Copy No. 126
	24 April 1943.
	B.d.U. Standing War Order No. 501
	(New version May 1943)
	War Diary Keeping
	The rules for the preparation of war diaries apply in principle, provided this instruction does not indicate otherwise.
	In particular it is ordered:
	1.  The war diaries [Kriegstagebuch (K.T.B.)] of U-boats are to be completed immediately after return from each operation.  A new one is then to be started at once, beginning with the lay days in harbor or dock, and carried on continuously up to the conclusion of the next operation.  It must afford a sequential review of the activities and positions of the boat.  The first K.T.B. must contain a short overview of the time from the commissioning up to departure on the first war patrol in which the date of commissioning, times and places of workups and shipyard work are set forth.  A copy this first K.T.B. for the time of the commissioning up to departure on the first war patrol is sent to the responsible front flotilla before departure from the homeland.
	2.  All copies of war diaries are to be signed at the end by the commander himself in the following form:
	Onboard, the . . . .
	Signature
	Rank and Commander
	The note: "Signed" is not permissible, because the war diary is an official document.
	3.   The following are produced and submitted:
	1st  copy care of B.d.U. for O.K.M.
	2nd copy care of B.d.U. for O.K.M.
	3rd copy for B.d.U.
	4th copy for Kmdr.Adm. der U-Boote
	5th copy for F.d.U.- (West, Italian, Norwegian)
	6th copy for F.d.U. - Ausbildung
	7th copy for 27. U-Flottille
	8th copy remains with the Flotilla.
	The first copies are on the prescribed forms, the remaining copies are produced on copying paper.
	The first, second and third copies of the K.T.B. and the first copy of the K.T.B. engineering section [K.T.B. Abschnitt Maschine] are presented in person by the Commander on the day of the comprehensive oral report to B.d.U.
	4.  The following enclosures are to be produced:
	a)  Track chart of the boat,
	b)  Track chart of convoy operations,
	c)  Attack sketches,
	d)  Collation (in clear text) of important Radio Messages for the patrol, separately for Officer Only and General messages.
	Naval Official Instruction No. 97                                                                     [e) as required]

 

	e)  As required:  minefield reports, minefield sketches, prize reports, reports on special operations,
	f)  Combat shooting data,
	g)  K.T.B. Maschine.
	Which are attached:
	1st copy no enclosures,
	2nd and 5th -7th copies  attach a, d and e,
	3rd and 8th copies          attach a-g,
	4th copy                         attach a, d-g
	Barograph strips for the patrol are attached to the copies of K.T.B.s for F.d.U. West.
	Flotillas are exempted from limits on copies of the enclosures at their own discretion.
	For a):  The boat's track chart is on tracing paper, marked on Grid Square Chart 1870 G, it must indicate the boat's track outside warning areas or restricted routes.
	For b):  The track chart of convoy operations, one for each convoy which was operated on, is on tracing paper, marked on the large copy of the Grid Square Chart.  For the North and Central Atlantic, the following charts are to be used:  1899 G, 1897 G, 1872 G, 1900 G, 1898 G, 1873 G, 1874 G, 1909 G, 1906 G, 1875 G, 1876 G.
	These track charts must show the track of boat in black, the track of the convoy from contact reports of other boats or own sightings and all intercepted enemy messages in red covering the time from the beginning of own operations (not just from the first own contact) up to the conclusion.
	On the track chart, the number of the Grid Square Chart on which it is marked, and two reference squares are to be entered.
	The navigation correction between accepted ship's position and the actual position must be shown.
	For e):  Attack sketches are to be drawn for all attacks on warship formations and convoys.  For other attacks only in cases where either the production of a sketch is required for explaining the actions of the Commander, or is of special importance for later war-research study.
	All enclosures are to be provided with head stamp, diary number, boat number and name of the Commander.
	5.  The following points are emphasized for the preparation of war diaries:
	a) The K.T.B. should fix all important and noteworthy events concerning the unit, specify and present the events of combat, primarily from the viewpoint of own actions.         The representation of facts is to be distinguished from own considerations, rational and conclusions.  These are - even if only a single line - to be written across the entire page.  The text should be complete and understandable without other support.   b) The text on opening should be entirely readable.  On the title page the security marking, command, name of the Commander with rank, dates covered as well as the number of enclosures are to be indicated.         The pages are to be numbered.  At the top of every page the date (underlined) and the location of the general sea area is indicated.         At beginning of the war patrol specify which Operations Order applied.         General experiences and considerations are summarized at the end of the K.T.B.s.
	[c) Following]

