U-505 - 5th - 9th War Patrols

Translation by Jerry Mason with the help of Andi Forster

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	- 2 -
		03.07.43
		20.30	Lorient	Put to sea.
		23.20	Point Laterne	Outer escort with "U-168", "U-183", "U-514" and "U-533" by 7 M-boats.
		04.07.43
		00.00	BF 6175	While under escort both diesels are out of service for 1-1/2 hours.  One M-boat takes over anti-aircraft escort in fog.
			ENE 1-2, Sea 1-2, misty, later fog, 1022.5 mb
		08.00	BF 5552
			ENE 1-2, Sea 1-2, fog, 1022,5 mb
		10.30	Point Kern	Escort ended.
		11.03	BF 5571	Dived for deep diving test.
				Because a large part of the pressure hull is new and the starboard shaft is out of service, only went to depth A +30 meters.  In the course of this Fu.M.B. antenna shorted and is unusable.
		12.00	BF 5571	Carry over:       110        6
				02/04.07.43:         173            1
				Total:                    283            7
		13.00	BF 5571	Surfaced.
				Under command of "U-514" began outbound transit with "U-533".
		13.25	BF 5577	"U-533" reports by Radio Message difficulty moving one exhaust gas valve.
		15.12	BF 5814	Dived.
		16.00	BF 5817
		19.06	BF 5817	Surfaced.
				"U-533" has orders to begin return transit.
		19.56	BF 5841	Detection on 172 cm at the lower limit of acoustic range the same as on 2 July, dived.
		20.00	BF 5841
		21.42	BF 5841	Surfaced.
		22.05	BF 5766	Detection 167 cm.
				Dived.
		23.00	BF 5769	Surfaced.
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	Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB	Sun and Moon Data 03.07.43
		Sun and Moon Data 04.07.43

	- 3 -
		05.07.43	Bay of Biscay
		00.00	BF 5769	Dived.
			ENE 1-2, Sea 1-2, cloudy
		04.00	BF 5793
		06.02	BF 5793	Surfaced.
		08.00	BF 8233	Dived.
			N 1-2, Sea 1, cloudy
		12.00	BF 8236	Carry over:       283        7
				04/05.07.43:           69            8
				Total:                 352        15
		16.00	BF 8238
		19.00	BF 8238	Surfaced.
		20.00	BF 8265
			NNW 1-2, Sea 1, overcast, 1019 mb
		23.04	BF 8562	Dived.
		06.07.43
		00.00	BF 8562
			NNW 2-3, Sea 2, overcast, 1019 mb
		04.00	BF 8565
		06.04	BF 8568	Surfaced.
		06.32	BF 8592	Dived for Portuguese fisherman.
		08.00	BF 8595	No reception on Coastal frequencies.
		12.00	BF 8831	Carry over:       352        15
				05/06.07.43:           70            34
				Total:                 422        49
		16.00	BF 8597	G.H.G. out of service.
		19.04	BF 8594	Surfaced.
		20.00	BF 8586
			WNW 3-4, Sea 3, overcast, 1017 mb
		22.15	BF 8571	Dived.
		07.07.43
		00.00	BF 8571	Received at program time.
		04.00	BF 8493

	Sun and Moon Data 05.07.43
	Sun and Moon Data 06.07.43
	Sun and Moon Data 07.07.43

