U-boat Archive - U-472 - U-973 - Interrogation Report

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C.B. 04051 (101)

"U 472" and "U 973"

Interrogation of Survivors

May, 1944

This Report is not to be considered accurate in all respects, having been prepared before complete information was available. It is therefore not to be taken as historically correct.















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	C.B. 04051 (101)



	"U 472" and "U 973"


	Interrogation of Survivors







	May, 1944










	NAVAL INTELLIGENCE DIVISION,
	ADMIRALTY, S.W.1.

	N.I.D. 03209/44.
	A
















	The following report is compiled from information derived from prisoners of war. The statements made cannot always be verified; they should therefore not be accepted as facts unless they are definitely stated to be confirmed by information from other sources.

CONTENTS

			PAGE
I.	INTRODUCTORY REMARKS		1
	(i)	General	1
	(ii)	Commanding Officers	1
	(iii)	Other Officers	1
	(iv)	Ships' Companies	1

II.	DETAILS OF U 472 and U 973		2
	(i)	Type	2
	(ii)	Tonnage	2
	(iii)	Builders	2
	(iv)	Armament	2
	(v)	Ammunition	2
	(vi)	Bridge Armour	3
	(vii)	Motors	3
	(viii)	Diesels	3
	(xi)	Radar	3
	(x)	G.S.R.	3
	(xi)	R.D.B.	3
	(xii)	Dinghies	3
	(xiii)	Flotilla	3
	(xiv)	Field Post Number	3

III.	LAST PATROL AND SINKING OF U 472		3

IV.	SECOND AND LAST PATROL OF U 973		4

V.	GENERAL REMARKS ON U-BOATS		4
	(i)	U-Boats Operating from Norwegian Ports - Routine	4
	(ii)	Supplying U-Boats	4
	(iii)	Type VII F U-BOats	5
	(iv)	Eighteen-man U-Boat	5
	(v)	Mass Production of U-Boats	5
	(vi)	Forward Gun Platform in U-973	5
	(vii)	Modification to Standard Torpedoes	5
	(viii)	Depressed State of Troops in Norway	5

VI.	BASES AND TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS		5
	(i)	Norway	5
		(a) Bergen	5
		(b) Hammerfest	6
		(c) Narvik	6
		(d) Tromso	6
		(e) Trondheim	6
	(ii)	Poland	6
		Gdynia	6
	(iii)	Training	6
		(a) Torpedo Attack Teacher	6
		(b) Training Appointment	6
		(c) Pre-tactical trials	6

VII.	OTHER SHIPS		6
	Z.27		6

APPENDIX "A" Building and Working-up of U 472			7
	(i)	Building	7
	(ii)	Commissioning	7
	(iii)	Working-up	7

APPENDIX "B" First Patrol of U 472			7

APPENDIX "C" Nominal Roll of U 472			8

APPENDIX "D" Building and Working-up of U 973			9
	(i)	Building	9
	(ii)	Commissioning	9
	(iii)	Working-up	9

APPENDIX "E" First Patrol of U 973			9
	(i)	Passage to Bergen	9
	(ii)	Departure from Bergen	9

APPENDIX "F" Nominal Roll of U 973			10

(5092) A 2


	1

	REPORT ON THE INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM U 472,
	SUNK ON THE 4th MARCH, 1944 BY SWORDFISH AIRCRAFT AND
	H.M.S. "ONSLAUGHT," AND FROM U 973, SUNK ON 6th MARCH,
	1944 BY SWORDFISH AIRCRAFT
	_____________________________________

	I. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

	(i) General
	U 472, a 500-ton U-Boat, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See von FORSTNER, was sunk at 0615 on 4th March, 1944, in position 73°05'N., 26°40'E., by R.P.'s from a Swordfish aircraft from H.M.S. "CHASER" and gunfire from H.M.S. "ONSLAUGHT."
	Thirty survivors, including the Commanding Officer, were picked up; one of these died on board H.M.S. "ORIBI" and was buried at sea.
	U 472 was on her second patrol. She had sailed to intercept one convoy which she had missed, but after patrolling for fourteen days she made contact with the westbound convoy R.A.57, which she was shadowing at the time of her sinking. She was operating in Group "ISEGRIM."
	U 973, a 500-ton U-Boat, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Klaus PAEPENMÖLLER, was sunk on the morning of 6th March, 1944, in position 69°47'N., 05°15'E., by R.P.'s from a Swordfish aircraft from H.M.S. "CHASER." U 973 was also operating in the neighborhood of Convoy R.A.57, and may possibly have formed part of Group "ISEGRIM." The Engineer Officer and one able seaman were the only survivors.

	(ii) Commanding Officers
	Oberleutnant zur See Freiherr Wolfgang Friedrich von FORTSTNER, Commanding Officer of U 472 joined the Navy in April, 1937. He was lent to the German Air Force, but returned to the Navy in autumn, 1942. U 472 was his first command. He was respected by his men, who considered him an efficient officer, though not a very experienced Commanding Officer. He was extremely security conscious.
	Very little is known of Oberleutnant zur See Klaus PAEPENMÖLLER, Commanding Officer of U 973 who did not survive. He appears to have been a very inefficient Commanding Officer, and his boat was in no way manned for action when the aircraft attacked her.

