U-2548 has just returned following its first patrol out of Bergen, October 1942. Encountered a large convoy in the BF area with a number of large ships....and a bogue class. :yeah:

Managed to sink two large merchants and, after taking out her propellers, came back when the convoy had moved on to sink the carrier.

Returned home with 47k of shipping to our name.

Successful Patrol 8 for U46. Picked up 2 tankers and large cargo for 80,000. Did my usual trick and used up all torpedoes before reaching assigned patrol grid. Sure enough a large convoy came through and all we could do was wave as they steamed passed.:salute:
Left Brest August 1940 on Patrol 9. Bdu reported large eastbound convoy NW of our position. We have been shadowing ahead of the convoy for nearly 2 days. Weather is atrocious, rain, big seas and heavy fog. We scooted too far ahead last night and lost contact. They might have changed course to the SE as we are now getting close to the coast.
We have another convoy to the NE of us, so hopefully might have a chance at one of these if the weather improves.
I would love to know what my bridge crew get up to when I'm not there. As soon as I go up, they jump, grab their binocs and make out they have been hard at it. :stare:

Lt.zS. Friedrich Niecke, commanding type VIIC U-987 of 11th Flotilla operating out of Bergen, returned on 1944DEC15 from a 36 day patrol between the Shetlands and the Faeroes during which not a single merchant contact was detected. There was an average of more than one warship contact per day in the patrol area, but, being equipped with only a single accoustic torpedo, U987 did not engage.

November 1942, and the captain of U-2548, en route back to her base in Bergen after a successful patrol off the American East coast, is increasingly depressed by the number of distress messages from other u-boats complaining of attacks from Allied aircraft.

Entry XII
22 June 1943. 01h10. CB54-94.
U-198 advised that Charlotte Schliemann has taken position in South Indian Ocean until approximately mid-February 1944.

Entry XIII
23 June 1943. 17h10. CA69-15.
Encontered an armed and radar equipped blimp, apparently tasked with ASW duties. Dove to twenty metres to evade. These are too slow to be dangerous to a U-boat unless the boat cannot dive for any reason.

Entry XIV
24 June 1943. 20h45. CA82-48.
Another ASW blimp, first detected on the RWR and then by the watch crew. As it is inadvisable to attempt to engage one given their likely armament, U-198 dove away once more. These blimp's value may be in forcing U-boats to submerged for extended periods while vectoring in other ASW assets such as taskforces/patrolgroups.

Entry XV
26 June 1943. 07h30. CA72-94.
Norfolk harbour is lightly guarded and hosting many valuable targets. U-198 intends to engage two petroleum carriers/tankers, an escort carrier, and four destroyers as well as a single destroyer escort. One torpedo per target save for the carrier and the tankers, whcih may require two each. To enable the boat to work safely, the escort vessels will be the initial targets.

Entry XVI
26 June 1943. 07h40. CA72-94.
Two destroyers sunk for two torpedoes. Both the Somers and Clemson class display an alarming tendency to break apart amidships when struck by magnetic-fused pistols running 1.0 metres below their known draught.

Entry XVII
26 June 1943. 08h45. CA72-94.
Destroyer Escort, Evarts class, sunk with one torpedo. One torpedo was also sufficient for the Fletcher class destroyer. Next target is the escort carrier, then the tankers. Will likely forgo the final destroyer, it is tied alongside a quay and may be protected by antitorpedo netting.

Entry XVIII
26 June 1943. 09h00. CA72-94.
Bogue escort carrier sunk using two torpedoes fired from the stern tubes. No secondary explosions, thus far the raid into Norfolk has been met with considerable success.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j8...trolEntry8.jpg

Entry XIX
26 June 1943. 09h55. CA72-94.
Both tankers engaged with two torpedoes each. The modern tanker sank rapidly while the large tanker remained afloat for some time. U-198 is now exfiltrating.

Entry XX
26 June 1943. 17h15. CA73-43.
While exfiltrating from Norfolk harbour, U-198 was detected by a radar system which vectored patrol boats on to U-198's position. As U-198 was in the process of airing out and bringing torpedoes below, an immediate crash dive could not be executed. Use of the Flakvierling installed aft of the turm did little to discourage the attacking PT boats and U-198 suffered some damage but no casualties. After all personnel and the torpedo transfer gear were safely belowdecks U-198 crash dove in shallow water, managing to level off before hitting the bottom. After a short submerged run, U-198 made contact with a destroyer, which manifested itself in the form of a sudden hydrophone contact followed immediately by intensive pinging from the contact and a depth charge attack.

U-198 was able to evade this attack thanks to kobold decoys and hard turning. Another pass was made; U-198 stepped to the outside of this via a rapid turn across the destroyer's turn. At this point the hydrophones operator indicated that engine noise from the target had ceased. The current theory is that the destroyer skipper attempted to switch into reverse gearings and the engine room crew failed to stop the engines before doing so. U-198 was able to unmask the stern tubes and engage the now stationary destroyer. The first torpedo's magnetic pistol failed to fuse; the second torpedo was set to run at 1.5m and impacted the target amidships, causing it to sink very rapidly on an even keel. U-198 surfaced 1.5km from the site of this action and made good her escape.

