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Appendix 11

Blockade Running U-boat Operations

 

Blockade Running U-boats
U-boats Cruises Attempted Cruises Completed Sunk Before Reaching Far East Sunk Before Reaching Europe Sunk in Far East Successful Voyage to Far East Successful Voyage to Europe Successful Round Trips Now in Far East Seized by Allies
German 65 33 20 5 31 142 32 32 4 3
Japanese 7 4 0 1 2 1 3 1 0 0
Satsuki (German-Japanese) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Akira (Italian) 8 3 5 0 1 3 0 0 2 0
Total 82 41 26 6 6 18 6 4 7 3
1 One may not be sunk.
2 Includes only blockade running submarines.

 

German Operational U-boats
(Indian Ocean Area)
Cruises attempted 18
Cruises completed 15
Sunk in route to/from
Operational Area
4
Sunk in Operational Area 1

-- 159 --

 

Cargo Carrying U-boats
U-boats Total Sunk Enroute to or from
Far East
Trip Cancelled Cruised to
Far East
Sunk in
Far East
Cruised to Europe Round Trip Seized by Allies Still in
Far East
German 36 21 1 15 3 4 4 3 4
Japanese 4 3 0 0 0 2 1 0 0
Satsuki (German-Japanese) 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
Akira (Italian) 8 5 0 3 1 0 0 0 2
Total 50 30 1 19 4 6 5 3 7

-- 160 --

 

German U-boats Scheduled To Return To France After Indian Ocean Operations
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
1. 181
(Lüth)
IXd2 Bordeaux
Early Sep 42
Operated off Lourenco Marques. At least 2 ships claimed sunk Bordeaux
18 Jan 43
Bordeaux
Mid Mar 43
Operated off Lourenco Marques. 9 ships claimed sunk. Bordeaux
14 Oct 43
2. 159
(Witte I)
IXc Lorient
Early Sep 42
Operated off Capetown. At least 3 ships claimed sunk. Lorient
05 Jan 43
3. 178
(Ibbeken)
IXd2 Bordeaux
Early Sep 42
Operated off Capetown and in the South Indian Ocean. At least 2 ships claimed sunk. Dommes became CO. Bordeaux
09 Jan 43
4. 177
(Gysae)
IXd2 Bordeaux
Early Sep 42
Operated off Capetown and in the South Indian Ocean. At least 4 ships claimed sunk. Bordeaux
21 Jan 43
Bordeaux
Late Mar 43
Experimented with "Bachstelze" (captive helicopter). Operated off Madagascar. 7 ships claimed sunk. Buchholz became CO. Bordeaux
02 Oct 43
5. 506
(Würdemann)
IXc Lorient
Early Dec 42
Seehund cruise. Operated off Capetown. 2 ships claimed sunk. Lorient
11 May 43
6. 509
(Witte II)
IXc Lorient
Mid Dec 42
Seehund cruise. Operated off Capetown. No successes reported. Lorient
11 May 43
7. 516
(Wibe)
IXc Lorient
27 Dec 42
Seehund cruise. Operated off Durban. 6 ships claimed sunk. Tillessen became CO. Lorient
04 May 43
8. 182
(Clausen)
IXd2 Lorient
Mid Nov 42
Added to Seehund operations 27 Dec 42. Operated off Durban. 2 ships claimed sunk. Sunk 16 May 43 at 33°55'N - 20°35'W.  
9. 160
(Lassen)
IXc Bordeaux
6 Jan 43
Seehund cruise. Operated off Durban. 10 ships claimed sunk. Bordeaux
09 May 43

-- 161 --

 

