Kapitänleutnant Manfred Buchmann
Patrol # 13

Duration:     18.09.1941 - 24.09.1941, 6 days on sea
Patrol Area:   AE91
Ship:   U 122, Crossed Swords
Type:   IX B
Flotilla:   9. Flotille, Brest

18 Sep. 1941, 20:57, Brest
We leave the harbour. Our orders are to patrol AE91, a bit of a hike from Brest. Hopefully we will see some convoy action. This being our 13th patrol, and many of us being superstitious, we hope everything goes well.

21 Sep, 14:00, AM4697
We are surprised by a four-engine aircraft. As we crash-dive, I realize just how late we are. Bombs thrash the boat, damaging the hydrophones (100%, 9 hours repair) and radio (100%, 3 hours repair). At 16:40 we surface.

16:40
Upon surfacing, we spot an uncharted convoy on the horizon! We approach the convoy plotting their course, which is due South. Unfortunately, I have to wait until our radio is repaired at 17:00 to send a message. Escorts are spotted, so I dip below the surface to periscope depth.

17:55
The convoy passes directly over our submerged position. I put the periscope up and let loose a series of salvos that sink 4 merchants for 5.000, 7.466, 2.000, and 3.000 BRT. One tanker is damaged. I am dangerously close to a destroyer, so I dive for the depths. There I receive tremendous blows as I wriggle out of this chaos. The galley hatch is damaged (98%, 3 hours repair), as well as the bilge pumps (84%, five hours repair), and the exterior fuel tanks (100%, 29 hours repair). The hydrophones, still out of action from the air attack earlier, make the situation even more difficult. With much agony, we keep the boat level and repairs are made. At 21:22 we surface to reload and repair. When the tubes are reloaded, we chase after the convoy again.

Crew members of U 122 during the repair

22 Sep, 00:47
We catch up to the convoy! The damaged tanker is in sight. Two torpedoes are needed to sink it as one proves to be a dud. Visibility is limited, so we stay on the surface at full speed. Maneuvering through the convoy, we sink a 9.000 BRT tanker, 5.797 BRT merchant, 12.000 BRT tanker, 10.000 BRT merchant, and perhaps the biggest of them all: a troop ship of 19.000 BRT! Two torpedoes are left, both exterior. There is no place to stop and reload here, so we decide to break off the attack and head home. As we are deciding this, a destroyer races in from the stern. Two times full speed, and we are able to disappear in a rain squall. We head towards Brest.

15:24, BF1118
Later that day a Sunderland swoops down with damning accuracy in fog. The bow interior doors are damaged (100%, useless), as well as the exterior doors (61%, 16 hours repair). Quick crash dive. We surface two hours later.

24 Sep, 04:43, Brest
We return to base with our beaten-up boat.

Personal Analysis
It astounds me that our patrol lasted only 6 days. We didn't even make it to the assigned patrol quadrant! I was very pleased to find a convoy, and I was relieved that our boat held up so well. British aircraft seem to be getting better at their bombing, something to be aware of, both at sea and on land. When I returned, friends told me of numerous air attacks in just this past week. Also, it looks like Preuss in U-568 attacked an American destroyer, what bad luck. I bet he must be getting quite a lecture.A few of our torpedoes were duds, looks like the problems still need to be ironed out.

PATROL RESULTS

Merchants

Escorts

Warships

BRT
Patrol results:

9

0

0

73.263
Total career results:

80

4

0

530.201

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

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