U-boat Archive - Admiralty-Cominch Messages




	ADMIRALTY
		COMINCH	ROUTINE
	2 MAR 1945
	0749 - 1418
	ALTENHOF/JOHNSON
	JOHNSON/MONROE



	PAGE 1 OF 2 PAGES	011530Z NCR 5324




PART 1 011519Z NCR 5308 PART 2 011530Z NCR 5324
ULTRA. COMINCH FOR F21 FROM ADMIRALTY.
OIC SERIAL 1559.
(1) RE AND KK AND VU AND VR AND VS DIANA 0800/26. LATTER
FOUR PROBABLY EXXS 26. RD AND PS AND VQ TO DIANA AND LF
TO IRELAND 0800/28. PS AND VQ PROBABLY EXB 24. LF
PROBABLY EXXS 21. LJ TO IRELAND 0800/1 PROBABLY EX
STAV23.
(2) BY 1513/26 SITUATION REPORTS PROMULGATED FOR GIBRALTAR
AND REYKJAVIK BASED ON EXPERIENCES OF OF AND PJ RESPECTIV-
ELY. REYKJAVIK PRESUMABLY FOR BENEFIT OF TX ALTHOUGH SOME-
WHAT BELATED.
(3) BY 1632/25 VO AND HA INFORMED OF CONVOYS PASSING
FORTH BARRAGE AND GIVEN FREEDOM OF ACTION SO FAR AS AN
5899 AND THAT HB HAS ARRIVED INPORT AFTER 2 MISSES AT

From	Para.	Correction
AOIC 1560	3	SERIAL 1559 PARA 3 FOR HA READ HB AND FOR HB READ HA.



	AT STEAMSHIPS. COMMENT. RECENT INCIDENTS IN NORTH FORELAND AREA
	THEREFORE DUE TO SEEHUNDE OR MINES.
	(4) BY 1728/26 VV INFORMED OF SPECIAL T/P CONTAINING ORDERS FROM
	BDU AWAITING HIM AT AT XS. BY 2322/27 GIVEN 113 GROUPS SPECIAL CYPHER.
	POSSIBLE EXXS 28 AS NO APPARENT DEPARTURE 27. PRESUMABLY TO SAME
	AREA AS VO.
	(5) REFERENCE AM 281043 PARA 2 2. 1 OFFICER AND 1 RATING RECOVERED.
	VERY RECALCITRANT BUT ALLEGE EXT AND CLAIM SHIPS OFF DEVONPORT 4
	DAYS BEFORE ATTACK. PRESUMABLY AM 231056 A PARA A3 AND POSSIBLY
	OIC 1551 PARA 3 REFER. ALTHOUGH EXPERTS SAY RUBBER NOT SUITABLE FOR
	HULL COVERING. AM 011205 PARA A4 APPARENTLY A KILL MUCH OIL AND
	DEBRIS INCLUDING VARNISHED PLYWOOD GERMAN SIGNAL PADS AND NOTICE
	IN GERMAN CYPHER ON PLYWOOD AND GERMAN CORRESPONDENCE. REF AM
	281043 PARA 8. H/172 SIGHTED OIL SLICK SPEED VARYING 3 TO 8 KNOTS
	ERRATIC COURSE. P/S SIGHTED FOR FEW SECONDS. THIS SUGGESTS THAT U-
	BOAT POSSIBLY SURVIVED FIRST ATTACK BY EG2 ON 27TH ONLY TO BE SUNK
	24 HOURS LATER.
	(6) 1554 TO 1558 INC TO ONLY.





	2 COPIES TO F341 FOR COMDR KNOWLES



	ADMIRALTY 011530Z NCR 5324 PAGE 2 OF 2




	ADMIRALTY
		COMINCH (FOR F-21)	RRRRRR
	1 MARCH 1945
	0311/2
	MCCLELLAN
	WALP/LENIHAN



		012340Z NCR 5124




COMINCH (FOR F-21) FROM ADMIRALTY

OIC SERIAL 1560.
SERIAL 1559 PARA 3 FOR HA READ HB AND FOR HB READ HA.



