U-110 - 1st War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

Departed	Date	Arrived	Date	Days at Sea
Kiel	9 March 1941	Lorient	29 March 1941	21

 

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Ships Hit
Date	KTB Time	Position	Ship	Tons	Nationality	Convoy
16 Mar 41	00.22	61°09'N, 18°20'W	ERODONA (damaged)	6,207	British	HX-112
23 Mar 41	04.45	60°45'N, 29°00'W	SIREMALM (Damaged)	2,468	Norwegian
			Total = 8,675
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.

 

This KTB uses the depth notation "depth T = xx meters"  Under this scheme, the actual depth was twice the depth given after T = so for example, if the KTB entry read "depth T = 50 meters, the actual depth was 100 meters.  This was intended to hide the actual depth for security purposes. This notation was used from about January 1940 to December 1941.  In these KTBs, depths written without using "T =", for example "dived to depth 35 meters" were not so disguised.

 

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				K  r  i  e  g  s  t  a  g  e  b  u  c  h
				=======================
				of
				U  n  t  e  r  s  e  e  b  o  o  t  e  s   "U  110"
				=============================
				1st Patrol.
				Part I:
				Beginning:  21.11.1940 (Commissioning, testing)
				Ending:    9. 3.1941
				Part II:
				Beginning:  9.3.41  (Departure for 1st Patrol)
				Ending:  29.3.1941.
			Kommandant:         Kapitänleutnant    L  e  m  p  .
			Distribution: 2 x O.K.M. Skl.   1 x B.d.U. Op.   1 x B.d.U. Org.   1 x 2.U.-Flottille   1 x Boot (Original)
				© U-boat Archive 2023 - all rights reserved

Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB

	- 1 -
				Kriegstagebuch "U-110"
		1940		Part I:
		21.11.40
		10.00	Bremen, Wesser A.G.	Commissioning of the boat.
		22.11.40	Bremen, Wesser A.G.	Outfitting.
		23.11.40	Bremen	Transit to Bremerhaven.
		24. - 25.11.40		Transit from Bremerhaven to Kiel.
		26.11. - xx.12.40		U.A.K. testing.
		xx..- xx.12.40		Transit from Kiel to Danzig.
		xx. - x9.12.40	Danzig and Gotenhafen	Testing at U.A.G. and T.E.K.
		x0. - 28.12.40	Danzig	Danziger Werft.  Christmas leave.
				Shipyard time.
		29.12.40	Danzig Bay	Tactical training 27. U.-Flottille.  Periscope damage.  Both periscopes cannot be extended, due to shrinkage of the periscope bushing due to frost.
		30.12 - xx.01.41	Danzig	Danziger Werft for periscope repairs.
		xx. - xx.1.41		Transit to Kiel, because repairs could not be carried out in Danzig.
		xx. - 27.01.41	Kiel	Deutsche Werke.  Periscope repair and final adjustments.

	- 2 -
		28.01.41	Ice conditions worsen	Transit from Kiel to Danzig for torpedo shooting with the 25.U-Flottille.
			K i e l
		29.01.41	Danzig	Ordered to return to Kiel due to danger of freezing in the western Baltic.
		30.01.41		Transit to Kiel.
		31.01.41		Due to ice conditions in the western Baltic came about and proceeded as ordered to Pillau together with U-98.
		01. - 20.02.41	Pillau	Individual training, as much as ice conditions allow.
		20. - 21.02.41		Transit to the west with ice escort "CASTOR" "SCHLESIEN", "SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN" and "U-98".
		22. - 28.02.41	Warnemünde	Due to ice conditions and mine danger ordered to Warnemünde.
		01.03.41		Transit to Kiel with ice escort.
		02. - 08.03.41	Kiel	Outfitting for war patrol.
				Degaussing, magnetic compass compensation etc.
		09.03.41		Departed Kiel to the west.
				Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant

 

	- 1 -
				Kriegstagebuch "U-110"
				Part II:
		09.03.41	Kiel	Departed Kiel.  Canal transit.
		08.00
		10.03.41	Brunsbüttel	Made fast Brunsbüttel due to fog.
		11.03.41
		12.00		From Brunsbüttel with mine escort to Point H.
				Continued through Route Blue.  2 x GF.
		12.03.41
		21.00	N 1-2, Sea 0-1, Vis. very good	Passed 59°N.
		13.03.41
		00.00	AN 2862
			NW 2-3, Sea 1, clear, Vis. good
		04.00	AN 2352	)
		08.00	AF 7982	)
		12.00	AF 7861	) Nothing seen.
		16.00	AF 7762	)
		20.00	AF 7779	)
		14.03.41
		00.00	AN 1141	Twice a single destroyer sighted between the Shetland and Faroe Islands.
			Very bright moonlit night, S 4, overcast, Vis. medium
		04.00	AM 3272
		08.00	AM 3174
		12.00	AM 2284
		16.00	AM 2167	Course 210°, headed for Rockall.
		20.00	AM 2189
		21.56		Orders:  Occupy attack area between 62°30'N and 59°N between 19°W and 23°W.
				Advance up to the Iceland coast at own discretion.
				Course 290°.

