U-159 - 1st War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

Departed	Date	Arrived	Date	Days at Sea
Kiel	22 April 1942	Lorient	3 May 1942	12

 

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Ships Hit

None

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.

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	- 1 -
			K  r  i  e  g  s  t  a  g  e  b  u  c  h
			- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
			"  U  159  "
				Kommandant:  Kapitänleutnant Witte (Helmut)
				Beginning:  4.10.41.
				Ending    :  11.4.42
				© U-boat Archive 2023 - all rights reserved

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

	- 3 -
		04.10.41
		10.00		Commissioned in Bremen.
		05.10. - 07.10.41		Trim test, independent training, final adjustments.
		08.10.41
		06.30		Ready for sea, Transit to Kiel.
		09.10.41		Made fast Kiel.
		10.10. - 28.10.41		Kiel, U.A.K. testing.
		29.10.41
		08.00		Read for sea.  Transit to Rönne,  AK cruise with open outer tube doors for testing of the Pi H.
		30.10.41
		16.30		Made fast Rönne
		31.10. - 01.11.41		Sound trials off Hasle.
		12.20		Sound trials ended.  Transit to Stettin.
		02.11.41
		21.38		Made fast Stettin.
		03.11.41
		06.30		Ready for sea.  Transit to Gotenhafen.
		04.11.41
		16.20		Made fast Gotenhafen.
		05.11. - 07.11.41		T.E.K. testing.
		07.11.41
		12.00		T.E.K. testing broken off due to bridge damage from a torpedo from "U-507".
		08.11. - 12.11.41		Danzig.  In the Danzigerwerft to repair the bridge damage.
		14.11 - 17.11.41		Testing by the U.A.G. I in Danzig.
		18.11.41		Completion of the remaining T.E.K. - shooting in Gotenhafen.

	- 4 -
		19.11. - 21.11.41		Testing by the U.A.G. I in Danzig.
		22.11. - 03.12.41		Agru-Front training in Hela.
		04.12. - 05.12.41		Carried out S-gear [sonar] training for U.A.S.
		06.12. - 27.12.41		Torpedo shooting with the 25. U-Flottille.
		28.12. - 29.12.41		Pre-conference for tactical training with the 27. U-Flottille.
		30.12.41 -		Tactical training with the 27. U-Flottille.
		09.01.42
		12.45		Ready for sea.  Transit from Gotenhafen to Stettin.
		10.01.42
		13.00		Made fast Stettin.
		11.01. - 14.01.42		Pre-conference for final adjustments and overhaul.
		15.01. - 10.02.42		Final adjustments and overhaul in the Stettiner Oderwerken.
		11.02. - 11.04.42		Ice idle period in U-boat Bast Stettin.
		12.04.42		Torpedo loading.
		13.04.42		Provisions loading.
		14.04.42		Final trim test.
		15.04.42		Completion of remaining work.
		16.04.42
		10.00		Ready for sea.  Transit to Swinemünde
		17.04.42
		17.00		Ready for sea.  Transit from Swinemünde to Kiel.  Ice escort from Arkona.
		18.04.42
		20.00		Made fast Kiel.

	- 5 -
		19.04.42		Radio direction finder calibration.
		20.04.42		Degaussing.
		21.04.42		Magnetic compass calibration,  final trim test, provisions loading.
		22.04.42
		07.00		Ready for sea.  Departed on 1st war patrol.

 

	- 9 -
				K  r  i  e  g  s  t  a  g  e  b  u  c  h
				======================
				of
				Unterseebootes  "  U - 1 5 9  ".
				Kommandant:  Kaptlt. Helmut    W  i  t  t e .
				Beginning:     22 April 42.
				Concluding:    3 May 42.

