HEADQUARTERS COl\IMANDER ALL FORCES Navy Number 154 (One Five Four) m a/ Al2/Al 6-3 c ~ o Fleet Post Office 04/Br Serial: 00100 ~e w York, N. ,{. ~ . " f "f 11 December 1944 __., _____SECRET From: The Commander A.ll Forces. To : 'lhe ColliD18Dder-in-Ch1er, United States Fleet. Via : The Commander Caribbean Saa Front;er.
Subject: War Diary - Forv.arding of.
Reference: (a) ComTen restricted ltr. Staff/St ND10/Al.2/Al6-3, Serial: 10660 of 15 December 1942.
Enclosure: (A) War Diary of CoJil!lB.1lder All Forces, Al".iba-Curacao Sector of Commander Caribbesn sea Frontier, i November to 30 November 1944.
1. En~losure (A} is forwarded in accordance ith reference (a). )
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Y!e.9.n.!s9.az,_l_N2v~er. !9lt}+,;. ______-· ______P!,e,!:_0£e_
The mission of thie advanced base, which is part of the Caribbean Sea Frontier, is to protect the refineries on the islands of Aruba and Curacao and to conduct anti submarine operations. The following naval vessels are attached to Commander All Forces, Aruba-Curacao:
U. S. SHIPS NE'l'HERLANDS SHIPS
CG 83308 TI!S 4 YR 32 SC 1299 ENERN CG 83309 Ylif3 56 A'I'R 5 SC 1305 TOERN CG 83:325 YM3 160 ATR 22 SC1310 Fru:ERN CG 83326 TifS 312 YNT 3 ( OffiXA) PC 1213 URB-50 CG 83356 n.rs 399 YTB 194 (SQUAMTO) UTB-22 CG 83380 Dfi 400 YTL 299 !:UB-8 CG 50006F CG 50007F The following air forces are attached to Conmander All Forces, ArUba-Curacao:
VPB-92 USN - 10 Planes, PBY-5A 1 s. JRF-5; JRB-3. The following ground forces are attached to Commander All Forces, Aruba-Curacao:
Force Curacao, USA Netherlands Troops, Curacao Force Aruba, US .\ Netherlands Troops, Aruba Netherlands Troops, Bonaire
SURFACE OP~ATIONS: USS CGC 83308 and USS CGC 83356 ~ere detached from this .command today and stood out Curacao for Trinidad via La Guaira and Puerto La Cru~.
USS YMS 392 stood in Curacao from San Juan and reported to CAF AC for duty as relief of USS YMS 4. one merchant ship from Curacao joined TAG 167 convoy enroute Trinidad to Guantanamo. No ships joined movement from Aruba nor were any ships detached from convoy for Curacao or Aruba. !JS~ PC L?O? ~ one nf the escorts from TAG-167 entered \1illemstad for repairs to soWld gear and rejoined movement.
USS Army tanker (Y- 36) stood in Curacao from Canal Zone. HEADQUARTERS COMMANDER ALL FORCES, ARUBA-CURACAO C'R Time Fort Amsterdam QR Time WiHemstad, Curacao, N. W. I. ------n-A-P n-I-A-R-Y
!h_!!r!dy.z. 3 !O!efilb~r_l2~·- ______E_a~e.:.. ~ _ SURFACE OPERATIOMS: USS Army tanker (Y-36) stood out Curacao for Canal zone.
USS LA..li.AMIE (A0-16) stood out Aruba for Guantanamo.
USS GUALALA (ACXZ-28) was detached from G~T-169 convoy enroute Guantanamo to Trinidad and stood in Aruba. One merchant ve"Ssel was detached fro1n s ame convoy for Puerto Cabello. No ships joined this movement from Aruba or Curacao. tcrscEtLANOOUS :
Yr. Henry Clements, a civilian of the \'·1 . s. ;.. , arrived for duty as expf.Jditer of Allied Vessels, relieving Mr. Jr A. ~/oodham, who will return to Cristobal.
Paul E. Peters, a civilian of the u. s. Viar Department, and Beverly T. Nelson, a civilian and J;filitary Attache of Panama, landed at Hato Field enroute from San Juan to Panama.
SURF~CE OPERATIONS : USAT SAMSON stood in Aruba from Antigua.
§_a~u£d!Y.;. !.!; !{o!e!b~r_12.4k• ______f_a~e_:. l'W£ _
SURFACE OPERATIONS:
USS GUALALA (AOG-28) stood out Aruba for canal Zone. t:ISC FJ .I.AMEO IT$:
Venezuelan t~aval Vessels G»UmAL SOUBLETTE and GENERAL T.RDANETA stood in Curacao for an official visit.
Queen E)nma Bridge over Santa Ana Bay was placed back in full commission today.
&~.!!d9..z. .§ !!o!emb~r_l2~·- ______::_a3_el. !W£_ _
SURFACE OPER ATIOrS :
u. b11.'1ARD Livl?GSTON a..'1d s. merchant shio• stood off r,-:illerostad Harbor a sick merchant marine, Ralph F;rickson, A . ~ ., was removeu cu1u t&..l\.eu to st. ~1izabeth Hospital, Curacao $
...... _.. ____,..,..,.. .. - ...... - -·-...... - .. , ... " ... ~ .-., ... - . - . . . .,. •
HEADQUARTERS Sl!.CP.E.T COMMANDER ALL FORCES, ARUBA·CURACAO "'~ Time Fort Amsterdam ~R Time Willemstad, Curacao, N. W. I. --- ,,.. - tt' - R... D-I-A-R-Y •
Venezuelan Naval Ve s sels ,.,rW1? E~ ·\L l" R,f)A~"~T~ and 11.i?'.H'P.AL SOIJSLETTE st ood out Curacao for Cartagena, Co lW'!l.bia.
lTSAT SAf1SON stood out Curacao f or San Juan.
USAT ST:\TE OF VIRGINL\ stood in Cur acao from Canal Zon.e.
USS CHICOPEE (A0-34) stood in Aruba from Bermuda .
USS OG~HEE (AQi-35) was d€tached and st ood in Aruba from G ~.T-170 convoy enroute f}uantanarno to Trinidad. 1''.o ships were detached for Curacao.
No ships from Aruba or Curacao j oined this movement.
No ships vtere detached from or joined TAG-168 convoy enroute Trinidad to GuAntanamo .
1 ~ISC FLLANEOUS :
llr. J . A,. T1roodharn, ~ 11 . s . A. , having been relieved by ~ir . Henry Clements, departed via KU1 Airlines for Cristobal.
Stf'?..FACF. OP~.._;TI Or!S: USS CHICOPEE (A0-34) stood out Aruba for Canal zone.
Dur i ng the period of 1 through 7 November, the naval craft at Aruba- Cur acao performed t heir usual escort, patro J.. , acreening and minesweeping duties, and the lake tankers made their independent day and night shuttle between Curacao, Aruba and !'iaracaibo, Venezuela . Also, the aircraft at Curacao engsged in their usual training and anti- submarine warfare operations and made their routine daylight sweeps along the routes of' the lake tankers.
' I I c. '1 . LURD, Gommander, USrffi, c. C. GUELL ,,/ Convoy, Routing and Surface Operations Officer. Lieutenant, USNR. ( •
HEADQUARTERS S~RET COMMANDER ALL FORCES, ARUBA-CURACAO QR Time Fort Amsterdam QR Time Willemstad, Curacao, N. W. l. ------W-A-R D-I-A-R-Y
SURFACE OPERATIONS:
USS OGEECHEE (AOG-35) departed Aruba for Canal Zone.
UISCEIJ.ANEOUS:
Rear Admiral Frank E. Beatty made an official visit to Maracay, Venezuela and returned the same day. ' !h~!d.!Y.L .2. ~0!.~_124!±·- ______Ea!el. Qn!_.
SURFACE OPERATI01'IS; ... ' USS LARAMIE (A0-16) stood iri Aruba from Guantanamo.
USS BIDDLE (DD-151) stood in Aruba from Tr:i nidad.
USS LARAMIE {A0-16) stood out Aruba for BernBlda.
SURF ACE OPERATIOOS:
MISC. A-52 convoy consisting of USAT STATE OF VIRGINIA with 450 troops aboard eecorted by USS BIDDLE (DD-151) stood out Aruba for San Juan. USS YT-799 stood in Curacao from San Juan.
USS YMS-400 and USS n&S-312 were detached from this co.amand and stood out Curacao for Trinidad.
