U-boat Archive - U-boat KTB - U-405 6th War Patrol

Radio Messages sent and received from boats, influencing operations

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Date	Received time	Time Group	Text

27.02.43	02.38	Beta	Convoy square AJ 5531, course 40°.

"	03.05	0100.27	Position square AJ 5331. Was overrun by convoy. By sound bearings numerous steamers in 2 broad columns.
			6 destroyers counted, northeasterly course. NNE 3-4, SW 3, pitch black, driving snow.
			Friedrich.

"	04.11	0258/27	No communications with the homeland, going to Group Circuit Wavelength KO.

"	04.54	0432/27	Position naval square AJ 2898, sound bearing of the convoy in 40°T. In pursuit, navigation inexact.
			Friedrich.

"	07.53	0713/27/779	Friedrich reports 02.50 hours convoy naval square AJ 5331, course 40°. Is on Group Circuit.

"	10.31	1012/27	Enemy convoy located naval square AJ 2921, course 30°, speed 7 knots. Hold contact.
			Friedrich.

"	11.11	1100/27	Request bearing signals.
			Hopman.

"	14.32	Beta	Request bearing signals from the contact holder.

"	15.17	1448/27	Have lost contact. Last position 11.05 hours AJ 2921.

			Friedrich.

"	15.30	1530/27	Exact convoy position at 11.05 hours naval square AJ 2839, general course 30°, 7 nm.
			Friedrich.

"	16.40	1602/773	Friedrich reports 03.00 hours convoy NE course, 7 knots. 11.00 hours contact lost. Naval square AJ 2839, general course 30°. Group Circuit.
			Hopman.

"	17.22	1703/774	Position naval square 2667. WSW 5, Sea 4, 1015 rising, Vis. 10 nm
			Hopman.

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

- 2 -

27.02.43	17.40	Beta	1 destroyer square AJ 2653
			Hopman.

"	20.40	Beta	My position is AJ 6291.

"	20.56	2023/27	Position naval square AJ 7697. Operating on course 5°.
			Schütt.

28.02.43	00.15	0350/28	To Radio Message 2023/27 square must mean 2697.
			Schütt.

"	09.12	0824/793	06.18 hours naval square AJ 3257 1 steamer, 3 destroyers, course 60°. Artillery, depth charges, no further sound bearings. SE 5, Sea 4, 1015 mb, falling, snow showers.

"	10.27	1016/794	09.30 hours AJ 9688 broad band in 20°T. Dived before detection 120 cm. Vis. 1 nm.
			Hornkohl.

"	15.04	1358/800	5 steamers naval square AJ 3341, course 90°, Sea 7, Vis. 3000 meters, 62 cbm.
			Hopman.

"	16.40	1625/706	Enemy naval square AJ 3342, easterly course. Widely spaced.
			Hopman.

"	17.17	1712/708	Partial convoy, no weapons use.
			Hopman.

"	17.14	1642/707	Position naval square AJ 3319, bearing 40°T broad band. Vis. 1 nm. 62 cbm.
			Stock.

"	19.42	Beta	Hold contact square AJ 3337.
			Hopman.

"	20.54	Beta	Enemy changed course to 40°, square AJ 3331.
			Hopman.

01.03.43	01.35	2359/718	Partial convoy dispersed on course 60°, speed 11 knots. 1 steamer 2 hits burning abandoned.
			Hopman.

"	12.25	1136/729	0039 hours naval square AK 1385 motor ship 9000 tons, similar to "PERTHSHIRE". 2 hits sunk. Drifting sacks. Radio call-sign "CYD". Searching further for dispersed convoy. 7 + 2 torpedoes. W 5, Vis. 10 nm, medium Swell, 1019 mb, rising, +2°C.
			Hopman.

"	12.48	Beta	1 steamer, 1 destroyer square AK 1383. Very low speed.
			Hopman.

- 3 -

01.03.43	14.47	1355/736	Suspect U-boat trap changing courses 0-270°, very low speed.
			Hopman.

"	14.49	Beta	Convoy AK 1328 to the W.

"	22.16	2125/751	19.00 hours naval square AK 1442, 2 large steamers, course 250°. One sank without detonation at 20.56 hours. Search for second ship continues, Vis. good, 1031 mb rising. OZO and Metox out of service, 57 cbm.
			Hopman.

02.03.43	00.42	2358/758	Forced off by destroyer. Last position of the convoy 22.30 hours naval square AD 9852, course W.
			Struckmeier.

"	01.38	0045/759	Tanker evening zigzag to the N up to AK 1172 with attack 2 x forced off by screen, probably again SW course. Very weak sound bearing in 240°T.
			Marks.

