U-9 - 6th War Patrol

Translation by Jerry Mason with the help of Andi Forster

Departed	Date	Arrived	Date	Days at Sea
Kiel	5 May 1940	Wilhelmshaven	15 May 1940	11

 

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Ships Hit
Date	KTB Time	Position	Ship	Tons	Nationality	Convoy
9 May 40	00.14	52°45'N, 3°35'W	DORIS (Q 135)	552	French
11 May 40	00.49	51°21'N, 2°25'W	VILIU	1,908	Estonia
11 May 40	14.00	51°21'N, 2°25'W	TRINGA	1,930	British
			Total = 4,390
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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				K  r  i  e  g  s  t  a  g  e  b  u  c  h    " U  9"
				=============================
				Kommandant:  Oblt.z.S.    L  ü  t  h  .
				Beginning:  24 April 1940.
				Concluding:  15 May 1940.
				© U-boat Archive 2025 - all rights reserved

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

	- 1 -
		24.04.40
		08.50	Kiel	Arrived.
				Boat cleared.
		25.04.40	Deutsche Werke	Dry-docked.
		30.04.40
		16.00		Un-docked.
		01.05.40
		07.00	Deutsche Werke	Boat shifted from the shipyard.  Seaworthy, however due to short shipyard period not operationally ready.
			Tirpitz Mole	Took baggage  from tender "DONAU" onboard the boat.
		02.05.40		Boat is ready for sea for transit to Gotenhafen to the 1. U.A. Flottille.
		03.05.40
		12.00		Received orders:  Do not go to Gotenhafen at 13.00 hours.	.
				Lay in readiness
		21.30		Received orders:  Have boat ready for operations Sunday 5 May.  Recalled those on leave.
		04.05.40		Boat cleared, made ready for combat.
		05.05.40		Loaded torpedoes, oxygen.
		17.45		Ready for sea.
		23.50	Brunsbüttel Lock	Made fast.
			W 2
		06.05.40
		00.17	Brunsbüttel Lock	Cast off. Sperrbrecher "9" sought in the Roadstead.
				Contacted Sperrbrecher "9" while proceeding in the wake.  Watertight forecastle dented, outer tube door of tube I jammed.  Transit behind Sperrbrecher "9" down the Elbe.
				In the darkness steering exactly in the wake is difficult.
		06.22	West of "Elbe 1" at 8°W	Test dive.  Mine escort ended.  When diving strong knocking in the pressure hull determined.  Course for Helgoland, to repair the damage there with divers.
			N 2

	Sun and Moon Data 05.05.40
	Sun and Moon Data 06.05.40

	- 2 -
		continued
		06.05.40	Helgoland
		08.45		Made fast.  Boat examined, outer tube door made accessible by beating out the outer cladding.  Some rivets, screws and net cutter fixed by welding, fuel supplied.
		12.00		Day's run:  Surfaced 95 nm
		18.00	Helgoland	Damage repaired.  Departed.
			NNW 2, Vis. good
		20.00	Deutsche Bucht	Transit to Route 1.
		24.00	W 2, Vis. bad, lightly misty
		07.05.40
		04.00	Route 1
			NNW 3, Vis. bad
		08.35	Route 1α	Dived, put the boat on the bottom depth 42 meters.
		12.00		Day's run:  Surfaced 130, Submerged 4 nm
		22.30	NW 2	Surfaced.
		24.00	Exit of Route 1α	Passed about 10 fishing vessels.  Course for the Terschelling Bank Lightship, 6 nm abeam to port.
			Vis. good
		08.05.40
		04.00	Terschelling Bank Lightship	30-40 fishing vessels passed during the night.
			AN 8245
			NW 2, Vis. medium
		05.33	AN 8247	Dived for a fisherman.  Boat put on the bottom depth 32 meters.
		12.00		Day's run:  Surfaced 82, Submerged 2 nm
				Went to periscope depth for Program Times.
		22.27	AN 8271	Surfaced, 10-20 lights of fishermen towards land in the east.
			Starry clear, Vis. medium, E 2, new moon
		23.50	AN 8277	U-boat dimmed to port bearing 0°T sighed in front of the fishing lights.  Distance 3000-4000 meters.
			Starry clear, Vis. good, marine phosphorescence, dark new moon night
				Initiated attack, unfortunately I have the bright horizon to the west.  Enemy steers opposite course about 320° then came to parallel course 140° and occasionally ran at high speed, so that the bow sea was seen.  Just when I turned to shoot the enemy turned towards me.  Turned away to gain distance.  Enemy now ran on a northwesterly course.
		09.05.40	Level north of IJmuiden
		00.14	AN 8511	Double shot with G 7e, depth 2 meters, G 7a = 3 meters and velocity = 30 knots, from 700 meters, target speed = 5 knots, target angle 80°, aim point forward 20 meters, aft 30 meters.
			Strong marine phosphorescence