SS JAJJ'FS COOK, U. s. merchant tanker enroute Cristobal to Aruba was rammed on the etarboard side am1 dships by the ALBERT E. WATTS, U. S. merchant tanker enroute Curacao to canal zone. Approxi.Jnate position of collision 1240N 7140R. Part oI the ere" t.ro.m the JAMES COOK abandoned ship and were taken aboard the ALBERT E. WA'!'l'S. u. s. Routing and Operations at Aruba despatched the tug ONF'KA and USS n!S-392 with medical assistance aboard to the scene of the collision. u. s. Routing and Operations at Curacao sent the USS ATR-5 escorted by the USS SC-1299 and the USS ATR-22 escorted b7 USS YMS-160 to assist. The tug ONPJCA and the USS n.!3-392 with 21 injured merchant men' including tour hospital cases from the JAMES COOK arrived in Aruba at 0530 QR on the eleventh. The AIBERT E. WATTS proceeded enroute to Canal Zone after discharging injured personnel aboerd USS DB-392.. The J~~'PS CO(!( in to~ cf ~TR-22 ~YT!ved Aruba 0630 o~~ C!l the twelfth .. SR;RE'l' HEADQUAR*I'ERS I COMMANDER ALL FORCES, ARUBA-CURACAO QR Time Fort Amsterdam QR Time WiJlemstad, Curacao, N. W. I. ------W-A-R D-I-A-R-Y
!r!d!1.a.10Jl£.V~£ !9~.!. __ .______- ______f.8iel.1"'£•_ AIR OPERATIONS:
Planes under this colUf.nand gave special coverage and as ~isted in rendezvous of tugs and escorts with the JAMES C()Q{. MISCELLANFX>US: SS JOSEFINA s (Argentine merchant freighter) enroute Tampico to Buenos Aires arrived at Curacao for bunkers today. Netherlands authorities boarded vessel and found that she was carrying many contraband items. Ship was detained and CNO notified by despatch. Ship was given clearance by CNO on 11 November 191.4 in secret despatch ll2042 •
.§.a!u£ SURF ACE OPERATIONS: The MISSISSIPPI, u. s. merchant tanker enroute Las Piedras to Philadelphia went aground off Salinas Point in the Gulf of Venezuela. The USS ATR-5, USS CG-83326 and the lake tanker ULE were desoatched to scene. The YMS-399 reported the groWlding and remained at scene screening vessel. Part of the cargo from the MISSISSIPPI was pumped into the lake tanker ULE. The MISSISSIPPI was re.floated at approximately 1030 QR on the twelfth arui after reloading her cargo got under way and proceeded to destination, Philadelphia at approxjmately 2000Z on the thirteenth. SURFACE OPERATIONS: USS n.B-309 reported to this conmand tor duty today arriving from Trinidad. USS Y0-127 was detached from GAT- 171 convoy enroute Guantanamo to Trinidad and stood in Aruba. One merchant ship from Curacao joined this convoy. SURFACE OPEP..!TIONS: DUJ DAUMALE (French cargo ship) went aground 1145N 6647W. U. s. Routing and Operations at Curacao despatched USS SQUANTO (YTB-194), USS SC-1305 and nf>-309 to scene. 1"'11....::". noe Vlr..,.1?0 .c'l"l~.-.nte 'l'ri~-i:i~rl t-~ .,,.on -~~ ""Jl..i to -._ • .,_ vwv A~ -•""" _.,...., -- - .. ------,,_. -- ,..._, ....._ ... -...~- ··-- nivP-n-..i- • - - ~ VI-~ e Y. ordered scene. SQUANTO advised CAFAC that she was wisuceessful in her attempt to refloat ship and requested further assistMce. The ATR-5 was ordered to scene by u. s. Routing and Operations at Curacao and NOB Trinidad was requested to send USS CmJSADER to assist. t - - • i HEADQUARTERS • COMMANDER ALL FORCES, ARUBA~CURACAO OR Time Fort Amsterdam QR Ti.'lle Willemst.ad, Curacao, N. W. I. ------'V-A-R D-I-A-R-Y .IU~sgaL-~ Jio!~!r_l.2~·- ___ ..,,. ______Ea&el. !h!e!• SURFACE OPERATIONS : SS J Alm:> COOK arrived Curacao from Aruba in tow of ATR- 5 for drydocking. USS Y-36 stood in Curacao from Canal zone. MISCELLANEDUS: Brig. General Philip E. Gallagher, USA, Infantry, and Col. L. c. Davidson, USA, enroute Panama to San Juan arrived Hato at 1100 QR and departed 11110 QR same day. !_e~!_s~az,_li N_o!~£.r_124!• ______f_a!e..:.. _!h::_e!_. SURFACE OPJiaATIONS: USS YJ.S-170 arrived Curacao from Trinidad and reported CAF:\C for duty. ADpENDU!~ : During the period of 8 through 15 November, the naval craft at Aruba-Curacao performed their usual escort, patrol, screening and minesweeping duties, and the lake tankers made their independent day and night shuttle between Curacao, Aruba and Maracaibo, Venezuela. Also, the aircra~ at Curacao engaged in their usual training and anti-submarine warfare operations and made their routine daylight sweeps along the routes of t he lake tankers • .. SUBMITI'ED • c • . • LlIRD, ee Commander, USNR, C. c. GUEJ.r., Convoy, Routing and surface Operations Officer. Ueutenant, USNR. 7 - SEJRET HEADQUARTERS S&:RET COMMANDER ALL FORCES, ARUBA·CURACAO QR Time Fort Amsterdam QR Time Willemstad, Curacao, N. W. 1. ------W-A-R D-I-A-R-Y !h~§.d!Y.a.!6_N~v!!_m:Q.e,r !.9!J!+.:. ______---- ______f_a~e.:. Q~·- SURFACE OPERATIONS: USAT STATE OF 1U\RYLAND stood in Curacao from San Juan. The USS ONTONAGON (AOG-36) and one merchant vessel were detached from GAT-172 convoy and stood in Aruba. · • One merchant vessel was detached from same convoy and stood in Curacao. No ships from Aruba or Curacao joined this movement. lUSCEL.LA.NIDUS: Comdr. Shaw, Commanding Officer U. S. Naval Operations Aruba arrived Curacao for a scheduled conference with CAFAC and returned to Aruba same day. £:r!d!1..i. !7_N2v~!?.eJ: 19~.:. ______Ea&e.:. Qn~'- SURFACE OPERATIONS: SS WESTERN S'RORD, U. S. cargo ship went aground Zapara Channel. U. S. Routing and Operations Curacao ordered the tug OmA from Aruba sent to scene. Maracaibo also sent tug. Tug SQUANTO was recalled from scene or DUC DAUf.ULE grounding for lespatch to Zapara Channel to assist with VffiSTERM SVIORD operation. USS LT-800 stood out Curacao for San Juan. USS C~USADER (ARS-2) comnienced laying three sets of beach gear in effort to refloat DUC DAUllALE. ATR-5 pwnped 26,503 gallons fuel oil aboard the SS DUC DAUl.!ALE while it lay stranded on Cayo Sal. This fuel enabled the vessel to maintain steam to operate the deck machinery (winches) used in heaving off the strand \rl.th beach gear and to operate the main engines. AIR OPERATIOMS: Rear Admira1 Frank E. Beatty, USN, CAFAC, Comdr. Leonard Marbury, USNR, Deputy Chief of Staff of CAFAC, Comdr. c. G. Laird, USNR, u. S. Routing, Convoy and Operations Officer Curacao, and Lieut. Robert Bates, Flag Lieutenant and Aide to CAFAC, took off from Hato and landed at Cayo Sal, Los Roques today in a PBY-5A for the purpose of observing salvage operations of the French steamship DUG DAUJJAT.E which went aground 13 November 1944 on the southside of Cayo Sal. • HEADQUARTERS SECRET CO]fMANDER Al.L FORCES, ARUBA-CURACAO QR Time Fort Amsterdam QR Time Willemstad, Curacao, N. W. I. = == W- A-R D-I-A-R-Y §.~ur,dy..z. ,!S_N_2~mQ.e!: !91.J.'1.!. ______E_a~.:_ .'.!:w2.•_ SURFACE OPERATIONS: USS ONTOtJAGOM (A USS LT-18 stood in Aruba from San Juan. DUC DAU1UIE, French freighter, which went aground 13 November 1944 was floated today. §.UD.d!J'.a. l9J~2V!inRei: !.9W+.!. ______E,a&e:.. I.-2.•_ SURFACE OPERATIONS: USS YP-305 stood in Curacao from Trinidad. USS YP-305 stood out Curacao for Canal Zone. go.ud!Y.a. £0_N2'V!ma.er !9!JA.:. ___ ,.... ______Ea,g,e.:_ !w2.•_ SURFACE OPERATIONS: USAT STATE OF l!ARYLAND stood out Curacao for San Juan. USS LT-lS, Almy tug, stood out Aruba for San Juan. Iu£sg,az,_2! !o~!r_l2.4b.·- ______f.a~e.:.. !w.2·- SURFACE OPERATIONS: One merchant vessel was detached from GAT-173 convoy and stood in Puerto Cabello. The SS VIESTERN SWORD which went aground 17 November was refloated today and proce"'ded enroute to its destination, Marucaibo. The tug Oml\A and USS mS-399 returned to Aruba. The DUC DAUlrALE in convoy with the USS CRUSADER (A.~-2) and USS ndS-170 arrived Curacao today. AIR OPERATIONS: Lt. Comdr. llcKeon in R50 (lockheed J.Ddestar) Buno J21184 arrived Hato Field from SECRET HEADQUARTERS SECRET COMMANDER ALL FORCES, ARUBA-CURACAO QR Time Fort Amsterdam QR Time Willemst.ad, Curacao, N. W. I. ------W-A-R D-I-A-R-Y Iu!ss!.aL_2! !o.!emt>~r_l2.~·- ______p_a~.!. !h!:e~. AIR OPERATIONS: (Cont'd.) Trinidad and reported to CAFAC for temporary duty. JRB-3 Buno 76755 departed Hato Field for Trinidad for temporary duty in exchange for R50. MISCEI.I.ANIDUS: Commander Shields, USN, Commander Fleet Air Wing ELEVEfl, arrived Hato Field from San Juan today and departed for San Juan via La Guaira 22 November 1944· SURFACE OPERATIONS: USS CRUSADER (ARS-2) stood out Curacao for Trinidad. ADDENDID.f: During the period of 16 through 23 November, the naval craft at Aruba-Curacao performed their usual escort, patrol, screening and minesweeping duties, and the lake tankers made their independent day and night shuttle between Curacao, Aruba and Maracaibo, Venezuela. Also, the aircraft at Curacao engaged in their usual training and anti-submarine warfare operations and made their routine daylight sweeps along the routes of the lake tankers. SUBlll1'fED • G. A , 00 Commander, USNR, C. C. GUELL, Convoy, Routing and Surface Operations Officer• lieutenant, USNR. ...• • /{) l • • I HEADQUARTERS COMMANDER AIJ, FORCES, ARUBA-CURACAO Fort Amsterdam QR Time Willemstad, Curacao, N. W. I. --- lJid!1.a. 3,11_N9.~t l 9JJJ+:1.. ______.. ____ ... ______.... _P!i!>!,:_0!!9.:_ _ SURF.ACE OPERATIONS: UISC. S-187 convo1 consisting of one merchant vessel escorted b1 the USS SC-1310 depdrted Curacao tor Sint J.Iaarten via Bonaire. §.&1U£d!J.a.. ~-N.2V!!~!: !91t4..:. ______f.age.!. Qn!.._ SURFACE CP!.RATIONS: US.S HOOSATONIC (A0-35) stood in .Aruba ft-om Norfolk. MISCELLANll)tJS: Rear Admiral Frank E. Beatty departed Hato Field today on leave. §.UJ!d.!7~ _¥,_!12.•i"29I. !9!J/+.£ ______.. ______.. ___ ... _ f.8ie.!. QM.• .. SOHF.AOE OPQUTIOllS: USS ROtJSA'fONIC (A0-35) stood out. Aruba for Banal Zone. ¥0J!dJT.a. ~-R~!: !9!4.& ______. ______... ______.. f,age:._ ~·- SURFACE OPERATIONS: USS PC-1216 was detached !rom GAT-174 convoy and proceeded to Curacao with injured seaman aboard. SURF.ACE OPmATIONS: USS PC-1216 and one merchant ship stood out Curacao and joined GAT-174 conToy enrou.te Guantanamo to Trinidad. USS ATR-22 departed Curacao f-ar Cape San Roman to eonmence demolition operations on the WJ'8ekage ot the SS PUN'l'A GORDA. ( The SS PUNTA GORDA was sunk 18 September 1944 as a reeult of a colliwi on ,.itb th6 SS AMPE"roO cff Cape s~~ Fp,!a91.) II • HEADQUARTERS S.EtRET COl\IMANDER AI.I. FORCES, ARUBA-CURACAO QR Time Fort Amsterdam QR Time Willemstad, Curacao, N. W. I. --- W-A-R 0-I-A-R-I J!e,Sn!s,iaz,_2.2. !f_o~.!r_li4.41• ______f_a&e.:.. !w2.·-- AIR OPE.RATIO~: Four planes (Catalinas) o! VPB-92 squadron were detached toda7 and proceeded to San Juan. Six Venturas of VPB-147 squadron arrived Hato Field from San Juan tor duty. !h!!r.!d!Y.L J.0..N.2."!ll!?e!:. !9/Jfa..:. ______f.a&e.!. l'W2.