[Kapitän]

Sat., 30.12.39 - West of Portugal

0620 - Qu. C G 5271 -Incoming F.T.: Shipping Report:
Position Marqu. C G 5241, on course south, slow speed.

0745 - Qu. C G 5244 - Diving for sound check. Steamer bearing 13°, approaching with slow speed on course 175°, E=12000. - 0750 - Surfaced. Starboard ahead a shadow, E=11000, very difficult to make out.

0800 - Steamer is identified as a coal freighter of about 5850 ts., draught 9.0m. - 0813 - Diving at E=4000 for submerged attack. T=20.

Due to the heavy swell, I have to attack submerged, using the B-Periscope. Before diving, I already collected preliminary torpedo shot data. The starry night and the half-moon in the east champion us.

0830 - Periscope depth. Battle stations!

0840 - Single shot with tube II (G 7 a, Pi-1, K-a, magnetic fuse, Vt 30, running depth 10.0m):
E=500, inclination green 90°, enemy speed 3 knots, aim-off red 10°, own course 85°:
Torpedo hit after 20 Sec.!

There is a tremendous explosion and fire aboard the freighter. The steamer immediately settles in the water, turns over to the starboard side and sinks with a series of very loud underwater explosions.
I have to turn hard to port, in order not to collide with the foundering freighter. I retire on a northerly heading.

0850 - Submerged cruise at A-40.

1200 - Qu. C G 5217 - Days Run: 115.3 sm - ↗ 102.4 sm - ↘ 12.9 sm
74 cbm. 1 Eto and 3 Ato. S7, Sea6, heavy swell from north, clear, >1000mb, good visibility, 3°C
Sunrise 1114 - Sunset 2035

1215 - Surfaced for venting the boat, replenishment of air supply and charging of batteries.

Received a BBC report about the sinking of a German submarine at the Spanish west coast. If this is not an old report, it can only be about U.-Sohler, that had sent a weather report on the 24th, from the west coast of Ireland. Several sighting reports from the 28th and 29th, also, seem to be indicative of this boat.

Continuing operation in alternative PZ.

Gelhaar
Ob.Ltnt.z.S. & Cmdr.