U-557 - 3rd War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

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Ships Hit
Date	KTB Time	Position	Ship	Tons	Nationality	Convoy
2 Dec 41	01.49 - 02.18	41°53'N, 63°48'W	FJORD	4,032	Norwegian
			Total = 4,032
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  557  "
				= = = = = =
			Kommandant:    Kaptlt.  Paulssen
				Beginning on:  20 Sept. 1941
				Ending     on:    7 Dec.  1941
				Enclosure:  1 Track chart
				© U-boat Archive 2023 - all rights reserved

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

	- 1 -
		20.09.41	Lorient	Cleared the boat.
		to	Berth A 2	Prepared for the shipyard.
		23.09.41
		24.09.41	Lorient	Dry docked.  Shipyard overhaul.  Crew leave and training.
		to
		10.10.41
		11.10.41	Lorient	Boat in the water, shipyard overhaul.
		to	Berth B 5
		17.10.41
		18.18.41	Lorient	On the slip.  Shipyard overhaul.
		to
		08.11.41
		09.11.41	Lorient	Boat in the water.
		to	Berth B 6
		13.11.41
		14.11.41	Lorient	Dry docked for work on the diving planes.
		to
		15.11.41
		15.11.41	Lorient	Torpedo and ammunition loading.
		16.11.41	Lorient	Diesel sea trial in the harbor.  Trim test.
		17.11.41	Lorient	Equipping.  Provisions loading.  Correction of deficiencies found during diving test.  Degaussing.

	- 2 -
		18.11.41	Lorient	Fresh provisions loaded.
				Final trim test.
		19.11.41	Lorient
		17.30	Berth A 3	Put to sea for 3rd war patrol together with "U-95".
		18.35	Point Lucie 5	Taken in convoy.
		19.45	Point Lucie 2	Released from convoy.  Departed on Route Rosabella - Cedernland - Tanne.
		23.50		Point "Ceder".
		20.11.41	Bay of Biscay	Point "Tanne".
		01.10	SSW 1-2, Sea 1, Vis. medium, 1016 mb
		04.00	BF 5594
		08.25	BF 5496	Test dive in the twilight.
				Drills.  Depth control training, deep diving test.
		12.00	BF 5495	Day's run:  = 160 nm, = 6 nm.
		13.00		Surfaced.
		to		Crash dive traning completed.
		18.00
		18.05	BF 5475	Passed an inbound German U-boat.
		19.40	BF 4696	Crash dive for aircraft bearing 290°T, (4-engined).
		20.30		Surfaced.  Position Short Signal sent from square BF 46
		21.11.41	Bay of Biscay
			S 6, Sea 5, overcast, rain showers, Vis. bad, strongly freshening wind, 1008 mb
		00.00	BF 4686
		08.35	BF 4869	Test dive.
		to
		09.55

	Sun and Moon Data 19.11.41
	Sun and Moon Data 20.11.41
	Sun and Moon Data 21.11.41

	- 3 -
		continued
		21.11.41
		10.15	BF 4893	Dived for aircraft bearing 120°T.
		to
		10.53
		12.00	BF 4895	Day's run:  = 146 nm, = 12 nm.
		20.00	BF 7283
			SSW 7-8, Sea 6-7, overcast, Vis. medium, 1008 mb
		22.11.41	Bay of Biscay
		02.15	BF 7519	Dived.  Boat lies, very down by the bow, the aft 3 torpedoes are missing (stern tube sealed with a flange) and tends to undercut.  Provisions ballasting and tank filling bring no improvement during -cruise.  -transit.
			SSW 9-10, Sea 9, Vis. bad, 1005 mb
		08.30	BF 7547	Surfaced.
			WSW 8, Sea 8, Vis. medium
		12.00	BF 7495	Day's run:  = 117 nm, = 16 nm.
		14.50	BF 7726	Dived for aircraft bearing 250°T.
		to
		15.25
		20.00	BF 7772
		23.11.41	Atlantic, west coast of Spain
			NW 4-5, Sea 5-6, lightly cloudy, Vis. good, 1020 mb
		00.00	CG 1339
		04.00	CG 1399
		08.00	CG 1666
		12.00	CG 1933	Day's run:  = 188 nm, = 2 nm.
			W 2, Sea 2, long Swell, few clouds, sunny, Vis. good, 1028 mb

	Sun and Moon Data 21.11.41
	Sun and Moon Data 22.11.41
	Sun and Moon Data 23.11.41

