SM U-93 - 1st War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

Departed	Date	Arrived	Date	Days at Sea
Borkum	13 April 1917	Hamburg	14 May 1917	32

 

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 Hit
Date	KTB Time	Position	Ship	Tons	Nationality	Convoy
15 Apr 17	12.30	56°36'N, 2°41'E	FRAM	105	Danish
18 Apr 17	08.22	60°55'N, 3°29.5'W	WEST LOTHIAN	1,887	Norwegian
18 Apr 17	15.00	60°29'N, 4°35'W	TROLDFOS	1,459	Norwegian
22 Apr 17	14.00	55°26'N, 8°39'W	VESTELV	1,729	Norwegian
28 Apr 17	13.00	49°37'N, 13°05'W	DIANA (damaged)	207	Danish
29 Apr 17	20.19	48°06'N, 10°48'W	COMEDIAN	4,889	British
29 Apr 17	23.30	48°36'N, 10°48'W	IKBAL	5,434	British
30 Apr 17	02.00	48°20'N, 10°37'W	HORSA	2,949	British
30 Apr 17	09.10	55°57'N, 18°55'W	ASCARO	3,245	Italian
30 Apr 17	19.04	49°25'N, 11°58'W	PARTHENON	2,934	Greek
30 Apr 17	21.00	48°51'N, 11°53'W	PRIZE (damaged)	199	British
			Total = 25,037
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.

---

				Kriegstagebuch
				============
			S.M. "Uboot  U  93" from 10.II.1917 to 7.IV.1917.
				Kommandant:
				Kapitänleutnant
				Freiherr v.Spiegel.
				© U-boat Archive 2023 - all rights reserved

Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB

	- 1 -
		10.02.17	Commissioning S.M. "U-93" on 10 February 1917 at 2.00 in the afternoon by the Kommandanten.
		Germaniawerft
		[Kiel]	Kapitänleutnant Freiherr   v.  S  p  i  e  g  e  l
			After the commissioning outfitting work until 8.00 in the evening.  Boat was put in service in the Germaniawerft.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		11.02.17	Continuation of outfitting of the boat until 4.00 in the afternoon, from 5.00 duty free.
		Germaniawerft
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		12.02.17	Continuation of outfitting work until 5.30 in the evening.
		Germaniawerft
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		13.02.17	Morning outfitting work.  Afternoon prepared for dummy torpedo firing.
		Germaniawerft	Mar.Ob.Ing. Schulz ordered on board for information.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		14.02.17	Work duties from 7.30 - 11.30/1.30 - 5.30.
		Germaniawerft
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		15.02.17	Morning dummy torpedo firing until the 4.45 in the afternoon, then departed and into the Kaiserliche Werft, made fast there 5.15 in the evening.
		Kaiserliche Werft
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		16.02.17	Morning loaded ammunition.
			Afternoon work duties.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		17.02.17
		Germaniawerft	9.30 hours cast off from the Kaiserliche Werft.  10.00 hours made fast at the Blücher Brücke, there at 10.10 hours cast off for torpedo firing.  Evening made fast in the Germaniawerft.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		18.02.17	8.30 hours cast off from the Germaniawerft for maneuvering training in Kiel harbor.  Afternoon 12.00 hours made fast at the Blücher Brücke.  Afternoon duty free.
		Blücher Brücke
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		19.02.17	8.00 hours cast off from the Blücher Brücke for trim test, at 4.30 in the afternoon made fast at the Blücher Brücke.
		Blücher Brücke
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		20.02.17	9.20 hours cast off from the Blücher Brücke, put to sea for dive trials, made fast at the Blücher Brücke at 4.00 in the afternoon.
		Blücher Brücke
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		21.02.17	Cast off at 8.10 hours from the Blücher Brücke, put to sea for dive and maneuvering testing, made fast in the Germaniawerft at 5.00 hours.
		Germaniawerft
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel

	- 2 -
		22.02.17	8.00 hours cast off from the Germaniawerft, put to sea for dive and maneuvering testing, made fast in the Germaniawerft at 4.00 hours.
		Germaniawerft
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		23.02.17	8.30 hours cast off from the Germaniawerft, 8.45 hours made fast at the Blücher Brücke.  Work duties until 5.30 hours.
		Blücher Brücke
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		24.02.17	Work duties until 5.30 hours.
		Blücher Brücke
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		25.02.17	Work duties until 5.30 hours.
		Blücher Brücke
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		26.02.17	Work duties until 5.30 hours.
		Blücher Brücke	Mar.Ob.Ing. Schulz ordered away.
			Mar.Ob.Ing. Mandel ordered aboard.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		27.02.17	8.00 hours cast off, put to sea for maneuver training.  11.05 hours made fast at the Blücher Brücke.  Noon work duties until 5.30 hours.
		Blücher Brücke
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		28.02.17	8.00 hours cast off, put to sea for maneuver training.  12.30 hours made fast in the Germaniawerft.  Afternoon work duties.
		Germaniawerft
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		01.03.17
		Germaniawerft		Work duties until 5.30 hours.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		02.03.17
		Germaniawerft		Work duties until 5.30 hours.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		03.03.17		9.30 hours cast off, went into the dry dock at the Germaniawerft.  Work duties until 5.30 hours.
		Germaniawerft
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		04.03.17		In dry-dock at Germaniawerft, work duties until 5.30 hours.
		Germaniawerft		Afternoon duty free.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		05.03.17		In dry dock at Germaniawerft.
		Germaniawerft		Afternoon duty free.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		06.03.17		Work distribution until 11.30 hours.  At 3.00 in the afternoon un-docked, assignment of work duties until 5.30 hours.
		Germaniawerft
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel

	- 3 -
		07.03.17		Morning and afternoon assignment of work duties.  Matrosen Mönch transferred to the Ravensberg hospital.
		Germaniawerft
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		08.03.17		Morning and afternoon assignment of work duties.
		Germaniawerft
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		09.03.17		Morning and afternoon assignment of work duties.
		Germaniawerft		Cannons were installed by the shipyard.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		10.03.17		Munitions loading and assignment of work duties.
		Germaniawerft
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		11.03.17		9.40 hours cast off from the Germaniawerft, trim test in the harbor.
		Blücher Brücke
				12.50 hours made fast at the Blücher Brücke.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		12.03.17		8.05 hours ready for sea, cast off, put to sea for trim test and measured mile.
		Blücher Brücke
				Shot in the guns, 5.30 hours made fast at the Blücher Brücke.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		13.03.17		7.30 hours cast off to fire torpedoes in the Kiel harbor (T.V.K.), 5.00 hours made fast in the Wik.
		Blücher Brücke
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		14.03.17		11.15 hour cast off from the Wik to fire torpedoes (T.V.K.), 5.00 hours made fast at the Blücher Brücke.
		Blücher Brücke
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		15.03.17		7.30 hours cast off, put to sea for the measure mile submerged, made fast at the Blücher Brücke.
		Blücher Brücke
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		16.03.17		Continued the measured mile.
		Kaiserliche Werft		5.00 hours made fast at the outfitting pier.  Ob.Mtr. Dresbach ordered on board, replaced Mönch.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		17.03.17		7.45 hours cast off, went into the pressure dock.
		Kaiserliche Werft
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		18.03.17
		Kaiserliche Werft	In dry dock	Work duties.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		19.03.17		7.30 hours un-docked, 6.30 hours cast off, went into dry dock Dock VI.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel

	- 4 -
		20.03.17		9.00 hours un-docked, 2.00 hours ready for sea for compensation in Kiel Harbor.  6.50 hours made fast at the Blücher Brücke.
		Blücher Brücke
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		21.03.17		7.35 hours ready for sea, dive test at Berth VI of the U-School.
		Germaniawerft		4.10 hours made fast in the Germaniawerft.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		22.03.17		8.30 hours ready for sea for dive test.
		Eckernförde		4.40 hours made fast in Eckernförde.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		23.03.17
		Germaniawerft		07.50 hours ready for sea.  Dive test.
				2.05 hours made fast in the Germaniawerft.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		24.03.17		8.10 hours ready for sea, dive test and maneuver training.
		Blücher Brücke		3.00-5.00 hours loaded torpedoes.  5.30 hours made fast Blücher Brücke
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		25.03.17		8.10 ready for sea.  Artillery and torpedo firing.  Test dive.  1.50 hours made fast Blücher Brücke.
		Blücher Brücke
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		26.03.17		7.50 ready for sea, torpedo firing.  Royal Highness Prince Heinrich v.Preußen was on board.
		Eckernförde
				12.45 hours made fast Eckernförde.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		27.03.17		7.45 ready for sea, torpedo firing.  4.10 hours made fast Eckernförde.
		Eckernförde
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		28.03.17		7.40 hours ready for sea, torpedo shooting.
		Blücher Brücke		5.20 hours made fast Blücher Brücke.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		29.03.17		9.30 hours cast off Blücher Brücke.  10.00 hours made fast Germaniawerft.  Work distribution.
		Germaniawerft
				Radioman Schönawa ordered on board.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		30.03.17		Work duties from 7.30 to 11.30 hours.
		Germaniawerft		Work duties from 1.30 to 5.30 hours.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		31.03.17		8.35 hours ready for sea.  Dived maneuvered in the diving area II of the U-School.
		Germaniawerft		2.15 hours made fast Germaniawerft.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel

 

				Kriegstagebuch
			S.M. Unterseeboot "U 93"
			Kommandant:  Kapitänleutnant v.Spiegel
				Beginning:      1. IV  17
				Ending:         12.IV.17.

	- 1 -
		01.04.17		8.30 hours ready for sea. Artillery firing in Area Ida.
		Blücher Brücke		3.40 hours made fast at the Blücher Brücke.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		02.04.17		7.30 hours ready for sea for cruise to the Lübecker Bucht - listening test with Underwater Telegraph.
		Kaiserliche Werft
				7.50 hours made fast in the Kaiserliche Werft.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		03.04.17		3.20 hours ready for sea in the harbor, sound trials.
		Blücher Brücke		5.45 hours made fast Blücher Brücke.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		04.04.17		Dressed the boat, made ready for remote patrol.
		Blücher Brücke		11.00 hours, Royal Highness Prince Heinrich v.Preußen for farewell.
				6.00 hours cast off for Canal cruise.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		05.04.17
		Emden		2.40 hours made fast Brunsbüttel inner harbor.
				6.10 hours cast off.
				8.10 made fast in Emden outer harbor.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		06.04.17		8.00 - 12.00 hours loaded torpedoes.
		Borkum Roadstead		12.00 hours cast off, ready for sea.  Torpedo shooting.
				9.25 hours made fast Buoy.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel
		07.04. - 12.04.17	Emden	Prepared for remote patrol.
				signed in draft Freiherr v.Spiegel

 

---

				Copy No. . . . . 2. . . .
			G  a  n  z    G  e  h  e  i  m  !
			======================
			Kriegstagebuch
			S.M. Unterseeboot  "  U.  93  "
			for the period of the remote patrol from 13.4. to 14.5.17.
				Kommandant:
				up to 30.4.:  Kaplt. Frhr.v.Spiegel.
				from 30.4. - 14.5.17 Oblt.z.See Ziegner.
			=============
		Enclosures: 1) Experiences       2) Information for the Flottille       3) Consumables       4) Artillery ammunition       5) Torpedo information       6) Track charts For:  . .Flottille. . . .
				© U-boat Archive 2023 - all rights reserved

Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB

	- 1 -
		13.04.17
		2.15 PM	Emden	Cast off from RUGIA for remote patrol.
		5.30 PM	Borkum Roadstead	Test dive.  Escorted up to Old Terschelling Lightship by search group, then head for new position Terschelling Lightship.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		14.04.17
		8.00 AM	North Sea	Head from Terschelling to Dogger Bank South.
		x.00 AM	SW 7, Vis. good	Test dive.
				Dogger Bank Lightship 5 nm to starboard.
		11.30 AM	SW 10, Vis. good, high seas	Sea runs into the conning tower.
		12.00 Noon	= 54°57.5'N
			=   4°23.0'E
			SW 8
		2.00 - 7.00 PM		Hauled off to starboard submerged to have the seas abeam.
		7.00 PM		Steered 320° on the surface.  Avoided multiple fishermen on the surface.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		15.04.17	W 6, barometer rising	Transit speed from 2.00 AM on.
		11.00 AM		Sailing vessel in sight, due to the seas proceeded so that I came up before the seas.  Danish sailing vessel
			= 56°36'N	"  F  R  A  M  "
			=   2°41'E	123 tons, with coal from England, sank with 14 8.8 cm shells.  Crew of 5 men went into one boat.
		1.00 PM		Continued transit to the NW.
		6.00 PM	Sea NW 5	Test dive, proceeded submerged for 1 hour for training.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		16.04.17	NW 2, Vis. very good, Swell
		x.00 AM		Increased transit speed to 10 knots, to get Fair Island in sight before darkness.
		12.00 Noon	= 58°51'N
			=   0°37'E
		x.00 PM	Strong snow squalls from the NNW, NNW 8 steep seas
		x.00 PM		Land in sight ahead.  Sumburgh Head.
		x.30 PM		Fair Island 4 Strich [45°] to port.
		x.10 PM		2 destroyers in sight in the passage.  Crash dived, because it is still too bright.  By opening the watertight forecastle and turning, the boat almost cuts under, so that the conning tower hatch must be closed and boat has to dive.  Gave up going through the Fair Island Passage under these conditions and decided to go around Scotland.  Moved off, then on course 35° until morning. . .

	Sun and Moon Data 13.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 14.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 15.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 16.04.17

	- 2 -
		continued
		16.04.17		for training of personnel and due to the bad weather.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		17.04.17
		6.00 AM	NbyW 8, squalls	Surfaced.  Charged, continued transit at about 7 knots against the seas (by navigation fix the boat makes 3 knots).
		12.00 Noon	= 60°16'N
			=   0°40'E
		x.xx PM	NbyW 3, high Swell	NW tip of Scotland came in sight.  Took bearings.  Went around on the surface without encountering patrols 25 nm north of Muckle Flugga.
		12.00 Midnight		Passed Muckle Flugga.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		18.04.17	SSW 7, Swell, Vis. good
		7.00 AM		Four-masted bark
			= 60°55'N	"WEST LOTHIAN"
			=   3°29.5'W [presumably the 14th torpedo fired by U-93]	1887 tons in sight.  Stopped with th gun, Captain brought papers, 2100 tons corn, 500 tons oil cake from Buenos Aires to Christiania.  Let the people get off.  Sank with 13th torpedo.  Had departed 5 February.
		10.00 AM	SW 4, Sea 4, rainy, bleary	Continued transit to the SW, transit speed.
		12.00 Noon	= 60°44'N
			=   4°00'W
		2.30 PM		Steamer in sight to starboard.  Ran ahead on the surface, then dived, at 600 meters shot a G. torpedo. Miss.  Speed over estimated 8 : 10 knots.  After 15 minutes surfaced. Stopped steamer with artillery.  Crew disembarked in 2 boats.  Captain alongside.  Norwegian steamer
			= 60°29'N	" T R O L D F O S "
			=   4°35'W	Piece good and machinery parts from New York to Christiania.  Steamer sank after 2 hits in the waterline capsized over the bow.
		4.05 PM		Continued transit at 11 knots.
		7.00 PM		Smoke cloud insight to starboard.  Fishing trawler apparently a patrol vessel, course about 140°, avoided on the surface.  Then 3 more fishing trawlers come in sight on the same course about 5 nm away.  It seems to be a patrol vessel line Faroes-Scapa Flow . Went around the line on the surface in a large arc to the north at GF.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		19.04.17	Atlantic, WNW 4-5	Went to 1 diesel HF.
		7.00 AM	WNW 7, Sea 5, wind ans seas steadily increasing	Boat makes 2 knots.  Gyro-compass failed.  Continued steering by magnetic compass, because gyrocompass constantly restarts.

	Sun and Moon Data 16.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 17.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 18.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 19.04.17

