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John Pancoast 02-16-20 06:57 AM

NYGM, July, 1941
 
July 17th, 1941, BE31

Receive radio report of a convoy. Plot an intercept course only to be slowed by a trio of unrelated destroyers and an aircraft.

Over time, still manage to find the convoy in the early evening.

Call in the contact, told to shadow. Clear weather, 9 m/s winds. Am driven off a couple of times, regain contact each time.

Nights are short this time of year, not believing the pack can make it before the fast approaching sunrise, I decide to attack on my own in the meantime.

Tough convoy to get into position on; constantly zig-zagging with the related speed changes.
Finally have a perfect attack course going. Just under 3k meters away, off the starboard front beam. Decks awash, 2 knots speed. Starboard escort has peeled off in the distance for a random search pattern. Except for the clear weather, perfect.

Literally seconds before I was going to fire, convoy changes course again. Damn !

Then it happens. The pack unexpectedly attacks. No wonder the convoy had been changing course so often !
This draws the starboard escort back to the scene, and I have to get out of there before I can do my planned attack, but manage to get off two and have turned away from the escort going at flank when he spots me anyway and starts firing.
Crash dive, manage to evade over time. He doesn't spend much effort with me, but returns to the convoy to help against the pack attacking.
I'm submerged, now to far away to attack again, so not a concern in his eyes. After a bit, surface.

I won't have time for another night surface attack so I plot a general course for a submerged daylight attack.
Shortly before the sunrise finds me well ahead of the convoy, still off it's starboard beam.

The pack has continued it's attack throughout. Convoy in disarray, many ships sunk or on fire.
I see ships hit, ships going down, escorts depth charging and firing at the pack members, escorts rounding up the convoy and getting it back on course again.
Even see a distant scope of one of the pack. The convoy is decimated.
While the nearest escort is tied up with the pack, I plot a course to intercept the nearest ships who are forming up again, and starting to steam off on a course of 10 degrees.
I'll have to thread my way between two escorts to get close enough for a submerged attack.; one the attacking one mentioned above, the other leading the convoy.
I'm coming in on a 225 degrees course, with the rising sun not yet breaking the horizon. For approx. 45 game minutes, I just observe the convoy getting back into formation, to see what course it finally takes.

What's left of the convoy finally settles on a straight north course, I swing the boat around for a 270 degrees course of attack, finally close enough with help from the rising sun at my back, and submerge at around 4 - 4.5 meters away, just before the sun breaks the horizon. At point of attack, boat should be between 2 and 2. 5 meters away. Not a bad distance, would like to get closer but the increasing daylight won't allow that.
Winds are now 10 m/s; any higher I won't be able to attack.

All said and done, I manage to sink a cargo steamer which I hadn't aimed at, (the two fired during the night before the escort spotted me) and damage another freighter which I had. (the morning submerged attack.).
I fired a total of eight torpedoes at the convoy, two per target. Not the best results, but satisfactory considering the pack results.

Currently trying to make a submerged escape to the east. Have escorts hunting/depth charging the boat, but nothing to worry about.

Yet.

Kapitän 02-16-20 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Pancoast (Post 2649696)
July 17th, 1941, BE31

Receive radio report of a convoy. Plot an intercept course only to be slowed by a trio of unrelated destroyers and an aircraft.

Over time, still manage to find the convoy in the early evening.

Call in the contact, told to shadow. Clear weather, 9 m/s winds. Am driven off a couple of times, regain contact each time.

Nights are short this time of year, not believing the pack can make it before the fast approaching sunrise, I decide to attack on my own in the meantime.

Tough convoy to get into position on; constantly zig-zagging with the related speed changes.
Finally have a perfect attack course going. Just under 3k meters away, off the starboard front beam. Decks awash, 2 knots speed. Starboard escort has peeled off in the distance for a random search pattern. Except for the clear weather, perfect.

Literally seconds before I was going to fire, convoy changes course again. Damn !