Entry XXI
26 June 1943. 19h00. CA73-46.
Boat forced to dive again due to numerous radar signals detected by RWR. Will make a prolonged submerged run before resurfacing.

Entry XXII
27 June 1943. 05h05. CA76-75.
Dove to periscope depth due to RWR warning of search radars. Shortly afterwards, hydrophone operator warned of five warship contacts moving parallel to our course. Used attack periscope to identify contacts; four destroyers of varying classes and a fleet carrier, Essex class. As conditions were favourable, one torpedo was fired, set to intercept at medium speed, run depth ten metres. Torpedo prematurely detonated several minutes later. Taskforce accelerated to twenty-four knots, U-198 sprinting along behind at seven knots, hoping for another torpedo opportunity.

Entry XXIII
27 June 1943. 06h25. CA76-85.
Contact with American carrier taskforce lost. U-198 was inevitably outrun. Last sighted heading 160 at twenty-four knots from CA76-84.

Entry XXIV
27 June 1943. 12h02. CA79-78.
BdU informs all boats that the U-boat base at La Spezia is no longer available for operations. It seems the Mediterranean theatre is becoming very hazardous for Kriegsmarine assets. Shortly thereafter another destroyer was spotted, Clemson-class, paralleling the boat's course. It seems operations in the Caribbean will be more heavily contested than anticipated.

BdU gave us a special mission, according to some information Scapa Flow had 2 Battleships stationed in her port.
And BINGO!, HMS Hood was there..then around 10 km to west of her I found HMS Nelson.

Game crashed so I had to restart :nope: but...it was all the same except I raided Scapa at night not in the day
http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/4bba9537.png
Hood going down


Took me 2 eels to sink Nelson while Hood took me 7-8 and at least 3 of them bounced against her hull and found 1 Auxiliary Cruiser which only took me 1 eel to sink.

http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/90b3a9e8.png
Nelson throwing flares

http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/eaa723b2.png
More flares

http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/4a6ff08c.png
The fireworks visible from the bridge, I had little risk of being caught since it was night and I tried to load my remaining torpedos into the u-boat, but I only was able to load 2 before Destroyers found me and started to shot at me, in less than 1 minute my hull was down to 58%.

http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/5ea9a0db.jpg

100k tons in 1 patrol.....not bad :arrgh!:

December 1942 and U-2548 has just attacked a large convoy in BE62. Middle of the day and clear weather, but a bold approach was made at flank speed, and it payed off as two coastal freighters, a hunt class, a small merchant and a large tanker were all sunk.

Could have been better though, there were some beasts in the convoy, including two unidentified passenger liners.

Currently at 248 meters getting a right pounding from the beloved Royal Navy. :x

7th May, 1942

Oberleutnant z. S. Heinz Theis left St. Nazaire on his 4th patrol. U-436 just arrived in the north atlantic, being transfered from Salamis. After surviving the passage of Gibraltar, things start to get quite though now.

11.5.1942
---------

Spotted two single merchants. A small one of 1.800 BRT and a medium one of 2.800 BRT.

Hit the medium merchant with a single torpedo, no sinking. Startet to attack with the deck gun at night. Faced the two armed merchants at high speed and zig-zag course at 4 Km range. While trying to finish off the medium merchant, got hit on the foredeck. Result: 1 man hurt, one dead. Crash dived.

Resumed attack two hours later. Sunk both with gunnery. No casualitys.

19.5.1942
---------

Encountered a convoy after reaching patrol area in CF34. While trying to attack the outer lines an escort catched me on the surface and opend fire. Boat was hit again while crash diving. Destroyer catched me again with ASDIC. Evaded depth carges and went deep and silent.

Resurfaced two hours later and decided to pursuit the convoy. Put me on top of it during daytime, waited for sunset.

Second attack run was startet at 23:00 (20.05). The crew needs results. Decided to attack the front at PD. Silent running twoards the lead and side escort resulted in no detection. Fired two torpedos. Passenger ship (7.500 BRT) sunk immediatly. After resurfacing the second target, a empire freighter of 6700 was spotted left behind by the convoy. Engine was destroyed. Finished him with a second torpedo. Rushed away on the surface to avoid the returning destroyer.

The crew needs a break from attacking and the atlantic storm now. Ordered 30m at 3 KN for 8 hours.

24.05.1942
----------

Worring about man, who was hurt by the merchant gunnery. The boat has suffered moderate damge too. Mainly there are three options: 1. Head back to St. Nazaire; 2. Go to Vigo and supply the wounded guy; 3. carry on.

Decided to go to Vigo, don't want him to die just for some tonnage.

25.05.1942
----------

While crusing to Vigo, a small convoy was spotted. Sunk a large freighter with one torpedo. Evaded undetected.