·- _ SURFACE OPERATIO~: The following is a list of wssels upon which repairs were eff1!cted b7 the Escort Veseela Administration during the month of November 1944i D&S-391 SC-1299 CGC-83309 ATR-5 !MS-392 SC-1305 CGC-83325 ATR-22 IM.S-160 SC-1310 CGC-83380 !T-194 nrs-110 50007P Y'l'-299 IMS-309 SS IOOKOUT 1.DUNTAIN All npaire were routine repairs and ma;j ntenance. No repaire were made as a result of enemy action. AIR OPERATIONS: During the month of November, there was an average of 9.93 long range planes attached to CAPAC engaged in convo7 and anti-submarine sweeps. These long range planes made 166 flights, 299.6 hours being on convoy coverage and 416.8 hours on anti-submarine sweeps. During the period ot 24 through 30 November, the naval craft at Aruba-Curacao performed their usual escort, patrol, screening and mine9118epil'lg duties,, and the lake tankers made their independent da7 and night shuttle between Curacao, Aruba and Maracaibo, Vene~uela. Also, the aircraft at Curacao engaged in their usual training and anti-submarine wartare operations and made their routine daylight sweeps along the routes of the lake tankers • • C. G. , Commander, USNR, Convoy, Routing and Surface Operations Officer. • ' READQCARTERS TENTH NA' TAL DISTRICT ------sA~ JUAN. PUERTO RICO------.-~ Staff/gnu. FlgSec. :;o~f:-20 o2 11 f1 ------SECRET . . SEIJOND ENDORSaIBNT to: C.AFAC Secret ltr.Ser.00180 dated ll Dec.1944. Prom: Conmandant,TENTH Naval District. To : Commander in Chief, United States Fleet. SUbject: War Diary- Forwarding of l. Forwarded. • \'i. R. HEN .E'f, l ..... - Chief of Staff cc: CAFAC. • - , - - I ,I • . ':. . ·- I..,, \ ...... , . . ,.. . -~ e ~· - ·- JJ { 1 w· ." ,-. . I • l l . ,. • ~· I f • -· ii~ • •• U.S. Navy - CAFAC - C.O.'s dated December 31, 1944.xls ABC D 1 U.S.S. Class of Vessel Call Sign Commanding Officer 2 3 YMS-4 Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper NAHE Myers, J.B. - LT. ( jg ) 4 YMS-56 Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper Millard, Nelson W. - LT. U.S.N.R. # 192540 5 YMS-160 Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper NXUQ Adams, jr. John Henry - LT. U.S.N.R. # 120233 6 YMS-312 Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper NPPF Gregory, Lyman E. - LT. ( jg ) U.S.N.R. # 162603 7 YMS-399 Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper NGTV Caruthers, James Wade - LT. ( jg ) U.S.N.R. # 245198 8 YMS-400 Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper NGWC MacLearn, Donald S. - LT. ( jg ) U.S.N.R. # 209645 9 YR-32 Floating Workshop Unknown 10 ATR-5 Rescue Ocean Tug NFLJ Verville, Milton J. - LT. U.S.N.R. # 101934 11 ATR-22 Rescue Ocean Tug NZEQ Howes, Harold D. - LCDR. U.S.N.R. # 83040 12 YNT-3 Yard Net Tender Tug - U.S.S. Oneka NAFB Unknown 13 YTB-194 District Harbor Tug ( Large ) - U.S.S. Squanto NBXW Unknown 14 YTL-299 District Harbor Tug ( Small ) Unknown 15 SC-1299 Submarine Chaser ( 110' ) NPTQ Van Beek, Donald A. - LT. ( jg ) U.S.N.R. # 186473 16 SC-1305 Submarine Chaser ( 110' ) NTHM McDonald, Donald - LT. U.S.N.R. # 160472 17 SC-1310 Submarine Chaser ( 110' ) NTIA Benold, Oscar W. - LT. ( jg ) U.S.N.R. # 225620 18 PC-1213 Submarine Chaser ( 173' ) NQTW Caesar, II Henry A. - LT. U.S.N.R. # 172133 19 20 mck 6-1-15 • VP92- UNITED STATES ATLANTJC FLEET File : PATROL SQUADRON NINETY-TWO Serial: t;a?e of Postmaster, New York, Nnr York. ------C-~-l'-I-D-F-U-T-1-A.-L Enclosure (A) O:Rm.mCE m>ElwI™ POB UO!TH OF no~ iq44: Alnunition 5''J Cal • 5350 30 Cal. 2500 Marlc 23 Minie.ture bombs g.34 Mark 19 Miniature bombs 20 Float lighte l Mark g J'l.EU'ee 10 Depth Charge Markers Mark.lllod . l 17 Hark 2 2 Mark 4 Bomb Slgnals ~ Enolosure (A) t Enern, Femern and Toern These whalers were originally part of a Norwegian whalerfleet with the factoryship Solglimt. After the raider Penguin captured a complete whalerfleet in the southern atlantic, the hunt for whales virtually ceased and the ships were put to other uses. These whalers were in New Orleans in 1940, where they were hired as patrolvessel in the Dutch West Indies. • rL Toern at sea I Construction details I Enern II Femern llToern I Dockyard Akers Mekaniske Framnes Mekaniske Akers Mekaniske Verksted A/S, Oslo Versted A/S, Verksted A/S, Oslo Sandefjord Owner A/S Thor Dahl in Sandefjord I Commissioned 1929 (mercantile) 1932 (mercantile) 1929 (mercantile) July 5 1940 (RNN) July 5 1940 (RNN) July 5 1940 (RNN) Pennants LDHR (mercantile) II LDHT (mercantile) II LDHW (mercantile) I History Returned to owners Picked up 8 survivors Returned to owners on August 211945 in from the Norwegian on August 21 1945 in St. Johns, Canada tanker "Lise" on May St. Johns, Canada 13 1942. The ship had been sunk by u- 69 the previous day. Returned to owners on August 211945 in St. Johns, Canada http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/Whalers.htm 5/21/2015 I Specifications I IDisplacement Enern/Toern: 248 gross tons Femern: 257 gross tons ! c rew 15 I Dimensions 35,23 x 7,24 m I Armament 1x75 mm 2 x .30 Lewis MG I Additional LL-minesweeping gear against magnetic mines. ASW Asdic 4 depthcharges I I Specifications I Enern II Femern llToern I IB oilers IMachinery Ishafts IPe rformance 776 hp 11775 hp 11765 hp I IRange Ispeed 10,5 knots I IRange • STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS ·uNDER 300 TONS, TRAWLERS, &c . E~D-ENS 1944-45 LLOYD'S REGISTER. .. • • • • E I • a • l ~ E a ' d I •' T ti 1 ~ 10 • j 12 ~o. ln • • 8-l'd Particulars of Clasei- R~'fist ' d JJ1m.,1uu0Ja:-t, Port nook. Steamer's Name. Ma1ierial, R1g, &c. ~ foaa•p. fication. Built. Dt1ck Erectiou"• ilc. of I "C::l'- - Registry. 1 Oftlofal La.ie Name if a1iy. · Gra1L Oharacter, • {li No. Oode - Dace ol lut P.. CIJ J Letterl. .... sune7. ~3 - ..... - . . -··-- - - · - ·-··· - ··-··- · · · .... ·-· · - _.. .. ------·- ··- ·- ·····-·· .. ·- .... - - .... _ ...... 1b9 19381J.S.Watson H.Oovington& 7•8·London Oil Engines 28.C.SA 57342 Endsleig h 7 OilEng. 146 (Gains- Sons,Ld. British 40 .10 1 a'-13!" 7GNH> 166~90 86 borough)Ld. (E.J.Blair,Mgr.) Nt. KrotnhoutM trn fbA mP Ga.insb'rough 57343 Energia 131 1923 Antwerp Soc.Anon.de 89•4j20•5!II •4 ADtwerp T.BCy. ( Tttg) Eng.Co. Remorq.aHelice Belgian 1\.lbl~1sser,lam~cl1e . 1? Hoboken Machf ab.Al bl:?.sser Sunk 16.7.43 WSW of the Azores (30°05'N 44°17W) Served with 2 U-Flottille,Wilhelmshaven/Lorient January 1941 - 16.7.43 (ab/fb) Commanded by KL Heinrich Bleichrodt January - May 1941 OL Gunther Pfeffer June 1941 KL Gunther MOller-Stockheim July 1941 -16.7.43 Patrols: 8 Ships sunk: 13 (71, 704 grt) + 5 damaged U 67 was one of the first boats to be covered with the anti-sonar experimental rubber coating, Alberich. On the way to her new base in France in August 1941 U 67 lost 60% of the coating. 1. 1.8.41 Left Kiel and arrived Bergen 4.8.41 2. 19.8.41 ·Left Bergen and arrived Lorient 29.8.41 3. 14.9.41 Left Lorient for the Central Atlantic, one of four boats, U 67, U 68, U I 03 and U I 07, going south to operate in the Freetown area. On the 21st U 107 sighted northbound convoy SL 87 SW of the Canaries. U 67, U 68 and U 103 clos,ed the convoy and between them the four boats sank seven ships. U 67 sank the SS St Claire II (br 3753t) on the 24th WNW of the Canaries. After the convoy operation ended U 67 and U 68 continued south and were ordered to rendezvous with U 111 on the 28th in Tarafal Bay, Cape Verde Islands. This boat was returning and the plan was for U 111 to pass over her torpedoes to U 68 and receive fuel from U 67. The first to arrive was U 68, follow,ed soon afterwards by U 111. Torpedoes were transferred to U 68 in the evening and the two boats moved out of the bay. As they did so two explosions were heard on the beach. These were two badly-aimed torpedoes fired at them by the British submarine HMS Clyde, which had arrived late on the 27th to await the coming of the three boats. U 67 arrived soon after U 68 and U 111 had left. Approaching, Mtiller-Stockheim saw two patrol boats leaving the bay. He then saw Clyde ahead of him. She attempted to ram U 67 but the reverse happened. U 67 rammed Clyde, severely damaging her own bow but only slightly damaging the British submarine, which then headed for Gibraltar. Before leaving the area U 67 met U 68 and transferred her surplus fuel to U 68, which then resumed her journey south. On 4.10.41 U Ill was sunk SW of Tenerife. U 67 returned to Lorient 16.10.41 4. 26.11.,41 Left to operate off Spain and Portugal. From 9.12.41 U 67 and other boats making up the Seerii.uber group were-waiting W of Gibraltar for convoy HG 76 to leave for the United Kingdom. The convoy was expected to have a strong escort and tbis proved to be so. HG 76 sailed on the 14th and the Seerii.uber boats moved against it. The operation lasted until. the night of the 22/23rd. During this period U 67 made several approaches but was driven off every time. Results were disappoint ing. Three ships were sunk, as well as the destroyer HMS Stanley and the escort-carrier HMS Audacity but five boats were lost. U 67 returned to base 26.12.41 5.. 19.1.42 Left to patrol in the Caribbean area, as part of the Neuland group of five boats, made up ofU 67, U 129, U 156, U 161 and U 502. The plan was for the five boats to be in position by mid-February and for simultaneous attacks to be made on some ports and oil installations. U 67 had been operating off Cur~ao and there, on the morning of 16.2.42 she torpedoed and damaged the tanker SS Rafaela (nl 3177t) offshore of Willemstad. U 129 had just previous! y fired four torpedoes at other ships anchored offshore but her hits produced only sounds of dud torpedoes striking. Later in the morning of the 16th U 67 was attacked by an A 20 of the USAF 59th Bomber Squadron (Lt West), unsuccessfully. In the evening U 67 joined up with U 502 to bombard the oil-storage installations at Aruba but this was foiled by the imposition of a black-out and the activities of patrol vessels. U 67 moved further west and on the 21st sank the tanker SS JN Pew (am 9033t) N of Santa Marta, Colombia. On _her way out of the eastern Caribbean in the early hours of 14.3.42 U 67 sank the tanker MV Penelope (pa 8436t) SW of the Leeward Islands. Returned to Lorient 30.3.42 6. 20.5.42 Left for US waters. U 67 operated initially off the coast of Florida, where on 16.6.42 she sank the SS Managua (ni 2220t) SE of Key West. On the 20th, in the Gulf of Mexico, U 67 torpedoed and damaged the tanker MV Nortind (nw 8221t) off the Mississippi Delta and in the same area on the 23rd she sank the tanker SSRawleigh Warner. (am 3664t). The Nortind was sunk on 26.1.43 by U 358 E of Cape Farewell. On 29.6.42 U 67 sank the tanker SS Empire Mica (br 8032t) off St Vincent Island, Florida. E of New Orleans the boat sank the MV Bayard (nw 2160t) on 6.7.42 and torpedoed and damaged the tanker SS Paul H Harwood (am 6610t) on the 7th. She had two more successes on this patrol, sinking two more tankers, the SS Benjamin Brewster (am 5950t) off Campecbe, Mexico on the 10th and the SS R W Gallagher (am 7989t) in Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana on the 13th. U 67 returned to Lorient 8.8.42 7. 