Oberleutnant Manfred Buchmann
Patrol # 2

Duration:	20.11.1939 - 01.12.1939, 12 days on sea
Patrol Area:	AM33
Ship:	U-59, Crossed Swords
Type:	II C
Flotilla:	9. Flotille, Brest

20 Nov. 39 18:03

Depart port. We are all excited and we hope these torpedoes we loaded are better than the ones we used on the last patrol. We have contact with the mine-sweepers, and they wish us well.

U-59 on it's way to the patrol area

26 Nov. 39 14:09
Lookouts spot a plane about 20.000 yards away, crossing our path astern, headed away. No threat, but I give the order to crash-dive anyway. We level off at 150 meters and surface at 15:00. We resume the patrol, heading towards our assigned grid square.

27 Nov. 39 11:38 AM3541
A storm has been brewing for some time; very dark clouds are around us. The sea is getting rougher, but not as rough as it could be. A ship is sighted bearing 350 degrees (relative). Increase to full speed. My watch officer identifies her as a British cargo merchant of 4.000 BRT. She appears to be zig-zagging at a very slow speed. Strange. We submerge to periscope depth, both ahead 2/3. We maneuver for a broadside approach. Tube one is fired at 12:49. HIT! We all cheer. The ship begins to sink, so we surface. It disappears beneath the waves in a short amount of time, but lifeboats are seen. We approach and communicate with the men in the lifeboats. The ship was "Pauline" of 3.649 BRT. We give them a little of our food and water and give them directions towards land. We resume our patrol. Maybe our torpedoes have been fixed!

28 Nov. 39 09:27 AM33
Clear skies. Ship is spotted nearly dead ahead at 359 degrees. I ring up full speed and investigate. It turns out to be another British steamer, also at about 4.000 BRT. We make an attack on the surface. She does not zig-zag. I close on her port side rapidly. First salvo fired at 11:17 from a range of 460 yards. Dud. 2nd salvo also a dud. The third torpedo explodes prematurely. We are all becoming very frustrated. No matter, we still have two torpedoes left! The ship turns away from us, trying to make a run for it. I reload and approach the other side. The fourth torpedo is fired at 12:01 at 560 yards. It is a dud. The last torpedo is fired. No explosion. That's it. No more torpedoes. We reduce speed and submerge. We are devastated. Soon we surface and head back to port with no problems.

1 Dez. 39 17:38
Arrive back in port.

PATROL RESULTS

DECORATIONS

U-boat badge	1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class

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