U159 IXC. Patrol 7 final.
25.aug.44
DF18 At 1247 ZT (Zone Time) U159 was depth charged and sunk by a USN DE, while attempting a daylight submerged attack against a USA - Gibralter convoy. U159 reported the convoy on a course of 094 and making 6 knots, but made no additional reports thereafter. The Campaign consisted of 3 Boat Careers. U6 IIA: 3 war patrols between 1.sep.39 and 7.mar.40. 2 merchants sunk for 4.389 GRT. Boat retired from frontline service to become a schoolboat. U122 IXB (my darling boat): 7 war patrols between 2.maj.40 and 20.feb.42. 29 merchants sunk for 211.398 GRT. Boat retired from frontline service to become a schoolboat. U159 IXC: 7 war patrols between 17.apr.42 and 25.aug.44. 12 merchants sunk for 109.354 GRT. 2 warships of 2.240 tonne sunk. Sunk in grid DF18 by a USN Destroyer Escort, while attempting a convoy attack. All hands lost. Commander, 4 officers, 19 POs, and 32 ratings. (Error #1 was trying to go deep at high speed following a very general attack. Not staying at silent speed cost the boat.) I've got an appointment with '39 again. |
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If I make it later the TI FATI is OK and the TIV and TV. Sorry about the the loss of U-159 Welcome back to 1939!:salute: |
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The T1 FaT1 is a great torpedo, but then they ruin the concept later with the FaT2. The reason for the G7E wasn't quality, but quantity. It took 3 times the man-hours to build (the superior) G7A, than it did for the high maintnance, low performance G7E. |
U-552, Patrol 4
Ob.lt. z. s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC 11. Flotille, Bergen Orders: Freie jagd, sea area between Norway and Bäreninsel 3.10.1942 02:29 AN24 Cloudy, visibility 8 - 9 kilometers, wind 7 m/s. Just started our fourth patrol. The boat was fitted with an Alberich anti-ASDIC coating and an extra day of work was needed to repair the damage to the ship's pressure hull that was caused by a destroyer's gunfire in our last patrol. We had inspected the damage at the port of Bodö and I had decided to return to Bergen for repairs. The brass commented that I was not aggressive enough, to return to base for minor damages. I was promoted to Ob.lt. z.s., however, so probably not much harm done. While refitting the ship, to a great shock of us all, we hear that U-159 has been lost. The commander and the crew was known to us all from many patrols back and it's a black day indeed, but I must concentrate on getting my boat and crew to tiptop shape for the next patrol. 8.10.1942 20:46 650 km SW of Bäreninsel. Cloudy, visibility 8 - 9 kilometers, wind 7 m/s. Icebergs sighted. A beautiful sight and at the same time, a warning for the watch crew to keep their eyes open. I looked at this magnificent sight of nature and couldn't help but mourning the loss of U-159. http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3430/icebergmoon.png 12.10.1942 05:35 Länge 21, 52' Ost, Breite 73, 13' Nord. Clear, visibility 8 - 9 kilometers, wind 15 m/s. At at 00:10 and 01:15 contact reports received from BdU. Reconnaissance pilots flying from Alta did a really good job: the sightings were so accurate that we were able to pinpoint the convoy's course exactly. 266 degrees, 7 knots. Nice over-sea navigation by the pilots! With no landmarks they have had to calculate their location, and obviously they did it spot on. Seven Metox warnings received while approaching the convoy from the starboard side. Area checked regularly with hydrophone, visibility 7 – 8 km, not much chance of getting surprised like the last time we had Metox warnings. At 03:01 ships were sighted. Two destroyers, one destroyer escort, one patrol boat and 16 merchants seen, but very likely there are more. An A&B destroyer as a front guard and a Tribal as starboard first guard. My attack course was 176 degrees, trying for an outside shot. Approached submerged at PD. The Tribal passed us from behind at a distance of 2000 meters. Suddenly it changed course towards the convoy and us. It came to a distance of only a couple of hundred meters at a very fast speed, but didn't notice us. We had to wait for it steaming away from us, before we were able to continue calculating a solution. The Tribal took a post in front of the convoy, slowing down to listen, judging by the hydrophone screws. A 9000 BRT merchant, presumably the