U 113 (IXC) - 3rd War Patrol - Continuing outbound voyage
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+++++ KTB - U 113 Thursday, 25 December 1941 - North of the Azores - 0800 - Early Morning Dawn. 0918 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since Etmal. 1200 - Qu.9777BD - Days Run: 179.7sm - ↗ 170.9sm (21h) - ↘ 8.8sm (3h). 207.5cbm (2.6cbm/24h). On course 256°. Battery 9300Ah. 14 internal and 8 external torpedoes. Weather unchanged since last Etmal. 1302 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.: Second position and status request for U 567 (Endraß!) and third position and status request for U 79 (Kaufmann), boat is presumed lost. (U 79, VIIC, Kptlt. Wolfgang Kaufmann, was sunk on 23 December 1941 in the Mediterranean Sea north of Sollum, in position 32.15N, 25.19E, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Hasty and HMS Hotspur. 44 survivors, no casualties.) Cmdr.: Surely, Endraß has merely some problems with his radio equipment, which is not uncommon on board of Uboats ... 1801 - Norddeich Radio sending report about the Japanes Army taking Hongkong and capturing 26 ships for 52,604ts, in the harbor. The island of Jolo in the Sulu Sea of the Philippins is also being occupied by the Japanes. 1819 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since Etmal, 24 Dec. Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag". RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
February 5, 1940 AN79
0634 U48 has made it through the Channel once again. Weather got worse during the night: overcast with medium rain and poor visibility. That was helpful, our sonar operator kept alerting us about the warships movement in the area and we could easily cahnge our course accordingly and easily slip through them unnoticed. There were also a couple of merchants contact in the area but we never had a chance to hunt them. We would have had to surface and risk bumping into some warship. The risk was too high. We are now sailing northward and recharging batteries. We will dive in a while to check with our sonar. 0703 U48 just dived and we got multiple sounds contacts: warships south of us as expected but there is also a merchant NW of us which seems to be coming our way. Perhaps we have a target for our last torpedo... 0722 We are diving again after a quick dash on the surface. If we guessed her course properly we should be closer now...yes, we can hear her now...much closer but a bit more to the west than expected...she was on a SE course...perhaps she changed course to the south and is now heading for the Dover area?...mmm...no waship close enough to be an immediate threat...let's surface again and change course to WSW...Ahead flank! Surface the boat! 0734 U48 is down at periscope depth again and I think we are in a very good position! Visibility is really poor but our contact is north of us and at close range and should be visible quite soon. I expect her to be heading almost straight south, so we are slowly crawling to the West. 0737 Ship spotted! She is emerging from the fog right now...a tanker?...yes, seems like a small tanker heading south...she is going to pass behind us...we risk losing her in the fog...back full! We must close the gap...visibility is so poor I don't think they would spot our periscope... 0739 back slow! We are close enough and there is not much time...target range is about 500 meters...speed...I'll go with 9 knots...problem is depth...with this waves she is bouncing like crazy...I'll go with a magnetic set for 5 meters...Ato running fast...AoB...85° starboard...open tube 5...aiming at mid ship...fire!...torpedo is away...seems like she is somewhat slower than expected...Impact!...I love magnetics!...when they work out fine. Got her a tad forward than planned but that's good...she is burning! 0746 She dipped her nose quite often and slowed down to a crawl...now she is going down! Another good target! Time to leave the area, warships are coming from the south but I think we will be long gone when they will arrive here. Ship sunk! MV Zenith (Small Tanker), 4314 tons. Cargo: Crude Oil. Crew: 15. Crew lost: 4 February 8, 1940 Kiel 0320 U48 just entered the port area. Nothing happened on the way back, we got just a contact in grid AN84 but the weather was so horrible we couldn't have used our deck gun so I didn't try to get close. This storm followed us all the way back here and really I'm going to take a long hot bath to wash away the dirt and cold. This was a good patrol, we managed to sink 11 ships: 3 warships and 8 cargo...that Whale Factory ship was worth the risk, that's a big prize. Warships escorting cargo is going to be an issue. ASW Trawler are an hindrance but if they were destroyer it would be really risky to attack in those shallow waters. We'll see... Patrol results Crew losses: 0 Ships sunk: 11 Aircraft destroyed: 0 Patrol tonnage: 39157 tons edit: Merry Christmas fellow Kaleuns! Plenty big preys to all of you! |
U 113 (IXC) - 3rd War Patrol - Endraß lost!
