U-203 - 5th War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with the help of Andi Forster

Click the icon to download a KMZ file displaying the U-boat track, significant events and locations for this patrol.  You must have Google Earth loaded on your computer to view this file.  Download Google Earth here

Ships Hit
Date	KTB Time	Position	Ship	Tons	Nationality	Convoy
15 Jan 42	11.34	47°03'N, 52°45'W	CATALINA	632	Portuguese
21 Jan 42	00.43 - 02.42	46°33'N, 53°05'W	NORTH GASPE (damaged)	888	Canadian
			Total = 1,520
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  203"
			Kommandant:    Kaptlt.  M  ü  t  z  e  l  b  u  r  g.
			Beginning:	13.11.42
			Ending  :	29.  1.42.
				© U-boat Archive 2023 - all rights reserved

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

	- 1 -
		12.11.41	Brest	Back from 4th war patrol.
		13.11. - 23.12.41	Brest	Shipyard period.
		16.12.41		Pier-side trial.
		17. - 24.12.41		Outfitting.
		25.12.41
		11.15	Brest	Departed on 5th war patrol.
		11.35		Trim test in the Roadstead.
		12.00		Taken in convoy.  Escorted to Point 30.
		15.45		Released from convoy.
		15.56		Crash dive to balance the boat.  Proceeded submerged.
		16.00	BF 2873
			W 3, 6/10, Sea 3, Vis. very good
		19.55		Surfaced.  Continued transit in accordance with Outbound Orders to CF 49.
		20.00	BF 2874
			NW 3, 6/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		21.29		Point "Rippe"
		24.00	BF 2775
			NW 3, 9/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		26.12.41
		04.00	BF 4315
			NW 3, 7/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		08.00	BF 4245
			WNW 3, 6/10, Sea 32, Vis. good
		10.00		Crash dive to balance the boat.  Deep dive test.  Damage control exercises, proceeded submerged.
		12.00	BF 4191	Day's run:  Surfaced       262.0 nm
				Submerged        16 nm

	Sun and Moon Data 25.12.41
	Sun and Moon Data 26.12.41

	- 2 -
		continued
		26.12.41
		15.45		Surfaced to ventilate the boat.
		15.57		Crash dive to balance the boat.  Proceeded submerged.
		16.00	BF 4182
		19.35		Surfaced.
		20.00	BF 4179
			NW 3, 2/10, Sea 2, Vis. very good
		24.00	BE 6631
			NNW 3, 8/10, Sea 2, Vis. good
		27.12.41
		04.00	BE 6963
			NW 2, overcast, Sea 2, Vis. good
		08.00	BE 6549	Radio Message from B.d.U. concerning operations area:  CF 73 - 85
			NW 1, overcast, Sea 1, Vis. good
		12.00	BE 6491	Day's run:  Surfaced        192 nm
			NW 1, 8/10, Sea 1, Vis. very good	Submerged     17.5 nm
		13.40		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		14.02		Surfaced.
		16.00	BE 6721
			S 3, overcast, Sea 2, Vis. good
		20.00	BE 5937
			S 3, overcast, Sea 2, Vis. very good
		24.00	BE 5946
			S 2, 9/10, Sea 2, Vis. good
		28.12.41
		04.00	BE 5867
			S 2, 5/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		08.00	BE 5875
			S 2, 8/10, Sea 2, Vis. good

	Sun and Moon Data 25.12.41
	Sun and Moon Data 26.12.41
	Sun and Moon Data 27.12.41
	Sun and Moon Data 28.12.41

	- 3 -
		continued
		28.12.41
		12.00	BE 5798	Day's run:  Surfaced        184.5 nm
			S 3-4, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. good	Submerged       8.8 nm
		14.34		Crash dive to balance the boat.  Depth control training.
		15.25		Surfaced.
		16.00	BE 8162
			SSE 3, 5/10, Sea 3, Vis. very good
		20.00	BE 8157
			SSE 3, 6/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		24.00	BE 8413
			SSE 3-4, 4/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		29.12.41
		04.00	BE 8445
			SE 3, 8/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		08.00	BE 8712
			SSE 4, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. good
		12.00	BE 8744	Day's run:  Surfaced        149 nm
			SSE 3, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. good	Submerged       1.2 nm
		14.52		Crash dive to balance the boat.  Depth control training.
		15.40		Surfaced.
		16.00	BE 7999
			SSE 4, 6/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		20.00	CF 2255
			SSE 4, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. good
		24.00	CF 2287
			SE 4, 8/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		30.12.41
		04.00	CF 2551
			SSE 3, mist (rain), Sea 4, Vis. moderate

