Operational Order "Panama Canal" for U 214. |
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I. |
Task: Mining operations are to take place off the Panama Canal. |
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II. |
Enemy Situation: According to information received, the monthly total of traffic to and from the Panama Canal amounts to 140 ships. This is partly isolated traffic, after the appearance of U-boats, however, mainly escorted convoys. |
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The directions are: |
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Colon - Windward Passage |
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Colon - Mona Passage |
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Colon - Aruba - Curacao - Trinidad (about 10 sea miles North of the Islands) |
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and reversed. |
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III. |
Defence situation: Colon the naval and air base - strong air patrol is to be expected day and night also shore and air radar. Coco-Solo (East of Colon) is an American U-boat base. U 159 and U 161 reported the following in June and July 1942 from the area off the Panama Canal: |
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1) |
Put out and general course north south from Colon irregular deviating courses to the west. |
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2) |
Daylight traffic with air escort, single vessels and small destroyer escorts. |
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3) |
All kinds of air activity over the sea area, aircraft inexperienced. |
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4) |
Surface escort had good Asdic, not persistent, quickly lost, good water layers. In general 1 - 2 MTBs among the patrol craft off the entrance. |
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Colon lights burning, recognition probably altered, at night strong search lights every half hour. |
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Good hydrophone conditions. |
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IV. |
Mining Gear: |
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1) |
15 SMA (shaft mines A) with 400 meters of anchor rope, time setting = 80 days, safety device time setting 3 hours, clockwork setting = 24 hours. Depth setting minus 15 meters, mine fitting tally 1. Mines may only be laid at a depth of 50 to 350 meters. Distance apart at least 400 meters. |
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6 EMS (periscope mine) setting for self sinking - after 72 hours. |
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V. |
Geographical boundary: None. The mines are to be laid as near as possible to Colon, considering the 50 meter limit. |
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VI. |
Execution: |
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1) |
Putting out according to Operations Order. |
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2) |
The mines are to be laid singly - if possible during the new moon period, in the section drawn on the diagram. The sketch |
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