U56 IIC. Patrol 8.
18.aug.40
AO77
0615: Underway from Kiel.
Orders: Patrol grid BF15.
All torpedoes preset 3 meters depth, AZ (impact only) pistols.
23.aug.40
AN79 (Straights of Dover)
2241: Light Fog. 7 M/S. Depth Under Kiel 31 meters.
Time to surface sprint.
24.aug.40
AN79 (still)
0241: "Enemy is engaging us ,sir!" New depth 20 meters!
0243: 3, seem to be, Trawlers closing. 1 heavier unit at long range.
0249: Multiple warships converging on the area, but not us.
0430: Surface!
0434: "Oxygen 100%, sir." New depth 20 meters.
Our oxygen was unable to last throughout daylight hours.
Every day required a brief daylight surfacing for oxygen.
A convoy passed N of us, but well out of reach.
One slow merchant, in the vicinity of many ASW vessels, had to be passed.
29.aug.40
BF28
0620: "Aircraft spotted! 168! Medium range!" A L A R M ! Crash dive!
Total Depth 84 meters. U56 turns out to be an extremely fast diver!!!
0631: "Sound contact! Warship. Medium speed. Long range. Closing."
No DC from Aircraft. No detection by Warship.
1000: Exiting Der Kanal. Whew.
31.aug.40
BF15
0200: On station.
1516: "Sound contact! . . ." Convoy!
1607: Convoy's estimated course 240, making 6 knots.
1614: Lead escort = Corvette.
1616: Revised estimation 242 at 6 knots.
1617: TDC preset: AOB 90 port, 6 knots.
1624: Corvettes at 000 R, and 121 R. Convoy at 038 R to 072 R.
1638: Open tubes 1, 2, 3, for T3 Tanker. (Long shot).
1645/1646: Fire 1! Fire 3! Fire 2! New depth 99 meters. (Total depth 120 meters).
1648: Impact: 2.000 tonner was romping. Sunk.
1649: Unknown! Miss!
1650: Pinging. 135 R, moving toward our stern. (passing 40 meters).
1652: 5 degrees Right Rudder.
1654: Pinging. (passing 60 meters). U N D E C T E D !
1830: Updated estimation: 257, making 6 knots.
1850: Surface and persue.
2230: Sound check. Preset TDC AOB 90 stb, 6 knots.
1.sep.40
BF15 (Same grid. Same convoy.)
0115: Revised estimation: 254, making 6 knots.
0141: Open tubes 1 & 3 for night surface attack on C3 Cargo.
0145: Range about 800 meters. Fire 1! Fire 3! New depth 100 meters!
0146: Impact! Impact! Torpedo run time 47 seconds.
Target uneffected. U56 undetected.
0736: Dive for merchant contact.
1354: Dive for warship contact.
2.sep.40
BF46
1257: A L A R M ! Crash dive for aircraft.
5.sep.40 (Full Moon).
BF61
0540: Docked at Lorient, beside the heavily damaged U111.
She had taken heavy damage after sinking an enemy Aircraft Carrier.
Quite a mess to cross over, in getting to the dock, but Kaleun VONHARRIS and crew generiousely shared their Becks with us.
Patrol results:
Crew & Hull Integrity 100%.
5 of 5 (TII G7E) torpedoes expended.
1 ship sunk for 2.047 GRT.
U56's history to date:
8 war patrols completed.
4 ships sunk, for 20.445 GRT.
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