U-58 - 5th War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with help from Andi Forster

Departed	Date	Arrived	Date	Days at Sea
Wilhelmshaven	27 January 1940	Wilhelmshaven	8 February 1940	13

 

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Ships Hit
Date	KTB Time	Position	Ship	Tons	Nationality	Convoy
3 Feb 40	09.36	58°45'N, 0°36'W	REET	815	Estonian
			Total = 815
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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			Excerpt of the
			L  o  g    B  o  o  k  "U-58"
				Kommandant:  Kptltn.    K  u  p  p  i  s  c  h  .
			B  e  g  i  n  n  i  n  g  :    9. 1. 1940.
			C  o  n  c  l  u  d  i  n  g  :    19. 1.1940.
				For correctness.
				Obltn.z.S. and Kmdt.
				© U-boat Archive 2024 - all rights reserved

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

	- 1 -
		09.01.40	Kiel
		10.01.40	Kiel
		14.17		Cast off Tirpitz Mole.
		15.05		Made fast Deutsche Werke Kiel.
		11.01.40	Kiel
		11.00		Into the dry-dock Deutsche Werke Kiel.
		12. - 14.01.40	Kiel	In dry-dock Deutsche Werke Kiel
		15.01.40	Kiel
		11.00		Un-docked.
		11.30		Made fast Deutsche Werke Kiel.
		16.01.40	Kiel	Deutsche Werke Kiel.
		17.01.40	Kiel
		11.00		Cast off Deutsche Werke Kiel.
		12.00		Made fast Tirpitz Mole.
		18.01.40	Kiel
		08.30		Cast off Tirpitz Mole.
		08.40		Made fast "LECH".
		19.01.40	Kiel
		10.30		Cast off "LECH".
		10.40 - 11.20		Made fast MEMEL.
		11.30 - 12.30		Made fast Tirpitz Mole.
		13.00 - 14.45		Made fast Dietrichsdorf.   [By the Kriegsmarine Werft]
		15.15 - 16.00		Dived in Kiel harbor.
		16.15		Made fast "LECH".

	- 2 -
		continued
		19.01.40	Wilhelmshaven	Cleared the boat, prepared for shipyard period.
			10 January 1940 - 15 January 1940  Shipyard period (U-boat Shipyard Wilhelmshaven)
		10.01.40	Wilhelmshaven	Dry-docked.
		13.01.40	Wilhelmshaven	Un-docked.
		16.01.40	Wilhelmshaven	Shifted from the shipyard to the U-boat Base.
			16 January 1940 - 19 January 1940  Outfitting for patrol.
				Signed in draft    Kuppisch
				Kapitänleutnant and
				Kommandant
				For correctness  !
		On board, 18 January 1940
				Korvettenkapitän and
				Flottillenchef  .

 

			K  r  i  e  g  s  t  a  g  e  b  u  c  h   "  U  58  "
			.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
			Kommandant:	Kapitänleutnant    K  u  p  p  i  s  c  h  .
				Beginning:        20.1.1940.
				Concluding:       8.2.1940.

	- 1 -
		20.01.40
		00.15		Cast off Kiel, Tirpitz Mole.
		00.45		Made fast Holtenau Lock.
		01.26 - 10.45		Canal cruise in tow of an ice breaker.
		11.00	In Brunsbüttel	Made fast Brunsbüttel Lock.
				Because ice conditions in the Elbe and Jade are unfavorable, U-58 remained lying in Brunsbüttel on B.d.U. Orders, to await better ice conditions.
		21.01.40	In Brunsbüttel
		07.40		Shifted into the north lock,
				no particular events.
		22.01.40	In Brunsbüttel	An evening trip from Schlesien to Cuxhaven showed that an ice barrier off Altenbruch made it impossible for U-boats to get through.
		23.01.40	In Brunsbüttel	No particular events.
		24.01.40		The developing WSW wind creates more favorable ice conditions on the Elbe.
		12.15	On the Elbe	In tow of a Fairplay tug behind Sperrbrecher VII proceeded down the Elbe.  Occasionally strong ice flows.
		14.45		Passed Cuxhaven.
		16.08		Passed lightship "H".  Because it is ice free, continued without ice escort.
		19.10	On the Jade	Passed Lightship "F".
				Proceeded up the Jade behind Speerbrecher VI.
		22.10		Made fast Wilhelmshaven Lock.
		00.45		Made fast U-boat Base.

