U-boat Archive - U-409 - U-boats in the Mediterranean

S E C R E T (Equals British MOST SECRET).

July 29th, 1943.

RECENT INFORMATION ON

G E R M A N U - B O A T S I N T H E M E D I T E R R A N E A N

(Note:

The following information has been obtained from interrogation of survivors of U-97 (interr. CSDIC - MEF) and U-409 (interr. CSDIC - AFHQ), sunk on June 16, 1943, and July 12, 1943, respectively. It has not been confirmed from other Sources and should therefore be treated with reserve.)

1. BOATS BELIEVED OPERATING.

C.O.	Possible No. U-boat.	Base where Last Seen.	Date.	Remarks: Device.

DECKERT (ex Rosenbaum)	73	SPEZIA	(10) April 1943.	Device: Hatchet nailed to C/T with "USA" on blade; also arms of home town of Rosenbaum (Ex. C.O.).
				Fire in engine room on leaving Spezia drydock about 1 May, 43. Engine room staff burned. Subsequent reoccurrence of same difficulty; possible sabotage. (U.97)

KRIEG (ex Guggenberger)	81	POLA	(5) June 1943	Device: Coat of arms of patron city (?) (Possibly retains Guggenberger's old device) (U.97)

MEHL (ex Franken)	371	TOULON	(20) June 1943	Device: Yellow insect with green wings standing on torpedo - forward on C/T. Gun platform recently extended aft for extra M/Gs (Toulon) 88 mm gun removed.
				MEHL put out from Toulon during the 1st week in July U.409 heard him report (wireless) that a leaking periscope obliged him to put back to port. He was at sea again just before U.409's sinking (July 12) and was ordered to a "new" operational area. (U.97.U.409)

KOENENKAMP	375	TOULON	(29) June 1943	Left on patrol from Toulon with U.409 June 29.
				Device: possibly a tripartite shield, coat of arms of patron city; superstructure believed unmodified.
				Believed operating Western Mediterranean July 1-15.

BRULLER	407	TOULON	(29) June 1943	"Sister boat" of U.409. Long overhaul in Toulon May, June 1943. Batteries removed etc.
				NO device (NOT Octopus).

SCHONEBOOM (ex Dommes)	431	TOULON	(29) June 1943	Left Toulon on patrol about June 11, returning shortly before June 29, claiming "successful" cruise.
				Device: Variously given as "HORRIDO" of "HALLOTRIA" inscribed on C/T (U.409)

DIGGINS	458	TOULON	April-May 1943	Little known about this boat; survivors from both U.97 and U.409 believe it to have been in Toulon April-May 1943.

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BOATS BELIEVED OPERATING (Cont'd)

C.O.	Possible No. U-boat.	Base where Last Seen.	Date.	Remarks: Device.

von SCHLIPPENBACH	453	POLA	(5) June 1943	Returned to POLA from patrol about May 6, claiming 6000 t. merchant ship and 1 bomber. (U.97)

SCHOMBERG	561	TOULON	June 1943	In Toulon between June 11-29 (U.409)

KELBLING	593	POLA	(5) June 1943	Due to leave on patrol about June 12. Device: Snorting Bull (7th Flotilla, St. Nazaire) (U.97)

JAHN	596	POLA	(5) June 1943	Due to leave on patrol about June 5. Device: Hamburg lobsterman (?) carrying yellow pails suspended from yoke and inscription "Hummel Hummel" (U.97)

BRANDI	617	TOULON	(20 June 1943	Left Toulon on patrol while U.409 was in dock.
				Device: Possibly coat of arms of patron city.
				Operating recently in Western Mediterranean on convoy routes just east of Gibraltar.
				Returned Toulon about July 15, having claimed a destroyer and a 5,000 t. freighter while at sea.
				88 mm gun removed. (U.409)

GOING	755	SPEZIA	(10) April 1943	Device: Blue sawfish (9th Flotilla, Brest), and "Es Geht Weiter" (U.97)
				In Toulon sometime before June 11. (U.409)

ROTHER	?	SPEZIA	April 1943	Little known about this boat except that it appears to have been very active in recent months. (U.97)

SCHULER	602 (?)	TOULON	April 1943	Little known of the recent activity of this boat. (U.409)

(The following boats, believed operating in the Mediterranean on January 1, 1943, have not been seen in recent months. They may have been lost or withdrawn from the Mediterranean.)

C.O.	Possible No. U-boat.	Base where Last Seen.	Date.	Remarks: Device.

FRANKEN (ex Jebsen)	565	-	-	Franken is believed to have succeeded Jebsen as C.O. of U.565 and to have remained active in the Mediterranean in command of this boat.

SCHUTZE. H.V.	605	-	-

WEBER	?	SPEZIA	Dec., 1942	A U-boat commanded by an officer of this name appeared in Spezia in Dec. 1942 and was not seen there again. (U.97)

HEINSOHN	573	-	-	- - -

2. BOATS BELIEVED LOST.

C.O.	Possible No. U-boat.	Base where Last Seen.	Date.	Remarks: Device.

WOERRISHOFER	83	SPEZIA	Feb, 1943	From various sources it has been established that U.83 left Spezia on patrol in Feb. 1943 and did not return. It is believed that she was lost with all hands.

HAMM	562	SPEZIA	Jan. 1943	Left Spezia on patrol mid. Jan, 1943; believed lost with all hands.

FRIEDRICH (ex Kentrat)	74	-	-	It has been further confirmed that this boat was lost in the Med. off Spain during the Spring of 1942.

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3. BOATS LOST IN 1943 (with survivors)

C.O.	No.	Date Sunk.	Remarks.

KORNER	301	January 21, 1943	1 midshipman survivor (P/W)

BURGEL	205	February 17, 1943	41 survivors (P/W)

HARTMANN (?)	77	March 29, 1943	Lost off Spanish Coast.
			Survivors reached Spain.

HEINE (?) (Possibly Klt. Karl Franz HEINE of the 1934 naval term	303 (?)	May 22, 1943	A boat, supposed to have made 3-4 Mediterranean patrols, and identified by this No. and C.O., was sunk off Toulon by British s/m SICKLE. C.O., 2 officers and undetermined number of men rescued by German coastal patrol vessel and taken to Toulon, Eng officer, Chief Q.M., 6 or 7 civilian technicians and undetermined number of men lost. Boat was doing trials and preparing for a deep dive test when torpedo struck between Diesel and Electric motor compartments killing all engine room personnel and civilian technicians. (U.409)

TROX	97	June 16, 1943	21 survivors (P/W)

MASSMANN	409	July 12, 1943	38 survivors (P/W)

- - - - - - - -

Naval Section,

CSDIC - AFHQ

30th July, 1943.

Lieutenant J.S. PLAUT, USNR.

Distribution:	J.I.C.A. for Op.16.Z	1
	C.S.D.I.C., M.E.F.	1
	S.O.(I) Malta	1
	S.O.(I) Med.	1
	Comnavnaw	1
	DNI for NID.1/PW	1
	File	1

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