"	08.55	0727/772	Position naval square AD 1762, no contact. 00.00 hours very faint sound bearing in 300°T, broke off at lightness. 28 cbm, going to Zech. SW 7, Sea 7, 1024 mb, lightly falling. Vis. bad, rain showers.
			Struckmeier.

"	21.17	1717/775	28 February 22.00 hours three-fan on partial convoy in broad echelon. 1st steamer missed, 2 detonations after 7 minutes, drifting steamer U-boat trap suspected. Sinking reported. Assume hit fan 9000 ton position naval square AJ 3249. No contact. 48 cbm, SW 7, Sea 5, 1024 mb, falling.
			Hopman.

02.03.43	16.21	2348/	1 March 00.39 hours naval square AJ 1385 motor ship 9000 GRT sunk.
			28 February 21.33 hours naval square AD 9899 motor ship 9000-10000 tons torpedoed, 1 March 20.56 hours naval square AJ 1445 sunk.
			Hopman.

06.03.43	10.40	Beta	5 steamers in square AJ 6691, course 45°.
			Hopman.

"	11.13	1056/724	Reported enemy is convoy naval square AJ 6668.
			Hopman.

"	12.00	1133/726	Convoy positioned naval square AJ 6669, course 90°, speed 7 knots, 38 cbm. Failures: "GHG", "Trim pump", "Battery cell 1", W 7, Vis. 6 nm, 1025 mb rising.
			Hopman.

- 4 -

06.03.43	13.15	Beta	Square AK 4449. Enemy steers 80°.
			Hopman.

"	14.16	1352/734	In Vis. 2 nm, 2 columns 5 steamers, 2 corvettes, additional smoke clouds. Naval square AK 4454. Driving snow.
			Hopman.

"	14.55	Beta	Square AK 4452, course 60°, speed 9 knots.
			Hopman.

"	16.37	Beta	Square AK 4422 enemy steers 0°.
			Hopman.

"	16.36	Beta	Square AK 4429 request bearing signals from contact keeper.

"	23.48	2322/756	Contact lost 18.00 hours, square 4186, course 60°. Gyro-compass and port clutch failed.

07.03.43	01.17	Beta	Enemy in sight square AK 4253.

"	01.28	0102/761	With bearing signals surprised by corvette in fog, 5 hour pursuit, Gyro-compass in operation, clutch operates up to depth A +20 meters, in pursuit.
			Hopman.

"	02.12	Beta	Enemy steers course 45°, 9 knots.

"	04.12	0210/764	Have lost contact. Last enemy position AK 4237. Vis. bad. Hail showers.
			Hornkohl.

"	04.52	0416/765	Bumped into convoy in snow showers 02.00 hours naval square AK4234 course 45°, 8 knots.
			U-230

"	05.46	0526/767	Naval square AJ 3998. Was hunted by escort vessel with red searchlight.
			Siegmann.

"	07.39	0530/769	Forced to submerge by destroyer naval square AK 1972. Convoy sound bearing in 40°T. SE 5, rain showers, 1007 mb. 65 cbm.
			Christophersen.

"	10.32	0952/771	Convoy naval square AK 1916, course 90°.
			Massmann.

"	16.08	1507/785	Contact on independent naval square AK 1797 easterly course. Suspect dispersed convoy.
			Massmann.

"	17.54	1600/790	Naval square AK 1847 in driving snow convoy sighted and lost. W 9, Sea 7, 1015 mb.
			Möglich.

- 5 -

07.03.43	19.35	1830/792	On 600-meter wavelength U-boat Warning heard. Position bay latitude and longitude shows AK 1847. Position 1835, 31 cbm.
			Hornkohl.

"	20.13	181/793	Square AK 1788 one corvette. Sighting report on 600-meter wavelength, Sea 8, Vis. greatly changing.
			Hopman.

"	20.40	2026/794	Convoy square AK 0161, course east. Wind 8, Sea 8, Vis. 2, 60 cbm.
			Christophersen.

08.03.43	05.44	2315/708	Contact lost on steamer in snow storm. Last at 20.37 hours naval square AK 1872. W to N freshening, Sea 9, Vis. 100-8000 meters greatly changing, 1008 mb falling. Position naval square AK 1873. 42 cbm.
			Massmann.

"	06.19	0630/709	1. Christophersen: Question the exact length of time the SE course was observed.
			2. Question Leadership expectation of general course NE.
			Zetsche.

"	07.33	0706/711	Southeast course observed for an hour.
			Christophersen.

