Kapitänleutnant Michael Hoffmann
Patrol # 8

Duration:	07.08.1940 - 19.08.1940, 13 days on sea
Patrol Area:	AE82
Ship:	U-302, U-Flachs
Type:	VII B
Flotilla:	9. Flotille, Brest

07.08.1940 / 12.06
We are leaving the pier and the comrades are waving good-bye. What a celebration yesterday. Kronau-Wahrsteiner had made the 50th patrol for our flotilla. But he was not really happy. When I stood beside him I heard him always grumbling "Only 15.000 bottles left. Only 15.000 left" Wonder what this means.
With the barrage breaker and the mine-sweepers in front of us, we are leaving the harbour towards our patrol area AE82, south to Island. What the hell should we find there?

11.08./12.40
Patrol area reached, no occurrences

15.08./11.12
After 4 boring days we receive a message from the BdU: Convoy AE7194, Eastcourse. This is not far from our position. Why are they not ordering us to intercept? I decide to engage. Sending message to BdU.

/19.31
BdU is sending us to intercept. New Data: AE7554, course 129 degree, 7 knots.

/23.45 AE7583
We got them! They are now on course 30 degree. A big convoy. We can see sometimes 5 columns in 6 rows. Ein fetter Brocken! Sometimes an escort comes up to the horizon. But with very low visibility (below 10.000m) and a very rough sea we feel secure.

16.08./00.22
We are attacking the second column. The first ship is a 2.000 BRT freighter. Too small for our torpedoes. We pass behind him and are now in the convoy. The second ship looks better. A 9.000 BRT mass good freighter.

/00.29
fire a G7e out of distance of 900m. The ship is taking the hit but only slowing down a little bit. We pass behind him for our next prey, a 10.000 BRT tanker. We fill finish the freighter off with the stern torpedo.

/00.33
Doubleshot with G7e and G7a torpedoes out of 800m to the tanker. Aft torpedo released on the mass freighter. Sound man reports aft torpedo as dud, but both bow torpedoes hit the tanker and blow him up in a burning hell. Leaving the convoy for reloading and a new attack from the other side. No escorts in sight but sometimes we can hear depth charges far away.

/01.12
Three torpedoes clear in the bow tubes. Stern torpedo clear. New engagement.

/01.15
Attacking the 5th column from behind. First ship is a 4.000 BRT freighter. It is sinking after receiving a G7e troepdo out of our bow tubes. Distance 990m. New target assigned. Troop ship, 9.000 BRT in the 4th column.

/01.20
Sending a G7a out of the bow tube. Distance 800m. Ship is taking the hit and slowing down. Turning our boat to finish him off with the stern torpedo.

/01.23
Troop ship is receiving coup de grace and sinking

/01.32
Torpedo maat reports two bow tubes ready. New target assigned. 11.000 BRT tanker in third column.

/01.36
Double shot out of 840m distance. Tanker is blowing up and spreading burning oil all above. Have to retreat.

/02.26
We are still in the convoy. Escorts are not able to locate us. We are enganging again the third column. A 10.000 BRT tanker is the next target. A double shot out of the bow tubes finishes him off. We have only one torpedo left. To get the torpedoes from the outer tubes in, we retreat from the convoy.

/02.42
Convoy about 10.000m away. Beginning reload operation.

/08.17
We see the crippled freighter in 5.000m distance to the convoy. No escorts in sight.

/08.25
All torpedoes are in. Engaging the lone freighter for a deck-gun attack.

/09.22
After reaching firing area, freighter sinks after 17 rounds. Retreating with full flank ahaed to get in a good position for a further convoy attack.

/12.17
We are now in front of the convoy. WOW! Two large troop ships are leading the convoy. The first has round about 17.000 BRT, the second 14.000 BRT. We will use this opportunity and try a persicope attack.

/12.35
Out of 1.000m distance I release a double shot against the bigger troop ship. Our last torpedo for the smaller one. Sound man reports hs-screws in the near. I do not wait to see the impacts. Ordering crash dive to 155m for saftey reasons. We hear the first hit. Second torpedo is dud. Third torpedo hits and we can hear sinking noises from the smaller troop ship!

/12.40
ASDIC!

/13.13
The escorts were not able o locate us. 30 Minutes ASDIC with no depth charges. Back to periscope although convoy is still in the near. The large troop-ship is about 8 km away from the convoy. Soundman reports hs-screws. Back to 100m depth.

/14.32
The escort was pinging around and some depth charges were thrown far away. Anfänger! We have resurfaced and will shadow the troop-ship for deck gun assault in the night.

/19.00
Attack. We are closing in like a Schnellboot and send them signals to leave the ship without sending any signals.

/19.15
Hell! Radio-man reports that the ship is sending "SSS" above all airwaves. In advancing we identify the ship as the "King Lear" with 16.644 BRT. A large deck gun is visible on the bow and these idiots are manning it. For the safety of my ship I have to open fire.

/19.35
After a short, but heavy gun attack the ship is sinking. But what a desaster! People after people are jumping in the water. The ship must have been full loaded with passengers! Why did they not give up? We have to retreat as fast as we can and can not give any help. The ship has such a heavy loop side that no survival boat can be set out. I decide to radio over all airwaves for help. These damned idiots! It is unbelievable that they have played with the life of their passengers. Did they thought they could defeat us with the deck-gun? After a half hour of sending SOS I let the radio-man stop. That was all what we can do. May be boats of the near convoy are able to help.

/22.40
After sending report, BdU orders us home. It is very silent in the boat. All people are thinking about the victims and their senseless dead.

17.08./21.58 AL6748
We stumble over a lone 4.000 BRT british freighter. Our task is to sink enemy ships where ever we find them, so we are engaging for a deck-gun assault.

/22.20
The crew has left their ship after we sent a warning shot before their bow. Ship is sinking after 17 rounds. We are donating water and food. We show them the way to the irish coast. Hopefully they will manage it.

18.08./11.05 AL9969
We have stopped a single british tanker with 9.000 BRT. Has the whole british navy gone crazy? A lonely tanker in the u-boat lanes towards our bases! The crew has left the ship and we sink it after 32 rounds. We can only show them the way to the irish coast. But they have to have a lot of luck to save their lifes.

19.08./13.59
We are back in Brest. Dönitz and Thomsen are on the pier. The Swords are presented to me for passing the 200.000 BRT border. But I'm not happy. The thoughts from my crew and me are still with the victims of the King Lear. How many have survived this desaster? But the lion has no informations about that affaire.
I am taking command of U-364, a new IXB-boat. I'll take my crew with me. It is good to have some distance now.

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

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