Translated by
 
OP 20 GI-A
 
9 September, 1944
 
(German Classification)
SECRET
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
War Diary
Command "U-505"
Commanding Officer: Ob. Lt. z. See Harald Lange
7th War Cruise from 25 December 1943 to ((4)) June 1944
 
All Squares Naval Squares
All times German Standard Time
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contains pages Nr. 1 - ((60))
As appendix copies of Radio messages page 1 - _____:*
((*TRANS. NOTE: Not included))
 
 
 
 
 

 


 

Page 1


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

 
Lorient Harbor
 
     
8/11/43 to Lorient Refitting
20/12/43    
     
20/12    
     
1530 Skorff shelter berth Lorient Cast off.
     
1600 SSW 1-2, sea 1, overcast, Under escort by barrage breaker.
  rain. 1017  
     
1745 Point "Leben"  
     
1815   Under outer escort.
     
2000 BF 5533  
     
2400 SSW 1-2, sea 1, 3/4 overcast,1015  
     
21/12    
     
0200 BF 5549  
     
0213 BF 5549 Deep-diving test.
     
0455 BF 5548 Return begun on account of leak in flange. "Lead-in of multiple hydrophone cables. Faulty welded joint."
     
0800 BF 5552  
  SSW 4, sea 3-4, half overcast, 1011  
     
0905 BF 5529 Submerged.
     
1016 BF 5529 Surfaced.
     
1200 BF 5530  
     
1425   Under inner escort.
     
1650 Skorff shelter berth Made fast.
     
Up to    
25/12 Lorient In dockyard.
     
1630 Skorff shelter berth Cast off.
     
1650 Lorient Harbor Submerged for trimming test.
     
1711   Surfaced.
     
1857 Point Leben  
     
1900   Released from inner escort.
     
2000 BF 6177  
  WNW 2-3, sea 2, overcast, misty, 1039  
     
2132   Message received:
    2110/25/45.

 


 

Page 2


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

1943
Inner Biscay
 
25/12    
     
2400 BF 5546  
  WNW 1-2, sea 1-2, overcast, 1039  
     
26/12    
     
0000 BF 5546  
     
0009 BF 5549 Reached 200 meter line.
    Deep-diving test.
     
0200   Deep diving test ended.
     
0400 BF 5548  
     
0610 BF 5547 Surfaced.
     
0625   Fire in the starboard Diesel. By 0636 fire put out with extinguishers.
     
0730   Submerged.
     
0800 BF 5468  
  W 1-2, sea 1, overcast, 1039  
     
0811   Beginning of daylight.
     
1200 BF 5467
Day's run
103
19
     
1600 BF 5459  
     
1834   End of daylight.
     
1836 BF 5459 Surfaced.
     
2000 BF 5459  
  WNW 1-2, sea 1, A quarter overcast, 1039  
     
2059 BF 5447 Submerged.
     
2400 BF 4669  
     
27/12    
     
0000 BF 4669  
     
0400 BF 4668  
     
0615 BF 4668 Surfaced.
     
0730 BF 4658 Submerged.
     
0800 BF 4658  
  WNW 1-2, sea 1, 3/4 overcast, 1038  
     
0818   Beginning of daylight.
     
1200 BF 4655
Nautical miles:
103
19
*25 - 26/12
51
30
Total
154
49
     
1600 BF 4651  
     
1828 BF 4651 Surfaced.
     
1845 BF 4615 End of daylight.
     
1948 ENE 2, sea 2-3 overcast 1036  
     
    *Evidently 26 - 27/12 is intended.

 


Page 3


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

 
 
1943 Inner Biscay  
28/12    
     
0000 BF 4614  
     
0400 BF 4536  
     
0604 BF 4536 Surfaced.
     
0800 BF 4522  
  ESE 3, sea 2-3, overcast, 1036  
     
0802   Submerged.
     
0827   Beginning of daylight.
     
1035   From 1035 to 1107 7 D/C explosions heard at a considerable distance.
     
1200 BF 4522
Nautical miles:
154
49
27 - 28/12
44
31
Total
198
80
     
1400 BF 4521 From 1400 to 1610 on bearing 220° to 240° true heard artillery explosions and explosions of A/C bombs in near to medium distance (41 A/C bombs).
     