second ship at the middle column, was chosen as target. At 04:11 rohr 1 was launched: range 4000 meters, speed 7 kn, schusswinkel 359, AOB 70, bearing 347 and right after that rohr 2 at a bearing of 346. The first G7e was aimed at the bow and the second between the funnel and the bridge. The range was long, but there were plenty of ships in the vicinity of the target and I thought that it would be possible to hit something, even if the solution would be wrong. We shot only two torpedoes, because the second starboard guard was getting too close to us for further estimations. A dive was begun at silent speed, RPM 100. After about four minutes two explosions were heard and afterwards a ship exploding. Presumed a certain sinking, but because of the distance, not sure if it was our intended target or another ship. When the eels hit, our boat was diving at silent speed towards A+80 at a depth of 25 meters. We were immediately picked up by Asdic. The pings sounded very strong and I decided to crash dive. One Bold canister was launched immediately and a hard turn was started to lose the Asdic contact. Another Bold canister was launched when were deep enough to go back to silent running. A course change at silent speed was made. Two to three destroyers were dropping DC's, at times almost at the same time. I had no situational awareness of the situation. There were too many ships at close range, merchant sounds on the background, and fast bearing changes from the destroyers. However the DC's exploded nowhere close and I can only assume that the enemy were chasing the decoys, and probably doing that very accurately. All in all, at least seven sets of DC's were dropped. While descending I ordered the RPM’s to 70 when I felt too uncomfortable and then back to 100 RPM, when I felt the hunters had lost us. At A+80 a course was taken away from the closest escorts. We have now escaped and are getting ready for another approach. 10 G7e's left inside the boat and 2 G7a's outside. Unger |
Patrolling CG89, the western approaches to Gibraltar, at PD, heading 000.
I hear a single high speed screw bearing 305, and smack my sonar operator on the head. While tracking it to get a heading, another shows up, but man that is a high bearing rate. They are MOVING! I plot an intercept, but it soon becomes evident I'm not gonna get close enough. (I have no flank speed, a malfunction which showed up off the west coast of Spain) I cried a little tear as I watched a Nelson, Revenge, and 2 Southampton class ships escorted by only 3 destroyers steam by to the north at 21 knots. The closest was the Revenge class at 7700 meters CPA, and I only had electrics loaded in the bow tubes. :wah: |
Oblt. Wolfgang Grimm
U-127, Type IXB Patrol 1: BE68, 12/4/1939 - 12/31/1939. Set out from Wilhelmshaven and headed northwest. By the 10th, an estimated 17,800 tons of British merchant shipping, as well as a destroyer on the 9th. Sustained light damage from a coastal patrol craft on the 11th in the Hebridean Sea. A convoy was intercepted on the 13th. In the first strike, the HMS Nelson was sunk along with about a 7,000 ton collier. The second strike took out another 8,800 tons. Heavy seas likely resulted in no survivors. During the remainder of the patrol, about 36,000 tons of merchant shipping were sunk. An engagement with a Q-Ship on the 27th resulted in light damage, with the Q-Ship destroyed. Returned with a somewhat twisted forward deck and a weakened fuel tank. Total: 18 merchants, 3 warships sunk. 69,400 tons of shipping. |
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In a book by Lawrence Paterson (U-boat War Patrol: The Hidden Photographic Diary of U-564) there is a description how Teddy Suhren and U-564 met Rodney and Nelson in a perfect firing position - and just at the crucial moment they changed the course... Now the mood at the U-boat at that real life situation, I can't imagine at all!! |
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My next planned step for toughening up SH3 was (is) a steep reduction in the number of steamers carried. As you've involuntarily demonstrated, this can make a big dent in the tonnage. No guarantees of a hit at that range, especialy with a fast target, but it's a shame that you were deprived an oppertunity to try. |
My last career got corrupted: I couldn't enter port to dock at the end of the patrol so I deleted it.
