[Mad Mardigan]

Sept. 4th, 1939
7th Flot., Kiel

After leaving the commander, saw to the provisioning of U-52, fuel, torps, food... then had crew cast off to get under way.

Verdamph, who ever made the decision, to turn a Underseeboot, into a mine layer.

Sept. 5th, 1939

After clearing the narrow passage to the Skagerrak and into the open waters of the Ost see, ordered a crash dive drill to periscope depth, then on getting to a deeper water area that permitted it... ordered a full out, crash dive drill.

Needed to make sure the dock workers on maintenance of the boot, were not sodden shirkers. Fortunately, for them... they were adequate, in their duty.

Sept. 6th, 1939

No ships sighted thus far, though it concerns Me, that 3 of our fore tubes are loaded with mines, per orders before sailing. If a ship is sighted, will not be in a position to fight... as it would take time to unload the mines, then reload torpedos.

Verdamph. Will be glad, when we are done with dropping them off, laying them, in the assigned area, so that My boot can get back to what it was designed to do... find & sink enemy ships... rather than laying mines.

Sept. 7th, 1939
05:48 hrs

Watch crew sighted smoke on the horizon in the early morning hours... went to the bridge, confirmed their sightings... and ordered ahead 1/3. Figured with the sun not yet risen, and with it at our backs... it may be that they have not caught sight of us. Verdamph mines... after some tense waiting, appeared they may have seen us... or changed course... ordered full stop & crash periscope depth.. as the area was shallow.

On reaching depth, determined that it was safe to go a bit deeper and ordered a drop to 25 meters. After giving that order, the hydrophone crewman, reported hearing screws from 3 warships. Of all the luck. 1 nearby & heading in our general direction, the other 2... were on a south south east heading, judging from the sounds... 2 were escorts, with the 3rd... a battleship, maybe a carrier. Never was able to determine as it was never sighted.

Ordered 1/3 back and silent running.

Since it would take time to unload, then reload torpedo's... could only wait until they cleared the area.

06:22 hrs

Ordered 15 degrees starboard to heading 255, .5 knots ahead, both engines


06:40 hrs

Hydrophone crewman, reported the nearer of the escorts, was headed off on a south south east heading it appears, their early on heading, before the course change that brought them in our direction, was part of a maneuver to check the area, as part of a possible warship group. It appears that we stumbled across a task force, exact composition... unknown outside of 2 escorts and a battleship or aircraft carrier. When it is safe to surface, will have a radio dispatch sent, giving best speed and heading estimate.

Hydrophone crewman, lost contact with any ships in the area. Upon confirmation of no screws detected, ordered a rise to periscope depth... where raised scope, then did a quick sweep, close in then a magnified search further out, for any signs of smoke, or aircraft in the area... if that was a carrier that passed us.

After sighting nothing, gave the order for ahead 1/3 & emergency surface. Once surfaced, ordered return to base course of 240, all ahead full.

Radio dispatch sent with all details of area & best speed & heading for the contact.