1836 BF 4521 Surfaced.
     
1848   End of daylight.
     
1916 BF 4513 Submerged.
     
1940   Message received: 1712/28/6.
     
2000 BF 4513  
  ENE 2, sea 1-2, overcast, 1034  
     
2004   Surfaced both Diesels 4/5 speed.
     
2042   Message received:
    1733/28/98.

 


Page 4


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

 
 
1943
Inner Biscay
 
28/12    
   
         
2042   Continuation of message
    1733/28/98.
     
2048   Message received:
    2208/28/6.
     
2400 BF 4482  
  E to N 2-3, sea 2, overcast, 1033, poor visibility  
     
29/12    
     
0000 BF 4482 At 0015 "Wanze" motor out of order.
     
0140 BF 4478 Sighted red distress signal (star signal) bearing 177° true.
     
0400 BF 4745 Picked up occupants of 7 life-rafts which were bound together. Among them the CO of T-25 and 28 men.
     
0500 BF 4745 On bearing 223° true distress signal, not repeated. Until 0545 searched without results.
     
0610 BF 4745 Submerged.
     
0800 BF 4745  
     
0930 BF 4741 Went to periscope depth.
  E 5-6, sea 5-6, swell, low-lying nimbus under 200 meters.  
     
0940   One flying-boat (Sunderland) at low altitude about 2000 meters. Remained unobserved.

 


Page 5


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

     
 
Inner Biscay
 
29/12    
     
1200 BF 4741
Nautical miles:
198
80
28 - 29/12
130
18
Total
328
98
     
1600 BF 4745  
     
1838 BF 4745 Surfaced.
     
1845   End of daylight. Distress signals bearing 274° true.
     
1915 to 1930 BF 4744 Rescued 5 men from two singly-floating rafts. several distress signals sighted bearing 250° to 295° true.
     
1913 BF 4744 Messages received: 1527/29/21.
     
2000 BE 6966  
  ENE 5, sea 4, overcast, misty, 1033  
     
2010 BE 6965 Identified sighted steamer lights as those of the Irish steamer (Message 1527/29/21). Steamer looking with searchlights for survivors. Own U-boat apparently not seen.
    Since the steamer is now searching in #BE 6965, it is assumed that #6921 has already been thoroughly searched. Course altered. Running at high speed toward #BE 6932.
     
2215 BE 6932 Search cruise in BE 6932 and 6933. Search without results.
     
2243 BE 6933 Message transmitted:
    C.O. and 33 men of T-25 rescued. Returning BE 6933. Lange.
     
2342 BF 4714 Submerged.
     
2321 BE 6936 Message received:
    1107/29/18.
     
2400 BF 4714  
  ENE 4-5, sea 4-5, overcast, misty 1033.  

 


Page 6


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

     
 
Inner Biscay
 
30/12    
     
0000 BF 4714  
     
0400 BF 4714  
     
0550   2 A/C bomb explosions at medium distance.
     
0630 BF 4716 Surfaced.
  ENE 3-4, sea 4, overcast, 1033  
     
0702 BF 4716 Crash dive because of searchlight bearing 265°. Distance about 800-1000 meters. Apparently A/C.
     
0800 BF 4724  
     
0834   Beginning of daylight.
     
1200  
Nautical miles:
328
98
29 - 30/12
66
26
Total
394
26
     
1600 BF 4725  
     
1846 BF 4726 Surfaced.
     
1853   End of daylight.
     
1907 BF 4734 Message received:
    11736/30/48.
     
2000 BF 4738  
  NE4, sea 3-4, overcast, 1038  
     
2100 BF 4817 Message received:
    1258/30/38.
     
2120 BF 4818 Submerged.
     
2400 BF 4818  
     
31/12    
     
0000 BF 4818  
     
0400 BF 4819  
     
0629 BF 4827 Surfaced.
     
0800 BF 4829  
  NNE 4, sea 3-4, overcast, 1038  
     
0803   Submerged.
     
1200 BF 4834
Nautical miles:
394
124
30 - 31/12
52
31
Total
446
155

 


