Korvettenkapitän Manfred Buchmann
Patrol # 24

Duration:	08.05.1943 - 18.05.1943, 11 days on sea
Patrol Area:	AL 18
Ship:	U 841, Crossed Swords
Type:	IX C/40
Flotilla:	9. Flotille, Brest

9 Mai, 06:03, BF5426
Air alarm.

11:20, BF5411
Air alarm. Only 5 hours later.

13 Mai, 08:32, AL1896
We reach the patrol area.

14:15, AL1815
That afternoon we sight smoke on the horizon at 325 degrees (relative). They are headed southeast. I am able to spot them enough ahead of time to perform and "end-around" - maneuvering to their front. Good Lord, it's a big convoy. I submerge at 16:30 and let the convoy pass over me. I come up to periscope depth and let my torpedoes fly at 17:18! I sink a freighter of 8.328 BRT, and a troop ship of 13.000 BRT. I am forced under and take severe depth charging, damaging the control room pressure hull, and the forward torpedo tube doors are wrecked. The boat is starting to fill with water, so I quickly order us to periscope depth. The pinging of the ASDIC is awful, and I fight to remain composed as I issue commands.
We reach periscope depth, and I put the scope up immediately. A frigate is directly behind us, so close, heading our way. Two torpedoes are launched at a range of only 470 meters. Both torpedoes destroy the frigate, two massive explosions shaking our own boat. Thank the Lord - during this time the pressure hull is repaired, and we make our way back down into the deep. I am hunted by two escorts until 22:50. I surface the boat and consider my options. My four torpedo tube doors are wrecked, but my aft two are still usable. Should I take the risk of attacking the convoy again? Yes! After the convoy I go!

All ahead flank!

14 Mai, 00:53, AL1891
I sight a merchant that was damaged in my torpedo attack. I swing around to it, on the surface, and slam an aft torpedo into it, sinking it for 10.000 BRT. After the convoy again! Soon I find the convoy, and I maneuver in front of it. As I am doing so, I observe one escort closing from behind, and I can also see two aircraft taking off from an escort carrier inside the convoy. Time to go! I submerge to periscope depth, again letting the convoy pass over me. Two shots from the aft tubes destroy another 16.000 BRT troop ship! I am depth charged once again, damaging the exterior fuel tanks, the bow compartment pumps, and the forward hatch. I cannot surface until around 12:00. I must return to base.

16 Mai, 18:16, BE3332
Air alarm.

18 Mai, 06:36, BF5524
Air alarm.

18:46, Brest
Later that evening we return.

Postage from home, the first thing to do!

For ten days out on patrol, we did very well. We were very fortunate to meet up with a convoy. We took a lot of punishment, but we dealt a lot of punishment as well. I don't know which is worse: ASDIC or RADAR. They both seem to be getting more accurate. We'll have to come up with something to combat these devices.

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

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