A very interesting list of mods. Let us know how it is with your campaign !

Good luck !

:salute:

Good luck

German submarine U-452 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out one patrol. She sank no ships.

She was sunk by a British aircraft and a British warship southeast of Iceland, in August 1941.

I will...
I always look a boat from uboat.net that was lost during it's first patrols. Old habit from my GWX times. Never liked when my boat got or sent messages...

Patrol 6
U-452, 1st Flotilla
Left at: August 19, 1941, 13:45
From: Kiel
Mission Orders: Patrol grid AM19

23.8.1941
21:04 Ship sighted. Destroyer on NW course. Changed course to avoid contact. AF7878

28.8.1941
04:00 Arrived patrol area and informed BdU.

06.9.1941
03:02 Ship sighted. A lone darkened merchant on WNW course. AM1967
Although target appears unarmed I will conduct a torpedo attack.
04:11 Fired tube I. G7e
Range 1000, Speed 5, AoB red 80, Depth 5
Hit under smokestack almost excatly as calculated. Followed by huge explosion and ship sunk within minutes. Very few survivors. Questioned and helped them as much as I could. According to them ship was 5000 ton SS Titan carrying copper ore.
05:06 Radio message from BdU: /Move to grid AL24/
12:55 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL3896
13:22 Surfaced.
17:58 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL3859
21:50 Surfaced

07.9.1941
07:20 Diesel fuel reserve down to half.
20:00 Arrived patrol area and informed BdU.
21:35 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL2498

08.9.1941
07:09 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL2479
11:07 Surfaced.

10.9.1941
01:09 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL2444
01:31 Surfaced.
01:40 Aircraft. Crashdive.
02:07 Surfaced
02:12 Aircraft. Crashdive.
04:05 Surfaced
18:22 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL2438
23:02 Surfaced.

12.9.1941
08:35 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL2499
21:50 Surfaced
22:02 Radio Message to BdU: /Heavy air patrols day and night. Effective patrol difficult/
22:13 Radio message from BdU: /Move to grid AL37 and await for further orders/

13.9.1941
06:00 Arrived patrol area and informed BdU.

20.9.1941
14:30 Started return trip.

24.9.1941
09:21 Ship sighted. Three destroyers on NE course. BF1981
09:45 Fired tubes I through III. G7e
Range 1800, Speed 27, AoB red 90, Depth 3
All three missed.

25.9.1941
12:03 Docked at Brest.

"This patrol was a fight against boredom and elements."

Just finished up (I think I will retire him) a good 7 patrol career 26 ships and 190k tons sunk 1940-41 with a VIIC.

Now first trip with a new IXc, March 42, off the coast of the US.
Just off Spain in medium weather, ran into a small freighter. Periscope attack. Using a different method where I only count half a ships length to stopwatch speed. 1 G7e. Missed, was not going to follow up since it was not worth expending more and I had a long way to go. Otherwise I would have caught up later with it at night. Pressed on. Good weather appeared so got 1 G7a down from the overhead storage and put it below.
Great weather coming across, was able to maintain 11 knots most of the way with good fuel economy.
By luck ran into a light and medium tanker (US flag) and got them with the deck gun.
Off Norfolk (my patrol area), weather turned rainy. So tough it out and wait around until that goes away.
Surprised on the surface at night by some kind of small sub chaser or sloop. Very short range, start a dive, It was closing to ram at a good speed with lights on and gunfire. Took some damage from the gunfire. Gave a hard to port order right before impact.
The enemy ship sank right after ramming me.
Damage: flak guns aft destroyed. Attack scope destroyed. Some hull damage and various other damage that is repairable.
So, will have to sort things out. Probably submerge by day; patrol by night. Night scope was also damaged but repaired and back in action. Buy luck, no crew injured or killed.
Should be fun the rest of the patrol.

Update from below:

Had a long stretch of bad weather off of the US coast big waves.

Saw an Ore freighter probably going 10 or so knots but could not setup for a good shot.

Some days later, went down south almost to Florida, Medium tanker running north...fast. Still heavy waves, Night surface attack, with all of the high seas and upset, couldn't figure out how fast it was going. Fired one assuming 13 knot target speed. Another 12. One of them hit just aft of the bow.
Never saw this before, the tanker executes 180 turn to port. I mimic to starboard to keep with it. Then it starts settling by the bow. Still has enough energy and executes another 180 degree turn to port back on its original course. Finishes the turn and settles heavy by the bow, its props out of the water. Stops, settles more and sinks. Now I know why they would shut down the engine when practical after being hit.

