CHAPTER VI – “Manfred Lau”
(82 pages, 39 photos)

The chapter about the contemporary witness and author of the book “Schiffssterben vor Algier”, Manfred Lau, with whom we have been friendly since 2003, is a very special one. It is the “chapter without a watch”. Nevertheless, precisely his personal story is of great interest to us, as he is a veteran of the “Lehmann pig group”, who were trained for deployments with two-man torpedoes (SLC and SSB devices) on the island of Le Vignole in the Lagoon of Venice. In impressive and precise detail he describes the difficult journey from Hamburg through a Germany that was, by the autumn of 1944, severely marked by the scars of war, and down to northern Italy, where the secret training centre of the combat swimmers was located. The detailed memories of his training period to become a pilot of the two-man torpedoes (SLC / SSB), almost 70 years ago, and supplemented with historical maps and pictures, take the reader on a journey to the Adriatic coast. There the midshipman ended his time as a sea fighter with a march into captivity, from which he returned to Germany in 1948.

Preview of page 554 – 555:
One of the photos provided by the veteran himself, Manfred Lau, showing him as a young trainee officer in 1943 where he joined the Navy School in Flensburg.

Preview of page 596 – 597:
Manfred Lau describes in detail his training to become a SLC / SSB pilot in the lagoon of Venice, using instruments and tools from Panerai for underwater missions.

Preview of page 608 – 609:
Additional photos and illustrations from various sources, such as the Imperial War Museum London and the Istituto Geografico Militare Firenze, giving the reader an impressive insight of where, when and how SLC / SSB pilots have been exercised.

Our new book “History2″ can be ordered in our bookstore.

CHAPTER V – “Jochen Burnus”
(112 pages, 67 photos, 4 technical illustrations)

The chapter on Jochen Burnus describes his period of duty as a combat swimmer, from his posting away from Yugoslavia in 1944 and his training in northern Italy to his missions at the Elbe, where he ended up in American captivity in April 1945. After his release he worked in Hamburg Harbour as a recovery diver, together with other former combat swimmers, including Siegfried Köneke, who also belonged to the “Einsatzgruppe Keller” in the Second World War. Burnus later received his friend’s Panerai watch from Köneke’s parents, after Sigi was killed at the age of 28 in tragic circumstances while working in Hamburg Harbour on March 14th, 1949. Thus the stories of two combat swimmers merge inseparably and allow us to trace the journey of a combat swimmer watch and its earlier owners from 1944 to the present day.

Preview of page 458 – 459:
One of several photos provided by the veteran himself, Jochen Burnus, showing him in the rank of Lance Corporal in 1944 when he became a “Kampfschwimmer”.

Preview of page 510 – 511:
Photo of a helmet diver in the Hamburg harbour, where Jochen Burnus and other former “Kampfschwimmer” untis were working for the British soon after the Second World War, cleaning the Harbour from ship wrecks and mines.

Preview of page 542 – 543:
Photo of Sigi Köneke’s Ref. 3646 / Type D watch with a current excerpt from our historical Panerai database.

Our new book “History2″ can be ordered in our bookstore.

Ralf captured his stunning Ref. 6154 “Egiziano Piccolo” in a bright afternoon sun last summer. Today I stumbled over another photo of those which he sent me for use in our blog – the view from the side shows the unique  flat 47 mm case  and the wonderful dial.

Without a doubt this reference is one of the greatest watches produced by Panerai. It was produced for the Egyptian Navy in 1954. The brown aged “Radiomir Panerai” dial and the 8 mm Rolex crown gives it an striking appearance.

You can find a photo of the inner caseback with the special Rolex decoration here.

Set of Panerai instruments: A 16 meter depth gauge with “Luminor” dial (case: 70×90 mm, height: 43 mm). The depth gauge (right) is calibrated to 16 meters. There exist many other versions for various dephts, depending on their use (attack or defense). The “Luminor” elements (markers and numbers on the dial, tip of the hand) still glow in a strong green color when under influence of direct light

The compass (case: 70×90 mm, height: 34 mm) has on top of the plexiglas dome a bearing line. It is also using “Luminor” luminous material. The instruments use the same 26 mm leather straps as those who were mounted on watches (screwed lugs), specially treated for seawater use. The length of the strap meant that the swimmer was able to wear the gauge over his diving suit. The underside of the instruments are ergonomically shaped and have a brushed surface.

Sad news from Italy reached us today: WW2 veteran of the “Gruppo Gamma”, Omeris Arpesella, passed away last week.

Omeris (*1915 †2013) was known to us since 2003 during the III Meeting Club Panerai in Viareggio/Italy as a proud owner of a Ref. 3646 “California Dial” Panerai watch, which sadly was stolen only a few years later…

Just recently we discovered during our research and study, that Omeris was also featured in allied secret intelligence files during WW2, where he was recorded as a skilled frogmen with the “Gruppo Gamma” / Decima MAS.