 

Page 7


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

     
1943
Inner Biscay
 
31/12    
     
1600 BF 4835  
     
1842 BF 4836 Surfaced.
     
1856 BF 4836 Crash dive. Ortung 169 cm.
     
2000 BF 4836 Surfaced.
     
2029 BF 4914 Crash dive. Light, bearing 120° true, shifting quickly 35° to the left.
  NNE 2-3, sea 2, overcast, 1037  
     
2237 BF 4914 Surfaced.
     
2329 BF 4914 Submerged.
     
2400 BF 3913 (sic)  
     
1944    
1/1    
     
0000 BF 4913  
     
0400 BF 4922  
     
0558 BF 4922 Surfaced.
     
0800 BF 4698  
  NNE 2, sea 1, overcast, 1036  
     
0810 BF 4899 Submerged.
     
0818   Beginning of daylight.
     
1200 BF 5477
Nautical miles:
446
155
31 - 1/1
50
31
Total
496
186
     
1206 BF 5477 Surfaced. (Fix)
     
1208   Submerged.
     
1600 BF 5477 Surfaced.
     
1838 BF 4665 Surfaced.
     
1845 BF 5455 Correction of plot
    316° 30 m.
     
1850   End of daylight.
     
2000 BF 5455 Submerged. 2134.
     
1858   Message received:
    1543/1/90
     
2105 BF 5454 Message transmitted:
    2105/1/97.
     
2400 BF 5456  

 


 

Page 8


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

     
1944
Inner Biscay
 
*2/2/44    
     
0000 BF 5456  
     
0400 BF 5544  
     
0245 BF 5464 Surfaced.
     
0315   Message received:
    2304/1/98.
     
0420 200 meter line  
     
0811 NNW 3, sea 1, half overcast Beginning of daylight.
     
0945 Point 344 (Eisbaer) Picked up by escort.
     
0935   Fire in the electric motor because of inrush of water and resultant short circuit. 0945 put out with fire extinguishers.
     
1210 Brest outer harbor Released from escort.
     
1235
Nautical miles:
496
186
Up to 2/2
155
28
Total
651
214
 
     
*Sic: evidently error for 2/1  
     
     
    On board 2 Jan., 1944
     
     
     
    Ob. Leutnant z See U.Kmdt.

 


 

Page 9


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

     
 
Brest Harbor
 
     
From 2 January to 16 March, 1944 refitting in Brest.
     
March    
16/3    
     
1835 Brest Cast off.
     
1905 Brest roadstead Submerged for trimming test.
     
1925   Surfaced.
     
2000   Picked up by escort.
     
2400 BF 5265  
  SSW 2, sea 1-2, C 2. 1020  
     
17/3    
     
0000 BF 5265  
     
0400 BF5278  
  SSW, sea 1-2, C 4. 1022  
     
0640   Beginning of daylight.
     
0800 BF 5547  
     
0752   Submerged. Deep-diving test.
     
0926   Surfaced.
     
1025 BF 5547 Released from escort.
    Beginning of war cruise.
     
1135 BF 5498 Submerged.
  N 1. sea 1, 1023  
     
1200 BF 5498
16-17/3 Nautical
Miles
135
7
     
1600 BF 5497  
     
1611   1 A/C bomb heard in middle distance.
     