	- 4 -
		continued
		07.07.43	Bay of Biscay
		07.20	BF 8491	Surfaced.  "U-514" lost, because I could not be ready to surface at 07.00 hours as arranged.
				The transit in formation proved itself well.  Only by day, surface contact and communication by signal flag traffic by the two Kommmandants personally to keep the lookouts free and to avoid unnecessary orders and sources of error.
				While proceeding submerged very bad communication by underwater telephone at ranges greater than 1000 meters. By agreement before departure:   Continue transit independently along the 200-meter line to approximately Vigo.
		08.00	BF 8483
			W 4-5, Sea 4, overcast, 1015 mb
		09.00	BF 8482	Dived.
		12.00	BF 8473	Carry over:       422        49
				06/07.07.43:           51            37
				Total:                 473        86
				After program time (without reception) the radio direction finder antenna could not be retracted.
		16.00	BF 8472
		19.28	BF 8471	Surfaced.
		20.00	BF 7693
		20.06	BF 7693	Detection, 148.5 cm.
				Dived.
		22.35	BF 7696	Surfaced.
		23.45	BF 7689	Incoming Radio Message:
				1.  New objective for  . . . . . . . . Zschech is DF 90.
				2.  . . . . . . . .
		23.56	BF 7689	Dived.
		08.07.43
		00.00	BF 7689
			W 2, Sea 1-2, overcast, 1021 mb
		04.00	BF 7922
		07.10	BF 7916	Surfaced.
		07.26	BF 7916	Dived for fishing trawlers coming in sight.
		08.00	BF 7916
		12.00	BF 7918	Carry over:       473        86
				07/08.07.43:           24            40
				Total:                 497        126

	Sun and Moon Data 07.07.43
	Sun and Moon Data 08.07.43

	- 5 -
		continued
		08.07.43	Spanish coast off La Coruna
		13.15	BF 7918	Without warning 6 depth charges.
				From 12.00-13.00 hours the boat was at depth 18 meters for program time and at 13.00 went to depth A -40 meters.
				After a few minutes,
		13.19		a total of 4 bombs, one of which was a dud.
				Reason for the aircraft bombs was not determined.  For safety 2 bold cartridges were ejected.
		16.00	BF 7918	Since despite ongoing attempts the radio direction finder does not retract surfaced or submerged, a repair under the protection of land is not feasible at night, thus the boat is no longer fully ready to submerge, and at the same time the G.H.G. has totally failed and also can not be repaired, and third, presumably an oil trace is responsible for the aircraft bombs, decide to turn back because taken together these pose an unnecessary danger to the boat.
		20.00	BF 7943	Proceeded at depth A +40 meters.
		20.04	BF 7943	9 depth charges close by.
		20.14		6 depth charges.
		20.24		9 depth charges.
				Water depth 160 meters.
				2 Bolde cartridges ejected.
				Boat proceeded silently since the aircraft bombs at noon. Hearing is not possible, in the underwater telephone nothing can be distinguished.
				Because up to now
		21.20	BF 7943	nothing is heard, went to periscope depth.  Bearing 270°T 3 destroyers, 1 of which is quite modern looking, 2 smokestacks with caps, from the side view like a cruiser of the Birmingham Class.
				Attack no possible due to the mirror flat sea.
				It is inexplicable to me why the periscope was not seen while it was extended.
		21.23	BF 7943	While going deep several depth charges follow. 1 Bolde cartridge is ejected.  Then the flooding mechanism is unclear, because the outer door can no longer be closed.  Assumption: Aircraft detected the boat by an oil trace, and has by bombing called the 3 destroyers, who then detected first cloud of Bolde ejected.  Without a listening device and not fully ready to submerge boat the situation could have been very uncomfortable. Why the destroyers have not detected the boat, is beyond me.  Explosive location and Asdic were not observed.