German U-boats Scheduled To Return To France After Indian Ocean Operations (continued)
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
10. 180
(Mussenberg)
IXd1 Kiel
09 Feb 43
Transferred Subbas Chandra Bose and secretary to Japanese submarine I-29 in Indian Ocean on 27 Apr 43. Operated along the way. Sank 2 ships and shot down 1 aircraft.
Cargo: Received from I-29 - 3 air torpedoes, 2 tons of gold, 1.3 tons Japanese inventions, 0.6 tons additional German cargo (mail, drawings), quinine. Total: 5 tons excluding torpedoes. Given to I-29 = mail for Raider 28, 3 torpedoes, and drawings.
Passengers: For Europe - CDR Tatsu Siro Emi, LCDR Tomonga.
Bordeaux
01 Jul 43
11. 196
(Kentrat)
IXd2 Germany
Early Mar 43
Operated off Madagascar. 5 ships claimed sunk. Bordeaux
23 Oct 43
12. 198
(Hartmann)
IXd2 Baltic
10 Mar 43
Operated off Durban. 8 ships claimed sunk. Bordeaux
24 Sep 43
13. 195
(Buchholz)
IXd1 Bordeaux
Mid Mar 43
Operated off Capetown. 3 ships claimed sunk. Bordeaux
23 Jul 43
14. 178
(Dommes)
IXd2 Bordeaux
28 Mar 43
Operated off Port Elizabeth and Madagascar. 5 ships claimed sunk. Started return to France but was sent to Penang. Dommes became CO Base Penang. Ordered to refuel Akira submarine and proceed to Penang. Penang
29 Aug 43

-- 162 --

 

German U-boats Scheduled To Make Far East After Operations
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
1. 188
(Lüdden)
IXc/40 Lorient
30 Jun 43
Monsun cruise. Operated in Gulf of Oman. 2 ships claimed sunk.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang.
Penang
03 Nov 43
2. 168
(Pich)
IXc/40 Lorient
03 Jul 43
Monsun cruise. Operated off Bombay, Gulf of Oman, and Maldive-Laccadive Island areas. 1 ship claimed sunk.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang.
Penang
11 Nov 43
3. 532
(Junker)
IXc/40 Lorient
03 Jul 43
Monsun cruise. Operated in the Maldive Islands area.. No successes reported.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang.
Penang
02 Nov 43
4. 514
(Auffermann)
IXc Lorient
03 Jul 43
Monsun cruise. Sunk about 08 Jul 43 at 43°37'N - 08°59'W.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang.
 
5. 183
(Schäfer)
IXc/40 Lorient
03 Jul 43
Monsun cruise. Operated off Kilindini. No successes reported. Schäfer died in Penang. Schneewind became new CO.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang.
Penang
02 Nov 43
6. 506
(Würdemann)
IXc Lorient
03 Jul 43
Monsun cruise. Sunk 12 Jul 43 at 42°30'N - 16°30'W.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang.
 
7. 509
(Witte II)
IXc Lorient
03 Jul 43
Monsun cruise. Sunk about 15 Jul 43 by USS Santee aircraft at 34°02'N - 26°02'W.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang.
 
8. 516
(Tillessen)
IXc Lorient
06 Jul 43
Monsun cruise. Forced to refuel other Monsun U-boats on failure of designated refueler and return to France.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang.
Penang
24 Aug 43
9. 533
(Hennig)
IXc/40 Lorient
06 Jul 43
Monsun cruise. Operated in Gulfs of Oman and Aden. No successes reported. Sunk 16 Oct 43 at 25°28'N - 56°50'E.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang.
 

-- 163 --

 

German U-boats Scheduled To Make Far East After Operations (continued)
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
10. 847
(Kuppisch)
IXd2 Bergen
29 Jul 43
Monsun cruise. Sunk 27 Aug 43 by USS Card aircraft at 28°19'N - 37°58'W.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang.
 
11. 523
(Pietzsch)
IXc Lorient
16 Aug 43
Monsun cruise. Sunk 25 Aug 43 by HMS Wanderer and Wallflower at 42°03'N - 18°02'W.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang.
 
12. 848
(Rollmann)
IXd2 Kiel
18 Sep 43
Operated in Atlantic. 1 ship claimed sunk. Sunk 05 Nov 43 by U.S. aircraft at 10°09'S - 18°00'W.  
13. 849
(Schultze)
IXd2 Kiel
02 Oct 43
Departed for operations around Mauritius and Reunion Islands. Sunk 23 Nov 43 by U.S. Navy aircraft at 06°30'S - 05°40'W.  
14. 510
(Eick)
IXc Lorient
03 Nov 43
Operated off Durban and Gulf of Aden. 9 ships claimed sunk. Refueled by Schliemann.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang.
Penang
05 Apr 44
15. 850
(Ewerth)
IXd2 Kiel
18 Nov 43
Departed for operations around Capetown.
Cargo: 6 crates of Borkum and Naxos equipment. Sunk 20 Dec 43 by USS Bogue aircraft at 32°54'N - 37°01'W.
 