"	14.58	1428/726	Convoy naval square AK 3545, 5 steamers.
			Möglich.

"	15.11	1458/727	Flying boat at the convoy.
			Möglich.

"	16.35	1521/731	1. Four-miss on tanker, single miss on freighter in naval square AK 2787 and 2783 respectively, suspect understeered.
			In morning twilight 2 steamers of the convoy course 60°, 8 knots naval square 2791 forced to submerge, depth charges, no failures, in pursuit.
			2. Before warm front, which passed in the first half of the night. Tomorrow around noon pronounced backside expected with Arctic air. Every three days further disturbance expected.
			3. 3 lightly wounded by seas, 136 cbm.
			Uhlig.

"	18.27	1801/741	Naval square AK 2457 dived before "Boeing". 26 cbm.
			Hopman.

"	18.56	1845/744	Steamer with flying boat naval square AK 3578.
			"U-616"

"	1853	Beta	Enemy in sight square AK 3585.

"	19.20	Beta	Convoy AK 3564 eastbound.

- 6 -

08.03.43	19.36	Beta	Enemy located in square AK 3583. Speed 8 knots, course 90°.

"	22.16	2111/753	18.34 hours naval square AK 4842 independent 6000 GRT, course 80°, 9 knots sunk. 9 plus 6 torpedoes, operating on Möglich-convoy.

"	22.55	2038/755	Naval square AK 3569 ahead of convoy depth charges,
			Dahlhaus.

"	23.49	2330/756	In rain squall pursued by destroyer, listening pursuit, depth charges, gyro-compass out of service, no contact, in pursuit. Naval square AK 3568, 90 cbm.
			Haupt.

09.03.43	00.33	2119/757	AK 3714 - 3594 wounded 7000-ton independent freighter hunted and sunk, course 50°. 2 x bothered by depth charges by protecting "Consolidated". Forced to submerge by escort vessel with red searchlight. SW 4, Sea 4, Vis. 4 nm, 1008 mb falling. 6 plus 2 torpedoes. 42 cbm. In pursuit.
			Zetsche.

"	00.44	2342/759	Naval square AK 3814 at 21.58 hours independent 6500 GRT sunk. 12 plus 6 torpedoes, 1893 cbm. Continuing to operate on convoy.
			Wintermeyer.

"	00.54	2146/760	Navel square AK 3596 forced to submerge by destroyer, overrun by convoy, in pursuit in 90°, 23 cbm.
			Hornkohl.

"	01.02	0001/761	18.42 hours naval square AK 3979 bumped into destroyer, listening pursuit, depth charges. In so doing convoy sound bearing in 170°T. In pursuit. Still 80 cbm.
			Tippelskirch.

"	01.16	2217/763	Naval square AK 3645 during attack by enemy zigzag in ramming position with steamer. Shot at by anti-aircraft weapons forced to submerge. Enemy course east. Contact lost, in pursuit.
			Möglich.

"	03.03	0245/767	To Serial No. 866 square must mean AK 3579.
			Tippelskirch.

"	09.10	0830/77	Naval square AK 3639 return transit on convoy route to "Zech". 21 cbm.
			Hopman.

"	10.04	0937/775	All in service again, no contact. Position AL 1653.
			Haupt.

"	10.09	0829/780	On 7 March at daybreak further 5000 GRT freighter from convoy torpedoed. Naval square AL 1385, 4 plus 2 torpedoes, 50 cbm. W 6, Sea 7, 1000 mb falling.
			Siegmann.

- 7 -

09.03.43	10.49	Beta	Corvette, sea-plane, 1 steamer square AL 1573, course 60°.

"	11.31	0950/776	1. Yesterday hunted 6000-ton square AK 2670 at 18.52 hours explosion column at steamer, timed at 7 nm range very heavy detonation. Nothing more seen.
			2. 31 cbm.
			3. Request bearing signals from contact holder. Naval square AL 1554, uncertain.
			Massmann.

"	12.12	1119/778	Naval square AK 3852 independent, SE-course. Wind W 8-9, large seas, high Swell, Vis. changing, overcast, 1008 mb rising.
			Lange.

"	13.12	1219/782	Convoy consists of 4-5 steamers, one Sunderland, corvettes naval square 1553. Course 70°.
			Schetelig.

"	17.30	Beta	2 steamers square AK 3863 course W.
			Hopman.

"	18.28	Beta	Convoy square AL 1643, course 80°.

"	19.43	1910/796	Hunted large freighter with torpedo nets, naval square AL 1694
			Haupt.

