U-boat Archive - U-boat KTB - U-83 9th War Patrol

U-83 - 9th Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Robert Derencin and Andi Forster

Departed	Date	Arrived	Date	Days at Sea
La Spezia	6 August 1942	Salamis	20 August 1942	15

Click the icon to download a KMZ file displaying the U-boat track, significant events and locations for this patrol. You must have Google Earth loaded on your computer to view this file. Download Google Earth here

Ships Hit
Date	KTB Time	Position	Ship	Tons	Nationality	Convoy
17 Aug 42	02.05 - 02.15	41°53'N, 63°48'W	Princess Marguerite	5,875	Canadian

			Total = 5,875
Note: The positions in the table above and in the Google Earth patrol summary are derived from the KTB and in many cases do not match those set forth in authoritative references such as Jürgen Rohwer, Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two or the Uboat.net website. The goal here is to present the picture relative to the U-boat and not the absolute position that the ship was attacked or sank.










				Kriegstagebuch of U-boat " U-83 "




				Kommandant: Kapitänleutnant Kraus


				Shipyard period Spezia from 21.06 - 06.08.1942
				War patrol from 06.08 - 04.09.1942




				This Kriegstagebuch was written from recollection and from still existing documents. The original was sunk after the bombing attack off Port Said with the other secret items.





















				© U-boat Archive 2023 - all rights reserved

Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB

- 1 -




	20.06 - 06.07.42	La Spezia	Cleared the boat. Begin shipyard work. Opening of the construction hatches.
	06.07.42	"	Dry docking.
	07.07 - 24.07.42	"	Shipyard overhaul in dry dock.
	24.07.42	"	Undocking.
	26/27.07.42	"	Dockyard testing.
	28.07.42	"	Sea trial.
	30.07.42	"	Brief dry docking and undocking for underwater repair.
	31.07.42	"	Training service, fitting out for war patrol.

	06.08.42	"
	17.05	SSE 3, fair weather, Vis. good	Departed Spezia for war patrol.
	17.28 - 17.51	La Spezia	Final trim test.
	19.20		Passed Point "C".
	20.00	CJ 1623	Proceeding to the south.

	07.08.42	Tyrrhenian sea
	00.00	CJ 1931
		SE 3, Vis. medium, moonshine	Transit to Messina.
	04.00	CJ 5174
		NE 2-3, lightly cloudy	Transit to Messina.
	08.00	CJ 5465
		NE 2-3, Sea 2, lightly cloudy, fair weather	Transit to Messina
	09.00 - 12.00		Dived to balance the boat and deep diving test.
	12.00	CJ 5579	Surfaced. Surface transit to the south continued.
		NE 2-3, Sea 2, lightly cloudy, Vis. good	Day's run: Surfaced: 214.4 nm
		NE 2-3, Sea 2, lightly cloudy, Vis. good	Submerged 6.5 nm 220.9 nm
	16.00	CJ 5893
		NW 3, Sea 2, fair weather, Vis. good
	20.00	CJ 8365

	Sun and Moon Data 06.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 07.08.42

- 2 -




	08.08.42	Tyrrhenian sea
	00.00	CJ 9437
		NW 3-4, Sea 1-2, lightly cloudy, Vis. medium
	04.00	CJ 9584
		NW 1, Sea 0, lightly cloudy
	04.27		Taken under Italian escort at Point M.
	07.06	Messina	Made fast. Repaired the engines, topped off fuel oil and water, corrected malfunctions discovered while underway.
	12.00	Messina	Day's run: Surfaced 284.6 nm.
	19.14	Messina	Departed. With escort up to Point S 1.
	20.00	CJ 9829
		NNE 2, Sea 1, cloudy, Vis. medium
	21.35		Passed Point S 1. Dismissed escort.

