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02-06-06, 01:55 PM

Bruno Asche

Patrol 3: December 7, 1939 Game played February 2-5, 2006

U-14's second patrol lasted from October 20 to December 2, 1939; a total of 43 days. I was disappointed over my lack of success in meeting, let alone sinking any enemy shipping, but I was later informed by those in the highest places that our patrol in the area was of utmost importance, and was congratulated accordingly. Our assignment was to patrol Grid AF87, and to keep watch on the area north of Bergen, as it was suspected the British might be scouting the area in preparation for a possible invasion of Norway. Since U-14 only had to resupply only food and fuel, and not weapons, her turn-around time in port was only 5 days. We were ready for sea on December 7, and already had orders for immediate departure.

U-14: Flotilla Wedigen, Kiel
U-14 crew, December 7, 1939:
Captain: Leutnant z.S. Bruno Asche
Chief Engineer: Leutnant z.S. Günther Loh
1WO: Leutnant z.S. Werner Scholz
2WO: Leutnant z. S. Heinz Schmidt
Navigator: Oberfähnrich z. S. Erich Steimle

Senior Helmsman/3rd Watch Leader: Stabsoberbootsmann Emil Stephan
Helmsman: Bootsmann Josef Sander
Helmsman: Bootsmann Reinhard Brummer
Machinist: Stabsoberbootsmann August Hermann
2nd Machinist: Stabsoberbootsmann Herbert Thomsen
Torpedoman: Bootsmann Peter Heyer
Torpedoman: Bootsmann August Spahr

General Petty Officers:
Bootsmann Hans Mohr
Bootsmann Henning Hessler

Leading Seamen:
Matrosenhauptgefreiter Kurt Böhling
Matrosenhauptgefreiter Max Eisenstein

Senior Seamen:
Matrosenobergefreiter Erich Richter
Matrosenobergefreiter Heinz Witt
Matrosenobergefreiter Walter Jordon
Matrosenobergefreiter Otto Rasch

Seamen:
Matrosengefreiter Herbert Brehme
Matrosengefreiter Rolf Maddaus
Matrosengefreiter Siegfried Poske
Matrosengefreiter Jurgen Schendel
Matrosengefreiter Reiner Hansen
Matrosengefreiter Max Claussen
Matrosengefreiter Philipp Bahn
Matrosengefreiter Gerhard Römer

12/7/39
2133 Departed Kiel docks.
2140 The harbor is quite pretty this time of year-everything is frozen and covered in ice, including the two cruisers, who are still with us.
2204 Passed the outer bar and into the upper bay.
2219 Left Kiel bay for the open sea (or at least the lower Kategat). Cruising at 1/3-Speed is a waste of fuel, but a neccessary one: they want us on station as quickly as possible. Our destination-AN18, off the Moray Firth, leading to Inverness, and south of Scapa Flow. Again, we're watching for troopships and escorts amassing in the area. And again we can sink ships if we desire, just to let the British know we're watching them.

12/8/39
2200 First Position Report: AO47. Fuel 95%. Sky Clear, Sea 3, 1/2-meter waves, wind 5m/s.

12/9/39
2200 Position Report: AO44. Fuel 90%. Clear, Sea 3.