	- 4 -
		continued
		23.11.41
		16.00	CG 1993
		20.00	CG 4366
		24.11.41	Atlantic, west coast of Portugal
			SE 1, Sea 1, long W-Swell, few clouds, Vis. very good, moonlit, 1031 mb
		00.00	CG 5421
		04.00	CG 5459
		08.45	CG 5769	Test dive.
		to
		09.30
		10.50		1 hour AK cruise, because up to now there has been no opportunity.
		to
		11.50
		12.00	CG 8211	Day's run:  = 247 nm, = 2 nm.
		16.00	CG 8254
		20.00	CG 8374	Intention:  Head for Cape Espartel at HF, to be able to put the boat on the bottom there not later than daybreak.  Break through of the Gibraltar Strait is planned for 25/26 November.  Each day the moon gets bigger and the nights brighter, so that each day it is more difficult.
		25.11.41	Atlantic, latitude of the Strait of Gibraltar
			NE 1, Sea 0, W-Swell, clear, Vis. very good, very bright night, 1028 mb
		00.00	CG 9417
		04.00	CG 9468
		08.10	CG 9585	5 nm south of Cape Espartel put the boat on the bottom in depth T = 25 meters. [actually depth 50 meters]

	Sun and Moon Data 23.11.41
	Sun and Moon Data 24.11.41
	Sun and Moon Data 25.11.41

	- 5 -
		continued
		25.11.41
		12.00		Day's run:  = 254 nm, = 1.5 nm.
		12.30		Boat raised from the bottom, proceeded to Cape Espartel, to have a look at the Strait of Gibraltar.
				West of the Strait a destroyer moves back and forth, at night moved back to Tangier.  No attack opportunity.
		16.00	CG 9594	Because the current sets to the east, I run as far into the strait as I can.  The moon first sets at 01.49 hours.  Then I have less to go in the short time before dawn.  As a consequence I get further into the Mediterranean.
			NE 5, Sea 3, clear sky, sunny, Vis. good
		17.00		By the steady east wind the current reverses.  At HF I have just reached Malabata.
		21.00		Put the boat on the bottom east of Malabata in a small bay (Point Poniente de la Cala).
				There is little traffic in the Gibraltar Strait.  Mainly Spanish fishermen.
		26.11.41	Gibraltar Strait
		01.20		Surfaced.  Ventilated the stopped boat.
		02.10	NE 3-4, Sea 3, few clouds, Vis. good, very bright night	Moon set.  Ran for breakthrough close under the African coast.
				Incoming Radio Message, that on 24 November a boat was spotted here.  Not encouraging for us.
				East of Tarifa a patrol vessel is stationed approximately in the middle of the Strait.  Near Tangier the destroyer I mentioned earlier.  The Spanish fishermen under the African coast with very strong acetylene lamps are very bothersome. One must pass in front of them because there is no space between them and land.

	Sun and Moon Data 25.11.41
	Sun and Moon Data 26.11.41

	- 6 -
		continued
		26.11.41		there is no space.  It is a miracle that the patrol vessels do not notice.
		04.00	CG 9673
		04.08		Ceuta Lighthouse abeam.  East of the Gibraltar Strait there is another destroyer.
				Broke through smoothly without incidents.  Probably unnoticed if there were not camouflaged patrol vessels among the fishermen on the African coast. Some had to be passed at 100 meters.
		08.00	CH 7475	Intention:  Head for Cape de Gata over Alborán.  I suspect that traffic passes between them.
		12.00	CH 7455	Day's run:  = 79 nm, = 10 nm.
		13.00	CH 7456	Dived to work on the torpedo in tubes III and IV.  Also lifted the reserve torpedoes.
		27.11.41	Western Mediterranean	Orders received to occupy attack area in CG 96 and CH 70 northern half.
			ENE 2-3, Sea 2, partial overcast, Vis. good, 1025 mb
		00.00	CH 7526
		02.00		Headed to within 5 nm of Cape de Gata, then set off to the south.  No traffic.
		08.25	CH 7568	Crash dive for training.
		to		Test dive.
		09.15
				I then remain surfaced, although the high mountains of the Sierra Nevada are still easily seen. However, it is not likely that enemy observers sit at this height.  And if so, then they can not correctly identify a small boat (30 nm away).
		12.00	CH 7555	Day's run:  = 138 nm, = 6 nm.

