[ninja turtle]

War Patrol 1
U-2, 1st Flotilla

Kommandant: Kapitänleutnant z. s. Rosenbaum

Beginning: 1.3.1940
Ending: 29.3.1940

From: Kiel

Mission Orders: Patrol the western approaches to The Skaggerak

Loadout: 5 x G7a torpedoes

News for February 1940: British Destroyer "Daring" sunk by U-23. 5 U-boats lost for 182,369 GRT.

1.3.40.

0450 Wind 3, Sea 3, light fog, Vis.very good

U-2 and crew fit for first patrol. Navigator ordered to plot course through Kiel Canal. Speed-KF. 20 hours expected to travel through Canal at 4 knots.

2.3.40.

0250 Out of Kiel Canal. Course set for patrol grid. ETA-55 hours at 4 knots KF. The past 22 hours has been uneventful and with very good visibility overall. Usual sea traffic observed throughout the canal.
0554 AN9683 Ship spotted at bearing 07°. Course set to investigate.
Increased speed to HF.
0610 ID: German Cargo. Reduced speed to KF and returned to original course.
0616 Ship spotted on bearing 01°.
0624 ID: German Minesweeper.
0635 Ship spotted on bearing 327°. Course set to investigate.
0649 ID: Finnish Cargo heading ESE. Returned to original course due to the merchant travelling east.
0813 Ship #1 spotted on bearing 217°. Course set to investigate.
1020 Also 3 x anchored ships spotted at Cuxhaven.
1025 Ship #1 ID: Finland Cargo. Signalled for ship to send papers for investigation as vessel was heading west.
1035 Cargo was found to be non-contraband. Changed course for Cuxhaven in order to observe anchored ships.
1115 Nothing to report. Returned to original patrol course heading 350° at KF. Weather conditions have not changed. Have stayed on the surface finding it unnecessary to submerge due to very good visibility.

3.3.40.

0000 AN9339 Continued to travel at KF.
0400 Nothing to report.
0800 "
1200 "
1600 "
2000 AN9336 Visibility continued as very good. Have continued with our course to patrol grid travelling at KF to conserve fuel.

4.3.40.

0000 AN9190 Over the past 24 hours no sightings. Visibility overall very good. Had no reason to submerge.
0400 AN9168 Nothing to report.
0800 AN9162 "
1200 AN9132 "
1340 Patrol grid reached. Set search pattern travelling at KF. Fuel maximum range estimated as 10699km. Search pattern of grid AN38 at 4 knots will finish in about 5 days at a range of 943km. As visibility is still very good will continue travelling on the surface.
1600 AN3899 Nothing to report.
2000 AN3898 "
5.3.40.

0000 AN3887 Nothing to report
0400 AN3887 "
0800 AN3879 "
1200 AN3878 "
2000 AN3877 "

6.3.40.

0000 AN3871 Nothing to report.
0400 AN3872 "
0800 AN3873 "
1200 AN3881 "
1600 AN3882 "
1814 AN3883, Wind 3, Sea 3, Vis. very good
Ship spotted on bearing 255°. Course set to investigate and increased speed to GF.
1827 A lone merchant. Possibly French. However, needed to get closer and identify its nationality. Changed course to keep out of the target's visibility range and to pass ahead for an attack position.
1831 ID confirmed as a Belgian Tramp Steamer. Course set to investigate cargo and papers.
1900 Cargo and papers correct. Submerged before returning to patrol course as a precaution.
1930 Surfaced.
2000 AN3853 Nothing to report.

7.3.40.

0000 AN3891 Course 90°.
0400 AN3892 Nothing to report.
0800 AN3893 "
1200 AN3866 Course 00°.
1600 AN3839 Nothing to report.
2000 AN3833 Course 270°.

8.3.40.

0000 AN3832 Nothing to report.
0400 AN3831 "
0800 AN3823 "
1200 AN3821 "
1600 AN3813 "
2000 AN3812 "

9.3.40.

