Tuesday, 4 February 1941 - Bay of Biscay
During the night, U 43 (Lüth) in Lorient, has been flooded for some unidentified reason in the Diesel and Electric Engine compartments and will not be operational for the next 3 months.
0033 - Incoming F.T.: From U-107:
Sunk from convoy OB-279, 1 steamer 4683ts and from convoy OB-280, 1 ship 5051ts. - Hessler -
0600 - Morning Dawn - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Will be at point Luci-2 on 5.2., 0600h - RST -
0654 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Escort will be point Luci-2, 5.2., 0600h.
0735 - Sunrise.
1200 - Qu.5178BF - Days Run: 309.9sm - ↗306.7sm (23h 02') - ↘3.2sm (58')
61.6cbm (11cbm/24h). 8900Ah. Weather unchanged since 1.2., 2208h.
1330 - Point Lore, on approach path Herz.
1515 - Qu.5186BF - "ALARM!", from 3 fighter airplanes approaching from 320°true, E=5000, water depth is 170m!
Cmdr.: "The airplanes are flying at first on course SW and turn towards the boat very late, strafing the boat with on-board weapons, flying over the boat from stern to bow - slight damage on the forward upper deck. The M.G.-2cm-C/30 fires at the airplanes as they fly off on course east. During the diving process, at T=20, bombs behind the boat. On A-20, no damages."
1535 - Surfaced.
1623 - Sundown.
1801 - Norddeich Radio reporting on attacks of the channel harbors by the RAF.
2115 - Fly-over by airplane in complete darkness, direct approach!
Boat continues return voyage on approach path Herz.