U-boat patrol in the Barents Sea

1st May 1942: An 'aspirant officer' describes conditions whilst on lookout in the Arctic seas

U-405 was commissioned on 17 September 1941. She was commanded by Korvettenkapitän Rolf-Heinrich Hopman.

The Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe were outstandingly successful in May. A total of 170 enemy ships weighing 924,400 BRT were sunk. Of these, the U boat wing alone had destroyed 140 ships weighing 767,400 GRT. A U boat at full speed in the Atlantic. 10-20…