U-47 - 3rd War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

Departed	Date	Arrived	Date	Days at Sea
Kiel	16 November 1939	Kiel	18 December 1939	33

 

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Ships Hit
Date	KTB Time	Position	Ship	Tons	Nationality	Convoy
5 Dec 39	14.40	50°48'N, 10°43'W	NAVASOTA	8,795	British	OB-46
6 Dec 39	20.29	49°29.5'N, 6°31'W	BRITTA	6,214	Norwegian
7 Dec 39	05.24	48°58'N, 5°01'W	TAJANDOEN	8,159	Netherlands
			Total = 23,168
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.

---

				Copy No._____
			K  r  i  e  g  s  t  a  g  e  b  u  c  h
			= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
				o f
			Unterseebootes    "  U  47  "
			= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
			Kommandant:    Kapitänleutnant    P  r  i  e  n
			Beginning:                22 October 1939
			Ending:                    18 December 1939.
			Enclosures:  (2. B.d.U. 3).
				Distribution:       " U-47 " Copy No. 1 7. U-Flottille - " - 2 B.d.U. Op. - " - 3 O.K.M. - " - 4
				© U-boat Archive 2024 - all rights reserved

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

	- 1 -
		22.10.39 -	Kiel, Tirpitz Mole	Torpedo offload, provisions offload, preparations for shipyard period.
		24.10.39
		24.10.39	Kiel, Germania Werft	Made fast in the shipyard, crew on leave in two shifts.
		25.10.39 etc
		01.11.39	Kiel Germania Werft large dock	Boat dry docked.  Overhaul work.
		02.11.39	and so forth up to
		08.11.39	Kiel, Germania Werft	Boat undocked.  Overhaul work continued.
		09.11.39	Kiel, Germania Werft	Overhaul work.
		10.11.39	The same and so forth up to
		13.11.39
		07.00	Kiel and Kiel Bay	Departed Germania Werft, oxygen loading in Kriegsmarine Werft.  Followed by Sea trial.
			East 3-4, clear, Sea 3
		12.30	Kiel, Tirpitz Mole	Torpedo loading.
		14.11.39	Kiel, Tirpitz Mole	Provisions loading and fitting out.
		15.11.39	Kiel, Tirpitz Mole	Boat is ready for war patrol, is missing only the combat pistols.
		16.11.39
		23.00	Kiel	Put to sea, still missing 8 combat pistols, are to be delivered in Brunsbüttel.
		23.40	Holtenau lock	Made fast.
		17.11.39
		00.04	Holtenau lock	Off.
		02.48	Nübbel	Pilot exchange.
		06.17	Brunsbüttel lock	Made fast.  Took over the remaining Pi A+B pistols.
		06.40	Brunsbüttel lock	Departed.  Transit through the Elbe.
			WNW 4-5, lightly cloudy

	Sun and Moon Data 16.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 17.11.39

	- 2 -
		17.11.39
		07.25	Cuxhaven	Passed.
		07.52	Elbe I buoy	Passed.  Course to the 50 meter place near Helgoland for deep diving test.
		11.00	AN 9566 center	Dived to 53 meters, no leaks.
		11.55	Helgoland bearing 0°T, 2.1 nm	Surfaced, on course 242° to Departure Route II, in accordance with Operations Order.
		12.53	Deutsche Bucht	Incoming Radio Message 1211/13:  "To U-47, Combat course shall be 0°, remain east of Helgoland."  F.d.U. West.
			AN 9567 upper-right
			NW 5, Sea 5, 5/10	Therefore on course 70° to return to Helgoland.
		13.11	[Point 2/3 (AN 9392) does not make sense probably a typo/dupe]	Incoming Radio Message 1223/17/14:  "To U-47, Due to U-boat danger near Norderney peacetime location outbound via via square 9535, then square 9392, then 9392, then square 9371 continuing on Route Blue 12.  B.d.U."  - Took the newly ordered outbound route.
		14.25	Helgoland Dune bearing 310°T, 2 nm	Course 350°.
		20.00	AN 9592	Course 273°.
			[possible typo may be Point 2/3 AN 9392]
		18.11.39
		01.30	AN 9371 [Point 4]	Course 343°, on Route Blue 12.
		04.46	AN 6635	Course 0°.
		07.11	NW 4, Sea 3, moderately cloudy	Dived at dawn, due to aircraft, remained for a long time.
		11.50	AN 6386 upper-center	Surfaced.
		12.20	S 2-3, slowly freshening, heavily cloudy, long NW-swell	Course 320°.
		16.10	AN 6322 center-right	Wind shifting clockwise.  Course 325°.
		20.00	AN 3752 lower-right	This moon!!!
		24.00	AN 3475 lower-center	Fairly active ship traffic in the direction of the Skagerrak.
		19.11.39
		04.00	AN 4662 lower-center edge	Course 320° to make for the Shetlands in accordance with Operations Order, paragraph 3 of the appendix.
			W 3, long swells
		07.30	AN 4688 upper-left	Test dive, dawn.  Due to steamers remained submerged until 09.41 hours.
			Heavily cloudy, Vis. good

	Sun and Moon Data 17.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 18.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 19.11.39

	- 3 -
		19.11.39
			Northern North Sea	After detailed study of the information and charts on the Bluenull Sound, I arrive at the decision to observe the surveillance and tidal current first, before possibly using the Sound for passage and to try and attack the aircraft carrier that mey be located there.  Speaking for such an operation:
			WNW 3-4, long N-swells, cloudy, Vis. very good
				a)  The strategic success to be expected (also insecurity in the Shetland Islands)
				b)  The tactical success (destruction of a floating airport).
				c)  The more than adequate depth of the shipping lane.
				Speaking against the operation.
				a)  Unawareness about surveillance and barriers
				b)  The current conditions (perhaps shooting from a boat drifting in the current at a target lying in the backwater)
				c)  The small size of the target (old ship, weak armament, low speed, no clear justification for the operation)
		14.10	AN 4238 upper-left	Course 320°.
		18.30	AN 2781 lower-center	Course 330°, because of the westerly set and freshening wind.
			NNW 6-7, moonshine
		20.11.39
		00.00	AN 2633 center-right
			NNW 7, Sea 6, moderately cloudy
		04.45	AN 2161 upper-left	Course 310°.  Coast in sight, closed on it.
			N 6, Vis. very good
		07.29	AN 2121 lower-left	.  The visibility from land forces me to submerge.  In the course of the day I try to observe the current and surveillance from a distance of 2 nm from the coast.  Result: moderate current, possible two-hour delay from the Sailing Manual, strength up to 3 knots.  Just offshore many steam trawlers.  Nothing seen In Bluemull Sound.
		12.00	AN 2111 lower-right	Offset to the west by the current, ran in once again.
			Long swell, flat sea, Wind strength 1-2, Vis. very good	After the results of observations I do no continue the hunt for "PEGASUS".
				The clocks set to M.G.Z.
		17.31	AN upper-left	Yell Sound seen about 14.00 hours.  Nothing seen except for a few steam trawlers.  From the weather conditions vessels
			Moonshine, W 3, freshening, long W-swell

	Sun and Moon Data 19.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 20.11.39

	- 4 -
		20.11.39
				are expected to lie in St. Magnus Bay (bay opens to the West).  Therefore continued transit on course 230°.
			Atlantic Ocean
		21.11.39
		00.00	AN 1199 lower-center	Course 230°.  A steamer observed, set navigation lights, illuminated flag.
			West of the Shetlands
			SW 4-5, Sea 3-4, moderately cloudy, Vis. good
		04.00	AN 1352 lower-left	Executed passing maneuver for neutrals.
		06.56 - 08.50		Dived.
		10.53	AM 3495 center	Crash dive for aircraft.  Remained submerged until 14.02 hours for passing fisherman.
			SW 6, rain showers
		14.02	AM 3497 center	Surfaced.  Course 245°.  Nothing going on here!
			SW 8, overcast
		14.40	AM 3623 upper-right corner	Incoming Radio Message 1125/21/42:  "To U-47.  As an enemy operation is expected, occupy attack positions:  U-35 square AN, U-47 square AM 36.  B.d.U."
			SW 8-9, Sea 7-8, overcast, Vis. good
				Came to course 190°, in the direction of the center of the North Minch.  Intention:  In square 3650 back and forth in direction SE-NW, to see both sides of the Herbrides.
		16.25	AM 3626 center-right	, to unload tube III in order to insert Pi A+B.  All Pistols set to Zone [number illegible].
			SW 9, freshening
		19.50	Overcast, Sea 8	In the process of surfacing heard weak propeller sounds bearing 20°.  In the periscope nothing is seen.  Surfaced.   At 400 to 500 meters ahead of the boat a destroyer runs at low speed, target angle 50°.  Of course the cloud cover has just broken.  Before a tube is ready, the destroyer has crossed my bow, range 200 meters, the boat does not turn because of the heavy sea.  Because the destroyer (bow left) suddenly also turns to port. - Crash dive!  Apparently the boat does not want to break through the surface.  Flooded.  Boat settles to 93 meters.  Destroyer departs, apparently he has not seen me. Boat sticks to the bottom.  Surfaced again.  Ran behind the destroyer without success.  At the north edge of the square came to reciprocal heading (200°).  In spite of 1 engine at LF took over so much water that under the present conditions proceeding is no longer safe, because no lookout is possible.
		20.01	AM 3627 lower-center
		20.02
		20.40
		22.30	SW 10, Sea 8, overcast, heavy squalls, moonshine when cloud deck is broken up

	Sun and Moon Data 20.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 21.11.39

	- 5 -
		21.11.39
		23.08		Therefore dived, put the boat on the bottom.  What bad luck!  Why at this particular time didn't I have a tube ready!
			North of North Minch	The arrangement of the periscopes this type of boat is not satisfactory.  The air search periscope must also be useable as a night periscope from the coning tower.  In this case, I could see nothing through the fixed position periscope because of its dimness, observation through the air search periscope was not possible because the boat could not be held at the appropriate depth.  As a result, I had to miss a sure shot and at the same time, ran the risk of surfacing almost in front of the bow of the destroyer.   Additionally, due to the work on the torpedoes I had still not flooded and made ready any tube.  And this must happen to me!
			AM 3600
			North of 58°30'N
		22.11.39
		09.11	AM 3634 center-left	Surfaced.  From 05.00 hours boat is off the bottom.
			WSW 5, overcast, squalls, Sea 4, long high swells
		09.58		Crash dive for aircraft, multiple surfacing and dives for aircraft and fishermen.
		17.58	AM 3619 center-right	Surfaced.  Running on the southern limit of the square.  Some steamers with lights, otherwise no traffic.  No incidents.
			Moonshine, lightly cloudy
		22.00	AM 3668 lower-left
		23.11.39
		00.13	AM 3659 lower-right corner	Dived for steam trawler "AGATHE" class, runs dimmed before me in the moonlight at low speed, attack is not worthwhile, perhaps later when I am leaving here.
		02.13		.
		03.10	AM 3658 upper-right	Observed a patrol vessel of type "KINGFISHER".  Does not approach to attack.
		07.04	AM 3664 upper-center	.  Cut across the North Minch submerged on course 300°.
			SSW 4, Sea 3, long swells, Vis. very good
		13.00 - 13.20	AM 3629 lower-center	.  Ventilated the boat.  Afterwards dived again.  Smoke feathers in the north turn out to be steam trawlers on getting closer.
			W 4, Sea 3, swells 5, lightly cloudy, rain squalls

	Sun and Moon Data 21.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 22.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 23.11.39