	- 2 -
		25.01.40	In Wilhelmshaven	Morning unloaded mines.  Afternoon dry-docked for the purpose of determining any ice damage.  Propellers are very slightly rolled. Did not have them corected due to lack of time.
		26.01.40
		11.30	In Wilhelmshaven	Un-docked.
		12.15		Made fast U-boat Base.
		16.00		Loaded torpedoes and provisions.
		27.01.40
		12.06		Departed for patrol.
		12.50		Departed the Wilhelmshaven Lock.
				Behind Sperrbrecher IV down the Jade.
		15.30		Just before Lightship "F" gave the ice protector to a tug.
				Transit through the Deutsche Bay up to Norderney, the further on Route II.
		about 20.00		U-boat sighted, recognized perfectly as a German U-boat, I was also aware of the U-19 approaching at the entrance to Route II.  Recognition Signal exchange did not take place as the Morse lamp failed and due to clear identification no Recognition Signal cartridge should be shot.
		28.01.40
		08.10		Dived, continued on Route II.
		12.00		In day's run total distance covered:  207.5 nm
				196 nm    11.5 nm
				The G.H.G. cannot be heard due to strong background noise and can therefore cannot be used.
		18.00		Surfaced.
		29.01.40	North Sea, Great Fischer Bank
		00.00	AN 4959	Came to course 338°, to steer to the west at the level of the Moray Firth.
			Fresh SE wind, choppy sea, medium Swell, overcast, Vis. good, wind and seas increasing

	Sun and Moon Data 27.01.40
	Sun and Moon Data 28.01.40
	Sun and Moon Data 29.01.40

	- 3 -
		continued
		29.01.40	AN 4684	Steamer sighted course 230°, speed 9.5 knots.  Approximately 2500 tons, only position lights.  Immediately took position behind it and determined exact course, then matched speed and maneuvered ahead.
			Very fresh SE-Wind 4-5 with choppy sea 4, and increasing Swell, heavily cloudy, at times moonshine, very bright night
				While maneuvering ahead sighted 3 steamers on opposite course (50°) it seems to be a new steamer route.
		07.30		Am positioned ahead, because it is already too bright for attack, continued ahead, dived to attack.
		08.20	Weather unchanged	Dived. Initiated attack, depth control is difficult, boat can't come above 11 meters, because otherwise it breaks through the surface.
		09.06	AN 4861	Shot:  Target angle 90°, target speed = 9.5 knots, range = 500 meters, set depth 4 meters.
				- Miss - unexplained.  In my opinion this shot was a failure, the shooting data was very good.
			North Sea west of the Great Fischer Bank	It confirmed that nothing is heard in the G.H.G.
				To determine further steamer traffic and possible minefield gaps in the English Warning Area continued on course 230°.
				Reloaded the reserve torpedo.
		12.00		In day's run total distance covered:  164 nm
				141 nm    23 nm
		18.00	Stiff SE-Wind 7, large seas, high increasing Swell, enough visibility	Surfaced.
				Boat works very heavily.
		24.00	Wind increases to storm strength	Nothing sighted.
				The gyro-compass has failed seems to have not displayed correctly for a long time.
				Continued steering by the magnetic compass.  Due to the failure of the gyro-compass I intend, to abandon proceeding directly along the English Warning Area to the north.
		30.01.40
		04.00	AN 5283	Came to course 30°.
		08.00	SE-Storm 9, very large seas, high Swell, overcast, Vis. quite good	Dived, proceeded at depth 40 meters.  Gyro-compass globe replaced.
		12.00		In day's run total distance covered:  159 nm
				136 nm    23 nm

	Sun and Moon Data 29.01.40
	Sun and Moon Data 30.01.40

	- 4 -
		continued
		30.01.40
		18.00	SE-Storm 9-10, very large seas, high Swell, overcast, Vis. good	Surfaced.  Boat works very heavily.
				Nothing sighted.
		24.00	Weather unchanged, Swell is increasing	Nothing sighted.
		31.01.40
		04.00	Weather unchanged	The position given is very inexact, because the gyro-compass has failed and there has been no opportunity for a navigation fix, course changes were made by soundings.
				Nothing sighted.
		08.15	AN 4252	Dived.  Proceeded at depth 50 meters.  Boat cannot be held at periscope depth.
			SE-Storm 10, very high sea and high Atlantic Swell, overcast, Vis. good
		12.00		In day's run total distance covered:  128 nm
				106 nm    22 nm
		18.45	AN 4228	Surfaced.
			Weather unchanged	Came to course 270°.
		01.02.40
		04.00	AN 4119	2 steamers sighted, course 90°.
			SE-Storm 10, very large seas, high Atlantic swell, overcast, Vis. good	Attack is not possible, because the weather conditions do not allow an exact aim point, the boat yaws 10° to each side.
		08.00	AN 4117	Dived, proceeded at depth 40 meters.
			Weather unchanged
		12.00		In day's run total distance covered:  126 nm
				104 nm    22 nm
		19.30	AN 1639	Surfaced.  2 steamers in sight.  Attack in the prevailing weather conditions is not possible.  Hung on to one of the steamers, to attack with further abating of the wind.
			Stiff SE wind 7, large seas, high Swell, overcast, Vis. good
				Steamer is approximately 3000 tons, steers 230°, 7.5 knots.
		24.00	Wind and sea abating