	(iii) Other Officers.
	Leutnant zur See Siegfried BOLDA of the October, 1940 term was First Lieutenant of U 472. He had spent three months in the destroyer "FRIEDRICH IHN" on convoy work off the French coast, and had also served in U 18 under Oberleutnant zur See ROSENBERG, and in a U-Boat commanded by Oberleutnant zur See PIETSCHMANN. He was promoted Leutnant zur See on 1st January, 1943. On leaving PIETSCHMANN'S boat he went forthwith to Kiel to join U 472 when she was building. The First Lieutenant was considered by most of the ship's company to be the best officer on board. He was to leave the boat after the next patrol.
	Very little is known about Leutnant zur See Wolfgang GISCHKE and Leutnant zur See Joachim WINTZER, the Second and Third Watch-keeping Officers of U 472. GISCHKE was said by one prisoner to be the A.A. and W/T Officer of the boat. Neither survived.
	The Engineer Officer of U 472 was Oberleutnant (Ing.) Karl Heinz DAMM, of the October, 1940, term. He behaved with great sang froid during the sinking, and stayed below to open the vents. He was lost with the boat.
	Nothing is known of the three watch-keeping officers of U 973, Leutnant zur See Ernst SCHRANK, Leutnant zur See Werner JACOBY, and Leutnant zur See SCHULZ, none of whom survived.
	The Engineer Officer of U 973, Leutnant (Ing.) Franz RUDOLF, was one of the two survivors. He was a man of little intelligence, and was also very security conscious. He joined the Navy in 1926, and in 1941, on promotion from the lower deck, was commissioned Leutnant (Ing.).

	(iv) Ship's Companies
	The complement of U 472 was fifty-two, of whom twenty-nine survived. Most of these men were exceedingly security conscious, and none had any considerable knowledge or experience. The average age of the twenty-nine prisoners was twenty.
	U 973's complement is thought to have been fifty-three. All the men were very badly trained and inexperienced. The Diesel room Petty Officer had his arm in a sling throughout the last patrol, and another man, who had broken his foot, also insisted on going to sea. Oberbaurat BEHRENDT, a Naval Constructor, who joined U 472 at Gdynia, was among the casualties.
	A description of a forward platform, mounting the 37 mm. gun, which was added to U 973 at Gdynia, is given in Section V.

	(5092) A 3

Equivalent Ranks

The following are the Royal Navy equivalents to German Naval ranks used in this report:

Kapitan zur See	-	Captain
Fregattenkapitän	-	Commander
Korvettenkapitän	-	Lieutenant-Commander.
Kapitänleutnant	-	Lieutenant.
Oberleutnant zur See	-	Sub-Lieutenant.
Leutnant zur See	-	Junior Sub-Lieutenant.
Oberfähnrich zur See	-	Senior Midshipman.
Fähnrich zur See	-	Junior Midshipman.

The suffix "(Ing.)" after a rank in place of "zur See" denotes an Engineer Officer. The suffix "der Reserve" denotes a Reserve Officer.

II. DETAILS OF U 472 AND U 973

		U 472	U 973
(i)	Type	VII C.	VII C.

(ii)	Tonnage	500 tons.	500 tons.

(iii)	Builders	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	Blom & Voss, Hamburg.
	Commissioned	21st May, 1943.	June or July, 1943.

(iv)	Armament
	(a) Guns	One quadruple 20 mm. (.79 inch) on the after bandstand. Two twin 20 mm. on the forward bandstand.	One quadruple 20 mm. on the lower bandstand. Two twin 20 mm. on the upper bandstand. One single 37 mm. (1.46 inch) forward. This gun was mounted on the forward gun platform (see Section V (vii) ). All these guns were fully automatic.
			Two M.G. 81's mounted on the bridge. These were removed after the first patrol.
	(b) Torpedoes	Ten carried on first patrol, stowed as follows:
		Three T.5's, one in Tube V, one in the forward bilges, one in the stern bilges.
		Two T.3 Fat II \| Loaded
		One normal T.3 \| in tubes
		One T.1 Fat I \| forward.
		Two T.1 Fat I \| Carried as
		Two T.1 Fat I \| spares
		One T.3 \| forward
		Ten carried on last patrol, stowed as follows: Four T.5's: one in the after bilges, one in Tube V, one in the forward bilges, and one spare forward. Two T.3 Fat II loaded forward. Three T.1 Fat I carried as spares forward.	Ten torpedoes carried on the last patrol. Some T.5's and some Etos were carried; it is not known how many of each. At the end of February, U 973 disembarked three air torpedoes and replaced them with three electric torpedoes, the latter being trackless were considered more satisfactory on moonlight nights.

(v)	Ammunition	---	A.P. and tracer carried for the 20 mm. guns. The 20 mm. ammunition was stowed in the magazine, and in four or five containers on the bridge.
			A.P. only was carried for the 37 mm. gun. There were four ready-use containers for the 37 mm. ammunition, two stowed on either side at the junction of the forward platform and bridge structure.
			Six containers of 37 mm. ammunition were stowed in the bow compartment.