	Sun and Moon Data 28.12.41
	Sun and Moon Data 29.12.41
	Sun and Moon Data 30.12.41

	- 4 -
		continued
		30.12.41
		08.00	CF 2576
			SSE 5, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. very good
		12.00	CF 2815	Day's run:  Surfaced        129 nm
			SSE 5, mist (rain), Sea 5, Vis. moderate	Submerged      1.5 nm
		14.55	Crash dive	Crash dive to balance the boat.  Depth control training.
		16.00	CF 2842
			SSE 3, overcast (rain), Sea 3, Vis. good	Surfaced.
		20.00	CF 2875
			WSW 2, 2/10, Sea 2, Vis. very good
		24.00	CF 2887
			WSW 3, 4/10, Sea 2, Vis. good
		31.12.41
		04.00	CF 5243	2 signal stars. far off, white and green.
			WSW 3, 2/10, Sea 3, Vis. very good	detour in the direction.  Nothing found.
		08.00	CF 5273
			WSW 2, 8/10 (rain), Sea 2, Vis. good
		12.00	CF 5518	Day's run:  Surfaced        141 nm
			WNW 3, 4/10, Sea 3, Vis. very good	Submerged      2.2 nm
		13.05		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		13.30		Surfaced.
		16.00	CF 5571
			NW 3, 2/10, Sea 3, Vis. very good
		20.00	CF 5763
			N 3, 4/10, Sea 3, Vis. very good
		23.49		Crash dive for New Year's Eve.
		24.00	CF 5795	Ship's bell:  8 bells for the old year.
			N 3, 5/10, Sea 2, Vis. very good	8 bells for the new year.

	Sun and Moon Data 30.12.41
	Sun and Moon Data 31.12.41

	- 5 -
		1942
		01.01.42
		00.03		Surfaced in the new year.
		04.00	CF 8151
			NNW 2, 2/10, Sea 2, Vis. very good
		08.00	CF 8186	In operations area CF 73 - 85
			NNE 2, 3/10,
		12.00	CF 8452	Day's run:  Surfaced        163 nm
			NNE 3, 3/10, Sea 3, Vis. very good	Submerged      1.5 nm
		16.00	CF 8445
			NE 3, 2/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		18.26		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		18.47		Surfaced.
		20.00	CF 7656
			NNW 2, 5/10, Sea 2, Vis. very good
		24.00	CF 7619
			NNW 2, 5/10, Sea 1, Vis. good
		02.01.42
		04.00	CF 7676
			NE 2, 3/10, Sea 2, Vis. good
		08.00	CF 7324
			SE 2, 7/10, Sea 2, Vis. very good
		12.00	CF 7395	Day's run:  Surfaced        139 nm
			SE 2, 6/10, Sea 1, Vis. very good	Submerged      0.8 nm
		16.00	CF 2175
			SE 2, 4/10, Sea 2, Vis. very good
		16.04		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		16.20		Surfaced.

	Sun and Moon Data 01.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 02.01.42

	- 6 -
		continued
		02.01.42
		20.00	CF 8191
			SSE 2, 3/10, Sea 1, Vis. very good
		22.30		Radio Message from B.d.U.:  Transit to newly ordered operations area BC 70 as temporary objective.
		24.00	CF 8193
			SSE 2, 4/10, Sea 2, Vis. very good
		03.01.42
		04.00	CF 8155
			SSE 2, 5/10, Sea 2, Vis. very good
		08.00	CF 8198
			SSE 2, 8/10, Sea 1, Vis. very good
		12.00	CF 4982	Day's run:  Surfaced        189 nm
			S 2, 5/10, Sea 1, Vis. very good	Submerged        1 nm
		13.30		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		13.45		Surfaced.
		16.00	CF 4869
			SE 2, 3/10, Sea 2, Vis. very good
		20.00	CF 4852
			SE 2, 3/10, Sea 2, Vis. very good
		24.00	CE 6933
			SSE 2, 7/10, Sea 3, Vis. very good
		04.01.42
		04.00	CE 6665
			SSE 3, 6/10, Sea 3
		08.00	CE 6685
			SSE 3, 5/10, Sea 3, Vis. very good
		12.00	CE 6562	Day's run:  Surfaced        182 nm
			S 3, 5/10, Sea 5, Vis. good	Submerged      0.8 nm

	Sun and Moon Data 02.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 03.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 04.01.42

