13 July 1941
                                          
 
Report on the sinking of the American
  
 
steamer "ROBIN MOOR"
  
     
          On 21 May 1941 04.30 hours in ES 4675 a steamer was sighted bearing 0°, at 3 nm on course 130°.  The steamer steaming and side navigation lights were illuminated faintly.  I approached the steamer covertly and at 05.10 hours was at 1000 meters.  Illuminated neutrality markings did not exist, a flag was not made out.  The ship had a very conspicuous high deck cargo. Artillery could not be recognized.  It aroused suspicion of a U-boat trap in me.  I moved off and asked the name with the Morselampe. The steamer answered: "ROBIN MOOR" by which my suspicion increased.  At 05.35 hours I requested the steamer to stop and asked for a boat with the Captain and papers.  The steamer stopped immediately and at the same time put a boat to the water.  At 06.00 hours the boat with the First Officer of the ship was alongside.  However, papers were not brought.  
          At my request: The First Officer explained to me that because it was sold 14 days previously the ship has changed names from EXMOOR in "ROBIN MOOR" and was en route from New York to South Africa.  The cargo consists of engines, engine parts, tires and general piece goods.  I explained to the First Officer, that the ship would have to be sunk on the basis of his information that the ship carried absolute banned goods for a power at war with Germany.  The First Officer asked me for 30-minutes time in order to prepare the boats which I granted him.  At the same time I asked him to send the Captain with all papers to me.  The First Officer as well as his crew noted my explanation calmly.  This willingness seemed very suspicious to me.  After the return of the boat I observed on the steamer a big commotion and a very fast lowering of the boats.  
          At 08.15 hours the boat with Captain and loading papers was alongside.  The papers proved banned goods perfectly.  The manifest shows engines, auto parts, autos, tires, clothing articles, food, weapons.  I explained to the Captain that I must sink the ship under these circumstances.  Although the papers show the steamer as an American, the ship had to be sunk.  Because its behavior remained suspicious as a U-boat trap, and also in my opinion I cannot just let a ship go that perfectly carries banned  
                                         
     
Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB
     

   
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  goods, even if it turns out afterwards, that it is an American.  
          I handed over provisions, cognac and dressing material to the captain.  He, as well as his crew accepted it gratefully and when the boat had pulled away the crew with raised hand called "Heil Hitler"!  I did not understand this behavior and my suspicions were strengthened.  For reasons of safety at 09.49 hours I shot a stern torpedo at 1900 meters and immediately submerged after the shot.  The ship was hit amidships.   I observed the ship submerged and surfaced again at 10.45 hours, as nothing remarkable was seen on the upper deck.  Because steamer sank only very slowly I sank it with 30 shots of artillery ammunition.  After the sinking the entire upper deck cargo floated.  I fired at the boxes with MG C/30 and through the bullet holes recognized aluminum parts perfectly.  My First Watch Officer Oblt.z.S. Auffermann, who was a naval airman for a few months, confirmed that it was aircraft parts.  Among the boxes a lot of airplane tires floated.  
     
                                                                                                       
                                                                                               Kaptlt. and Kmdt.  "U-69".