U-415 - 6th and 7th War Patrols

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

Click the icon to download a KMZ file displaying the U-boat track, significant events and locations for this patrol.  You must have Google Earth loaded on your computer to view this file.  Download Google Earth here

				Copy No.
				= = = = = = = = =
			K  R  I  E  G  S  T  A  G  E  B  U  C  H                      = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =                                                of                                  Unterseebootes "U-415".
			Kommandant:    Oberleutnant zur See  W  e  r  n  e  r
				Beginning:      1.4.1944
				Ending:        13.7.1944
			D  i  s  t  r  i  b  u  t  i  o  n  :     Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine Copy No. 1 + 2 Befehlshaber der Underseeboote - Op. -     "      " 3 Kommandierenden Admiral der Unterseeboote     "      " 4 Führer der Unterseeboote - West -     "      " 5 Führer der U-Bootesausbildungesflottillen     "      " 6 Kommando 27. Unterseebootsflottille     "      " 7 1. U-Flottille zu den Akten "K.T.B. U-415"     "      " 8
			- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
			E  n  c  l  o  s  u  r  e  s  :     Track chart of the boat to Copy No. 2 - 8 Excerpt of the Radio Log (General)  "      "      " 2 - 8
				© U-boat Archive 2023 - all rights reserved

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

	- 2 -
		01.04. - 25.04.44		Ship yard work Deschimag Brest.
		25.04. - 29.04.44		Equipping, independent training, weapons shooting off the Brest Roads.
		29.04.44
		21.45		Ready for sea to deep dive.
		22.20		Taken under escort.
		22.30		Past barrier outbound.
		23.35	B 2
		30.04.44
		00.12	B 1
		01.00	Point 344	Fu.M.O. personnel onboard.
		02.00	Point 346	Transit to Point Eis on Route Eisbär, both diesels GF.
			NE 1, Sea 0-1, 0/10, 1030 mb
		04.07
			Constant locating begins.  Locators exclusively to starboard.  Locator always taken to starboard astern or ahead, in order to bring all weapons to bear during the approach, and to stay on the Route. Detection Naxos to volume 4. Many fishing vessels. Shifts from one to another.  Because detections hardly shift, acceptance, believe that the fishing vehicles carry location.
		05.38		Dived.  Continued to the south on the Route submerged at HF.
		09.00		Boat positioned on the 200-meter limit.
				Deep diving test.
		09.45		Opposite course.
		12.00	Route Eisbär	Day's run:  Surfaced         95 nm
				Submerged     15 nm
				110 nm.
		20.00	Route Eisbär
		01.05.44
		01.02	NE 2, Sea 1, 0/10, 1030 mb	Surfaced.
				When taken in convoy steady tone to starboard ahead.  At highest speed to Point 346, at LF to Point 344.
		04.30	NE 1, Sea 0-1, 7/10	Taken under escort Point 344.
		07.40		Boat made fast.
		02.05. - 05.06.44		Readiness, training service in Brest Roads.

	Sun and Moon Data 29.04.44
	Sun and Moon Data 30.04.44
	Sun and Moon Data 01.05.44

	- 3 -
		06.06.44
		03.00		Alarm level II.
		21.40		Ready for sea.
				Operations Order Biscay No. 1 and Channel No. 1 on board.
		22.10		Trim test, afterwards weapons firing.
		22.20		Taken in convoy.
		22.30		Passed barrier outbound.
		07.06.44
		01.40	NW 2, Sea 1-2, Swell, moonlit, Vis. good	Boat positioned at Point 342, released from convoy.  Course 270°, highest speed (15 knots).
		01.45		The boat behind is attacked by an aircraft, we take it under fire.  U-Brauel shoots the aircraft down.  Location from all directions at volume 3-4.
		02.20	BF 5211
			Detection to starboard stops. Believe the aircraft is approaching. Flying boat (Sunderland) 40° to starboard. Approaching. Hard to port. Permission to open fire. 4 bombs off the bow which detonate under the boat. Simultaneous approach of the second four-engined aircraft (Liberator) from starboard abeam. Then aircraft armament shoots at the bridge, no bombs. [from the Liberator]  Both diesels stop due to the bombs.  The boat is thrown up, then the stern sinks so deeply that water reaches the conning tower hatch.
			Order:  All men out of the boat!  Rubber boats to the deck!
			Because the approach was a surprise and the transmitter transformer failed after the bombs were thrown, sending a Radio Message was not possible. Emergency transmitter on the bridge, rubber boats and Marcks lifebuoy are prepared. Because boat holds;
			Order:  All ammunition to the bridge!
			Report from the Engineering Officer:  Galley hatch does not hold tight, no lights, various leaks.
			Ammunition was brought up and loaded.  Boat lies stopped with rudder jammed hard starboard.
		00.28	A new approach from starboard ahead (Sunderland), shoots on board weapons, bombs are thrown from very low altitude.  Bombs lie to starboard and port amidships.  Immediately there after approach from port ahead bearing 340°T (Liberator), shoots with on board weapons, throws bombs.  With well placed fire from both twin machine guns the aircraft was shot on fire and plummets into the water astern.
			Since all approaches were from ahead, the 3.7 cm cannon could not shoot until departure. Both twins achieved hits in the cockpit and engines in all approaches.  Very good fire.

