U-boat Archive - U-boat KTB - U-564 7th War Patrol

Excerpt of the Radio Log "U 564"

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29.10.42
02.49 18.30	1.) They temporarily occupy the following waiting areas in accordance with Radio Message Officer-Only Serial No, 31 of 26 October:
	Wolfram square 07, Fiedler square 75, Feiler square 85. All LQ. Boats remain on Coastal Circuit until ordered to switch.
	2.) Proceed from previous areas:
	Schröter on 30 October 20.00 hours, Fiedler on 31 October 12.00 hours, Feiler on 31 October 08.00 hours. After setting off report position as passing report, afterwards immediately switch to Ireland Circuit.

30.10.42
22.13 18.50	In Radio Message Serial No., 86 of 29 October in Paragraph 2 instead of Fiedler Ölrich and instead of Feiler Becker.

02.11.42
18.06 13.42	Group Natter and Becker, Ölrich, Feiler, Fiedler, Remus: Cited boats join Group Natter.

17.57 10.51	From waiting areas Fiedler, Remus head for square BD 33, Wolfram DT 50. Wolfram immediately switch to Ireland Circuit. Remaining boats give passing report.

22.40 22.14	Detections: 28 October 0012, 0215, 03.46 hours Kernbeisser, 22.36 hours BF 54, 29, 01.57 hours BF 46, all horizontal 168 cm. BE 5467, 123 cbm.
	Fiedler

03.11.42
23.00 15.52	Group Natter occupy positions at highest speed. Convoy passes a day earlier than anticipated.

04.11.42
20.36	To Natter:
	At highest speed operate on Ölrich report. Expect course about 210°, speed 8-10 knots. Go at it hard. All the convoys are currently weakly protected.

01.34 22.00	U-92 sighted convoy at 21.40 hours in naval square AL 7788.

01.57 01.30	Convoy on SE course by sound bearings.
	U-92

05.11.42
02.10 19.12	From Fiedler:
	00.30 hours sound bearing convoy 230°T. Convoy steers SW-course. Naval square AL 7788, in pursuit.

02.14 22.38	Enemy square BD 3313, 4 steamers seen, hunted by a corvette one hour, contact lost. Speed 8 knots, course 240°. ESE 2, 1015 mb, Vis. medium.
	U-92

01.19 01.01	Due to encoding error Serial No. 153 settled. Ölrich reports convoy by sound bearing square 3310.

18.13 16.29	Group Natter:
	1.) Soden is equipped with Fu.M.G. [radar], works on 80 cm.
	2.) Soden intermediately report if Fu.M.G. in operation alternatively can Ölrich observation be an indication of the convoy.

06.11.42
11.39 - 10.20	1.) Group Natter if there is no contact up to 12.00 hours break off operation. Head for old position in patrol line at transit speed.
	2.) Kosbald, Soden, Döhler, report position and fuel.

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- 2 -

17.57 15.26	Following boats belong to Group Natter and occupy at transit speed patrol line in cited order from VK 1245 to OL 3173: Becker, Feiler, Remus, Köppe, Eichmann, Fiedler, Ölrich, Schug, Walkerling, Kremser, Kosbald, Soden and Döhler.

07.11.42
18.55 18.23	Group Natter operate on Neumann report. Go. Newmann hold contact, do not attack, check position and report.


22.02 21.37	To Natter:
	Boats, for which believe operation is hopeless due to astern position report this by position Short Signal. B.d.U. will then decide about breaking off operation.

22.28	Square 3427. Fiedler

00.45 23.58	Fiedler continue operation. Kosbald, Kremser, Eichmann break off operation, remain in current area.

16.35 15.28	1.) Pöl, Nölke, Eichmann, Becker, Ölrich, Remus, Fiedler, Feiler, head for CG 87 with day's run 200 nm.
	2.) Circuit from 20.00 hours Ireland. Convoy operation on Neumann convoy broken off. Mannstein free to maneuver in naval square BD 2930.

