U-601 - 1st War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

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Ships Hit
Date	KTB Time	Position	Ship	Tons	Nationality	Convoy
1 Aug 42	00.12	71°21'N, 51°30'W	KREST´JANIN	2,513	Soviet Union
			Total = 2,513
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  6  0  1  "
			Kommandant:	Kapitänleutnant    G  r  a  u  .
				Beginning:    18.12.41.
				Ending   :      3.7.42.
				© U-boat Archive 2024 - all rights reserved

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

	- 1 -
		18.12.41	Hamburg Blohm & Voß	Commissioning U-601  10.00 hours.
		18. - 27.12.41	Hamburg	Training cruise on the Elbe
				Christmas.
		27. - 28.12.41		Transit to Kiel.
		29. - 31.12.41	Kiel	U.A.K. testing in Kiel.
		01. - 14.01.42	Kiel	U.A.K. testing in Kiel.
		14.01.42		Transit to Rönne.
		15. - 16.01.42	Haßle	Testing U.A.G. Schall  [acoustic trials]
		16. - 18.01.42		Transit to Danzig.
		19. - 23.01.42	Danzig	Testing U.A.G. 1.
		24. - 31.01.42	Danzig	Tied up in Danzig due to ice conditions.
		01. - 15.02.42	Danzig	Tied up in Danzig due to ice conditions.
		16. - 28.02.42	Danzig	Tied up in Danzig due to ice conditions.

	- 2 -
		01. - 15.03.42	Danzig	Tied up in Danzig due to ice conditions.
		16. - 31.03.42	Danzig	Tied up in Danzig due to ice conditions.
		01. - 02.04.42	Danzig Bay	Training cruise, independent training.
		03. - 06.04.42	Danzig	Tied up in Danzig due to ice conditions.
		07.04.42		Transit to Gotenhafen.
		07. - 14.04.42	Gotenhafen	T.E.K. Gotenhafen.
		15.04.42		Transit to Hela.
		15.04. - 02.05.42	Hela	Agru-Front.
		02.05.42		Transit to Pillau.
		03.05.42	Pillau	Artillery shooting phase with the 26. U.-Flottille.
		04. - 10.05.42	Pillau	1st part of torpedo phase with the 26. U.-Flottille.
		10.05.42		Transit to Gotenhafen.
		10. - 20.05.42		Tactical training with the 27. U.-Flottille.
		20.05.42		Transit to Pillau.

	- 3 -
		21. - 22.05.42	Pillau	2nd part of torpedo shooting phase with the 26. U.-Flottille.
		23. - 25.05.42		Transit to Hamburg.
		26. - 31.05.42	Hamburg	Final adjustments and overhaul Blohm & Voß.
		01. - 15.06.42	Hamburg	Final adjustments and overhaul Blohm & Voß.
		16. - 28.06.42	Hamburg	Final adjustments and overhaul Blohm & Voß.
		28. - 30.06.42	Hamburg	Outfitted the boat.
		01.07.42		Transit to Kiel.
		02. - 03.07.42	Kiel	Radio Direction Finder calibration,
				degaussing and outfitted the boat.

			K  R  I  E  G  S  T  A  G  E  B  U  C  H
				"  U  601  "
			Kommandant:    Kapitänleutnant    G  r  a  u  .
				Beginning:    4.7.1942.
				Ending    :    3.8.1942.

	- 1 -
		04.07.42
		09.00		Cast off from the Scharnhorst Pier.  Put to sea for the first operation.  Chopped from the 5. U.-Flottille to the 11. U.-Flottille.
		12.35	AO 7498	Convoy intake U-454, U-601, U-43 by Sperrbrecher 13.
			Wind calm, Sea 0, 3/10, Vis. 15 nm
		29.52		Escort change to Vorpostenboot 0909 at schwarz 01.
				Day's run:  125.0 nm Surfaced
		05.07.42
		16.00	Route rot and schwarz	Transit to Kristiansand,
				made fast in Kristiansand.
				Day's run:  220.0 nm Surfaced
		06.07.42
		04.00	Kristiansand	Cast off.
		04.25		Escort by Vorpostenboot "SEEBÄR" to Bergen.
		04.25		Test dive.
		04.45		Surfaced.
		21.45		Made fast in Marineholm.
				Day's run:  240.0 nm Surfaced
				1.0 nm Submerged
		07.07.42	Bergen	Supply of fuel oil and provisions.
		08.07.42	Bergen
		15.05		Put to sea.
				Orders:  Proceed to Narvik at a distance of 50 nm from the coast.  36 hours before arrival in Vestfjord report by Radio Message.
		15.12	AN 2464	Test dive.  Deep dive to depth A +40 meters.
		16.36		Surfaced.
		19.15	AN 2423	Disembarked the pilot.  Released escort.
				Day's run:  27.0 nm Surfaced, 3 nm Submerged

