U-99 - 6th 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
3 Nov 40	21.40	53°51'N, 14°15'W	CASANARE	5,376	British
3 Nov 40	22.50 - 04.53	53°51'N, 14°35'W	HMS LAURENTIC (F 51)	18,724	British
4 Nov 40	00.02 - 05.25	53°51'N, 14°35'W	HMS PATROCLUS	11,314	British
5 Nov 40	02.52	54°39'N, 14°25'W	SCOTTISH MAIDEN	6,993	British	HX-83
			Total = 42,407
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  99"
				=============================
				Kommandant:  Kapitänleutnant Kretschmer.
				Beginning:  22.10.1940.
				Ending:        8.11.1940.
				© U-boat Archive 2024 - all rights reserved

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

	- 1 -
		22.10.40	BF 6417 center
		00.00	SW 2, Sea 2, 2/10
		02.05		Isle de Groix in sight.
		03.33	Point 5	Anchored.
		09.00		Weighed anchor.
		09.32		Arrived Lorient behind "U-37" and mine escort.
		10.25	At Isle de St. Michel	Aircraft alarm.  20 shots from the 2 cm Flak C/20 at a Bristol Blenheim, which thrust out of the clouds, overflew the harbor and threw 4 bombs.
		10.52	Lorient	Made fast alongside "U-37" at the loading station.
				Muster and greeting by the Abschnittskommandeur des Meeres, Gen.Lt. Renner.
		23.10.40	Lorient	Shipyard.
		24. - 27.10.40	Lorient	Shipyard, 22 men of the crew in the Quiberon rest home.
		28.10.40	Lorient	Torpedo loading.
		29.10.40		Outfitting.
		30.10.40
		17.00	Lorient	Departed with mine escort to Point 5, further to Point 2 with 2 boats of the 4.Vp.-Flottille.
		19.22	Point 2	Test dive, afterwards proceeded submerged to the south until complete darkness.
		20.00	BF 6173 center
		21.08		Surfaced, - Tactical advance to the sea area west of the North Channel.
		24.00	BF 6445 lower-right
			SSW 6-7, Sea 5-6, overcast

Sun and Moon Data 30.10.40

	- 2 -
		31.10.40
		04.00	BF 5559 upper-left
			SSW 6-7, Sea 6, overcast
		08.00	BF 5496 left edge upper
		12.00	BF 5457 lower-left corner	Day's run since departure:
			SSW 7, Sea 6, overcast, mist	Surfaced      161 nm
				Submerged      7 nm      168 nm
		13.43		Dived due to visibility below 100 meters and to work on the torpedoes.
		16.00	BF 5447 upper-center
		20.00	BF 4668 upper-right
		20.56		Surfaced.
		24.00	BF 4655 upper-center
			W 4, Sea 4, 5/10
		01.11.40
		04.00	BF 4617 center
		08.00	BF 4526 upper-right
			W 4-5, Sea 4, 5/10
		12.00	BF 4277 center	Day's run:  Surfaced      126.5 nm
			W 6, Sea 5, 4/10	Submerged     22.0 nm      148.5 nm
		16.00	BF 4182 center
			W 6, Sea 5, 4/10
		20.00	BF 4147 upper-center
			W 6-7, Sea 5-6, 7/10
		24.00	BE 6329 upper-center
		02.11.40
		04.00	BE 3987 lower-left corner
			SW 7, Sea 6, 8/10
		08.00	BE 3971 upper-left corner
			SW 8, Sea 6, 8/10
		12.00	BE 3838 upper-left	Day's run:  Surfaced  176 nm
			SW 9-10, Sea 8, overcast

	Sun and Moon Data 31.10.40
	Sun and Moon Data 01.11.40
	Sun and Moon Data 02.11.40