Sun and Moon Data 08.07.43

	- 6 -
		continued
		08.07.43	Spanish coast off La Coruna
		21.23		Boat runs at silent speed to the coast.
				As it turned out later by incoming Radio Message in this area there was an established U-boat hunting group.
		09.07.43
		00.00	BF 7946
		02.45	BF 7946	Surfaced.
				At about 3 nm from the coast ran off to the north, in order to have maximum protection against locating.
		04.00	BF 7952	The Spanish lighthouses burn as in peacetime.  Very many fishermen, small tug with barges.
			WNW 1-2, Sea 1, overcast, 1025 mb
		05.32	BF 7935	Dived.
				Incoming Radio Message concerning Tinschert.  Am about 100 nm away so do not go back.
		07.59	BF 7933	Surfaced to determine oil trace which clearly emerges while proceeding submerged, especially in the calm weather.
		08.00	BF 7933
		08.25	BF 8711	Detection 170 cm.
				Dived.
				Due to the clear weather and easily visible oil trace, I put myself
		10.50	BF 8711	at the corner of Cape Ortegal next to the cliffs at depth A -45 meters so as not to be detected again during the day.
		12.00	BF 8711	Carry over:       497        126
				08/09.07.43:           45              35
				Total:                 542        161
		16.00	BF 8711
		20.00	BF 8711
		23.35	BF 8711	Surfaced at darkness.
		10.07.43
		00.00	BF 8478
			W 1, Sea 1, cloudy, 1022 mb
		04.00	BF 8815	Often large open fires burn on the coast.  Between Cape Ortegal and Cape Penas low traffic within 200-m line.
		05.11	BF 8824	Dived.
		08.00	BF 8826
		11.05	BF 8826	At Cape Penas put the boat on the bottom for the same reason as the day before, depth A -50 meters.

	Sun and Moon Data 08.07.43
	Sun and Moon Data 09.07.43
	Sun and Moon Data 10.07.43

	- 7 -
		continued
		10.07.43	Spanish Coast off Cape Penas
		12.00	BF 8826	Carry over:       542        161
				09/10.07.43:           52              13
				Total:                 594        174
		12.50	BF 8826	Raised the boat from the bottom.
		16.00	BF 8831
		20.00	BF 8597
		20.27	BF 8597	Surfaced.
				Again much fishing traffic, mostly heavily smoking and by twos.
		22.14	BF 8564	Detection, 172 cm.
				Dived.
		23.22	BF 8564	Surfaced.
		11.07.43
		00.00	BF 8537
			W 1-2, Sea 1, clear, 1018 mb
		00.05	BF 8537	Sent on America II Circuit:
				Restricted readiness to dive, depth charges due to oil trace, came about.  Naval square BF 8564.
				Zschech.
		00.17	BF 8537	Dived.
		04.00	BF 8534
		06.06	BF 8298	Surfaced.
		07.26	BF 8292	Dived.
		08.00	BF 8292
		12.00	BF 8268	Carry over:       594        174
				10/11.07.43:           48              37
				Total:                 642        211
		16.00	BF 8265
		17.40	BF 8262	Strange underwater telephone traffic received, probably a U-boat.  Could not be made out.
		19.00	BF 8262
		20.00	BF 8235	2 drifting heavy net buoys on sight, rhombus shaped.
			W 2, Sea 1-2, overcast, 1018 mb, NW-Swell
		20.15	BF 8235	Radio Message received on Coastal Circuit:
				To Zschech:
				1.  Attempt to reach Point Kern on 12 July at 20.00 hours.  To be taken in convoy there by M-boats escorting two outbound boats.
				2.  M-boat and U-boats are informed.
				3.  Report late arrival in a timely manner.
				F.d.U. West.

	Sun and Moon Data 10.07.43
	Sun and Moon Data 11.07.43

	- 8 -
		continued
		11.07.43	Bay of Biscay
		21.03	BF 5798	Dived.
		12.07.43
		00.00	BF 5795
		04.00	BF 5769
		05.43	BF 5769	Surfaced.
		06.24	BF 5763	Detection, 172 cm.
				Dived.
		08.00	BF 5739
			WSW 2-3, Sea 2, overcast, flat W-Swell, 1017 mb, partly misty
		12.00	BF 5814	Carry over:       642        211
				11/12.07.43:          35              46
				Total:                 677        257
				Regarding reception on Coastal Circuit:
				With the current orders concerning transit through the Bay of Biscay comprehensive coverage of all Radio Messages is no longer possible since there was no reception at periscope depth during program time in recent days. From 4 July to now 67 Radio Messages were not received.
		16.00	BF 5577
			WSW 2-3, Sea 2, cloudy, flat Swell, 1018 mb
		19.00	BF 5571	Surfaced.
		19.35	BF 5571	Boat is at meeting point, convoy in sight bearing 80°T.
		19.39	BF 5571	Aircraft in sight, altitude about 300 meters, W-course.  (2 aircraft may have been sighted).
				C r a s h  D i v e !
		19.57	BF 5571	Surfaced.
		20.05	Point Kern
		20.15	BF 5571	Boat under escort.
		13.07.43
		00.00	BF 5529
		01.20 - 01.40	BF 5533	Mine aircraft departing from Lorient fly over. Mutually short bursts of fire.  Detection was not noted.
		03.10	Point Laterne	Taken in sperrbrecher convoy.
		05.25	Lorient	Made fast.

	Sun and Moon Data 11.07.43
	Sun and Moon Data 12.07.43
	Sun and Moon Data 13.07.43

	- 9 -
		14. 31.07.43		Idle period Lorient.
				It was observed that the rubber seals were completely eaten away in virtually all emergency shutoff valves and main ballast tank vents.  In addition, in both brand new batteries, the grout had become quite soft despite the low temperatures. Both were addressed by the shipyard as material error.
		01.08.43
		20.20	Lorient	Put to sea with "U-68", "U-523" and "U-123".
		23.10	Point Laterne	Escort change.
		02.08.43
		00.00	BF 6475
			WSW 3-4, Sea 3, overcast, 1014 mb
		04.00	BF 5529
			WSW 3-4, Sea 3, overcast, 1014 mb
		07.55	Point Kern.
		08.00	BF 5571
			W 3, Sea 2-3, overcast, 1014 mb
		08.12	BF 5571	Dived for deep diving test.  At depth A +50 meters the boat, which up to now had never dived over depth A +40 meters, began to crack substantially.
				At depth A +60 meters clearly audible flooding outside the pressure hull.
		09.32	BF 5571	Surfaced.  Over deck and [torpedo] canisters inspected.  Nothing determined.  After returning it was later determined that a canister had burst.
		10.33	BF 5571	Again dived.
				At depth A +50 meters the sounds begin again, stronger than normal deep diving sounds.  At depth 2A a very loud bang at the level of the after control room hatch and forward edge of the diesel above the starboard side.  Thought to be the bursting or cracking of a pressure resistant part.
		12.00	BF 5571	Carry over:       763        271
				01/02.08.43:         101               6
				Total:                 864        277
		12.23	BF 5571	Surfaced.  Investigation carried out at sea on the upper deck was not successful. Due to the fact that perfect breaking sounds existed and, according to orders, "U-523" should proceed outbound together, had to return again.  Began return transit.

	Sun and Moon Data 01.08.43
	Sun and Moon Data 02.08.43

	- 10 -
		continued
		02.08.43	Bay of Biscay	Pietzsch reports both by Radio Message.
		16.00	BF 5552
			W 2, Sea 2, cloudy, 1040 mb
		20.00	BF 6177
		23.10	Lorient	Made fast.
				Carry over:       864        277
				11/12.08.43:         107
				Total:                 971        277
		03. - 13.08.43		Idle period Lorient.
				Despite accurate indication of the location the shipyard did not detect any leakage during the investigation. Delay due to waiting time for Hagenuk device.
		14.08.43
		19.00	Lorient	Put to sea with "U-68".
		21.45	Point Laterne	Escort change.
		15.08.43
		00.00	BF 5533
			W 3-4, Sea 3, overcast, 1019 mb
		04.00	BF 5546
			NW 3, Sea 2-3, overcast, 1021 mb
		07.40	BF 5491	Dived for deep diving test.
				At depth A +60 meters heavy cracking at the old location as on 2 August.
				At depth 2A +7 meters strong cracking and audible flooding, air intake foot valve leaks.  It was determined that the air intake mast was flooded.
		08.00	BF 5491
			N 2-3, Sea 2, overcast, 1022 mb
		08.42	BF 5491	Surfaced.
				Began return transit with "U-68".
		09.58	BF 5492	Sent Radio Message on Coastal Circuit:
				At depth 2A +7 meters air intake mast ruptured and flattened.  Lauzemis starboard negative buoyancy tank out of service.  Both boats 17.30 hours Point "Laterne".
				Zschech.
		12.00	BF 5549	Carry over:         971        277
			NE 2-3, Sea 2, overcast, 1023 mb	14/15.08.43:          160                6
				Total:                 1131        283
		16.00	BF 5532
			NE 2, Sea 1-2, overcast, 1024 mb