"	21.20	1915/702	Forced to submerged by corvette, contact lost, last convoy position naval square AL 1652, course 90°.
			Schetelig.

"	21.49	1938/703	After sighting by aircraft naval square AK 1523 listening and depth charge pursuit by U-boat hunting group. In so doing, sound bearing 11.45 hours from convoy passing, course east, no damage.
			Brünning.

"	23.05	2240/707	Order carried out: With 2 boats each 1 steamer sunk. Naval square AL 1753.
			Hopman.

"	23.46	2201/709	21.36 hours naval square AL 1763 with 3 hits sunk. Course 90°, 6000 GRT. 12 plus 6 torpedoes, 190 cbm.
			Lange.

"	23.59	2255/710	Star shells naval square AL 2514, position 1663.
			Dahlhaus.

10.03.43	00.52	2300/713	While pursuing encountered escort. Star shells, white and red searchlights. Forced off to the north, no steamers seen. Naval square AL 1662
			Schetelig.

"	01.26	0045/716	To Serial No. 807 freighter 6000 GRT. 2235 hours naval square AL 1753 with 2 hits sunk. 4 plus 2 torpedoes.
			Hopman.

- 8 -

10.03.43	01.49	Beta	Enemy in sight square AL 2528.

"	04.04	0255/720	02.30 hours contact lost, last convoy position naval square AL 2528, inexact.
			Liegemann. [typo Siegmann]

"	08.39	Beta	Convoy square AL 2612, course 80°.

11.03.43	00.28	Beta	Convoy AK 9877.

"	01.21	Beta	Have contact on convoy.

"	05.03	Beta	Intend to attack with Fat.

"	05.24	Beta	Have contact on convoy square AK 9854.

"	09.50	0932/790	Have contact on fast independent general course 60°, speed 11 knots, 09.30 hours naval square AK 9672, 11 cbm.
			Förster.

"	11.31	0830/792	Naval square AK 9844 at 02.15 hours 1 steamer 6000 GRT sunk. 1 hit on steamer likely.
			Müller-Edzards.

"	12.20	1157/794	10.09 hours MT 1427 aircraft bombs, no damage. On 5 March 07.32 hours 3 misses on independent. ZL 2917, 17 knots, course 40°, 1 tube runner. Still 8 plus 2 torpedoes, 80 cbm.
			Löser.

"	13.42	1158/794	1. 07.25 hours naval square AK 9862 3-fan (2 FAT 1 Eto) on 8000-ton tanker. After 16 minutes 2 strong explosions hear in the boat and on the bridge. Then heard loud gurgling in the boat
			2. Own position naval square AK 9925. Forced to submerge by aircraft. Las convoy position AK 9921, course 60°. 10 to 12 knots. In pursuit. W 4-5, medium Swell, 9/10, 1034 mb rising, snow showers, 73 cbm, 9 plus 2 torpedoes.
			Dietrichs.

"	17.00	1408/800	11.12 hours hit on reported steamer. Wile maneuvering ahead again forced to submerge 2 x from aircraft. Enemy in naval square AK 9621, course 25°, speed 10 knots, 9 cbm, breaking off.
			Förster.

"	17.23	1515/701	10.00 hours one steamer mast 9593, strong land-based air. Saw aircraft attack on U-boat 10.09 hours. Position 9673, no contact, steering 50°, cloud height 4000 meters, 8/10, all naval square AK.
			U-441

"	17.32	1156/702	23.32 hours from convoy AK 9874 two-fan on large freighter. Hit likely. Forced off by destroyer. Today 4-engined aircraft at convoy. 10 plus 2 torpedoes, 100 cbm.
			Hunger.

"	18.33	1443/703	05.10 hours tanker 8000 GRT flew in the air. 2 hits on overlapping steamer, forced off.

- 9 -

11.03.43	21.12	2009/706	1. Last convoy position BD 3118 at 21.30 hours. Until 03.00 hours listening pursuit with Echo locating by 2 destroyers.
			2. Falke-miss due to setting error.
			3. "KENT" 8697 GRT.
			Trojer.

"	23.24	Beta	2 steamers square AK 9673. Course 50°, speed 12 knots.

12.03.43	00.38	2320/716	Position naval square 7125 no contact no sound bearings. NW 5-6, Sea 5, medium-high Swell, 6/10, 1031 mb falling, Vis. changing, snow showers, 65 cbm.
			Dietrichs.

"	03.12	0312/722	Request bearing signals from "Förster".
			Hopman.

"	04.24	Beta	Contact lost 23.40 hours, enemy steers 50°, speed 12 knots, square AK 9915, course 200°, 5 knots.
			Förster.