	Sun and Moon Data 04.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 05.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 06.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 08.07.42

	- 2 -
		09.07.42
		03.20	AT 7923	Drifting mine.
			SSE 1, Sea 1, light Swell, 0/10, Vis. 6-8 nm
		04.50	AF 7691	Drifting mine.
		15.00	AF 5849	Drifting mine.
			SSE 1, Sea 1, light cross Swell, 0/10, Vis. 4-6 nm
		17.24	AF 5852	Crash dive for aircraft.
			N 3, Sea 1, light Swell, 4/10, Vis. 3-12 nm
		17.52		Surfaced.
		19.50		Drifting mine.
		22.05		Drifting mine.
				Day's run:  240.0 nm Surfaced
				1.5 nm Submerged
		10.07.42
		01.32	AF 5358	Crash dive for aircraft (course about 100°).
			NNE 2-3, Sea 1-2, 0/10, Vis. 8-10 nm
		01.56		Surfaced.
		02.15	AF 5361	Aircraft (course about 80°).
		05.45		Crash dive for aircraft (course about 315°).
		06.00		Surfaced.
		17.30	AF 3556	Convoy intake for Narvik.
				It turned out the sighted aircraft were probably English air reconnaissance of the Norwegian coast.
				Day's run:  311.0 nm Surfaced
				1.0 nm Submerged
		11. - 14.07.42	U-boat Base Narvik
			"STELLA POLLARIS"	Waiting station.  Supply.
		14.07.42
		15.00	Narvik	Cast off "TANGA".  Escorted to square AB 9864.
				Orders:  U-boat hunt in square AC 71 - 72 - 73.
		18.00		Test dive.
		18.30		Surfaced.
				Day's run:  62 nm Surfaced, 1.5 nm Submerged

	Sun and Moon Data 09.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 10.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 14.07.42

	- 3 -
		15.07.42
		01.20	AB 9864
			NE 2-3. Sea 2, 0/10, Vis. 6 nm	Released escort.  Transit into U-boat hunting area.
		04.45	AB 9598	Drifting mine.
			NNE 2, Sea 1, 10/10, Vis. 10-12 nm
		08.15		Drifting mine.
		20.16		Test dive, failures for training.
		21.13		Surfaced.
				Day's run:  180.0 nm Surfaced
				3.0 nm Submerged
		16.07.42	U-boat hunting area
			NE 1, Sea 0, light NE Swell, 10/10, Vis. 12 nm	Drifting wreckage (Tropical shelters, wooden parts, rafts, drifting fishing gear.)
		20.11		Test dive.
		20.37		Surfaced.
				Day's run:  310.0 nm Surfaced
				1.5 nm Submerged
		17.07.42
		20.43	AC 7135	Smoke feather bearing 140°T, closed it.
			ESE 4, Sea 3, 10/10, Vis. 10-20 nm
		21.00		Land in sight.
				Assumption:  Own vessel on coastal convoy route.
		23.31		Test dive, training.
		24.00		Surfaced.
				Day's run:  320.0 nm Surfaced
				1.5 nm Submerged
		18.07.42
		00.30	AC 7212	Drifting U M A in the water a short time.
			SE 2-3, Sea 2, 4/10, Vis. 12 nm
		19.42		Test dive
		19.58		Surfaced.
				Day's run:  190.0 nm Surfaced
				2.7 nm Submerged

