U-boat Archive - U-boat KTB - U-213 2nd War Patrol

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R a d i o M e s s a g e s for U-213

Patrol from 23.IV.42 to 21.VI.42.

23.04.42	2025/23/97
20.59	Common area for Oestermann and Varendorff located 24 April 08.00 hours L 2. Varendorff has medium mine boat with ling low mine superstructure behind the conning tower.

29.04.42	Short Signal
22.58	My position is naval square BE 56
	U-213

29.04.42	2318/29/70
23.37	Varendorff reports by Short Signal on 36 meters minus 8.4 Khz volume 4: My position is naval square BE 56.

01.05.42	1845/1/187/224
19.54	1.) Uphoff, Kölle, Varendorff tomorrow between 01.00 and 05.00 hours report weather.
	2.) On 2 May 08.00 hours Piening switch Greenland Circuit, Möhlmann Ireland Circuit.

02.05.42	Short Signal weather report
01.55	46°N, 27°W, 1019 mb, steady, +15°C, SW 2, 10/10 overcast, dust rain, Vis. 2 nm, low SW-Swell.
	U-213

02.05.42	0312/2/4/188/234
03.49	Short observation Varendorff on 36 meters volume 3-4. Uphoff on 54 meters volume 1-2, not acknowledged. Short Signal 0138 on 54 meters volume 2 unclear, give again.

04.05.42	2215/4/122/294
22.00	1.) U-432, 402 and Varendorff tomorrow between 01.00 and 05.00 hours report weather.
	2.) On 5 May 08.00 hours Hirsacker switch to Ireland Circuit, Varendorff to Greenland Circuit.

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

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05.05.42	Short Signal weather report
01.20	43°N, 36°W, 1008 mb, rising, +16°C, NW 6, overcast, showers, Vis. 6 nm, high NW-Swell
	U-213

05.05.42	0136/127/299
02.20	0118 Short Signal weather report Varendorff on 54 meters volume 3. Short Signal weather report 0058 on 36 meters volume 2 incomplete, send again.

06.05.42	0006/50/155/225
00.35	To U-213 for Bootsmaat Walter Busch. Healthy boy arrived, mother and child are well.

10.05.42	2308/9/177/203
00.36	Varendorff, Hellriegel, Hirsacker tonight between 01.00 and 05.00 hours report weather.

10.05.42	Short Signal weather report
06.58	41°N, 56°W, falling, 1018 mb, +15°C, W 1, overcast, and misty, Vis. 3 nm, medium-high W-Swell.
	U-213

10.05.42	2252/10/184/221
23.23	Varendorff, Prätorius, Forster, Uphoff tomorrow between 01.00 and 05.00 hours report weather.

11.05.42	Short Signal weather report
01.37	41°N, 60°W, rising, 1016 mb, +8°C, NW 3, 10/10, Altostratus, Vis. 10 nm, low W-Swell.
	U-213

11.05.42	0242/11/187/225
03.14	On 54 meters minus 3 Khz volume 5 Short Signal weather report 0139 not solved, send anew.

11.05.42	Short Signal weather report.
03.20	41°N, 60°W, +8°C, 1016 mb rising,, NW 3, 10/10, Altostratus, Vis. 10 nm, low W-Swell.
	U-213

11.05.42	0340/11/227
04.26	1.) Short Signal weather report from U-213 with volume 5 on 54 meters received. 2. Missing Serial No. for Bleichrodt settled. Serial No. 224 same contents as Serial No. 288 from 30 April.

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16.05.42	Short Signal
07.38	Have completed task.
	U-213

17.05.42	1012/17/237
10.55	To Varendorff: As attack area initially occupy area as for U-432.

18.05.42	2234/18/266
	1. Giessler and Rasch give situation report.
	2. Varendorff report which task has been completed 1, 2 or 3.

19.05.42	Short Signal
02.38	Two.
	U-213

20.05.42	0211/20/204
04.57	From Varendorff: In operations area since 13 May thick continuous fog, task 2 on 14 May, 15 May CB 11 depth charges from destroyers, white camouflage. Square 24, 115 cbm, am missing: 286, 88 to 92, 98, 99 from 13 May. 29, 31, 32 from 14 May. 86 from 15 May.

20.05.42	0701/20/208
08.28	To Varendorff.
	Missing Serial Nos. settled except for 290 contents: Reminder with reports of ships, if sunk or sighted.

21.05.42	1014/21/246
10.54	Bülow, Varendorff and U-432. New operations area, head for square IH 20. More to follow.

21.05.42	2945/21/267
22.43	Attack areas: 1.) Bigalk area square OY 29, Kelbling area off TK 7760. 2.) In E-W line Rathke square UF 74 to 76, Prätorius square SD 71 to 23, Giessler square YO 39 to 48, Feiler square RP 44 to 46, Varendorff square WI 19 to square HY 98, U-432 square TB 94 to 96.

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22.05.42	1013/22/281
11.19	1.) Bigalk continue patrol. 2.) Rathke occupy are OY 29. 3.) U-432 to U-135 on 21 May ordered attack area shift one 54 nm square to the east. These boats form Group Pfadfinder. [this included U-213]

27.05.42	1330/27/268
14.50	1.) Group Pfadfinder dissolved.
	2.) New attack areas. a. Giessler, Borchert, Kelbling area square QR 98, 99, 07, 22, 23, 31.
	b. Rathke, Prätorius line from the right edge of square WP 35, 38 and naval square 21 21 of the large square south therefrom to the west to the coast.
	c) Rehwinkel, Varendorff, Feiler equal sectors between the bearing square WI 7760 in 250° and 20°. Seaward boundary an arc at 250 nm from square 7760 with diminishing moon run to the coast.
	3.) Report further sinkings and traffic except for neutrals. Furthermore fuel, provisions, torpedo inventory. If necessary supply is possible from U-459 for return transit from 20 June in southern part of the large square east of QR.

