GoldenRivet
06-24-07, 06:17 PM
02 Novemeber 1941
1800 Hours (1700 Local)
Grid Square CG89, west of Gibralter
Contact Report indicated a medium convoy just 40 KM north of our position observed to be on a westerly course. I changed course to intercept them. Distance to point of interception was about 30 KM.
After a brief search the convoy was sighted at 2044 hours (1944 LCL) mostly tramp steamers and passenger/cargo ships. I observed through the limited visibility of night a 7170 ton Liberty Cargo ship and following her were 2 8860 ton large cargo ships. I decided that these would be my targets once the opportunity presented itself.
After approximately 12 minutes of careful observation and solution calculation on the three centrally located merchants i fired one torpedo at each ship using impact triggers at high running speed and 4 meters running depth. My reasoning for only using one torpedo per ship was not only to conserve torpedoes for possible later attacks but to ensure that at least one bow torpedo remained ready for firing in the chance that it would need to be used defensively. at 2100 hours the three shots impacted their targets. The situation could not have been much better... all three direct hits just forward of the midsection and all impacts occuring within a 15 second time window.
Almost immediately several star shells filled the air above us and spot lights scanned the sea. I ordered a crash dive to 180 meters. The rough sea state could have allowed me to use a shallower depth however i observed no less than 3 black swawns in the area and did not wish to push my luck.
During the diving process i observed the rear most large cargo ship to explode violently as the scope slipped beneath the waves. Aside from a previous attack north of spain this was my 1st confirmed kill with this convoy.
at 2105 hours (2005 local) the black swans were banging away with their active sonar but for some reason unleashed a depth charge attack approximately 1000 meters astern of the U-boat.
at 2115 hours the sound man reported several massive blasts ahead of us on bearing 027 degrees followed by sounds of collapsing bulkheads and implosions.
Depth charge attack continued astern of us for another 15 minutes before the escort returned to his station. At this time i returned to periscope depth for a look at the area. Though the convoy was partially obscured by fog i could clearly see the convoy lane which i attacked. at least one of the large cargo ships appeared to be missing with a large flaming oil slick in its place. poor visibility prevented further investigation of the fate of the other 2 ships.
Surfaced at 2200 hours to shadow the convoy and i observed them make a turn to the southwest. One black swawn barely inside visual range made random zig zags on the starboard side of the convoy. At this time i reported situation to BDU.
Report continues -
03 November 1941
0044 hours (2344 local)
Re-intercepted the convoy for second attack and closed to firing position carefully. within an hour of careful maneuvering i was close enough to review the tactical situation. It was at this time that the damaged liberty ship was observed still leading the lane. Where once two large cargo ships followed him - there was but empy sea. However i did notice 2 additional large cargo ships in the next lane tha appeared undamaged. I made the decision to attack these three ships.
Shortly before 0200 hours (0100 local) after having maneuvered the boat into the lanes i fired one bow shot at the large cargo at furthest range, followed by a stern shot at the liberty ship. Both torpedoes impacted. this caused the convoy to begin zig zagging. I fired a spread of two bow shots at the closer large cargo. one impacted one failed. ASDIC pings at one second intervals were then heard. At this time the depth was set for 180 meters again.
We maneuvered the boat in the dive and avoided a depth charge attack narrowly. Further DC attacks were not made and at 0215 hours (0115 local) sinking sounds and secondaries were heard on bearing 320 degrees about where the liberty ship might have been. shortly thereafter i came to periscope depth to verify sinkings... Liberty ship was in fact missing from the convoy. When sufficient range has been put between us and the convoy we will surface and shadow them.
By 0500 hours (0400 local) we were re-established abeam the convoy's starboard side working into firing position. At 0515 hours i observed numerous metallic drums on the deck of the large cargo ship on bearing 310 degrees at range of about 2000 meters, assumed to be highly combustable. Second Large Cargo ship observed on bearing 350 degrees at approximately 3500 meters... with several small tramp steamers in the line of sight this would be a difficult shot. Therfore i made the choice to concentrate my fire on the closest large cargo then go for targets of opportunity with the stern tube.
At 0520 hours (0420 Local) i fired one bow shot at the large cargo on bearing 320. This torpedo impacted and caused the ship to heave violently into the air at the midsection. it them belched a great fireball into the sky and sank rapidly. The stern shot was fired at a passenger cargo ship on bearing 175 degrees. In the mean time the sky filled with star shells and search lights scanned the area. Stern shot impacted and we dove to 140 meters depth.
Escorts made no notable retaliation.
At 0720 hours while submerged we chased down the straggeler passenger cargo ship and sank it with our final bow shot at 0821 hours.
Having expended all but one torpedo we then set course for Brest, france.
