7 U-Boat Flotilla

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the early history of the Seventh.................................

U-Boot Type VII B of the U-Flotille Wegener.

War against the Western Allies. 1939.

November 20, 1939.

U 53 lost the convoy when she changed course. However, U 41 was still there and made beacon signals. It is strange that there is still no news of sinking after such a long chase. U 53 attacked and heard 2 explosions. It can be assumed that U 41 also attacked. No failures have been reported. Probably the U-boats have not been able to observe results after firing. So far nothing is known about U 49. According to a French report, a German submarine is said to have been sunk. Submersibles have been ordered to report their positions and intentions.

U 47 North Sea - AN 2161 - 04:45 - Shetland Islands coast in sight. 07:29 - submerged. The aircraft carrier reported in Blue Mull Sound is not there. AN 1261 - 14:00 - Yell Sound (strait) is visualized. Fishing boats only.

U 48 Kiel / Brunsbüttel - AO 7725 / AN 96 - 22:00 - Departure from Kiel (AO 7725). Start of the 3rd Patrol. 22:30 - 05:00 Navigation on the Kaiser Wilhelm canal to Brunsbüttel (AN 96).

U 49 North Atlantic - BE 6696 - 01:20 - After depth charge pursuit by destroyers, surfaced to charge batteries. The submersible is damaged and can no longer be considered operational. BE 6997 - 22:17 - destroyer in sight. Dive without being detected.

U 53 North Atlantic - BF 49 - Search for the convoy lost the day before. Unsuccessfully. BF 5489 - 20:00 - start of the return march.

November 21, 1939.

U 49 did not report until much later that she had been damaged by depth charges and her forward torpedo tubes were rendered useless. As she only has one aft tube left in service, she has been ordered back. The attack on the convoy must be considered over. The originally planned disposition cannot be carried out now as U 49 has to return home and the other U-boats have only a limited amount of fuel left.

U 53 reported that she was beginning her return passage. U 48 sailed, for the first time with an anti-mine escort, through the declared area. In connection with a large-scale operation of our own battleships, U 47 has been held in the area west of Orkney.

End of the second tactical wolf pack operation of the German U-boats. In the so-called VERSUCHSFALL B, have taken part U 41, U 43 and U 53.

U 47 North Atlantic - AM 3534 - 10:53 - alarm dive in front of aircraft and then maintained by a fishing boat. 14:02 - Surface. 20:01 - Diving alarm in front of a destroyer. Immersion to 93 m. No depth charges. 20:40 - Surface and pursuit of the destroyer. Sea 8. Lots of waves. hunt cancelled. Submerged.

U 48 Brunsbüttel / North Sea - AN 9685 / AN 9592 / AN 9582 / AN 6983 / AN 6834. 06:50 - Set sail from Brunsbüttel / Schleuse. 16:30 - midnight - Navigation with anti-mining escort of the 2nd Minesweeper Flotilla (until AN 6834).

U 49 North Atlantic - BE 6993 - 00:00 - The intention to carry a torpedo from the upper deck container to the stern tube was abandoned, since a lot of water enters the interior due to the swell. BF 7459 - 08:00 - 09:45 -A forced dive by an aircraft.

U 53 North Atlantic - BF 51 - Return sailing, without special incidents.

U 55 Commissioning under the command of the Kplt. WERNER HEIDEL at the U-Flotille Wegener in Kiel.

Sources: 7 U boat Fotilla. Dönitz's Atlantic Wolves.
http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/bau/werften/index-w.html
http://ktb.ubootwaffe.net/ (off-line)
http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDU/BDUKTB30252.htm
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/1939

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the early history of the Seventh.................................

U-Boot Type VII B of the U-Flotille Wegener.

War against the Western Allies. 1939.

November 22, 1939.

The Naval Warfare General Staff received a message from the Romanian Naval Attaché in London. This shows that the British government allows neutral ships to travel in a convoy if the following conditions are met:

1. The UK Admiralty is not responsible for the loss of the ship in question.
2. The ships in question must trade with or for the UK or allied countries.
3. The entry of neutral ships into a convoy does not exclude the presence of British ships.

