U-65 - IXB - Kaleu Hansen - Sep. 040442 1943 - Lorient - Patrol 21
Just arrived back in Lorient. As so often before we bumped into a convoy enroute to our mission area - just south-west of the Bristol Channel approaches. After having received a report on its approximate whereabouts we soon picked up the radar-emissions of its escorts and used the signals to work up ahead of it, its course was north-east.
With 4 Falke homing torpedoes we felt relatively safe and as usual after our first torpedo firing on a merchant it evolved into a self-defense fight. The Falkes are wonderful if you know how to use them. Within a short time 5 escorts were knocked out with 3 Falkes (the fourth and a couple of conventional ones went astray due to mishandling on my side) and 2 TI's.
After that there was a long chase after the convoy. On three occasions we were up to get ahead of it again and load down the spare torps. Twice we were forced under by approaching aircrafts. Thank you, RWR!
As can be seen by the attached patrol log we used a lot of torps but also saved a lot of time not having to go to the assigned patrol area which would probably have turned into a mousetrap.
Hope to get more Falkes for next trip. It was actually one of those which slowed down the Ceramic liner we sunk. It was my intention to fire a TIII on another far-out ship but fired the Falke in error. On its way it hooked up to the liner.
Fred
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