1. Skl 6871/42 Gkdos No. 47  
 
                                                                                               
  
 
                                                                    Kriegstagebuch Summary
  
 
                                                                      for submission to Skl.U
  
 
Patrol  . . . . U-125 . . . . from 18.12 to 22.2.42  Kommandant:  Kaptlt. Folkers
  
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Operations area :  U.S.A. - Coast
     
18.12.41   Departed Lorient.
     
22.12.41   Contact gained on a convoy.  Detected by destroyer with Asdic gear, overrun and attacked with 5 well-placed depth charges.
     
    Depth charge damage:
  U II All depth pressure gages put out of service, speed measurement system out of service, Echolot sounder out of service for the moment, torpedo fire control system:  firing angle forward tubes only runs very slowly.  On the trigger linkage of tubes 2 and 4, the locking lever is broken or partially broken so that both tubes cannot be fired electrically or manually because the locking lever is no longer held in the cocked position.  By interposing a screwdriver between trigger linkage and the clamping ring of the base closure hand firing is again possible by removing the screwdriver.  A spare lock lever was not on board. Welding attempt failed because there was no suitable weld metal.  Two gyro compass roses shattered, automatic battery switch 2 failed.
     
29.12.41   Heavy Sea State.  Starboard aft net deflector broken at the level of the aft mid insulator.  Rubber boat lost. Antenna feed for the stern net deflector torn.
     
11/12.01.42

 

U II

 Outer tube door of tube 2 can only be opened half way and can not be closed again.  In the boat all linkage runs effortlessly and in order.  Boat so handled that the outer tube door of tube 2 is mostly out of the water.  The forward half of the fairing was broken through.  The hull is dented in and [the fairing] now lies between the tube and the outer tube door.  Outboard work must be broken off due to the again over coming sea.
     
14.01.42   Spanish steamer "ISLA DE TERNIFFA" perfectly recognized and let go unhindered.
     
23.01.42   Two unexplained misses on 7000 GRT tanker.  Outer tube door  fort tube 4 cannot be opened. 
     
     
Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB
     
     
 
                                                                    Kriegstagebuch Summary
  
 
                                                                     for submission to Skl.U
  
  Patrol U-. . . . . . . . from              to                  Kommandant:  
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    It is too late for a stern shot.  Tanker escapes in the darkness.
     
24.01.42   Two steamers in sight.  Operated on the smaller closest steamer, that unfortunately was recognized as Spanish.
     
25.01.42   Attack on 1000 GRT steamer broken off because the target is too small.
    8000 GRT tanker zigzags unfavorably, the boat cannot reach attack position.
    Multiple shot on 7000 GRT tanker that stopped to take over survivors.  1 detonation heard.  Tanker runs further.  Further multiple shot missed.
    8000 GRT freighter passed at 4000 meters range, apparently with neutral markings.
     
26.01.42   Large freighter sunk with single shot (miss) and multiple shot (three hits).
     
    Further 8000 GRT freighter lost again after the beginning of darkness.
     
27.01.42   Pursuit of a large passenger and freight steamer broken off due to hopelessness.
     
29.01.42   Began return transit.
     
30.01.42   6000 GRT steamer not attacked due to weather conditions.
     
22.02.42   Ran into Lorient.
     
    Successes:  1 tanker torpedoed
                      1 freighter sunk
     
     
    B.d.U. Comments
    First patrol of the Kommandant with an experienced boat.
    In relation to very heavy traffic in the area of operations success is extremely limited.  In addition to human, as well as material failures, the Kommandant demonstrated little skill.  This is due in part to insufficient experience.
    1.)  When ships were sighted in very favorable situations,
     
     
     
     
 
                                                                    Kriegstagebuch Summary
  
 
                                                                     for submission to Skl.U
  
  Patrol U-. . . . . . . . from              to                  Kommandant:  
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
    the boat was not in correct position or at too great range to shoot.
    2.)  Contact was lost on sighted targets too quickly.
    3.)  On 25 January one could have waited a bit to achieve a better firing position at the tanker calmly lying stopped in order to achieve a better firing position.  The time was available.
    4.)  On 30 January despite the prevailing weather at least a maneuver ahead and attack must be tried.   Stick with it tenaciously.  The next day it had already subsided.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    After circulation without attachments back to Iv
                                                         U I