Excerpt of the Officer-Only Radio Log of  "  U-305  "
  
 
                                                          Patrol from 23.8. to 22.10.43.
  
 
 
 
29.08.43  
Coastal
  To "Bahr", "Purkhold", "Kinzel", "Schetelig", "Epp", "Ferro"
  After transit to previously ordered square go to square BD 60 and wait.  Economical fuel consumption.  There transfer of missing special orders is intended.   After giving the passing report radio silence.
     
07.09.43  
Ireland
22.46 1.)  Previous objective for "Schnoor", "Schauenburg" cancelled.
  2.)  From 10 September 2 hours after dawn in square BD 9146 "Ferro", "Bahr", "Purkhold", "Kinzel", "Albrecht" supply from "Schnoor".  Top off fuel oil and provisions.  No bearing signals.  "Schnoor" be at meeting point daily 2 hours after dawn and at 18.00 hours. (continued)
     
08.09.43   Combat boats after supply return to precious waiting area.  "Albrecht" occupy square BD 39.  Radio silence except for tactically important reports.
00.13
  3.)  "Schnoor" after completing supply head for square BD 87.  Here top off from "Kühl", "Schauenburg" and "Pfeffer" intended.  Named boats head for this square.
     
16.09.43 1.)  "Bork", "Poeschel", "Epp", "Purkhold", "Albrecht", "Kinzel", "Techand", "Hepp", "Bahr", "Otto", "Ferro", "Forstner", "Deecke", "Schetlig", "Engel", "Rendtel", "Curio", "Maeder", "Manseck", "Kluth", "Baltz" form group "Leuthen".  In named order on 20 Sept at 20.00 hours in patrol line located from Point Roman Numeral I to Point Roman Numeral II.  Spacing 17 nm.  From Roman Numeral I Point "J" bears 82, 158 nm, from Point II Point "H" bears 260, 70 nm.  More to follow.
00.38  
  2.) Open envelope with reference points.
  3.) To illustrate:  Point Roman Numeral I lies therefore west of Point "J".
     
16.09.43    
16.42 1.) Operate only on westbound convoy.  From 21 September "ONS", from 23 September "ON" convoy expected.  In case of proceeding to the south delay possible.
  2.) On sighting eastbound convoy no operation, however, utilize favorable attack opportunities.  Report only if the boat is noticed by the enemy.  After utilizing attack opportunities quickly return to position in patrol line.
     
30.09.43  
Hubertus
  Contrary to previous orders on 1 October at 12.00 hours be in new patrol line from Point 3 to Point 4.  From Point 3 Reference Point "G" bears 238, 76 nm, from Point 4 Reference Point "H" bears 185, 180 nm.
     
01.10.43  
Hubertus
  Group "Roßbach":   In Serial No. 833 shift ordered patrol line by 2 October 08.00 hours 60 nm in direction 350°T.  New named order from the north:  "Speidel", "Rendtel", "Lauterbach", "Engel", "Hunger", "Techand", "Manseck", "Deecke", "Freyberg", "Giersberg", "Finke", "Maeder" and continuing as before.  No report of delayed arrival.
 
     
     
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                                                  Excerpt of the Radio Log of  "  U-305  "
  
 
                                                          Patrol from 23.8. to 22.10.43.
  
     
 
30.08.43  
Coastal
07.38 1.) Passed BE 86.
  2.) Daily after darkness and before dawn 2 hours each on the surface, thereby no aircraft and detection.
                                                                                  "Bahr"
     
04.09.43  
Ireland
  1.) To transfer reference points to "Ferro" and "Bahr", "Ferro" and "Purkhold" meet on 5 September  at 19.00 hours in square BD 5385.  "Bahr" and "Kinzel" meet in square BD 6155, no bearing signals, no completion reports.
  2.) After successful transfer occupy as temporary attack area:  "Ferro" 03, "Purkhold" 79, "Bahr" 11, "Kinzel" 87.  All MQ in disguised square BD.
  3.) In addition radio silence.  If meeting does not take place, only report on receiving a departure order from these temporary attack areas.
     
06.09.43  
Ireland
12.01 1.) In amendment to Radio Message 1331 of 4 September occupy after transfer of reference points as temporary attack area "Kinzel" BD 35,' "Bahr" BD 62.
  2.) Boats in temporary attack areas no attack restrictions, moreover remain absolutely unnoticed.
     
12.09.43  
Ireland
18.11 Techand, Epp, Schetelig, Ferro, Purkhold, Kinzel, Bahr, Albrecht, Manseck, and Deecke depart in time from western area so as to reach position 180 nm north of point "Hans " by 20 September in the evening.  Open envelope with reference points.  No reports.
     
