Leutnant z. S. Robert Buck commanding U-154.
What an awful month. Found a convoy near the Azores, and managed to get inside and sink 2 tankers, but that was the ONLY good thing that happened. 2 weeks averaging maybe 4 knots we finally got SE of the Azores. The tommies seem to be able to spot our snorkels easily. 13Aug depth charge hit out of nowhere, she sank to 194 before we got her back under control. That was the bad hit out of no less than 6. Flak guns, attack periscope, radar antenna, radio antenna, and the flak platform are destroyed. We are beat from just trying to hold her together to get back home. We made it about a quarter of the way to our patrol grid before damages forced us to turn around. I'm beginning to wonder if we're not safer on the surface during the day when we can actually see what's coming at us. Oh well, 2.5 months to repair the U-154 the last time. Should be close this time. The crew deserve the time off after the job they just did.
CAPTAIN'S LOG
9.8.43. 0335 Patrol 3
U-154, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: August 9, 1943, 03:35
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid EB69
12.8.43. 0647 Grid BF 73 Aircraft destroyed! B24 Liberator Bomber
16.8.43. 2344 Grid CG 17 Aircraft destroyed! Short Sunderland Search Plane
2344 Grid CG 17 Aircraft destroyed! Short Sunderland Search Plane
19.8.43. 1617 Grid CF 64 Ship sunk! MV San Alberto (T3 Tanker), 11653 tons. Cargo: Crude Oil. Crew: 44. Crew lost: 19
1631 Grid CF 64 Ship sunk! MV Athellaird (T3 Tanker), 11654 tons. Cargo: Aviation Fuel. Crew: 67. Crew lost: 17
5.9.43. 0632 Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 2
Aircraft destroyed: 3
Patrol tonage: 23307 tons
U-boat damaged (HI 33.97%)