Navy Seal
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Kriegstagebuch of the Kommandanten of "U-48"
for the period from 24.02.-18.03.1940.
Kommandant: Oberleutenant zur See Marche
24.02.40 Sea State: 1
--------- Weather: Clear
07.30 Departure from Wilhelmshaven.
13.42 Test Dive.
14.00 Surface. Set course for assigned patrol grid
in Western Approaches. Chose to transit Strait of Dover and
English Channel for transit to area.
25.02.40 Sea State: 1
--------- Weather: Clear
26.02.40 Sea State: 1
--------- Weather: Clear
10.00 Submerged in grid AN 887 for submerged approach
to Dover Straits for night time transit.
17.08 Distant sound contact bearing 090, possible patrol vessel.
20.00 Surfaced for transit of Dover Strait.
22.00 Begin transit of Dover Strait.
23.08 Merchant vessel spotted bearing 334 8000 meters in Grid
BG 1243 Southern end of Straits of Dover. Called
Action stations for surface torpedo attack.
23.20 Vessel identified as 3800 ton M-KF-M (P) Merchant, British.
Course 050 Speed 8 knots.
23.23 Flooded down to 7 meters.
21.25 Fired tube No.1 Torpedo missed.(TII G7e)
21.27 Fired tube No.2 Torpedo missed. (TII G7e)
21.29 Fired tube No.3 Torpedo prematurely detonated. (TII G7e)
21.38 Fired Tube No.4 (TII G7e)
21.40 Torpedo impact! Large fires and explosion
21.41 Surfaced, manned deck gun in case needed to complete sinking.
21.43 Opened fire with deck gun.
23.46 Ceased fire, vessel heavily listing, burning.
23.48 Large series of explosions. Vessel sunk Grid BF 33.
23.50 Secured Action Stations. Began torpedo reload, departed
area at high speed.
27.02.40 Sea State: 1
--------- Weather: Clear
00.10 Spotted merchant vessel beaing 328 8000 meters.
Grid BG 1245
00.20 Vessel identified as 4000 ton British merchant
M-KF-M (R) type. Course 050 9 kts.
00.30 Fired torpedo tube 6 (TII G7e)
00.32 Torpedo missed, unknown cause.
00.36 Opened fired with deck gun.
00.59 M-KF-M (R) type merchant sunk, grid BF 33.
01.00 Secured action stations, departed area.
09.47 Aircraft spotted! Bearing 226 7000 meters.
Alarm! Dive!
09.48 Leveled at 25 meters with 11 meters below keel.
Several large explosions above, no damage.
20.00 Surfaced.
28.02.40 Transit to assigned grid.
----------- Sea State: 1
Weather: Clear
09.52 Aircraft spotted bearing 184 5000 meters
Alarm! Dive!
09.53 Explosions, not close.
20.02 Surfaced.
29.02.40 Transit to assigned grid.
----------- Sea State: 1
Weather: Partial Clouds.
15.29 Aircraft spotted 168 4500 meters
Alarm! Dive!
15.30 Leveled at 45 meters. Explosions heard above.
20.10 Surfaced.
01.03.40 Transit to area.
--------- Sea State: 1
Weather: Clear
Moon: Partial
02.03.40 Transit to area.
--------- Sea State: 1
Weather: Clear
Moon: None
22.55 Received Contact Report of Enemy convoy
Grid BF 44 NNE Course Speed 6 kts.
Was quite close to current position,
set course to intercept.
03.03.40 Patrol. Searched for reported convoy.
----------- Sea State: 1, later 4.
Weather: Clear, later overcast, rain. Winds 13.5 kts direction 238.
Moon-None.
00.37 Convoy sighted Grid BF 17
Course 009 Speed 6 knots.
Contact Report sent.
Set course to pull ahead for attack.
Called Action Stations for surfaced torpedo attack.
00.51 Received reply to contact report. Ordered to attack.
01.49 As prepared to attack, a sudden fog and overcast arrived in area with rain
and 13 knot wind direction 269. Visiblity severely limited.
