Bruno Asche
Patrol 4: February 12, 1940 Game played February 6-11, 2006
U-14's third patrol lasted from December 7, 1939, to January 1, 1940; 25 days. During that time we fired three torpedoes, sinking two small merchants-one of them apparantly Polish, attempting to get to England after hiding in a Norwegian harbor for several weeks after the surrender. We were once again trying to spy on any British attempts to send troopships to Norway. Because of the weather this operation bore no fruit, and we were ordered to return home early. We spent 42 days in port, during which time we painted the emblem of the newly renamed 1st Flotilla on our conning tower and installed a 2cm Flak gun on the foredeck. Our navigator, Erich Steimle, was transferred to another boat. His replacement, Matthias Marbach, is a former schoolteacher. His knowledge of naval history and good jokes have made him an instant hit with the men.
Oberleutnant z.S. Bruno Asche
U-14: 1st Flotilla, Kiel
U-14 crew, February 12, 1940:
Captain: Oberleutnant z.S. Bruno Asche
Chief: Oberleutnant z.S. Günther Loh
1WO: Leutnant z.S. Werner Scholz
2WO: Leutnant z. S. Heinz Schmidt
Navigator: Oberfähnrich z. S. Matthias Marbach
Senior Helmsman/3rd Watch Leader: Stabsoberbootsmann Emil Stephan
Helmsman: Bootsmann Josef Sander
Radioman: Bootsmann Karl Hänsel
Radioman: Bootsmann Reinhard Brummer
Machinist: Stabsoberbootsmann August Hermann
2nd Machinist: Stabsoberbootsmann Herbert Thomsen
Torpedoman: Bootsmann August Spahr
Torpedoman: Bootsmann Peter Heyer
General Petty Officers:
Bootsmann Hans Mohr
Bootsmann Henning Hessler
Leading Seamen:
Matrosenhauptgefreiter Max Eisenstein
Matrosenhauptgefreiter Kurt Böhling
Senior Seamen:
Matrosenobergefreiter Erich Richter
Matrosenobergefreiter Heinz Witt
Matrosenobergefreiter Walter Jordon
Matrosenobergefreiter Otto Rasch
Seamen:
Matrosengefreiter Herbert Leunert
Matrosengefreiter Josef Suhren
Matrosengefreiter Martin Maus
Matrosengefreiter Jurgen Schendel
Matrosengefreiter Reiner Hansen
Matrosengefreiter Max Claussen
Matrosengefreiter Philipp Bahn
Matrosengefreiter Martin Maus
2/12/40
0600 Departed Kiel docks.
0617 Passed lighthouse. Ahead 1/3.
0644 Passed outer bar.
0721 Departed Kiel bay. Weather is partly cloudy, a very gentle rain is falling-almost less rain than mist.
0800 Opened orders: Our destination this time is AN55, the area off the Tees River. Shipping travelling down the coast might stop at Hartlepoole, or even go into
the bay to Stockton-on-Tees. Who knows what we'll find here.
2/13/40
0600 First Position Report: AO72. Fuel 95%. Sky is now clear, Sea 5, 2-meter waves, wind 16m/s.
2/14/40
0600 Position Report: AO44. Fuel 90%. Clear, Sea 5, wind 14 m/s, waves 2m.
2/15/40
0600 Position Report: AN38. Fuel 85%. Sky Clear, Sea 3, wind 5 m/s, waves 1/2m.
2/16/40
0420 Awakened to sighting report. He's far off-if not for the bright starry night we never would have seen him. Ordered Full Speed, Course 220.
0425 Returning to Course 255. We'll pass him before dawn.
0524 Passing target ship now.
0600 Position Report: AN37. Fuel 80%. Clear, Sea 0, wind and waves both 0-absolute calm.
0603 Changed course to 150 degrees.
0620 Set Course 180. We'll intercept him soon.
0624 Set up UZO.
0625 Can see now it's a small tramp steamer, range about 6000.
0630 Range down to 5000. Slowed to 1/3 Speed.
0635 Range now 4000, still not precise.
0640 Range 2700. Ordered Periscope Depth; don't want him to see us in this bright night.
0645 Range 2000. Losing the angle, ordered Ahead Full.
0650 1100 meters. Getting close.
0652 Range now 750. Ordered all three tubes flooded.
0654 Damn! A Norwegian! Are the British hiring them to smuggle in supplies? Obviously on a course for Old Blighty.
0655 Ordered 20 meters, Ahead 1/3. We'll cruise underwater until he's out of sight.
1200 Periscope Depth.
1201 Nothing to be seen. Surfacing.
2/17/40
0600 Position Report: AN61. Fuel 75%. Clear, sea still calm.
2123 Entered AN55, Ahead Slow for patrol. These are dangerous waters for a U-boat. Only 70 meters here, probably less everywhere else.