	- 7 -
		continued
		04.01.42
		14.19		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		14.34		Surfaced.
		16.00	CE 6524
			SSE 3, 8/1, Sea 2, Vis. good
		20.00	CE 6177
			SSE 3, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. good
		24.00	CE 6191
			SW 4, 8/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		05.01.42
		04.00	CE 6146
			SW 5, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. good
		08.00	CE 5339
			SW 4, overcast (rain), Sea 4, Vis. moderate
		12.00	CE 5323	Day's run:  Surfaced        159 nm
			SSW 4, overcast (rain), Sea 4, Vis. moderate	Submerged       1 nm
		14.44		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		15.00		Surfaced.
		16.00	CE 2971
			SSW 4, 8/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		20.00	CE 2887
			SSW 4, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. moderate
		24.00	CE 2816
			SSE 3, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. moderate
		06.01.42
		04.00	CE 2499
			SSE 5, overcast (squalls), Sea 4, Vis. low.
		08.00	CE 2483
			SSE 4, overcast, (rain), Sea 4, Vis. good

	Sun and Moon Data 04.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 05.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 06.01.42

	- 8 -
		continued
		06.01.42
		12.00	CE 2445	Day's run:  Surfaced        156 nm
			SSE 2, 6/10, Sea 2, Vis. good	Submerged     0.5 nm
		13.07		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		13.30		Surfaced.
		16.00	CE 1374	A large turtle caught, our new "heraldic animal".
			SSW 5, 6/10, Sea 4, Vis. very good
		20.00	CE 1295
			SSW 4, 3/10, Sea 4, Vis. very good
		24.00	CE 1244
			S 4, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. very good
		07.01.42
		04.00	CE 1128
			S 4, 5/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		08.00	CE 1111
			SW 5, 9/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		12.00	BD 7894	Day's run:  Surfaced        174 nm
			SW 5, 5/10, Sea 5, Vis. good	Submerged       1 nm
		15.30		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		15.45		Surfaced.
		16.00	BD 7859
			SSW 6, 3/10, Sea 5, Vis. very good
		20.00	BD 7891
			SW 5, overcast, Sea 5, Vis. good
		24.00	BD 7882
			SW 6, overcast (mist), Sea 5, Vis. moderate
		08.01.42
		04.00	BD 7857
			WSW 6, overcast (mist), Sea 5, Vis. moderate

	Sun and Moon Data 06.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 07.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 08.01.42

	- 9 -
		continued
		08.01.42
		08.00	BD 7845
			WSW 6, overcast, Sea 5, Vis. good
		12.00	BD 7844	Day's run:  Surfaced        69 nm
			WSW 5, 8/10, Sea 5, Vis. good	Submerged     0.8 nm
		14.30		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		16.00	BD 7729
			WNW 5, 6/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		16.00		Surfaced.
		20.00	BD 7716
			WNW 4. 4/10, Sea 4, Vis. very good
		24.00	BC 9936
			NW 4, 8/10, Sea 5, Vis. good
		09.01.42
		04.00	BC 9922
			SE 4, 8/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		08.00	BC 9678
			SE 6, overcast, Sea 5, Vis. moderate
		12.00	BC 9598	Day's run:  Surfaced        152 nm
			S 7, overcast (rain), Sea 6, Vis. moderate	Submerged     2.5 nm
		15.50		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		16.00	BC 9565
			W 7, overcast (rain), Sea 7, Vis. moderate
		20.00	BC 9581	Surfaced.
			W 7-8, 2/10, Sea 7, Vis. good
		24.00	BC 9572
			WNW 6, 5/10, Sea 6, Vis. good
		10.01.42
		04.00	BC 9571
			WNW 6

	Sun and Moon Data 08.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 09.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 10.01.42

	- 10 -
		continued
		10.01.42
			9/10, Sea 6, Vis. moderate
		08.00	BC 9469
			WNW 5, overcast (rain), Sea 5, Vis. good
		12.00	BC 9467	Day's run:  Surfaced        73 nm
			WNW 4, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. very good	Submerged   10.5 nm
		16.00	BC 9455
			WNW 4, 5/10, Sea 4, Vis. very good
		15.50		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		17.00		Surfaced.
		20.00	BC 8695
			S 5, 5/10, Sea 4, Vis. very good
		21.50	BC 8652	Steamer in sight directly ahead bearing 280°T.  Large 2-smokstack ship with 2 masts.  Target angle 170°, steers westerly course.  Attempted to maneuver ahead at GF.  Impossible, a fast independent.  Lost from sight in darkness.
		23.30		Crash dive to listen.  Nothing.
		23.30		Pursuit broken off because it is hopeless and against the heavy seas.
		24.00	BC 8642
			S 4, 5/10, Sea 4-5, Vis. good
		11.01.42
		04.00	BC 8537
			WSW 7, overcast, Sea 6, Vis. good
		08.00	BC 8524
			SSW 6, overcast, Sea 6, Vis. good
		12.00	BC 8511	Day's run:  Surfaced      187 nm
			SW 7, overcast (mist), Sea 7, Vis. moderate	Submerged      1 nm
		15.25		Steamer in sight, easterly course, soon lost from sight

