U-256's Logbook 26 to 30 January 1943

- 44 -
Date and Time

Position, Wind, Weather, Sea State, Illumination, Air Pressure, Moonlight etc.
Event
Mid-Atlantic
 
26.10.43
    
18.04
   Surfaced! Heading 2400, LF, IAW T.118/26/123 to Group "Siegfried" (Heading 1100 Maximum speed) evaded to SE, since convoy is heading towards meeting point.
19.20

 

 3 mast tops in the sunset bearing 2350 T. Evaded for half an hour to the northeast, then back to the previous course.
20.00
 BD 2844, W 2, SS 1, cloudy low swell, visibility 15 nm, 1006 mb.  

BD 2768

 B.V.2020, 9 nm, "Barber" reports by radiotelegraph1081/26/133, 52 cubic meters fuel remaining.
27.10.43
    
00.00
 BD 2787, visibility 2 nm, 1008 mb.  
04.00

BD 4338

  
08.00
 BD 4349, 1010 mb. .
09.00
 BD 4349
B.V.220, 12nm.
10.11
   Alarm for submerged transit. A-20, Heading 00, 1 LF.
12.00

BD 4345

Lat. 470 40' N
Long. 350 10' W
Days Run:
134.2 nm
:
16.3 nm
 
150.5 nm
16.00
 BD 4343
Incoming HF message FT.1105/27/153:
1.) At 29.10 16.00 hours "Hille" refuels from "Barber" in area BD 4318 sufficient for extremely economical transit to homeport
2.).....
3.).....
4.).....
5.)"Brauel" covers U-Tanker
19.00

 

 Surfaced! Heading 2700, 1 KF
20.00
 BD 4314, W 2, SS 1, overcast, Low swell, Visibility 15 nm, 1006 mb.  
21.30

 

 White light on the horizon bearing 2700 T, flashed for very short time.

 

 

- 45 -
Date and Time

Position, Wind, Weather, Sea State, Illumination, Air Pressure, Moonlight etc.
Event
Mid-Atlantic
  
27.10.43
    
22.05
  
Same phenomonon bearing 1800 T
22.30
   Heading 700, 1 LF, IAW Short signal 2146/27/162 received from "Deecke" proceeding to the original replenishment position
23.45
  
Incoming HF message FT.2255/27/166
1.) "Deecke" report position immediately.
2.) "Barber" and "Brauel" proceed to Deecke
3.).....
4.).....
28.10.43

 

  
00.00
 BD 4313, NNW 3 SS 2, partly rain, visibility 1 nm.  
04.00
 BD 1997  
08.00
 BD 2773, overcast, visibility 8 nm, 1009 mb.  
09.00
 BD 2773

B.V.2600, 11.5 nm.

Intention: After replenishment submerge until 18.00 hours
09.57
   Replenishment complete, "Barber" turns 200 away for diving maneuver
10.03
  

2 carrier based aircraft ("Martlet and Mustang") approaching out of the sun (bearing 1000 T) in low level flight (altitude 30m) M.G. ready!

Aircraft attacked "Barber" under fire and dropped 3 bombs, releasing green color at the impact point, aircraft repulsed, "Barber submerging". Aircraft circiling atop diving position, various attempts to attack, however turning away immediately if under fire. One barrel exploded of forward quad M.G.
10.12
  
Outgoing Short signal: 1012/28/172. Under aircraft attack in position Qu BD U-256. Proceeded over diving position heading on East-West course. Aircraft still circiling around the boat 6-8000m distance and changing altitude between 500-3000m, firing several white star shells. Various attack attempts repulsed by effective use of the 3.7cm gun.
10.34
   Outgoing short signal: 1033/28/174 attacked by 2 or more carrier based aircraft, "U-256." Based on the fired star shells I assume reinforcements have been requested and decide to dive at the neaxt favorable occasion, since "Barber" should have arrived at safe depth.

 

 

- 46 -
Date and Time

Position, Wind, Weather, Sea State, Illumination, Air Pressure, Moonlight etc.
Event
28.10
Atlantic
  
10.40

 

All men in the boat! Alarm! Go to depth A+50

Agreed U.T. signal with "Barber": 1 heading indicated and answered by him with 2 heading. Meanwhile steering actual course 700 and after agreement southerly course (1600) and signal sent. Slowly on depth A-20, 1 LF, no acoustic signals.
11.55
  

Very distant depth charges bearing 3200 T, obviously not aimed at us.

In my 1. short signal the ciphered transmitted position QU 4313 was repeated wrongly by the communication management office deciphering into BD 4520.
12.00
 BD 2776
Lat. 48030' N
Long. 33034' W
Days Run:
115 nm
:
16 nm
 
131 nm
16.00
 BD 2779  
18.12

 

 Surfaced! Heading 1100, 1 LF
18.15

BD 5121

2 aircraft ("Lerwick and Mustang") bearing 600 (approximately 200 hectometers) flying on heading 3000, medium altitude. M.G. ready!

Aircraft turn North bearing 400. Remain undectected. Did not see "Barber".
18.22
  

All men in the boat! Alarm!

Shortly before the alarm impact fountains sighted bearing 200 T over the horizon and one additional aircraft bearing 090 T.

Depth A+10. Heading 700. Acoustic watch speed. Nothing heard. U.T. signals are not answered. If "Barber" steered the old course (700) this morning, the attacks could be aimed at him. No detonations heard in the boat.
19.00
   No acoustic bearings.
20.00
 BD 5121  
20.XX
  
Surfaced!
20.XX
   Warning! (continuous tone 154 cm)
20.XX
   Alarm! Go to depth A+20
21.00
   Heading: 500, 1 LF, A-20
22.50
   Surfaced! Heading 500, 1 LF

 

 

- 47 -
Date and Time

Position, Wind, Weather, Sea State, Illumination, Air Pressure, Moonlight etc.
Event
29.10
Atlantic
 "Barber " not in sight, heading for meeting point.
0000

BD 5126, NW 3, SS 2, Overcast, low Swell, visibility 3 nm, 1011 mb.

 
0300
  

"Wanze" failed (1 condenser, 3 resistors burnt)
0400
 BD 2793
0615
   "Wanze" repair completed
0658

 

 Alarm for Acoustic Watch. A-20, Heading 00. Nothing!
0800

BD 2843

 
0905

 

BD 2851

Surfaced to take Position.

B.V. 810, 4.7 nm
0920
   Alarm for submerged transit. A-20, Heading 00.
1200

BD 2827

Lat. 48030' N
Long. 33034' W
Days Run:
81.1 nm
:
20.2 nm
 
101.3 nm
1600
 BD 2824
Heading 2250
1902
   Surfaced! 1 LF.
2000
 BD 2819, NW 1, SS 1, cloudy, Visibility 15 nm, 1015 mb.  
2030
  
Incoming F.T. 1233/29/190:
1.).....
2.) For clarification: meeting point for "Barber", "Brauel", "Deecke" in Qu. BD 2819
30.10
    
0000 BD 2819, visibility 3 nm.  
0400 BD 2819, 1016 mb.  
0800 BD 2842, visibility 4 nm,, 1015 mb.  
0925   U-"Deecke" in sight. Staying together

 

 

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