	09.08.42
	00.00	CJ 9979	Proceeding southeast to the operations area, heading for square CP 5455 in accordance with outbound orders.
		NNE 2, Sea 1, lightly cloudy
	04.00	CO 1145
	08.00	CO 1514
		NE 3, Sea 2, fair weather, Vis. good
	12.00	CO 1596	Day's run: 250.4 nm.
		NbyE 3, Sea 2, lightly cloudy, Vis. good
	14.44		Dived. Balanced the boat.
	15.54		Surfaced. Continued transit to the southeast.
			G.H.G. out of service. Auxiliary cooling water pump out of service. Broken cooling water line on the starboard engine.
	16.00	CO 1953	Continued the patrol only because of the favorable new moon nights.
		NbyE 3, Sea 2, fair weather, Vis. good
	20.00	CO 2775
		NNE 3, Sea 2-3, lightly cloudy, Vis. good

	10.08.42
	00.00	CO 5136	Easterly transit to the operations area.
		NNE 3, Sea 3, lightly cloudy

	Sun and Moon Data 08.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 09.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 10.08.42

- 3 -




	10.08.42
	04.00	CO 5261
		NNE 3, Sea 2, lightly cloudy, Vis. good
	08.00	CO 5358
	09.06		Crash dive for aircraft.
	10.00		Surfaced.
	12.00	CO 5392
		N 3, Sea 2, lightly cloudy, fair weather, Vis. good	Day's run: Surfaced 275.3 nm
		N 3, Sea 2, lightly cloudy, fair weather, Vis. good	Submerged 8.4 nm = 283.7 nm.
	15.44		Crash dive for aircraft.
	16.00	CO 6186
		NW 1, Sea 1, lightly cloudy, Vis. medium
	16.22		Surfaced.
	20.00	CO 6284

	11.08.42
	00.00	CO 6385
		NNW 2, Sea 1, medium cloudiness, Vis. moderate
	04.00	CP 4185
	08.00	CP 4284
		N 2, Sea 1, medium cloudiness
	12.00	CP 4613	Day's run: Surfaced 328.92 nm
		N 2, Sea 1, medium cloudiness, Vis. moderate	Submerged 2.75 nm = 331.67 nm.
	16.00	CP 5412
	16.35		Crash dive. Mast heads bearing 90°T.
	16.40		Action Stations Torpedo.
			Cruiser formation in sight consisting of 3 DIDO cruisers, 1 AURORA and 10 destroyers on a westerly course. Appear to cruise in this sea area, running slowly, recognize signal traffic with flags while getting closer.
			Broke through destroyer screen.
			Absence of the sound locator is sorely noticed.
	17.09	CP 5413	Four-fan on AURORA-class. Depth = 2.5 meters, range = 3000 meters, target speed = 16 knots, target angle 90°.
			Entire formation turns back after the shot of the 4 torpedo by 180° and disappears on an easterly course. 1 depth charge. No pursuit.
	18.33		Dismissed from Action Stations. Tubes 1 and 3 reloaded.

	Sun and Moon Data 10.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 11.08.42

- 4 -




	11.08.42
	19.50		Surfaced. Tubes II and IV reloaded on the surface.
	20.00	CP 5424
		NW 1, Sea 1, medium cloudiness and Vis.

	12.08.42
	00.00	CP 5541	Because I do not know where the formation went to, I decide to go in direction of Haifa to catch it on arrival.
		NW 1, Sea 1, medium cloudiness and Vis.
	04.00	CP 5591
	04.42		Dived.
	08.00	CP 5599
	10.10		Surfaced.
	12.00	CP 5917	Day's run: Surfaced 175.5 nm
		W 2, Sea 1, lightly cloudy	Submerged 24.1 nm = 199.6 nm.
	16.00	CP 5978
	19.01		Crash dive for aircraft. 5 aircraft bombs. Well placed but too high. No major damage.
	20.00	CP 8232
		W 2-3, Sea 1-2, medium cloudiness
	20.30		Surfaced.

