ISSUE 107 : Jul/Aug - 1994 - Australian Defence Force Journal

60 AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE JOURNAL NO. 107 JULY/AUGUST 1994U862 and U181 alongside the Japanese Cruiser Moyo at Singapore.Photo courtesy of David VincentWith seven torpedoes now remaining, Timm hadplanned to return to the area off Sydney, but on 19January 1945 he received orders from FregattenkapitiinDommes to return immediately to Djakarta.The Japanese expected an Allied landing on the Malaypeninsula and Dommes was concerned that Penangand Singapore would fall soon after.For two weeks, the U-boat headed west into mountainousseas. Finally turning north. U 862 stumbledacross another Liberty ship, the Peter Sylvester, on6 February. The Liberty ships again proved theirexcellent construction when it took four hits from fivetorpedoes to sink. Thirty-two men were lost in theaction and Peter Sylvester gained the dubious distinctionof becoming the last Allied ship to be sunk by asubmarine in the Indian Ocean.U 862 broke radio silence for the first time sinceleaving Djakarta on 9 February, reporting her arrivaltime at a pre-arranged escort point in Sunda Strait.' 1Though the signal was decrypted, it would appear therendezvous position was unknown to the Allies andTimm was again fortunate enough to avoid an encounterwith an Allied submarine. The U-boat finallyreturned to Djakarta on 15 February having sunk onlytwo ships, totalling 14,000 tons on the three monthvoyage. In his post cruise report Timm explained:"Mistake in planning operation was that sea areawas too large. Better chances are to be expected byconcentrating on traffic north and south of Sydney.The sea area would repay a generously-plannedoperation with several boats." :iU196The last U-boat allocated to the Australian operationwas U 196. which had arrived in Penang in mid-August after sinking one ship on the voyage fromFrance. The U-boat departed Djakarta on 30 Novemberand initially headed west to act as a refuelling stopfor U-boats returning to Europe. On completion.Oberleutnant zur See Striegler's orders directedU 196 to operate off southwest Australia for onemonth then proceed to Japan for a refit. Problemswith the other U-boats caused the refuelling operationto be cancelled 11 days after U 196 sailed. A recall