	- 3 -
		continued
		02.11.40
		16.00	BE 3561 lower-left corner
			SW 10, Sea 8, overcast
		20.00	BE 3286 center-left
			Overcast, rain
		24.00	BE 3228 upper-right
			SW 6, Sea 5, overcast, rain
		03.11.40
		04.00	AM 7873 center
			N 3-4, Sea 5, overcast, rain
		08.00	AM 7814 lower-right
			N 3, Sea 4, overcast, rain
		12.00	AM 7468 upper-right	Day's run:  Surfaced  206.5 nm
			N 3, Sea 3, overcast
		15.30		Smoke feather bearing 310°T, later freighter with coal firing, steered zigzag course around about 60°.
		16.00	AM 7185 upper-right
			N 3, Sea 3, 6/10
		17.13		While maneuvering ahead the smoke feather of a ship comes in sight in 285°T, that steered about the same course.
		20.00	AM 7211 upper-center edge
			N 3, Sea 3, 3/10, moonshine, starry clear night
		21.40	AM 4875 center	Torpedo shot on 1st steamer, range = 1200 meters.  Hit at after mast.  Ship settled deeper astern.
			"C  A  S A  N  A  R  E"
			British	Immediately went against the 2nd steamer which had passed out of sight in the darkness.
			5376 GRT
				It is important to reach him in time, before the torpedoing of the 1st steamer is noticed, which shows lights when disembarking the crew, unfortunately also transmits.  It is the British steamer "CASANARE", 5376 GRT.

	Sun and Moon Data 02.11.40
	Sun and Moon Data 03.11.40

	- 4 -
		continued
		03.11.40
		22.02		2nd steamer in sight again bearing 240°T, also a 3rd steamer bearing 300°T.
				The second comes about and runs off at high speed on a straight course.  Attack carried out on the 3rd which holds course.  While closing it can be seen that it is a passenger steamer with 2 smokestacks and a forward mast.  The after mast is capped.  Probably an auxiliary cruiser.  At the bow there are a few port holes not dimmed, therefore with certainty a warship.  The ship does not run at full speed.
		22.50	AM 4796 center	Torpedo shot from 1500 meters.  Hit under the aft smokestack.  Among other things, the ship transmits in the clear:  "Torpedoed engine room, all fires out". Therefore it is not capable of maneuvering, however sinks no deeper.  The deck illumination burns, a number of red stars were shot from the bridge, boats were launched.  It is the 18724 GRT British passenger steamer "LAURENTIC", which is probably in service as an auxiliary cruiser.
			"L  A  U  R  E  N  T  I  C"
			British auxiliary cruiser
			18724 GRT
				The 2nd steamer comes in sight again in the vicinity.
		23.26		Unexplained miss on the stopped "LAURENTIC".
		23.37		Coup de grâce from 580 meters.  Hit under the forward smokestack.  No further effect.
		23.40		"LAURENTIC" shoots well-placed star shells and then immediately explosive shells and again star shells.  I ran off at AK and into the vicinity of the 2nd steamer, which lies stopped and recovers the crew of a lifeboat.
		24.00	AM 4796 lower-right
			N 2-3, Sea 2, 4/10

