Incrociatore Ausiliario "lago Zuai"

[ptdockyard]

Hello!

I am new to the forum and very excited to join! :s01:

 

I am working on a 1/600 model kit of the German UJ2220, the former auxiliary cruiser Lago Zuai. I would like to also do a version as the original Italian Navy version but cannot find any photos that show her layout as an auxiliary cruiser. Does anyone have a photo showing the armament layout?

 

Thank You,

Dave G.

The PT Dockyard

http://www.ptdockyard.com

[Lefa]

Hi there and welcome in our Community!

I do believe you’re in the right place, we have plenty reliable historians as well as researchers with a keen interest about naval matters, I’m pretty sure that there is someone willing and capable to provide the information that you’re looking for.

 

Sadly I can’t do much in order to help you out, the argument on which you are interested in it’s a small segment in our Navy’s pie, I do have a bow view picture of the “Lago Zuai” from which you can see a 100/47 cannon fitted inside the fore emplacement. She was also equipped with another cannon on the stern as well as four 20/65 guns.

 

It could worth looking for pictures about “Lago Tana” that was a twin ship…

 

[ptdockyard]

Thank you. :s20: The Lago Tana would also be welcome!

 

It would be great to know:

-Was the aft gun in a gun tub like the bow gun?

- Where was the aft gun? All the way aft or just befor the step in the hull line?

-Where were the 20mm/65 guns?

 

The UJ2220 had a gun all the way aft but it is unclear if it is a 37mm or a 100mm. She had two Quadruple 20mm in tubs on the centerline and what looks like two 20mm Oerlikons and a 37mm Breda along the deck edge each side.

 

I find it interesting that almost all photos of this ship show her from the bow

 

Dave G

The PT Dockyard

[Lefa]

In order to reply to your questions I should research further, but thats not my field at all..... I got few books that talk about auxiliary cruisers. Give me some time, in the while I hope that someone would provide more infos, there are some stunning libraries among our users and we have also some german focused masters, indeed.

 

Give em some time :s02:

[ptdockyard]

Oh, I have full confidence in this board. I excited to participate! :s01:

[de domenico]

I saw a photo of UJ 2220, also taken from the bow but slightly better, in Manfred Krellenberg's "U-Boot-Jagd im Mittelmeer. Der Einsatz der 22.- U-Jagdflottille", Mittler Verlag, 2003. If you like, I'll post it on Monday.

I don't think that she was very different in German service from her Italian looks. She had been captured in Genoa (or La Spezia), where she was under refit, on 9 Sept. 1943. I quote an excerpt from the same book : "In Genoa there were already under guard the newbuilt corvettes TUFFETTO, MARANGONE, STROLAGA and ARDEA. Their state of fitting out, however, ruled out any speedy commissioning as U-Jaeger. Only the LAGO ZUAI came into consideration for a hurried use. The Stabschef Genua gave on 13.9.1943 the order to make immediately ready for service the single-screw, 64.76 m long and 9.78 m wide ship, built in Taranto in 1940. The LAGO ZUAI, put into service by the Italians as the "auxiliary cruiser" D 23, was then cleaned up, repaired and - in cooperation with the Chef of the 3. Geleitflottille (Escort Flotilla) , Kvt.Kpt. Kramer, the man in charge of the Dockyard and the Leiter of Bordflak (Head of shipboard AA artillery) Sued - on 27 Sept. 1943 as UJ 2220 she joined the 22. U-Jagdflottille in Genoa (in service 19 Sept., actual commissioning date 27 Sept.). In such a short time, I don't think that many alterations could be made, apart perhaps from a strengthening of Flak. Groener vol. 8/2 (1993), says armament 1 x 100 mm, 4 x 20 mm, 2 depth charge throwers; however, in Italian service the armament had been 2 x 100 mm, 4 x 20 mm (Tullio Marcon, "Gli Incrociatori Ausiliari della Regia Marina", in "Storia Militare", giugno 2007).

 

P.S. I also found a picture of sister-ship LAGO TANA at launch, so you'll get the stern view, too.

Modificato 18 Dicembre, 2010 da de domenico

[ptdockyard]

Thank you. I have the book and actually have corresponded with Herr Krellenberg. I made the model of his grandfather's ship, the Juminda, on his site.

 

His book is what sparked my interest in the UJ2220 :s02:

 

Groener's did not always have accurate data on the light armament on these type of ships. I find I have to look at the photos long and hard as 20mm and 37mm were often placed amidst other equipment and very hard to make out.

 

Dave G

[de domenico]

A picture of LAGO TANA at launch, 1940, Taranto, for the Soc. di Navigaz. Eritrea. From naviearmatori.net, picture by m1000f.

 

 

Modificato 20 Dicembre, 2010 da de domenico

[ICEMAN]

Here you can find a picture under German flag as UJ 2220 going out from a harbor, i think in Liguria, maybe Sanremo or Imperia,

already posted in this site in the mystery picture.

 

 

Best Regards

 

MArco

Modificato 20 Dicembre, 2010 da ICEMAN

[de domenico]

Thanks Iceman: I think the photo was taken in Portoferraio, Elba island.

[Lefa]

For what Its worth thats indeed Portoferraio.

[ptdockyard]

Thanks. That is the picture I used to make my model.

 

Dave G

[ICEMAN]

Thanks de Domenico e Lefa,

you know that area better than me.

 

Merry xmas to everybody

[ptdockyard]

Here is a picture from Paluba Forum of Tripoli Harbor in early 1943. Of the three ships on the right side of the picture I think the middle one is Lago Zuai or her sister.

 

 

 

Dave G

Modificato 30 Giugno, 2011 da ptdockyard