Ass. Comm. Serial No. 135
	Reference:
	Precis of Attack by Liberator Aircraft "E"
	of 103 Squadron (U.S.N.)
	Date:  10.11.43. Time:  1150A. Position: 43° 51' N.       08° 22' W.
	Weather Conditions:  Wind 060°, 33 m.p.h.; Weather no cloud; Sea rough with white caps; Visibility 10 miles.
	Duty:  On A/S patrol in "Percussion A.2".
	Events preceding Initial Contact:  A signal was received from Control to hunt a U-boat in position 44° 39' N. 09° 08' W.  "E" was making for this position when, at 1015 two Ju.88's were sighted and aircraft set course South-Westerly and remained out of area for half an hour.  During this time a further signal was received from Base that the U-boat was making for Ferrol; "E" made landfall near Ferrol and set course to intercept the U-boat.
	Nature of Initial Contact:  At 1140, while flying on a track of 062° at 800 feet, a Radar contact was obtained bearing Green 90° range 12 miles.  Aircraft homed and, at 1148, sighted a wake and then a U-boat bearing Green 30°, distant 6-8 miles.
	Course and speed of U-boat:  155°, 8-10 knots.
	Direction of Approach:  Aircraft swung to starboard to position for attack down sun; it was intended to carry out attack on bows but at the last minute, the U-boat altered course to 100° and the attack was actually carried out from Green 90° to U-boat's course.
	Details of Attack:  Five Mark XI Torpex depth charges, set to shallow depth and spaced 40 feet apart, were released from a height of 90 feet.  The Mark XV bombsight was used.
	Failures:  Number 6 depth charge failed to release.
	Time of Release:  While U-boat was on the surface.
	Estimated Position of Explosions:  The tail gunner saw the explosion of one depth charge on the port side - points of entry of the remainder of the depth charges were not seen.
	Surface Evidence:  The explosions of the depth charges appeared to engulf the U-boat, which gradually emerged from the spray and continued on the surface.
	SECOND ATTACK.
	Details of Second Attack:  Aircraft circled to port and made a second run over the U-boat from the same direction, carrying out a further attack.
	Surface Evidence:  The U-boat was down by the stern and trailing oil and, in the depth charge substance there was a patch of light oil 80 feet across.  It continued to leak oil freely and appeared to be down by the stern for about half an hour after the attack, when it recovered trim and the oil slick lessened; the oil was quickly dispersed in the rough seas.
	. . . .  Subsequent

 

	Subsequent Actions of Aircraft:  During both attacks, medium and heavy flak was experienced from conning tower; this was thought to be from a triple or quadruple 20mm. gun; the fire was ineffective.
	One member of the crew saw a man in the conning tower and, on the second run, a dead man was seen hanging over the side.  Aircraft returned fire whenever within 1,000 yards range, numerous hit being scored on and around the conning tower.
	After the attack "E" continued circling until 1310 when, having reached the prudent limit of endurance, course was set for base.
	Description of U-boat:  U-boat was estimated to be 500 ton type, light grey in colour with conning tower enclosed; no guns fore or aft; jumping wires were seen.
	Decision of U-boat Assessment Committee:  From surface and photographic evidence the U-boat appears to have been damaged, since it was unable to dive and was leaving a marked oil track.
	The Committee consider that this was one of three attacks by aircraft (Liberators D/311, E/103 and E/110) which so harassed the U-boat as to cause it to make the Spanish Coast and abandon ship.
	The result of this action is assessed as "U-boat known sunk", the proportion of credit for this aircraft being 40%.
	6th December, 1943.