- continued from 15 May, 1200 -
1213 - FuMB Detection (also, Magic Eye).
1214 - Qu.1255DH - Sunderland in 20°true, crossing our stern on course WNW, E=9500. Boat remains surfaced.
1243 - FuMB Detection in 15°true, E=14000 (no Magic Eye). Boat remains surfaced.
1317 -
Incoming F.T.:
From B.d.U.:
B.d.U. Ref. 2555 A4.
To all Submarine Commanders:
In his efforts to rob the submarines of her most valuable characteristic (invisibility) the enemy is several lengths ahead of us by virtue of his radar location.
I am fully aware of the difficult position that this puts you in when fighting enemy escorts and anti-submarine forces.
You may rest assured that I have done, and shall continue to do everything within my powers as Commander-in-Chief to change this situation as rapidly as possible.
Work is being carried on both within the Navy and outside it to develop and improve your weapons and gear.
I expect you to continue your determined struggle with the enemy and by pitting your ingenuity, ability and toughness against his tricks and technical developments, finally to finish him off.
Commanders in the Mediterranean and Atlantic have proved that even today the enemy has weak spots everywhere and that in many cases the enemy resources are not nearly so efficient as they would appear at first sight, if the boat's Commander is determined to score a success in spite of everything.
I believe that I shall shortly be able to give you better weapons for this hard struggle of yours.
(Signed): DÖNITZ
1403 -
Incoming F.T.:
From B.d.U.:
RST: According to enemy radio intercept, attacked convoy is SL.129. Departed Freetown on 11 May. Rendezvous planned with MKS.13 on 24 May. 47 merchants and 9 escorts. Ships reported sunk are: SANSU, Br., 5,446ts, W. A. Prod; 9 passengers; FORTOL, Br., 2,629ts; BARON RUTHVEN, Br., 3,178ts, Iron Ore. One of the escorts is Black Swan Sloop, HMS Whimbrel (U 29).Congratulations! Continue acc. Op.-Orders. - B.d.U. -
Cmdr.:
So, the name of of the ship on the life boat of the last ship sunk was correct.
1802 - Qu.1515DH bottom right - "ALARM!" for Sunderland in 85°true, E=9000, on course West (No FuMB/Magic Eye detection).
1805 - At A-Meter no bombs.
1825 - T=50. Commencing torpedo loading.
1832 - Tube III reloaded with T-3/Pi39H.
1840 - At Reception Depth.
1844 -
Incoming Radio Reports:
O.K.W.-Report:
a) Japanese troops surrounded Chinese troops near Baiyang, Hunan Province, China, inflicting heavy casualties.
b) Luftwaffe I./KG 55, flying He 111 bombers, departed from Sarabuz Russkiy Airfield in Krym, Russia for Stalino (now Donetsk), Ukraine. The transfer was in response to the Soviet counter-offensive toward Kharkov, Ukraine.
O.K.M.-Report:
a) British Admiral Andrew Cunningham announced that "the passage through the Mediterranean was clear", and convoys from Gibraltar to Alexandria, Egypt resumed.
b) During convoy action from 9-13 May against convoys HX.237 and SC.129, in favorable attack conditions, very strong and accurate defense and radar activity. Only 5 ships sunk and 3 own losses.
B.d.U-Report:
a) U 266 (Kptlt. Ralf von Jessen) and U 753 (FrgKpt. Alfred Manhardt von Mannstein), have been lost with all hands.
b) U 108 (Kptlt. Ralf-Reimar Wolfram; ex KrvtKpt. Klaus Scholtz) has been withdrawn from active service and will be used as a school boat.
B-Dienst Report:
a) In the estimated (German) submarine situation issued by the enemy on 13.5., 15 boats were reported as probably patrolling within 150 miles round 57° North and 40° West. At the time the Groups "Isar", "Inn" and "Lech" totaling 13 boats were lying in the area named. As only one radio message was sent from this area on 11.5, it appears that only location can have been used as a basis for this report.
At the same time about 10 boats were supposed to be in the area between 50-55° North and 27-30° West. However, at the time, only 2 tankers and one submarine were there. During the previous days several radio messages were sent.
b) Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9) returned to Belfast, Northern Ireland from the Firth of Clyde, Scotland for 16 hours before departing again bound for Iceland.
1847 - Surfaced after 45min. and 2.2nm.
1848 - Boat ventilated.
1853 - Compressed Air Supply filled. 2x225RPM/8kn.
2231 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged in 3 days.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115