2 COPIES TO COMMANDER KNOWLES




	ADMIRALTY
		COMINCH (FOR F-21)	RRRRRR
	4 MARCH 1945
	1532
	SEIFERT
	WALP/LENIHAN



		041130Z NCR 7421




(COMINCH FOR F-21 (FROM ADMIRALTY)
OIC SERIAL 1561.
1. OIC 1559 PARA 5. SURVIVORS ARE FROM TJ. AT LEAST
2 OTHER BODIES SIGHTED BUT NOT RECOVERED. SHIPS TORPEDOED
OFF DEVONPORT NOW STATED TO HAVE BEEN WORK OF ANOTHER U-
BOAT. IT NOW APPEARS LESS PROBABLE THAT EG 2'S ATTACKS
ON 27TH AND 28TH WERE ON SAME U-BOAT.
2. SS ASSUMED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR POINT PLEASANT PARK
ESTIMATED 1200Z 4TH MARCH LAT 06-30 SOUTH LONG 03-00 WEST
PASSING EAST OF ASCENSION AND POSSIBLY ALSO OF CAPE VERDE
ISLANDS.
3. ASSUME 0032Z 4TH WAS FROM OH.
4. REF OIC 1517. N A STOCKHOLM NOW IDENTIFIES THIS U-BOAT
AS FZ.
[Penned note: = U-182 liquidated may 1943 (1200 tons)]


2 COPIES TO COMMANDER KNOWLES.




	ADMIRALTY
		COMINCH FOR F-21
	5 MARCH 1945		DEFERRED
	2200
	BICKEL
	DIEBEL/



		051732Z NCR 8477



PART 1 - 051721Z - NCR 8496 PART 2 - 051732Z - NCR 8477

COMINCH FOR F-21 OIC SERIAL 1562 FROM ADMTY. ULTRA TOPSEC.*

OIC SERIAL 1562. U-BOAT SITUATION.
1. TOTAL 467 AS FOLLOWS: NO 20 INCLUDING N12 T4 B1. NT
43 W 184 PW 14 SC 99 F 3 OB 5 BP 44 OE 48 OW 5 ST 2.
2. TO JANUARY Q ADD PV FOR UNKNOWN CAUSE ON UNKNOWN DATE.
TO FEBRUARY Q ADD UNKNOWN POSSIBLY OF TYPE 21 FOR USAAF
RAID ON WESER DOCKYARD AT 1133Z 24TH ALSO TJ FOR EG 2 AT
1106Z 27TH POSSIBLY FINISHED OFF BY EG 2 AM 28TH. REFERENCE
OIC SERIAL 1545 PARA 3 VICTIM OF KILL AT 0030Z 17TH WAS KE.
4. BALTIC CO'S. REFERENCE OIC SERIAL 1553 PARA 4 KOFFER-
MANN PROBABLY SIGNAL ERROR FOR OFFERMANN. 750 GRAWERT 2338
KAISER.
5. QE 774 AND ALSO EITHER HC 2321 OR QD 321 OR ALTERNATIVELY
BOTH PROBABLY EXR 1.
6. ADD NJ DAMAGED BY MINE TO BP.

*RECLASSIFIED SECRET.
2 COPIES TO COMMANDER KNOWLES

From	Para.	Correction
AOIC 1574	5	REFERENCE OIC SERIAL 1562 PARA 5 HC EXR PROBABLY FIRST QD AND QE EQUALS SAUSMIKAT WERE DELAYED AND EXR 4 WITH LP AND QF 1063.




	ADMIRALTY		PPP
		COMINCH
	7 MARCH 1945
	0015
	BICKEL
	DORSEY/SCHMICK



		062205Z NCR 9395




ULTRA.
COMINCH FOR F 21 OIC SERIAL 1563 FROM
ADMIRALTY

1. PD TO DIANA 0800/3.
COMMENT EXB 27.










2 COPIES TO F341 FOR COMDR. KNOWLES.

Admiralty OIC Serials 1564 to 1567 are missing




	ADMIRALTY
		COMINCH	RRRRRR
	8 MARCH 1945	FOR F 21
	1706
	SMITH
	MANUEL/WALP



		081502Z NCR 907




(COMINCH FOR F 21 FROM ADMTY)

OIC SERIAL 1568.
BY 1328 ON A BALTIC FREQUENCY ALL TYPE 21 U BOATS
WERE PROHIBITED FROM SNORTING PENDING RECEIPT OF
REPORT ON TEST MENTIONED IN 1552/19TH FEBRUARY.
THIS MESSAGE PRESUMABLY BY T/P WAS REPEATED BY W/TD
2ND MARCH AND IS THUS KNOWN TO HAVE CONTAINED ORDER
CONCERNING EXECUTION OF TEST TO BE MADE OF PRESSURE
TIGHTNESS OF THE SNORCHEL.
2. MY 1564 TO 1567 WERE TO ONLY.




