Oberleutnant Ralf
Thomsen
Patrol # 6
| Duration: | 01.07.1940 - 15.07.1940 , 15 days on sea |
| Patrol Area: | AM01 |
| Ship: | U-54, The Laughing Sawfish |
| Type: | VII B |
| Flotilla: | 1. Flotille, Kiel transferring to 7. Flotille, St. Nazaire |
01.07.1940 12.55
Departure from Kiel harbour.
Superb weather conditions, visibility above 20.000m. Course plotted to mid
of North Sea to enhance our chances finding allied ships.
08.07./05.06 AN4171
What a great idea to plot that course! Two Sunderlands have detected us!
Crash dived, receiving four depth charges but no damage. The LI is complaining
about the course as to be too dangerous. Knowing that he is right I can not
argue against him.
10.07./00.59 AM0132
Operational Area reached, beginning up and down searchcouse
12.07/08.26
Received radio message from U-150: Convoy sighting, AM6769, East-Course.
I decide to engage without waiting to be orderd to secure our chances
/10.24 AM2957
The first ship is spotting a convoy, main-course 320 degree, 8 knots. We
wired the finding to the BdU.
/11.40
Escort sighted at the horizon. Retreating to a better distance.
/14.00
Contact with the convoy gained again. Kontaktmeldung wired.
We are setting in front of the convoy for a night OS-Attack, sometimes 6
(!) escorts in sight.
/17.00
Convoy identified, 5 rows, 6 columns. A fat prey! Our first convoy which
we can attack without any obstacles.
/21.40 AM4292
Visibility is dropping dramaticly. I am deciding for a frontal OS-Attack.
No escorts in sight. We are engaging the ships in the first column.
/22.05
The first target is a troop ship with 12.000 BRT. Firing two G7e kontakt
ingniters out of 800m distance, 354 degree. The first torpedo hits the ship
and exploded without any significant impact, the second is dud.
In turning on our second target, a tanker with 11.000 BRT, we shoot
the aft torpedo on first target G7e k.i, 860m, 210 degree. The torpedo is
hitting and the ship is sinking.
We are in firing position for our second target. Firing one G7e, one G7a
both k.i., 770m, 0 degree. One hits ship and exploded without any significant
impact, second is dud.
All tubes empty! The crew is working as mad to reload.
/22.30
We are shelled by a destroyer (2.000 to)! We can
not stay on the surface. The destroyer is too fast for us.
Crash dive!
/23.15
During a heavy depth charges bombardement, we have
all our tubes reloaded. Sometimes we have hydrophonic contact to four(!)
escorts.
After loosing the hs contacts we have contact to the convoy in 270 degree.
/23.20
We are back on surface. Slowly following the convoy course, because the torpedoes
on deck are shifted in the ship. A little bit risky, but we have to secure
our opportunities.
13.07./01.30
With all tubes reloaded, full flank ahead towards estimated convoy course.
/02.15
After steady evading manouveurs regarding escorts, we gained contact to the
convoy again.
/02.55
We are breaking through escort shield, attacking from the left side.
Two targets, both freighters, 9.000 and 11.000 BRT. For the smaller one,
one shot with G7e m.i.,700m distance. For the larger one : a double shot
with G7e m.i. and G7a k.i. out of 560m, all torpedoes hit and both ships
are sinking.
/04.31
We are still in the convoy and have managed to reload our tubes.
/05.24
Two escorts are setting course 0 degree to us from front left and right angle.
We have to dive, but we should use our aft torpedo to increase our chances.
Therfore turned and dived to periscope depth. Torpedoing 2.000 (to) destroyer
with aft torpedo and then crash diving to 170m. We heard the explosion but
no sinking noise.
 |
That picture was taken from our intelligence service. It is showing the torpedoed destroyer managing to return. |
/08.24
After 3 hours of depth charge attacks, the destroyers are breaking
up the attack. Back on periscope depth, I see four escorts turning
away from us. Setting course on opposite to maximize the distance. Bow pumps
damaged, radio detector damaged.
/08.40
The sea is empty, we are back on surface. We are driving full flank in estimated
convoy direction.
/09.50
Radio detector repaired
/12.20
Convoy sighted again. Kontaktmeldung radioed to BdU.
/12.42
Bow pumps repaired.
/16.00
Kontaktmeldung. BdU is not able to send any boats.
/21.15
Set in front of convoy for second OS-Attack.
/21.55
A single destroyer is forcing us on periscope depth. Destroyer is steering
direct to us but with medium speed. Double shot with G7a k.i., 600m distance,
0 degree. One torpedo misses, but the second hits. Destroyer is slowing down.
Third shot out of 300m range, crash dive to 180m. Torpedo hits and we hear
sinking noises.
/22.12
We are back on surface and have immediately a sloop on our back. The ship
is slower than we, so we can retreat with full speed, but they are following
although we are retreating from the convoy.
/23.30
We are in the back of the estimated convoy position. The sloop has lost us,
and we are turning back for a new attack.
14.07./03.00
We have contact to the convoy again. But escorts in the near forcing us to
retreat.
/05.15
Heavy fog with visibility below 2.000m gives us a chance to attack again.
Contact spotted in 1.520m distance. The last torpedo is in our aft tube.
The contact is identified as 6.000 BRT freighter.
/05.36
Shot G7a k.i., distance 420m, 180 degree. Torpedo hits and ship is sinking
at once.
With no more torpedoes left we are retreating from the convoy, plotting course
to St.Nazaire.
/06.37
Radio message: sunk 4 merchants 38.000 BRT, one destroyer.
14.07/12.15
Radio message received: Captain Thomsen of U-54 is awarded with the oak leaves
to the knights cross, he should name crew members for further decorations.
15.07/18.13
We are in the near of St.Nazaire. The escorts are orderd and we will return
to our new home.
Private commentary:
I can not imagine that I received the oak leaves after my 6. patrol.
I donated the german cross for my LI and for my WO´s the Iron cross
first class, the torpedo maat and the central maat were awarded with the
Iron cross second class.
The two days attack was a little bit heavy for me and my crew. We were not
able to take more than half a hour sleep and our nerves were shaken. Is this
the price to be number one on the sinking list
I will see if I get some rest here for me and my crew. Heinrich
Lehmann-Willenbrock, who welcomed me in the harbour is talking about a lot
of pleasure possibilities in the near. We will use them!
PATROL RESULTS
Merchants |
Escorts |
Warships |
BRT |
|
| Patrol results: | 4 |
1 |
0 |
38.000 |
| Total career results: | 15 |
1 |
0 |
113.714 |
DECORATIONS
U-boat badge |
Knights Cross |
Knights Cross |
 |
 |
 |