We’ve had four months of much-earned R&R.  U-71 was dry-docked for a major refitting.  A new Flak emplacement was installed below the first, aft of the conning tower, allowing twice the anti-aircraft firepower that we had before.  I’m very pleased with this; the air threat has become increasingly real.  Many systems have been upgraded.  The deck gun was overhauled for a newer recoil mechanism.  Probably a good move since the warping that occurred at Gibraltar.  An active sonar device has been added, allowing us to determine target-range exactly while submerged.  This may provide very useful.  We also have been given active radar, allowing target detection at a great distance while running on the surface.  I must admit that I can’t imagine relying on active sources of target information, as U-71’s primary advantage is stealth.  Nevertheless, it is better to have these functions that to be without them.  Finally, and much to my satisfaction, the Bold decoy system has been installed.  We can now deploy acoustic decoys that should confuse Asdic and draw attackers away from our position.  This technology could make a big difference for us in the patrols to come. 

I had a visit with Petra.  We spent a glorious time together at home in Dresden, much like it was before the war.  In fact, it was so long and familiar that I almost forgot about the boat.  Almost.  I saw Fritz in late March, and he confirmed that he was receiving my posts.  Miraculously the Ubootwafte has not censored my reports, though they have surely read them.  Petra came to visit Spezia and to see us off.  My noxious and reliable crew proceeded to greet her, and then to offend her.  Following that we had a week together exploring the area and enjoying each other’s rare company.  For all the worry that sits in our minds, this has been the strongest love I have ever known.  We held back tears at the pier, and struggled to part.  Once again, she waits for U-71 to return.

15 May 1942

0840: Leave Spezia.  Patrol Grid CN66.  We’re headed to the junction of the East and West Mediterranean, a shipping hotspot. 

16 May 1942

0343: Ship sighted.  Italian hospital ship, no escort.  Maybe we’re the escort? 

18 May 1942

1548: Sound contact - warship.  Plotting course.

1607: Ship spotted - warship - task force!  3 cruisers and 5 destroyer escorts.  Racing to attack position at flank, PD.

1616: Fire both T2s at Fiji class cruiser (center ship).  Wait for 45 seconds, fire one T1 fast to follow up.  Second T1 fast goes to Dido in rear of formation.  Both T2s duds.  T1 to center cruiser hits - explosion.  Fiji burns from bow to stern.  Last T1 misses.  Dive to 165.  Rushed and DCed by escort.  Turn away from scene in silent run.  Ship Sunk!  Fiji Light Cruiser.     

1700: Warship screws fading to 180.  Surface, reload Tubes, transfer fore external store.  Can’t catch the TF – it’s too fast.

19 May 1942 

0702: Sound contact. Warship.  Plotting course.

0710: Ship spotted - Black Swan escorting Troop Transport.  Moving into firing position.  British flags. 

0721: Fired two T2s at troop transport - amidships and stern.  Both hit - second causes fatal explosion.  Entire ship burns from bow to stern.  Diving to 165m.  Dark emotions run through the boat - we all know that no one got off that boat alive.  The only comfort comes in knowing that the men that have died were, in all likelihood, soldiers... 

0837: Warship screws fading, return to PD. 

21 May 1942

2000: Entered patrol grid.  Awful weather - heavy rain/fog.  Running at PD when possible.

22 May 1742

1500: Weather cleared. 

23 May 1942

1223: Enemy Task Force Grid CO27, WNW 14kts.  We have a chance to intercept them due North of our patrol grid.  Moving to intercept. 

24 May 1942

2300: Giving up search for task force.  Returning to CN22 - choke point. 

28 May 1942

0023: Military convoy spotted CN22: DD escort, hospital ship, cruiser.  Plotting course.

0110: In firing position – stealthy approach, but the Black Swan is suspicious.  Both the hospital ship and the cruiser are identified as British.  Will let the hospital ship pass.  Hit Southhampton cruiser with 2 torpedoes - bow and amidships.  Send Tube V coup-de-grace before diving....Cruiser's boiler explodes before third torpedo hits. During dive hear third torpedo hit - she's doomed.  Black swan closing fast - pinging.  I had to use the Echolot because we're in shallows (turned out to be 142m).  Pretty sure the Swan heard the ping because he turned down our bearing and increased speed to 15kts.  Now at 80m, turning away from the convoy.  SO reports hearing the cruiser hit the bottom - a loud ominous 'klang' followed by a series of dull scaping and groaning sounds.   

0345: Warship screws fading.  Surface, continue Z search of CN22.

29 May 1942

1140: Sound contact - warship.  Plotting course.

1240: Visual contact - flower corvette & small merchant.  British flags.

1320: Ship Sunk!  Small merchant.  Single T2 from aft tube splits merchant ship in half.  Diving to 140m - no time to echolocate the bottom, map shows shallows - assumed to be >160m, but not sure.

1501: Never detected by escort - back to PD for the rest of the day. 

30-31 May 1942

Rain, rain, rain and fog.  Running at PD, only surfacing to recharge.

Conning tower, attack station. 

1 June 1942

0622: Warship, merchant sound contact.  Weather still terrible.  Probably have to let these ones go.  Plotting course.

0738: Detected by escort on approach.  Pinged, DCed close, hard - 10 charges or so.  Flank to 165m, change course to oblique angle on convoy course.  Passing under convoy. 

0935: Screws fading.  Back to PD - clear.  Surface and flank. 

1345: In front of convoy - moving into attack position at flank.  Weather still terrible.

1414: Black Swan flying British flag passes in front at 600m.   All schtop, silent, watch it pass.     

1422: Landing Ship-Tank spotted, British flag.  Fire last T2, dud.  Fire T1 as second shot - hit, bow.  Fire 3rd T1 amidships - hit.  A second ship passes at 500m - troop transport.  Saving last aft torpedo to finish wounded LST.  Diving to 165, against convoy.

1425: SO reports sinking sounds.  We claim an LST! 

1530: Warship screws faded.  Surface to flank for final attack.

1713: Lost contact with convoy.  Can't hear them anymore.  Giving up pursuit, returning to Z search. 
 
2 Jun 1942

0500: weather clearing.
 
3 Jun 1942

1634: Sound contact.  Plotting course. 

1746: In firing position - British Large Cargo ship.  Ship Sunk! Large Cargo.  Targeted engine room - critical hit - ship splits in half and burns. 

2013: Surface. Radio BdU - torpedoes spent.  BdU: RTB.

5 Jun 1942

1110: Return La Spezia.  U-71 has begun to inflict its wrath upon the Mediterranean.  That old confidence has returned to the crew.  We are very, very good at what we do.  We claimed a record amount of capital ship tonnage this patrol.  We also claimed a troop transport and a landing ship – both kills that will directly impede the Allied effort here.  With the fear of our close call at Gibraltar fading in memory, we are now unleashed upon the Mediterranean and will conduct our duty with honour.  U-71 is back. 

Ships sunk: 6 (2 military)
Hull Integrity: 100%
Patrol tonnage: 42068 (21450 in military shipping)