Communications from Bdu to U-64/U-345 concerning lost U-Boot
 

Real example of the Donitz Elite Flotilla communications of a U-Boot in trouble.


From : U-64 IXB / Konteradmiral vonHarris
To : BdU

January 5 1941 , 01:00 hours*
Escaping from Argentia , Canada
Recce mission failed
Hit subnet and ran aground
Damages to bow - lost all bow torpedo compartment crew to mine explosion.
Safe to dive only at periscope depth
Will try to make it to Lorient

SIGNED
Konteradmiral von Harris


Update:
18:12 hours
Direct hit 250lb bomb*
Heavy casualties and damages
Unable to dive
SIGNED
Konteradmiral von Harris

*Bdu to U-64
Are your AA Guns functional? If so keep them manned. We have diverted U-345 and a warship to your position. Off load most of your crew and wounded to the escorts. Retain enough crew to stay a float. If you come under attack scuttle and abandon ship.

Best of luck to you and crew.
_________________

U-345 is proceeding to intercept U-64 at flank speed. All AA guns will remain at the ready. Keep us posted on our warships progress. Our ETA is 6.5 hours.

Best of luck to U-64

From : U-64 IXB
To : Bdu / U-345

20:30 hours
Last transmission
Attacked by aircraft
Sinking aft
Scuttling boat
Logs dest...............

*Bdu to U-345 and other escorts
Quote:
Originally Posted by VONHARRIS *
From : U-64 IXB
To : Bdu / U-345

20:30 hours
Last transmission
Attacked by aircraft
Sinking aft
Scuttling boat
Logs dest...............
U-64 came under air attack again and was sinking. The Commander ordered the Boot scuttled. And abandoned the Boot. All boots in the area are ordered to U-64 last location to assist any survivors. If U-64 has not totally sunk you are ordered to sink her by deck gun.

God save her crew.
__________________

and ?

And what?

What is this all about ?

and what happened to U-64 crew?

...there you see, this is a freaking dirty business...

Unknoe at this time as support vessels have not yet arrived.

Its all about reduced level of empathy ;)

Well i liked it

yea, Ice-cold, man...

This is what happened
 

From : HMCS Ottawa
To: HQ RCN

Date: January 5 , 1941 23:00 hours

CONFIDENTIAL
Reached ordered area
Have located bodies and debris
2 survivors picked of the water
No sign of the German Uboot
Returning

SINGED

Cdr Edmond Rollo Mainguy RCN

GJ.

Bdu to HMCS Ottawa
 

January 20, 1941
St John's Canada

22:00
Two men , looking tired and soaking wet rang the bell of a lonely house facing the ocean
A man opened the door and froze.....
"Herr Admiral ... " Gunther Spaz said.
"Quick get inside" one of the men replied

Inside the house
It was clear that Konteradmiral vonHarris and Matrose Hans Gruber had escaped from their Canadian POW and they were trying to get back to Germany.

Gunter took a piece of paper and wrote a coded telegram for the Bdu, which he sent the next day to a Mr Laufen

On January 25 ,1941 BdU issued the following top secret orders for the commander of U-345


From : Bdu
To : U-345

Commander only
Leave Lorient immediatelly
Proceed to grid BB63 to pick up two very important men
Avoid all contacts on the way
Do not engage at all costs
Maintain radio silence until futher notice

U-345 to Bdu
 

Orders received and understood. Departing immediately.

U-345 clear and going silent.

From : BdU
To :U-345

Report status and ETA asap