02.06.1942
----------

Large convoy reported in range. Decided to attack.

Managed to slip through lead and side escort again. Hit a large tanker and a liberty freighter with one torpedo each. Clear noise of explosion and sinking was recognized while going to deep. The eel directly took out the 8.300 BRT tanker. Left a bolt and changed course while going down to 160m.

Fail. Escorts picked me up on ASDIC on my way down. Two of them started to chase me. Left another bold, course change of 40°. Don't panic. Had to go to ahead flank after the first attacking destroyer left some dc's above me. Explosions very near. Silent running again. The other one listend to my evasion. Again they knew where I was. Same prucedure...

1 1/2 hours later they broke off the attack and rejoined the convoy. Stood submerged till sunrise. Surfaced and had to repair the conning tower. Some dc's were too close.

IWO reported a ship - the liberty freigther. It suffered heavy damage and wasn't able to keep up with the convoy.

Already decided to go back to St. Naziare instead of Vigo, because after the dc's added even more damage to the boat, the LI recommend not to dive below 160m - unsafe while being hunted by a destroyer in good acustic conditions.

In consequence there was no need to save the torpedos anymore by attacking with the deck gun and risk to get another, maybe critical, hit or to have more casualitys. Finished off the liberty freighter and set course to St. Nazaire at 10 Kn.

It's May 2nd 1945, and we left Trondheim for our last patrol. Wish me luck. :D

What a disappointment that was. For nearly 4 days we shadowed convoy 1 into big seas rain and fog, ducking under every hour or so to keep track with sonar. Lost them once but managed to regain contact.
Getting too close to the coast so had to break off. Not taking a great deal of notice of the sonar reports, ordered the boat surfaced for a run back towards the other convoy. Next minute out of the fog comes a destroyer with all guns blazing. :o
Flank speed, a bit of damage, but managed to lose him in the crappy weather. I'm looking astern waiting for the D to come out of the fog when from a lookout "ship spotted". Turned round for a look and Oh S#it!
A T3 tanker right across the bow. Managed to miss him somehow but nearly got ourselves run down by a large cargo.
Crash dived for our second change of underpants today.
We are now, very cautiously, heading back to convoy 2 hoping for a break in the weather.

Good luck to you and your crew meduza. Your next posts will make interesting reading.

U-96
 

Aug 3, 1940

U-96 left Kiel yesterday on her first patrol..headed for KM grid AM 17..all is quiet..so far.:ping:

28th May 1942 ED98 direct to Curacao :woot:

Jan45 just leaving Bergen in an 11th Flotilla type XXIII.

Entry XXV
29 June 1943. 04h55. DC42-79.
Radio report received indicating convoy heading 025 speed 9 knots DC42-42. Moving to intercept.

Entry XXVI
29 June 1943. 07h25. DC42-66.
Contact made with convoy. Weather very poor. Dove to 20m when RWR began receiving surface search set signals. Attempting to make contact on hydrophone now. Weather may force us to abort the attack.

Entry XXVII
29 June 1943. 07h45. DC42-66.
Contact made. Nine vessels thus far, two believed to be escorts. Advancing on the convoy now to attempt a visual contact.

Entry XXVIII
29 June 1943. 08h05. DC42-66.
Visual contact made, twelve kilometres from convoy's South-East-East. Have ID'd several tankers. Will attempt to close for an attack, though due to rough weather and convoy's speed this is not likely to be terribly effective.

Entry XXIX
29 June 1943. 08h40. DC42-66.
Fired one ato at a Modern Tanker set to six metres rundepth range 8560 metres. Torpedo launched perfectly. Boat began diving to twenty meters, altered course to intercept again in thirty minutes, then the torpedo detonated prematurely. Began diving deep and away from the convoy as they now know we're here and the weather has rendered our weapons ineffective.

Entry XXX
1 July 1943. 12h05. DC89-42.
U-198 has received word that the U-boat base in Penang is now operational. The boat will complete its patrol and return to Lorient before rebasing to Penang, as fuel states and crew morale will likely prohibit a direct transfer to Penang from our operational area. There is a notable lack of resupply vessels; at the moment only U-488 and Max Albrecht are available to Atlantic boats, with the latter currently holed up in El Ferrol, Spain. Charlotte Schliemann is operating in the South Indian Ocean, which makes for a total of three servicing the entire Ubootswaffe.

Entry XXXI
1 July 1943. 14h45. DN31-59.
COmpleted a deep diving test. Boat successfully dove to 153 metres and returned after a ballast-blow with no problems. This, despite battle damage incurred earlier in the patrol. LI and the D/C crew are to be commended on a job well done in keeping U-198 mission capable.

January 1943 and encountered a US taskforce near Rockall. Four Clemsons escorting a Bogue class, and I've had some success. Managed to sink one and damage two of the destroyers, leaving me free to attack the main prize, and despite getting harrased by aircraft, I had the last laugh and sunk the carrier.

Those pilots will have to ditch in the sea. Unlucky lads. :arrgh!: