[Kapitän]

Wed., 17.1.40 - Deutsche Bucht

0340 - Norderney - Outgoing F.T.:
Arrival Whvn III,1300h. Requesting Escort. "Gelhaar"

0359 - Qu. A N 9585 - Incoming F.T.:
Gelhaar: Due to ice, one barrage breaker and two tug boats at Roter Sand, 1030h. - B.d.U. -

1030 - Roter Sand - Taken in tug by escort. Installed bow ice protector. - 1145 - Schillig Roads

1200 - Qu. A N 9811 - Days Run: ↗ 184.7 sm
30 cbm. 2 external Ato. WSW4, Sea3, clear, >1000mb, good visibility, -7°C
Sunrise 1127 - Sunset 1902

1330 - Entered port via Whvm III.

1340 - Moored boat in U-Boot base. Cut off engines. Closed comm channels.

1345 - Greeting at the pier.
Presentation of Ob.Ltnt.-Ing. & L.I. Paul Schlicht and Btsmt.& Nr.3 Ewald-Rudolf-Fischer with the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (E.K.II), as well as, all crew members that have completed two war patrols, with the U-Boots-Kriegsabzeichen in Bronze.

Special experiences:

The boat functioned satisfactorily. There was poor weather with strong southwest winds, medium swell and freezing rain. No traffic was found in the initial operational area but the alternative patrol zone along the west coast of Portugal, offered many profitable targets. The fact that the crew was on their 2nd war patrol could be felt throughout. The normal routine was without major problems or damage.

Only one enemy naval surface vessels was encountered, when sighted in the North Sea during the return cruise, without being engaged by it. The enemy has increased its air surveillance, which consequently, led to the boat running aground in shallow water once.

Duration of mission: 45 days 23 hours 0 minutes.
Of which surfaced: 31 days 13 hours 12 minutes.
Of which submerged: 14 days 9 hours 48 minutes.

Total traveled surfaced: 5535 nm.
Total traveled submerged: 820 nm.
Total traveled Overall: 6355 nm.

Crash dives: 5

Success of Mission:
Hits: 5
Misses: 1
Failures: 6 (3 premature explosion, 1 understeered, 1 dud, 1 surface runner)
Total: 12

Note: All premature detonations and one surface runner were G 7 e, Pi-1 K-b, MZ; understeered and dud torpedoes were G 7 a, Pi-1 K-a, MZ, Vt30.

Ships sunk 3.
Estimate of sunken tonnage is somewhat imprecise.
Total estimate 19000 GRT.
Also, 1 aircraft shot down: French Latecoere 298

Gelhaar
Ob.Ltnt.z.S. & Cmdr.