In reply refer to Initials

  
            and No.  
     
 
NAVY DEPARTMENT
  
 

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

  
 
WASHINGTON
  
  Ser. #Z-0471  
                                                                               10 August 1943.  
     
 
MEMORANDUM for Colonel Catesby ap C. Jones, G.S.C.,
  Chief, Prisoner of War Branch, G-2.
   
Subject: Preliminary Report of Interrogation of One Survivor of U-598,        dated 7 August 1943.
   
Enclosure: (A)  Copy of Subject Report.
 
     
  1.  Enclosure (A) is forwarded herewith for information.  
     
     
                                                                          
                                                                                            John Riheldaffer,  
                                                                                  Commander, U.S. Navy, (Ret.).  
                                                                                Head of Special Activities Branch,  
                                                                                    Division of Naval Intelligence.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
     
     

 

 
 

 
Op-16-Z
 
  SECRET                                                                                                        7 August, 1943  
     
 
PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE INTERROGATION OF ONE
 
 
SURVIVOR FROM A U-BOAT SUNK ON 23 JULY 1943 IN
 
 
04 35' S., 33 30' W., BY TWO PLANES FROM
 
 
BOMBING SQUADRON 107
 
     
 
Number: U-598.
   
Type: 500-ton, VII C.
   
Flotilla: 6th at St. Nazaire.
   
Captain: Kapitänleutnant Holtorf.
   
Built: Blom & Voss, Hamburg.
   
Commissioned: Late 1941.
   
Diesel Engines: G.W., developing 1500 H.P.
   
Motors: A.E.G.
   
S.B.T. Fitted.
   
G.S.R. Fitted.  New net-type antenna.
   
Rubber Boats: Three carried.
   
Armament: Said to carry two pairs of 2 cm. anti-aircraft guns and no deck guns.  Four torpedo tubes forward, one aft.
  Carried twelve torpedoes on her last patrol.
   
Conning Tower Device: None.
   
Patron City: Freiburg 1.B.
   
Sinking: Sunk on her fourth patrol, 23 July, 1943 in approximate position 04 35' S., 33 30' W. by two planes from Bombing Squadron 107.  Two survivors, rescued by USS Seneca were landed at Recife.  One, an officer, was wounded and was hospitalized in Brazil.  The other, a fireman 2 cl, was brought to the United States for questioning.  The latter was not only security conscious, but also very stupid.
   
Fourth and Last Patrol: Sailed from St. Nazaire about 20 June, 1943 for Operational area off the east coast of Brazil.  Arrived at operational area
 
     
 
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Op-16-Z  
     
  SECRET  
     
  on 22 July, 1943.  Surprised on the surface and sunk on the following day.
   
Early History: Commissioned at Hamburg, probably December 1941.  Frozen in a Danzig.  Trials in Baltic in March and April 1942.  Final overhaul in Hamburg in May 1942.
   
First Patrol: Sailed from Hamburg to Kiel, summer 1942.  Remained in Kiel for about four days and then proceeded to a Norwegian port where oil was taken on.  From Norway sailed into North Atlantic.  Sank nothing.  Cruise ended at St. Nazaire, probably September 1942.
   
Second Patrol: Operated in North Atlantic.  Joined in a wolf-pack attack on a convoy and sank one American tanker of about 12,000 tons.  Was depth charged by destroyers, dived to 130 meters, and escaped without sustaining damage.  Returned to St. Nazaire shortly after Christmas 1942.
   
Third Patrol: Sailed from St. Nazaire into North Atlantic.  Was ordered to join a wolf-pack attack on a convoy but arrived too late.  Sighted a crippled freighter which was sunk by another U-boat before U-598 could attack.  Returned to St. Nazaire without having sunk anything.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
 
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