U-47 - 1st War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

Departed	Date	Arrived	Date	Days at Sea
Kiel	19 August 1939	Kiel	15 September 1939	28

 

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Ships Hit
Date	KTB Time	Position	Ship	Tons	Nationality	Convoy
5 Sep 39	07.32	45°27'N, 9°42'W	BOSNIA	2,407	British
6 Sep 39	14.40	46°33'N, 11°55'W	RIO CLARO	4,086	British
7 Sep 39	18.40	48°03'N, 11°15'W	GARTAVON	1,777	British
			Total = 8,270
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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				Copy No._____
			K  r  i  e  g  s  t  a  g  e  b  u  c  h
			= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
				o f
			Unterseebootes    "  U  47  "
			= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
			Kommandant:    Kapitänleutnant    P  r  i  e  n
			Beginning:                19 August 1939
			Ending:                    15 September 1939.
				Distribution:       S.K.L. Copy No. 1 F.d.U.-S.K.L. - " - 2 7. U-Flottille - " - 3 " U-47 " - " - 4 F.d.U. West - " - 5 Gruppe Ost - " - 6
				© U-boat Archive 2024 - all rights reserved

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

	- 1 -
		19.08.39
		15.15 - 1555	L       2683	After leaving the Elbe steered westerly false courses because of a suspicious fish lugger (00.36 hours): had exceptionally large radio installation and after passing turned continuously on the hound's curve.
			Wind:  N 1
			Sea state:  ./.
			Weather:  Clear sky
				During the afternoon the bow numbers were removed, painted over the tower and the numbers labeling the rescue buoys.
		20.08.39	K       44
		00.00		Shifted to M.G.Z. [GMT/UCT]  General Course: 331°.
		19.10	E        2470-2413	Forced to submerge for 11 hours due to ship traffic and fishermen.
			Wind:  NNE 1-2
			Sea state:  1-2
			Weather:  Cloudy, occasionally Misty
		21.08.39	E        2006	Dived before multiple fishermen and merchant steamers.  Total submerged time 9 hours.  No foreign forces sighted.
			Wind:  NE 1-2
			Sea state:  2	General course:  332°.
			Weather:  Misty, thunderstorms, cloudy
		22.08.39
		04.00	E        1310	Course change to 300°.
		09.08	E        834	Course change to 235° after passing the 200-meter line.  As expected, no vessels were encountered.  In the course of the day shifted to secret grid chart in accordance with Radio Message 1330/22/57 O.K.M..
			Wind:  NE 1, NNW 2, SW 3
			Sea state:  2-3
			Weather:  Heavily cloudy, rain, mist
		23.08.39
		05.00	AM       3443	General course 235°.
		17.00		Course change to 200°.  Nothing seen.
			Wind:  SW 3
			Sea state:  2, swells
			Weather:  Cloudy, partly clear.
		24.08.39
		04.20	AM       2933	General course 200°.  Nothing seen.
		23.45		Course change to 180°.
			Wind:  SSW 4
			Sea state:  3, swells
			Weather:  Cloudy, sunless

	Sun and Moon Data 19.08.39
	Sun and Moon Data 20.08.39
	Sun and Moon Data 21.08.39
	Sun and Moon Data 22.08.39
	Sun and Moon Data 23.08.39
	Sun and Moon Data 24.08.39

	- 2 -
		25.08.39
		04.00	AM       4983	General course 180°.
			Wind:  S 3	During the day had to submerge from 08.24-20.36 hours with a few short breaks in order to avoid steam trawlers which fished at proper speed (6-8 knots).  To get out of the area of these fishermen at 20.45 hours came to 200° to 13°W .
			Sea state:  3
			Weather:  Overcast, misty
			Visibility:  8-10 nm
		20.45	AM       7623
		26.08.39
		06.00	AM       7911	Again came to general course 180°.  About 0930 entered the North America route, was submerged almost the entire day.
			Wind:  S 2-3
			Sea state:  2-3, swells
			Weather:  Visibility 16-18 nm, evening to 22.00 hours moonshine, afterwards cloudy	At night many evasive maneuvers.  The sailing fishermen, who in this area fish in the gaps between steamer routes with no lights on the sea, are particularly unpleasant.
		27.08.39	AM       3836	General course 180°.  From 08.00 proceeding on general course 150°, because, as a result, I will pass through the steamer route faster and at the same time get a cross sectional view of the sea area assigned to me with respect to ship traffic and fishing habits.
		06.00	Wind:  SE 2-3
			Sea state:  2-3, swells
			Weather:  Heavily cloudy
				Intention for the next days: after getting an overview assume a waiting position in a low-traffic location unseen if possible and lie still there to conserve fuel.
				In so doing, it is accepted that there will be no continuous observation of Biscay-traffic in favor of  remaining unseen and conserving fuel.
				12 hours submerged for fishing fishermen.
		28.08.39		General course 150°.  Crossed the following steamer routes:  Channel - Azores and Madeira - Cape Verde Islands without meeting traffic.
		12.47	BE       6695
			Wind:  SE 4
			Sea state:  2, swells
			Weather:  Misty, rain showers
		29.08.39		General course 120°, to gain an understanding of ship traffic. It is noted that all traffic seems to proceed on a new route approximately 30-40 nm west of the normal Cape Finisterre - Quessant route with the Scilly's as an objective.
		05.15	BF       4848
			Wind:  SE 2
			Sea state:  2-3, swell
			Weather:  Misty, overcast	Took waiting station with stopped engines BF    4853.
				Artillery cleaning is performed and main ballast and reserve fuel oil tank 4 is blown out.