12.11.42
11.50 10.46	Eichmann, Fiedler, Feiler, Remus, Köppe, Ölrich, Becker, Eppen, Maus, Pöl, Nölke CG 89, Schröter, Steinhoff head for naval square DJ 21, Highest sustained speed.

13.11.42
16.18 11.49	Occupy as attack area depth 25 nm, following squares:
	Ölrich 9431, Spindlegger 9464, Fiedler 8965. All naval square in disguised square OE. For eastern line of boats free to occasionally advance to OE 1580.

14.11.42
19.20	Enemy in sight square CG 8543.
	U-564

19.40 19.34	Naval square CG 8543 enemy in sight reported at 19.20 hours. U-564

20.06 19.41	Contact lost because starboard diesel out of service. Enemy steers easterly course.
	Fiedler

22.19 21.46	With sighting 19.20 hours 4 large transports, 2 escorts, sound bearing now 80°T. Naval square 8527. E 3, Sea 2, 1008 mb, rising, 65 cbm.
	Fiedler

23.47 23.29	Boats in CG. On 14 November 18.00 hours convoy of 1 aircraft carrier - merchant ship type, 2 auxiliary cruisers, 2 destroyers, 2 corvettes and 5 large transports departed for the Atlantic.

15.11.42
07.21 06.24	Naval square CG 8681, course 230°, speed 14 knots.
	U-564

23.20 20.30	04.12 hours heavy star shell fire ahead to port, pursued,

- 3 -

23.32 20.43	listened, after a short operation on sound bearing 06.42 hours gained contact. Rain squalls, very bad visibility. 07.35 last sighting naval square CG 8657, course 250°, 14 knots. 5 large transports in two columns, 2 escorts. Astern to port large straggler. Forced to submerged. From lightness very heavy air. 8646, SE 2, Sea 1, 1006 mb, Vis. 3 nm.
	Fiedler

17.11.42
21.38 21.15	Enemy in sight naval square CG 8966, steers westerly course, speed 12-14 knots.
	U-564

22.32 22.12	From Fiedler
	Naval square CG 8956. 3 steamers, 2 escorts, course 270, 14-15 knots.

23.21 22.57	From Fiedler:
	Naval square CG 8957, enemy zigzags up to 30° around general course 260°, 16 knots.

18.11.42
01.43 12.2x	Enemy naval square CG 8894, course 250°, speed 16 knots.
	U-564

01.59 01.28	To Fiedler:
	If in contact, send bearing signals for Pöl.

04.00 03.00	Despite 3 times AK contact lost. Just now overhauled by Steinhoff. Last position of convoy 01.12 hours 8894. Course 250°, 16 knots, Position 8884, all naval square CG.
	Fiedler

05.54 05.02	Broke off convoy operation and am going to position. Position DJ 1312, SSW 1, Sea 1, overcast, 1011 mb, slowly falling, Vis. medium, 55 cbm.
	Fiedler

23.16 10.25	Occupy as attack area with depth 25 nm:
	Pöl square 3324
	Fiedler square 3235.
	All in large square east of disguised square KB. [DJ]

17.24 15.04	English aircraft reports 13.39 hours German U-boat heavily damaged by air attack in naval square CG 7969. Boats in the vicinity go to assist. Special caution for further expected air attacks.

20.09 19.26	From Fiedler:
	Going to assist square 7969. Position square 8881. Am missing Serial No. 102, 104 to 111.

19.11.42
04.33 03.36	To boats in naval square CG.
	Do not search further in square 7969. Attacked boat was Köppe. Boat has begun return transit.

02.54	Enemy in sight square CG 8454, course 180°.
	Pöl

03.07	Convoy 6-10 steamers square CG 7682.
	Eppen

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21.11.42
13.20 10.35	1.) Occupy as attack area with depth 25 nm:
	Neitzel 9551
	Fiedler 9456 etc.
	2.) Piening occupy 9349 after repairs.
	All RD. Boats form Group Westwall.