2/18/40
0052 Woken up with another ship spotting.
0054 I see him now, Bearing 290. Set course 165, Ahead 1/3.
0100 He's either very small or very far away. The sky is bright, with a big half-moon showing.
0115 Ordered Ahead Full.
0130 His course is carrying him to our left. Good-we should pass him at a good distance.
0215 Changed Course to 120.
0330 Set Course 130.
0415 Even with him now. Set Course 100. The moon has set, but it's still bright out.
0430 Set Course 090.
0500 Set Course 060.
0510 It's another small coaster. Periscope Depth, Ahead Slow.
0515 Set-up good, Range 1800.
0520 Range 1100, bright enough to see his British flag at this range.
0522 Range 575.
0523 Range 420. All tubes flooded.
0524 Firing tube 1, Range 325. What's that sound? Dud!
0525 Firing tube 2. Range is 280, but it's a trailing shot.
0526 This one hit!
0527 Target slowed, one small fire seen.
0530 Target still moving, but very slowly.
0535 Target stopped.
0539 Tube 1 reloaded.
0550 Target's list is increasing, starboard deck now awash.
0600 Position Report: AN56. Fuel 70%. Overcast, Sea 3, wind 8 m/s, wanves 1/2m. We chased him a long way.
0824 Target finally capsized and sank. Returning to patrol, Ahead Slow.
2/19/40
0600 Position Report: AN55. Fuel 70%. Overcast, Sea 5, wind 14 m/s, waves 2m.
2/20/40
0600 Positon Report: AN55. Fuel 68%. Clear, Sea 4, wind 11 m/s, waves 2m.
2/21/40
0600 Position Report: AN55. Fuel 66%. Sea 5, wind 13 m/s, waves 3m.
2/22/40
0600 Position Report: AN55. Fuel 64%. Clear, Sea 8, wind 24 m/s, waves 6m.
0800 Too clear, too close to shore. Diving to 20 meters until dark.
0952 Sound reports contact, probably merchant, Bearing 030. Coming up to periscope depth.
0954 Nothing to see. Back to 20m.
1005 Periscope depth.
1007 Smoke, Bearing 025. Too far away to warrant surfacing this close to shore. There will be others.
1855 Contact, Bearing 069. Surfacing, Ahead Standard, Course 160.
1930 Have seen nothing yet, but recieved report of ship ahead.
2324 Finally spotted him-behind us!. Set Course 320, Ahead Full.
2346 Just a fishing boat. Returning to patrol, Ahead Slow.
2/23/40
0600 Position Report: AN55. Fuel 62%. Clear, Sea 8, wind 25 m/s, waves 6m. Diving to 20.
2000 Surfacing to recharge.
2/24/40
0600 Position Report: AN55. Fuel 60%. Clear, Sea 6, wind 18 m/s, waves 6m. Diving to 20.
0714 Sound contact, type unknown. Coming to Periscope Depth.
0716 Just a smudge of smoke on the horizon. Set Course 210, Ahead Standard.
0718 Sound reports it as a merchant.
0725 Can see it's a tug boat. Returning to patrol, Ahead Slow, 20 meters depth.
2/25/40
0600 Position Report: AN55. Fuel 58%. Clear, Sea 7, wind 18 m/s, waves 20m.
2000 Surfacing. Have decided to get as close as possible to Hartlepool and see exactly what's there.
2/26/40
0125 Ship spotted, roughly 40 km from Hartlepool.
0128 Can't tell what it is. Diving to Periscope Depth.
0133 Sound contact-merchant.
0134 Can see what may be smoke, nothing more.
0200 Have lost sight of the near one. Surfacing.
0350 Ship nearby. Periscope Depth.
0353 Destroyer, Range 3000, Bearing 310. Sound has another one at 056. Can't see him.
0357 Diving to 15 meters, silent running. Don't know how deep the bottom is here, and don't dare echo sound for it.
0415 Periscope Depth.
0417 Our destroyer is now far to starboard. Another one ahead. Can see the harbor lighthouse.
0435 Sound has 3 warship contacts. I can see them all.
0500 Can see Hartlepool. Moon is about to set.
0600 10 km from harbor, 3 contacts, no sighting. Surfacing to make sure we have maximum battery and air available.
0635 Have spotted armed trawler patrolling harbor entrance, roughly 5000 meters ahead.
0645 Trawler now 4000 meters ahead. Coming to Periscope Depth.
0730 Only 1 kilometer from harbor entrance. There are a handful of merchants there, the usual assortment; nothing like the buildup OKM was expecting. Heading back out.
