U-802 IXC First Patrol off US Coast

GoldenRivet · 01-28-08, 11:50 PM

U-802
Type: IXC

Patrol #1 under the command of Oberlt. Paul Mehnert

Orders: Upon Departing Lorient, make fair speed for a rondezvous with U-461, there you will receive a replinishment of any fuel and torpedoes used. Bear in mind that her stock may be limited. Permission to engage targets of opportunity en route to assigned patrol is granted. Spend no more time than is absolutely required restocking at U-461. Upon departing the rondezvous point, proceed to the United States Eastern Seaboard and establish yourself on station in the vicinity of Norfolk, proceed north and attack targets of opportunity.
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Departed Lorient on 03 September 1942 with orders to patrol off the United States Eastern Seaboard. Made fair speed toward resupply boat U-461. On 16 September 1942 at 1203 hours a Passenger Cargo vessel of British regirstry was encountered in light fog and heavy seas. We closed in on the contact while submerged and fired a spread of two torpedoes at the target. The speed of the target slowed dramatically and she developed a bow heavy posture. A large explosion was observed through the observation scope by myself and the Chief of the boat. Shortly after the blast the target sank by the bow leaving a slick and fire on the surface. Identified as the S.S. Santa Luisa, 1,994 tons Sank in grid square BD84.

On 19 September 1942 at 0302 hours a 2 ship formation was sighted at medium range by the lookouts. Settled the boat low in the water and approached from their port side. identified the targets as the 4700 ton S.S. orania (granville) and the 1870 ton S.S. hastings (Coastal Freighter) both of British registry. Observed the granville to be moderatly armed and opted for a submerged attack. At 0341 fired a spread of 2 for the granville and a single shot at the smaller ship. Both ships sunk in grid BD77.

Reached U-461 shortly after midnight on the 23rd, and received fresh food, water and replacement torpedoes. Resupply operation extremely efficient.
Departed U-461 before dawn and proceeded to assigned patrol grid. Contact with Irish merchant convoy was intermittent throughout the 24th and 25th. All of the ships were travelling with their lights on and did not seem threatened by our presence. Contact lost on the 26th.

No further contacts until 05 October 1942 when established well within the U.S. Coastal waters. A medium cargo sitting low in the water travelling south along the coast. Fired two torpedoes at her which caused her to split in two. Identified as the 5848 ton Motor Vessel City of Perth – grid square DC12

Our most interesting engagement of the entire voyage came on 08 October 1942. We maneuvered while submerged to intercept a merchant sound contact closing in our direction at slow speed. Upon raising the periscope we located an American Small Fishing Boat. The plan was to let this boat go and proceed northeast however he made it clear that he had discovered our periscope and began to zig zag aggressively. At this time we surfaced and began to shell the craft so as to prevent him from reporting our position. As the gun crew secured the deck gun and the fishing boat began to sink by the bow several shells could be heard whizzing overhead. At least 6 large splashes erupted from the sea all around us. I ordered a crash dive but we were only in 60 meters of water after chasing the merchant contact. Upon establishing a good dive angle I raised the observation scope to observe our attacker. Smoke could be seen on the horizon and the target appeared to be an Evarts class destroyer… before I could ID the contact we were clearing 30 meters. I ordered the boat level at 50 meters depth and deployed a pattern of decoys. Several minutes later the American destroyer made a depth charge attack on the decoy pattern and proceeded to turn away from us. We were only approximately 20 KM from the continental shelf and the salvation of deeper water! The effect of the decoys soon dissipated and we were getting pinged continuously. First the destroyer rushed overhead from a bearing of about 220 degrees dropping a pattern of charges. Executed evasive maneuvers, the attack rocked the boat severely but there was no damage. The destroyer made another run against us from astern. Again we initiated aggressive evasive maneuvers and escaped damage despite the horrendous pounding of the depth charges. I dispersed another decoy pattern which allowed us to put some distance between us and the attacker. Ever minute that passed we inched further out to deeper water. I tried to sound the bottom during the blasts of the depth charges but the destroyer picked up on our echo location equipment. We had another 30 meters beneath us so I ordered us 20 meters deeper. The destroyer made another attack run against us the boat was rocked severely. The high pressure lines which feed tubes 5 and 6 came unseated. This was the only known damage. The destroyer launched no less than 8 further depth charge attacks on us, approaching from astern, from an 8 O’clock position and from a 4 o’clock position alternatively. We narrowly evaded each attack. Eventually the destroyer had expended all of his depth charges as we approached the 100 meter line. Upon reaching 85 meters the destroyer lost contact and could be heard on the hydrophones fading to the west. Upon surfacing it had become clear that the deck gun was no longer usable and was jammed 110 degrees to the left. The attack periscope was destroyed beyond repair, but the boat was otherwise in good shape. We continued to the north.

On 08 October 1942 we encountered an Ore carrier worth 8700 tons and sank it with a spread of 2 in grid square DC12. Later that day at 1130 hours we intercepted a sound contact which turned out to be the S.S. Platt Park, a 9670 ton Large merchant. This ship was sank in grid CA79.

On 11 October 1942 I made the decision to return to Lorient with a stop at the resupply boat U-461. We were attacked on 4 separate occasions by American Long range bombers which were equipped with radar. No damage was sustained in any of the attacks save on close call against a B-24 which could be observed as diving on us as the outer hatch was closed! These occurrences were my first serious encounters with aircraft thus far in the war.