	Sun and Moon Data 15.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 16.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 17.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 18.07.42

	- 4 -
		19.07.42
		07.00	AC 4872	Drifting mine
			NW 1, Sea 1, overcast, fog, Vis. 1-5 nm
				On various courses without success, searched for the enemy U-boat that had been reported several times before by other boats.  Visibility was mostly good, and I could oversee the entire area.  In my opinion the enemy is no longer in this area.
		11.50		Radio Message from Admiral Nordmeer:
				1.)  As attack area occupy square 4290, 4370, 4530, 4610 all Anton Toni.
				2.)  Task:  Surveillance of the "Matochkin Shar Strait"
				There Luftwaffe reported 4 steamer, 3 patrol vessels intending to pass through.  Further traffic and coastal traffic is expected.  Expect air surveillance by "Consolidated".
				3.)  Arrival at Kirkenes is no longer required.
			AC 8158	Transit into attack area.
				Day's run:  264.0 nm Surfaced
				2.3 nm Submerged
		20.07.42
			AC 5060	Transit into attack area.
			AC 58, 59, 67, 68, 69, 47
		16.43	AC 6847	Test dive, training.
			NE 2, Sea 1, 0/10, Vis. 4-12 nm
		17.05		Surfaced.
				Day's run:  215.0 nm Surfaced
				2.5 nm Submerged
		21.07.42
			AC 44, 45, 46	Transit into attack area.
			NE 3, Sea 3, 2/10, Vis. 12 nm	On changing courses off the "Matochkin Shar Strait".  Coastal area viewed from a distance.
		17.50	AT 2613  [AT 4613]	Dived to run into the Matochkin Shar Strait
				Except for a signal station nothing of importance determined.

	Sun and Moon Data 19.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 20.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 21.07.42

	- 5 -
		continued
		21.07.42
		22.53	AT 4615	Surfaced.
			N 1, Sea 0, 3/10, 10-12 nm
		23.56		Crash dive for aircraft, to remain unseen.  Probably a "Consolidated", long range.
				Day's run:  210.0 nm Surfaced
				0.5 nm Submerged
		22.07.42
		00.12	AT 4530	Surfaced.
			NE 2, Sea 1, 8/10, Vis. 10 nm	Back and forth on changing courses.  Range from the coast according to visibility.
				Day's run:  224.0 nm Surfaced
				23.0 nm Submerged
		23.07.42
		06.11	AT 4530	Aircraft flew by on southerly course.
				Range about 5 nm.
		16.45	AT 4530	Test dive.  Put the boat on the bottom in depth A -24 meters to use the listening gear due to visibility deterioration.
			Sea 1, medium N-Swell, overcast, fog, Vis. 2-10 nm
		21.59		Surfaced.
		22.37		Submerged due to visibility reduction.
				Day's run:  198.0 nm Surfaced
				6.0 nm Submerged
		24.07.42
		02.45	AT 4530	Surfaced.
		13.20		Radio Message:  Attack area expanded [to the south] up to 71°N operate in the coastal area according to defense.  Luftwaffe found individual steamers lying under land several times in the area of square AT 4830 and 7230.
		18.03		Dived.  Ran towards the "Malyye Karmakuly" settlement submerged.  Explored the channel:  One coastal sailing vessel 30-40 tons.  Radio station.  In order to remain unnoticed and so that the steamers reported by the Luftwaffe are not

	Sun and Moon Data 21.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 22.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 23.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 24.07.42

	- 6 -
		continued
		24.07.42		warned by the radio station, left the port again.
				Intention:  Destroy the sailing vessel and the radio station on the return transit.
		20.00		Surfaced.  Moved off under the cover of the Islands.
				Day's run:  180 nm Surfaced
				8 nm Submerged
		25.07.42
			AT 7220
			SSE 1, Sea 0, overcast, at times mist, Vis. 3-10 nm
		04.56	AT 7237 center-right edge	Dived.  Ran in on changing course into the Belush'ya Bay.  Because there were no steamers there, departed unnoticed submerged. Samoyedic settlement consisted of about 10 houses and primitive sheds.
		08.00	AT 7237 [AT 7672 is incorrect]	Surfaced.  Entered the Roadstead of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich up to the upper edge of AT 7672.  No houses, no vessels, hardly any vegetation.
		19.59	AT 7628	Due to drift ice fields under the coast penetration into Chyornaya Bay is not possible.  Took course line on the connecting line Cape Kanin Matochkin Shar Strait.  I suspect that the traffic runs on this line and that the Kara Strait is blocked by ice.
			SSE 2, Sea 1, 2/10, Vis. 8-12 nm
				Day's run:  220.0 nm Surfaced
				9.0 nm Submerged
		26.07.42
			Square AT 7190, 7180, 7150, 7130, 4519	Transit to the north.
			SE 2, Sea 1, 6/10, Vis. 8 nm
		16.30		Course for Malyye Karmakuly.
		22.30		Dived.  Ran in to Malyye Karmakuly.  Put the boat on the

	Sun and Moon Data 24.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 25.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 26.07.42

	- 7 -
		continued
		26.07.42
				bottom at the location.  Developed an attack plan.  Apart from the radio station and the coastal sailing vessel 2 "Consolidated" 2-engined aircraft were determined.
		23.21		Surfaced after calculated low tide.  With 8.8 cm and 2 cm anti-aircraft gun destroyed both flying boats at their berths, the radio station, housing and storage sheds.  The coastal sailing vessel was not found, because it was sheltered behind a bluff.  In an attempt to approach, I lightly grounded the bow.  I did not consider a navigational endangerment of the boat after the destruction of the air and convoy escort base for Novaya Zemlya and an escort for the 40-ton sailing ship to be justifiable.  Counter-action from land (defensive fire from land, 1 hit on the conning tower cladding) was silenced.  The air surveillance  determined on 21 July and 23 July probably emanated from Malyye Karmakuly.  Stacked building material (wood) indicates that the base is under construction.  I think it is important for the Luftwaffe to monitor the reconstruction.
		23.40	SSE 6, Sea 2, overcast, Vis. 6-12 nm	Departed.
				44 shots 8.8 cm
				280 shots 2 cm
				For the 8.8 cm 39 hits observed.
				Day's run:  230 nm Surfaced
				2.5 nm Submerged
		27.07.42	Off Matochkin Shar Strait
			S 2-3, Sea 1, overcast, fog, Vis. 200 hectometers to 5 nm
				Day's run:  198.0 nm Surfaced
				1.2 nm Submerged

	Sun and Moon Data 26.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 27.07.42

	- 8 -
		28.07.42	Off Matochkin Shar Strait	Back and forth on changing courses, dived due to visibility deterioration to use the listening gear.  Put the boat on the bottom at depth A -20 meters at 20.45 hours
		20.01	AF 4610
			SE 3, Sea 1, fog, Vis. 3-15 nm
		23.50		Surfaced.
				Day's run:  180 nm Surfaced
				25 nm Submerged
		29.07.42
		00.13	AT 4610	Dived.  Put the boat on the bottom at depth A -16 meters.
			ESE 3, Sea 1, fog, Vis. 5-20 hectometers, Vis. 1-10 hectometers
		03.45		Surfaced.
		13.13		Dived due to low visibility.
		19.45		Surfaced.  No visibility improvement.
		20.35		Dived.  Put the boat on the bottom at depth A -22 meters.
				Day's run:  180 nm Surfaced
				0.5 nm Submerged
		30.07.42
		04.11	AT 4610	Surfaced.  Due to visibility deterioration remained off the Matochkin Shar Strait
			WNW 5, Sea 5, overcast, fog, Vis. 1.5 to 3 nm
				Day's run:  50.0 nm Surfaced
				2.5 nm Submerged
		31.07.42
		03.30	AT 4610	Coastal patrol on southerly courses.  Distance from the coast according to visibility.
		22.30	AT	Steamer under the coast about 1000 tons on course 315°.  Maneuvered ahead up to target angle 60°.
		23.25	AT 7259	Russian 2000-ton steamer on opposite course in sight target angle 0°.
		23.27		Dived.
				Day's run: 189.0 nm Surfaced

	Sun and Moon Data 28.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 29.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 30.07.42
	Sun and Moon Data 31.07.42

	- 9 -
		01.08.42
		00.12	AT 7252	Attacked.  3-fan due to inexact shooting data.  1 hit after edge of the engine room.  Sinking time 7 minutes.  Steamer was empty.
			NE 2, Sea 1, light E-Swell, Vis. 6-12 nm
		00.17		Surfaced.  The shipwrecked could not be understood, therefore without determining the name, pursued the 1000-ton steamer.  When he didn't come in sight again on an intercept course, pursued into the Kostin Strait, as far as there was depth information on the chart.  He was not in the Belush'ya Bay.  He escaped in the haze of eastern Kostin Strait
		02.00	Sea 1, 6/10, to the east Vis. 1/2 nm, to the west 10-12 nm	I didn't think it would be justifiable to pursue from a navigational point of view.  Ambushing off the entrance omitted because I received a recall by Radio Message.  I'm counting on being deployed against an America-convoy immediately after supply in Kirkenes, and I'm in a hurry.
				To the coast on a southerly course, to 70°N on the assumption, that traffic can still be found north of Kolguyev Island, began ordered return transit via square 74.
				Day's run:  240 nm Surfaced
				2.6 nm Submerged
		02.08.42	AC 9684	Return transit.
			E 3-4, Sea 3, overcast, rain, thunderstorms, Vis. 1-6 nm
		15.33	AC 8676	Test dive.  Depth control training, failures for training.
		16.43		Surfaced.
				Day's run:  286 nm Surfaced
				3.0 nm Submerged

	Sun and Moon Data 01.08.42
	Sun and Moon Data 02.08.42

	- 10 -
		03.08.42
		06.15	AC 8421 [position in error]	Taken in convoy.
			NW 3-4, Sea 3, overcast, rain, Vis. 2-6 nm
		07.40		Made fast alongside "SÜDMEER".
				Day's run:  98.0 nm Surfaced

Sun and Moon Data 03.08.42

	Admiral Nordmeer		25 July 1942
	B.Nr. G. 3099 AU.
	To
	The Marine-Gruppenkommando Nord.
	for information:
	the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote,
	the 2. Admiral der U.-Boote,
	the 11. U.-Flottille.
	Subject:  K.T.B. "U-601" for the period from 18.12.41 - 3.7.1942.
	Action:   11. U-Fl. B.Nr. G. 828 from 15.7.1942.
	Submitted in the enclosure is the K.T.B. "U-601" from 18.12.41 to 3.7.1942 in duplicate.
	There is nothing to note.

	Marinegruppenkommando Nord                        Command Center, 11 August 1942
	B.Nr.G  8984    /43 A II
	G  e  h  e  i  m  !
	U.  Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine - 1 Skl. I ac -
	Submitted.  Nothing to note.
		On behalf of!

	Comments of the Admiral Nordmeer
	on the K.T.B. "U-601 for the period from 4.7. - 3.8.1942
	Well executed, first operation.  The destruction of the "Malyye Karmakuly" radio station and annihilation of 2 Consolidated flying boats followed on the basis if the own initiative of the Kommandant and is recognized.
	On board, 11 December 1942
	B.Nr. Gkdos. 1769 / 42 AU

	Admiral Nordmeer
	B.Nr. Gkdos 1769 AU.                                                              11 December 1942
	To
	Marinegruppenkommando Nord.
	Enclosed is the Kriegstagebuch "U-601" for the period of 4.7. - 3.8.1942 with the comments of Adm. Nordmeer (2 copies) and 5 track charts, 1 sketch and excerpt of the important radio message.

	Marinegruppenkommando Nord                    Command Center, 30 December 1942
	U.
	S  e  e  k  r  i  e  g  s  l  e  i  t  u  n  g
	Submitted.
	The Admiral Nordmeer's comments are noted.
	On behalf of  !

	Comments of the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote
	on the Kriegstagebuch "U-601" from 4.7.42 - 3.6.42.
	There is nothing to add to the comments of the Admiral Nordmeer.
		For the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote
		- The Chief of the Operations Department -

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