0753 Sound reports warship nearby, moving fast. Did the trawler see out periscope?
0800 Taking a peek. Trawler is only 600 meters behind us, making 10 to 12 knots.
0815 Took another look. Trawler now has a destroyer helping him, about 1800 meters behind.
0830 Destroyer now 2800 meters behind. Turning East, Course 090.
0842 Sound reports warship closing, Bearing 140.
0900 Warship has passed us, now 040. Taking a look. Destroyer, Range 4700, Bearing 040, heading away.
1000 Destroyer now 5000 meters behind us. We're reasonably safe now.
1116 Sound reports warship closing on us, Bearing 013. Took a look. Smoke column, very far ahead.
1151 Sound reports warship, Bearing 346. Nothing there, but he didn't hear the destroyer 1500 behind us! Periscope down, Silent Running.
1152 Don't think he saw periscope; he's still moving slowly away.
1200 He's now 4800 meters behind us, heading away. Normal Running.
1600 Turning ENE, Heading 060.
2000 Took a look around prior to surfacing. Good thing; there's an armed patrol trawler 2300 meters behind us.
2100 Took another look. Nothing there, surfacing.
2105 Very belated Position Report: AN55. Fuel 56%. Clear, Sea 4, wind 12 m/s, waves 1m.
2110 Sent double-encoded Mission Report: Successful Recon Harbor H, AN54. 5 merchant, 3 patrol ships, no activity.
2/27/40
0350 Radio: Ship 40 km NNE our position, Heading ESE. Set Course 000, Ahead Standard.
0515 At course intersect point, set Course 070.
0600 Position Report: AN55. Fuel 54%. Clear, Sea 4, wind 12 m/s, waves 1m.
0636 We've passed the coordinates at which he was originally reported. Either I miscalculated or he was misreported. Either way, we missed him.
0800 Diving to 20 meters to avoid air patrols.
2000 Surfacing.
2/28/40
0600 Position Report: AN55. Fuel 52%. Clear, Sea 4, wind 12 m/s, waves 1m.
0800 Diving to 20 meters.
1446 Sound reports merchant contact, Bearing 349. Coming to Periscope Depth.
1448 Set Course 250, Ahead Full, Surfacing.
1500 Getting closte. Periscope Depth, Ahead Flank, Course 225.
1502 Medium-size cargo ship, Range 3500, Bearing 050, making 9 knots.
1505 Range 2500, Bearing 045.
1510 Range 1150, Bearing 023.
1511 Firing Tube 2-last eel-Range 900.
1512 Hit!
1513 Target slowed some-following.
1530 Target listing, making 5 knots.
1700 Target back up to 6 knots.
1900 Target slowed to 5 knots again.
2000 Have been watchin distant smoke column for last 45 minutes. Doubt that it's a destroyer or he would be here looking for us.
2100 Target making 6 knots again. Breaking off surveillance and heading home.
2108 Smoke column was merchant; heading our way but nothing we can do but watch him go by.
2/29/40
0600 Position Report: AN56. Fuel 45%. Clear, Sea 6, wind 18 m/s, waves 3m.
3/1/40
0600 Position Report: AN62. Fuel 40%. Clear, Sea 6, wind 17 m/s, waves 3m.
3/2/40
2200 Position Report: AN38. Fuel 35%. Rain, Sea 7, wind 22 m/s, waves 4m.
3/3/40
0600 Position Report: AN36. Fuel 30%. Rain, Sea 7, wind 24 m/s, waves 4m.
3/4/40
0600 Position Report: AO44. Fuel 25%. Rain, Sea 7, wind 23 m/s, waves 4m.
3/5/40
0600 Position Report: AO74. Fuel 20% Rain, Sea 8, wind 27 m/s, waves 6m.
1828 ACH! Almost rammed an outbound freighter! Have to be careful in this rain and fog.
1835 Should be in Kiel Bay.
1840 Another close call, this time with a harber patrol boat. Slowing to 5 knots.
1945 Can see lighthouse.
2012 Passed into inner harbor. Slowing to 2 knots; feeling our way across the harbor.
2032 Tied up at Kiel docks.
Confirmed sinking:
2/18/40: British merchant SS Raton Pass; 2,839 tons.
March 5, 1940
1. Herbert Schultze................109,074
2. Günther Prien.......................60,588
3. Werner Hartmann................59,845
4. Wilhelm Rollmann.................46,292
5. Günther Berke*....................33,799
6. Viktor Schütze......................33,209
7. Heinrich Liebe.......................29,967
8. Berthold Cranmer*...............29,328
9. Ernst Bauer..........................16,434
10. Joachim Schepke.................12,546
11. Hans Jenisch.......................12,326
12. Otto Kretschmer .................12,026
13. Jürgen Oesten......................8,137
14. Bruno Asche**.....................5,913
15. Wolfgang Lüth......................3,580
Security Recon photos of Hartlepool.
3/7/40 Have been awarded Iron Cross 1st Class.