Gunther Berke
Patrol 3: November 29, 1939 Game played January 23-30, 2006
Second Patrol lasted from September 3 to November 5, 1939, a total of 63 days, and resulted in 4 ships sunk for a total of 13,777 tons. U-52 was in harbor for 24 days, being ready for sea again on November 24 and recieving orders to put out on November 29.
Oberfähnrich z. S. Axel Bargsten was transferred out and replaced by Oberfähnrich z. S. Michael Carlsen, also a trained medic.
Oberleutnant z.S. Gunther Berke
U-52: Flotilla Saltzwedel, Wilhelmshaven
U-52 crew, November 29, 1939:
Captain: Leutnant z.S. Gunther Berke
Chief Engineer: Oberleutnant z.S. Ernst Petersen
1WO: Leutnant z.S. Viktor Witte
2WO: Leutnant z.S. Georg Lobin
Navigator: Oberfähnrich z. S. Otto Steinmetz
Medic: Oberfähnrich z. S. Michael Carlsen
Senior Helmsman/3rd Watch Leader: Stabsoberbootsmann Harro Staats
Helmsman: Bootsmann Heinz Kläbisch
Machinist: Stabsoberbootsmann Ulrich Folkers
Machinist: Stabsbootsmann Hans Maddaus
Torpedoman: Bootsmann Kurt Mohr
Torpedoman: Bootsmann Reinhart Kraus
General Petty Officers:
Stabsbootsmann Werner Piening
Bootsmann Victor Schmidt
Bootsmann Frantz Vogel
Bootsmann Reinhard Eppen
Bootsmann Fritz Claussen
Bootsmann Manfred Reckhoff
Bootsmann Viktor Zinke
Bootsmann Alfred Schacht
Bootsmann Werner Trojer
Bootsmann Rolf Eckerman
Leading Seamen:
Matrosenhauptgefreiter Gerhard Wiebe
Matrosenhauptgefreiter Hans Hirtl
Matrosenhauptgefreiter Gerhard Miedza
Matrosenhauptgefreiter Karl Hölzer
Senior Seamen:
Matrosenobergefreiter Georg Eisen
Matrosenobergefreiter Otto Frentzen
Matrosenobergefreiter Carl Soden
Matrosenobergefreiter Heinz Radloff
Seamen:
