U-99 - 6th War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

Departed
Date
Arrived
Date
Days at Sea
Lorient
30 October 1940
Lorient
8 November 1940
10

 

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Ships Hit
Date
KTB Time
Position
Ship
Tons
Nationality
Convoy
3 Nov 40
21.40
53°51'N, 14°15'W
CASANARE
5,376
British
3 Nov 40
22.50 - 04.53
53°51'N, 14°35'W
HMS LAURENTIC (F 51)
18,724
British
4 Nov 40
00.02 - 05.25
53°51'N, 14°35'W
HMS PATROCLUS
11,314
British
5 Nov 40
02.52
54°39'N, 14°25'W
SCOTTISH MAIDEN
6,993
British
HX-83
     
Total = 42,407
   
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.


 
        
 
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
          K  r  i  e  g  s  t  a  g  e  b  u  c  h    "U  99"  
          =============================  
           
           
           
           
           
          Kommandant:  Kapitänleutnant Kretschmer.  
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
        Beginning:  22.10.1940.  
        Ending:        8.11.1940.  
           
           
                     
           
           
           
           
           
       
           
           
           
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Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB
 
- 1 -
 
           
           
           
           
    22.10.40 BF 6417 center    
    00.00 SW 2, Sea 2, 2/10    
    02.05   Isle de Groix in sight.  
    03.33 Point 5 Anchored.  
    09.00   Weighed anchor.  
    09.32   Arrived Lorient behind "U-37" and mine escort.  
    10.25 At Isle de St. Michel Aircraft alarm.  20 shots from the 2 cm Flak C/20 at a Bristol Blenheim, which thrust out of the clouds, overflew the harbor and threw 4 bombs.  
    10.52 Lorient Made fast alongside "U-37" at the loading station.   
        Muster and greeting by the Abschnittskommandeur des Meeres, Gen.Lt. Renner.  
                                                    
    23.10.40 Lorient Shipyard.  
           
    24. - 27.10.40 Lorient Shipyard, 22 men of the crew in the Quiberon rest home.   
           
    28.10.40 Lorient Torpedo loading.  
           
    29.10.40   Outfitting.  
           
    30.10.40      
    17.00 Lorient Departed with mine escort to Point 5, further to Point 2 with 2 boats of the 4.Vp.-Flottille.  
    19.22 Point 2 Test dive, afterwards proceeded submerged to the south until complete darkness.  
    20.00 BF 6173 center    
    21.08   Surfaced, - Tactical advance to the sea area west of the North Channel.  
    24.00 BF 6445 lower-right    
      SSW 6-7, Sea 5-6, overcast                                             
           
           
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 30.10.40
 
- 2 -
 
           
           
           
           
    31.10.40      
    04.00 BF 5559 upper-left    
      SSW 6-7, Sea 6, overcast    
    08.00 BF 5496 left edge upper    
    12.00 BF 5457 lower-left corner Day's run since departure:  
      SSW 7, Sea 6, overcast, mist Surfaced      161 nm  
        Submerged      7 nm      168 nm  
    13.43   Dived due to visibility below 100 meters and to work on the torpedoes.  
    16.00 BF 5447 upper-center    
    20.00 BF 4668 upper-right    
    20.56   Surfaced.  
    24.00 BF 4655 upper-center    
      W 4, Sea 4, 5/10                                             
           
    01.11.40      
    04.00 BF 4617 center    
    08.00 BF 4526 upper-right    
      W 4-5, Sea 4, 5/10    
    12.00 BF 4277 center Day's run:  Surfaced      126.5 nm  
      W 6, Sea 5, 4/10                  Submerged     22.0 nm      148.5 nm  
    16.00 BF 4182 center    
      W 6, Sea 5, 4/10    
    20.00 BF 4147 upper-center    
      W 6-7, Sea 5-6, 7/10    
    24.00 BE 6329 upper-center                                             
    02.11.40      
    04.00 BE 3987 lower-left corner    
      SW 7, Sea 6, 8/10    
    08.00 BE 3971 upper-left corner    
      SW 8, Sea 6, 8/10    
    12.00 BE 3838 upper-left Day's run:  Surfaced  176 nm  
      SW 9-10, Sea 8, overcast    
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 31.10.40
Sun and Moon Data 01.11.40
Sun and Moon Data 02.11.40
 
