Ducimus
01-13-06, 02:34 PM
I wonder if i should flesh out the story, :hmm: ill give the cliff notes version, although im sure i could spin a good yarn.
Patrol log of U518, Type IXC, 2nd flotilla
Commanding officer: Hans Brachmann
Name: HANS BRACHMANN
Date of Birth: 10AUG16
Place of Birth: CUXHAVEN
Date of Intake: 01APR37 (CREW 37)
Promotions
01JAN38 SEEKADETT
01DEC38 FÄHNRICH Z. S.
01JUN40 OBERFÄHNRICH Z. S.
01NOV40 LEUTNANT Z. S.
03MAR43 OBERLEUTNANT Z. S.
Medals
05NOV42 IRON CROSS, SECOND CLASS
05NOV42 IRON CROSS, FIRST CLASS
03MAR43 KNIGHT'S CROSS
03MAR43 KNIGHT'S CROSS WITH OAK LEAVES
13MAY43 KNIGHT'S CROSS WITH OAK LEAVES AND SWORDS
13MAY43 KNIGHT'S CROSS WITH OAK LEAVES, SWORDS, AND DIAMONDS
21MAY43 KNIGHT'S CROSS WITH GOLDEN OAK LEAVES, SWORDS, AND DIAMONDS ( posthumously)
Badges
03MAR43 U-BOAT BADGE
03MAR43 U-BOAT FRONT CLASP
U-Bootwaffe Postings
21JUN41 1st Flotilla (Commander training)
02MAY42 2nd Flotilla (5 patrols)
U-Boat Commands
02MAY42 U-518, Type IXC (5 patrols)
Patrol 1
02MAY42 - 15JUL42 (75 days)
Most memorable incident: noticing a plane in the periscope in the middle of a submerged attack. Plane appeared right as i was about to fire. Shot torpedos, crash dived, plane bombed the area, 30 mins later a destroyer appeared, went deep and silent, evaded with no further incident. Misc note, DB98 has a fairly active shipping lane.
02 May 1942, 0409
Patrol 1
U-518, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: May 2, 1942, 04:09
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid CA57
13 Jun 1942
1021 DB 98 Ship sunk! Small Tanker, 6613 tons
1931 DB 98 Ship sunk! Liberty Cargo, 7369 tons
15 Jun 1942
1700 DB 98 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8551 tons
16 Jun 1942
1353 DB 98 Ship sunk! C2 Cargo, 5645 tons
1500 DB 98 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8560 tons
18 Jun 1942
2325 DB 98 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8561 tons
19 Jun 1942
1007 DB 98 Ship sunk! C3 Cargo, 5101 tons
1911 DB 98 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8562 tons
15 Jul 1942 1631
Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 8
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 58962 tons
Patrol 2
26AUG42 - 05NOV42 (72 days)
U-Boat damaged (H.I. 96.4%)
Most memorable incident: Put a single torpedo into each of the ships listed as sunk on 31aug42. My intention was to save torpedos, instead i ended up in a running gun battle being broadsided by two armed mercents. A few shells got a bit too close, one landed soundly on the conning tower, AA guns aborbed the blunt of the blow. I also reconnoited the local harbo in grid EC96, Exceptionally deepwater, perfect for attack. used experimental homing torpedo to remove harbor guard which met with succuess.
