S E C R E T (Equals British MOST SECRET).
 
     
                                                                                                                            July 29th, 1943.  
   
 
RECENT INFORMATION ON
 
     
 
G E R M A N    U - B O A T S    I N    T H E    M E D I T E R R A N E A N
 
     
 
(Note: The following information has been obtained from interrogation of survivors of U-97 (interr. CSDIC - MEF) and U-409 (interr. CSDIC - AFHQ), sunk on June 16, 1943, and July 12, 1943, respectively.  It has not been confirmed from other Sources and should therefore be treated with reserve.)
 
     
  1.  BOATS BELIEVED OPERATING.  
     
 
C.O.
Possible No. U-boat.
Base where Last Seen.
Date.
Remarks:    Device.
 
   
DECKERT             (ex Rosenbaum)
73
SPEZIA
 (10) April 1943. Device:  Hatchet nailed to C/T with "USA" on blade; also arms of home town of Rosenbaum (Ex. C.O.).
 
  Fire in engine room on leaving Spezia drydock about 1 May, 43.  Engine room staff burned.  Subsequent reoccurrence of same difficulty; possible sabotage.  (U.97)
 
   
KRIEG                 (ex Guggenberger)
81
POLA
 (5) June 1943 Device:  Coat of arms of patron city (?) (Possibly retains Guggenberger's old device) (U.97)
 
   
MEHL                    (ex Franken)
371
TOULON
 (20) June 1943 Device:  Yellow insect with green wings standing on torpedo - forward on C/T.  Gun platform recently extended aft for extra M/Gs (Toulon) 88 mm gun removed.
 
  MEHL put out from Toulon during the 1st week in July U.409 heard him report (wireless) that a leaking periscope obliged him to put back to port.  He was at sea again just before U.409's sinking (July 12) and was ordered to a "new" operational area.  (U.97.U.409)
 
   
KOENENKAMP
375
TOULON
 (29) June 1943 Left on patrol from Toulon with U.409 June 29.
 
  Device:  possibly a tripartite shield, coat of arms of patron city; superstructure believed unmodified.
 
  Believed operating Western Mediterranean July 1-15.
 
   
BRULLER
407
TOULON
 (29) June 1943 "Sister boat" of U.409.  Long overhaul in Toulon May, June 1943.  Batteries removed etc.
 
  NO device (NOT Octopus).
 
   
SCHONEBOOM (ex Dommes)
431
TOULON
 (29) June 1943 Left Toulon on patrol about June 11, returning shortly before June 29, claiming "successful" cruise.
 
  Device:  Variously given as "HORRIDO" of "HALLOTRIA" inscribed on C/T (U.409)
 
   
DIGGINS
458
TOULON
 April-May 1943 Little known about this boat; survivors from both U.97 and U.409 believe it to have been in Toulon April-May 1943.
 
     
 
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2.
  
     
  BOATS BELIEVED OPERATING (Cont'd)  
     
C.O.
Possible No. U-boat.
Base where Last Seen.
Date.
Remarks:    Device.
 
   
von SCHLIPPENBACH
453
POLA
 (5) June 1943 Returned to POLA from patrol about May 6, claiming 6000 t. merchant ship and 1 bomber.  (U.97)
 
   
SCHOMBERG
561
TOULON
 June 1943 In Toulon between June 11-29 (U.409)
 
   
KELBLING
593
POLA
 (5) June 1943 Due to leave on patrol about June 12.  Device:  Snorting Bull (7th Flotilla, St. Nazaire)  (U.97)
 
   
JAHN
596
POLA
 (5) June 1943 Due to leave on patrol about June 5.  Device:  Hamburg lobsterman (?) carrying yellow pails suspended from yoke and inscription "Hummel Hummel"  (U.97)
 
   
BRANDI
617
TOULON
 (20 June 1943 Left Toulon on patrol while U.409 was in dock.
 
  Device:  Possibly coat of arms of patron city.
 
