Doug and Jan,

Thanks for your input. I'm actually seeking out the closest patrols to the Caribbean at that time. I'm working on a book and have a situation in which a U-boat is vectored to a naval grid location in the Caribbean. The fact that there were no patrols in that region actually feed the plot ... I just need to come up with a likely and believable scenario.

Based on the research I've done so far, I've been focusing on U-boats from the 12th Flotilla, since attached to this Flotilla were long-range boats that operated in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean. I looked at all the boats in the Flotilla and tried to determine, based on their probable location at that time (i.e. if they were still around ... or if they had any successful sinkings that would put them in range of the Caribbean) and I've narrowed it down to the following list:

· U-1062 … sunk by destroyer escort USS Fessenden on 30 September, 1944 … on her way back from the far east (Penang). She was intercepted on her way back to Europe and was sunk in the central Atlantic. Maybe she made a detour on the way, then went to meet her fate.
· U-181 … made it to the end of the War … taken over by Japan in May 1945 and became I-501. Part of 12th Flotilla till Sept 30, 1944. Not sure where patrolling.
· U-195 With 12th Flotilla till Sept, 30 1944 … made it to end of War.
· U-196 With 12th Flotilla till Sept 30, 1944 … transferred to 33rd Flotilla, which was established in Sep 1944 with the long-range boats returned from the lost French bases. Her fate is unknown … went missing Dec 1944 near the Sunda Straights south of Java, Indian Ocean. Also credited with the longest patrol in WWII, March 1943 to Oct 1943. Further notes reveal operationally, she never left the Indian Ocean before she went missing.
· U-219 … Left Bordeaux for her fourth sailing August 1944 … arrived in Batavia Dec 11, 1944.
· U-861: U-861 left Kiel under the command of Jürgen Oesten on 20th Apr 1944 and arrived at Penang on 23rd Sep 1944 after over twenty two weeks.
Jürgen Oesten hit five ships on this patrol, three of these ships were in convoy: two were from convoy DN-68 and one was from convoy JT-39.
On 20th Jul 1944 he sank the Brazilian 1,737 ton Vital de Oliveira.
On 24th Jul 1944 he sank the American 7,177 ton William Gaston, sailing with convoy JT-39.
On 20th Aug 1944 he sank the British 7,464 ton Berwickshire, a member of convoy DN-68.
On 20th Aug 1944 he damaged the British 8,139 ton Daronia, part of convoy DN-68.
On 5th Sep 1944 he sank the Greek 5,670 ton Ioannis Fafalios
The Ioannis was sunk off the coast of Tanzania (southeast African continent, Grid LJ 9243). The Daronia was sunk off the eastern coast of South Africa. So we know he was busy in the southwestern Indian Ocean late August/early Sept 1944. However, July 24th she sunk the William Gaston off the coast of Rio. It’s possible to move the date of the sinking of the prison ship back to early July 1944. She gets the call, then moves on to duties dealing with convoy JT-39. On the way to the convoy, she engaged with Vital de Oliveria off the coast of Rio.
U-870: Sunk USS Fogg December 20, 1944 off the coast of Spain, near the Azores.


Any thoughts on these? It seems that the fate of U-196 is unknown ... which would add a certain mystique to the story ... and open the door to a sequel.

Your input is very much appreciated!!

--Joe