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+++++ KTB - U 113 Friday, 26 December 1941 - NNW of the Azores - 0250 - Qu.2155CE - On new course 261°. 0805 - Early Morning Dawn. 0927 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since Etmal, 24 Dec. 1200 - Qu.1382CE - Days Run: 194.6sm - (↗ 24h). 204.8cbm (2.7cbm/24h). On course 261°. Battery 9300Ah. 14 internal and 8 external torpedoes. Weather unchanged in 48h. 1202 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.: Third position and status request for U 567 (Endraß!), boat is presumed lost. (U 567, VIIC, Kptlt. Engelbert Endraß, was sunk while operating on convoy HG.76, on 21 December 1941 in the North Atlantic north-east of the Azores, in position 44.02N, 20.10W, by depth charges from the British sloop HMS Deptford. 47 dead, all hands lost.) 1402 - Norddeich Radio sending an O.K.W. report about Kptlt. Gerhard Bigalk and Kptlt. Klaus Scholtz being awarded with the Knights Cross, and Kptlt. Otto Kretschmer being awarded with the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Crossed Swords. (At this time, Kptlt. Otto Kretschmer is already a P.O.W. in Canada, in Camp 30 - often referred to as Camp Bowmanville - during which time he manages to remain in contact with B.d.U. He will return to Germany in December 1947.) 1834 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since Etmal, 24 Dec. Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag". Cmdr.: The operation against convoy HG.76 is broken off by B.d.U. We have lost 4 boats on their first war patrol - plus U 567 (Endraß) - against this convoy, for only 4 ships sunk. The "Happy Days" from last year, certainly seem to be over. That the O.K.W. is announcing the award with high decorations of commanders in allied captivity, seems to be evidence of this. - to be continued - |
U 113 (IXC) - 3rd War Patrol - Endraß lost!
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+++++ KTB - U 113 - continued from 26 Dec., 1834h - In Memoriam Engelbert Endraß joined U 47 in December 1938 as Leutnant z. See. He was the I.W.O., when Günther Prien made his famous Scapa Flow attack and sank HMS Royal Oak. It was Endraß who painted the famous snorting bull emblem on U 47's conning tower before they returned. He stayed on U 47 until December 1939, and after some training courses took command of U 46, another type VIIB U-boat. After having sunk the British auxiliary cruiser Dunvegan Castle of 15,007 tons, Endraß was awarded the Knights Cross. After the seventh patrol, the Oak Leaves were added. In September 1941 he left U 46 and a month later took over the type VIIC Uboat U 567. His closest friend was Kptlt. Erich Topp, Commander of U 552, who had been the XO on U 46, before Endraß took over command. When he heard that U 567 had been sunk with all hands, he wrote the following verses, quoting Hávamál: "WHAT IS YOURS WILL be gone. Your kin will die, And you yourself will die like them. One thing, I know, will live forever: The deeds of the dead in all their glory." "I (Erich Topp) wrote these pages in the lonely wastes of the Atlantic when all hope had vanished that Engelbert Endrass might return alive from his last patrol." The O.K.W. will not inform the German public about the death of Engelbert Endraß, until 3 months later on 31 March 1942, when the daily Wehrmachtsbericht will announce: "The U-boat under the command of Kapitänleutnant Endraß, recipient of the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, has not returned from patrol. An outstanding U-boat commander is on eternal patrol with his brave crew.". Lest we forget RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U 113 (IXC) - 3rd War Patrol - Continuing outbound voyage
