WORLD WAR I U-BOAT LOG BOOK An unusual document, an official American log book, 20pp. filled in pencil, folio, [various places], Mar. 18 to June 20, 1919 being the log of the captured German U-140 which was sailed by the U. S. Navy in early 1919 to the United States to be used for publicity in a Victory Bond drive. Styled as the log of "Ex German Submarine U -140 ," it recounts the voyage of the submarine which was one of several sailed from England to the United States. The U-140 was launched at Kiel on November 4, 1917 and commissioned in the Imperial German Navy on March 28, 1918 and cruised off the North American coast during that summer. En route eastward she came in sight of the Lusitania but did not come close enough to attack. During her time off the American coast she scored several victories before suffering enough damage to force her to return to Germany for repairs. Following the signing of the Armistice of November 11, 1918, Germany was required to surrender or dismantle her entire fleet of submarines. The U-140 was transferred to the British Navy in February 1919 and was interned at Harwich, England. In the meantime, the U.S. Navy expressed interest in acquiring several U-Boats for publicity purposes in the Untied States and Great Britain agreed to hand the U-140 to the Navy. This log book records the journey from Harwich, England to Portsmouth, New Hampshire under the command of Lieutenant Commander R. R. Wallace. It records the names of the officers and crew and records the voyage in some detail. The first leg of the journey took the U-140 from Harwich to the dry docks at Chatham on April 1 where she was inspected for damage, repaired and fitted out for towing. On April 2, the log notes that "Timbers & planking which secured the U140 on the blocks gave way listing to starboard in dry dock. Nobody injured..." Repairs lasted into June and the log keeps daily notes on the types of work done. On the 10th, the "U.S.S. Sonoma pulled alongside secured to us with her lines for towing. " An hour later they "Shoved off from alongside dock under tow by U.s. S. Sonoma en route to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S.A. " On the 20th the crew "Sited [sic] land at 4.30 U.S.S. Sonoma towed U-140 into Island of Porto Delgada until she coaled up..." By that evening they left the harbor to continue their journey which lasted until July 4 when she was pulled into Portsmouth harbor. Covers bear moderate toning and soiling, interior pages quite clean, overall very good to fine condition. $300-500