Excerpt from F.d.U./B.d.U.'S War Log

16 - 31 May 1942

PG30307b

Pages 76-79 covering 19-20 May 1942 - Includes General comments on mining operations and Operational Orders for operations for New York (U-87), Overfalls (Entrance to Delaware Bay) (U-373) and Chesapeake (U-701).

 

	VI. General:           3 type VII boats are sailing today for the east coast of the U.S. for a mining operation:  U 87 to the entrance to New York, U 373 to the entrance to Delaware Bay, U 701 to the entrance to Chesapeake Bay.           When the U.S. entered the war the question of whether and where mine-laying would be possible on the U.S. coast was considered and it was seen that along the whole coast from Fire Island light ship (E. of New York) to Cape Canaveral there are two strips, divided by a channel of water depth 35-50 meters, which are suitable for mining:  a 10 to, in places, 40 mile wide strip immediately along the coast for ground mines and another, remote one, parallel to the inner strip, of strongly varying breadth, for SMA's (S/M-laid shaft mines).  Practically all the large ports on the U.S. E. coast are in this sector of the coast, so that a mining operation here is not only possible, but also promises good results.           After the first mine-laying U-boats (for SMA) were ready, operational use of SMA's was forbidden, so that only TM's (torpedo tube mines) could be considered.  So far these have not been used.  As it was more worth while to use the normal (torpedo) U-boats as torpedo carriers.  Now that individual boats, especially off the coast north of Hatteras, have little success, while a far greater number of U-boats have been operating off and south of Hatteras with great success, it seems reasonable to attack enemy traffic in the north coastal sector as well.  Even a few mines laid immediately off the busy entrances to New York (Delaware Bay, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Norfolk) are likely to lead to success, as mine-countermeasures are sure to be few, and will also cause a splitting-up of enemy forces which in some cases will help the torpedo U-boats.           Subsequent torpedo operations in these areas will not be prejudiced, firstly because the mines are to be laid in shallow water immediately off the entrances, where torpedo attacks are unlikely, and secondly because mines become inactive after 2 months.         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -         Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote 12. May 1942 Reg. No. Most Secret     1927     A2                 Most Secret ! _______________________ Copy No. ___5___ Mine-laying order "New York" for U 87 _______________________               MS note: Later Naval War Staff (1st Div.) would not approve this, as diplomatic ships were still sailing.  "Boston" was the alternative.         I. a) "Ambrose Place" is to be extensively fouled with mines.  If this is not possible "Alternative Ambrose Place" is to be fouled.  If, after repeated efforts, even this latter cannot be done, fouling is to be done in "New York Outer Place" (see diagram).
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	b) Enemy traffic is to be observed before the mines are laid, so that, within the area ordered, they can be laid at points where greatest success can be expected.  If it is not possible to observe the traffic, or if such observation does not yield any clues, aim at fouling the area around Ambrose Lightship and south of this.   c) In all circumstances the Captain is to do his utmost to lay the mines as far inshore as possible, where they are most likely to be effective i.e. in "Ambrose Place".  The alternative or outer area is only to be fouled when all attempts to lay in the area further inshore have failed and further attempts appear useless.         II. a) "Ambrose Place" lies within the following points:       400 27' N 730  55' W   400 27' N 730  49' W 400 28' N 730  45' W   400 23' N 730  54' W   b) The boundaries of "Alternative Ambrose Place" are E and S the circumference of a circle having its center off light and bell buoy 2A (400 30' N    730  56' W), NW a line from Long Beach off 730  41' W    and a point on the coast from New Jersey off 400 23' N.   c) "New York Outer Place" lies within the circumferences of circles and 22 sea miles from light and bell buoy 2A.         III.  Material:  10 TMC, time setting 60 days, delay clockwork 2 days, sensitivity 10 milliorsteds, to fire at first crossing, 5 mines with "BIK rot" (magnetic firing unit, south polarity), 5 mines with BIK blau (magnetic firing unit with North polarity).  Mines should be laid at a depth of 20-30 meters, minimum distance apart 1000 meters.         IV. a) Chart D 455 is to be taken.   b) See Standing War Order 492, para 2.         V.  A report is to be made as soon as possible after laying, but from at least 50 sea miles away from the place of laying, by short signal.  The following groups to be used:   LTIQ    =  "Ambrose Place" fouled   LTGO:  =  "Alternative Ambrose Place" fouled   LTJR    =   "New York Outer Place" fouled.                                                                                 (signed):  JODL                                                             Chief of Operations Department                                                                     for B.d.U.         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -         Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote 12. May 1942 Reg. No. Most Secret     1926     A2                 Most Secret ! _______________________ Copy No. ___5___ Mine-laying order "Overfalls" for U 373 _______________________         I. a) "Overfalls Place" is to be extensively fouled by mines.