16. 172
(Hoffmann)
IXc Nazaire
22 Nov 43
Transported Borkum GSRs for delivery. Sunk 12 Dec 43 by USS Bogue aircraft and escorts at 26°19'N - 29°58'W.  
17. 1062
(Albrecht)
VIIf Bergen
03 Jan 44
No operations.
Cargo: 22 torpedoes for Penang, cipher material, and radio supplies.
Penang
19 Apr 44
18. 177
(Buchholz)
IXd2 Pallice
02 Jan 44
Sunk 06 Feb 44 by U.S. Navy aircraft at 10°35'S - 23°15'W.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang.
 

-- 164 --

 

German U-boats Scheduled To Make Far East After Operations (continued)
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
19. 852
(Eck)
IXd2 Kiel
18 Jan 44
Operated off Capetown. Sunk 03 May 44 at 09°32'N - 50°59'E.
Cargo: supplies for Base Panang.
 
20. 1059
(Leupold)
VIIf Bergen
Early Feb 44
No operations. Sunk 19 Mar 44 by USS Block Island aircraft at 13°10'N - 33°44'W.
Cargo: 25 torpedoes for Panang, machine parts, cipher material, and mail.
 
21. 843
(Herwartz)
IXc/40 :orient
19 Feb 44
Operate in the Atlantic Ocean.
Cargo: supplies for Penang including one spare propeller.
Batavia
13 Jun 44
22. 851
(Weingärtner)
IXd2 Kiel
26 Feb 44
Presumed sunk outbound in North Atlantic 03 Mar 44.
Cargo: 1,878 bottles mercury (75 tons), 696 bars of lead (29.5 tons), consumable supplies for U-boats and shops, spare motor parts, parts for Junkers compressors, 500 batteries, 2 Flak 38's with ammunition, radio equipment for German Embassy in Tokyo, and cipher material.
 
23. 196
(Kentrat)
IXd2 Pallice
11 Mar 44
Operated in Gulf of Aden and Maldive Island areas. 1 ship claimed sunk. Kentrat relieved of command. Striegler became CO.
Cargo: 2,197 bottles of mercury (84.6 tons), consumable supplies and spare parts, 1 starboard and 1 port propeller, radio equipment, 14 torpedoes for Base Penang.
Penang
10 Aug 44
24. 181
(Freiwald)
IXd2 Pallice
16 Mar 44
Operated in Gulf of Aden and Maldive-Laccedive Islands areas. 1 ship claimed sunk.
Cargo: supplies for Base Penang and cipher material.
Penang
08 Aug 44

-- 165 --

 

German U-boats Scheduled To Make Far East After Operations (continued)
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
25. 537
(Schrewe)
IXc/40 Lorient
25 Mar 44
Operated on Laccedive Islands. 4 ships claimed sunk.  Sunk 09 Nov 44 by USS Flounder at 07°13'S - 115°17'E while conducting diving trials off Soerabaja prior to operating in Australian waters.
Cargo: Supplies for Base Penang, including 1 D/F receiver, 1 spare propeller, 3 sets of Fumberta (GSR) and 1 Fliege (GSR) sets.
Batavia
02 Aug 44
26. 859
(Jebsen)
IXd2 Kiel
04 Apr 44
Sunk 23 Sep 44 while entering Penang by HMS Trenchant. Fate of cargo unknown.
Cargo: 1,959 bottles of Mercury (77.34 tons), 624 bars lead (25.58 tons), 1 FuMB (GSR) set, 4 Fliege (GSR) sets, 147 cases of comm equipment, consumable supplies and spare parts, navigation equipment, ammunition, and lubricating oil (176 kg).
 
