Excerpt of the Radio Log of "U 853"
  
 
Patrol from 20 April to 4 July 1944.
  
 
 
 
20 April Coastal Circuit
10.35 5. U-Flottille  With Sommer and Schwaßmann taken in convoy,  Began transit.
                                                                                   Östen
   
22 April  
07.36 5. U-Flottille  During deep diving test heavy water intake through port stuffing box.  No success by tightening.  Question dry-docking in Oslo. 
                                                                                   Sommer
   
22 April  
10.29 U-853 Go with escort to Bergen.  Confirm.
                                                                                   5. U-Flottille
   
22 April  
10.49 5. U-Flottille  0930/22/11 solved correctly here.
                                                                                   U-853
   
9 May Ireland Circuit
02.17 Sommer  1)  As passing report give Short Signal weather report. 
                 2)  As temporary attack area occupy AK 40 and 70 and therein send Short Signal weather reports twice daily.  Begin on entering this area.  Strive to deliver at each of the ordered times.
   
13 May  
04.19 1) Following boats occupy new attack areas and report therein report weather twice daily at each of the ordered times. Sommer area occupied up to now by Valentiner [U-385 AK 30]. Valentiner area occupied up to now by Reff [U-736 AK 60-90]. Baden area occupied up to now by Wendt [U-765 BD 50-60]. Reff and Wendt begin return transit.
  2)  Radio Message 1242/10 is authoritative for setting off as well as for transit to new attack areas.
  3) Additionally send reports in transit to new attack areas.
   
14 May  
05.28 Supplemental traffic report.
  WW position 58° 30'N 23°W . . . . . . . . (Short Signal weather report as passing report)
                                                                                   "U-853"
   
17 May  
15.29 Supplemental traffic report.
  WW (Short Signal weather report) position 60°N 29°W . . . . . . . .
   
  from 17 May 2 times daily weather report sent.
   
18 May  
02.53 Valentiner begins return transit on 20 May, therefore Sommer occupy previous operations area of Valentiner [AK 60 90].  Continue reports while in transit.
   
20 May  
02.22 3 May square AE 6590 T 5 miss on destroyer.  All drowning circular saw steady tone.
                                                                                   Sommer
   
20 May  
01.49 To weather boats:
  1.)  Tonight again no reports were received also not from Sommer, whose Radio Message was heard with Volume 4-5.  If there is interference: send reports twice by day.  Importance is pointed out again.  From Baden no messages for 3 days.
  2.)  Sommer tonight report shooting data for T V.
   
21 May  
05.30 Target speed 10 knots, target angle left 90°, range 1500 meters, NS, depth 5 meters, behind destroyer on torpedo course overlapping other vessels.
                                                                                   Sommer
   
23 May  
02.33 Short Signal weather report on 36 meters with Volume 3 received and solved.
 
     
     
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25 May Ireland
12.30 Short Signal:  4 steamers AK 8530 to the SW.
                                                                                   U-853
   
25 May  
13.20 Sommer:  No contact keeping reports.  Attack!
   
25 May  
16.08 Broke off pursuit, enemy speed 18 knots, course 240°.  AK 8492.
                                                                                   Sommer
   
25 May  
17.09 Short Signal:  Was attacked by aircraft.  Square AK 8520.
                                                                                   U-853
   
25 May  
17.23 Short Signal:  Attacked by 2 or more aircraft.
                                                                                   U-853
   
26 May  
03.02 Short Signal 1723/25/142  Encoding error from sender.  Contents:  Sommer, position west from enemy.  Serial No. 142 settled.
   
28 May  
02.57 Weather boats: 
  1.)  Baden also on return transit send reports through 30 May.
  2.)  Sommer go to Baden area, in so doing continue reporting.
  3.)  Premauer occupy area between the latitude and longitude of AK 63 and 77 from there twice daily Short Signal weather reports.  First report on entering this area.
   
30 May  
03.48 Short Signal weather report from Sommer on 36 meters solved from Bernau with Volume 2-3.
   
09 June  
05.25 Sommer weather received on 36 meters with Volume 5.
   
20 June  
04.07 Supplemental traffic report.
  Short Signal:  Began return transit.  Have heavy personnel casualties.  My position is BE 7473.
                                                                                   U-853
   
21 June  
02.51 Due to Sommer return transit 1.)  As weather reporting area occupy:
  Premauer BD 50 to 90
  Nollau AK southern half
  Sauer AK northern half
  Boats report intention to return transit 7 days ahead of time.
  2.)  For Sauer.  Report twice daily in the period 11.00 - 15.00 hours and 23.00 - 03.00 hours.  First report passing the longitude of AL 1299.
  3.)  Timm today and tomorrow, Bielefeld by day send Short Signal weather report.
  4.)  Sommer no further reports.
   
21 June  
02.29 Return harbor for Sommer is Lorient.
                                                                                   F.d.U. West
   
24 June  
03.23 1.)  Röttiger immediately report position.
  2.)  Sommer on 24 June 08.00 hours switch to Coastal Circuit.
   
03 July Coastal Circuit
03.05 Short Signal:  Position 24 hours off convoy intake.
                                                                                   U-853