New career started: U-50 VIIB Details to follow I think that Kaleun Snestorm is about to sail off soon. I hape we have time-paraller careers |
U-50 VIIB
Patrol No1
01 August 1939 - 04 August 1939 Shakedown patrol Drills and exercises conducted : Deck gun and flak funs fired and a torpedo was fired at nowhere Patrol No2 03 September 1939 U-50 set for her maiden war patrol. Orders were to patrol grid AN11 07 September 1939 Grid AN14 10:42 hours Enemy coastal tanker sighted. U-50 dived and a perfect position for a stern shot was obtained. Fire 5. Torpedo los Eel ist im Wasser And ... it passed astern. The youngster at the aft torpedo room failed to open the tube in time. His name was Bernard. 16:18 hours Enemy coastal freighter sunk with 23 88mm rounds. The weather was very good (0m/s winds) so we dared to move in the external torpedo. We were lucky and the operation was completed with no problems 18:31 hours We have just finished the moving of the torpedo when an other coastal freighter showed up. The deck gun crew fell quickly into position and 27 88mm rounds did the job. 09 September 1939 Grid AN11 14:54 hours Coastal tanker sunk by 1 bow torpedo 12 September 1939 Grid AM52 14:44 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo 23:03 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo 13 September 1939 Grid AM52 13:29 hours Tugboat sunk by 1 stern torpedo. The youngster performed exellently this time. 17:39 hours Medium cargo cargo sunk after long chase using 3 bow + 1 stern torpedoes 22:58 hours. While on the surface U-50 was surprised by an armed merchant vessel and took minor damage, After diving to PC the armed merchant was sunk by 1 bow torpedo. 20 September 1939 Grid AN11 11:49 hours Granville type freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo 21 September 1939 Grid AN14 06:48 hours Large merchant sunk by 2 bow torpedoes 24 September 1939 20:26 hours U-50 returned to Wilhelmshaven von Harris went straight to HQ to file an official report of the armed merchant. He was greeted by the flottila commander who told him about the British Q-ships. von Harris' report just confirmed their existance. An order was issued for all commanders to pay attention. von Harris joined Kaleun Snestrom at the officer's club and told him all about this new threat. 22 days at sea 10 ships sunk 32616 tons no casualties 91% hull integrity |
I've read numerous places on this forum that there are no real wolfpacks in game.
Last night I received a report of a large enemy convoy approaching Gibraltar and saw the icon on the map. A surprisingly short time later, the original icon had not decayed, I received an updated report. This time the icon had 2 circles trailing it!! :yeah: A Type VII and a a type IX were already hitting it! As I awaited the convoy from in front, through the scope I saw a distant explosion followed some time later by a gray ship sunk icon on the nav map. (Score another one for the goody guys! :()1:) Has anyone else ever seen an axis submarine attack? I've previously seen the evidence of attacks, but never an attack itself. 22,000 tonnes lighter, the convoy steamed through the straits. :up: EDIT: Here's a thought. The game simulated the attack out of my visual range, and I witnessed a secondary explosion and subsequent sinking? Maybe? Quite a few ships were on fire when I got to the convoy, including one of the escorts, a Black Swan. No clouds, winds 9m/s, no rain so I'm pretty sure it wasn't storm damage. |
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U-552, patrol 4, back at port
Ob.lt. z. s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC 11. Flotille, Bergen 21.10.1942 Patrol report. A heavily guarded inbound convoy south of Bear island attacked three times for seven ships sunk and 44579 BRT. 12 G7e's used. http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/776/patrol4.png Observations made. 1. Alberich coating seemed to be working very well. We were not chased at all in two of our three attacks and even the time we were attacked, the enemy only noticed us after the first torpedo had exploded. 2. The enemy convoy had a wide formation (columns maybe 1 - 2 kilometers apart) for the day time and a narrow formation ( columns about 500 meters apart) for the night time. 3. After attacking the convoy it might be advantageous to exit to the opposite direction the convoy is moving - there might be stragglers following the convoy that can picked off easily. 4. External torpedoes can be loaded in friendly ports, even if it's windy.* *This is of course of help only to those players that play by the selfmade rule that external torpedoes can only be loaded in good weather. Sailing to a port will probably calm the weather - SH3 can't handle ports in 15 m/s winds: ships would collide hear and there, so sailing to a port means the wind will start to calm before you enter (at least in my game, but who knows if this applies to all versions of SH3/GWX/etc). Even if the wind does not change, I think it could be considered realistic to load the torps anyway. Ports are built in places where waves can't hit with their full force and ports have facilities that would make the loading easier. |