Moved further south and picked up a large tanker and a small freighter. What was turning into the day late and a dollar short cruise is picking up. Finally got some good weather to pull the rest of the forward overhead G7a's down below in storage. Haven't used anything from the stern yet.

I think after this, I will ask for a cruise down to South Africa.

Got back from the states with 38k tons. Prepped for new patrol.
Upgraded hydrophones
Bought sonar (only to be used to get some range and bearing help on periscope attacks where there are no escorts.)
And some BOLD decoys.
Maxed out the crew. Full boat with SH Commander.
Picked my patrol to be NW of South Africa and off we go...
IXC has good fuel economy .... remembering the game only understands a 2D map and not the curve of the earth.
Crash dived a few times on the way down after seeing a destroyer only.
Almost got to the patrol area, dark dark night. Small convoy. Destroyer leading a ten thousand ton freighter and some smaller ship.
Forgot it was 1942 and got a bit close to the escort on the surface. It must have had radar. Came right for me on a steady course. Crash dive.
After some hours, came back up and continued to my patrol area.
Rain. Will wait this out at a very low speed to burn less fuel.

Got transferred to 7th flotilla and it's off to Gibraltar...

Patrol 7
U-452, 7th Flotilla
Left at: November 06, 1941,
From: St. Nazaire
Mission Orders: Patrol grid CG87

11.11.1941
01:00 Arrived patrol area and informed BdU. CG8711

17.11.1941
10:17 Radio message from BdU: /Convoy at grid CG7565, course E, speed 7/
Long chase but will join the attack. Expected contact in 8 hours.
14:58 Ship sighted! A lone freighter on E course. CG8765
15:24 Ship seems unarmed and doesn't show any markings or flag. Will engage with gunfire.
15:38 Fired tube V G7e
Range 600, Speed 1, AoB green 90, Depth 3
A definite dud.
15:42 Contined with gunfire. Set up several fires and minor explosions. She began to settle with even keel. Aproximately 2000-3000 cargo ship. Didn't interrogate survivors because I have a convoy to catch.
19:03 Radio message to BdU: /Unable to make contact with convoy. Awaiting instructions/
20:04 Radio message from BdU: /Move to grid DH39 with best possible speed/

18.11.1941
16:00 Arrived patrol area and informed BdU. DH3921

19.11.1941
14:10 Aircraft. Crashdive. DH6333
15:10 Surface.

20.11.1941
10:22 Aircraft. Crashdive. DH3976
11:24 Surfaced.
14:25 Aircraft. Crashdive. DH3986
18:22 Surfaced.
19:30 Aircraft. Crashdive. DH3991
19:58 Surfaced.

21.11.1941
06:37 Aircraft. Crashdive. DH3973
18:43 Surfaced.

23.11.1941
11:46 Aircraft. Crashdive. DH3832

26.11.1941
13:48 Fuel reserves down to half.

29.11.1941
02:05 Took external aft torpedo on board.

02.12.1941
16:06 Radio message to BdU: /No contacts in two weeks. Heavy air patrols. One third fuel left./
16:22 Radio message from BdU: /Refuel from Thalia and wait for further orders.

03.12.1941
13:02 Radio message from BdU: /Convoy at grid CG8836, course SW, speed seven./
Despite a long 200km chase I will try to intercept.
18:02 No visual contact or hydrophone contact in precalculated rendezvouz point. Trying to search more eastwards. CG8885
20:12 No luck with eastbound search. Resumed course towards Thalia.