	Sun and Moon Data 06.06.44
	Sun and Moon Data 07.06.44

	- 4 -
		continued
		07.06.44
			Wanze and Fliege shot out by onboard weapons.
			The rubber boats were brought above and made ready.  After a while the Engineering Officer reported the boat clear to dive on one E-motor.
			Order:  Get below!
			Some rubber boats and ammunition were brought into the boat.
		02.45		Dived.  I decide to return.
			Boat can only be held badly, because only one E-motor is operable at HF, both diving planes, rudder, and compass system are out of service.
			Damage:  Starboard E-motor, both diesel clutches grind, Fuel oil gets slowly into battery room 1, because fuel oil tank 1i is torn.  A few battery cells cracked.  In diesel room small leaks.  Pressure proof grommets of the Wanze cable in the sound room leak heavily.  6 KVA transformer is out of service, therefore Gema-gear is out of service.  Depth sounder is out of service.
			Leaks are repaired.
			Boat must make way, in order to be held.  However, because the rudder and compass are still out of service, course can not be determined.  I believe that we are driving in circles.
		04.30		Course 90°.
		06.30		Boat touches bottom hard at 30 meters. Blew a bit. Because, meanwhile, rudder and compass system is again in service, came to reciprocal heading.
		06.45		Boat goes to periscope depth.  On the basis of bearings from Quessant, La Jumeut and Pierres Noires we are 6.5 nm too far to the north.
				New course 180°.
		09.00	Point 342	New course 90°.
				Go hourly to periscope depth, to determine leeway.  In so doing the boat often broaches.
				Radio gear again in service.
		11.00	See 5 M-boats bearing 80°T, range about 5 nm.  Decide to surface, to join the boats.  Only port diesel is ready for HF.
		11.40		Surfaced.  Boats are no longer in sight.
		11.55	Outgoing radio Message 1145/6:
			"Request escort immediately.  Werner".
			Charging is impossible because the batery ventilator is out of service.
		12.00		Dived.
				Day's run:  Surfaced        3 nm
				Submerged   24 nm
				27 nm.

Sun and Moon Data 07.06.44

	- 5 -
		continued
		07.06.44
				Received program time.
				Hourly again at periscope depth.  In so doing the boat often broaches, because in the swell it can not be held with one E-motor at LF.  Bearings taken.
		13.00	Point B 1	Came to course 230°, ran off for 2 hours.
		15.00		Came about, course 50°.
		15.35	Incoming Radio Message 1318/7/86:
			Werner go to convoy intake "Rodler" Point 344.  Convoy runs out with "Lehsten" 21.00 hours via Point 342.  While waiting remain undetected at all costs.
				1. U-Flottille.
			Consideration:  Due to the failure of Battery 1 only battery 2 is available.  Because this is nearly exhausted, I cannot remain submerged at the convoy intake point (23.00 hours).
			Decision:  Surface, enter on the convoy route on the surface, because the day appears favorable for this.  Wanze Fliege shot out, Gema-gear out of service.
		17.45		Surfaced.
				All ammunition on the bridge.  Weapons are ready to fire, port diesel GF.
		17.55	Crash dive for 2 four-engined aircraft, very far off.  Remained below, because transit on the surface does not appear possible.  Headed for the bottom.  Boat lies at Point B 1.  7 tons negative buoyancy.  Calm in the boat.  Will wait for the U-Lehsten convoy here.
		22.40	Sound bearing 84°T.  Bearing shifts ahead and steadies at 90°.  Bearing gets louder.
			Prepared to surface.  In the mean time was over run by the convoy.
		23.20		Surfaced.  Position 100 meters to port from the stern escort vessel.  Give my Morse name.  Boat takes me under escort.
		08.06.44
		02.30		Boat made fast A 2.
		09.06. - 02.07.44		Shipyard period.
		03.07. - 10.07.44		Equipping and readiness.
		11.07.44
		21.30		Cast off Brest.
		22.00		Taken in convoy.
		22.30		Convoy was attacked by 13 fighters.  Escort vessels put up good defensive fire.  No over flight of the boat.
		23.50	B 1	Released from convoy.
			NW 2, Sea 1, 10/10, light Swell