26 Aug 1942, 2219
Patrol 2
U-518, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: August 26, 1942, 22:19
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid ED59
31 Aug 1942
0257 CF 33 Ship sunk! Liberty Cargo, 7458 tons
0258 CF 33 Ship sunk! C3 Cargo, 7679 tons
23 Sep 1942
1755 EC 96 Ship sunk! Clemson Destroyer, 1190 tons
1923 EC 96 Ship sunk! Small Tanker, 7145 tons
1924 EC 96 Ship sunk! Small Tanker, 7144 tons
1926 EC 96 Ship sunk! C2 Cargo, 4751 tons
2031 EC 96 Ship sunk! Small Tanker, 7142 tons
2047 EC 96 Ship sunk! T2 Tanker, 7545 tons
2104 EC 96 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8476 tons
24 Sep 1942
0035 EC 96 Ship sunk! T2 Tanker, 7549 tons
0108 EC 96 Ship sunk! T2 Tanker, 7548 tons
31 Oct 1942
1323 CF 32 Ship sunk! Liberty Cargo, 7463 tons
1323 CF 32 Ship sunk! C2 Cargo, 4782 tons
05 Nov 1942 0943
Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 13
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 85872 tons
Patrol 3
19DEC42 - 03MAR43 (75 days)
Most memorable incident:
I am a stubborn captain. Apparenly command sought fit to send me back to the same area. Single merchant traffic has by now, gone WAY down. Revisited my favorite harbor. Several hours later leaving the area after harbor attack, i was caught on the surface AT night brining external stores into the boat. This time i fought back. Boats AA armerment is two 2cm c/38 of the singlebarrel variety. All planes in this patrol attacked at night, boat expended all flak ammunition defending itself. Oh yes, also had the misfortune of surfacing, right infront of a PBY. Incident occured 26 Jan43, while surfacing to chase down a sound contact. Note: checking the observation periscope each and every time before surfacing is most purdent.
19 Dec 1942 , 1126
Patrol 3
U-518, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: December 19, 1942, 11:26
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid ED59
22 Jan 1943
1012 EC 96 Ship sunk! Clemson Destroyer, 1190 tons
1148 EC 96 Ship sunk! Small Tanker, 5123 tons
1205 EC 96 Ship sunk! Small Tanker, 5124 tons
1258 EC 96 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8679 tons
1317 EC 96 Ship sunk! T2 Tanker, 8006 tons
23 Jan 1943
0328 EC 92 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
0331 EC 92 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
0335 EC 92 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
25 Jan 1943
0907 EC 53 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
0939 EC 52 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
26 Jan 1943
2129 EC 27 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
2345 EC 27 Ship sunk! T2 Tanker, 8010 tons
2350 EC 27 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8683 tons
27 Jan 1943
0015 EC 27 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
31 Jan 1943
2208 DN 76 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8684 tons
02 Feb 1943
1956 DN 76 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8685 tons
05 Feb 1943
1934 DN 84 Ship sunk! Liberty Cargo, 7367 tons
28 Feb 1943
1013 BE 95 Ship sunk! C2 Cargo, 4370 tons
03 Mar 1943 1901
Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 11
Aircraft destroyed: 7
Patrol tonage: 73921 tons
Patrol 4
04MAR43 - 13MAY43 (71 days)
Remarks: A fools errand. No logistical support, had barely enough fuel to get to assigned grid and return to base. Boat's diesals were sputtering as we pulled into port. One destroyer sonar contact the entire patrol, no planes, a few radio contacts but had no fuel to pursue any of them.
04 Mar 1943 0230
Patrol 4
U-518, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: March 4, 1943, 02:30
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid GR69
13 May 1943 0821
Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 0
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 0 tons
Patrol 5
14MAY43 - 21MAY43 (8 days)
14 May 1943, 1851
Patrol 5
U-518, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: May 14, 1943, 18:51
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid EC66
15 May 1943
0016 BF 53 Aircraft destroyed! Short Sunderland Search Plane
0017 BF 53 Aircraft destroyed! Short Sunderland Search Plane
0018 BF 53 Aircraft destroyed! Short Sunderland Search Plane
0018 BF 53 Aircraft destroyed! Short Sunderland Search Plane
21 May 1943
1733 BE 98 Ship sunk! C3 Cargo, 6421 tons
1733 BE 98 Ship sunk! Liberty Cargo, 7458 tons
1823 Patrol results
Crew losses: 56 dead
Ships sunk: 2
Aircraft destroyed: 4
Patrol tonage: 13879 tons
TOTALS:
5 patrols (301 days at sea)
34 ships sunk (32 merchants /2 warships)
Total tonnage 232634 (230254/2380)
11 enemy planes downed, 56 crew lost
Summary
Oberleutnant z. S. Hans Brachmann and U-518 were lost sometime on 21MAY43 attacking a north bound convoy enroute to patrol area.