However, decided to attempt push home the attack if possible.
02.09 Spotted merchant vessel ahead. Readied bow tubes.
02.12 Fired Tube No. 2 (TII G7e) at 2500 ton merchant. Range 600 meters.
02.13 Torpedo impact! Ship exploded, sinking.
02.15 Proceeding high speed into center of convoy. Large merchant bearing 270 300 meters
attempted to ram. Star shells provided illumination.
02.17 2500 ton merchant vessel sunk Grid BF 17
02.21 Boat illuminated by searchlight of destroyer. Destroyer opened fire
from 1000 meters. Alarm! Dive!
02.22 Enemy above dropped depth charges, explosions as
passed 25 meters depth. Boat shaken,no serious damage.
02.29 Pinging, enemy searching. Boat depth 105 meters.
02.34 Depth 125 meters.
03.00 Enemy lost contact. Weather conditions aided in
ease of escape.
03.20 Secured Action Stations. Maintained Silent Routine.
04.55 Periscope depth. Storms remained. All clear.
Secured Silent Routine.
05.00 Surfaced.
04.03.40 Patrol.
----------- Sea State: 3
Weather: Overcast. Rain. Winds 13.5 kts direction 238.
Moon-None.
05.03.40 Patrol.
----------- Sea State: 3, later 5
Weather: Overcast. Rain. Winds 13.5 kts direction 248.
Later, winds increased to 30 kts direction 279.
Moon-None.
06.03.40 Patrol.
----------- Sea State: 5
Weather: Overcast. Rain. Winds 30 kts direction 279.
Moon-None.
07.03.40 Patrol.
----------- Sea State: 5
Weather: Overcast. Rain. Winds 30 kts direction 279.
Moon-None.
08.03.40 Patrol.
----------- Sea State: 5
Weather: Clear, light fog. Winds 30 kts direction 142.
Moon-None.
09.03.40 Patrol.
----------- Sea State: 5
Weather: Clear, light fog. Winds 30 kts direction 142.
Moon-None.
10.03.40 Patrol. Searched for reported convoy.
----------- Sea State: 5
Weather: Clear, light fog. Winds 30 kts direction 142.
Moon-None.
00.06 Received report of convoy in Grid m BF 47
Course North Speed 6 kts. Set course for intercept.
08.30 Submerged for sound check.
08.38 Detected distant screw noises bearing 313.
08.46 Surfaced. Set course for intercept.
09.54 Smoke plumes and outlines of convoy spotted bearings 010-040
estimated range twelve kilometers.
09.55 Action Stations.
10.00 Contact Report sent.
Convoy Sighted. Grid BF 41
Course 021 Speed 5 kts.
12.00 Submerged ahead of convoy for attack.
12.20 Inside convoy, entered through gap in forward screen.
12.24 Fired tubes 1,2 in salvo(TII G7e) on 8300 ton tanker . Range 700 meters.
12.25 Torpedo impact! Second torpedo hit, but failed to explode. A "thud"
was heard on impact but no explosion. Tanker damaged, burning from
torpedo one, which did detonate.
12.27 Fired tube No.3 (TII G7e) at tanker. Torpedo hit,
but failed to detonate.
12.28 Fired tube No.4 (TII G7e) Range 500 meters.Torpedo hit
failed to explode. Began turn to bring stern tube to bare.
12.36 Fired Tube No.5 (TII G7e) range 610 meters.
12.37 Torpedo hit, but again failed to explode!.
12.38 Destroyer spotted 800 meters, closing fast. Pinging began.
Ordered 120 meters hard dive. Rigged for depth charge
and silent routine.
12.51 Noises of vessel breaking up audible through hull
and on hydrophones.
13.00 Tubes 1,2 reloaded. Tube 5 reloaded.
13.10 Periscope depth. Observed tanker previously torpedoed, burning low in water.
Observed another large 8000 plus ton tanker about to cross
our stern. Set up for shot with Tube No.5
13.13 Fired Tube No.5 (TII G7e) Range 700 meters.
13.14 Torpedo impact! Large tanker burning.
13.15 Shifted target to previously torpedoed tanker
brought bow tubes around to fire.