16.9.42 Left to patrol E and SE of the Caribbean. On 16.10.42 U 67, U 160, U 332 and U 516 closed an eastbound convoy just after it had left Port of Spain, Trinidad. Only U 160 was able to make an attack, sinking one small ship and damaging another. The other boats were prevented by strong air cover and a full moon. On the 25th U 67 sank an independent, the MV Primera (nw 4414t) E of St Lucia after a chase, during which the Primero struck U 67 a glancing blow, causing damage to the upper deck spare torpedo containers on the port side. A seaman was severely injured attempting to open one, causing a damaged torpedo to explode. He died on the 27th and was buried at sea. In November U 67 was patrolling E of the Windward Islands. She torpedoed and damaged the SS Capo Olmo (br 4712t) on the 8th off the southern coast of Tobago, sank the SS Nidarland (nw 6132t) on the 9th N of Tobago, sank the MV King Arthur (br 5224t) on the 15th E of Trinidad, sank the MV Tortugas (nw 4697t) on the 18th E of Barbados and on the 28th, with all torpedoes gone, she damaged by gunfire the MV Empire Glade (br 7006t) E of the Leeward Islands. After sinking the Tortugas U 67 picked up two of her officers. The returning boat was refuelled by U 460 at the beginning of December NW of the Azores. U 67 reached Lorient 21.12.42 8. 3.3.43 Left for operations in the Central Atlantic. U 67, U 103, U 109, U 159 and U 524 were ordered to an area S of the Azores, where they formed a patrol line, Wohlgemut, from the 13th. The eastbound convoy UGS 6 had left New York on the 5tb and was sighted by U 130 of Unverzagt group on the 12th. This boat was sunk during the night of the l 2/13tb and contact was not regained until the 14th. The Wohlgemut boats made contact on that day. A calm sea, a strong escort and increasing air cover from the evening of the 17th caused the operation to be terminated on the 19th W of southern Portugal. Only two ships were sunk in spite of there having been seventeen boats in contact with the con voy over an eight-day period. After leaving the UGS 6 action U 67, U 123, U 159, U 167, U 172, U 513 and U 515 moved south and formed a new patrol line, Seeri:iuber, S of the Canaries to intercept southbound convoy RS 3. It was sighted on the 27th, two ships were sunk on the 28th, by U 159 and U 167, and another on the 29th by U 172. During the attack on the convoy on the 29th U 67 was damaged by one of the two escorting corvettes and was unable to take any further part in lh.e action. After transferring her surplus fuel to U 515 she set out for base and reached Lorient 13.4.43 9. 10.5.43 Left to operate in an area 300 to 600 miles NE of the Caribbean. In mid-July, after ten weeks at sea, U 67 had achieved no success and was very short of fuel. On 16.7.43 the returning boat, seeking replenishment, was sighted by an Avenger (Lt RP Williams) of VC-13 from the escort carrier USS Core some 850 miles WSW of Flores, Azores. Using cloud cover, the aircraft approached the boat and dropped four depth bombs. The bow rose out of the sea, U 67 then disappeared and oil and wreckage spread over the surface. Three survivors were picked up by the destroyer USS McCormick, one officer and two ratings. 48 men, including the commander were lost. u 69 Type VII C Built by Germania Werft, Kiel Keellaid 11.11.39 Launched 19.9.40 Commissioned 2.11.40 Feldpost Nr M 25 172 Sunk 17.2.43 SSE of Cape Farewell {50°50 'N 40°50 'W) Served with 7 U-Flottille, Kiel/St Nazaire November 1940-172 . 43 {ab/fb) Commanded by KL Jost Metzler November 1940 - August 1941 KL Wilhelm Zahn August 1941 - March 1942 KL Ulrich Graf March 1942 - 17.2.43 Patrols: 11 Ships sunk 16 {64,812 grt) + 1 damaged 1. 10.2.41 Left Kiel, passed through the North Sea, then S of the Shetlands into the eastern Atlantic. On the 17th U 69 sank the MV Siamese Prince (br 8456t) SW of the Faroes and on the 19th the SS Empire Blanda (br 5693t), a straggler from eastbound convoy HX 107, S of Iceland. On the 19th a German aircraft sighted westbound convoy OB 287 NW of Cape Wrath. U 69 and other boats then S of Iceland were ordered southeast, with the intention of forming a patrol line ahead of the convoy. Inaccurate information from aircraft caused the patrol lines to be formed in the wrong place and the operation was called off late on the 21st. On this day U 69 was attacked twice with depth-charges by a Sunderland. German aircraft reported another westbound convoy, OB 288, on the 23rd and this time it was intercepted, S of Iceland. Late on the 23rd U 69 sank the independent SS Svein Jarl (nw 1908t) in the same area. In all eight ships from the convoy were sunk by four boats and an Italian submarine. After sinking the Svein Jarl U 69 suffered a prolonged series of depth-charge attacks by one of the convoy's escort but she escaped undamaged. U 69 put in to her new base at Lorient 1.3.41 2. 18.3.41 Left for Atlantic operations, S of Iceland. By the time U 69 arrived in her area there were no convoys to be found. The boats there were ordered further west on the 26th. On the way U 69 sighted westbound convoy OB 302 on the 29th and shadowed it. She sank the SS Coultarn (br 3759t) in the morning of the 30th E of Cape Farewell and came under a long and heavy attack by the escort but again escaped undamaged. A new patrol line was formed on 2.4.41, to intercept eastbound convoy SC 26. In the early morning of the 3rd U 69 was in contact with the convoy in the central North Atlantic, ESE of Cape Farewell. It was a successful operation, with eleven sinkings shared between six boats, none by U 69. U 69 returned to Lorient 11.4.41 3. 5.5.41 Left for the Central Atlantic, to operate off the west coast of Africa and to lay mines. On the 19th U 69 was refuelled by the supply ship Egerland near the Canaries. En route to her operational area on the 21st, U 69 encountered the SS Robin Moor (am 4999t) NNE of St Paul Rocks. At that time the US was neutral and after stopping the ship Metzler was hesitant about sinking her. However, an examination of the ship's papers revealed that her cargo was arms and aircraft parts for Capetown. Metzler allowed the captain and crew to take to the boats before sinking the ship with one torpedo and then gunfire. He towed the lifeboats to within easy distance of the African coast. The Robin Moor was the first American ship to be sunk by a U-boat in World War Two. Late in the evening of the 21st, NE of the Rocks, U 69 sank the SS Tewkesbury (br 4601t), again by torpedo and gunflfe. During the night of the 25/26th the boat laid seven mines off Lagos and the next night laid another seven off Takoradi. The dredger Robert Hughes (br 2879t) sank at the entrance to Lagos harbour on 4.6.41 after striking one of these mines. On 31.5.41 U 69 torpedoed the MV Sangara (br 5445t) in the harbour at Accra. The ship sank to the bottom but was later salvaged and.repaired. U 69 moved north again in early June and was due for-fuel replenishment from the supply ship Lothringen on the 19th but Lothringen was sunk on the 15th by the cruiser HMS Dunedin. U 69 had had a previous rendezvous planned for replenishment by the supply ship Egerlandbut she bad been sunk on the 5th. Very short of fuel, U 69 went slowly north, heading for Las Palmas for refuelling. In the early hours of the 27th, 300 miles SW of the Canaries, she encountered northbound convoy SL 76. U 69 sank two ships, the SS Empire Ability (br 7603t) and the SS River Lugar (br 5423t). She also p9ssibly hit a third ship of the convoy. During the night of the 28/29th the boat entered Las Palmas harbour and was replenished by the interned German supply ship Charlotte Schliemann. U 69 continued north and on 4. 7 .41 she sank the SS Robert L Holt (br 2918t) by gunfire NW of the Canaries. The boat may have been attacked by an aircraft before berthing at St Nazaire 8.7.41 4. 21.8.41 U 69 left for operations in the Atlantic. On the 24th the commander, KL Metzler, became ill and the First Officer, OL Auffermann, assumed command. U 69 returned to St Nazaire 27.8.41 5. 1.9.41 Left for the Atlantic, now commanded by KL Zahn. U 69 began her patrol in the atea SW of Jreland. From the 12th she moved further out into the Atlantic and was with Brandenburg group from the 18th. She operated against convoy SC 44 and in the morning of the 20th fired a torpedo at the already-sinking MV Barbro but itfailed to detonate. This vessel had been hit twice by U 552. U 69 returned to St Nazaire 1.10.41 6. 30.10.41 Left for Atlantic operations. On the 3 lst U 69 and five other boats outward-bound across the Bay of Biscay were directed to a southbound convoy, which had been sighted spme days earlier 500 miles W of Ireland. A search continued until 4.11.41 but the convoy was not found. From the 5th U 69 was with the Stortebecker group W of Spain, searching for convoys. When nothing was found the, boats moved northwest into the Atlantic. The group began a search for westb0und convoy OS 11 and any others that they might chance upon. On the 22nd the Naval Staff decided that the main U-hoat effort was to be made in the Mediterranean and in the area W of Gibraltar. By the 25th most bqats had left the North Atlantic, leaving three only, U 69, U 201 and U 402. Short of fuel, they formed Letzte Ritter group NE of the Azores. Convoy OG 77 set out from the UK on the 26th and after it was located by air reconnaissance the Letzte Ritter boats were directed to it. Havin,g failed to find the convoy and with fuel becoming desperately short the three boats headed home. U 69 reached St Nazaire 8.12.41 7. 18.1.42 Left for Atlantic operations, to patrol S and SE of Newfoundland. Probably as a result of a mechanical fault U 69 curtailed its patrol and returned to base. She reached St Nazai.re 26.1.42 8. 31.1.42 Sailed again for the area S and SE of Newfoundland. U 69 had an uneventful patrol and achieved no success. She returned to base 17.3.42 9. 12.4.42 Left for the western Atlantic, to operate around the Lesser Antilles and in the easterR Caribbean. En route to her operational area, U 69 was refuelled by U 459 on 1.5.42 NE of Bermuda. U 69 (continued) Later the same day the boat sank the sailing vessel James E Newsom (am 617t) by gunfire. On the 9th U 69 unsuccessfully attacked a US Coast Guard cutter in the Mona Passage. The cutter turned on the boat and with the help of some B l 8s of 45 Squadron (USAF) drove her off. On the 12th U 69 sank the tanker MV Lise (nw 6826t) by torpedo and gunfrre NNE of Cura\:aO and on the 13th the SS Nor/antic (ain 2606t) was sunk by the same method N of Caracas, Venezuela. U 69 sank the SS Torondoc (br 1927t) W of Martinique on the 21st. Having left the eastern Caribbean for home., the boat s·ank an abandoned tug by gunfire on 5.6.42 E of the Windward Islands. She returned to St Nazaire 25.6.42 10. 