04.12.1941
06:26 Ship sighted! Steamer on ESE course. Unarmed but due to proximity of Gibraltar bases decided to attack with torpedoes. CG9484
08:13 Fired tubes I and II at 15 second intervals. G7e
Range 700, Speed 5, AoB red 90, Depth 5
First hit perfectly and second was either dud or went under the target.
Seems like engine room got hit as she came to full stop soon after hit.
08:34 Coup de grace from tube V. G7a
Torpedo directorate will hear of this. Definete dud. Surfaced and finished it with 20 well placed gunshots.
19:35 Ship sighted! Darkened motor ship on NW course. This one is armed.
19:57 Fired tubes III and IV. G7e
Range 800, Speed 4, AoB red 90, Depth 5
First hit more aft than calculated, second missed.
20:13 Destroyer appeard from fog bearing on our direction. Gave order to turn and simultaneously it opened fire. Flak and machine gun fire hit conning tower killing Leutnant Becker, Fännrich Kroch and Matrosengefreiter Korsch. Bootsmaat Schildauer and Matrosenobergefreiter Nowak sustained minor injuries. Ordered crashdive after wounded got inside the boat.
Managed to escape after one hour attack.
22:43 Radio message to BdU: /Three dead. Three cargo ships sunk. Boat damaged but can be repaired at sea. Request instructions/
23:29 Ship sighted! An old WWI destroyer on NW course. Changed course to avoid contact. Suddenly it turned towards us and opened fire from 2000m. Crashdive. CG9495

05.12.1941
01:46 After two hours managed to elude the destroyer. Intend to stay submerged as long as possible. First to lose any warships hunting us and second to treat wounded and repair the boat.

05.12.1941
17:48 Surfaced
18:38 Radio message from BdU: /Return to base. Refuel from Bessel in Vigo if needed./
19:59 Aircraft. Crashdive. CG9419
20:34 Surfaced.

10.12.1941
11:58 Docked at St.Nazaire

Got down to South Africa.

Various weather made it difficult to take advantage of a fair few contacts.

Got a large freighter escorted by a destroyer. Daytime. Waves so big I didn't know there was a destroyer until picking it up on sound after submerging. Before diving got an estimated range, bearing and angle on the bow to put something on the chart when I got inside. Waves near the maximum of what could do a periscope attack. Fortunately the initial plot was in favour of not having to do too much work for the rest of the attack plot work. Estimated 6 knots. One G7e, hit just aft of the stack. Target was settling well, but since the destroyer was now closing; decided to fire a G7a at the freighter to finish it rather than risk leaving the scene with it damaged. Took care of that and the destroyer's response was tepid while I was able to get away deep.
When there is extended weather, the fuel economy gets worse. Cut short my stay near South Africa and headed back north. Got a small passenger freighter and small merchant (both day periscope attacks) south of Freetown. When encountering the small freighter it was close to being swamped having trouble making 3-4 knots in the heavy waves. Again, both were wave conditions close to making a periscope attack not possible. Odd to only be seeing masts and the occasional hull of the ship at 1800 meters.
Around Freetown was the go-no-go decision on fuel. Probably could have made it back home but stopped at the Canary Islands to top off on fuel. Near to being the last month this resource was available (August 1942). 71 days. Hate ending a patrol with so many torpedoes onboard.

Got back out with the goal of getting home and getting some score on the way. The boat needs a repair period. North of the Canary Islands then east of the Azores for awhile then home. Got a small freighter and small tanker traveling together. Brazilian flags. Checked. Were now on the enemy list. 1 miss each. 1 hit each.
Off the Azores now to see how this shakes out. After getting home, will ask for a south Caribbean patrol.

May 1941
 

14 May 1941. Patrol 6 complete. Outside Freetown we found a good number of ships worthy of our torpedoes and sank over 90,000 tons. A good patrol? Perhaps. I, however, am saddened by the loss of three of my seamen, stalwart sailors who had been with me from the beginning. While fleeing an approaching airplane, a lucky bomb hit us, killing all three of my flak team instantly. After crash diving, fixing the flooding, returning to the surface, finding the stricken cargo ship, and sending it to the bottom with our deck gun, we set course for Lorient with all due haste.

I was awarded the Knight's Cross with Leaves, but I cannot sleep. I am haunted by the final scream of the dying men. War is hell, but I am back out on patrol.

Convoy action and torpedo failures:k_confused:

Patrol 8
U-452, 7th Flotilla
Left at: January 16, 1942, 02:08
From: St. Nazaire
Mission Orders: Patrol grid BB82

30.1.1942
00:27 Aircraft. Crashdive. BC4774
00:40 Surfaced
15:27 Ship sighted! Destroyer on E course. Dived to avoid contact. BB6897

31.1.1942
08:36 Aircraft. Crashdive. Heard one depth charge far to aft starboard. Lost control during crashdive and boat hit bottom. No serious damage. BB6777
09:03 Surfaced.
19:40 Arrived patrol area and informed BdU. BB8233

03.2.1942
14:33 Ship sighted! Destroyer on N course. Dived to avoid contact. BB8219

04.2.1942
02:12 Ship sighted! Some kind of patrol boat on NE course. Changed course to avoid contact. BB8211
06:27 Ship sighted! Fishing trawler. This one I let go. No need to reveal my position to the enemy.
21:37 Aircraft. Crashdive. BB5495
22:16 Surfaced.

