Lt. Kuhn

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter	I.		INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
	II.		CREW OF U-598
	III.		EARLY HISTORY OF U-598
	IV.		FIRST PATROL OF U-598
	V.		SECOND PATROL OF U-598
	VI.		THIRD PATROL OF U-598
	VII.		FOURTH AND LAST PATROL OF U-598
	VIII.		SINKING OF U-598
	IX.		DETAILS OF U-598

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Chapter I.  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

        U-598, commanded by Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant) Gottfried Holtorf, was sunk on her fourth patrol 23 July 1943, in approximate position 04⁰35' S,  33⁰30' W. by two planes from Bombing Squadron 107.  The U-boat had reached her operational area the day before she was sunk.  The first attack inflicted severe damage, rendering her unable to dive.  The crew launched two rubber boats and attempted to abandon ship.  A second plane sank the U-boat while some of the crew were still below.  One rubber boat with six or seven men survived the sinking but drifted out of sight and has not been heard of since.  The second boat capsized and only two of the seven men aboard were rescued.

        The two survivors were picked up by USS Seneca and were landed at Recife.  One was the Executive Officer who was severely wounded.  He was hospitalized in Recife where he was interrogated.  He proved to be very security conscious and yielded no information.

        The other survivor, an engine room rating, was brought to the United States for questioning.  He is a Bavarian peasant whose security consciousness was surpassed only by his stupidity.

        This report is based on the vague and unwilling statements of this prisoner.

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Chapter II.  CREW OF U-598

COMMANDING OFFICER.

        No clear picture of the crew of U-598 could be obtained from the prisoner.  Presumably her complement was about 45.  Her captain was Kapitänleutnant Gotfried Holtorf of the 1935 naval term.  In 1937, Holtorf was attached to a mine sweeping flotilla at Cuxhaven as a midshipman.  In 1938, as Ensign, he was commanding officer of the mine sweeper R-21.  The following year he was advanced to Lieutenant (j.g.) and qualified as a blockade officer.  Holtorf was described by the prisoner as extremely cautions when under fire, and he was known as a " ' fraidy cat" (Angsthase).  He was held in very low esteem by the prisoner who regarded him as a most unpleasant character.

WATCH OFFICERS.

        The Executive Officer was Oberleutnant (Lieutenant (j.g.)) Heinrich Luschin of the October 1938 naval term.  He is a native of Austria and is 23 years of age.  Before joining the U-boat arm, he was a signal officer on the cruiser, Prinz Eugen.  Luschin is an ardent Nazi and is firmly convinced that Germany will win the war within two years.  He has a high regard for Hitler, dislikes Goering, and feels that Goebbels "has a big mouth".  The prisoner stated that the crew disliked Luschin whose methods, they regarded, as extremely high handed.  He spoke of how Luschin settled a personal grudge with one of the petty officers.  He falsely accused him of sleeping while on watch.  The man was court martialed and sentenced to six months imprisonment.

        The Second Watch Officer was Leutnant (Ensign) Eberhard Bender of the October 1940 naval term.  He joined U-598 before her third patrol, probably early March 1943.

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ENGINEER.

        The Engineer Officer, Oberleutnant (Ing.) (Lieutenant (j.g.) Engineering Duties Only) Hans Beyer was of the October 1937 naval term.  While a cadet in June 1938, he was trained aboard the Schleswig-Holstein.  He attained the rank of midshipman 1 April 1939 and 1 May 1940, he was promoted to Ensign.  He joined U-598 in October 1941, during her final phases of construction, and made all four patrols in her.  He seems to have been well regarded by the crew.

CREW.

        The prisoner spoke of the petty officers as being an unusually experienced group.  He stated that most of them had joined the navy between 1935 and 1938 and that they had many cruises to their credit.  Among these whom he mentioned with particular admiration were:  Quartermaster (Obersteuermann) Ludwig Drier; Coxswains (Bootsmaate) Breit, Flicke and Zimmermann; and Warrant machinist (Obermaschinist) Buchau.  Other engine room personnel mentioned were:  Fireman 1cl (Maschinenmaat) Gerhard Kiel, and Kriegs, Schinkle, and von Brem.  Seaman 1cl (Matrosenobergefreiter) Heinz Schulz was also mentioned.

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Chapter III.  EARLY HISTORY OF U-598

GENERAL.

        U-598 was a 500-ton U-boat, type VII-C, built at the Blom and Voss yard, Hamburg.  She was one of the series of U-boats, U-551 to U-623, assigned to this yard.

        It could not be learned when U-598 was laid down,  She was probably launched in September 1941.  By 2 October 1941, some of the engine room ratings came to the boat to stand by new construction.

OFFICERS.

        U-598 was commissioned on 27 November 1941.  Her captain was Holtorf; the Executive Officer was Leutnant von Brehm (O.N.I. Note:  This name does not appear in the German Naval List of 1940); the Second Watch Officer was Leutnant Knell (O.N.I. Note:  The only officer by this name in the German Naval List of 1940 is Oberleutnant Kell of the 1933 naval term.  It is highly unlikely that this is the officer in question); the Engineer Officer was Oberleutnant (Ing.) Beyer of the October 1937 naval term.

U.A.K.

        Early in December, U-598 sailed for Kiel for trials under the U-boat Acceptance Command (U.A.K.).  The trials lasted for about eight days during which the crew lived in barracks at Kiel-Wik.  It was stated that the U-boat did not enter the pressure dock but that, otherwise, the trials were the normal one.

FURTHER TRIALS.

        U-598 then sailed into the Baltic for further trials.  She proceeded

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full speed (A.K.) to Rönne where the under water sound tests were made.  She then sailed to Hela for trials under the Active Service Training Group (Agru-front).  These lasted for about eight days.  It was stated that Kapitänleutnant Gerhard Suhren was one of the officials who came on board while U-598 was at Hela.

        After completing these trials, U-598 sailed to Danzig where, toward the end of January 1942, she became frozen fast.  She remained frozen in until the end of March.  During this period the crew had leave in shifts.  Those who were not on leave were given guard duty.

        In April 1942, U-598 continued with her trials.  Torpedo firing exercises took place off Danzig.  It was stated that Holtorf showed more skill during the torpedo practice than he ever subsequently displayed while on patrol.  The tactical exercises followed the torpedo firing trials.  The usual attack practice on dummy convoys was carried out in company with other U-boats.  The prisoner stated that depth charges were exploded in order to accustom the crew to the noise and shock.

FINAL OVERHAUL.

        By the middle of May 1942, U-598 had finished her trials and returned to the Blohm and Voss yard at Hamburg where she underwent final overhaul (Restarbaiten).  This probably lasted over a month.  At this time the emergency salvage connections were welded closed.

        U-598 sailed for Kiel early in July 1942.  She lay at Tirpitz Mole for about six days, loading provisions and ammunition for her first war cruise.  Two midshipman joined the boat at this time.

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Chapter IV.  FIRST PATROL OF U-598

DEPARTURE.

        U-598 sailed from Kiel in mid July 1942 on her first patrol.  Two days later she put in at Kristiansand where she remained over night.  She then proceeded through the "Rosengarten" to her operational area in the mid-Atlantic.

ACTION.

        The prisoner stated that during the last ten days of August a 12,000 tanker was attacked and sunk.  (O.N.I. Note:  It is possible that this may have been SS Jack Carnes, a 10,907-ton tanker, sunk with six torpedoes on 30 August 1942 in position 45⁰35'N.,  29⁰05'W.)  It was probably after this attack that U-598 met a supply U-boat commanded by Korvettenkapitän der Reserve Wolfbauer.  (O.N.I. Note:  It is believed that Wolfbauer commands U-463.)

        Early in September, U-598 headed for her base at St. Nazaire.  On her way through the Bay of Biscay, she was attacked by an aircraft, but, according to the prisoner, no damage was sustained.  (O.N.I. Note:  This may have been the attack made on a U-boat 3 September 1942 in position 4642'N., 1108'W.)

RETURN.

        U-598 reached St. Nazaire early in September 1942 where she was attached to the 6th Flotilla.  According to the prisoner, she remained in port for about three months.  (O.N.I. Note:  The unusually long time in port may indicate U-598 sustained some damage from the aircraft attack, the prisoner's statements notwithstanding.)

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Chapter V.  SECOND PATROL OF U-598

FAILURE OF A MISSION.

        The second patrol of U-598 was relatively uneventful.  The U-boat sailed from St. Nazaire, probably during the second week of December 1942 and headed for her operational area in the North Atlantic.  After reaching her patrol position, U-598 received a signal from the Admiral-Connanding-U-boats ordering her to join a wolf-pack attack on a convoy.  She proceeded to the designated position but arrived too late to participate in the attack.  A badly crippled freighter was sighted, and it was observed that the crew of the merchantman had already abandoned her.  According to the prisoner, Holtorf, hoping to increase his tonnage record, signaled for permission to sink the freighter.  Permission was denied, and he was ordered to return at once to his base.

RETURN.

        After having been out about eight weeks, U-598 returned to St. Nazaire early in February 1943.  She remained in port about a month during which time half of the crew was given short leave.  During February the G.S.R. was installed.  The Executive Officer and the Second Watch Officer were replaced by Leutnant Luschin and Leutnant Bender.

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Chapter VI.  THIRD PATROL OF U-598

DEPARTURE.

        U-598 sailed from St. Nazaire early in March 1943 on her third patrol.  Her operational area was again in the North Atlantic.

ACTION.

        After being out a week or ten days, U-598 was ordered to join an attack group on an eastbound convoy.  The prisoner stated that several ships from this convoy were sunk by other U-boats but, although several torpedoes were fired by U-598 no hits were scored.  U-598 was attacked by the escorting vessels, which dropped about 50 depth charges.  The U-boat dived to about 130 meters and, without resorting to the use of her S.B.T., escaped without sustaining damage.

RETURN.

        U-598 returned to St. Nazaire early in May 1943.  She remained in port undergoing repairs for almost two months.  The 88 mm. deck gun was removed and an extension was made to the bandstand aft.  Two new 20 mm. anti-aircraft guns were mounted, one on the bandstand and one on the extension.  Three rubber boats were added to the equipment of the U-boat.

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Chapter VII.  FOURTH AND LAST PATROL OF U-598

DEPARTURE.

        The prisoner stated that U-598 sailed from St. Nazaire late in June 1943.  From other sources it was learned that the sailed 26 June 1943 in company with U-591 commanded by Oberleutnant Reimar Ziesmer of the April 1937 naval term, U-662 commanded by Oberleutnant Heinz Eberhardt Müller, and two other boats commanded respectively by Oberleutnant Hans Dietrich of the April 1937 term, and Kapitan Holtring of the 1933 naval term.  The four U-boats remained together for three or four days before separating.  While passing through the Bay of Biscay, the gyro compass of U-598 failed to function properly, but the crew succeeded in regulating it while under way.

        About 10 July 1943, U-598 met U-591 in approximate position 42⁰31'N,  12⁰W.  A third boat was present at the meeting, a 750-tonner, which was on her way to her base after having been on patrol for about three months.

OPERATION AREA.

        U-598 reached her operation area off the coast of Brazil on 22 July 1943.  Next morning, while cruising on the surface, her wake was sighted by a plane from Bombing Squadron 107.  The plane closed for attack.

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Chapter VIII.  SINKING OF U-598

ATTACKED.

        On 22 July 1943, planes from Bombing Squadron 107 sighted and attacked a U-boat in position 0415' S.,  3305' W.  The U-boat dived and no damage was claimed.  Planes remained in the vicinity on a hold-down patrol.  At about 0645 P, 23 July 1943, one of the planes sighted the wake of U-598 in position 04⁰33' S.,  33⁰30' W.  Shortly thereafter, the U-boat was seen fully surfaced on course 120⁰T, about six miles away.  The aircraft closed for attack, but in disengaging the bow guns, the selector switch was kicked into locked position, and the bombs failed to drop.  U-598 opened fire with her 20 mm. guns as the plane crossed over for a second run.  Not knowing the cause of the failure of the first attack, the pilot, on the second run, dropped in salvo, forgetting that the bombs were unarmed.  Bombs were observed hitting the deck of the U-boat and rolling off into the sea.  Fortunately two of them exploded, one under the stern and one about 30 feet aft.

ABANDON SHIP!

        The prisoner from U-598 stated that these explosions caused considerable damage.  The radio equipment was rendered useless, the Diesel engines failed, the diving planes jammed, and oil and fresh water tanks were broken open.  The plane circled above the U-boat for some time, signaling for reinforcements.  Then two more planes appeared, Holtorf, realizing that the situation was hopeless, gave the order to abandon ship.  The rubber boats were broken out and two of them launched.  The third was found to be damaged.  Six or seven men boarded each of the rubber boats and a few more

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succeeded in jumping into the sea before the second attack occurred.

SINKING.

        At 0828 P in position 04⁰35'S.,  33⁰30' W., one plane made a line attack with six bombs and 15 seconds later, the second plane attacked with six more bombs from abeam.  Probably because of the force of the explosion, the first plane fell into the water out of control and disappeared.  The U-boat sank rapidly.

        At the time of the sinking, about half of the crew of U-598 were trapped below deck.  One rubber boat was about 400 yards distant.  It drifted out of sight and has not been heard of since.  The second was close to U-598 and was sucked under with the U-boat.  Two of the men -- the Executive Officer and an engine room rating -- succeeded in remaining afloat.  They were in the water about 13 hours when they were sighted by a plane which dropped an inflated raft.  Shortly thereafter, they were sighted and rescued by USS Seneca.  The two survivors were landed at Recife.

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Chapter IX.  DETAILS OF U-598

TONNAGE.

        500 tons.

TYPE.

        VII-C.

BUILDING YARD.

        Blohm and Voss, Hamburg.

FLOTILLA.

        6th at St. Nazaire.

DIESEL ENGINES.

        G.W. (Germania Werft, Krupp).  Stated to develop an extreme emergency speed of 17 knots.

ELECTRIC MOTORS.

        A.E.G.  Stated to develop a maximum under water speed of 6 to 7 knots.

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upper deck containers were empty on this patrol.

ARMAMENT.

        Four torpedo tubes forward, one aft.  Two 20 mm. anti-aircraft guns were carried, one on the bandstand and one on the extension of the bandstand.  The 88 mm. deck gun had been removed before the last patrol, probably in June 1943.  Two machine guns were carried and were mounted on the bridge.

RUBBER BOATS.

        Three carried on the last patrol.  One was very small.

PATRON CITY.

        Freiburg i. B.

CONNING TOWER DEVICE.

        None.

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