Sun and Moon Data 03.11.40

	- 5 -
		04.11.40
		00.02	AM 4796 lower-right	Shot on the stopped steamer, range = 1200 meters.  Hit forward of the bridge
			"P  A  T  R  O  C  L  U  S"
			11314 GRT	Ship transmits its name and position in the clear and sets out boats.
				It is the British passenger steamer, now probably the auxiliary cruiser "PATROCLUS" 11314 GRT.
		00.22		2nd torpedo on "PATROCLUS", range = 1200 meters, hit aft.  No particular effect.  Ship has cargo in barrels.  A few empty barrels float off.
		00.44		3rd torpedo on "PATROCLUS", range = 950 meters, hit under the bridge.  More barrels come free.
				Ship which has settled on an even keel now lists to starboard.  I decide to finish him off with artillery.
		00.58		4 shots of 8.8 cm from 1000 meters, of these 2 hits, of these one apparently caught ready ammunition on the superstructure deck on fire.  Then I turned away and moved off, because "PATROCLUS" returned fire with well-placed time fused shells.
		01.18		4th torpedo on "PATROCLUS".  Hit at the forward mast.  No particular effect except for more barrels.  The crew is not so quick with the reloading of the torpedoes, so I use the resulting pause, to run around the still floating high out "LAURENTIC" to the "CASSANARE".
		02.15		At the sinking location of the "CASANARE", while questioning the crews of one of its 5 lifeboats, an illuminated Sunderland was suddenly sighted, which circled us at a distance of about 500 meters.
		02.39		Dived.
		04.00	AM 4874 center
			W 4, Sea 3, 5/10
		04.40		Surfaced after reloading of torpedoes ended.
				On the way to the auxiliary cruisers a patrol vessel was sighted.  The two ships must be sunk before it arrives.

Sun and Moon Data 04.11.40

	- 6 -
		continued
		04.11.40
		04.53		2nd coup de grâce on "LAURENTIC", range = 1400 meters.  Hit aft.  Ship sinks within a few minutes over the stern post, its depth charges detonate.
		05.16		5th torpedo on "PATROCLUS", hit in forward cargo hold.  Except for further barrels no observable effect.
		05.25		6th torpedo on "PATROCLUS", hit center in engine room.  Ship breaks apart at the forward mast, the stern capsizes and sinks quickly.  The foreship sinks slowly.  I moved off quickly because the patrol vessel appeared on the battlefield  and initially illuminated the area with a searchlight, then shot star shells from 06.05 to 05.00 hours.
		06.05
		08.00	AM 4782 lower-left
			W 4, Sea 3, 7/10 (rain)
		11.18		Dived before approaching aircraft bearing 110°T, the 1 bomb was thrown far off.
		12.00	AL 6953 lower-right	Day's run:  Surfaced      223.5 nm
				Submerged      6.5 nm      230 nm
		14.03		Surfaced.
		15.06		Smoke feather bearing 230°T, probably a convoy.
		15.24		Dived before a Sunderland flying by bearing 20°T.
		16.00	AM 6924 lower-center	Convoy steers an easterly course, runs past to the south at a distance of about 6 nm.
		20.00	AM 6925 upper-center
			NW 2, Sea 2, 8/10 (rain)
		20.01		Surfaced, ran after in the direction of the last sound bearing of the convoy.  Contact keeper report.
		21.14 - 21.21		Dived to listen.
		22.23		Destroyer, the port astern "sweeper" in sight.  Ran up on the port side of the convoy because the moon is on his starboard side.  To the north quite strong Northern Lights interfere.  The convoy consists of about 30 ships, protected by 6 destroyers.  Ahead drive

Sun and Moon Data 04.11.40

	- 7 -
		continued
		04.11.40		several tankers.
				Running contact keeper reports.
		24.00	AM 4722 lower-center
			NW 3, Sea 2, 8/10 (rain), strong Northern Lights
		05.11.40
		02.52	AM 7577 lower-right	Torpedo shot (last torpedo below deck) on a group of three overlapping tankers.  Torpedo hits after a running track of 3600 meters in the engine room of the tanker furthest away. (8000-10000 GRT)
	[typo AM 4577]		T  a  n   k  e  r  ?
			8000-10000 tanker
		03.40 - 03.45		Destroyers shoots star shells in all directions, without reaching the boat.
				I only hold contact on the port part of the convoy, give running contact keeper signals.
		04.00	AM 4576 upper-right
			NW 2, Sea 3, 4/10
		08.00	AM 4569 lower-left
			NW 3, Sea 3, 4/10
		09.17		Dived.  Standing off from the convoy worked well, however, a destroyer was positioned several nm ahead to port, so that he was still fairly close at lightness.
		12.00	AM 4618 lower-center edge	Day's run:  Surfaced      152.3 nm
				Submerged     35.2 nm      187.5 nm
		12.48 - 14.49		Depth charges and aircraft bombs several miles away in the direction of the convoy.
		15.32		Surfaced.  Smoke feathers and aircraft escort of the convoy are still in sight.
		16.00	AM 4627 upper-right
			NW 4, Sea 3, 4/10
		16.05 - 17.00		Dived before approaching escort aircraft of the convoy.
		17.13		Dived for aircraft approaching from 240°T.