	13.08.42
	00.00	CP 5883	Occupying operations area between Alexandria and Damietta as ordered.
		W 3, Sea 2, lightly cloudy
	04.00	CP 8132
	04.48		Dived.
	08.00	CP 5797
	10.24		Surfaced.
	12.00	CP 8113	Day's run: Surfaced 189.3 nm
		W 3, Sea 2, lightly cloudy, fair weather	Submerged 22.7 nm = 212.0 nm.
	15.46		Dived due to sun glare.
	16.00	CP 7323
	20.00	CP 7321	Surfaced.
		W 2, Sea 2, lightly cloudy

	Sun and Moon Data 11.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 12.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 13.08.42

- 5 -




	14.08.42
	00.00	CP 7238	Absolutely no traffic observed by day and night up to the 30-meter line.
		W 2, Sea 2, lightly cloudy
			Traffic is probably only at the 10-meter line.
	04.00	CP 7238
	04.51		Dived.
	08.00	CP 7237
	10.26		Surfaced.
	10.29		Crash dive for aircraft.
	12.00	CP 7229	Day's run: Surfaced 127.45 nm
			Submerged 32.82 nm = 160.27 nm.
	12.18		Surfaced.
	13.43		Crash dive for aircraft.
	15.53		Surfaced.
	16.00	CP 7233
		NW 2, Sea 1, cloudy, Vis. medium
	16.45		Crash dive for aircraft.
	19.30		Surfaced.
	20.00	CP 7312	Radio Message with time group 1814/14/590 received: To Kraus: Free to hunt in the area east of longitude of square 6875, south of the latitude of square 7855. Focal point north of "Port Said". Own mined area is pointed out.
		NW 2, Sea 1-2, lightly cloudy

	15.08.42
	00.00	CP 7331
		NNW 1-2, Sea 0-1, lightly cloudy
	04.00	CP 8122	Dived.
	04.51		Heavy propeller noises in the boat, went to periscope depth. 8000 ton steamer passed just now, running off at target angle 150°. Only one patrol vessel. With a sound locator I would have had him for sure. Can not remain at periscope depth because of the heat. Only bearable at 80 meters.
	08.00	CP 8134
	11.04		Surfaced.
	12.00	CP 8174	Day's run: Surfaced 157.67 nm
	[typo, probably CP 8124]	NW 2, Sea 1, lightly cloudy, fair weather	Submerged 35.47 nm = 193.14 nm.
	14.34		Crash dive for aircraft.
	16.00	CP 8125
	19.26		Surfaced.
	20.00	CP 8132
		NW 1-2, Sea 1, lightly cloudy

	Sun and Moon Data 14.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 15.08.42

- 6 -




	16.08.42
	00.00	CP 8215
		NW 1-2, Sea 1, lightly cloudy
	04.00	CP 8125
	04.43		Dived.
	08.00	CP 8125	Went at least every hour to periscope depth. The temperatures are indescribable.
			Water = 30°, control room = 34°, living room = 38°, diesel engine room = 56°.
	10.33		Surfaced.
	10.57		Crash dive for aircraft.
	11.57		Surfaced.
	12.00	CP 8167	Day's run: Surfaced 139.7 nm
		NW 2, Sea 1, medium cloudiness, fair weather	Submerged 81.1 nm = 170.8 nm. [typo 220.8]
	13.58		Crash dive, masthead on the horizon. Patrol vessel group, does not come into shooting range.
	14.51		Surfaced.
	16.00	CP 8214
		NW 2, Sea 1, medium cloudiness
	17.43		Dived due to heavy sun glare.
	19.05		Surfaced.
	20.00	CP 8214
		NW 1, Sea 0-1, lightly cloudy

	17.08.42
	00.00	CP 8237
		NW 2, Sea 1, medium cloudiness
	04.00	CP 8244
	04.54		Dived.
	07.45		Surfaced.
	08.54	CP 5739	Crash dive for aircraft.
	12.00	CP 8126	Day's run: Surfaced 176.2 nm
			Submerged 25.4 nm = 201.6 nm.
	12.17		Surfaced.
	12.32		Crash dive (aircraft)
			In the periscope a formation of one torpedo cruiser, 1 two-stacked ship = 8000 tons, 1 three-stacked ship = 12-15000 tons, 4 destroyers in sight. Strong battle and hunting protection around the formation.
	12.45		Action Stations Torpedo.
	14.08		4-fan on large auxiliary cruiser, Type
			"CHAMPOLLION"

	Sun and Moon Data 16.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 17.08.42