Matrosengefreiter Fritz Frank
Matrosengefreiter Hans Kelmann
Matrosengefreiter Horst Leidig
Matrosengefreiter Amelung Baur
Matrosengefreiter Alfred Eick
Matrosengefreiter Herbert Maddaus
Matrosengefreiter Anton Bielig
Matrosengefreiter Jost Panknin
Matrosengefreiter Amelung Wagner
Matrosengefreiter Fritz Brandi
Matrosengefreiter Gunther Kraus
Matrosengefreiter Hannes Muder
Matrosengefreiter Fritz Janz
Matrosengefreiter Ernst Soden
Matrosengefreiter Ulrich Balke
Matrosengefreiter Georg Hertin
Matrosengefreiter Johannes Lasch
Matrosengefreiter Heinz Schönerr
Matrosengefreiter Walter Merten
Matrosengefreiter Karl Forstner
Matrosengefreiter Robert Reche
Matrosengefreiter Fritz Kilimann
11/29/39
1828 Underway from Wilhelmshaven docks.
1839 Left harbor.
1842 Course 070, Ahead 1/3.
1916 Course 020.
1918 Passed into the Jade.
1928 Course 000.
1947 Course 320.
2055 Passed Schillighörn, entered North Sea.
2131 Passed Wangerooge-goodbye Deutschland.
2156 Lost sight of mainland.
11/30/39
1800 Position Report: AN63. Fuel 98%. Clear, Sea 3, Wind 10 m/s, Waves 1/2 meter.
12/1/39
0331 Ship spotted Bearing 001.
0332 Set up UZO.
0333 Small merchant, Range about 9000.
0334 Heading away from us. Ahead Full to overtake.
0335 Range about 6000.
0400 Range 3500.
0415 Overhauling him now.
0417 He's German-one of ours!.
0420 Returning to Course 330, Ahead 1/3.
0517 He's out of sight now.
1626 Ship spotted, Bearing 043. Going to investigate.
1653 Norwegian. Returning to course.
1800 Position Report: AN29. Fuel 96%. Clear, Sea 4, Wind 16 m/s, Waves 1 meter.
12/2/39
0404 Ship Spotted, Bearing 340. Set Course 310 to intercept.
0406 Set up UZO.
0407 Small one, heading right for us.
0409 Appears to be a fishing boat of some kind.
0415 NO! He's a very small merchant-can see his forward loading crane.
0418 My God, It's another German. What's he doing out this far? Coastal Sailors trading with the Norwegians, hoping the British don't have patrols out this far. I'm sure they're glad to see us.
1800 Position Report: AF76. Fuel 94%. Clear, Sea 5, Wind 13 m/s, Waves 2m.
12/3/39
1800 Position Report: AF75, 132km north of Orkneys. Fuel 92%. Overcast, Sea 5, Wind 14 m/s, Waves 2m.
12/4/39
1800 Position Report: AN11. Fuel 90%. Rain, Sea 5, Wind 12 m/s, Waves 2m.
12/5/39
1359 Radio: Enemy Task Force 43 km West of us, heading South at high speed. Unless they turn our way we'll never see them.
1800 Position Report: AM33. Fuel 88%. Rain, Sea 2, Wind 8 m/s, Waves 1/4 meter.
12/6/39
0800 Clouds have lifted, sunny again. Wind has died; dead calm.
1800 Position Report: AM02. Fuel 86%. Clear, Sea 0, Wind 0 m/s, Waves 0. We're making exceptionally good time this trip.
12/7/39
0437 Ship spotted-Merchant, Bearing 019. Set course 275.
0433 It's a small coaster, about 3000 meters off.
0438 Set course 330, Ahead Standard.
0440 Range 1400. Can't see his flag.
0450 Range 580. Can see flag now; he's British. Going in for the kill.
0453 Firing Tube 1, Range 470. Hit!
0454 Target burning, slowed to 1 knot.
0500 Target has stopped.
0502 Started moving again.
0505 Stopped again, listing heavily to starboard. Tube 1 reloaded.
0507 Crew are abandoning ship, lifeboats in water.
0509 Target capsized, still afloat.
0512 Target finally sank, 19 minutes after being torpedoed. Returning to course, Ahead 1/3.
1800 Position Report: AM35. Fuel 84%. Clear, Sea 2, Wind 6 m/s, Waves 1/4 meter.
12/8/39
1800 Position Report: AM29. Fuel 82%. Clear, Sea 6, Wind 18 m/s, Waves 3m.
12/9/39
1800 Position Report: AM49. Fuel 80%. Clear, Sea 6, Wind 16 m/s, Waves 3m.
12/10/39
1800 Position Report: BE33.Fuel 78%. Clear, Sea 5, Wind 14 m/s, Waves 2m.
12/11/39
0340 Radio: U-30 returning with mechanical problems. He says one of his exhaust ports won't close and they can't dive.
0932 Lookouts report ship-Bearing 042.
0933 Set up UZO.
0934 It's a big cargo ship, heading West. Set Course 270, Ahead Standard.
1017 Passing him on parallel course. Range about 7000, bearing 270, directly off to our port side.
1045 Range now 9000, Bearing 240.
1053 Lost sight of him. Preparing to turn in for attack.
1057 Set course 180.
1058 We have him in sight again.
1100 Range 9600, Bearing 320.
1105 Range 8000, Bearing 319.
1110 Range 6000, Bearing 316. Taking down UZO.
1111 Coming to Periscope Depth.
1114 Set Tubes 2 and 3 for fast run.
1115 Range 4400, Bearing 316.
1120 Range 3200, Bearing 320.
1122 Range 2500, Bearing 324.
1126 Range 1700, Bearing 330.
1128 Range 1250, Bearing 345. Flooding Tubes 2 and 3.
1130 Range 950, Bearing 355. Firing Tube 2. Firing Tube 3.
1131 Hit! Both hit!
1132 Target broken in half, sinking quickly. Maybe we didn't need both eels.
1135 Surfacing, returning to course, Ahead 1/3.
1800 Position Report: BE63. Fuel 75%. Clear, Sea 5, Wind 14 m/s, Waves 2m.
12/12/39
0049 Arrived at BF47. Set Ahead Slow for patrol. We are roughly 1200km west of La Rochelle. If I remember my Dumas correctly, that is the town the King and
Cardinal were trying to drive the Huguenots out of.