01-28-08, 11:50 PM	#1
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	U-802 IXC First Patrol off US Coast U-802 Type: IXC Patrol #1 under the command of Oberlt. Paul Mehnert Orders: Upon Departing Lorient, make fair speed for a rondezvous with U-461, there you will receive a replinishment of any fuel and torpedoes used. Bear in mind that her stock may be limited. Permission to engage targets of opportunity en route to assigned patrol is granted. Spend no more time than is absolutely required restocking at U-461. Upon departing the rondezvous point, proceed to the United States Eastern Seaboard and establish yourself on station in the vicinity of Norfolk, proceed north and attack targets of opportunity. ------------------------------------ Departed Lorient on 03 September 1942 with orders to patrol off the United States Eastern Seaboard. Made fair speed toward resupply boat U-461. On 16 September 1942 at 1203 hours a Passenger Cargo vessel of British regirstry was encountered in light fog and heavy seas. We closed in on the contact while submerged and fired a spread of two torpedoes at the target. The speed of the target slowed dramatically and she developed a bow heavy posture. A large explosion was observed through the observation scope by myself and the Chief of the boat. Shortly after the blast the target sank by the bow leaving a slick and fire on the surface. Identified as the S.S. Santa Luisa, 1,994 tons Sank in grid square BD84. On 19 September 1942 at 0302 hours a 2 ship formation was sighted at medium range by the lookouts. Settled the boat low in the water and approached from their port side. identified the targets as the 4700 ton S.S. orania (granville) and the 1870 ton S.S. hastings (Coastal Freighter) both of British registry. Observed the granville to be moderatly armed and opted for a submerged attack. At 0341 fired a spread of 2 for the granville and a single shot at the smaller ship. Both ships sunk in grid BD77. Reached U-461 shortly after midnight on the 23rd, and received fresh food, water and replacement torpedoes. Resupply operation extremely efficient. Departed U-461 before dawn and proceeded to assigned patrol grid. Contact with Irish merchant convoy was intermittent throughout the 24th and 25th. All of the ships were travelling with their lights on and did not seem threatened by our presence. Contact lost on the 26th. No further contacts until 05 October 1942 when established well within the U.S. Coastal waters. A medium cargo sitting low in the water travelling south along the coast. Fired two torpedoes at her which caused her to split in two. Identified as the 5848 ton Motor Vessel City of Perth – grid square DC12 Our most interesting engagement of the entire voyage came on 08 October 1942. We maneuvered while submerged to intercept a merchant sound contact closing in our direction at slow speed. Upon raising the periscope we located an American Small Fishing Boat. The plan was to let this boat go and proceed northeast however he made it clear that he had discovered our periscope and began to zig zag aggressively. At this time we surfaced and began to shell the craft so as to prevent him from reporting our position. As the gun crew secured the deck gun and the fishing boat began to sink by the bow several shells could be heard whizzing overhead. At least 6 large splashes erupted from the sea all around us. I ordered a crash dive but we were only in 60 meters of water after chasing the merchant contact. Upon establishing a good dive angle I raised the observation scope to observe our attacker. Smoke could be seen on the horizon and the target appeared to be an Evarts class destroyer… before I could ID the contact we were clearing 30 meters. I ordered the boat level at 50 meters depth and deployed a pattern of decoys. Several minutes later the American destroyer made a depth charge attack on the decoy pattern and proceeded to turn away from us. We were only approximately 20 KM from the continental shelf and the salvation of deeper water! The effect of the decoys soon dissipated and we were getting pinged continuously. First the destroyer rushed overhead from a bearing of about 220 degrees dropping a pattern of charges. Executed evasive maneuvers, the attack rocked the boat severely but there was no damage. The destroyer made another run against us from astern. Again we initiated aggressive evasive maneuvers and escaped damage despite the horrendous pounding of the depth charges. I dispersed another decoy pattern which allowed us to put some distance between us and the attacker. Ever minute that passed we inched further out to deeper water. I tried to sound the bottom during the blasts of the depth charges but the destroyer picked up on our echo location equipment. We had another 30 meters beneath us so I ordered us 20 meters deeper. The destroyer made another attack run against us the boat was rocked severely. The high pressure lines which feed tubes 5 and 6 came unseated. This was the only known damage. The destroyer launched no less than 8 further depth charge attacks on us, approaching from astern, from an 8 O’clock position and from a 4 o’clock position alternatively. We narrowly evaded each attack. Eventually the destroyer had expended all of his depth charges as we approached the 100 meter line. Upon reaching 85 meters the destroyer lost contact and could be heard on the hydrophones fading to the west. Upon surfacing it had become clear that the deck gun was no longer usable and was jammed 110 degrees to the left. The attack periscope was destroyed beyond repair, but the boat was otherwise in good shape. We continued to the north. On 08 October 1942 we encountered an Ore carrier worth 8700 tons and sank it with a spread of 2 in grid square DC12. Later that day at 1130 hours we intercepted a sound contact which turned out to be the S.S. Platt Park, a 9670 ton Large merchant. This ship was sank in grid CA79. On 11 October 1942 I made the decision to return to Lorient with a stop at the resupply boat U-461. We were attacked on 4 separate occasions by American Long range bombers which were equipped with radar. No damage was sustained in any of the attacks save on close call against a B-24 which could be observed as diving on us as the outer hatch was closed! These occurrences were my first serious encounters with aircraft thus far in the war. __________________