	Sun and Moon Data 25.08.39
	Sun and Moon Data 26.08.39
	Sun and Moon Data 27.08.39
	Sun and Moon Data 28.08.39
	Sun and Moon Data 29.08.39

	- 3 -
		30.08.39		An dimmed steamer was sighted at dawn.  In the course of the day the correctness of the belief of 29 August is determined by observation of the traffic and is confirmed by Radio Message 1943/30/83 F.d.U.
		12.35	BF       4889
			Wind:  NW 3
			Sea state:  2, swells
			Weather:  Overcast, rain showers
		31.08.39
		12.45	BF       4894	Boat lies stopped.  No special events.
			Wind:  SW 3-4
			Sea state:  3, swells
			Weather:  Overcast, rain, occasional fog
		01.09.39
		12.45	BF       4895	Boat lies stopped.  No special events.
			Wind:  SW 2-3
			Sea state:  Long swells
			Weather:  Heavily cloudy
		02.09.39
		05.47	BF       4868	Two French U-boats, type CAIMAN, in sight at dawn.  Boats run in "T Yellow", range 3-4 nm, course 210°, 12-13 knots.  Surfaced again after the boats were out of sight.
		13.07	BF       4866	Both U-boats in sight again on northerly course.  Dived.
			Wind:  SSW 3	M.G. C/30 brought out and the and the covers of the ammunition lockers loosened.
			Sea state:  Long swells
			Weather:  Overcast, clear visibility
		03.09.39
		12.30	BF       4942	Boat dived for steamer at 07.50.  On surfacing received special report on the radio.
			Wind:  W 4
			Sea state:  Long swells
			Weather:  Very good visibility
		13.20		Decoded Radio Message 1214 and 1401 of 3 September No. 62 and 45.  Proceeded on course 300°, to run in the steamer route for merchant warfare.  Ran on zig zag course.
		17.50		The Radio Message 1743/3/50 SSD, concerning French declaration of war is a disgusting manacle in view of both French submarines cruising nearby.   Do they have such an order?
				At night cruised the steamer route unsuccessfully on changing courses.

	Sun and Moon Data 30.08.39
	Sun and Moon Data 31.08.39
	Sun and Moon Data 01.09.39
	Sun and Moon Data 02.09.39
	Sun and Moon Data 03.09.39

	- 4 -
		04.09.39
		07.15	BF       4866	Stopped the Greek steamer "MALIANKOS" (SV2E) (MAΛIAΝKOS), home port Piraeus.  Crew immediately took to the boats when a boat with the papers was requested.  Cargo 7555 tons resinous minerals to Rotterdam for Stahlunion.  Papers in order.  Ship owner: E. Sigalas and N. Andronicos.
			Wind:  W 2
			Sea state:  Long swells
			Weather:  Clear, fine, Vis. 15 - 18 nm
		07.50		Steamer released, ran off on western courses.
				The steamer was given no entry in the log because the Captain did not have this with him and also so as not to betray the boat's number to the enemy also not by signature.
		13.30 - 18.10	BF       7260	2 steamers pursued, passing by the steamer with the boat submerged revealed the flags:  1 Swede, 1 Norwegian.
				No special events.
		05.09.39
		07.32	BF       7225	Dived before a steamer steering a zig zag course.
		08.15	Wind:  SSW 2	Surfaced, warning shot.  Unsuccessful.  Steamer transmits S.O.S.  Two further warning shots without success.  Four shots aimed at the steamer, 3 hits.  Crew takes to the boats, one boat capsizes.  U-47 saves a floating man, then goes to the other boat which contains only the First Officer, the Captain is still aboard.   Meanwhile, the Norwegian tanker "EIDANGER" has come nearby.   It takes the crew.  I have the floating boat sent back to get the Captain.  In the meantime, I again go close to the mow righted boat for the safety of 3 men still present there.  On the way took an unconscious person from the water.  The Norwegian took the people brought aboard U-47 and from the swamped boat.  One man is still unconscious.  When the Norwegian is finished and has passed me, steamer sunk by torpedo.
			Sea state:  Light swells
			Weather:  Clear visibility, 18 nm
		09.38		It was the steamer "BOSNIA" of the Cunard Line, 3200 tons of sulfur from Licata, Sicily - for Galveston.  Captain Poole, 1st Officer Turnbull.
		10.09		Set off initially on a northerly course, later 270°.
		12.15   13.20	Supplemental: on 6 September it was determined that the flooding valve of tube IV had been leaking, so that water leaked via tube IV into the torpedo compensating tank, so that again the boat was too heavy and settled to 120 meters.	Crash dive!  Aircraft bearing 40°T.  After diving from bearing 230°T loud, fast propeller sounds.  Destroyers, apparently French, BOURRESQUE class.  It turns out that these 3 destroyers are on course towards "U-47".  Went to depth 60 meters.  Boat cannot be held, settles to 120 meters, a destroyer overruns the boat, two others lie abeam to port and starboard.

