Kapitänleutnant Ralf Thomsen
Patrol # 10

Duration:	26.02.1941 - 10.03.1941, 13 days on sea
Patrol Area:	CF61
Ship:	U-104, The Laughing Sawfish
Type:	IX B
Flotilla:	7. Flotille, St. Nazaire transferring to Wilhelmshaven

26.02.1941 11.45
Departure from St.Nazaire
Good weather conditions, visibility up to 20.000m.
They gave us three weeks rest, before we were sent to a new patrol. May be a little thank you regarding the christmas story. Let us see, what comes out of this operation.

27.02./12.41 CG1165
Received radio message from BdU: Intercept convoy CG7516. Setting course with full flank ahead

28.02./09.14 CF9353
We have contact with convoy It is from medium size, main-course 360 degree, general speed 6 knots. Consisting of  5 columns and 6 rows: Some ships are missing, were other boats working? Four escorts sighted. Wired Kontaktmeldung

/10.00 CF9352
Kontaktmeldung. We are shadowing the convoy for an attack in sight.

/11.40
Korvette is coming up over the horizon with 0 degree. We turned away with full flank ahead, the diesel exhaust should cover us.

/11.55
Korvette is turning away.

/12.00 CF9321
Kontaktmeldung
The escorts are surrounding the convoy. We have to evade most every half hour that we are not notified.

/17.00
Korvette is attacking. Although we are breaking away from the convoy, the escort remains on course.

/17.20
The convoy and the other escorts are out of sight. I decide for a P-attack.

/17.30
Hs sonar contact with immidiate ASDIC-pulsing. With the periscop up, I can identify the ship as a 1.000 to korvette. Beginning sneak attack.

/17.52
A double shot with G7e k.i. out of 650m distance, wit an angle of 0 degree. Both torpedoes hit and the ship is blown in pieces. We are emerging and leaving the area with full flank. There will be escorts coming for sure.

/18.12
Destroyer sighted, on course to the sinking place. We are evading.

/18.25
The destroyer is behind the horizon. We are returning in estimated convoy direction and start to reload the deck torpedoes.

/18.46 CF6859
The convoy is in sight, we are overtaking the convoy to get a good position for night attack. Kontaktmeldung wired.

/21.50
All torpedo tubes reloaded. Beginning attack.

/22.45
It is nearly impossible to get through the escort shield. In trying to attack a freighter a destroyer is attacking with full speed towards us.
On periscope depth with stern torpedos to attack the destroyer, double shot with G7e and G7a both k.i out of 670m distance. We have to to crash dive, because the destroyer is steering to our place. Two explosions heard, no sinking noises. Then they are on us!

01.03./02.00
After more than three hours depth charges with sometimes four hs contacts we are able to go back on periscope depth. No enemy in sight, we are emerging and on course to convoy.

/04.00
The damaged destroyer is in sight, with a large smoke trail and heavy lopside only 8 knots speed. We are overtaking and diving before his position, double shot with G7e k.i. out of 300m distance, angle 0 degree, both missed!
In crash diving we receive heay depth charges which damaged our low rudder.

/05.00
The destroyer lost us and we are in convoy sight. Deep fog is giving us the chance to attack

/05.05
Attacking two targets at once. A tanker with 7.000 BRT and a freighter with 6.000 BRT. For the tanker a G7e k.i. out of 450m, angle 20 degree, the freighter gets a G7a m.i.out of 750m angle 340 degree. Both torpedoes hit, both ships are sinking.

/05.25
Double shot on a tanker with 10.000 BRT, both G7a k.i. torpedoes out of 650m, angle 0 degree. Ship is blowing up, large flame in red and yellow, breaking in two pieces, sinking.

/05.42
We are attacking a freighter with 6.000 BRT from the left side with G7a k.i. out of 400m distance, angle 0 degree: The torpedo is hitting the ship in the stern and the ship is sinking nose over.

/06.15
Attack on a freighter with 7.000 BRT  from the right side with G7a k.i., out of 600m, angle 0 degree. The torpedo hits, the ship stops and is sinking slowly, survival boats are set out.

/06.42
We can not remain on the surface, because destroyers are shooting tracer shells. One destroyer is coming right in our direction.

/08.55
More than two hours depth charges all around us. Outer stern torpedo tubes destroyed, the damaged low rudder is finally destroyed.

/09.15
We submerge in sight of the convoy. I have a discussion with my officers if we should break up the attack, No! Not yet!
Reloading all stern deck torpedos to aft tubes.
Radio message: 5 merchants sunk 47.785 BRT, one korvette, one destroyer heavily damaged

/14.00
All remaining deck torpedoes reloaded in the aft tubes

/14.45
Our friend, the wounded destroyer is in sight, I decide for a P-attack

/18.15
After more than three hours cat and mouse game we are finally in good position on persicope depth. A single shot with a G7a, angle 180 degree, distance 500m. The torpedo hits the destroyer and the destroyer is sinking bottom up.
Very low visibility, due to heavy fog. We are searching for the convoy.

/21.45
As we dive for the third time for hydrophonic search, we have success, contact in 231 degree!

/22.40
We are back at the convoy with escorts in sight, visibility below 2.000m.

/22.50
Targeted a freighter with 9.000 BRT.  Very near, two G7a k.i. out of 300m distance, angle 150 degree. It is very dificult to aim with the aft tubes, but both torpedoes hit, and the ship is sinking.

/23.38 CF6508
Kontaktmeldung wired

/23.54
We are nearly colliding with a tanker with 12.000 BRT, passing only in 350m distance. In 400m distance double shot with G7a k.i.; angle 200 degree. A  heavy explosion with a large flame. Oil is pooring on the sea. We have to retreat with full ahead. Visibility is near to 0! We decide to stay in the convoy for reloading the last two torpedoes.

02.03./02.30
With the first torpedo in tube, we attack a freighter with 5.000 BRT. A G7a k.i. shot out of a distance of 350m, angle 190 degree. Very low impact, but ship is sinking slowly.

/03.15
The last torpedo is ready in the aft tube. We attack a freighter with 7.000 BRT. The G7a k.i. is shout ut of a distance of  400m, angle 200 degree. The ship is taking the hit, but not sinking. The convoy is making a turn, but the ship is still on the same course. May be rudder was hit. We follow him out of the convoy.

/04.00
beginning cannon attack.

/04.15
After 2 rounds the freighter is sinking.

/04.20
Radio message: 10 merchants sunk 73.904 BRT, 1 destroyer, 1 korvette
Course plotted for returning to base.

04.03./16.10 AK6125
Far out of range from any airbasese we are spotting an enemy airplane which can not be identified. After the crash dive we have hydrophonic contact in 351 degree.

/16.47 AK0296
We have sight at a convoy. Kontaktmeldung: small convoy AK0296, course 120 degree, 7 knots, low secured.

/17.05
An one engine airplane sighted and crash dived, no depth charges. There must be a carrier outside!

06.03/18.45
After 2 days shadowing the convoy without finding the carrier we are replaced by U-205.Now, we can finally return to base.

10.03/15.17
Ordering escorts for return to Wilhelmshaven.

Strategic issues:
One IXB on one convoy gives a good crew a chance. More boats at one convoy will inflate the chances....

Private commentary:
The decision from my officiers to stay at the convoy although severe damaged shows the spirit of my crew. I think we will have some interesting nights in Wilhelmshaven. Returning to Wilhelmshaven, I was surprised that the long range patrol group is moving to Lorient.Great Idea, but why it hasn't come earlier? So now, we have again to break out of the wet triangle.

PATROL RESULTS

DECORATIONS

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