05.2.1942
17:48 Ship sighted! Finally a freighter although small coaster. This one is heading S. BB5878
18:31 Fired tube I. G7e
Range 500, Speed 4, AoB red 90, Depth 5.
Hit stern. Hope it knocked out his propellers.

Stubborn this one. Still afloat and making one knot. Will sink it with gunfire. One magazine from 20mm AA gun was enough to send it down. Interrogated survivors who revealed it was a canadian whale chaser of 1000 tons
20:22 Radio message from BdU: /Proceed to grid CA33 if fuel permit/
After brief discussion with LI Kunze decided to continue as ordered.

06.2.1942
14:49 Ship sighted! Appears warship on collision course. BB8174
14:53 Hydrophone indicates a merchant. Damn fog. Fishing trawler on E course. Watch crew seems to be on the edge. Will stay down until dusk.

07.02.1942
00:05 Ship sighted! Fishing trawler heading E. Weather prevents any meaningful action. BB7398
07:59 Radio message from BdU: /Convoy at grid BB7648, course W, speed 9/
08:02 Radio message to BdU: /Despite unfavourable conditions will attack.
12:01 Smoke on horizon! BB7562
12:13 Spotted by sloop. Crashdive.
13:10 Eluded successfully. Resumed hunt. Sloop still looms in horizon preventing me to close the convoy.
13:39 Starboard diesel gave up. Will continue with one diesel.
13:46 Aircraft. Crashdive. BB7522
14:28 Surfaced.
14:46 Aircraft. Crashdive. Heard one depth charge way to aft. BB7537
They have air cover now. Breaking hunt.

08.2.1942
00:00 Took the boat down for several hours to make repairs. Starboard diesel operational. Resumed patrol. Not enough fuel to effectively patrol CA33. Request new orders.
02:31 Radio message from BdU:/ Move to grid BB87/

11.2.1942
10:04 Radio message from BdU:/ Enemy convoy at grid CB2335, course NE, speed 5/
Long chase but joining the hunt.
13:36 Radio message from BdU:/ Large enemy convoy at grid CB2329, heading NE, speed 5/
14:21 Driving rain and poor visibility makes it difficult to operate against the convoy. It is clearly heard by hydrophone. Racing towards it surfaced could end badly. Will try submerged attack. If unsuccessful I can always trail the convoy and wait for weather to improve.
15:14 Fired tube I against freighter. G7e
Range 1600, speed 5, AoB red 100, speed 5.
Miss.
15:17 Fired tubes II, II, IV against large freighter. G7e
Range 1300, speed 4, AoB red 90, depth 5
Two hits, one erratic runner.

Dived deep and heard several distant depth charge detonations.
16:11 Surfaced. Will trail convoy and wait for weather to improve.
17:14 Improvement in weather. I can easily observe the convoy from periscope. It has five columns and seems to lack escort cover on it's port side. If so that is where I'am going to attack.
18:02 Daring pop to surface to send contact report.
Radio message to BdU:/ Convoy at grid CB2333, course ENE, speed 5, light escort/
18:41 Radio message from BdU:/ Attack on your own. Good luck/
1939 Aircraft. Crashdive. CB3111
19:51 Surfaced.
20:04 Ship sighted! Large tanker which has trouble staying with in the convoy. Unfortunately escort destroyer looms close by. Perhaps later. Smokes from rest of the convoy are clearly visible.
22.00 Commencing surface attack against port side. I will attack large and small merchants with one torpedo and tanker with two. Still no escorts on port side.

22:09 Fired tube I at large freighter. G7e
Range 2000, Speed 5, AoB red 90, Depth 5
Miss

22.12 Fired tubes II and III at tanker. G7e
Range 1800, Speed 5, AoB red 90, Depth 5
First was erratic runner, second hit way too aft of the tanker.

22:15 Fired tube IV at small freighter. G7e
Range 1500, speed 5, AoB red 90, Depth 5
Definite dud!

