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.
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 |
1939 Iron Cross |
Knights Cross |
Knights Cross |
Knights Cross with |
|
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