Korvettenkapitän Manfred Buchmann
Patrol # 19

Duration:     25.07.1942 - 08.08.1942, 15 days on sea
Patrol Area:   CG 89
Ship:   U 519, Crossed Swords
Type:   IX C
Flotilla:   9. Flotille, Brest

25 Jul 1942, 21:32, Brest
U-519 glides out of the harbor, along with Reiss in U-90. There is talk of a possible Allied invasion in North Africa. We have orders to intercept any convoys entering the Gibraltar Strait. It will be nice working with Reiss again.

26 Jul, 8:47, BF5889
Air alarm. No damage.

29 Jul, 21:00, CG8974
Reach patrol area.

1 Aug, 14:13, CG8927
Air alarm, no damage.

22:33, CG8986
That night we receive a message from BdU that a convoy is leaving Gibraltar headed west, outbound, in CG9585. It's very close, within a few hours distance at top speed. I radio HQ for permission to intercept and attack. After it is granted, I radio U-90 in CG86 requesting an estimated time of arrival. Reiss will be able to intercept at 3:00, so I decide to make contact and shadow until he arrives. Flank speed. U-519 slashes its way into the darkness.

2 Aug, 02:49, CG9489
It turns out that contact is made at about the same time U-90 is supposed to be on the scene. Destroyers can be seen trailing me, and I must dance a little jig to keep them all behind. I am able to weave inside the destroyer ring, and focus on the freighter columns in front of me. As I let the torpedoes fly, I hear the sound of explosions coming from the other side of the convoy! Hurrah, hurrah! U-90 has arrived!
The torpedoes take their toll: 30.483 BRT is sunk, and I must retreat to reload. In the meantime, Reiss has scored an additional 25.000 BRT. Fog is now settling in, so I am able to reload without much difficulty. Reiss reports almost no escorts, but that is because they have all been after U-519!!

Around 05:30
U-90 and U-519 attack again. Torpedoes are let loose everywhere, and I am able to score another 36.000 BRT in the second attack. However, destroyers now approach from everywhere! I am forced to submerge. Their depth charges smash very closely to U-519; Bow torpedo interior doors, 85% damage, repair: 5 hours. Fore hydroplanes, 91% damage, not being repaired (damage too severe). Bow torpedo exterior doors, 100% damage. Useless. Pressure hull and forward hatch are also damaged. Quite a mess. I am not able to surface until 11:00.
Twenty minutes later I get a message from U-90. Reiss is out of torpedoes, and my work is done. We decide to join up in CG8356 at 21:30 and head home.

3 Aug, 19:10, CG5491
A lone merchant is spotted. Two stern torpedoes are all that remain, so they are fired. One miss, one hits, and it sinks for an additional 6.000 BRT.

The merchant sinks to the bottom of the sea

4 Aug, 19:00, CG2189
Air alarm.

5 Aug, 13:00, BF7677
Air alarm.

7 Aug, 15:43, BF9534
Air alarm.

8 Aug, 05:10, BF6733
Air alarm.

08:28, Brest
We arrive back in port.

Personal analysis:
Well! Quite an oustanding patrol. Reiss and I really ripped that convoy to shreds. Combined, we sank 113.483 BRT from that one convoy! As I expected, we worked quite well together.
A lot more air activity is found in the Bay of Biscay.
Also, we heard U-73 has sunk the carrier Eagle! Hurrah for them!
It's good to be back.

PATROL RESULTS

Merchants

Escorts

Warships

BRT
Patrol results:

12

0

0

72.483
Total career results:

145

7

0

906.510

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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