		U 472	U 973
(vi)	Bridge Armour	Special armoured protection for the bridge called "Kohlenkasten" (coal scuttles) were fitted. There was a large "coal scuttle" on the starboard side and a small one-man one on the port side (see C.B. 04051 (99), Section VI (xiii) ).	"Kohlenkasten" fitted on the bridge.

(vii)	Motors	Siemens.

(viii)	Diesels	Two 6-cylinder 4-stroke single-acting G.W. Diesels	Two 6-cylinder 4-stroke single-acting G.W. Diesels

(ix)	Radar	Gema type carried. Mattress type aerial on port side.	Mattress type aerial on port side.

(x)	G.S.R.	Wanz, Naxos and Borkum carried. Drum-shaped aerial fitted.	Drum-shaped aerial fitted on the port side immediately before the Radar aerial.
			Naxos carried, the aerial being fitted just before the attack periscope when on the surface.
			Wanz receiving set carried.

(xi)	R.D.B.	---	Carried. These were never used as R.D.B., but the balloons were used as targets for gunnery exercises.

(xii)	Dinghies	---	A one-man dinghy was carried for each man.
			Two large dinghies, capacity 12 men, were also carried.

(xiii)	Flotilla	11th Bergen.	11th Bergen.

(xiv)	Field Post Number	M.52015.

III. LAST PATROL AND SINKING OF U 472

In February, 1944, U 472 was in Narvik undergoing repairs to her exhaust when a report was received from the S.O. U-Boats, Norway, that an Allied convoy was in the vicinity. U 472 was ordered to intercept. She left Narvik between 21st and 24th February, alone, and proceeded to a point between North Cape and Bear Island. She arrived in her patrol area too late to contact the convoy. U 472 then patrolled in this area for fourteen days. She remained surfaced throughout this patrol except when carrying out exercise dives, or when she was forced to dive to melt the ice which formed on her guns. At some time during these fourteen days they had a hot tube runner; the mine expulsion gear was used to expel the torpedo, and this resulted in the tube concerned being badly damaged.

On the night of 3rd March, U 472 was in contact with another convoy. (N.I.D. Note. This was the westbound convoy R.A.57.) She had joined Group "ISEGRIM," and at the time of the subsequent attack was proceeding surfaced dead slow, keeping station with the boats of her group.

Group "ISEGRIM" was said to consist of about sixteen boats. Other boats operating with U 472 were those commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Ernst MANGOLD and Heinz BENTZIEN, and those commanded by SCHEWE and JANSEN. Four or five boats out of this Group were said to have been sunk.

Early on the morning of 4th March, the first aircraft alarm was given. At first sighting, the aircraft was taken for a German, and U 472 did not open fire immediately. Throughout the patrol the guns had to be constantly freed from ice, and on this occasion all the guns were frozen up. When the watch on deck did realise that the approaching aircraft was an enemy, they managed to get their 20 mm. guns into action. As the aircraft came in for her first attack, U 472 opened fire, but was hit amidships, sustaining considerable damage.

(N.I.D. Note. This attack was made in dawn twilight by Swordfish B/816 from H.M.S. "CHASER." It closed and attacked with R.P.'s from a height of 600-700 feet, the first pair being fired at a range of 600 yards. The U-Boat received the rockets abaft the starboard beam.)

There was a water entry in the Diesel room, and water and oil poured into the boat. One prisoner, who was in the Diesel room, said that a lot of provisions were stowed behind the Diesels, which made it impossible to locate the water entry, and he thought that the rapid sinking of the boat was partly due to the unusual stowage of these stores. The W/T door between the motor room and the Diesel room was closed at the beginning of the action, and could not be opened because of the pressure. It was, however, finally forced open, and the men who had been shut in were released before the boat sank.

(5092) A 4


	4

	When the aircraft came back for a second attack, the quadruple 20 mm. was in working order, and the gun's crew opened fire. This time the projectiles fell about 10 yards from the boat, and the aircraft turned and made off in the direction of the convoy. After indicating the position of the U-Boat to a destroyer it came back into the attack. Two destroyers then began to close the U-Boat.
	FORSTNER asked the Engineer Officer if it would be possible to dive. The Engineer Officer ordered both the main and the auxiliary pumps to be switched on, but still the water continued to rise. The bilge pumps were very soon blocked by the oily water, and the Engineer Officer gave up any hope of diving. FORSTNER then made a signal to Control reporting the damage.
	One of the destroyers was now within range, and opened fire on the U-Boat. (N.I.D. Note. H.M.S. "ONSLAUGHT" opened fire on a U-Boat proceeding on the surface at about 0600 on 4th March.) Another hit was scored on the U-Boat. The projectile crashed through the pressure hull and through as storage tank into the Diesel room, where all the men were standing up to their waists in water, and more oil and water poured into the boat. (N.I.D. Note. It is not known whether this hit was made by H.M.S. "ONSLAUGHT'S" guns or by R.P. from the aircraft.)
	U-472 was now in a sinking condition, and, as the destroyers closed, she fired a T.5 at one of them from her stern tube. In the U-Boat they heard the report being passed in the destroyer, "U-Boat torpedo coming for us." The destroyer swung around to avoid the torpedo which missed its mark.
	As two destroyers were firing at his boat, and two aircraft were attacking her, FORSTNER signalled Control, "The boat is sinking slowly," and gave the order to abandon ship.
	Both the 12-man rubber boats and the one-man lifeboats were launched, and the crew abandoned ship without any panic. Most of the ship's company managed to get clear from the boat, but many were drowned in the ice-cold water. The Engineer Officer and one or two of the men who had remained below to flood the boat, went down with her.
	Thirty survivors were picked up by destroyers of the escort, one of whom died on board H.M.S. "ORBI." U 472 finally sank in position 73°05'N., 26°30'E.