	Sun and Moon Data 26.11.41
	Sun and Moon Data 27.11.41

	- 7 -
		continued
		27.11.41
		18.00	CH 7462	Thick periscope sighted 3 times bearing 240°T.
			E 1, Sea 1, blue sky, Vis. good, 1021 mb	Ran off at highest speed.  After 5000 meters dived.  In the sound gear a submerged U-boat established, that keeps stopping and then turns toward at highest speed.
		19.00		The -annoyance  resunlts in nothing.  Therefore I surface and run off at highest speed to the east.  In so doing, I hope that the enemy will surface at the limit of visibility to come after us.  Then I will pursue him to shoot.
		20.00	CH 7541	Dived.  Laid in wait for him.  But he doesn't do us a favor.  Nothing heard or seen.  Underwater telephone recognition signals were not sent by me, because if the other boat was a German, he must have recognized me and would have initiated a recognition signal exchange. From the description of  the periscope by the bridge watch it can only be an enemy boat.  No Radio Message sent, because it is not certain enough.
		21.00		Surfaced.  Set off to the east to the limit of the area because now we'be been reported.  For the moment, traffic is not to be expected in the area.
		28.11.41	Western Mediterranean
			NE 2, Sea 1, partial overcast, Vis. good, bright night, 1022 mb
		00.00	CH 7528
		04.00	CH 7614
		07.50	CH 7634	An illuminated steamer bearing 60°T.
		08.15		Dived at dawn, to let him pass by in the periscope.  French tanker with prescribed markings

	Sun and Moon Data 27.11.41
	Sun and Moon Data 28.11.41

	- 8 -
		continued
		28.11.41		on the approved course Cape Palmos - Cape de l'Aiguille.
		10.00		Another French freighter sighted on the same route.
				Against both no action taken.
		11.35	CH 7635	Surfaced.  I intend to move back and forth here temporarily.  With the bright as day nights and the constantly flat sea a further advance westward makes no sense.  Therefore I will wait until the moon wanes.  So far, there is neither air nor sea surveillance in this area so enemy traffic is not expected for now.
		12.00		Day's run:  = 166 nm, = 9 nm.
		15.25	CH 7395	Smoke cloud bearing 20°T.
				Maneuvered ahead and dived.
		16.20		In the periscope French freighter "MAROC" recognized.  Course:  Cape Palmos - Oran.  Well marked.  No action taken.
		17.40	E 1, Sea 0, few clouds, mirror flat, 1020 mb	Surfaced.
		29.11.41	Western Mediterranean
			E 1, Sea 0, mirror flat, partial overcast, half moon, very bright night, Vis. good, 1021 mb
		00.00	CH 7384	Headed for Cape de Gata by night.
		04.00	CH 7299
		08.15		Test dive.
		to
		09.20
		10.42	CH 7566	Dived.  Supposed periscope bearing 260°T.
				Nothing heard or established.

	Sun and Moon Data 28.11.41
	Sun and Moon Data 29.11.41

	- 9 -
		continued
		29.11.41
		12.00	CH 7569	Day's run:  = 133 nm, = 6.5 nm.
		14.15		Surfaced.
		20.00	CH 7648
		30.11.41	Western Mediterranean
			W 1-2, Sea 1, moonlit, lightly overcast, very bright night, Vis. good, 1021 mb
		00.00	CH 7299	Went under Cape de Gata.  Very active steamer traffic.  All well marked Spaniards.
		00.30		Spanish destroyer runs under the coast to the west.  Brightly illuminated and marked.
		08.10	CH 7641	Test dive.
		12.00	CH 7644	Day's run:  = 128 nm, = 10 nm.
		13.10		Surfaced.
		18.50	CH 7627	Dived for aircraft bearing 190°T, course 0°.
		to
		19.30
		01.12.41	Western Mediterranean
			WSW 4, Sea 3, clear, very bright night, Vis. good, 1026 mb
		00.00	CH 7533
		04.00	CH 7521
		08.10	CH 7433	Dived due to proximity to land.
		12.00	CH 7432	Day's run:  = 125 nm, = 17 nm.
		19.57	CH 7189	Surfaced.
				Intention:  Close under land from Cape de Gata head for the port of Málaga, to see if it is used by enemy ships. Seems likely because of the local lead shipment.