 

	c) The following must be entered:         Ship's position by square information, including large square, every 4 hours and special events (sightings, attacks . . . . ),         Weather every 4 hours or when changing greatly and for attacks,         Dawn and dusk,         Day's run at 12.00 hours, portion surfaced and submerged,         Diving depth when submerged and sound or depth charge pursuit,         Water depth when lying on the bottom,         Each correction after a navigation fix by direction and magnitude,         All special events with time (diving, surfacing etc.).     For sightings: bearing in true and relative degrees, estimated distance, enemy speed and course.     For attacks:             Attack description (bow or stern approach, fan or single shot from which tube),             Shooting data (settings and estimated enemy values etc.),             Set torpedo depth, pistol and torpedo type,             Description of the target (size in the periscope or target optic etc.),             Hit effect (detonation seen or heard, sinking heard etc., time until sinking).     For depth charge and aircraft bomb attacks:             Diving depth at detonation,             Number of bombs,             Damage,             Number of runs or approaches,             Defensive measures.         All Radio Messages verbatim with time of reception and time group, in so far as they affect the turn of events or are of war-historical importance and all own transmissions, including weather messages.
	6.  Attention is drawn to the attached examples in the enclosures.

 

	Enclosure 1 to Standing War Order No. 501.
	Example for K.T.B.- Keeping.
	(Excerpt of K.T.B. ..U-x..)
2.3. West of the Azores Radio Message 2340 1 153:  For -U-x-   Boat join Group Pfeil.  Extend patrol line to the north.  Occupy position at highest speed.       02.05         04.00 CE 4513 Proceeding at highest speed.         SE 3, Sea 2, heavy swell, overcast, Vis. good, 1013 mb         06.15   Dawn begins.       06.30   Correction after a navigation fix:  20°T, 6 nm.       08.00 CE 4411           SE 2, Sea 1, few clouds, Vis. good, 1011 mb         09.00   Test dive.       09.30           12.00 CE 4312 Day's run:         SE 3, Sea 2, slight swell, overcast     Surfaced:     170 nm             Submerged:     2 nm                                   172 nm       15.00   Assigned position reached.  Monitored assigned position at economical speed and north and south legs.       16.00 CE 4344           SE 4, Sea 3, partial overcast, low hanging clouds, Vis. medium, 1010 mb           Because bad visibility prevails in the south part of the horizon, from time to time advanced at higher speed to the south.

 

2.3 CE 4211 Crash dive for flying boat, type not determined, on easterly course, 5000 meters distant.       17.10             Apparently not noticed.           Heavy sound bearing 240°T.         Because in this sea area the general course of the enemy is expected to be 90°, turned to a southerly course.           At periscope depth nothing is seen in the western sector.  The flying boat had come about and passed to the south.         West of the Azores The sound bearing becomes louder.  Due to the circling aircraft the boat can not surface.  Steered to the south at high speed.       18.20   Smoke clouds and mast heads in sight bearing 250°T.  After searching the sky went to depth 12 meters to be able to see better.       18.30   Convoy in sight bearing 255°T.  Relative bearing 80°, enemy course roughly 75°, distance 10000 meters.           To Action Stations.           Continued to steer at high speed to the south, to approach closer.       18.50   Enemy had zig-zagged from the boat.  Enemy bow right, target angle 5°, distance 6000 meters.           The convoy consists of 2 columns and protected ahead and to each side by destroyers and corvettes.           Turned to attack.  Intend to always show a very narrow silhouette to the escort vessels.       19.05   Passed forward screen.       19.16 CE 4214 Associated single shots from tubes I-III on 3 freighters of the starboard column.         SE 4, Sea 3, partial overcast           Shooting data:           Enemy bow right, target angle 70°, enemy speed 10 knot.           Range 3000 meters           Torpedo depth 7 meters  MZ on           Aim point for each steamer:  Center               1st hit after 2 minutes 35 seconds aft 20 meters               2nd hit after 2 minutes 40 seconds aft 30 meters.           Both freighters settle deeper astern.  Shot from tube III:  missed as a result of speed underestimation.           About 4 minutes after the hit the 1st freighter sinks over the stern.  At the 2nd freighter the after ship is just awash.           Both are of Type - . . . . -, estimated size 6000 GRT.                                                    etc.

 

	Enclosure 2 to Standing War Order No. 501.

 

	Enclosure 3 to Standing War Order No. 501.