January 21 1943 - Sector ET15
Enroute to ET57
- Radio contact report on convoy, heading NW, speed 6 knots. 3 hour intercept considered feasible and plotted.
- Torpedoes in tubes I, II (TIII G7e), III, IV (G7a FaT, G7e FaT) and V (TIII G7e) inspected and prepared for firing.
- Visibility moderate and improving, winds 11m/s from 26 degrees true. Overcast.
0549: "Biscay Cross" detects radar signals, likely escorts. Steered to put bow on to reduce signature. Visibility still very poor in low light.
0600: Course now 195, telegraph reads all ahead full - attempting high speed run prior to submerging.
0616: Course adjusted slightly to reduce radar profile. RWR now shows four distinct emitters.
0623: Dive ordered, depth 180m for submerged run to likely attack position.
0628: Sonar reports contacts on merchant-like screws. Convoy!
0630: Depth now 180m. Convoy appears to be closing off port bow. Boat rigged for silent running; speed 2.5kts.
0651: course now 180. Possibility of conducting attack from within the convoy appears to be forming Speed now 2 knots.
0708: Lead escort appears to be crossing bow. Starboard-side escort has begun to pass aft of us. Course now 215, speed 1 knot.
0712: Speed now 2 knots. Periscope depth ordered. Have penetrated enemy's starboard screen.
0731: Merchant screws aft to starboard; we are now in between lanes of the convoy. Depth presently 40m and rising. Speed 1 knot.
0736: Now at periscope depth. Medium cargo identified and used for solution data, speed estimated 5-6knots. AOB roughly 90 to starboard. Tubes I and IV flooded.
0740: Range to targets estimated at 2500m and 4000m - two columns of the convoy off our bow. Tubes I and IV fired at Medium Tanker.
0741: Tube II fired at coastal-type freighter, range 1953m.
0742: Tube III fired at small merchant, range 1759m. Torpedo set to a medium speed run. Wake appears to have been spotted, as searchlights begin to sweep the area.
0743: Tube V fired at Medium Cargo, range 1162m. Depth ordered to 200m, left standard rudder. As we begin to dive a torpedo impact is reported on time and on target for the Tanker.
0744: Torpedo impact reported for Tube II's, just slightly forward of run time. Sonar rapidly reports sounds of breaking bulkheads and hull popping noises. Rudder amidships, telegraph now reads Ahead 2/3rds. FaT torpedoes now appear to be beginning their ladder runs.
0746: A torpedo impact reported by sonar. One of the FaTs appeared to have hit something.
0749: Final FaT torpedo appears to have missed. Aft torpedo also appears to have missed, sonar never able to re-establish contact on its bearing after dive and course change. Focus now is evasion, damage assessment can be carried out later. Depth 100m and descending. Scheme is to delay and frustrate escorts attempts to locate by heading through and under the 'thundering herd.'
0803: Dive planes levelled off at 158m.
0806: Sonar reports sounds of another ship breaking up, hull popping noises. Believe it is the Tanker based on bearing. Escorts do not appear to have a fix on our location.
0921: Now at periscope depth. Periscope sweep shows escorts still visible just off port bow. Course ordered changed to 213. We will go deep again and open up the distance.
0933: Secured from silent running. Tubes I through IV ordered reloaded with T1 G7a.
1034: Tubes I through IV reported loaded. Ordered to periscope depth.
1042: Surfaced. Will now attempt to get ahead of convoy based on last known course, with an intention to be in likely attack position in 4 hours time. Swells remain high but in spite of this hot food and coffee distributed among all ratings. Organised rest in small 2 hour blocks to occur. Battery charge remains acceptable and we are running at standard propulsion.
1443: Course now 45. Sounding dive taken, faint noise bearing 40 relative.
1445: Surfaced. Ahead standard on standard propulsion.
1506: Metox detecting singals. Periscope depth ordered. Propeller noises constant at bearings 40-50 relative.
1513: Depth now 160m.
1517: Clear merchant screws, closing.
1521: Now at 163m. 3 minute high speed run followed by a drift planned.
1606: Portside escort now off starboard bow. Depth 165m, speed 4 knots. Silent running ordered.
1610: Depth now 170m. Speed 2 knots.
1614: Ordered to periscope depth.
1619: Speed now 4 knots. Nearest escort appears to be passing aft. Depth still rising.
1621: Planes levelled at 93m temporarily.
1626: Course now 20, speed 4 knots. Dpeth 122m.
1631: Re-ordered periscope depth. Course now 40. Speed maintaining at 4 knots - we are on our attack run. All tubes prepared for firing. Nearest escort passing off port bow.
1636: Now at periscope depth.
1638: Large Cargo identified as target 1. Empire-type identified as target 2.
1642: Tubes I and II fired at Empire-type on 4 degree spread. Range 3000m, fast run.
1643: Tubes II and IV fired at large Cargo on 3 degree spread. Range 2500m, medium run.
1645: Searchlights! Course changed to 80, depth ordered 150m. Speed 4 knots.
1646: 1 impact reported, followed rapidly by series of large, very loud, explosions. Hull popping noises.
1650: Depth now 144m and descending. Speed ordered ahead slow. Escorts once again do not appear to be aware of origin point of fire.
1706: Escort very close off starboard bow. No pinging or depth charges.
1711: Course reversed.
1843: Periscope sweep shows no contacts in sight. Surfaced; no sonar or RWR contacts. Will now head course 180(T) until nightfall, watch will then change and rest. Convoy is now exiting assigned grid of ET and ammo is limited, no follow up attack will occur. En route to ET57.