	- 3 -
		continued
		19.04.17	= 59°58'N	Changed the oil in the gyrocompass.  The boat lay well 5 Strich [56.25°] to the seas.
			=   7°10'W
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		20.04.17	Wind abates, very high Swell, Vis. good
		7.00 AM		Steamer in sight on course 70°.  Turned towards, comes over the horizon up to the bridge, then ran ahead on course 60° at AF.  After 2 hours broke off the race, because the steamer ran just as fast as the boat.
		12.00 Noon	= 59°23'N
			= 7°10'W
				Continued at one diesel HF on course 235°.
		4.00 PM		Test dive, steered for one hour in the high swell for training.  Boat could be held well at 11 1/2 meters.
		5.00 PM		Surfaced.
		06.00 - 09.30 PM		Proceeded submerged to work on the gyrocompass and regulate the torpedoes.
		9.30 PM		Surfaced, continued transit at 1 diesel HF, course 235°.  Radio Message to Arcona:  "Began transit to the west coast."  Because there was no communications, sent in the blind.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		21.04.17	WSW 2, Vis. good, low Swell	No vessel in sight.  Dinghy remains overboard.
		12.00 Noon	= 57°28'N
			= 12°19'W
		8.00 PM		Passed 2 sail boats with shipwrecked from sunken steamer.
		08.40 PM		Passed U-67 on a northerly course.  Recognition Signals exchanged with Underwater Telegraph and then by Radio Message.
		09.00 PM		Test dive.
		11.00 PM		U-60 calls U-93.  Headed for land at night.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		22.04.17	Wind calm, Vis. 20 nm	Course for Tory Island.
		12.00 Noon		Sailing vessel in sight ahead to starboard.  Norwegian full-rigged ship
			= 55°26'N	" H A A K O N  X "
			= 8°39'W [HAAKON X = VESTELV]	1729 tons with pitch pine from America for Liverpool.  Sunk with demolition charge.  Gun fire to the north, then picked up an English Radio Message "Was shot at by gun from enemy U-boat 30 nm north of Tory Island."  So since a colleague is working off the North Canal, abandoned the plan to advance there and ran west, then to the NW, to approach at nightfall where ships are expected to be in the evening.  Determined ship's position by land bearings.
		8.10 PM		Headed north, test dive, no vessels seen.

	Sun and Moon Data 19.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 20.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 21.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 22.04.17

	- 4 -
		continued
		22.04.17		Passed the shipwrecked seen yesterday again.  Because in 2 days absolutely no steamer traffic was met, I decide, according to my orders, to switch my operations area off the North Channel with Area A.
		10.00 PM		Course 220.  Radio Message to Arcona:  Concerning intentions to head for Area A, because there is no traffic off the North Channel.  No communications.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		23.04.17	E 1, Vis. very good, sunny	Speed 11 knots, course 220°, then 180°.
		12.00 Noon	= 54°11'N	Headed for Area A.
			= 13°09'W
		9.15 PM		Test dive.
		10.00 PM		Course 205°, headed for Point "y".
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		24.04.17	NE 3, Vis. very goo	From Point "y" steered to the west and back.
		12.00 Noon	= 51°17'N	Encountered 2 drifting empty boats.
			= 14°44'W
		4.30 PM		Cruiser with zigzag course in sight.  Tried to maneuver ahead at AK until FOXGLOVE wsa recognized.  Then ran off to the west.  I want  to patrol on 17°W with southerly course on 25 April. At night headed for 17°W at transit speed.
		9.30 PM	Barometer 779 mb	Test dive.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		25.04.17	E 3, Vis. very good	On north and south courses steered between 16 and 17°W and 51 and 50°N.
		12.00 Noon	= 50°41.5'N
			= 16°46'W
		2.00 PM		U-boat met.  Recognition Signals exchanged.  U-43, came within hailing range. In this area U-43 has picked off 26000 GRT in 9 days.
		4.00 PM		Smoke cloud in the north.  Maneuvered ahead, attacked steamer.  Bronze torpedo missed, range too far.  G.A.V. torpedo miss curve 30° right.
				Steamer, about 4000 GRT was shot by U-43, replied with a stern gun.  Surfaced 6 nm away to participate in the battle.  Steamer sent an SOS, a destroyer in the vicinity answered.
		5.00 - 7.00 PM		Steamer, which steered a zigzag course shot at from 10000 - 7000 meters.  1 hit observed.  Steamer changes course very skillfully and shoots economically as I get closer.  Impacts short. At 7400 meters an impacts 150-80-20 all abeam the conning tower.  Shrapnel over the boat.  Therefore turned away and broke off combat.  120 shots fired.  Shortly thereafter in the east apparently a destroyer cloud in sight, ran off to the north.  At night also steered N-S courses.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.

	Sun and Moon Data 22.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 23.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 24.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 25.04.17

	- 5 -
		26.04.17	E 2-3, Vis. very good	On north and south courses steered between 17 and 18°W and 51 and 50°N.  Nothing in sight.  Cries for help from a steamer in 52°12'N, 16°30'W.
		12.00 Noon	= 50°56'N
			= 18°09'W
		8.00 PM		Smoke cloud in sight in the W and a U-boat.  It is a small vessel set on fire.  U-boat out of sight.
		9.35 PM		Test dive.
				Night transit speed on course 120°.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		27.04.17	E 2-3, Vis. very good
		12.20 PM		In the vicinity of Point "y" FOXGLOVE in sight with course for us.  Quick dive.  Aft diving plane failed.  Stop for the hard position bent.  Boat was steered by hand, could be held to some extent.  Steered out of sight of the FOXGLOVE on course 270°.
		12.00 Noon	= 50°51'N
			= 15°00'W
		5.40 PM		Surfaced, struck out 2 hours to the west at GF, then to the south.
		7.00 PM		Then transit speed 8 knots.
		8.00 PM		Came to course 130°. Because I want to head for Point X.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		28.04.17	E 2, Vis. very good
		xx.40 AM		Sailing vessels in sight.  Danish three-masted
				" D I A N A "
		12.00 Noon	= 49°37'N	207 tons with 300 tons of pitch pine, made useless with demolition charge and shells.  Still floats on cargo, quite deep.  Crew of 6 men were towed to the east  until 8.00 in the evening.
			= 13°05'W
		9.00 PM		Test dive.  Course 130°.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		29.04.17	ESE 2, Vis. very good
		x.07 AM		Vessel comes in sight with quickly changing courses.  Apparently a U-boat hunter.  Crash dive, avoided on the surface at high speed, then dived.
		x.00 AM		Surfaced.
		x.40 AM		Steamer in sight.  Maneuvered ahead.  Attacked submerged.  Steamer drove strongly zigzagging course.  Did not get close.  Surfaced.  In the course of the morning several steamers come in sight.  Ran at high speed and zigzag course.  Initiated attack, gave up due to bad disposition.
		12.00 Noon	= 58°52'N	Crash dive, dived.  Attack on armed steamer.
			= 9°56'W
		2.53 PM		Torpedo shot, missed.  Forgot the order to remove the stop bolt.  Bronze torpedo, passed aft.  Surfaced, shot at the steamer from 7000 meters with artillery.  Steamer returned fire with a stern gun again 10-12 cm.  Sent an SOS.  Pursuit given up due to a more favorably positioned steamer coming in sight.  Hunted the steamer.  Runs almost as fast as we do. Gave it up.
		7.00 PM		Steamer in sight, maneuvered ahead.