2 COPIES TO CDR KNOWLES.

Admiralty OIC Serial 1569 is missing




	ADMIRALTY
		COMINCH FOR F21	ROUTINE
	10 MARCH 1945
	0107
	MCCLELLAN
	SOWERS/SJOSTEN



	PAGE 1 OF 2	091840Z NCR 2189




COMINCH FOR F21 FROM ADMIRALTY OIC SERIAL 1570
ULTRA.

1. AM 081205A
A. ORIGINAL CONTACT WAS SNORT AND P/S. U-BOAT
DIVED BUT CONTACT GAINED AND ATTACKS MADE
WITH HH AND DCS. MUCH OIL AND WRECKAGE EVI-
DENT BY 0212Z 8TH MARCH. FURTHER ATTACKS
AFTER DAYLIGHT PRODUCED MORE WRECKAGE AND
DOCUMENTS SHOWING VICTIM WAS VC.
2. RK IRELAND 0800/7. BY 1202/2 CAPTAIN UB WEST
ORDERED TO FIT OUT RK FOR OPERATION IN GIBRAL-
TAR. POSSIBLY EXB3. WE THINK RD POSSIBLY ALSO
PROCEEDING TO SAME AREA.
3. BY 1958/2 SCHROETLER* GIVEN FREEDOM OF ACTION.
TO REPORT INTENTIONS AS PASSAGE REPORT. NO CLUE
YET AS TO IDENTITY OF U-BOAT BUT POSSIBLY EXB 26.
ALLOCATE XJ.



	MY 1569 TO ONLY.

















	*AS RECEIVED

	2 COPIES COMDR KNOWLES.






	ADMIRALTY 091840Z NCR 2189 PAGE 2 OF 2




	ADMIRALTY
		COMINCH	ROUTINE
	10 MARCH 1945	F-21
	1853/1957
	WOODWARD/SJOSTEN




		101800Z NCR 2852




ULTRA TOPSEC.
COMINCH FOR F 21 OIC SERIAL 1571 FROM ADMTY.

OIC SERIAL 1571. QC TO DIANA 0800/9TH. DEFINITELY EXXS 5
WITH VX. VX 36 HOURS OFF STAVANGAR AT 2200/8 DEFECTIVE.
EARLY DIANA SHIFT FOR QC SUGGESTS EAST COAST PATROL.





2 COPIES FOR COMDR KNOWLES.




	ADMIRALTY
		COMINCH F-21	ROUTINE
	112208 MARCH 1945
	2208
	SMITH
	HUGHES/DIEBEL



		111705Z NCR 3637




ULTRA.
COMINCH FOR F-21 FROM ADMTY.

OIC SERIAL 1572.
1. VZ AND KW AND KS AND VV TO DIANA AND LG TO IRELAND
0800/10. DOLPHIN IS MISSING FROM 1200/3 TO 1200/5 AND
SHARK 1200/7 TO 1200/8 SO SITUATION OBSCURE BUT CONSIDER
TENTATIVELY VZ AND KS AND LG EXXS 3. VV WAS EXB 7 AND KW
EXT 7.
2. U-BOAT SURVIVORS WERE SIGHTED NEAR BISHOPS ROCK AM/11TH
MARCH. IDENTITY AND CAUSE OF LOSS NOT YET ESTABLISHED.


*RECEIVED ULTRA. RECLASSIFIED SECRET.

2 COPIES TO COMDR KNOWLES.




	ADMIRALTY
		COMINCH	RRRRRRR
	12 MARCH 1945	(FOR F21)
	1945
	MCCLELLAN
	SAPP/ROYAL



	PAGE 1 OF 2	121220 NCR 4229



PART 1 121213A NCR 4237
PART 2 121220Z NCR 4229

COMINCH FOR F21 FROM ADMIRALTY. TOPSEC ULTRA.
OIC SERIAL 1573
1) REFERENCE AM 121103A. N/103 SIGHTED FULLY SUR-
FACED U/BOAT AND ATTACKED WITH DC'S AT 0926/12.
AT 0927/12 ATTACKED SUBMERGING U/BOAT WITH
MARK XXIV (24) SURVIVORS RESCUED INCLUDE GEBEAUER.
CO OF VP.
2) EG 10 WAS DIRECTED TO SOURCE OF OIL SLICK BY ML
AND OBTAINED CONTACT. ATTACKS RESULTED IN
RECOVERY OF GERMAN FIRST AID KIT, LETTER, BOOK,
AND LOCKER LIDS. IMPOSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY
OF U/BOAT.
3) REFERENCE AM 111030. PARA C3. HH EXPLOSION.
CONTACT HELD ALL DAY.



