3 September 1942 Part 3

3 September 1942 V 702 report on the loss of tug D 117 S and barge H 313 PM

V 702 acted as rearmost escort of convoy 3303 on 3 September under Kapitänleutnant von Horn. V 704 provided starboard and V 710 port flank protection. Weather was initially good; after passing Cap de la Hague it steadily worsened. Wind was measured at force 5 at 0800 and force 7 from the south-west at 1000; the sea was short and steep, with showery weather.

1025: We stopped because tug D 117 S had fallen astern. Ostsee established a tow which broke again. Lying beam-on to the sea, the tug shipped much water; the engine-room skylights had already been crushed. Ostsee took off the crew. During the second attempt to reconnect the tow, D 117 S slowly heeled to port and then capsized very rapidly. Position: 49°24.5′ N, 2°14.5′ W; depth 46 metres.

1125: The convoy leader ordered me to remain with Normandie II and her tow H 313 PM because engine damage required about two hours' stoppage. Repairs ended at 1230 and the tug reconnected the tow, but the towlines broke twice in quick succession. Normandie II reported no further towing gear. I decided to tow the barge myself. After two approaches, a connection was made with the Kurzleine [towing-line designation retained], paying out 150 fathoms. Engines were started slowly and speed increased gradually after the barge lay properly on the line.

1407: I suddenly saw the barge's crew waving their caps. We stopped immediately. A breaker had smashed the hatch covers, and the next forced the barge under; she sank very quickly. The towline was immediately cut. The master, engineer and two deckhands were rescued, but seaman Klaas Bronk, aged 53, drowned. The accident position, 49°23.5′ N, 2°12.5′ W; depth 44 metres, was searched for another 40 minutes without success.

The report attributes both sinkings to unforeseeable bad weather and insufficient seaworthiness. Signed: Grasshoff, Oberleutnant zur See and commanding officer.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0506, original enclosure page 30. Secret report by Oberleutnant zur See Grasshoff, commanding officer V 702, attached to the patrol group's diary for 3 September. No separate signing date is visible; filed here by the event date.