15.8.42 Left for a minel~ying operation off the US east coast. During the night of September 9/10th U 69 laid mines in Chesapeake Bay, after which she moved south, to patrol off Hatteras. Given a choice of operational areas, U 69's commander, KL Graf, elected to go north to Canadian waters. The boat passed through the Cabot Strait on the 30th. Having found no targets in the Gulf of St Lawrence, Graf moved into the river itself. On 9.10.42, off Baie Comeau, IJ 69 sank the SS Carolus (br 2375t). Graf now turned b~ck. The constant presence of searching aircraft made the charging of batteries and refilling of air bottles. very difficult but somehow U 69 reached the Cabot Strait by the 13th. Next morning she encountered the railway ferry SS Caribou (br 2222t), carrying 191 passengers and 46 crew. She was escorted by the minesweeper HMCS Grandmere. Graf torpedoed the Caribou, which began to sink. The Grand.mere saw the boat and turned to ram. U 69 dived, moving towards the Caribou. Despite the close proximity Grandmere dropped six depth char.ges, followed by twelve more but U 69 suffered no damage. On the Caribou all was chaos. Two overloaded lifeboats capsized and many, including children, died in the water before they could be picked up. 105 passengers arid 31 crew were lost. After lying submerged for sixteen hours U 69 crept away. On the 20th the boat's last torpedo failed t-0 detonate after hitting the SS Rose Castle. This vessel was sunk by U 518 on 2.11.42 at Wabana Anchorage, Conception Bay, Newfoundland. The returning U 69 was refuelled by U 463 on 28.10.. 42 in the central North Atlantic. She put in to Lorient 5.11.42 11. 2.1.43 Left Lorient for operations in the Atlantic. U 69 joined the Falke group W of Ireland, which was awaiting an ONS convoy. When this did not materialise the group moved north on the 16th but no convoys were found. By the 19th it appeared that convoys had probably been sent further north and boats with adequate fuel from· Falke and Habicht groups combined to form a new patrol line, Haudegen, running southeastwards from Cape Farewell. U 69 was in this line. An eastbound HX convoy was reported to the south ofHaudegen group, which was ordered southeastwards to intercept. Having failed to do so, the group returned to its patrol line S of Cape Farewell on the 26th. From 1.2.43 the Haudegcn boats began to move southwestwards towards Newfoundland. By the 9th they were positioned in an arc NE of Cape Race. A shortage of fuel caused the group to be dissolved on the 15th for the boats to make for a replenishment area, for refuelling by U 460. En route on the 17th, U 69 sighted the southwest-bound convoy ON 165. The order was given to pursue, with refuelling to come later. Operating against the convoy on the 17th, U 69 was sunk E of Newfoundland in depth-charge attacks made by the destroyer HMS Viscount (Lt Cdr JV Waterhouse). There were no survivors, 46 dead. u 130 Type IX C Built by AG Weser, Bremen Keel laid 20.8.40 Launched 14.3.41 Commissioned 11.6.41 Feldpost Nr M 41 224 Sunk 13.3.43 W of the Azores (37°1 O'N 40°21 W) Served with 4 U-Flottille, Stettin June -August 1941 (ab) 2 U-Flottille, Lorient August 1941 -13.3.43 (fb) Commanded by KK Ernst Kais June 1941 - January 1943 OL Siegfried Keller January 1943 - 13.3.43 Patrols: 6 Ships sunk: 25 (167,350 grt) + 1 damaged 1. 1.12.41 Left Kiel in transit to a new base in western France. On the 10th U 130 met eastbound convoy SC 57 by chance W of Rockall. In the late evening she sank three ships, the SS Kurdistan (br 5844t)~ the SS Star of Luxor (eg 5298t) and the SS Kimwood (br 3829t). U 130 put in to Lorient 15.12.41 2. 27.12.41 Left for the western Atlantic as part of the first wave of Operation Paukenschlag, made up of U 66, U 109, U 123, U 125 and U 130. On 12.1.42 U 130 was sighted by a Bolingbroke of 119 (RCAF) Squadron. Two depth-charges were dropped but the boat escaped. In the early hours of the 13th U 130 sank two ships S of Cape Breton Island, the SS Frisco (nw 1582t) and SS Friar Rock (pa 5427t). In the early hours of the 18th U 130 made two surface attacks on a ship off Cape Breton Island. She was about to make a third when a US destroyer approached at speed. U 130 dived and after laying on the bottom for a while she left the scene. Moving south, U 130 sank the tanker MV Alexandra Hoegh (nw 8248t) E of New York on the 21st and the tanker SS Olympic (pa 5335t) E of Cape Hatteras late on the 22nd. U 130 attacked three more ships during this patrol off the US east coast. She sank two tankers, the MV Varanger (nw 9305t) on the 25th E of Atlantic City and the SS Francis E Powell (am 7096t) on the 27th SSE of Ocean City, Maryland. Later on the 27th U 130 damaged the tanker SS Halo (am 6986t) off Cape Hatteras. This vessel was eventually sunk by U 506 on 20.5.42 S of New Orleans. On 4.2.42 U 130 refuelled U 109 N of Bermuda for return to base. U 130 rendezvoused with U 587 on the 18th W of the Bay of Biscay to take aboard five German aircrew, who had been rescued from the sea by U 587 after ditching their aircraft. U 130 returned to Lorient 25.2.42 3. 24.3.42 Left for operations in the Caribbean. Outward-bound, U 130 sank the MV Grenager (nw 5393t) on 11.4.42 by torpedo and gunfire ENE of the Leeward Islands and in the evening of the 12th she attacked and damaged the tanker SS Esso Boston (am 7699t) ENE of the Virgin Islands, also by torpedo and gunfire. The vessel, still on fire, was beached on Barbuda and declared a total loss. U 130 was ordered to bombard the oil storage installation at Bullen Bay, on the southern side of Cura9ao. The boat approached during the night of the 18/19th. She began firing at the Shell oil depot at 03.00 hours at a range of just over two miles. Shore batteries replied and U 130 was driven off after she had fired only twelve rounds. U 130 patrolled in the eastern Caribbean and in the area of the Greater Antilles but she had no further success. She returned to Lorient 6.6.42 4. 4.7.42 Left to operate in the Central Atlantic. On the 14th U 130 was operating against northbound convoy SL 115. She unsuccessfully attacked the sloop HMS Lulworth of the escort and was then herself attacked by the sloop but escaped. On the 25th U 130 sank the tanker MV Tankexpress (nw 10095t) SSW of the Cape Verde Islands by torpedo and gunfire and in the evening of the 27th the SS Elmwood (br 7167t) WSW of Freetown. U 130 was refuelled W of Freetown on the 28th by U 116. Two more ships were sunk in the same area by U 130, the MV Danmark (br 8391t) on the 30th and the tanker SS Malmanger (nw 7078t) on 9 .8.42. U 130 sank the tanker SS Mirlo (nw 7455t) on the 11th NE of St Paul Rocks, the SS Vi.king Star (br 6445t) on the 25th and the SS Beechwood (br 4897t) on the 26th, both W of Monrovia. The boat operated in the Freetown area until late August but had no further successes. U 130 returned to Lorient 12.9.42 5. 29.10.42 Left for operations in the Central Atlantic. U 130 was outward-bound, moving south, when news of the Allied landings in North Africa came on 8.11.42. All southbound boats with sufficient fuel were ordered to go at high speed to the Moroccan coast, as Schlagetot group. The boats arrived on the 11th and in the evening of the 12th U 130 slowly approached Fedala Anchorage, submerged. There were twenty ships there, including an aircraft carrier and a cruiser. With five torpedoes U 130 sank three troop transports of convoy UGF 1, the Edward Rutledge (am 9360t), the Tasker H Bliss (am 12568t) and the Hugh L Scott (am 12479t). She then made off northward, close inshore, and escaped. Later in November U 130 joined Westwall group W of Gibraltar. The group had not had much success and was constantly at risk, particularly from Gibraltar-based aircraft. On 26.11.42 it was decided that the Westwall boats should be moved to an area W of the Azores, to meet eastbound UGS convoys beyond the range of land-based aircraft. They began to move west wards from the 27th, continuing as far as longitude 40°W, reached on 6.12.42. Four ships were sunk during the night of the 6/7th but no convoys were seen and it was learned that they were passing further south, too far south for boats whose fuel was running low. On the 12th the Westwall line began to move to the east. U 130 was refuelled by U 463 W of the Azores on or about the 14th. When the group was dissolved on the 16th the boats took up positions W of Portugal from the 19th. A search for convoys over the next week found nothing and the boats began to head for home. U 130 reached Lorient 30.12.42 6. 28.2.43 Left for operations in the western Atlantic. En route to the assembly area W of the Azores, U 130 met north bound convoy XK 2 in the evening of 5.3.42 W of Cape Ortega!. In a single attack she sank four ships, the SS Fidra (br 1574t), the SS Empire Tower (br 4378t), the SS Trefusis (br 5299t) and the SS Ger-Y-Bryn (br 5108t). U 130, U 106, U 167, U 172, U 513 and U 515 were ordered to form a patrol line, Unverzagt SW of the Azores, to intercept eastbound convoy UGS 6. Before they could take up their positions U 130 sighted the convoy in the evening of the 12th. Whilst shadowing, she was located just before midnight by the destroyer USS Champlin (Cdr J J Schaffer) and then sighted on the surface. As the destroyer closed, she opened fire and U 130 dived. Six depth-charges were dropped and the boat was destroyed. There were no survivors, 53 dead. u 156 Type IX C Built by AG Weser, Bremen Keel laid 4.10.40 Launched 21 .5.41 Commissioned 4.9 .41 Feldpost Nr M 01 308 Sunk 8.3.43 E of Barbados {12°38'N 54°39W) Served with 4 U-Flottille, Stettin September- December 1941 (ab) 2 U-Flottille, Lorient December 1941 - 8.3.43 {fb) Commanded by KK Werner Hartenstein September 1941 - 8.3.43 Patrols: 5 Ships sunk: 19(97,190 grt) + 3 damaged 1. 24.12.41 Left Kiel in transit to western France. U 156 passed to the north of Scotland and en route she laid weather buoys. She put in to her new base at Lorient 10.1.42 2. 19.1.42 Left to operate in the Caribbean area, as part of Neuland group of five boats, made up of U 156, U 67, U 129, U 161 and U 502. The plan was for the five boats to be in position by mid-February and for simultaneous attacks to be made on some ports and oil installations. In the morning of 16.2.42 U 156 torpedoed three tankers off Sint Nicolaas, Aruba, damaging the SS Pedemales (br 4317t) and the SS Arkansas (am 6452t) and sinking the SS Oranjestad (br 2396t). In the afternoon U 156 was unsuccessfully attacked by an A 20 of the 59th Bomber Squadron (USAF) SW of Aruba. After dark U 156 returned to attempt a night bombardment of the Shell Lago oil terminal. The tampion was not removed from the boat's gun before firing began. The end of the gun barrel split and the 2 WO was seriously injured and one crewman was killed. The officer was put ashore at Fort de France, Martinique on the 18th for medical attention and the crewman was buried at sea. On the 20th U 156 torpedoed and sank the SS Delplata (am 5127t) W of Martinique. After several attacks during the early hours of the 25th U 156 sank the tanker SS La Carriere (br 5685t) S of Puerto Rico. With all torpedoes probably gone and with her damaged gun temporarily repaired, U 156 sank two ships by gunfire off Cabrera, Dominican Republic, the SS MacGregor (br 2498t) on the 27th and the tanker SS Oregon (am 7017t) on the 28th. It was reported that the crew of the Oregon were machine gunned whilst they were in the water. U 156 was the first of the Neuland boats to return to base. She reached Lorient 17.3.42 3. 