27. 860
(Büchel)
IXd2 Kiel
11 Apr 44
Sunk 14 Jun 44 by USS Solomons at 25°27'S - 05°30'W.
Cargo: For Japanese navy - 2610 bars lead (104.38 tons). For Base Penang - 7 cases communications equipment, replacement parts and tools for U-boat repair shops, FuMB (GSR) supplies, Fumberta (GSR) apparatus, 2 Flak 39's and ammunition, and navigation instruments.
 
28. 198
(Waldegg)
IXd2 Pallice
20 Apr 44
Operated from Capetown to Mozambique Channel. 3 ships claimed sunk. Sunk 14 Aug 44  by HMS Findhorn and Godavari at 03°35'S - 53°49'E.
Cargo: Materials for Japanese navy and army. For Base Penang - consumable supplies and spare parts, torpedo apparatuses and replacement parts, machine, electric, and artillery parts, radio equipment, sea charts and grid charts, lubricating oil, and Fumberta and Fliege sets.
 

-- 166 --

 

German U-boats Scheduled To Make Far East After Operations (continued)
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
29. 861
(Oesten)
IXd2 Kiel
20 Apr 44
Operated off Brazilian coast, off Durban, and Mombasa. 5 ships claimed sunk.
Cargo: For Japanese navy - lead bars (109.84 tons). For Base Penang - supplies for U-boat workshops, spare parts for Junkers compressor, bilge pumps and motors, navigation instruments, and 2 Flak 38's and ammunition.
Penang
22 Sep 44
30. 490
(Gerlach)
XIV Kiel
04 May 44
Sunk 11 Jun 44 by USS Croatan aircraft and escorts.
Cargo: 727.12 cbm fuel oil and 19.52 cbm lubricating oil to refuel U-boats enroute.
 
31. 862
(Timm)
IXd2 Kiel
20 May 44
Operated off Lourenco Marques and Madagascar. 5 ships claimed sunk.
Cargo: Supplies for base including Fumberta, Fliege, and Tunis sets.
Operated in Australian waters Dec 44 and Jan 45. Seized by Japanese in May 45, became I-502.
Penang
09 Sep 44
32. 863
(von der Esch)
IXd2 Trondheim
26 Jul 44
Scheduled to operate in Indian Ocean. Sunk 29 Sep 44 by US aircraft at 10°45'S - 25°30'W.
Cargo: Supplies for Base Penang, courier mail for Japanese navy (2 trunks of Japanese Naval Attaché dispatches).
 
33. 180
(Riesen)
IXd1 Bordeaux
21 Aug 44
Presumed sunk after 22 Aug 44. Possibly mined off Gironde.
Cargo: For Japanese navy and army - 6669 bars aluminum, 1843 bottles mercury (67,390 kg), steel (6,020 kg), 100 boxes raw glass (6,800 kg). For Base Penang - 12 ENIGMA machines with cipher data for 1945, torpedoes, spare parts for Junkers compressor, auxiliary engine, electric compressor, tools and implements, radio instruments and spare parts, and medical equipment.
 

-- 167 --

 

German U-boats Scheduled To Make Far East After Operations (continued)
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
34. 195
(Steinfeld)
IXd1 Bordeaux
21 Aug 44
No operations, repairs required.  Was in dry dock where it was seized by Japanese and became I-506.
Cargo: For Japanese navy and army - 1404 bottles of mercury (54,400 kg), 9100 bars aluminum (13,000 kg), 112 boxes glass (7,850 kg), and 157 lead bars (6,437 kg). For Base Penang - spare parts as on U-180 including diesel engine parts, engine parts for Haverstein, Havelland, Bogota, and Quito, radio equipment, navigation equipment, medical supplies, and ammunition.
Djakarta
28 Dec 44
35. 219
(Burghagen)
Xb Bordeaux
23 Aug 44
No operations. Minelayer/supply U-boat converted to cargo carrier. Seized by Japanese in Batavia and became I-505.
Cargo: For Japanese navy and army - 991 bottles mercury (39 tons), 8507 bars aluminum (12.5 tons), 62 boxes optical glass (4.284 tons), and 868 lead bars (37 tons). For Base Penang - spare parts as on U-180 including 2 complete Junkers compressors, spare parts for Bogota, 17 barrels dismulgen, 21 boxes aircraft bombs for Arado seaplanes, medical supplies, navigational equipment, grid charts, radio equipment, receivers, converters, and communications equipment.
Djakarta
11 Dec 44
36. 871
(Ganzor)
IXd2 Trondheim
31 Aug 44
Intended for operations in the Gulf of Aden. Sunk 26 Sep 44 by aircraft at 43°18N - 36°28W.
Cargo: Supplies for Base Penang, GSR equipment, spare parts for main motors, courier mail, film, books, and armed forces welfare material.
 