	Sun and Moon Data 29.12.41
	Sun and Moon Data 30.12.41
	Sun and Moon Data 01.12.41

	- 10 -
		02.12.41	Western Mediterranean
			WE 0, Sea 0, mirror flat, clear, very bright moonlit night, Vis. very good, 1033 mb
		00.00	CH 7451	Under the coast active steamer traffic.  All neutral.  Because there is still much time until morning twilight, short legs to the south to surveil the sea area.
		03.45	CH 7443	Aircraft bearing 290°T, course 0°, darkened.
		08.10	CG 9399	In the twilight put the boat on the bottom 1.5 nm off Málaga harbor.  Multiple fishermen all around.
		09.30		Boat raised from the bottom.  Proceeded up to the harbor entrance.  In the harbor several Spanish and 2 gray steamers without markings.  1 other concealed by the mole.  Can not be recognized.  While I am positioned 100 meters off the entrance one of the two gray steamers comes out.  I can just get to the starboard side to avoid being overrun.  In the periscope steamer of 2000 GRT recognized.  English flag.  2 cannons of about 10.5 cm.  Deeply loaded.
				at AK followed and set off to the east.  Steamer proceeds close under the coast, course to Gibraltar.
		10.50		Surfaced.  Of the steamer smokestack and masts are still seen.  Maneuvered ahead to sea without regard to possible sighting from land.  There is only a short time before Gibraltar so I must cut corners.
		12.00		Day's run:  = 133 nm, = 11 nm.
		12.50	CG 9637	Steamer is no longer found against the land.  With enemy speed 9 knots I must be more or less ahead by plotting now.
				Rock of Gibraltar is already well out!
				I can not go further.  Unfortunately the enemy

Sun and Moon Data 02.12.41

	- 11 -
		continued
		02.12.41		is already through.  Runs over 10 knots and proceeds close under land cutting across all bays.
				I go close under land to lie in wait for the 2nd steamer.
		18.00	CG 9629	Sound bearing 60°T.  On this bearing close to the boat there is a fishing lugger, therefore went to depth T = 15 meters [30 meters].  Behind it however, there was a steamer that was not seen and gradually went past in front of the bow.  Was held by us as the logger.
		18.25		Periscope again out:  gray steamer bearing 340°T.  Target angle 120°.  Large cannon on the after deck.  Apparently the 2nd from Málaga.  Passed by.
		19.28	CG 9628	Surfaced close under land and maneuvered ahead between the steamer and land.  Does not steer for Gibraltar but north of it along the Spanish coast.
				I suspect that the assembly point for convoys is no longer the Algeciras Bay, but Point Carbonera northeast of Gibraltar. Both English have headed for it today.
		20.33	CG 9619	Outside Spanish territorial waters.
			E 1-2, Sea 1, full moon, changing cloudiness, Vis. very good, bright as day, 1033 mb	Steamer sunk without warning.  (Latitude = 36°21.2'N; longitude = 5°6.5'W).  Cannon on board, no lights.
				Double shot from tubes III and IV.
				1. target angle = 85°, target speed = 8 knots, lead angle = 15°, depth = 3 meters, range = 2000 meters.
				2. target angle = 85° target speed = 8 knots, lead angle = 15°, depth = 2 meters, range = 2000 meters.
				Running time:  110 seconds (1700 meters)
				1 miss, 1 hit center.  Enemy breaks apart, sinks in 20 seconds.
				Size:  3000 GRT estimated.
				Deeply loaded, suspect lead.
				Return transit to Málaga, because this steamer was not the same one I saw in the harbor this morning.  Perhaps the last one is still there.
		21.57		Incoming Radio Message with orders to begin transit to the east.  Because tomorrow I must still remain submerged the entire day I will still go to Málaga.

