[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No4
Orders : Patrol grid AD83. Conviy search and destroy mission

19 December 1939
05:25 hours U-103 left port.

19:20 hours. The puzzled radio man comes in with a strange message.
"For your eyes only Kaluen"
The message read: "WEST" which was the code word for:
Misson changed : Proceed to grids BB91 and carry out search and destroy mission

06 January 1940
Grid AK22
22:08 hours SS Shelter Bay (Great Lakes Freighter), 1841 tons. Cargo: Iron Ore. Crew: 27. Crew lost: 7

19 January 1940
Grid BB91 - convoy battle
05:29 hours SS Harpathian (Medium Merchant 06), 5173 tons. Cargo: Grain. Crew: 79. Crew lost: 23
05:30 hours SS Thorshavet (Converted Whale Factory Ship), 12016 tons. Cargo: Crude Oil. Crew: 147. Crew lost: 11
05:32 hours SS Umvolosi (Medium Merchant 09), 3185 tons. Cargo: Grain. Crew: 48. Crew lost: 4

Pinged and DCed by escorts - dived to 140m
07:50 hours Rising to PD and reloading tubes
08:16 hours Surfaced - Stopped ship spotted
SS Dalfram (Medium Merchant 22), 4290 tons. Cargo: Sulfur. Crew: 69. Crew lost: 31
Finished off by gunfire
08:30 hours Dived and left the area

24 January 1940
Grid BB91 - convoy battle
03:18 hours MV Britannia (Tanker 16), 10678 tons. Cargo: Aviation Fuel. Crew: 56. Crew lost: 29
03:19 hours SS Goulburn (Small Merchant), 2595 tons. Cargo: Steel. Crew: 31. Crew lost: 18
03:19 hours MV Poelau Bras (Heavy Merchant 01), 9093 tons. Cargo: Coffee. Crew: 57. Crew lost: 24

DCed with no damages

27 January 1940
Grid BB97 - convoy battle
23:55 hours SS Arkenside (Small Merchant), 2592 tons. Cargo: Military Stores. Crew: 21. Crew lost: 2
23:56 hours USS Orion (Cyclops)-type Collier, 10959 tons. Cargo: Coal
23:58 hours USS Ulysses (Convoy repair ship) (Convoy repair ship), 5220 tons. Crew: 197. Crew lost: 47

Started return trip

29 January 1940
Grid BB98
13:15 hours MV Slemmestad (Medium Merchant 17), 4022 tons. Cargo: Paper Products. Crew: 50. Crew lost: 44 Sunk by gunfire

30 January 1940
Grid BC25 - convoy battle
Torpedoes missed - close enough DC explosion caused flooding.
Had to dive to 260m to escape


15 February 1940
Grid
18:11 hours Docked at Belchen supply ship.
New orders : Rearm refuel and continue operation WEST
12 ships sunk
71664 tons
No casualties or damages