The Logbook of Wolfgang Jachson - Log of Patrols

[HMS Vanguard]

Thanks for the comments. The second patrol sees death and disaster once more for the crew of U-5, and whether it changes in the third patrol remains to be seen...

October 6th, 1939
0304

Early Patrol today - roused at midnight to man the vessel and prepare for launch. The crew is bleary-eyed and obviously short of sleep; I imagine a late night at the local drinking establishments is to blame. I must have a word with the crew regarding this kind of behaviour. Not that I blame them too much - morale is still low from the lack of success in the last patrol. Hopefully this patrol will be different.

0703

Cleared Wilhelmshaven and heading for patrol point. Decided to hug the coastline in order to safely arrive at AN81, seeing as it is close to the English Channel with it's defences against our Atlantic borders. Ordered the watch above the settling down for some sleep whilst the vessel transits.

1508

Disaster. Woken up from sleep by a terrific crash of steel crunching. Moving swiftly to the Control Room, I discovered the Navigator lying dazed on the floor, not sure what was going on. A quick analysis of the situation found us ran aground at high speed on an outcrop of land. Ordered back full, and reversed off the grounding point into the inlet of the island we hit. Turns out the Navigator set our course over this grounding point whilst half-asleep. The land was below the waterline, and the watch crew didn't see the danger coming. Several areas of damage done to the vessel, and - worst of all - nine crew reported dead from varying injuries as a result of the high-impact crash.

1521

Sent a message to the U-Boat Command back at Wilhelmshaven, and recieved a reply ordering us to continue on patrol despite our losses - turns out the Bdu is overwhelmed right now due to a lack of submarines out on patrol. Angry with this, I ordered the bodies moved to the Bow Cabins and covered on the bunks to act as a mortuary until we get back to shore.

List of the Dead:
Officers:
Sub-Lieutenant Fritz Friederichs
Enlisted:
Warrant Officer Adolf Conrad
Warrant Officer Karl Creutz
Seaman Viktor Beck
Seaman Frederich Wissmann
Seaman Carl Zahn
Seaman Wolfgang Mahn
Seaman Ebe Fischer
Seaman Otto Grau

October 7th, 1939
1152

Arrived Grind AN81. Crew tired due to double shifts pulled as a result of deaths, and morale is on the floors. Bow Quarters eerie - a cramped morgue that makes the torpedo crew nervous when moving to their posts. The enlisted are calling the U-5 cursed with bad luck, nicknaming it "The Steel Coffin." I ordered the crew to take rest and stopped the vessel before continuing on patrol.

October 8th, 1939
1930

No contacts found during the Patrol, so are turning home.

October 9th, 1939
1333

Patrol vessel spotted through the mist. Considered attacking but lack of crew prevents efficient management of both the torpedo and engine compartments, so are continuing for home with no kills once again.