- 7 -




	17.08.42
	14.08		"CHAMPOLLION" 12500 GRT. 2 hits.
			Depth = 2 meters, target speed 15 knots, range = 500 meters, target angle 70°.
	14.07		Depth charges.
	14.20		Conning tower cleared, steering by magnetic compass.
	14.53		Heavy sinking noises heard in the boat. Bursts and grating, as if pieces fell on the boat.
	15.00 - 19.50	CP 5794	Ran off to the north at silent speed.
	20.00 - 20.35		Tube III reloaded.
	20.45		Gryoscope employed.
	21.03		Surfaced. Radio Message to F.d.U.: 1409/17/538.
			"Naval square 8134 auxiliary cruiser sunk from a naval formation. 3-stacked ship of about 12000 GRT. Request Salamis for most important repairs. Set off to the north, 2 torpedoes."
	23.50	CP 5841	Crash dive for aircraft. 6 aircraft bombs at 20 meters. Foredeck carpeted, all instruments and engines failed. Diesel engines and battery out of service. Water entry in the radio room, bow room and conning tower. Vent valves stuck open. All rudders jammed. Boat went approximately 50° down by the stern and settled.
		NW 3, Sea 2-3, medium cloudiness, dark night
			Boat was caught by closing emergency vent valve and blowing main ballast and reserve fuel oil tank IV and main ballast tank III and was brought to the surface.

	18.08.42
	00.00	CP 5841	A second attack was repulsed with M.G. fire. 1 bomb approximately 30 meters from the bow.
			Parachute flares in a circle about the boat
			MG strafing by aircraft, an old bi-plane. Foredeck is submerged. Boat is completely unmanageable. All radios destroyed. Front battery develops heavy chlorine gas. Foreship can only be entered with rescue lung. The boat's interior gives the impression of a big garbage dump. Initially an attempt is made to restore a diesel, the aft battery, the bilge pumps and the emergency transmitter.
			A diesel soon becomes operable again, proceeding with hand steering and north star abeam, as well as possible on a westerly course.
			When bilge pumps are back in service, the entering water can be held by continuous pumping.
			In the boat clearing work. On the bridge every new approach is met with all artillery

	Sun and Moon Data 17.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 18.08.42

- 8 -




	18.08.42		weapons. Only flares now. [no more depth charges]
			Sank all secret items except for recognition signals and keying material. Scuttling charges placed in the boat. The appearance of a destroyer must be expected at any moment.
	02.00		Ran at about 7 knots to the west. New advanced aircraft have not detected me again. They probably regard me as sunk, because a gigantic oil slick arose through an emptied fuel oil tank in which parts of the life boat, a marker buoy and many wooden gratings which were thrown up by the detonation, float.
			By blowing the bow buoyancy tank the foredeck comes well out of the water in spite of crushed diving cell V. Both diesels operable up to 9 knots. Battery is made free of chlorine by lime-wash.
	04.00	CP 5752	Trying to reach the coast at El Alamein
		NW 2-3, Sea 2, medium cloudiness, Vis. good
	04.33		Diving attempt unsuccessful.
			Ran off on a westerly course and highest speed. Not capable of diving.
			Emergency transmitter provisionally operable. Antenna lead by cable through the conning tower hatch.
			Large aircraft to the north; evaded.
			Was not seen.
			Gyroscope runs again, however steering must still be by hand.
	07.00		First Radio Message sent with 40W emergency transmitter:
			"0501/18/549 From Kraus: Not capable of diving. Square 5751, westerly course. Request immediate assistance."
			Thereupon Franken and Schonder are ordered to assist.
	08.00	CP 4930
		NW 2-3, Sea 2, lightly cloudy, fair weather
	08.11		Short signal:
			Urgently need support by air forces. Square CP 4930.
			- U-83 -
	09.11		Incoming Radio Message:
			To Kraus: Air escort is requested.
			- F.d.U. -
			Now hope to reach Crete. Come to approximately 285°.
	12.00	CP 4684	Day's run: Surfaced 140.4 nm
		WbyN 3, Sea 2, lightly cloudy, fair weather	Submerged 24.8 nm = 165.2 nm.

