U-122 Patrol Report #2

LeafsFan · 01-22-07, 11:50 AM

War Patrol #3 U-122 type IXB
For the third patrol, Oblt Franke was assigned a patrol zone off the west coast of Africa, and was ordered to reconnoiter the South Atlantic too ascertain the levels of shipping in the area. The first week was uneventful, as the boat travelled towards its patrol zone. One week into the patrol a British merchant M/V. Wrangell was sunk to the north east of Madiera. The next month saw little British shipping, just many neutrals. East of Ascension Island, two merchant ships, M/V Custer and S.S. Rich Mountain were spotted traveling together and sunk with a combination of torpedoes and Gunfire. Franke decided to check the approaches to St Helena, and its port Jamestown. A submerged approach was made at dawn of December 30th, and much to his surprise several ships were at anchor. The first attack resulted in the sinking of the destroyer HMS Daring. Three hits were recorded on what was thought to be a Dido class cruiser, but it was not evident that the ship had sunk. After evading the rather ineffective ASW patrol of an armed trawler, and reloading the torpedo tubes, another approach was made. The cruiser which was the Fiji class HMS Nigeria, had indeed sunk. Torpedoes were fired at three small merchants and an armed trawler, HMT Margate. Hits were recorded on all. Once again Franke made his escape. By now night had fallen, and U-122 was running on the surface. After reloading again, Franke decided to make sure of the targets of the second attack with a surface night attack. As it turned out only the trawler had sunk. In the attack, the three small merchants; S.S. Mount Pindus, the S.S. Ophelia Hera, and the neutral Greek ship S.S. Harmonic were sunk. Upon clearing the area U-122 was down to one stern loaded torpedo. Oblt Franke decided it was time to return to port. The return voyage was entirely uneventful other than the spotting of several Vichy French Ships close to port.

M/V Wrangell 25/11/40 6049 tons CF96
M/V Custer 26/12/40 9850 tons FM39
S.S. Rich Mountain 26/12/40 2388 tons FM39
HMS Daring 30/12/40 1375 tons FU28
HMS Nigeria 30/12/40 10725 tons FU28
HMT Margate 30/12/40 540 tons FU28
S.S. Mount Pindus 30/12/40 2625 tons FU28
S.S. Ophelia Hera 30/12/40 2098 tons FU28
S.S. Harmonic 30/12/40 1898 tons FU28

9 ships for 37639 tons

Cumulative Total

34 ships for 202,952 tons

01-22-07, 11:50 AM	#8
LeafsFan Watch Officer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 332 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	War Patrol #3 U-122 type IXB For the third patrol, Oblt Franke was assigned a patrol zone off the west coast of Africa, and was ordered to reconnoiter the South Atlantic too ascertain the levels of shipping in the area. The first week was uneventful, as the boat travelled towards its patrol zone. One week into the patrol a British merchant M/V. Wrangell was sunk to the north east of Madiera. The next month saw little British shipping, just many neutrals. East of Ascension Island, two merchant ships, M/V Custer and S.S. Rich Mountain were spotted traveling together and sunk with a combination of torpedoes and Gunfire. Franke decided to check the approaches to St Helena, and its port Jamestown. A submerged approach was made at dawn of December 30th, and much to his surprise several ships were at anchor. The first attack resulted in the sinking of the destroyer HMS Daring. Three hits were recorded on what was thought to be a Dido class cruiser, but it was not evident that the ship had sunk. After evading the rather ineffective ASW patrol of an armed trawler, and reloading the torpedo tubes, another approach was made. The cruiser which was the Fiji class HMS Nigeria, had indeed sunk. Torpedoes were fired at three small merchants and an armed trawler, HMT Margate. Hits were recorded on all. Once again Franke made his escape. By now night had fallen, and U-122 was running on the surface. After reloading again, Franke decided to make sure of the targets of the second attack with a surface night attack. As it turned out only the trawler had sunk. In the attack, the three small merchants; S.S. Mount Pindus, the S.S. Ophelia Hera, and the neutral Greek ship S.S. Harmonic were sunk. Upon clearing the area U-122 was down to one stern loaded torpedo. Oblt Franke decided it was time to return to port. The return voyage was entirely uneventful other than the spotting of several Vichy French Ships close to port. M/V Wrangell 25/11/40 6049 tons CF96 M/V Custer 26/12/40 9850 tons FM39 S.S. Rich Mountain 26/12/40 2388 tons FM39 HMS Daring 30/12/40 1375 tons FU28 HMS Nigeria 30/12/40 10725 tons FU28 HMT Margate 30/12/40 540 tons FU28 S.S. Mount Pindus 30/12/40 2625 tons FU28 S.S. Ophelia Hera 30/12/40 2098 tons FU28 S.S. Harmonic 30/12/40 1898 tons FU28 9 ships for 37639 tons Cumulative Total 34 ships for 202,952 tons