U159 IXC status.
Still patrol 4.
24.jun.43
Present position GP36.
Diesel reserves under 50%. (Tight trip.)
4 bow & 4 stern torpedoes remaining.
On 5 & 6.jun.43, and between grids GR59 & GR83, U159 went on a diet loosing an unknown amount of fuel and 3 G7E torpedoes.
However the weight loss was offset by a gain in tonnage.
After a 4 hour chase, U159 sunk a C3 Cargo for 7.909 GRT.
The surface chase, and eventual sinking ended less that 100 miles south of the naval base & air station at Capetown.
Night surface attack. Target's course 126 at 9½ knots.
3 G7Es fired with a 7 degree spread, at under 1000 meters, for 3 hits.
Next came a daylight submerged attack on a Liberty Cargo.
3 G7Es fired with a 4 dgree spread, at 2000 meters, for 1 hit & no sinking.
Fuel limitations required U159 to begin a slow withdrawal from the area.
Will be on the lookout for Freetown - UK convoys on our return trip.
Although attacks will be severely limited by fuel, our abilty to send contact reports suffers no such limitation.
Our radio operator is also listening for any news from or about U518, which is usualy berthed beside us at Lorient.
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