U-99 - 5th 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
18 Oct 40	22.06	57°09'N, 11°24'W	EMPIRE MINIVER	6,055	British	SC-7
18 Oct 40	23.30	57°08'N, 11°12'W	NIRITOS	3,854	Greek	SC-7
18 Oct 40	23.55	57°03'N, 11°12'W	FISCUS	4,815	British	SC-7
19 Oct 40	01.38	56°49'N, 11°18'W	EMPIRE BRIGADE	5,154	British	SC-7
19 Oct 40	01.55	56°47'N, 11°18'W	THALIA	5,875	Greek	SC-7
19 Oct 40	03.02	56°52'N, 11°18'W	SNEFJELD	1,643	Norwegian	SC-7
19 Oct 40	03.58	55°57'N, 18°55'W	CLINTONIA (damaged)	3,106	British	SC-7
			Total = 30,502
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
				=======================
				of the
				U  n  t  e  r  s  e  e  b  o  o  t  e  s    " U  9 9 "
				===============================
			Kommandant:  Kapitänleutnant    K  r  e  t  s  c  h  m  e  r  .
			Beginning:  25. 9.1940
			Ending:      21.10.1940
				© U-boat Archive 2024 - all rights reserved

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

	- 1 -
		25.09.40
		16.00	Lorient	Muster by B.d.U.
		26.09.40	Lorient	Shipyard,
				10 men of the crew on home leave.
		27.09.40	Lorient	Shipyard,
				1st group to "Quiberon" rest home.
		14.00	Lorient	Dry-docked in Basin II.
		22.00 to
		28.09.40	Lorient	British air attack on Lorient.  2 bombs fall 30 meters next to Basin II.  A few wooden planks of the over deck were lightly dented by flying chunks of stone.
		03.00
		29.09.40 to
		01.10.40	Lorient	Shipyard, dry-dock.
		02.10.40	Lorient	Shipyard, dry-dock.
				1st group back from Quiberon.
		03.10.40	Lorient	Shipyard, dry-dock.
				2nd group to "Quiberon" rest home.
		04.10.40
		07.00		Shipyard, un-docked, shifted to the charging station.
		05.10 40 to
		07.10.40	Lorient	Shipyard.
		08.10.40	Lorient	Shipyard, ammunition loading.
				2nd group back from Quiberon and leave back from Germany.
		09.10.40	Lorient	Shipyard, torpedo, fuel, provisions loading.
		10.10.40	Lorient	Shipyard.
		13.10		Sea trial in the harbor, trim test at Isle St. Michel, G.H.G. testing.
		15.10		Made fast at the oil pier.
		11.10.40	Lorient	Shipyard, final adjustments, outfitting.
		12.10.40		Final adjustments.
		13.10.40
		14.00	Lorient	Put to sea; escort by H.M.S. Flottille and U-Jagd Flottille up to Point 2; there test dive and due to U-boat danger continued submerged until darkness after swinging to the south.  Immediately before diving the following Radio Message was received:
			at Isle de Groix
				14.21 hours, mining information, Admiral Frankreich announced:  Harbor entrance Lorient mined.
				I got through fine anyway.
		20.00	BF 6179 upper-center
			SSE 4-5, Sea 3, overcast (rain)