	Sun and Moon Data 26.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 27.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 28.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 29.04.17

	- 6 -
		continued
		29.04.17
		7.30 PM		Dived to attack.
		8.19 PM		Hit.  Port side at the level of the after mast.  English steamer
			= 48°06'N	" C O M E D I A N "
			= 10°48'W	4889 tons from St. John for Falmouth with grain and munitions.  Steamer burns and sank with a detonation about 10.30 hours.  One gunner taken on board as prisoner.  Captain and several officers of the steamer drowned.
				Steamer was painted black, high smokestack, surrounded by a striking number of ventilators.  Long small lifeboats, very large crew.  Steamer is very similar to the auxiliary cruiser that we engaged in combat with on 30 April.  The steamer had a number on the smokestack.
		10.45 PM	Bright moonshine, individual clouds	A light comes in sight astern.  Maneuvered ahead for submerged stern attack.  Hit port center, C/03 torpedo from about 800-900 meters.  English steamer
		11.30 PM
			[= 48°36'N	" I K B A L "
			= 10°48'W]	5434 tons from St. Johns for Falmouth with grain and munitions.  Captain and gunner taken prisoner.  Steamer did not sink, bronze torpedo.  Hit port side forward 10 meters.  Steamer had about 15° list and lay up to the deck in the water.  About 5 more shots of artillery, then I left the steamer.  Probably sunk, because it was only still floating on the grain cargo, which will break open the cargo hatches after swelling.
				signed in draft v.Spiegel.
		30.04.17	SE 2, Vis. very good, moonshine	Steamer in sight.  Submerged attack, bronze torpedo.  Hit starboard side forward.  Steamer sank immediately.  English steamer
		1.00 AM
			= 48°20'N	" H O R S A "
			= 10°37'W	2949 tons Africa for England with ore.  To determine name approached the wreck site. Rescued 14 crew members off and under the capsized boat, some with severe injuries and without clothing. Gathered and brought below into the bow room, to be returned with the next ship's boats.
				One gunner taken prisoner.
		7.15 AM		Steamer in sight.  Maneuvered ahead, dived.
		9.10 AM	= 49°08'N	Hit starboard side forward.  Very strong detonation.  American steamer
			= 10°34'W
[typo ECUADOR actually the Italian ship ASCARO]				"  E C N A D O R "
				5688 tons, cargo munitions.  Steamer sank in 30 seconds after second detonation, no men saved.

	Sun and Moon Data 29.04.17
	Sun and Moon Data 30.04.17

	- 7 -
		continued
		30.04.17
		09.25 AM		Two steamers in sight.  Bad attack position.  Sailing vessel in sight.  Closed.  The sailing vessel was already being shot at by another U-boat.
		10.45 AM		Recognition Signal exchange, U-21.  Rescued from HORSA given to the boats of the Finnish three-masted bark.
				The Captain, Finish sailors wish us happy homecoming and hope to see us as victors again  after peace has been made in our homeland.
		10.50 AM		Steamer in sight.  Dived, diving malfunction.  The boat went to depth 35 meters 18-20° bow down, pumped with compressed air, boat came up.  Once again vented quickly.  Boat went to about 35 meters again with a large down angle.  Surfaced with compressed air.  Submerged attack opportunity passed.  Shot with artillery from about 7000-7500 meters.  Steamer answered immediately from about 6 guns up to 12 cm.  Set top flags.  Ran off at AK.  Steamer took up pursuit and fire soon covered.
		11.05 AM		Dived.  Went to depth 40 meters.  Moved off.
		2.00 PM		Surfaced.  Nothing in sight.
		6.30 PM		Steamer in sight.  Maneuvered ahead.  Dived.
		7.04 PM		Hit.  Starboard side forward.  Steamer sank in 5 minutes.  Greek steamer
			= 49°25'N	"  P A R T H E N O N "
			= 11°58'W	2934 tons from New York to Havre with victuals and munitions.
				Because there are only 2 torpedoes at hand and patrols after the last sinkings and observed Radio Message traffic will increase quickly, the Kommandant decided to begin return transit via Point "y" and the North Channel, to possibly meet something there.
		8.40 PM	= 49°51'N	Abeam to starboard a three-masted gaff-rigged steamer in sight.  Headed towards it, a square sail on the foremast, iron hull, black paintwork, red bottom paint, very high railing. No markings.  Stopped with artillery at 5000-4000 meters.  After several shots, the sailing vessel then turned into the wind after a hit, they launched the boat.  Approached the sailing vessel from astern.  Nothing suspicious to see. Set off to port at about 150 meters and with the forward gun, as the sailing vessel was about 5 Strich [56.25°] to starboard, started sinking fire.  When the first shots hit in the waterline, the sailing vessel raised the war ensign, at the same time answered with a broadside from about 4 guns from 7 to 12 cm and 1-2 MGs.  On the boat, in addition to the gun crews there various other people on deck.  Officers were all on the conning tower. The boat immediately received several hits on the starboard side.  The coning tower was under MG fire, Kommandant called into the conning tower " Hard to port, both diesels 3 x AK ahead, U-boat trap"; then "Man aft gun".  The bridge
			= 11°53'W

