The fingers are working well, so I thought I would reproduce some more of Sub Lieutenant David Balme's report. This is the part in which he gives his impressions of the U-boat, on which he spent several hours.
"Here are some of my impressions of the U-boat: she was new and a fine ship, both in strength of the hull, in the fittings and instruments and in the general interior construction. Absolutely nothing 'Ersatz' about her. Excellent anti-aircraft armament abaft the conning tower, consisting of a Bofors and Oerlikon-type gun. Deck around the forward deck was wood. Spotlessly clean throughout. The wardroom was finished off in light varnished woodwork and all cupboards were numbered with corresponding key to fit. There was no sign of a safe and there was only one cupboard for which I could not find the key; this cupboard was over the Captain's desk so I broke into it and it revealed a medicine chest. In the Ward Room there were several sets of writing paper and envelopes, well printed and illustrated reading books, cards, dice and the usual art studies. Bunks were one on top of another both in the officers' and crew's spaces. A very compact receiver was in the W/T office with the names of about 200 stations printed on its dial.
Plenty of tinned ham, corned beef and three sacks of potatoes in the control room; also luxuries such as beer, cigars, Player's cigarettes (German printing on the packets), and a plate of shrimps were all found in the wireless room. A magnificent galley was forward of the wireless room.
There were no signs of voice pipes, but I think loudspeakers and telephones were used - definitely a telephone in the conning tower.
One Tommy-gun was found in officers' clothes drawer; another was found in the lower control tower with an anti-tank type of rifle. Officer gear consisted of very good clothing, including anti-weather garments.
In the engine room I noticed a plate of mashed potatoes as if ;'Action Stations' had been sounded suddenly while dinner was being taken from the galley to the after crew's space. The escape chamber was in the control room just abaft the upper hatch.
My original whaler's crew worked splendidly throughout the time. They comprised of:-
S. Pearce AB, C. Dolley AB, R.Roe AB, K. Wileman AB, A. Hargreaves Ordinary Seaman, J. Trotter Ordinary Seaman, A.Long Telegraphist, C. Lee Stoker.
I submit that service revolvers are far too cumbersome and dangerous for boarding and that small Police model automatics should be supplied to all boarding officers.
Possibly, in addition to ransacking the wardroom, the crew's quarters should have been thoroughly searched, but owing to frequent depth charge attacks continuing in the vicinity, I considered it safer to keep these water-tight doors closed.
The reason why no attempt to destroy any books or material was made is obviously because they thought the U-boat was certain to sink at once.The necessary demolition switches or other devices had been set; this was corroborated by statements from prisoners who had no idea that their U-boat had been boarded. But then again: why were both control tower hatches closed?
I have Sir the Honour etc. etc."
The British were keen to keep the boarding and capture of valuable intelligence secret. Lieutenant Seymour, Anti-Submarine Officer on HMS Nigella recalled.
"I was assisting with the decyphering of signals, and, in the afternoon following the midday attack by U-110, a signal (I don't remember whether from C-in-C Western Approaches or Admiralty) arrived to say that this incident was to be known as Operation 'Primrose' and that no ships having any knowledge of Operation 'Primrose' were to enter harbour until further orders!
We had visions of a permanent life on the ocean wave!"
Cheers
Steve