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+++++ KTB - U 113 Saturday, 27 December 1941 - Northwest of the Azores - Cmdr.: Today, U 130 (IXC), KvtKpt. Ernst Kals and U 109 (IXB), Kptlt. Heinrich "Ajax" Bleichrodt, will leave for Operation "Paukenschlag". 0030 - Weather is getting worse: Wind and Sea increasing and shifting North and in due course to West, overcast and light haze. 0340 - Qu.1277CE - On new course 251°. 0400 - Weather: W5/4, overcast, light haze, medium visibility, ~1000mb. 0544 - Incoming F.T.: From U 75: Will arrive (Salamis) about 1000h, 28 Dec.! - Ringelmann - 0640 - Diving for torpedo maintenance and trial dive acc. B.d.U. Standing Order 507. 135rpm, 3kn. 0645 - T=50. 0700 - Commencing torpedo maintenance. 0839 - O₂ = 20%. 0937 - Sunrise. 1000 - Bow torpedoes serviced. Break until 1020h. 1150 - Stern torpedoes serviced. 1200 - Qu.1426CE - Days Run: 157.5sm - ↗ 142.0sm (18h 40') - ↘ 15.5sm (5h 20'). 202.2cbm (2.6cbm/24h). On course 251°. Battery 8300Ah. 14 internal and 8 external torpedoes. T=50. O₂=20%. Lunch Break until 1300h. 1219 - O₂ = 19%. 1300 - Commencing of trial dive. 1318 - Boat is safe and secure at 2A-Meters. (Critical depth begins at 158m) 1320 - 135rpm. Setting reception depth. 1335 - At reception depth. 1340 - Surfaced after 1h 40min. and 4.6sm (Total: 7h and 20.1sm). Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. Battery: 7900Ah. 1349 - Boat ventilated. Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.: According to a report from Group North, British landings have been made at Aelesund and Nordfjord. U 156, 87, 135, also U 582 which has put into Drontheim in the meantime, have been ordered to proceed as quickly as possible to square AF 8490. 1400 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.: First position and status request for U 75 (Ringelmann). 1845 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag". RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
March 15, 1940 Kiel
0124 Kiel docks are slowly disappearing in the foggy rain while U48 follows our minesweeper friend out of the port area. Visibility is really poor and we often risk to lose sight of the vessel in front of us. The risk of a collison is really high. This is not the best way to start a mission. Our assigned patrol area is AN44, quite close to the Scottish coast and not so far from Scapa Flow. It will be interesting up there. On the way out we will perform some trials and once again check everything is fine on the boat. March 16, 1940 AN35 2129 Sound contact! SE of us...closing...we are close to Kristiansand, perhaps a merchant heading there? Surface the boat! New course 130°! 2216 Ship spotted! Far on the southern horizon...barely visible...ahead one third! Change course to 170°! Lower the boat to 6 meters....ahead slow!...weather is not perfect but a deck gun attack is going to work if we can get close. 2220 Target is not that big and seems to have four masts so it must be a Tramp Steamer...let's dive and get into position. 2229 British Tramp Steamer moving toward Kristiansand at 7 knots...no visible weapons...We will jump off the water close to them and use our guns 2235 We are on parallel course about 600m off to her port side...time to attack. Ahead full! Surface the boat! Lower periscope!...here we go...man the guns! Open fire! 2237 Deck gun hold fire!...she is slowing down already...let's finish her off with our Flak gun...starting even more fires on the deck should be enough. 2238 ...and she is sinking! I did not expect to find our first prey so soon. This will boost our morale. U48 will now resume the plotted course toward AN44 Ship sunk! SS Velma Lykes (Tramp Steamer), 2092 tons. Cargo: Aircraft. Crew: 21. Crew lost: 6 |
U 113 (IXC) - 3rd War Patrol - On outbound transit
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+++++ KTB - U 113 Sunday, 28 December 1941 - WNW of the Azores - 0155 - Qu.3655CD - On new course 262°. 0815 - Early Morning Dawn. 0946 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 1200 - Qu.3583CE - Days Run: 151.9sm - ↗ 147.3sm (22h 20') - ↘ 4.6sm (1h 40'). 201.3cbm (0.9cbm/24h). On course 262°. Battery 7900Ah. 14 internal and 8 external torpedoes. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 1201 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.: Second position and status request for U 75 (Ringelmann). 1857 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 1931 - Norddeich Radio sending an O.K.W. report about the English landing attempt at Narvik and Vestfjord, and Aelesund and Nordfjord, on 26 Dec., which was repelled by German Army, Naval and Air Forces. Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag". RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U 113 (IXC) - 3rd War Patrol - On outbound transit