Then it happens. The pack unexpectedly attacks. No wonder the convoy had been changing course so often !
This draws the starboard escort back to the scene, and I have to get out of there before I can do my planned attack, but manage to get off two and have turned away from the escort going at flank when he spots me anyway and starts firing.
Crash dive, manage to evade over time. He doesn't spend much effort with me, but returns to the convoy to help against the pack attacking.
I'm submerged, now to far away to attack again, so not a concern in his eyes.

I won't have time for another night surface attack so I plot a general course for a submerged daylight attack.
Shortly before the sunrise finds me well ahead of the convoy, still off it's starboard beam.

The pack has continued it's attack throughout. Convoy in disarray, many ships sunk or on fire.
I see ships hit, ships going down, escorts depth charging and firing at the pack members, escorts rounding up the convoy and getting it back on course again.
Even see a distant scope of one of the pack. The convoy is decimated.
While the nearest escort is tied up with the pack, I plot a course to intercept the nearest ships who are forming up again, and starting to steam off on a course of 10 degrees.
I'll have to thread my way between two escorts to get close enough for a submerged attack.; one the attacking one mentioned above, the other leading the convoy.
I'm coming in on a 225 degrees course, with the rising sun not yet breaking the horizon. For approx. 45 game minutes, I just observe the convoy getting back into formation, to see what course it finally takes.

What's left of the convoy finally settles on a straight north course, I swing the boat around for a 270 degrees course of attack, finally close enough with help from the rising sun at my back, and submerge at around 4 - 4.5 meters away, just before the sun breaks the horizon. At point of attack, boat should be between 2 and 2. 5 meters away. Not a bad distance, would like to get closer but the increasing daylight won't allow that.
Winds are now 10 m/s; any higher I won't be able to attack.

All said and done, I manage to sink a cargo steamer which I hadn't aimed at, (the two fired during the night before the escort spotted me) and damage another freighter which I had. (the morning submerged attack.).
I fired a total of eight torpedoes at the convoy, two per target. Not the best results, but satisfactory considering the pack results.

Currently trying to make a submerged escape to the east. Have escorts hunting/depth charging the boat, but nothing to worry about.

Yet.


WOW! I had the chance to observe a pack attack a convoy once or twice so far. Makes you want to get in there and join the action, before all the nice juicy target are gone ...

John Pancoast 02-16-20 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitän (Post 2649740)
WOW! I had the chance to observe a pack attack a convoy once or twice so far. Makes you want to get in there and join the action, before all the nice juicy target are gone ...

No kidding ! With all the maneuvering the convoy was doing though, took me (game) hours.

As an update; the freighter I damaged was left behind by the convoy, so I got to sink it too.

Two stern torpedoes left. Time to start heading back to port.

UKönig 02-26-20 05:11 PM

Feb 19, 1945...
U230 engages moderately sized tanker convoy, heavily guarded by American and Canadian escorts. 12 tankers and a destroyer for each.
Somewhere near the coast of Nova Scotia, convoy en route to the British isles.
Slipped past the outer ring, began the attack.
Hit and sank the least capable escort with the first homing torpedo...
Hit and damaged a t3 tanker with another homer which was intended for a JC Butler DE
Hit and sank a third escort, before sinking both a light tanker, and another heavy.
Ducked and dodged for a bit, and finished off the first tanker we hit.
Damaged another escort with a homing torpedo, but it stayed afloat.
Pounced on and pounded by the remaining escorts, until so much damage rendered us incapable of further action.
U230 was ultimately destroyed by HK action, with only the captain as survivor. We were at periscope depth when the last round of hedgehogs came down. Blown free of the wreckage and forced to the surface, the captain was taken prisoner by victorious American forces.
Time to start a new career...

