F.d.U./B.d.U.'S War Log

16 - 31 July 1941

PG30293

	Date Position, Wind, Weather   and Sea State, Illumination, Events Time Air Pressure, Moonlight etc.
	16.7.   Positions on the morning of the 16th July: In the North Atlantic:   "U 372" - AJ 29 "U 431" - AJ 38 "U 565" - AK 72 "U 74" - AK 8750 "U 562" - BD 25 "U564" - BD 53 "U 98" - AL 87 "U 95" - BD 31 "U 401" - AJ 66 "U 68" - AK 4550 "U 331" - AK 81 "U 126" - AK 89 "U 561" - BD 34 "U 97" - BD 18 "U 203" - AL 72 "U 141" is in BF 42   Outward-bound "U 125" in AN 36     Returning "U 201" in BE 63   "U 202" in AK 67 and "U 553" in BE 63   In the southern area:  "U 66" in ET, "U 123" in ET 55 and UA returning in EJ 82 Proceeding into the southern operational area are: "U 93" - BF 76 "U 94" - BE 97 "U 124" - BF 58       In Lorient:  "U 43, 38, 101, 106, 557, 111, 79, 105, 107, 103".   In St. Nazaire:  "U 77, 96, 46, 559, 71, 73, 75, 552, 69, 751".     In Brest:  "U 204, 558, 371".     In Kiel:  "U 146".     In Bergen:  "U 137, 143".           As I am not quite sure what the traffic situation is at the southern point of Greenland in view of ice and fog conditions, U 372 has been ordered to advance out of her operational area (AJ 2950) up to the ice limits in the direction of the southern point of Greenland.  There she will report on the traffic situation and ice and fog conditions.             Refueling by U-boats from "Culebra" is no longer possible at present owing to a British protest to the Spanish government.  As an alternative, refueling is proposed by the Naval War Staff from "MORO".           U 109 which was to have refueled during the next few days from "Culebra" will be diverted.       17.7.   U 564, upon enquiry, reported from her operational area no traffic.  At 0900 air reconnaissance reported a convoy in AM 1992, course 2800, consisting of 36 ships, and 5 destroyers.  The aircraft added:  position inaccurate for U-boats.
	- 112 -

 

	Date Position, Wind, Weather   and Sea State, Illumination, Events Time Air Pressure, Moonlight etc.
	As a preliminary measure U 203, 95 and 98 were ordered to proceed on a northerly course.  U 126 and U 97 are to operate in the direction of advance of the convoy, 2800.     Further air reconnaissance has been requested for this evening.  According to an intercept message the position of the convoy at 0830 was in AM 4265.  This report was passed on to the boats.  At 2023 air reconnaissance detected the convoy for the second time and sent out beacon signals.  The position observed was AL 6377, and course 2700.  The beacon signals were heard by two boats and reported. The point of intersection of these two fixes agreed practically with the position reported by the machine.  It was given to the boats once again.  A second intercept message came in, which gave the position of the convoy at 2100 in AM 4421.  The cross bearing appeared to be more certain to the relative position of the U-boats.   The five boats sent in for operations against this convoy were ordered to proceed at maximum speed on the mean course of the convoy of 2600.  There will be air reconnaissance at 0900 tomorrow morning in the area of the convoy.  The boats should look out for beacon signals.   For the remaining boats I have ordered course E., cruising speed, so that they may be brought nearer to the convoy.         U 561, 562, 564, which no longer have much fuel, are to remain in their operational areas.           U 125 reported heavy thrusting of the port propeller.  She is proceeding to Bergen for docking.           The Southern boats were informed that there are no more facilities for refueling owing to elimination of "Culebra".  Refueling only in cases of emergency from "Moro".         18.7.   At 0850 air reconnaissance reported the convoy in AL 6652, course 2500 and sent beacon signals.  2 boats received and reported the beacon signals, and, according to their point of intersection, the position of the convoy at 0900 in AL 6536 was given to the boats.  An intercept message was received, according to which the position of the convoy at 0902 was to be assumed in AL 6687, with present course 1950.           The course of 1950 appears, as a mean course, to be very far south, especially as, according to Intercept Control Station, this was not an OG convoy which would now have been proceeding in the direction of Gibraltar, but an outgoing Atlantic convoy.  If the intercept message of the morning of the 17th July and that just received were connected, this gave a south-westerly mean course which is very likely.  The five boats operating were informed that the course of the convoy was possibly more southerly than 260.  The boats to the west had in any case to be drawn nearer to the convoy.  They have to be assembled in an area
	- 113 -