	Sun and Moon Data 04.11.40
	Sun and Moon Data 05.11.40

	- 8 -
		continued
		05.11.40
				No further sound bearings from the convoy.
				I decide, not to search for contact because at best the convoy can first be reached about midnight shortly before it arrives at the North Channel.
		19.16		Surfaced, proceeded to the torpedoed tanker, to possibly finish him off with artillery.
		20.00	AM 4642 lower-center
			NW 4, Sea 3, 7/10
		24.00	AM 4582 lower-center
			NW 4-5, Sea 4, 7/10
		06.11.40
		02.35		No ship is seen at the shooting location.  Tanker probably sank from the hit in the engine room.
		02.45		On Radio Message orders return transit Lorient.
		04.00	AM 4814 center
			NNW 7, Sea 6, overcast (rain)
		08.00	AM 7215 lower-left
		11.02 - 11.41		Dived before approaching aircraft bearing 150°T.
		12.00	AM 7513 upper-center	Day's run:  Surfaced      176.1 nm
			N 8, Sea 7, 3/10	Submerged     27.4 nm      203.5 nm
		16.00	AM 7594 lower-center
			N 7, Sea 6, 3/10
		16.05 - 16.32		Dived for aircraft bearing 150°T, that circled at high altitude and was clearly distinguished in the moon track.
		20.00	AM 7948 lower-center
			NbyW 6-7, Sea 6, 4/10
		24.00	BE 3356 lower-right
			NbyW 6, Sea 5, 4/10

	Sun and Moon Data 05.11.40
	Sun and Moon Data 06.11.40

	- 9 -
		07.11.40
		04.00	BF 1417 center-right
			N 5, Sea 4, 3/10
		08.00	BF 1726 center-left
			N 5, Sea 4, 3/10
		12.00	AM 1857 lower-left corner	Day's run:  Surfaced      308.5 nm
			N 4, Sea 3, 3/10	Submerged     1.5 nm      310 nm
		16.00	AM 4315 center
			N 3, Sea 3, 5/10
		16.58 - 17.18		Dived before Sunderland bearing 230°T.  Flying boat turned towards after the dive, flies ahead past the diving location and then moves off on a NE-course.
		20.00	BF 5144 center-left edge
			N 3, Sea 3, 4/10
		24.00	BF 5198 upper-center
			N 3, Sea 3, 2/10
		08.11.40
		04.00	BF 5553 upper-right
			N 2, Sea 2, 7/10
		08.00	BF 6179 lower-center
		08.17		Ile de Groix in sight.
		09.00	Point 2
		09.20		Escort by 2 boats of the 4. Vp.-Flottille to Point 5.
		09.50	Port Tudy Roadstead	Anchored.
				Day's run:  Surfaced      309 nm
				Submerged      2 nm      311 nm
		11.45		Weighed anchor.  Ran into Lorient behind mine escort.
				Made fast Lorient alongside "ISERE".

	Sun and Moon Data 07.11.40
	Sun and Moon Data 08.11.40

	Comments of the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote.
	1.) A very good and successful patrol, favored by luck.     2.)  It was correct that the Kommandant fired at the steamer "PATROCLUS" at intervals, which allowed observation of the hit effects, until it was sunk.
		Signed in draft:  D  ö  n  i  t  z
		For the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote
		- The Chief of the Operations Department -

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