	Sun and Moon Data 10.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 11.01.42

	- 11 -
		continued
		11.01.42		in the bad visibility.  Pursuit and attack in the storm and heavy seas, large stern swell impossible.  Because no imprivement in the weather is likely, continued transit into the operations area.  Pursuit before the seas impossible because there was great danger of undercutting several times.
		18.30	SW 12, overcast, Sea 10,   Vis. ./.	Crash dive due to heavy storm and Sea State.  Lookout impossible.  Fog and hail squalls, snow squalls.  Proceeded submerged.
		20.00	BC 8182
		22.20		Surfaced.
		24.00	BC 8181
			W 8, overcast, Sea 8, Vis. good
		12.01.42
		04.00	BC 8173
			W 7, overcast, Sea 7, Vis. good
		08.00	BC 8147
			W 5, 6/10, Sea 5, Vis. good
		12.00	BC 7365	Day's run:  Surfaced      84 nm
			W 5, 7/10, Sea 5, Vis. good	Submerged   10.5 nm
		14.26	BC 7363	Destroyer in sight bearing 270°T, 4 smokestacks, westerly course, speed about 13 knots.  On patrol, wild courses.  Day attack impossible due to Sea State, the attempt to hold contact until night and pursue against destroyer speed was difficult due to weather conditions.  Later the destroyer was lost.  Renewed search broken off due to little prospect of success.  Continued transit.
		16.00	BC 7364
			SW 4, 8//10, Sea 5, Vis. good
		19.00		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		19.18		Sound bearing in 200°T, far off, by the

	Sun and Moon Data 11.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 12.01.42

	- 12 -
		continued
		12.01.42
				cold water, 4°C, good listening conditions.
				Probably the destroyer.
		19.35		Surfaced, pursued the sound bearing.
		20.00	BC 7329
			SW 4, overcast, Sea 5, Vis. good
		20.53		Crash dive to listen.
		21.02		Sound bearing in 220°T.  Somewhat louder, 150 RPM.
		21.05		Surfaced.  Nothing to see, advanced in the direction of the sound bearing.
		21.55		Crash dive to listen.
		22.10		Sound bearing in 200°T.
		22.12		Surfaced.  Pursued.
		22.50		Crash dive to listen.
				Sound bearing in 200°T, steady, has not gotten louder, so the destroyer is running away us, course southwest.  Speed about 15 knots, pursuit of the sound bearing broken off because hopeless in darkness.
		23.40		Surfaced.  Continued into the operations area.
		24.00	BC 7382
			WSW 3, overcast (mist), Sea 3, Vis. moderate
		13.01.42
		04.00	BC 7348
			WSW 3, overcast (mist), Sea 3, Vis. bad
		08.00	BC 7265
			SSW 3, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. moderate
		12.00	BC 7229	Day's run:  Surfaced      108 nm
			SSW 3, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. moderate	Submerged    2.5 nm
		13.35		Crash dive to listen.
		14.00		Balanced the boat.
		16.00	BC 7216
			WSW 4, overcast (mist), Sea 3, Vis. good	Surfaced.

	Sun and Moon Data 12.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 13.01.42

	- 13 -
		continued
		13.01.42
		20.00	BC 7138
			SSW 4, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. good
		24.00	BC 7123
			WSW 4, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. moderate
		14.01.42
		04.00	BC 4779
			W 4, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. good
		05.23	BC 4773	2 fishing trawlers with set lights.  While running towards to examine closer, driving before the heavy, very high, short swells, skidded down [the face of a swell].  Avoided undercutting by immediate use of diving planes.  It is not possible to drive either before the sea or against the sea.  Only about 40-50° to the sea is possible because the seas are so short and break over the boat one after another from above (ground sea with the shallow water) that the bridge is continually full of water.
			WNW 6, overcast (rain), Sea 6, Vis. moderate
		08.00	BC 4775	Fishing trawler, probably at the same time patrol vessels, because they continually lie together.
			WNW 8, overcast (rain), Sea 7, Vis. moderate, show squalls
				Attack is out of the question, therefore moved off.
		12.00	BC 4774	Day's run:  Surfaced      94 nm
			WNW 7, overcast, Sea 7, Vis. good	Submerged   0.8 nm
				Boat is heavily iced, icy northwester.
		14.08		Crash dive due to icing to thaw out and to balance the boat.
		16.00	BB 6995	Reached the operations area.
		19.20		Surfaced.
		20.00	BB 6997
			WNW 7, 4/10, Sea 6, Vis. very good
		24.00	BB 6985
			WNW 4, 6/10, Sea 6, Vis. good