Sun and Moon Data 30.04.17

	- 8 -
		continued
		30.4.17		cannot be occupied due to MG fire and artillery hit through the periscope shears.  The Kommandant, Navigator and Helmsman jumped aft from the conning tower, the Chief Engineer into the control room, the Second Watch Officer into the conning tower. The First Watch Officer laterally from the conning tower.  The forward gun scored several more hits on the sailing vessel.  One hit apparently went into the sailing vessels heaviest gun.  From 1 hit forward on the starboard side in compressed air bottle group 5 (explosion of fuel bunker 2 starboard) and 1 hit on the starboard side piercing ballast tanks 3-5, the boat took a strong list to starboard up to 14°.
		9.05 PM
				Turned away hard to port and away at AK.  Apparently the Navigator tried to man the aft gun, where the No.3 had fallen after 2 shots.  As a result, the Kommandant, Navigator and Maschinenmaat Deppe, who were between the coning tower and aft gun, were apparently thrown overboard by pressure wave from the detonation of a shell.  The Kommandant and Helmsman had been lightly wounded before on the bridge by M.G. hit in the legs.  At the forward gun, from the detonation of compressed air bottles forward to starboard and hits in the lower mount the sight mechanism went overboard.  The gun could no longer fire due to the turning of the boat.  By the over-turning of the boat I notice that there are no orders.  I take command, run away from the sailing vessel on zigzag courses and AK.  Coning tower structure port side hit in quick vent of the carried open port ballast tank 4.  This flooded on its own.  Before turning away a Torpedo-Maschinenmaat. and Radio-maat were badly wounded in the feet from a hit in the companionway ladder at the Kommandanten room.
				As a result of this hit the boat is not clear to dive.  In the control room the smoke hazard from the hit in the periscope sheers was sucked out by the diesels.  The starboard regulating tank was pumped and the port regulating tank partly flooded.  Report from the control room "All rooms are clear".  In the meantime the boat was out of shooting range by darkness.  The boat lay with a starboard list with about 5 meters draft and had a very large fuel oil loss.
				Because possible pursuit by the sailing vessel or a destroyer must be expected, I decided to run off to the west at GF the entire night and the next day until midday and in the meantime repair damage and determine the fuel oil loss, to then come up with another plan.  If at all possible, the boat should be made ready for diving.
				During the night, a search was made for possible internal damage, there were several rivets are leaking in the bow room, control room, diesel engine and E-motor rooms.  Cannot extract from the any of the starboard fuel bunkers.  The heavily wounded were bandaged - receive morphine No. 3, Bootsmannsmaat Bay dies during the night.
				signed in draft Ziegner.

Sun and Moon Data 30.04.17

	- 9 -
		01.05.17	SE 2, Vis. very good	At lightness a three-masted sailing vessel comes in sight abeam to starboard.  Ran off at with heard rudder at AK until out of sight.  While running off recognized as a three-masted full-rigged ship.
		x.00 AM		Body of Bootsmannsmaat Bay, covered with the War Ensign, was buried at sea with the crew mustered on deck.
				The following external damage was determined:
			1) Hit at the aft gun.  Lower mount damaged.  Probably the No. 3 was wounded by this. 2) Apparently a hit on port side of the aft gun through the bracket for attaching the belts. The shell probably detonated in the air between conning tower and the gun and by that the Kommandant, Navigator and Masch.Mt. Deppe were blown overboard. 3) Graze on the port upper bridge cladding. 4) Hit port side on the lower conning tower structure. As a result rapid venting of ballast tank 4.  Destroyed the port ventilation duct, drain tube of the cooling water piping and the connection of the two emergency blow brackets 5) Hit starboard side through the forward upper coning tower structure, periscope sheers aft, after periscope guide and periscope.  Detonation on the port side, periscope sheers and port upper coning tower structure.  Both conning tower periscopes out of service.  In the rear of the coning tower: the port remote RPM indicator is inoperative, there are no depth gages and three compressed air gages are inoperative.  Strong smoke hazard in the conning tower and control room. 6) Hit in starboard ballast tank 5 just below the water line.  As a result the over deck drains through ballast tank 5 and apparently penetrated the transverse bulkhead to ballast tank 4.  Probably detonated there.  Strong blow against the control room pressure hull (rivets leak and paint chipped off).  Starboard fuel oil consumption meter and all starboard fuel oil extraction lines not operational.  The transverse bulkhead  of ballast tank 3 is penetrated.  All starboard ballast tanks repeatedly fill with water through the hole shot in ballast tank 5. 7) Hit in the companionway at the Kommandanten room (pressure hull penetrated) hatch cover.  Antenna duct, drain piping from ballast tank 6 port and emergency blow piping to 6 starboard damaged. 8) Hit in the compressed air manifold of bottle group 5.  Both compressed air cylinders exploded with a detonation. As a result fuel oil tank 2 starboard was completely ruptured.  Gun mount caved in, Swallow's Nest [a balcony/extension] is torn from the upper deck.  Radio Message mast with raising mechanism  is unusable.  The over deck is bent upward.  Emergency blow piping and blowing line to ballast tank 7 torn.  7 small cuts in the pressure hull.  Compressed air extraction line of bottle group 7 lightly damaged.  Sight of the forward gun torn away. 9)  Hit through the forward gun mount.             The following measures were taken in the course of the next days: 1) Attempts were made to seal the bullet holes by applying floor plates, rubber seals, oakum, putty and iron bars through the companionway shaft to the Kommandanten room in order to make the boat ready for diving.  Didn't succeed completely because the riveted