22:20 Escort appeared from darkness and opened fire at 2km and I was forced to crashdive. Observed tanker sinking stern first.
23:23 Escort gave up after an hour. Damage from depth charging. Will load torpedoes and attack again.
23:48 Closer examination revealed heavy damage to pressure hull in officers quarters. LI informs me it is not safe to dive deep.Boat handled 90 meters during attack. I set it as maximum limit. Informed BdU of my situation.

12.2.1942
00:07 Ship sighted! Regained contact. BB8788
00:16 Radio message from BdU:/ Good job. Return to base./
01:11 Fired tube V at tanker, the one which has engine trouble. G7e
Range 1000, speed 5, AoB red 90, Depth 5
Definite dud. After all the hard work I would expect working torpedoes.
01:23 Fired tube I G7e
Range 100, Speed 5, AoB red 110, Depth 5
Erratic runner.
01:59 Fired tube V G7a
Range 100, Speed 5, AoB red 110, Depth 5
Another erratic runner.

Broke contact. No internal torpedoes left and weather prevents any attempt to move them in. Low on fuel. Started return trip.

14.2.1942
07:24 Took external torpedoes on board.

01.3.1942
11:09 Docked at St.Nazaire.

Damage to U-452 will keep it in drydock for almost two months. Time to celebrate freshly awarded Iron Cross 1st class.

And 2 months later I get back to check...:nope:
Well, at least somebody was calm, cool and methodical.:D:O:

Barracuda

Got the IXc boat career on save as well as a IXb career starting December 39.

Just started a VIIc career in mid 42 out of La Rochelle. Have to remind myself it is 42 and... more dangerous.

Patrol in CF33. Quiet.
Went up to the SW region of AK, started travelling NE along the convoy route for that area.

Picked up a medium freighter moving west in the early morning while on the surface at around 15k.

Setup to roughly mimic its course in order to keep distance.

Multiple observations over 20 minutes to establish its rough course and speed. Plotted everything on the map. 6-7 knots target speed assumed.

Setup for an end run to get ahead of it for a submerged attack around mid-day.

Ship arrived roughly on time while moving toward it slow. Did a few more observations by staying ahead of it. Plot it.

Submerge with the intent of doing a periscope, target-port-side attack.

Lots of time to figure things out. Moderate seas mean that I only see a bit of smoke from the target all the way down to 6K.

Hydrophones don't indicate any change in speed.

As it gets below 6k distance I can start to do some fair angle-on-the-bow estimates.

Intend to fire at around 1200M, probably a port-80 degree attack with a type III G7e. Contact pistol, 4M depth.

A few days before, did two type III magnetic pistol shots at a medium freighter and they didn't work out so well. Lost the ship in the weather. So today, contact it is.

Target shows up pretty much on time. Ends up being a 1000M shot. Hit in the forward hold. Turn 90 degrees to port to match its course and observe.

Sinks in about 30 minutes. Surface. Keep running NE in AK. The next morning, sent in my report and then ran submerged all day at 60M just in case that report brought in some aircraft.

At the north end of AK move SE and head down toward the bottom center of BE.

Once there while on the surface in the afternoon one day, picked up a small 4 masted steamer running west 14k to the north. Keep my distance and get an initial track plotted down. Moving 7 or so knots. Next few plots shows it speeds up to 9 knots.

Figure on a 3 hour end around. 2 and a half hours it shows up. Later afternoon.Lower visibility 9k away moving west. I am facing east 0 degree angle on the bow give or take.

Submerge. Run toward it correcting course as needed to maintain zero angle on the bow, so as to confirm the ships rough course. Still west. OK.
Waves are troublesome but not impossible. Can see smoke, masts and a bit of the deck.

At around 7k hard to starboard. 90 degree turn head the boat to the south flank speed. Intent. Go to the south about 1k to the target track. 180 degree turn around for attack. Bow shot, Tube one; TIII G7e contact pistol, 80 degree Port AOB. If I miss, catch up with it later at night for a surface attack.

In the end, all works out. Big waves made the final periscope observations challenging before the torpedo shot. Looked bigger than I expected. Guessed 600M. Fired at between 85-90 port AOB. Stuck with the 9 knot assumption. Hit in the forward hold. Went down in less than 15 minutes.

