U-boat Archive - U-boat KTB - U-38 4th War Patrol

U-38 At sea 26.4.1940

Radio Log U-38

=============

Radio Messages received direct from other boats.

Date	Received	Repeat	Time Group	Clear Text

9/4	1640	/	Alfa Alfa	3 Battleships square 2238. Enemy steers northerly course, medium speed.
			1535/9/82
				U-49

9/4	2243	2246	Alfa Alfa	Was attacked, depth charges, changing positions square 2630.
			2210/9/90	U-19

10/4	0235	0242	Alfa Alfa	2 enemy large cruisers in sight square 2338.
			0159/10/95	U-49

10/4	1017	1025	Alfa Alfa	1 light cruiser square AN 2765, medium speed, westerly course.
			0948/10/1
				U-19

11/4	1022	1040	Alfa Alfa	Enemy in sight, 4 heavy cruisers, square AF 5863.
			1113/11/51	U-48

11/4	1328	1336	1246/11/53	To B.d.U.
				Occupied Nero. U- to now Nero 2 destroyer, listening pursuit, 10 April evening 2 destroyers torpedoed, effect after detonation not observed.
				U-25

11/4	1435	1537	1350/11/55	To B.d.U.
				In accordance with Chef 4. Zerstörer Flottille during the day in Narvik, with bad visibility and nights in ordered position. No enemy contact.
				U-46

11/4	1508	1511	Alfa Alfa	Sighted enemy warships consist of 3 battleships, 1 heavy cruisers, 1 light cruiser, 5 destroyers. Square AF 5830, changing course, high speed, back and forth in position.
			1429/11/56
				U-48

11/4	2211	2215	Alfa Alfa	Heavy cruiser unable to maneuver for a long time, square AF 5675.
			2158/11/64
				U-48

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- 2 -

12/4	0331	0333	Alfa Alfa	Enemy in sight, 2 heavy cruisers, 2 destroyers. Square 5656 southerly course, medium speed. Contact lost.
			0240/12/76
				U-48

13/4	2320	/	2200/13/71	To B.d.U.
				Presented Radio Message 2055/13/65 is confirmed.
				U-5?

13/4	2350	/	2240/13/?	To B.d.U.
				Position Senjehestnen in 90°T, 2 nm, enemy-free.
				U-47

14/4	2230	2235	2020/14/91	To B.d.U.
				1 "WARSPITE" with escort leaving AF 3620 10.35 hours attacked unsuccessfully. Reconnaissance up to Måløy-Skarholmen. Within Vestfjord to Narvik numerous destroyers. Still 5 torpedoes ready. Very calm clear weather.
				U-48

16/4	0555	because	2112/15/?	To B.d.U.
		Alarm		Return transport square AF 3610.
				U-48

16/4	2342	2348	2205/16/81	To B.d.U.
				Have begun return transit. In Vestfjord only light surveillance. Transit by day on the surface. Am at the exit Vestfjord.
				U-46

18/4	2242	2245	2040/18/60	To B.d.U.
				Today 03.30 hours light cruiser or large destroyer entered "Andfjord", 16.30 hours a type "EMERALD" out. Practically no darkness. Set off for charging, leaving the position unoccupied for hours.
				U-65

20/4	1233	1235	Alfa Alfa	Convoy in sight square 5472 upper-left.
			1219/20/43	U-47

20/4	1446	1449	1435/20/47	Enemy convoy in sight square 5457 center-left
				U-47

20/4	2330	2338	2212/20/57	To B.d.U.
				Square 8441 2 torpedoes sunk, Sea 3 from ahead. Both did not broach. First shot after 553 seconds, 2nd shot no detonation. Both AZ.
				U-30

- 3 -

21/4	0338	0340	Alfa Alfa	Enemy convoy in sight square 5258 upper-left.
			0328/21/63	U-47

			Alfa Alfa	Square 5235 enemy main body not in sight. U-47 send bearing signals every 30 minutes, beginning 09.00 hours on wavelength 0852 meters; between bearing signals report distance and bearing of the enemy forces reported in Radio signal.
21/4	0841	0844	0802/21/68
				U-65

21/4	0915	0917	Alfa Alfa	Square 5237 enemy convoy in sight.
			0904/21/70	U-65

21/4	1648	1651	Alfa Alfa	Have lost contact square 2950.
			1635/21/78	U-47

21/4	1840	1842	Alfa Alfa	Enemy convoy square 2997, steers NE-course, runs at 7 knots, holding contact. Am SW of the convoy in square 5325.
			1800/21/80
				U-65

21/4/	1918	1921	Alfa Alfa	Square 2991, enemy in sight, steers N-Course.
			1901/21/81	U-65