UKönig 03-11-20 08:09 PM

New career, September 1 1939

Type VIIb, U 48.
Now on the 5th patrol. Current date, April 16, 1940.
U 48 in 1st place overall with tonnage count around 150,000 tons.
Altantic war on commerce has been suspended pending an allied invasion of Norway.
U 48 to patrol ocean grid AF59, outside the fjord to Trondheim. Radio reports of German auxiliary cruiser not far from Bergen.
So far, our current location is AN36, on course 275 degrees, seas and skies calm and clear.
Nothing further to report, U48, out.

UKönig 03-16-20 10:14 PM

May 9, 1940.
U48 position, BF35, on course 270, 25km from the French coast.
13,000 tons of Norwegian shipping lie on the bottom. We have 6 torpedoes left, and a good supply of deck gun ammunition, so top scoring U48 is en route to the Bristol channel, looking for more kills.

UKönig 03-17-20 06:04 PM

U48 finished out the patrol in grid BF24, near lands end. All remaining torpedoes expended to sink medium merchant, for 6000 tons.
U48 return to base by May 11, 1940 with 20,000 tons of mostly Norwegian shipping as victims.

New patrol to grid AM32 starts June 8, 1940, which means there's a good chance we will finish our patrol in France.
Current position is AN28, on course 340 degrees, fully loaded and ready to go. Skies and seas stormy and progress is slow.
Nothing further to report.

Kpt. Lehmann 03-17-20 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKönig (Post 2655224)
U48 finished out the patrol in grid BF24, near lands end. All remaining torpedoes expended to sink medium merchant, for 6000 tons.
U48 return to base by May 11, 1940 with 20,000 tons of mostly Norwegian shipping as victims.

New patrol to grid AM32 starts June 8, 1940, which means there's a good chance we will finish our patrol in France.
Current position is AN28, on course 340 degrees, fully loaded and ready to go. Skies and seas stormy and progress is slow.
Nothing further to report.


Good hunting, U-48. :ping:

4H_Ccrashh 03-19-20 06:00 AM

New Command
 
I've spent a lot of time learning to use the RAOBF and other tools. Practicing four bearing plots and graduating from the Naval Academy. Ready for my first command.

My First command is the U-51, a VII-B.

Did a little checking. The real U-51 did four patrols , sank six ships (31,020 GRT).


U-51 was torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Cachelot in the Bay of Biscay 28 August 1940. Lost with all hands.

I'm hoping to do better.

4 Sept 1939 Heading to sea on my first war patrol today.

UKönig 03-20-20 02:22 PM

July 18, 1940.
U48 has orders to patrol ocean grid AN59.
Still departing from our base with the 7th fleet, in Kiel, but the shift to the French coast is underway.
This should probably be the last time we depart from Kiel, but we'll see.
U48 came back from her last patrol with 25,000 tons, 6000 from a British merchant while in our patrol area, and the rest from merchant shipping we found while in the north channel.
The lady here is starting to show her age, and might be retired to the training command, but up to now she's been doing good work.
So again, we shall see.
U48, out.

Kapitän 03-21-20 05:42 AM

U 11 Type IIB 1940/2020
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitän (Post 2649546)
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years ago ...

**

Left W'haven on Thursday, 15 February 1940 for Fifth War Patrol in Qu.AN 73 (East coast of England).

Our sister boat U 10 (Preuss) operated off the Dutch coast during the same time period.

Medium seas but very good aircraft visibility while in area of operation and during the outbound voyage. Only during the return voyage, some heavy seas and cloudy skies.


During transit, we by-passed Qu.AN 66 and AN 69 to the north, due to the British mine fields in the area north of Terschelling.

Medium enemy air patrols in area of operation and during transit, which increased the closer we got to the English coast.

Had to dive to 31m to reload the torpedoes during heavy seas and slightly damaged the battery, both diesel engines and pressure hull, when touching the ocean floor in shallow waters, due east of Skegness.


U-Preuss returned to W'haven two days before us, having sunk 2 steamers for 6356 BRT.