U-35, U-Flotilla Saltzwedel
Oberleutnant Karl Linke, Kommandant Patrol 2 Left at: August 19, 1939, 20:13 From: Wilhelmshaven Mission Orders: Patrol grid BF18 4.9.39. 08:54 Grid BF 17 Ship sunk: SS Aldan (Small Freighter), 1854 tons Cargo: Grain. Crew: 33. Crew lost: 9 6.9.39. Grid BF 17 13:06 Ship sunk: SS Wild Wave (Medium Cargo), 3871 tons Cargo: Military Vehicles. Crew: 59. Crew lost: 25 13:09 Ship sunk: SS Christian Holm (Tanker), 8505 tons Cargo: Aviation Fuel. Crew: 63. Crew lost: 60 Grid BE 39 23:12 Ship sunk: MV Anna Knudsen (Tanker), 8595 tons Cargo: Crude Oil. Crew: 49. Crew lost: 13 14.9.39. Grid BF 14 08:35 Ship sunk: SS Ninghai (Small Freighter), 1855 tons Cargo: Foodstuffs. Crew: 27. Crew lost: 9 16.9.39. Grid BE 36 09:14 Ship sunk: SS City of Bombay (Large Merchant), 9972 tons Cargo: Scrap Metal. Crew: 106. Crew lost: 73 17.9.39. Grid BE 39 10:49 Ship sunk: SS Torres (Medium Merchant), 5173 tons Cargo: Textiles. Crew: 77. Crew lost: 53 14:09 Ship sunk: SS Kaipara (Medium Merchant), 6159 tons Cargo: Mail/Packages. Crew: 44. Crew lost: 31 14:13 Ship sunk: MV Backhuysen (Medium Tanker), 3491 tons Cargo: Aviation Fuel. Crew: 54. Crew lost: 16 Returned: September 27, 1939, 12:51 To: Wilhelmshaven Patrol results Crew losses: 0 Ships sunk: 9 Aircraft destroyed: 0 Patrol tonnage: 49475 tons Promotions Matrosengefreiter Fritz Hüttinger, to Matrosenobergefreiter Matrosengefreiter Gerhard Böhling, to Matrosenobergefreiter Medals & Awards Elektro Obermaschinist Erich Kahls, Iron Cross 2nd Class Lost my 10th kill of the patrol on Sept 19 when the innocent looking merchie I snuck up on in the dark turned out to be armed and ready to take us on... probably a Q-ship. First time I've not been able to take one of them out, even after they started shooting back. Got too close on the surface - nice for that first shot, an impact that hit 'em right where I was aiming... but not so nice when they realized I was there and opened fire! :damn: We began taking damage immediately and I gave the alarm. The LI put us 70 meters down toot sweet and fortunately we had no casualties among the bridge crew or in the damaged compartments. Possibly it was a blessing that the sea was too rough to man the guns or no doubt I would've had men out on the the deck preparing to finish off the target once we'd pulled away to a safer distance after the first eel hit. Initial report was that both diesels and e-machines were damaged along with the compressor and aft battery. We had flooding in the stern crew quarters and our radio was out. Once the critical issues were addressed we began ascending back to periscope depth... both 'scopes were in questionable condition but I was able to raise the attack scope and try to line up another shot on our intended victim. Set one of our last two eels to impact and let 'er rip, looked like a perfectly lined up shot too, but it hit the ship and didn't go boom. :stare: With one eel left and the target still making way despite whatever damage was done by our initial attack, I altered course just enough to put a magnetic under her keel... or so I thought. Maybe the 'scopes were in worse shape than I realized, or maybe the eels were duds... we were still too close for the shots to have been off by that much if everything was working right. Anyway, no dice, and the first hit wasn't enough to sink her, so we had to let her go. So we began the long journey home sans radio, as it turned out our antenna was kaput. Sighted a number of juicy lone merchants on the way, but had no eels left and with winds of 13-15 m/s the whole way we couldn't use the guns. And we couldn't send a contact report to give anyone else around a chance at 'em either. Oh well, we finished just shy of 50k GRT for our first combat patrol... nicht schlecht, herr Kaleun! :arrgh!: Needless to say after over a week with no reports of our location or situation, the boys at Wili were glad to see us chugging into the harbor. We signalled to a passing patrol that our radio was out and they called it in, and it wasn't long before a trusty little minesweeping friend arrived to escort us home. Also I think I get bonus points for actually taking all my damage during the patrol, as opposed to bouncing off the gates and sides of the locks on the way in and out. :yeah: :O: |
After some time not playing SH3 due to being away on HOL in R/L, I am back with my commander, "Walter Suhr" who's skipper of U-93.