22.4.42 Left to operate in the western Atlantic. U 156 patrolled E of the Caribbean, in an area 550 miles E of the Leeward Islands. The boat sank the MV Koenjit (nl 455lt) early on 13.5.42, the SS City of Melbourne (br 6630t) by torpedo and gunfire in the evening of the same day, the MV Siljestad (nw 4301 t) early on the 15th, the SS Kupa (yg 4382t) in the evening of the 15th, the SS Barrdale (br 5072t) on the 17th and sank the SS Quaker City (am 4961t) and damaged the tanker MV San Eliseo (br 8042t) on the 18th. It had been reported that Port de France, Martinique was under surveillance by US naval forces, causing the Vichy French to fear that French naval and merchant ships in the harbour there might be seized. Accordingly, from the 20th U 156 moved westwards towards Martinique. On the 21st she sank the SS Presidente Trujillo (do 1668t) just E of Martinique and on the 25th she torpedoed and damaged the destroyer USS Blakely in the same area. The warship managed to get away into the harbour. After a week in the area, much of it spent submerged because of patrolling aircraft, U 156's crew was under stress. On the 29th U 156 sank the SS Norman Prince (br 1913t) W of Martinique. Soon afterwards she left the area, the fear of an American attack having abated. On 1.6.42 U 156 sank the SSAlegrete (bz 5970t) by torpedo and gunfire W of St Lucia and on the 3rd the sailing vessel Lillian (br 80t), by gunfire S of Bridgetown, Barbados. On the 24th the returning U 156 sank the SS Willimantic (br 4558t) by gunfire 1000 miles NE of the Leeward Islands. The captain of this vessel was taken aboard the boat. U 156 returned to Lorient 7.7.42 4. 20.8.42 Left for operations in the South Atlantic, with U 68, U 172 and U 504, forming Eisbiir group. On the 25th northbound convoy SL 119 was sighted by U 214 E of the Azores. The four Eisbiir boats were among those ordered to intercept.However, when the convoy altered course the four boats were told to continue south, their own operation being of greater priority. During the move against SL 119 U 15 6 sank a straggler from the convoy, the SS Clan MacWhirter (br 5941 t), NNW of Madeira. From early September the Eisbiir boats operated independently. On the 12th U 156 torpedoed and sank the troop transport Laconia (br 19695t) NE of Ascension. The ship was carrying 2732 people, comprising 463 officers and crew, 286 Service passengers, 80 civilians, including women and children, 1800 Italian PoWs being taken from South Africa to the United Kingdom and 103 Polish soldiers guarding the Italians. The commander of U 156, Werner Hartenstein, was not aware of who was aboard. When he surfaced, survivors in the sea were calling for help in Italian. When he realised the situation and in spite of the risk of losing bis boat and crew Hartenstein decided to rescue the survivors. He broadcast the sinking location and undertook not to attack any rescue vessels. In response to his requests for assistance U 459, U 506 and U 507 were ordered to the scene. The commander of U 459 decided he was too far away and continued on his way south. U 156 picked up 193 survivors, including 21 British. Donitz requested that the Italian submarine Capellini, then near Freetown, join the rescue operation. Donitz also asked for Vichy French warships to be sent from Dakar. During the night of the 14/15th U 506 arrived. There were then 263 survivors on U 156 and U 506 took aboard 132 Italians from amongst them. By the morning of the 16th U 506 had more than 200 survivors aboard. En route to the scene, U 507 met up with four of Laconia's lifeboats during the afternoon of the 15th. Her commander, Harro Schacht, took aboard the women, gave comfort to other survivors and took the lifeboats in tow. On the 13th Hartenstein had a large, white, six foot square sheet sewn with a red cross. On the 16th, when an aircraft was sighted, the flag was spread over the boat's deck gun for the US Liberator to see. An RAF officer aboard U 156 sent a radio message to the aircraft, explaining the situation. The aircraft left but half an hour later a second Liberator appeared and dropped two bombs, which missed the boat. Hartenstein cut the line of the boats he was towing as the aircraft came in for a second attack. This time a bomb destroyed one lifeboat and overturned another and a second bomb fell wide. In a third attack U 156 was damaged by bo1nbs. Hartenstein took his boat close to the drifting lifeboats and put overboard the 55 British survivors and 55 Italians who had been aboard U 156. He then had temporary repairs carried out and the boat moved off westwards, taking no further part in rescue operations. Many of those put into the water did not survive. French naval vessel,s, the cruiser Gloire and the sloops Annamite and Dumont-d'Urville, rendezvoused with U 506, U 507 and the Capellini and took aboard the survivors they were carrying and towing. 1111 people were saved, a few of whom died soon after rescue. Among those saved were about 450 Italians and 73 Poles. The last lifeboat at sea was not picked up until 21.10.42, with only four of the original 51 .men having survived. Donitz and U-boat Command did not approve of humane work of this sort being undertaken and forbade any future captures, other than ships' captains and chief engineers. Interrogation was to be confined to those with valuable information. U 156 resumed her patrol on 17.9.42 and about this time she took on fuel from another boat. On the 19th U 156 sank the SS Quebec City (br 4745t) by torpedo and gunfire NNW of Ascension. She later operated W and SW of Freetown, was damaged in mid October and began her return journey in early November. En route, U 156 was refuelled by U 462 W of the Cape Verde Islands. She returned to Lorient 16.11.42 5. 16.1.43 Left to operate in the western Atlantic. U 156 went first to the area of the Cape Verde Islands. She then crossed the Atlantic and patrolled east of the Caribbean. On 8.3.43 U 156 was located by a USN Catalina of VP-53 (Lt E Dryden) about 330 miles E of Barbados and sighted on the surface, moving east. Coming from behind clouds, the aircraft surprised some of the crew sunbathing on deck. From 100 feet four Torpex bombs were dropped, straddling the boat. U 156 broke into three parts and sank immediately. Eleven men were seen in the water and a liferaft and food were dropped. Although at least five men were seen to reach the raft a thorough search found nothing. u 163 Type IX C Built by Seebeckwerft, WesermOnde Keel laid 8.5.40 Launched 1.5.41 Commissioned 21.10.41 Feldpost Nr M 28 716 Sunk 13.3.43 N of El Ferro! (44°13'N 08°23'W) Served with 4 U-Flottille, Stettin October 1941 - July 1942 1O U-Flottille, Lorient July 1942 - 13.3.43 Commanded by KK Kurt-Eduard Engelmann October 1941 - 13.3.43 Patrols: 3 Ships sunk: 3 (15,011 grt) 1 gunboat (2000 dt) 1. 21.7.42 Left Kiel and put in to Kristiansand on the 23rd. Sailed again, for operations in the western Atlantic. U 163 entered the Caribbean and on 17.8.42 she sighted the combined, westbound convoy PG 6trAW 13. She shadowed it for three days into the Yucatan Channel but was unable to attack. In late August U 163 was refuelled by U 462 W of the Azores. She returned without any success. U 163 reached her new base at Lorient 16.9.42 2. 17.10.42 Left for operations in the western Atlantic. U 163 sank the MV La Cordillera (hr 5185t) on 5.11.42 120 miles SE of Barbados. She went into the eastern Caribbean and in the evening of the 12th she attacked convoy TAG 20 off Willemstad, Cura~ao. The boat fired torpedoes at two ships before being driven off on the 14th by the Dutch patrol craft Queen Wilhelmina. In a second attack she damaged one of the escorts, the gunboat USS Erie, which was set on fire and beached. She was later refloated on 5.12.42 but sank whilst under tow. On the 18th U 163 was attacked by a Hudson of 53 Squadron (PIO Barnett) and shaken. The boat was attacked again next day by another Hudson of 53 Squadron (F/O Underhill) and damaged. On the 21st U 163 was 200 miles E of Barbados when she sank the SS Empire Starling (hr 6060t). In the evening of the 22nd she attacked convoy BRN 3 320 miles E of Barbados and sank the SS Apal6ide (bz 3766t). On 3.12.42 U 163 made an unsuccessful attack on the cruiser USS Omaha with three torpedoes. The cruiser's escort, the destroyer USS Jouett, hunted U 163 and made depth-charge attacks but she escaped without damage. U 163 was refuelled a few days afterwards by U 461 N of St Paul Rocks. She returned to Lorient 6.1.43 3. 10.3.43 The outward-bound U 163 disappeared after crossing the Bay of Biscay. It is now believed that she was sunk in depth-charge .attacks by the corvette HMCS Prescott on the 13th, off the Spanish coast N of El Ferrol. There were no survivors, 57 dead. u 217 Type VII D Built by Germania Werft, Kiel Keel laid 30.1.41 Launched 15.11.41 Commissioned 31.1.42 Feldpost Nr M 47 721 Sunk 5.6.43 WSW of the Azores (30° 18'N 42° 50'W) Served with 5 U-Flottille, Kiel January - July 1942 (ab) 9 U-Flottille, Brest July 1942 - 5.6.43 (fb) Commanded by KL Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke January 1942 - 5.6.43 Patrols: 3 Ships sunk: 3 (10,651 grt) 1. 14.7.42 Left Kiel for operations in the Caribbean. Outward-bound, U 217 was directed to westbound convoy ON 115, sighted by U 164 on the 29th 480 miles SE of Cape Farewell. U 217 made contact on the 30th but with other boats she was driven off when she approached the convoy. On 1.8.42 U 217, U 164, U 210, U 511andU553 formed a patrol line, Pirat, ahead of the convoy. It did not arrive by the evening and the boats searched to north and south. The Pirat line had by then been joined by some ex-Wolf group boats. The convoy was found by U 552 on the 2nd. Attacks were made on the 3rd and three ships were sunk before contact was lost in the fog of the Newfoundland Bank, ending the operation. U 217, U 164, U 511 and U 553 now resumed their journey to the Caribbean. In early August U 217 was refuelled by U 463 W of the Azores. The boat went into the Caribbean and in the early hours of the 19th she entered the harbour at Willemstad, Cura~ao and attacked the tanker SS Esso Concord (am 7699t), anchored there. The attack was unsuccessful and the three detonations heard were possibly torpedoes hitting the mole. In the evening of the same day U 217 sank the sailing vessel Seagull D (br 75t) by gunfire just S of Islas de Aves. U 217 patrolled W of Trinidad and off the island itself before leaving the Caribbean in mid-September. The returning boat was refuelled by U 461 NW of the Azores. U 217 put in to her new base at Brest 16.10.42 2. 24.11.42 Left for operations in the Central Atlantic. On 14.12.42 U 217 stopped the SS Etna (sw 2619t) 1200 miles NE of Georgetown, Guiana. A boarding party searched the ship, after which she was abandoned and scuttled. On the 15th U 217 and U 124 were directed to a convoy 600 miles E of Trinidad. They closed and shadowed it and in the early morning of the 16th U 124 claimed two tankers sunk. U 217 patrolled E of the Caribbean. She claimed a ship sunk on the 20th and two more damaged on the 28th and 29th, all N of Brazil. There is no confirmation of these claims. Throughout January 1943 U 217 patrolled off the coast of Guiana and E of the Caribbean. She had no success until 3.2.43, on her way home. She sank the SS Rhexenor (br 7957t) by torpedo and gunfire 1400 miles NE of the Leeward Islands. U 217 picked up one survivor. In mid-February the boat was refuelled by U 118 SE of the Azores. U 217 returned to Brest 23.2.43 3. 