  Operating recently in Western Mediterranean on convoy routes just east of Gibraltar.
 
  Returned Toulon about July 15, having claimed a destroyer and a 5,000 t. freighter while at sea.
 
  88 mm gun removed.  (U.409)
 
   
GOING
755
SPEZIA
 (10) April 1943 Device:  Blue sawfish (9th Flotilla, Brest), and "Es Geht Weiter"  (U.97)
 
  In Toulon sometime before June 11.  (U.409)
 
   
ROTHER
?
SPEZIA
 April 1943 Little known about this boat except that it appears to have been very active in recent months.  (U.97)
 
   
SCHULER
602 (?)
TOULON
 April 1943 Little known of the recent activity of this boat.  (U.409)
 
   
  (The following boats, believed operating in the Mediterranean on January 1, 1943, have not been seen in recent months.  They may have been lost or withdrawn from the Mediterranean.)  
     
 
C.O.
Possible No. U-boat.
Base where Last Seen.
Date.
Remarks:    Device.
 
 
FRANKEN           (ex Jebsen)
565
-
-
 Franken is believed to have succeeded Jebsen as C.O. of U.565 and to have remained active in the Mediterranean in command of this boat.
 
 
SCHUTZE. H.V.
605
-
-
  
 
 
WEBER
?
SPEZIA
Dec., 1942
A U-boat commanded by an officer of this name appeared in Spezia in Dec. 1942 and was not seen there again.  (U.97)
 
 
HEINSOHN
573
-
-
                 - - -
 
     
  2.  BOATS BELIEVED LOST.  
     
 
C.O.
Possible No. U-boat.
Base where Last Seen.
Date.
Remarks:    Device.
 
 
WOERRISHOFER
83
SPEZIA
Feb, 1943
From various sources it has been established that U.83 left Spezia on patrol in Feb. 1943 and did not return.  It is believed that she was lost with all hands.
 
 
HAMM
562
SPEZIA
Jan. 1943
Left Spezia on patrol mid. Jan, 1943; believed lost with all hands.
 
 
FRIEDRICH           (ex Kentrat)
74
-
-
 It has been further confirmed that this boat was lost in the Med.  off Spain during the Spring of 1942.
 
     
 
To page 3
 
     
     

 

 
 

   
 
3.
  
     
3.  BOATS LOST IN 1943 (with survivors)  
   
 
C.O.
No.
Date Sunk.
Remarks.
       
KORNER 301 January 21, 1943 1 midshipman survivor (P/W)
       
BURGEL 205 February 17, 1943 41 survivors (P/W)
       
HARTMANN (?) 77 March 29, 1943 Lost off Spanish Coast.
      Survivors reached Spain.
       
HEINE (?)         (Possibly Klt. Karl Franz HEINE of the 1934 naval term 303 (?) May 22, 1943 A boat, supposed to have made 3-4 Mediterranean patrols, and identified by this No. and C.O., was sunk off Toulon by British s/m SICKLE.  C.O., 2 officers and undetermined number of men rescued by German coastal patrol vessel and taken to Toulon, Eng officer, Chief Q.M., 6 or 7 civilian technicians and undetermined number of men lost.  Boat was doing trials and preparing for a deep dive test when torpedo struck between Diesel and Electric motor compartments killing all engine room personnel and civilian technicians.  (U.409)
       
TROX 97 June 16, 1943 21 survivors (P/W)
       
MASSMANN 409 July 12, 1943 38 survivors (P/W)
 
     
 
- - - - - - - -
 
     
     
  Naval Section,  
  CSDIC - AFHQ  
  30th July, 1943.  
                                                                                                            
                                                                                                        Lieutenant J.S. PLAUT, USNR.  
     
     
 
Distribution: J.I.C.A. for Op.16.Z 1
  C.S.D.I.C., M.E.F. 1
  S.O.(I) Malta 1
  S.O.(I) Med. 1
  Comnavnaw 1
  DNI for NID.1/PW 1
  File 1