Tuesday,
15 June 1943 - SSE of St.Helena -
- 6th week at sea completed -
0342 - Qu.6583GF - Course 110°.
0624 - Qu.6596GF - Course 119°.
1200 - Qu.6926GF -
Days Run: 181.2nm - ↗ 173.5nm (21h 30') - ↘ 7.7nm (2h 30')
Total: 7305.5nm (41tg 22h) - ↗ 7029.6nm (37tg 16h 39') - ↘ 275.9nm (4tg 05h 21')
Course 119°; 483cbm (2cbm in 24h); Battery 97%; 1xT-3, 2xEtoFat, 1xT-4; 9xBold
SSE6/5, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 14days and 20h). - Morning Dawn -
1248 - Sunrise. Weather & Sea unchanged in 14days and 21h.
1255 - Qu.6934GF - Crash dive for training. T=10 after 39 Sec. (1st Watch with Diving Officer).
1258 - A-Meter.
1300 - Setting for T=20 with 96rpm.
1309 - At Reception Depth. Compressed Air Supply 290Atü.
1315 - Surfaced after 20' and 1.2nm. - Weather and Sea unchanged.
1318 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled; Battery 97%; 2x245RPM/8kn.
1418 - Qu.6938GF - Course 110°.
1640 - Qu.4742GG - Crash dive for training. T=10 after 38 Sec. (2nd Watch with Diving Officer).
1643 - A-Meter.
1645 - Setting for T=20 with 96rpm.
1654 - At Reception Depth. Compressed Air Supply 290Atü.
1700 - Surfaced after 20' and 1.2nm. - Weather and Sea unchanged.
1703 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled; Battery 95.5%; 2x245RPM/8kn.
1713 - Qu.4742GG - Course 119°.
2309 -
Incoming Radio Reports:
From O.K.W.:
a) The world's first turbojet reconnaissance bomber, the Arado Ar 234V-1 Blitz (GK-IV), made its maiden flight at Rheine, Germany, with Flugkapitän Selle in the cockpit.
b) The
Merchant Raider "Michel", has sunk the Norwegian Freighter "Hoegh Silverdawn", 7.715ts, with a cargo of Meat, Military Equipment & Vehicles, and Aircraft Fuel, off the west coast of Australia.
From O.K.M.:
a) On 14 June, Italian transport submarine Aquila VI (ex Luigi Torelli) departed Bordeaux for Singapore, with a cargo of mercury, steal, 800 Mauser MG 151/20 aircraft cannons, a 500-kilogram SG 500 bomb, torpedoes, and two Würzburg radar sets on board. Her passengers included Colonel Kinjo Satake (trained with latest German telecommunications technology), Heinrich Foders (Telefunken radar engineer with Würzburg anti-aircraft radar blueprints), and a number of German radar and shipbuilding engineers.
From B.d.U.:
a) On 13 June, U 172 (Kptlt. Carl Emmermann) reported that it heard bombs and depth charges on 12.6. in DF 4455. The supply operation intended in this square from U 118 (XB; KrvKpt. Werner Czygan) was then transferred 100 miles to the south. So far, U 118 has not arrived there and has not replied to calls. It must be assumed that she was lost in the attack on 12.6.
Carrier-borne a/c have several times been sighted on the American-Gibraltar route and it seems likely that a/c carriers are permanently stationed here and patrol the convoy routes, while the a/c, which are equipped with excellent location gear, carry out anti-S/m hunts. This may have been the cause of U 118's loss.
All boats have again been reminded that a/c must always be expected even in the most remote areas.
b) The present unfavorable fuel situation makes it necessary to use some IXC boats as tankers. Boats with one or two machine guns can be considered, and they are to get the new quadruple mounting turret upon their return.
c) G.O.C. Atlantic Air Forces' decision to allow Ju'88's to fly only in groups, owing to their small striking power, has had the result that the enemy's heavy fighters also only appear in groups. This new situation is only a disadvantage for incoming and outgoing boats, as they cannot get the better of several attacking a/c even if a number of boats are firing at once. Experience during the next few days will show whether or not it is best for boats to proceed in groups.
d) After the recent loss of several incoming and outgoing boats due to enemy a/c in Biscay, the
following order has been given to the boats on 14 June: With immediate effect, groups of U-boats will proceed through Biscay mainly submerged and will surface only to charge batteries. Instructions for procedure when surprised by aircraft are unaffected by this order.
B-Dienst Report:
a) The British Cruiser HMS Cumberland arrived at Thurso, Scotland.
b) On 14 June, the RAF's 2nd Tactical Air Force was formed to train close support aircraft squadrons for tactical operations during
Operation Overlord.
2311 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged in 15 days and 8h.