Kapitänleutnant Manfred Buchmann
Patrol # 9

Duration:     25.10.1940 - 19.11.1940, 25 days on sea
Patrol Area:   AL01
Ship:   U-87, Crossed Swords
Type:   VII B
Flotilla:   9. Flotille, Brest


25 Okt. 1940, 17:21, Brest
We leave port. This is the first time I've actually been sent out with other U-boats to form a patrol line, so it's a wonderful sense of doing something new. The group is known as "Stiefmuetterchen". The other U-boats involved are U-85 (Wernke) and U-121 (Neumann). After we all reach the first waypoint together (BE43), we will split up and proceed to our own assigned destinations.

28 Okt., 18:25, BE4359
We all reach our waypoints without incident. We bid our farewells and "good hunting"s to each other, then I proceed to the second waypoint, AL69.

30 Okt., 11:05, AL6949
I reach the second waypoint. Next and final waypoint is AL01.

30 Okt., 11:30, AL6945
We intercept frantic calls from BdU addressed to U-32 regarding latest results and current position. They go unanswered. It leaves me with an unpleasant feeling.

31 Okt., 12:14, AL0198
The patrol quadrant is reached without incident.

01 Nov., 10:25, AL0144
A merchant is sighted at 76 degrees (relative). Identified as a steam tanker. Hard right rudder, flank speed. We thrash through the waves and set up a submerged torpedo attack from the port side. Two torpedoes slam into the ship, and distress calls identify her as the "S.S. Empire Bison" of 9.308 BRT. Carrying diesel fuel. She goes up in flames instantly. We leave the area and resume our patrol.

02 Nov., 03:30, AL0159
A drama begins to unfold which leaves me a little bewildered. At 03:30 we receive a radio signal from U-85 (Wernke) regarding a large convoy in AK6641 heading due east at 10 knots, and also that U-85 was going to attack. U-85 also reported radio troubles, but this transmission seems to have been complete, so I have nothing to worry. We are overjoyed; AK6641 is not far away at all, and with the convoy headed east, we are in a perfect position. Two U-boats chewing on the convoy's flanks should be a marvelous experience! We swing the boat on an intercept course.

10:45, AL4416
We reached the intercept point at top speed and we searched desperately for any contact. Nothing! No smoke, no mastheads, no U-85, nothing. I'm quite at a loss of what to do. Just as I am about to signal U-85 myself, U-85 sends a signal of her own. She says that the original position that was given was incorrect, and that it was originally in fact AL32 instead of AK66. Much too far away. U-85 was just about to send the current position of the convoy when transmission abruptly ceased. I send a signal to U-85 requesting that she re-signals the convoy's current position. I am disgusted. We have used up precious fuel on a wild goose chase that amounted to nothing. I angrily put the boat on a course back to our patrol area. Soon after, my LI reports some very minor trouble with the fresh-water tank. I snap at him viciously and go to my own compartment, throwing the curtain across the open companionway. I know the crew was shocked, most of all the LI; I've never really snapped at anyone before, and I feel badly about it now. But the fact that a convoy was reported in the immediate vicinity and that it turned out to be false was devastating. I later apologized to him, and everything soon went back to normal.

03 Nov., 17:00, AL0154
After waiting more than an entire day, U-85 finally signals. She makes no mention of the previous convoy, but instead radios another one. This time in AM2774, heading east at 6 knots. It's too far and it's headed the other way, so that's that. U-85 also said that they had no more torpedoes and they were returning to base. That leaves two boats to keep the patrol line. So far "Stiefmuetterchen" isn't working very well.

13 Nov., 15.29, AL0186
Finally! After 10 days a merchant is sighted at 68 degrees, headed south away from us. We give chase! At 16.55 I launch the first torpedo. It was a very bad angle, and quite a distance away (1.500 meters), but I did want to try. It was heading away from us, so if it missed, we would have to find another position all over again. It did miss, so we surfaced to try again. It was my fault, I put the boat in a bad position. I'll know better next time. I attack it's port flank. The second shot explodes prematurely. I fire a third shot, which hits! The "S.S. Cape St. Andrew" of 8.000 BRT sinks within a short amount of time. I resume the patrol.

15 Nov., 02:53, AL0124
A convoy is spotted! Course 110 degrees (true) at 10 knots. I radio Brest requesting orders regarding "Stiefmuetterchen", and I am instructed to attack immediately. I try to get ahead of the convoy to make a submerged attack.

07:00
The sun rises with unexpected haste. I'm in between two escorts and the convoy. They spot me and come racing. I make a quick and desperate dash towards the convoy! The destroyers are too close for comfort, so I take a gamble and shoot two eels at an 11.000 BRT tanker. One hits, the other misses, but it hits a second ship of 3.000 BRT sending it to the bottom! Unbelievable! The tanker doesn't sink, however. I haven't any more time, so I crash dive and evade the destroyers. Soon afterwards I surface and shadow the convoy until nightfall.

21:00
I come across my old wounded friend. One torpedo sends the tanker quickly to the bottom of the Atlantic. I race to catch up with the convoy.

00:37 (16 Nov)
I sight the convoy! I am able to maneuver into a good submerged position. As the convoy passes over me, I put up the periscope to mind myself right in the middle of the convoy! Five torpedoes sink 11.000, 8.000, and 2.000 BRT ships! At this point I make my biggest blunder. I leave the scope up too long, as I am fascinated by the sight of all the ships, three of them burning. I turn the scope around to find that a merchant is almost right on top of me! Quick, I order a crash dive, but it's far too late! SMASH, the merchant crashes into U-87! The boat heels over in a grotesque manner. Many are thrown off their feet. It's horrifying! We plunge to 155 meters to assess the damage. There are small leaks in the conning tower, but nothing major. I'm amazed! It was so dreadful, I thought it was the end of us! We stay there for a number of hours. Later we surface. I climb up the ladder and try to open the hatch, but it won't move! I end up having to go through the galley hatch just to get out, and when I do, I gasp. The top of the conning tower is nearly destroyed. But it all happened above the pressure hull, which explains why there weren't too many leaks inside the boat itself. But the collision obviously has taken its toll: the conning tower hatch is jammed, both periscopes are wrecked, and the water dripping off the twisted metal looks very eerie. I thank God I wasn't a meter higher in the air. (Please see the photograph taken at my return with this patrol report soon). I radio BdU my status and head for Brest.

19 Nov., 10:59, Brest
I return. All the people standing on the pier are gawking at my poor boat.

Only some centimeters more.........

But I have surpassed 300.000 BRT sunk! As I step off, I am awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and Swords! At the same time I'm offered a new boat, a type IXB boat, U-122. I accept.


Personal analysis:
This patrol was full of odd happenings and bad moves. I've learned a lot from this patrol. I realize even more how the lives of every single crewmember depend on me and my decisions.I'm interested to see how the type IXB boat will perform. I wrote a short note to KvtKpt. Thomsen asking his thoughts, and he was the one who advised me to take the boat. I am very sad to be leaving my crew, and my boat. The crew have peformed unbelievably well, and I feel rather like a rat deserting a ship. I hate leaving U-87 like she is.I am a seafaring man; I always have been. I've always had a love affair with boats and ships of all sizes, makers, and construction. Many people might squawk at my feelings, but I truly believe that boats have some kind of soul. I become very personally attached to ships, especially ones I serve on. I hope I'll be able to see U-87 in the condition she once was before I leave on patrol with U-122.

PATROL RESULTS

Merchants

Escorts

Warships

BRT

Patrol results:

7

0

0

52.3008

Total career results:

43

1

0

301.483

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

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