 

	Date Position, Wind, Weather   and Sea State, Illumination, Events Time Air Pressure, Moonlight etc.
	where they would meet the convoy at dawn on the 20th July.  (An earlier meeting was not possible in view of distance being too great). I therefore ordered them temporarily into a patrol line from AK 6525 to BE 1455.  I can later alter this patrol line according to the situation.  Since, up to the evening, no boat contacted the convoy, I decided to dispose the 5 operative boats in a patrol line from AL 8161 to AL 9759 in front of the probable direction of advance of the convoy.  The boats should have reached their positions tomorrow morning at 0900.  U 202, returning, is to extend the patrol line to the S.E.  The boats were to report their position by means of a short signal if they could not carry out the order.  In the course of the night U 97 reported in AL 47, U 95 in AL 91, U 126 in AL 81 and U 98 in AL 55, the latter boat also reporting return passage.  U 98, therefore, was eliminated for further operations.       U 372, which had been ordered to advance to the southern point of Greenland, reported no traffic observed up to 580 30' North, no ice, frequent fog.  From the Fuehrer's Headquarters support has been requested for the Army Group Dietl fighting in Norway by transfer of U-boats into the Arctic.  U 81 and U 652 which were proceeding into the operational area were, therefore, ordered to Kola Bay, Murmansk.       The Southern boats were informed of the departure of a British convoy from Gibraltar, the position of which, according to an intercept message, was at 0850 on the 18th July in CG 9752 with course W.N.W.         19.7.   Today's air reconnaissance, with only one reconnaissance and one meteorological machine, brought no result.  As no further strong air reconnaissance can be made owing to lack of machines, I have decided to put the 5 operational boats into the large patrol line intended for the 20th July, and to dispose this in such a manner, according to courses and positions calculated, that the boats will be in front of the convoy at dawn.  The patrol line will be ordered for the 20th July at 0900 from AK 9655 to BE 5117.  The boats are to take up position in the following sequence:  U 431, 401, 68, 565, 331, 74, 562, 561, 564, 97, 203, 226, 95.  The boats are to cruise backwards and forwards in the patrol line according to special instructions.           From the Southern area UA reported return passage, no traffic.  She requested refueling from "Moro".           U 201 put into Brest.           U 553 put into St. Nazaire.         20.7.   There have been no reports from the boats in the northern area.  Towards evening it transpired that the convoy had escaped. It cannot be said to which side of the patrol line or whether through it.  I shall keep the boats in the patrol line until tomorrow
	- 114 -

 