U 47 North Atlantic - AM 36 - In the area of operations, without special incidents.

U 48 North Sea - AN 6549 / AN 6199 / AN 6167 / AN 4974 / AN 4835 / AN 4549 - Towards the area of operations, without special incidents.

U 49 North Atlantic - BF 7185 / BF 4749 / BF 4718 / BE 6669 / BE 6398 / BE 6361 - Marching back, without special incidents.

U 53 North Atlantic - BF 11 - Marching back, without special incidents.

November 23, 1939.

German submarines are ordered not to take crews from merchant ships on board, except those who may be taken to Germany as prisoners of war.

Second day of operation of the German surface units, to support them several submarines have taken up holding positions to the west and east of the Orkneys.

U 47 North Atlantic - AM 4645-04:28 - light shells at 70°. Approach in that direction. AM 4373-11:39 - Destroyer appears from a sheet of rain. emergency dive.

U 48 North Sea - AN 4435 / AN 4191 / AN 4121 / AN 1499 / AN 1632 / AN 2678 - Marching to the area of operations. No special incidents.

U 49 North Atlantic - BF - In the area of operations. No special incidents.

U 53 North Atlantic - AM 7654 - Sighting of the Norwegian steamer STROMBOLI. She was not stopped as this seemed useless to the commanding officer.

Sources: 7 U boat Fotilla. Dönitz's Atlantic Wolves.
http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/bau/werften/index-w.html
http://ktb.ubootwaffe.net/ (off-line)
http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDU/BDUKTB30252.htm
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/1939

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the early history of the Seventh.................................

U-Boot Type VII B of the U-Flotille Wegener.

War against the Western Allies. 1939.

November 24, 1939.

Third day of operations of the German surface fleet in the northern North Sea, running with submarine support. Due to the current confusion of the situation, Dönitz decided to leave the submarines in the Orkneys and Shetlands area in his position. The worsening weather, however, significantly limits the use of weapons by submersibles.

The Wehrmacht Communiqué announces the following report: ...The New York Times reported heavy damage to the British cruiser BELFAST confirmed by a submarine report that a SOUTHAMPTON-class cruiser has been torpedoed in the FIRTH OF FORTH.

U 47 North Atlantic - AM 36 - In the area of operations, without special incidents.

U 48 North Sea - AN 2675 / AN 2674 / AN 1633 / AN 1623 / AN 1497 / AN 1495 / AN 1493 - 05:15 - Destroyer in sight. She followed her course (AN 2674). 15:27 - Submerged in front of 2 aircraft (AN 1497).

U 49 North Atlantic - AM 7387 / AM 7324 / AM 4954 / AM 4681 / AM 4623 / AM 5144 - On return march, no special incidents.

U 53 North Atlantic - AM 46 - Return march, no particular incident.

November 25, 1939.

There is still no indication what steps the British High Command is taking. Weather conditions prevent aerial reconnaissance. However, as the British fleet can no longer be assumed to be in the Clyde, the 2 western submersibles, U 47 and U 35, were ordered to move further north-east, off the Pentland Firth and Fair Island Passage. Here too they will be in a better position to cut off the fleet east of Shetlands if this were necessary.

U 47 North Atlantic - In the area of operations, without special incidents (AM 36).

U 48 North Sea - 05:30 - Sighting of destroyers (AN 1495). Dodged. 20:15 - Tanker in sight (AN 2655). Attack. 23:32 - First torpedo shot. Failure. Rejected by a destroyer. (AN 1495 - AN 1497 - AN 1622 - AN 2677 - AN 2655 - AN 1461)

U 49 North Atlantic: On return march, without special incidents. (AM 2994 - AM 0213 - AM 2861 - AM 3549 - AM 3534 - AM 3448)

U 53 North Atlantic - On return march, without special incidents (AM 27).

