A few weeks ago I visited a german “Kampfschwimmer” veteran for an interview.

Mr. Kiefer, born 1925, welcomed me in good health, clear mind and answered some of the remaining questions to finish “his” chapter in our next book. Luckily he found some photos from that period of his life, which will be a great addition. On the photo above he is holding a framed portrait of himself when he was 18 years old – taken just a few days before he joined the german navy.

His story and Ref. 3646 / Type D watch – “The Kiefer Radiomir” were already featured in our first book back in 2007, also in our book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History” and will be in our next history book again.

During the last 15 months of research and editorial work, this was definately one of my personal highlights. First hand informations, directly from the unit, is something that happens not often in these days – more than 67 years ago… [Volker Wiegmann]

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

It’s 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: 260693
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

You can read more about Ref. 3646 / Type D watches in our book “Vintage Panerai – The References” (chapter I.IV, page 85-121).  

The veteran’s family found our website and contacted us via e-mail, provided some informations which are very useful for us to compare with already known watches. It’s great to see that these “war birds” are still surfacing after many years.

Stunning view of a Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” Panerai.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 260530
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

The removed bezel put the entire dial infront of the lens, showing the depht of the sandwich construction and different colors of the luminous numbers and markers which have changed during many years of UV impact as a natural aging process.

Tried to catcha nice view of the engraved caseback of the 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer”…

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 260554
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

A Vintage Panerai “Kampfschwimmer” watch will be auctioned at Christies  on may 16th in Geneva. The watch is matching our database, being a “clean” 3646 / Type D watch with case number 260628 and correct Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement.

The caseback is individually engraved with two initials of the previous owners – together with the anonymous sandwich dial its a typical “Kampfschwimmer”.

An example of our classification work: The reference 3646 is divided into seven production groups (Type A – Type G), different caseback markings and numbers are important indicators.

The illustration shows the following caseback versions:
Ref. 3646 / Type D Brevetee Rolex S.A.
Ref. 3646 / Type E (plain / only number)
Ref. 3646 / Type F Brevetee Rolex S.A.
Ref. 3646 / Type G (plain / only number)

You can read and see more about the different versions of Ref. 3646 watches in our book “The References” 1930’s-1940’s. Find the illustrations of  ref. 3646 / Type A – Type C casebacks here.

A yet unknown Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” surfaced recently.

During a visit at the german navy divers in Eckernförde, Ralf was able to put another watch into our database. One more piece of the big puzzle is placed into its right place!

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 260518
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

The watch has the original strap fitted on, including the “bent down” crome coated brass buckle and bears a fantastic individual engraving on the solid caseback: “Marine-Kampfschwimmer 1945 – RD” (“RD” are the initials of the unit, which used the watch during his missions. The engravings are done in the same style (with the same tool) as other watches of this type have been “personalized”. The watch is matching our database perfectly, of which we published several identical watches in chapter I.IV of our book “The References”.

Its a big pleasure to see a “clean” Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement in this watch. It underlines our database theories as well. It bears the typical features of a Type 1 movement, beside the fact that no parts of this movement have been replaced or changed with others.

[photos by Ralf Ehlers]

Took Sigi’s 3646 out to catch a nice view of the engraved caseback with his initials “SK” with my camera. Only a few of probably 16 watches from the “Einsatzgruppe Keller” exist today…

You can read more about “Kampfschwimmer” watches and their missions in chapter I.II, I.III and I.IV of our first book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History”, also this watch is featured in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter I.IV.

Took a photo of the “Kampfschwimmer” Panerai last weekend (Ref. 3646 / Type D). A watch, used in german missions at the eastern front in the last weeks of WW2 against pontoon bridges of the allied forces. The link to its first owner, a unit of the “Einsatzgruppe Keller”, is visible on the caseback by an engraving.

The watch is working great after more than 65 years and its a pleasure to wear it. It carries a lot DNA of the Panerai brand and provides much more than just the accurate time to me. It is powered by a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement with 17 Rubis.

We have published an overview of different Rolex movement types used in Panerai watches here. Use the “browse by tag” feature to see and read more about these watches in our blog or click here to get transferred to an older blog entry about the same watch. 

You can read more about “Kampfschwimmer” watches and their missions in chapter I.II, I.III and I.IV of our first book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History”, also this watch is featured in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter I.IV.