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U 115
- KTB -
First War Patrol
(17th war patrol overall)
Thursday,
1 July 1943 - South of Maputo -
1138 - Early Morning Dawn -
1200 - Qu.9133KZ -
Days Run: 184.2nm - ↗ 175.2nm (20h 50') - ↘ 9.0nm (3h 10')
Total: 10261.9nm (57tg 22h) - ↗ 9848.1nm (51tg 10h 15') - ↘ 413.8nm (6tg 11h 45')
Course 87°; 442cbm (2.5cbm in 24h); Battery 91.4%; 2xEtoFat; 8xBold.
SSE4/3, clear, visibility 4.5nm, >1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 7d 13h)
1240 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged.
2209 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged.
2317 - Qu.6977KZ -
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Monsoon Appendix.
C-in-C German Navy
2. Sk1./B.d.U. Op.
Nr. Ckdos. 3495 A1
10.June 1943.
Operational Order "Monsoon"
for
U 188, U 532, U 168, U 509, U 183, U 514, U 506, U 533, U 516 and for U 115, U 200 and U 847.
(Only the general regulations apply for the latter boats)
I. Duties:
1) Blitz attack on enemy merchant shipping and enemy surface forces in the Arabian Sea area.
Time: Termination of South West Monsoon.
2) On the outward and return passage roughly according to the general directions in Operational Order Atlantic No. 54.
3) Procedure according to Commander's Hand Book, Standing War Orders, Standing Orders and General instructions Operational Order No. 54.
II. Intelligence of the Enemy:
4) See appendix 1.
III. Intelligence of our own surface forces:
5) Warships.
The appearance of our own warships (also auxiliary cruisers) is not to be expected in the entire outward passage and operational area. Japanese surface forces and U-boats may be encountered. Appropriate statements on this matter, however, will be made by wireless when necessary.
6) Store and supply ship's blockade runners.
See Instructions Operational Order No. 54 paragraph 12 and Appendix 1. Supply is planned from German supply ships putting out from Japan. Announcement by W/T.
IV. Execution:
A) General Scheme.
7) The boat must be equipped with special care with regard to the heavy long term strain to be imposed upon it. Spare parts, machine equipment are to be carried in adequate supply, a cabin on the upper deck is to be set aside as store room.
Maximum supply of provisions must be provided.
8) The boats are to sail in the period from 25th June to 4th July. They are to make for FD 20 at economical cruising speed. The first fuel replenishment will take place here. Supply boat "Milkcow" U 462 (Oblt. Bruno Vowe). Enemy air reconnaissance must be expected in this area within a 300 sea mile circumference of Ascension Island.
9) Progress is to be made on the shortest routes but with adequate distance )about 300 to 400 sea miles from the South African coast outside the enemy short range aircraft area, to KS 50. Here, the second replenishment of supplies is to take place from German merchant ships sailing from Japan. For details of supply and procedure at the supply point see paragraph 16 and 20.
10) After replenishment of supplies, boats will proceed to the operational areas allocated to them. Central points MP 60, MF 30, MH 70 and LC 30.
Boats must expect to be in their respective operations areas for about one month. Course for operations, change of operations area will be sent by W/T.
11) After exhaustion of supplies etc., and on instructions to return, via new supply point in KS or KT. Replenishment from German ship, then return passage to Lorient.
12) Measures to be adopted in the event of nonappearance by German Supply Ships.
On nonappearance of ship for second replenishment (according to paragraph 9) according to situation:
a) Occupation of Cape area as operations area, subsequent return passage with further supply by U-boat tanker or
b) Passage to Penang, refuel and short rest, operations in Arabian Sea, refuel on the return passage.
(Directions for approach to Penang, see Appendix 3)
13) On the nonappearance of the supply ship for 3rd replenishment (see paragraph 11) passage to Penang. Mutual assistance with fuel. There refuel for return passage. Small number of torpedoes available.
Further Plans.
14) Some boats will be allowed to undergo short overhaul and supply (also with torpedoes) according to the need of boat and personnel. Further operations in India area subsequent return passage.
B) Permission to attack and general procedure.
15) On the outward passage up to 200 sea miles off the supply point in KS 50: Wireless discipline according to Signals Directive Operations Order No. 54. Permissions to attack according to general directive of Operations Order Atlantic No. 54 and Standing War Orders No. 101 and 105. Exploit every chance to the utmost also convoys. In the case of north bound convoys in the Atlantic orders for the breaking off of operations will be given by the Command.
16) Within a 200 sea miles circumference of the supply area in KS and KT. Wireless and attack ban. Remember that surface craft are considerably more vulnerable than U-boat tankers. Boats are free to attack if the supply ship is in danger or if the latter has been sighted by an enemy merchant ship.
17) The 100% success of this undertaking can only be assured if the boats attacks are carried out swiftly and unexpectedly at the focal points, in a time limit determined by keyword order.
In addition, on passage to Operations area in Arabian Sea:
(After replenishment of supplies in KS 50)
a) Until arrival in operations area definitely remain unseen and unlocated.
b) Strict wireless silence.
Only transmit if it is confirmed with certainty that the boat is observed and recognized as German by the enemy. Even in this case, the Commander must question whether according to circumstance (the course on which the sighting took place, the certainty of recognition etc) the enemy's reaction can be anticipated in which case the breaking of wireless silence is justified and correct.
c) General ban on attacks on merchant ships and war-ships until keyword is given. Attack is only allowed on:
Battleships
A/c carriers
Troop transport ships of more than 15,000 GRT.
if a hit is certain
18) a) In operations area: Permission to attack on the key-word order "Hinein" with appropriate number which gives the date of the attack when divided by 7. Start of attack 1800 German Summer Time. Example: Hinein 196 means: Permission to attack at 1800 German Summer Time on 28th.
b) As long as the traffic and defence situation is clarified and the boat has been observed by the enemy, send situation report. Clear reports, so that, if necessary, the Command can redistribute the operational areas.
c) Sensible use of torpedoes. Economical considered use of torpedoes in busy traffic. If there is not much traffic do not economize, fire fans. Fully exploit the effectiveness of magnetic firing torpedoes especially for finishing shots. Do not over rate the enemy defence. It has never been used against U-boats and is therefore inexperienced and inferior.
C) Supply.
19) First supply in FD 20 from U 462. Replenishment with fuel, taking on of provisions for 3 to 4 weeks.
20) Second and third supply from German tanker "Brake". Special recognition signal for merchant ships to be met in ES, will be ordered by W/T.
Full replenishment of fuel supplies from "Brake". Suitable U-boat provisions are apparently not available in adequate supply there, so that if necessary provisioning will have to take place from U-boat tankers on the return passage.
V. Communications Instructions:
See appendix 2. (T.N. page 541)
VI. Miscellaneous:
There will be a doctor on every boat.
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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115