Sun and Moon Data 30.04.17

	- 10 -
		continued
		01.05.17		hatch ring was dented in too far.  The sealing point already lets some spray water through when the seas were coming over.  The hatch cover was made tight again by removing the attached bronze edge. It was not possible to seal the wooden plug because of the severe tears on the side. Vent line to BB 6 was made usable again by affixing clamps with rubber seals.
			2) Blow piping to ballast tank 7 starboard was removed, sealed and put back again. 3) Any fuel oil still contained in the consumption tank was extracted through the ventilation line and gradually filled directly into the float housings of both diesel engine oil tanks through a funnel with a sieve. 4) An attempt was made to pump over fuel oil from the failed starboard bunkers through the manhole to a port bunker using a hose and transfer line.  Was unsuccessful, because fuel oil had already been lost from the seas and the opening shot in ballast tank 5. 5) In order to seal holes shot in ballast tank 5 and to be able to blow out ballast tanks 3-5 starboard, a leak coffer was built from deck plates, a floor plate, which was reinforced by two brackets, oakum and canvas packing, which was to be fixed in front of the hole with a large flat key with bolts.  The key in ballast tank coffer outside was to be pressed with nuts on the ballast tank wall. The coffer could not be attached due to heavy seas, but was tried after entering List and made it possible to blow out ballast tank 3-5 starboard there. 6) The damage to the upper bridge cladding caused by the hit in the periscope was sealed against the coming sea on starboard by a wooden plug and to port using boards and canvas.   According to calculations, it was determined that 27.425 tons of fuel oil had been lost and that the fuel oil inventory was still around 24.166 tons.  With that, at an economical speed (7.5 knots diesel-electric, oil flow rate 2.2 to 2.3 tons per day) and a reserve for high speed for avoidance maneuvers it would be possible, especially since I expected a torpedo boat escort from the Skagerrak, to bring the boat home around the Shetlands.  Just in case, the boat was made ready for detonation and kept so throughout the return transit.  Since the shell hole in the Kommandanten companionway could not be made ready for diving, I decided to give up diving for the time being and lighten the boat by draining all torpedo tubes, trim and torpedo tanks except for 1 ton in the aft trim tank, so that it lay better in the sea and ran faster by coming out higher. Depending on the sea state, the starboard list was corrected every hour to every three hours by blowing out the operating tanks.
		12.00 Noon	= 49°48'N
			= 15°42'W
		3.00 PM		Came to course 350°, transit speed.  Nothing in sight.
				signed in draft Ziegner.

Sun and Moon Data 01.05.17

	- 11 -
		02.05.17	Cloudy, SW 4-5, confused Sea, Vis. good
		8.00 AM		Course 29°.
		12.00 Noon	= 52°13'N
			= 16°48'W
		12.30 PM		U-boat in sight on southerly course.  Recognition Signals exchanged by Radio message.  No communications.  Underwater Telegraph out of service.  U-boat out of sight.
				signed in draft Ziegner.
		03.05.17	Cloudy, SW 5, Sea 5 later increasing to 6
		12.00 Noon	= 54°48'N
			= 14°13'W	Nothing in sight.
				signed in draft Ziegner.
		04.05.17	Cloudy, SW 5, Sea SSW 5, barometer falling slowly
		12.00 Noon	= 57°25'N
			= 11°36'W
		8.00 PM	Intermittent rain	Passed St. Kilda at about 60 nm.
				Nothing in sight.
		6.00 PM	Wind shifts to NW 4-5, SW-Swell increases
				signed in draft Ziegner.
		05.05.17	Wind and Sea NE 6 (decreasing in the evening)	At darkness I want to pass the patrol line we already encountered on the way here at GF.
		8.00 AM		Course 60°.
		12.00 Noon	= 59°39'N
			= 8°29'W
		6.00 PM		Multiple smoke clouds in sight ahead.  Avoided on NW course and because the clouds shifted aft, went around behind the vessels.
		9.00 PM		Both diesels GF.
				signed in draft Ziegner.
		06.05.17	Wind and Sea W 5, increasing in the course of the day.
		x.00 AM		A vessel with white lights passed our course line about 3 nm astern on course 36°.
		x.00 AM		Both diesels HF, because the boat lays very badly in the seas, then again to course 50°.
		12.00 Noon	= 61°35'N
			= 3°24'W
		x.45 PM		Gyro-compass failed, went by the magnetic compass.
		x.15 PM		Gyro-compass in service again.
		x.00 - 5.00 PM		Gradually came to course 100°, to see how the boat lay in the seas.  The seas run on the bridge, water rarely comes into the conning tower.
		x.00 PM		Course 110°.
				signed in draft Ziegner.

	Sun and Moon Data 02.05.17
	Sun and Moon Data 03.05.17
	Sun and Moon Data 04.05.17
	Sun and Moon Data 05.05.17
	Sun and Moon Data 06.05.17