- 9 -




	18.08.42
	13.33		Radio Message: To Kraus: Request position, course, speed.
			- Schonder -
	13.43		To boat by short signal:
			My position is CP 4676, 285°.
			- U-83 -
	14.40		Radio Message: To Kraus: 2 Me 110 to take over protection.
			- F.d.U. -
	16.00	CP 4591	However, no other aircraft (own or enemy) were sighted.
		WNW 4-5, Sea 4, increasing cloudiness	However, no other aircraft (own or enemy) were sighted.
	20.00	CP 4544	Thank God it is getting dark!
	20.17		Incoming Radio Message: Eastern boats: Destroyer ZG 3 departed today 18.00 hours to assist U-83. Route ZG 3 east of Milos through the Kasos Passage transit speed 24 knots. To facilitate at 04.00 hours Kraus report position, course, and speed to F.d.U.
			Schonder requests bearing signals or red stars at 22.45 hours.

	19.08.42
	00.00	CP 4428
		WNW 4-5, Sea 4, medium cloudiness
	02.20		Incoming Radio Message: To Kraus:
			At 02.00 hours report position by short signal.
			- F.d.U. -
	03.13		Radio Message sent: Naval square 4415, 285°, 7 knots. Bomb hit in foreship. Difficult to hold the boat into the seas. Red stars. - Kraus -
	03.25		Incoming Radio Message: To Schonder, Kraus Bürgel:
			No bearing signals and stars. Schonder and Bürgel dismissed, Kraus will soon be taken up by "ZG 3".
			- F.d.U. -
	04.00	CO 6633
		NW 5, large sea, medium cloudiness, fair weather	Between 05.00 and 06.00 hours 1 Ju 88 arrives as air escort. "Schonder" appears from astern.
	06.19		Incoming Radio Message: Kraus: From 06.30 hours report position hourly by Short Signal. From 07.00 hours every 30 minutes 4 minute long bearing signals on 468 kHz. Alternate frequency 375 kHz.
			- F.d.U. -
	06.37		Radio Message sent from Schonder:
			Positioned with Ju 88 for Kraus. Square 6389.
	07.43		Short Signal: My position is square 6388.
			- U-83 -
			At about 08.00 ZG 3 appears. Destroyer takes station ahead, takes over protection on a westerly course.

	Sun and Moon Data 18.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 19.08.42

- 10 -




	19.08.42
	08.00	CO 6387
		NW 7-8, Sea 6, medium cloudiness, fair weather
	08.28		Radio Message sent from Schonder: ZG 3 has taken over escort. Continuing return transit.
	12.00	CO 6296	Return transit to Salamis, "U-83" on the lee side ZG 3 due to sea state.
		NNW 6, Sea 6, medium cloudiness, fair weather
		NNW 6, Sea 6, medium cloudiness, fair weather	Day's run: Surfaced 220 nm.
	16.00	CO 6262	Heading for the Kasos Passage on northerly courses
		NNW 3, Sea 3-4, lightly cloudy, Vis. good
	20.00	CO 3889
		N 4-5, Sea 4-5, changing cloudiness
	23.00		Passed through the Kasos Passage.

	20.08.42
	00.00	CO 3869	Transit through the Aegean.
		NNW 7, Sea 7, changing cloudiness
	04.00	CO 3813
	08.00	CO 3465
	12.00	CO 3413	Heading for Piraeus on the easterly route.
		NNW 3, Sea 3, lightly cloudy, Vis. good	Day's run: Surfaced 187 nm.
	16.00	CO 2362
	20.00	CK 8986
	23.30	Salamis	Made fast at the base.

	21.08 - 30.08.42	"	Shipyard repair for surface transit to Spezia.
	31.08.42	Salamis	Departed for transfer to Spezia. Transit through the Corinth Canal to Patras with "U-565". Franken assumes radio watch.
	08.20	NNW 1, flat sea, fair weather, Vis. good
	12.00	CK 8865	Day's run: Surfaced = 34 nm.
	12.10 - 12.41		Canal transit with Italian pilot.
	18.21	Patras	Made fast to be taken under Italian escort.