We returned to W'haven on Thursday, 22 February 1940, having sunk 2 merchants for 11913 BRT and damaging a large steamer of 8290 BRT.

Torpedo hits: 4

Torpedo misses: None
Torpedo failures: 1 Eto understeered

Crash Dives: None

My Machinist was transferred to another Uboat and was replaced by a Fireman 1cl.

Received orders for Sixth War Patrol:
- Patrol area Qu. AN 55 (East coast of England)
- Departure scheduled for 21 March 1940...

Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years ago ...

**

Left W'haven on Thursday, 21 March 1940 for Sixth War Patrol. Operational area, Qu.AN 55 (East coast of England).

Other Type II boats have been sent to the south coast of Norway in anticipation of operation "Hartmut".

Moderate seas and very good aircraft visibility while in area of operation and during the outbound voyage. Only during the return voyage, some medium swell and cloudy skies.


During transit, we by-passed Qu.AN 66 and AN 69 to the north, due to the British mine fields in the area north of Terschelling.

Weak enemy air patrols in area of operation and during transit.


Intercepted a small convoy consisting of 4 unescorted and unarmed English merchants, before reaching the ordered operational area. Commenced submerged daylight attack in ideal weather and sea conditions and scored 3 hits, one of which actually was a missfire, right under the targeted merchant. Overall, we had 2 torpedo failures in this attack: 1 Eto understeered and missfired and 1 Ato understeered as well, in a 90° angle shot.


One of the three steamers hit, lost headway and settled in the water. The other two steamers hit, caught fire but continued on their easterly course, together with the one steamer not attacked.

The attempts to sink the torpedoed merchants by igniting the deck cargo with 800 rounds of the M.G.-2cm-C/30, proved to be futile. During this action, the boat had to crash dive once from approaching aircraft, that dropped bombs far off in the general area of the initial submerged attack.

We returned to W'haven on Monday, 25 March 1940, having torpedoed 2 steamers for 9234 BRT and damaging 1 motor merchant of 2835 BRT.

Upon entering the lock of W'haven III, the boat hit the lock gate and suffered some damage to the bow and the pressure hull.

Torpedo hits: 3

Torpedo misses: None
Torpedo failures: 1 Eto understeered and missfired; 1 Ato understeered during a 90° angle shot

Crash Dives: 2

On Tuesday, 2 April 1940, I was awarded with the Knights Cross! This came quite as a surprise but well received, just the same.


My Lt. (j.g.), Engineering Duties (L.I.) had to leave the boat and was replaced by a Midshipman (j.g.) Engineering Duties.

(Unofficially, my L.I. was arrested by local police for being drunk and is currently facing some disciplinary charges. I'm not sure, that leaving on the next war patrol with an inexperienced Midshipman (j.g.) as acting L.I., is a good idea but I may not have anything to say about it).

Received orders for Seventh War Patrol:
- Patrol area Qu. AF82 (West coast of Norway, Farstad/Kristiansund; Defensive patrol in protection of the landing zones of Operation "Weserübung")
- Departure scheduled for Monday, 22 April 1940...

UKönig 04-01-20 04:01 PM

Update...
January, 25, 1941.

Oberleutnant Erich Kartmann awarded top honors for the invasion of Portsmouth harbour where he and his intrepid crew of U48 sank 40,000 tons, including 2 warships (one on patrol, one tied up).

Next mission saw the U48 in the AM52 grid, where she came across a small convoy, and finished off the torpedo payload to sink 2 tankers and a 6000 ton cargo ship. Came away with 54,000 tons in total, but the U48 suffered heavy damage which convinced me to retire the ship to the training command.
Oblt Kartmann has been assigned a new base and fleet, and is now in command of the IXb, U110.

Had about 2 months off over the winter, and back to sea on January 25, for interdiction patrol of ocean grid AL38.

So far we are 12 hours out of Lorient, en route to our patrol billet.
The hunt continues...

