REPORT ON INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM "S 71", AN E-BOAT
SUNK BY H.M.S. "GARTH" ON 18th FEBRUARY, 1943

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I -INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

German E-Boat "S 71" was sunk at 0500 on 18th February, 1943 by H. M. S. "Garth" in approximate position 52° 25' 27" N., 02° 58' 08" E. (eight miles off Lowestoft).

There are seven survivors. All except one were seriously wounded and were not available for detailed interrogation until a month after their capture. It was then found that, although security consciousness was not high, survivors were mostly very ill-informed.

"S 71" is the first German E-Boat to be sunk since 15th March, 1942.

Main features of this report are as follows --

(1) Description of "S 71" (see Section II, showing that she was in most respects identical with "S 53" (see C. B. 405(41)) and "S 111" (see C. B. 4051(43)), sunk respectively on 20th February, 1942, and 15th March, 1942.

(2) Organisation of 6th E-Boat Flotilla (See Section VII.)

(3) General Remarks on E-Boats. (See Section VI.)

The following are the British equivalents for German naval ranks used in this report:-

Kapitan zue See .. .. .. .. .. .. Captain

Korvettenkaptian . .. .. .. .. .. Commander (junior grade).

Kapitanleutnant . .. .. .. .. .. .Lieutenant-Commander.

Oberleutnant zur See .. .. .. .. Lieutenant

Leutnant zur See .. .. .. .. .. Sub-Lieutenant.

Seekadett . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Officer Cadet.

Obermaschinist .. .. .. .. .. .. Chief E. R. A.

The addition of the suffix "der Reserve" indicates a reserve officer; of "zur Disposition" a retired officer recalled to service, and of "(Ing.)" and engineer officer.

All times in this report are German Summer Time- one hour in advance of British Summer Time.

II. - DETAILS OF "S 71"

(i) General

"S 71" was in most respects similar to "S 53" and "S 111" (See C. B. 4051(4) and 4051(43).)

(ii) Builders

Lurssen Yacht und Bootswerft G.m.b.H., Vegesack.

(iii) Displacement

95 tons

(iv) Length

32 metres (105 ft.)

(v) Maximum Beam

5 metres (16.4 ft.)

(vi) Draught (fully loaded)

1.60 metres (5.2 ft.)

(N.I.D Note.- In C.B. 4051(41) the following dimensions were given for "S 53" - Length 114 ft. 10 in., beam 16 ft 9 in., draught 5 ft. 11 in. (fully loaded).)

(vii) Lay-Out (from Stern to Stem)

Compartment 1 : Steering gear and seamen's stores.

Compartment 2 : Mess deck.

Compartment 3 : Three main fuel tanks.

Compartment 4 : Centre Diesel, etc.

Compartment 5 : Port and starboard Diesels and air bottles.

Compartment 6 : Fuel and water tanks.

Compartment 7 : W/T and Captain's cabin.

Compartment 8 : P.O.s' quarters.

Compartment 9 : Bow compartment

Watertight doors were only fitted between Compartments 4 and 5.

(C48813)