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Originally Posted by Gunnar
I think given that the U-boats involved at the start of Operation Drumbeat operated under sealed orders not to be opened until the boat was at sea with only basic radio transmissions of position and weather allowed, it is likely that targets of opportunity were to be ignored.
I think this is a rare case of strategic orders taking precedence over all other tactical considerations with no exceptions.
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That's not
ENTIRELY true; BdU sent this message to U-123 (Hardegen) while it was proceeding to the East Coast of the US for the first wave of Paukenschlag:
OFFICER. TO HARDEGEN U-123. ON 1 JANUARY EVENING IN SQUARE BC4335 GREEK SHIP DIMITRIOS INGLESSIS REQUESTED TUG ASSISTANCE OWING TO DAMAGED RUDDER. YOU MAY ATTACK IF NOT FARTHER THAN 150 MILES FROM POSITION GIVEN.
And here is the excerpt from the BdU KTB for January 1st, 1942:
4) U 123 is to make for Greek "Dimitros-Inglessis" in the event she is not more than 150 miles away. This ship requested aid from tugs on the evening of 1 January in area BU 4335, because of rudder damage.
The Dimitrios Inglessis was only 5,275 GRT.
In any event, the operational order for Paukenschlag contained this language:
You will not attack any enemy ships before that date unless Groner shows them at 10,000 GRT or unless specifically permitted or directed to do so by BdU.
Clearly, exceptions for high value targets were considered worth the risk. I would expect that if you ran into a convoy and decided to sink several tankers and large merchants, that all would be forgiven.