I'm not sure it was well known.
Wolfgang Hirschfeld was senior telegraphist on the U-109 of Bleichrodt. Near Cadiz Bleichrodt saw some vessels through the periscope that were not reported by Hirschfeld who was on the hydrophones. A little later he was called to the bridge to explain why he didn't hear three British warships which could be seen dead ahead.
He said he couldn't hear anything on the hydrophones and Bleichrodt "told me to smash it up. He was in a boiling rage, unreasoning and unreasonable"
Since they had to get past the warships to refuel, Bleichrodt went under them. Hirschfeld started to hear them faintly and said "They can hear as poorly as we did just now. It must be to do with the water layers." Bleichrodt looked at him and said "Smash the bloody thing up I told you. but I'll have more to say about this when we're back in port".
He was true to his word. Hirschfeld had to go to the Signals Office of the 2nd Flotilla and explain himself. Thankfully for him other boats had reported poor hydrophone audiblity near Gibralter. They concluded it was the fast currents and water layers.
This was about June 1941. So before that you could pity the poor telegraphist who had to face his Captains wrath. "Telegraphy is s*it" was something Bleichdrodt said frequently.
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