E  x  c  e  r  p  t    of    the    R  a  d  i  o    L  o  g    of    " U-604 ".
  
 
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  Outgoing Radio Message 0216/30/66:  
  Netherlands cruiser "DE RUYTER" northeasterly course, high speed, BE 6744 out of sight.  "Höltring".  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 0631/1/95:  
  Repeat of the contents of Serial No. 15 of 21 November for "Höltring":   
  All boats.  From now the prohibition to attack convoys in naval square BE is lifted.  England-Gibraltar traffic with war material in this sea area is expected.  Therefore:  close, attack, at the same time report contact, hang on. . . .  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1512/1/4:  
  1.)  Group "Draufgänger" occupy by 5 December 20.00 hours in named order "Höltring" . . . .  Patrol line from . . . . to . . . . southwest bound convoy is expected from 6 December.  
  2.)  "Hinsch" and "Höltring" switch at 20.00 hours, . . . . America I.  Boats belong to Group "Draufgänger".  
     
  Outgoing Radio Message 2058/2/191:  
  20.15 hours single smokestack passenger vessel, general course 180°, speed 17 knots, naval square BE 1739 sunk.  From statements of survivors 16000 GRT.  11 + 2, still 110 cbm.  "Höltring".  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 0051/3/282:  
  1.)  Group "Draufgänger" "Höltring" occupies southernmost position in patrol line.  Other boats move one position to the north.  
  2.)  "Höltring" report if ship was possibly a troop transport and if lots of wreckage was sighted, also why the boat was so far to the south. . . .  
     
  Outgoing Radio Message 0400/3/284:  
  1.)  Troop transport possible, because uniformly dark gray, however not a lot of ship wreckage.  Approximately 15 rafts.  
  2.  Due to the hunt the boat has come 100 nm further south.        "Höltring".  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1457/5/223:  
  Group "Draufgänger".  From 6 December at 09.00 hours Convoy Circuit "Diana" at the same time is used for the first time.  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1816/6/707:  
  Group "Draufgänger" at 1900 hours advance in reconnaissance line course west, speed 7 knots.  On 7 December at 11.00 hours, course east, speed 7 knots.  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1750/7/717:       "Draufgänger"  
  1.)  Tomorrow at 17.00 hours be in patrol line located from naval square AK 2564 to 2994.  Operation on eastbound convoy located on 7 December at 12.00 hours in naval square AK 4189, course 50° to 70°, speed at 8 knots.  
  2.)  Immediately switch to America I Circuit.  
  3.)  . . . .  
     
     
Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB
     
 
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  Incoming Radio Message 2151/7/298:  
  "Draufgänger".  Order concerning patrol line is settled.  Operate on contact keeper reports.  Adjust speed so that convoy is detected early in the day.  
     
  Outgoing Radio Message 1955/8/:  
  18.45 hours convoy AK 2546, course 45°, 9 knots, crash dive for "Consolidated", contact lost.  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 0942/9/752:  
  "Panzer" and "Draufgänger".  1.)  Boats break off convoy operation when it gets light.  Still utilize attack opportunities if in favorable position.  . . . .  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1157/9/758:  
  "Panzer" and "Draufgänger" continue on.  Serial No. 752 settled.  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1215/9/761:  
  "Panzer" and "Draufgänger".  1.)  Operate on "Thurmann" report.  Suspect further easterly course, it is possibly a new convoy.  
     
  Outgoing Radio Message 0505/10/791:  
  02.46 hours convoy naval square AK 3633, easterly course, speed 9 knots.  Forced off by destroyer.  Contact lost.        "Höltring".  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1618/10/714:  
  "Panzer" and "Draufgänger" by all means despite air attempt to get ahead to attack in the coming night.  Now is the last chance.  2.)  . . . .  
     
  Outgoing Radio Message 1855/10/725:  
  12.00 hours brief contact on distant smoke cloud AL 1648.  Then continually forced to submerge by air.  No further contact.        "Höltring".  
     
  Outgoing Radio Message:  Short Signal:  
  Still have 75 cbm.  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1651/11/770:  
  . . . .  "Höltring" . . . . On 13 December at 20.00 hours be in patrol line from . . . . Westbound convoy expected from the morning of 14 December.  These boats form Group "Ungestüm". . . . .  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1934/13/797:  
  Group "Ungestüm" from "Hunger" to "Steinicker" and "Höltring" proceed to the west.  On 15 December at 00.00 hours be in new patrol line from . . . .  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 2112/13/701:  
  1.)  . . . .  2.)  In the ordered patrol line of Group "Ungestüm" "Höltring"occupies the southernmost position.  3.)  Switch to "Hubertus" Circuit from 14 December at 08.00 hours.  (Date was corrected).  
     
     
     
 
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  Incoming Radio Message 2014/14/823:  
  To "Ungestüm".  1.)  Patrol line is settled.   
  2.)  On 15 December at 12.00 hours be in reconnaissance line from naval square AK 1878 upper-left to 5241 lower-left.  Then course 238°, speed 9 knots, exact end points of the position is of great importance, because a convoy is expected during daylight.  
     
  Outgoing Radio Message 1506/15/832:  
  Submerged before flying boat.  AK 5182.  Propeller sounds bearing 143°T, pursuing.        "Höltring".  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1901/15/838:  
  To "Ungestüm" and "Büffel".  Reconnaissance line settled.  Course 70°, 12 knots over ground.  "Höltring" continue search.  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 2135/15/843:  
  "Höltring" continue search and do not occupy position in patrol line.  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1953/15/841:  
  "Ungestüm" . . . .  Tomorrow at 11.00 be in patrol line from naval square AK 2842 to 6434. . . .  
     
  Outgoing Radio Message 2305/15/845:  
  Convoy possible, because of broad sound band, however not certain due to faintness.  "Höltring".  
     
  Outgoing Radio Message 2145/15/847:  
  AK 5194, 2 times aircraft, aircraft bombs, 19.30 submerged for destroyer, no further sound bearings, last bearing 90°T at 21.00 hours.  Am missing Serial No. 805 of 13 December.  "Höltring".  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1154/16/850:  
  "Ungestüm".  Operate at highest speed on Löser report:  Smoke cloud in AK 6421 at 10.47 hours.  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1150/16/854:  
  In "Höltring" reports concerning sound bearings information was required immediately whether it was a sound band or a discrete sound -destroyer- or steamer.  Due to omission valuable time was lost.  This applies to all messages about sound results, if it is not immediately clear what it is.  2.)  "Höltring" report concerning destroyer at 19.30 hours was particularly important and should have been made as quickly as possible.  
     
  Outgoing Radio Message 0015/17/884:  
  Löser-convoy not found.  23.00 hours own position 5836.  No sound bearings.  49 cbm.  . . . .  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1000/18/808:  
  For Group "Ungestüm".  No fuel supply possible.  Boats begin return transit accordingly.  
     
  Incoming Radio Message 1856/18/812:  
  "Ungestüm".  Break off search.  Remain in reached area. . . .  
     
     
 
 
 
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  Outgoing Radio Message 0743/22/854:  
  BD 1717.  Began return transit.  28 cbm. . . .  
     
  Outgoing Radio Message 1031/26/43:  
  Independent BC 4816, course 70°, speed 12 knots, set off.        "Höltring".  
     
  Outgoing Radio Message 1159/26/45:  
  Steamer out of sight.  BE 4575.  General course north east, speed 17 knots.        "Höltring".