	- 11 -
		22.04.42	Great Belt
		07.00	W 1-2, Sea 1, overcast, 1019 mb, fog	Ready for sea.  Departed Kiel for first patrol.
		12.00	Kjelsnor	From 11.00 -12.50 hours waited at Point Red 05 for better visibility weather.
			W 2-3, Sea 1, overcast, 1018 mb, fog
				Day's run 38 nm, 0 nm
		14.00		Transit with Sperrbrecher 13 through the Belt.
				Outgoing Radio Message to B.d.U. (1356)
				Taken in convoy, switch to k o Circuit.
				U-159, U-172.
		16.00	Great Belt
			S 2, Sea 1, 0/10, 1018 mb, Vis. good
		20.00	NNW 2-3, Sea 1, 0/10, 1015 mb, Vis. goos
		21.30		At Point Red 27 switch escort from Sperrbrecher 13 to 2 boats of the 16. Vp-Flottille.
		24.00	NNW 2-3, Sea 1, 1/10, 1014 mb. Vis. good
		23.04.42	Skagerrak
		04.00	W 3-4, Sea 2, 0/10, 1013 mb, Vis. good
		08.00	Skagen
			N 4, Sea 3, 3/10, 1014 mb, Vis. very good
		12.00	Skagerrak	Day's run 236 nm, 0 nm
			N 3, Sea 2-3, 1/10, 1018 mb, Vis, very good
		15.30		Test dive.
		16.00	Skagerrak	Surfaced.
			NE 1, Sea 1-2, 1/10, 1022 mb, Vis. very good
		19.00		Made fast Kristiansand, Berth 5.
		24.04.42	South Norway
		11.00		Ready for sea.  Transit with anti-aircraft escort to Skudesnes.
		12.00	South Norway	Day's run 70 nm, 1.2 nm
			NE 3-4, Sea 3, 0/10, 1032 mb, Vis. very good
		16.00	Lindesnes
			ESE 4, Sea 3-4, 1/10, 1032 mb, Vis. very good
		20.00	Off Stavanger
			N 2, Sea 1, 2/10, 1032 mb, Vis. very good, light Swell
		21.40		Released from convoy.  Continued independently.
		24.00	AN 2896
			NW 2, Sea 1, 1/10, 1034 mb, Vis. very good, light Swell
		25.04.42	Northern North Sea
		02.09	AN 2393	Drifting mine, 1000 meters abeam.
		04.00	AN 2394
			NNW 2, Sea 1, 2/10, 1035 mb, Vis. good, light Swell
		04.30		Outgoing Short Signal to B.d.U.
				My position is AN 2397.        U-159.
				On Alternate frequency, was not confirmed.

	Sun and Moon Data 22.04.42
	Sun and Moon Data 23.04.42
	Sun and Moon Data 24.04.42
	Sun and Moon Data 25.04.42

	- 12 -
		continued
		25.04.42
		08.00	AF 7996
			WNW 2, Sea 1, 5/10, 1034 mb, Vis. very good
		09.06		Dived to proceed submerged.
		09.50		Deep dove to depth = A +40 meters.
		12.00	AF 7964	Day's run 315 nm, 6.6 nm
		16.00	AF 7953
		16.09	AF 7928	Surfaced.
			NNE 2, Sea 1, 3/10, 1033 mb, Vis. very good
		22.22	AF 7596	Crash dive for a black silhouette, came out of the horizon growing very quickly.  Suspect a motorboat without mast.
		23.10	AF 7582	Surfaced.
		24.00	AF 7591
			NNW 2, Sea 1, 6-7/10, 1034 mb, Vis. very good
		26.04.42	Shetlands-Faroes
		02.10	AF 7572	Three illuminated fishing vessels bearing 330°T, 5 nm.  Avoided on the surface, because I am to remain unnoticed during the outbound transit.
		04.00	AF 7467
			SW 2, Sea 1, 8/10, 1035 mb, Vis. good
		07.15	AF 7742	Drifting mine 500 meters abeam.
		08.00	AF 7742
			ENE 2, Sea 1, 2/10, 1033 mb, Vis. very good
		08.06		Crash dive for aircraft, was not seen.  Proceeded submerged.
		12.00	AF 7744	Day's run 177 nm, 26 nm
		16.00	AF 7747
		17.07	AF 7747	Surfaced.
		20.00	AN 1111
			ESE 4, Sea 3, 5/10, 1031 mb, Vis. very good
		24.00	Between the Shetlands and Faroes
			AM 3274
			SE 5, Sea 4, 1/10, 1028 mb, Vis. very good
		27.04.42	North Atlantic
		04.00	AM 2432
			SE 4, Sea 4, 0/10, 1025 mb, Vis. very good
		07.15	AM 2641	Two patrol vessels bearing 220°T, 12 nm away.  Avoided on the surface.
		08.00	AM 2338
			ESE 3, Sea 2-3, 1/10, 1023 mb, Vis. very good
		10.30		Patrol vessels out of sight.
		12.00	AM 1462	Day's run 300 nm, 18 nm
			S 4-5, Sea 4, 2/10, 1024 mb, Vis. very good	Set off to 14°W and intend to arrive from the north at the Rockall Bank to deploy the Weather Radio gear.
		16.00	AM 1392
			SSE 5-6, Sea 4, 6/10, 1022 mb, Vis. good
		16.47		Outgoing Short Signal
				My position is AM 1383.        U-159.
				I decide as passing report to give only a Short Signal so as not to give away my position before completing the special task

