ARUBA’S SHIPS

By: Bill Moyer
PART I, THE SUBMARINE
Many, many ships figured in Aruba’s history. One of the most memorable was the German U-Boat that attacked the island in 1942. Years later, someone at Esso obtained records from the German side, translated them and made a few copies. My Dad kept one, printed on old Haloid paper that gets browner ever year.  I am going to transcribe as much of it as can be read before it is lost. The record goes as follows (author not given, but the second part appears to be from the Captain’s log, so it presumably is from captured German records.)
Bill Moyer, Dallas. 1991

FROM THE GERMAN RECORDS
“In the middle of February the first group of large boats for a surprise blow against the Caribbean was hurriedly pulled together, equipped and set in motion. At the same time “Herten”—U-68. and “Lowe”—U-505, went to the old, long occupied battleground of Sierra Leone--Freetown. The concentration point of expectations and thus of rewards lay off the principal bunkering points of Port of Spain, Curacao arid Aruba. As in (Operation) “Paukenschlag” (=”Kettledrum Beat”), the five assigned boats were, after an unobserved approach, to attack with a blow during the February new moon period--one each off Aruba, Curacao and the north coast of the Paranague (sic) Peninsula, and two off Trinidad. At Aruba and Curacao, enlarged tank farms on the coast offered tempting additional targets for (deck) artillery. But the boats were to attack ship targets with first priority at the beginning of the operation and only thereafter the bunkers on land. Only in case there were no ships were they to start the bombardment of the tank farms. So it was planned; and with corresponding instructions the boats entered their attack areas.”
“At this point the Navy High Command issued a personal order: The operations were to begin with the bombardment of oil farms and not with ship sinkings. In the meantime, however, U-156, under its hard and cutting captain, Kapitanleutnant Hartenstein, had already blown up two tankers and was hurrying to the bombardment of the tank farms.”
“The night is quiet, hazy and dark. Aruba, hilly and wooded (sic) Dutch colonial possession, rises like a long grey shadow out of the sea. Its outlines shimmer in this oppressive warm air. But Hartenstein had oriented himself as exactly as possible on the area. There are the oil piers, to which the fat pipelines lead in a bundle from the tanks. There, near the harbor, right behind the customs fence, is the poor negro settlement with its huts patched together from driftwood, old oil tins and cutup gasoline cans--in which the black population noisily lives its life decked out in loud—colored rags. There further to the left is the business section with screaming advertisements in the American style--flat roofed, one-storied building on broad right-angled streets. Joints—with tropical fly-screened swinging doors that begin at the knee and end at the shoulder, and in which all day long the Gramophones (sic) howl while over the bar the broad-bladed fan moves the oppressive hot air--mixed in together with all kinds of stores. Aruba is the place of the many-colored silk shirt. All tanker seamen wear them here.”
“A few large hotels, the church, the English seamen’s mission, the police station, the administration buildings. Further inland, on the wooded outskirts, the bright, one-story bungalows of the whites with their red tiled roofs--the Dutch government officials, the consuls and the American oil people—that’s it. A little to the left of the harbor, the rust remains of an oil refinery which was destroyed by fire a few years ago. One must be careful of that--and not confuse it with the new tank farms which start a little to the right behind the piers and extend to the .shanty-town of the blacks--dozens of silver grey containers.”
“Hartenstein had read all of this over and over again. “To the right, beginning a hundred meters behind the pier and extending to the shanty town of the blacks, the “tank farm”-and so it was.”

