- continued from 14 May, 2148 -
2200 - Qu.8748CF - Diving for submerged attack, at E=11000, T=18.
2205 - Course 121°, which will be the attack course.
2211 - Sundown.
2222 - At E=4000 to Destroyer, rigging for Silent Running.
According to the sound contact, the storm must have divided the convoy into two parts, a faster section of 10 steamers in front and a slower section of 11 steamers behind. All in all, 9 escorts are heard.
2245 - The boat passes in between the forward port leading escort and the forward port side escort. No ASDIC is heard. Secured from Silent Running, 1/3-Ahead.
2258 - S-Tiefe. "Battle Stations!"
2301 - Qu.8749CF - Submerged Spread Shot with tubes I-II: T-3/Pi39H (MZ); Angle of divergence 1.5°; Running depth 4m; Vt30; Own course 121°; Own speed 4kn ahead; Target ship: Row Carrier 5761ts, draught 5.8m.
Target course 31°; Target distance 500m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 10kn; Firing angle α 353°.
Weather/Sea: S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.
Both torpedoes are hits, No.1 midships, No.2 in the aft section!
The steamer explodes in a huge fireball which can be heard and felt in the whole boat, and sinks burning over its entire length within 2 minutes. Must have been loaded with some very hazardous cargo.
We have to withdraw backwards as to not endanger the boat from the explosions and also, not to get rammed by a HogIsland Freighter, that is evading the torpedoed Row Carrier towards our position.
2306 - Qu.8749CF - Submerged Single Shot with tube IV: T-3/Pi39H (MZ); Running depth 4m; Vt30; Own course 121°; Own speed 5kn ahead; Target ship: Liberty Cargo 5681ts, draught 5.8m.
Target course 31°; Target distance 1500m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 10kn; Firing angle α 314°.
Weather/Sea: S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.
2306 - Qu.8749CF - Submerged Single Shot with tube III: AtoFat/PiG7H (AZ); Running depth 4m; Vt30; FAT-Settings: Straight Run 2000m - Giro Angle red90° - Giro Run 1600m; Own course 121°; Own speed 5kn ahead; Target ship: Liberty Cargo 5681ts, draught 5.8m.
Target course 31°; Target distance 1500m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 10kn; Firing angle α 304°.
Weather/Sea: S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.
Right after the shot, turning boat hard to stbd., to bring the T-4 to bear.
2309 - Flooding tube VI. The AtoFat (Tube III) is a hit but fails to detonate - suspect too sharp of an angle for the contact fuse.
2311 - Qu.8749CF - Submerged Single Shot with tube VI: T-4 "Falke"/Pi39H (MZ); Running depth 4m; Vt20; Own course 175°; Own speed 3kn ahead; Target ship: Liberty Cargo 5681ts, draught 5.8m.
Target course 31°; Target distance 1500m; Target angle red160°; Target speed 10kn; Firing angle α 138°.
Weather/Sea: S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.
2312 - Tube IV (T-3), that was a miss on the Liberty Cargo, is a hit on another unidentified vessel, after 6 min., so, almost at the end of its run time.
2317 - Sound Operator reports sinking sounds from the direction of the tube III torpedo impact.
2319 - The T-4 "Falke" is a hit after 8 min. Assuming hit on the Liberty Cargo.
A Black Swan Sloop and a C&D Destroyer are circling around our shooting position.
2325 - Flooding tube V.
2326 - Qu.8749CF - Submerged Single Shot with tube V: EtoFat/Pi39H (MZ); Running depth 4m; Vt30; FAT-Settings: Straight Run 2000m - Giro Angle green90° - Giro Run 1600m; Own course 210°; Own speed 3kn ahead; Target ship: Black Swan Frigate 1250ts, draught 3.7m.
Target course 265°; Target distance 1500m; Target angle red80°; Target speed 10kn; Firing angle α 284°.
Weather/Sea: S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.
After the shot, the Sloop is turning away on a northerly heading, while the C&D-Destroyer is shooting star shells and searching for survivors.
The EtoFat is a miss after the end of the run.
2330 - "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".
A Diana Typ Steamer 2600ts, loaded with tanks on the upper deck, is passing our port beam on course 31°, slow speed.
- to be continued -