During the events of the Club Panerai Meetings we have met Omeris always as a very kind and friendly person. His powerful handshakes and big smiles will remain not forgotten to those who were with us, meeting one of the last “Gamma” units… 

The Radiomir Panerai Fund for Omeris Arpesella’s stolen “California Dial” watch (2005 – 2006, see photo with Diego Gabathuler and Piero Lapiana) will remain unforgettable to all who supported us in giving back Omeris a piece of his history!

Rest in peace, Omeris!  [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann] 

After two years of “hunting” for a specific document, of which we knew it must exist somewhere in the allied archives, an extract in shape of four important pages arrived today as high resolution images.

Historic documents are always a great addition for a chapter about the frogmen who used Panerai watches during the 2nd world war. They are not easy to find, but it has been always worth to hunt for them. In our book “History1” we have published similar documents of this kind (stated as “top secret” during and after WW2 aera), which have been helpful to explain the locations of the training camps in the area of Venice/Italy back in 1944 to our readers. Now, finally another batch of “top secret” documents from allied secret intelligence arrived, which we will be glad to use in chapter VIII of our new book “History2”.

Further details will be published soon. Thanks for being patient with us.
In the meantime: enjoy reading “History1″ from page 1 to 420…
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Returned home from my visit at the SIHH in Geneve last friday. It was great to see that Panerai continue to use their DNA in the new collection.

Aside new models without the crown protecting device (PAM 514, 515) in 47 mm, following the introduction models from last year, also models in 42 mm were introduced (PAM 512, 513). Also the new Submersible models are noteable: another bronze watch (PAM 507) – with power reserve indicator, and a ceramic version (PAM 508), both in 47 mm, are really huge pieces and will surely get a lot of friends in the Panerai collectors world.

My personal highlight was the new “Regatta Chrono” (PAM 526) in a 47 mm Luminor case, which is powered with P.9100/R movement. As Panerai is strongly linked to the world of classic yachts, a watch with perfect functionality for sailing is in my opinion a great achievement. Congratulations!

The P.9100/R automatic movement has a diameter of 31 mm, it is 9.55 mm thick, 37 jewels and made up of 328 components. It has the flyback chrono function with vertical clutch and column wheel. It has a power reserve of  3 days. The small subdial at 3 o’clock shows a complete mini Panerai dial – a very nice detail. To put on this watch was a pleasure, with 47 mm it is really a huge impressive watch, which wears excellent with the rubber strap… Like!

Another chrono found my instant attention as well: the new Luminor 1950 3 Days Chrono Flyback in 44 mm (PAM 524). Its engine, the P.9100 movement, is the first automatic movement with chronograph functions developed by Officine Panerai and its produced entirely in its Manufacture in Neuchatel / Switzerland. The movement has a diameter of 31 mm with a height of 8.15 mm, also 37 jewels and made of 302 components. Two spring barrels give it a power reserve of 72 hours. The luminous material in patina color gives it a nicely vintage touch. This watch is, as the Regatta chrono (PAM 526) above, partially polished and brushed – very fine surface treatments, excellent!

Sorry for the crappy smartphone pictures… you can find much better photos, taken by Martin Wilmsen at the paneristi.com SIHH 2013 section.
[Volker Wiegmann]

Today we officially announce that our 2nd book “The References” is sold out.

Please note that our 3rd book “History1” is available in stock and can be shipped immedately. Actually our 4th book “History2” is in construction and will be released in summer 2013. Further news will be published here a.s.a.p.

Recently we added another surfaced Ref. 3646 / Type D watch into our database.

The caseback number fits perfectly into the number group of today existing Type D watches, aside the fact that all other features of this “Kampfschwimmer” are matching our database too. Another important “piece of the puzzle” is added.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 260424
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

The watch has been discovered “accidentially” by a Panerai collector during his visit of a museum in the Netherlands (“Het Polderhuis / Westkapelle”). The history of this watch can be tracked back to january 1945 when the crew of the german small submarine (of the type “Seehund”) U 5327, Lt. Andersen and his engineer Hardacher, were captured by local resistance and british forces. The submarine was taken over by the british and the watch was kept by a local farmer. He used the watch until he died some years ago and his family passed this watch to the museum where it is displayed today.

The discovery of this watch has been published by Gert Jan Wijkhuizen in the public forum at www.paneristi.com.

During the holidays I found time to change the strap of my 6152/1. I decided to give the initial strap a little break after some months since it was put on the watch for the shooting of our book “History1”. The dark brown calf strap comes in the size of 90 x 150 mm with double keeper (one floating, one fixed) and GPF-buckle.

After I pushed out the pins on the lugs I gave the case a little cleaning with a soft cloth. The strap got a careful treatment with some grease before it was stored away to keep it in good condition for a future use. Always nice to see the details of the “Luminor Panerai” dial thru the thick plexiglass…

I fitted a vintage strap in the size 100 x 160 mm which has been initially used on a Panerai instrument. The very thick and soft strap has an olive-brown color and beige stitching, also one fixed and one gliding keeper. The brushed stainless steel buckle holds a three digit matriculation number.

This is how the watch will be carried into the new year – wishing everyone a good start in 2013! [Volker Wiegmann]