	Sun and Moon Data 06.05.40
	Sun and Moon Data 07.05.40
	Sun and Moon Data 08.05.40
	Sun and Moon Data 09.05.40

	- 3 -
		continued
		09.05.40
				Own speed port E-motor KF because the bow sea is strongly illuminated.  After 52 seconds = 780 meters, strong detonation.  Both running tracks were seen.  The one from the G 7e generated by propeller wake, G 7a bubble track hit the after end of the conning tower.
				Detonation turns into a second even stronger.  Afterwards a 25-meter high, lower, white upper red column of fire, then 30-50 meter high rain of sparks, the a 100-meter high column of smoke. Explosion debris flew about 50 meters away from the boat.  An oil slick about 500 meters in diameter is in sight.  Drove around it, nothing more seen.  Strong smell of gunpowder and oil.  Boat seemed to be about 1000 tons, had a relatively low however long conning tower seen from the side.  Possibly type "GRAMPUS".  One cannon alone on deck was not noticed.
		00.26		Second detonation audible, nothing seen.  Must have been the G 7e at the end of the running track after 12 minutes running time.
				Continued in the direction of Scheveningen, to determine ship's position.
		04.00	AN 8549	At depth 12 meters still no Dutch Lighthouses come in sight.  Seem to be extinguished.
			E 2, Vis. medium
		04.40	AM 8581	Dived before fishermen.
				Put the boat on the bottom depth 20 meters.
		11.15	E 2, Sea 0-1	Raised the boat from the bottom.  Headed for the coast.
				Ship's position determined from Hook of Holland.
		12.00	AN 8581	Day's run:  Surfaced 74, Submerged 4 nm
		16.00	AN 8584	Stood at a buoy; black-white uneven stripes.
				= 52°02'N
				=  4°05'E
				Observed heavy steamer traffic, some in direction E-W, some NE-SW along the coast.  2 Dutch steamers with three set balls move back and forth at the buoy.
		18.00	AN 8576	Put the boat on the bottom.
		22.50		Surfaced.  Transit into the operations area.
		24.00	AN 8578	Incoming Radio Message with keyword "Toni - Ulla".
			NW 2, dark night, Vis. medium
		10.05.40	NE 3, Sea 2, Vis. medium
		03.00	Thorston Bank Buoy	Many fishermen avoided.
			Operations area
			South of 51°50'N
		04.00	AN 8752
		04.14		Ostend bears 156°T.  West Hinder Buoy burns.
		04.51	AN 8755	Crash dive for 2 aircraft.
			Beginning of twilight	Buoys that burn:
				1.)  West Hinder as in peacetime.
				2.)  West Hinder - reserve buoy for lightship . . .