13.18 Fired tube No.1 (TII G7e)
13.19 Torpedo impact on first tanker torpedoed
13.26 Fired Tube No.2 (TII G7e) on another undamaged 8300 ton tanker.
All torpedoes expended.
13.27 Torpedo hit, but failed to detonated. Another 'dud'!
However, vessel appeared disabled as was drifting, took no evasive action.
13.30 Unable to surface to finish off with deck gun due to proximity of enemy destroyer.
13.40 Went to 90 meters, rigged for silent routine due to nearby enemy destroyer.
13.55 8300 ton tanker sunk Grid BF 41. Massive explosions, followed by breaking up noises.
Rose to periscope depth to confirm.
14.15 Returned periscope depth. Enemy destroyers appeared to have moved on
with convoy.in view one tanker disabled by dud at 2000 meters astern. 6000 meters
ahead tanker torpedoed burning but underway. Another merchant or tanker is nerby,
likely providing assistance.
14.16 Went to 25 meters. Secured from action stations,
maintained silent routine.
14.27 Warship bearing 347 closing fast! Short range!
Ordered 90 meters! Hard dive! Rigged for depth charge.
14.30 Lost contact with enemy warship.
Continued to wait out enemy in order to surface after nightfall
and attack damaged tanker with deck gun if possible.
18.06 Periscope depth. Burning, crippled tanker bearing 315 4000 meters.
Went to 25 meters unil nightfall.
20.45 Surfaced for gun action. Sea state was heavy and made this difficult.
20.47 Opened fire with deck gun on crippled tanker.
21.06 Ceased fire, tanker exploded after 34 hits from high explosive rounds
and sunk. 8500 ton tanker sunk Grd BF 41.
21.10 Out of torpedos with five vessel sunk early in patrol, sent status report to
command.
21.40 Received orders to return to base.
11.03.40 Transit to Wilhelmshaven
----------- Sea State: 5
Weather: Clear, light fog. Winds 29 kts direction 082.
Moon-None.
12.03.40 Transit to Wilhelmshaven
----------- Sea State: 5
Weather: Clear, light fog. Winds 25 kts direction 082.
Moon-None.
12.03.40 Transit to Wilhelmshaven
----------- Sea State: 5
Weather: Clear, light fog. Winds 25 kts direction 082.
Moon-Full
13.03.40 Transit to Wilhelmshaven
----------- Sea State: 3
Weather: Clear, light fog. Winds 15 kts direction 242.
Moon-Partial
14.03.40 Transit to Wilhelmshaven
----------- Sea State: 3
Weather: Clear, light fog. Winds 15 kts direction 242.
Moon-None.
14.03.40 Transit to Wilhelmshaven
----------- Sea State: 3
Weather: Clear, light fog. Winds 15 kts direction 242.
Moon-None.
15.03.40 Transit to Wilhelmshaven
----------- Sea State: 3
Weather: Clear, light fog. Winds 14 kts direction 242.
Moon-Partial.
16.03.40 Transit to Wilhelmshaven
----------- Sea State: 3
Weather: Clear, no fog. Winds 12 kts direction 272.
Moon-Half.
17.03.40 Transit to Wilhelmshaven
----------- Sea State: 1
Weather: Clear
Moon-Half.
18.03.40
----------- Sea State: 2
Weather: Clear
07.30 Arrived Wilhelmshaven.
Ships Hit
------------
3 Merchants sunk- 3,800 tons, 4000 tons, 2800 tons.
2 Tankers sunk- 8,300 tons, 8,300 tons.
1 Tanker 8,500 tons damaged.
(Sadly, I was relieved of command upon return to port. In spite of success in three patrols, sinking of two tankers from neutral nations caused me to be removed and picked up by the Gestapo (Secret Police as it said) hmmm. This changed from OM, was not aware. Sinking neutral ships sailing with Allied ships is bound to happen, one was sunk by mistake when a torpedo missed target and hit the neutral)
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