U-23 - 3rd War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

Departed
Date
Arrived
Date
Days at Sea
Wilhelmshaven
1 October 1939
Kiel
16 October 1939
16

 

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Ships Hit
Date
KTB Time
Position
Ship
Tons
Nationality
Convoy
4 Oct 39
04.45 - 06.00
59°08'N, 0°48'W
GLEN FARG
876
British
     
 Total = 876
    
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  23"  
            -------------------------------------------  
                    3rd sea voyage 1.X. - 16.X.39.  
           
           
           
                             
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
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Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB
 
- 1 -
 
           
           
           
           
    01.10.39 E 2 Put to sea from Wilhelmshaven through Route blau into the North Sea.  
    [13.00]    
                     
                       Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant.  
    02.10.39 NE 4-5, Sea 3-4 Recognition Signal exchange with Vorpostenboot "404".  
    09.30                
                       Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant.  
    04.10.39 AN 2679 lower-left    
    04.45   Sighted a dimmed ship; followed for over an hour, bypassing a patrol boat line.  Brought to a stop with M.G.C/30.  Steamer transmitted; was shot at again (17 shots M.G.C/30) after it got underway.  Steamer stopped.  Crew went into the boats.  Sunk by torpedo; size = 3000 tons fully loaded.  Name unknown, because moved off immediately due to patrol vessel in the vicinity.  
    07.23   Crash dive for aircraft.  
    16.00 AN 2672 center-left edge Occupied position in the central North Sea on Radio Message orders.  
         
  [4 Oct ≈ 20.15 Radio Message 1103/98 from B.d.U.: "U-10, U-18, U-20, U-23 new attack disposition. (for U-23 squares AN 4520, 4530, 4540, 4550).]              
                 Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant.  
    09.10.39 ESE 6-8, Sea 6    
    08.40   Crash dive for aircraft.  
    09.00        "            " On Kr.-report (Radio Message 885) ran into ordered area to the north.  Observed a narrow enemy patrol line (fishing trawlers) on easterly course.  
    12.45   On Radio Message orders (Radio Message 891):  Go 50 nm to the north" ran to the north at AK.  
    14.45   Crash dive for aircraft.  
  [9 Oct ≈ 14.20  Radio Message 1228/xx from B.d.U.: "U-10, U-18, U-20, U-23 go 50 nm to the north.] Since 9 October received no further reports concerning enemy forces, only by broadcast.  
               
                 Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant.  
    11.10.39 SE 6, Sea 5    
    11.50   Crash dive for aircraft.  
                     
                       Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant.  
    12.10.39 SSE 6-7, Sea 7 Began return transit around Skagen on Radio Message orders.  
           
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 01.10.39 Sun and Moon Data 07.10.39
Sun and Moon Data 02.10.30 Sun and Moon Data 08.10.30
Sun and Moon Data 03.10.30 Sun and Moon Data 09.10.30
Sun and Moon Data 04.10.39 Sun and Moon Data 10.10.39
Sun and Moon Data 05.10.30 Sun and Moon Data 11.10.30
Sun and Moon Data 06.10.30 Sun and Moon Data 12.10.30
 
- 2 -
 
           
           
           
    continued      
    12.10.39      
    15.25   Recognition Signal exchange with "U-18".  
                     
                       Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant.  
    14.10.39 AO 4445 upper-right corner    
    15.00 ENE 6, Sea 5 "Two heavy underwater detonations in the vicinity of the boat.  Probably torpedo shots.  No bubble track sighted." (Sent Radio Message)  
                     
                       Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant.  
    16.10.39      
    07.45   Arrived Kiel.  
                     
                       Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant.  
           
       
Experiences:
1. Substantial neutral steamer traffic Skagerrak and central North Sea.  Dimmed merchant ships apparently only in the vicinity of the British coast.
2. In heavy seas, increased fuel consumption reduces sea endurance. After putting to sea, a fuel replenishment at an advanced point, for example Helgoland, would have a favorable effect.
   
  Enclosures:
  Enclosure 1:  Track chart.
  Enclosure 2 : Firing documentation.
 
           
           
           
                Concluded in Kiel, 16 October 1939.  
                     
                       Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant.  
           
           
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 12.10.39
Sun and Moon Data 13.10.30
Sun and Moon Data 14.10.30
Sun and Moon Data 15.10.39
Sun and Moon Data 16.10.30

 

  Enclosures to U-23's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document
   
Chart Track chart of entire patrol
   
Torpedo Torpedo firing report

 

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