“Noiselessly, driven ahead smoothly by her (electric) motors, the boat neared the coast.
The piers: Long dark grey stripes were visible in the glass. Correct--there are the tanks, in spite of being hard to recognize through the camouflage of color and nets. Hartenstein is an old gunner--he rubs his hands. “Clear for artillery action!” The gun crew gets things set up. Range… Bearing… “Commence Firing!” The Captain shuts his eyes in anticipation of the first shot, in order not to be blinded by the muzzle flash and thus not be able to observe the fall of shot.”
“And then it happened--a single ear splitting roar. Screams—groans--two men rolling on the upper deck. Barrel explosion! It flashes through the brain of the captain. With few words he is by the gun. Two men seriously injured. The muzzle of the 10.5 (centimeter) torn apart, the muzzle fifty centimeters wide burst into broad jagged strips.”
“He bends over the injured--it caught them seriously. Their comrades pick them up and wearily carry them below decks. The boat sails off. Only after the injured have been cared for can the captain concern himself again with the damaged gun.”
“Gun crew! How did it happen?” And now it comes out: in the excitement they forgot to screw out the muzzle stopper.”

“Hartenstein boils (with rage): Two men seriously injured, the gun gone to the devil, the bombardment of Aruba cancelled all because of neglect due to excess zeal and excitement.”
“He goes and inspects the damage and thinks sharply for a while. Finally the question, “First Lieutenant; how many hack saws do we have on board?”
“The exec is used to all sorts of things--Hartenstein is one of those known as a “crazy dog”, for him there is no impossible, he is not afraid of anything. He intends to saw off the burst muzzle of the gun with hand hack saws: Gun steel, the best and toughest, the most resistant material that could be thought of.”
“Hour after hour the little saws go back and forth. Untiringly, infected by their captain’s idea, the men saw and saw and saw. The sun roars up--a tropical sun. They saw. The twilight comes, the swift transition to night--they saw. Watch after watch. Dulled blades must be changed. And still, saw and saw! But they make it; with the last blade they make it. The muzzle is off.”
“But what now? The gun is out of balance and must be exactly poised if one is going to shoot with it. Here, too, the captain has the right idea. Together with the first lieutenant, he reckons the necessary balance weight and at night, protected from outside observation by wool blankets spread out around them, they sweat the weight securely under the shortened barrel. The gun is once again ready. They move it--Yes, it is perfectly in order, perfectly. And it even shoots.”
“Kapitanleutenant Hartenstein sank two ships on this mission with his sawed-off gun.”
“The attempt to complete the bombardment of Aruba with another boat failed. The island had meanwhile been completely blacked out and hardly was the first shot off when patrol craft rushed up and the boat had to make herself scarce rapidly.”
 

THE LOG (times are Berlin time)

14 Feb. Caribbean Sea
0000  EC 9348 (map coordinates) Surfaced. Steered to the southeast corner of Aruba. Colorado lighthouse in sight.
0116  EC 9347 ENE 5, sea state 4, pertly cloudy visibility 6 miles.
0400  EC 9289, ENE 4, sea state 3, partly cloudy, visibility 4 sea miles.
0530  Colorado lighthouse 1 sea mile on starboard beam, course 2702. Ran one sea mile along the coast to Nicholas haven (San Nicholas Harbor). Entrance to harbor at 900 meters distance. Slow passage made. Reconnaissance of harbor disposition. in port were 4 large tankers, at roadstead 3 small tankers. Factories well lighted, in and out traffic also at night.
0600  At slow speed proceeded northwest along coast to Oranjestad.
0640 0ff Oranjestad. Off harbor entrance. Little activity in port.
0647 Hooiberg 331, 5.5 sea miles dist. Avoided patrol craft. Stayed at Oranjestad until 0700. Docks empty.
0730 Northwest point 30, 3 see miles dist. Proceeded on westerly course to reconnaissance merchant ship lanes.
0819 ENE, 4, sea state 3, very cloudy, visibility 5sea miles   On bearing 2902 sighted merchant ship on a 280 degree course. At 1059 turned off. Proceeded to Oranjestad.
0930 Northwest point 8O degrees, 17 see miles dist.
1200 Northwest point 52 degrees, 5 sea miles dist. ENE 5, sea state 4, partly cloudy, visibility 8 see miles. Distance sailed: 112 s.m. ow (over water) 21 s.m. uw (under water) total 133s.m. (sea miles)
1221 Clearing.   Dived to observe entrance to Oranjestad. Little traffic
1248 Northwest point in 44,5 degrees, 4, 4 sea miles dist. Until dusk stayed submerged.
On bearing 170 degrees tanker on course 25O degrees, leaving Nicholas haven. At airport 2-42 meter airplanes. Lively air activity in early morning

Signed: Hartenstein
 
15 FEB Off Aruba
0130 Colorado in 1O1 degrees 11 sea miles dist. ENE 5, sea state 4, considerable cloudiness, visibility 6 sea miles. Surfaced. Proceeded at 170 degrees, close to the Maracaibo-Nicholas haven merchant ship sea lane.
0230 Colorado 90 degrees,  12 sea miles dist. Practiced attack maneuver on tanker.  Proceeded east course.
1000  Proceeded toward Nicholas heven.
1000  Proceeded toward Nicholas heven.
1200 ENE 5 sea state 4, considerable cloudiness, visibility 30 see miles. Distance covered: ow 27 sm, uw 11 sm, total 38.
1220 Colorado 32 degrees, 3 sea miles dist. Dived to observe entrance to Nicholas haven.
Considerable activity. Harbor well occupied. proceeded westward thereafter.
Official message received. Directed to all Western Hemisphere submarines. (1) The principal assignment is to attack ship targets. (2) If this attack is successful then artillery attack against land targets can be made in the morning, Western Hemisphere time, should opportunities for this be favorable. (3) When no ship targets are encountered, artillery attack against land targets may be made toward evening, West. Hem. time.

1600 Hooiberg 54 degrees,  9 sea miles dist.
1855 Hooiberg 72 degrees, 22, 5 sea miles dist., East 5, Surfaced. Proceeded on west course. sea state 4, cloudy, vis. 12 sea miles.
2000 Hooiberg 69degrees 27 sea miles dist., East 5, Returned. Proceeded slowly to NW corner of Aruba. sea state 4, light clouds, vis. 12s.m..Sighted modern passenger freighter 7000 BRT. Proceeding 120 degrees toward Nicholas haven or Willemstad. Avoided several sailing vessels.

Signed: Hartenstein
 
16 FEB
0000 Hooiberg 72 degrees, 21 sea miles dist., ENE 5, sea st. 4, lgt. clouds, visibility 6 sea miles.
0400 Hooiberg 82 degrees, 9 sea miles distant.  Proceeded east course Oranjestad.
0500 Hooiberg 92 degrees, 7, 6 see miles dist.
0514  Off Oranjestad. Lighted tanker being loaded at pier. Proceeding to Nicholas haven.
0614 Off Nicholas haven. With L.F. up, proceeded toward two anchored tankers.
0801 Colorado 552, 2 see miles dist. Under-water bow shot at tanker. Explosion after 48.5 sec. Tanker burned immediately. 3080 tons. ATO 2,5,40,E-5 (range & bearing.) Direct hit amidships.
0803  Underwater bowshot at tanker. Explosion after 53.2 sec. Tanker burned immediately. 2740 tons. ETO 2,5,30 E-5. Direct hit amidships.
0???  Proceeded at 300 degrees for artillery attack against refineries and tanks. Artillery ready.
0811 Fire opened against land targets. 10.5 cm. gun, first shot, gun exploded. Two seriously wounded. 3.7cm gun, 16 shots. Attacking position poor since there was no night light visibility. Observed one short, quick flame on land. Discontinued fire because of no results.
0850 Proceeded at high speed toward Oranjestad. Patrol craft on course Oranjestad— Nicholas haven passed at distance of 400 meters searching with weak searchlight. Turned off. Searchlights also from land.  Colorado 99 degrees, 9 sea miles dist.
0859 Proceeded toward Oranjestad
0900 Seaman Businger died of his wounds. Second Watch Officer lost foot. Bleeding stopped.
0916 0ff Oranjestad. Heeded toward tanker at pier. Underwater bow shot at tanker. Course shot was 54 degrees, No explosion. ETO, 3.30 E-6. Unexplainable miss.
0930 New attack. Under-water bow shot at tanker.  Course at shot 29 degrees. No explosion. ETO 3.30 E-6. Unexplainable.
0943 Turned for stern shot. Under—water stern shot at tanker. Course at shot 190 degrees. Another miss. After 1 min. 29.5 sec. explosion on beach.
0946 Aircraft alarm. Stopped.
0947 End alarm. Did not dive. Ran towards north in order to operate by day northward of Island toward Mona passage.
Don’t expect any of the large tankers to leave today.  It seems to me the best thing to do today is to operate on newcomers.
1200 EC 9218, East 5, sea state 5, light clouds, vis. 6 sea miles, swells east 3. Distance covered: o.w. 85 s.m., u.w. 28 s.m., total 113.
1228 Radio message transmitted: Protection only from search-light, aircraft and one patrol boat. Sank two tankers 5800 tons, 2 missed shots against tanker at pier. Gun exploded. Two men seriously injured, one of whom is Second Watch Officer. May I go to Martinique to drop them off? 159 cbm.

