[BillCar]

U-53, Oblt. z. See Jochen Lübke.
Patrol 7 – July 20, 1940 - August 5, 1940.
Patrol Grid BF15

Sailed through the Channel from Wilhelmshaven without any problems. No contacts until 9 days into the patrol, when encountered two small freighters spaced 12 hours apart in BF13, sinking both.

The following day, sank two coastal freighters seven hours apart in BF16.

Sank a Nipiwan Park-type tanker on July 31st at 16:37 and a Granville-type freighter at 21:07 that same day.

August 1st brought a passenger-cargo sunk... and a radio contact report of an enemy large convoy moving south from AM97.

I picked my spot, cursing the bright sky and flat sea. But, as I overhauled them, I was blessed with fog, rain, and waves. Excellent.

At flank speed, I sidled up on the port side of the convoy, picking out an Empire-class freighter. The escort was off to my port side, about 2 kilometres out, without any idea we were nearby. I was running parallel to the Empire and when I got so that she was at my 110º, I started my turn, with the tube already open and the speed (8knots) dialed in. Two torpedoes from 800 metres, and she sank like a stone. I was already at 35 metres into my crash dive, and by the time I hit 70 and went quiet, I could tell that the escorts were heading to the wrong area. They dropped four depth charges in total – no more... and I surfaced after half an hour to overhaul again.

This time, I picked out an ore carrier. Because of dud torpedoes when trying to take out the Nipiwan Park tanker, I was down to just stern tubes. I overhauled the convoy and then cut across its front at flank, angling in to reach the ore carrier in the middle. One torpedo just ahead of midships, and down she went. After that, I was out, unless I wanted to load my external stern torpedo – impossible in rough seas.

Started a course for home. On the way, we got into a gun duel (and rammed) at motor torpedo boat, sinking it. Later that same day, we sank a medium cargo with the deck gun. The two attacks on the convoy, the motor torpedo boat sinking, and the medium cargo sinking all took place on August 2nd.

Headed back through the channel at standard and docked at Wilhelmshaven with 34600GRT sunk.

My crew was awarded promotions and medals, and I now have a Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

Total sunk after seven patrols: 222,202GRT. Too bad that Patrol 6 was such a horrible wash, with only a bit over 7000GRT sunk and one dead 1WO.