Patrol Results: 7 cargo ships per this patrol / 40,860 tons
22 days at sea
1800 Hours (1700 Local)
Grid Square CG89, west of Gibralter
Contact Report indicated a medium convoy just 40 KM north of our position observed to be on a westerly course. I changed course to intercept them. Distance to point of interception was about 30 KM.
After a brief search the convoy was sighted at 2044 hours (1944 LCL) mostly tramp steamers and passenger/cargo ships. I observed through the limited visibility of night a 7170 ton Liberty Cargo ship and following her were 2 8860 ton large cargo ships. I decided that these would be my targets once the opportunity presented itself.
After approximately 12 minutes of careful observation and solution calculation on the three centrally located merchants i fired one torpedo at each ship using impact triggers at high running speed and 4 meters running depth. My reasoning for only using one torpedo per ship was not only to conserve torpedoes for possible later attacks but to ensure that at least one bow torpedo remained ready for firing in the chance that it would need to be used defensively. at 2100 hours the three shots impacted their targets. The situation could not have been much better... all three direct hits just forward of the midsection and all impacts occuring within a 15 second time window.
Almost immediately several star shells filled the air above us and spot lights scanned the sea. I ordered a crash dive to 180 meters. The rough sea state could have allowed me to use a shallower depth however i observed no less than 3 black swawns in the area and did not wish to push my luck.
During the diving process i observed the rear most large cargo ship to explode violently as the scope slipped beneath the waves. Aside from a previous attack north of spain this was my 1st confirmed kill with this convoy.
at 2105 hours (2005 local) the black swans were banging away with their active sonar but for some reason unleashed a depth charge attack approximately 1000 meters astern of the U-boat.
at 2115 hours the sound man reported several massive blasts ahead of us on bearing 027 degrees followed by sounds of collapsing bulkheads and implosions.
Depth charge attack continued astern of us for another 15 minutes before the escort returned to his station. At this time i returned to periscope depth for a look at the area. Though the convoy was partially obscured by fog i could clearly see the convoy lane which i attacked. at least one of the large cargo ships appeared to be missing with a large flaming oil slick in its place. poor visibility prevented further investigation of the fate of the other 2 ships.
Surfaced at 2200 hours to shadow the convoy and i observed them make a turn to the southwest. One black swawn barely inside visual range made random zig zags on the starboard side of the convoy. At this time i reported situation to BDU.
Report continues -
03 November 1941
0044 hours (2344 local)
Re-intercepted the convoy for second attack and closed to firing position carefully. within an hour of careful maneuvering i was close enough to review the tactical situation. It was at this time that the damaged liberty ship was observed still leading the lane. Where once two large cargo ships followed him - there was but empy sea. However i did notice 2 additional large cargo ships in the next lane tha appeared undamaged. I made the decision to attack these three ships.
Shortly before 0200 hours (0100 local) after having maneuvered the boat into the lanes i fired one bow shot at the large cargo at furthest range, followed by a stern shot at the liberty ship. Both torpedoes impacted. this caused the convoy to begin zig zagging. I fired a spread of two bow shots at the closer large cargo. one impacted one failed. ASDIC pings at one second intervals were then heard. At this time the depth was set for 180 meters again.
We maneuvered the boat in the dive and avoided a depth charge attack narrowly. Further DC attacks were not made and at 0215 hours (0115 local) sinking sounds and secondaries were heard on bearing 320 degrees about where the liberty ship might have been. shortly thereafter i came to periscope depth to verify sinkings... Liberty ship was in fact missing from the convoy. When sufficient range has been put between us and the convoy we will surface and shadow them.
By 0500 hours (0400 local) we were re-established abeam the convoy's starboard side working into firing position. At 0515 hours i observed numerous metallic drums on the deck of the large cargo ship on bearing 310 degrees at range of about 2000 meters, assumed to be highly combustable. Second Large Cargo ship observed on bearing 350 degrees at approximately 3500 meters... with several small tramp steamers in the line of sight this would be a difficult shot. Therfore i made the choice to concentrate my fire on the closest large cargo then go for targets of opportunity with the stern tube.
At 0520 hours (0420 Local) i fired one bow shot at the large cargo on bearing 320. This torpedo impacted and caused the ship to heave violently into the air at the midsection. it them belched a great fireball into the sky and sank rapidly. The stern shot was fired at a passenger cargo ship on bearing 175 degrees. In the mean time the sky filled with star shells and search lights scanned the area. Stern shot impacted and we dove to 140 meters depth.
Escorts made no notable retaliation.
At 0720 hours while submerged we chased down the straggeler passenger cargo ship and sank it with our final bow shot at 0821 hours.
Having expended all but one torpedo we then set course for Brest, france.
Patrol Results: 7 cargo ships per this patrol / 40,860 tons
22 days at sea