Same thing again. Surface. Patrol all night. Report in;submerge for the day right after the report..

A few days later in BE... picked up a small freighter and a medium tanker in heavy seas. Daytime, mid-day off to the south about 9k. Sunny but big waves. Got a basic track coming toward me and then submerged.

Speed indicated they were going 7 knots then 8 knots, back and forth because of the heavy pitching of the ships.

I was having trouble too and they were getting away from me. Broke off did an end-round that lasted about 4 hours.

Got them coming toward me submerged. Still very unsure of the tanker's speed. Looked like it was going to get as close as 700 meters if the track I was composing on the (F5) map was worth anything.

Wanted the tanker now. Did something I never do. Setup for a salvo of 4 Type III G7e 3 degree spread. Hopefully something will hit. I was worried that the speed could be as high as 9 knots at some times. Target speed in these heavy seas like a yo-yo.

Was a little late on the setup. fired at port AOB of 100, 800 meters. Pure luck. Observed 3 hits... tanker went down.

Next day, with not many torpedoes...3 G7a's forward, 1 aft. Still heavy seas. Convoy nearby Going NE. Intercepted. Seas and solution were horrible. Gambit. Didn't think I could get closer. Fired everything I had at 9k. Guestamit solution at a collection of masts and stacks when the heavy waves would let me see them in the periscope.

Observed 1 hit but couldn't see much with the heavy seas and distance.

Got out of there and went home. 21k tons.

New at La Rochelle. When I got back to the port, I didn't know where the welcoming committee dock was, heavy rain, could hear the band off in the distance. Found the dock and parked it.

Next patrol will have a radar detector; properly organised crew. Patrol area AK11...

Current crew starting their second patrol. Headed out to AK11.

http://i.imgur.com/dYvRsOl.jpg

From the last patrol. Final target track for a periscope attack after a long end-around.

http://i.imgur.com/gwqQ6um.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YbR4FyC.jpg


Been very lucky on this cruise.

In AK a a few days from AK11, my patrol area.

We pick up a contact report on a 5-knot convoy moving NE.

4-5 hours away in medium seas.

Get near and check the weather. Visibility worse.

Radar detector picks up spikes every few minutes. This doesn't mean that the enemy radar has detected you yet, just that it is detecting the signals.

Get to where I think we are half an hour away and submerge. Time: early morning before sunrise.

We are able to sound detect the convoy, pretty much on course.

It is 1942, so for me, more dangerous than what I am used to. Start picking up shapes in the night scope. Blobs with water splashes basically 15 mils for a starting 25 meter height... Ok we will start there. 7k meters, but I don't think the weather allows me to see that far. And bearing mark, down-scope. Put at least something on the chart (F5).

Through may observations, am able to keep to the starboard side of the lead escort. Appear to be 2 more at the 10 and 2 O'clock position of the convoy.

Start to get a better idea of what I am facing. Can now recognize ship types in the convoy. A little more work with guessing their range, bearing and angle on the bow and now I have a rough course they are running.

Intent. Attack on their starboard side. Set course 90 degrees to them. Their course roughly 42 degrees, So I will pick a course of 312.

Get safely inside the starboard...in relation to the convoy: 2 O'clock destroyer so it won't be a threat to my setup. Lead destroyer safe enough away.

Large tanker appears in the 3rd column from me. Have to get it before being blocked by a medium freighter that will close to within a 1000 meters from my left.

Target speeds timed appear to go with contact report, 5 knots. Not very good timing so will go with the contact report and roll the dice.

Attack: shot for the large tanker will be starboard 85 degrees AOB, 2200 meters, 2 type III G7e fired as a spread 1 degree apart, wing it from there.

Fired for that setup. Freighter passing from my left is pushing 150 mils on the scope. Will give it the same weapon setup spread above with 600 meters distance but probably closer. And... torpedoes for tanker hit. Must have assumed too far as they still had 20 seconds on the clock. So I must have assumed the wrong target height. Anyway, it is done for.

Back to the freighter which for some reason, either me losing track of time or it altered course, is now presenting 90 starboard angle on the bow. And is closer. 4 degree spread, fire. Full reverse.

Swing around and observe, row behind me has another medium freighter close. Down scope. Prep, stern tube for 80 degree port AOB. Upscope. Now about 95 degree port AOB. Ahead slow. Open tube, fire. I want out of here.

