Kapitänleutnant Stefan Michael Grabowski
Patrol # 5
Duration:     16.05.1940 - 11.06.1940, 26 days on sea
Patrol Area:   AN38
Ship:   U 114, The Octopus
Type:   VII B
Flotilla:   9. Flotille, Brest


Herr CO,
I have finally located a portion of the KTB reports for U-114, my Typ VII B which I commanded prior to my assignment as CO, 5th U-flotille. The KTB is here in total, but am missing the reports for the Radio log, Kommandant and Chief Engineer, along with shooting reports.
It was unfortunate that the courier had been in the midst of an air attack when delivering these to you and trust they will suffice until all paperwork is found.
Most Regrettably,
KptLt. SM Grabowski, CO
5th Flotille, Kiel

16 MAI:
1300 Departed dock at Brest enroute to rendezvous point. Sunny day with southeast breeze of under 10 knots makes this an ideal day for beginning a patrol.
1600 Reached patrol area for rendezvous. Received "Gustav" and replied with "Anton" light signals. Proceeded to break point.
2000 Reached break point, departed escorts and continued to AN3833

17 MAI:
Day becoming rough. Enroute to patrol point.

18 MAI:
2200 Arrived patrol point, radioed BdU our arrival, began to patrol lair by submerging by day and replenishing oxygen by night. Batteries should be no problem since we will move little, remaining stationary and waiting for the ships to come to us.

20 MAI:
1300 GHG's record screws. wait until nearby the look through periscope. Small tanker 3000 GRT flying a British flag. We surface at 3000 meters and call gun crews to stations.
1315 Sunk ship with 28 rounds. return to 14 meters.
1505 GHG's again, sound heavy. Tracked a Brit. 10,000 ton tanker in the periscope. Waited until 3000 meters, surfaced and sunk ship with 35 rounds in 20 minutes.

28 MAI:
0729 Screws-3000 ton merchant with British flag. 25 rounds at 2000 meters, sunk in 15 minutes.

MAI 31:
1400 Screws-light, periscope shows British 1000 GRT Merchant. Surface at 3000 meters distance and call crews to stations. 20 rounds (these boats are built tough) and sunk.

01 JUN:
0350 Screws on GHG's. Periscope shows 5000 GRT merchant. Radio sounds that she is the merchant "NOSEX" obviously British. Surfaced at shelled 22 rounds into her before sinking.
2130 GHG's again, this is an active place without escorts or much air patrol. Groener shows a 5091 Ton merchant of British registry. 25 rounds into her places her on the bottom.

02 JUN.:
1400 Heavy screws to south. Periscope shows big tanker abeam and heading south. Have to run after this one.. Surface and pursuit.
1530 Close range shows 8,000 GRT to be American. We let her go and return to AN3833

03 JUN:
0500 Tanker, 6000 GRT heard. Surfaced, gun crews called and 28 rounds are expended before this ship goes down.

06 JUN:
1215 Screws, and they are heavy. Periscope up and a 12,000 tonner is sitting nicely to our west. we begin pursuit
1330 Within 2000 meters we slow and watch as she takes evasive moves for torpedoes. we merely shot our deck gun, placing 37 rounds into her and she is still afloat. We are out of deck ammo; time to break out the eels.
1502 Maneuvering is easy with her letting off that amount of steam. They are already abandoning ship, but she lists only slightly. We UZO her into the TDC and shoot 1 forward eel that is a dud and pass by her too fast for another forward shot, waiting for a solution to shoot an aft eel into her-dud. Turn for position and shoot two forward, one hits, another a dud. That one eel broke what was left of her back and she slowly goes down.
1913 Ship sunk. Too much ammo used on her, didn't want a final coup, rather waited to see what would happen. It was a slow death, we mourned the loss of a gallant British ship who wouldn't die. We reload the two outside eels and head back to our "lair"

07 JUN:
0300 GHG's register a 4,000 tonner. British merchant. One forward eel is out for maintenance. We stay under, shooting off 2 eels in a fan. One dud, one went far to the right of course, turned on our heels and shot the aft eel and surfaced, crew to bridge while we reload. Diesels are started in order not to lose her in the limited visibility. No need, she is listing badly, sinking within minutes. 500 KC indicates her Canadian registry to match with the flag we spotted.

08 JUN:
1929 Heavy ship on GHG's. Periscope shows 10,000 GRT Canadian tanker in range. Wait to 2000 meters and surface to let a fan of 4 go into her. 3 explode, one goes off course. Ship sinks in 40 minutes.

09 JUN:
1300 Only 3 eels remain, food beginning to run low. We radio to depart station and head home, hoping to find an easy victim enroute.
1600 Little time passes as we sight our final victim, a 6000 GRT Canadian merchant One eel in front and two in the aft make this an awkward shooting configuration. We dive and wait for a position that will be handed to us on a platter, shooting our remaining forward eel, which misfires and explodes prior to the ship. Having sighted us, she now takes evasive action as we surface to get into position to fire the aft.
1800 we are within 2000 meters and closing when we are being shelled by that merchant. Perhaps a Q--ship, but no false panels. we decide to not get closer and turn away, shooting an eel out the aft and reloading as fast as possible. A hit, she lets off steam and lists remaining in position. We dive and reposition ourselves for a final eel. Ready....LOS! there she goes, straight to the target and within seconds, a hit. Sinking another ship from the UK. We watch her go down and depart for home. What an area, what a patrol!

11 JUN:
1245 Arrive in escort area
1522 Arrive in pens-finishing this patrol and receiving urgent message to see the CO. Some talk around the docks say I am in for a promotion, but what?


PATROL RESULTS

Merchants

Escorts

Warships

BRT

Patrol results:

11

0

0

67.091

Total career results:

19

0

0

137.091

DECORATIONS

U-boat badge

1939 Iron Cross
2nd Class

1939 Iron Cross
1st Class

The Navy Roll
of Honor Clasp
in Gold

Knights Cross

Knights Cross
with Oak Leaves

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