U-766 - 2nd War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

Departed
Date
Arrived
Date
Days at Sea
St. Nazaire
6 June 1944
St. Nazaire
15 June 1944
10

 

Click the icon to download a KMZ file displaying the U-boat track, significant events and locations for this patrol.  You must have Google Earth loaded on your computer to view this file.  Download Google Earth here

Ships Attacked
None
Note:  The positions in the table above and in the Google Earth patrol summary are derived from the KTB and in many cases do not match those set forth in authoritative references such as Jürgen Rohwer, Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two or the Uboat.net website.  The goal here is to present the picture relative to the U-boat and not the absolute position that the ship was attacked or sank.

 
                                                                                                      
 
           
           
           
           
                 2nd War Patrol                                                             Copy No.   
           
           
           
        Geheime-Kommandosache !  
           
                                        K  r  i  e  g  s  t  a  g  e  b  u  c  h    "U  766"  
           
                                                       Beginning   :  17.6.1944  
                  Kommandant: Oblt.z.S.d.Res. W  i  l  k  e                    Concluding:  15.6.1944  
           
           
     
Distribution:    
Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine Copy No. 1 - 2
Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote    " 3
Kommd.Adm. der U.-Boote    " 4
F.d.U. - West    " 5
F.d.U. - Ausbildung    " 6
27. Unterseebootsflottille    "  7
6. Unterseebootsflottille    " 8
 
           
     
Enclosures:    
Track chart For Copy 2 - 8
Radio Messages - Excerpt   "       "  2 - 8
Barograph strips   "       " 5
K.T.B. Maschine   "       " 3
 
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
        © U-boat Archive 2023 - all rights reserved  
Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB
 
- 1 -
 
           
           
           
           
    17.04.44   Boat lies in the St. Nazaire in the Bunker.  
      Shipyard work until 21.04.44.  
    22.04.44   St. Nazaire, Bunker.  Boat lies in 6 hours readiness.  Assigned to Group "Landwirt"  
    23.04.44   Torpedo and provisions loading.  
    24.04.44   Sea trial, trim test.  
    25.04.44 to      
    27.04.44   St. Nazaire, Bunker.  
    28.04.44   Sea trial, trim test.  
    29.04.44 to      
    03.05.44   St. Nazaire, Bunker.  
    04.05.44   Sea trial, trim test.  
    05.05.44 to   St. Nazaire, Bunker  
    07.05.44      
    08.05.44   Sea trial, trim test.  
    09.05.44 to   St. Nazaire, Bunker.  
    15.05.44      
    16.05.44   Sea trial, trim test.  
    17.05.44 to   St. Nazaire, Bunker.  
    18.05.44      
    19.05.44   Sea trial, trim test.  
    20.05.44 to   St. Nazaire, Bunker.  
    22.05.44      
    23.05.44   Sea trial, trim test.  
    24.05.44 to   St. Nazaire, Bunker.  
    25.05.44      
    26.05.44   Sea trial, trim test.  
    27.05.44 to   St. Nazaire, Bunker.  
    02.06.44      
           
           
           
 
 
 
- 2 -
 
           
           
           
           
    06.06.44   Alarm level II.  Crew gets aboard.  
    03.30   Fresh provisions loading.  
    10.30   Boat is ready to depart.  
    17.00   Departed St. Nazaire.  
    18.51   Taken in convoy at Buoy 1.  Transit to Point 439.  
    22.50   Released from convoy at Point 439.  Boat steers to Point Wasser.  
    20.58   Incoming Radio Message 1941/6/849:  Occupy attack areas.  Wilke Bruno Fritz 5897, depth 30 nm  
    21.00 BF 6466    
      NW 3, Sea 3, 7/10, 1017 mb, +21°C, bright moon, Vis. good    
           
    07.06.44 Bay of Biscay    
    00.00 BF 6732 Dived for Naxos detection.  
    04.00 BF 6734    
    08.00 BF 6737    
    12.00 BF 6761 Day's run:  Surfaced        62 nm  
                         Submerged   20.9 nm  
                                             82.9 nm  
    15.24 BF 6756 Surfaced.  U-boat ahead 20° to starboard.  
    16.00 BF 6759    
      NW 2, Sea 1, 2/10, Vis. good    
    16.30   The U-boat ahead dived.  
    16.47 BF 6782 Dived.  
    20.00 BF 6785    
           
