Enclosure 1 to K.T.B. "U 703" 19.7. to 3.8.43.  
     
 
Experience
  
 
with
  
 
Weather Buoys 106 and 107 on "U 703".
  
     
 
I.) Bringing the buoy aboard.
  a) Weather buoy 106 (deep sea buoy) in forward over deck canister.
  b) Weather buoy 107 in aft over deck canister.
  c) Deep sea anchor secured below the over deck on the torpedo loading trough
  d) Float for the deep sea anchor in the bow room.
  e) Both antennas (lower and upper part) lashed to the torpedo transport rail in the stern room.
  f) Chute (5 meters long) bolted to the upper deck with simple straps.
     
II.) Deployment of weather buoy 106 with deep sea anchor.
          After assembling the necessary torpedo loading gear and the torpedo crane the deep sea anchor was placed on the over deck with the crane and anchor capstan.  After loosening the forward net deflector clamping screws, tensioning [the deflector wire] with tackle and the capstan, detached it forward, then placed it on deck (interfered with deployment of the buoy).  Buoy was withdrawn with tackle and capstan from the over deck container, then hoisted by crane and capstan, torpedo loading gear dismantled.
          Took the antenna upper and lower parts onto the upper deck via the the bow room through the forward torpedo loading hatch.  The opening of the hatch was only possible after partial flooding main ballast tank 1. Even in Sea State 2 this posed a danger to the boat.
          While hanging in the crane the buoy antenna was installed and test transmission completed.  Then the buoy was placed on the chute lying transverse to the forward edge of crane, then the crane was swung to the side.  The anchor cable of the deep sea anchor was attached with the attached wire sling on the upper deck, the deep water anchor was slowly lowered into the water with hemp rope, then released.
          Initially the anchor line unwound normally (vibrated).  After 4-5 minutes there was no further vibration.  Apparently the anchor line was jammed.  The float was holed and secured on board.  The float was then thrown overboard and the anchor cable let go.  The anchor immediately took the float into the deep.  The float was let go because it was impossible to haul up and clear the anchor line.  Afterwards the weather buoy was deployed without anchor by lifting the chute.  No difficulties with this.  The buoy went out and floated normally.
 
     
     
Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB
     
     
 
                  Deployment time:  23 July 1943, 20.55 hours.
          The broadcasts of the buoy were heard regularly with the exception of  28 July at 15.15 hours, then again at 2 August at 04.15 hours.
   
III.) Deployment of weather buoy 107.
          Deployment of buoy 107 went basically in the same way as forward. Aft both net deflectors were laid down by loosening the clamping screws which are aft under the upper deck, main ballast tank 5 was partially flooded.  Antennas again by the forward torpedo loading hatch.  Hoisting tackle of the torpedo crane must extend from aft to the capstan.  The deployment of buoy 107 was simpler because there was no special anchor.  It anchored itself.
   
IV.) Suggestions for improvement:
  1.)  It would be useful if a brake were attached to the anchor line drum of deep sea anchor that ensures a very slow unwinding of the rope.  Without this brake the deployment speed is determined solely by the water resistance of the falling anchor.  Due to the raising and lowering of the anchor line at the always moving boat, unwinding is not steady.  With a sudden tug on the the anchor line, more anchor line may be unraveled by the momentum of the rotating drum, and drawn through the anchor line opening outwards, so that it catches at the anchor, such that no more anchor line can be unwound.
  2.)  The chute designed by the O.K.M. need not be 5, but only 4 meters long. This would permit one to work better on the upper deck with it.
          A special reinforcement for mounting the bottom of the chute attached to the U-iron on the upper deck edge is not required.
   
To III.)                 Deployment time:  24 July 1943, 09.57 hours.
          The broadcasts of the buoy were heard regularly with exceptions up to today.
 
     
                                                                                                       On board, 2 August 1943.