S E C R E T.                                                                                                           C S D I C - A F H Q - N.10.  
     
PRELIMINARY REPORT
 
INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM
 
 
U - 409
 
 
Sunk on 12th July, 1943 by
 
 
H.M.S. "INCONSTANT".
 
 
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  I.  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.  
     
          U-409, a 500-ton German U-boat, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Hanns-Ferdinand MASSMANN, was sunk by HMS "INCONSTANT", escorting "EMPRESS OF RUSSIA" and "NEA HELLAS", at 1030 on 12th July, 1943 in position 37017' N. 03055' E.  HMS "INCONSTANT" picked up 39 survivors including MASSMANN and 3 other officers, and landed them in Algiers three hours after the sinking.  The First Lieutenant drowned and one Petty Officer survivor died aboard INCONSTANT from wounds sustained in the action.  The total complement of U-409 is believed to have been 49 men.  
          Whereas survivors stated emphatically that every man had escaped from the sinking U-boat and that ten men perished in the water, it is believed that a few were trapped in the after compartments.  
          U-409 is believed to have been commissioned in January, 1942.  She was sunk on her 6th war cruise, 5 of which had taken place in the Atlantic.  Total sinkings of 35,000-tons (on her 2nd and 4th patrols) were claimed for her.  The crew was exceptionally young and inexperienced.  For an undetermined reason, a large proportion of the total complement came to U-409 immediately prior to her last cruise and many of these men had had no previous U-boat experience whatever.  MASSMANN, a tried and competent Atlantic U-boat C.O., was considered by his fellow officers to have lost his boat through unfamiliarity with, and nervousness over, Mediterranean operational conditions.  It was emphasized that he had no confidence in the technique of daylight attacks at periscope depth, being accustomed to attack on the surface at night.  
          Prisoners were not unduly security conscious, and preliminary interrogation was aided materially by the competent handling of survivors by HMS "INCONSTANT", as well as the abnormally short interval between capture and interrogation.  
     
  II.  DETAILS OF U-409.  
     
          Type:  VCC C, 500-tons (unmodified)  
          Building yard:  Danzigerwerft, Danzig.  
          Armament:  
          a)  Guns:  One 88mm (3.46") forward  
                         One 20mm (.78") abaft bridge  
                         4 MGs (conventional demountable type)  
          b)  Torpedoes:  12 carried (no air torpedoes stored in upper deck containers after 4th patrol).  
                                  Torpedoes carried on last patrol probably all electric, "Curly" type not believed supplied.  
     
                                                                                                                       c)  Torpedo Tubes . . . . /  
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

   
  S E C R E T.                                                             -  2 -                                     C S D I C - A F H Q - N.10.  
     
        c)  Torpedo Tubes:  Four forward, one aft.  
                                       F.A.T. regulating device installed.  
          Diesels:  G.W.  
          Electric Motors:  Siemens-Schuckert (?)  
          G.S.R.:  Fitted.  Southern Cross type antenna.  No innovations.  
          Radar:  Not Fitted.  
          S.B.T.:  Fitted  (NOTE:  It is believed that, immediately prior to the attack which resulted in her destruction,  
                       U-409 used S.B.T. Cartridges with a "delayed action" element in approaching a desired target).  
          Hydrophones:  G.H.G. fitted (Rendered useless during final attack).  
                                 K.D.B. fitted originally, later removed.  
          Extensible Look-out Mast:  Not fitted.  
          Conning-Tower Device:  Light blue sawfish  
                                                (Insignia of 9th Flotilla, Brest.)  
          F.P.N.:  M 24443  
          FLotilla:  Formerly 9th at Brest (Under K.K. LEHMANN-WILLWNBROCK)  
                        Transferred to 29th at Toulon (under K.K. (Reserve, Von FREEDEN).  
     