-- 168 --

 

German U-boats Scheduled To Make Far East After Operations (continued)
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
37. 864
(Wolfram)
IXd2 Bergen
Early Feb 45
Departure delayed for two months due to schnorchel trouble and running aground. Sunk 09 Feb 45 by HM submarine Venturer at 60°46'N - 04°35'E.
Cargo: Drawings for gears of Bogota, nautical year books for 1945, one set of plans and parts for rocket plane, contracts for manufacturing rights of ME-163 and 262, parts for those aircraft and JU-1 to 6, plans for Caproni submarine, one set of Zaunkonig (acoustic torpedo) measuring device, plans for Campini aircraft, plans for Siemens radar, plans for SATSUKI type submarine, and 1857 bottles of mercury.
Passengers: Klingsberg (Messerschmidt Co.), Schomers (Engineer), Yamato (technical expert of Mitsubishi Co.), Bringewald (Messerschmidt mass production engineer), and a Junkers "TL" power equipment assembly engineer.
 
38. 234
(Fehler)
Xb Christiansand
16 Apr 45
Ordered to end operation enroute. Ordered to begin return cruise unoberserved on 07 May. Surrendered and made port at Portsmouth, NH.
Cargo: Bars lead [67,104 kg], bottles mercury [24,112 kg], caffine [3,453 kg], steel [10,724 kg], boxes of optical glass [6,646 kg], brass [38 kg], instruments, arms, ammunition, medical supplies, drawings, including production drawings for aircraft types [38,876 kg], 37 mm ammunition [3,530 kg], 20 mm ammunition [900 kg], small arms and ammunition for seaplane unit [342 kg], variety of equipment for bases except for ordnance and navigation [5,486 kg], mail and films [589 kg], and courier mail [450 kg].
Personnel: Technical expert Yamato and employee Nakai (Mitsubishi Co.), German technical experts Klingenberg and Schmeers, Japanese naval officers Tomonaga and Shoshi, Civilian engineers Bringewald and Ruf, Luftwaffe officers General Kessler, Colonelvon Sandrath and Lieutenant Junior Grade Menzell, naval high command officers Frigate Captain Falck, Squadron Director Hirachling, senior construction chief Schlicke, Lieutenant Bulla, and Lieutenant Junior Grade Hellendoorn.
 
39. 876
(Bahn)
IXd2
 
Damaged by aircraft 19 Apr 45 in Baltic. Cruise cancelled. Scuttled 03 May 45 in Eckernforde. Only 8 torpedoes available for operations enroute to Far East.
Cargo: Composition and fate unknown. Contents likely similar to that of U-234.
 

-- 169 --

 

German U-boats Operating Out Of Far East As Cargo Carriers Bound For Europe
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
1. 178
(Spahr)
IXd2 Penang
27 Nov 43
Operated in Indian Ocean. One third of armament removed to lighten it for cargo operations. No successes reported. Provisioned by Schliemann. Destroyed by Germans at Bordeaux 25 Aug 44.
Cargo: Rubber (27,335 kg), tin (110,000 kg), tungsten (2,000 kg).
Bordeaux
24 May 44
2. 532
(Junker)
IXc/40 Penang
04 Jan 44
Return Monsun cruise. One third of armament removed to lighten it for cargo operations. Operated in Laccadive-Maldive Islands area. 1 ship claimed sunk. Forced to return to Penang by sinking of Brake and Schliemann, no other refueling possible.
Cargo: Quinine (500 kg), opium (200 kg), crude rubber (86 tons), and tungsten (12 tons)
Penang
19 Apr 44
Djarkarta
13 Jan 45
No operations this cruise. For nine months prior, underwent repairs, change of batteries, and other maintenance. Surrendered underway, arrived Loch Eriboll 13 May 45.
Cargo: Tin bars (110,788 kg), quinine (100 kg), opium (200 kg), tungsten (9,228 kg), molybdenum (3,372 kg), rubber (10,010 kg), loose skins for stowing (1,062 kg), selenium (182 kg), rock crystal (120 kg).