	Sun and Moon Data 25.04.42
	Sun and Moon Data 26.04.42
	Sun and Moon Data 27.04.42

	- 13 -
		continued
		27.04.42	North Atlantic
		20.00	AM 1586
			SE 6, Sea 4-5, 3/10, 1021 mb, Vis. good
		24.00	AM 1791
			SE 3-4, Sea 3, 5/10, 1023 mb, light to medium Swell, Vis. good
		28.04.42	West of Ireland
		02.00	Rockall Bank	Made preparations to deploy the first weather buoy, duration 2 hours.
			AM 1877
		04.00	AM 1799
		04.08	AM 1799	Weather Radio gear B deployed at the north place.
			SE 2, Sea 2-3, light long Swell
		04.51		Outgoing Short Signal:  Weather Radio gear B deployed at north place.        U-159.
		08.00	AM 4222
			SE 4, Sea 3, 0/10, 1023 mb, Vis. good
		12.00	AM 4522	Day's run:  Surfaced    :    327 nm
			ESE 5, Sea 4-5, 4/10, 1022 mb, Vis. good	"         Submerged:        0 nm
		16.00	AM 4824
			E 5-6, Sea 4-5, 0/10, 1019 mb, Vis. good
		20.00	AM 4879
			E 4, Sea 4, 0/10, 1019 mb, Vis. good
		20.26		Test dive.
		21.00		Surfaced.
		24.00	Porcupine Bank	Made preparations to deploy the 2nd Weather Radio gear, duration 2 hours.
			AM 7234
			E 4-5, Sea 4, 1/10, 1016 mb, Vis. good
		29.04.42	West of Ireland
		02.03	AM 7261	Weather Radio gear deployed.
			E 5-6, Sea 4-5, 2/10, 1016 mb, Vis. good, medium Swell	A good performance of men in this weather, to work on the deck while the sea sometimes overran the bridge.
		02.47		Outgoing Short Signal:  Weather Radio gear A deployed at south place.        U-159.
				Signal was not confirmed.
		04.00	AM 7295
			SE 6, Sea 4-5, 6/10, 1015 mb, Vis. good, medium Swell
		07.05		Outgoing Short Signal:  Weather Radio gear A deployed at south place.        U-159.
		08.00	AM 7674
			E 5-6, Sea 5, overcast, 1014 mb, Vis. medium
		10.20	AM 7942	2 patrol vessels bearing 220°T, 8 nm away.  Southeasterly course.
		10.35	AM 7941	Crash dive for Sunderland.
		11.06		Moved off submerged.  Surfaced.
		11.39	AM 7863	Crash dive for Lerwik.
				A maneuver ahead for an attack on the patrol vessels, one of which has the shape of a yacht, is hopeless because in the mean time the Sea State has grown to 6 and both vessels apparently work with the flying boats which appeared out of the drizzle and were distinguished very late.  Moved off.

	Sun and Moon Data 27.04.42
	Sun and Moon Data 28.04.42
	Sun and Moon Data 29.04.42

