"  U-557  " on board 7 Dec. 1941
     
 
S  i  t  u  a  t  i  o  n     R  e  p  o  r  t  .
 
 
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for the period from 19 Nov. to 7 Dec. 1941  :
 
 
19.11.41   Put to sea from Lorient.
25.11.41 08.10 Put the boat on the bottom 5 nm south of Cape Espartel.
    West of Gibraltar absolutely no sea or air surveillance.
  12.30 Proceeded in the Gibraltar Strait until east of Tangier.
26.11.41 02.10 Broke through the Gibraltar Strait .  Undetected.
    Protection of the Strait:
    West side at the level of Tangier and west therefrom 1 destroyer back and forth.  At the level of Tarifa 1 fishing trawler back and forth.
    East side 1 destroyer off the Rock of Gibraltar back and forth.
26.11. - 04.12.41 Stationed in the northern half of CG 96 and CH 70.
27.11.41 18.00 At the level of Alborán probably submerged enemy U-boat.
    Absolutely no sea or air surveillance.  Under the coast active traffic of illuminated steamers with Spanish markings.  Probably among them also enemy ships with false markings.
    Between Málaga and Gibraltar sparse enemy traffic close under land determined.  Morning departure observed.  Due to the proximity of Gibraltar could only sink one steamer.
    Objective point for enemy ships coming from the east is apparently Estepona, northeast of Gibraltar.
02.12.41 20.33 Norwegian "FJORD" sunk.  Square CG 9619.
    On the prescribed French Route illuminated and marked French.
04.12.41   Transit to the east.
    The convoy expected from the west and the convoy assembling at Gibraltar would likely have brought attack opportunities.
    Distribution of a portion of incoming convoys to Spanish ports is suspected.  Outbound convoys also include such ships. Therefore transit orders to the east at this time was unfortunate from our narrow perspective
7.12.41   Entered Messina for fuel supply.  Approach
 
 
 
 
 
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    posed no difficulties.  Radio reception was good.
     
                                                          
                                                          Kplt. and Kommandant