20.09.43  
Ireland
19.22 ßß 1 destroyer, 1 steamer square AK 0259.
                                                                                  "U-305"
     
21.09.43  21.09 hours naval square AK 0218 bombed unsuccessfully, afterwards T V hit on approaching destroyer, target angle 10°.  22.44 hours coup de grace on destroyer and another T V hit on second destroyer.  104 cbm.  9 torpedoes.
                                                                                  "Bahr"
     
22.09.43  
Hubertus
11.05 1.) 06.40 hours square AK 4579 in fog pursued steamer, artillery fire, depth charges Asdic, underwater telephone traffic bearing 230°T.
  2.) Hagenuk No. 26 and radio direction finder totally failed, G.H.G. conditionally operable.
  3.) SSW 2-3, Sea 2, 1002 mb falling, fog and dust rain, 94 cbm.
                                                                                  "Bahr"
     
22.09.43  
Hubertus
22.25 ßß 1 steamer square AJ 9638
     
     
23.09.43  
Hubertus
05.04 01.58 hours 9621 star shells, 03.01 hours 9675 star shells.  Position 9621.  No sound bearings.  Suspect search group.  All naval squares AJ.
                                                                                  "Bahr"
 
     
     
 
     
 
- 2 -
 
     
 
23.09.43  
Hubertus
10.29 ßß Aircraft holds contact square AJ 9524
10.44                                                                                 "U-305"
     
10.46 ßß Convoy square AJ 9524
                                                                                  "U-305"
     
11.04 ßß Sending bearing signals in accordance with War Orders.
                                                                                  "U-305"
     
13.38 ßß 2 steamers square AJ 9519 westerly course, 10 knots.
                                                                                  "U-305"
     
12.48  
Hubertus
  "Leuthen"
  Operation on convoy broken off, set off to the east.  Boats in favorable position off the convoy stay utilize attack opportunities.
     
24.09.43  
Hubertus
  Group Leuthen:
  1. Next operation on eastbound convoy about 27 September intended.  Send all necessary reports in the course of the night.  Further orders to follow, All orders are settled.  On 24 September additionally expect heavy enemy air reconnaissance and remain submerged.
  2. "Bahr", "Poeschel" report position during the night.
  3. "Maeder" transfer copy of allocated Address Book intended later.
     
15.22  
Hubertus
  1.)
Hepp detach from Group and head for square BD 40.
  2.) Remaining Group "Leuthen" head for reference point "Ysoph" with day's run 200 nm.  Do not be seen.  Nights run at higher speed.
  3.) Baltz, Dauter, Freyberg after successful meeting and Hunger and Kruger head for Reference Point Gustav at high transit speed.
     
24.09.43  
Hubertus
17.30 1. Reference Point "Ysoph" not known, have only Reference Point Anton - Lucie
  2. Position square AJ 9661.
                                                                                  "Bahr"
     
23.42  
Hubertus
  1. "Finke", "Speidel", "Rendtel", "Techand", "Lauterbach", "Engel", "Manseck", "Forstner", "Deecke", "Giersberg", Mäder", "Curio", "Ferro", "Purkhold", "Baltz", "Dauter" form Group "Roßbach".
  2. In this named order on 26 September at 16.00 hours be in reconnaissance line located from Roman Numeral I to Roman Numeral II.  Course 90, 4 knots.  from Point Roman Numeral I to Point Roman Numeral II.  Spacing 17 nm.  From Roman Numeral I Point "Cäsar" bears 255, 163 nm, from Point II Point "Hans" bears 105, 77 nm.  Westbound convoy expected from 26 September.
 
     
     
 
     
 
- 3 -
  
     
 
25.09.43  
Hubertus
01.25 1. "Bahr" join Group "Roßbach" and extend reconnaissance line in accordance with Serial No. 881 and 824 one position to the south.
  2. Reference point "Ysoph" in Serial No. 92 and 820 must mean "Jota".
     
11.31  
Hubertus
  Group Roßbach:
  Contrary to pervious orders: On 27 September at 06.00 hours be in new patrol line located from point Alpha [AK 2558] to point Beta [AK6781]. Spacing15 nm. From Point Alpha Point "Cäsar" bears 253, 125 nm, from Point Beta Point "Hans" bears 88, 112 nm.  Convoy expected from 27 September. 
     
27.09.43  
Hubertus
  To Roßbach:
  From 12.00 hours course 300°, speed 7 knots on 28 September [at 00.00 hours] halt.  Remain in reached position as patrol line.
     