12/10/39
1403 Matrosengefreiter Suhren reports smoke on the horizon. No one else has seen anything; maybe he saw something, maybe not.
1425 Suhren again called out smoke in the distance. This time Watch Leader Stephan confirms it-smoke at 170 degrees relative.
1426 On Stephan's confirmation set course 065 degrees, Speed Ahead Standard.
1430 Went to periscope depth, Ahead Slow.
1440 It's some small merchant, not even worth a torpedo. Range 1300, end-on to us. Set course 080, Ahead Standard.
1445 Ahead Slow. He's passing us now, making a good 9 knots.
1448 He's flying the Polish flag! Gave order to head away from him so we can come around on the surface without being seen. Submerged we'll never catch him.
1450 Range 1300 and increasing. We'll surface and circle around in front of him. What's a Polish ship doing in these waters now? Poland surrendered weeks ago. My guess is he slipped by us when the war started, and has been holed up in Arendal ever since. Now he's trying to reach England, and it's his bad luck he did so the very day we happened by.
1500 Range 5000 meters. Surfaced at Flank Speed, Course 240.
1505 Set up UZO. Range now 5800.
1510 Range 5900.
1515 Range 6000.
1520 Range now 6200. Set course 250.
1530 Until the batteries are recharged we're only making 1 knot faster than he is.
1545 Range still 6200-we CAN'T lose this one! We've gone two patrols without a single kill. Special assignment or no-we HAVE to sink something!!!
1600 Getting too far away. Set course 270.
1615 Range down to 5500. Course 260.
1630 He's changed course! Don't think he saw us in this failing light-probably just playing it safe. Range now 5100. Set course 240.
1645 Range now 5300.
1700 Range 5700. Set course 270.
1715 Range 5600. Batteries charged, we're now doing 12 knots. Stars starting to come out.
1730 Range 4600.
1745 Range 3800.
1800 Range 3400.
1815 Range 3500. He's slightly behind us now-going in for the kill.
1820 Range 3000. Set course 260.
1825 Range 2200. Set course 300, reduced to Ahead Standard.
1830 Range 1200 meters. Set course 330, ordered hands to Attack Stations.
1832 Fired tube 1, range 480 meters. HIT!
1834 Target sinking.
1836 Returning to course, speed Ahead 1/3.
1845 Tube 1 loaded. After 14 weeks of war we finally have a kill under our collective belt. Crew is exhausted but happy-we chased him for more than four hours!
2200 Position Report: AN35. Fuel down to 80%; running at Flank Speed for several hours will do that.

12/11/39
2200 Position Report: AN34. Fuel 75%. Sky Clear, Sea State up to 6, 3-meter waves. We're in shallow water now; we'll have to be careful about being seen.

12/12/39
2200 Position Report: AN45. Fuel 70%. Clear, Sea 6.

12/13/39
2200 Position Report: AN44. Fuel 65%. Clear, Sea 6.

12/14/39
0703 Entered Patrol Grid AN18. Ahead Slow for patrol.
0833 Smoke on horizon, bearing 080, spotted by Leutnant Asche! I was on the bridge talking to the watch crew, and saw it before anybody else.
0840 Can make out ship now, but nothing of it's nature.
0841 Ordered periscope depth, Ahead Slow, Attack Stations.
0847 It's a small coastal merchant, Range 1100. He's small, but we're not likely to meet too many big ones, and only have 4 eels anyway.
0852 Range 325 meters, firing tube 2.
0853 Missed! He's making 8 knots; we'll never catch him unless we surface, and that's ill-advised at this place and time. He'll see us and call in the planes.
0903 Tube 2 loaded.
0930 Surfaced, ahead slow.
1722 Ship spotted, bearing 046. Set course 305, 1/3-Speed.
1729 Set course 295.
1730 Course 270, Periscope Depth.
1736 Just a small fishing boat. Returning to course, Ahead Slow.
2200 Surfaced, gave Position Report: AN18. Fuel 62%. Clear, Sea 6.
2250 Ship spotted, Bearing 085. Set course 345, Speed 1/3.
2250 Set up UZO, ordered Attack Stations.
2253 Set course 000.
2254 NO! It's an armed trawler. Range 3500. Only 500 tons, not worth risking the lives of my men. Hurriedly took down UZO.
2255 Ordered Periscope Depth, Ahead Slow, returning to course.
2315 No sign of him anywhere. Surfaced.

12/15/39
0925 Ship-dead ahead. Spotted by Matrosenobergefreiter Witt.
0926 He's moving from right to left, fairly quickly.
0927 Set course 240, Ahead Standard.
0929 He's turned the other way.
0930 It's a destroyer! 5200 meters away. Ordered periscope depth.
0931 At periscope depth. Ordered ahead slow.
1100 Surfaced.
1101 We suddenly have seagulls everywhere. Estimate our position about 12km from Garmouth.
2059 Ship spotted! Close by, ordered immediate periscope depth.
2102 Armed trawler, 2100 meters off. It's a wonder he didn't see us.
2105 Soundman finally picked him up. Range now 2550.
2200 Surfaced. Position Report: Fuel 60%. Sky Clear, Sea 6.

12/16/39
2200 Position Report: Fuel 58%. Clear, Sea 6.