- 3 -
 
           
           
           
    continued      
    02.11.40      
    16.00 BE 3561 lower-left corner    
      SW 10, Sea 8, overcast    
    20.00 BE 3286 center-left    
      Overcast, rain    
    24.00 BE 3228 upper-right    
      SW 6, Sea 5, overcast, rain                                             
           
    03.11.40      
    04.00 AM 7873 center    
      N 3-4, Sea 5, overcast, rain    
    08.00 AM 7814 lower-right    
      N 3, Sea 4, overcast, rain    
    12.00 AM 7468 upper-right Day's run:  Surfaced  206.5 nm  
      N 3, Sea 3, overcast    
    15.30   Smoke feather bearing 310°T, later freighter with coal firing, steered zigzag course around about 60°.  
    16.00 AM 7185 upper-right    
      N 3, Sea 3, 6/10    
    17.13   While maneuvering ahead the smoke feather of a ship comes in sight in 285°T, that steered about the same course.  
    20.00 AM 7211 upper-center edge    
      N 3, Sea 3, 3/10, moonshine, starry clear night    
    21.40 AM 4875 center Torpedo shot on 1st steamer, range = 1200 meters.  Hit at after mast.  Ship settled deeper astern.  
     
"C  A  S A  N  A  R  E"
 
     
British
Immediately went against the 2nd steamer which had passed out of sight in the darkness.   
     
5376 GRT
 
        It is important to reach him in time, before the torpedoing of the 1st steamer is noticed, which shows lights when disembarking the crew, unfortunately also transmits.  It is the British steamer "CASANARE", 5376 GRT.  
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 02.11.40
Sun and Moon Data 03.11.40
 
- 4 -
 
           
           
           
    continued      
    03.11.40      
    22.02   2nd steamer in sight again bearing 240°T, also a 3rd steamer bearing 300°T.  
        The second comes about and runs off at high speed on a straight course.  Attack carried out on the 3rd which holds course.  While closing it can be seen that it is a passenger steamer with 2 smokestacks and a forward mast.  The after mast is capped.  Probably an auxiliary cruiser.  At the bow there are a few port holes not dimmed, therefore with certainty a warship.  The ship does not run at full speed.  
    22.50 AM 4796 center Torpedo shot from 1500 meters.  Hit under the aft smokestack.  Among other things, the ship transmits in the clear:  "Torpedoed engine room, all fires out". Therefore it is not capable of maneuvering, however sinks no deeper.  The deck illumination burns, a number of red stars were shot from the bridge, boats were launched.  It is the 18724 GRT British passenger steamer "LAURENTIC", which is probably in service as an auxiliary cruiser.  
     
"L  A  U  R  E  N  T  I  C"
 
     
British auxiliary cruiser
 
     
18724 GRT
 
        The 2nd steamer comes in sight again in the vicinity.  
    23.26   Unexplained miss on the stopped "LAURENTIC".  
    23.37   Coup de grâce from 580 meters.  Hit under the forward smokestack.  No further effect.  
    23.40   "LAURENTIC" shoots well-placed star shells and then immediately explosive shells and again star shells.  I ran off at AK and into the vicinity of the 2nd steamer, which lies stopped and recovers the crew of a lifeboat.  
    24.00 AM 4796 lower-right    
      N 2-3, Sea 2, 4/10    
                                                    
           
           
           
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 03.11.40
 
- 5 -
 
           
           
           
           
    04.11.40      
    00.02 AM 4796 lower-right Shot on the stopped steamer, range = 1200 meters.  Hit forward of the bridge  
     
"P  A  T  R  O  C  L  U  S"
 