	IV. SECOND AND LAST PATROL OF U 973

	U 973 left Narvik alone on 1st March, 1944. Early on the morning of 6th March she was proceeding on the surface when she sighted smoke from a convoy. She remained surfaced and set course to intercept.
	At about 0900, whilst still closing the convoy, PAPENMÖLLER sighted an enemy aircraft approaching. He ordered "Aircraft alarm," but very few of the guns' crews came on deck. The ship's company was, on the whole, very inexperienced, many of them having only recently joined the boat, and were badly trained. When they heard firing on the bridge they did not attempt to come on deck to man the guns, but remained in the conning tower. Very soon the conning tower became blocked with men, and no ammunition was passed to the few men who were trying to keep the guns engaged.
	One prisoner, whose action station was at the 37 mm. gun, was rushing forward to man that gun when PAPENMÖLLER, seeing that no one was coming on deck, ordered him to man the 20 mm. As the aircraft came within range, the U-Boat opened fire, and, although the aircraft was not hit, it turned away. When it returned the ammunition for the 20 mm. had run out, and as no more was handed up, none of the guns opened fire.
	One hit was sustained aft, and two near misses fell about 10 or 20 yards away from the boat. About 10 minutes after the aircraft had first been sighted, the Commanding Officer, realising that the boat was sinking, gave the order to abandon ship; but it was already too late to launch dinghies, and the men left the boat in complete confusion.
	(N.I.D. Note. This attack was made on the morning of 6th March by Swordfish X/816 from H.M.S. "CHASER." As the Swordfish came out of cloud, the U-Boat was about one mile distant. At a height of 800 feet the aircraft fired the first ripple of three pairs of R.P.'s. The first rocket of the second pair hit the U-Boat just below the conning tower, the others being over; white smoke puffs were observed issuing from the place where the rocket had hit. The boat continued under way, making several turns. On making her last turn, her stern suddenly rose in the air, and she disappeared leaving oil and rubble.
	Three survivors were later picked up by H.M.S. "BOADICEA." One of these, a Chief Petty Officer, later died on board and was buried at sea.)

	V. GENERAL REMARKS ON U-BOATS

	(i) U-Boats Operating from Norwegian Ports - Routine
	The usual routine is for U-Boats to remain in harbour until a report is received from Control that a convoy is in the vicinity. They are then ordered to the area indicated to intercept.

	(ii) Supplying U-Boats
	U-Boat in Norway are generally supplied with stores, torpedoes, etc., from depôt ships and not from shore. Fuel is taken from tankers.

Prisoners said that all supplies were transported to the northern bases by sea, torpedoes supplied from Germany in VII F boats (see (iii) below).

(iii) Type VII F U-Boats

These U-Boats were originally intended to operate in the South Atlantic in conjunction with supply U-Boats. They are now being employed to transport torpedoes to the Norwegian bases.

The internal lay-out of a VII F is identical with a VII C boat from the bows as far aft as the after control room bulkhead. Immediately abaft this bulkhead is a small additional compartment for the Petty Officers, containing two bunks. Then follows the torpedo stowage room, and abaft that the usual Petty Officer's Mess. The stern of the boat is similar to a VII C type boat.

VII F boats are about 8 metres (26 feet) longer than the normal VII C type.

They carry forty-two torpedoes. Torpedoes cannot be transferred from the stowage room through the boat to the bow and stern tubes. Instead, a special derrick is fitted on the conning tower, the torpedoes are brought up through the torpedo hatch of the stowage room, and are then struck down either through the after or forward torpedo hatch. They carry two additional torpedo Petty Officers (see C.B. 04051 (100) for further details of Type VII F U-Boats).

(iv) Eighteen-man U-Boat

In October, 1943, a prisoner saw a very rusted and battered U-Boat lying in the U-Boat harbour in Kiel-Wik. This was said to be a Dutch-built boat which was being used for experimental purposes. The conning tower was the same as in the old 250-tonners, and abaft it was a hatch. The deck abaft the conning tower dropped sharply to the water-level, and a vertical rudder protruded from the water aft. Electro-magnetic net cutters were fitted to the conning tower and to the bow and forward hydroplanes.

