U-boat Archive - U-boat KTB - U-159 5th War Patrol

U-159 - 5th War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

Departed	Date	Lost	Date	Days at Sea
Lorient	12 June 1943		28 Jul 1943	47

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

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.

                             K r i e g s t a g e b u c h "U 159"

                           Kommandant: Oblt.z.S. B e c k m a n n

                                 (Prepared by s.Skl./B.d.U.Op.)

1943

25.04.43 Lorient Arrived and made fast K 15.

26. - 27.04.43 Cleared the boat.

28. - 30.04.43 Began shipyard work.

Dry-docked.

01. - 30.05.43 Shipyard work.

31.05.43 Un-docked.

01.06.43 Shifted to K 20. Continued shipyard work.

02. - 06.06.43 Basin trials, dummy torpedo shooting, final adjustments, Kommandanten and Chief Engineer change.

07.06.43 Sea trial and trim test.

08.06.43 Sea trial and shifted to S 2.

09.06.43 Outfitting for war patrol.

10.06.43 Loaded torpedoes, ammunition and fuel. Degaussing.

11.06.43 Trim test, balanced the boat.

12.06.43 Lorient Put to sea with orders to head for BE 97.

16.06.43

22.58 From B.d.U.:

After disbanding together transit head for etc. Beckmann EB 60.

21.06.43

20.51 From B.d.U.:

Beckmann on 22 June at 08.00 hours switch to "America II" Circuit.

29.06.43

11.11 From U-159:

DQ 1225 heavy warship unit course 270°. 20 knots without escort, shot at with artillery, dived.

2) Goliath: a) 5, b) 18 meters, c) medium, d) good.

3) 180 cbm, NNE 1, 1022 mb.

06.07.43

11.45 From B.d.U.:

[Colon] As attack area occupy the following areas: etc. Beckmann between EB 63, 41, 77 and EL 39. Focal point off EL 26. Air situation see Radio Message of 26 June and 1 July, Traffic situation in accordance with Uhlig-report and general traffic Caribbean. All naval squares. If necessary, setting off in accordance with Kmdt. Handbook Paragraph 354 also free to go beyond the limit of the ordered operations area.



© U-boat Archive 2023 - all rights reserved

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26.07.43

17.41 From B.d.U.:

The experiences and sightings listed below are from the previous year and serve only as a guide:

1) Traffic runs from and to EL 26 mainly with general course north-south, Evasive movements to the east and west irregularly. Arriving ships adjust so they are 60-100 nm from the main harbor at the beginning of darkness.

2.) Reported were: Independents in square 4592 course 90°, 12 knots, square 8524 course 80°, 12 knots, square 8527 course 80°, square 8535 course 70°, 9 knots, square 1588 course 0°, 16 knots, square 8442 course 240°, square 5892 course 110°, 9 knots. All EC. Further in square 2184 course 270°, 13 knots, square 2262 course 250°, square 2264 course 160°, 13 knots, square 2315 course 190°, 9 knots, square 3539 course 290°, 13 knots, All EL. Additionally small convoys in EC 3811 course 120°, 12 knots, EB 9413 course 190°, 8 knots, EL 2261 course 310°, 11 knots, EB 8259 course 180°, 11 knots.

3) Concerning today's defense conditions no information. Last boats there reported good cooperation between aircraft and destroyers.

4) All naval squares.

      The requests to report situation and/or position on 28 July and 30 July remained unanswered.

      Cause of loss is unknown. Boat may have already been lost on the transit to Colon.

      U-159 was declared missing one star on 22 August 1943 with effect from 28 July 1943, on 22 April 1944 missing two stars.

      Total loss is accepted.

                                    For the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote

                                    - The Chief of the Operations Department -

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	K r i e g s t a g e b u c h "U 159"
	Kommandant: Oblt.z.S. B e c k m a n n
	(Prepared by s.Skl./B.d.U.Op.)

1943
25.04.43	Lorient	Arrived and made fast K 15.
26. - 27.04.43		Cleared the boat.
28. - 30.04.43		Began shipyard work.
		Dry-docked.
01. - 30.05.43		Shipyard work.
31.05.43		Un-docked.
01.06.43		Shifted to K 20. Continued shipyard work.
02. - 06.06.43		Basin trials, dummy torpedo shooting, final adjustments, Kommandanten and Chief Engineer change.
07.06.43		Sea trial and trim test.
08.06.43		Sea trial and shifted to S 2.
09.06.43		Outfitting for war patrol.
10.06.43		Loaded torpedoes, ammunition and fuel. Degaussing.
11.06.43		Trim test, balanced the boat.
12.06.43	Lorient	Put to sea with orders to head for BE 97.
16.06.43
22.58		From B.d.U.:
		After disbanding together transit head for etc. Beckmann EB 60.
21.06.43
20.51		From B.d.U.:
		Beckmann on 22 June at 08.00 hours switch to "America II" Circuit.
29.06.43
11.11		From U-159:
		DQ 1225 heavy warship unit course 270°. 20 knots without escort, shot at with artillery, dived.
		2) Goliath: a) 5, b) 18 meters, c) medium, d) good.
		3) 180 cbm, NNE 1, 1022 mb.
06.07.43
11.45		From B.d.U.:
	[Colon]	As attack area occupy the following areas: etc. Beckmann between EB 63, 41, 77 and EL 39. Focal point off EL 26. Air situation see Radio Message of 26 June and 1 July, Traffic situation in accordance with Uhlig-report and general traffic Caribbean. All naval squares. If necessary, setting off in accordance with Kmdt. Handbook Paragraph 354 also free to go beyond the limit of the ordered operations area.



		© U-boat Archive 2023 - all rights reserved






26.07.43
17.41		From B.d.U.:
		The experiences and sightings listed below are from the previous year and serve only as a guide:
		1) Traffic runs from and to EL 26 mainly with general course north-south, Evasive movements to the east and west irregularly. Arriving ships adjust so they are 60-100 nm from the main harbor at the beginning of darkness.
		2.) Reported were: Independents in square 4592 course 90°, 12 knots, square 8524 course 80°, 12 knots, square 8527 course 80°, square 8535 course 70°, 9 knots, square 1588 course 0°, 16 knots, square 8442 course 240°, square 5892 course 110°, 9 knots. All EC. Further in square 2184 course 270°, 13 knots, square 2262 course 250°, square 2264 course 160°, 13 knots, square 2315 course 190°, 9 knots, square 3539 course 290°, 13 knots, All EL. Additionally small convoys in EC 3811 course 120°, 12 knots, EB 9413 course 190°, 8 knots, EL 2261 course 310°, 11 knots, EB 8259 course 180°, 11 knots.
		3) Concerning today's defense conditions no information. Last boats there reported good cooperation between aircraft and destroyers.
		4) All naval squares.

	The requests to report situation and/or position on 28 July and 30 July remained unanswered.
	Cause of loss is unknown. Boat may have already been lost on the transit to Colon.
	U-159 was declared missing one star on 22 August 1943 with effect from 28 July 1943, on 22 April 1944 missing two stars.
	Total loss is accepted.

	For the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote
	- The Chief of the Operations Department -