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+++++ KTB - U 113 Monday, 29 December 1941 - West of the Azores - 0730 - Qu.3477CD - On new course 251°. 0830 - Early Morning Dawn. 0954 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 1200 - Qu.2926CD - Days Run: 159.0sm - (↗ 24h). 197.8cbm (3.5cbm/24h). On course 251°. Battery 7900Ah. 14 internal and 8 external torpedoes. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 1201 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.: Third position and status request for U 75 (Ringelmann). Boat is presumed lost. (U 75, VIIB, Kptlt.Helmuth Ringelmann, was sunk on 28 December 1941 in the Mediterranean north-west of Mersa Matruh, in position 31.50N, 26.40E, by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Kipling. 14 dead and 30 survivors.) 1801 - Norddeich Radio sending a report that a Soviet counter offensive on the Kerch, Crimea peninsular, was repelled by the German 72th Infantry Regiment. The counter attack by the German 42nd Infantry Regiment on the bridgehead, is still being fought off by the Soviets. 1908 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag". RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
March 19, 1940 AN44
0023 U48 just reached assigned patrol area and will now start the operations. We are already changing our course to 270°. Weather is good: clouds clear, wind 7 knots and visibility moderate. During the night we will do a 90 minutes cycle: 30 minutes submerged / 60 minutes surfaced. If the weather does not change during the day we will spend most of our time surfaced and dive just long enough to do sonar checks. 1233 Ship spotted! ENE of us...closing...Dive to periscope depth! We will approach submerged and identify her 1244 ...I'd say we have a Medium cargo sailing WSW at 7 knots...let's adjust our course slightly to the north and get closer...I guess we may use our deck gun again... 1251 A neutral! She is from Norway...let's move away unnoticed. We will let her go out of visual range than surface again. 2112 We have a faint sound contact west of us...seems like it is moving southward...we will surface and get closer 2143 Ship spotted! NW of us...range about 5000 meters...weather got worse: overcast, wind 13 m/s and visibility moderate...time to dive and get ready for a torpedo attack. 2158 Our target is a Granville type freighter sailing SSE at 6 knots...U48 is now turning and getting ready to use the stern tube. 2204 Tube 5 ready: Ato running fast, depth 4 meters, impact pistol...range 500 meters...open tube 5!...aiming at mid ship....fire!...torpedo is away and running...she is bouncing all around...I aimed at mid ship since that part is the one that is more steady....3...2...1...did I miss?...or it just went under?...ahead flank! Change course to...Impact!...I underestimated her distance...got her almost in the propellers...small fire burning...time to shadow her and see if it is enough... Ahead slow! Reload tube 5! 2209 She is dead on the water...I bet we killed her propulsion...fire still burning... 2251 She is going down at last!...slowly got lower and lower on her back... I was somewhat lucky, I underestimated her range and almost missed her, also with all that bouncing around our torpedo could have slipped under. We are now in grid AN18 and need to return to grid AN44 to complete our 24hours patrol...Surface the boat! Ahead full! Change course to 085°! Ship sunk! SS Bradfyne (Granville-type Freighter), 4707 tons. Cargo: Copper Ore. Crew: 102. Crew lost: 27 |
