[Arnold]

7th patrol
U-5
21 JUNE 40
0943 hrs.
Zinke reports a sound contact. Warship, fast turns, 278 degrees, closing, long range. We steer 230 degrees. Rig for silent running.
I put the headphones on. Steer South. Sound contact 360 degrees.
Rudder amidships.
1008 hrs.
Using rudder controls, at 1 knot speed, we match our rate of turn with the sound contacts, slowly following her lead as she heads aft of us.
Give her the narrow silhouette. She's 6 Km out, moving away.
1026 hrs.
I can no longer hear the sound contact. Secure from silent running.
Surface. Ahead slow.
1030 hrs.
We're surfaced. I climb to the bridge. Stormy. No rain.
75% O2. 68% diesel remains. Recharge batteries.
I slowly scan the horizon with my glasses.
1039 hrs.
Boat ventilated. I climb down to the control room
"It's a Long Way to Tipperary", with John McCormack is playing on the gramophone.
1145 hrs.
Battery recharged. "Standard propulsion, Chief", I order.
NOON
AN 59
Rain starts topside. Dive. Make your depth 15 meters. Speed 1 knot.
2005 hrs.
I'm in the sound room, with the headphones on.
Sound contact. 20 degrees. Long distance. Slow turns.
Steer 325 degrees. Battle stations.
Two remaining steam eels pistols set to contact, fast speed.
2012 hrs.
Sound contact 24 degrees, closing. We steer North.
2017 hrs.
Rudder midships. Sound bearing 350 degrees.
2027 hrs.
Sound bearing 354 degrees. Her general course is SSE.
Carlewitz makes pencil marks on the sea chart.
We steer 60 degrees to make the T.
2032 hrs.
Radioman Zink can hear her now, a merchant, slow turns, long range, closing, 306 degrees. Carlewitz plots her course, which becomes more accurate with each bearing made. We're about 3 Km from her plotted course. She is about 10 Km from us. Surface. Ahead 1/3.
2053 hrs.
Dive. Make your depth 15 meters. Speed 1 knot.
She's at 300 degrees, about 5 Km away.
2100 hrs.
Periscope depth. She's 4 Km away, 313 degrees.
2104 hrs.
Attack scope up. 6 x. There she is, 320 degrees, a small coastal merchant, doing 8 knots, out about 2000 meters. Down scope.
2106 hrs.
Scope up. Open bow caps.
2113 hrs.
897 meters away, British flag. Fire 1! That did it.
She sinks fast by the stern. Surface. Ahead slow. Steer to the wreckage.
Down scope.
We spot one man in the water, alive. We fish him out, bundle him in a blanket and take him below.
"Your ship's name?", I ask him.
"Arthur Treacher", is his reply. 2042 tons, loaded with sacks of potatoes and canned fish.
Wolfbauer, on the bridge, spots a section of wooden hold decking from the ship, with two crates secured on it. We fish it out of the water, hauling it up on our bow decking. We pry open one crate to discover it filled with 50 lb sacks of potatoes. The oher crate was filled with canned fish. All of it is taken below. Fish & chips for dinner, with grateful appreciation to the "Aurthur Treacher".
Good. Now we should have plenty of provisions to last us.
I'm on the bridge with Zahn, Marks, Wolfbauer and Bahn.
Overcast. Stormy. I light a cigar, then ask Adolf Bahn,
"isn't your middle name Bernard"?
"Yes sir, it my mum's maiden name", he reply's.
Trouble on the horizon, boys.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.