Oberleutnant Stefan Michael Grabowski
Patrol # 1

Duration:	23.10.1939 - 31.10.1939, 9 days on sea
Patrol Area:	AN48
Ship:	U-330, The Octopus
Type:	II C
Flotilla:	9. Flotille, Brest

23 OKT 1939
1530 DEPARTED PEN A-2 FOR PATROL IN QUAD AN48 AFTER SUBMITTING PROVISIONING REPORT FOR U-330. STIFF CROSSWIND MADE CONTROL AROUND THE CHANNEL MARKERS DIFFICULT, I CAN SEE WHERE THE DUAL RUDDERS OF THE NEWER TYP VII'S WILL ADD TO THE LOW-SPEED MANEUVERABILITY OF THE SHIP, WE SET SPEED FOR 8 KNOTS TO RENDEZVOUS WITH ESCORTS AT ST. ANNE DU PORZIC. THE NEW RAW WATER INTAKE SEEMS FINE AND MY COMMENDATIONS TO MY CHIEF ENGINEER PAUL NOELKE FOR FINDING THIS HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE MANIFOLD THAT WOULD HAVE ESCAPED AN ORDINARY EYE. THIS WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE SEVERE REPERCUSSIONS OUT ON PATROL AND I WILL ADDRESS THIS SITUATION IN MORE DETAIL IN MY KOMMANDANT'S REPORT. OBLT (L.I.) NOELKE IS TRULY AMAZING.

U-330 in a dry dock waiting for the last repairs to be done

1645 WE HAVE JOINED THE ESCORTS AND ARE PROCEEDING TOWARD OUR RELEASE POINT 40 NM WEST OF STANDING LINE LANILDUT. THE 5 HOUR CRUISE SHOWS US NICE WEATHER AND SMALL ROLLERS IN THE OCEAN. THE CREW IS READY AND ANXIOUS TO BEGIN WHAT IS TO BE OUR FIRST PATROL.

2115 SENT RADIO MESSAGE #001

2200 WE BID ADIEU TO OUR ESCORTS, HAVING REACHED THE RELEASE POINT. NOW ON OUR OWN, WE MERGE WITH THE SEA AND BEGIN TO SLICE WATER TO OUR PATROL POINT ALMOST 3 DAYS AWAY. SUFFICIENT TIME FOR REFLECTION ON THE PART OF EACH CREWMEMBER, PARTICULARLY MYSELF, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SHIP AND CREW. HAS THE CREW BEEN TRAINED SUFFICIENTLY, OR SHOT THROUGH TOO QUICKLY TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF WAR? WILL THIS GREEN CREW MAKE A SERIOUS MISTAKE WHILE IN COMBAT OR CRACK UNDER THE PRESSURE OF ATTACK OR BEING PURSUED AND JEOPARDIZE THE ENTIRE PATROL? THESE AND OTHER QUESTIONS PERPLEX ME ABOUT THESE NEW MEN AS THE MOON SLOWLY RISES IN THE EAST.

24 OKT
0600 DIVE TO 50 METERS FOR SOUNDINGS-NO CONTACTS

0700 DAYBREAK AND THICK FOG. BACK DOWN TO 50 METERS FOR SOUNDINGS...NOTHING. REMAINED AT DEPTH UNTIL NIGHTFALL.

1730 SURFACED, CONTINUED TO PATROL AREA

25 OKT
0515 ARRIVED AN4899 QUAD. SENT RADIO MESSAGE #002. INK BLACK OUTSIDE...EERIE AS WE ONLY HEAR THE WAVES IN THE CONNING TOWER AND THE MUFFLED SOUND OF THE DIESELS. I DECIDE TO DIVE FOR SOUNDINGS-NOTHING HEARD. RESURFACED AND CONTINUED PATROL, LISTENING MORE THAN SEEING.

1200 FOG HAS BURNED OFF REVEALING A PICTURE-PERFECT DAY. NO CONTACTS, EXCEPT FOR SOME PLAYFUL DOLPHINS, PROMISING US A GOOD PATROL.

26 OKT
0730 NOTHING EXCEPT THICK FOG THIS MORNING. THE AIR IS VERY STILL AND THE WATER FLAT CALM. OBLT. (LI) NOELKE HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE MACHINISTS NOTICED THE PORT ENGINE RUNNING A BIT WARMER THAN NORMAL. HE FEELS IT MIGHT BE DUE TO THE CRACK IN THE RAW WATER INTAKE THAT HE NOTICED JUST PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. POSSIBLY, THIS HAS GONE UNNOTICED DURING PRIOR PATROLS AND HAS DETERIORATED THE RUBBER BLADES OF THE IMPELLER. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THE FACT THAT THE BLADES BEGIN TO BREAK OFF AND TRAVEL THROUGH THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, CONGREGATING AT ONE OF THE BENDS WHERE THE FLOW CONSTRICTS AND EVENTUALLY SHUTS OFF THE COOLING WATER COMPLETELY, OVERHEATING THE ENGINE AND MAKING IT USELESS. I WILL DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH MY L.I. AND RENDER A DECISION TODAY.