	WHISTLE EFFECT AND HE HEARD ALSO POSSIBLE SBT. TARGET
	APPEARED TO MOVE 4-1/2 MILES 140 DEGS. MANY NON SUB CONT-
	ACTS. ORIGINAL CONTACT APPARENTLY FAILED AT NIGHTFALL.
	REPORT NOW SEEMS MORE POSSIBLE BUT ONLY CANDIDATE LS.
	BUT REQUEST BY THIS U/BOAT NOT TO HAVE MAKE W/T
	SIGNALS SEEMED TO INDICATE CAUTIOUS POLICY INCONSISTENT
	WITH PASSAGE UP CONVOY ROUTES.
	4) VY DIANA 0800/8 PROBABLY EXXS 3 FOR EAST COAST OF UK.
	5) BY 1010/8 CURRUPT SIGNAL FROM OO AT 0910 ACKNOWLEDGES WITH
	PRESUMED CONTENTS AM IN NAVSQ DD46. ETA AT R/V 20/3.
	ALL FLAK ARMAMENT U/S OWING TO SEA. WE ASSUME POSITION
	INTENDED WAS BE 22.
	6) BY 1928/7 VB IF IN SOUTHERN AREA AT LIBERTY TO PENETRATE
	TO EASTWARD. WE DO NOT FEEL THIS MEANS INTO MED, BUT
	ONLY RIGHT UP TO GIBRALTAR ITSELF. IN ANY CASE VB
	VERY PROBABLY SUNK.






	2 COPIES COMDR KNOWLES.

	*RECLASSIFIED SECRET


	ADMIRALTY 121220 NCR 4229 PAGE 2 OF 2

COMINCH

PPPPPPPPP

ADMIRALTY

12 MARCH 1945

122005

	ACTION TO ADMIRALTY FOR OIC X FROM COMINCH X F-21 SERIAL 429 X ULTRA X
	MY 428 X BY URSULA 091452 JAN OBOE ITEM ORDERED TO CHARLIE GEORGE 95 X
	PARA TWO X IN VIEW 111758 FEB AND LACK OF SNORTS WE ARE PLOTTING U/BS
	HOMEBOUND FROM SOUTH ATLANTIC TO PASS WEST OF CAPE VERDE ISLANDS AND
	AZORES X CURRENTLY ESTIMATE LOVE SUGAR 23-30 N 35 W SUGAR SUGAR 03-45N
	16-45 W LOVE BAKER 12-45 S 02-45W LOVE ITEM 17-15S 00-30W X












	F-21 . . . ORIG. . .
	. . . . . NO DISTRIBUTION. . . . . "CCM"




	ADMIRALTY
		COMINCH FOR F21
	14 MARCH 1945		DEFERRED
	0538
	SMITH
	HUGHES



		130220 NCR 4735




COMINCH FOR F21 FROM ADMIRALTY. (PART 2 MY 130220)*

ULTRA.**
OIC SERIAL 1574.
U-BOAT SITUATION. 1. TOTAL 467 AS FOLLOWS. NO20
INCLUDING N13 T4 NT44 W192 PW14 SC94 F3 OB5 BP40
OE48 OW5 ST2.
2. NI COMPRISES 1175 AND 2350 AND 2354 AND 2360
AND 2361 AND 3021 VON MEETEREN AND 3028 AND 3030.
REFERENCE OIC SERIAL 1515 CANCEL 3526 NOT DUE TO BE
COMMISSIONED UNTIL APRIL 30TH AND NOTE 3527 AND 3528
COMMISSIONED 11TH MARCH.

*RECEIVED AS 130130Z. NCR 4719.
**RECEIVED ULTRA. RECLASSIFIED SECRET.

