25 June 1943U-793 enter La Rochelle a month early. Four pennants fly from her periscope and it looks like her hull is being held together by nothing more than hope.
U-Boat Name and ID Number: U-793, Banshee
Successful Patrol: Yes
Number of Freighters Sank: 2
Number of Tankers Sank: 2
Number of Capital Ships Sank: 0
Total Tonnage Destroyed: 25,600
Refit Time: 4 months due to hull damage, ready Nov 1943
Award Requests: WB in Black for 2WO, ObFhzS Wolfgang Bruening
Iron Cross 2nd Class for ObLtzS Lutz Bruer
Narrative:
U-793 left La Rochelle in an early morning fog on 3 June 1943 heading for the Atlantic where we would be part of a wolfpack. Transit through the Bay of Biscay and out into the Atlantic was without incident, U-793 arriving on station on 7 June.
The first two weeks on parol proved uneventful, none of the boats in the wolfpack reporting any engagements, nor did BDU provide any information on convoy activity in the area.
Late in the day on the 16th, one of the other boats reported contact and all boats in the wolfpack moved to intercept. U-793 made contact in the early evening, being one of the later arrivals. Being late on the scene, most of the escorts were focused elsewhere when I decided to attack, firing three eels each from medium at a pair of tankers (8,900 tons and 5,400 tons). Both targets erupted in spectacular explosions, the resulting fires quickly doused as the stricken ships broke apart and slipped beneath the waves. Not waiting around to enjoy the view, I ordered a dive below test depth and deployed on of our BOLD decoys. The tactic worked as the escort, a Tribal Class DD, failed to locate us. However, when we surfaced we had lost the rest of the convoy.
Another convoy was encountered on the 19th, U-793 arriving midafternoon. Once more the escorts were busy elsewhere. I sent three eels each at an 8,000 ton tanker and a 6,700 ton freighter. While both were hit, neither was damaged enough to cause a sinking. At least one of the FaTII that missed found another target, sinking a smaller 4,600 ton freighter. The lone escort in our area, an I Class DD, quickly moved in to avenge the injuries. I gain ordered exceeding test depth and employed our second BOLD decoy and the Tommies were unable to find us.
U-793 then pursued the two damaged ships. Though they were still under escort by the I Class DD I decided to attack shortly after nightfall from medium range, submerged, firing the last our of my bow torpedoes. Three o the four eels missed and the fourth was a dud. I repeated my earlier tactics and again avoided detection.
Staying on the trail of the damaged ships, we caught back up to them around midnight. Submerged, from medium range, I fired the two stern tubes, one eel at each target. The tanker must be leading a charmed life as we missed. The Freighter was not so lucky, taking a hit and rapidly sinking. With no remaining decoys, I ordered U-793 deep, though by now rivets were popping and gaskets blowing! It was not enough and the escort found us, their attack causing flooding. As the DD came in for another pass I ordered U-793 even deeper, much to the crew’s consternation. Again it proved o no use and wabos exploded all around U-793, dismounting the #1 Diesel and causing additional flooding. Not wanting to subject the pressure hull to any further stresses, I resigned myself to riding out whatever punishment the Tommies had in mind. After several hours (4 rounds of depth charge attack) and the near sinking of U-793 (9 out of 10 Hull boxes), the sea suddenly became quiet. After a reasonable time I ordered U-793 to the surface which thankfully proved empty of other ships.
While the diesel was remounted, the 3.7cm Flak Gun was s shambles, as was the pressure hull. Even though we still had two torpedoes onboard and enough supplies to patrol for another month I decided to abort the patrol and turned U-793 for home.
The last day transiting the Bay of Biscay, 27 June, a Beaufort caught the lookouts by surprise, straffing U-793 and seriously injuring the 2WO, ObFhzS Wolfdgang Bruening before we were able to dive to safety.
U-793 limped into La Rochelle on 25 June, a month earlier than expected. With the extensive hull damage she will be under repair for four months, not ready to patrol again until November. ObFhzS Bruening will be back on duty earlier, requiring only two months convalescance.
Respectfully submitted,
ObLtzS Lutz Bruer, Kommandant U-793