U-552, Patrol 2, the journey to the patrol grid
 

Leutnant z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol AM21

25.12.1942 Bergen
0211 Cloudy, 8-9 km, 7 m/s. Leaving Bergen under a watchful eye of a pair of BF109F's. The gramophone plays Christmas carols and I think that everybody's thoughts wander towards our families celebrating Christmas back home. We should really be concentrating on our mission. BdU's report warns that enemy air patrols cover all of our planned operation area now. Enemy warship patrols have been spotted more often east of Bergen. The report also mentions my old boat, U-65, which has returned to it's port safe and sound after a very successful patrol.

26.12.1942 Nordzee
1657 AF76 Cloudy, 8-9 km, 7 m/s. At 1609 a Metox warning. Dived and got a warship contact. At 1633 hours three destroyers and a light cruiser, probably of the Fiji class seen on periscope. Course estimated at 202 degrees, speed 13 knots. Too far to attack. KDB might have a malfunction, so we rely on GHG now.

28.12.1942 North of the Hebrides
1306 AM36 Cloudy, 8-9 km, 7 m/s. After a 15 hours chase at HF we arrive to an intercept point of a reported convoy, only to notice that the convoy has altered it's course and we can't find it. I was prepared for an attack in shallow waters, but I'm not going to start a search operation in shallow mined waters, that are covered with incessant air patrols and destroyer patrols.

29.12.1942 Nordmeer
1903 AM22 Clear, 8-9 km, 0 m/s. At 1528 a Metox warning. Nothing heard with the hydrophone and nothing seen with the observation periscope, so we surfaced again. At 1802 an airplane was sighted at a relative bearing of 199 degrees. Dived to periscope depth while observing the airplane with a periscope. Two heavy bombers sighted, may have been four-engined. I didn't order a crash dive, because I wanted to observe the enemy and they didn't look like they saw us or the periscope in the dark. The planes flew over to our approximate surface location, gathered some height and then dived towards the location. It was hard to see but I think they dropped a bomb or a depth charge. Nothing was heard exploding, though. The earlier radar warning might have been becoming from the planes. There seems to no airplane safe area between Iceland and Britain anymore.

30.12.1942 Nordmeer
0010 AM21 Clear, 8-9 km, 0 m/s. We have now arrived to our patrol grid. We are preparing for a little new year celebration, a nice meal, and a little shot of rum for everyone. The mood on the boat is good. I, however wonder to myself what the new year will be like for the U-boats of the Kriegsmarine.

Dietzmann

u-67 type IX-C part of operation drumbeat. at bc78 april 1942. target AC29 New York Coast. had really good weather with 0 wind until near Canadian coast. huge waves upto 10m high. submerged and doing 2kts at 50m.

U-336, a VIIB west of Ireland, July 1940.

Just saw a coastal freighter, escorted by an Armed Trawler. We had minor damages, and 1 torpedo left from an earlier disagreement with an Destroyer.

Torpedo hit, but after 1 hour of playing Cat & Mouse with the Trawler, she was still afloat.

The trawler got a few depth chargers too close for comfort, destroying the aft batteries.

With a deep, annoyed sigh I ordered a Blow Ballast, and man the gun.

15 shots of the Good News towards the Trawler, 13 hit, she's going down!
About 10 shots in return (Took er by suprise from the back) and lots of machine gun fire. An injury, some damage to the conning tower and a bit of leaking in the bow quarters.

2 shots of the Good news towards the Freighter.

Time to head home and repair.....wait.....another coastal freighter...

And the troubles continue (til 23.maj.40).

(Your driving my favorite boat. She has a fan in me. Enjoy the ride.)

Glad to see you have survived your own torpedo problems.
A piece of (the real) U65's history (uboat.net):

"13 Apr 1940
During the Norway invasion the brand-new U-65 attacked a group of British destroyers but his torpedoes failed and the destroyers attacked the boat causing some damages."

I see you've taken some revenge.
Well done, Hr Kaleunt!

Outstanding patrol!

U39 IX(A). Patrol 2.
 

Underway from Willy on 24.nov.39, bound for England's Southern Approaches.

Passed between Færøerne & The Shetlands without incident.

9.dec.39
BE35
0339: "Ship spotted!"
Ship? Convoy!

