Kapitänleutnant Manfred Buchmann
Patrol # 11

Duration:	17.04.1941 - 09.06.1941, 54 days on sea
Patrol Area:	DJ47
Ship:	U-122, Crossed Swords
Type:	IX B
Flotilla:	9. Flotille, Brest

17 Apr. 1941, 20:00, Brest
We leave port. Our instructions are to patrol DJ47, but at my own choosing I have the option of changing to either DJ44, DJ45, or DJ46. We'll see when we get there.

20 Apr., 15:13, CG4339
A lone merchant is spotted. It seems to be coming at us, so we submerge and let it approach. As it closes to 1.000 meters, it spots our periscope and veers to starboard. One torpedo is launched which sinks the 3.000 BRT merchant at 14:51. We surface and resume our passage to the patrol area.

23 Apr., 04:17, DJ4713
We reach our initial patrol area. I decide to change to DJ45, which is closer to the coast. We'll see if the rumours of merchants hugging the coastline is true.

Lookouts in medium sea

09:26, DJ4577
Our desired patrol area is reached.

2 Mai, 13:54, DJ4553
A ship is spotted at 330 degrees (relative). She is positively identified as the light cargo merchant "SS Capulet" of 2.565 BRT. One torpedo sinks her within sight of the African coastline! A quick interrogation of survivors floating on wreckage reveal she was carrying food and general cargo.

7 Mai, 07:30, DJ4571
A ship is spotted in the distance. It's a little hazy, so we submerge to get a better fix. We maneuver towards her and set up a stern shot. One torpedo sinks the 4.000 BRT ship.

10 Mai, 14:05, DJ4567
Air alarm! We crash dive, but four depth charges pound the boat. No severe damage, just a violent shaking. Hopefully that will shake us back to being more alert, as I fear we have become a little too relaxed.

Insepction of the deck gun after the air attack

13 Mai, 09:04, DJ4532
A merchant is spotted making all possible speed towards the coast. We chase after her, and manage to slam a torpedo into her with only 51 meters of water below us! Chalk up another 4.000 BRT merchant to our tally.

16 Mai, 20:31, DJ4591
Ship at 42 degrees (relative). I try a submerged shot, but my ideal approach is spoiled when I find the ship has turned abruptly. I try a shot from 2.000 meters away, and would you believe it, it hits! It sinks the medium tanker "SS Lucidity" of 7.000 BRT which was carrying crude oil.

18 Mai, 09:18, DJ4528
A light steam trawler crosses our path at 317 degrees. Only 12 deck gun rounds sinks the "SS Luberto" of 2.000 BRT.

14:27, DJ4541
Only a little over 5 hours have passed before we see another ship at 24 degrees. It's another small ship, identified as the "SS Whitecap" of 2.542 BRT. A submerged attack with one torpedo sinks the light cargo merchant.

19 Mai, 06:00, DJ4545
A Sunderland is spotted. We crash dive and listen to the depth charges explode in the distance. No damage. It seems we have recovered from our last air attack.

23:14, DJ4564
Ship at 16 degrees. We decide to attack the tanker on the surface. I fire two torpedoes from a range of 790 yards at the "SS Charlotte" of 9.000 BRT. The first explodes prematurely, but the second one hits, wounding her. Another torpedo is launched, sinking her. She was a turbine tanker carrying crude oil.

20 Mai, 01:30, DJ4586
A little over two hours later, in the early morning hours, the "SS Radames", a small merchant of 2.000 BRT, is spotted at 315 degrees. I wish to leave the immediate area because of my last kill, so I use a torpedo to sink her. I then depart for another area in the the patrol quadrant.

24 Mai, 01:31, DJ4564
Ship at 4 degrees. One torpedo sinks the "SS Lyman", a medium tanker of 6.000 BRT, carrying high octane fuel. An easy, routine shot.

31 Mai, 08:57, DJ4572
A Sunderland sweeps down out of NOWHERE and drops four depth charges. The nerve! They all miss, and we dive immediately. Surfacing an hour later, we resume patrol.

4 Jun., 17:53, DJ4564
A ship is dead ahead, really hugging the coast. It's a very tight squeeze, but I sink her with 1 torpedo, adding 3.000 BRT to my credit. At this point, my fuel gauge is showing in the red, so it's time to pack up and go home.

The last journey of an unlucky ship

5 Jun., 05:54, DJ4221
Air alarm. Unidentified aircraft. No damage.

9 Jun., 18:02, Brest
We arrive back at base.

Also, I received the most tragic news of the Bismarck being sunk. Not too many people know details, but I hope there were many survivors.

PATROL RESULTS

DECORATIONS

U-boat badge	1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class	1939 Iron Cross 1st Class	Knights Cross	Knights Cross with Oak Leaves	Knights Cross with Oak Leves and Swords	Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds

Back to top of page