Kapitänleutnant Ralf Thomsen
Patrol # 11

Duration:	05.04.1941 - 06.05.1941, 32 days on sea
Patrol Area:	DH17
Ship:	U-104, The Laughing Sawfish
Type:	IX B
Flotilla:	7. Flotille, (special long range combat group) Wilhelmshaven transferring to Lorient

05.04.1941 12.31
Departure from Wilhelmshaven
Good weather conditions, visibility over 20.000m
We set course to the channel to spare fuel, risky operation but useful, we will stay in sight of the french coast.
Very funny, these guys are sending us from one harbour to the other. Kiel, St.Nazaire, Wilhemlshaven and back to Lorient. What do they think we are? The flying dutchman?

07.04./07.59 BF3626
Destroyer in sight far back, we are evading with full speed ahead, using the diesel exhaust as cover.

/08.30
Destroyer out of sight

08.04./02.15 BF2547
We passed the channel! Plotting course to open sea.

09.04./18.12 BE5625
Freighter in sight, 3.000 BRT, 4 knots, bearing 340 degree. I am deciding for a cannon attack.

/18.50
Freighter identified as british "Tramp Star". With distance on 500m opening fire. Ship is sinking after 12 rounds.

With heavy loop side and large smoke the freighter is sinking

Life boats are set out, We can't stay here. May be they have radioed for airplanes.

10.04/10.15 BE4963
We have left the british airplane controled area. The air is seeming warmer now!

14.04./03.03 DH1727
Patrol area reached, very low radio traffic, only two convoy sightings far away

15.04./20.05 DH1498
French tanker 2.000 BRT, 4 knots, bearing 12 degree. Althoguh we are facing a very rough sea I decide for a cannon attack

/20.36
The distance is below 500m and we are opening fire. Ship is sinking after 19 rounds. We are asking the guys in thre life boats for their ship's name and showing them the way to the next coast. The name was "Jean d'Arc". Not a good name for a tanker.

The gun-crew is attacking the "Jean d'Arc"

28.04./12.36 DH1714
A british tanker 8.000 BRT, 10 knots, bearing 180 degree sighted. A new target practice for my gun-crew.
The tanker is opening fire at 3.000m, we are submerging for periscope depth.

/18.40
This guy pisses me off! Three times we attacked submerged, and he was always evading before we reached shot position. We are beginning a cannon attack to irritate him. The real aim is an OS-torpedo attack, like a MTB.
With firing deck-gun, manned AA-guns and "Dreimal Wahnsinnige voraus" we are storming towards our target. The shells aimed at us, are exploding very far away. We have reached a good positon: 700m distance, one G7a k.i.,angle 0 degree...... dud!
We are turning our course for a second engagement with all weapons firing.

/18.57
330m distance, now a G7e k.i., 20 degree. The torpedo hits and the ship is sinking. Survival boats are set out. We are offering help, but it is denied. We show the way to the azores islands. These brave men were belonging to the "Morning Sun".
We are departing from the area to find a place to reload our aft deck torpedos to stern.

/23.59
All tubes reloaded

02.05./02.14 CF8111
Received radio message from U-68: Convoy in CG9585, Eastcourse. We will intercept.

03.05./06.30 CG8491
We have contact to the medium sized convoy , main- course 50 degree, 7 knots speed. Kontaktmeldung wired.

/08.32
Convoy inspected: 5 columns, 6 rows with holes, only 2 escorts.

/08.53
We are in sight of the convoy ships, provocating the escorts for attack. One escort is a 1.000 to korvette bearing 2 degree setting course towards us, we await him for a P-attack.

/09.00
The korvette is pinging ASDIC, and only 2.400m away. We are beginning our sneak attack.
In adistance of 600m, with an angle of 12 degree, we shoot a G7e and a G7a both k.i.. The electric torpedo hits first, the korvette is stopping. The second hit blows the korvette down.
A 2.000 to destroyer is in 60 degree, 10 knots, 2.000m away. ASDIC pinging. We are setting the boat in firing position. On 900m distance we are back on sneak drive. On 610m we send out a double shot with G7e k.i., both miss. Crash dive to 200m. The destroyer is pooring some depth charges, but it seems he has no contact.