0000 AN3811, new moon but clear sky
Decided to extend search area into Skagerrak grids AN35/36.
0400 AN3574 Course 00°.
0800 AN3544 Nothing to report.
1200 AN3540 Course 90°.
1600 AN3546 Nothing to report.
1720 AN3554, Wind 3, Sea 3, Vis. very good
Ship spotted on bearing 337°. Deck lights lit so assumed to be neutral. Course set at 19° to investigate and increased speed to HF.
1745 ID: Norwegian Medium Cargo. Signalled vessel to reduce speed in order to check cargo. Steamer released. Submerged to periscope depth and returned to patrol course.
1900 Surfaced.
2000 AN3554 Course 93°.

10.3.40.

0000 AN3556 Course 92°.
0400 AN3564 Nothing to report.
0800 AN3560 "
1200 AN3566, Wind 3, Sea 3, Vis. very good "
1246 Ship spotted on bearing 303°. Course set to 179° and increased speed to HF.
1255 Submerged to periscope depth due to the excellent visibility. Speed on electric motors continued at HF.
1306 ID: Norwegian Small Trawler. Stayed submerged until vessel was out of sight to prevent location being reported.
1400 Periscope and hydrophone sweep. All clear. Surfaced.
1600 AN3593 Course 180°.
2000 AN3599 Course 90°.

11.3.40.

0000 AN3674, Wind 3, Sea 3, Vis. good
Course 00°.
0345 Ship spotted on bearing 337°. Deck lights lit so assumed neutral. Course set to investigate.
0357 ID: Danish Medium Cargo.
0432 Papers checked. Nothing to report. Submerged to periscope depth before returning to patrol course.
0530 AN3644 Surfaced.
0800 AN3642, Wind 2, Sea 2, Vis. very good
Course 79°.
1200 AN3643 Course 80°.
1600 AN3651 Nothing to report.
1720 Ship spotted on bearing 41°. Course set to 125° and increased speed to HF.
ID: Medium Cargo? Nationality uncertain at this time.
1738 ID confirmed as Norwegian Medium Cargo. Reduced speed to KF in order to check papers.
1800 Papers found to be in order. Submerged to periscope depth before returning to original course.
Whilst submerged new sound contact made on bearing 99°. Not the Norwegian Merchant.
1845 After getting a confirmed fix of the new target, surfaced and increased speed to GF on a heading of 30°.
1930 Unable to spot new target so submerged to assist hydrophone. Contact made at 35°. Surfaced on a new course 72°. Speed at GF.
2000 Submerged. Faint contact at bearing 00°. Surfaced. Course headed for due north.
2100 AN3620 Submerged. Contact made at bearing 24°. Surfaced. Headed due west. Very shortly after surfacing, the target was spotted.
ID: Norwegian Medium Cargo. Reduced speed to KF and signalled vessel to show papers.
2115 Papers in order. Submerged to periscope depth.
2230 AN3626, N 2, Sea 2, Vis. very good
Surfaced.

12.3.40.

0000 AN3626 Course 90°.
0400 AN3634, N 2, Sea 2, Vis. very good
Nothing to report.
0410 Ship spotted on bearing 277°. Deck lights lit so again assumed neutral. Speed increased to GF. Course set to investigate.
0427 ID: Norwegian Medium Cargo.
0435 Papers found to be correct. Submerged to periscope depth and returned to original course.
0600 AN3632 Course 94°.
0800 AN3636 Course 93°.
1200 AN3666 Course 180°.
1600 AN3693 Nothing to report.
2000 AN3699 Course 270°.

13.3.40.

0000 AN3698 Nothing to report.
0400 AN3686 "
0800 AN3680 "
1200 AN3684 "
1600 AN3676 "
2000 AN3670 "

14.3.40.