     
11314 GRT
Ship transmits its name and position in the clear and sets out boats.  
        It is the British passenger steamer, now probably the auxiliary cruiser "PATROCLUS" 11314 GRT.  
    00.22   2nd torpedo on "PATROCLUS", range = 1200 meters, hit aft.  No particular effect.  Ship has cargo in barrels.  A few empty barrels float off.   
    00.44   3rd torpedo on "PATROCLUS", range = 950 meters, hit under the bridge.  More barrels come free.  
        Ship which has settled on an even keel now lists to starboard.  I decide to finish him off with artillery.  
    00.58   4 shots of 8.8 cm from 1000 meters, of these 2 hits, of these one apparently caught ready ammunition on the superstructure deck on fire.  Then I turned away and moved off, because "PATROCLUS" returned fire with well-placed time fused shells.  
    01.18   4th torpedo on "PATROCLUS".  Hit at the forward mast.  No particular effect except for more barrels.  The crew is not so quick with the reloading of the torpedoes, so I use the resulting pause, to run around the still floating high out "LAURENTIC" to the "CASSANARE".  
    02.15   At the sinking location of the "CASANARE", while questioning the crews of one of its 5 lifeboats, an illuminated Sunderland was suddenly sighted, which circled us at a distance of about 500 meters.  
    02.39   Dived.  
    04.00 AM 4874 center    
      W 4, Sea 3, 5/10    
    04.40   Surfaced after reloading of torpedoes ended.  
        On the way to the auxiliary cruisers a patrol vessel was sighted.  The two ships must be sunk before it arrives.  
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 04.11.40
 
- 6 -
 
           
           
           
    continued      
    04.11.40      
    04.53   2nd coup de grâce on "LAURENTIC", range = 1400 meters.  Hit aft.  Ship sinks within a few minutes over the stern post, its depth charges detonate.  
    05.16   5th torpedo on "PATROCLUS", hit in forward cargo hold.  Except for further barrels no observable effect.  
   

05.25

  6th torpedo on "PATROCLUS", hit center in engine room.  Ship breaks apart at the forward mast, the stern capsizes and sinks quickly.  The foreship sinks slowly.  I moved off quickly because the patrol vessel appeared on the battlefield  and initially illuminated the area with a searchlight, then shot star shells from 06.05 to 05.00 hours.  
         
         
         
    06.05    
    08.00 AM 4782 lower-left    
      W 4, Sea 3, 7/10 (rain)    
    11.18   Dived before approaching aircraft bearing 110°T, the 1 bomb was thrown far off.  
    12.00 AL 6953 lower-right Day's run:  Surfaced      223.5 nm  
                         Submerged      6.5 nm      230 nm  
    14.03   Surfaced.  
    15.06   Smoke feather bearing 230°T, probably a convoy.  
    15.24   Dived before a Sunderland flying by bearing 20°T.  
    16.00 AM 6924 lower-center Convoy steers an easterly course, runs past to the south at a distance of about 6 nm.  
    20.00 AM 6925 upper-center    
      NW 2, Sea 2, 8/10 (rain)    
    20.01   Surfaced, ran after in the direction of the last sound bearing of the convoy.  Contact keeper report.  
    21.14 - 21.21   Dived to listen.  
    22.23   Destroyer, the port astern "sweeper" in sight.  Ran up on the port side of the convoy because the moon is on his starboard side.  To the north quite strong Northern Lights interfere.  The convoy consists of about 30 ships, protected by 6 destroyers.  Ahead drive  
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 04.11.40
 
- 7 -
 
           
           
           
    continued      
    04.11.40   several tankers.  
        Running contact keeper reports.  
    24.00 AM 4722 lower-center    
      NW 3, Sea 2, 8/10 (rain), strong Northern Lights                                             
           
    05.11.40      
    02.52 AM 7577 lower-right Torpedo shot (last torpedo below deck) on a group of three overlapping tankers.  Torpedo hits after a running track of 3600 meters in the engine room of the tanker furthest away. (8000-10000 GRT)  
  [typo AM 4577] T  a  n   k  e  r  ?  
      8000-10000 tanker  
    03.40 - 03.45   Destroyers shoots star shells in all directions, without reaching the boat.  
        I only hold contact on the port part of the convoy, give running contact keeper signals.  
    04.00 AM 4576 upper-right    
      NW 2, Sea 3, 4/10    
    08.00 AM 4569 lower-left    
      NW 3, Sea 3, 4/10    
    09.17   Dived.  Standing off from the convoy worked well, however, a destroyer was positioned several nm ahead to port, so that he was still fairly close at lightness.  
    12.00 AM 4618 lower-center edge Day's run:  Surfaced      152.3 nm  
                         Submerged     35.2 nm      187.5 nm  
    12.48 - 14.49   Depth charges and aircraft bombs several miles away in the direction of the convoy.  
    15.32   Surfaced.  Smoke feathers and aircraft escort of the convoy are still in sight.  
    16.00 AM 4627 upper-right    
      NW 4, Sea 3, 4/10    
    16.05 - 17.00   Dived before approaching escort aircraft of the convoy.  
    17.13   Dived for aircraft approaching from 240°T.  
           