27 OKT
2015 QUIET PATROL DAY UNTIL NOW. SPOTTED SHIP AT 5000 METERS IN AN4851. CLOSING FOR IDENTIFICATION. WE HAVE THREE T-III'S IN THE TUBES WITH Pi-2 PISTOLS READY FOR OUR FIRST ATTACK, IF NECESSARY. NOW, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS IMPELLER. I SHOULD HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED YESTERDAY. I ONLY HOPE IT HOLDS OUT THROUGH THIS...HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO FOOLISH AS TO JEOPARDIZE THE BOAT AND CREW BY DELAYING AN ORDER THAT I KNEW SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN?

2035 OUR GROENER HAS IDENTIFIED THE TARGET IDENTIFIED AS 4000 GRT BRITISH MERCHANT SHIP, MANEUVERING INTO POSITION FOR A SHOT WHILE WE CHECK THE LLOYD'S REGISTER FOR A NAME.

2055 IN POSITION TOO QUICKLY FOR CHECKING THE REGISTER. SHOT ONE T-III WITH A Pi-2 PISTOL (#14032) FROM TUBE ONE AT 2500 METERS. MY HEADING IS 139; MERCHANT IS 210; DUD TORPEDO. MERCHANT BEGAN FIRING UPON US, TOOK EVASIVE ACTION AND REPOSITIONED FOR ANOTHER ATTACK. INTERCEPTED 600 METER DISTRESS CALLS FROM HER, IDENTIFYING THE SHIP AS THE "CITY OF SUSSEX"; LLOYD'S BOOK WILL LATER CONFIRM THIS.

2109 REPOSITIONED AND SHOT ONE T-III WITH A Pi-2 PISTOL (#14067) FROM TUBE TWO AT 1200 METERS. MY HEADING IS NOW 179; MERCHANT IS CONSTANT AT 210; TARGET HIT AND DESTROYED. RESULTING FIRE INDICATES NO AMMUNITION OR FUEL ABOARD. NO SURVIVORS NOTED; NO RESPONSE TO HER DISTRESS ON 600 METERS, HOWEVER WE ARE DEPARTING AREA IMMEDIATELY.

2130 SENT MESSAGE #004 TO BDU.

28 OKT 1939
0010 DECIDED TO DIVE TO 50 METERS AND REMAIN THERE UNTIL THIS PORT RAW WATER IMPELLER IS REMOVED AND REPLACED. BATTERIES ARE UP AND COMPRESSED AIR IS GOOD, WE GO DOWN AND BEGIN REPAIRS.

0330 IMPELLER IS NOW APART BUT SEVERAL OF THE RUBBER BLADES HAVE INDEED BROKEN OFF AND MUST BE RETRIEVED PRIOR TO REPLACING IT. THE MECHANICS HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK AND MUST NOW GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

0830 FOUND BOTH PIECES OF IMPELLER BLADES STUCK IN A MANIFOLD BEND. FISHED THEM OUT WITH A PIECE OF HARD WIRE AND NOW WE CAN REPLACE IT AND GET THIS MOTOR RUNNING ONCE AGAIN.

1245 TIGHTENING UP THE LAST SCREWS ON THE IMPELLER CASING. THE JOB WENT WELL AND I SILENTLY CHASTISE MYSELF FOR NOT DOING THIS EARLIER. I ALSO QUESTION MY WISDOM FOR PURSUING THE MERCHANT SHIP YESTERDAY. WE WERE LUCKY, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

1315 SURFACED, RESUMED PATROL.

2330 NO SIGHTINGS REMAINDER OF DAY, NEW IMPELLER HOLDING OUT WELL; MOTOR TEMPERATURE IS BACK TO NORMAL.

29 OKT 1939
1905 SHIP SPOTTED ON HORIZON AN4815 / TURNED TO 045 TO INTERCEPT AT FLANK

1920 ADJUSTED HEADING TO GAIN POSITION BUT SHIP TAKES EVASIVE ACTION. HE MUST HAVE SPOTTED US AND NOW KNOWS WE ARE HERE...THAT SHIP'S CREW IS EXPERIENCED.

1945 STILL CAT AND MOUSE. SHIP IS IDENTIFIED AS A TANKER AND GRONER LISTS HER AS EITHER AMERICAN OR BRITISH. MOST LIKELY AMERICAN BUILT AND LATER SOLD TO ENGLAND. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CAUSING AN INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT WITH THE AMERICANS, SO I TAKE THE BOAT STILL CLOSING IN TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY.

2000 ALL TUBES ARE READY. WE ARE NOW AT 2000 METERS AND POSITIONING OURSELVES. SHIP POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS BRITISH. LOOKING UP NAME IN THE REGISTER.