	Sun and Moon Data 13.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 14.01.42

	- 14 -
		15.01.42
		04.00	BB 6952	Barometer falls.  Stiff icy northwester.  In the operations area no weapons use possible.  Decide until weather improvement to hole up behind Cape Race.
			SSW 7, 8/10, Sea 6, Vis. good
		08.00	BB 6625
			WSW 6, 8/10, Sea 6, 8/10. Sea 6, Vis. moderate, snow squalls
		10.40		Steamer in sight.  Maneuvered ahead.  main course 20°, speed 11 knots.
		11.34		Attack, shot with tube I.
				target speed = 11 knots        Running time = 48 seconds.
				Target angle = 80°
				Range = 600 meters
				Depth = 2 meters
			BB 6652	Hit just aft of center.  Stupendous detonation.  Probably a munitions steamer.  300 meter high explosion column.  Sinking time about 2 minutes over the stern.
		11.44		Crash dive to reload.  Because nothing of boats or wreckage was seen at the sinking location and there was no radio message, no name.  Steamer was estimated at 6000 ton size.
		13.50		Surfaced to go back to the torpedoing location.  Only quite broken up wooden pieces still float, nothing whole, all demolished, evidence of loaded munitions, wreckage of one boat.
		16.00	BB 6653
			S 4, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. moderate
		17.25		Crash dive for aircraft.
		20.00	BB 6699
		22.22		Surfaced.
		24.00	BB 6686
			WSW 5, overcast, Sea 5, Vis. bad

Sun and Moon Data 15.01.42

	- 15 -
		16.01.42
		04.00	BB 6621
			WSW 4, 7/10, Sea 4, Vis. moderate
		08.00	BB 6915	In operations area.
			WSW 4, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. good
		12.00	BB 6948	Day's run:  Surfaced      52.5 nm
			WNW 3, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. bad	Submerged   16.5 nm
		14.50		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		15.05		Surfaced.
		16.00	BB 6975
			WNW 4, 2/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		20.00	BB 9239
			WNW 4, 6/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		24.00	BB 6899
			WNW 4, 7/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		17.01.42
		04.00	BB 6942
			SW 4, 4/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		08.00	BB 6679
			NNW 3, 8/10, Sea 3, Vis. good
		08.32	BB 6915	Steamer in sight bearing 270°T, a long shadow, very fast, goes quite close off the coast to round Cape Race, 2 more shadows follow at a large interval.  Speed about 14 knots, course 20°.  Maneuvered ahead.  Shadow in front carries one dimmed green position lantern.  When we are abeam, suddenly all lights are extinguished.  Shadow can barely be distinguished against the high coast. Vessel appears as a fast smart 4000 GRT freighter.
			Very dark, however Vis. good, icy air, spray

	Sun and Moon Data 16.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 17.01.42

	- 16 -
		continued
		17.01.42
				In the east it is slowly getting light, in the west off the coast where the steamer is low visibility and darkness.  Boat turns to attack course, runs in.  Because suddenly the vessel is seen to be past target angle 90°, the shot was from a broad target angle.
		11.21	BB 6655	Double shot tube II and III.
				Target angle = 125°, target speed = 14 knots, range = 2000 meters, depth = 2 meters, after about 5000 meters running track an enormous detonation, very slight external effect, it is only apparent that after the detonation nothing more is seen of the ship. While searching for boats or wreckage and turning towards the coast, a shadow suddenly came in sight ahead, target angle 180°, which was later recognized as a rock formation set off against the snowy coast and could be explained as such since nothing was found.  There is also the possibility that the other two, following ships turned towards the coast at highest speed.
		12.00	BB 6655	It is too bright to get closer on the surface.
			NNW 3, 5/10, Sea 2, Vis. good	Day's run:  Surfaced      156 nm
				Submerged   0.8 nm
		12.09		Crash dive to reload.  Decision:  with it gets light run to the coast submerged.  In daylight at the coast nothing found, a patrol vessel of the size of a sailing cutter runs past in the periscope at a distance of 1000 meters.
		16.00	BB 6652	Proceeded to the south at the coast up to Cape Race.
		20.00	BB 6655
		23.35		Surfaced.  Directly astern in 0°T 2 searchlights in the far distance.
		24.00	BE 6688
			NW 3, overcast, Sea 2, Vis. good

