to you.
On pages 28-31 of my article "List Of U-Boat Modifications & Individual Features" I covered a very interesting photo og a Type VIIA with "26" on the tower. U 26 was actually a Type I rather than a Type VIIA so it is clear the wrong number was painted on the tower in this photo.
On Ebay at present there is another photo -
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Original-Foto-U-Boot-Klasse-XXI-Turmnummer-21-Kriegsmarine-Untersee-Boot-RAR-/301907852052?hash=item464b1c3b14:g:WgwAAOSwAvJW89sqThis one shows a Type I (either U 25 or U 26) but the number of the tower is "21". The real U 21 was a Type II not a Type I. The photo definitely shows a Type I so this is another example of a wrong number on the tower of a pre-war German U-boat.
It looks very likely the wrong number was added deliberately for deception purposes. If anyone can find any other examples of wrong number on pre-war towers please let us know.
Cheers,
Dougie