0351: 3 G7Es are fired at 3 targets. 1 premature, and 2 impacts.
Little Freighter sunk for 2.335 GRT. (Night surface attack).
0352: 1 G7A is fired for a hit, but no sinking.
Convoy determined to be on a course of 359, making 6 knots.
U39 goes to 100 meters, and remains undetected.
3 escorts are counted on hydrophone.

BE32
0530: Surface.
0707: Submerge for predawn submerged attack.
0750: 3 G7Es fired at a T3 Tanker.
Premature. Impact. "Miss" (Torpedo was seen to explode without effect).

0940: Surface.
1016: Dive for Destroyer. We remained undetected.
1029: Surface.

1230: 4 G7Es are fired at the T3 Tanker!
Premature. Premature. Impact. "Miss" (Explosion was right behind #3's).
New depth 100 meters.
Follow in wake of convoy, and find no stragglers.

1816: 2 G7As are fired from the external stern tubes.
Premature. "Miss", which was seen to explode on/or beside the target.

With all torpedoes expended, U39 remains as shadower for the next 24 hours.

Upon being relieved as shadower, U39 is ordered to BE61, where she is to act as weather boat for 48 hours.

27.dec.39
AN96
2025: A collision is narowly avoided with a friendly Destroyer.

AN98
2230: Docked at Willy.

Patrol results:
1 ship sunk for 2.335 GRT.

U39's history to date:
2 war patrols completed.
2 ships sunk for 8.783 GRT.

U-65 IXB the end
 

30 July 1940
Grid AN11
U-65 spotted an enemy task force consisting of HMS Nelson HMS Ark Royal 2 cruisers of the Southampton class and several DDs.
During the initial approach a mistake in the engine room betrayed the position of the Uboot exactly at the point where torpedoes were to be launched.
The DDs rushed to the position and U-65 came under heavy DC attack. The flooding was uncontrolable and the Uboot dived to 260m before imploding.
All hands lost.


New career U-103 IXB

U-552, Patrol 2, patrolling
 

Leutnant z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol AM21
2.1.1943
1913 AM21 clear, 8-9 km, 0 m/s.

To BdU:

Boat status.
The boat's pressure hull is badly damaged, most of the glass in our meters is shattered, but everything seems to be working. Twelve torpedoes stored internally. Two in external storage of which one is damaged and useless. I am continuing my mission.

Patrol results.
Today at 1900 hours a 500 BRT boat sunk by 88 mm and FlaK fire.

Enemy sightings.
30.12.1942
0947 AM23 airplane, relative bearing 208. Dived.

1.1.1943
1733 AM21 Metox warning, watch crew reported airplane engine sounds and the hydrophone operator two warships on a southerly course. Dived.

2.1.1943
1005 AM21 airplane sighted and radar contact, relative bearing 17. Dived.
1635 AM21 Metox warning. Dived. A merchant heard on the hydrophone, nothing seen with the observation periscope. Surfaced, and was attacked almost immediately by a two-engined airplane, relative bearing 90, close range. Boat hit by gunfire and a bomb or a depth charge. Dived to A-40. Medium damage in almost every compartment and flooding. The boat was repaired by 1658.

Situation assessment.
Long chases after reported contacts are very difficult at the moment, because of the enemy's increased air activity.
Crew worked efficiently in stopping the flooding, no panic occurred. However, the crewmen seem to be getting tired from the incessant airplane sightings.

On a personal note as a former crew member of U-65 I want to send my condolences to the families of U-65.

Dietzmann

September 4, 1939 - 17:00 hrs
Sank a small coastal freighters a few hours ago. Miles away in our 6, destroyers are eagerly trying to find the responsible sub.

Watch officer reports a ship bearing 300. After a bit of plotting we close in to find a Coal Tender.
Don't want the fleet of destroyers behind the U-336 to know where it's going. We'll pass.


September 6, 1939 - 0500 hrs.
Just west of the Approaches. Message from BDU that a convoy with medium speed is headed....right for us at about 20km distance.
Dove to 40m and awaited the convoy.
Soundcontact! Contact..contact...contact..contact..
Atleast 6 hydrophone contacts, periscope depth confirms this, a large convoy, about 15-20 ships escorted by a cruiser and some destroyers.


