U-Boat Name and ID Number U-74 Stachelrochen
KptLt – Volkhard Schreiber
Patrol Assignment Atlantic
Successful Patrol Yes
Number of Freighters Sank 3
Number of Tankers Sank 0
Number of Capital Ships Sank 0
Total Tonnage Destroyed 19,200
Ships Damaged Ships Destroyed British Steam Merchant of 4,900t –
Thirlby, British Steam Merchant of 4,800t -
Daydawn and Canadian Motor Merchant of 9,500t-
Vancouver IslandRefit Time 2 months
Award Requests None
Crew Names: Crew Status: VeteranKptLt Volkhard Schreiber
1WO Goetzpeter Staufenbiel
2WO Adam Luedtke
LI (Eng) Reinhold Kraft
Doctor Herrmann Rieger
U-74 (Stachelrochen) enters La Rochelle on 28th November with three victory pennants flying from her conning tower.We were the last to leave base for this patrol on the 4th November and the crew were happy that I had left it as late as possible. We set out for the Atlantic. The passage to our assigned patrol station (AL54) was uneventful and all watch commanders had a very easy time of it.
After nearly three weeks at sea and no sight of any other naval vessel, the frustration level had reached the point where crew fights were beginning to break out and two were being held in our makeshift brig.
Then on the evening of the 23rd November a convoy had been spotted. I decided upon a night surface attack from medium range. 1WO Staufenbiel identified three viable targets, as the other target had Swedish neutrality markings. I felt two targets would be enough, so I ignored the British Steam Merchant
Malabar (4,200tons). Solutions were calculated for both of the other British Steam Merchants:
Thirlby (4,900t) and
Daydawn (4,800t). All four front tubes were flooded and two eels were sent towards each target just before we dived.
The two eels aimed at the
Thirlby ran straight and true. I did not see them hit, but Luedtke heard the explosions and with that the ship rolled over. The third torpedo hit the
Daydawn and caused her to break up. The fourth eel missed.
The escort came steaming in and threw out its explosive drums.
There was a big explosion at the rear of our sub; hull damage, aft torp door and electric engine #1 inoperable. Diving deeper another explosion knocked out the hydrophones. With erratic manoeuvres impossible, another explosion damaged he hull and we took on water. The crew could not stop the initial flooding and so another compartment started to fill, after which we started to dive a little deeper. Another hit and there was more flooding and Maschinenobermaat Harald Folk had ripped a tendon in his leg. It was then, that the escort lost contact and we waited a short while before we surfaced and made repairs.
The flood water was pumped out and the hydrophones and electric engine were fixed. The aft torpedo door was buckled and was going to be a no go for the rest of the patrol. With eight eels still able to be fired, we spent the next hour trying to get a bearing on the rear of the convoy.
Having re-engaged with the convoy, we approached submerged and stayed a lot further away, thus reducing the chance of detection.
Four ships were identified, but unfortunately two of them were flying the Norwegian flag, thus leaving just two viable targets: British Steam Merchant Umtata (8,100tons) and the Canadian Motor Merchant Vancouver Island (9,500t) The Vancouver Island was to be the target, so a solution was calculated, the tubes were flooded and all four torpedoes were fired at this target. Only two eels hit and both exploded and we heard the Motor Merchant break up. Unsurprisingly, the escort failed to detect us and we stayed put.
We spent the next six hours trying to re-engage with the convoy, but all contact was lost
We hung around the next day, but nothing of interest appeared, so headed for home.
The rest of the passage to La Rochelle was uneventful and we arrived back at base on the 28th November
After shore leave and re-supply, U-74 will be ready to resume patrol in February.
KptLt Volkhard Schreiber