19.4.43 Left for operations in the North Atlantic. U 217 had operational freedom before attempting a minelaying operation off Land's End in early May, which was unsuccessful. She then patrolled in St George's Channel until in late May she was ordered to an assembly area SW of the Azores. During the night of the 30/3 lst a patrol line, Trutz, was formed on the 43°W meridian, between 32° and 38°N, to await expected convoys UGS 9 and GUS 7 A. On 4.6.43 the three most southerly boats were attacked by carrier-borne aircraft and forced under. On the 5th U 217 was sighted on the surface by an Avenger (Lt A McAusJan) and a Wildcat (Ens RS Rogers) from the escort carrier USS Bogue. The fighter strafed the conning tower, silencing the gunners and forcing the boat to submerge. The Avenger then made a run and straddled the boat with depth-charges. U 217's bow came out of the water and the Wildcat made another strafing attack. The boat slipped backwards beneath the surface and oil was seen spreading over the sea. U 217 had been destroyed, 1300 miles WSW of the Azores. There were no survivors, 50 dead. u 502 Type IX C Built by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg Keel laid 2.4.40 Launched 18.2.41 Commissioned 31.5.41 Feldpost Nr M 40 307 Sunk 5.7.42 NNW of Cape Ortega! (45°50'N 06°40'W) Served with 2 U-Flottille, Wilhelmshaven/Lorient May 1941 -5.7.42 (ab/fb) Commanded by KL Jurgen von Rosenstiel May 1941 - 5. 7 .42 Patrols: 3 Ships sunk: 14 (81,205 grt) + 2 damaged 1. 29.9.41 Left Kiel for the North Atlantic. Outward-bound to join a group of boats assembling SE of Cape Farewell, U 502 torpedoed and damaged a straggler from convoy HX 152 in the afternoon of 7.10.41 S of Reykjavik, the whale factory ship SS Svend Foyn (br 14795t). As the group was forming SE of Cape Farewell, convoys ONS 23, ON 24, SC 48 and TC 14 were re-routed to pass south of the group. As more boats arrived to extend the patrol line the four convoys and ONS 25 were sent even further south. During the night of the 14/15th SC 48 was sighted by U 553 600 miles W of the North Channel and eight boats, including U 502, were ordered to close and attack the convoy. Successive shadowers were driven off and SC 48's escort was strengthened. The operation against the convoy ended in the morning of the 18th, with nine ships, a destroyer and a corvette sunk and a destroyer damaged. U 502 had no success. She joined other boats to form Reissewolf group 450 miles SE of Greenland from the 22nd. The presence of the group was known and several convoys were re-routed to avoid it. On the 27th the group was directed to westbound ON 28, sighted by U 74 500 miles W of Ireland. Contact was made but some boats, including U 502, were forced to break off on the 30th because of fuel shortage. Together with other returning boats, U 502 was directed to southbound convoy OS I 0, sighted by U 96 late on the 31st NNE of the Azores. The shadower lost contact on 2.11.41 and when aerial reconnaissance failed to find the convoy on the 4th the search was abandoned. U 502 put in to her new base at Lorient 9.11.41 2. 18.12.41 Left Lorient and returned 22.12.41 3. 19.1.42 Left for the Caribbean. U 502 was one of five boats of Neuland group. The plan was that he boats were to be in position by mid-February, for simultaneous attacks to be made on some ports and oil installations. In the morning of 14.2.42 U 502 reported a torpedo-hit on a tanker near Aruba, claiming it as sinking in flames but there is no confirmation. In the morning of the 16th U 502 sank three tankers 25 miles SW of Punta Macolla, in the Gulf of Venezuela, the SS Tia Juana (br 2395t), the SS Monagas (ve 2650t) and the SS San Nicolas (br 239lt). In the evening of the 16th U 502 joined up with U 67 to bombard the oil-storage intallations at Aruba but this was foiled by the imposition of a black-out and the activities of patrol vessels. Early on the 22nd U 502 torpedoed and sank the tanker MV Kongsgaard (nw 9467t) just N of Punta Curayao. On the 23rd U 502 torpedoed two tankers NW of Aruba, sinking the MV Thalia (pa 8329t) and damaging the SS Sun (am 9002t), which was eventually sunk by U 506 on 16.5.42 in the Gulf of Mexico. U 5')2 returned to Lorient 16.3.42 4. 22.4.42 Left for the Caribbean. . U 502 sank the SS Cape of Good Hope (br 4963t) by torpedo and gunfire on 11.5.42 NE of San Juan, Puerto Rico. She then entered the Caribbean, possibly through the Anegada Passage. On the 24th U 502 sank a neutral ship, the SS Gonfalves Dias (bz 4996t) N of Aruba, on the 28th the SS Alcoa Pilgrim (am 6759t) SW of Puerto Rico, on 2.6.42 the SS Poseidon (nl 1928t) and early on the 4th the tanker SS MF Elliott (am 6940t), both N of Isla de Margarita, Venezuela. U 502 picked up a survivor from the MF Elliott. He was put in a dinghy, to be rescued by searching aircraft. On the 9th U 502 encountered convoy TA 5 N of Caracas and sank two ships, the SS Bruxelles (be 5085t) and the tanker SS Franklin K Lane (am 6589t), both by torpedo and gunfire. U 502 was afterwards attacked by the escort but escaped, shaken but undamaged. Early on the 15th U 502 sank the SS Scottsburg (am 800lt), later in the day the SS Cold Harbour (pa 5010t) and in the evening the SS West Hardaway (am 5702t), all sunk WSW of Grenada. In late June U 502 was refuelled by U 459 W of the Azores for return to base. On 5.7.42 the boat was attacked and sunk in a depth charge attack NNW of Cape Ortega! by a Leigh Light Wellington of 172 Squadron (P/O W B Howell). U 502 was the first boat sunk using the Leigh Light and she was the first to be sunk in the Bay of Biscay since September 1941. There were no survivors, 52 dead. u 539 Type IX C-40 Built by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg Keel laid 18.5.42 Launched 4.12.42 Commissioned 24.2.43 Feldpost Nr M 50 416 Sunk 4.12.45 NW of Malin Head (55°38 'N 07°57'W) Served with 4 U-Flottille, Stettin February-June 1943 (ab) 2 U-Flottille, Lorient July 1943 - September 1944 (fb) 33 U-Flottille, Flensburg October 1944 - 5.5.45 (fb) Commanded by KL Hans-Jurgen Lauterbach-Emden February 1943 - 5.5.45 Patrols: 3 Ships sunk: 1 (1517 grt) + 1 damaged 1. 4.9.43 Left Kiel and arrived Bergen 7.9.43 2. 14.9.43 Left for the North Atlantic. U 539 joined Rossbach group, formed from the 27th SE of Cape Farewell to operate against ON 203. The line moved 100 miles to the northeast, waited there until the 30th but saw no sign of either ON 203 or the following ONS 19. Both had passed to the north. The group moved northeastwards on 1.10.43 to a position SW of Iceland, to intercept ON 204. On the 4th U 539 drove off an attacking Hudson of 269 Squadron and shot down a Liberator of 120 Squadron (W/Cdr RM Longmore). This aircraft dropped six depth-charges before crashing into the sea W of Iceland. U 539 was not damaged in the attack. By the 5th it was realised that convoy ON 204 had also avoided the boats and that pursuit was useless. Rossbach group moved southwestwards to form a new line to search for eastbound convoys SC 143 and HX 259, which they expected to intercept on the 8th. In the evening of the 7th two destroyers were sighted and it was assumed, rightly, that a convoy could be near and a search was made during the night. Although destroyers were seen 1noving northeastwards, the convoys were not found and the search was called off on the 9th and Rossbach dissolved. U 539 put in to her new base at Lorient 23.10.43 3. 29.12.43 Left Lorient and returned 30.12.43 4. 2.1.44 Left for the North Atlantic. U 539 was to rendezvous with and refuel the returning U 516 NW of the Azores on the 19th. Both boats were attacked by aircraft from the escort-carrier USS Guadalcanal after they met, preventing refuelling. U 516 was also attacked by two destroyers. The two boats made contact again on the 21st and after many attempts in difficult sea conditions, U 516 finally received her fuel on 4.2.44. U 539 went on her way, to operate independently E of Newfoundland but she had no success. She put in to St Nazaire 21.3.44 5. 1.5.44 Left for operations in the Caribbean. On 2.6.44 U 539 was surfaced N of Puerto Rico when she was sighted and attacked by a USN MaiinerofVP-204 (LtJ GTomkins). She escaped undamaged. On the 5th U 539 torpedoed and sank the SS Pillory (pa l 517t) off Isabela, after which she was attacked by both aircraft and surface vessels but not badly damaged. The boat probably then entered the Caribbean through the Mona Passage. In the evening of the 10th U 539 claimed a tanker torpedoed and damaged S of Curac;ao but there is no confirmation of this. On the 11th the tanker SS Casandra (nl 2701t) was unsuccessfully attacked with torpedo and gunfire a 1ittle further south. The tanker returned the fire with machine-guns, damaging the boat, which was driven off by a Mariner of VP-204. U 539 (continued) U 539 claimed to have torpedoed four tankers on 4. 7 .44 N of Nombre de Dios, Panama, damaging the turbine tanker Kittanning (am 10195t) and possibly damaging the SS Hollywood (am 5498t). The Kittanning reached port safely, assisted by a USCG cutter. U 516 was also operating in the Caribbean and in late July the two boats left the operational area, with instructions to go on to Norway if so ordered. By mid-August they were near Cape Ortega!. The blockade of the Bay of Biscay prevented their return to French ports and both were ordered to Norway. U 539, by then very short of fuel, was refuelled by U 858, then on weather-reporting duties, in early September some 400 miles SW of Iceland. She put in to Bergen on 17.9.44 and went on to Flensburg, arriving there 22.9.44 6. 13.4.45 Left Kiel and arrived Horten 20.4.45 7. 26.4.45 Left Horten for Bergen, where she surrendered 5.5.45 On 30.5.45 U 539 left Bergen for the assembly area at Loch Ryan. She was one of 116 boats disposed of by the Royal Navy in Operation Deadlight. In early December she was towed out through the North Channel by the tug HMS Saucy. On 4.12.45 U 539 foundered under tow NW of Malin Head. u 615 Type VII C Built by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg Keel laid 20.5.41 Launched 8.2.42 Commissioned 26.3.42 Feldpost Nr M 45 089 Scuttled 7.8.43 NNE of La Blanquilla {12°38'N 64°15'W) Served with 8 U-Flottille, Danzig March-August 1942 (ab) 3 U-Flottille, La Pallice September 1942 - 7.8.43 (fb) Commanded by KL Ralph Kapitzky March 1942 - 7.8.43 Patrols: 4 Ships sunk: 4 (27,231 grt) 1. 