COPY No.
     
 
This book is invariably to be kept locked up when not in use and is not to be taken outside the ship or establishment for which it it issued without the express permission of the Commanding Officer
 
     
     
     
 
C.B.  04051 (100)
 
   
     
 
 
 
U.257, U.91, U.358 & U.744
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interrogation of Survivors
 
 
 
     
     
     
     
 
 
     
 
June, 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.
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

 
 

   
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
     
     
     
     
 
SECRET
  
     
          This book is the property of His Majesty's Government.  
     
          It is intended for the use of the recipients only, and for communication to such Officers under them (not below the rank of Commissioned Officer) who may require to be acquainted with its contents in the course of their duties.  The Officers exercising this power will be held responsible that such information is imparted with due care and caution.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

 

     
 
SECRET
  
     
 
Attention is called to the penalties attaching to any infraction of the
 
Official Secrets Acts
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
C.B.  04051 (100)
 
     
     
 
 
 
U.257, U.91, U.358 & U.744
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interrogation of Survivors
 
 
 
     
     
     
     
 
 
     
 
June, 1944
 
 
 
 
 
     
     
     
 
     
     
     
     
  NAVAL INTELLIGENCE DIVISION,  
  ADMIRALTY, S.W.1.  
     
  N.I.D. 03050/44.  
                                                                                                                                             A  
     
     

 

     
     
 
ii
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
          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.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

     
 
iii
  
     
     
 
CONTENTS
 
_______
 
 
 
         
PAGE
PART I.
   INTRODUCTION  
1
         
PART II.
  DETAILS OF U.257, U.91, U. 358 and U.744  
2
 
(i)
   Sinking  
 
(ii)
   Tonnage  
 
(iii)
   Type  
 
(iv)
   Builders  
 
(v)
   Commissioned  
 
(vi)
   Guns  
 
(vii)
   Torpedoes on last patrol  
 
(viii)
   Diesels  
 
(ix)
   Main Motors  
 
(x)
   W/T Equipment  
 
(xi)
   G.S.R.  
 
(xii)
   R.D.B.  
 
(xiii)
   Radar Decoy Spar-Buoy (R.D.S.)  
 
(xiv)
   Contact Keeping Buoys  
 
(xv)
   U/T  
 
(xvi)
   Mine Ejection Gear  
 
(xvii)
   Bathythermometer  
 
(xviii)
   Rubber Dinghies  
 
(xix)
   Badge  
 
(xx)
   Flotilla  
 
(xxi)
   Field Post Number  
 
(xxii)
   Cover Name  
 
     
PART III.
 
U.257.
  
3
 
I.
   Introductory Remarks  
 
          (i)  General  
 
         (ii)  Commanding Officer  
 
        (iii)  Sole Surviving Officer  
 
II.
   Fifth and Last Patrol of U.257  
 
          (i)  Preparations for Patrol  
 
         (ii)  U.257 sails  
 
        (iii)  Special Mission  
 
        (iv)  Sighting of a Convoy  
 
         (v)  Sighting of a Frigate  
 
        (vi)  Contact with a Convoy  
 
III.
   Sinking of U.257.  
4
 
          (i)  First Attacks  
 
         (ii)  Final Attack  
 
Appendix "A"  Building and Working up of U.257
 
 
Appendix "B"  Previous Patrols of U.257
 
 
          (i)  First Patrol  
 
         (ii)  Second Patrol  
 
        (iii)  Third Patrol  
 
        (iv)  Fourth Patrol  
 
Appendix "C"  Nominal Roll of U.257
 
5
 
     
PART IV.
  
U.91
  
6
 
I.
   Introductory Remarks  
 
          (i)  General  
               (ii)  Commanding Officer    
              (iii)  Other Surviving Officers    
              (iv)  Ratings    
 
     
                                                                                                                                       B  
     
     

 

     
 
iv
  
 
 
 
         
PAGE
 
II.
   Sixth and Last Patrol of U.91  
6
 
          (i)  U.91 sails  
 
         (ii)  Passage of the Bay of Biscay  
 
        (iii)  Formation of a Patrol Line  
 
        (iv)  A convoy sighting  
 
III.
   Sinking of U.91.  
7
 
          (i)  First Attack  
 
         (ii)  Subsequent attacks  
 
Appendix "A"  Building and Working up of U.91
  
 
Appendix "B"  Previous Patrols of U.91
 
 
          (i)  First Patrol  
 
         (ii)  Second Patrol  
 
        (iii)  Third Patrol  
 
        (iv)  Fourth Patrol  
               (v)  Fifth Patrol    
 
Appendix "C"  Nominal Roll of U.91
  
9
 
     
PART V.
  