U 113 (IXC) - 3rd War Patrol - On outbound transit
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+++++ KTB - U 113 Tuesday, 30 December 1941 - North Atlantic - - Second week at sea completed - 0840 - Early Morning Dawn. 1002 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 1200 - Qu.2786CD - Days Run: 157.6sm - (↗ 24h). 194.3cbm (3.5cbm/24h). On course 256°. Battery 7900Ah. 14 internal and 8 external torpedoes. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 1240 - Diving for torpedo maintenance and trial dive acc. B.d.U. Standing Order 507. 135rpm, 3kn. 1300 - At T=50, commencing torpedo maintenance. 1429 - O₂ = 20%. 1600 - Bow torpedoes serviced. Break until 1620h. 1750 - Stern torpedoes serviced. Dinner until 1835h. 1809 - O₂ = 19%. 1845 - Commencing of trial dive. 1905 - Boat is safe and secure at 2A-Meters. (Critical depth begins at 158m) 135rpm. Setting reception depth. 1914 - Sundown. 1920 - At reception depth. 1940 - Surfaced after 7h 00min. and 20.2sm. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. Battery: 6700Ah. 2x235RPM, 6-7kn. 1952 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled. Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag". RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U 113 (IXC) - 3rd War Patrol - On outbound transit
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+++++ KTB - U 113 Wednesday, 31 December 1941 - ESE of the Newfoundland Grand Bank - 0840 - Early Morning Dawn. 0959 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 1200 - Qu.4263CD - Days Run: 133.8sm - ↗ 113.6sm (17h 00') - ↘ 20.2sm (7h 00'). 192.5cbm (1.8cbm/24h). On course 256°. Battery 6700Ah. 14 internal and 8 external torpedoes. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 1401 - Norddeich Radio sending an O.K.W. report about Kptlt. Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat (U 74, VIIB) and Kptlt. Robert Gysae (U 98, VIIC) being awarded on this day, with the Knights Cross. Also, today, Obtlt. Reinhard "Teddy" Suhren (U 564, VIIC) and Kptlt. Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock (U 96, VIIC), were awarded with the Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross. 1800 - Qu.4255CD. On New course 262°. 1919 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 2330 - Diving for submerged cruise at A-20. 2340 - At A-20. 135rpm, 3kn. Beginning of New Years Celebration. Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag". RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U48 vs Convoy – part 1
March 20, 1940 AN44
0712 Almost as soon as U48 completed its assigned patrol we got an incoming message from BdU: Enemy convoy in grid AN18 moving slow and heading SSW. U48 is now running on the surface to get ahead of them. We should be able to establish contact in 2 hours. 0942 U48 is now in grid AN01, almost straight east from Aberdeen, and we have them on sonar. They are NNW of us. This convoy is way slower than expected. We will surface again and dash westward to place ourselves in good position. 1003 Ship spotted! A warship...I bet she is the leading escort. Let's report our contact to BdU and dive. 1023 Not a very large convoy, just four columns, but there seem to be some big babies leading the second column from the west: possibly an empire type freighter and another big one in tow.. Three warships spotted so far: frigate in the lead, then what looks like a destroyer west of the convoy and perhaps another frigate to the east. U48 will attack the west side of the convoy. 1053 Convoy is moving at 5 knots...that's slow...but makes me happy. Leading Black Swan is now doing patterns east of us and quite close...but we are crawling at 20 meters and I'm confident she will not detect us. Our targets are an Empire type freighter and the Ore Carrier just behind. On the other side of the convoy there is a Large Cargo sailing behind a Medium Cargo. If we get the chance I'll try to engage those two in the next attack. Time to change course to get into firing position. New course 110 degrees! 