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 73%. Clear, Sea 5, Wind 13 m/s, Waves 2m.
12/13/39
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 72%. Clear, Sea 5, Wind 13 m/s, Waves 2m.
12/14/39
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 71%. Clear, Sea 6, Wind 20 m/s, Waves 3m.
12/15/39
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 70%. Clear, Sea 5, Wind 14 m/s, Waves 2m.
12/16/39
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 69%. Clear, Sea 6, Wind 19 m/s, Waves 3m.
12/17/39
1300 Radio: Contact Report-Merchant, 30 km NE our position, Heading SW; right toward us. Set course 040, Ahead 1/3.
1357 Spotted him-dead ahead.
1400 Appears to be a small merchant, about 8 km ahead. He's coming to us. Ordered Periscope Depth.
1405 Range 6000.
1410 Range 5000.
1415 Range 3500. Ahead Slow.
1420 Range 2200, Bearing 350. Changed Course to 310.
1425 Range 1000. Ordered Attack Stations, turning into him, flooding Tubes 1 and 4.
1427 Range 700. It's taking us forever to turn at this speed.
1428 In position now. Range 410, Bearing 038.
1429 Range 295-too close! Left Full Rudder.
1430 Range 150. Hope he didn't see the periscope.
1432 Range 220. Have to go for a trailing shot.
1433 Firing Tube 4, Range 300. Hit!
1435 He's burning, making 1 knot. May have to surface and use deck gun.
1438 He's stopped now.
1446 Tube 4 loaded. Thirteen minutes-not bad.
1526 We've been circling him for almost an hour; he's showing no sign of sinking.
1528 Surfaced, deck gun crew preparing. Merchant crew hurriedly taking to their boats.
1531 Opening fire with 8.8cm gun.
1532 First shot missed. Next four right on target.
1540 We've put more that 30 8.8cm rounds into him, and except for a couple of deck fires he looks no worse.
1547 Several fires on board now.
1553 The damned thing is on fire from stem to stern. 50 rounds now, and it's still not going down.
1603 67 rounds in it, plus the one that missed, and it looks like it might finally be sinking.
1604 They'll never get back on board and put those fires out. Returning to patrol.
1624 It appears that the "ough nut" finally cracked. That troublesome merchant finally sank.
1800 Position Report: BF47 Fuel 67%. Clear, Sea 0, Wind 0 m/s, Waves 0.
12/18/39
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 66%. Clear, Sea 0, Wind 0 m/s, Waves 0.
12/19/39
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 65%. Clear, Sea 0, Wind 0 m/s, Waves 0.
12/20/39
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 64%. Clear, Sea 0, Wind 0 m/s, Waves 0.
12/21/39
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 63%. Clear, Sea 1, Wind 3 m/s, Waves 0m.
12/22/39
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 62%. Clear, Sea 1, Wind 2 m/s, Waves 0m.
2307 Matrosengefreiter Eick spotted a ship in the dark, Bearing 253. Set Course 170, Ahead 1/3.
2310 It's been three minutes, and no one else has seen it.
2313 Spotted again, this time by my number one, Leutnant Witte.
2314 Setting up UZO.
2316 It's a fairly large cargo ship of some kind.
2320 Range is now about 8 km.
2323 Moon is starting to rise; better make this fast or he'll see us and run.
2325 Range is unchanged. Set Course 100.
2350 Range is now 4700. Can see him without the binoculars.
12/23/39
0000 Range now 2700.
0015 Range down to 1400. Ordered crew to Action Stations.
0017 Set Course 070.
0019 Range now 1300. Perfect postion. Ordered Engines Stopped.
0021 NO! He's not heading toward us, he's heading away! My fault, I completely misjudged the angle of approach. Ahead Standard, Course 340.