	Sun and Moon Data 19.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 20.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 31.08.42

- 11 -




	31.08.42
	18.41	Patras	Departed. Transit with "U-565" and Italian torpedo boat to Messina.
			After passing the Patras barrier "ARETHUSA" provided U-boat protection. [typo, ARETUSA, Italian Spica-class torpedo boat]
	20.00	CK 8726
		NNW 1-2, Sea 1, lightly cloudy

	01.09.42
	00.00	CK 7966
		NW 2, Sea 1, cloudless
	04.00	CK 7866
	08.00	CK 7847
	08.05		Meet Italian air protection.
	12.00	CK 7748	Day's run: Surfaced 288.7 nm.
		NW 2, Sea 1, lightly cloudy
	16.00	CJ 9949
	20.00	CJ 9856
	21.55	Messina	Made fast. Dismissed escort.

	02.09.42	Messina	Repairs to cooling water piping.
	16.15		Departed with U-565 for transit to Spezia.
	18.15		Escort dismissed, U-565 dismissed.
			Independent transit.
	20.00	CJ 9812
		S 1-2, Sea 1, medium cloudiness, Vis. moderate

	03.09.42
	00.00	CJ 9449	Transit to the north.
		NNW 1, Sea 0-1, cloudless
	04.00	CJ 8389
	08.00	CJ 8317
	12.00	CJ 5857	Day's run: Surfaced 249.3 nm.
		NW 1, Sea 0-1, medium cloudiness, fair weather	About 13.00 hours meeting with unknown Italian U-boat on opposite course.
	16.00	CJ 4598
	20.00	CJ 5451
		NW 1, Sea 0-1, increasing cloudiness, hazy

	Sun and Moon Data 31.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 01.09.42
	Sun and Moon Data 02.09.42
	Sun and Moon Data 03.09.42

- 12 -

04.09.42

00.00

CJ 1992

NW 1, flat sea, continuous haze

04.00

CJ 1931

08.00

CJ 1637

NW 0-1, flat sea, fair weather, easing haze

10.00

Taken under escort at Point "C".

11.30

La Spezia

Made fast at the base with "U-565".

A d d e n d u m.

1.)	Complete failure of the sound locator in the operations area is grounds for breaking off the patrol at short notice, if special circumstances do not require an unconditional stay.
2.)	During a night bombing attack in general it is better to remain on the surface and to repulse the aircraft with artillery. Dive only after all bombs are dropped.
3.)	Taking the small yacht liquid-compass along has paid off.
4.)	According to later findings the sunken auxiliary cruiser must have been at least 15000 GRT. The same ship was seen earlier by U-77 and U-561 and was attacked without success and reported as a 15-20000 GRT ship.

Kaptlt. and Kommandant

	Enclosures to U-83's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document

ChartA	Track chart covering entire war patrol 15 August 1942 to 6 October 1942

Chart B	Combat sketch 17 August 1942

ChartC	Combat sketch 11 August 1942

Torpedo	Torpedo firing reports

Comments of the F.d.U. on the K.T.B. of " U-83 "

from 28.06 to 04.09.1942

1.)	The patrol was carried out by the Kommandant with his usual energy and courage, with corresponding good success.
2.)	The prudent action of the commander and the good behavior of the crew is especially noteworthy after the most severe bomb damage.
3.)	The failed attack on 5 August is regrettable and shows that with failure of the G.H.G. or bad sound conditions running periscope use is required while proceeding submerged. In this case special circumstances were present as the very strong heat demanded more frequent visiting of greater depths.
4.)	The attack on the auxiliary cruiser was exquisitely planned and executed with prudence and cool-headedness. Setting the torpedoes to a greater depth would have been more appropriate, because at 2 meters depth the explosive effect of the torpedoes is partly dissipated.
5.)	Point 2 in the "supplement" of the commander is agreed to most emphatically. As the commander reported orally, he would also have proceeded the same way if he had been on the bridge.
6.)	The newly provided boat compass has proved itself with failure of the permanently installed compasses. This will be reported in detail elsewhere and along with other experiences.
7.)	Accredited: 1 auxiliary cruiser, 15,000 tons sunk.

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