
The U-Flotille "Hundius" and its oceangoing U-boats.
War with Great Britain and France!
On September 7, 1939, a dilemma was presented to the U-Bootwaffe, to decide whether the Atlantic U-boats will operate against merchant shipping or against the British naval forces. Real success against naval forces can only be expected if they are brought out of ports into the open sea. Our surface forces are so weak that they can hardly achieve this. It is conceivable that the main body of the English fleet, believed to be in Scapa, could be driven off by airstrikes. But air strikes are not a policy at the moment, so it was decided, in accordance with my proposal, to continue using the U-boats against merchant shipping.
According to what was proposed and according to the radio message transmitted at 7:02 pm, the order was issued to return to their ports of origin to the U-boats of the “Hundius” and “Wegener” flotillas.
U 37 North Atlantic - 8:18 - Torpedo against sighted British steamer DEFENDER fails (CG 1629). Early detonation. 21:41 - The torpedo against the British steamer "TAMAHA" (CG 1385) fails. 21:43 - The second torpedo against "TAMAHA" went out of control. Destroyed.
U 38 North Atlantic: in the area of operations. Radio message received (CG 5210): order to return.
U 39 North Atlantic - In the area of operations, without special occurrences (AM 27). Order to return received.
U 40 North Atlantic: in the area of operations, without special occurrences. 21:00 - Radio message received (CF 9839): start the return journey. Navigation to the base began.
U 41 North Atlantic - 06:30 - The Island of Santa María, of the Azores in sight (CF 8150). 21:30 - Radio message received: start of the sail back to the north of England (CF 7150). Return navigation.
Source: http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDU/BDUKTB30247.htm
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/1939
http://ktb.ubootwaffe.net/ (off-line)
https://www.germanmilitaria.com/Kriegsm ... 03374.html
Cheers. Raúl M

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