Sun and Moon Data 17.01.42

	- 17 -
		18.01.42
		00.38 - 01.17		Destroyer shadow which runs past Cape Race at high speed to the west.
		04.00	BB 6687
			NW 5, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. good
		08.00	BB 6687	Boat heavily iced.  Ground seas in shallow water.  During the daytime submerged attack is hardly possible.
			NW 5, overcast (snow), Sea 4, Vis. good, Vis. good, short heavy Swell
		12.00	BB 6687	Day's run:  Surfaced      65 nm
				Submerged   16.5 nm
		12.35		Crash dive to balance the boat and thaw out.  Positioned off Cape Race submerged.
		14.35		Surfaced to check a sound bearing, nothing found.
		14.40		Crash dive.
		16.00	BB 6687
		17.30		Surfaced.
		17.35		Crash dive for flying boat and vessel.  Patrol vessel or destroyer.
		20.00	BB 6683
		21.05		Surfaced.
		24.00	BB 6695
			W 4, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. moderate
		19.01.42
		04.00	BB 6682	By night back and forth in position off the coast at Cape Race.
			W 6, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. moderate
		08.00	BB 6655	From west winds in the operations area strong ground seas, therefore decided: with degraded weapons use go under the protection of the coast where northbound ships steer.
			SW 4, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. good
		12.00	BB 6658	Weapons use is still possible there.  In the operations area there is the prospect of seeing shadows is slight anyway because ships hold close off the coast and for several days
			SW 6, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. good

	Sun and Moon Data 18.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 19.01.42

	- 18 -
		continued
		19.01.42
				proceed fully darkened.
				Day's run:  Surfaced        92 nm
				Submerged   11.5 nm
		13.10		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		16.00	BD 6658	All day at Cape Race back and forth in position submerged.
		20.00	BB 6653	Nothing of significance.  By day in the last days there is no traffic at Cape Race.
		23.45		Surfaced.
		24.00	BB 6626
			SW 3, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. very good
		20.01.42
		02.35		Steamer - shadow in sight.  course southwest, speed high, about 16 knots.
				Despite "AK ahead" could not close.
		04.00	BB 6679	Broke off pursuit.
			SW 3, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. good
		05.35	BB 6685	Shadow in sight.  Search group of 5 patrol vessels, that approach in broad line abreast.
		06.07		Crash dive, because we can only get away on the surface at high speed, and with that there is danger of being heard.
				Asdic impulses heard clearly.  Despite water depth of only 45 meters did not detect me.  Americans!  Propeller sounds heard clearly in the boat.  No attack carried out because on the surface moving off after attack was not possible and water depth for escaping is too low.
		07.50		Surfaced.
		08.00	BB 6923
			SSW 3, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. good
		12.00	BB 6927	Day's run:  Surfaced        108 nm
			SSW 2, 2/10, Sea 2. Vis. good	Submerged    15.5 nm
		13.56		Crash dive for aircraft.  It is breaking up.  Day attack submerged is harfly possible.  Am under the protection of land.  No traffic.
		16.00	BB 6913
		20.00	BB 6913

	Sun and Moon Data 19.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 20.01.42

	- 19 -
		continued
		20.01.42
		21 47	SW 6, overcast, (fog), Sea 5, Vis. bad	Surfaced.
		22.25		Crash dive for patrol vessel in fog.  It looks as if the traffic has stopped temporarily and instead destroyers and patrol vessels are sent.  But mostly, am disturbed by the predominantly bad weather.
		23.56		Surfaced.
		24.00	BB 6924
			SW 6, fog, Sea 6, Vis. bad 50 meters
		21.01.42
		00.20		Crash dive, proceeded submerged due to bad weather and fog.
		04.00	BB 6921
		04.40		Surfaced.  Decision:  Transit behind the coast, in the operations area due to ground seas no weapons use.
		08.00	BE 6691
			SSW 6, overcast (rain), Sea 6, Vis. moderate
		12.00	BB 6632	Under coastal protection.
			SW 4, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. moderate	Day's run:  Surfaced        57 nm
				Submerged    18.5 nm
		13.17		Crash dive to proceed submerged.  Because there is still only 40 cbm fuel, and no weapons use for the moment in the operations area, decided to transit at the coast up to St. John's, from there via the convoy assembly place, thereafter return transit.
		16.00	BB 6628
		18.30		Steamer at 3000 meters, target angle 90°, course for St. John's.
		18.43		Four-fan with tubes I - IV on large - estimated 8000 ton freighter.
				Range = 3000 meters.
				Target angle = 100°, target speed 10 knots, depth = 2 meters (Sea State).
				After 6 minutes 52 seconds sharp detonation.  Hit somewhat astern, afterwards boiler explosion.