	Sun and Moon Data 09.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 10.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 11.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 12.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 13.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 14.03.41

	- 2 -
		15.03.41
		00.00	AM 2178
		04.00	AM 1282
		08.00	AM 1166
			SSW 4, overcast, Vis. moderate
		12.00	AM 1127
		16.00	AL 3231
		20.00	AE 7996	Due to bad visibility dived to listen every 4 hours.
		22.00		Once again dived to listen.
				Broad sound bearing in 250°T, surfaced.
				Advanced at highest speed in direction 250°.
		23.45		Boat thrust into the middle of a convoy coming in the opposite direction.
				About 15-20 steamers, at least 2 destroyers, several large tankers.
		16.03.41
		00.10		Kr. sent:
				Enemy convoy square AE 7983, course 90°, speed 9 knots.
		00.18	AE 7983	1st attack:  Bow shot on large steamer forward in the convoy.  G 7a.  Surface runner.  (depth 3 meters).
			SSW 6, Sea 4-5, moon at times in the south
		00.21		2nd bow shot on large tanker (Maier bow), cruiser stern, box bridge), 10000 GRT.
		00.22		Because it turned towards, (passing distance 100 meters) stern shot while turning at 250 meters.  Hit.  Tanker flies into the air with a high sheet of flame and was atomized.
				Another torpedo detonation 15 seconds before, possibly on the steamer shot first behind the exploding tanker, however not seen.

	Sun and Moon Data 15.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 16.03.41

	- 3 -
		continued
		16.03.41		The night is illuminated bright as day by the exploding tanker.
				The boat is between the tanker and a destroyer 3000 meters away in the middle of the convoy as if in a searchlight.
				Because the destroyer turned towards with a high bow sea,
		00.24		Crash dive.
				At T 60 [actual depth 120 meters] the first depth charges.  Went at GF under the sinking location.
		up to 01.30		Depth charge pursuit by 2 destroyers by S-locating [active sonar] (ticking sounds) 24 depth charges.
				The escape of the boat was due quickly reaching deep depth and the high speed, thus rapidly increasing range.
		01.40		Surfaced.  Pursued to the east.
				Residual oil burns at the shooting location.
		04.10	AE 8771	Again contact on the convoy.
				Kr. square 8771.
				With exactly determined enemy speed and target angle miss on large tanker and freighter of about 5000 GRT (depth 3 meters).
				2nd shot was a surface runner.
				New attack on the same targets, where a destroyer is positioned (depth 4 meters).  No success.
				Shot on tanker of a minimum of 8000 GRT, this time (depth 5 meters).  Hit forward.
				Tanker shoots rockets and sinks over the forestem.
				Attacks had to be carried out against the seas due to the position of the moon.
		06.10	AE 8773	Gave bearing signals for "U-37" and "U-99".
				(Kr. reports up to 09.00 hours were exact as to latitude, longitude was 12 nm too far to the east.)
		08.00	AE 8758
		08.35		Kr. sent.
		08.55		Because at lightness torpedoes for reloading were still hanging in the room and additionally the main blow valve

Sun and Moon Data 16.03.41

	- 4 -
		continued
		16.03.41		must be disassembled, diving to continue reloading and for repairs is necessary.
				Sent corresponding Radio Message to "U-37" and "U-99".
		09.15 - 11.00		Dived to reload.
		11.00		After surfacing pursued to the east, in so doing avoided fishing trawlers and patrol vessels.
		12.00	AE 8764
		16.00	AE 8872	Forced to submerged by Sunderland flying boat.
		17.45		Contact again.  Kr. sent.
		20.00	AE 8891	In evening twilight forced off by stern sweeper, then passed out of sight in 70°T.  By this incorrectly assumed the convoy changed course to the NE.
		21.10		Met "U-74", provided a navigation fix.
		17.03.41
		00.00	NNE 2-3, Swell, until moon rise favorable dark night	Torpedo detonation abeam to starboard and thereafter distress flares.
				Pursued to the SE.  Course 160°.
				High sheet of flame seen apparently from an exploding steamer.
				Apparently "U-99" and "U-100" are at the convoy.  Approximately 6 to 8 torpedo detonations were observed.
				Unfortunately, and as it later turned out disastrously, during prolonged absence of contact keeper reports by "U-110" no other boat independently took over contact keeper reports or the position was inaccurate.
				Otherwise "U-110" could have been on at the convoy during the 2nd night, may have had greater successes and above all could have better relieved "U-99".