5.9.42 Left Kiel for Atlantic operations. With other outward-bound boats, U 615 was directed to eastbound SC 99, sighted by U 216 on the 13th W of Ireland. She lost contact when driven down by the escort. The convoy was found again on the 14th by U 440 but when she too was driven off and damaged, the operation was abandoned. U 615 and the other newly-arrived boats formed themselves into the Pfeil group from the 15th, in an area of the central North Atlantic, W of Ireland. On the 15th U 221 sighted westbound ON 129 and the boats prepared for a concentrated attack but the shadower lost contact in the fog. Briefly sighted again on the 16th, the convoy altered course and the operation was called off. Pfeil group was reformed and moved northeastwards on the 18th and then northwestwards on the 19th to close eastbound convoy SC 100. It was sighted by U 221 and Pfeil group joined Lohs group to attack it. As the boats neared the convoy, the weather worsened and the gale blowing increased to hurricane force. Many boats were left behind and the operation against SC 100 ended on the 22nd. A new patrol line, Blitz, was formed and it moved southwest wards towards an unidentified northeast-bound convoy, later found to be RB I. En route early on the 23rd, U 258 sighted SC 100 again, which had been delayed by the weather. U 615, U 221, U 258 and U 617 pursued it while the rest of Blitz group went after RB 1. Strong air cover caused the four boats to abandon the SC 100 operation on the 25th. The convoy lost a total of four ships on the 23rd and 24th. The Blitz boats were now widely scattered and before they could Teform U 617 sighted ON 131. They searched for the convoy, as Tiger group, but failed to find it. The bad weather would have prevented any reformation of the group in time to attack the convoy. On the 29th all boats were ordered to a refuelling area NW of the Azores. U 615 was refuelled by U 118 NW of the Azores for further operations. Nine of the Tiger boats, including U 615, formed a new patrol }jne, Wotan, from 8.10.42 E of Newfoundland, awaiting an SC convoy. On the 11th U 615 sank a straggler from ONS 136 in the central ~ortb Atlantic, the SS El Lago (pa 422lt), and picked up two of her surviving officers as prisoners. On the 11th an escort vessel was sighted, heading northeast. In the early hours of the 12th Wotan group was ordered northeastwards at high speed to intercept eastbound SC 104, which had passed the northern end of the Wotan patrol line the previous afternoon. The convoy was sighted by U 221 during the night of the l 2/l 3th :n the central North Atlantic, S of Cape Farewell. U 615 was one of the boats called up but she was driven off in the early morning of the 14th by the Norwegian corvette Montbretia. As more and more aircraft arrived to protect the convoy, the operation was called off late on the 15th, with eight ships sunk. The returning U 615 torpedoed and sank the independent µassenger/cargo ship MV Enipire Star (br 12656t) in the evening of the 23rd N of the Azores. U 615 put in to her new base at La Pallice 30.10.42 2. 25.11.42 Left for the North Atlantic. U 615 joined a new group, Draufgiinger, formed on the 30th W of Ireland, awaiting an ONS convoy but this did not materialise. On 7.12.42 the group was ordered to close northeast-bound convoy HX 217. Once within range of Iceland, strong air cover appeared from the 10th and the operation was called off, with two ships sunk. From the 13th U 615 and three other Draufgiinger boats joined new-arrivals and U 524 to form UngestUm group, to operate against convoys leaving the North Channel. On the 13th eastbound HX 218 was sighted E ofNewfoundland by U 373. The Ungestiim boats moved westwards at high speed and on the 16th a patrol line was formed SE of Cape· Farewell in the expected path of the convoy. However, HX 218 passed unobserved through the line of waiting boats. Searching for HX 218, U 373 sighted westbound ONS 152 on cbe 16th to the southeast of the Ungestiim line and the boats were moved towards it. Brief contact was made but bad weather and poor visibility hampered the pursuit. A search for stragglers con tinued, resulting in one ship being sunk by U 591. The operation ended on the 22nd. From the 24th the widely-scattered UngestUm boats formed a new patrol line in the central North Atlantic. Next day the line moved northeast to meet up with Spitz group, moving down towards it from the northwest. Convoy ONS 154 was sighted south of the Spitz patrol line. Both groups moved south to intercept and contact was made on the 27th. In spite of poor visibility on that day, four ships were sunk and another damaged. In the evening of the 29th HMS Fidelity, a special service vessel with ONS 154, was unsuccessfully attacked by U 225 and then by U 615, which missed with five torpedoes. Fidelity was sunk the following evening by U 435. The operation against ONS 154 continued until early on the 3 Ist. It ended NW of the Azores, with 13 merchant ships sunk and one damaged. U 615 was refuelled by U 117 N of the Azores for return to base. The boat returned to La Pallice 9.1.43 3. 18.2.43 Left for Atlantic operations. U 615 joined Burggraf group in the central North Atlantic, W of Ireland. From the 26th the group swept westwards and from 4.3.43 joined up with Wild.fang group to form a long, angled patrol line E of Newfoundland, to await an SC convoy, expected on the 5th. The convoy, SC 121, slipped by during the night and Neptun group, together with some boats from Burggraf, Neuland and Wildfang groups, went in pursuit. The remainder of Burggraf and Wildfang groups, including U 615, formed Raubgraf group on the 7th E of Newfoundland, to await HX 228. A search over the next few days found nothing, the convoy having passed to the south of the line. On the 13th ON 170 was briefly sighted but the pursuit, in bad weather and hampered further by strong air cover, was soon called off. Now NE of Newfoundland, the Raubgrafboats were ordered to shadow an SC convoy, reported on the 14th. Contact was made on the 16th and the convoy, thought to be SC 122 but in fact HX 229, was attacked later the same day. The four-day operation was the biggest convoy action of the war, with twenty-one ships sunk from the two convoys. U 615 had no success in the action. On the 19th she escaped damage in depth charge attacks by the destroyer HMS Volunteer and the corvette HMS Anemone. · U 615 then joined Seewolf group, formed from the 25th SSE of Cape Farewell, to operate against eastbound SC 123. The convoy was sighted by U 564 in the afternoon of the 26th and some Seeteufel boats went against it, whilst Seewolf waited to the south. On the 27th U 305 sighted westbound HX 230 and Seewolf and Seeteufel boats were deployed. However, in the face of a heavy gale and kept away by a strong air escort, the twenty-two boats involved sank only one ship, that by U 610. Contact was lost, the operation ended and Seewolf group broke up. U 615 joined a new group, Adler, from 7.4.43 S of Greenland, awaiting eastbound SC 125. The convoy passed 200 miles south of the Adler line on the 7th and was by then impossible to catch. The group moved southeastwards to intercept HX 232 but on the 10th westbound ON 176 was reported by U 404 and some Adler boats were deployed against it, not U 615. She found a straggler from HX 232 in the afternoon of the lDth in the central North Atlantic, the SS Edward B Dudley (am 7177t). U 615's first torpedo was a dud but she sank the vessel in another, successful attack in the early hours of the 11th. U 615 returned to La Pallice 20.4.43 4. 12.6.43 Left for the Caribbean. U 615 crossed the Bay of Biscay in company with U 68, U 155, U 257 and U 600, for mutual protection against aircraft. On the 14th U 257, U 600 and U 615 were attacked by a Sunderland of 461 (RAAF) Squadron (F/0 S.White). Depth-charges were dropped but no damage caused. The boats dived but on resurfacing six hours later, U 600 was attacked by a Whitley of 10 OTU (PIO Orr) and sufferect slight damage. U 257 and U 615 closed up on U 600 and fire was exchanged before Orr left the scene. Four hours later a Fortress of 220 Squadron (F/O C F Callender) appeared, went down to attack U 600 and was shot down by that boat. There were no survivors. Soon afterwards a Wellington of 547 Squadron (W/O J W Hermiston) arrived and attacked U 615, causing minor damage. The aircraft was driven off by the boats and after circling for some time it left for home. U 615 made her way westwards. En route, she was refuelled by U 535 in late June just W of the Azores. The boat entered the Caribbean via the Anegada Passage on 13.7.43, with orders to disrupt heavy tanker traffic between Lake Maracaibo and the oil refineries at Aruba and Cura9ao. On the 28th U 615 torpedoed and sank the small lake tanker SS Rosalia (nl 3177t) just SW of Willemstad, Cura9ao. The transmission reporting this to BdU was picked up and a search began. During the night of the 28/29th the boat was attacked by an Army B 18 of 10th Squadron (USAF) (2/Lt TL Merrill) from Aruba and on 1.8.43 by a B 24 from Cura9ao. She also came under depth charge attack on the 2nd by USN patrol craft PC 1196, escorting convoy GAT 77, with which U 615 had made contact. The boat escaped and damage caused was repaired by the crew. During the night of the 5/6th U 615 was spotted on the surface near La Blanquilla by a Trinidad-based USN Mariner of VP-205 (Lt JM Erskine). The aircraft attacked three times without further damage being caused. In the afternoon of the 6th another Mariner of VP-205 (Lt AR Matuski) made two attacks, damaging U 615 on the first and being shot down on the second, with the loss of the whole crew. Then began a series of attacks, firstly by a Mariner of VP-204 U 615 (continued) (Lt L D Crockett) in the face of heavy flak, which set the aircraft alight. Whilst his crew dealt with the blaze, Crockett approached again, dropping depth-bombs close to the boat. He followed this by five strafing attacks. These were followed by a USN Ventura of VB-130 (Lt T M Holmes) coming in through flak and straddling U 615 with depth-bombs. The boat dived and then resurfaced and recommenced firing at the two circling aircraft. Two hours later another Mariner of VP-204 (Lt J W Dresbach) came in for an attack but Dresbach was killed by flak as he approached. The bombs fell short but the aircraft was saved by the co-pilot regaining control. Another Mariner of VP-205 (Lt-Cdr RS Hull) arrived and the two attacks it made caused further casualties to the crewmen manning U 615's guns. The frnal attack of the day was made by an Army B 18 of I 0th Squadron (USAF) aided by the light of flares. U 615 was still afloat in the morning of the 7th. The commander, KL Kapitzky, dying of his wounds, ordered the crew to abandon ship and scuttle the boat, he going down with her. The destroyer USS Walker arrived from Port of Spain and picked up 43 survivors and the body of one man who died in his Iifejacket. u1s'!/ 0 ~ W est Atlantic Ocea U 176 O Bahama Isl. ----~ Jamaica Puerto Rico <\:::)U359 C:::> u94 U759 u1 59 Caribbean Sea oBarbados U615 U654 u156 u572 u512 Paramaribo • South America 1 From: German U-boat Losses During World War II - Details of Destruction By: Axel Niestle - 1998 ISBN 1-55750-641-8