Quote:
Originally Posted by TooJaded
Under the command of Lt. z.S. Fritz Leiber.
ordered to patrol grid CF49 for 24 hours.
Encountered small convoy on 1 day after reaching patrol grid of 7th Sep. 1940.
Attacked and sank 2 medium merchantmen; M/V Monarch of the Seas & M/V Egba. Endured depth charge attack by escorting destroyer for 1 hour. Was able to slip out of the warships patrol pattern and slip away. Bad weather prevented U95 from reestablishing contact with convoy. Bearing and speed of convoy reported to Bdu.
19th Sept. U95 makes approach to Gibraltar in hope of richer pickings. Plagued by foul weather that followed the boat to its new hunting ground.
20th Sept. Weather cleared up and allowed U95 to track a lone English merchantment heading towards the straits of Gibraltar. The ship; S.S. Petra, was intercepted and sunk.
21st Sept. Currently tracking a large English Merchantment; Empire Star this time. Heading towards strait. Will attack when in good firing position. Time of contact 19:40pm. Sea too heavy to use deck gun. Attack run made by torpedo, required a 2nd to finish her off.
22nd Sept. At 7:30am Watch officers spotted another lone British trader. A tramp steamer known as the Seagreen. Again sea to heavy to use deck gun. Ship struck by a single torpedo.
23rd Sept 14:20pm Large ore carrier the Empire Ridge spotted heading away from Gibralter. Intercepted and sank with 3 torpedos.
With two torpedoes remaining, decided to make return trip to Lorient. Hoping to pick up some enemy traffic on the way. Nothing sighted.
U95 returns to Lorient 30th Sept 1940.
Total tonnage sank: 29896
Lt. z.S. Fritz Leiber promoted to OberLeutnant Z. S.
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2nd War Patrol of U95
Launched from Lorient on 12th Oct. 1940
Ordered to grid BE61 and patrol for 24 hours
Sea state 2, wind 7.5 knots
Arrived 15th Oct. 1940.
Sea state 5, wind 17 Knots.
Patrol as per orders. No contacts. Decision to move to area of high traffic, grid AL99.
Encountered merchant ship "S.S. Dalblair" around 4am on 17th Oct.
sea to heavy to use deck gun. Ship sank with single torpedo.
Patrolled the area for 3 days before heading east to grid BF13.
Arrived BF13 on 22nd Oct. 1940
Sea state 2, wind 4 to 6 knots.
U95 patrolled into shallow waters off Irish coast for a time. Located small but well defended convoy. Kept in front until reached safety of deeper waters. Notified Bdu of convoy status and launched attack at 3am 29th Oct.
Able to penetrate destroyer screen. Launched attack on Large tanker "M/V E.J. Henry". Hit with two torpedoes. u95 attacked by 3 V&W destroyers. U95 sustained repeated depth charge attacks for 3 & a half hours. U95 tracked west and located the tanker dead in the water. Decision taken to use aft torpedo. Torpedo was a dud. Boat brought round and bow torpedo used. Tanker sunk. Surfaced 2 hours later to recharge batteries and replenish air. Convoy was lost.
Decision to move to new area AM55 and patrol for enemy shipping. Encountered a number of American ships making there way along the west coast of Ireland. No attacks made. Arrived late in the evening of 4th November.
5th November.
Grid AM55
Sea state 2 wind: 6 knots.
Located Merchantman "Empire Fairway" Attacked at 2:28 am sunk with two torpedoes.
Located Merchantment "M/V Bournville" at 13:52pm attacked at 13:10 sunk with one Torpedo.
Decided to relocate boat to AM54 and patrol there. Arrived early hours of 6th Nov.
7th Nov.
Grid AM54
sea state 1, wind: 3 knots
Located two vessels M/V Empire Tern & M/V Sutton. Both identified as American. Attack cancelled. Hydrophone operator picked up third vessel decided to intercept and identify it. Located the coastal tanker S.S. Maroussio Logotheti. Identified as British. Ship attacked and sunk with single torpedo at
0700 hours 11th November.
Fuel levels now at 50% - decision to begin return to Lorient.
11th Nov.
Grid AM73
sea state 5, wind: 30knots
Located cargo ship M/V New Brooklyn struggling in heavy sea. Decision made to attack at 20:46. 1st torpedo launched at ship malfunctioned, running too deep. A 2nd torpedo was a dud. Reluctantly a third was fired. Ship broke in two after tremendous explosion recked the vessel. Ship sank in less than 30 seconds.
13th Nov.
Grid BF13
sea state 4, wind: 15 knots
Enounter with loan British destroyer. Decided to avoid contact and slipped past the British vessel.
15th Nov
Sea of Biscay.
Sea state 3, wind: 9 knots.
Encountered 2 V&W class destroyers on their own steaming west out of the channel. Not sure if we had been spotted on the surface by a plane, I ordered the boat down. Ships went on their way. Range too far to attack. Continued voyage to Lorient.
16th Nov.
Lorient.
Sea state 1, wind 2 knots.
Returned to base, 06:34 hours.
Total tonnage of patrol 27170 grt.
superficial damage to boat no casualties.