[Majestik 909]

July 15, 1943 - 2127 hours - 20 knots - heading 240 true - 1,700 km northwest of Sandy Cape - after refit on 07/13/1943, via supply tanker, we set course for Fremantle. We requested air recon from Japanese forces - aircraft reports indicated we were sailing into a virtual ant hill of convoy activity. The ensuing battle was so intense that I was forced to make this entry post-action.

On the morning of July 15, 1943, just before daybreak, lookout spotted a large group of vessels about 5-6km away on a heading of 090 - due east. We make turns for 20 knots to intercept on a course of 120 - as we close to 4,000 meters, I am greeted by a most peculiar formation of ships - 12 vessels in all.

5 were converted liners, each painted in a contrasting gray/green camoflague pattern. 5 tankers and 2 old engine aft freighters.

At 0617 hours, we attack the lead tanker with our deck gun from 3,000 meters.

Immediately, while still making 20 knots, I turn left 10 degrees and begin to assess the other ships in the convoy. I plot a solution for the first, second and third ships in the convoy. Sporadic gunfire from the vessels falls short of our position.

At 1,600 meters I launch 3 torpedoes. The first ship is struck by a dud. The second and third ships, despite course changes are struck, set ablaze and reduced to 3 knots headway.

Coming left 25 degrees, I set up for a frontal attack on the advancing ships. What follows is a frantic surface battle that lasts 5 hours.

I thread the needle between two converted liners. Unable to bring their guns to bear upon us, Their frantic exchange of gunfire damages both vessels. We attack as we pass them from 450 meters with stern tubes, scoring two hits. We are hit and lightly damaged by one of the large deck guns on the stern, but only our antenna is scathed.

Still making 20 knots, we open fire on each pair of vessels as they approach, frantically moving torpedoes from outside stores below decks. By now, we are firing bow tubes into approaching ships, then firing stern tubes at passing ships. Wild gunfire erupts from the convoy in all directions. We take a few hits from automatic fire, but sweep both ships with suppressive fire from AA batteries as they pass.

By 1100 hours, 11 ships have been sunk, leaving only one liner on the run. The decks are a network of huge crates, covered with tarpulins. The decks are swarming with helmeted military personnel.

At 1,800 meters we fire one bow torpedo from dead-astern. The zig-zagging of the ship causes it to turn into our torpedo. Impact generates visible fires onboard and thick plumes of smoke. The liner slows to 6 knots and makes a sharp turn to port. At 450 meters, we fire one torpedo amidships, at a depth of 4.0 meters.

The impact water column was very minimal, but it was followed by a tremendous secondary explosion that lifts the funnel and the ship's cargo skyward. The explosion is so intense that our own damage control team shouts that we are actually taking damage. The liner suffers more internal explosions, breaks in two and sinks quickly.

It is now 1215 hours. We found no survivors. 62,370 GRT sunk.

An inspection of our boat reveals pressure hull damage amounting to 1% and some damage to radio and radar antennas. Tube #2 will not close and we have only 1 torpedo remaining in a stern tube that would not leave it's tube, despite several attempts to fire it. We have completely expended every last round of ammunition. Most of the crew are so exhausted I must sound battle stations twice just to get a response to the telegraph.

Our strategy of staying close to our resupply tanker pays off. By 1700 hours, aftet repeated submerging to avoid reconnaissance aircraft, we are refitting at sea. By nightfall, the sounds of the Gramaphone fill the ship, as we steam slowly east, back towards Australia.

R.H.v.H. - U-847