-- 170 --

 

German U-boats Operating Out Of Far East As Cargo Carriers Bound For Europe (continued)
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
3. 188
(Lüdden)
IXc/40 Penang
09 Jan 44
Return Monsun cruise. One third of armament removed to lighten it for cargo operations. Operated in Gulf of Aden. 14 ships claimed sunk. Provisioned by Brake. Destroyed by Germans in Bordeaux 25 Aug 44.
Cargo: Tin (100,877 kg), rubber (11,500 kg), tungsten (16,306 kg), quinine (500 kg), and opium (200 kg).
Bordeaux
19 Jun 44
4. 183
(Schneewind)
IXc/40 Penang
10 Feb 44
Return Monsun cruise. One third of armament removed to lighten it for cargo operations. Operated in Laccadive-Maldive Islands area. 2 ships claimed sunk. Forced to return to Penang by sinking of Brake and Schliemann, no other refueling possible.
Cargo: Rubber (9,484 kg), tungsten (21,033 kg), tin (102,520 kg), quinine (500 kg), and opium (250 kg).
Penang
21 Mar 44
Penang
03 May 44
Scheduled to return to Germany with cargo but could not due to low batteries. Operated in Laccadive-Maldive Islands area. 1 ship claimed sunk.
Cargo: Same as above.
Penang
07 Jul 44
Penang
21 Apr 45
Received new batteries. Plans to return to Germany abandoned. Scheduled to operate in the Pacific in the Philippines area. Sunk 23 Apr 45 by USS Besugo at 04°57'S - 112°52'E.
 
5. 168
(Pich)
IXc/40 Penang
07 Feb 44
Return Monsun cruise. One third of armament removed to lighten it for cargo operations. 3 ships claimed sunk. Forced to return to Far East with crew of the Brake. Scheduled to operate off Australia. Sunk 06 Oct 44 by HNM S/M Zwarowisch at 06°20'S - 111°28'E.
Cargo: Tin (29 tons), tungsten, opium, quinine, and vitamins.
Batavia
24 Mar 44

-- 171 --

 

German U-boats Operating Out Of Far East As Cargo Carriers Bound For Europe (continued)
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
6. 1062
(Albrecht)
VIIf Penang
15 Jul 44
No operations. Sunk 30 Sep 44 by USS Fessenden at 11°36'N - 34°44'W.
Cargo: Believed to have carried approximately 110 tons of cargo in keel. 50 tons being tungsten.

 
7. 181
(Freiwald)
IXd2 Djarkarta
19 Oct 44
Forced to return to Batavia on account of damages to engines caused by impure oil.
Cargo: In keel - tin (46,922 kg), tungsten (45,532 kg), rubber (6,332 kg). In hull - molybdenum (4,851 kg), tungsten (14,151 kg), tin (14,151 kg), opium (3,060 kg). In diving tanks - rubber (79,861 kg).
Djarkarta
06 Jan 45
Djarkarta
11 Jan 45
Repairs require U-boat to be in drydock until Jun 45. Seized by Japanese, became I-501. Shonan
12 Apr 45
8. 510
(Eick)
IXc Djarkarta
11 Jan 45
Ordered to St. Nazaire to have schnorchel fitted. Remained at St. Nazaire until May 45.
Cargo: In keel - tungsten (45,402 kg), 970 tin plates (15,758 kg), 523 pieces raw rubber (3,245 kg). In hull - molybdenum (438 kg), tungsten (63,659 kg), raw rubber (5,100 kg), caffine (2,113 kg), and rock crystal (120 kg). Above on deck - rubber (17,000 kg).
Nazaire
25 Apr 45
9. 196
(Striegler)
IXd2 Djarkarta
30 Nov 44
Sunk 30 Nov 44 by mine in Sunda Strait.
Cargo: Presumably consisted of tin, tungsten, molybdenum, rubber, etc.