(And then came RL work.....I'm excited to wreak havoc on my first ever convoy!! Tips? )

Stay at periscope depth and silent speed , so you won't be a blind mole.

Keep your nose (or if need be, stern) pointed at the lead escort.

Set up perpendicular to the convoy's course, when safely able to do so.

Try to pick a fairly distant but valuable target, in the first row.

Fire a 3 torpedo fan.

Scope down (Don't stay for the show).

Go deep at silent speed.

Use 5 degree rudder to turn yourself toward a 45 degree escape from the convoy's track.
(What the escorts do, may alter or delay this action.)

Don't reload tubes until the enemy has been disengaged.

Good sir!

U39 IX(A). Patrol 3.
 

Departed Willy on 21.feb.40, bound for BE29.

2.mar.40
AM43
1324: "Ship spotted! Long range!"
New depth 15 meters, followed by periscope depth.
(Otherwise, my conning tower is exposed for too long).
Target: C2 Cargo.
Course: 180.
Speed: 6 knots.
New depth 20 meters. Ahead flank.
(High speed at periscope depth leaves a visible wake).
Periscope depth. Silent speed.
1340: Fire 1, 2, 4 (G7E x 3). One premature.
1342: One hit aft the bridge. One miss.
1343: Surface! (Deck gun decision over-ruled by weather.)
1345: Fire 3 (G7A). Range 700 meters.
1346: Impact at his bow. Submerge and match course. Target DIW.
1357: Fire 5.
1358: Impact! Target broke in two.
C2 Cargo sunk for 6.447 GRT, and it "only" took 5 toepedoes.
For this target G7A functionality was 100%, while G7E was 50%.
(Kaleun's functionality seems to have been 80%.)

6.mar.40
BE29
0850: On station.
20.31: Radio. Outbound convoy. BE53. W. 6 knots. (One grid south).
Heavy Rain & Fog. Wind 14 m/s.

7.mar.40
BE53.
0124. Hydrophone contact on convoy.
Remaining submerged in spite of darkness.
This time we can see no further surfaced, than we can submerged.
0222: Fire 6 (G7A) on hydrophone bearing.
Explosion heard after 55 seconds.
No stragglers, or sinking sounds were heard.
A premature is assumed.
Convoy lost due to fog. Returning to BE29.

BE29
1644: Sound reports medium speed warship closing.
Bingo! A second outbound convoy.
Heavy Rain & Fog. Wind 14 m/s.
1815: Snap shot at a suddenly visible Little Merchant.
Fire 1, 2, 4 (G7E x 3).
No detonation. Too close.
Convoy course determined to be 264, and making 6 knots.

8.mar.40
(Have been trailing via hydrophone, and sporadic surfacing).
0010: Surface. Light Fog. Wind 2 m/s. Ja!!!
0141: Corvette sighted at 4.900 meters, and lost at 5.000 meters.

BE28
0238: Submerge 30 degrees off lead escort's track, undetected.
0350: Fire 1, 2, 4 (G7E x 3).
Little Merchant sunk for 2.338 GRT.
A merchant vibrated the boat, as we passed just under her!
(Scary while watching the stop watch in the conning tower!)
All torpedoes expended.

23.mar.40
AN98
0200: Docked at Willy, and mourning the loss of U65.

Patrol results:
2 ships sunk for 8.785 GRT.
12 of 12 torpedoes expended.
Crew & Hull Integrity 100%.

U39's history to date:
3 war patrols completed.
4 ships sunk for 17.568 GRT.

Tak.

You are always welcome.

Did my first attempt at intercepting a convoy.
Because I have no map contacts, I'm plotting on a piece of paper, which seems to go pretty OK, just need to remember to convert all the bearings to true bearings.

The seas are heavy, making it difficult to keep up with the convoy that's steaming ahead at 12 knots, it makes distance calculation really hard.

I don't trust my AOB wheel. It keeps giving me an AOB that always seems to be off by big numbers.
The AOB manual has another disc that I don't seem to have...

While messing around with the AOB wheel I didn't pay attention and strayed too close, the Flower escorting the flank saw me.


I'm going to cheat and try again tommorow, I want to get the AOB thing down. The manual must be faulty, I'll eyeball the AOB vs what the wheel says.