Korvettenkapitän Manfred Buchmann
Patrol # 31

Duration:	04.05.1944 - 02.07.1944, 60 days on sea
Patrol Area:	EQ 61
Ship:	U 841, Crossed Swords
Type:	IX C/40
Flotilla:	9. Flotille, Brest

4 Mai 1944, 13:45, Brest
I leave Brest Harbour with Oblt. Anders in U-56 in front of me. He seems like a very capable commander, and I know his addition to the 9th is to our advantage. The weather is slightly warmer, but the general atmosphere is not like past times anymore. Too many friends are gone, and I feel like I don't know these "boys" under my command. Where is the fire in their souls that were so bright when they came on board? Have I contributed to that by not being as energetic a man as I have with earlier patrols?

U-841 is visibly worn. The last paint job was very shabby, and rust is apparent. There are a few dents from depth charges that have been determined to be "safe, therefore not needing repair". I don't like that - it's demoralizing for a crew to see their boat haphazardly repaired.
It's a rush job nowadays. It's a miracle to find new parts; so many of our "new parts" are simply replacements from other old U-boats.

Seagulls swoop down over the lookouts' heads as we pull away from the pier, taunting them, as if to say, "You fools! You fools!" I look back and see Fregattenkapitan Thomsen, standing alone, watching us leave with his hands behind his back. No bands; no girls; no flowers. I look at him and he is looking at me, and then I realize that he is one who truly does understand how I feel. But we make a good show of it to the crew of the boat - after all, we are untouchable! Aren't we?

5 Mai, 13:25
U-473 doesn't respond to calls from BdU.

5 Mai, 13:51, BF7334
Air alarm.

6 Mai, 08:00
We receive a transmission from U-765 that they have been attacked by aircraft and escorts in AK3233. They are setting scuttling charges.

7 Mai, 11:23, CF3989
Air alarm. Again at 17:30.

9 Mai, 14:14, DH1291
Air alarm.

14 Mai, 13:25
U-616 fails to respond.

16 Mai, 04:00
U-240 is sinking in AF5785 due to depth charges from aircraft.

16 Mai, 05:35, EQ3288
Ship at 9 degrees (relative). It's a small merchant, so we use the deck gun to sink it (1.000 BRT).

16 Mai, 18:42, EQ6112
We arrive in our patrol area. It's certainly warmer in this area! I believe this is the farthest South we have ever been.

18 Mai, 08:00
U-241 in AF4762 is sinking after an aircraft attack.

19 Mai, 11:00
U-960 fails to respond.

23 Mai, 01:49, EQ6186
Shipt at 352 degrees. We use one stern torpedo to sink the 2.000 BRT merchant.

24 Mai, 06:10
U-675 doesn't respond. At 11:39, U-476 in AF6511 reports she has been attacked by large aircraft with depth charges and is sinking.

27 Mai, 13:25
U-292 doesn't respond.

29 Mai, 08:00
U-549 in DH5475 reports escorts with depth charges, and they are abandoning ship.

3 Jun, 13:25
U-477 doesn't respond.

4 Jun, 08:00
U-505 in EJ6654 reports they are abandoning ship after being attacked by aircraft and escorts.

5 Jun, 11:44, EQ6138
Ship dead ahead. After some maneuvering, we sink the 6.046 BRT ship "Elena" with two stern torpedoes.

7 Jun, 22:50
U-955 doesn't respond.

8 Jun, 08:00
U-373 requests immediate aid in EB5211. She has been attacked by aircraft and is sinking.

8 Jun, 21:30, EQ6179
Ship at 10 degrees. One bow torpedo sinks the 2.210 BRT merchant.

9 Jun, 13:25
No response from U-740.

13 Jun, 18:52, EQ6111
Ship at 45 degrees. We sink the 2.468 tanker "Esmerelda" with the deck gun.

20 Jun, 06:00, EQ6113
I make the decision to return to base as we are starting to run low on supplies.

27 Jun, 07:20, DH1816
Air alarm.

29 Jun, 17:04, CG1773
Air alarm.

30 Jun, 16:42, BE9996
Air alarm.

1 Jul, 16:03, BF5774
Air alarm.

2 Jul, 04:50, BF5584
Air alarm.

2 Jul, 10:09, Brest
We return to base.

U 841 returns to the base

I am glad to see that Oblt. Anders has returned safely from 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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