	Sun and Moon Data 30.01.40
	Sun and Moon Data 31.01.40
	Sun and Moon Data 01.02.40

	- 5 -
		continued
		02.02.40
		00.30	AN 1661	Initiated attack.  Shortly before the shot yaw was so strong that an exact aim point was not possible.  Initiated a new attack.
			SE 5, Sea 4-5, medium Swell, overcast, Vis. good
		01.58	AN 1656	Shot (1 G 7a 40 knots) good setup.  Target angle 90°, target speed = 7.5 knots, range = 350 meters, set depth 4 meters.
			Weather unchanged, in the west a black cloud bank
				- Failure -
				The torpedo had to hit with the exact shooting data from the short range.  After a running track of 1300 meters the torpedo detonated on its own.
				Maneuvered ahead again.
				While maneuvering ahead the seas were very confused, the boat works very heavily and yaws.  Attack was initiated, though an exact aim point was not possible.  Attack broken off.  A faint blinking light in sight in 270°T, identifier not determined.  Apparently the steamer had also seen the beacon and changed course to approximately 190°.  The seas continued to run very confused.
				Since there has been no possibility of navigation check since departure, and the gyro-compass had failed for one day, we drove towards land on course 270° to make out the flashing light, which burned for a short time, but was then extinguished.
		05.00	Wind and sea increase again quickly
		05.37		Land in sight ahead approximately 1000 meters away.  Turned away hard to starboard and came to course 90°.  Since in the west the visibility was very obstructed by black cloud banks, land was only  sighted very late.  In my opinion it was the Pentland Skerries, the flashing beacon was no longer visible.  Moved off on course 90°.
		05.54		Shined a very bright searchlight towards land from U-58, however range is too great to illuminate it.  There is the possibility that U-58 was detected on land by a listening device and then searched for.
		08.00	AN 1651	Dived. Proceeded at depth 40 meters.
			SE-Storm 9, very large sea, high Swell, overcast, Vis. quite good
		12.00		In day's run total distance covered:  159 nm
				130 nm    29 nm

Sun and Moon Data 02.02.40

	- 6 -
		continued
		02.02.40
		19.00	SE 5, Sea 4-5, medium Swell, overcast, Vis. very good	Surfaced.  Headed for Kinnaird Head on course 230°.  Fishing trawler in sight.
		20.35	AN 1659	Steamer in sight.  Approximately 2500 tons.  Steamed along. Determined speed and course (75°, 8.5 knots).
		22.30		Carried out a blind approach, to test the lead angle in the prevailing swell.  Because this was quite possible, maneuvered ahead again, to attack the steamer.
		03.02.40
		02.10	AN 4148	Let the steamer slowly shift in.
			SE 5, Sea 4-5, medium Swell, Vis. good
		02.15		Shot 1 G 7e
				Target angle 90°, speed 8.5 knots, range - 300 meters, set depth 4 meters.
				- Miss - unexplained.  In my opinion a failure.  The shooting data was good, the range amounted to only 300 meters, with lead lay exactly on course.
				Turned away, matched speed and course once again and maneuvered ahead for attack.
			North Sea in Moray Firth
		04.52	AN 4155	Shot (G 7e)
			SE 5, Sea 4-5, medium Swell, overcast, Vis. good	The same shooting data.  Target angle 90°, speed 8.5 knots, range = 300 meters, set depth 4 meters.
				- Miss - unexplained.  The torpedo had to hit, it detonated after a running track of 3000 meters on its own, at the water surface neither a pillar of fire nor a detonation cloud was seen.
				Maneuvered ahead once again.
		07.30	Wind and sea increase again	Initiated attack, but it is too bright to get close enough, continued on to attack on the surface. [presumably a typo, submerged was meant]
		08.55	AN 4241	Dived.  Initiated attack.  The abeam distance was calculated for LF, it turned out that depth keeping required running at least HF, so I was too close with the target came in sight.  Moved off again, then turned to shoot.
			SE 6, Sea 5, Swell, overcast, Vis. good
			North Sea, east of Moray Firth	Submerged shot (1 G 7e)
				Settings as for the two previous approaches.
		09.36	AN 4241	Target angle 90°, speed 8.5 knots, range = 200 meters, set depth 4 meters.
				- Hit -