21.04	From Fiedler:
21.38	1.) Yesterday 12.10 hours naval square 9878 shortly before shot on Eppen convoy detected by 4 smokestack destroyer. Depth charges. Am astern. Rescue buoy lost.
	2.) Convoy consisted of about 30 freighters of 500-6000 GRT, 1 escort ahead of the convoy, 1 to starboard, air escort from lightness.
	3.) To Serial No. 102 of 18 November for Piening: Total 6 transports seen.
	4.) Naval square DJ 1221, NNW 2, Sea 1, 1015 mb, steady, 1/10, Vis. 7 nm, 44 cbm.

23.11.42
17.40 11.49	Group Westwall:
	1.) Occupy as attack area E-W line sequence:
	Nölke 0140
	Fiedler 0170 etc.
	2.) Focal point in the east according to traffic and defense situation. Schug and Kals as close as possible to the harbor.

24.11.42
00.40 19.55	From Nölke:
	11.45 hours square 7394, 4 aircraft bombs am unclear to dive. Have begun return transit. Damage: both compressors, pressure hull dented, starboard shaft bangs, both housings E-motors torn, aft diving plane, battery cells cracked. Boat takes on much water. Position square 4689. NE 2, Sea 1, all naval square CG.

00.54 01.21	Nölke gain ground to the north, then continue return transit at the limit of territorial waters. Immediately report course, speed, position, strength of the water intake.
	Steinhoff, Remus operate on Nölke at highest speed. Immediately report position, If another boat can get to Nölke faster, report position and go to Nölke.

04.42 04.22	To Fiedler:
	English aircraft reports at 02.44 hours an attack on a U-boat in naval square CG 4369. Boat is submerged. Suspect Nölke.

02.10 02.10	Square CG 8172. U-564

03.33 02.38	Position reports: Steinhoff square 1491, Fiedler square 8172. All naval square CG.

26.11.42
16.40 11.11	To Czygan:
	New fuel distribution. Take over: Fiedler 60 cbm, Feiler 60 cbm, Schug 40 cbm, Ölrich 80 cbm, Eppen 40 cbm. Provisions according to situation.

27.11.42
12.48 11.30	All boats:
	From now the prohibition against attacking convoys in naval square BE is lifted. England Gibraltar traffic with war material in this sea area is expected. Therefore: report at the same time as attacking, hang on.

- 5 -

30.11.42
17.58 17.32	[crossed out message concerning prohibition to attack]

	Group Westwall:
	Reconnaissance line at 20.00 hours course west, day's run 150 nm. Czygan if possible with completion report give fuel inventory of supplied boats. As soon as Czygan reports, first departing boat report position.

23.40 23.40	Square CE 9715. Fiedler

01.12.42
01.37 00.59	Fiedler transmits position from naval square CE 9715. Volume 2.

13.30 11.02	Group Westwall and Rasch. Rasch joins Group Westwall. Immediately switch Ireland Circuit. In order Rasch, Janssen, Kals, Henke, Piening, Walkerling, Maus, Fiedler, Eppen, Schug, Ölrich, Feiler on 3 December at 08.00 hours reconnaissance line located from square IG 6363 to 9966 course west, day's run 160 nm. With return of Walkerling boats positioned to the north move one position to the south.

16.36 15.50	15.45 naval square 8822, course north, 15-16 knots. Fiedler.

19.18 18.46	From Fiedler:
	Square 8527, course north, enemy zigzags.

20.53 20.00	Enemy looks like "DUTCHESS OF YORK". General course 0°, 15-17 knots. Going to position. NW 5, Sea 4, overcast, Vis. 12 nm, 1008 mb, 65 cbm.
	from Fiedler

02.12.42
18.33 18.01	For Group Westwall. Contrary to earlier orders day's run 140 nm. Economical fuel consumption with transit speed so that reserve for convoy operation is at hand.

05.12.42
12.58 12.16	Group Westwall on 6 December 08.00 hours remain in position as patrol line from naval square 2243 to 5846.

10.12.42
23.22 22.02	Fiedler, Eppen, Schug, Ölrich, and Feiler report fuel inventory by Short Signal by 11 December midday.