2000 BF 5731  
     
2010   End of daylight.
     
2257 BF 5723 Surfaced.
     
18/3    
     
0000 BF 5727  
  SE 2, sea 1-2, C 3, visibility good, 1023  
     
0046   Submerged.
     
0400 BF 5743  
     
0513 BF 5743 Surfaced.
  SE 2, sea 1-2, C 2, good visibility, 1024  
     
0536 BF 5742 Submerged.
     
0650   Beginning of daylight.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 


 

Page 9


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

     
18/3/44
Inner Biscay
 
     
0800 BF 5745  
     
1200 BF5744
Nautical miles carried
over:
135
7
17-18/3
26
23
Total
161
30
     
1600 BF 4969  
     
2000 BF 4993 2024 end of daylight
     
2300 BF 4992 Surfaced.
     
2400 BF 4994  
  ESE 2-3, sea 2, C 2  
  visibility good, 1025  
     
19/3    
     
0015 BF 4986  
     
0400 BF 4889  
  ESE 1-2, sea 1, C 2 1025  
     
0453 BF 4989 Surfaced.
     
0549 BF 8111 Submerged.
     
0650   Beginning of daylight.
     
0800 BF 7333  
     
1200 BF 7336
Nautical miles carried
over:
161
30
18-19
26
33
Total
187
63
     
1600 BF 7338  
     
2000 BF 7337  
     
2030   End of daylight.
     
2247 BF 7353 Surfaced.
     
2332 BF 7352 Crash dive. Ortung "Naxos".
     
20/3    
     
0000 BF 7352  
  NE 2-3, sea 2, C 8  
  visibility medium, strong phosphorescence. 1023  
     
0100 BF 7354 Surfaced.
     
0210 BF 7349 Crash dive. Ortung "Naxos".
     
0311 BF 7348 Surfaced.
  NE 2-3, sea 2, 0  
  visibility poor, 1029  
     
0400 BF 7371  
     
0454 BF 7293 Crash dive. Ortung "Naxos".
     
0653   Beginning of daylight.

 


 

Page 11


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

     
20/3
Inner Biscay
 
     
0800 BF 7296  
     
1200 BF 7295
Nautical miles carried
over:
187
63
19-20/3
37
31
Total
224
94
     
1600 BF 7297  
     
2035   End of daylight.
     
2251 BF 7522 Surfaced.
     
2346 BF 7524 Crash dive. Ortung "Naxos".
     
2400 BF 7524  
  ESE 4, sea 3, C 6  
  visibility medium. 1023  
     
21/3    
     
0322 BF 7519 Surfaced.
     
0400 BF 7542  
  ESE 4, sea 3-4, C 8.  
  Visibility poor, 1020  
     
0445 BF 7541 Submerged.
     
0700   Beginning of daylight.
     
0800 BF 7466  
     
1200 BF 7465
Nautical miles carried
over:
224
94
18-19
28
34
Total
252
128
     
1600 BF 7467  
     
2000 BF 7483  
     
2045   End of daylight.
     
2218 BF 7483 Surfaced.
     
2332 BF 7484  
  ENE 3, sea 1-2, C 3  
  Visibility medium 1015  
     
0400 BF 7711  
     
0447 BE 9936 Submerged.
     
0700   Beginning of daylight.
     
0800 BE 9938  
     
1200 BE 9938
Nautical miles carried
over:
252
128
18-19
38
33
Total
290
161

 


 

