credited "S 71" with one ship sunk. The second torpedo was fired immediately afterwards in error; the slight list given the boat following the firing of one torpedo caused Sur to overbalance and lean by mistake on the torpedo firing mechanism on his bridge, thus releasing his second torpedo.

On this patrol "S 74" (Oberleutnant zue See Herbert Witt) sank one ship.

(N.I.D. Note- A German High Command communique of the 11th November, 1942, ran as follows: - "On the night of the 9th/10th November, 1942, several groups of E-Boats left their bases to attack a British convoy off south-east England, which had been reported by air reconnaissance. The convoy was sighted between Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. Visibility was good. Destroyers sighted the E-Boats at almost the same time and opened fire, lighting up the sky with flares. One group, under Kaptianleutnant Batge, attacked the southern part to the convoy and torpedoed a tanker of 2,500 tons, which blew up; sank a 3,000-ton freighter and scored a torpedo hit on the escort vessel. A second group, under Kapitan (Korvettenkapitan ?) Feldt, attacked the centre of the convoy and hit three ships. One, of 3,000 tons, sank, but the fate of the other two could not be observed. A third group, under Kapitanleutnanat Obermaier, attacked the first ships of the convoy farther north and sank a steamer of 2,500 tons. Violent engagements developed between E-Boats and enemy destroyers. One boat, which had fired all her torpedoes engaged a destroyer with light artillery. Another was hit aft by shells, but reached her base, as did all the remainder."

The Norwegian "Fidelio" (1,843 gross tons) was sunk in an E-Boat attack on Convoy F.N.61 on 9th November, 1942, south of Lowestoft. She was in ballast, bound from London to the Tyne. Sixteen survivors were landed at Yarmouth, but it was feared tht seven were lost. The British "Wandle" (1,482 gross tons) was damaged in the attack, but was taken in tow.)

K. Tenth Sortie. -- On 14th November, 1942, from Ymuiden. Torpedo sortie. No sinkings.

L. Eleventh Sortie. -- On 14th December, 1942, from Ymuiden. Torpedo sortie. No sinkings. Stokers were all given 16 days leave after this sortie.

M. Twelfth Sortie. -- On 1st January, 1943, Minelaying sortiefrom Ymuiden.

N. Thirteenth Sortie. -- On 18th January, 1943, from Ymuiden. Minelaying

O. Fourteenth Sortie. -- On 24th January, 1943, from Ymuiden. Torpedo sortie. Nothing sighted.

P. Fifteenth Sortie. -- On 26th January, 1943, from Ymuiden. Torpedo sortie. Nothing sighted.

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APPENDIX "C"

SHIP'S COMPANY OF "S 71"

(i) Complement

"S 71" complement at the time of her sinking was 25. This total included two supernumeraries, Leutnant (Ing.) Otto and Obermaschinist Muller, the latter of whom was borne for instruction. She also carried one officer cadet under training. Eleven of her ship's company were seamen, three W/T and nine engine-room personnel.

(ii) Captain

The Captain was Oberletnant Rudiger Suher, aged 27, of the April 1937 term, who did not survive. He had been in command of "S 71" since September, 1942, when he had relieved Oberleutnant zur See Klaus Thomsen at Kirkenes.

Suhr had formerly served in destroyers, his ship being sunk in Narvik. He later transferred to E-Boats, serving for a while with the 5th Flotilla at Cherbourg. He appears to have been a very popular captain. He was married ten days before his last sortie.

(iii) Supernumerary Officer

At the time of her sinking "S 71" carried a supernumerary officer, Leutnant (Ing.) Otto, junior Flotilla Engineer Officer in the 6th Flotilla. Otto was a close friend of Suhr and often sailed on patrol with him. He did not survive.

(iv) Officer Cadet

"S 71" carried an officer cadet, Seekadett Johannes Martin, who was taken prisoner. He normally sailed in "S 113" (Oberleutnant zur See Walter Schnebel) and was only ordered by the Officer Supervising Training to sail in "S 71" on the afternoon prior to her last operation, in lieu of Seekadett Kruger, who was sick. Aged nineteen, Martin entered the German navy in June, 1942, at Stralsund. In October he was drafted to the 6th E-Boat Flotilla at Ymuiden for training.

(v) Chief E.R.A.

"S 71" carried a supernumerary Chief E.R.A Obermaschinist Muller, aged 27. He had served i the German navy since 1934, having served all his sea time in surface craft. In september 1942, he was drafted to the 6th E-Boat Flotilla at Ymuiden, where he did five sorties with "S 71" and one with "S 73". He said that he was expecting to be shortly given charge of one of the engines of a boat in the 6th Flotilla.

(vi) General

Survivors from "S 71" were of very much the same quality as those captured from "S 53" and "S 111" a year previously. It appeared, however, that they had had more experience than E-Boat prisoners previously captured. Of the seven surivivors, one had served since 1934, two since January, 1940, once since April 1940, once since October, 1940, once since December, 1941, and one dince June, 1942. All had served the whole of their sea time in surface craft, generally in E-Boats. Fighting morale appeared to be good, prisoners giving little thought to the outcome of the war, but resistance to interrogation was only slight.