Ass. Comm. Serial No. 136
     
                                                    Reference:  A.U.D. 780/43.  
     
 
Precis of Attack by Liberator Aircraft "E"
 
 
of 110 Squadron.
  
     
 
Date:  10.11.43. Time:  1315A. Position: 43° 43' N.
      08° 25' W.
 
     
  Weather Conditions:  Wind 6 knots; Weather no cloud; Sea rough; Visibility unlimited.  
     
Duty:  On A/S patrol.
     
  Events preceding Initial Contact:  A signal was received from Control to hunt a U-boat in 44° 15' N. 09° 00' W.  and aircraft was proceeding to position, flying on a track of 143 at 5,000 feet, when an S/E contact was obtained bearing Green 90° at a range of 20 miles.  Aircraft altered course to 233° to investigate.   
          At 1405 a Spanish trawler was identified on an Easterly course and simultaneously a wake was sighted bearing Green 60°, distant 3 miles.  The U-boat was then sighted.  
     
  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°, 10-12 knots.  
     
  Direction of Approach:  This position was about 5 miles from the fishing vessel which was slightly to port of the aircraft's course.  Aircraft turned to starboard and circled the U-boat to port at a distance of 2 miles, losing height.  The U-boat then opened fire with light flak, high bursts being seen 1,000 yards short of the aircraft.  The U-boat maintained its course and made no attempt to dive.  
          After completing 2-1/2 circuits the aircraft was at 2,000 feet and started to close gradually and, when at 1,500 feet or so of the U-boat, the aircraft turned in to attack out of sun, losing height rapidly and opening fire with bow and mid upper guns at 2,000 yards.  
          The attack was carried out from Green 15° to U-boat's course.  (Aircraft was now on a track of 360°).  
     
  Details of Attack:  Six Mark XI Torpex depth charges, set to shallow depth and spaced 60 feet apart, were released from a height of 75 feet.  
     
  Time of Release:  While U-boat was on the surface.  
     
  Estimated Position of Explosions:  Depth charges exploded to starboard of the U-boat about 15° to U-boat's track and 100 feet abeam of starboard bow.  
     
  Surface Evidence:  As depth charges exploded, the U-boat rolled over to its port side and swung round to port, then straightened out for a short distance before making a complete 180° turn, then a series of partial turns to starboard until it had regained its original course, when it commenced zig-zagging at slightly reduced speed, leaving a track of light oil, in the direction of the Spanish Coast, some 10-15 miles away, where a Spanish fishing fleet could be seen off Cape Prior.  
     
 
Subsequent Actions of Aircraft:  A sea marker and flame float were also released, but were not seen again.  During the attack the U-boat commenced turning to starboard.  The U-boat maintained fire as aircraft attacked and after attack, but no hits were sustained.  Aircraft opened fire during run-in, and hits were estimated on the conning tower.  After the attack "E" pulled away to port in a climbing turn, then commenced to circle to port at half to three-quarters of a mile at 2,000 feet; the U-boat was firing intermittently with light
 
     
                                                                                                                           . . . .  A/A  
     
     

 

     

   
A/A and aircraft replied with occasional bursts.
          At 1325, whilst still circling, an unidentified aircraft was seen approaching down sun and was then identified as a white Liberator with British markings.  (D/311, see serial number 137).  R/T communication was established and "D" was informed "E" was Titan leader and that "D" was to go in to attack under supporting fire from "E".  "D" closed to attack but appeared to turn off at about 800 yards after a brown puff was seen from its starboard wing and two splashes were seen short of the U-boat.  The W/Op. of "D" appeared to be a foreigner, who had some difficulty in understanding.  
          Both aircraft continued to circle and, at 1350, "E" informed "D" that he was leaving as the prudent limit of endurance had been reached.  "E" left the scene at 1352 when the U-boat was in approximate position 43° 40' N.  08° 22' W. on a course of 150°, speed 8 knots.  It was heading towards the fleet of about 15 Spanish Auxiliary fishing vessels.  
     
  Description of U-boat:  U-boat appeared to be black or dark grey in colour with tall conning tower, one gun was seen ahead of conning tower but none were seen aft of conning tower.  Seas were breaking over the conning tower and the after part of the U-boat was awash.  
     
  Decision of U-boat Assessment Committee:  From photographic evidence it is not considered that this attack damaged the U-boat materially, but the Committee do not consider that this attack, with those of E/103 and D/311, contributed to the harassing of the U-boat, which subsequently closed the Spanish Coast and abandoned ship.  
          The action is, therefore, assessed as "Known sunk", this aircraft contributing to the success in the proportion of 10%.  
     
     
6th December, 1943.