    08.06.44 Bay of Biscay    
    00.00 BF 6787    
    01.45 BF 9131 Surfaced.  While blowing detection.  Crash dive.  
    04.00 BF 9131    
    04.50   Incoming Radio Message 1745/7/873:  New deployments in Bruno Fritz.  Wilke 5886.  
    08.00 BF 9134    
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 06.06.44
Sun and Moon Data 07.06.44
Sun and Moon Data 08.06.44
 
- 3 -
 
           
           
           
    continued      
    08.06.44      
    09.20 BF 9134 Surfaced.  Weak detection ahead to starboard.  Apparently search location (Naxos)  
      NW 1, Sea 1, 1/10, Vis. very good  
    09.40 BF 9126 Detection growing stronger.  Dived with crash dive.  
    12.00 BF 9126 Day's run:  Surfaced       20.8 nm  
                         Submerged   25.0 nm  
                                             45.8 nm  
    13.47 BF 9125 Surfaced.  Immediately after surfacing detection ahead to starboard at irregular intervals.  Boat puts astern, detection was weaker.  Came to old course.  It turns out that while running away the detection becomes weaker and soon stops completely, and that while running towards the detection begins immediately.  
      NW 3, Sea 2, 1/10, 1017 mb, +17°C, Vis. very good  
    15.10 BF 9124 Strong steady tone ahead.  Despite good visibility and cloudless sky nothing seen.  Dived.  
    16.00 BF 9124    
    20.00 BF 9116    
           
    09.06.44 Bay of Biscay    
    00.00 BF 9113    
    01.15 BF 9112 Surfaced.  Immediate detection.  (Naxos)  
    01.20   Detection grows stronger.  In another sector a second detection appears.  Dived!  
    04.00 BF 9112    
    05.23   Incoming Radio Message 0250/9/813:  
        In order that the boats can quickly approach the landing area in the event of an enemy landing on the Biscay coast.  Occupy attack areas in the following naval squares:  Wilke 9242, depth 30 nm.  
    06.15 BF 9111 Surfaced.  
      S 1, Sea 1, 3/10, overcast, 1013 mb, Vis. good    
    08.00 BF 9125 Dived.  
    12.00 BF 9125 Day's run:  Surfaced       35.9 nm  
                         Submerged   24.6 nm  
                                             60.5 nm  
    16.00 BF 9126    
    20.00 BF 9134    
    23.06 BF 9138 Surfaced.  
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 23.06.44
Sun and Moon Data 24.06.44
Sun and Moon Data 25.06.44
 
- 4 -
 
           
           
           
           
    10.06.44 Bay of Biscay    
    00.00 BF 9138 2 white lights in sight ahead (fishing trawlers).  
      W 2, Sea 1, overcast, 1013 mb, drizzle    
    00.50   Dived.  
    04.00 BF 9217    
    08.00 BF 9217    
    10.15   Propeller sounds at changing volume were heard bearing 300°T to 330°T.  Went to periscope depth.  In the periscope two fishing trawlers.  
    12.00 BF 9218 Day's run:  Surfaced         4.8 nm  
                         Submerged   18.4 nm  23.2 nm  
    12.55   Fast running motor bearing 290°T.  Boat went to periscope depth.  At 4000 meters a fishing trawler.  
    16.00 BF 9242    
    20.00 BF 9246    
    23.05 BF 9246 Surfaced.  
    23.15   Naxos detection, dived.  
           
    11.06.44 Bay of Biscay    
    00.00 BF 9246    
    00.22 BF 9247 Surfaced.  Detection (Naxos).  
    00.25   Dived.  
    00.49 BF 9246 Surfaced.  
      NNW 3, Sea 2, overcast, 1016 mb, +16°C, Vis. good    
    01.11 BF 9246 Naxos detection, dived.  
    04.00 BF 9245    
    06.06 BF 9245 Surfaced.  
    08.00 BF 9254    
      NNW 3, Sea 2, 8/10, overcast, Vis. good    
    08.15 BF 9254 Dived.  
           
Sun and Moon Data 10.06.44
Sun and Moon Data 11.06.44
 
- 5 -
 
           
           
           
    continued      
    11.06.44      
    12.00 BF 9243 Day's run:  Surfaced       18.1 nm  
                         Submerged   20.1 nm  
                                             38.2 nm  
    16.00 BF 9243    
    20.00 BF 9242    
    23.37 BF 9241 Surfaced.  
           