12/17/39
1423 Ship spotted, long range, bearing 338.
1426 Looks like he's heading toward us. I don't like it. Ordered periscope depth.
1433 It's just a tug boat of some kind.
1438 It looks like he'll pass about 1200 meters in front of us. To close to risk using the periscope.
1445 Sound reports he's off to our right, moving away. Sneaking a peek: range 2300.
1500 Lost sight of him-sound still has him. Staying submerged.
1600 Surfaced.
2200 Position Report: Fuel 56%. Sky Clear, Sea 6.

12/18/39
0321 Ship spotted, bearing 021. Set course 320, ordered Attack Stations.
0325 Set up UZO.
0326 Too soon! It's a destroyer! Took down UZO.
0327 Dove to periscope depth, Ahead Slow. Returning to course 290.
0324 Ordered Silent Run.
0330 Watching him through periscope-Range 1250.
0335 Range now 1650.
0340 Range 4000. Ordered Normal Run.
0400 He's gone now. Surfaced.
0859 Ship spotted-bearing 106. Looks like a merchant, travelling a parallel course to us.
0900 Periscope depth, Ahead Flank.
0910 Small merchant, Range about 4700, making 6 or 7 knots.
0915 Range now 4100.
0918 Set course due north, Ahead Standard.
0920 Range now 3300.
0922 Range 2700.
0924 Range 2000.
0926 Range 1400. Ahead Slow.
0928 Range 950.
0929 Range 750.
0930 Range 525.
0931 Range 355. Firing tube 3. Hit!
0933 Target sinking rapidly. Crew seems to be getting off okay.
1000 Surfaced.
1218 Smoke spotted in distance, bearing 240. Seems to be moving fast in our direction.
1235 Moved off over horizon, gone now.
2200 Position Report: Fuel 54%. Raining, Sea quite heavy. Diving to 30 meters.

12/19/39
0054 Sound Contact-Warship.
0247 Another warship contact, far off.
0306 Yet another warship contact. Are they out looking for us, or just busy tonight? Or possibly the same one, patrolling the area?
0917 Another warship contact.
1010 And again. If they ARE looking for us, they don't seem to be doing a very good job of it.
1042 Sound contact-another warship. He's also moving off the other way.
1600 Surfaced to recharge.
2200 Position Report: Fuel 53%. Still raining, Sea 10. Diving to 30 meters.
2249 Sound contact-merchant. It's dangerous to chase him in this weather-staying submerged.

12/20/39
1557 Sound contact-merchant. He's closing on our position, so we'll try to intercept. Surfacing, Course 300.
1615 Diving for sound check.
1620 Nothing.
1625 Still nothing.
1630 Still no further contact. Surfacing, returning to course.
2200 Position Report: Fuel 52%. Raining, Sea 10. Diving to 30 meters.
2225 Sound Contact-Merchant.
2230 Periscope depth.
2305 Can't see a thing in this soup. Sound contact lost. Diving to 30 meters.

12/21/39
0800 Soundman reported several contacts during the night. This weather makes any attack nearly impossible. We only have two eels left-don't want to waste them.
1007 Sound Contact-Warship, closing. Ordered periscope depth.
1011 Sound reports him moving away now.
1014 Can see nothing. Sound says he's still moving away. Ordered 30 meters.
1316 Sound reports another warship, closing.
1323 Persicope depth.
1428 Contact lost after an hour of looking for him.
1600 Surfaced.
2200 Position Report: Fuel 51%. Raining, Heavy Seas, 30 meters.

12/22/39
0010 Sound contact-merchant. Sea too heavy, ignoring it.
1600 Surfaced to recharge.
2200 Position Report: Fuel 52%. Raining, Sea 10. Diving.

12/23/39
1600 Surfaced.
2200 Position Report: Fuel 50%. Rain, Sea 10, 30 meters.

12/24/39
1600 Surfaced.
2200 Position Report: Fuel 49%. Rain, Sea 10, diving again.

12/25/39
0001 Woke up to enormous racket throughout boat-Christmas music blaring so loud I thought we were under attack. Seems Stabsoberbootsmann Hermann managed to sneak some records of his own on board without getting caught, and convinced Radioman Hänsel that playing them at full volume at midnight was somehow a good idea. I suggested that perhaps they would enjoy Christmas more if we left them on the English coast.
1600 Surfaced to recharge.
1605 Radio: Christmas greetings from BdU.
1630 Radio: A real Christmas present: BdU says bad weather should last at least another week, and we are accomplishing nothing here. We are to head home
immediately.
2200 Position Report: Fuel 48%. Raining, Sea State 6. Underway for home at 1/3 speed.