	Sun and Moon Data 09.05.40
	Sun and Moon Data 10.05.40

	- 4 -
		continued
		10.05.40		with peacetime identification.
				3.)  The red Buoy with 3 second flash, 6 second pause, repetition 9 seconds.
				4.)  The Kwinte Bank Flashing Buoy with 2 second flash, 3 second pause, 5 second repetition.
		05.40		4 distant aircraft bombs.
		08.00	AN 8758	The current is strong and I still have no buoys in sight,  Our sounder is out of service tonight, depth determined by heading for the bottom.
			NE 1-2
		10.20	AN 8758	Large steamer in sight 6 nm to the north.  Westerly course.
				Steered to the north.
		12.00	AN 8758	Day's run:  Surfaced 62, Submerged 10 nm
		14.00	AN 8758	Black buoy in sight, suspect the Kwinte Bank Buoy.  Headed for it on course 0° to make out the buoy.
			Between Middlekerke Bank
			NE 0-1, Sea 0
		14.30		Armed 8000 ton tanker in sight in the NE on course 300°.  It is too far away, cannot reach shooting position, because I cannot pass the buoy to starboard and the sounder does not work.  Came to AK, to possibly still shoot.
		14.30	Wind calm, Sea 0, cloudless, Vis. good	Touched bottom.  Boat came out at 10.5 meters, turned away to starboard.  In the NE 4000 meters away 4 French T-Boote or destroyers with 2 smokestacks, course 90°.  War flags set.  Steamer turned to port to 270°.  I want to shoot to after turning to port at 1500 meters, touched bottom again, turned away to starboard at listening speed.  Had to give up the shot.  Set off from the bank to the east, then again stood at the buoy.
		16.30	AN 8758	Between 16.30 and 17.30 hours three small armed steamers from the east course 300°.  Initiated attack.  Did not shoot when it was recognized they were only 800-1000 tons.
		18.30	AN 8795	Since 14.30 hours patrols at intervals of 30 minutes on E-W courses about 8 destroyers and T-Boote.  s.T. [abbreviation not understood] type "LA CORDELIERE" north of the buoy.  So I ran off to the north and put the boat on the bottom depth 30 meters, to give the crew some rest.
		19.00		Sounds disappear.
		22.18	NW 1, Vis. bad, obscured horizon, dark night	Surfaced.  We have drifted strongly to the WSW, am NNE of the Buoy.
				Closed it.  Port diesel HF.  Starboard diesel is un-clutched to charge.
		23.10	AN 8757	Destroyer shadow ahead, shifted out to the west.
		23.20		2 shadows in sight to the east.  Closed.  One shadow passed out of sight, the second shadow is a tanker.  Attempted to match speed.
		24.00		When I am in the wake on course 250° in the direction of the English Warning Area, the tanker suddenly stopped between the West Hinder Lightship and the Buoy and turned towards us.  A smaller steamer with set . . .

Sun and Moon Data 10.05.40

	- 5 -
		continued
		10.05.40		lights passed on opposite course.
		11.05.40
		00.00		Now the tanker turns slowly and intermittently around 360°, seems to be waiting on an escort, sets a weak light at half-mast.  Changing speeds.
		00.40 - 00.45	Between red Dyck Buoy and reserve buoy for West Hinder Lightship	Searchlight illumination in the direction of Ostende-Dunkirk, anti-aircraft fire.  The horizon is brightly illuminated.  The shine from West Hinder is annoyingly bright.  Due to the difficulty of the attack I intend to shoot a double shot and so set the G 7e velocity to 30 knots.
		00.49	AN 8749	Shot with G 7e at 6000 ton tanker, target angle 80°, speed 3 knots, aim point center, range 450 meters.  Port diesel 2 x HF back starboard diesel LF ahead.  Hit forward edge of the bridge after 31 seconds equals 465 meters, very loud detonation, no fiery glow, white broad and low cloud envelops the ship.  Above a 30 meter high small black smoke cloud, when it thins out the stern has sunk the bow follows.  About 1 minute after the shot nothing more is seen of the ship.  Until sinking the tanker wailed with its siren.  Moved off and steered search courses.
			N 4, Sea 2-3
		04.00	AN 8754
			NNE 3, Vis. medium-good
		04.50	Twilight	3 destroyer shadows to the south.
			AN 8755
		05.00		Dived and after balancing the boat put it on the bottom depth 24 meters.
		09.00		Went to periscope depth.  Moved to the south.
		09.30 - 10.30	AN 8758	2 passenger steamers of 3000 tons and 3 freight steamers to the north and south sighted on westerly courses.  Too far off.  Can no longer reach shooting position.  Vessels were protected by patrolling torpedo boats.
		09.50	AN 8758	3000 ton armed English freighter attacked.  Missed at target angle 80°, 7 knots, range = 1200 meters, torpedo was heard for 6 minutes.  I shot because I did not know if Antwerp is in German hands and if the last steamer could get out of Scheldt.  If the Scheldt is blocked, then I can no longer shoot.  Continued to the west along the steamer route to red Dyck Buoy.
		12.00	AN 8757	Day's run:  Surfaced 32, Submerged 18 nm
				Attack on armed English 3000 ton steamer.  Attack given up, when a substantial Dutch warship came up behind it.  Attack initiated on course 270°.  Recognized that it was . . .

