O.K.M. - 1.SKL

Daily Situation Report

22 - 29 April 1945

PG31752

 

These records were made available by Håvard Hovdet.

If you would like to discuss torpedoes, coastal defenses or fortifications please contact Håvard at  h.hovdet@yahoo.no

 

	Secret Command Document   ....................................................... Naval Intelligence Service Received Next to Day Time Via                           From                Via   22.4.45       Delay note                                            xxx  To:  OKW/WFSt/Op/M - Kapt.z.See Assmann to present Teletype from..................................................................................................                                     Führer Main Headquarters - Adm. Voss             "
	1.) Atlantic:   a) U-978 arrived Trondheim on 20 April.  Successes:  4 April from convoy 1 steamer 6000 GRT sunk.  6 April with Lut three-fan on carrier group 1 carrier of the "ILLUSTRIOUS" class torpedoed.   b) U-825 received freedom to maneuver in Irish Sea, U-1055 in the Channel, U-1105 attack area AM 5723, depth 40 nm.   c) U-255 arrived Nazaire.  U-928 departed Kiel 19 April, U-991, 2325, 2330 20 April.  U-2326 departed Stavanger U-2326 19 April for patrol.       2.) Norwegian Sea:   No reports from air reconnaissance on 21 April.  Group Faust proceeds from today at 00.00 hours at highest speed to the Murmansk coast and occupies patrol line from AC 8861 to 8948.  Patrol line must be occupies early on 23 April.  Previously Murmansk boats received orders to focal point directly off the Kola Estuary.  U-427 departed early today for the Murmansk coast.  Russian aircraft yesterday morning tasked on U-boat north of Letiniski.                                                                                                      B.d.U. Situation Report       835
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	Secret Command Document   ....................................................... Naval Intelligence Service Received Next to Day Time Via                           From                Via   23.4.45       Delay note                                            xxx  To:  OKW/WFSt/Op/M - Kapt.z.See Assmann to present Teletype from..................................................................................................                                     Führer Main Headquarters - Adm. Voss             "
	1.) Atlantic:   a) Passing report from U-1105 from AM 0213.   b) After completing rake the 3 southern boats according to fuel inventory in the area Halifax up to and including the Gulf of Maine.  Northern boats free to maneuver off New York to the south.   c) U-881, U-1228 received freedom to maneuver from New York to Cape Hatteras.  U-326 attack area BF 4330 [two illegible words].   d) U-1271 departed Kiel 21 April for patrol.       2.) Norwegian Sea:   Conspicuous radio traffic with English units east of 25°E and very active air reconnaissance point to convoy break through.  U-481 reports 22 April morning with during transit from patrol line to Murmansk coast in north and south detonations far off (suspect U-boat hunt).  From this morning 11 boats in close deployment off Kola Estuary.  3 boats on outbound transit.                                                                                                      B.d.U. Situation Report       836
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	Secret Command Document   ....................................................... Naval Intelligence Service Received Next to Day Time Via                           From                Via   24.4.45       Delay note                                            xxx  To:  OKW/WFSt/Op/M - Kapt.z.See Assmann to present Teletype from..................................................................................................                                     Führer Main Headquarters - Adm. Voss             "
	1.) Atlantic:   a) Departed for patrol:      U-637 Stavanger for mine operation on the English coast.     U-963 Trondheim for the Atlantic   b) Operations areas:     U-901 Herbriden Sea and Minch, outbound transit from the south.     U-244 and U-1277 west exit of the Channel.     U-1010 area around AM 89.   c) U-510 arrived Nazaire from East Asia.  Sank:  1 freighter 6000 GRT.       2.) Norwegian Sea:   PQ-convoy position from Radio Traffic 22 April 18.00 hours about in the Bären narrows.  U-481 reported AC 8499 22 April 02.45 hours convoy, course 100, 9 knots out of Varanger Fjord.  Three-Lut, 2 detonations heard.  1 T V tube runner, 1 T V miss.  Boat had damage to diesel air intake mast.  Return transit Narvik.   Supplemental B.d.U.:  Shots must be explained after arrival.                                                                                                      B.d.U. Situation Report       837
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	Secret Command Document   ....................................................... Naval Intelligence Service Received Next to Day Time Via                           From                Via   25.4.45       Delay note                                            xxx  To:  OKW/WFSt/Op/M - Kapt.z.See Assmann to present Teletype from..................................................................................................                                     Führer Main Headquarters - Adm. Voss             "
	1.) Atlantic:   a) U-183 21 April departed Jakarta for the Philippines.  U-963 23 April departed Trondheim, U-315 arrived.      U-320 departed Kiel for patrol   b) U-2324 arrived Stavanger, sank:  one 5000 tonner.   c) From short report U-315 shows that in the operations area in BF 2832 2 further torpedo hits were achieved (see Situation Report 7.4.45).       2.) Norwegian Sea:   a) Arrival of PQ convoy is expected today.  Boats received orders to close in the entrance to the Kola Estuary.  Since yesterday evening 8 Soviet destroyers at sea apparently to accept convoy.  Additionally very heavy air surveillance in entire Murmansk area.   b) U-716 reported 23 April evening four search groups seen at periscope depth.  Attack periscope sounder partially out of service, all reserve torpedoes damaged, air search periscope stiff.  Many [illegible word].  Return transit.  To yesterdays reported situation the sinking of 2 steamers by U-294 was accepted, because B-Dienst determined that 3 Russian S-Boats on 22 April were to salvage Russian and Allied ship wrecks in Murmansk area.                                                                                                B.d.U. Situation Report       838
