IID to VIIB >5th. patrol WAC

[danurve]

For your reading and viewing (thumbs to screens) pleasure.

Type IID 5th. coastal patrol late December, 1939.
Departed Kiel Dec. 27th, 39.
Rendered honors to the Cruiser Blucher docked at Kiel.

Engaged cargo steamer Dec. 30th, AN34.

Proceeded to patrol grid, AN 85.
Sighted several neutral merchant ships, a few neutral trawlers and tug boat.
Enemy task force reported N.E. Scapa Flow, another near or about Lock Ewe.
Decided to patrol AN79 due East.
Located several patrol boats and two V&W Destroyers unaware of our presence.
Engaged Destroyers abeam, Jan. 4th, 1940 torpedo’s set to 3 meters with impact pistol.
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Engaged coastal merchant within same grid Jan 4th, 1940.
Departed AN79 SW to AN82.
Sighted several neutral ships, including one slowed to stop as if to be inspected or avoid collision.
Sighted several British patrol aircraft & bombers.
Boat taken to periscope depth for safety.
A single barrel light flak gun might fair well against a single slow patrol craft or small coastal vessel such as engagements north of the battle of Gdansk. But there was no contest here against a swarm of fighters and bomber aircraft.
Sighted Liner & coastal merchant grid AN82.
Boat with only one eel remaining.
Removed coastal merchant from shipping lane, Jan. 6th, 1940
Returned to base early January, 1940.
Obtained new boat, VIIB class with deck gun.
Enlisted new Officer with damage control qualification.
Enlisted some 6 warrant officers and some 10 seamen.
Commenced training and crew familiarization of new boat.
In base, late January 1940, approximately 24 hours before patrol;
Ordered all new T-2 electrics removed, replaced with T-1 steamers.
Awarded Officers with 5 patrols.
Awarded Warrant officers with 5 patrols & promoted to senior.
Awarded Seamen with 5 patrols & promoted to senior.
Awarded crew with proper new qualification, new seamen to repair.
Awaiting new patrol orders.