  III.  SIXTH AND LAST WAR CRUISE.  
     
          U-409 left TOULON on June 29, 1943, in company with another U-boat.  She proceeded alone to an operational area off the Algerian coast, Northeast of ORAN.  
          On the night of July 4/5, a British vessel of estimated 5000 B.R.T. was attacked with one torpedo, and a hit scored.  U-409 was counter-attacked with 38 depth-charges and had no opportunity to observe the results of her attack, but those aboard doubted that the ship had been sunk (NOTE: s/s St. ESSYLT, 5000 B.R.T, in Eastbound convoy KMS-18 B, was sunk in position 36044'N, 01040' E, at 2114 on July 4, 1943.  This is unquestionably the ship torpedoed by U-409:  a notation in a captured document revealed that an electric torpedo was fired from Tube No. 1 on this date at 2047 hrs.)  This was U-409's sole success on her final patrol.  Such information as is now in hand indicates that she was heavily engaged during the afternoon of July 6 by two British Destroyers, which dropped about 100 depth-charges.  (NOTE:  HMS WYMBELL and HMS CYGNET, corvettes escorting Eastbound convoy KNF-18, sighted a U-boat on the surface at 3 miles in position 36046' N, 01023'E, and attacked with depth charges at 1325 on July 6, 1943.)  
          During the night of July 7/8, while U-409 was 15 miles North of ORAN, an electric torpedo was activated while still in the tube (Rohrläufer) and could not be discharged in the normal manner because of insufficient air pressure.  An explosive charge was set and successful ejection was effected.  
          On the night of July 9, U-409 crash-dived to avoid contact with enemy patrol vessels cruising in her operational area "with running lights reversed".  (NOTE:  No confirmation of this report has been received to date.)  
          On July 10, U-409 was ordered by radio to proceed to an operational area off Sicily.  It is believed that the U-boat proceeded Eastward in compliance with these orders, which were probably countermanded sometime before July 12.  The receipt of the original orders, and their subsequent amendment, accounts for U-409's position at the time of her sinking.  
     
                                                                                                                    IV.  Sinking . . . . /  
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

   
  S E C R E T.                                                             -  3 -                                     C S D I C - A F H Q - N.10.  
     
IV.  SINKING OF U-409.  
   
          At approximately 0730 on July 12, U-409 had maneuvered successfully at periscope depth into a position slightly ahead of EMPRESS OF RUSSIA and NE. HELLES, proceeding Westward, at 37017'N, 03055'E.  The U-boat had penetrated the escort screen and was in a favorable position to initiate an attack when intercepted by HMS INCONSTANT.  THe destroyer maintained virtually uninterrupted Asdic contact throughout the next 2-1/2 hrs, and dropped 46 depth-charges in the following patterns:  1 (50 ft); 10 (medium setting); 10 (medium setting); 10 (medium setting); 10 (500 ft); 5 (720 ft).  The U-boat took evasive action but maintained a fairly consistent North-West heading throughout.  Whereas the first three patterns did not damage the U-boat they were sufficiently accurate to establish in the minds of the crew the impression that they were being relentlessly hunted and that escape would be difficult.  This impression was heightened by a general belief aboard U-409 that the destroyer was equipped with some "new" device which revealed their depth as well as their bearing.  (NOTE:  The C.O. of INCONSTANT, a former submariner who had undergone extended depth-charge attacks in British submarines utilized his echo-sounding gear purely for its sonic effect within the U-boat.  This maneuver was highly successful in unnerving the "trapped" crew as the action developed.)  
          The third 10 charge pattern was accurately laid and effected extensive damage within the U-boat, rendering hydrophones and depth-gauges useless, putting the lighting and electric installations out of order and throwing one propeller shaft out of line.  MASSMANN now took his boat much deeper, and in the next 10 charge pattern, set to 500 ft., one charge apparently exploded just above and abaft the conning-tower, causing a serious water entry through the unreinforced and removable section of the pressure hull over the after battery compartment.  The U-boat immediately went down by the stern and trim was lost completely.  All tanks had to be blown in order to keep the boat from sinking and U-409 shot to the surface almost vertically.  No one could remain standing in the boat, the crew seizing anything within reach to prevent their being thrown about.  (NOTE:  The steepness of the angle is confirmed by the officers of INCONSTANT, who were amazed to see the U-boat break surface perpendicularly.)  U-409 settled slowly and leveled off but was still down by the stern.  The crew began to abandon ship in such haste that only a few men went into the water wearing life belts or rescue lungs.  Several ratings, apparently acting without orders, attempted to man the forward gun.  INCONSTANT opened fire and scored a direct hit, carrying away the gun and killing the crew.  Another hit with H.E. set the conning tower afire.  No further resistance occurred.  
          No radio message was sent advising the Admiral Commanding U-boats of the sinking, and no scuttling charges were set.  Battery acid had spilled, burning some of the crew, and chlorine gas is believed to have developed to some extent.  
          INCONSTANT manned a whaler and rescued survivors without delay.  
     
                                                                                                                    V.  Early . . . . /  
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

   
  S E C R E T.                                                             -  4 -                                     C S D I C - A F H Q - N.10.  
     
V.  EARLY HISTORY OF U-409.  
   
          It has not yet been determined when U-409 was laid down and launched.  She is believed to have been commissioned at Danzig in January, 1942, and to have had her trials delayed for several months through the severe ice conditions which immobilized U-boats in Baltic ports until spring.  Trials were carried out in May and June, 1942, and U-409 returned to the Danzigerwerft, Danzig, for overhaul before leaving KIEL on her first war cruise on August 18.  
     