Patrol log of U518, Type IXC, 2nd flotilla
Commanding officer: Hans Brachmann
Name: HANS BRACHMANN
Date of Birth: 10AUG16
Place of Birth: CUXHAVEN
Date of Intake: 01APR37 (CREW 37)
Promotions
01JAN38 SEEKADETT
01DEC38 FÄHNRICH Z. S.
01JUN40 OBERFÄHNRICH Z. S.
01NOV40 LEUTNANT Z. S.
03MAR43 OBERLEUTNANT Z. S.
Medals
05NOV42 IRON CROSS, SECOND CLASS
05NOV42 IRON CROSS, FIRST CLASS
03MAR43 KNIGHT'S CROSS
03MAR43 KNIGHT'S CROSS WITH OAK LEAVES
13MAY43 KNIGHT'S CROSS WITH OAK LEAVES AND SWORDS
13MAY43 KNIGHT'S CROSS WITH OAK LEAVES, SWORDS, AND DIAMONDS
21MAY43 KNIGHT'S CROSS WITH GOLDEN OAK LEAVES, SWORDS, AND DIAMONDS ( posthumously)
Badges
03MAR43 U-BOAT BADGE
03MAR43 U-BOAT FRONT CLASP
U-Bootwaffe Postings
21JUN41 1st Flotilla (Commander training)
02MAY42 2nd Flotilla (5 patrols)
U-Boat Commands
02MAY42 U-518, Type IXC (5 patrols)
Patrol 1
02MAY42 - 15JUL42 (75 days)
Most memorable incident: noticing a plane in the periscope in the middle of a submerged attack. Plane appeared right as i was about to fire. Shot torpedos, crash dived, plane bombed the area, 30 mins later a destroyer appeared, went deep and silent, evaded with no further incident. Misc note, DB98 has a fairly active shipping lane.
02 May 1942, 0409
Patrol 1
U-518, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: May 2, 1942, 04:09
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid CA57
13 Jun 1942
1021 DB 98 Ship sunk! Small Tanker, 6613 tons
1931 DB 98 Ship sunk! Liberty Cargo, 7369 tons
15 Jun 1942
1700 DB 98 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8551 tons
16 Jun 1942
1353 DB 98 Ship sunk! C2 Cargo, 5645 tons
1500 DB 98 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8560 tons
18 Jun 1942
2325 DB 98 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8561 tons
19 Jun 1942
1007 DB 98 Ship sunk! C3 Cargo, 5101 tons
1911 DB 98 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8562 tons
15 Jul 1942 1631
Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 8
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 58962 tons
Patrol 2
26AUG42 - 05NOV42 (72 days)
U-Boat damaged (H.I. 96.4%)
Most memorable incident: Put a single torpedo into each of the ships listed as sunk on 31aug42. My intention was to save torpedos, instead i ended up in a running gun battle being broadsided by two armed mercents. A few shells got a bit too close, one landed soundly on the conning tower, AA guns aborbed the blunt of the blow. I also reconnoited the local harbo in grid EC96, Exceptionally deepwater, perfect for attack. used experimental homing torpedo to remove harbor guard which met with succuess.