	- 6 -
		23.11.39
		13.42		Loud noises heard, in the periscope nothing is seen.  This is repeated several times, a hail squall turns out to be the sound source.
		17.36	AM 3625 center	.
			Moonshine, moonshine!!
		18.05	AM 3625 lower-left	A shadow in sight bearing 120°T.  Destroyer.  Initiated attack.  Illumination is changing greatly.  Dived as a destroyer slips into a squall wall.  Navigated by sound bearings.  Enemy picked up again in the forward periscope.  At range = 2000 meters, target angle 45° the enemy turned off hard to starboard and disappeared.  Apparently is was my friend from the day before yesterday.
			W 3, Sea 3, swell 5
		18.19	Changing cloudiness, changing visibility From 23.00 hours wind freshening and shifting to the NW
				For the remainder of the night on changing courses in the square back and forth in position.
		24.11.39
		05.34	AM 3638 center-left	, came to course 270°.
			NW 7, 9 in squalls, Sea 5, long high swell	In the course of the night sighted a lit steamer, nothing more.
		13.00 - 13.40	AM 3628 lower-left	, ventilated the boat, afterwards for aircraft.
			NW 6-5, abating, squalls, large swells
		17.56	NW 4, Sea 3, swell 4, lightly cloudy, Vis. very good, moonshine	.  On changing courses back and forth in position.  Nothing seen
		25.11.39
		01.30	AM 3628 lower-left corner	A patrol vessel observed in square AM 3651, closed.  It is an armed fishing trawler.  .
		01.40	NNW 3, confused swells,
		03.30	Cirrus cloud deck	Surfaced again.
		04.30	AM 3642 upper-right corner
			Wind shifting clockwise 1-2, rain

	Sun and Moon Data 23.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 24.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 25.11.39

	- 7 -
		25.11.39
		06.18	AM 3643 lower-left	Dived.  Continued back and forth in position in square AM 36.  Two steamers (neutral), several fishing trawlers sighted.
			SSE 2, rain, Vis. medium
		13.55 - 14.10	SSW 3, rain	Surfaced, ventilated the boat, a fisherman appears from a band of rain so .
		18.37	AM 3627 lower-left	.  Back and forth on various courses.  The destroyer is not on duty today, he is probably out there with his bombardment fleet.
			SW 4, overcast, Vis. good, rain showers
		26.11.39
		00.10	AM 3629 lower-center	Incoming Radio Message 2048/25/81:  "To U-35, U-47 from B.d.U. Operations area for U-35 northwest of Fair Island Passage.  U-47 occupy operations area between Pentland Firth and Solan Bank."
			SW 6, heavy rain showers, changing visibility, Sea 4, increasing
		00.12		Course 100°, 10 knots.  To be in new operations area at 02.00 hours.
		about 01.00	SW 8, freshening rapidly	Barometer 962 mb, continuing to fall!
		02.26	WSW 10, Sea 6, heavy rain downpours, Vis. bad	Dived in square AN 1544 due to weather conditions.
		03.30	AN 1541 lower-center	The high seas are still felt at depth 30 meters, went to depth 40 meters.
		08.40	AN 1542 lower-left corner	.  Boat literally sinks between the seas.  Navigating on the surface is unthinkable because the diesel bilge immediately fills.  Also, submerged attack can not be made because the boat either settles to 20 meters or appears on the surface.
			W 12, very high seas, Vis. 1500 meters, cloudy, rain downpours
		08.50		Dived again after ventilating the boat.  Put the boat on the bottom, but again rose from the bottom because the boat rolls in the current and rough sea at 84 meters and apparently also drifts, despite all measures taken, with negative buoyancy etc.  It continually bangs, crackles and crashes in the boat.
		16.57	AN 1541 upper-right	Surfaced.  After all attempts, switching to the very low frequency program time failed.  Battery charge, the Diesel bilges are full in the briefest period.  A man from the bridge watch almost goes overboard in spite of being strapped in.  After pumping the bilges shut down and .  The weather is more mad than during the March 1939 exercises.  Came
			W 12, phenomenally high seas, Vis 1000 - 1500 meters, cloudy, rain downpours, barometer 955 mb, tendency falling
		18.05

	Sun and Moon Data 25.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 26.11.39

	- 8 -
		26.11.39
				up several time in the course of the night, the weather remains the same, therefore, always went deep again.
		27.11.39
		05.09	AM 3663 upper-right corner	.  Because the position is not very good (soundings do not match) headed 180° toward the coast. Cape Wrath bears 120°T, 3 nm.
			NW 7-6, abating, Sea 6, confused swells, rain squalls, changing visibility
		06.39		Course 30°.
		06.45	West of the Orkneys	Incoming Radio Message 2207/26/99:  "To boats positioned north of England.  Operate on lee searching ships. U-31 lee coast of the Orkneys, U-35 lee coast of the Shetlands out of Lerwick Bay, U-47 operations area to the east of the Shetlands.  B.d.U."
		07.05	AM 3663 lower-center	Course 30° 14 knots.  At the beginning of dawn had to come to 12 knots, because so much water was taken over that lookouts were no longer safe.
			NW 6-5, long confused swells, dawn
		09.12		Sule Skerry bearing 90°T, 10 nm.
		10.15		Course 60°.
		11.00		Crash dive!  Destroyer ahead, Am ready to attack, however, does not approach.  At 12.25 hours the destroyer finally runs off.
		12.57	AN 1357 lower-right	.  Continued transit to Fair Isle Passage.
			NNW 5, swell 6-7
		18.20	AN 1417 center	Course change to 90°.
				Foula Island in sight, set off to the northeast.
		21.00 - 22.00	WNW 6-8, quickly abating	In the straits, going through the hole.
		21.35		Fair Island bearing 200°T, 12 nm.
		22.05		Incoming Radio Message 1834/27/54:  "To U-35, U-47, U-48.  Reconnaissance of squares from AN 21 to 23 right edge and back with advance of 10 knots:  U-35 northern third, U-47 middle third, U-48 southern third.  Use earlier attack opportunities at the Shetlands.  B.d.U."
		22.20	AN 2618 center	Course 30°, 12 knots.  Searched the coast.  Nothing doing.  A steamer with lights, otherwise nothing.  10 days at sea and no shots!
			W 9, heavy wind with accompaniments, Sea 6

	Sun and Moon Data 26.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 27.11.39

	- 9 -
		28.11.39
		01.03	AN 2184 lower-left
			SSW 10-11, heavy wind with accompaniments	Due to heavy rain and hail visibility is so bad that I dive.
		05.28	AN 2181 center-left	.  Course 40°, 12 knots to reconnaissance line.
		07.25	NW 10, Sea 8 etc.	Crash dive, destroyer.  With the bother no success.
		08.29	AN 2156 center	.  Heavy wind, Heavy wind and otherwise nothing.
		12.45	AN 2246 upper-right	Masts in sight bearing 120°T.
		12.49	NNW 10-9, Sea 8, changing cloudiness	Crash dive, the masts are remarkably long. Approached.  I identify it as a cruiser of type "London".  Initiated attack. Boat can hardly be held at HF, periscope continually cuts under, repeatedly worked with all hands.  I want to shoot a 3-fan by the boat's rotation. Estimated speed: 8 knots, target angle 80°, lead angle15°.
		13.34	AN 2254 lower-left	Range 800 meters.  Tube III shot with lead angle 19°.  Periscope cuts under and the boats rotation swings the aiming line swings behind the enemy's stern, Tube II not shot, I want to turn around quickly.   After 1 minute 26 seconds a detonation.  Periscope is undercut. When the periscope comes free, cruiser has passed by, turning to port.  I see the effect of the hit just at the after edge of the stack.  The upper deck is slightly buckled upward and torn.  The starboard torpedo tube set is heeled down to the stern over the side.  The aircraft has tipped to the stern on the catapult. Light black smoke at location of the hit.  Apparently some list to starboard (5°) later it is not observed any more.  Cruiser has come to a reciprocal heading and runs off, it disappears in a rain squall.
			λ 60°24'N
			φ  1°17'W
			Torpedo course 194°
		14.03		Surfaced, chased after.
		14.20		The cruiser is again in sight bearing 90°T.  Target angle 100°, bow left, low speed.  Closed on course 70°.  Dived, but he disappears again in the next rain squall.
		14.51	Northern North Sea	Surfaced.  Searched the area, no longer found.
				Torpedo settings:  depth 6 meters, gyro angle = 0°, zone 0, safety distance 200 meters.  However I doubt that with the rough sea the torpedo has held depth correctly and estimate it running at torpedo velocity = 26-25 knots.
				I estimate that the torpedo ran substantially deeper.

Sun and Moon Data 28.11.39

	- 10 -
		28.11.39
		15.45	AN 2255 center-right	Again in reconnaissance line, course 90°, 10 knots - according to depth sounding the position of the boat is to the southeast.
			WSW 8-9, Sea 8, rain squalls
		20.49	AN 2365 center-right	Dived to reload torpedoes.
		23.10		Several underwater detonations.  At 00.00 hours propeller sounds.  Nothing seen.  Detonations continue.  Surfaced.  Course 270°.
		29.11.39
		04.52	AN 2364 center-left edge	Shadows bearing 300°.  Closed.
		05.28	E 3, confused swells, moderately cloudy, moonshine, Vis. good	Shadows are recognized as 3 destroyers in line abreast formation, course about 50°, distance 1500 meters.  Radio message sent.  Attempt to run off on the surface, destroyers running zig zag course, general course 90°.
		06.40	AN 2394 lower-right	Destroyers out of sight.  Course 270°.
		08.54	AN 2376 center-right	Aircraft.  Dived.  08.57 hours 4 detonations follow close to the boat.  Propeller sounds in direction 70° relative bearing.  From 09.03 hours silent speed at depth 90 meters.
			SSE 3, long crisscross swells, Sea 1, cloudy
		09.47		4 depth charges in the general area.  Allowed the boat to settle to the bottom with stopped motors (depth 104 meters).
		10.30		3 further depth charges.  Gyrocompass switched off.
		11.41		4 depth charges, immediately after the gyrocompass was started.  Gyrocompass immediately secured.
		14.00	AN 2376 center	Gyrocompass tentatively started, because no further sounds are heard.
		16.18	SSE 4, Sea 2, cloudy, rain squalls	.  Course 280°, 10 knots.
		17.00	SW 4	Receive different outdated Radio Messages concerning the enemy's position.
				Came to course 0°.
		30.11.39
		00.20	AN 2164 center-right	Incoming Radio Message 2352/29/95:  "To U-47, U-48:  Continue transit into the Atlantic operations area.  B.d.U."
			SW 5-6, the mist starts again

	Sun and Moon Data 28.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 29.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 30.11.39

	- 11 -
		continued
		30.11.39	North of the Shetland Islands
		05.48	AF 7894 lower-right	.  Due to weather situation.  With this [illegible word + Kuhsturm = literally cow storm = severe wind storm] can not safely maintain a lookout.  In addition all binoculars on board are flooded.
			W 8, freshening, Sea 5,
		11.32	W 10, Sea 7	.  Course 315°, 7 knots.  Attempt to some degree to run against the sea.
		13.06	AF 7857 lower-right	This is not to be, therefore again.
		19.43	AF 7849 lower-left	.  A lot of water is still coming over, but nevertheless we must go on.  Course 235°.
		01.12.39
		01.00	AN 1215 lower-right	Course 230°.
			NW 5, Sea 4, crossed swells, Vis. good
		07.49	AN 1175 upper-right	.  Steamer bearing 280°T initiated [attack], 09.09 hours .  It is the Norwegian steamer "TRONDHEIM", course for Trondheim without calling at inspection harbor.
		14.36	AM 3429 center	due to fog.  16.26 - 16.31 hours , still fog.
		19.04		.  Course 230°, 10 knots.
		02.12.39
		00.00	AM 3396 center	At night headed for a steamer, because it was not a tanker and marked as a neutral, the steamer ran undisturbed.
			SW 4, Sea 3, cloudy, Vis. changing
		04.00	AM 3527 upper-right	A lot of water comes over.
			W 7, Sea 5, cloudy, Vis. good, West of the Herbrides
		07.26	AM 2666 lower-left	a steamer detected, again a neutral.
		08.41	WNW 6, Sea 5, cloudy, rain showers	.  Steamer was not halted due to darkness, now he is too far away.  Course 230° (had navigation lights set).
		10.00		Course 200°.
		10.50		St. Kilda bearing 167°T.

	Sun and Moon Data 30.11.39
	Sun and Moon Data 01.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 02.12.39

	- 12 -
		continued
		02.12.39
		16.00	AM 2856 lower-left corner	The barometer falls again.
			WNW 5, Sea 5, cloudy
		03.12.39
		00.00	AM 5138 lower-left corner	A lot of nasty water comes over.  This patrol takes place under the sign of rotten weather
			SW 6, freshening, Sea 5
		05.43	AM 5167 upper-left corner	Dived due to deteriorating visibility.
			SW 8, rain, Vis. bad
		08.44		.
		10.07	West of Ireland	.  Passenger steamer target angle 80° range 7000 meters in sight bearing 180°T.  No possibility of attack.  It can make a dog whine.
		10.42	AM 5183 center	.
		13.46 - 16.54	Heavy rain showers, very low visibility	due to weather situation.
				Fuel oil tank 2 inner leaks into the battery bilge.
		20.00	AM 5473 center
			SW 8, Sea 7, obscured squalls, passing showers, hail, lightening
		04.12.39
		00.00	AM 5711 center	Course 185°.
			SW 7, Sea 7, obscured squalls, passing showers, hail, lightening
		07.04	AM 8111 lower-left corner	.  It is the typical picture of the patrol. Wind storm with all cunning.
			W 10
		12.51	WNW 10, Sea 8, obscured squalls, passing showers, hail, lightening	.  Because, this weather condition must finally end,  I try again to remain on the surface.
		16.00	AM 8171 center-left edge
		20.00	AM 8119 lower-left edge
			NW 9

	Sun and Moon Data 02.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 03.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 04.12.39

	- 13 -
		05.12.39
		00.00	AM 8711 center-left edge	The present number of rubber gear and binoculars aboard are inadequate in number.  Each crew member who stands bridge watch has his own package, that makes with 1 reserve 14 packages per boat.  Now of 9 binoculars 5 are completely, the rest partly flooded.  Also this number of items must be raised to approximately 14 to 15 per boat, at least in seasons such as Autumn and Spring, so that one can always have approximately 6 in reserve.
			NW 10, Sea 8-9, rain squalls, cloudy, Vis. changing, summer lightening
		05.46	AM 8761 center	Gyro compass out of service.
			NW 10
		05.55 - 12.56		to repair the gyro.
		14.07	BF 1125 lower-right	Crash dive, a large camouflaged steamer in sight bearing 100°T.  The gyro is still out of service, the repeatersdon't follow.  The rudder box is taken from the control tower to the control room  The helmsman sits with the box behind the master compass.
			NW 7, Sea 8, lightly cloudy, Vis. good
		14.15		I make out 9 large steamers and 5 destroyers.  Running wild confused courses, large distances between them.  The attack initiated on the first steamer fails because the steamer zig zags to the south.  The boat turns on course 180°.  General course of the enemy is 260°, speed 12 to 15 knots.  Destroyer approaches to 700 meters astern, zig zags to the north.
		14.36		Steamer bearing 265°R, target angle 25 - 30° bow right, range 2000 meters, turned towards him with port ruder.  Passenger steamer 1000 - 12000 GRT and containing 100-200 passengers, 2 cannons on the stern.  Torpedo course 140°, diving depth 13.5 meters, target angle 55 - 60°, lead angle 17°, range = 2500 meters, depth 9 meters, zone 7, safety distance 200, tube I shot.  After 15 seconds detonation [Note:  150 seconds is probably intended torpedo firing report also says 15 seconds].  In the periscope observe impact or water column between the bridge and stack.  Ship is heavily buckled.  Went deep, destroyer running in.  After repeated random running back and forth, 2 destroyers making aiming speed from 42 and 136° and throw two well aimed depth charges.  The large control room manometer fails. Boat settles to " x + 53".  [possibly A +53 = 123 meters] By blowing main ballast tank III and GF the boat is held.  Ran off on course 95° (110° in the magnetic compass).  Isolated depth charges still fall.
		14.40	BF 1128
			φ = 50°48'N
			λ =  10°43'W
			Clarification signal could not be delivered because of weather condition

Sun and Moon Data 05.12.39

	- 14 -
		continued
		05.12.39
		18.30		Tube I reloaded at depth "x +10".  On the surface a bird [meaning one of the destroyers] can still be heard.  Forward gyro repeater does not work.  I cannot say whether the steamer has sunk because I was forced deep too early.  However, I assume so.
				It was peculiar that shortly before a destroyer over ran us, every time for about 1 minute a grating sound went through the boat, as if a net was pulled over the boat, or as if the boat lay with on the bottom with the current and was shuffled across the bottom.
		20.21	BF 1129 center	Surfaced after reloading tube I and outmaneuvering the escorts.   No damage in the boat in spite of the considerable shock by the depth charges.
			NW 6, Sea 7, cloudy, Vis. good
		06.12.39
		00.00	BF 1284 upper-center	Work continued on the gyro.  The repeaters do not turn.  The helmsman steers directly from the master quite poorly, because he sees the course changes incorrectly.  3 neutral are met during the night with which were not intercepted.
			NNW 5, Sea 6-5, Vis. good
		07.29	BF 1661 lower-center	, ran on easterly courses.  Nothing seen.  Further examination of the gyro compass without success.
			NNW 4, Sea 3, long swells
		17.00	BF 1666 upper-center	, Main ballast and reserve fuel oil tank IV flushed.  Radio Message sent:  "Position square BF 1666.  Gyro-compass failed.  Two days of repairs without success.  Fuel oil 70 cbm, 10 torpedoes.  Light neutral traffic.  Success:  1 steamer about 12000 GRT hit, sinking not observed due to depth charges."  In the meanwhile proceeded on course 105° in the Channel.
			N 2, Sea 1, NW-swell, Vis. good
		18.30	BF 2445	Shadow bearing 130°T.  Ran toward it.
		19.07	BF 2447	The shadow is identified as a patrol vessel, ran off to the east.
		19.58	BF 2473	Steamer in sight.  It is a Norwegian tanker.  In accordance with Radio Message Order 1948/23/43 and 42 of 23 November full use of weapons.
		20.29	BF 2449 lower-right corner	Attacked.  Target angle 100°, depth 8 meters, torpedo velocity = 40, range = 1000 meters.  Tube IV shot.  Running time 69 seconds.  Torpedo course 300°.  Hit aft 20 meters.  Dull detonation, high sheet of flame, then after about 2 minutes extinguished.  Steamer is broken
			φ = 49°29.5'N
			λ =   6°31'W

	Sun and Moon Data 05.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 06.12.39

	- 15 -
		continued
		06.12.39	West entrance of the Channel	and sinks slowly.  Size about 8-10000 GRT.  Course of the tanker about 240°.  At 2050 lights up the horizon two more times then nothing is seen.  No S.O.S. heard.  A steam trawler present nearby pays no attention.  It is not exactly beautiful, but: "C'est la guerre!".
			Wind calm, NW-swell, cloudy, Vis. medium
		22.30	BF 2495	Vessel with poorly set navigation lights in sight.  Turned towards.  I make hold the steamer of about 1000 GRT.
			E 1, sky obscured
		23.02		Shot from tube IV.  Missed, speed 8 knots is too high.  Passed forward.  After 7 minutes 10 seconds the G 7 a detonates at the end of the run.  New approach.
		23.14		Shot from tube III.  Depth 4 meters.  Running track is followed well by phosphorescence.  Torpedo runs under the target, without detonating.  I go approach to within 250 meters of the enemy and determine that I have overestimated the size, it is about 400 tons, therefore no success.  I let him go and proceed on course 105° in the Channel.
				I gave up the attack because I could get started well with artillery in these waters at this time, and this steamer has definitely not seen me.
		07.12.39
		05.00	BF 2821 center	Very lively westbound traffic (from the Channel), but all neutral.  I am running like a flying carpet from vessel to vessel.
			SE 2, cloudy, faint moonshine, Vis. good
		05.20	BF 2824	Holding onto a steamer.  It is a tanker, about 9000 GRT, Dutch.  Attack initiated.  General course 240°.
		05.24	BF 2819 upper-right	Shot from tube IV.  Depth 8 meters, zone 9, torpedo course 160, target angle 80°, speed 12 knots, hit center, running time 61 seconds, distance 1000 meters.  Same picture like last night.  Red fire light for approximately 2 minutes.  In the stern the lights go out.  No S.O.S. heard.  Ran off on northerly courses.
			φ = 48°58'N
			λ =   5°01'W
		05.52	Western Channel entrance	The tanker exploded internally.  Bright red fiery glow, thick smoke.  The fireworks continue to be seen.  At 06.58 hours we receive on λ 600 meters the following Radio Message:  "G L D from 1 B O V  At 06.30 GMT my estimated position is 49 02 N, 4 50 W, I see on the horizon bearing 26 T big fire alt, I go on master 1 BOV.  (1 BOV is Italian steamer "GIORGIC OHLSEN").  A Belgian who I have already seen before has also taken the course of the tanker.  It is typical

	Sun and Moon Data 06.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 07.12.39

	- 16 -
		continued
		07.12.39
				of how badly the merchant ships pay attention that the hit explosion is not noted again immediately.
		06.35	BF 2579 center	Dived and put the boat on the bottom.  Rest for the crew.  Fiery glow is still seen.
			SSE 2, cloudy, Vis. good
		17.22	SSW 4, freshening, Sea 3, Vis. medium, overcast	Surfaced.  Course 90°.  Main ballast and reserve fuel oil tank II flushed.
		20.00	BF 2589 center-right	Course 55°.  It is noteworthy that today no traffic is observed.   Apparently the outbound flow was dammed as a result of the bad weather and collected yesterday, or the export blockade became apparent.
		08.12.39
		00.24 - 00.57	English Channel by the Channel Islands	Light in sight, approached, 2 fishermen.  Came to old course.
			BF 2646 lower-right
			SSW 5, freshening, overcast, rain, Sea 4, Vis. medium to moderate,
		01.27		Incoming Radio Message 0755/7/89:  "To U-47, U-48, from B.d.U.:  English convoy located on 4 December at 20.00 hours in square BD 2990 easterly course."
				Turned. Course 275°.  Perhaps the convoy comes to me.
		06.13	BF 2552 lower-right	Light in sight.  Ran after.  Incoming Neutral.  High speed, can not hold on at AK, target angle 150°.  Turned away, because still 2 fishermen emerge and the operation is hopeless.
		06.56	BF 2561 lower-left	.  Dawn.  Course 230°.
				In the Channel from 00.30 hours a searchlight barrier is observed, apparently running from Start Point to Casquets and is formed from approximately 8 to 10 vessels.  It lights up irregularly, both in time and method, i.e. sometimes all shine almost at the same time, other times in the form of "rolling salvos" or independently.
		11.00	SSW 6, rain shower, Vis. very bad, Sea 5, overcast	Sounding and 4 minutes later several distant depth charges come.  (observed previously)
		12.59 - 13.18	BF 2554 upper-right	, Boat ventilated, shot navigation fix, afterwards because of flyer weather.  Oil trace, therefore pumped regulating and reserve fuel oil to internal fuel tank II.
			SW 6, Vis. good, moderately cloudy, Sea 5

	Sun and Moon Data 07.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 08.12.39

	- 17 -
		continued
		08.12.39
		17.34	SW 4, cloudy, Sea 3, Vis. good	continued on southwesterly courses, There is absolute traffic stillness, I meet no vessels, although the weather conditions are as good as in the evening of 6 December.
		20.58	West English Channel entrance	Green light in sight, with the low wind shifts astonishingly quickly and suddenly disappears completely. In spite of pursuit no clarification, apparently a patrol vessel.
			BF 2811
		23.25	BF 2761 upper-right corner
			WSW 2, Vis. medium, cloudy	Shadow in sight.  Patrol vessel, apparently the friend from just now on a reciprocal heading.  Avoided, because too shabby for torpedo shot.
		09.12.39
				The leak in internal fuel tank II is heavier.  The daily loss of fuel oil amounts to about 0.5 cbm.  The air in the boat while submerged is thereby little bit worse than usual.  I do not know for sure whether the fuel is harmful to the battery. Certainly, however, with an empty bunker pumping the water in the battery bilge afterwards is not very pleasant.   To me as well, but I will not abort.
			West of Quessant	I believe the experience that hit tankers that burn with bright red flames immediately after the hit is very important during night attacks on convoys.  This means a dive for the attacker before the hit is observed because, otherwise, the boat contrasts as a silhouette well against the tanker.  I regard the effect of every torpedo that hits beneath a tanker as definitely fatal.
		03.26	BF 2745 upper-center	due to weather conditions.  Steering with the unit behind the master gyro compass is gradually improving.
			WSW 3, Sea 3, cloudy, fog
		09.00 - 09.12	BF 2744 upper-center	to ventilate the boat.  Still fog and once again 2 days without a shot.
		10.30 - 11.30	BF 1966 upper-right	Sound bearing ahead a piston engine, however nothing seen.  Fog.
		17.08	BF 1964 upper-left	.  Ran on westerly courses intending to cruise the southerly convoy route.  Without success.
			W 4, Sea 4, cloudy, Vis. medium
		23.00	BF 1839 center	Course 30°.

	Sun and Moon Data 08.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 09.12.39

	- 18 -
		10.12.39
		00.15	BF 1911 center	Light in sight, closed, it's a fisherman.
			W 5, Sea 4, clear, Vis. good
		07.09	BF 1682 center	without having found anything.  From 09.30 - 14.30 hours 4 - 6 depth charges hourly, at times closer at times far off. No sound bearings and nothing to see.  Do we have an oil trace again and are airmen trying to pelt us?
			NW 5, Sea 4, lightly cloudy, Vis. very good
			Western English Channel outlet
		17.29	BF 1683 lower-left corner	.   On SE-course passed across toward Quessant.
		21.25	BF 2717 center	Shadow in sight bearing 90°T.  Probably a destroyer or a large torpedo boat.  Tube I ready.
		21.37	BF 2717 center-right	Shot tube I.  Depth 4 meters, target angle 80°, speed 12 knots, range = 1000 meters.  Enemy bow right, torpedo course 124°.  Missed.  Destroyer turned away about 30° and increased speed, supposes that he heard the torpedo and it ran behind.  Perhaps the enemy's speed was over estimated.
		11.12.39
		00.00	BF 2758 lower-left corner	Light in sight bearing 50°T.  First identified as a fisherman and therefore turned away again. Suddenly the steamer set navigation lights.   Came about, caught up, enemy course 20°, matched speed, 7 knots.  The steamer had slowed and extinguished his running lights again.
		00.24		Tube V shot.  Target angle 90°, speed 11 knots, range = 700 meters, bow right, depth 6 meters, missed.  Torpedo course 304.  Came about, steamed along, enemy course 20°, speed 7 knots.  The steamer has decreased speed and has extinguished the lights again. There still appear 2 steamers which stand apart lying athwart the wind and moving back and forth with little speed.
		00.55	BF 2758 center	New approach, shot tube II.  Target angle 100° bow right, range = 500 meters, speed 7 knots, torpedo course 308°, depth 5 meters, missed.
			NNW 6, Sea 5, rough sea and swell, rain squalls
		01.26		New approach from windward.  Tube IV shot.  Target angle 100, bow left, range 400 meters, speed 5 knots (steamed), torpedo course 60°, enemy course now 0° (recognized), depth 4 meters, missed.
				The steamer is about 3 to 4000 GRT.  No neutral markings, also this peculiar behavior.  Meanwhile, 5 steamers are gathered here.   Apparent a convoy is assembling here.
				Because no further tubes are ready, came to a quiet course in order to reload.  Meanwhile, the steamers disappear in a rain squall.

	Sun and Moon Data 10.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 11.12.39

	- 19 -
		continued
		11.12.39
		02.15	BF 2781	Pursued, at the same time chased a new steamer.  An American.  Let him go, the attacked steamer is gone. Ran into another Dane.  Finally, I set off 270° from the coast.
		06.27	BF 1993	.  Im sick thinking about these torpedoes.  During the morning depth charges fall again in the vicinity.  At 14.00 hours a neutral on outbound course.   On the horizon a destroyer. Could this be a U-boat trap?   I have not surfaced as a precaution, did not shoot because only destroyers are in sight, the steamer had target angle 140° and was previously recognized as a neutral.
			NNW 6, confused  sea, rain squalls, cloudy
		17.10	BF 1983	Surfaced course 90°.
			NNW 4, Sea 3, cloudy
		18.25		Light in sight.  Toward!  Steamer is without markings.  Attack initiated.  Speed by steaming 10 knots, course of the steamer:  205°.  Size about 3000 GRT.
		18.53		Shot tube V.  Depth 6 meters, target angle 70°, bow right, range = 500 meters, speed 10 knots, depth 4 meters, torpedo course 121°.  Missed.
		19.05		New approach.  Shot tube III.  Speed again 10 knots by matching speed, target angle 80°, speed 10, range = 300 meters, depth 4 meters, torpedo course 112°.  Missed.  And one shouldn't be angry!  In the future I renounce these rotten Etos.
		20.15		Begin homeward journey.
		20.50	BF 1989 lower-center edge	315°.
			NNW 3, swells, cloudy
		12.12.39
		04.00	BF 1589 lower-center edge
		07.13	BF 1545 center	.  Below decks prepared for torpedo transfer.
			W 1, rough sea, overcast
		08.29		to transfer forward overdeck torpedo.
		11.20	BF 1541	Met U-48.
		14.20	BF 1435	After overdeck torpedo transferred.
			S 2, Sea 1, overcast

	Sun and Moon Data 11.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 12.12.39

	- 20 -
		continued
		12.12.39
		16.32	BF 1189 center	Steamer bearing 60°T.  .
		17.44		, attack continued on the surface.  Steamer is about 4000 GRT, running at 9 knots and up to now has steered along the coast.  About 1830 he changes course to 175 - 180°.
		18.00	BF 1186 upper-center	Steamed exactly on enemy course and speed and initiated a textbook stern approach.  The western horizon is dark so initiated attack from the SW.
			S 2, overcast
		18.56	BF 1185 center-left edge	Shot tube V.  Enemy bow right, target angle 70°, speed 9 knots, depth 3 meters (old Combat Pi A), impact initiation, torpedo course 79°.  Missed, range = 800 meters.
				New approach.  And even though the charge might explode in my face, I run closer.
		19.28	BF 1188 upper-center edge	Shoot tube I.  Bow right, target angle 80°, speed 9 knots, depth 4 meters, range = 450 meters, torpedo course 96°.
			S 2, W-swell, overcast
			SW of Ireland	Missed, missed!!  Apparently it hit the enemy [without exploding], because on the dimmed ship a lamp appears midships and shines down on the side of the hull.  Disappointed, the crew packs the TUZA and we continue the return transit.  I do not understand any more.
		13.12.39
		00.00	BF 1114 center-left edge	Course 0°.
		07.30	AM 8471 center-left edge	.                                      West of Ireland
		08.42	SW 3, freshening, overcast	.                                   on the return transit
		14.30	AM 8117 upper-left corner	Course 15°.  Boat passes a small [low pressure] trough.
			WSW 5, rain showers, overcast, Vis. medium
		20.00	AM 5719 center
			NW 5-6, overcast, Vis. medium
		14.12.39
		00.00	AM 5458 center-left
			NW 5, brightening

	Sun and Moon Data 12.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 13.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 14.12.39

	- 21 -
		continued
		14.12.39
		04.00		Change of course to 30°.  I want to try to go during the night of the 15/16th through the Fair Passage in suitable weather conditions, thereby taking the shortest route.
		07.42 - 08.33	AM 5162 lower-right	for test dive and due to morning twilight.
		16.00	AM 0237 center
			NNW 4, swell 3, cloudy
		19.10	St. Kilda bearing 300°T, 8 nm	Course 45°.
		22.40	Flannan Islands bearing 315°T, 6 nm	The Flannan lighthouse burns the entire night.
		15.12.39
		01.30	AM 3644 center	Course 60°.
			NNE 1-2, cloudy, rain showers
		07.25	AN 1374 lower-center	08.36 - 08.46 hours , while blowing an aircraft so   immediately again.  During the course of the day a destroyer came, depth charges and patrol vessels, so remained submerged up to 15.43 hours.
			NNE 2, lightly cloudy, Vis. medium
		15.53	AN 1376 center-left	.  Clocks set to M.E.Z.
			S 5, Sea 3, lightly cloudy
		18.45	AN 1363 upper-left corner	Course 90°.  The course around the Shetlands prescribed by the Operations Order has lost its intention due to the lack of torpedoes.
		16.12.39
		01.00	AN 2642 upper-center	Course 130°.  The lighthouses at Sumburg Head and Skroo were switched on from 01.00 - 01.30 hours.
			S 5, Sea 4, changing cloudiness, Vis. good
		08.23	AN 4246 lower-center	.
			S 3, Sea 1, Vis. good
		10.05		.  From 13.10 - 13.48 hours dived for an aircraft.

	Sun and Moon Data 14.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 15.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 16.12.39

	- 22 -
		continued
		16.12.39
		18.00	AN 4683 center
			Wind calm, cloudy
		23.50	AN 3794 lower-center	Ran on course 140°.  Route Blue 1.
		17.12.39
		00.00	E 3, freshening, Vis. very good	Return transit on Route Blue 1.
				In the course of the morning dove every half-hour to listen for reported English submarines.
		13.10	E 5-6, lightly cloudy	At Norderney met the 10-meter line and proceed close offshore to the Elbe in accordance with Radio Message orders.
		16.55	E 5, lightly cloudy	Passed Elbe 1 buoy.
		19.28	Brunsbüttel Locks	Made fast
				Canal journey to Kiel.
		18.12.39
		04.15	Kiel	Made fast.

	Sun and Moon Data 16.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 17.12.39
	Sun and Moon Data 18.12.39

	Enclosures to U-47's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document
ChartA	Track chart covering entire war patrol                16 November to 18 December1939
ChartB	Track chart covering the period 22 - 26 November 1939
Torpedo	Torpedo Firing Reports
Radio	Excerpt of Radio Log

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