	- 14 -
		continued
		29.04.42	West of Ireland
		12.00	AM 7862	Day's run:  Surfaced    :    222 nm
				"         Submerged:      5.7 nm
		12.57	AM 7862	Surfaced.
			E 7, Sea 6, overcast, 1014 mb, drizzle
		13.40	AM 7864	Crash dived for Sunderland.
		14.00		Surfaced.
		15.22	AM 7855	Crash dive, suspected U-boat bearing 220°T, that in the drizzle quickly came closer.  At periscope depth nothing more distinguished.  Sound bearing disappeared.  Therefore,
		15.44		surfaced.
		16.00	AM 7857
			E 6-7, Sea 5, overcast, 1014 mb, Vis. moderate
		20.00	BE 3215
			ESE 4-5, Sea 4, overcast, 1010 mb, Vis. medium
		24.00	BE 3519
			SE 3, Sea 2, overcast, 1011 mb, medium Swell, drizzle
		30.04.42	Bay of Biscay
		04.00	BE 3819
			SE 3-4, Sea 2, 8/10, 1011 mb, Vis. medium to good
		08.00	BE 3823
			SE 3-4, Sea 3, overcast, 1013 mb, Vis. good
		12.00	BE 3916	Day's run:  Surfaced    :    250 nm
			SE 2-3, Sea 2, overcast, 1015 mb, medium Swell, Vis. good	"         Submerged:      5.6 nm
		15.37	BE 6361	Crash dive for Sunderland.  7000 meters away, was not seen.
		16.00	BE 6362
		16.39		Surfaced.
		20.00	BF 4158
			E 3, Sea 2-3, 6/10, 1017 mb, Vis. good
		22.28	BF 4193	2 brightly illuminated fishing trawlers bearing 90°T, northerly course, 6 nm away.  Avoided.
		24.00	BE 4276
			E 5, Sea 3-4, overcast, 1018 mb, Vis. medium
		01.05.42	Eastern Bay of Biscay
		04.00	BF 4533
			ENE 3, Sea 3, overcast, 1020 mb, Vis. good, medium Swell
		05.09		Outgoing Short Signal:  Position 48 hours off return harbor.
				U-159.
				Up to now I am still counting on entry route "Uhunest".
		08.00	BF 4637
			E 2-3, Sea 1-2, 4/10, 1021 mb, Vis. very good, light Swell
		08.52		Incoming Radio Message:  (0823)  Return harbor for "Schmidt" and "Witte" is Lorient.  Entry route for "Witte" is Bogenlampe.

	Sun and Moon Data 29.04.42
	Sun and Moon Data 30.04.42
	Sun and Moon Data 01.05.42

	- 15 -
		continued
		01.05.42	Eastern Bay of Biscay
		08.52		So I have miscalculated and therefore must spend nearly 24 hours submerged at the position.
		09.00	BF 4663	Test dive.  Afterwards proceeded submerged.
		12.00	BF 5441	Day's run:  Surfaced    :    236 nm
				"         Submerged:      8 nm
		12.40		Incoming Radio Message:  (1126)  Escort positioned on 3 May 07.30 hours at Point Lucie 2.        10. U-Flottille.
		16.00	BF 5452
		20.00	BF 5433
		22.00	BF 5427	Surfaced.
		24.00	BF 5456
			NE 1, Sea 1-2, overcast, 1024 mb, Vis. very good
		02.05.42	Eastern Bay of Biscay
		04.00	BF 5577
			NE 1-2, Sea 1, 6/10, 1023 mb, Vis. very good
		07.04	BF 5827	Test dive, afterwards, proceeded submerged.
		08.00	BF 5827
		12.00	BF 5824	Day's run:  Surfaced    :    79 nm
				"         Submerged:    24 nm
		14.08		Incoming Radio Message:  (1243)  "U-172" on 3 May at 07.30 hours join "U-159" convoy at Point Lucie 2.
		16.00	BF 5822
		20.00	BF 5588
		21.44	BF 5588	Surfaced.  Took celestial navigation fix.
		22.29	BF 5589	Dived.
		24.00	BF 5589
		03.05.42	Eastern Bay of Biscay
		01.42	BF 5586	Surfaced.
			NNW 4-5, Sea 3-4, overcast, 1023 mb, Vis. good
		02.30	BF 5583	2 fishing trawlers, northerly course, 5 nm away.  "U-504" abeam 5000 meters away on opposite course.
		04.00	BF 5565
			N 4, Sea 3, overcast, 1023 mb, Vis. good
		06.15		"U-172" in sight abeam.
		07.15		Boat positioned at Lucie 2.
				Taken in convoy by Sperrbrecher escort.
		09.30		Made fast Lorient U-boat base.
				Day's run:  Surfaced    :    72 nm
				"         Submerged:    27 nm
				Total distance covered:  2434.1 nm
				Journey time:                  12 days.

	Sun and Moon Data 01.05.42
	Sun and Moon Data 02.05.42
	Sun and Moon Data 03.05.42

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