We are Currently located in AM94. LATEST EVENTS: After destroying a small-ish steamer (some 1000grt aprox) we persued a sound contact in the bristol channel (Aug, 1941). Some time later, two prop contacts have become one, BUT we are in visual range - however the contact eventually turns out to be a "HUNT III" class destroyer. The DD made a number of runs against us but wasn't very good at his accuracy. After around an hour or so, we managed to lose our pursuer by tactically changing depth and running quiet, whilst also presenting a small profile to the enemy. Just before dawn the following day an ALARM is triggered when 2x Hurricane fighters are spotted. However they are at high altitude and clearly haven't spotted us. We continue up "ST George's Channel" and towards wexford with a view to finding any targets in what looks like a possible anchorage, found on the chart by the navigator. |
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PS. Good to see you back at sea... :up: |
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U-50 VIIB
Patrol No3
24 October 1939 02:42 hours U-50 left Wilhelmshaven to patrol grid BE99 northwest of Spain 28 October 1939 Grid AN14 12:21 hours Small trawler spotted in bad weather. U-50 dived to avoid detection and continued on her course as the target didn't worth a torpedo. 29 October 1939 Grid AN13 02:24 hours A motor vessel was seen in 15m/s winds U-50 dived and carried on undetected. 10 November 1939 Grid BF18 11:55 hours Small merchant sunk by 1 bow torpedo 12 November 1939 Grid BF17 Convoy attack. Sole escort was a Polish destroyer 4 bow + 1 stern torpedoes fired , 4 hits scored 13:58 hours Passenger/cargo sunk by 1 bow torpedo 14:06 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 1 stern torpedo. 16 November 1939 Grid BF17 Convoy attack in fog and rain (submerged) 17:20 hours 4 bow torpedo fired 1 hit scored but no ships sunk With no torpedo left (only the externals) U-50 set course for home 18 November 1939 Grid AM54 13:08 hours Tramp steamer sunk by 29 88mm rounds The weather calmed down , winds fell to 0m/s so we were able to move in the external torpedoes. 1 bow + 1 stern tubes loaded. 20 November 1939 Grid AN13 07:59 hours Motor vessel sunk by 22 88mm rounds 10:03 hours U-50 crash dived to avoid enemy aircraft. 23 November 1939 05:25 hours U-50 docked at Wilhelmshaven soaking wet in heavy rain and very bad weather 31 days at sea 5 ships sunk 8590 tons No damages or casualties It was good to know that U-35 Frau Kaleun was out at sea again. Gute Jadg FK. No news of Snestorm yet. |
U-50 VIIB
I had some time off in real life so I have managed to complete one more patrol
Patrol No4 23 December 1939 21:54 hours U-50 set out to sea 29 December 1939 Grid AN14 12:15 hours Coastal tanker was missed by 1 stern torpedo. I didn't chase her anymore 01 January 1940 The New Year found U-50 at grid AM31 sailing west doing 7-8 knots on the surface. The weather was awful but the New year was celebrated with beer for everyone. 05 January 1940 Grid AE79 21:04 hours An enemy destroyer showed up all of a sudden. U-50 managed to dive undetected. The hydrophones revealed an armed merchant cruiser and an aux cruiser behind the leading DD. A shot position was obtained easily as the enemy ships were not zigzagging 2 bow torpedoes fired on the AMC and 1 bow on the Aux cruiser and U-50 started to turn immediately away from the scene 2 explosions rocked the AMC and she sunk within minutes , but the torpedo that hit the aux was a dud. The stern tube was fired at the aux but at not a preferable angle and it didn't explode. U-50 dived at 100m and left the area safe and sound 15 January 1940 Grid AD83 20:30 hours heavy fog and rain. U-50 was literally run over by an enemy convoy. In the confusion occured there , 4 bow tubes were fired 21:04 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo 21:25 hours Small merchant sunk by 1 bow torpedo. A troop transport of 8000grt and the RMS Laconia passed 100m in front of my attack scope: too close to fire but to far to ram me. 25 January 1940 Grid AN48 18:31 hours Tramp steamer sunk by 2 bow torpedoes. She was already on fire possibly a Luftwaffe attack. 27 January 1940 11:21 hours U-50 docked at home port 36 days at sea 4 ships sunk 20511 tons No damages or casualties |
September 16th, 1939
Patrol 1 We've been patrolling the English Channel for about half a month and have scored four kills for 20,000 tons. We have about three quarters of our fuel left and enough torpedoes to possibly get even another 20,000 tons if we are lucky. The patrol has been somewhat uneventful, although one Allied aircraft attempted to bomb us while we were attacking a lone merchant with the deck gun, only one bomb was dropped before it called off the attack probably to avoid damaging the merchant, no damage or casualties. Dodged a group of three patrolling destroyers by resting silently on the ocean floor as they passed overhead. (God I love doing that) Good to be starting a new campaign! :arrgh!: |
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