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Leandros · 12-06-13, 12:06 PM

U-65 - IXB - Kaleu Hansen - Aug 29th 1943 - Biscaya - Patrol 21

Left Lorient this morning for square AM39 - southern point of the Hebrides. With the enemy's improved resources this seems like a suicide mission. Departing Lorient on a south-westerly course to avoid enemy air patrols it was only a few hours out that we were approached by one. Happily, our RWR discovered it in good time. Proceeding submerged for a couple of hours now.

Patrol 20 ended in a minor disaster. The assigned patrol area was on the American east coast - just south-east of Halifax. We slow-boated along the Atlantic to save fuel - found three small merchants with our radar along the way and finished them all off with the deck gun.

As soon as we entered the patrol area a large, fast, east-bound convoy was reported. I set up an intercepting course and soon we detected the radar-emission signals from its escorts. After having got up in front of it I decided to continue ahead to deeper water, and the dark, before attacking.

Then the miss. Among the many radar signals an approaching aircraft was not detected and we were jumped by a Hudson. Before we got under it hit close to us with several bombs. The boat survived but both periscopes, sonar and radar were destroyed. During the present conditions I saw no other possibility than to return to base.

We were lucky to receive some of the new Falke torpedoes for the present mission. That shall be interesting.

Fred

12-06-13, 12:06 PM	#4504
Leandros Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Stockholm Posts: 676 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	U-65 - IXB - Kaleu Hansen - Aug 29th 1943 - Biscaya - Patrol 21 Left Lorient this morning for square AM39 - southern point of the Hebrides. With the enemy's improved resources this seems like a suicide mission. Departing Lorient on a south-westerly course to avoid enemy air patrols it was only a few hours out that we were approached by one. Happily, our RWR discovered it in good time. Proceeding submerged for a couple of hours now. Patrol 20 ended in a minor disaster. The assigned patrol area was on the American east coast - just south-east of Halifax. We slow-boated along the Atlantic to save fuel - found three small merchants with our radar along the way and finished them all off with the deck gun. As soon as we entered the patrol area a large, fast, east-bound convoy was reported. I set up an intercepting course and soon we detected the radar-emission signals from its escorts. After having got up in front of it I decided to continue ahead to deeper water, and the dark, before attacking. Then the miss. Among the many radar signals an approaching aircraft was not detected and we were jumped by a Hudson. Before we got under it hit close to us with several bombs. The boat survived but both periscopes, sonar and radar were destroyed. During the present conditions I saw no other possibility than to return to base. We were lucky to receive some of the new Falke torpedoes for the present mission. That shall be interesting. Fred __________________ www.fredleander.com - look in to see my new book on Operation Sea Lion "Saving MacArthur" - a book series on how The Philippines were saved Last edited by Leandros; 12-06-13 at 05:30 PM.