[sublynx]

Leutnant z.s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotilla, Bergen
Orders: Patrol grid AK13

21.6.1942
0414 AE86, Clear, no rain, visibility 8 - 9 kilometers, wind 15 m/s. D/F contact 25 kilometers SW, course ESE.
0449 Some kind of a küstenmotorschiff spotted, range 8 - 9 kilometers, true bearing 251 degrees.
0520 Estimated course by sighting bearings as 109 degrees.
0526 Estimated speed by counting engine RPM's as 9 knots.
0601 One aft TIII G7e torpedo shot submerged at a 1100 BRT British Küstentanker. AOB estimated at 90 degrees stb, schüsswinkel 009, depth 2 meters, impact pistol, speed estimated at 9 knots, entfernung 550 meters.
0602 An explosion heard on the hydrophone. On raising the periscope again, I saw that the torpedo had hit a few meters ahead of the aiming point, blowing the bridge of the ship and it's front mast to kingdom come, flames and smoke covering the place where the bridge used to be. The speed of the ship was probably slower than I estimated.
0628 Explosions and metal twisting, sounds of a sinking ship heard on the hydrophone. On the periscope only a cloud of smoke can be seen. The ship is presumed sunk. It is questionable if my decision to attack such a small ship in 15m/s winds was correct. The waves might be able to direct the torpedo either too low or too high. The crew seems to be happy about the sinking, though.

25.6.1942
0000 AM13, clear, no rain, visibility 8 - 9 kilometers, wind 1 m/s. At last the high winds subsided and we were able to load the back external G7a torpedo. 13 torpedoes left. We radio a weather report to BDU and send thanks to the captain of U-159, who gave a hint about single merchants moving around the Faroes. A news report mentioned U-518's success in sinking a light cruiser. Our patrol has not been too successful, but we are continuing towards AK13, in hope of sighting a convoy.

Unger