A sad end for U-518
 

5 May 1942
Grid .....
Convoy attack

Depth charged by lucky escort while at periscope depth
All engines destroyed both electric and diesels
Heavy flooding
Surface the boat to save the crew but ....
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/8514/asadend.jpg
This is a 16K ton converted whale factory ship ramming a IXC Uboat
All hands lost.

U159 IXC. Patrol 5.
 

27.sep.43
Underway from Lorient, by the light of day, at 1032.

Assigned grid is GR51.
It would seem that U159 has impressed BDU as a good Capetown boat, and the result is that we're on our way back.

Captain and crew are saddened by the loss of U518.
And so shortly after her daring exploits in The Western Atlantic.

We managed to cross The Bay surfaced by night, and submerged by day, without incident.
U159 remained on the surface while hugging the coasts of Spain and Portugal.

Our problems began after leaving those shores behind.

CG76 - CG79 - DH39 A L A R M !
Gibralter got a fix on our position, and has been sending pilots to drop in for a visit.
Weather is calm and clear. Moon is full.
Have been reduced to remaining submerged, except to recharge batteries and freshen air.
This has become a very good area to avoid, if possible. (Not possible for us on this patrol.)

Present position is north of The Canaries on the DH65-DH62 border.
Report date: 12.okt.43
Report time: 0350 (Just prior to predawn dive).

Hopefuly the situation will improve on passage through The Canaries.
Would love to "add another gear", but can't afford the fuel.

Our 1943 torpedo loadout is 1 FAT in tube 3, and 9 G7Es to fill out the bow. 1 FAT in tube 6, and 3 G7Es to fill out the stern.

Can't blame you for that.
Been there in both VIIB and IXB.

VIIB: I went in North, and out South.
Freshening the air was a major problem for me in the south, due to Elco Patrol Boats.

IXB: Took the northern route both ways, and was realy happy to reach the deep end of AM53.

They realy made you earn your paycheck this time.
Congradulations on completing the toughest grid.
Best of luck for a safe passage home.

Ouch...

Pretty much the definition of how to make a bad day even worse! :damn:

Patrol 1, U-552
 

Leutnant z.s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotilla, Bergen
Orders: Patrol grid AK13

23.6.1942
16:08 AL29. Clear, visibility 8 - 9 kilometers, wind 1m/s. BDU informs us that a large convoy with a course NE and speed 7 knots has been spotted at AL61, 250 kilometers from us. To intercept we have to cross an area that might be reachable by the air patrols from Iceland. Intercept course 70 degrees, speed GF.

24.6.1942
02:45 AL37. Cloudy, no rain, visibility 12 - 13 kilometers, wind 3 m/s. BDU informs us that the convoy is now in grid AL39, only 40 kilometers from us, estimated course 41 degrees.

BDU also informs that U-518 has sunk an escort carrier, but that unfortunately the boat and apparently all of the crew were lost on the next patrol they undertook. My crew seems nervous, hoping success against the convoy we are trying to intercept, while knowing that what happened to U-518 could happen to us too.

I have ordered the torpedoes to readied, partly because I expect them to be needed soon, partly because I want the crew to concentrate on their tasks, and not on the sad news about U-518.

We are now on the process of estimating our new intercept course. If the contact report is even remotely accurate, we will probably attack some time today or the next night.

Unger

Her Kaleun M.Miklaszewski 3th November 1939, 3rd patrol, 7th flotilla, type VIIB, not much sunk from begining August 1st: a large Polish merchant and a British medium merchant for only about 14k tons. Went out near Gibraltar as main course, near the eastern coast of GB spotted the famous Battleship Roodney and 6 or more destroyers with him.Got myself close, periscope depth. Periscope is in line with waves.Range is 4000 meters and closing 10knots(makman and olc fantastic tools). The operation of killing Roodney and escape is surely on. :) Then I saved and went to a party ^^

Hope the party was as much fun as the game! :yep:

Patrol 1, U-552
 

Leutnant z.s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotilla, Bergen
Orders: Patrol grid AK13

27.6.1942
Cloudy, raining, visibility 500 - 1000 meters. Getting in position to make a third attack on a large convoy now on grid AL38, west of Rockall. Convoy's speed 7 knots, course estimated 112 degrees.

Our first attack in good weather conditions didn't succeed, because the convoy made a hard turn eastwards just before I could get in range. The weather changed and the second attempt was made in lousy visibility. I managed to sneak submerged into the convoy, between two lines on the port side of the convoy. Two front torpedoes and one aft torpedoes shot. One torpedo wasted, because the weapons officer forgot to switch the AOB to starboard. One 2200 BRT frachter sunk and one 6800 BRT frachter damaged, but only slightly. Had to use another torpedo to finish the 2200 BRT frachter. Easy escape submerged, 2 knots silent running, 150 meters, no DC's dropped. The convoy is only guarded by a frigate on the front and a corvette on the back. There is a light cruiser inside the convoy. Nine torpedoes left.

I was thinking about trying to sink the escorts, but bad weather makes estimating courses and speeds uncertain, as well as potentially affecting torpedoes depth keeping. I was also hoping to attack from outside the convoy, but visibility is too low. I'm hoping that the weather clears, so I could get a decent opportunity to sink that cruiser and not just some unlucky small rustbucket that happens to wander to my sights in this awful visibility.