	Sun and Moon Data 20.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 21.01.42

	- 20 -
		continued
		21.01.42
				Ship steers with last effort to reach the coast and sink.  The breaking up and sinking are heard clearly.
		20.00	BB 6629	Afterwards set off from the coast.
				Last 3 torpedoes reloaded.
		24.00	BD 6629	Surfaced.  Position lights in sight off the coast.
			SSW 4, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. good
		22.01.42
				Ran towards the coast and the strong lights.
				They are:  1 large freighter, about 6000 tons, one white light at the top, 2 red lanterns one below the other before the bridge.  In the immediate vicinity two [illegible word and illegible word] that from time to time show lights, in addition a vessel with two more distant, high and low red lights (probably directly on the coast).  Additionally one to two shadows of patrol vessels or destroyers.  The large steamer lies stopped apparently as a trap and decoy.  When in the last days here all have proceeded dimmed, there is no reason why they are here with such an illuminated sea, stopped as is ready for shooting.  According to reports on American broadcasts there is still U-boat danger here.  The patrol vessels and motor boats run around in the vicinity in large zigzags.
		01.10	BB 6627	Attack on the steamer, stopped with 2 shots.  Lead angle 0°.  Aimed forward and aft.  Depth = 2 meters.  No results.  Completely unexplained.  Range = 800 meters.
		01.16		Turned away and with the last torpedo.  Lead angle 0°, depth 1 meter, target angle = 90°.  After 44 seconds heavy detonation, however behind the freighter.  Nothing is seen of the effect which is blocked by the high freighter.  At the shot a patrol vessel passed behind the freighter.  In the boat

	Sun and Moon Data 21.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 22.01.42

	- 21 -
		continued
		22.01.42		breaking and bursting was hear clearly after the hit.  The large freighter, the trap and bait, is calm.  All lights remain burning.  Acted as if nothing had happened.  The patrol vessel did not come as expected, out from behind the ship, he was probably hit and sunk.  Suddenly a Morse lantern appeared from the darkness from one of the motor boats, and signals us, as we turn away at highest speed because we are out of torpedoes: "Anton, Anton", thereafter "Assistance" and several calls for assistance or similar.  Suspect that it was a U-boat trap: the U-boat which was known beforehand, lured by many lights and allowed to shoot, then handed over to patrol vessels.  There is no other explanation for the strange behavior of this vessel and for the missed shots.  Probably the steamer was undershot and a patrol vessel was accidentally sunk.  Hit perfect, sinking heard clearly in the boat.  Thereafter ran off.
		04.00	BC 4415	Course for the homeland.
			SW 3, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. good
		07.17		Success reported to B.d.U.:  Return transit, 3 ships 18000 tons, 1 patrol vessel probable.
		08.00	BC 4436
			WSW 3, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. good
		12.00	BC 453W 3, 9/10, Sea 4, Vis. good	Day's run:  Surfaced        173 nm
				Submerged    16.5 nm
		13.00		Blew and converted main ballast and reserve fuel oil tanks.
		13.40		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		15 37		Surfaced.

Sun and Moon Data 22.01.42

	- 22 -
		continued
		22.01.42
		16.00	BC 4624
			SW 3, 4/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		20.00	BC 4639
			WSW 4, 8/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		24.00	BC 5429
			WSW 3, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. good
		23.01.42
		04.00	BC 5519
			WSW 3, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. good
		08.00	BC 5617
			WSW 3, overcast, Sea 3, Vis. good
		12.00	BC 5637	Day's run:  Surfaced        202 nm
			WSW 2, mist (rain), Sea 3, Vis. moderate	Submerged     0.9 nm
		13.45		Crash dive to balance the boat.  Surfaced.
		16.00	BC 6419
			W 4, 8/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		20.00	BC 6517
			W 4, 7/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		21.20		Large steamer in sight, course southeast, speed 12 knots, Radio Message to B.d.U.
		21.20	BC 6435	Unfortunately no more torpedoes.  Weather is too unfavorable for an artillery attack.  Continued return transit.
		24.00	BC 6528
			NW 4, 9/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		24.01.42
		04.00	BC 6618
			WNW 5, 5/10, Sea 5, Vis. good
		01.16		Radio Message to B.d.U. concerning traffic situation at Cape Race and U-boat trap.
		08.00	BC 6639
			WNW 4, 7/10, Sea 4, Vis. good

	Sun and Moon Data 22.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 23.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 24.01.42

