[klh]

The bad luck for U-45 with even numbered patrols continued on our sixth. We departed Wilhelmshaven on 27 February 1940 with orders to patrol grid AM32. Poor weather was again in play, making even the most simple tasks challenging.

We intercepted a task force in our patrol zone making 14 knots ESE. After maneuvering into firing position, we fired four torpedoes at a battleship believed to be HMS Hood. Two torpedoes hit, one fore and one aft. I gave orders to dive deep to avoid some angry destroyers. After reloading two tubes and coming back up to periscope depth, I saw the battleship moving slow and low in the water, but no sign of fire. We fired both tubes at long range, but scored no hits.

After another dive and reload period, we surfaced and attempted to overtake the task force, but the port engine seized up. Repairs were ineffective, and the engine blew entirely. We were unable to reestablish contact with the task force.

A few days later U-45 intercepted a coastal tanker in high seas and fired three forward and one aft torpedoes in succession; all missed or were duds.

As the weather began to improve, we intercepted a medium cargo ship at night and conducted a surface attack, hitting her with our last forward torpedo and sinking her with the deck gun.

Down to one aft torpedo and only the starboard engine, we began to head for base when the seas become calm enough off the coast of Norway to allow us to transfer the external torpedoes, but we found no more targets on the journey home.

With three remaining torpedoes (one forward and two aft) and a dead engine, U-45 returned to Wilhelmshaven on 19 March 1040 with only a single kill for 5000 tonnes.

Kapitänleutnant Hähl, U-45