(v) Mass Production of U-Boats

No more Type VII C and IX C U-Boats are being laid down. It has been announced that the yard at Vegesack has been turned over to the production of locomotives. It is popularly supposed, however, that the yard is producing sections for some mass produced type of U-Boat, and that the place of assembly is the Blohm & Voss Yards in Hamburg.

(vi) Forward Gun Platform in U 973

While U 973 was fitting out at Gdynia, a third gun platform, mounting a 37-mm. gun, was constructed before the bridge structure for trial. The platform was level with the deck of the bridge, and had access from the bridge through a door on the port side of the forward bridge casing. This door was kept shut when the 37 mm. was not in use. The platform was surrounded by a guard rail, similar to the first and second bandstands. The addition of this platform caused considerable anxiety as to the boats behavior in heavy weather, and for this reason a naval constructor was embarked to observe conditions. The prisoner who described this platform thought that U 973 was one of the first purely operational boats to be fitted with a third platform. He numbered the platforms as follows:

Platform I		The after bandstand.
Platform II		The main bandstand.
Platform III		The forward gun platform.

(vii) Modification to Standard Torpedoes

A torpedo Gunner's Mate had told one prisoner that the normal types of torpedoes with pistols fitted in the nose are being modified to take the four-bladed net-cutter, which fits into the pistol pocket.

(viii) Depressed State of Troops in Norway

A prisoner from "SCHARNHORST" described a disease from which he had suffered, and which he said affected all troops stationed in Norway. In most cases it is seasonal, and the winter is generally regarded as the worst time of year, the worst month being February. Bad cases are sent to Trondheim, and ratings who act strangely are often referred to by their shipmates as "a sure case for Trondheim Hospital." Men who are suffering from this complaint withdraw into a world of their own, and have strange illusions; coastal gunners have been known to fire their guns at imaginary British targets. They become extremely sensitive and childish, and cases of homosexual intercourse are very frequent.

VI. BASES AND TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS

(i) Norway

(a) Bergen. Korvettenkapitän COHAUSZ is the Senior Officer of the 11th Flotilla based at Bergen.

There are two series of U-Boat shelters at Laksevaag. The base itself has been badly damaged by air-raids; U-boat workshops and storehouses have been destroyed, and tenders are being used to carry out repairs. Stores are embarked from supply ships. Major repairs and refits are carried out at the base.


	6

	(b) Hammerfest. Hammerfest is a subsidiary base for the 11th Flotilla at Bergen. U-Boats embark provisions and carry out minor repairs alongside the depôt ship "BLACK WATCH."
	(c) Narvik. Kapitan zur See PETERS is N.O.i.C. Narvik: he is accommodated in the "GRILLE." He was also said to be Senior Officer U-Boats, Norway (F.d.U., Norwegen).
	The accommodation ship at Narvik, formerly known as "STELLA POLARIS," is now being re-named "STELLA I." The repair ship is the "KAMERUN," which undertakes only minor repairs.
	About fourteen miles from Narvik there is a floating dock; prisoners did not know exactly where this dock was located.
	(d) Tromso. The depôt ship "IBERIA" is lying in Tromso. Sixty to seventy men are accommodated on board.
	(e) Trondheim. The 13th Flotilla based at Trondheim is commanded by Korvettenkapitän Rolf RÜGGEBERG.
	The U-Boat shelters have been completed; there is only one series.

	(ii) Poland
	Gdynia. The depôt ship of the 22nd Flotilla is "WEICHSEL."

	(iii) Training
	(a) Torpedo Attack Teacher. A prisoner who had done duty on the torpedo attack teacher at Neustadt (Lübeck Bay) gave the following description:
	The attack teacher was in a pool of water measuring about 12 x 20 yards, with conning tower in the centre. Prospective U-Boat C.Os. under training carried out torpedo firing practice from this conning tower. The staff working this gear consisted of a helmsman, a seaman rating handling the engine-room telegraph, and a navigation rating. (For fuller description of attack teacher, see C.B. 04051 (94). )
	(b) Training Appointment. Korvettenkapitän Viktor SCHUTZE has been appointed officer in charge of all U-Boat training (F.d.U, Ausbildung).
	(c) Pre-tactical Trials. Pre-tacticals have been introduced, during which only one electric torpedo and one air torpedo are carried to provide torpedo ratings with practice in maintenance

	VII. OTHER SHIPS

	Z.27
	A prisoner, who had served in Z.27, said that this Narvik class destroyer was in the Kaa Fjord in November, 1942. During this month she took part in a sortie with the "ADMIRAL HIPPER" against an Allied convoy. She claimed to have sunk one American tanker and a submarine chaser.
	At Christmas, 1942, she took part in another sortie with the "ADMIRAL HIPPER," and on Christmas Eve three destroyers and four merchant vessels were also claimed sunk.
	In October, 1943, the prisoner left Z.27 at Kiel. (N.I.D. Note. Z.27 was sunk by H.M. Ships "GLASGOW" and "ENTERPRISE," in the Bay of Biscay, on 28th December, 1943. See C.B. 04051 (96).)