	Sun and Moon Data 02.08.43
	Sun and Moon Data 14.08.43
	Sun and Moon Data 15.08.43

	- 11 -
		continued
		15.08.43	Bay of Biscay
		17.20		One land-based aircraft (two-engined) approaches at low altitude and flies directly over the boat without exchanging recognition signals.  Fire opened at range = 800 meters.  Thereafter on recognizing the German markings ceased fire.  The aircraft flies stubbornly straight away at 50 meters altitude over the formation.
		20.30	Lorient	Made fast.
				Carry over:       1131        283
				15.08.43:                  93
				Total:                 1224        283
		16. - 20.08.43	Lorient	Shipyard period.
				Air intake mast receives a new center section.
		21.08.43
		20.00	Lorient	Put to sea with "U-515".
		22.45	Point "Lampe".	Changed escort.
		22.08.43
		00.00	BF 6412
			W 3-4, Sea 3, overcast, 1008 mb
		04.00	BF 5583
			WSW 3-4, Sea 3, overcast, 1013 mb
		05.47	Point "Liebe"	Dived.
				Reached diving depth 2A +15 meters.
		07.37	BF 5587	Surfaced.
				Oil trace determined.
		08.00	BF 5587	Began return transit with "U-515".
			WSW 3, Sea 2-3, overcast, 1014 mb
		10.01	BF 5567	Radio Message sent on Coastal Circuit:
				Return transit due to oil trace as on 10 July.  "Lampe" 13.30 hours with Henke.
				Zschech.
		12.00	BF 5563	Carry over:       1224        283
			WSW 2, Sea 3, cloudy, 1014 mb	21/22.08.43:           111               6
				Total:                 1335        289
		15.30	Point "Lampe"	Changed escort.
		18.40	Lorient	Made fast.
				Carry over:       1335        289
				22.08.43:                  67
				Total:                 1402        289
		23.08. - 17.09.43	Lorient	Shipyard period.
				The same reasons as on 8 July forced the boat to return, namely corroded rubber rings in the main ballast and reserve fuel oil tanks.
				Idle period was prolonged by waiting on Hagenuk.
		18.09.43	Lorient
		19.15	Lorient	Put to sea with "U-103", "U-155" and "U-228".
		21.05		Beginning of twilight.
		21.40	Point "Lampe"	Escort change.
		19.09.43
		00.00	BF 5536
			NE 2-3, Sea 2, overcast, 1023

	Sun and Moon Data 15.08.43
	Sun and Moon Data 21.08.43
	Sun and Moon Data 22.08.43
	Sun and Moon Data 18.09.43
	Sun and Moon Data 19.09.43