 
10. 843
(Herwartz)
IXc/40 Djarkarta
10 Dec 44
Cargo: Tungsten (49,743 kg), molybdenum (1,300 kg), opium (1,300 kg), caffine (142 kg), tin (57,206), rubber (30808 kg), and quinine (300 kg).
Departed Norway for Germany on 08 Apr 45.
Bergen
03 Apr 45

-- 172 --

 

German U-boats Operating Out Of Far East As Cargo Carriers Bound For Europe
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
11. 861
(Oesten)
IXd2 Surabaya
14 Jan 45
Sunk 09 Apr 45 by British aircraft at 57°58'N - 11°15'E.
Cargo: Tin (61,293 kg), tungsten (3,246 kg), quinine (3,246 kg), rock crystals (120 kg), iodine (577 kg), rubber (48,439 kg), and molybdenum (900 kg).
Trondheim
18 Apr 45
 

 

German U-Boats Given To Japan
 
1. 511
(Schneewind)
Marco Polo I
Satsuki #1
IXc Lorient
10 May 43
Claimed 1 ship sunk off Madagascar. Presented to the Japanese Emperor as a gift from Hitler.
Cargo: Small black bottles resembling air bottles in place of ballast (from POW report).
Passengers: Vice Admiral Nomura (to Nanking), Ambassador Woermann, German technicians, Captain Sugita (Medical). Became RO-500 in the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Penang
21 Jul 43

Kure
07 Aug 43

2. 1224
(Preuss)
Marco Polo II
Satsuki #2
IXc/40 Kiel
30 Mar 44
Cargo: Equipped with the latest U-boat equipment, including FuMB and FuMG (85 tons) in place of ballast.
Passengers: Eleven German technicians.
Last heard from by Allied HFDF on 10 May 44. Sunk 13 May 44 by USS Robinson at 18°08'N - 33°13'W.
 

-- 173 --

 

Japanese Submarines
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
1. I-30
(Kirschblüte)
  Far East
May or Jun 42
Exact details unknown. Biscay port
Sep 42
Biscay port
Sep 42
Struck a mine.
Cargo: Weapons, materials, and secret documents.
Singapore
 
2. I-8
(Flieder)
(Frezia)
  Far East
27 Jun 43
Met by U-161 (Achilles) about 20 Aug 43 in area of 39°N - 23°W. Took on German navigation officer.
Passengers: Crew of Satsuki #2.
Cargo: Rubber.
Brest
1 Sep 43
Brest
06 Oct 43
Passengers: Yamada, Nakatani, Shimozata, and other technicians.
Cargo: Torpedo boat engine, plans for turbines, suction, and condenser pumps.
Far East
23 Nov 43
3. I-29
(Matsu)
  Far East
17 Dec 43
I-29 met U-518 (Offermann) mid-Feb 43 in area of 28°N - 30°W and took on search receiver.
Passengers: Rear Admiral Koshima, technicians, and personnel for Attaché's office.
Cargo: Tungsten (30 tons), gold bullion (2 tons), dispatches and documents.
Lorient
15 Mar 43
Lorient
16 Apr 44
Sunk 25 Jul 44 enroute by USS Sawfish west of Luzon Strait. Cargo lost and passengers were not onboard.
Passengers: 4 Germans for the German Embassy and approximately 15 Japanese observers.
Cargo: FuMO radar, Würzburg shore radar, Abwurfsender radar jammer, Bold submarine bubble target, 10 ENIGMA machines, plans for the S-56 class submarine, special batteries, acoustic and magnetic torpedoes, material on Heinkel Co. plans for the BV-246 glider bomb, and influenza virus.
Singapore
14 Jul 44
4. I-52
(Momi)
(Tanne)
(Föhre)
(Ginmatsu)
  Singapore
 
Sunk 24 Jun 44 by USS Bogue at 15°N - 39°40'W. The Germans were transferred to the I-52 from U-530 (Lange) at R/V the day before I-52 was sunk.
Passengers: 14 technicians, possibly a diplomat, Lieutenant Schäfer, and radiomen second class Schulze and Behrendt.
Cargo: 146 bars gold bullion (2 tons), tin, molybdenum, and tungsten (228 tons), opium (2.88 tons), quinine (3 tons), rubber (54 tons), and documents.
 