    12.06.44 Bay of Biscay    
    00.00 BF 9244    
      NW 2, Sea 2, overcast, 1023 mb, Vis. good    
    00.33 BF 9271 Dived.  
    04.00 BF 9272    
    06.15 BF 9272    
      NW 1, Sea 1, overcast, 1025 mb, +17.5°C, Vis. good    
    07.20 BF 9273 Dived.  
    08.00 BF 9273    
    12.00 BF 9281 Day's run:  Surfaced       22.1 nm  
                         Submerged   18.0 nm  
                                             40.1 nm  
    16.00 BF 9258    
    18.52 BF 9258 Surfaced.  3 fishing trawlers bearing 300°T.  10 nm away.  
      Wind calm, flat sea, 1/10, 1025 mb, +17°C, Vis. very good    
    20.00 BF 9257    
    20.02   Dived.  
           
    13.06.44 Bay of Biscay    
    00.00 BF 9249    
    04.00 BF 9249    
           
Sun and Moon Data 11.06.44
Sun and Moon Data 12.06.44
Sun and Moon Data 13.06.44
 
- 6 -
 
           
           
           
           
    13.04.44      
    05.55 BF 9249 Surfaced.  
      Wind calm, flat sea, 1/10, 1025 mb, +17°C, Vis. very good    
    07.12 BF 9244 Dived.  
    08.00 BF 9244    
    12.00 BF 9166 Day's run:  Surfaced       21.8 nm  
                         Submerged   16.4 nm  
                                             38.2 nm  
    16.00 BF 9166    
    18.44 BF 9163 Surfaced.  
    18.47   Dived after loud Naxos detection.  
    20.00 BF 9139    
    21.40   Incoming Radio Message 1331/13/884:  Return harbors for all non-snorkel boats.  Wilke return harbor:  Nazaire.  
           
    14.06.4 Bay of Biscay    
    00.00 BF 9139 Surfaced.  
    00.03   Detection.  Crash dive.  
    04.00 BF 0132    
    05.25 BF 9131 Surfaced.  
    05.40 BF 9131 Detection (Naxos).  Dived!  
    08.00 BF 9131    
    08.10 BF 9132 Surfaced.  
    09.05 BF 6787 Dived.  
    12.00 BF 6737 Day's run:  Surfaced       15.5 nm  
                         Submerged   31.8 nm  
                                             47.3 nm  
    16.00 BF 6737    
    20.00 BF 6734    
    22.55 BF 6734 Surfaced.  
    23.20   Exchanged recognition signals with U-437.  
           
    15.06.44 Bay of Biscay    
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 13.06.44
Sun and Moon Data 14.06.44
Sun and Moon Data 15.06.44
 
- 7 -
 
           
           
           
    continued      
    15.06.44 Bay of Biscay    
    00.00 BF 6495 From 24.00 hours continuous detections in various bearings and in changing volume.  There are clearly 2 different locators.  
      NW 3-4, Sea 3, 1/10, overcast, 1028 mb, Vis. good  
    01.05 Point 439 Taken in convoy.  Transit in convoy on the entry route.  Continuous detection in different bearings.  
    02.00   Parachute flare directly astern.  Escort boat of the following U-boat shoots at the aircraft.  Several parachute flares were thrown at irregular intervals astern.  
    05.25   An aircraft comes in sight abeam to starboard at about 400 meters altitude, range - 1200 meters, (flying parallel course).  
        Aircraft was shot at with 3.7 cm, turns away and was seen in passing to be a Bristol Blenheim.  
    07.10   Boat made fast in the small lock at St. Nazaire.  
    08.10   Boat made fast in the bunker.  
           
        Day's run:  Surfaced   58 nm  
           
        Day's run:  Surfaced        259.5 nm  
                         Submerged    175.2 nm  
        Total distance covered = 434.7 nm  
        = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  
           
           
      On board 15 June 1944    
                                            
                            Oblt.z.See and Kommandant.  
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
Sun and Moon Data 15.06.44

Enclosures to U-766's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document
Radio Excerpt of the Radio Log
Chart Track chart covering entire war patrol

     
     
 

                            Comments of the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote

  
                              to the K.T.B. of "U-766" (Wilke) from 17.4. - 15.6.1944.  
 

 

  
 
        Short patrol in deployment off the Biscay coast.  No prospect of success.  Nothing to note.
  
     
     
   

For the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote

  
    - The Chief of the Operations Department -  
 
                          
                                                
     
     
 

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