12/26/39
2200 Position Report: AN44. Fuel 43%. Rain, Fog, Sea 6.

12/27/39
2200 Position Report: AN46. Fuel 38%. Rain, Sea 6.
12/28/39
2200 Position Report: AN34. Fuel 33%. Rain, Sea 6.

12/29/39
0500 Radio: U-30 reports attacking two British Battlecruisers.
2200 Position Report: AN35. Fuel 28%. Rain, Sea 6.

12/30/39
2200 Position Report: AO44. Fuel 23%. Rain, Sea 6.

12/31/39
2200 Position Report: AO72. Fuel 18%. Rain, Sea 6.

1/1/40
0845 Just realized, we're going to be home on New Year's Day!
2038 Entered Kiel Bay.
2115 Passed outer bar.
2130 Ordered Ahead Slow. Can't see any ships in this fog and rain, but I know they're there.
2139 Passed lighthouse.
2157 Can see docks now. Slowed to two knots.
2201 Tied up at Kiel docks.

Ships confirmed:
12/10/39 Polish merchant SS Kalwaria; 1,518 tons.
12/18/39: British merchant SS Madaket; 1,556 tons.
Total: 3,074 tons.

January 1, 1940
1. Herbert Schultze .................77,548
2. Günther Prien.......................60,588
3. Werner Hartmann................35,306
4. Wilhelm Rollman...................32,860
5. Heinrich Liebe.......................29,967
6. Berthold Cranmer*...............17,901
7. Günther Berke*....................13,777
8. Viktor Schütze........................5,874
9. Hans Jenisch..........................3,991
10. Otto Kretschmer ..................3,276
11. Bruno Asche**.....................3,074
10. Joachim Schepke..................2,348
12. Ernst Bauer.............................345

1/5/40
Promoted Oberleutnant. Awarded Iron Cross Second Class.