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 04.11.40
Sun and Moon Data 05.11.40
 
- 8 -
 
           
           
           
    continued      
    05.11.40      
        No further sound bearings from the convoy.  
        I decide, not to search for contact because at best the convoy can first be reached about midnight shortly before it arrives at the North Channel.  
    19.16   Surfaced, proceeded to the torpedoed tanker, to possibly finish him off with artillery.  
    20.00 AM 4642 lower-center    
      NW 4, Sea 3, 7/10    
    24.00 AM 4582 lower-center    
      NW 4-5, Sea 4, 7/10                                             
           
    06.11.40      
    02.35   No ship is seen at the shooting location.  Tanker probably sank from the hit in the engine room.  
    02.45   On Radio Message orders return transit Lorient.  
    04.00 AM 4814 center    
      NNW 7, Sea 6, overcast (rain)    
    08.00 AM 7215 lower-left    
    11.02 - 11.41   Dived before approaching aircraft bearing 150°T.  
    12.00 AM 7513 upper-center Day's run:  Surfaced      176.1 nm  
      N 8, Sea 7, 3/10                  Submerged     27.4 nm      203.5 nm  
    16.00 AM 7594 lower-center    
      N 7, Sea 6, 3/10    
    16.05 - 16.32   Dived for aircraft bearing 150°T, that circled at high altitude and was clearly distinguished in the moon track.  
    20.00 AM 7948 lower-center    
      NbyW 6-7, Sea 6, 4/10    
    24.00 BE 3356 lower-right    
      NbyW 6, Sea 5, 4/10    
                                                    
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 05.11.40
Sun and Moon Data 06.11.40
 
- 9 -
 
           
           
           
           
    07.11.40      
    04.00 BF 1417 center-right    
      N 5, Sea 4, 3/10    
    08.00 BF 1726 center-left    
      N 5, Sea 4, 3/10    
    12.00 AM 1857 lower-left corner Day's run:  Surfaced      308.5 nm  
      N 4, Sea 3, 3/10                  Submerged     1.5 nm      310 nm  
    16.00 AM 4315 center    
      N 3, Sea 3, 5/10    
    16.58 - 17.18   Dived before Sunderland bearing 230°T.  Flying boat turned towards after the dive, flies ahead past the diving location and then moves off on a NE-course.  
    20.00 BF 5144 center-left edge    
      N 3, Sea 3, 4/10    
    24.00 BF 5198 upper-center    
      N 3, Sea 3, 2/10                                             
           
    08.11.40      
    04.00 BF 5553 upper-right    
      N 2, Sea 2, 7/10    
    08.00 BF 6179 lower-center    
    08.17   Ile de Groix in sight.  
    09.00 Point 2    
    09.20   Escort by 2 boats of the 4. Vp.-Flottille to Point 5.  
    09.50 Port Tudy Roadstead Anchored.  
        Day's run:  Surfaced      309 nm  
                         Submerged      2 nm      311 nm  
    11.45   Weighed anchor.  Ran into Lorient behind mine escort.  
        Made fast Lorient alongside "ISERE".  
           
                                                    
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 07.11.40
Sun and Moon Data 08.11.40

 

  Enclosures to U-99's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document
   
Chart A Track chart of entire patrol 30 October to 8 November 1940
   
Chart B Track chart of period in the operations area 3 to 6 November 1940
   
Torpedo Torpedo firing reports
   
Radio Excerpt of the Radio Log

 

 
 
     
 
Comments of the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote.
 
     
 
1.) A very good and successful patrol, favored by luck.
   
2.)  It was correct that the Kommandant fired at the steamer "PATROCLUS" at intervals, which allowed observation of the hit effects, until it was sunk.
 
     
     
 
                                                
Signed in draft:  D  ö  n  i  t  z  
  For the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote  
   - The Chief of the Operations Department -  
     
     
     
 


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