0025 Starting to catch up with him. Range 1100, Bearing 070.
0028 Far enough ahead now. Range 1100, Bearing 095. He's not acting like he's seen us. Turning toward him again.
0032 Firing Tube 1, Range 750.
0033 Hit!
0034 No visible change. Firing Tube 2.
0035 Hit! ACH! That set something off. There's an explosion with a big ball of fire.
0037 Funny-after that one fireball there has been no further sign of fires on board. Going to set up for the stern tube.
0040 Almost in position, but now he's slowing.
0044 Tube 1 loaded. Target making 1 knot, listing to port.
0046 Target has stopped.
0050 Down by the stern, aft deck awash on port side.
0052 Smoke has stopped from the funnel, crew abandoning ship.
0115 Crew safely away.
0130 Ship still listing, but showing no sign of sinking.
0200 Still afloat. Going to give it a little help.
0202 Opening up with deck gun.
0215 20 rounds into the waterline, and no change. Going to use the stern tube after all.
0232 In position for stern shot.
0233 Firing Tube 5.
0234 Target definitely sinking now. Returning to patrol.
0300 Stopping to load aft external tube.
0415 External loaded, getting underway again.
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 60%. Clear, Sea 2, Wind 8 m/s, Waves 1/4m.
12/24/39
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 59%. Clear, Sea 2, Wind 6 m/s, Waves 1/4m.
12/25/39
0630 Radio: Christmas greetings from BdU!
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 58%. Clear, Sea 0, Wind 1 m/s, Waves 0m.
12/26/39
0001 Christmas passed without incident.
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 57%. Sky beautifully clear, but sea still eerily calm; Wind 0, Waves 0.
12/27/39
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 56%. Clear, Sea 0, Wind 3 m/s, Waves 0m.
12/28/39
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 55%. Sky clear, Sea 10. Diving to 70 meters.
12/29/39
0454 Radio: U-30 reports attacking two British Battlecruisers. Only scored one hit, but still a bold move.
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 54%. Partly Cloudy, Sea 1, Wind 4 m/s, Waves a few centimeters high, just a trace of movement.
12/30/39
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 53%. Partly Cloudy, Sea 2, Wind 6 m/s, Waves 1/4 meter.
12/31/39
1800 Position Report: BF46. Fuel 52%. Partly Cloudy, Sea 2, Wind 7 m/s, Waves 1/4m.
1/1/40
The new year brings nothing new, just another day beginning with beautiful weather.
0800 Over my breakfast I'm handed a radio report more than an hour old. It's nothing, an order from BdU to U-37 to return home, time 0634.
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 51%. Partly Cloudy, Sea 1, Wind 1 m/s, Waves just a trace.
2011 Radio: British Warship in AN28. 1400 km away, but heading WSW. He could come to us, but unlikely.
1/2/40
0647 Rousted out of my bunk by by a sailor telling me "Ship spotted, herr Kaleun!".
0657 I hate to admit it, but after nine minutes on the bridge I still don't see it.
0710 Someone else shouts out, and at last I see him.
0712 Setting up UZO.
0713 Can't tell type for sure, but it looks like a merchant.
0730 Definitely a merchant; seems about 8 km off. Increasing to standard speed.
0745 Still hard to tell in the dark. He's moving off to our port; will circle south of him and get ahead.
0800 It's another huge cargo ship, about 6 km North of us now. Why do they let these things go out alone? Well, I'm not going to complain to loudly-their bad judgement is our good luck.
