U-242 - 2nd to 5th War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason

Patrol
Departed
Date
Arrived
Date
Days at Sea
2A
Kiel
9 July 1944
Reval
12 July 1944
4
Reval
13 July 1944
Grand Hotel
14 July 1944
2
Grand Hotel
17 July 1944
Grand Hotel
24 Jul 1944
8
 
Grand Hotel
26 Jul 1944
Nord Altaskar
27 Jul 1944
2
 
Nord Altaskar
28 July 1944
Helsinki
3 August 1944
7
 
Helsinki
9 August 1944
Grand Hotel
12 August 1944
4
 
Grand Hotel
20 August 1944
Grand Hotel
30 August 1944
11
2B
Grand Hotel
3 September 1944
Kopli
6 September 1944
4
 
Kopli
13 September 1944
Memel
28 September 1944
16
 
Memel
2 October 1944
Danzig
25 October 1944
    24   
         
146
Click the icon to download a KMZ file displaying the U-boat track, significant events and locations for these sections of the 2nd patrol.  You must have Google Earth loaded on your computer to view this file.  Download Google Earth here
Click the icon to download a KMZ file displaying these sections of the 2nd patrol. 
Click the icon to download a KMZ file displaying these sections of the 3rd patrol. 
Click the icon to download a KMZ file displaying the 4th patrol. 
Click the icon to download a KMZ file displaying the 5th patrol. 
The 2nd and 3rd patrols took place during the Continuation War between Finland and the Soviet Union.  From the invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941 U-boats operated in the Gulf of Finland in coordination with Finnish forces, sometimes using Finnish bases.  A ceasefire between the Finns and the Soviets ended hostilities on 5 September 1944 and was followed by the Moscow Armistice on 19 September 1944.  The 4th and 5th patrols were mining operations in Finish waters.
  To read more about the Continuation War click on the Wikipedia icon.
  The 2nd and 3rd patrols used the Finnish grid system to note positions in the KTB.  The Finnish National Archives has digitized charts from this period.  Click on the Icon at left to visit the National Archives of Finland. 
  Click on the icon at left to view a Finnish grid chart of the Gulf of Finland from the Finnish National Archives.  There is a key on the chart that shows how the grid system worked.
Ships Attacked
Date
KTB Time
Position
Ship
Tons
Nationality
Convoy
31 Jul 44
10.11
60°02'N, 29°05'E
MO-101
56
Soviet
     
 Total = 56
    
Note:  The positions in the table above and in the Google Earth patrol summary are derived from the KTB and in many cases do not match those set forth in authoritative references such as Jürgen Rohwer, Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two or the Uboat.net website.  The goal here is to present the picture relative to the U-boat and not the absolute position that the ship was attacked or sank.

 
 
           
           
           
           
         
         
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
     
Distribution:    
OKM Copy No. 1 and 2
BdU  Op        " 3
Kom.Adm.U-boote        " 4
MOK Ost Führungsstab        " 5
F.d.U. Ausbildung        " 6
27. U-Flottille        " 7
8. U-Flottille        " 8
 
           
           
     
Enclosures:
1. 2 Combat sketches for Copy No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
2. 1 Track chart for Copy No.         2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9
3. 5 Torpedo firing reports for Copy No. 3.
4.  
5.  
6.  
7.  
8.  
 
           
           
           
           
           
           
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Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB
 
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Sun and Moon Data 11.07.44
Sun and Moon Data 12.07.44
Sun and Moon Data 13.07.44

Enclosures to U-242's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document
Report Mine Report
   
Radio Excerpt of the Radio Log

Note:  the short report below is blurred and very difficult to read - translation is very rough

 
 
     
 

Comments of the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote

  
 
on the K.T.B. of "U 242" (Pancke) from 2.7. - 11.10.1944.
  
     
          The comments of the U-boat Operations Chief are concurred in.  
     
  Accredited success:    1 special ship with barge sunk.  
     
     
    For the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote  
    - The Chief of the Operations Department -  
                         
   
     
 

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