	________________________________


	7

	APPENDIX "A"

	BUILDING AND WORKING-UP OF U 472

	(i) Building
	U 472 was built at the Deutsche Werke, Kiel. Her ship's company began to be drafted to her in February and March, 1943.

	(ii) Commissioning
	U 472 was commissioned on 21st May, 1943. She underwent the U.A.K. trials at Kiel in the normal way.
	While lying at Kiel she was damaged during an Allied air-raid. One incendiary hit a diving tank and another fell on deck but did no damage.
	At the beginning of June she went for one day to the U.A.K. at Danzig.

	(iii) Working-up
	U 472 sailed from Danzig to Gdynia, where she spent two days. It is not known what the purpose of this visit was, but during these two days most of the ship's company was given leave.
	She then proceeded to Pillau for twelve days for torpedo firing.
	In July she went to Hel for four weeks at the "Agru Front," and in August returned to Gdynia for tactical exercises. They had very bad weather at Gdynia, and the exercises were not successful. It was probably during this period that she was rammed by a target vessel which damaged her bridge structure and both periscopes.
	In September, U 472 called at Kiel on her way to Sönderborg for silent running trials. During the trials two of the G.H.G. hydrophones were found to be defective, and these were made good at Kiel later.
	She returned to the Deutsche Werke, Kiel, for three weeks' final adjustments, and from there proceeded to Gdynia for a second period of tactical exercises. Apart from the fact that the first tactical exercises were not successful, FORSTNER had asked permission to do them a second time because of his lack of experience in U-Boats. This time they were successful.
	At the end of October, U 472 returned to Kiel for a further period.
	In early January, 1944, U 472 proceeded to Kiel-Wik to embark stores, and was then ready for her first patrol to Norway.

	___________________________

	APPENDIX "B"

	FIRST PATROL OF U 472

	U 472 sailed from Kiel early on 18th January, 1944, in company with three other U-Boats. One of these was a 500-tonner; one was U 1060 stated to be a Type VII F boat (see Section V (iii) ); and the other a 740-tonner. U 472 proceeded to Kristiansand S., where she remained one night before proceeding to Bergen to join the 11th Flotilla. She left Kristiansand escorted by two patrol boats, and arrived in Bergen either 21st or 22nd January. She had only been at Bergen for a few days when a Focke Wulf Kondor report of an Allied convoy in the vicinity was received from Control. U 472 sailed alone on 26th or 27th January almost immediately on receiving this signal. She proceeded north. On 30th January she made contact with an eastbound Murmansk convoy. She fired one T.5 at a destroyer of the escort, and many prisoners claimed that this ship was sunk. Control, however, refused to credit FORSTNER with this sinking. (N.I.D. Note. H.M.S. "HARDY" was torpedoed and sunk at 0404A, 30th January, 1944, whilst escorting convoy JW 56B.)
	U 472 penetrated the convoy escort, and at one time was in firing position opposite three freighters. This was FORSTNER'S first operational patrol, and many of his ship's company thought that he acted in a very inexperienced manner on this occasion. He was proceeding surfaced, and had all his officers on the bridge. He gave the order "Stand by to fire," and then the "Fat" warning, but before any torpedoes were fired, they had been sighted by the freighters, which opened fire. FORSTNER then dived, the boat being subjected to a very severe depth-charge attack lasting three hours, seventy-six depth-charges being counted. The engines and the Junkers compressors were damaged but the boat escaped.
	After a patrol of about eighteen days, U 472 was ordered back to base by Control owing to shortage of fuel. She put into Hammerfest in mid-February. Here she lay alongside the depôt ship "BLACK WATCH." and embarked provisions. She also took 50 to 60 tons of fuel and two tons of lubricating oil, and carried out some minor repairs alongside.
	She proceeded to Narvik through the leads. The weather was very severe, and the passage took two to three days. U 472 lay at the Narvik town pier for about ten days, and the crew went skiing locally. She also embarked provisions and fresh water, and further small repairs were carried out.
	Just before sailing on her last patrol, she landed her ten torpedoes at the torpedo store near Narvik and embarked ten more.

	_____________________________

APPENDIX "C"

NOMINAL ROLL OF U 472

(i) Survivors:

