In reply refer to Initials

  
            and No.  
     
 
NAVY DEPARTMENT
  
 

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

  
 
WASHINGTON
  
  Ser. #Z-0520  
                                                                               23 August 1943.  
     
 
MEMORANDUM for Colonel Catesby ap C. Jones, G.S.C.,
  Chief, Prisoner of War Branch, G-2.
   
Subject: Preliminary Report of Interrogation of Survivors of U-527 dated 20 August 1943.
   
Enclosure: (A)  Copy of Subject Report.
 
     
  1.  Enclosure (A) is forwarded herewith for information.  
     
     
                                                                          
                                                                                            John Riheldaffer,  
                                                                                  Commander, U.S. Navy, (Ret.),  
                                                                                Head of Special Activities Branch,  
                                                                                    Division of Naval Intelligence.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
 
 
     

 

 
 

 
Op-16-Z
 
  SECRET                                                                                                        20 August, 1943  
     
 
PRELIMINARY REPORT ON U-BOAT
 
 
SUNK ON 23 JULY, 1943 BY A/C FROM USS BOGUE
 
     
     
 
Number: U-527
   
Type: 750 ton IX C
   
Flotilla: 10th Flotilla at Lorient.
   
Commander: Kapitänleutnant Herbert Uhlig.
   
Building Yard: Deutsche Werft, Finkenwerder, Hamburg
   
Conning Tower Device:             Coat of arms of Mehldorf (Holstein).
  10th Flotilla device (Iron cross with U-boat) (b)
   
Radar: Not fitted.
   
G.S.R.: Fitted - with Southern Cross demountable aerial and with fixed round aerial.
   
Armament: 105 mm gun forward, 20 mm cannon on bandstand, 20 mm. cannon on lower extension of bandstand, and 4 M.G. mounts on bridge.
   
Torpedoes: About 20 - six air torpedoes in upper deck containers, and 14 electric torpedoes inside boat.  Two upper deck containers removed before last cruise.
   
Diesels: M.A.N.
   
Electric Motors: Siemens
   
K.D.B.: Not fitted.
   
G.H.G.: Fitted.
   
Salvage Fittings: Never fitted.
   
S.B.T.: Fitted.
   
Early History: Launched July, 1942.  Commissioned 2 September, 1942.  Normal working up trials in Baltic, during which period attached to the 4th Flotilla at Stettin.  Final overhaul at Howaldts Werke, Hamburg, December, 1942.
 
 
 
 
 
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First Patrol: Left Kiel during the first week of February, 1943, for operational area in the North Atlantic; putting in on the way at Christiansand and Egersund for about one day each.  Sank one 6,000-ton freighter from convoy.  Later hit a 4,000-ton freighter from another convoy, at about the same time that this vessel was hit by a torpedo from another U-boat, said to be U-523.  Before leaving operational area U-527 was supplied with oil and provisions by a 1600-ton supply boat, believed to be commanded by Korvettenkapitän d. R. Wolfbauer.  Returned to Lorient about 10 April, 1943.
   
Second and Last Patrol:                Left Lorient 13 May, following a course south of Bermuda and through the Florida Straits to operational area in the Gulf of Mexico.  Two vessels were unsuccessful attacked, six torpedoes being fired without scoring any hits.  During return cruise met 500-ton U-boat commanded by Stahl and with whom they traveled together for about ten days.  A short time before their sinking they received about 20 cubic meters of oil from this 500-ton U-boat.
   
Sinking: Just as the watch was changing at 1400 GCT on 23 July, 1943 a TBF type aircraft on anti-submarine patrol sighted U-527 and Stahl's U-boat in position 35.25 N. - 27.56 W.  Stahl crash-dived; U-527 remained on the surface.  The day was overcast, with low clouds, intermittent rain squalls and fog, and choppy seas.  Having been surprised, Uhlig gave the order to man the guns.  However, only one of the 20 mm. guns was manned and they were allowed to fire only one magazine, before the TBF, coming out of a cloud from astern and 10 degrees to port dropped a stick of four aircraft depth charges with 25 foot settings from 100 feet.  The charges exploded almost simultaneously, tearing open the pressure hull abaft the conning tower and completely disabling the U-boat, which settled rapidly by the stern, and sank almost vertically within two minutes.
 
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
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