	Sun and Moon Data 10.05.40
	Sun and Moon Data 11.05.40

	- 6 -
		continued
		11.05.40		a mine search boat type:  "WILLEM VAN EWIJK" with a large superstructure and must have had a shallow draft.  Behind it in 330°T a Dutch U-boat type: "O-11" without cannon with flag.  Attacked the U-boat which is barely underway. Turned with hard rudder at 600 meters range to attack, shortly before the shot the U-boat increased speed and turned hard.  Recognized that it was in tow of the mine searcher and was just towed on its new course.  Proceeded behind it at AK, can no longer reach it.  U-boat was towed to England!  Took course to a buoy ahead, in so doing determined a very strong southerly current.  Buoy was identified as Dyck Buoy.
		13.00	Dyck Buoy	Was swept by current past the buoy to the southwest.
		13.20		Steamer in sight in the NE on westerly course.  Initiated attack.  However I am positioned unfavorably, because at my position the steamer must turn to 250°, I don't know the exact turn point.  I see the steamer turn, see him at target angle 0° and course 250°, turned away at GF to attack.  I want to shot on a parallel course.  Too late, the current does not allow a precise maneuver, I cut under.  When the periscope is extended the steamer overruns me at a distance of 16 meters from the periscope, it was a 2500 ton armed Englander.
		13.45		English destroyer of the V. and W. Class in sight on course 60°, target angle 30° and a steamer to the NNE with course 290°.  Initiated attack on the destroyer, too far away, he ran at about 20 knots, meanwhile the steamer turned to course 250°.  I came to parallel course to attack.
		14.00	AN 8749	Shot on a 4000 ton armed English steamer, target angle 90°, speed 8 knots, shot angle green 70°, range 400 meters.  Aim point 10 meters behind the stern.
			The ship location as with the shot on the tanker at 00.50 hours
				After 32 seconds = 480 meters a bright strong detonation.  Hit at the after cargo hatch.  High thick explosion cloud, stern is no longer seen after the dissipation of the cloud.  The bow sank in at most 20 seconds.  Destroyer was behind the steamer about in the shooting direction distance 2000 meters, turned towards the steamer.
				I attempt to run off at periscope at AK to the northeast because the southern current carries me towards the English mined area.  Destroyer does not stay at the sinking location of the steamer, runs towards us at target angle 20° at listening speed, I also go to listening speed.  All noises were stopped, gyro-compass, ventilators etc.  only the converter for the listening gear continues to run.  1 motor KF continual zigzag course around 0°.  One time the destroyer came towards the periscope.  Periscope was withdrawn, makes such a noise with its old drive, that I first want to extend it again if the