U.358
  
10
 
I.
   Introductory Remarks  
 
          (i)  General  
   
         (ii)  Complement  
   
II.
   Fifth and Last Patrol of U.358  
   
          (i)  U.358 sails  
   
          (ii)  The Patrol  
   
III.
   Sinking of U.358  
   
          (i)  First Attack  
   
         (ii)  Subsequent Attacks  
 
Appendix "A"  Building and Working up of U.358
  
11
 
Appendix "B"  Previous Patrols of U.358
 
 
          (i)  First Patrol  
 
         (ii)  Second Patrol  
 
        (iii)  Third Patrol  
 
        (iv)  Fourth Patrol  
 
Appendix "C"  Nominal Roll of U.358
  
12
   
     
PART VI.  
U.744
  
13
   
I.
   Introductory Remarks  
   
          (i)  General  
   
         (ii)  Complement  
   
II.
   Second and Last Patrol of U.744  
 
          (i)  False Starts  
 
         (ii)  Final Sailing  
 
        (iii)  Aircraft Attack  
 
        (iv)  Attack on a Convoy  
 
         (v)  Special Operation  
 
        (vi)  Attack on a Destroyer  
   
III.
   Sinking of U.744  
14
 
          (i)  U.744 is attacked  
 
         (ii)  Damage inflicted  
 
        (iii)  U-Boat surfaces  
 
Appendix "A"  Building and Working up of U.744
  
15
 
Appendix "B"  First Patrol of U.744
  
15
 
Appendix "C"  Translation of Captured Documents
 
15
 
          (i)  Document on torpedoes captured from U.744  
 
         (ii)  Flak Guns  
16
 
Appendix "D"  Nominal Roll of U.744
  
17
 
     
     

 

     
 
v
  
 
 
 
         
PAGE
PART VII.
  GENERAL  
18
 
I.
   General Remarks on U-Boats  
 
          (i)  Radar Decoy Spar Buoys (R.D.S.)  
 
         (ii)  G.S.R.  
 
        (iii)  New Type R.D.B.  
 
        (iv)  Walter Boats. . .  
               (v)  Small U-Boats  
19
              (vi)  VII C 42 U-Boats  
             (vii)  VII D U-Boats  
             (viii)  VII F U-Boats  
               (ix)  Flak U-Boats  
               (x)  New Type Main Motors  
              (xi)  "Max" Lifesaving Float"  
              (xii)  New Type Extensible Air Intake  
             (xiii)  Torpedoes  
20
                        (a)  T 5 (Gnat)  
                        (b)  Pi 4 Pistols  
                        (c)  T 6 Torpedoes  
                        (d)  "Lut" Mechanism ("Lut" I and "Lut" II)  
                        (e)  Steel Torpedo Tubes  
             (xiv)  Contact Keeping Buoys (FüBo)  
              (xv)  Bathythermometer  
             (xvi)  Infra Red Precautions  
21
            (xvii)  37 mm. Automatic Guns  
           (xviii)  Minefields  
            (xix)  U-Boat Tactics  
             (xx)  Bridge Armour  
            (xxi)  U-Boat Personnel  
           (xxii)  Invasion Plans  
   
    (xxiii)  Japanese Activities  
   
II.
   U-Boat Building Yards and Bases  
22
 
          (i)  Brest  
 
         (ii)  Danzig  
 
        (iii)  Flensburg  
 
        (iv)  Hel  
               (v)  Kiel  
              (vi)  Lorient  
             (vii)  Memel  
             (viii)  Vegesack  
   
     
   
PLATE:  Typical Torpedo Attacks from a U-Boat using Electric Torpedoes fitted with "Fat" and "Lut" mechanisms. . .Facing page 		 
20
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
 
     
     

 

 
 
 
1
  
     
  REPORT ON THE INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM
  U.257, U.91, U.358 AND U.744, 500-TON U-BOATS, SUNK IN  
 
THE ATLANTIC IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 1944
 
  __________________________________________________________________________  
     
 
PART I  INTRODUCTION
 
     
          The four U-Boats discussed in this report were all sunk in the Atlantic; they were all 500-ton, type VII C boats.  
          U.257 was sunk on 24th February, 1944, in position 47°19'N., 26°00'W., by H.M.C.S. "WASKESIU" while on her fifth patrol.  There were nineteen survivors including one officer.  Her Commanding Officer, Kapitänleutnant HEINZ RAHE, went down with the boat.  
          U.91, whilst on her sixth patrol, was next to be sunk.  Ships in Escort Group 1 made the kill on 26th February, 1944, in position 49°45'N., 26°20'W.  The sixteen survivors included her commanding officer, Kapitänleutnant HEINZ HUNGERSHAUSEN.  
          Only one rating survived the sinking of U.358, also sunk by Escort Group 1.  This took place on 1st March, 1944, in position 45°47'N., 23°17'W. after a depth charge attack of over thirty hours.  She was sunk on her fifth patrol, whilst commanded by Kapitänleutnant ROLF MANKE.  
          U.744 was also subjected to a relentless depth charge attack.  She was sunk by ships in Escort Group C.2 on 6th March in position 52°01N., 22°37'W. on her second patrol.  There were forty survivors.  Her Commanding Officer, Oberleutnant zur See HEINZ BLISCHKE was killed by gunfire at the time of the sinking.  
          Features of this report are:  
                  (i)  Details of Radar Decoy Spar Buoy.  
                 (ii)  Details of new types of U-Boats.  
                (iii)  New types of torpedoes and settings.  
                                See Part VII, Section I.)  
          The following are the Royal Navy equivalents to German Naval ranks used in this report:  
 
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.
Marinestabsarzt
-
 Surgeon-Lieutenant.
 
          The suffix "(Ing.)" after a rank in place of "zur See" denotes an Engineer Officer.  The suffix "der Reserve" denotes a Reserve Officer.  
     
                                                                                                                                            C  
     
     

 

 
 
 
2
  
     
 
PART II  DETAILS
 
     
 
U-257
U-91
U-358
U-744
(i)
 SINKING 24.2.44 in 47°19'N., 26°00'W. 26.3.44 in 49°45'N., 26°20'W. 1.3.44 in 43°47N., 23°17'W. 6.3.44 in 52°01N., 22°37'W.
(ii)
 TONNAGE 500 tons 500 tons 500 tons 500 tons
(iii)
 TYPE VII C VII C VII C VII C
(iv)
 BUILDERS Vulkan, Vegesack Flenderwerks, Lubeck Flensburger Schiffs-bau, Flensburg Schichauwerft, Danzig
(v)
 COMMISSIONED 14.1.42 28.1.42 15.8.42 5.6.43
(vi)
 GUNS 2 twin 20 mm. (.79") mountings on upper bandstand, 1 automatic 37 mm. (1.46") gun on lower band-stand, 2 light M.G.'s in reserve for mounting on bridge 2 twin 20 mm. mountings on upper band-stand, 1 automatic    37 mm. on lower bandstand, 2 type 81 M.G.'s on bridge.  A.P. and tracer ammunition carried for both 20 mm. and     37 mm. guns 2 twin 20 mm. type   C 38 mountings on upper bandstand, 1 automatic 27 mm,   gun on lower band-stand, 2 demountable type 15 M.G.'s on bridge 2 twin 20 mm. mountings on upper band-stand, 1 automatic 37 mm. gun on lower bandstand.  2 M.G.'s type 81 on bridge.  150 to 200 magazines of 37 mm. ammunition carried
(vii)
 TORPEDOES ON LAST PATROL 11.  Unspecified num-ber of Gnats 11.  5 Gnats 11.  Unspecified num-ber of Gnats 10.  Four Gnats.  Pi4B pistols used for Gnats.  Pi 1, 2 and 3 pistols carried for other types
(viii)
 DIESELS G.W. G.W. Called "Wotan" and "Thor" M.A.N. G.W. with Rootes type superchargers
(ix)
 MAIN MOTORS A.E.G. B.B.C. B.B.C. A.E.G.
(x)
 W/T EQUIPMENT Standard.  One auxili-ary D/F set for inter-cepting enemy R/T traffic said carried and known as "Presskohler Grenzwellen."  Never used.

200 watt Telefunken short wave transmitter.             150 watt Telefunken long wave transmitter.              40 watt Lorenz auxiliary transmitter.  Lo K 6 short wave receiver.                  All wave receiver.       No "Main" and no broadcast receiver carried.

