Excerpt of the Radio Log
  
 
U-177 ( Gyase )
  
 
War Patrol from 1 April - 1 October 1943
  
     
 
    Outgoing:
05.04.43 ßß My position is naval square CG 14    - U-177 -
     
17.04.43    
0022/17/378 Bachstelze experience from Gysae
  1. Since latitude of Madeira flown regularly.  In transit daily 2 short flights, satisfactory.  Wagtail successfully operated up to Sea 4, medium high swell, at which deployment of float plane is no longer possible.
  2. Critical point is landing.  Pitching is small hindrance, as landing platform is in the center of the boat and calm.  It is expedient to wind in the last few meters of rope by hand.
  3. Containers flooded by leaky drain system.  Whereby both blade sets are full of water and temporarily out of service.  Likewise the winch.  Here lubrication points for brake cams are required, made accessible also for brake shaft.
  4. Stricter selection of personnel required.  Of those drafted on board only one is really fit to operate.  More regard should be had for training in maintenance.
  5. More follows.  14 Etos, 12 Atos, 403 cbm.  Naval square EJ 8436.
     
26.04.43    
0052/26/500 2nd Bachstelze experience
  a) Wagtail up to now has proved technically satisfactory in 20 flights.  After five flying hours damping elements adjusted.
  b) Every day flying weather except for two days in the Doldrums.  There, in spite of the highest speed, start impossible.
  c) Request visibility range experiments in the Baltic against steamers with values for flying heights and normal visibility without binoculars.  The same for the determination of dead angle and overcoming it in practice by alternation of course.
  d) The present rope length of 340 meters is still necessary.
  e) On the rope winch there is no lubrication point for brake cams.  Lubrication point for brake shaft is inaccessible.  For daily lubrication of the air motor a cock has been fitted in the air line.
  f) 377 cbm.  Naval square FM 32.                                  G y a s e
     
10.05.43 ßß My position is square GR.    U-177.
     
21.05.43    
2012/21/407 1. From 13 to 15 May positioned in GR 5696 to 5627.  In last square 2 lighted pilot vessels.  Otherwise nothing.
  2. During full moon in JJ.  Intention, afterwards again off the main harbor.  Mine documents not on board.
    3.)  In Witte experience the third square information is improbable.  Send again.
    4.)  Wagtail now 60 flights with 18 flying hours.  Still on the first set of blades.  Observations with binoculars are possible.  Request other experiences by questions.
    5.)  JJ 42, all naval squares, 304 cbm.                                        G y a s e
     
29.05.42    
0327/29/479 1. Convoy 9 steamers 24.00 hours square 6769 course 125°, 10 knots.
  2. Escort, surface ship and air detection, lighted aircraft, all inexperienced.
  3. Sank 2 freighters, 1 tanker, total 24000 GRT.
  4. Set off to reload in square 53.  All naval squares GR.                   G y a s e
     
     
Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB
     
 
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04.06.43    
  Request delivering a Heizer with suspicion of specific lung disease to Bucholz while at the same time taking over torpedoes.  Suggest meeting in the northern part of GQ.  Position GR 53.  All naval squares.                              "G y s a e"
     
06.06.43    
2121/6/496 1) From 1 to 5 June in square 53 under the coast.
  2) 3 June square 5319 miss on independent freighter.  After 7 minutes end of run detonation.
  3) 5 June convoy departing Bay in the evening.  About 12 ships, destroyer and corvettes.  Scare depth charges.  Location horizontally polarized 80° ineffective.  From the 200-meter line in fog and visibility of 200 meters maintained contact by sound bearings up to square 2536.  There by surface attack in breaking up fog on the then assembling convoy, heavy gun defense by all ships.  Pursuit.  Escape. Crash dive before flying boat.  Aircraft bombs.  No failures.
  4) Suggest meeting Buchholz 8 June 09.00 hours square 4455. Position square 2577, 1 Eto, 12 Atos.  255 cbm.  All naval square GR.        "G y s a e"
     
08.06.43    
1405/8 ßß Positioned at ordered meeting point.  Have not met U- boat.
                                                                                U-177.
     
11.06.43    
0042/11/435 Ill Masch.Gefr. Schröder delivered.   At the same time Masch.Gefr. Lipke on board. Naval square 8841, 231 cbm.                           "G y s a e"
     
19.06.43    
1121/19/408 1. South of 34° heavy westerly storm since 10 June no use of weapons or Wagtail.  Also bad weather to the north.
  2. In answer to today's Wagtail request:  To 1) No.  To 2) No.  To 3) Negligible.  To 4) Yes.  First rotor blade set destroyed by a gust.
  3. Since departure tears in main ballast and reserve fuel oil tank 5 and main ballast tank 4.  Caused by demolition in dry dock.  Tube I and II not in service due to fairings.  Intend to repair with improving weather.
  4. Naval square JA 36.                        "G y s a e"
     
06.07.43    
143x/6/453 Just now sank Canadian "JASPER PARK" with tea and tobacco from India for Durban, 245°, had transmitted.  Had unfurled torpedo defense nets.  Naval square JA 2577.
                                                                                 "G y s a e"
     
17.07.43    
1704/17/862 1. On 10 July sank empty Liberty ship "WILLIAM OGDEN" 7000 GRT, course 260°.
  2. Incendiary shells proven in day application.
  3. With Agfa request shelf-life of tropic-proof film footage stored frozen at minus 20°.
  4. Square 74, all naval square KQ, 1 Eto, 3 Atos, 378 cbm.        "G y s a e"
     
18.07.43    
1707/18/406 ßß Delay return in the operations area advantageous.     U-177.
     
30.07.43    
1824/30/479 1. Yesterday sank "CORNISH CITY" in square KR 5726.
  2. During the sinking a southern bound ship was seen and reported.  Was held with the Wagtail and hunted to JR 2473. 
 
     
     
     
 
- 3 -
 
     
 
    Was finally lost in deteriorating visibility.
  3. Wagtail altimeter faultless.
  4. Only 2 stern torpedoes, 322 cbm.  Square JB 16 all naval squares.   "G y s a e"
     
06.08.43    
1916/6/481 1. Sank 5 August square 1543 "EFTHALIA MARI", course 25° with coal from Durban to Aden.  Did not transmit.
  2. Was directed by Wagtail.
  3. Delayed return transit, 1 Eto.  No more fire extinguisher bottles.  297 cbm.  square 4299 all naval square KR                "G y s a e"
     
20.08.43    
2044/19/485 1. Sighted 8 August in square JB 1654 a freighter course 190°, was directed by Wagtail.
  2. Rotor blades of the Wagtail in the diesel room burned by self-combustion.
  3. Bellatrix held, but code books only up to 1 October.
  4. KZ 75, 242 cbm all naval squares.          "G y s a e"
     
22.08.43    
1408/24 ßß Was probably sighted at meeting point.  Sea planes. Starting return transit.
1607/24                                                                                 "G y s a e"
     
24.08.43    
2200/24   Due to westerly storm moved meeting point 150 nm north. There two flying boats held contact.  Set off.  Request meeting be canceled.       "G y s a e"
2024/24  
     
30.09.43    
0056/30 ßß Positioned 36 hours off meeting point with escort.
                                                                                  "G y s a e"