28.05.42	2354/27/277
02.55	From U-213:
	Square RZ 22. 4 weeks provisions, 82 cbm. 8 plus 2 torpedoes, W 2, Sea 1, 1020 mb.

30.05.42	1758/30/244
18.29	To Rehwinkel, Varendorff, Borchert.
	Marked traffic runs at the moment from UI 2350 to TK 7760.

01.06.42	2017/31/264
00.03	From U-213:
	Naval square CA 6670 forced to submerge by flying boat. Sound bearings 280° and 70°, 100 RPM shortly after switching 300° and 100°, Vis. 5 nm, misty.

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02.06.42
08.30	0717/2/207
	From U-213:
	1 June square CB 4713 3-fan miss on destroyer. 2 June square CA 6649 5 single misses on fast freighter despite exact data, course 300°. Still one E and one in the tube [upper deck canister], request delayed return transit. 65 cbm, square CA 6680, all naval squares.

27.05.42	1902/26/261
01.40	From U-213:
	Naval square CA 6645 3-fan miss on "type SEA STAR" after 8 hour hunt. Bearing transmitter failure. Course 300°, NW 2, misty.

02.06.42	0957/2/209
11.17	1.) Hoffmann direct return transit to France. If possible without supply. Report if supply is required when passing the longitude of naval square DE 83
	2.) Prätorius remain in ordered operations area. Finding local traffic is of great importance. New moon time run to the coast.
	3.) Varendorff return transit first when required by fuel.

03.06.42	2359/4/252
01.08	CB 4730 heard steamer with destroyer westerly course, high speed, no contact.
	from U-213

05.06.42	1604/4/253
0335	From U-213:
	1.) Traffic by observation runs CB 4730, 4470, CA 6640, general course objective "Ambrose" fast ships. Here also on 31 May inattentive destroyer and air. CB 91 to 69 nothing seen.
	2.) Torpedo failures. Eto unflooded by short circuit in engine chamber (continued)

05.06.42	1721/4/254
04.00	melted, hull burned through. 2 June 1 Eto, 1 Ato surface runners.
	3.) For return transit 58 cbm required without reserve, day's run 120 nm, 2.4 cbm, still 59 cbm. Return transit on 5 June CB 47, NW 2, overcast, Vis. 8 nm. All naval squares.

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05.06.42	04.20/5/255
04.47	Radio Message 1604/4 received the same in all places, not solved. Give again or correct message key.

05.06.42	0458/5/256
06.00	Message key for Radio Message 1604/4 WNRF.
	U-213

06.06.42	Short Signal
02.47	Have begun return transit.
	U-213

06.06.42	0302/6/279
03.30	Varendorff reports with volume 5 on America II Circuit: Have begun return transit.

06.06.42	2156/6/201
22.50	1) Folkers, Linder, Varendorff and Bigalk on 5 June [typo 7 June] between 01.00 and 05.00 hours give weather.

	2) Giessler tomorrow at 08.00 hours switch to Ireland Circuit.

07.06.42	Short Signal weather report
02.57	37°N, 61°W, 1016 mb rising, air 21°C, NW 3, beautiful weather area. 1/10-5/10, clear to cloudy, Vis. 5 nm, medium-high NW-Swell.
	U-213

08.06.42	2231/8/121/234
23.27	1.) Poske and Hartenstein during the night report.
	2.) Between 01.00 and 05.00 hours report weather Kölle, Bigalk, Varendorff.

09.06.42	Short Signal weather report
03.55	38°N, 52°W, steady, 1028 mb, +21°C, S 1, cloudless, Vis. 10 nm, no Swell
	U-213

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10.06.42	2247/10/140/244
23.35	Würdemann, Kelbling, Varendorff and Hoffmann tomorrow between 01.00 and 05.00 hours report weather.
	2) Krech 11 June at 08.00 hours switch to Ireland Circuit.

11.06.42	Short Signal weather report
02.32	40°N, 42°W, rising, 1006 mb, +18°C, NW 2, clear to cloudy, rain, Vis. 1 nm, medium-high W-Swell.
	U-213

12.06.42	1829/12/169/246
19.58	1.) Hoffmann, Rasch, Mützelburg tomorrow between 01.00 and 05.00 hours give weather.
	2.) Varendorff 13 June at 08.00 hours switch to Ireland Circuit.
	3.) Restin and Gellhaus give short situation report tonight.

13.06.42	1815/13/178/275
18.46	Furthermore report weather: Thurmann, Varendorff.

14.06.42	Short Signal weather report
02.04	41°N, 30°W, rising 1006 mb, +18°C, S 3, overcast, Vis. 10 nm, medium-high SW-Swell.
	U-213

18.06.42	Short Signal
00.29	My position is square BF 47.
	U-213

18.06.42	0029/18/121
00.56	Varendorff position naval square BF 47.

18.06.42	0800/18/122
13.44	To Varendorff:
	1.) Immediately switch to Coastal Circuit.
	2.) An inbound report is reminded.

19.06.42	Short Signal
00.05	Position 30 hours off return harbor.
	U-213

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19.06.42	0015/19/75
00.37	Varendorff position 20 June 06.00 hours off return harbor.

19.06.42	0027/19/76
00.55	Entry route for Varendorff is Bogenlampe, return harbor is Brest.

19.06.42	1102/19/79
17.13	U-213, U-558, from 10.U-Flottille:
	Escort for U-213, U-558 and 754 positioned on 20 June at 06.00 hours at Point L 2.