	Sun and Moon Data 16.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 17.03.41

	- 5 -
		continued
		17.03.41
		02.30	AE 8988	Encountered two destroyers which Morsed and carried out a depth charge attack.
			Moonlit
				Bypassed to the east.
				Heard about 50 depth charges. Possibly in 2 different locations.  Passed other destroyers close by.  Had the impression that the escort had been reinforced by more destroyers.
		04.00	AM 2124	Nothing more seen of the convoy.  Search to the south until lightness, later to the west.
				Report to B.d.U. concerning the situation and successes.  Because nothing more was seen of the convoy apart from ship wreckage and lifeboats in AE 8988, I believe that the scattered remnants have come about to the west while the destroyers carried out a U-boat hunt.
		12.00	AM 1283	Destroyer running towards me at a sharp target angle (2 smokestacker).  Turned into the sea.  Destroyer turned away at about 8000 meters.
				Large seas, low visibility.  Visibility decreasing strongly.
				Repeatedly dived and search the area again with the GHG.
				Except for destroyers no sounds.
		15.00		Continued to the west into the old area.
		16.00	AM 1284
			Vis. very low
		20.00	AM 1186
		18.03.41
		00.00	AL 3296	In transit to the old operations area.
			NW 3-4, Sea 3, high Swell, Vis. good
		04.00	AL 3284
		08.00	AL 3195
		12.00	AL 3175
		16.00	AL 3177
		20.00	AL 2298

	Sun and Moon Data 17.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 18.03.41

	- 6 -
		19.03.41
		00.00	AL 2291
			WNW 3, Sea 2, freshening, S 6, Sea 5
		04.00	AL 2259
		08.00	AL 2255	In old operations area.
		12.00	AL 2251
		16.00	AL 2217
		20.00	AL 2136
		21.52		To operate on a convoy reported by the Luftwaffe orders:  By Thursday 20 March 12.00 hours occupy AM 13.
				Came to course 110°, highest speed.
		20.03.41
		00.00	AL 2219
		04.00	AL 3137
		08.00	AL 3413
		12.00	AM 1343
			S 6, Sea 5-6, fog rain, Vis, often below 1000 meters
		12.30		In ordered position.
		16.00	AL 1355	Due to bad visibility frequent short dives to listen.
				Nothing seen, nothing heard.
		20.00	AL 1832
		22.32		Orders:  Occupy attack area west of Reykjavik up to 25°W.  In so doing, explore the traffic situation off Reykjavik.
				Came to course 120°, 12 knots. [reciprocal of actual heading]
		21.03.41
		00.00	AM 1358
		04.00	AL 3438
		08.00	AL 3431
			N 2, Swell, Vis. good
		12.00	AL 3271	Nothing seen.
		16.00	AL 3152
		20.00	AE 7899

	Sun and Moon Data 19.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 20.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 21.03.41

	- 7 -
		22.03.41
		00.00	AE 7854
		04.00	AE 7735
			Vis. bad, overcast
		08.00	AE 7473	Intention to the north to the level of Reykjavik on 25°W.
		10.30	AD 8664	(Navigation improvement)
		12.00	AD 8653	Smoke feather in sight bearing 0°T.
				Steamer on course 220°.
		15.31		While maneuvering ahead another ship on course 40° forced us to dive (1000-2000 GRT armed motor-ship).
				Could not close to attack range on the 2nd ship, therefore continued pursuit of the 1st steamer.
				Apparently traffic from Reykjavik in 220° and to there on 40° through square AD 86.
		16.00	AD 8681
		20.00	AD 8677
		18.06 and 19.53		Forced by aircraft to crash dive.
				May have been seen.
		22.30		Pursued.
				Contact on the steamer again.
		23.03.41
		00.00	AD 8858
			SW 3-4, Sea 3, freshening, Northern Lights
		03.14		1st attack:  Stern approach.  Miss despite exact shooting data.  General course 220°, speed 11 knots.  Range 2000 meters, certainly too great (Northern Lights).
		03.17		2nd attack:  Bow approach .  Range = 800 meters G 7a.  Miss ahead.
		04.21	AK 3126	3rd attack:  Shot from 500 meters.  G 7a (depth 3 meters). Miss, no explanation.
				(With all runs speed and target angle determined exactly within 1 knot and 5°.)  Steamer about 4000 GRT.