	- 23 -
		continued
		24.01.42
		12.00	BD 4429	Day's run:  Surfaced        268 nm
			W 3, 9/10, Sea 4, Vis. good	Submerged       2 nm
		13.25		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		13.50		Surfaced.
		16.00	BD 4519
			ESE 2, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. good
		20.00	BD 4517
			SE 2, overcast (rain), Sea 4, Vis. good
		24.00	BD 4637
			ESE 3, overcast (rain), Sea 4, Vis. good
		25.01.42
		04.00	BD 5428
			SE 4, rain, Sea 3, Vis. good
		08.00	BD 5517
			ESE 5, rain, Sea 4, Vis. moderate
		12.00	BD 5537	Day's run:  Surfaced        257 nm
			SW 6, overcast (rain), Sea 6, Vis. moderate	Submerged      0.8 nm
		16.00	BD 5627
			S 7, mist (rain), Sea 7, Vis. moderate
		20.00	BD 6417
			SW 7, mist (rain), Sea 7, Vis. bad
		24.00	BD 6437
			SW 7, overcast (mist), Sea 7, Vis. moderate
		26.01.42
		01.20
		02.20		Radio Message to B.d.U.:  Short Signal weather report.  The first times not heard by Control.
		07.08
		04.00	BD 6527
			WSW 5, overcast, Sea 5, Vis. good

	Sun and Moon Data 24.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 25.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 26.01.42

	- 24 -
		continued
		26.01.42
		08.00	BD 6618
			W 5, 5/10, Sea 5, Vis. good
		12.00	BD 6638	Day's run:  Surfaced  203 nm
			W 5, 5/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		13.20		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		14.45		Surfaced.
		16.00	BE 4349
			WSW 5, 4/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		20.00	BE 4267
			WSW 4, 5/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		24.00	BC 4349
			WSW 4, 9/10, Sea 4, Vis. good
		27.01.42
		04.00	BE 4365
			SW 4, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. moderate
		08.00	BE 5155
			SW 4, overcast, Sea 4, Vis. moderate
		12.00	BE 5245	Day's run:  Surfaced        202 nm
			NW 6, 7/10, Sea 5, Vis. good	Submerged       2 nm
		13.45		Crash dive to balance the boat.
		13.55		Surfaced.
		16.00	BE 5356
			NW 6, 4/10, Sea 6, Vis. very good
		20.00	BE 6151
			NW 9, 9/10, Sea 6, Vis. very good
		24.00	BE 6218
			NW 3, 3/10, Sea 4, Vis. very good

	Sun and Moon Data 26.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 27.01.42

	- 25 -
		28.01.42
		02.00		Radio Message to B.d.U. concerning arrival time.
		04.00	BE 6238
			NW 6, 2/10, Sea 6, Vis. good
		08.00	BE 6326
			WNW 5, 7/10 (rain), Sea 6, Vis. good
		11.02		Crash dive for aircraft.
		11.45		Surfaced.
		12.00	BF 1779	Day's run:  Surfaced        272 nm
			W 8, 5/10, Sea 7, Vis. very good	Submerged     0.8 nm
		16.00	BF 1877
			W 9, 4/10 (rain), Sea 8-10, Vis. good
		18.55		Crash dive for aircraft.
		17.35		Surfaced.
		20.00	BF 1897
			WNW 9, 5/10, Sea 8-10, Vis. good, rain and hail squalls
		24.00	BF 1988
			WNW 8, 4/10 (rain), Sea 8, Vis. good
		29.01.42
		04.00	BF 2772
			WNW 8, 7/10, Sea 8, Vis. good
		08.00	BF 2879
			WNW 6, 4/10, Sea 6, Vis. good
		09.20		Aircraft, 4-engined Boeing on its way back from Brest.
		09.30		Taken in convoy.
		14.00		Brest, made fast in the Bunker.
				Day's run:  Surfaced        292 nm
				Submerged     1.5 nm

	Sun and Moon Data 28.01.42
	Sun and Moon Data 29.01.42

	- 26 -
			Successes  :           Torpedo 1 6000 tons sunk Torpedo 2, 3 4000 tons    " Torpedo 4, 5, 6, 7, 8000 tons    " Torpedo 8, 9 Miss Torpedo 10 Patrol vessel torpedoed.
				Miss unexplained, however on U-boat trap.
			Artillery:	The ready ammunition of the M.G.C./30 failed completely, with over 50% of the 100 discharged test shots primers shattered and failures.  Apparently the ammunition does not tolerate the humidity.
			Navigation	Bad binoculars were a problem.  After 14 day's at sea only 6 of the 16 binoculars operable.  All others were flooded and sightless from spray.

	Comments of the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote
	-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
	on the Kriegstagebuch of "U 203" from 13.11.1941 - 29.1.1942..
	-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
	A well executed patrol.
		Signed in draft:    D  ö  n  i  t  z  .
		for correctness:
		Leutnant z.S. and Adjutant

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