Sun and Moon Data 02.12.41

	- 12 -
		03.12.41	Western Mediterranean
			E 2-3, Sea 1-2, few clouds, very bright, Vis. good, 1033 mb
		00.00	CG 9634
		04.00	CG 9398
		08.05	[hollow way = place for an ambush]	Dived at twilight due to the proximity of land.  9 nm from Málaga dived at "Point del Saltillo".  1.5 nm from land.  "He must come through this hollow way!"  If he's still there!
				back and forth in position.
		12.00		Day's run:  = 129 nm, = 22 nm.
				Because up to noon he does not come, closed the harbor off Malaga, to have a look.
				Only 2 Spaniards in the harbor.  In far basin lies the German steamer "LIVORNO," I took yesterday for an Englishman, because he is also gray.
				Ran off .
		18.00	CG 9633	Surfaced.  Began transit to the east.
		04.12.41	Western Mediterranean	Active steamer traffic.  All illuminated Spaniards.  Certainly among these are also Englanders with false neutral markings.  I have however in this area I have no authority against these in applicable Operational Orders.  Why are enemy steamers that enter Spanish ports not reported?
			E 3, Sea 2-3, changing cloudiness, Vis. good, very bright full moon night, 1028 mb
		00.00	CH 7433	Then itwould then be easy to catch them when departing.  The necessary message network is probably available.
		04.00	CH 7288
		08.00	CH 7375
				Enemy traffic is sparse, but he is present with certainty between Gibraltar and Melilla, Málaga, Cartagena and Barcelona.

	Sun and Moon Data 03.12.41
	Sun and Moon Data 04.12.41

	- 13 -
		continued
		04.12.41		Incoming Radio Message:  Survivors of the steamer "FJORD" torpedoed by a U-boat 4,032 GRT, landed 3 December in naval square CG 9616.    B.d.U.
				That is our steamer.
				Very gratifying, that he is 1032 GRT more than estimated.
		12.00	CH 7383	Day's run:  = 170 nm, = 7 nm.
		16.00	CH 8142
		20.00	CH 8134	Radio Message sent:
				1.  Question fuel supply, fresh provisions square CJ 9828.  Still 70 cbm.
				2.  With pilot request:  2 projection bulbs for Echolot [depth sounder], 6 volt, 15 watt in drop shape, swan version.
				3.  Position square CH 8211.  "FJORD" sunk.
				Paulssen.
		05.12.41	Western Mediterranean	Incoming Radio Message:
			ENE 2, Sea 1-2, lightly cloudy, Vis. good, full moon, 1029 mb	Concerning a westbound convoy expected shortly from square CG 9593 (Gibraltar) etc.      B.d.U.
				Unfortunately we've just been drawn away from there. One would have expected to get something during the assembly of the convoy.
		00.00	CH 5887
		04.00	CH 5893
		08.15
		to	CH 5956	Crash dive for training.
		09.15
		10.45		Incoming Radio Message with orders, to fuel and supply in Messina.
				Transit speed raised to 14 knots.  Zig zag by day.
		12.00	CH 9118	Day's run:  = 210 nm, = 3 nm.
		16.00	CH 9211
		20.00	Ch 9311

	Sun and Moon Data 04.12.41
	Sun and Moon Data 05.12.41

	- 14 -
		06.12.41	Western Mediterranean
		00.00	CH 9331
			N 2, Sea 2, few clouds, Vis. very good, 1033 mb
		02.00		Short Signal sent:
				Position 30 hours off "Ustica".    U-557.
		04.00	CJ 7421	Confirmation by B.d.U. however says:  Paulssen reports that he will be on point "RG" on 7 December at 08:00 hours.
		08.00	CJ 7434	Correction sent:
				Notification per Radio Message 1706/4/170 in square 8659 will reach "RG" at 16.00 hours.    Paulssen.
		12.00	CJ 7532	Day's run:  = 266 nm, = 0 nm.
		14.53	CJ 7612	Dived for aircraft bearing 240°T.
		to
		15.13
		20.00	CJ 8477
		07.12.41	Central Mediterranean
			E 1, Sea 0, mirror flat, few clouds, Vis. good, 1033 mb
		00.00	CJ 8495
		04.00	CJ 8583
		08.00	CJ 8681
		08.30		"Ustica" island abeam.
				Morse name with school.  Flag set.
		12.00	CJ 9476	Day's run:  = 276 nm, = 1.5 nm.
		16.20	CJ 9585	Minesweeper piloted to Messina.
		18.30		Made fast Messina.

	Sun and Moon Data 06.12.41
	Sun and Moon Data 07.12.41

	Enclosures to U-557's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document
Chart	Track chart covering entire war patrol
Report	Situation report
Torpedo	Torpedo firing report

	Comments of the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote
	-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
	on the Kriegstagebuch of "U-557" from 20.9. - 7.12.1941.
	-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
	A very well conducted patrol.  On the next patrol the British cruiser "GALATEA was sunk, the distinguished commander did not return with his boat.
		Signed in draft:   D  ö  n  i   t  z  .
		For correctness:
		Leutnant z.S. and Adjutant

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