	- 12 -
		07.05.17	Wind and Sea 8-9, snow squalls
		6.00 hours		Course 145°.
		09.30 AM		Fishing trawler in sight abeam to starboard.  Avoided to port at GF.  Over time several destroyers and a whole bunch of trawlers come in sight which the boat tried to avoid on east, north and west courses.  Some at distances of 4000-5000 meters.  The boat was almost continually under water.  At times depth meter in the control room showed 8 meters.
		11.30 AM		Again tried to run off on course 160°.  In an hour the boat came into a snow squall and ran for an hour to the SSE at HF in it.  When it cleared up nothing was in sight.
			Wind and sea went to NW-6-7 and decreased more and more in the evening, rain squalls
		12.00 Noon	= 60°50'N	Decided to go via Lyngvig - Nordmanns Tief to take the secondary channel if no torpedo boat escort can be obtained.
			= 1°20'E
		11.00 PM	NW 2, Sea NW 2, Swell
		12.00 PM		Tried to establish communications with Arcona, Ltt, UB-21 heard in the vicinity.  No answer.
				signed in draft Ziegner.
		08.05.17	Clear, Vis. good, NW 1-2, Sea 1-2	Course 124°.
		2.00 AM		During the day multiple sailing vessels and one steamer avoided.  Attempted Radio Message communications.  New net deflector antenna deployed.  Antenna duct from the Antenna to the radio room shifted several times.  Antenna Amp Meter shows 9 Amps, no communications.  Spare antenna prepared on the control room periscope in case of runing aground.
				Evening headed for the Danish coast at GF.
		11.30 AM to 12.00 PM		Bovbjerg Lighthouse ahead.  Lyngvig Lighthouse ahead to starboard.
				Closed the Lyngvig Lighthouse up to the 3 nm limit.  Avoided multiple fishermen which all burn bright beacons and side lights.  Then under the Danish coast within 3 nm to the south.  Avoided multiple fishermen moving away from the coast.  Always closed the coast again.  Easily seen in the moonlight.
				signed in draft Ziegner.
		09.05.17	Clear, NW 1-2, Sea SW 1-2	At lightness North Buoy of the channel ahead.  Steered through the Nordmanns Tief via the Secondary Channel.  At the exit two fishing trawlers and many sailing vessels.

	Sun and Moon Data 07.05.17
	Sun and Moon Data 08.05.17
	Sun and Moon Data 09.05.17

	- 13 -
		continued
		09.05.17		One drifting mine abeam to starboard 300 meters.  Recognition Signals exchanged with fishing trawlers.  On request by flag signal, the steamer "BÖRSE" led the boat into List.
		10.00 AM		Made fast alongside the hospital ship "LENSAHN".  Wounded  (Radio Maat, Torpedo.Masch.Maat and pilots handed over).  Wounds are in fair condition.  Telegram by Teletype to Flottille concerning condition of the boat and results of the operation.
				signed in draft Ziegner.
		10.05.17		Midday the Führerboot of the IV.U.Flottille arrived in List with the Flottillenchef.  No fuel oil taken since according to calculations we must have 4-5 tons.
				signed in draft Ziegner.
		11.05.17
		8.00 AM		Put to sea from List for Wilhelmshaven.  After 2 1/2 hours there was no more oil.  Boat had lost more than expected due to oil losses through bunker leaks and arrived in List with 700 liters.  Führerboot takes us in tow up to buoy y in the Jade.
		6.00 PM		Made fast Wilhelmshaven, KW, New Torpedo Werft.
				signed in draft Ziegner.
		12.05.17
		11.30 AM		Flottenchef on board.
				signed in draft Ziegner.
		13.05.17
		10.45 AM		Cast off.
		11.30 AM		Navigated from Jade A to Elbe A escorted by T 102.
		08.30 PM		Made fast next to S.M.S. HESSEN at Brunsbüttel, because we can no longer reach Hamburg before dark.
				signed in draft Ziegner.
		14.05.17
		10.00 AM		Due to fog departed late.
		x1.30 PM		Made fast Hamburg Blohmwerft
				Kapitänleutnant Heeseler took over command.
				signed in draft Ziegner.

	Sun and Moon Data 09.05.17
	Sun and Moon Data 10.05.17
	Sun and Moon Data 11.05.17
	Sun and Moon Data 12.05.17
	Sun and Moon Data 13.05.17
	Sun and Moon Data 14.05.17

			Experiences.
			================
		1.         The dinghy storage is completely inadequate. Once the boat had enough slack to rock back and forth in rough seas and endanger the compressed air lines. However then the dinghy would also be completely shattered by the constant seas, which break through the gates in the water line, even if it were firmly stored.           After 8 days on the patrol, the dinghy consisted only of fragments.           Remedy: 2 rails over the stem and stern of the dinghy and sealing the gates at the height of the boat.           Taking the dinghy with you is useless under the current circumstances.     2.         The locking of the deck closures is also completely insufficient.           Despite being checked as often as possible, a large number were opened by the seas. 4 closures were lost. The lack of a closure in the aft line locker gave rise to fears that ropes that were knocked out could get caught in the propellers.           However, in order to keep the [missing text] lever locks, which are very practical for port operations, a simple remedy would be to lay [missing word] over the closures in front of the gun, aft over the [missing test] for long-distance operations, each with 1 or 2 rails with 2 [missing text], as they are located over the marker buoys themselves.     3.        The fastening of the towing pennant on deck by means of [missing word] had already disappeared after just a few days, so that it was only hanging in a large bight between the ends of the line and endangering the forward diving plane until it could be recovered when the weather was better.           Remedy: Along the railing on deck, a few strong hasps with cotter pins.     4. The bridge has proven itself excellently. The space is sufficient. Water only ran into the tower hatch three times when the sea was strong and the boat was damaged. The bridge personnel are always protected from the seas that are coming across, so that the force only acts on the head and shoulders.           The flap on the aft edge in particular, the float of which was not working all the time, was very valuable, since on the return transit with a stern sea the water almost always came up to just below the upper edge of the flap without putting the conning tower under water     5.         The railing was only dented in a few places through deck closures.     6.         In a reasonably calm sea, the boat held up well at night with the flood valves open and the watertight stern.
				signed in draft Ziegner.

 

	Enclosures to SM U-93's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document
Chart	Track chart of entire patrol
Ship	List of ships sunk
Torpedo	List of Torpedoes
Artillery	Ammunition consumed
Maschine	Consumables

 

---

Click the icons to view the associated records
	Return to the U-boat KTB page