07.08.1942 Die Versenkung des Dampfers Wachtfels

[byron]

07.08.1942 Die Versenkung des Dampfers "Wachtfels" durch das U-Boot "Proteus"  von britischer und deutscher Seite betrachtet

Logbuch PROTEUS  07.08.1942

07.40 in position 36º54N 24º05E sighted large MV bearing 150º ten miles. Started to attack. I made out two destroyers, one armed tug, two smaller MVs and an AMC zigging broadly astern.
(convoi consisted of Cagliari, Pier Luigi, Wachtenfels and Elli)
08.21 fired four torpedoes at 7000 ton MV, enemy course and speed 340º eight knots. Calm and bright. Range 3300 yards. Went to 180 feet. Two explosions were heard...followed by breaking up noises ten minutes later. Sixteen depth charges dropped, none very close.
"Wachtfels" 8465 BRT, sunk at 36.55n 24.10e
09.30 on coming to periscope depth the AMC was seen stopped in the vicinity of position in which MV was attacked. She made off to northward at high speed about five minutes later.
10.40 sighted aircraft, one destroyer and one MV at eight miles; position 35º52N 24º47E. Target identified as a tanker of 8-10,000 tons. The destroyer, a GRECALE class, seemed suspicious as she dropped occasional charges and circled her tanker at high speed. I was astonished that they should come through the area in which we had attacked the previous convoy.
11.21 fired four torpedoes at tanker range 3000 yards. Enemy course and speed 010º 9½ knots. One minute after firing heard an explosion which was possibly the aircraft bombing the tracks...approx five minutes after last torpedo heard an explosion. 21 depth charges followed, not very close, the destroyer dropping nine in just under a minutes.
12.00 came to periscope depth. Sighted tanker still fairly close to position of firing. Four or five aircraft were flying over her and the destroyer was again attacked. Went to seventy feet and attempted to chase her slowly, but abandoned the attempt when we were losing gradually (It was necessary to restrict PROTEUS to keep north of 36ºN pm the 7th to avoid P.35 who was passing north of Crete at this time). The rudder jammed on this second attack and prevented the submarine from reducing range another 1000 yards. It is almost certain that one torpedo hit the tanker as she must have been practically stopped for over thirty minutes.


Im Anhang der Abschnitt aus dem Kriestagebuch der 21. U-Jagdflottille, NARA Rolle 3664

[Albatros]

Der L.I. des deutschen U-Jägers meldete Ausfall von Pumpen und Ventilen bei W.B.-Wurf auf 90 Meter. Das bedeutet also das so ein U-Jäger wie 2106 gar nicht schnell genug lief um bei noch flacherer Einstellung überhaupt aus dem Gefahrenbereich raus zu kommen?



Manfred

[kgvm]

Byron,
stammt der blau geschriebene Text vollumfänglich aus dem Logbuch der "Proteus", einschließlich dieser Auszüge:
"(convoi consisted of Cagliari, Pier Luigi, Wachtenfels and Elli)" und
""Wachtfels" 8465 BRT, sunk at 36.55n 24.10e"??
Falls nicht, d. h. wenn Du irgendwelche Ergänzungen vorgenommen hast, wäre es sinnvoll, diese in irgendeiner Weise deutlich zu markieren! Eine (auch wohlmeinend) verfälschte Quelle hilft nicht unbedingt 

[byron]

Ηαllo Klaus,

Nur der Konvoi stammt von mir, die Versenkung ist original.