2005 DECIDED ON A FAN SHOT USING 1 & 2 TUBES WITH A 10 SECOND INTERVAL IN BETWEEN. #3 TUBE WILL BE IN RESERVE.

2008 TANKER BEGINNING TO ZIG-ZAG. WILL HAVE TO REPOSITION AGAIN.

2013 FINALLY IN POSITION. MADE A QUICK SHOT WITH #1 (T-III SERIAL # 14035 WITH Pi-2 PISTOL SET FOR MAGNETIC DETECTION) & #2( T-III SERIAL NUMBER 14101 WITH Pi-2 PISTOL SET FOR IMPACT) AT 900 METERS.

2014 NUMBER 1 TORPEDO IS A DUD; NUMBER 2 HIT BUT ONLY CRIPPLED AS SHE IS LIMPING AWAY AT 2 KTS. QUICKLY, BEFORE WE LOSE POSITION, I ORDER THE NUMBER 3 TUBE FIRED AT 2016. IT TAKES THE GREEN CREW A COUPLE OF SECONDS TO LAUNCH THE REMAINING EEL (T-III SERIAL NUMBER 14102 WITH Pi-2 PISTOL SET FOR MAGNETIC DETECTION) AND TIME PASSES SLOWLY AS SHE FINDS HER WAY THROUGH THE INK-BLACK WATER, BUT THE END RESULT IS ANOTHER DUD. MUST REPOSITION AGAIN. WILL NEED ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO RELOAD OUR LAST REMAINING EEL. THESE THREE TORPEDOES WERE SENT OUT AT A 70 DEGREE ANGLE AND BETWEEN 900 AND 700 METERS...HARDLY A MORE PERFECT SCENARIO, BUT ONLY ONE HAS DETONATED; THE ONE WITH THE Pi-2 SETTING ADJUSTED FOR IMPACT.

2045 #1 TUBE NOW RELOADED BUT IN BAD POSITION. ADJUSTING SPEED AND HEADING ONCE AGAIN.

2134 CAT AND MOUSE FOR ALMOST AN HOUR. I SWEAR HE CAN READ MY MIND. HEADED AWAY FROM TANKER AND DIVE TO PERISCOPE DEPTH TO GAIN THE OFFENSIVE, THEN FLANK BEHIND HER AND OVER TO HER STARBOARD SIDE TO ATTACK UNDERWATER FROM THE NORTH ON A HEADING OF 190. SHE IS AT 285 AND STEADY...THEY ARE PROBABLY ALL VERY CONCERNED AS THEY HAVE NOW NO IDEA OF WHERE WE MIGHT BE OR FROM WHERE WE WILL NOW ATTACK. I MUST BE QUICK, FOR IF I WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE TANKER, I WOULD NOT STOP MAKING EVASIVE MOVES. HE MUST BE PREOCCUPIED, SINCE THE TANKER IS REMAINING ON A STEADY COURSE...FOOLISH MISTAKE ON HIS PART; I CAPITALIZE ON THIS IMMEDIATELY.

2135 LINED UP FOR A GOOD SHOT. RELEASED THE THIRD EEL FROM TUBE ONE ( T-I SERIAL # 31203 WITH TZ-3 PISTOL SET FOR IMPACT). WE KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR THE 1200 METER SWIM. SHE IS OUR LAST EEL AND WITH IT OUR LAST HOPES OF SINKING THIS FAT PRIZE. WITH BREATH BEING HELD WE LISTENED AS WE WAIT ETERNALLY FOR AN EXPLOSION. THEN, A DEVASTATING ROAR AND SHE IS LIT UP IN A GREEN FIREBALL WHICH CAN BE SEEN FOR MILES.

2140 SURFACED, SENT MESSAGE #005 TO BDU. TURNED TO HEADING 132 AT FULL SPEED FOR HOME. UNABLE TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY HER, OUR BEST GUESS IS THAT SHE IS THE "BRITISH PETROLEUM THISTLE", FROM LLOYD'S REGISTER OF SHIPS. NO DISTRESS CALL DURING ENTIRE EPISODE.

30 OKT 1939
0715 ENGINES BACK TO TWO-THIRDS INCASE TOMMIE PATROLS ARE OUT.

0630 ENGINES TO FULL AS NIGHT CAPTURES US. HEADING BACK TO BREST. NO REPLY FROM OUR REQUEST TO RETURN BUT WITHOUT EELS AND NO DECK GUN, WHAT GOOD ARE WE OUT HERE? I MAKE THE DECISION TO CONTINUE.

31 OKT 1939
0137 SENT MESSAGE #006; WAITED FOR ESCORTS TO ARRIVE

0705 RENDEZVOUSED WITH ESCORTS UNDER LIGHT SNOWFALL. WILL BE HOME FOR HALLOWEEN.

1205 ARRIVED AT PEN A-2. IRONICALLY, THIS WAS THE SAME PEN WE HAD DEPARTED FROM ONLY A FEW SHORT WEEKS AGO. PATROL #1 FOR U-330 HAS COME TO AN END.

U-330 SUCCESSES

Radio Log    Kommandant's Report   Chief  Engineer's Report

PATROL RESULTS

DECORATIONS

U-boat badge	1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class

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