Author |
|
Pavel Matrosen-Stabsgefreiter
Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline Posts: 121
|
Posted: 04 October 2007 at 05:57 | IP Logged
|
|
|
From U568
30th Patrol completed. Departed St. Nazaire on 6 May 1944 bound for AM66 at local time 14.32. Sank four merchant vessels (2x Liberty Cargo, 1x T2 Tanker, 1x C2 Cargo) and one destroyer (1xClemson DD), shot down one level bomber (B24 Liberator). Returned to base on 17 May 1944 heavily damaged by wabo attack. Captain of U568 respectfully informs BdU that operations along Northern Irish coast unfeasible due to near omnipresence of Royal Navy antisubmarine warfare assets, Grid Square AM66 considered suicidal to attempt to reach.
Regards, - U568
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Pavel Matrosen-Stabsgefreiter
Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline Posts: 121
|
Posted: 25 October 2007 at 00:15 | IP Logged
|
|
|
From U568
Fiendfahrt No.31 failure. Departed Saint Nazaire on 1 July 1944 bound for CB15. Less than thirty kilometres from Nazaire, encountered lone Short Sunderland search aircraft and shot it down with FlaK at 1600 hours.
Shortly afterwards, at 16.15 hours, second Short Sunderland engaged and destroyed. Resumed original course and bearing, came off FlaK Watch and reduced speeds accordingly.
At 17.00 hours precisely, was engaged by a flight of five Short Sunderlands and proceeded to resume FlaK Watch and begin evasive manouvres. Shot down three, damaged two. The two damaged Sunderlands collided with one another.
Submerged and ran at twenty five metres depth, one third propulsion on electric engines until 20.00 hours at which point U568 resumed periscope depth, raised snorkel after surface sweep with observation scope.
Ran until 22.00 hours. Engaged by unknown source, presumed aviation attack. Hull integrity reduced to 18%, severe flooding in stern torpedo, electric engine, and aft crew compartments. 24.00 hours, vessel stabilized thanks to frantic damage control efforts. Aborted patrol and returned to base. Expenditure of all but 958 rounds of 20mm FlaK ammunition. No other contacts or reports.
U568's crew is very disappointed in the Luftwaffe's performance.
|
Back to Top |
|
|
|
|