German naval auxiliary submarine supply ship Bessel 1940

In a letter dated 13 April 1942 No. 1329 to the O.K.M./1 Abteilung Skl. was the so-called ‘Etappen’-organisation of the navy described. In the attachment were the blockade runners decribed used for this purpose. Supply ship for the submarine U-43 at Vigo, Spain on 18 June 1940 101 tons gasoline, 2,1 ton lubrication oil, 8 ton dirnking water, 175 liter destill water and one full provisions load. On 20 June 1940 for the U-29 at Vigo 35 ton gasoline, 1,000 kilo lubrication oil, 5,5 water and one provisionss order. On 1 July 1940 at Vigo for the U-52 56 ton gasoline 8 ton water and provisionss for 3 weeks. On 7-8 November 1941 at Vigo the U-77 100.4 ton gasoline, 3.8 ton lubrication oil, 1.790 kilo provisionss and 3.1 ... drinking water. On 27-28 November 1941 at Vigo the U-96 100 tons gasoline, 3.3 tons lubrication oil, 1 provisions order and set charts for the Mediterranean. On 11-12 December at Vigo the U-574 121 cubic metres gasoline, 1,400 kilo lubrication oil, 140 litres destilled water, 7,800 litres dring water, 2,600 kilo provisions, petrol, bandages, ether and a set of charts for the Mediterranean. On 12-13 December 1941 at Vigo the U-575 8.34 tons gasoline, 60 litres destilled water, 350 kilo provisions, Supplying stopped caused by a defect exhaust vale and the boat had to return to Brest. On 14-15 December at Vigo the U-434 92.5 tons gasoline, 3,000 kilo lubrication oil, 3,700 kili provisions, petrol and bandages. According to a British statement is the ship destroyed off Gibraltar and part of the crew taken prisoner. This indicates that the supplying at Vigo became known.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM 7/223