Suhr meanwhile went aft to start a smoke-screen, but found that the canister had been swept overboard, probably by gunfire, while the air lead to the other had been severed. He was killed while making his way back to the bridge.

The engine room was by then partly in flames. The Chief E.R.A., who was severely wounded, was dragged out by one of the survivors, in whose arms he died.

The destroyer then rammed the "S 71," which was still under way, thus putting the remaining engine out of action. There were seven survivors.

(N.I.D. Note - The boat was left blazing with many dead on board. The flash of an explosion in this position was subsequently sighted and a search at daylight showed a large patch of oil and a rubby dingy. E-Boats later returned to search for the missing boat, being finally driven off by M.G.B.s from H.M.S. "Beehive" 0700 on 18th February. Fighter aircraft sent out at daylight did not locate them.)

V. - OTHER E-BOATS

"S 12" - "S 12" (then commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Nolte) was attached to the 6th Flotilla at Danzig in February, 1941. She went to Swinemunde for a refit in May, 1941.

"S 18" - "S 18" was attached to the 6th Flotilla in February, 1941, when she sailed from Kiel to Swinemunde under the command of the Oberleutnant zur See Klaus Thomsen, of the 1936 term. In July, 1941, she sailed to Helsingor with the remainder of the 6th Flotilla, where she was used as a school-boat for torpedo-firing exercises. While at Helsingor, Oberleutnant zur See Merkel, of the April 1937 term, commanded her for a while. She returned to Germany in December, 1941, under the command of Oberleutnanat zur See Joppig, of the April 1937 term.

"S 20" - "S 20" was attached to the School flotilla at Swinemunde in October, 1942. She is an old-type boat (external tubes).

"S 21" - "S 21" was attached to the School flotilla at Swinemunde in October, 1942. She is an old-type boat (external tubes).

"S 24" - "S 24" then commanded by Oberleutnanat zur See Heinz Nolte, proceeded from Swinemunde to Helsingor with the 6th Flotilla in February, 1941, and spent the summer there.

"S 25" - "S 25" was attached to the School flotilla at Swinemunde in October, 1942. She is an old-type boat (external tubes).

"S 39" - "S 39" is commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Martin Kultzen, of the October 1937 term. She is now attached to the 6th Flotilla. In 1942 she accompanied the 6th Flotilla to the far north.

"S 50" - "S 50" from documentary evidence provided by a survivor from "U 187" (see C.B. 04051 (60)), it is established that "S 50" made sorties on 3rd/4th September and 6th/7th September, 1941. In October, 1942, whe [sic] was attached to the School Flotilla at Swinemunde.

"S 51" - "S 51" from documentary evidence provided by a survivor from "U 187" (see C.B. 04051 (60)), it is established that "S 51" made sorties on the following dates:-

15th/16th September, 1941,

17th/18th September, 1941,

20th/21th September, 1941,

25th/26th September, 1941,

and that she was unable to make a sortie on the 26th/27th September, 1941, owing to engine trouble.

"S 56" - "S 56" was commanded by Oberleutnanat zur See Heinz Nolte in April, 1941 when she sailed from Wilhelmshaven to Swinemunde to join the 6th Flotilla. Nolte left her in October, 1941.

"S 69" - "S 69" was attached to the 6th Flotilla in January, 1942, under the command of Obersteuermann (later Leutnant zur See der Reserve) August Licht. She accompanied the 6th Flotilla to the far north and later proceeded to Rotterdam. She was then taken off operational duties owing to engine trouble and returned to Germany.

"S 73" - "S 73" is commanded by a recently-commissioned officer, Leutnant zur See Quisteroff. (N.I.D. Note.- The spelling of this hame should be taken with reserve.) She was previously commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Notle, under who she sank with a 5,000-ton ship in September, 1942. She is now attached to the 6th Flotilla. One man said that she was undergoing repairs at Vegesack at the time of the "S 71's" last sortie.