Name.	Rank.	English Equivalent.	Born.
FORSTNER, Freiherr Wolfgang Friedrich von	Oberleutnant zur See	Sub-Lieutenant	3.10.16.
BOLDA, Siegfried	Leutnant zur See	Junior Sub-Lieutenant	10.8.23
GÄMLICH, Willi	Obermaschinist	Chief Stoker and Chief E.R.A., 1st of 2nd Class	8.9.16.
SAUER, Bruno	Oberbootsmannsmaat	Acting P.O. (Seaman's Branch)	13.7.18.
ANDRÄ, Werner	Obersanitätsmaat	Acting Sick Berth P.O.	16.8.9.
FOLWARCZNY, Gerhard	Bootsmannsmaat	Leading Seaman	27.8.20.
FREIER, Willi	Maschinenmaat	Leading Stoker and E.R.A., 5th Class	24.8.21.
WALLENFANG, Kurt	Maschinenmaat	Leading Stoker and E.R.A., 5th Class	20.6.22.
TEWS, Artur	Maschinenmaat	Leading Stoker and E.R.A., 5th Class	11.1.22.
RADDER, Günther	Mechanikersmaat	Leading Torpedoman	9.5.21.
MULLER, Alfons	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	21.10.19.
LURZ, Andreas	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	27.3.23.
MULTHAUF, August	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	18.2.25.
RAMOLLER, Hans	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	18.8.24.
LANKES, Konstantin	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	17.11.23.
RICHTER, Willi	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	30.7.25.
BRAUNGART, Oswald	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	8.5.25.
SOMMERER, Fritz	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	3.7.23.
STEINIGER, Hans	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	28.11.22.
WOLF, Heinz	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	22.1.5.
ENGKUSEN, Wilhelm	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	2.12.23.
WOLFF, Theodor	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	6.4.23.
WEBER, Albert	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	3.6.23.
WUNDER, Otto	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	26.11.24.
SENING, Karl	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	2.12.25.
HONERT, Alfred	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	23.8.24.
SPILKER, Heinz	Mechanikerobergefreiter	Able Seaman (S.T.)	1.11.23.
GLANZ, Helmut	Mechanikerobergefreiter	Able Seaman (S.T.)	19.12.21.
PASCHKE, Rudolf	Mechanikerobergefreiter	Able Seaman (S.T.)	19.1.21.

Officers	. .	2
Chief and Petty Officers	. .	3
Men	. .	24
		29

(ii) Casualties:

Name.	Rank.	English Equivalent.	Born.
GISCHKE, Wolfgang	Leutnant zur See	Junior Sub-Lieutenant	-
WINTZER, Joachim	Leutnant zur See	Junior Sub-Lieutenant	-
DAMM, Karl Heinz	Oberleutnant (Ing.)	Sub-Lieutenant (E)	-
SCHLICHTER, Josef	Obermaschinist	Chief Stoker and Chief E.R.A., 1st or 2nd Class	-
SCHNELL, Richard	Obersteuermann	C.P.O. (Navigation)	-
MEIER, Otto	Obermaschinenmaat	Acting Stoker P.O. and E.R.A., 4th Class	-
MEYER, -	Bootsmannsmaat	Leading Seaman	-
MASSO, -	Maschinenmaat	Leading Stoker and E.R.A., 5th Class	-
SCHAEFER, -	Funkmaat	Leading Telegraphist	-
KINSKY, -	Funkmaat	Leading Telegraphist	-
BEHNING, -	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	-
ROTZINGER, -	Matrosengefreiter	Able Seaman	-
MOELLER, -	Matrosengefreiter	Able Seaman	-
BUSSE, -	Matrosengefreiter	Able Seaman	-
KRUMM, -	Matrosengefreiter	Able Seaman	-
LEHMANN, -	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
BIERMEYER, -	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
STEINHAUER, -	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
KLAUENBERG, -	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
KERN, -	Funkobergefreiter	Telegraphist	-
WERXEN, -	Funkobergefreiter	Telegraphist	-
LEMBCK, -	Funkgefreiter	Telegraphist	-
EWERT, -	Matrose II	Stoker, 2nd Class	-

Officers	. .	3
Chief and Petty Officers	. .	3
Men	. .	17
		23

(iii) Total Crew:

Officers	. .	5
Chief and Petty Officers	. .	6
Men	. .	41
		52


	9

	APPENDIX "D"

	BUILDING AND WORKING-UP OF U 973

	(i) Building
	U 973 was built at the Blohm & Voss Yards at Hamburg. Most of her ship's company were drafted to her in April, 1943, to stand by during building. The men were accommodated in the Wietz Hotel during this period.

	(ii) Commissioning
	U 973 was commissioned in June-July, 1943.

	(iii) Working-up
	From Hamburg she went to Kiel for the U.A.K. trials; she also carried out silent running trials here before proceeding to Pillau for torpedo firing.
	In November she proceeded to Gdynia for tactical exercises and here the ship's company did a course of infantry training. She then sailed for Hel to carry out Agru Front trials, proceeding to Gdynia for two and a half months' fitting out. During this time the forward gun platform was added to the boat and the 37 mm. gun mounted. A naval constructor joined the boat at Gdynia to study her behavior with the new platform under operational conditions. She then sailed to Sönderborg, where she spent one night and day carrying out G.H.G. trials.
	At the end of December or beginning of January, 1944, she arrived back in Kiel for final adjustments and to embark torpedoes.

	____________________________

	APPENDIX "E"

	FIRST PATROL OF U 973

	(i) Passage to Bergen
	On 21st January, 1944, U 973 sailed from Kiel in company with one 500-ton VII C boat and one broad-beamed 500-tonner, a VII F boat. She arrived at Kristiansand S. on 23rd January, and sailed again on 26th January in company with one U-Boat. On 28th January she arrived in Bergen and joined the 11th Flotilla. Here she lay in the shelters, and the ship's company were accommodated ashore.