02-06-06, 01:55 PM	#14
Sailor Steve Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Bruno Asche Patrol 3: December 7, 1939 Game played February 2-5, 2006 U-14's second patrol lasted from October 20 to December 2, 1939; a total of 43 days. I was disappointed over my lack of success in meeting, let alone sinking any enemy shipping, but I was later informed by those in the highest places that our patrol in the area was of utmost importance, and was congratulated accordingly. Our assignment was to patrol Grid AF87, and to keep watch on the area north of Bergen, as it was suspected the British might be scouting the area in preparation for a possible invasion of Norway. Since U-14 only had to resupply only food and fuel, and not weapons, her turn-around time in port was only 5 days. We were ready for sea on December 7, and already had orders for immediate departure. U-14: Flotilla Wedigen, Kiel U-14 crew, December 7, 1939: Captain: Leutnant z.S. Bruno Asche Chief Engineer: Leutnant z.S. Günther Loh 1WO: Leutnant z.S. Werner Scholz 2WO: Leutnant z. S. Heinz Schmidt Navigator: Oberfähnrich z. S. Erich Steimle Senior Helmsman/3rd Watch Leader: Stabsoberbootsmann Emil Stephan Helmsman: Bootsmann Josef Sander Helmsman: Bootsmann Reinhard Brummer Machinist: Stabsoberbootsmann August Hermann 2nd Machinist: Stabsoberbootsmann Herbert Thomsen Torpedoman: Bootsmann Peter Heyer Torpedoman: Bootsmann August Spahr General Petty Officers: Bootsmann Hans Mohr Bootsmann Henning Hessler Leading Seamen: Matrosenhauptgefreiter Kurt Böhling Matrosenhauptgefreiter Max Eisenstein Senior Seamen: Matrosenobergefreiter Erich Richter Matrosenobergefreiter Heinz Witt Matrosenobergefreiter Walter Jordon Matrosenobergefreiter Otto Rasch Seamen: Matrosengefreiter Herbert Brehme Matrosengefreiter Rolf Maddaus Matrosengefreiter Siegfried Poske Matrosengefreiter Jurgen Schendel Matrosengefreiter Reiner Hansen Matrosengefreiter Max Claussen Matrosengefreiter Philipp Bahn Matrosengefreiter Gerhard Römer 12/7/39 2133 Departed Kiel docks. 2140 The harbor is quite pretty this time of year-everything is frozen and covered in ice, including the two cruisers, who are still with us. 2204 Passed the outer bar and into the upper bay. 2219 Left Kiel bay for the open sea (or at least the lower Kategat). Cruising at 1/3-Speed is a waste of fuel, but a neccessary one: they want us on station as quickly as possible. Our destination-AN18, off the Moray Firth, leading to Inverness, and south of Scapa Flow. Again, we're watching for troopships and escorts amassing in the area. And again we can sink ships if we desire, just to let the British know we're watching them. 12/8/39 2200 First Position Report: AO47. Fuel 95%. Sky Clear, Sea 3, 1/2-meter waves, wind 5m/s. 12/9/39 2200 Position Report: AO44. Fuel 90%. Clear, Sea 3. 12/10/39 1403 Matrosengefreiter Suhren reports smoke on the horizon. No one else has seen anything; maybe he saw something, maybe not. 1425 Suhren again called out smoke in the distance. This time Watch Leader Stephan confirms it-smoke at 170 degrees relative. 1426 On Stephan's confirmation set course 065 degrees, Speed Ahead Standard. 1430 Went to periscope depth, Ahead Slow. 1440 It's some small merchant, not even worth a torpedo. Range 1300, end-on to us. Set course 080, Ahead Standard. 1445 Ahead Slow. He's passing us now, making a good 9 knots. 1448 He's flying the Polish flag! Gave order to head away from him so we can come around on the surface without being seen. Submerged we'll never catch him. 1450 Range 1300 and increasing. We'll surface and circle around in front of him. What's a Polish ship doing in these waters now? Poland surrendered weeks ago. My guess is he slipped by us when the war started, and has been holed up in Arendal ever since. Now he's trying to reach England, and it's his bad luck he did so the very day we happened by. 1500 Range 5000 meters. Surfaced at Flank Speed, Course 240. 1505 Set up UZO. Range now 5800. 1510 Range 5900. 1515 Range 6000. 1520 Range now 6200. Set course 250. 1530 Until the batteries are recharged we're only making 1 knot faster than he is. 1545 Range still 6200-we CAN'T lose this one! We've gone two patrols without a single kill. Special assignment or no-we HAVE to sink something!!! 1600 Getting too far away. Set course 270. 1615 Range down to 5500. Course 260. 1630 He's changed course! Don't think he saw us in this failing light-probably just playing it safe. Range now 5100. Set course 240. 