Page 12


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

     
22/3
Outer Biscay
 
     
1600 BE 9961 Propeller noises, presumably piston engines, bearing 165° true - very soft.
     
1900 BE 9953 Went to periscope depth, saw nothing.
     
1920 Sea 3 Established by diverging courses that the source of the bearing is not moving.
     
2234 BE 9953 Surfaced. Saw nothing. Moved off at 3/4 speed on course 300° true for 30 minutes.
     
2304 SE 1, sea 0, C 9  
  Visibility medium 1012  
     
23/3    
     
0000 BE 9949  
     
0007 BE 9949 Submerged.
     
0400 BE 9971  
     
0306 BE 9949 Surfaced.
  W 1-2, Sea 0, 0  
  Visibility poor. 1012  
     
0505 BE 9896 Submerged.
     
0705   Beginning of daylight.
     
0800 BE 9899  
     
1200 BE 9898
Nautical miles carried
over:
290
161
18-19
47
33
Total
337
194
     
1600 CG 1221  
     
2000 CG 1221  
     
2218 CG 1216 Surfaced.
     
24/3    
     
0000 CG 1245  
  W 1-2, sea 1, B  
  Visibility medium, 1018  
     
0042 CG 1271  
  SW 1, sea 0-1, b  
  Visibility poor, 1020  
  Strong phosphorescence  
     
0258 CG 1193 Surfaced.
     
0400 CG 1198  
     
0543   Submerged.
     
0710   Beginning of daylight.
     
0800 CG 1456  

 


 

Page 13


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

     
22/3
Outer Biscay
 
     
1200 CG 1455
Nautical miles carried
over:
337
194
23-24/3
72
29
Total
409
223
     
1600 CG 1458  
     
2000 CG 1481  
     
2100   End of daylight.
     
2240 CG 1484 Surfaced.
     
2400 CG 1715  
  S 2, sea 1-2, C 3  
  visibility medium. 1022  
     
25/3    
     
0149 CF 3969 Submerged.
     
0400 CF 3969  
  S 3, sea 2, 0,  
  visibility medium. 1021  
     
0406 CF 3969 Surfaced.
     
0434   Message transmitted:
    0436/24/42 "My position is:
    CG 17 U-505".
     
0509 CF 3995 Submerged.
  S 3, sea 2, 0  
  visibility poor, 1021  
     
0715   Beginning of daylight.
     
1200 CF 3997
Nautical miles carried
over:
409
223
24-25/3
59
30
Total
468
253
     
1600 CF 6323  
     
2000 CF 6326  
     
2226 CF 6329  
  ESE 5, sea 4-5, C 5.  
  visibility medium, 1024.  
  Strong phosphorescence  
     
26/3/44    
     
0000 CF 6354  
     
0157 CF 6376 Submerged.
     
0400 CF 6378  
     
0457 CF 6612 Crash dive. Ortung "Wanze 169 dm."
  ESE 5-6, sea 4-5  
  c 7, 1015  

 


 

Page 14


  Account of Position,  
  Wind, Weather, Sea,  
Date Light, Visibility of  
and the Atmosphere, Moon-  
Time light, etc.
Events

     
26/3
Middle Atlantic
 
     
0720   Beginning of daylight.
     
0800 CF 6612  
     
1200 CF 6615
Nautical miles carried
over:
468
253
25-26/3
48
29
Total
516
282
     
1600 CF 6618  
     
2000 CF 6642  
     
2257 CF 6645 Surfaced.
  SE to E 5, sea 4-5, c 2,  
  1010, Visibility good  
     
27/3    
     
0000 CF 6672  
     
0123 CF 6678 Submerged.
     
0343 CF 6912 Surfaced
     
0400 CF 6915  
  SSW 6, sea 5-6, o/p, visibility  
  medium, weak phosphorescence  
     
0430 CF 6915 Submerged.
     
0720   Beginning of daylight.
     
0800 CF 6918  
     
1200 CF 6942
Nautical miles carried
over:
516
282
26-27/3
31
30
Total
547
312
     
2000 CF 6948  
     
2105   End of daylight.
     
2245 CF 6948 Surfaced.
     
28/3    
     
0000 CF 6978  
  SW 3, sea 2-3, b, 1018, visibility good  
     
0108 CF 9315 Submerged.
     
0331 CF 9318 Surfaced.
     
0400 CF 9342  
  S 3, sea 2-3, c 2, 1016,  
  visibility medium  
     
0510   Submerged.
     
0717   Beginning of daylight.
     
0800 CF 9375