0815 We're pulling ahead now, range back up to 8 km.
0830 Range now 11 km, turning North to intercept.
0845 Range down to 9 km.
0900 Starting to grow light on our starboard quarter, but sun is still not up. Range 7 km.
0906 Range just under 5000. Diving to Periscope Depth.
0910 Range 4500.
0915 Range 4100. Set Course 315.
0918 Range 3400. Ahead Slow.
0920 Range 2800, Bearing 292.
0922 Range 2500, Bearing still 292. We're approaching too fast.
0924 Range 2000, Bearing still 292. Slowed to 2 knots.
0926 Range now 1600, Bearing 297. Better.
0928 Range 1200, Bearing 305. It's a big one all right, and definitely British.
0930 Range 900, Bearing 316.
0931 Range 740, Bearing 330. Flooding Tubes 1 and 2.
0932 Firing Tube 1, Range 600, Bearing 350.
0933 Hit! Directly amidships, just below the funnel!
0934 Target slowing. Will shadow and watch. Set Course 060, still 2 knots.
0938 Target listing slightly, making two knots.
0945 Target Stopped.
0948 Tube 1 loaded.
1000 Listing is more prominent; entire starboard side awash.
1030 No change in target condition, but crew are abandoning ship.
1045 Coming about to set up stern shot.
1113 Crew well away. Firing Tube 5, Range 450.
1125 Target is now upright again, but very low in water.
1200 No change. British crew far away. Surfacing.
1300 Still no change. Ordered 20 rounds from deck gun.
1305 Ceased fire, still no change.
1312 It has started raining, wind and waves picking up rapidly.
1400 Sky is now overcast, wind and waves quite heavy. Target still showing no sign of ever sinking. Circling to use forward tubes again.
1411 Firing Tube 2, Range about 400.
1412 That did it: target starting to capsize.
1414 Target finally sank. Getting underway again.
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 48%. Overcast, Raining, Sea 8, Wind 22 m/s, Waves 6m. diving to 70 meters to escape the weather.
1/3/40
1200 Surfacing to recharge.
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 46%. Rain, Sea 8, Wind 24 m/s, Waves 6m. Diving to 70.
1/4/40
1200 Surfacing.
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 45%. Overcast, Sea 8, Wind 24 m/s, Waves 6m. Diving to 70.
1/5/40
1200 Surfacing.
1800 Position Report: BF46. Fuel 44%. Overcast, Sea 6, Wind 17 m/s, Waves 3m. Diving to 70.
1/6/40
1200 Surfacing.
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 43%. Overcast, Sea 8, Wind 24 m/s, Waves 6m. Diving to 70.
1/7/40
1200 Surfacing to recharge.
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 42%. Rain, fog and high sea continue. Sea 10, Wind 29 m/s, Waves 9m. Diving to 70 meters.
1/8/40
1200 Surfacing.
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 41%. Rain, fog, Sea 8, Wind 25, Waves 3m. Diving to 70.
1/9/40
1200 Surfacing.
1800 Position Report: BF47. Fuel 40%. Rain, Sea 10, Wind 20 m/s, Waves 9m. Diving back to 70. Turning toward home.
1/10/40
1200 Surfacing. Ahead 1/3.
1800 Position Report: BF41. Fuel 39%. Rain, Sea 10, Wind 31 m/s, Waves 9m. Diving to 70, Ahead Slow.
1/11/40
1200 Surfacing, Ahead 1/3.
1616 Radio: Convoy, 200 km ENE our position, Heading SSW. Set course 090, Ahead Standard. Miserable weather, but it's a convoy so we have to try.
1800 Position Report: BF14. Fuel 38%. Overcast, Sea 10, Wind 30 m/s, Waves 9m.
1/12/40
0000 Diving to 20 meters for sound check.
0030 No sound contact, no visability above. Returning to homeward course, 70 meters, Ahead Slow.
1200 Surfacing to recharge, Ahead 1/3.
1800 Position Report: BF11. Fuel 37%. Overcast, Sea 10, Wind 30 m/s, Waves 9m. Diving to 70, Ahead Slow.
1/13/40
1200 Surfacing, Ahead 1/3.
1800 Position Report: AM87. Fuel 36%. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 25 m/s, Waves 7m. Diving to 70, Ahead Slow.
