U-402 - 8th War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

Departed	Date	Arrived	Date	Days at Sea
La Pallice	4 September 1943	Lost	13 October 1943	40

 

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Ships Attacked
Date	KTB Time	Position	Ship	Tons	Nationality	Convoy
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.

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		K  r  i  e  g  s  t  a  g  e  b  u  c  h    "  U  402  ". Kommandant:  Kaptlt. v. Forstner.   (Reconstructed by 2.Skl/B.d.U.Op.)
		1943
		26.05.43 -
		04.09.43	La Pallice	Overhaul upkeep and maintenance.
		04.09.43	La Pallice	Departure with orders to head for BE 5820.
		10.09.43
		18.35		From B.d.U.:
				U-402 . . . .  speed so as to reach AK 63 in the evening 20 September, if required steer other courses than intended in the outbound order.
		11.09.43
		22.58	BE 59	From U-402:
				Up to now no detections,  Approached in BF 48.  1 shot down.
		12.09.43
		11.55		From B.d.U. to U-402:
				Report concerning approach to BF 48 was too short.  Times and dates missing.  Exact information important for Hagenuk evaluation and to compare with enemy submarine sighting reports. Enemy aircraft reported submarine sighted on 7 September at 12.31 hours BF 4881, 23.05 to 23.35 hours BF 4597 submarine course 280°. On 8 September 06.18 hours BF 4851 submarine course 210°.  By plotting only U-402 was in this area.  Suspect that boat was approached during darkness without location and was detected after searches with searchlight.  If not accurate, report later when transmitting for other reasons.
		15.09.43
		19.47		From B.d.U.:
				11 boats, U-402, 9 boats form group "Leuthen" in named order on 20 September at 20.00 hours be on patrol line from AK 3441 to AL 4762.  More to follow.  Open envelope with reference points.
		20.09.43
		04.00	AL 1944	U-270 reports convoy.
		05.00		From B.d.U.:
				"Leuthen" go!
		10.50		From B.d.U.:
				On 21 September at 08.00 hours switch "Hubertus" Circuit.
		16.30	AK 3948	From U-402:
				23.00 hours stern miss on destroyer target angle 0°, suspect due to high speed.  None of my outdated messages held.  To Radio Message 1155 of 12 September correct except for time of sighting by aircraft 12.31 hours.  95 cbm.
		18.13		On the U-338 report that he remains on the surface for anti-aircraft defense, all boats get order to remain on the surface and to pursue the convoy at highest speed.
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	- 2 -
		continued
		20.09.43
		22.54		From B.d.U.:
				1.)  Control suspects, that the convoy continues to run on the Great Circle.
				2.)  With highest speed continue searching on enemy courses between 280 to 240°.  Starting point 19.30.
				3.)  . . . .
		21.09.43
		08.26		From B.d.U.:
				From the U-377 report and plotting the convoy is located at 03.44 hours in 2927, course 270°, speed 9 knots.
		13.05	AK 5312	U-402 reported position.
		14.09		From B.d.U.:
				1.)  U-377 reports at 10.00 hours from [AK] 0167 sound and convoy voice bearing 187°T.  Operate on this an on southwesterly course .  Enemy speed 9 knots.
				2.)  . . . .
		22.09.43
		02.40	AK 4657	From U-402:
				Destroyer sound bearing 225°T.  77 cbm.
		15.00	AK 7226	U-402 reported weather.
		18.55		U-402 reported he had heard no bearing signals.
		20.30	AK 7247	From U-402:
				Flying boat fended off.  Abating, clearing.  Vis. good.
		23.00		From U-402:
				Up to now no bearing signals heard.
		23.09.43
		02.30	AK 7171	From U-402:
				Weather.  Searching to the southwest.
		10.12		From B.d.U.:
				Operation on convoy broken off, set off to the east.  Boats positioned favorably ahead of the convoy, utilize attack opportunities.
		24.09.43
		00.35	AK 4796	Weather.  60 cbm.  10 torpedoes.
		16.45		From B.d.U.:
				1.)  7 boats, U-402, 11 boats form Group "Rossbach".  In this named order on 26 September at 16.00 hours in reconnaissance line from AK 2645 to 6817, course 90°, 4 knots.
				2.)  On current advance remain unsighted.  Radio silence except for tactically important reports.
		18.48		From U-402:
				Reference point "Ysop" not on board.  Following fuel bearing 52 cbm.
		25.09.43
		11.02		From B.d.U.:
				Group "Rossbach" contrary to previous orders on 27 September at 06.00 hours in new patrol line from AK 2558 to AK 6781.  Distance between boats 15 nm.  Convoy expected first from 29 September.
		27.09.43
		11.33		From B.d.U.:

	- 3 -
		27.09.43
		11.33		From B.d.U.:
				Group "Rossbach" from 12.00 hours course 300°, speed 7 knots.  On 28 September 00.00 hours stop, remain in reached position line as patrol line.
		29.09.43
		21.11		From B.d.U.:
				Group "Rossbach" advance on course 70°, speed 6 knots, more to follow.
		21.34		From B.d.U.:
				1.)  U-389 and U-631 join Group Rossbach.
			[Typo AK 6766 = 6366]	2.)  Group Rossbach in named order 20 boats, U-402 on 1 October 10.00 hours in patrol line from AD 8879 to AK 6766.  From 1 October a slow southwest bound convoy is expected.  Maintain radio silence except for tactically important reports.  Remain unnoticed if possible.
		30.09.43
		23.51		From B.d.U.:  Only to Group Rossbach:
			[Typo 1 Oct = 2 Oct]	Contrary to previous orders on 1 October at 12.00 hours be in new patrol line from AD 8815 to AK 0339.
		01.10.43
		16.25	AK 0335	From U-402:
				Aircraft fended off.
		19.52		From U-402:
				Have been noticed.
		20.02		From B.d.U.:
				Shift ordered patrol line up to 2 October 08.00 hours at 60 nm in direction 360.  New order U-643, U-641, U-539, U-666, U-336, U-731, U-758, U-584, U-610, U-419, U-378 etc. as before.  No reports for delayed arrival.
		02.10.43
		22.50		From B.d.U.:
				Shift patrol line further 50 nm in direction 350°.  For this from 00.00 hours 3 October course 350°, 7 knots until reaching new position.
		04.10.43
		09.30		From B.d.U.:
				Group Rossbach at 10.00 hours course 90°, speed 8 knots.
		11.45		From B.d.U.:
				Due to absence of U-666 and U-336 shift position 10 nm to the north.  With this spaces between U-339 to U-758 20 nm.
		17.04		From B.d.U.:
				Group "Rossbach" stop.  From position that should be reached at 17.00 hours, at 21.00 hours set off on course 195°, day's run 150 nm.
		18.03		From B.d.U.:
				1.)  Expected westbound convoy probably passed yesterday evening.
				2.)  Today at 21.00 hours from 17.00 hours position with course 195°, day's run of 150 nm, advance such that the enemy does not recognize jumping off.
				3.)  . . . .

	- 4 -
		continued
		04.10.43
		18.03		4.)  . . . .
				5.)  Boats low on fuel, which for personnel or material reasons cannot continue to operate after supply, report this tonight.
		19.47		From B.d.U.:
				From position line from 17.00 hours not at 21.00 hours on course 195°, day's run 150 nm advance but instead at 5 October at 08.00 hours.
		06.10.43
		13.04		From B.d.U.:
				Head for BD 37 for supply.
		10.10.43
		12.45		From B.d.U.:
				1.)  From 11 October at 18.00 hours from U-488 in BD 2685 U-402 . . . . each to 85 cbm. . . .
				2.)  Combat boats steer after completion . . . . AK 89.
		12.10.43
		11.17		From B.d.U.:
				U-402 . . . . switch to Ireland Circuit at 20.00 hours.
		20.27		From B.d.U.:
				New meeting point for supply group U-488 is BD 6195.
		19.06	BD 2685	U-402 reported aircraft.  Was noticed.
		13.10.43
		10.26	BD 2685	From U-402:
				Am being attacked by aircraft.
		13.13	BD 2923	From U-402:
				Am being attacked by aircraft.
		15.10.43
		20.27		From B.d.U.:
				1.)  U-220 go to BD 6195 and support U-488 with supplying boats.  Replenish U-402 . . . . to 85 cbm.
				2.)  . . . .
		17.10.43
		13.52		From B.d.U.:
				1.)  Contrary to previous orders new objective for . . . . U-402 BC 33 after supply takes place.
				2.)  . . . .
				3.)  Within a circle of 200 nm of BD 81 for all boats radio silence except for tactically important reports.
		22.10.43
		10.44		From B.d.U.:
				Supply group U-488/U-220:
				1.)  U-402. . . . decide, whether in spite of the long delay boats are still suitable for continued operation.  If no, supply only for return transit or if possible, return transit without supply.
				2.)  . . . .
				3.)  . . . .
			U-402 was not met at the supply place and also has not reported further.
			No clue at to the cause of loss. U-402 may have been destroyed during the attacks on 13 October.

	- 5 -
			U-402 was declared missing with effect from 22 October 1943 on 10 November one star, on 5 July 1944 missing two stars.
			Total loss is accepted.
				For the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote
				- The Chief of Operations Department -

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