	Sun and Moon Data 22.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 23.03.41

	- 8 -
		continued
		23.03.41		1.  Out of mistrust of the torpedoes,
				2.  From anger I order a surprise artillery attack.  Manned the 10.5 cm; 3.7 cm, 2 cm ready on the conning tower.
		04.45		At high speed closed the steamer to 1000 meters.
				LF before the sea.
				Steamer in relative bearing 50°.
				All guns ready and rapid fire.
				Due to operator error  (not removing the muzzle tampion) the barrel of the 10.5 cm flies apart.
				Steamer turns away.  A few hits with 3.7 cm.  Attempted to continue fighting with the 3.7 cm and 2 cm.
				Due to the seas can only run at LF before the sea to have people on the over deck.  Therefore closed at higher speed went to LF to shoot.
				In so doing the boat suddenly cut under up to the forward edge of the conning tower and only came up again after stopping and blowing forward.  Had to put the boat into the seas and examine the over deck.
				Found:  Splinters from the barrel had destroyed the vent piping of 6/7 starboard and the diesel exhaust gas blowing piping in the foreship.  As a result main ballast tank 7 vents.  Strong oil leaks from 6 starboard.  8 vents slowly.
				Fortunately, the watertight forecastle was closed and undercutting was noticed immediately.
				The emergency vent 8 was closed and 8 blown.
				By this the boat lay normally again.
				Unfortunately in the meantime the steamer passed out of sight and was not seen up to lightness.
		08.00		Negative pressure test, test dive carried out, boat was clear to dive.

Sun and Moon Data 23.03.41

	- 9 -
		continued
		23.03.41
		09.31		Reported damage to B.d.U and requested shipyard assistance.
				(Due to bad communications sent on Atlantic Remote Traffic wavelength.)
		11.25		Orders:  Return transit Lorient.
				Course 180°, 12 knots.
		12.00	AK 3364
		16.00	AK 3561	To Course 145°.
		20.00	AK 3677
		24.03.41
		00.00	AK 3858
		04.00	AK 0339
		08.00	AL 1987	Nothing seen.
			SW 4, Sea 4, Vis. moderate
		12.00	AL 4169
		16.00	AL 4527
		20.00	AL 4595
		25.03.41
		00.00	AL 5743
		04.00	AL 5782
			SE 4, Sea 4, overcast, Vis. bad, rain
		08.00	AL 8135	Nothing seen.
		12.00	AL 8521	(Navigation improvement)
		16.00	AL 8592
		20.00	AL 9719
		26.03.41
		00.00	AL 9794
			SSW 5, Sea 4-5, Vis. changing mostly good
		04.00	BE 2244
		08.00	BE 2522	Nothing seen.
		12.00	BE 2912	Course 120°.
		16.00	BE 2928
		20.00	BE 3748

	Sun and Moon Data 23.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 24.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 25.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 26.03.41

	- 10 -
		27.03.41
		00.00	BE 6165
		04.00	BE 5255
		08.00	BE 6374
			SE 4, abating, Sea 3, overcast, Vis. good
		12.00	BE 6637	Nothing seen.
		16.00	BF 4448
		20.00	BF 4486
		22.00		Course 90°.
		28.03.41
		00.00	BF 4499
		04.00	BF 4587
			W 5-6, Sea 5, overcast, Vis. medium
		08.00	BF 4598	Dived before aircraft.
		12.00	BF 4676
		16.00	BF 4697	Dived before aircraft.
		20.00	BF 5479
		22.16		Course 55°.
		29.03.41
		00.00	BF 5496
		04.00	BF 5429
		08.00	Point L 2	Taken in convoy.
		09.30		Made fast Lorient.
				Successes:  2 tankers - 16000-18000 GRT.
				1 further steamer possible.

	Sun and Moon Data 27.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 28.03.41
	Sun and Moon Data 29.03.41

	- 11 -
				General.
				1.)  Have impression, that announcement of strengthen submarine deployments in March resulted in increased defense in operations areas and strengthened surveillance of the approach routes (North Sea, Shetlands-Faroes).
				2.)  Successes in this time of year in the North Atlantic are affected by weather, sea state and low visibility.
				Frequent short dives to use the GHG extend the area to be monitored, with poor visibility during the day and at night, and was used with success.
				3.)  Cooperation by Radio Message and thus mutual support of the submarines on the convoy on 17/18 March was inadequate.
				4.)  Except for the UAK period "U-110" had 10 days independent training in Pillau during the ice period. Neither torpedo shooting, artillery firing or tactical exercises.
				5.)  Experience with the new boat and its possibilities are good.
				6.)  The young personnel replacements are good to very good except for a few exceptions.  I believe the boat is now fully broken in after the first war patrol.
				Kapitänleutnant and Kmdt.

 

	Enclosures to U-110's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document
Chart	Track chart covering the entire patrol

 

	Comments of the B.d.U.
	Nothing to note on the patrol.  All approved, except for the forgotten muzzle tampion.
		Signed in draft:  Dönitz
		For the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote
		The Chief of the Operations Department

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