Oberleutnant Ralf Thomsen
Patrol # 5

Duration:     08.05.1940 - 14.06.1940 , 37days on sea
Patrol Area:   AE75
Ship:   U-54, The Laughing Sawfish
Type:   VII B
Flotilla:   1. Flotille, Kiel

08.05.1940 23.55
Departure from Kiel harbour
Medium weather conditions, visibility up to 10.000m
Three months of training are behind us. What a fine boat is this type compared to our old II C. The crew is in good condition and I managed to get all of my old crew with me.
Course set in near of Norwegian Coast, to be under the shelter of the Luftwaffe operating from there.

11.05.1940 15.00 AE9324
Enemy airplane spotted, not identified, crash dived, two depth charges, no damage

13.05.1940 01.21
Operational Area reached, beginning searchcouse along the cost of Island.
Poor visibility, AA guns manned

20.05.1940 18.56 AE7553
Enemy airplane spotted, identified as a british Hudson, crash dived, seems that we were not recognized.

25.05.1940 09.45 AE7322
Enemy airplane spotted, 4 motors, must be a Sunderland, but not identified properly, crash dived, two depth charges, no damage

27.05.1940 16.46 AE7597
Enemy airplane spotted, not identified, crash dived, seems that we were not recognized.

29.05.1940 08.25
17 days in this area and no ship in sight. Considering the airplane encounters it seems that we are detected and that they have closed this area for traffic. I wired the assumptions to BdU.

29.05.1940 09.49
orderd to new area AE6787

30.05.1940 06.32 AE 5961
Enemy airplane spotted, not identified, crash dived, two depth charges, no damage

02.06.1940 03.27 AE5698
Enemy airplane spotted, not identified, crash dived, two depth charges, no damage

07.06.1940 09.21 AE9120
Enemy airplane spotted, crash dived, seems that we were not recognized. What the hell, are we doing here? Are we only playing sitting duck for their airplanes? One month on sea, without any contact!

10.06.1940 17.00 AE6845
Low on fuel, set course returning to base near the english shore.
The first patrol with the new ship turned out to be a desaster. No convoy sightings in near wired, low visibility, we wasted only fuel and time. Hopefully we fall over a ship, when we take the risk to follow the english coast.

10.06.1940 19.15 AE6879
II WO is reporting contact bearing 40 degree, in 30.000m distance, 6 knots.
Advancing for inspection.

10.06.1940 19.34
Contact identified as british mass good freighter, 6.000 BRT. Beginning OS-Attack

10.06.1940 19.47
The steering maat misunderstood a command. We are much too close to the ship. The Freighter recognises our fault and is attempting to ramm us.
With full flank back evaded collision, fired in going backwards a double shot G7e kontakt ingniters from an angle of 30 degree,range 300m. The first torpedo exploded right before the ship, but the second is a hit.

Midships!

The freighter is sinking fast. No survival boats
sighted.
We are leaving this area. May be they have
radioed for help!

(If your browser supports wav-sound file
embedding, you can hear the sound of the
torpedo hit, by clycking on the image)

10.06.1940 20.26
Both tubes reloaded, I decide to bring 2 torpedos from the deck in the boat. The crew has done this only on training in the baltic sea. Let's see how they behave under war conditions.

11.06.1940 01.18
The torpedoes are in the boat. We are full reloaded. The crew did a good job.

12.06.1940 14.32 AN0153
The second shift sighted a great convoy. By approaching we are seeing that the convoy is heavy secured. The general course is 240 degree, speed is 10 knots, Wired contact to BdU.
We are too low on fuel to hold the contact for a long time. I'm making plans for one attack in the night.

12.06.1940 15.13
Enemy airplane spotted, Sunderland! Crash dived, two depth charges, no damage. They got us!

12.06.1940 15.32
High speed sonar contact in 181 degree, deciding for a periscope (P) attack. Through the periscope I identify a british escortc destroyer (2.000 tons) at 5.000m  on search course. Down with persicope and turning towards him with low speed.

12.06.1940 16.25
Suddenly, near ASDIC contact, breaking up attack, setting boat on ground 175m depth.