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	If this is not possible "Alternative Overfalls Place" is to be fouled.  If, after repeated efforts, even this latter cannot be done, fouling is to be done in "Delaware Outer Place".  (see diagram).   b) (See page 16 I b).   c) (See page 16 I c. for "Ambrose Place" read "Overfalls Place".)         II. a) "Overfalls Place" lies within the points:       380 45' N 750  02' W   380 48' N 740  57' W 380 45' N 740  53' W   380 42' N 740  59' W   b) "Alternative Overfalls Place" is bounded:  In the NW and N by a line from Rehoboth through a point 380 51' N    740  52.3' W to a point 380 51' N    740  47' W, in the E and S by the circumference of a circle of 15 sea miles diameter, having as its center Cape Henlope (380 47.8' N    750  05.5' W).   c) "Outer Delaware Place" lies between the circumferences of circles of 15 and 23 sea miles diameter around Cape Henlope.  The N. limit is latitude 380 51' N.         III.  Material:  15 TMB, time setting 60 days, delay clockwork 2 days, sensitivity 20 milliorsteds, to fire at first crossing, about half the mines with "BIK rot", the rest with "BIK blau".   Mines should be laid at depth of 15-22 meters.  Minimum distance apart 1000 meters.         IV. Chart D 457 is to be taken. See Standing War Order 491, para. 3.         V.  (See page 18 V.  For "Ambrose Place" read "Overfalls Place" for New York Outer Place" read "Alternative Delaware Place".)                                                                                 (signed):  JODL                                                             Chief of Operations Department                                                                     for B.d.U.         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -         Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote 12. May 1942 Reg. No. Most Secret     1925     A2                 Most Secret ! _______________________ Copy No. ___5___ Mine-laying order "Chesapeake" for U 701 _______________________         I. a) (See page 16 I a     for "Ambrose Place" read "Alternative Chesapeake Place"      for "New York Outer Place" read "Baltimore Outer Place".)   b)  (See place 16 I b)   c)  (See page 16 I c.  For "Ambrose Place" read "Chesapeake Place".)
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	II. a) "Chesapeake Place" lies within the following points:       360 53' N 750  56' W   360 57' N 750  51' W 360 55' N 750  45' W   360 48' N 750  53' W   b) "Alternative Chesapeake Place" is bounded:  in the NW by a line joining the N. tip of Smith Island and a point on the coast 360 45' N, in the E. and S. by the circumference of a circle of 18 sea miles diameter around a point 370 N    760 W.   c) "Baltimore Outer Place" lies within the circumferences of circles of 18 and 25 sea miles diameter around a point 370 N    760 W.         III.  Material:  15 TMB, time setting 60 days, delay clockwork 2 days, sensitivity 20 milliorsteds, to fire at first crossing, about half the mines with "BIK rot", the remainder "BIK blau".   Mines should be laid at depth of 12-20 meters.  Minimum distance apart 1000 meters.         IV. a) Charts D 464, D 458 are to be taken.   b) See Standing War Order 491 paras. 16-18 and 492 para 6.         V.   (See page 18 V.  For "Ambrose Place" read "Chesapeake Place", for "Alternative Ambrose Place" read "Alternative Chesapeake Place", for "Outer New York Place" read "Outer Baltimore Place".)                                                                                 (signed):  JODL                                                             Chief of Operations Department                                                                     for B.d.U.         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -         20.May 1942.
	I. U 66 - DG 34 U 124 - BC 23 U 172 - CE 14 U 558 - DN 84-Op   68 - CF 38 125 - DM 94 201 - v. Lorient 564 - DB 98   69 - Op(ED) 126 - EH 86 213 - CB 24-Op 566 - Op(CA)   86 - BD 94 128 - EH 88 214 - AO 569 - AJ 89   87 - BF 67 130 - DD 61 333 - CE 28 578 - BC 76   89 - AM 19 134 - AO 352 - Op(DC) 582 - BE 54   94 - BC 37 135 - Op(CA) 373 - BF 67 588 - Op(BB)   96 - BC 34 136 - BF 60 404 - BC 49 590 - BC 23   98 - CB 78 153 - AO 406 - BC 34 593 - Op(CA)   103 - Op(DL) 155 - Op(EE) 402 - BF 60 594 - DC 18-Op   106 - DM 42-Op 156 - EE 46-Op 432 - Op(CB) 653 - Op(CA)   107 - CA 81-Op 157 - BF 73 455 - Op(CA) 701 - v. Lorient   108 - DD 66 158 - DE 44 502 - Op(BC) 751 - Op(BB)   109 - CC 46 159 - CE 34 506 - Op(Golf) 752 - BF 58   116 - BE 82 161 - EH 87 504 - DD 63 753 - DM 43-Op   123 - AM 47 162 - Op(EE) 507 - DC 87                     553 - Op(BB)
	On Return Passage:  U 125 - 564 - 507 - 98 - 333 - 108 - 752 - 86 - 109 - 130 - 201 - 66 - 582 - 136 - 402.   Sailed:  U 129 - 67 - Lorient.   Entered Port:  U 136 - 402 - St. Nazaire.         - 79 -