Sun and Moon Data 11.05.40

	- 7 -
		continued
		11.05.40		destroyer runs at higher speed.
		15.30		Destroyer sounds are fainter.  Periscope extended.  Buoy bears 50°T.  Suspect Dyck Buoy.  Astern 3 destroyers, target angle 0° in line abreast.  Turned hard to the West, moved off at depth 20 meters.  Want to pass between Fairy and West Hinder Bank, hope that I am not suspected there.
		15.35	AN 8749	Touched bottom.  Rose quickly to depth 17 meters, therefore put the boat on the bottom with 2 tons negative buoyancy.  I could not go against the current at listening speed and was driven on the West Hinder Bank.  The crew was short of breath with a carbon dioxide content of 3.6% and oxygen content of 16%. Will run the fan briefly when the sounds disappear.
			Southern end of the West Hinder Bank
		17.00		Sounds were finally gone.  Ventilator started.
		18.00		Gyro-compass started.
				Up to 15.00 hours we still had southerly current, then until the evening northerly current.  Boat settled slowly to 22 meters and drifted to the north.  That's fine.
		22.40	AN 8746	Surfaced, we have drifted 3 nm to the north.
			2 nm north of West Hinder Lightship	Course 60°, began return transit.
		23.55	AN 8754	Avoided a dimmed vessel to the north and set course between the West- and East Hinder Bank, then 40°.
			NNW 3-4, Vis. good
		12.05.40
		04.00	AN 8468	Dived for a dimmed vessel on opposite course.  With opposing current I want to lie on the bottom, with a following current continue on the surface.
			NNE 2, Vis. good, twilight
		04.25		Surfaced, to ventilate the boat, because the diesel room was heavily smoked while proceeding on the surface.
				Dived.
		05.00	AN 8495	Put the boat on the bottom depth 30 meters.
		12.00	AN 8495	Day's run:  Surfaced 50, Submerged 10 nm
		22.40	AN 8495	Surfaced, continued on.
			NNE 4, light Swell, Vis. good
		23.45	AN 8463	One aircraft to port.  Course for Holland.  Both diesels stopped, to avoid a bow and stern sea.
		24.00	AN 8463	Shadow ahead bearing 50° on opposite course, avoided to the west.
		13.05.40
		01.15	North Sea, level of Terschelling Bank	Passed a drifting mine
			AN 8514
		04.00	AN 8273
			N 4, medium Swell, Vis. good
		05.14	AN 8257	Dived.
		12.00	AN 8251	Day's run:  Surfaced 60, Submerged 20 nm

	Sun and Moon Data 11.05.40
	Sun and Moon Data 12.05.40
	Sun and Moon Data 13.05.40

	- 8 -
		continued
		13.05.40
		16.00	Terschelling Bank Lightship	Bears 270°T, 6 nm away.  [apparently a typo the Lightship must have been on 90°T]  Put the boat on the bottom to have a good departure place to transit through Route I.
			AN 8251 upper-left
		22.00		Surfaced.  In contrast to the outbound journey, in the area around Terschelling no more fishermen were seen.
		24.00	AN 6881
			SE 2, Vis. good
		14.05.40
		04.00	Route I	Transit through Route 1α.
		08.00		Dived, put the boat on the bottom depth 35 meters, 12 nm off the exit to Route 1α.
		12.00		Day's run:  Surfaced 90, Submerged 10 nm
		12.30		Surfaced to ventilate the boat.
		15.00		Dived.  Put the boat on the bottom depth 35 meters.
		22.30		Surfaced.
		24.00	Deutsche Bucht
			SW 2-3
		15.05.40
		02.00		Aircraft overflew us.  Both diesels stopped, to avoid a bow and stern sea.
		02.50	Borkum Wreck Buoy	Aircraft in sight.  Both diesels stopped, afterwards again 2 x GF ahead.  Torpedo running track 20 meters ahead of the bow, enemy must have shot from a broad target angle.  Otherwise nothing seen.  The stopping for the aircraft was favorable for us and let the torpedo pass by ahead.
		08.30	Helgoland	Made fast Helgoland.
			SE 6-7, misty
		12.00		Day's run:  Surfaced 88, Submerged 0 nm
		14.00	Helgoland	Cast off.  With mine escort for Wilhelmshaven.
		20.30	Wilhelmshaven	Made fast U-boat base.

	Sun and Moon Data 13.05.40
	Sun and Moon Data 14.05.40
	Sun and Moon Data 15.05.40

 

	Enclosures to U-9's KTB - click on the text at left to proceed to the document
ChartA	Track chart of patrol
ChartB	Track chart of period in operations area
Torpedo	Torpedo firing reports

 

	Comments of the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote.
	Difficult conditions - good success.
		Signed in draft  D  ö  n  i  t  z  .
		for the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote.
		- the Chief of the Operations Department -

 

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