0000 AN3674 Course 00°.
0400 AN3647 Nothing to report.
0431 Ship spotted at bearing 29°. Deck lights lit. Course set to investigate. Increased speed to GF. 2 x merchants travelling in single file.
0451 ID: Danish Tramp Steamer and Medium Cargo. Signalled for vessels to slow down and await inspection.
0510 Papers and cargo checked. Submerged to periscope depth and returned to original course.
0600 Surfaced.
0800 AN3641 Course 09°.
1200 AN3618 Course 104°.
1600 AN3619 Nothing to report.
2000 AN3651 "
2027 Ship spotted on bearing 222°. No deck lights. Possibly hostile.
Increased speed to GF at a heading of 320°. Over the next 10 minutes estimated the speed of target at approximately 8 knots on a course of 247°.
Approached on surface under cover of darkness and submerged at a safe distance to ID. Merchant estimated at 3000GRT.
2146 Submerged to periscope depth and manoeuvred into an attack position.
Target angle: red 90°, speed: 9 knots, range: 600m, torpedo depth: 4m, fast, Ato AZ
Aim point: Centre
Target has not changed course or zigzagged.
2154 ID: Small Merchant. Nationality: Polish!!
2201 Tube I fired and through the periscope confirmed an impact forward of the engine room after 29 seconds. Steamer slowed down but did not sink.
2204 Surfaced. Using the flak gun manned by Erik Brunz the cargo was destroyed hoping that secondary explosions will sink her. The steamer was obviously not armed as we did not encounter any return fire, although their searchlight was used to keep us under observation.
2215 Target seen to list to starboard but still not sinking. Signalled the Polish crew to abandon ship before we fire a coup-de-grâce.
2237 Tube II fired at minimum depth at range of 600m AZ. Although the target was again hit it still remained afloat.
2242 Decided to use tube III as a second coup-de-grâce aiming at the starboard side. A hit and the target finally started to sink. Our first kill. Crew ecstatic after such a non-productive patrol. Before returning to our patrol course, provisions were passed to the survivor's life boats. Only one boat was observed which made me consider that not all of the crew managed to abandon ship or more crew were killed throughout the attack.
2243 AN3643 Radio message received from BdU: "Confirmed sinking. SS Destro, 3427 tons. Cargo: Paper Products. Crew: 77. Crew lost: 63."

15.3.40.

0000 AN3643, N 2, Sea 2, Vis. very good
Course 93°.
0005 Radio message received from BdU: "Search for enemy submarines off Southern Norway."
New course set at 268°. Headed for grid AN3550. ETA: 27 hours at 4 knots.
0400 AN3640 Course 269°. Nothing to report.
0710 Ship spotted on bearing 160°. No deck lights which again caused me to suspect an enemy vessel. Changed course to 68°. Steamer estimated at 2000 GRT.
Target course on 265°, speed of 7 knots.
After a short while changed boat's course to 357°.
0722 Ordered periscope depth. Battle stations for submerged attack.
Target angle: red 90°, speed: 7 knots, range: 600m, depth: 2m, fast, Ato AZ
Target did not change course nor zigzag which made me believe that we had not been seen on the surface.
Nationality??
0731 Through the periscope I was able to ID the vessel as a Coastal Freighter. Nationality: British!!
0732 Tubes I and III fired at bow and just before stern. After 22-25 seconds two impacts. Target destroyed and sinks within minutes.
Surfaced. Provisions passed to the survivors.
0733 AN3643 Radio message received from BdU: "Confirmed sinking. SS Hastings, 1869 tons. Cargo: Coal. Crew: 33. Crew lost: 18."
0745 Report sent to BdU: "Out of torpedoes but still with 80% diesel. Please advise."
Ordered to continue with patrol and make observations/report sightings.
Submerged to periscope depth to avoid survivors noting our direction.
0800 AN3641 Surfaced. Course 268°. No sign of lifeboat.
1200 AN3566 Nothing to report.
1600 AN3560 "
2000 AN3566 "
2106 Ship spotted on bearing 08°. No deck lights. After a few minutes another ship loomed out of the darkness. A smaller boat. Escort? Observed the two vessels for a short while.
2130 Ordered the crew to dive to periscope depth and approach the two ships with care.
2150 Through the periscope I could make out the shape of the two ships. Obviously one was much larger than the other travelling in single file.
A Tugboat and what looked to be a Dithmarschen Class? After a few more minutes I confirmed them both to be German.
Surfaced. Managed to make contact. Ship's doctor boarded our boat to check the crew and food supplies passed over. Fortunately with the cover of darkness this was carried out with little threat of attack. However, crew still worked as fast as possible and look outs were very vigilant. Crew given a clean bill of health and content with the fresh supplies.

16.3.40.

0000 AN3550 Course 263°.
0400 AN3550 Course 269°.
0800 AN3551 Course 263°.
1200 AN3518 Course 297°.
1600 AN3514 Course 299°.
2000 AN3544 Course 192°.

17.3.40.

0000 AN3571 Nothing to report.
0400 AN3577 Course 91°.
0800 AN3578 Nothing to report.
1200 AN3579 "
1600 AN3587 "
2000 AN3820 Course 171°.