1645 Range now 5300. 1700 Range 5700. Set course 270. 1715 Range 5600. Batteries charged, we're now doing 12 knots. Stars starting to come out. 1730 Range 4600. 1745 Range 3800. 1800 Range 3400. 1815 Range 3500. He's slightly behind us now-going in for the kill. 1820 Range 3000. Set course 260. 1825 Range 2200. Set course 300, reduced to Ahead Standard. 1830 Range 1200 meters. Set course 330, ordered hands to Attack Stations. 1832 Fired tube 1, range 480 meters. HIT! 1834 Target sinking. 1836 Returning to course, speed Ahead 1/3. 1845 Tube 1 loaded. After 14 weeks of war we finally have a kill under our collective belt. Crew is exhausted but happy-we chased him for more than four hours! 2200 Position Report: AN35. Fuel down to 80%; running at Flank Speed for several hours will do that. 12/11/39 2200 Position Report: AN34. Fuel 75%. Sky Clear, Sea State up to 6, 3-meter waves. We're in shallow water now; we'll have to be careful about being seen. 12/12/39 2200 Position Report: AN45. Fuel 70%. Clear, Sea 6. 12/13/39 2200 Position Report: AN44. Fuel 65%. Clear, Sea 6. 12/14/39 0703 Entered Patrol Grid AN18. Ahead Slow for patrol. 0833 Smoke on horizon, bearing 080, spotted by Leutnant Asche! I was on the bridge talking to the watch crew, and saw it before anybody else. 0840 Can make out ship now, but nothing of it's nature. 0841 Ordered periscope depth, Ahead Slow, Attack Stations. 0847 It's a small coastal merchant, Range 1100. He's small, but we're not likely to meet too many big ones, and only have 4 eels anyway. 0852 Range 325 meters, firing tube 2. 0853 Missed! He's making 8 knots; we'll never catch him unless we surface, and that's ill-advised at this place and time. He'll see us and call in the planes. 0903 Tube 2 loaded. 0930 Surfaced, ahead slow. 1722 Ship spotted, bearing 046. Set course 305, 1/3-Speed. 1729 Set course 295. 1730 Course 270, Periscope Depth. 1736 Just a small fishing boat. Returning to course, Ahead Slow. 2200 Surfaced, gave Position Report: AN18. Fuel 62%. Clear, Sea 6. 2250 Ship spotted, Bearing 085. Set course 345, Speed 1/3. 2250 Set up UZO, ordered Attack Stations. 2253 Set course 000. 2254 NO! It's an armed trawler. Range 3500. Only 500 tons, not worth risking the lives of my men. Hurriedly took down UZO. 2255 Ordered Periscope Depth, Ahead Slow, returning to course. 2315 No sign of him anywhere. Surfaced. 12/15/39 0925 Ship-dead ahead. Spotted by Matrosenobergefreiter Witt. 0926 He's moving from right to left, fairly quickly. 0927 Set course 240, Ahead Standard. 0929 He's turned the other way. 0930 It's a destroyer! 5200 meters away. Ordered periscope depth. 0931 At periscope depth. Ordered ahead slow. 1100 Surfaced. 1101 We suddenly have seagulls everywhere. Estimate our position about 12km from Garmouth. 2059 Ship spotted! Close by, ordered immediate periscope depth. 2102 Armed trawler, 2100 meters off. It's a wonder he didn't see us. 2105 Soundman finally picked him up. Range now 2550. 2200 Surfaced. Position Report: Fuel 60%. Sky Clear, Sea 6. 12/16/39 2200 Position Report: Fuel 58%. Clear, Sea 6. 12/17/39 1423 Ship spotted, long range, bearing 338. 1426 Looks like he's heading toward us. I don't like it. Ordered periscope depth. 1433 It's just a tug boat of some kind. 1438 It looks like he'll pass about 1200 meters in front of us. To close to risk using the periscope. 1445 Sound reports he's off to our right, moving away. Sneaking a peek: range 2300. 1500 Lost sight of him-sound still has him. Staying submerged. 1600 Surfaced. 2200 Position Report: Fuel 56%. Sky Clear, Sea 6. 12/18/39 0321 Ship spotted, bearing 021. Set course 320, ordered Attack Stations. 0325 Set up UZO. 0326 Too soon! It's a destroyer! Took down UZO. 0327 Dove to periscope depth, Ahead Slow. Returning to course 290. 0324 Ordered Silent Run. 0330 Watching him through periscope-Range 1250. 0335 Range now 1650. 0340 Range 4000. Ordered Normal Run. 0400 He's gone now. Surfaced. 0859 Ship spotted-bearing 106. Looks like a merchant, travelling a parallel course to us. 0900 Periscope depth, Ahead Flank. 0910 Small merchant, Range about 4700, making 6 or 7 knots. 0915 Range now 4100. 0918 Set course due north, Ahead Standard. 0920 Range now 3300. 0922 Range 2700. 0924 Range 2000. 0926 Range 1400. Ahead Slow. 0928 Range 950. 0929 Range 750. 0930 Range 525. 