1819 Sound reports a warship, Bearing 355. Coming to Periscope Depth, Ahead 1/3.
1823 Nothing to see yet.
1830 Sound reports him at 350 and closing. Still can't see anything but huge waves.
1840 Course change to 305. If it's a destroyer he should have trouble tracking us in this weather. If it's a cruiser or larger, well, we'll try.
1850 Set course 270. He's moving from our right to left, but still in front of us.
1853 Now he's moving away. We'll probably never see him now.
1925 We've lost contact. Diving to 70 meters, Ahead Slow, returning to course.
1/14/40
1200 Surfacing, Ahead 1/3.
1800 Position Report: AM84. Fuel 35%. Overcast, Sea 8, Wind 24 m/s, Waves 6m. 50 meters depth should be enough. Ahead Slow.
1/15/40
1200 Surfacing, Ahead 1/3.
1800 Position Report: AM57. Fuel 34%. Overcast, Sea 6, Wind 18 m/s, Waves 2m. Staying surfaced-we want to get home!
1/16/40
1800 Position Report: AM28. Fuel 32%. Rain, Sea 8, Wind 23 m/s, Waves 6m. Staying on surface anyway.
1/17/40
1800 Position Report: AM35. Fuel 30%. Rain, Sea 8, Wind 24 m/s, Waves 6m.
1/18/40
1800 Position Report: AN11. Fuel 28%. Overcast, Sea 7, Wind 22 m/s, Waves 5m.
1/19/40
1800 Position Report: AF78. Fuel 26%. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 28 m/s, Waves 8m.
1/20/40
1800 Position Report: AF87. Fuel 24%. Raining, Sea 7, Wind 21 m/s, Waves 5m.
1/21/40
1800 Position Report: AN31. Fuel 22%. Rain, Sea 10, Wind 30 m/s, Waves 9m. Only 30 meters of water below us, nowhere to dive to escape these pounding waves.
1/22/40
1800 Position Report: AN91. Fuel 20%. Rain, Sea 10, Wind 30 m/s, Waves 9m.
1/23/40
0655 Not sure of exact position-haven't seen the sun in three weeks. Still, we should be okay for entering Wilhelmshaven.
0759 Soundman picked up fast screws. On the bridge we can't see a thing.
0820 I know were inside the Jade-water much smoother now.
0901 ACH! Schnellboot came out of the fog, almost hit us! Idiots!
0930 Rain, fog, can't see 200 meters in this mess!
0936 Spotted lighthouse! At least now we know where we are.
0945 Ordered all hands to docking stations.
1008 Finally saw something: destroyer anchored nearby.
1010 Can see docks and buildings now.
1014 Something burning in the distance-can't make out what it is. Weather too bad for an air raid, and we'd know if enemy ships got in.
1036 Tied up at dock. Patrol over.
Confirmed sinkings:
12/7/39: British merchant SS Waxhaws; 2,294 tons.
12/11/39: British merchant SS Joppa; 4,025 tons.
12/17/39: British merchant SS Volo; 3,234 tons.
12/23/39: British merchant SS Biter; 4,839 tons.
1/2/40: British merchant SS Rothermere; 5,630 tons.
Total: 20,022 tons.
January 23, 1940
1. Herbert Schultze .................77,548
2. Günther Prien......................60,588
3. Wilhelm Rollmann................40,667
4. Werner Hartmann...............35,306
5. Günther Berke**.................33,799
6. Heinrich Liebe......................29,967
7. Viktor Schütze.....................21,227
8. Berthold Cranmer*..............17,901
9. Hans Jenisch..........................8,021
10. Joachim Schepke..................6,812
11. Otto Kretschmer ..................4,426
12. Bruno Asche*.......................3,074
13. Jürgen Oesten......................2,434
14. Wolfgang Lüth......................2,367
15. Ernst Bauer.............................345
1/15/40
I've been promoted to Oberleutnant. The chief, my number one and I have all been awarded the 2nd class Iron Cross.
It turns out the smoke and flames we saw came from one of the warehouses-they had an accidental fire. Apparently some oily rags set a building full of tires on fire.