Signed: Hartenstein (relayed by another boat, understood by higher authority.)
1600 EC 9222. ENE 4 sea state 3, considerable cloudiness, vis. 12 sea miles. Swells E 3-4. At 1247 hours ran continuously at 60 degrees toward Martinique. At same time, searched ship lanes north of Aruba and Curaçao. Saw nothing.
1600 EC 9222. ENE 4 sea state 3, considerable cloudiness, vis. 12 sea miles. Swells E 3-4. At 1247 hours ran continuously at 60 degrees toward Martinique. At same time, searched ship lanes north of Aruba and Curaçao. Saw nothing.
2000 EC 6395, ENE 6, see state 5, partially cloudy, vis. 1 2 sea miles.

Signed: Hartenstein
 
17 FEB North of Aruba
0000 EC 6972, E 4 sea state 4, considerable cloudiness. Visibility 6 sea miles.
0100 EC 6957 Evening position 132 25’ N, 682 572W. Burial of Seaman Businger. Radio message received: To Hartenstein. Am considering your request to drop off wounded.
0400 EC 6953, E 4, see state 4, c1oudj, rain. Visibility 3 sea miles.
0720 Radio message received: You may proceed to propose island. Leave wounded. Report soonest.
0800 EC 6938, E6, sea state 5, considerable cloudiness, vis. 4sea miles.
1200 ED 4714, EXS 4, sea state 4,cloudy, Distance covered: 112 s.m. visibility 6 sea miles
1230 ED 4714 Morning position: 1 3257, 5N, 68223, 5.W.
1335 ED 4712 Trial dives.
1514 EXS 4, sea state 3, light clouds, vis. 12 sm. Surfaced. Run continued. Difficult headway against trade winds. Short steep sea.
2000 ED 4491 EXS 5, sea state 4, cloudy, visibility 12 sea miles. At 60 degrees proceeded north because by experience have found the limits of trade wind area lies at 15N. This makes a detour of 30 sm worthwhile.

Signed: Hartenstein
 
18 FEB
0000 ED 4545 Because of a cross sea from 80 degrees – 120 degrees, high consumption of fuel.
0140 ESE 4, sea state 3, light clouds, visibility 5 sea miles.  Radio message transmitted: (1) Air patrol off Antigua. Heavy single traffic in the middle and upper right portion of square 88 appears to radiate from Trinidad. (2) in operating area, no lights until Colorado and harbor lights. Factories were well-lit. There were always 2-4 large tankers in main harbor. Out going traffic mostly west-northwest; also north.  Small tankers sail loaded 4 meters deep. Confirmed by hits. Best hunting from 0000 to 0800. (3) Seaman Businger died. Second Watch Officer lost foot. Stopped bleeding. (4) Steering towards Fort de France. 150 cbm. Position 8894.

Signed Hartenstein (Not Understood.)
0400 ED 4528 ESE 4, see state 3, partially clouded, light rain, vis. 4sea miles.
0800 ED 4532, ESE 3-4, sea state 3, considerable cloudiness. Visibility 14 sea miles.

THIS ENDS THE LOG

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