	- 12 -
		continued
		19.09.43	Bay of Biscay
		04.00	BF 5585
			NW 2, Sea 1-2, overcast, 1022 mb
		04.25	Point "Liebe"	Dived for deep diving test.
		06.00	BF 5587	Starboard exhaust gas valve admits in 1/2 hour 1 ton of water, apparently because previously it had been stopped for a long time because in accordance with orders the boat was not to dive before dawn.
		06.54	BF 5587	Surfaced.  Exhaust gas valve quickly warmed.
		07.10		Dawn begins.
		07.29	BF 5587	Dived again.  Starboard exhaust gas valve is now more tight.
				Reached diving depth 2A meters.
		08.00	BF 5587
			NW 2, Sea 1-2, overcast, rain, 1028 mb
		08.34	BF 5587	Surfaced.  Flottilla Engineering Officer comes on board to confer.
		09.14	BF 5587	Dived for repeat check. Exhaust gas valve is much tighter now. Tightness is sufficient that there is now enough regulating water (3 tons) for submerged transit by day.
		09.53	BF 5587	Surfaced.  Flottilla Engineering Officer departs.
		10.15	BF 5584	Released from escort.
		11.06	BF 5584	Dived.
		12.00	BF 5584	Carry over:       1402        289
			NW 1-2, Sea 1, overcast, rain showers, 1022.5 mb	18/19.09.43:          120                9
				Total:                 1522        298
		16.00	BF 5575
		20.00	BF 5574
		21.10		Beginning of twilight.
		21.50	BF 5574	Surfaced.
		23.29	BF 5494	Dived.
		20.09.43
		00.00	BF 5494
			NW 1-2, Sea 1, overcast, heavy marine phosphorescence, 1022 mb
		04.00	BF 5486
		04.35	BF 5485	Surfaced.
		05.30	BF 5484	Dived.
		07.20		Beginning of twilight.

	Sun and Moon Data 19.09.43
	Sun and Moon Data 20.09.43

	- 13 -
		continued
		20.09.43	Bay of Biscay
		08.00	BF 5484
		12.00	BF 5476	Carry over:       1522        298
				19/20.09.43:             33             36
				Total:                 1555        334
		16.00	BF 5476
		20.00	BF 5475
		21.15		Beginning of twilight.
		21.36	BF 5475	Surfaced.
		21.09.43
		00.00	BF 4686
			NW 3, Sea 2-3, overcast, heavy marine phosphorescence, 1021 mb
		00.34	BF 4686	Dived.
		04.00	BF 4685
		07.30		Beginning of twilight.
		08.00	BF 4685
		12.00	BF 4684	Carry over:       1555        334
				20/21.09.43:             35             25
				Total:                 1580        359
		16.00	BF 4676
		20.00	BF 4676
		21.25	BF 4675	Surfaced, beginning of twilight.
		22.09.43
		00.00	BF 4834
			NNW 3-4, Sea 3, overcast, rain showers, 1020 mb
		00.34	BF 4834	Dived.
				During program time the radio direction finder antenna can not be extended, also a malfunction similar to one which appeared 2 months ago.
				As a result substantially worse long wave reception, boat must go just beneath the surface of the water and taking bearings is impossible.
				At present, correction of the malfunction by onboard means is not possible.
		04.00	BF 4849
		05.45	BF 4828	Surfaced.
		07.04	BF 4845	Dived.
		07.30		Beginning of twilight.
		08.00	BF 4844

	Sun and Moon Data 20.09.43
	Sun and Moon Data 21.09.43
	Sun and Moon Data 22.09.43

	- 14 -
		continued
		22.09.43	Bay of Biscay
		12.00	BF 4766	Carry over:       1580        359
				21/22.09.43:             66             36
				Total:                 1646        395
		16.00	BF 4765
		20.00	BF 4764
		21.32	BF 4764	Surfaced, beginning of twilight.
				Difference between dead reckoning and actual position after a navigation fix:  270°T, 42 nm.
		23.55	BE 6965	Dived.
		23.09.43
		00.00	BE 6965	From now on constantly during the day and especially at night aircraft bombs and depth charges at long range.
			NNE 5, Sea 4, overcast, 1023 mb
		04.00	BE 6964
		06.14	BE 6956	Surfaced.
		07.14	BE 6955	Dived.
		07.50		Beginning of twilight.
		08.00	BE 6954
		12.00	BE 6946	Carry over:       1646        395
				22/23.09.43:             66             34
				Total:                 1712        429
		16.00	BE 6946
		20.00	BE 6945
		21.30	BE 6945	Surfaced, beginning of twilight.
				While blowing
		21.39	BE 6945	detection, 139 cm.
				C r a s h  D i v e !
		22.42	BE 6945	On surfacing detection, 139 cm.  Immediately flooded again.  While starting the starboard E-motor fails.  On going deep the main drain pump is not operable.
				Found afterwards that the newly installed Siemens main switchboard on the starboard side developed a short-circuit in the speed control. At the same time the short circuit current caused the motor to the main bilge pump to start, as the armature of the motor had a short to the ship, but this was not known up to now.
				Work starts immediately in both places.  After an hour the starboard E-motor is again in operation.