-- 174 --

 

Ex-Italian Submarines Operating Out Of Europe As Cargo Carriers Bound For Far East
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
1. Akira #1
(Tazzoli)
  Bordeaux
16 May 43
Believed sunk in Bay of Biscay while outbound. Loss recognized officially by the Germans on 15 Sep 43.
Passengers: Colonel Kihara.
Cargo: Aluminum bars and wooden cases, possibly ammunition, machinery and medicine. Capacity 200-250 tons. (POW information)
 
2. Akira #2
(ex-Giuliani)
  Bordeaux
May 43
Became UIT-23 on 10 Sep 43.
Cargo: Probably similar to that of Akira #1.
Sebang
Late Jul 43
3. Akira #3
(ex-Cappellini)
  Bordeaux
May 43
Became UIT-24 on 10 Sep 43. Seized by Japanese, became I-503.
Cargo: Cargo: Probably similar to that of Akira #1.
Sebang
11 Jul 43
4. Akira #4
(ex-Finzi)
 
 
Became UIT-21 on 09 Sep 43. Was scheduled to depart Bordeaux early in 1944. Mission cancelled due to engine trouble. Scheduled passengers were 4 unspecified individuals. Scuttled at Bordeaux on 25 Aug 44.  
5. Akira #5
(ex-Barbarigo)
  Bordeaux
16 Jun 43
Sunk late June outbound off Cape Finisterre.
Passengers: Colonel Gondo and Lieutenant Colonel Miura (medical officer).
Cargo: Probably similar to that of Akira #1.
 

-- 175 --

 

Ex-Italian Submarines Operating Out Of Europe As Cargo Carriers Bound For Far East (continued)
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
6. Akira #6
(ex-Torelli)
  Bordeaux
Jun 43
Became UIT-25 on 10 Sep 43. Seized by Japanese [10 May 45], became I-504.
Passengers: 3 Italian officers, Lieutenant Junior Grade (Staff) Kimzisatke, Engineer Heinrich Foders, Admiral Nomura was scheduled to be aboard.
Cargo: For Japanese army - 471 boxes of special steel, 3740 boxes aluminum, and 165 boxes ammunition (116,034 kg). For Japanese navy - 232 bottles mercury, 11 boxes of mines, 5 boxes
ball bearings, 1 box instruments and some other miscellaneous items.
Singapore
30 Aug 43
7. Akira #7
(ex-Archimede)
 
 
Sunk 15 Apr 43 by U.S. Navy aircraft from VP-83 at 04°08'S - 31°20'W on last operational cruise.
 
8. Akira #8
(ex-Vinci)
 
 
Sunk 23 May 43 by HMS Active and Ness at 42°10'N - 15°40'W.
 
9. Akira #9
(ex-Bagnolini)
  Bordeaux
mid Jan 45
Sunk 11 Mar 44 by South African aircraft at 41°28'S - 17°40'E while at R/V with U-178 (Spahr).
Cargo: 517 bottles mercury and 20,382 kg of miscellaneous luggage.
 

-- 176 --

 

Ex-Italian Submarines Operating Out Of Far East As Cargo Carriers Bound For Europe
 
  U-boat Type Depart Remarks on Cruise Arrived
1. UIT-23
(Striegler)
 
 
Planned to depart Penang for Europe about Feb 44. Sunk 15 Feb 44 by British submarine [HMS Tallyho] off Penang. Commanding Officer rescued by Axis forces.  
2. UIT-24
(Pahls)
  Penang
Early Feb 44
Forced to return to Penang from Indian Ocean after the sinking of the fueler Schliemann. The U-boat needed many repairs due to old age. Used as a cargo carrier between Japan and southern bases. Seized by Japanese, became I-503.
Cargo: Probably tin, rubber, tungsten, quinine, etc.
Penang
05 Apr 44
3. UIT-25
(Striegler)
  Penang
Mar 44
Returned to Penang. Used as a cargo carrier between Japan and southern bases. Seized by Japanese, became I-504.
Cargo: Tin (6,288 kg), tungsten (54,802 kg), rubber (93,197 kg), quinine (2,000 kg), and opium (2,000 kg).
Penang
03 Apr 44

--177--

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