Sources: 7 U boat Fotilla. Dönitz's Atlantic Wolves.
http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/bau/werften/index-w.html
http://ktb.ubootwaffe.net/ (off-line)
http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDU/BDUKTB30252.htm
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/1939

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the early history of the Seventh.................................

U-Boot Type VII B of the U-Flotille Wegener.

War against the Western Allies. 1939.

November 26, 1939.

The bad weather continues. It is highly doubtful that there are still light forces at sea; They have probably sought refuge on the coast. It is also possible that they have had to stop at protected places to refuel, since they have been at sea for some time. Therefore, the 4 submersibles were ordered to search the eastern coasts of the Shetlands and Orkneys, especially Lerwik. Another good reason for giving this order was the fact that, in this weather at sea, submersibles would probably not be able to attack, while on the leeward coast, this might still be possible.

U 47 North Atlantic - 02:26 - Bad weather. Submerged (AN 1544). Sea 6, rain. The sea can still be felt at 30 m, submerged at 40 m.

U 48 North Sea - 00:30 - Second launch against the steamer of the previous day (AN 1452). Impact. The Swedish GUSTAF E. REUTER was sunk. One man from the crew loses his life on the tanker, which breaks into two parts and sinks after the torpedo hit (AN 1452). 20:35 - After the radio message, stationed in Lervik Bay for reconnaissance. (AN 1452 - AN 2619 - AN 2644 - AN 2647 - AN 1493)

U 49 North Atlantic / North Sea - 00:00 - Two destroyers evaded (AM 3423). Full moon, bright as day. There is no possibility of an attack. (AM 3423 - AN 1145 - AN 1131 - AF 7842 - AF 7853 - AF 7978)

U 53 North Atlantic - Return march, without special incidents (AM 32).

November 27, 1939.

Aerial reconnaissance identified several groups of light and heavy naval forces at noon in the Shetland-Norway Strait, on different courses. Contact was lost after 2 hours, due to the lack of fuel of the following aircraft. However, it is clear that the enemy intends to take a cutting position here. The search along the leeward coast was apparently unsuccessful. A slight temporary improvement in the weather is expected. I decided to let the 3 submersibles off the Shetland coast do a reconnaissance east to the Norwegian coast.

Reasons:
1) Searching the coast did not lead to anything; apparently there is nothing there.
2) The enemy was in the Shetlands-Norway Strait. Since the situation as a whole has not changed, it can be expected that it will still be there tomorrow (our own battleships have not returned yet).
3) The improvement in the weather forecast should mean that the boats will be able to attack.

Our own battleships have returned from the operation; his return passage apparently went unnoticed.

U 47 North Atlantic - 11:00 - Alarm dive in front of a destroyer (AN 1350). Attack. The destroyer moves quickly. 18:20 - Foula Island in sight (AN 1417). March through the gap.

U 48 North Sea – 12:15 – Submerged due to aircraft 13:54 – Submerged due destroyer (AN 2613). 24:00 - There are no steamers, escorts or barriers at Lerwick Bay (AN 2174). (AN 2647 - AN 2645 - AN 2616 - AN 2613 - AN 2178 - AN 2174)

U 49 North Sea - 17:43 - The Norwegian steamer RUTH I was stopped (AN 4670). She sails in ballast. Continued.

U 53 North Sea - AN 27 - On the way back, without special incidents (AN 27).

Sources: 7 U boat Fotilla. Dönitz's Atlantic Wolves.
http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/bau/werften/index-w.html
http://ktb.ubootwaffe.net/ (off-line)
http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDU/BDUKTB30252.htm
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/1939

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the early history of the Seventh.................................

U-Boot Type VII B of the U-Flotille Wegener.

War against the Western Allies. 1939.

November 28, 1939.

Aerial reconnaissance again identified enemy forces in the Strait. Shortly thereafter, U 35 reported a London-class cruiser and then U 47 reported a hit on another London-class cruiser. Therefore, the decision to send the submersibles into the strait was correct.