	Sun and Moon Data 22.09.43
	Sun and Moon Data 23.09.43

	- 15 -
		24.09.43	Bay of Biscay
		00.00	BE 6944
		04.00	BE 6944	Main drain pump motor can not be repaired.
		08.00	BE 6866	Beginning of twilight.
		12.00	BE 6865	The following consideration is made:
				1.)  A repair of the old charred armature on board is not possible at sea due to the lack of necessary means, such as the cables.
				2.)  The pump is located in the corner and is difficult to access: therefore it is installed first in the control room during new construction.  Replacement at sea would take a minimum of 2 weeks, with little hope of success, and where the boat is committed the entire time.  Since the weight of an armature is 300 kg, the transfer at sea would have to go through the torpedo hatch which can only be done in a remote sea area. Transfer through the conning tower hatch is not possible.
				3.)  In practice, the auxiliary and trim pumps work at a maximum depth of A meters, that is dive depth at cruising speed. The other two auxiliary bilge pumps only work up to a depth of 30 meters. Pumping overboard with air can be done up to a depth of A +60 meters, since more than 15 kg, of pressure can not be applied to the regulating tank, the shipyard pressure tests only to 10 kg, further pressure is not allowed due to risks to the bulkheads.  Testing the strength of the bulkheads at sea is inappropriate, especially when pumping is necessary, for example, from enemy action at great depth.  Except for gentle blowing no way exists to pump overboard with water intake at great depth when the main bilge pump has failed.  The pump is vital.
				4.)  If a replacement could be provided at sea, then the boat would lose a minimum of four weeks time (one week until the next boat leaves with waterproof packaged armature, a week to the current location, two weeks installation).  In addition, to transfer both boats would have to go to a remote area.  The four weeks would come off of the length of stay in the operations area.
				Under current conditions, a boat can not do without its only deep bilge pump.  A replacement for the main bilge pump is not on board.  For this reason the boat starts return transit, because it is in the middle of the Biscay aircraft area.  Had it been 100 nm further then I would have set off and undertook repairs on board.

Sun and Moon Data 24.09.43

	- 16 -
		continued
		24.09.43	Bay of Biscay	I'll report on this later.  The must be longer to for exact clarification, and in the Bay of Biscay this is associated with days long harrassment from aircraft.
		12.00		Carry over:       1712        429
				23/24.09.43:               2             34
				Total:                 1714        463
		16.00	BE 6865
		20.00	BE 6866
		21.25		Beginning of twilight.
		21.43	BE 6866	Surfaced.
		23.36	BE 6973	Detection, 170 cm.
				C r a s h  D i v e !
		25.09.43
		00.00	BE 6973
			NE 3-4, Sea 3, cloudy, 1022 mb
		04.00	BE 6981
		04.48	BE 6981	Surfaced.
		06.44	BE 6991	Dived.
			NE 3-4, Sea 3, overcast, 1022 mb
		07.50		Beginning of twilight.
		08.00	BE 6992
		12.00	BE 6993	Carry over:       1714        463
				24/25.09.43:             46             26
				Total:                 1760        489
		16.00	BE 6993
		20.00	BF 4747
		21.20		Begriming of twilight.
		21.36	BF 4747	Surfaced.
		23.19	BF 4755	Dived.
		26.09.43
		00.00	BF 4755
			NNW 3-4, Sea 3, overcast, 1022 mb, Vis. very bad
		04.00	BF 4755
		07.45		Beginning of twilight.
		08.00	BF 4756
		12.00	BF 4764	Carry over:       1760        489
				25/26.09.43:             30             35
				Total:                 1790        524