0931 Range 355. Firing tube 3. Hit! 0933 Target sinking rapidly. Crew seems to be getting off okay. 1000 Surfaced. 1218 Smoke spotted in distance, bearing 240. Seems to be moving fast in our direction. 1235 Moved off over horizon, gone now. 2200 Position Report: Fuel 54%. Raining, Sea quite heavy. Diving to 30 meters. 12/19/39 0054 Sound Contact-Warship. 0247 Another warship contact, far off. 0306 Yet another warship contact. Are they out looking for us, or just busy tonight? Or possibly the same one, patrolling the area? 0917 Another warship contact. 1010 And again. If they ARE looking for us, they don't seem to be doing a very good job of it. 1042 Sound contact-another warship. He's also moving off the other way. 1600 Surfaced to recharge. 2200 Position Report: Fuel 53%. Still raining, Sea 10. Diving to 30 meters. 2249 Sound contact-merchant. It's dangerous to chase him in this weather-staying submerged. 12/20/39 1557 Sound contact-merchant. He's closing on our position, so we'll try to intercept. Surfacing, Course 300. 1615 Diving for sound check. 1620 Nothing. 1625 Still nothing. 1630 Still no further contact. Surfacing, returning to course. 2200 Position Report: Fuel 52%. Raining, Sea 10. Diving to 30 meters. 2225 Sound Contact-Merchant. 2230 Periscope depth. 2305 Can't see a thing in this soup. Sound contact lost. Diving to 30 meters. 12/21/39 0800 Soundman reported several contacts during the night. This weather makes any attack nearly impossible. We only have two eels left-don't want to waste them. 1007 Sound Contact-Warship, closing. Ordered periscope depth. 1011 Sound reports him moving away now. 1014 Can see nothing. Sound says he's still moving away. Ordered 30 meters. 1316 Sound reports another warship, closing. 1323 Persicope depth. 1428 Contact lost after an hour of looking for him. 1600 Surfaced. 2200 Position Report: Fuel 51%. Raining, Heavy Seas, 30 meters. 12/22/39 0010 Sound contact-merchant. Sea too heavy, ignoring it. 1600 Surfaced to recharge. 2200 Position Report: Fuel 52%. Raining, Sea 10. Diving. 12/23/39 1600 Surfaced. 2200 Position Report: Fuel 50%. Rain, Sea 10, 30 meters. 12/24/39 1600 Surfaced. 2200 Position Report: Fuel 49%. Rain, Sea 10, diving again. 12/25/39 0001 Woke up to enormous racket throughout boat-Christmas music blaring so loud I thought we were under attack. Seems Stabsoberbootsmann Hermann managed to sneak some records of his own on board without getting caught, and convinced Radioman Hänsel that playing them at full volume at midnight was somehow a good idea. I suggested that perhaps they would enjoy Christmas more if we left them on the English coast. 1600 Surfaced to recharge. 1605 Radio: Christmas greetings from BdU. 1630 Radio: A real Christmas present: BdU says bad weather should last at least another week, and we are accomplishing nothing here. We are to head home immediately. 2200 Position Report: Fuel 48%. Raining, Sea State 6. Underway for home at 1/3 speed. 12/26/39 2200 Position Report: AN44. Fuel 43%. Rain, Fog, Sea 6. 12/27/39 2200 Position Report: AN46. Fuel 38%. Rain, Sea 6. 12/28/39 2200 Position Report: AN34. Fuel 33%. Rain, Sea 6. 12/29/39 0500 Radio: U-30 reports attacking two British Battlecruisers. 2200 Position Report: AN35. Fuel 28%. Rain, Sea 6. 12/30/39 2200 Position Report: AO44. Fuel 23%. Rain, Sea 6. 12/31/39 2200 Position Report: AO72. Fuel 18%. Rain, Sea 6. 1/1/40 0845 Just realized, we're going to be home on New Year's Day! 2038 Entered Kiel Bay. 2115 Passed outer bar. 2130 Ordered Ahead Slow. Can't see any ships in this fog and rain, but I know they're there. 2139 Passed lighthouse. 2157 Can see docks now. Slowed to two knots. 2201 Tied up at Kiel docks. Ships confirmed: 12/10/39 Polish merchant SS Kalwaria; 1,518 tons. 12/18/39: British merchant SS Madaket; 1,556 tons. Total: 3,074 tons. January 1, 1940 1. Herbert Schultze .................77,548 2. Günther Prien.......................60,588 3. Werner Hartmann................35,306 4. Wilhelm Rollman...................32,860 5. Heinrich Liebe.......................29,967 6. Berthold Cranmer...............17,901 7. Günther Berke....................13,777 8. Viktor Schütze........................5,874 9. Hans Jenisch..........................3,991 10. Otto Kretschmer ..................3,276 11. Bruno Asche**.....................3,074 10. Joachim Schepke..................2,348 12. Ernst Bauer.............................345 1/5/40 Promoted Oberleutnant. Awarded Iron Cross Second Class.