Since there is no indication that the enemy knows that the Surface Fleet has returned home, it is to be expected that it will remain in its blocking position again tomorrow. I have decided to let the U-boats stay in the same area.

U 47 North Atlantic - 12:49 - Cruiser in sight (AN 2250). Attack. 13:34 - Torpedo against the cruiser. Impact. (not confirmed, could have been HMS NORFOLK according to Ritschel). There is no confirmation from allied sources, the British account speaks of the torpedo detonated in the keel of the cruiser (AN 2250).

U 48 North Sea - 01:50 - cruiser on course opposite to sight (AN 2185). It is not possible to attack or keep in touch due to the hurricane. The submersible returns to Lerwick Bay. 12:00 - Only 2 fishing steamers in the bay (AN 2174). 23:05 - 1 destroyer and 1 steamer in sight (AN 2273). Attack. 23:32 - Missed first torpedo shot. 23:55 - The second torpedo detonated early. 23:56 - Emergency dive due a destroyer. No depth charges. (AN 2185 - AN 2184 - AN 2174 - AN 2178 - AN 2195 - AN 2273).

U 49 North Sea / Brunsbüttel - On return march. No dead reckoning for three days. 23:45 - Moored in Brunsbüttel (AN 9694). AN 3758 - AN 6632 - AN 9694. The submersible was at sea for 20 days and sank an allied merchant ship with a total of 4,258 GRT.

U 53 North Sea - On return march, without special incidents (AN 6635).

Sources: 7 U boat Fotilla. Dönitz's Atlantic Wolves.
http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/bau/werften/index-w.html
http://ktb.ubootwaffe.net/ (off-line)
http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDU/BDUKTB30252.htm
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/1939

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the early history of the Seventh.................................

U-Boot Type VII B of the U-Flotille Wegener.

War against the Western Allies. 1939.

November 29, 1939.

Again, aerial reconnaissance identified light naval forces and a convoy northeast of them in the same area. The weather is still very stormy. Apparently, the U-boats have not been able to attack. Since it must now be taken that the return of the German Surface Fleet cannot remain unknown to the enemy for much longer, it makes no sense for the submersibles to remain in the Shetland-Norway Strait for another day, especially since it is believed that there are many destroyers nearby.

U 47 and U 48 will continue their passage towards the North Atlantic. U 49 entered port. She only managed to fire one torpedo during the short time she was in the Atlantic, at an escorted steamer that probably sank. The ship sustained considerable damage from depth charges. There are no more details. The propaganda organization has exaggerated the impact of U 47 on a cruiser to the point of sinking. From the military's point of view, these inaccuracies and exaggerations are undesirable.

U 47 North Atlantic - 08:54 - Submerged due to aircraft (AN 23). Four depth charges nearby. No damage 11:41 - 15 depth charges at long range and close. No damage (AN 2326). U 47 was attacked by three British warships.

U 48 North Sea - 02:05 - As the day before, steamer with a destroyer escort in sight (AN 2250). U-boat trap? 07:00 - 1 steamer and 4 - 5 destroyers in sight (AN 2264). 07:13 - Discovered. Emergency dive. Until 12:30 - 19 depth charges very close. No major damage. (AN 2250 - AN 2258 - AN 2264 - AN 2293 - AN 2376 - AN 2396)

U 49 Brunsbüttel / Kiel - 00:20 - Set sail from Brunsbüttel (AN 9694). Navigation through the Kaiser Wilhelm canal (AN 96 - AO 77) to Kiel. 05:30 - Stranded on embankment after command system failure. The submersible was able to free itself. 06:45 - Moored in Kiel (AO 7727). End of the 1st Patrol. Review in the shipyard.

U 53 North Sea - AN 93 - On return way, without special incidents (AN 93).

Sources: 7 U boat Fotilla. Dönitz's Atlantic Wolves.
http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/bau/werften/index-w.html
http://ktb.ubootwaffe.net/ (off-line)
http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDU/BDUKTB30252.htm
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/1939

Cheers. Raúl M .