12.06.1940 17.00
As destroyer contact disappeared, back to periscop depth, airplane sighted! Convoy in 80 degree 12.000m away. I decide to follow in 50m depth with slow machines in direction of convoy

12.06.1940 18.00
Back to periscope depth, sea is free, surfacing and with full flank ahead in estimated direction of convoy.

12.06.1940 19.00
Two escorts sighted. First, bearing 100 degree, 30.000m distance.  Second, bearing 340 degree, 25.000m distance.
Course set to 90 degree and full ahead to outflank the escorts.

12.06.1940 19.50
Contact in 80 degree, lone tanker 10.000 BRT, 4 knots. With escorts lost, deciding for an OS-attack.

12.06.1940 20.05
Firing position reached, double shot with G7e and G7a, both kontakt ingniters, angle 0 degree, range 380m.
The first exploded after half of range, second hit ship without exploding. Hell, do the torpedoes leave us again?

12.06.1940 20.29
Second run, same conditions, same result! Both torpedoes dud without exploding but hitting the ship!
Crossed course of tanker in 100m distance, by 390m shot with aft torpedo, bearing 190 degree. Torpedo hit midship with low explosion effects, tanker stopped but is not sinking. Retreated from ship for reloading, and escort is sighted advancing towards the tanker.

12.06.1940 20.55
First two tubes reloaded with G7a. LI watches the changes of the ingniters to magnetics. With no escort in sight, we are preparing for a new OS-attack.

12.06.1940 21.42
Firing the two torpedos with 0 degree, 350m range. Both hit ship and it exploded with an enourmos detonation. Ship is broken in two pieces and sinking quickly.
We are on the estimated course of the convoy, but we lost the contact. Beeing now very near to the british coast, and very low on fuel, I decide to break up and set course to base.

13.06.1940 08.31
After reloading tubes radio message wired: Two merchants sunk 15.814 BRT

14.06.1940 09.44 AN6886
The I WO is spotting a troop ship in 70 degree, 12.000m range,  with 24(!) knots, 11.000 BRT.
No chance for a P-attack. We are setting all money on one horse and approach with full flank ahead to the estimate meeting point.
Troop ship is changing course towards us! Fired all four torpedoes 3 G7e, 1 G7a all magnetic ingniters from a range of 800m, 320 degree. Seeing three torpedoes exploding after half of range, I am ordering the crew to the canone, to shell the ship.
The first three rounds hit from nearest distance, meanwhile fourth torpedo is exploding, ship is sinking! Radio message intercepted. Ships's name is Luthenia and they are sending over all lines our position.
We have to leave that area as quick as possible.

14.06.1940 18.22
We have reached Kiel harbour. Glad that this patrol is over!

Tactical analysis:
After more than 3 months we have still problems with the torpedos, what a shame!
The operational area before island is a dangerous one. Very well protected by enemy aircraft. The missing of our Luftwaffe and the weather conditions make it nearly impossible getting results.
The operations in front of the british coast are very risky. The convoys are heavy protected and steadily watched by airplanes.Daylight operations nearly impossible.

Strategic issues:
With the few boats that we have, we should enforce our activities in the areas where now enemy airplanes are controlling the sky. The fall of France gives us the opportunity to use their harbours. BDU has reacted prompt and right.
The enemy has learned a lot. Attacking heavily secured convoys is nearly impossible for one boat. We should enforce the pack-taktik.

Private commentary:
What seems to be come out as a desaster has turned into a great victory. But to be honest, we had massive luck.
When we were advancing the pier, I was surpised to the see BDU Dönitz in line of the men welcoming us. He came onboard and awarded me with the Knights Cross! The U-Boat badge for the crew and I should name some man for more awards!
Additionally we are asigned to the 7th. Flotilla! Our new harbour after the next patrol is St.Nazaire!
Holidays for most of the crew and me.
I'm now ranking on third place with 75.714 BRT only W.Hartmann and "Vati" Schulze before me.
What a happy end!

PATROL RESULTS

Merchants

Escorts

Warships

BRT
Patrol results:

3

0

0

26.814
Total career results:

11

0

0

75.714

DECORATIONS

U-boat badge

Knights Cross

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