 Unknown Standard, including "Main" receiver.         V.H./F R/T fitted for tactical exercises only, Lo 10 U.K. 39
(xi)
 G.S.R. Naxos, Wanz II and Borkum.  At Com-missioning fitted with Metox R.600 which was later replaced by Wanz I. Wanz II and Naxos.  New type Naxos aerial carried (see Part VII, Section I (ii) ). Naxos, Wanz II and Borkum. Wanz II, Naxos and Borkum.  Special Naxos testing gear carried, known as "Puck."  (See Part VII, Section I (ii) ).
(xii)
 R.D.B. Carried.  Two hydrogen bottles fitted. Carried Carried but never  used Carried.  Said to be a new type.  (See Part VII, Section I (iii) ).  Six hydrogen bottles fitted.
(xiii)
 Radar Decoy Spar-Buoy (R.D.S.) See Part VII, Section I (i) ) Not carried 16 carried Not carried 20 carried
(xiv)
 Contact Keeping Buoys Not carried Not carried Unknown 15 or 16 carried
(xv)
 U/T Carried and used on penultimate patrol Not carried Not carried Not carried
(xvi)
 Mine Ejection Gear Not fitted Not fitted Not fitted Originally fitted but removed during final overhaul, H.P. air bottle group retained.
(xvii)
 Bathythermometer Not known Not known Not known Carried (See Part VII Section I (xvi) )
(xviii)
 Rubber Dinghies Carried Thirty 1-man, one   12-men and "Max Escape Buoy" carried (See Part VII, Section ( (xi) ) About thirty 1-man and several large dinghies carried 1-man dinghies for each man and two 7-men dinghies carried
(xix)
 Badge None White horse.  Flotilla badge blue sawfish "Moritzkoph," a comic head on both sides of C/T Shield with black axe on yellow ground; and coat of arms of Posen.  Flotilla badge blue sawfish
(xx)
 Flotilla 3rd at La Pallice; attached 2nd at Lorient just prior to last patrol 9th at Brest 7th at St. Nazaire 9th at Brest
(xxi)
 Field Post Number M.23394 M.08626 M.50646 M.51807
(xxii)
 Cover Name None Not known MORITZ Not known
     
     

 

 
 
 
3
  
     
 
PART III  U.257
     
 
I.  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
 
     
  (i)  General  
          U.257, a 500 ton U-Boat, commanded by Kapitänleutnant HEINZ RAHE, was sunk on 24th February, 1944, by H.M.C.S. "WASKESIU" in position 47°19'N., 26°00'W.  There were nineteen survivors including one officer.  
          The U-Boat was sunk on her fifth patrol.  Four of her patrols had been in the North Atlantic and one in the Gulf of Guinea.  No success had ever been scored and there is reason to believe that no torpedoes were ever fired on patrol.  The survivors had been newly drilled in security and, in spite of the fact that they had no reason to be proud of the performance of their boat, their morale was fairly high.  
     
  (ii)  Commanding Officer  
          Kapitänleutnant HEINZ RAHE of the 1935 term went down with his boat.  He seems to have been a rather colourless figure and it was difficult to get an impression of him from the survivors.  They said he was not over strict with his men and, indeed never concerned himself very much with their welfare.  They charitably attributed his lack of success as a commanding officer to bad luck.  
     
  (iii)  Sole Surviving Officer  
          Leutnant zur See d.R. WALDEMAR NICKEL was the only officer who survived.  This twenty-year old Nazi was arrogant and security conscious.  He joined the U-Boat shortly before she sailed on her last patrol and was in charge of the flak guns.  
 
 
II.  FIFTH AND LAST PATROL OF U.257
 
     
  (i)  Preparations for Patrol  
          After her penultimate patrol, U.257 lay for some time in Lorient, where the second bandstand was added and the new 37 mm. (1.45 in.) gun was mounted.  A number of the seamen were sent to Mimizan for special training on the 37 mm. gun.  Early in December she sailed to St. Nazaire, the passage taking two days.  There she made final preparations for her next patrol, which according to one prisoner was scheduled to begin on 22 December, 1943.  During the routine diving trials, a number of minor defects developed, causing the postponement of her departure.  One of these trials took place on 29th December, when U.257 accompanied U.386 to the 200 metre (100 fms.) line.  
     
  (ii)  U.257 sails  
          U.257 sailed from St. Nazaire at 1500 on 2nd January, 1944.  Her escort as far as the 100 fathom line consisted of a Sperrbrecher and two M-class minesweepers.  The U-Boat remained surfaced until dawn, 3rd January, when she submerged for the first time.  She passed through the Bay of Biscay on a course of 270°, proceeding submerged most of the time.  
     
  (iii)  Special Mission  
          Several of the prisoners stated that the U-Boat carried certain charts and plans which she was to deliver to a blockade runner.  The vessel in question had been sunk, however, and the rendezvous never took place.  
     
  (iv)  Sighting of a Convoy  
          On about 20th January an east-bound convoy was sighted.  Course was altered to the north-west and U.257 followed the convoy for about half the day without being able to overhaul it.  The pursuit was then abandoned and course was again altered to south-west.  
     