Unger

New Career U-36 VIIB
 

Patrol No 2 (No1 was the shakedown patrol)
U-36 was ordered to patrol BF19
No way to cross der Kanal so we had to make our way around England

8 September 1939
15:48 hours U-36 left Wilhelmshaven in clear weather

12 September 1939
Grid AN44
10:31 hours . An Anson attacked out of the sun. My flak gunner shot him down

13 September 1939
Grid AN14
07:46 hours. A second Anson decided to take us on. One more for my flak gunner

15 September 1939
Grid AM35
14:21 hours It looks like those Ansons wiil not let us alone. A third shot down. An Iron cross second class and a promotion for my flak gunner ASAP

16 September 1939
Grid AM53
Convoy attack 4 bow + 1 stern torpedoes fired
19:52 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo
19:53 hours Q ship sunk by 1 bow torpedo
19:54 hours Small merchant sunk by 1 bow torpedo

20 September 1939
Grid BF19
Convoy attack 4 bow + 1 stern torpedoes fired
19:24 hours V&W DD sunk by 1 bow torpedo aimed at a whale factory ship
Whale factory ship hit twice but escaped
The other escort of the convoy managed to get a fix on pur position but his attack didn't cause but minor damages

23 September 1939
Grid BF15
07:16 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 24 88mm rounds

25 September 1939
Grid AM55
01:30 hours Motor vesel sunk by 27 88mm rounds

03:50 hours Passenger/cargo hit by 2 bow torpedoes + 1 stern missed. She escaped as the the weather denied us the use of the deck gun

30 September 1939
18:45 hours U-36 docked at Wilhelmshaven
6 ships sunk
9810 tons
3 aircrafts shot down

Snestorm, that was a great tip and your hunting wishes brought me luck. After a quick patrol north of Trondheim, I cruised west, had some bad weather, then wandered down south to check out AN18 & AN44. I struck good weather and, still on my way to your suggestions, in AN14, I sunk 4 ships! Among them a T2 tanker and a C2 cargo. All 4 sunk between 2.00 and 20.00 on the same day, the last 3 within an area of radius 17km.

Total so far, 26000t. 5 torps left (3 torps missed). Now off to finish them and head home. I hope by my next patrol, France has fallen. I want to get to the Atlantic and to the US.

BTW, which French bases do you guys favour. I don't know why, but I always choose Lorient. Brest is too close to the English Channel, and the other three... I dunno why I don't consider them.

Snestorm, I've never had a patrol assignment to Cape Town. Did you choose it via SH3Commander or is it due to a mod? (I live in Cape Town.)

Hey Snestorm and Sublynx.

Have you guys ever figured out how to mod out those 2 ships convoys fom 1943-1945??

I opened the Campaign layers and got a little overwhlemed with all the crap on there. Shew. :nope: Now i know why i dont mod. But it looks as simple as a deletion of an entry from 1943-1945

Well I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but I'm watching The American. And a ship comes on to screen and the first thing I think is: 'That's looks like an Ore Carrier! woohoo 6500 tons!" How weird is that.... :haha::nope:

Same problem here. The file is really big. But I might try to modify it anyway when I get the time. I'll let you know if I find those 2 ship convoys, but I'm not sure when I get enough time on my hands to start going through the file.

U-36 VIIB
 

Patrol No 3
30 October 1939
14:00 hours
U-36 left home port with orders to patrol Grid AM23

3 November 1939
22:19 hours , grid AN14
While on the surface U-36 came across an enemy small freighter. To our surprise the freighter opened fire with one 5 inch gun. The deck fun crew rushed into position and answered back. 19 88mm rounds were enough. The aim of the freighters gunners was awful.

4 November 1939
13:36 hours grid AN13
A harbour tugboat was sunk with a single 88mm round

9 November 1939
01:44 hours grid AM52
One TI was fired at a large merchant in calm seas. The torpedo was dud. U-36 surfaced and fired 52 88mm rounds to sink the enemy ship.

11 November 1939
03:40 hours grid AM2
Medium cargo was sunk by 3 TIs. Weather was bad heavy seas 12m/s winds no rain.
17:53 hours grid AM52
Small freighter was sunk by 1 TI torpedo in bad weather. Contact was established via hydrophone

13 November 1939
04:17 hours grid AM52
Small freighter sunk by 1 TI torpedo. Contact was made by sighting.

21 November 1939
21:00 hours grid AN55
Passenger /cargo sunk by 39 88mm rounds

30 November 1939
07:39 hours grid AN14
Small freighter sunk by 31 88mm rounds

2 December 1939
12:47 hours
U-36 returned safely at Wilhelmshaven
8 ships sunk
27416 tons
34 days at sea
No crew losses.

I'm glad the tip worked out well for you. I try to keep an eye out, and share when I can.

Capetown:
Although it has some nice features, I don't use SH3Commander.
Although my 2. Flotilla Mod may increase the chances of going to Capetown, stock sent me there quite often also. It's generaly a grid for IXs during the latter years of the war.

It's quite a ride down there. Realy pushes the fuel, especialy for IXBs. I go where they send me, but if I were to pick my own grids they'd almost always be The Western North Atlantic.

Never made it to your hometown on my last patrol, but BDU has me set to head that way again on the next patrol. Aircraft out of Capetown have taken their toll on more than one of my boats. So, when I get a Capetown patrol, I always assume it's going to be my last patrol.