1110 U48 is now ready to attack! We will shot each ship with a two torpedo salvo: Tube 1 and 4 at the Ore Carrier, Tube 2 and 3 at the Empire type freighter. Tube 1 and 4 are G7e set for impact pistol, running depth 4.5 meters, spread 4 degrees. Tube 2 and 3 are G7a set for magnetic pistol, running depth 7.3 meters, spread 3 degrees, speed setting fast. Range will be about 600m for both targets, speed 5 knots. We will wait until the Ore Carrier is in a good position and attack her first, then we will go for the freighter. Angles on her will be less than ideal and that's why we will use the magnetic pistol. Our sonar operator is tracking our targets, we should be able to attack soon. 1112 We should be good...raise periscope!...here is the freighter right in front of us...and here is the Ore Carrier...AoB 75° starboard...let's wait a few seconds more...open tubes 1 and 4...Fire!...Now the freighter..here she is...AoB 100° starboard...range maybe 750m...open tubes 2 and 3...fire!...Lower periscope! Down to 25 meters! 1113 Impact! Two impacts on the Ore Carrier!..Yay!...impact on the Empire-type freighter!...and...a miss?...mmm..torpedo still running...either it missed or the fuse didn't work properly. Anyway, this should be enough to at the very least badly cripple these ships...increase speed to 4 knots. I want to hide between the merchants...Ore Carrier is going down!...good! Ship sunk! SS Coracero (Ore Carrier), 7744 tons. Cargo: Bauxite. Crew: 85. Crew lost: 28 1122 This convoy is in chaos...ships are maneuvering here and there...warships are amidst the herd right now but I bet they are struggling just to move around. U48 is slipping away at 3 knots and heading NE. My plan is to break contact and re-engage later. Our last torpedo was a miss. 1134 Empire-type freighter is sinking! I guess the reason why these merchants where moving here and there was to avoid collision with the slowing ship. 4 torpedo launched, three hits, two quite big ships sunk...not bad! Ship sunk! SS Glenfinlas (Empire-type Freighter), 7499 tons. Cargo: Coal. Crew: 58. Crew lost: 31 1159 Convoy is slowly moving away and there are two warships searching the area, some way SW of us. I think we managed to give them the slip. 1332 Convoy is still quite close, they are moving at 3 or 4 knots and ships in there are either zigzagging or rearranging their disposition. One warship left this area to go back to the convoy, the other is still sniffing around and came close enough to ping us a couple of time but not enough to get a proper fix. 1532 Convoy is now quite far away and much closer to the coast than I would have liked. The warship searching for us is now leaving. She did her job, forced us to stay here while the convoy sailed away. I'll wait until she is duly gone before surfacing. 1615 U48 is on the surface, recharging batteries and ventilating the boat. I'm pondering our choices. There is a chance that this convoy is hugging the coast all the way to Dover. I may be able to cut south and re-engage them near Dundee...yes, we will do that. Edit: A wonderful 2022 to you all, fellow Kaleuns! |
U 113 (IXC) - 3rd War Patrol - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
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+++++ KTB - U 113 Thursday, 1 January 1942 - Southeast of the Newfoundland Grand Bank - 0000 - Qu.4247CD - "HAPPY NEW YEAR!". 0145 - At Reception Depth. 0150 - Surfaced after 2h 20min. and 6.8sm. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. Battery: 6100Ah. 2x235RPM, 6-7kn. 0200 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled. 0501 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.: Paukenschlag Boats: Attack date has been set for 14 January 1942. Continue acc. Op.-Order. Cmdr.: The original attack date has been pushed-out by 1 day. 0845 - Early Morning Dawn. 1004 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 1102 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.: As of today, the Uboat base in Bergen (11th Flotilla) is operational. 