But I give one more observation to look around as the torpedoes for the second target hit. 1 forward hold, 1 aft hold. this would later sink. Stern torpedo hits. Must have been closer. Look back around, catastrophic hit in front of the bridge.

Now I really want out of here. Down scope. Ahead slow, set depth for 150M. Opposite course of convoy.

On the sound. I lost count at 5 or 6 destroyers in this convoy. Was very lucky and none of them got me. One was close but at about 140 meters, all stop and let the dive decay to 220 meters if need be.

No proper attacks from the destroyer. Got out of there. This is extreme luck given the circumstances and I don't expect to see that again.

Target plotting chart after making good my escape.

http://i.imgur.com/yjipVdT.jpg

Got up to AK11 and did my patrol area thing.

Weather lousy again. While leaving the patrol area going south east, picked up a 4 masted steamer off to the south running south-west(?) at 4000 meters. Got a quick fix, intercept maybe. Too close; don't want to get spotted. Dive.

Could not determine if it was running 8 or 9 knots with the weather. Recognition book said 9 was max speed for this ship.

Fire one G7e Type III for 8 knots and one for 9 knots. 1800 meter range, AOB starboard 85.

First torpedo hit the rudder/propeller. Must have slowed down violently as the 9 knot torpedo never it.

Ran parallel to it for awhile. It went dead in the water fast. No speed.

Setup for a stern tube shot with a G7a. And that was that.

http://i.imgur.com/vpsBbi1.jpg

2 G7e and 2 G7a are left forward. Weather not good enough to get the deck storage torpedoes down. And, given the threat of aircraft these days, that era may be over for me.

http://i.imgur.com/D5eVjpa.jpg

Lower left hand part of AK. Picked up another 5 knot convoy going north east.

Better weather. Periscope attack, still this late 1942 thing is new to me.

A fair few destroyers. Got some good observations toward the head of the convoy. Barely slipped by the lead destroyer. I wouldn't recommend this kind of sloppiness but kind of got into a fix with the position that I did not like.

Setup and got a whale factory ship. Very close, 2 torpedoes. One missed one hit. Fired 2 more right away as I didn't have time to stick around and observe.
Target sunk.

Again, was very lucky and escaped from the center of the convoy and home.

Once home. Transferred to the Black Sea. Removed the deck gun Chief Bosun now rated as flak not gunner. Some other reorganizations.

Got to the east part of the Black Sea and with multiple aircraft attacks, took severe damage. Lost the Chief Bosun and 4 other ratings. Got out of there and home.

Transferred out to Bordeaux, France. Now March 43 for my next patrol. That assignment to the Argentinian embassy is looking really good now.

Days are probably numbered.

So, out in the DH area. Did my patrol time there. Then moved up to Casablanca. Damage from aircraft attack. Got lots of practice in crash dives. Then moved north west for several days.
Found a convoy of of unspecified speed in nice weather during mid day.
Lots of destroyers.
Managed an attack but goofed up the target speed. Fired two G7e Type III and 2 FATs.
Nothing and had to escape.
Probably one of the FATs got a coastal freighter. That was my total tonnage for the trip.
Cleared the convoy.
Air attack, more damage after ordering a crash dive.
Limped back home.
Orders to the Argentine embassy were waiting for me.
April 1943.
Its nice to have connections in the system.

New career.
1 Oct 1939 out of Kiel.
VIIB boat.

First patrol area a few patrol boxes south east of Scapa Flow. After that, working my way down to be east off of the south British coast.

One night. Spotted a Netherlands small coastal ship running north west on the surface. About 900 tons. It was not lit at night and was moving in the direction of a British port. So I sank it with gunfire. Marked as neutral in the game but a justified sinking.

Sank about a half dozen small merchant ships in this area with gunfire, torpedo or both.

Then, two 4000-5000 toners. One running south. One running north. Both within visual distance of each other on a smooth sea. Sank both with a few rounds of gunfire at very close range into the engine-room and lower hull.

Currently at 19,000 tons with a lot of torpedoes left on board.

Basic tracking technique for this patrol is on first sighting, get a rough range, bearing and angle on the bow and put it on the F5 plotting board. And, setup my attack based on those assumptions.

Normally I don't like working in shallow water. But, it is very early war. So, we will see. Get this patrol done and hopefully not see shallow water again. Now mid November.