NAVY DEPARTMENT
 

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
 
WASHINGTON
 
Op-16-B-5
  
 
CONFIDENTIAL                                                                                         February 13, 1943
 
 
 
 
MEMORANDUM FOR FILE
 
 
 
 
Subject: Summary of Statements by Survivors of BRACELAND, Swedish Motor Freighter, 4800 G.T, Owners Swedish American Line, New York City.
 
 
 
          1.        The BRAGELAND was torpedoed after being duly warned at 1000 GMT, on Jan 1, 1943 at 00:19 N - 37:30 W, enroute from Santos, Brazil to Philadelphia, loaded with a cargo of coffee, wool, cheese and 60 tons of mail.  The vessel listed about 110 degrees, turned over so that its keel was visible and sank about six minutes later stern first and bow up.  
     
          2.        The ship was on a northerly course, speed 13.5 knots in 2500 fathoms, not zigzagging, radio used only to receive messages prior to attack; three lookouts on bridge.  The weather was clear; sea smooth; wind direction unknown; wind force 1; visibility good; no ships in sight.  
     
          3.        At 0930 GMT submarine was sighted on surface on port quarter at a distance of one mile.  Sub overtook ship in a few minutes, came alongside, blinkered the vessel to heave to, and ordered Master to come aboard sub.  Master went aboard deck of sub and was interrogated as to name of ship, destination, cargo, etc.  In answer to the statement of the Master that the vessel was a "neutral" ship the sub commander replied that the cargo was non-neutral.  After checking a book which contained a list of ships allowed to run in trade without danger of attack, the sub commander asserted that he was obliged to sink the vessel.  Shortly after the Master returned to the BRAGELAND, the sub commander in the Swedish language, ordered the ship abandoned.  This was accordingly done within a few minutes.  At 1000 GMT after the sub had maneuvered on the surface to a point on port beam 500 yards away, it released a torpedo which struck the ship in the after section of the engine room; which opened a large hole; ruptured main deck and plates on boat deck and caused an immediate flooding of the engine room.  The ship's engines had been secured prior to abandonment; no distress signals were sent; vessel was unarmed; codes and confidential publications went down with the ship.  
     
          4.        Upon order of the sub commander to abandon ship, the 28 officers and crew of the BRAGELAND safely got away in three lifeboats.  All of the survivors arrived safely at Tutoya, Brazil, six days later.  
     
          5.  The submarine was described as approximately 1000 tons, 3 or 4 inch gun forward, anti-aircraft gun on conning tower and a 50 caliber gun mounted aft, shark bow, sloping stern, 1 mast on oblong conning tower with aerial from bow to stern, no rust spots, dark grey paint over light grey, but no streaks or stripes, numbers, nor emblems.  Sub's speed was greater than 13.5 knots because vessel was making 13.5 and sub over took the BRAGELAND in about 20 minutes from one mile on port quarter.  
 
 
 
        The submarine's description coincides with that of the 740 German type.  The sub commander was a blonde.  He and seven members of his crew were on the deck and conning tower, all were definitely German, dressed in shorts without shirts, sunburned, blonde, and well fed.  After the ship sank, the sub remained in the vicinity of the lifeboats with three of the men on deck taking moving pictures while the survivors drifted in the lifeboats.  About one hour after
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

Op-16-B-5  
CONFIDENTIAL
     
  the attack the sub was seen to dive a short distance away, course unknown.  
     
          6.        Subject vessel had received routing instructions from U.S. authorities at Santos, for its trip to Philadelphia.  The Chief Engineer of subject vessel, was of the opinion that the sub commander was apparently well aware of the fact that the BRAGELAND was in trade between North and South America but was not previously informed of its name, destination, and cargo.  This indicates that the sub was lurking on regular trade between South and North American ports.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                  J. C. Bea
 
 
                                                                                                              Lieut. (jg), U.S.N.R.
 
 
 
 
CC:  ONI B-8, 16-C (Ens. Judd), 16-E-2, 16-Z(4 copies), F-10; Cominch; Cominch F-21-22, F-252, F-353 F-37(C&R), Op-20-G-N, Op-23-L, Op-28, Op-30, Op-39, BuShips, BuOrd(Re-6-a), BuOrd, Atlantic Fleet Anti-Submarine Unit, BuPers-222-23322, CG, DIO, 1,3,4,5,6,7,(3 copies), 8,10(4 copies), 12,13,14(4 copies) 15 ND's., Coord. Res. & Dev. (Lt.Parkers, Rm.0142), COMINCH F-25 (ASWORG) (Dr. Olshen, Rm.4307)