	Date Position, Wind, Weather   and Sea State, Illumination, Events Time Air Pressure, Moonlight etc.
	morning and then order a new disposition.     An outward-bound convoy was confirmed at 1900 in AM 1198 by means of a special intercept message.  There are no prospects of operations.       From the Southern area U 66 reported a 7,000 GRT vessel sunk in DT 95.         U 123 sank the "Auditor" (5,444 GRT).  She reported neutral traffic in ET.  Off Freetown heavy incoming and outgoing traffic by USA ships has been observed.  Anti-submarine activities daily on the incoming routes.  Both boats were ordered to move their operational area into the area off the Cape Verde Islands up to 300 West, in case chances of success appear too slight off Freetown.  I suspect the most important point of the traffic to be further west than 300, since, following on the great successes by U-boats in the area east of 300, a final by-passing of this area now is only too probable.  My request to the Naval War Staff for permission to operate also west of 300 was, however, refused in view of our own prizes proceeding there.           The Commanding Officers of U 201 and 553 came in to give their report.           Lt. Schnee, Commanding Officer of U 201, returned without having achieved any success.  He only sighted one vessel in the whole operation during which he had a free operational area for the most part.  Lt. Thurmann, the Commanding Officer of U 553, sank 2 ships, 10,590 GRT.  Nothing to remark.           The lack of traffic in July is significant.  The bad visibility at present in all areas of the North Atlantic may have a lot to do with this.  However, I am under the impression that the number of single vessels has again become considerably less.  Only very fast ships have been encountered just lately as single vessels, unless U-boats out in the west accidentally encountered vessels of a dispersed convoy.  The difficult problem as ever is to find convoys.  For this purpose it is desirable to assemble forces so that nearby boats can make use of a report on sighting by one U-boat.           I have, therefore, ordered the following new operational areas which should serve to intercept the south and southwest traffic and which also appear favorable for cooperation with aircraft.         The following will occupy, concentrating in the middle, a 50 mile wide east-west patrol line, western boundary 20 degrees:   U 203 - AM 4111   U 74 - AM 4177 U 95 - AM 4711   U 97 - AM 7111.       Operational areas, with spacing 100 miles, are to be taken up as follows: U 401 - AL 6410   U 372 - AL 4158 U 431 - AL 4583   U 565 - AL 5781 U 68 - AL 8259   U 331 - AL 9455 U 126 - AL 9859
	- 115 -

 

	Date Position, Wind, Weather   and Sea State, Illumination, Events Time Air Pressure, Moonlight etc.
	U 561, 562 and 564 will remain S.W. of this disposition without limitation of operational areas, as these boats may report returning at any moment.     U 203 chased a fast single vessel on course south, but did not catch up with it.  U 126 reported 2 torpedo misses on a steamer but no traffic observed up to now.       In the southern area I intend that the 3 south-bound boats, U 93, 94 and 124, shall proceed in rake formation.  They have been ordered to take up position at 0800 on the 23rd July at about 350 N., U 94 at 290, U 93 at 270 and U 124 at 250 West, subsequently proceeding south, with days run approximately 100 miles.  They are to make sweeps up to 10 to each side.  This rake formation runs along the western edge of the permitted operational area.  If this does not achieve any success it will be certain that single traffic has been moved entirely west of 300.  In this case, further operations by U-boats in the Southern area would be useless, since in this wide area the interception of slight convoy traffic would have too little prospects of success.         U 79 put out from Lorient.         22.7.   U 203 has proceeded too far to the south.  She is to take up the position of U 97.  U 97, 95 and 74 will each move one position further to the north.           At 2130 the Italian U-boat "Barbarigo" reported a convoy in CF 8989, course 330 degrees.  "Barbarigo" has been ordered by me not to attack, but to make every effort to maintain contact.  Relying on the fact that he will succeed in this, I decided to operate against this convoy with those southern boats which were in a favorable position to the convoy.  The boats were given orders accordingly and were to report their position by means of a short signal when able to operate against the convoy.  U 93 reported in CF 75 and U 203 from BE 4850.  U 203 does not belong to the Southern boats but has come so far south in pursuit of the fast single vessel, that she is now in a position 600 miles before the convoy.           U 204 put out from Brest.         23.7.   U 93 and U 203 were ordered to break off operations against the convoy reported yesterday by Italian U-boats, since unfortunately no further reports have been received from the Italian boat keeping contact.  U 141 reported having moved her operational area into the middle part of AM.  The following operational areas have been ordered for boats newly arrived in this area:         U 79 - east-west patrol line 50 miles wide with the concentration in AM 7111.