29.09.43  
Hubertus
22.54 1. Heilmann and Krüger join Group Roßbach, 30 September 09.00 hours switch Hubertus Circuit.
23.50 2. Group Roßbach in named order:  "Heilmann", "Speidel", "Rendtel", "Techand", "Lauterbach", "Engel", "Hunger", "Manseck", "Deecke", "Freyberg", "Giersberg", "Maeder", "Curio", "Ferro", "Purkhold", "Baltz", "Bork", "Dauter", "Bahr", "Krüger", "Forstner".  On 1 October at 10.00 hours in patrol line from Point 1 to Point 2, spacing 15 nm.  From Point 1"Gustav" bears 270, 74 nm, from Point 2 Point "Hans" bears 190, 120 nm.  To illustrate: Point 1 lies therefore east of Gustav.  On 1 October a slow southwest convoy is expected.  Maintain radio silence except for tactically important reports.  As far as possible remain unnoticed.
  3. After convoy operations supply for boats low on fuel is intended in area of Point "Ida".
  4. Forstner detach so as to reach supply square with 10 cbm.
  5. Reference point in transfer for "Heilmann" "Gurke"
     
02.10.43  
Hubertus
23.12 Group Roßbach:
  Shift patrol line another 50 nm in direction 350°.  For this purpose, from 00.00 hours 3 October course 350°, 7 knots, until reaching new position.
     
04.10.43  
Hubertus
16.35 1. Group Roßbach:
    Expected westbound convoy has probably passed the patrol line yesterday evening.
  2. Today at 21.00 hours proceed from 17.00 hour position on course 195°, day's run 150 nm, proceed such that enemy does not notice deployment.  With unfavorable weather conditions or if required by air reconnaissance proceed submerged by day and run at high speed by night.
  3. Intention is, to catch an eastbound convoy about in AK 80 and 90 and to supply boats low in fuel in the familiar area.
  4. Tonight "Heilmann" report position and "Krüger" report fuel inventory.
 
     
     
 
     
 
- 4 -
 
     
 
  5. Boats low in fuel, or that can not operate further for personnel or material reasons report this tonight.  Conserve fuel.
     
05.10.43  
Hubertus
09.46 Request return transit after detecting convoy.  Besides already reported failures forward diving plane totally out of service, battery 2 is conditionally operable.  NNE 3, Sea 2, 994 mb falling, Vis. good, 55 cbm.
                                                                                  "Bahr"
     
19.48   Hubertus
  1. U-389 report position.
  2. Hungershausen go to AK 97 at economical transit speed.  More to follow.
  3. To Bahr:  Agree with intention.
     
06.10.43  
Hubertus
13.24 1. Techand take over from Bahr on 10 October noon in BD 3335 about 10 cbm fuel oil.  Afterwards both boats return transit.  Intermediate objective for Techand thereby settled.
  2. For Forstner, Curio, Deecke, Manseck head for BD 37, there supply is intended.
     
08.10.43  
Hubertus
18.32 1. Schrewe continue transit in accordance with special task.
  2. New objective for Lamby, Scheibe and Wenzel is AK 50.  In named area wait on further orders, economical fuel consumption.
  3. Schrewe, Scheibe and Wenzel switch to Hubertus Circuit
     
11.10.43  
Ireland
11.25 Supply not possible due to sustained bad weather.  "Bahr" out of sight.  Request supply.  11 cbm.  SW 9, Sea 8, 1007 mb, Vis. 1 nm, BD 3335.
                                                                                  "Techand"
     
11.10.43  
Ireland
13.25 1. Techand go to Barthke and supply for economical return transit.  Bahr continue transit.
  2. Giersberg return transit without supply.
     
13.10.43  
Ireland
20.24 Return harbors:
  U-305, Techand, U-643, Finke is Brest.
  Engel, U-264, Purkhold, U-641 Nazaire.
  Curio, U-645, Bork is Pallice.
  Lauterback, U-419 Lorient.
                                                                                  F.d.U. West
     
21.02 1. New interim objective for Zschech and Wintermeyer is . . . .
  2. Bahr, Curio, Purkhold, Engel tomorrow at 08.00 hours switch to Coastal Circuit.
  3. "Barleben" new objective is the the square from Officer-Only Radio Message of 12 October Serial No. 41 sent to "Brauel"
     
20.10.43  
Coastal
08.11 ßß Positioned 30 hours off return harbor, my direction finder is out of service.
     
19.25 "U-305"
  Escort positioned on 21 October at 16.00 hours at Point 346.
                                                                                  1. U-Flottille
     
19.34 "U-305"
  Escort positioned not on 21 October at 16.00 hours but instead on 22 October at 08.30 hours at Point 346.  Run on entry route at night.
                                                                                  1. U-Flottille