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	Secret Command Document   ....................................................... Naval Intelligence Service Received Next to Day Time Via                           From                Via   26.4.45       Delay note                                            xxx  To:  OKW/WFSt/Op/M - Kapt.z.See Assmann to present Teletype from..................................................................................................                                     Führer Main Headquarters - Adm. Voss             "
	1.) Atlantic:   a) U-1057 departed Farsund at 00.00 hours for patrol, 00.25 hours aircraft attack, no further details reported.   b) U-516 (transport boat for St. Nazaire) gave bearing signals from 6616.   c) U-245 reported return transit from AN 6575 due to depth charge damage.  Sank from Thames - Schelde convoy 1 freighter 5000 GRT, 1 tanker 5000 GRT (see Situation Report from 21 April).  From shot on corvette only detonation after 16 minutes heard, however by sound target hit accepted with certainty.  Boat proceeds to Stavanger.       2.) Norwegian Sea:   a) PQ convoy entered Murmansk yesterday evening.  U-711 (Lange) reported 25 April 12.00 hours PQ convoy in AC 2864, course southeast, 9 steamers, fan miss, 1 destroyer sunk.     On 19 April from an eastbound convoy in the same area 1 freighter 3000 GRT sink.  Heavy air, nights with red searchlights.  From remaining boats there are still no reports.   b) U-294 arrived Narvik from operations area.  U-712 departed Kiel, transit to Kristiansand.  Boat is anticipated to back fill swing boats (convoy protection Kristiansand - Stavanger)                                                                                                      B.d.U. Situation Report       839
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	Secret Command Document   ....................................................... Naval Intelligence Service Received Next to Day Time Via                           From                Via   27.4.45       Delay note                                            xxx  To:  OKW/WFSt/Op/M - Kapt.z.See Assmann to present Teletype from..................................................................................................                                     Führer Main Headquarters - Adm. Voss             "
	1.) Atlantic:   a) U-285 operations area Landsend.   b) U-637 departed Stavanger 23 April for patrol.  Return transit 25 April because starboard main switchboard out of service due to fire.  26 April attacked by 2 English S-boats, because Kommandant believed R-boat convoy and attempted to out maneuver.  Kommandant shot and 2 men killed, 2 men missing, First Watch Officer, 6 men heavily wounded.  Boat brought to Aakrehavn under own power, 22 list to starboard, with stern on the bottom.  Ballast tanks and main ballast and reserve fuel oil tanks shot through. No water in the boat.   c) U-1231 departed Kristiansand for patrol.       2.) Norwegian Sea:   U-997 (Lehmann) reported 21 April bombed by Catalina at night.  Vent 3 failed.  On 22 April from coastal convoy 3000 tonner sunk and 7000 tonner torpedoed, left sinking, down by the bow, propellers in the air.  1 destroyer sunk, 1 destroyer probably sunk. Port shaft beats from depth charge damage.  Heavy air (Catalina) and English U-boat hunt.  Out of torpedoes, return transit.                                                                                                      B.d.U. Situation Report       840
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	Secret Command Document   ....................................................... Naval Intelligence Service Received Next to Day Time Via                           From                Via   28.4.45       Delay note                                            xxx  To:  OKW/WFSt/Op/M - Kapt.z.See Assmann to present Teletype from..................................................................................................                                     Führer Main Headquarters - Adm. Voss             "
	1.) Atlantic:   a) U-873 passing report from AK 5934.   b) U-2326 arrived Stavanger after 8-day patrol, both torpedoes missed.       2.) Norwegian Sea:   a) Returning QP convoy was expected to depart Murmansk today.  Air reconnaissance off Murmansk is intended, boats were deployed again against returning English off Murmansk Estuary.  Intention:  after departure next QP convoy catch in Bären narrows.   b) U-716 arrived Narvik from operations area.                                                                                                B.d.U. Situation Report       841
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	Secret Command Document   ....................................................... Naval Intelligence Service Received Next to Day Time Via                           From                Via   29.4.45       Delay note                                            xxx  To:  OKW/WFSt/Op/M - Kapt.z.See Assmann to present Teletype from..................................................................................................                                     Führer Main Headquarters - Adm. Voss             "
	1.) Atlantic:   a) Departures:  U-764 (von Bremen) on 26 February, U-1058 (Bruder) on 28 April Bergen.   b) From short report U-1202 added 2 corvettes to previous sinkings.  Therefore total success:  1 auxiliary carrier, 1 destroyer, 2 corvettes, 2 steamers of 14000 tons sunk, 1 hit on 7000 tonner heard.  Off Hellisøy attacked by enemy U-boat by sound, outmaneuvered by going deep.       2.) Norwegian Sea:   From B-Diesnt since yesterday afternoon indications for departing QP convoy.  No reports from boats.  Enemy aircraft report yesterday 05.25 hours U-boat at periscope depth attacked (Supposedly off Murmansk).                                                                                                      B.d.U. Situation Report       842
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