Oberleutnant Ralf Thomsen
Patrol # 4

Duration:     29.01.1940 - 04.02.1940 , 7 days on sea
Patrol Area:   AN67
Ship:   U-113, The Laughing Sawfish
Type:   II C
Flotilla:   1. Flotille, Kiel


29.01.1940 12.10
Departure from Kiel harbour. Medium weather conditions visibility up to 10.000m
Leaving the escorts behind, my head aches still from my birthday party three days ago! Hopefully the crew does not notify my weakness.
But good news have also to be reported: A squadron of Blohm & Voss BV 138 reconaissance planes openend their base right in the near of our flotilla to support us!
A flying shoe


A very funny looking plane!
But a good help to increase our chances.

30.01.1940 07.46
Patrol Area reached
beginning up and down search course.  I extended the area to the british coast to increase our chances.

01.02.1940 07.59
Very poor visibility below 1.000m. AA guns mannned

03.02.1940 12.27
The fog is lifting and thanks to good visibility, we are sighting a small british tanker, bearing 283 degree, 2 knots speed.
An easy prey! We begin an OS-attack.

03.02.1940 12.47
During the phase to ge in a good position we notify a second contact, a small freighter, bearing 175 degree, 6 knots

03.02.1940 13.17
In superb position we shot a G7e, kontakt ingniter, with 0 degree, range 440m. But that damned thing exploded after half of  the distance.

03.02.1940 13.24
Fearing to loose the second contact, we shot the second torpedo out of a bad position with G7e kontakt ingniters,190 degree from behind, range 350m.
The torpedo hits the ship is climbing nearly a meter up and is sinking down!

03.02.1940 13.26
First tube reloaded

03.02.1940 13.56
Shot G7e, kontakt initial, with 0 degree, range 320m. Again the torpedo did not explode, although we saw him hitting the ship! The crew in the british ship must hold their stomaches for laughing about us!

03.02.1940 14.10
Second tube reloaded

03.02.1940 14.15
Fourth attempt! Shot G7e, kontakt ingniter, with 350 degree, range 320m. Torpedo exploded after 100m, although safety distance is 300m! What shall we do, for god's sake!

03.02.1940 14.30
Fifth run!! Shot G7e, kontakt ingniter, with 0 degree, range 310m. What a surprise! The torpedo hit the ship and exploded. I turned immediately to the second contact which is now over 10.000m away, bearing 41 degree, speed 6 knots.

03.02.1940 16.07
During the attack on the second ship, the third tube was reloaded and the sinking of first contact watched.
We are in good shot position 20 degrees. Firing our last eel, a G7a, kontakt ingniter, range 310m.
The torpedo left the tube but the engine does not start!
We leave this coursed place with full flank ahead. I'm setting course to base immediately.

03.02.1940 18.57
Radio message: British tanker sunk 2.300 BRT

04.02.1940 00.25
Escorts ordered, Safe return to Kiel Harbour


Tactical analysis:
The torpedo problem is a desaster. One operational torpedo against five dud! My crew members engaged before Norway coast supporting the invasion, are reporting the same.
Günther Prien wired he is not willing to fight with a wodden rifle. I agree completly!
The invasion of Norway has positionend more or less all british ships there. We lost the chance of a dramatic hit at the british coast, due to the damned Silberlinge!
I was able to stay 4 hours on surface on daylight, attacking the tanker without any defense.
When we are wasting more chances like that, we will loose this war!

Strategic issues:
The invasion of Norway has kept british ships away from protecting their merchants. We will not know how long this will go on. On the other hand our marine has substantial losses, both in u-boats and surface ships.
If the invasion succeds, we should use some of the harbours as bases. Bergen for example, to get out of the wet triangle.

Private commentary:
What a mess. We returned feeling that we have lost a great battle. The morale is on ground, although we are on second rank in the list of the aces with 48.900 BRT....
But then as the CO came on board in the harbour, what for good news for us:
U-54, a VIIB type is available for us! I will take command on that ship, taking as many of man of my crew with it as I can!


PATROL RESULTS

Merchants

Escorts

Warships

BRT

Patrol results:

1

0

0

2.295

Total career results:

8

0

0

48.900

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