Sun and Moon Data 13.10.40

	- 2 -
		continued
		13.10.40
		20.54		Surfaced, surface tactical movement.
		24.00	BF 6441 center-left
			WSW 3, Sea 3, 4/10
		14.10.40
		04.00	BF 5585 center-left
			WSW 4, Sea 3-4, 3/10
		08.00	BF 5491 lower-right
			WSW 5, Sea 4, 8/10 (rain)
		12.00	BF 5446 lower-center	Day's run:  Since Lorient Surfaced   =  163.1 nm
			WSW 7-8, Sea 7, 8/10	Submerged =    13.4 nm
				Together:       176.5 nm
		13.45		Dived for float plane bearing 250°T flying past, afterwards proceeded submerged due to work on the port diesel.
		16.00	BF 5444 upper-right
		17.41		Surfaced.
		20.00	BF 4663 center
			WSW 8-9, Sea 8, 8/10
		24.00	BF 4638 center-left
			WSW 7, Sea 7, 8/10
		15.10.40
		04.00	BF 4622 right edge upper
			W 6, Sea 6, overcast
		08.00	BF 4376 right edge upper
			W 6, Sea 5, overcast
		12.00	BF 4344 center-left	Day's run:  Surfaced     =  102 nm
			WNW 4-5, Sea 4, 5/10	Submerged =    12 nm = 114 nm
		16.00	BF 4224 center
			WNW 3-4, Sea 3-4, 4/10
		20.00	BF 1795 lower-right
			WNW 3, Sea 3, 5/10
		24.00	BF 1745 upper-right
			WNW 3, Sea 3, 5/10
		16.10.40
		04.00	BE 3922 center-right edge
			NW 2, Sea 2, 3/10
		08.00	BE 3569 lower-center
			NW 2, Sea 2, 3/10
		12.00	BE 3519 center	Day's run:  Surfaced  =  250.5 nm
			NW 2, Sea 2, 3/10
		12.07		Dived for aircraft flying bast bearing 260°T, afterwards proceeded submerged due to work on the diesel.
		14.27		Surfaced.
		16.00	BE 3436 upper-center edge	I operate on the report from "U-93" of a convoy in square AM 14, steering NW-course.
			S 2, Sea 2, 2/10

	Sun and Moon Data 13.10.40
	Sun and Moon Data 14.10.40
	Sun and Moon Data 15.10.40
	Sun and Moon Data 16.10.40

	- 3 -
		continued
		16.10.40
		20.00	BE 3154 center	I assume that he will soon be steering a W and SW course, then I will gain contact in the course of 18 October.
			SSE 2, Sea 3, 8/10
		24.00	AL 9983
			SSE 2, Sea 2, 5/10
		17.10.40
		04.00	AL 9677 upper-center edge
			SE 2, Sea 2, 6/10
		08.00	AL 9525 center
			E 3, Sea 2, 8/10
		09.00		Course change to the NE, to operate on the inbound convoy reported in square AL 3523 by "U-48".
		12.00	AL 9263 lower-left corner	Day's run:  Surfaced    =  257 nm
			E 2, Sea 2, 5/10	Submerged =    6.5 nm = 263.5 nm
		16.00	AL 6983 center
			E 2, Sea 2, 1/10
		20.00	AM 4479 lower-right
			E 2, Sea 2, 2/10
		24.00	AM 4429 center-right
			E 1-2, Sea 1-2, 4/10
		18.10.40
		02.00		On Urgent Radio Message to U-100, 28, 123, 101, 99, 46:
				At 08.00 hours be in patrol line from square AM 2745 to 0125
				I ran at highest speed to the position for "U-99" square AM 0125, which however I can first reach at 11.00 hours.
				Therefore I reported to B.d.U.:
				Operational orders cannot be carried out due to position.  My position is square AM 41.
		04.00	AM 4166 center
			SE 3, Sea 3, 6/10
		08.00	AM 0149 center-left edge
			SE 3, Sea 2-3, 4/10
		09.03		German U-boat conning tower in sight bearing 60°T, soon thereafter a medium boat comes over the horizon bow left, runs to the NW.  It must be the left wing boat of the patrol line "U-46" which
		10.28		passed out of sight.
		11.00	AM 0123 upper-right	In position, steered back and forth transverse to the patrol line.
		12.00	AM 0131 lower-left	Day's run:  Surfaced  =  312 nm
			SE 3, Sea 3, 6/10
		12.43		A medium German U-boat in sight bearing 0°T.  It must be "U-101", which is moving back and forth in the patrol line.

