[Leandros]

U47 - Lt.z.S. Willi Hartmann - 9th patrol - July. 1940 200004 - North-Western Approaches

Proceeded directly towards our assigned patrol area - The Rockalls. Nothing happened there. Set course Eastwards to see if we could ambush something in the North-Western Approaches. Was informed of a large eastbound convoy by the BdU, managed to make contact and pass it.

In the bad weather we were able to pierce the escort screen from its starboard side. Halleluja, in the middle of it a battleship, probably Renown or Repulse. However, we had torpedoed two ships already so the escorts were now upon us. While evading and defending ourselves the convoy got away. At one time we had to descend to max. depth which at the place was no more than approx. 60 meters. We got out of it and restarted the pursuit. That battleship shall go down!

We have now achieved a good position on the convoy's forward starboard side again. We are at the narrowest point of the Approaches, not very deep here. There is a Black Swan in the front of the convoy, much of the escort has been diminished by our earlier contacts - see the sheet. Weather is excellent for our venture, choppy seas and the light at its darkest for this time of they year.

Here goes!

Excellent position:




Much of the escort has already been put out play by us:




This one is going down!: