Originally Posted by Kapitän
Left W'haven to continue with the Eighth War Patrol, on Wednesday, 29 May 1940, at 0200h.
Very calm seas and very good aircraft visibility during outbound voyage. Mixed weather and sea conditions from calm seas and clear skies to stormy seas, rain and dense fog, in operational area and during return voyage.
During outbound transit on "Way1", we by-passed Qu.AN 66 and AN 69 to the north, due to the British mine fields in the area north of Terschelling. We also, had to evade Qu.AN 3700 and 3800 due to Mines.
Weak enemy air patrols during outbound voyage, which intensified the closer we got to the operational area - during one day we had to dive 15 times from approaching aircraft and had to crash dive 9 times in total, during this part of the patrol.
During the return voyage the enemy air cover grew weaker the closer we got to Germany but still reached to Qu.9311AN.
On June 2, at 0453h, we sank a Chemical Steamer of 1889 BRT in Qu.4715AN, with 1 Eto and at 1640h, we sank a M33 Type Steamer of 5174 BRT in Qu.1866AN, also with 1 Eto. Both ships were first heard by the sound operator after having to dive from aircraft and both attacks were run submerged.
During the second attack, the first torpedo (Ato) was a miss off the bow. I suspect, that the crew of the steamer either saw our periscope and/or the bubble trail of the Ato and commenced evasive action, which reduced the speed of the ship. The second torpedo (Eto) was a hit under the forward mast.
The boat went below periscope depth to reload the torpedoes for a coup de grâce and heard several explosions and sinking sounds coming from the torpedoed steamer. Back to periscope depth, the steamer had in fact sunk and an airplane flying off to the south was seen in the B-Periscope. A Fishing Trawler that had been in the area, picked up the survivors from the steamer.
On June 3, we shot down 5 Vickers Vildebeest in Qu.1822AN and took all 5 pilots prisoner. During this action, the boat sustained some damage to the pressure hull, which turned out be 38.64%, when later checked in the Shipyard-West.
The boat was now being hunted by the enemy and on June 4, was searched for by a C&D Destroyer and a Flower Corvette, after having to crash dive from 3 to 4 pairs of twin-engine aircraft, in Qu.16AN. Several Wabos were dropped by the surface vessels in the area were the boat had dived but no further damage was sustained.
During the same day, the boat operated on a contact report sent by B.d.U. and sighted a steamer of 2279 BRT in Qu.1664AN, which it sank with 1 Ato, in a surface attack at 0955h. The torpedoed steamer sank in a huge blaze, which developed all over the after section of the ship. 3 minutes after the attack, the boat had to dive from 2 pairs of twin-engine aircraft.
Also, on June 4, the boat initially, operated on a B.d.U. contact report of a small convoy in Qu.1839AN, on course ESE, speed 7kn. However, at 1800h, the boat broke-off the action and operated on another B.d.U. contact report of a single ship in Qu.4411AN, which was heading our way.
At 1808h, the contact was sighted in QU.1699AN, a Refrigeration Ship of 4185 BRT and attacked with the last remaining torpedo (Eto), in a submerged attack at 1959h. The torpedo was a hit amidships and the steamer settled with a list to starboard in the heavy sea. However, the steamer still made headway and did not sink.
The boat stayed with the torpedoed ship submerged until 2110h and surfaced at a distance of 4000m. We then stayed with the steamer until 2230h and at a distance of 10000m, and sailed off on an easterly course.
On June 8, we shot down 3 of 4 Latecoere Reconnaissance Aircraft, in Qu.9311AN.
We returned to W'haven on Sunday, 9 June 1940, having sailed home on "Way green". Upon arrival, I was awarded with the Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross! Quite an honor!
The combined total of both parts of this 8th war patrol are:
Torpedo hits: 7
Torpedo misses: 1 Ato in daylight attack.
Torpedo failures: 1 Eto understeered.
5 merchants sunk for 16349 BRT and 1 steamer of 4185 BRT torpedoed, for a grand total of 20534 BRT.
Crash Dives: 9 - all due to enemy aircraft.
Total of 8 aircraft shot down and 5 pilots taken prisoner. During one aircraft attack, the boat sustained 38.64% damage to its pressure hull.
Received orders to take command of a new IXB boat and transferred with some of the crew of U 11, to the 2nd Training Division and the 5th Training Flotilla, for work-up's and trials of U 112.
(In fact, Sh3_Cmdr transferred my own alias of the crew, to another boat. So, I started a new career with a new boat.)
Relinquished command of U 11 to Kptlt. Georg PETERS.
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