	Sun and Moon Data 08.06.44
	Sun and Moon Data 11.07.44

	- 6 -
		12.07.44
		00.00		Crash dive for several aircraft detected by Hohentwiel (7 km).  Course from B 1 course 268°, both E-motors LF, Radio Message U-boats monitor Coastal Circuit.  Remain submerged, because the air situation does not seem right to me.  Boat is ready for submerged and surface attack.  2 torpedoes in the bow room ready to reload.  On the outrunning water the boat makes 5 knots.
		02.00	BF 5213 center-left edge	Boat positioned at ordered position.  No sound bearings, hope to meet an enemy on course 270°.
		03.37	BF 5212	Radio Order alpha = Surface.
		03.58		Incoming Radio Message 0314/12/12:
				Piraten:  Surface.  02.47 hours there were several enemy sea targets located in BF 5212 course 90°, speed 12 to 15 knots.
				F.d.U. West.
				Boat was prepared to surface.  Remained at receiving depth and waited on reports of enemy movement, to be able to initiate attack on the surface.  Boat was at this time, in the specified square, had no sound bearings, therefore, the enemy must be some where else. Remained submerged, since situation report does not correspond to the facts.
		04.27		Incoming Radio Message 0356/12/14:
				Piraten:  Reported sea targets 03.36 hours one nautical mile NNE from BF 5212 center, course 125°, sea targets came about at 03.45 hours.
				F.d.U. West.
				Also this enemy formation would at least have to have been heard with correctness of the message, because boat stood exactly in the same square at this time.
		04.50		Sounds in the sound gear bearing 350°, very faint, were soon lost.  No propeller sounds (circular saw at very long range).  Boat runs off further to the west.
		04.54		Incoming Radio Message 0442/12/17:
				Piraten:  Dive.  Sea targets out of radar range to the west.
				F.d.U. West.
		06.00	BF 5211	Came to opposite course 90°.  No sound bearings.
			Sea 0-1, overcast, Vis. good	Assumption:  The location data is inexact.  I believe that the range given by the control station is 10-15 nm too small.  Square given by the control station does not agree with the true location of the enemy, otherwise I would have had contact with the enemy. Therefore, enemy traffic 10-15 to the west of my position.

Sun and Moon Data 12.07.44

	- 7 -
		continued
		12.07.44
				After the onset of dawn, several all around sweeps taken.  Nothing seen.
		07.30	BF 5212	Headed for the bottom at depth 100 meters, 2 tons negative buoyancy, 5 bow down.
		09.30		Weak sound bearing in 280°T.    Disappeared, comes again.   No propeller sounds.  Raised the boat from the bottom, after pumping no further sound bearings.  Because getting at the target is not possible due to the long range, and surface transit by day is impossible, I remained on the bottom.
		14.10		Once again weak sound bearings in 270°T and 300°T, does not shifts away, was not louder.  No propeller sounds, but rather buzzing sounds.  (attempt tone pitches).  As proof of the long range the target does not shift and does not get louder.  Must be a strong sound source (circular saw?).
		14.27		Sound bearing disappeared again.
		21.40		Boat raised from the bottom, remained at program depth.  Both E-motors ahead KF.
		22.07		Incoming Radio Message 1659/12/27:
				BF 2878 at 15.55 hours a light cruiser and three destroyers with changing courses sighted.
				At this time the boat was about 6 nm southwest of the enemy position.  This position of the enemy must again roughly 10 nm too far to the east.  Otherwise I must have heard the enemy with good volume.
		23.00		Course 95°, began return transit.
		13.07.44
		02.09		Incoming Radio Message 0151/13/32:
				Piraten:  Surface.  Enemy target BF 5226 center-right edge, course west.
				F.d.U. West.
		0213	BF 5221	Radio Order alpha.
		02.25	S 0-1, dark night, later marine phosphorescence	Surfaced.  Boat is ready for combat.  Operating on reported enemy.
		02.35		Artillery fire from St. Mattieu to sea, impacts lie roughly 8 nm to the west.
				Operated according to the following Radio Messages.
				Radio Message 0221/13/35:
				Piraten 0221/13/35:
				Piraten:  Last reported target steers from 02.02 hours 100°, BF 5224 upper-right.
				F.d.U. West.

	Sun and Moon Data 12.07.44
	Sun and Moon Data 13.07.44

	- 8 -
		continued
		13.07.44
				Radio Message 0229/13/36:
				Piraten:  Latest reported target 02.12 hours BF 5224 upper edge right, course 90°.  This target is locating target 4.  Piraten operate on target 4.
				F.d.U. West.
				Therefore, I should have had contact with the enemy quite often, because I am located in the center of the reported area.
		02.35		Dived, because I must expect enemy artillery operation.
		03.30		Surfaced.
		04.00	B 1	Taken in convoy.
		06.30		Made fast Brest.
				Day's run:  Surfaced       12 nm
				Submerged   29.5 nm
				41.5 nm.
			On board, 13. July 1944.
				Oblt.z.See and Kommandant.

Sun and Moon Data 13.07.44

	Appendices to U-415's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document
Radio	One page summary of the KTB
Chart	Track chart for the period

	Comments of the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote
	on the K.T.B. of "U-415" (Werner) from  11.7. - 13.7.1944.
	Special patrol of the boat.  No success possibilities.  Nothing of note.
		For the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote
		- The Chief of the Operations Department -

Click the icons to view the associated records
	Return to the U-boat KTB page