26 Aug 1942, 2219
Patrol 2
U-518, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: August 26, 1942, 22:19
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid ED59
31 Aug 1942
0257 CF 33 Ship sunk! Liberty Cargo, 7458 tons
0258 CF 33 Ship sunk! C3 Cargo, 7679 tons
23 Sep 1942
1755 EC 96 Ship sunk! Clemson Destroyer, 1190 tons
1923 EC 96 Ship sunk! Small Tanker, 7145 tons
1924 EC 96 Ship sunk! Small Tanker, 7144 tons
1926 EC 96 Ship sunk! C2 Cargo, 4751 tons
2031 EC 96 Ship sunk! Small Tanker, 7142 tons
2047 EC 96 Ship sunk! T2 Tanker, 7545 tons
2104 EC 96 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8476 tons
24 Sep 1942
0035 EC 96 Ship sunk! T2 Tanker, 7549 tons
0108 EC 96 Ship sunk! T2 Tanker, 7548 tons
31 Oct 1942
1323 CF 32 Ship sunk! Liberty Cargo, 7463 tons
1323 CF 32 Ship sunk! C2 Cargo, 4782 tons
05 Nov 1942 0943
Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 13
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 85872 tons
Patrol 3
19DEC42 - 03MAR43 (75 days)
Most memorable incident:
I am a stubborn captain. Apparenly command sought fit to send me back to the same area. Single merchant traffic has by now, gone WAY down. Revisited my favorite harbor. Several hours later leaving the area after harbor attack, i was caught on the surface AT night brining external stores into the boat. This time i fought back. Boats AA armerment is two 2cm c/38 of the singlebarrel variety. All planes in this patrol attacked at night, boat expended all flak ammunition defending itself. Oh yes, also had the misfortune of surfacing, right infront of a PBY. Incident occured 26 Jan43, while surfacing to chase down a sound contact. Note: checking the observation periscope each and every time before surfacing is most purdent.
19 Dec 1942 , 1126
Patrol 3
U-518, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: December 19, 1942, 11:26
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid ED59
22 Jan 1943
1012 EC 96 Ship sunk! Clemson Destroyer, 1190 tons
1148 EC 96 Ship sunk! Small Tanker, 5123 tons
1205 EC 96 Ship sunk! Small Tanker, 5124 tons
1258 EC 96 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8679 tons
1317 EC 96 Ship sunk! T2 Tanker, 8006 tons
23 Jan 1943
0328 EC 92 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
0331 EC 92 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
0335 EC 92 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
25 Jan 1943
0907 EC 53 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
0939 EC 52 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
26 Jan 1943
2129 EC 27 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
2345 EC 27 Ship sunk! T2 Tanker, 8010 tons
2350 EC 27 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8683 tons
27 Jan 1943
0015 EC 27 Aircraft destroyed! PBY Catalina Search Plane
31 Jan 1943
2208 DN 76 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8684 tons
02 Feb 1943
1956 DN 76 Ship sunk! T3 Tanker, 8685 tons
05 Feb 1943
1934 DN 84 Ship sunk! Liberty Cargo, 7367 tons
28 Feb 1943
1013 BE 95 Ship sunk! C2 Cargo, 4370 tons
03 Mar 1943 1901
Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 11
Aircraft destroyed: 7
Patrol tonage: 73921 tons
Patrol 4
04MAR43 - 13MAY43 (71 days)
Remarks: A fools errand. No logistical support, had barely enough fuel to get to assigned grid and return to base. Boat's diesals were sputtering as we pulled into port. One destroyer sonar contact the entire patrol, no planes, a few radio contacts but had no fuel to pursue any of them.
04 Mar 1943 0230
Patrol 4
U-518, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: March 4, 1943, 02:30
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid GR69
13 May 1943 0821
Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 0
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 0 tons
Patrol 5
14MAY43 - 21MAY43 (8 days)
14 May 1943, 1851
Patrol 5
U-518, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: May 14, 1943, 18:51
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid EC66
15 May 1943
0016 BF 53 Aircraft destroyed! Short Sunderland Search Plane
0017 BF 53 Aircraft destroyed! Short Sunderland Search Plane
0018 BF 53 Aircraft destroyed! Short Sunderland Search Plane
0018 BF 53 Aircraft destroyed! Short Sunderland Search Plane
21 May 1943
1733 BE 98 Ship sunk! C3 Cargo, 6421 tons
1733 BE 98 Ship sunk! Liberty Cargo, 7458 tons
1823 Patrol results
Crew losses: 56 dead
Ships sunk: 2
Aircraft destroyed: 4
Patrol tonage: 13879 tons
TOTALS:
5 patrols (301 days at sea)
34 ships sunk (32 merchants /2 warships)
Total tonnage 232634 (230254/2380)
11 enemy planes downed, 56 crew lost
Summary
Oberleutnant z. S. Hans Brachmann and U-518 were lost sometime on 21MAY43 attacking a north bound convoy enroute to patrol area.