1200 - Qu.4172CD - Days Run: 142.6sm - ↗ 135.8sm (21h 40') - ↘ 6.8sm (2h 20'). 190.8cbm (1.7cbm/24h). On course 256°. Battery 6700Ah. 14 internal and 8 external torpedoes. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 1201 - Incoming F.T.: From 11th Flotilla: As of today, the Uboat base in Bergen is operational. - FregKpt. Hans Cohausz, Flotilla Commander - (historically, as of 05.42) 1207 - Incoming F.T.: From 12th Flotilla: As of today, the Uboat base in Bordeuax is operational. - FregKpt. Klaus Scholtz, Flotilla Commander - (historically, as of 10.42) Also, Incoming F.T.: From O.K.M.: The harbor of Riga is operational again. 1802 - Norddeich Radio sending a report of Radio Berlin, that 26 countries of the "United Nations" have signed a pact, that they would not enter a separate peace treaty with Germany or Japan. 1927 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag". RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U 113 (IXC) - 3rd War Patrol - Continuing outbound voyage
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+++++ KTB - U 113 Friday, 2 January 1942 - SSE of the Newfoundland Grand Bank - 0215 - Qu.6377CC - On new course 251°. 0850 - Early Morning Dawn. 1013 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 1200 - Qu.6518CC - Days Run: 158.8sm - (↗ 24h). 186.4cbm (4.4cbm/24h). On course 251°. Battery 6100Ah. 14 internal and 8 external torpedoes. Weather unchanged since 27 Dec., 0400h. 1501 - Norddeich Radio sending a O.K.W. report about the successes of the Kriegsmarine: In December 1941, 285 ships sunk for 583,706ts, of that by Uboats, 26 ships sunk for 124,070ts. For the year 1941, 1,329 ships sunk for 4,328,558ts, of that by Uboats, 432 ships for 2,171,754ts. 1821 - Wind and Sea are increasing shifting south and in due course to southeast. Visibility becoming worse as well. 1938 - Sundown. SSW7/6, overcast, hazy, limited visibility, ~1000mb. 2030 - Qu.6455CC - On new course 262°. 2400 - SE7/6, overcast, hazy, limited visibility, ~1000mb, aft lake. Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag". RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U 113 (IXC) - 3rd War Patrol - Engulfed by a North Atlantic Storm
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+++++ KTB - U 113 Saturday, 3 January 1942 - South of the Newfoundland Grand Bank - 0015 - The sea is continuously washing over the bridge. Running athwart on course 215° doesn't help. 0500 - Diving for torpedo maintenance and trial dive acc. B.d.U.-Standing Order 507. 0510 - At A-20. On new course 270°. 135rpm, 3kn. 0545 - Breakfast for the Port Machine Watch. 0600 - Port Machine Watch on duty. Wake-up and Morning Wash for the remaining crew. 0630 - Breakfast for the remaining crew. 0700 - T=50. O₂ = 20%. Commencing of torpedo maintenance. 1000 - Bow torpedoes serviced. Battery power 5000Ah (50%). Break until 1020h. 1017 - Sunrise. 1039 - O₂ = 19%. 1150 - Stern torpedoes serviced. 1200 - Qu.5695CC - Days Run: 119.3sm - ↗ 99.0sm (17h 00') - ↘ 20.3sm (7h 00'). 184.6cbm (1.8cbm/24h). On course 270°. Battery 4900Ah. 14 internal and 8 external torpedoes. T=60. O₂=19%. Lunch Break until 1300h. 1300 - Commencing of trial dive. 1320 - Boat is safe and secure at 2A-Meters. (Critical depth begins at 158m) 135rpm. Setting reception depth. 1339 - At reception depth. On new course 215°. 1340 - Surfaced after 1h 40min. and 4.9sm since Etmal, and total 8h 40min. and 25.2sm. Weather unchanged since 2 Jan., 2030h. Battery: 4400Ah. 2x235RPM, 3-6kn. 1423 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled. 1425 - Sea still continuously washing over the bridge. Going on course 260° doesn't help. 1445 - Running athwart on course 215° again, seems to be better. 1946 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since 2 Jan., 2030h. Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag". RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
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