	Sun and Moon Data 16.10.40
	Sun and Moon Data 17.10.40
	Sun and Moon Data 18.10.40

	- 4 -
		continued
		18.10.40		Radio Message 1208:  to B.d.U. from U-38.
				Convoy located 02.00 hours square AM 1539, course 110°, no contact, square 1575.
				Was received.  By that the convoy will pass the patrol line to the north.
		15.30		The patrol line was dissolved by Radio Message:
				U-boats 100, 123, 101, 46 operate on report from U-38.
				Convoy suspected 14.00 hours square 2580.    B.d.U.
				B.d.U. Op. does not think U-99 is in the patrol line.  My thought that after this morning's position Short Signal B.d.U. Op. would assume my belated presence in the patrol line or in the immediate vicinity was not confirmed.  Introducing a Short Signal for "In position" would avoid such misunderstandings.
		16.00	AM 0123 upper-center	I operate initially in an ENE-direction.
			SE 3, Sea 3, 6/10
		17.45		"U-101" which is only 2-3 nm north of me makes the Morse Signal:  Enemy in sight to port.
		17.49		A warship come in sight in 30°T with bow right, soon thereafter to the left smoke clouds, finally the convoy.
				While maneuvering ahead to attack a steamer comes in sight to the SE apparently with a westerly course.
		19.28		Dived for submerged attack.
		19.50		Surfaced, because the steamer moved off at very low speed to the east.
		20.00	AM 2915 center-right	While continuing to maneuver ahead a surfacing German U-boat, apparently "U-101" again passed at a few hundred meters.
			SE 4, Sea 3, 0/10
		20.24		Another U-boat has torpedoed the steamer.  Soon thereafter Recognition Signal exchange with "U-123".
		21.10		Convoy in sight again.
				I am positioned ahead of the convoy and let myself fall back, while getting around the destroyer positioned ahead.
				The destroyer constantly shoots star shells.  For that reason I attack the right wing of the forward element from the outside.
		22.02	AM 2924 center	Bow shot with lead angle calculator, miss.
			Vis. medium, moonshine, bright night
		22.06		Stern shot with lead angle calculator from 700 meters.
				Hit before the center.  Steamer, about 6500 GRT sinks within 20 seconds.
			= 6500 GRT =
			===========	Now I go into the convoy from ahead.
				All steamers zigzag independently.

Sun and Moon Data 18.10.40

	- 5 -
		continued
		18.10.40
		22.30		Bow torpedo shot with lead angle calculator, miss.  Parallax was incorrect.  Therefore I decide to shoot the next torpedoes without the lead angle calculator, especially since the system has not yet been approved and test fired by the T.E.K.
				After that the boat was sighted by a steamer which shoots a white star, turned towards the boat at high speed and even continued to change course ahead.
				I must run off at AK,  The steamer finally turns away, fires a shot with his cannon and takes his place in the convoy again.
				Now I attack the right wing of the second to last group.
		23.30	AM 2928 upper-center	Bow shot on a large freighter, the torpedo goes past ahead because the steamer zigzagged towards and hits an even larger next ship over after a running track of 1740 meters.
				This ship, about 7000 GRT, was hit at the level of the forward mast and sank with the foreship quickly up to and below water's surface , because apparently 2 cargo holds were flooded.
			= 7000 GRT =
			===========
		23.55	AM 2928	Bow shot on a large freighter.
				About 6000 GRT, range = 750 meters.
				Hit at the forward mast.  The torpedo detonation was followed directly by a high sheet of flame accompanied by an explosion, which tore open the foreship up to the bridge and there was a smoke cloud about 200 meters high.  Apparently the foreship broke away.  The ship continued to burn with a greenish flame.
			= 6000 GRT =
			===========
		24.00	AM 2928 lower-center
			SE 4, Sea 3, 5/10, moonshine, bright night, Vis. medium
		19.10.40
		00.15		Three destroyers approach the ship and search the area in line abreast.  I run off to the SW at AK and soon have contact on the convoy again.  Continual torpedo detonations are heard from other boats.  The destroyers don't know what to do and continuously shoot star shells for reassurance, but they do not do much in the bright moonlight night.  Now I am starting to strike the convoy from astern.
		01.38	AM 2955 lower-left	Bow shot on a large deeply loaded freighter of about 6000 GRT, range = 945 meters.
			= 6000 GRT =
			===========	Hit forward mast.  Ship sank in the detonation.
		01.55	AM 2957 upper-right	Bow shot on the next large steamer of about 7000 GRT, range = 975 meters.
			= 7000 GRT =
			===========	Hit at the forward mast.  Ship sank within 40 seconds.