          First War Cruise.  
                  Left Kiel August 18, 1942.  
                  Arrived Brest September 9, 1942.  
                  No successes.  
     
          Second War Cruise.  
                  Left Brest October 13, 1942.  
                  Arrived Brest November 5, 1942.  
                  Sank 14,000 tons.  
     
          Third War Cruise.  
                  Left Brest December 6, 1942.  
                  Arrived Brest January 7, 1943.  
                  No successes.  
     
          Fourth War Cruise.  
                  Left Brest February 14, 1943.  
                  Arrived Brest April 13, 1943.  
                  During this abnormally long Atlantic patrol, U-409 sank 3 ships totaling an estimated 21,000 tons.  
                  Two British Merchant Marine Officers were rescued from a lifeboat on the return voyage and taken to  
                  Brest for internment.  
     
 
        Fifth War Cruise.
  
 
                Left Brest May 26, 1943.
 
                  Arrived Toulon June 11, 1943.  
                  No successes.  
                  U-409 crossed the Bay of Biscay and proceeded directly into the Mediterranean, making the passage  
                  of the Straits of Gibraltar submerged.  It is believed that she was ordered to Toulon on June 6, having  
                  sunk nothing and undergone no air attacks.  Though the noise of depth-charges was heard constantly  
                  in the Mediterranean.  
     
                                                                                                                                 J.S.P./H.T.H.  
     
  Naval Section,  
  CSDIC - AFHQ.  
  16th July, 1943.  
     
  (NOTE:  The information contained in this report has been obtained fro Prisoner of war sources.  It should NOT therefore be accepted as fact, until confirmed from other sources.)  
     
     

 

 
 

   
  S E C R E T.                                                             -  5 -                                     C S D I C - A F H Q - N.10.  
     
VI.  CREW OF U-409.  
   
          a)  Survivors.  
 
Oberleutnant z. See MASSMANN Hanns Ferdinand
        "             (Ing) HAGER Hans
Leutnant z. See MADER Richard
Oberfähnrich z. See SCHURMANN Helmuth
     
Obersteuermann WAGNER Karl
Obermaschinist HILLEBRANDT Ernst
        " SCHNITZLER Peter
Mechanikersmaat POHL Günther
Maschinenmaat MARTENS Herbert
        " KELLER Willi
        " HILGNER Artur
        " HAZA Hans
Bootsmaat GÖDECKE Otto
        " ECKMARDT Wilhelm
Funkmaat ELSER Siegfried
        " JANETZKE Werner
Maschinenobergefreiter van den BERG Kurt
        " HAHNISCH Kurt
        " DAHM Johann
        " SCHMIDT Gerhardt
        " GAST Paul
Mechanikersobergefreiter LANGE Willi
Matrosenobergefreiter SCHMITZ Hans
        " KUSS Helmut
        " GLESE Horst
Mechanikersgefreiter MEYER Harmann
        " BURKERT Erwin
Maschinengefreiter BLUMEL Otto
        " SCHOKNECHT Gerhard
        " PETERS Willi
        " PIER Walter
        " KESSLER Helmut
Matrosengefreiter FREUNDLICH Eriels
        " KORSUS Gerhardt
        " MANDELKOW Lothar
        " RIEDEL Alfred
        " SCHMIDT Karl Heinz
Funkgefreiter GODRY Heinz
 
     
          b)  Casualties.  
 
Leutnant z. See JAUTSCHUS  
Bootsmaat+ SCHEIDHAUER  
Maschinenmaat TIMMER  
Matrosenobergefreiter DENGER (+ denotes - Died
        " RABUCH      aboard rescuing vessel.)
Funkgefreiter SANDMANN  
Maschinengefreiter KASTLAN (?)  
        " SALING (?)  
        " GARMISCH (?)  
Matrosengefreiter KOPPEL (?)  
        " MANN (?)  
 
     
                                           TOTAL Complement  :  49.  
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

   
  S E C R E T.                                                             -  6 -                                     C S D I C - A F H Q - N.10.  
     
Distribution  :
 
   
 
C-in-C Mediterranean 3
C-in-C Levant 1
D.N.I. 3
Captain (S) One 1
Captain (S) Eight 1
Captain (S) Ten 1
Comnavnaw 2
J.I.C.A. 4
S.O. (I)  Mediterranean 2
S.O. (I)  Levant 1
S.O. (I)  Malta 1
S.O. (I)  Gibraltar 1
S.O. (L)  Levant 1
AIR CSDIC  AFHQ 2
RAF Coastal Command 1
CDR AFHQ 1
RN CSDIC MEF 1
RN CSDIC Malta 1
File 2
 
     
 
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