Korvettenkapitän Manfred Buchmann
Patrol # 29

Duration:	13.01.1944 - 21.01.1944, 8 days on sea
Patrol Area:	CG 88
Ship:	U 841, Crossed Swords
Type:	IX C/40
Flotilla:	9. Flotille, Brest

13 Jan 1944, 17:30, Brest
We leave for CG88. We have orders to radio HQ when we reach our patrol quadrant, for we are in pursuit of a 5.000 BRT merchant with VIP's on board coming through the Strait of Gibraltar. I do not tell anyone of our mission until we are safely out of the harbor. Although I trust all my crew, I must take no chances whatsoever.

14 Jan, 09:47, BF4996
Air alarm. Again at 12:10 and 13:19.

16 Jan, 11:39
We receive a report from U-544 saying that she is sinking in CE1655 from carrier planes.

17 Jan, 10:58, CG8827
We reach our patrol area, and we radio HQ. The response is that our planes have been tracking the movement of this ship, and we should expect it to pass by within a very short time. We begin an searching pattern.

Stormy times

17:44, CG8528
BdU radios that a convoy is in CG9575, course 270, speed 9. This is another contact, for the ship we are after is traveling alone. Oh no! I hope we find this merchant soon so we can go after the convoy before it escapes.

21:09, CG8617
Hurrah! We gain contact with our target. It is correctly identified and we proceed with our underwater attack. One fish is all it takes to send it to the bottom. We radio HQ and proceed to search for the convoy, which also must be very close.

18 Jan, 00:09, CG8694
An escort from the convoy is spotted. We submerge, letting it pass over. When we start to hear propeller noises, we come up to periscope depth. We attack with force, letting all torpedoes fly from their tubes! Merchants, freighters and tankers are burning as we submerge and successfully evade the escorts. Three hours later we surface and move at flank speed for an end-around attack. Our next attack comes at 10:00, on the surface, as a dense fog has blanketed the area. Perfect for hunting! We are able to sink 13 ships for 82,952 BRT. Only three torpedoes left. We decide to return to base.

19 Jan, 12:31, CG5186
Air alarm.

20 Jan, 10:41, BF7797
Air alarm.

21 Jan, 11:00, BF5768
Air alarm.

21:48, Brest
We arrive back in base.

Personal Analysis:
For a little over a week at sea, I think the patrol was outstanding! We accomplished our objective and continued to pound at the enemy.

Also, for even more exciting news, we have heard that my good friend, Kvtkpt. Max Neumann, has possibly survived his boat's sinking and is in hospital! I hope to visit him as soon as I am able.

I do inquire what has happened to my very good friend Kptlt. Reiss. I miss convoy actions with him, for we worked well together, especially during our joint convoy attack on my 19th patrol.

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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