	Sun and Moon Data 04.09.39
	Sun and Moon Data 05.09.39

	- 5 -
		05.09.39
				No depth charges ! !  Slowly rise again to depth 25 meters.  I intend to surface after the beginning of darkness and run off on course 330°.
				The bow cap of tube IV does not close again.
		20.40	BF       7135	Surfaced, after the entire day the destroyers are milling about bearing 0°T.  Ran off on northwesterly course.
		06.09.39	BE       6931	Dived at dawn.  Afterwards cruised.
		13.00		Operated on steamer bearing 20°T.
		14.18		Surfaced.  Steamer stopped by siren and flag, steamer stopped, sends S.O.S.  Therefore 1 shot before the bow and interfered.  Upon continued radio transmission fired 3 shots at the bridge.
		14.40	BE       6689	Steamer "RIO CLARO", Thompsen Steam Shipping  Co. Ltd., London, 4086 tons, fully loaded, course 220° sunk by torpedo.
			Wind:  ESE 1-2
			Sea state:  Light W-swells
		15.31	Weather:  Barometer 1016 mb, steady, Vis. clear, about 18 nm	The Captain had no papers in the boat.  Boats released on course 40°, provisions, compass, signal ammunition and sail were in the definitely seaworthy and ocean going boats.  Because the steamer has betrayed my location by his SOS calls, I could not bring its boats to a safe location without endangering with my operations.  The result, during my search for a neutral: Crash dive for an aircraft.
				After today's sinking I ask myself what does a U-boat Commander do in bad weather days with the crew of a sunken steamer? And what does he do if the steamer does not transmit?  Then the Commander is greatly handicapped by Article 74 P.O.  One can only to take the ship as a concentration camp with a prize crew aboard, then at the same time the ship could provide good protection for a U-boat victims, but what would become of the prize crew?
		16.18		Submerged again, perhaps the destroyers will stay away today? !
		07.09.39	BE       6650	Cruised and avoided fishermen.
			BF       4170
		13.00	BF       4178	Nothing in sight.  Proceeded on southerly course.  About 12.30 to 13.00 M.G.Z. on the 600-meter wavelength an S.O.S. call was heard with φ = 49°33'N λ = 7°43'W.
			Wind:  S 3-4, freshening, cloudy
			Sea state:  3
			Weather:  Vis. good
		16.57		Steamer in sight, dived and ran to meet.
		17.47		Surfaced, steamer halted.  The steamer transmits S.O.S.  After 3 shots, one of which

	Sun and Moon Data 05.09.39
	Sun and Moon Data 06.09.39
	Sun and Moon Data 07.09.39