	Sun and Moon Data 02.02.40
	Sun and Moon Data 03.02.40

	- 7 -
		continued
		03.02.40		Because after the shot the boat came to depth 16 meters, the location of the hit could not be observed.  In an all around sweep after 4 minutes nothing more was seen of the steamer.  The detonation was very strong.  The running time of the torpedo amounted to 16 seconds.  This corresponds to a shooting range of 270 meters.
				The depth steering of the Chief Engineer during the approach was very good.
				Because the torpedoes are shot, began return transit.  Due the absence of any navigation check, I intend to run in on Route Blau, headed for the Norwegian coast.
		12.00		In day's run total distance covered:  136 nm
				117 nm    19 nm
			Central North Sea	In the course of the morning 32 detonations were heard.
		18.00	Heavy SE-Storm 10, very larges seas, high Swell, overcast, Vis. good	Surfaced.  Boat works very heavily.  Course for the Norwegian coast.
		24.00	AN 1669 [position in error]	Nothing sighted.
		04.02.40
		09.00	Weather unchanged	Dived, proceeded at depth 40 meters.
		12.00		In day's run total distance covered:  138 nm
				118.5 nm    19.5 nm
		18.30	Weather unchanged	Surfaced.
		23.10	Sea and Swell abated somewhat under land	The beacon on Utsira in sight.
		05.02.40
		00.56	AN 2985	Came to course 180°.
			(exact position)
		04.00	Heavy SE-Storm 10, very large seas, high Swell, overcast, Vis. good	Nothing sighted.
		09.30		Dived, went to depth 45 meters.
		17.30	Weather unchanged	Nothing sighted.
			Eastern North Sea, level of the Skagerrak	At the entrance of Route Blau Alpha for a short time a bright glow was sighted, however no vessel was distinguished.

	Sun and Moon Data 03.02.40
	Sun and Moon Data 04.02.40
	Sun and Moon Data 05.02.40

	- 8 -
		06.02.40
		09.10		Dived, proceeded at depth 40 meters.
		17.14	Weather unchanged, misty	Surfaced.
				Continued on Route Blau.
		07.02.40
		03.00	SE-Wind 5-6, Sea 4, medium Swell, heavy fog	Nothing sighted.
				Headed for Lightship F.
		09.00	Wind and Sea abating strongly	By plotting the lightship should be abeam, however was not sighted in the heavy fog.
		10.00		Arsenal steamer lying at anchor asked for position.  Position Spire Buoy "B".  Still searched for Lightship F.  Was not found.
		14.00		Anchored with U-59, ordered by B.d.U. to run into Wilhelmshaven the next morning.
		08.02.40
		08.00	Off Wangerooge	The boat drifts, the ice masses want to roll over the boat, with the latter listing to 45°.  The water depth is still 5 meters.  The pilot transfer steamer RÜSTRINGEN, which I called up, towed U-58 back into the channel, where Sperrbrecher VII was lying, in order to bring the boat to Wilhelmshaven.
		12.30		The Sperrbrecher wanted to take U-58 in tow, with the sudden stopping the boat had to back down.  The already faulty clutch of the starboard diesel could not be disengaged, so U-58 came to a stop too late and touched the stern of the Sperrbrecher with its bow, whereby 2 teeth of the net saw broke off.
		15.00		Made fast north lock, Wilhelmshaven.
		16.08		Made fast Wilhelmshaven U-boat Base.

	Sun and Moon Data 06.02.40
	Sun and Moon Data 07.02.40
	Sun and Moon Data 08.02.40

	- 9 -
			This patrol was very impaired by weather, the 4 missed shots were probably due to torpedo failures, because they were shot with very good shooting data from low range.  Since the weather was mostly very bad during the 3 previous patrols, the crew is very exhausted, but this did not affect their willingness to serve in any way.
			Sunk was one steamer of approximately 2500 tons.

 

	Enclosures to U-58's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document
ChartA	Track chart of the period in the North Sea
ChartB	Track chart in the Pentland Firth area
Torpedo	Torpedo firing reports

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