18.3.40.

0000 AN3850 Nothing to report.
0400 AN3854 Course 270°.
0800 AN3846 Nothing to report.
1200 AN3844 "
1600 AN3766 "
2000 AN3760 "

19.3.40.

0000 AN3764 Nothing to report.
0400 AN3756 "
0800 AN3754 "
1200 AN3746 "
1600 AN3740 "
2000 AN3741 Course 00°.

20.3.40.

0000 AN3714 Nothing to report.
0400 AN3712 Course 90°.
0800 AN3713 Nothing to report.
1200 AN3721 "
1600 AN3722 "
2000 AN3723 "

21.3.40.

0000 AN3752 Nothing to report.
0400 AN3733 "
0800 AN3736 Course 180°.
1200 AN3766 "
1600 AN3793 "
2000 AN3790 Course 270°.

22.3.40.

0000 AN3794 Nothing to report.
0400 AN3786 "
0527 Ship spotted on bearing 123°. Deck lights on. Course set to 10° in order to check cargo and papers. Speed increased to GF.
Nationality? Confirmed as Norwegian.
0537 Speed reduced to KF. Merchant signalled to prepare for paper inspection.
0545 Merchant released.
0600 Submerged to periscope depth before returning to original course.
0900 AN3780 Surfaced. Course 268°. Speed 2 knots while the batteries recharged.
1200 AN3784 Batteries recharged. Speed 4 knots at KF.
1600 AN3776 Nothing to report.
2000 AN3770 "

23.3.40.

0000 AN3774 Course 67°.
0400 AN3772 Nothing to report.
0800 AN3749 "
1200 AN3750 Course 68°.
1600 AN3753 Nothing to report.
2000 AN3737 "

24.3.40.

0000 AN3730 Nothing to report.
0400 AN3733, N 2, Sea 1, very calm, Vis. very good
Course 71°.
1200 AN3812 Course 91°.
1600 AN3821 Nothing to report.
2000 AN3822 "

25.3.40.

0000 AN3823 Course 90°.
0400 AN3831 Nothing to report.
0800 AN3832 "
1200 AN3833 Course 180°.
1600 AN3863 Nothing to report.
2000 AN3869 "

26.3.40.

0000 AN3899 Nothing to report.
0400 AN3898 Course 271°.
0800 AN3897 Nothing to report.
1200 AN3889 Course 270°.
1600 AN3888 Nothing to report.
2000 AN3887 "

27.3.40.

0000 AN3878, SE 2, Sea 1, very calm, Vis. good
Nothing to report.
0400 AN3877 "
0800 AN3871 Course 00°.
0815 Radio message received from BdU: "Return to Wilhelmshaven for refuel, rearm and shore leave. Well done with your first patrol."
Course set for Wilhelmshaven.
1200 AN3877 Course 143°.
1600 AN6330 Nothing to report.
2000 AN6363 "

28.3.40.

0000 AN9147 Increased speed to LF 8 knots.
0400 AN9312, N 0, Sea 1, very calm, Vis. very good
Nothing to report.
0800 AN9354 Course 144°.
1200 AN9380 Nothing to report.
1600 AN9537 "
2000 AN9593 "

29.3.40.

0000 AN9811, N 0, Sea 1, Vis. good
Course 141°. Reduced speed to KF as we neared Wihelmshaven harbour.
0320 Wilhelmshaven Docked. Erik Brunz promoted to flak gunner.


Summary:

The patrol was blessed with calm weather with overall very good visibility.
All non-hostile vessels had their deck lights lit. Hostile vessels were without deck armament.
Apart from precautions taken after searching neutral vessels for contraband, it was not necessary to submerge.
The crew efficiency was excellent with special note of Eric Brunz on the flak gun.

Comments of the BdU on the KTB of "U-2" (Rosenbaum) from 1 - 29 March 1940:

First war patrol of the Kommandant with a new boat. U-2 could have returned to the nearest base for rearming, as unfortunately one stubborn target needed more than one torpedo hit to sink.
However, as no more vessels were spotted once out of torpedoes the 29 day patrol is deemed a success.

Accredited successes:

1 Small Merchant 3400 GRT sunk.
1 Freighter 1800 GRT sunk.