I had the honour to handle a working 4 rotor enigma machine at a certain establishment in Gloucestershire. It was far more absorbing looking at this and hearing the story of HMS BULLDOG and U-110 than some rubbish Hollybollox movie on a similar subject.
If I recall correctly, U-110's machine was recovered and the boat stayed afloat for a while with a boarding party battening down the hatches. She was being towed to Iceland when the Admiralty told the BULLDOG's skipper to let her sink, in case the Germans realised we had the machine, cyphers and codes. That may have been where the alleged 2 hands were lost - but I somehow doubt that story, as I was lead to believe it was a controlled scuppering.
Happy to be proven otherwise...
LJ
PS. A quick bit of googling reveals that 2 sailors were lost trying to get the Enigma out of U-559 about a year after U-110's four rotor Enigma had already been captured and used. The officer and seaman received George Crosses, whilst the surviving member got the George Medal. I guess it was also a "double bluff" to the Germans that we still didn't have an Enigma and were risking lives to get one!
Last edited by Lima Juliet; 12th Sep 2012 at 00:02.