	(ii) Departure from Bergen
	On 5th or 6th February, U 973 left Bergen, but the weather was very heavy, and the next day she was forced to return, as the 37 mm. gun made the boat top heavy in the rough sea. She was only in port one day, during which adjustments were made in the stowage of ammunition and certain tanks were flooded. The next day she sailed for her area of operation in the Arctic.
	On 12th February she arrived in Narvik after an uneventful patrol. Here she lay alongside the depôt ship "STELLA I."
	On 15th February she left Narvik for Trondheim, where she arrived on 17th February. Here she lay in the shelters and embarked stores and a W/T set. A W/T rating also joined the boat. She spent a short time in dry dock some distance from the shelters, and her Junkers compressor was repaired.
	When U 973 left Trondheim she proceeded to Narvik, where she disembarked three air torpedoes and embarked three electric torpedoes from store. She also took fuel from a tanker.

	_______________________________

APPENDIX "F"

NOMINAL ROLL OF U 973

(i) Survivors:

Name.	Rank.	English Equivalent.	Born.
RUDOLPH, Franz	Oberleutnant (Ing.)	Sub-Lieutenant (E)	16.7.08.
BONGARD, Dietrich	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	10.1.24.

Officers	. .	1
Chief and Petty Officers	. .	-
Men	. .	1
		2

(ii) Casualties:

Name.	Rank.	English Equivalent.	Born.
PAEPENMÖLLER, Klaus	Oberleutnant zur See	Sub-Lieutenant	-
SCHRANK, Ernst	Leutnant zur See	Junior Sub-Lieutenant	-
JACOBY, Werner	Leutnant zur See	Junior Sub-Lieutenant	-
SCHULZ, -	Leutnant zur See	Junior Sub-Lieutenant	-
BEHRENDT, -	Oberbaurat	Naval Constructor (Silberling) attached to U-Boat Arm	-
EBERHARDT, -	Stabsobersteuermann	Staff C.P.O. (Navigation)	-
STRASSFURT, -	Obermaschinist	Chief Stoker and Chief E.R.A., 1st or 2nd Class	-
KOESTER, -	Obermaschinist	Chief Stoker and Chief E.R.A., 1st or 2nd Class	-
FRITSCHE, -	Oberbootsmannsmaat	Acting P.O. (Seaman's Branch)	-
BICKELMANN, -	Obersanitätsmaat	Acting Sick Berth P.O.	-
SAFFER, -	Bootsmannsmaat	Leading Seaman	-
FANKE, -	Bootsmannsmaat	Leading Seaman	-
STROECKER, -	Maschinenmaat	Leading Stoker and E.R.A., 5th Class	-
KALTENPUTT, -	Maschinenmaat	Leading Stoker and E.R.A., 5th Class	-
SCHUPPE, -	Maschinenmaat	Leading Stoker and E.R.A., 5th Class	-
MOEHRING, -	Maschinenmaat	Leading Stoker and E.R.A., 5th Class	-
TROMMER, Willi	Maschinenmaat	Leading Stoker and E.R.A., 5th Class	-
SCHNEIDER, -	Funkmaat	Leading Telegraphist	-
(?)	Funkmaat	Leading Telegraphist	-
BAUERNFEIND, -	Mechanikersmaat	Leading Torpedoman	-
NEUMANN, Horst	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	-
BOEHME, Herbert	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	-
BOHLE, Helmut	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	-
SCHMIDT, -	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	-
DOCHOW, -	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	-
KLINGELHÖFER, -	Matrosenobergefreiter	Able Seaman	-
KORUS, Hans	Matrosengefreiter	Able Seaman	-
MARTIN, Herbert	Matrosengefreiter	Able Seaman	-
BARTSCHADT, Walter	Matrosengefreiter	Able Seaman	-
WIRTSCH, -	Matrosengefreiter	Able Seaman	-
MATEUSIK, -	Matrosengefreiter	Able Seaman	-
NÄRZEN, -	Matrosengefreiter	Able Seaman	-
KRUSCHKA, Eduard	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
GOTTFRIED, -	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
KRAMER, Karl	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
SEEGER, Berthold	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
NAGEL, Otto	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
WITT, Martin	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
HOEFER, Rudi	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
BITTNER, Albin	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
BRECHEL, Kurt	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
ACKERMANN, -	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
HUETER, -	Maschinenobergefreiter	Stoker, 1st Class	-
OBERMAIER, Toni	Funkobergefreiter	Telegraphist	-
JUNG, Herbert	Funkobergefreiter	Telegraphist	-
(?)	Funkgefreiter	Telegraphist	-
GASTE, Fritz	Mechanikergefreiter (T)	Able Seaman (S.T.)	-
(?)	Mechanikergefreiter (T)	Able Seaman (S.T.)	-
WAGNER, Otto	Mechanikergefreiter (A)	Able Seaman (Q.O.)	-
KRAUS, Otto	Matrose I	Ordinary Seaman	-
KLUGE, -	Matrose II	Stoker, 2nd Class	-

Officers	. .	5
Chief and Petty Officers	. .	5
Men	. .	41
		51

(iii) Total Crew:

The exact number of the complement is not certain. The names and ranks available result in the following:

Officers	. .	6
Chief and Petty Officers	. .	5
Men	. .	42
		53

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