Oberleutnant Manfred
Buchmann
Patrol # 3
Duration: | 18.12.1939 - 24.12.1939, 7 days on sea |
Patrol Area: | AN55 |
Ship: | U-59, Crossed Swords |
Type: | II C |
Flotilla: | 9. Flotille, Brest |
18 Dez. 1939
Departed Port at 12:30 at high flood. I left with Oblt. Max Neumann (U-103),
and together we met our escorts at St. Anne du Porzic (one barrage-breaker,
two mine-sweepers). During this time we also had 2 Me-110's from JG 26 accompany
us. We sent good wishes to each other and then moved off to our respective
patrol quadrants.
20 Dez. 1939, 02:57
Arrived in patrol quadrant. No problems, but the weather was terribly foggy.
Radioed our report.
21 Dez. 1939, 17:45
We received a message from U-20 that a convoy, located at AN0179, was heading
out. Almost immediately following that, a message came from BdU instructing
us to hunt for the convoy and attack! Hurrah! We are all very excited. Engines
now at flank speed, plowing through the sea. The chase is on!
19:50
A little more than two hours since we changed course to head for the convoy,
lookouts report a steamer almost directly ahead. It's travelling alone and
apparently not part of any convoy. We decide to attack this ship first, as
it is a tanker and 11.000 BRT! We approach on the surface at a great speed,
firing three eels at her starboard side. Two duds, one hit! She is not going
down yet, so I let the crew reload and I approach the other side. I fire
two with one dud and one hit! The tanker is literally blown to pieces, and
fire is everywhere. No chance for survivors. I'm still rather dismayed at
our torpedo record; this isn't very hopeful. However, we now turn our attention
to the convoy which should not be more than 6 or 7 hours away.
|
LI and rudder-men during the attack |
22 Dez. 1939, 02:02
The area is very foggy, but shadows are seen by lookouts! I race to the bridge,
then instruct my radioman to signal headquarters regarding our finding. It
is located in exactly the spot that was mentioned, AN0179. Speed approximately
6 knots. I can see one ship ahead of us, a merchant of 3.000 BRT. We fire
our last fish from a range of 570 meters and cross our fingers. We are rewarded
by a spectacular explosion! However, starshells fly up from everywhere, so
we turn around and get out of there as soon as we could, sending one last
message to headquarters regarding the convoy's speed and direction. That's
it as far as our torpedoes, and we are instructed to return to base.
24 Dez. 1939, 18:21
Return to base.
PATROL RESULTS
Merchants |
Escorts |
Warships |
BRT |
|
Patrol results: | 2 |
0 |
0 |
14.000 |
Total career results: | 4 |
0 |
0 |
27.649 |
DECORATIONS
U-boat badge |
1939 Iron Cross |
|