January 26th 1942. We finally sank something today!
After 2 extremely boring days (the only excitement was being attacked by two Hurricanes: no damage was sustained) we got a map contact in CN63. We were 1 grid square to the east & above it (it was sailing on a north-westerly course) so I decided to go for it. We raced over there through the night, alternating between full & flank speeds, and came into visual contact with our intended victim (a 2400 ton small merchant) about dawn. Got to within 3000 meters & submerged. Reduced speed to slow and let the merchant come to us. Just then the hydrophone operator picks up a small freighter being escorted by a "Bathurst" class (never seen one of those before) corvette close behind us (within visual range). The small merchant got to within 1800m of us & I launched a TIII which detonated underneath the small merchant's bow. Because of the escort's close proximity I launched a TII set to impact to finish her off. That torpedo impacted dead center on the small merchant & she went down. Not wanting to take any chances with the escort we submerged to 120m & crept away. We wouldn't have caught the other freighter anyway as it was too far away & we couldn't make a stealthy approach on the surface as it was daylight now with clear skies and 0m waves.
U-74 out...