21/4	2140	2142	Alfa Alfa	Square 2964, course 30°.
			2056/21/82	U-65

22/4	0015	0026	2312/21/93	To B.d.U.
				Must break off maneuver ahead due to increasing seas State. Request orders. Position square AF 2962. 22.00 hours enemy position square 2965, speed 7 knots. Apparently course Vågsfjord. During the day forced to submerged twice by destroyers, attack failed. Attack periscope temporarily out of service.
				U-65

25/4	0054	0057	Alfa Alfa	Enemy convoy in sight square 2158, steers NE course, have lost contact.
			0003/25/12
				U-59

25/4	0135	01.38	0102/25/13	To B.d.U.
				Position on 25 April at 09.30 Lightship "H".
				U-62

25/4	2238	2240	2225/25/29	To B.d.U.
				Multiple suspicious fishing vessels exactly off the west exit of Route 1.
				U-47

		Obtnt.z.See and Communications Officer

U-38 At sea 26.4.1940

Radio Log U-38

=============

Outgoing.

Date	Received	Repeat	Time Group	Clear Text

12/4	0910	0915	Alfa Alfa	1 destroyer, 2 battleships NE course, square AF 3760.
			0835/12/78	U-38

12/4	1112	1114	Alfa Alfa	The reported enemy warships are 2 destroyers, 1 tanker. Have lost contact.
			1056/12/81
				U-38

12/4	2323	2330	2314/12/97	To B.d.U.
				Incoming Radio Message 1517/12/85 is confirmed.
				U-38

13/14	1908	Not	1831/13	To B.d.U.
				In transit to Vågsfjord square AB 8960.
				U-38

13/4	2234	Not	2201/13	To Control
				For Radio Message 1831 encoded R D L.
				U-38

14.4.	0210	0215	2210/13/76	To B.d.U.
				"Andesnes" 2 destroyer NE course, SE 3.
				U-38

14.4	2212	Not	Alfa Alfa	Enemy in sight square AG 1110, 3 destroyers, southerly course, high speed.
			2115/14
				U-38

14/4	2218	Not	Alfa Alfa	Enemy in sight, 1 light cruiser, 1 destroyer, NE course Tranøyfjorden.
			1150/14
				U-38

16/4	0315	Not	1436/15	To B.d.U.
	0226	Not	2318/15	3 large troop transports in the direction of Tjeldfjord and Bygdensund. "WARSPITE" 3-fan miss. "FROBISHER", 20 destroyers, carrier aircraft. Depth charge and aircraft bomb attacks. Forced out to the north by continual destroyer pursuit. Daily 20 hours submerged. Wind calm and clear, very bright nights.
				U-38

- 2 -

19/4	2333	2336	0103/19/81	To B.d.U.
				Four-fan PROBISHER-type. Long range detonation after 9 minutes. Hit not observed, because at depth. Failure not likely. Still 1 bow and 4 stern torpedoes.
				U-38

20/4	1142	1144	Alfa Alfa	Enemy in sight, one battleship, 1 troop transport, square AF 3223, northeasterly course, medium speed.
			1110/20/42
				U-38

20/4	1425	1428	1315/20/46	To B.d.U.
				1. Due to lubricating oil consumption high sustained speed not possible.
				2. Light oil trace 1000 meters, cause unexplained, square AF 3220, NW 3-4, overcast.
				Square AF 3220. NW 3-5, overcast.
				U-38

21/4	1725	1727	1634/21/79	To B.d.U.
				Position square 5313 with attack strong defense by depth charges. NNW 5, Limit submerged attack due to Swell. Attempting to maneuver ahead.
				U-38

22/4	0515	Confirmed	Short Signal	Still have 4-6 torpedoes below deck.
		06.08		U-38

22/4	1638	1641	1510/22/46	To B.d.U.
				Tube 2 with last bow torpedo out of service, Outer tube door sits in a partly open condition.
				U-38

22/4	2235	2237	2205/22/51	To B.d.U.
				1. Still have 4 stern torpedoes.
				2. Return transit in accordance with orders.
				U-38

25/4	0418	Confirmed	Short Signal	Have passed 57°30'N in the North Sea.
		0450		U-38

24/4	1518	Confirmed	Short Signal	Have passed 60°50'N in the North Sea.
		1618		U-38

25/4	2348	2352	2310/25/30	To B.d.U.
				NW edge of extended Warning Area apparently fishing trawler surveillance.
				U-38

- 3 -

26/4	2325	2326	2258/26/48	To B.d.U.
				For direction finding traffic I give half-hourly Radio Messages until 03.00 hours
				U-38

27/4	0435	0440	0425/27/52	To B.d.U.
				Position 07.00 hours Lightship F, request anti-aircraft escort.
				U-38




				Obtnt.z.See and Communications Officer