U-45 "Der Wein" Third Patrol
 

Submarine Type VIIB U-45 "Der Wein"
September 30, 1939.
Once again I am called from the BdU to receive new patrol orders. We are going to AN13, NW of Scapa Flow.
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I order to load tubes I and III with G7e electric torpedos and 3 more in reserves; the rest, all steamers.
October 11, 1939.
At 0610 local time, we depart Wilhelmshaven at 1/3, as usual, weather is good with 5 m/s winds.
The watch point me to a lone Arado boatplane coming back from its patrol.
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09:04 In shallow water I submerge to 25 meters to perform a sound check and slow down. Everything OK. My navigator estimates we are in AN95.
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13:05 I order surface the boat; my plan for the moment is submerge for 4 hours, to surface later to recharge batteries and ventilate for another 4 hours.
17:05 25 meters deep.
October 12, 1939.
Nothing to report this day, we continue our trip to the patrol zone. Weather remains the same.
October 13, 1939.
02:57 Sound officer detects what seems to be a lone merchant, I ask for a bearing and we surface to chase it.
03:13 Enemy ship confirmed; Class C2 cargo, british... YOU A$$ IS MINE!. Hiding in the dark night I establish a position ahead and abeam of the cargo.
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03:48 I fire twice; first torpedo hits little behind the center, the second close to the bow.
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The C2 is dead in the water, but refuses to sink, So, you are a tough guy? I engage the deck gun.
03:52 The cargo goes down. FINALLY we got our first victory.
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We sail again toward AN13
08:52 ALARM!!, Walrus spotted (Not again, please). Gunner to the flak! On the double!
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Two minutes later, the Walrus is only a spot in the water.
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13:00 We surface to find a medium rain, but heavy fog and 7 m/s winds.
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21:00 After being submerged for 4 hours, we surface again. Weather is still bad.
October 14, 1939.
Nothing to report. The crew is starting to get bored; nobody said that life in a U-Boot was a party anyway.
October 15, 1939.
05:00 On surface. Rains remains; I hate the british weather.
October 16, 1939.
06:00 The navigator reports we have reached AN13. We start a search pattern. The rain has ceased, but we have a light fog, partly cloudy skies and 7 m/s winds.
07:10 ALARM!! Walrus. In these destructor infested waters I prefer not to push our luck, I order crash dive.
07:49 Sound contact.

08:21 After checking on the periscope that the sky and sea are clear of contacts I surface the boat. Ahead full to chase the contact. The watch spot an enemy trawler, all the hassle for this?... I am not spending valuable torpedos on this gnat, gunners to the deck gun if you please.
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09:05 After a short pursuit and three gun shots, the trawler goes down.
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09:11 ALARM!!... These Walrus really are an annoyance. This one keeps its distance.
09:32 The Walrus gets close and the flak gunner shot it mercilessly.
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09:33 We submerge to 60 meters, ahead slow, in case the pilot managed to call some nasty friends.
21:48 Sound contact, medium speed, merchant. We move to intercept.
23:21 I fire a single torpedo, magnetic pistol under the keel. And she sinks.
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October 18, 1939. (What the heck happened with 17?)
02:33 Radio message from the BdU, the magnetic pistols are very unreliable. We must only use impact pistols... I JUST SUNK A SHIP WITH MAGNETIC PISTOL, YOU DESK JERKS!!
At the afternoon weather gets nasty, we have winds at 15 m/s. I submerge to 50 metros slow ahead to avoid the "samba dance".
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October 19, 1939.
14:16 With O2 reserves at 50% I decide to surface and increase the speed to Full. Weather is still lousy.
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20:20 New message: The area in wich darkened ships can be attacked is now bigger by 20° to the west. They must not be boarded; we can make a warning shot and later examine their papers, but they can only be sink with torpedos (funny guys those at the BdU).
October 20, 1939.
12:47 Radio message (Somebody pull the plug please) We are informed that torpedos travel 6,5 feets (We are german and we use the imperial system instead of the metric? This war is already lost! ;) ) deeper than the depth configured; we must not attack ships with draft lesser than 13 feet.
15:42 French small coastal vessel spotted in OUR waters. With these weather the deck gun is useless, not to mention the flak... to hell with the BdU, I'm sinking those escargot fans with torpedos!
15:56 Sunk. See? Torpedos are working fine! Pesimists!
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October 21, 1939.
Home is near. Winds have calm down, but is raining cats and dogs, and the fog is heavy.
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14:30 We finally see the lights of Wilhelmshaven. Home sweet home.
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At the BdU office I am told I can promote one man, so I do with Paul Ganzer, my Sound Officer. Also, give two medals to Egon Bargsten, my Machinist, and Otto Totenhagen, weapons Officer.
I am awarded the Iron Cross, Second class.
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This patrol ends with a modest tonnage of 14K. This crew have obtained their first victories.

Previous reports.
Patrol 1.
Patrol 2.