2 COPIES TO
COMDR KNOWLES




	ADMIRALTY
		COMINCH
	13 MARCH 1945		DDDDD
	1011
	MELTON/CHEESMAN
	D SMITH/WALP



	(PAGE 1 OF 2)	130220A NCR 4735



PART 1 130130A NCR 4719 (BEING SERVICED)
PART 2 130148Z NCR 4725
PART 3 130210A NCR 4730
PART 4 130220A NCR 4735
(FROM ADMIRALTY)
ULTRA.
JANUARY MENTION OF THESE 3 U-BOATS REFERRED TO A TRANSFER
UNDER TOW.
3. TO FEBRUARY Q ADD 923 PROBABLY MINED IN WEST BALTIC ON
OR BEFORE 13TH ALSO VT MINED IN HORTEN ON 17TH ALSO
UNKNOWN FOR EG2 AM 28TH SINCE IT IS NOW ESTABLISHED THAT
A U-BOAT WAS SUNK ON 28TH AS WELL AS TJ ON 27TH. TO
MARCH Q ALLOCATE 3519 MINED NEAR WARNEMUENDE AT 1145Z/2ND
AND VC FOR EG25 AT 2048Z/7TH AND UNKNOWN FOR WRECKAGE
FOUND BY EG10 NEAR BEACH HEAD ON 11TH POSSIBLY A VICTIM
OF MINE OR OF ATTACKS BY HMS HOLMES AFTER SINKING OF
LORNASTON ON 8TH AND VP FOR INCIDENT DESCRIBED IN OIC
SERIAL 1572 PARA 2.
4. BALTIC CO'S 237 MEWARD 323 DOBINSKY 677 AND 721 FABRICIUS
733 HELLMANN 828 JOHN 982 HARTMAN 1007 RAABE 1008 SCHULZ

From	Para.	Correction
AOIC 1635	3	1574 PARA 3 ALLOCATE TZ TO EG 2 AM 28TH FEBRUARY.
AOIC 1645	3	REFERENCE OIC SERIAL1574 PARA 3 ALLOCATE VK TO UNKNOWN OFF BEACHY HEAD



	1108 WIGAND 1192 MEENEL 1193 GUSE 1197 LAU 1234 WREDEN 2353
	HILLMANN 2526 HOHMANN 3008 SCHLOEMER 3010 TOPP 3012 KLOEVEKORN
	3018 BREMLINGER 3023 HARMS 3025 VOGEL 3507 NIETHMANN 3519 VON
	HARPE 3527 KRONBITTER.
	5. REFERENCE OIC SERIAL 1562 PARA 5 HC EXR PROBABLY FIRST QD AND
	QE EQUALS SAUSMIKAT WERE DELAYED AND EXR 4 WITH LP AND QF 1063.
	LV AND KM BOTH EXR 5. QG 324 AND PG AND MX DUE EXR 10TH.
	6. TRANSFER OE TO BP AND TRANSFER 237 AND 367 AND 720 AND 733 FROM
	SC TO W.






	2 COPIES TO COMDR KNOWLES











	ADMIRALTY 130220A NCR 4735 PAGE 2 OF 2

Admiralty OIC Serials 1575 and 1576 are missing




	ADMIRALTY
		COMINCH (FOR F-21)	RRRRR
	15 MARCH 1945
	2324
	VISSCHER
	WALP/LENIHAN



		151145Z NCR 6762




(COMINCH FOR F-21 FROM ADMIRALTY)

OIC SERIAL 1577.
1. BY 0330/12 PW IN AM 8275 HAVING BEEN RAMMED WHILE SNORTING
AT 0138/7. SNORT AND MAIN P/S LOST LEAKING. HAD MISSED A/S
VESSEL WITH GNAT IN AM 6841 ON 3/3.
2. BY 1156/12 KK TO SINK U-BOAT IF LIMITED DIVING ABILITY
COULD NOT BE ACHIEVED. CREW TO GO ASHORE AS SURVIVORS OF SHIP-
WRECK. IF ABLE TO DIVE GO TO ST. NAZAIRE.
3. WE ASSUME KK RAMMED PW. EIRE AUTHORITIES REPORTED AM 13TH
THAT 9 U-BOAT SURVIVORS HAD LANDED AT GALLEY HEAD AND THAT
MORE WERE COMING ASHORE. PRESUMABLY KK.
4. OIC 1575 AND 1576 TO ONLY.
[Penned note: unlikely from relative times and posits of two incidents]



2 COPIES TO COMMANDER KNOWLES

Admiralty OIC Serials 1578 to 1583 are missing




COMINCH		PPPPPPPPP
	ADMIRALTY
15 MARCH 1945




	152006