	- 6 -
		07.09.39
				hits the antenna by chance, the steamer stops, naturally the radio signal cease, crew takes to a boat and sets off.  Before abandoning they have put the rudder hard starboard and the engines at HF, so that the steamer drives in circles and runs towards me.  Believing that it may be a U-boat trap, several shots are fired at the bridge and the waterline in the engine room.  Afterwards by hailing the boat determined that all men were aboard.
				It is the English steamer "GARTAVON" from Glasgow with 2900 tons of ores for Glasgow.  Shipping company:  Gart Line, Ltd.
				A torpedo shot with depth setting 7 meters with 6 meters draft does not detonate.  A second torpedo apparently misses (comes out of the water, probably steering a bayonet course)
				I determine that the steamer still has a completely intact boat and, therefore, run again to the boat with the crew to leave it to the Captain but that offer is rejected.  There is enough food, water and navigational aids in the boat according to the statement of the Captain.  Boat is released, afterwards the steamer is sunk by artillery fire.
		18.40	BF       4118
			Wind:  S 4 - 3 abating
			Sea state:  2
			Weather:  Barometer rising, Vis. good
		21.30	BE       6668	Came to course 340°, 14 knots, began return transit per Radio Message 2028/7/92.
		08.09.39
		09.00	BE       3677	Steamer in sight, operating on it, it is a Dutch passenger steamer of the Holland-America Line, therefore operation broken off.
			Wind:  NNW 2
			Sea state:  2, moderate W-swells
			Weather:  Clear visibility
		11.00 - 17.00		Cruised the North America route.  It is completely dead, except for some fishermen on the north and south borders not even a smoke trail is seen.
				I run on general course 340°, to pass west of the Porcupine Bank, because from experience in this season many fishermen are to be expected between the Bank and Ireland.

	Sun and Moon Data 07.09.39
	Sun and Moon Data 08.09.39

	- 7 -
		09.09.39
		02.00		Sent weather report.
		08.00	AM       7214	General course 30°, to proceed per Radio Message-order by the northern third of the strait between the Shetlands and the Faroes.  I had intended to use the southern third.
			Wind:  SW 3 - 4 freshening
			Sea state:  SW 3
			Weather:  Vis. good, heavily cloudy	No special events.
		10.09.39
		12.35	AM       2655	There apparently nothing here except for us.  The weather is 24 hours too early.  (And in the south the fat convoys come!)
			Wind:  NW 5, quickly shifting clockwise
			Weather:  Vis. very good
		11.09.39
		04.25	AM       3238	Dived at dawn.  Submerged heard propeller sounds, while getting light observed patrol vessel type "KINGFISHER" at approximately 12 knots on east-west courses, range 3000 meters.
			Wind:  NNE 6-7
			Sea state:  Large steep seas
			Weather:  Vis. about 10 nm
		06.22		Surfaced.  Boat takes over a lot of water.  Due to the stiff wind came to course 70°, as a result the conning tower was a little drier.
		17.00	AM       7763	On the assumption that I'm
			Wind:  NNE 6	a)  to be first through the Shetlands -Faroe strait
			Sea state:  NNE 6, nasty short and steep seas	b)  as a result of the continuous shift to the south, I'm still no longer in my ordered strip and because
			Weather:  Vis. good	c)  by turning I'll have better visibility and sailing conditions, came to course 90°.
		20.10	Wind:  NE 6	Because of the further clockwise shifting wind came to course 120°, later (22.00 hours) to course 135°.
		12.09.39
		07.00	AN       2294	Dived for U-boat bearing 190°T.  Boat is in sight only a short time, apparently ran off.  Was still heard in the sound locator for approximately 15 minutes.  Afterwards surfaced again.  The coning tower of our boats turns out to be exceptionally wet - again.  At wind strength 4 with blown ballast tanks so much water comes over that one actually has no lookout on certain courses.
			Wind:  shifting about
			Sea state:  NE 4
			Weather:  Vis. good
		20.00	AN       3118	Ran parallel to the Norwegian coast.  Closed the coast in the evening to head for the Skagerrak.
			Wind:  SSW 4-3
			Sea state:  3
			Weather:  Vis. very good

	Sun and Moon Data 09.09.39
	Sun and Moon Data 10.09.39
	Sun and Moon Data 11.09.39
	Sun and Moon Data 12.09.39

	- 8 -
		13.09.39
		05.02	AN       3563	Ran through the Skagerrak on zig zag courses.
			Wind:  SW 1, shifting to ESE, rough seas
		20.10	AO       4544	Advance in the Kattegat begun.  Course: Stora Pölsan - Läso-Trindel - Anholt - Schultz Ground - Samsö Belt
			Wind:  SSE 1-2
			Weather:  Cloudy
		14.09.39
		05.05	AO       7168	In accordance with Radio Message order, no surface transit by day, put the boat on the bottom.
		09.40		Went to periscope depth and navigated to the Small Belt.
		15.04		Surfaced at the international end and ran in the Small Belt.
		15.09.39
		00.14		Made fast at the Tirpitz Mole.
				Signed         P  r  i  e  n   .

	Sun and Moon Data 13.09.39
	Sun and Moon Data 14.09.39
	Sun and Moon Data 15.09.39

	Enclosures to U-47's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document
Chart	Track chart covering entire war patrol                19 August 1939 to 15 September 1939

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