	Sun and Moon Data 24.09.43
	Sun and Moon Data 25.09.43
	Sun and Moon Data 26.09.43

	- 17 -
		continued
		26.09.43	Bay of Biscay
		16.00	BF 4765
		20.00	BF 4765
		21.12	BF 4765	Surfaced.  Beginning of twilight.
		23.29	BF 4851	Dived.
		27.09.43
		00.00	BF 4851
			NE 3-4, Sea 3, overcast, 1022.5 mb
		04.00	BF 4864
		07.40		Beginning of twilight.
		08.00	BF 4865
		12.00	BF 4866	Carry over:       1790        524
				26/27.09.43:             32             34
				Total:                 1822        558
		16.00	BF 4944
		20.00	BF 4944
		21.09	BF 4945	Surfaced, beginning of twilight.
				Difference between dead reckoning and actual position after a navigation fix:  78°T, 24 nm.
		23.32	BF 4953	Dived.
		28.09.43
		00.00	BF 4953
			NE 2-3, Sea 2, overcast, 1030 mb
		04.00	BF 4961
		07.35		Beginning of twilight.
		08.00	BF 4962
		12.00	BF 4962	Carry over:       1822        558
				27/28.09.43:             34             32
				Total:                 1856        590
		16.00	BF 4939
		20.00	BF 4939
		20.50	BF 5717	Surfaced.
		21.00		Beginning of twilight.
		23.12	BF 5725	Radio Message sent on Coastal Circuit:
				Main drain pump motor started by armature short and short circuit in newly installed Siemens switchboard.  Armature charred, total failure.  Came about naval square BE 69.  Will be at Point Lampe on 30 September at 08.00 hours.
				Zschech.
		23.26	BF 5726	Dived.

	Sun and Moon Data 26.09.43
	Sun and Moon Data 27.09.43
	Sun and Moon Data 28.09.43

	- 18 -
		29.09.43	Bay of Biscay
		00.00	BF 5726
			NNW 5-6, Sea 4-5, cloudy, 1030 mb
		04.00	BF 5734
		07.30		Beginning of twilight.
		08.00	BF 5735
		12.00	BF 5731	Carry over:       1856        590
				28/29.09.43:             33             38
				Total:                 1889        628
		16.00	BF 5731
		20.00	BF 5742
		20.32	BF 5811	Surfaced.
		20.40		Beginning of twilight.
		21.50	Point "Liebe"
		30.09.43
		00.00	BF 5564
			NNW 3, Sea 2-3, overcast, 1022 mb, marine phosphorescence
		04.00	BF 6412
			NW 2, Sea 1-2, cloudy, 1020 mb,
		06.00	Point "Lampe"
		07.23		Beginning of twilight.
		08.15	Point "Lampe"	Taken in convoy.
		10.30	Lorient	Made fast.
				Carry over:       1889        628
				29/30.09.43:           116             16
				Total:                 2005        644
				644
				2649
				On board, 30 September 1943
				Kaptlt and Kommandant

	Sun and Moon Data 29.09.43
	Sun and Moon Data 30.09.43

	Enclosures to U-505's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document
Chart	Track chart covering entire war patrol
Radio	Summary of Radio Log

	Comments of the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote
	on the K.T.B. of "U-505" (Zschech) from 13.12.42 - 30.9.43.
	The outbound transit had been canceled four times because of re-emerging damage and failures that limited the readiness of the boat after more than a half a year of dockyard time. The Kommandant's reasons are accepted.
		For the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote
		- The Chief of the Operations Department -

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