11.12.42
01.13 01.13	Still have 49 cbm fuel on board. Fiedler

22.00 20.46	From 11 December 24.00 hours reconnaissance line with course east, day's run 140 nm. Supply for these boat is not anticipated, however take over of Fu.M.B. spare parts from "Wolfbauer". Boat which must begin return transit during the advance report at the appropriate tine by Short Signal. Remaining boats disposition in the northern half of CF is anticipated, thereafter return transit without supply.

- 6 -

13.12.42
15.13 10.40	To Group Westwall:
	For boats with out of service Fu.M.B. effect meeting with "Wolfbauer" about on 16 December in naval square CE 30. Until then all boats including Piening remain in reconnaissance line.

16.12.42
21.59 17.28	Following meeting points are ordered. After supply of Schäfer, Wolfbauer steers to Walkerling position naval square CF 1975 and afterwards go to naval square CE 6355 where Feiler, Kals and Janssen will be. Both times report arrival, later total completion. Remaining boats of the group occupy until fuel is consumed the following attack areas: Ölrich square 14 and 15, Rasch square 85 and 86, Maus square 87 and 88, Piening after giving fuel square 03 and 11, Eppen square 12 and 13. All LH. Fiedler TS 64 and 65, Henke square LH and TS 89 and 67, Schug 16 and 94.

18.12.42
13.26 13.26	Convoy 6-10 steamers square BE 5613 to the south. "U-441"

23.47 20.10	Westwall boats for which no supply is anticipated, be in ordered attack area in time, before the arrival of the convoy based on the speed of advance of the convoy.

22.12.42
15.43 13.39	To new Group Westwall belong the following boats, occupy the following attack areas: U-563 square 8586, Maus 87 and 88, Piening 03 and 11, Eppen 12 and 13, all ID. Fiedler 64 and 64, Zitzewitz 91 and 92, both ML. Henke square 89 and 67, Schultze square 16 and 94, both ID or ML. Operation on convoy broken off. Remain unnoticed wile going there. More to follow.

25.12.42
07.28 06.48	From Fiedler. Oscillator lock nut like Kals. Metox conditionally clear. Both cables broken. Attempt to use cable work around as line, Strong interference, test with transmitter negative, vertical dipole isolator out of service. Question if supply is possible square HJ 8462, 21 cbm.

25.12.42
15.10 13.05	To give Fu.M.B. cables Wilamowitz and Fiedler meet on 26 December 10.00 hours in naval square 8193, Wilamowitz report completion and go to Maus. Fiedler thereafter occupy as attack area square 85 and 86. All UV.

23.47 23.00	22.00 hours naval square BE 9738 destroyer with locating horizontal on 147 cm and steamer high speed course south. 16 cbm. Wind calm. U-92
Radio repeater

26.12.42
23.58 23.58	Due to fuel inventory have begun return transit. Fiedler

27.12.42
00.20 00.06	On 27 December 00.00 hours Fiedler began return transit due to fuel inventory.

- 7 -

27.12.42
20.24 18.57	Weather report: Stock and U-441 between 23.00 and 02.00 hours, Hassenschar Zeitzewitz and Kellner between 03.00 and 06.00 hours. Löser, Piening and Fiedler switch to Coastal Circuit from 28 December 08.00 hours, Lüth America II.

28.12.42
07.33 07.33	Position 48 hours off meeting point with escort. Fiedler

08.33 07.51	Fiedler located on 30 December at 07.30 hours off meeting point with escort.

19.54 09.13	To Fiedler
	Escort positioned on 30 December at 07.00 hours at intake point.
	1.U-Flottille

29.12.42
01.28 00.28	Request for 29 December from 18.00 hours bearing signals from Transmitter I Lorient and Penmarch.
	Fiedler

19.50 11.22	Bearing transmitter I Lorient and Beacon Penmarch run for Fiedler from 18.00 to 09.00 hours.
	2.U-Flottille

20.38 20.09	To Fiedler, Kals, Piening:
	U-438 departs Brest 29 December afternoon via Route "Kernbeisser"

30.12.42
09.06 09.00	1.U-Flottille
	Am at Point 344 where is escort.
	Fiedler