Oberleutnant Michael Hoffmann
Patrol # 1

Duration:	14.10.1939 - 02.11.1939, 19 days on sea
Patrol Area:	AM55
Ship:	U-116, U-Flachs
Type:	II C
Flotilla:	9. Flotille, Brest

14.10.1939 23.45
Departing from harbour under the shelter of two mine sweepers.
My first command makes me a little unsure about the coming things. Never been on patrol before. My crew and me were taken right from the training flotilla to combat. How shall we think about the Sunderland encounter during the transfer journey? A good, or a bad sign? Time will tell.
I hope we get everything fixed. "Newbies" on patrol.... We will see if we can survive.

17.10.1939/08.25
Radio message from BdU received
"All ships indentified as foes are to be attacked without warning" It seems war is upon us also on sea, we will do what we can.

/17.39 AM3552
The third shift reports a contact!
We are approaching over surface to identify the possible target. A british merchant! Now this one goes by the book. Setting in front for a torpedo attack.
20 minutes later we are in firing position. IWO is commanding the guys. Fired a G7e with an angle of 90 degree and a distance of 450m.The torpedo hits and the ship is sinking in two peaces. Ship`s name is "Emperor" counting for 7.904 BRT. Seeing no survivals we are leaving the area.

Our first prey! This "Emperor" will not rule any longer.

18.10./13.50 AM0259
Enemy airplane spotted! Not identified. Crash dived, with no depth charges. Seems he has not seen us.

19.10/02.06 AM5523
Patrol area reached, beginning search course.

/20.20
Radio message from BdU received: "Operational area extended to 20 degree west"
Fun is over, this is realy war at sea!

24.10./07.26 AM5317
I WO reports a lonely tanker. Identified as british with 4.000 BRT it is advaning towards our position.
I decide for an OS-attack, followed by the book layed out by our CO. In position we fire a G7e m.i. with an angle of 110 degree out of  520m distance ...... DUD!
Preparing for a second attack.

/08.25
Same procedure as above, but now the G7e m.i. hits and is exploding. It seems that the tanker was full of a very reactive kind of fuel, because the detonation wiped the whole ship away from the see. Like attacking a destroyer.... Strange!

27.10./08.45 AM5353
Enemy airplane spotted! Identified as a Sunderland. Crash dived, with no depth charges. Again, we had luck.

29.10./14.16 AM5346
II WO reports a single french bulk freighter in sight. We are attacking again over the surface. Hit and run! The torpedo destroyed the target and we are leaving for new chances, 7.000 BRT to be added...

30.10/08.16 AM5251
I WO reports contact, a polish freighter with 5.000 BRT. In an OS-attack we are firing a G7a m.i. out of a distance of 400m, angle 10 degree. The torpedo explodes after 200m!
The next run with our last G7a k.i. one a half hour later gives us success. For the first time, we see live boats. Approching the boats we donate food and water and show them the way to the shores. I hope they'll fix it. Freighter identified as "Gdansk".
With no torpedoes left and low on fuel I decide to set course back to base.

02.11./09.23
We reached our base and were taken back with a lot of escorts into the harbour. Not a too bad result for a first patrol. The CO awarded me with the Iron Cross 2nd Class for succesful finishing my first patrol

PATROL RESULTS

DECORATIONS

U-boat badge	1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class

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