/10.15
The destroyer is over 10.000m away. The convoy is on opposite only 5.000m. We are starting a new OS-attack to provocate the destroyer.

/10.30
The destroyer is attacking. We are back on persicope depth. A double shot with G7e and G7a, both k.i. out of 700m distance, angle 30 degree. Both hit and the destroyer vanished from the sea.

/10.45
The convoy is ours! We sent a radio message out to attrack other boats. Beginnning an OS-attack, but  at 4.000m some merchants are opening fire, so we retreat for a night attack.
By inspecting the convoy we found 2 troop ships and 4 tanker over 10.000 BRT, these will be the main targets for the night.

/12.00
Kontaktmeldung

/15.00
Kontaktmeldung

/18.00
Kontaktmeldung

/18.50
All tubes reloaded

/19.36
Kontaktmeldung

/20.15
It is now dark enough for an OS-attack. This will be a piece of cake!

/20.39
As our first prey, a troop ship with 12.000 BRT sinks after three torpedoes, two out of the stern, thereof 1 dud. We give him the coup de grace with one torpedo out of the aft tube. The next is the second troop ship with 16.000 BRT. It sinks after two torpedoes out of the stern tubes.

/21.10
A tanker with 11.000 BRT is sinking after two torpedoes of the stern tubes.

/21.29
A further tanker with 13.000 BRT is sinking after 2 torpedoes of the aft tubes.

/21.45
In advancing a 10.000 BRT tanker in preparation for attack, the tanker is opening fire. We receive a hit in the central room, the hull is middle damaged. We have to retreat.

/21.55
The LI reports the hull repaired.

/22.15
Two stern tubes are ready. We are attacking the tanker again. He is opening fire, but we got him out of a distance of  680m, angle 0 degree, two G7a m.i,. The one torpedo hits, the other is one is dud. A third shot with the aft tube brings him down.

/23.30
Stern tube reloaded, attacking a tanker with 8.000 BRT. It is sinking after 10 additionall rounds with the 8,8.

04.05/01.00
The last torpedo is in the stern tube.Attacking a freighter with 7.000 BRT, sinking immediately.

/01.12
All torpedos out, only 123 shells left. We are looking for small targets to bring them down.

/01.20
A freighter with 3.000 BRT, sinks after 16 rounds.

/01.29
One more freighter with 3.000 BRT,  down after 14 rounds.

/01.59
A tanker with 3.000 BRT, sinks after 18 shells.
The sea is full of burning, sinking ships, burning oil carpets, live boats everyware. This is realy a dooms day for the british navy! The leader of the convoy is setting it off, we have now to hunt sigle ships.

/02.07
A freighter with 2.000 BRT sinks after 13 rounds.

/02.15
A freighter with 3.000 BRT is opening fire. We are retreating and looking for easier prey.

/02.24
A freigher with 4.000 BRT, 21 rounds needed, to bring him down.

/02.30
The next target, a freigter 3.000 BRT. After only 4 shells, a big explosion wipes the ship from the sea.This was an ammunition freighter.

/02.36
A tanker with 4.000 BRT sinks after 22 shells burning overall and spreadin a big, burning oil carpet on the sea.

/03.55
A freighter with 4.000 BRT sinks after 18 shells.

/04.20
No more ships in sight. Some shells are left, but we are breaking up the attack.
Sending radio message: 18 merchants sunk 115.969 BRT, 1 destroyer, 1 korvette, convoy in pieces.
Plotting course to base.

06.05./12.26
Safe return to Lorient harbour

Strategic issues:
This convoy would have been wiped out completely if we had had more than one boat. Nevertheless I think Gibraltar convoys will be not so often sent in the next future..

Private commentary:
What a run! Over 100.000 BRT on one patrol! As we were advancing Lorient harbour a flotilla of motor boats were awaiting us. Our bridge was filled with Dönitz and some PK-men and I was interviewed again, but considering this result i could bare that.At the pier all captains in harbour were awaiting us and we received a "Großer Fackelzug mit allem Pipapo".I think the casino will be ours tonight!

PATROL RESULTS

DECORATIONS

U-boat badge	Knights Cross	Knights Cross with Oak Leaves	Knights Cross with Oak Leves and Swords	Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds

Back to top of page