[Mad Mardigan]

Sept. 8th
07:35 hrs

After some time, finally arrived on station & near the area that Command, sent by radio message. Orford to the north & Harwick, off to the west

Transiting to the drop off point, crew sighted a swordfish... & ordered fast dive as deep as was possible.

Went evasive as soon as we submerged... while diving, heard bullets clanging off the hull. Not long after, heard 2 explosions... bombs or depth charges.

Was on a base course of 265 but made for 225, after submerging & gave the order ahead 1/3rd.

08:05

Hydrophone reported contacts moving fast, determined that their course was taking them to the area where we submerged initially. Stayed on course & ordered the crew to go to silent running. Had 1 contact pass very nearby, best guess was a motor torpedo boat. Best estimates based off sounds, were 2 armed trawlers & 3 or 4 torpedo boats, with a final contact, being a destroyer or destroyer escort. Believe that a plane or 2, joined in the hunt for where we were... and not where are. Which is good.

09:57

After some tense moments, having a 4th or 5th torpedo boat, pass nearby... reached the drop off point. Called for all stop & let the boat drift to a stop.

On being stopped, waited for a hydro sweep of the area & getting a confirmed no screws near by, ordered all tubes opened foreward... to drop those verdamph mines off.

Orders were to space them out 100-200 meters apart, in best estimate of enemy shipping movements. After reviewing the chart of the area, determined the best line was bow on a Northwest heading & backing out dropping off the mines as near to the orders given on spacing on a Southeast course.

10:15 hours

Last of those verdamph mines are set. Have crew loading torpedoes back in the tubes, and on orders received while laying them... am now on to patrolling a 30 km area in the vicinity, until further ordered else wise.

Picked up radio traffic, ordering some fellow U-boats, to take up station, between Iceland & the Faroe isle's... Good hunting to them...