	Sun and Moon Data 18.10.40
	Sun and Moon Data 19.10.40

	- 6 -
		continued
		19.10.40		Miss on one of the largest steamers of the convoy, a ship of type "GLENAPP", 9500 GRT, due to shooting error due to Sea State.
		02.55		Miss on the same target, range = about 800 meters.  Unexplained, because shooting data was absolutely correct.
				Assumption:  gyro failure, because after 7 minutes there was a detonation on the other side of the convoy, the last  detonation from another boat was heard at 01.33 hours.
		03.02	AM 2981 upper-right	3rd shot on the same target, range = 720 meters.  Hit before the bridge.  Foreship sinks quickly up to the water's surface.
			9500 GRT
			"Type GLENAPP"
			=============
		03.56		Miss on a smaller steamer lying high out which had lost contact with the convoy. Shot was taken as the steamer turned towards.
		03.58	AM 2981 lower-center	While turning away stern shot from 690 meters.  Hit behind the center.  Steamer settled astern only a bit deeper.  Because all torpedoes have been fired, at first I waited, to see if the steamer would sink on its own, before I sank it with artillery.
			=  CLINTONIA =
			3106 GRT
			==============
		04.00	AM 2981 lower-center
			SE 4, S 3, overcast
		05.04		Steamer was sunk by another vessel with cannon fire.  Initially I suspect a British destroyer.  Later it turned out the shooting vessel was "U-123".  Its long shots fall in the immediate vicinity of the boat, so that I have to hurry getting out of the area.  The steamer was the "CLINTONIA" 3106 GRT.
		05.30		Began return transit to Lorient.
		08.00	AM 4334 upper-center
			SE 4, Sea 4, upper-right
		09.06 - 09.36		Test dive.
		12.00	AM 4384 center-left edge	Day's run:  Surfaced   =  217.3 nm
			SE 5, Sea 4, overcast, rain	Submerged =       3.2 nm = 220.5 nm
		16.00	AM 4568 upper-left
			SW 4, Sea 4, overcast, rain
		20.00	AM 4855 upper-right
			SW 4, Sea 3, overcast, rain
		24.00	AM 7255 center
			SW 4, Sea 3, 6/10
		20.10.40
		04.00	AM 7555 upper-left
			SW 4, Sea 3, 5/10
		08.00	AM 7851 lower-center

	Sun and Moon Data 19.10.40
	Sun and Moon Data 20.10.40

	- 7 -
		continued
		20.10.40
		12.00	BE 3238 center-right	Day's run:  Surfaced  =  312 nm
			SW 5, Sea 4, overcast (rain)
		16.00	BE 3621 upper-right
		20.00	BF 1474 upper-left corner
			SW 4, Sea 3, 4/10
		24.00	BE 1756 lower-left
			SW 3, Sea 3, 4/10
		21.10.40
		04.00	BF 4221 lower-center
			SW 2, Sea 2, 4/10
		08.00	AM 4348 lower-left corner
			SW 2, Sea 2, 3/10
		09.51 - 11.38		Dived for approaching float aircraft in 95°T.
		12.00	BF 4623 center	Day's run:  Surfaced   =  296 nm
				Submerged =     11 nm = 307 nm
		16.00	BF 5449 lower-right
		20.00	BF 5572 center

	Sun and Moon Data 20.10.40
	Sun and Moon Data 21.10.40

	C  o  p  y  !
	Comments of the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote.
	An excellently performed attack on the convoy, which was rewarded by a corresponding success.
		Signed in draft    D  ö  n  i  t  z  .
		For the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote
		- The Chief of the Operations Department -

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