  (v)  Sighting of a Frigate  
          On about 12th February, while proceeding at periscope depth, a frigate was sighted.  The U-Boat manoeuvered to attack but was unable to do so.  
          About a week later, U.257 received a signal from Control giving the position of various U-Boats at sea and the estimated position of a convoy.  The signal stated that the U-Boats should expect assistance from units of the German Air Force.  U.257, however, never received specific orders to join in a group operation and never made contact with any aircraft.  
     
  (vi)  Contact with a Convoy  
          At about 2300 on 23rd February U.257 was on course 090, homeward bound.  RAHE believed that there was a convoy some distance to the north but he did not think it was possible that any Allied surface units were in the immediate vicinity.  Suddenly a G.S.R. warning was received on the Naxos and the U-Boat dived.  Shortly thereafter, screw noises were heard and it was feared that an attack might develop.  
     
     

 

 
 
 
4
  
     
 
III.  SINKING OF U.257
     
  (i)  First Attacks  
          When screw noises were heard, U.257 turned on a reciprocal course in an attempt at evasion.  At about 0100 on 24th February a group of depth charges fell fairly close but no damage resulted.  The U-Boat dived deeper and at about 0200 more depth charges fell, damaging the depth gauges.  
          The screw noises were then heard fading and, some time later, RAHE decided to surface.  Before he could do so, H.E. from surface craft was again heard.  
          (N.I.D. Note.  At 0135 on 24th February H.M.C.S. "WASKESIU" obtained firm contact in position 47°16'N., 26°13'W.  A hedgehog attack was made with negative results.  H.M.C.S. "WASKESIU" then came about and dropped one Mark VII depth charge set at 350 feet.  She subsequently dropped two patterns of ten depth charges after which contact was lost.)  
     
  (ii)  Final Attack  
          At about 0600 a pattern of depth charges fell close to the U-Boat.  The main motors were damaged and water entered through the out-board vents in the Control Room and the Diesel Room.  RAHE ordered the U-Boat to surface and abandon ship.  As U.257 broke surface she was engaged with gunfire and several hits were scored.  The rudder of the U-Boat was left amidships and the Diesels were put full ahead as the crew leapt over the side.  RAHE deliberately went down with his boat.  His last act was to throw his life jacket and dinghy to the men in the water.  One of the survivors is convinced that he shot himself.  
          (N.I.D. Note.  At 0550 "WASKESIU" dropped ten Mk. VII depth charges set to 350/500 ft.  At 0559 the U-Boat surfaced and was engaged with gunfire.  Several hits were observed.  The U-Boat sank in position 47°19'N., 26°00'W.  One officer and eighteen ratings were picked up.  
     
 
APPENDIX "A"
 
 
 
BUILDING AND WORKING UP OF U.257
     
          U.257 was commissioned on 14th January, 1942, and the Vulkan yard, Vegesack.  Her trials at Kiel and in the Baltic were normal.  In May she put into Danzig for final overhaul.  After this was complete, the tactical exercises were held.  These had been postponed because of the large number of boats waiting to carry out their exercises.  Upon completing the tactical exercises, the U-Boat proceeded to Kiel to embark stores for her first patrol.  
     
 
APPENDIX "B"
 
 
 
 
PREVIOUS PATROLS OF U.257
 
     
  (i)  First Patrol  
          U.257 sailed from Kiel early in September, 1942.  She put in at Kristiansand S. and then proceeded through the Rosengarten.  When she reached her operational area in the North Atlantic, she sighted a convoy.  Just as she was attempting to get into position to attack, a Sunderland appeared and dropped several bombs.  The force of the explosions damaged one of the clutches and the U-Boat was forced to cut short her patrol.  She made for base at slow speed.  On about 12/13th October, while passing through the Bay of Biscay, she was sighted by an enemy destroyer, which closed to attack.  The U-Boat dived and used her S.B.T.  Several depth charges were dropped but no damage was inflicted.  She arrived at La Pallice on about 18th October and joined the 3rd Flotilla.  
     
  (ii)  Second Patrol  
          The second patrol was uneventful.  U.257 sailed from La Pallice shortly before Christmas, 1942.  She operated in the North Atlantic and sighted several convoys without being able to attack.  She returned to La Pallice in mid-February, 1943.  
     
  (iii)  Third Patrol  
          The third patrol was much like the second.  The U-Boat sailed from La Pallice at the end of March, 1943.  On the passage outwards through the Bay of Biscay, she was attacked by surface craft but managed to escape unharmed by using the S.B.T.  She again operated in the North Atlantic and made no attack.  The patrol ended at La Pallice early in May, 1943.  
     
  (iv)  Fourth Patrol  
 <