UKönig 04-19-20 06:34 PM

U110 still kicking.
May have saved the Bismarck some future grief...
May 2, 1941, came across a British task force of 8 destroyer escorts and one King George V class battleship, heading north.
4 torpedoes later, one BB lays on the bottom, 200km off the Spanish coast, u110 escaped detection and destruction, the first time I have ever found a capital unit at sea, that I was in position to intercept. Up till now, all my major victories had been against escort or fleet carriers, tied up in harbor.
The hunt continues...

Kapitän 04-22-20 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKönig (Post 2664494)
U110 still kicking.
May have saved the Bismarck some future grief...
May 2, 1941, came across a British task force of 8 destroyer escorts and one King George V class battleship, heading north.
4 torpedoes later, one BB lays on the bottom, 200km off the Spanish coast, u110 escaped detection and destruction, the first time I have ever found a capital unit at sea, that I was in position to intercept. Up till now, all my major victories had been against escort or fleet carriers, tied up in harbor.
The hunt continues...


Great Job!

Kapitän 04-22-20 02:10 PM

U 11 Type IIB 1940/2020
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitän (Post 2656066)
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

**

Left W'haven on Thursday, 21 March 1940 for Sixth War Patrol. Operational area, Qu.AN 55 (East coast of England).

Other Type II boats have been sent to the south coast of Norway in anticipation of operation "Hartmut".

Moderate seas and very good aircraft visibility while in area of operation and during the outbound voyage. Only during the return voyage, some medium swell and cloudy skies.


During transit, we by-passed Qu.AN 66 and AN 69 to the north, due to the British mine fields in the area north of Terschelling.

Weak enemy air patrols in area of operation and during transit.


Intercepted a small convoy consisting of 4 unescorted and unarmed English merchants, before reaching the ordered operational area. Commenced submerged daylight attack in ideal weather and sea conditions and scored 3 hits, one of which actually was a missfire, right under the targeted merchant. Overall, we had 2 torpedo failures in this attack: 1 Eto understeered and missfired and 1 Ato understeered as well, in a 90° angle shot.


One of the three steamers hit, lost headway and settled in the water. The other two steamers hit, caught fire but continued on their easterly course, together with the one steamer not attacked.

The attempts to sink the torpedoed merchants by igniting the deck cargo with 800 rounds of the M.G.-2cm-C/30, proved to be futile. During this action, the boat had to crash dive once from approaching aircraft, that dropped bombs far off in the general area of the initial submerged attack.

We returned to W'haven on Monday, 25 March 1940, having torpedoed 2 steamers for 9234 BRT and damaging 1 motor merchant of 2835 BRT.

Upon entering the lock of W'haven III, the boat hit the lock gate and suffered some damage to the bow and the pressure hull.

Torpedo hits: 3

Torpedo misses: None
Torpedo failures: 1 Eto understeered and missfired; 1 Ato understeered during a 90° angle shot

Crash Dives: 2

On Tuesday, 2 April 1940, I was awarded with the Knights Cross! This came quite as a surprise but well received, just the same.


My Lt. (j.g.), Engineering Duties (L.I.) had to leave the boat and was replaced by a Midshipman (j.g.) Engineering Duties.

(Unofficially, my L.I. was arrested by local police for being drunk and is currently facing some disciplinary charges. I'm not sure, that leaving on the next war patrol with an inexperienced Midshipman (j.g.) as acting L.I., is a good idea but I may not have anything to say about it).

Received orders for Seventh War Patrol:
- Patrol area Qu. AF82 (West coast of Norway, Farstad/Kristiansund; Defensive patrol in protection of the landing zones of Operation "Weserübung")
- Departure scheduled for Monday, 22 April 1940...


Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

+++


Left W'haven on Thursday, 22 April 1940 for Seventh War Patrol. Operational area, Qu.AN 82 (West coast of Norway, Farstad/Kristiansund: Defensive patrol in protection of the landing zones of Operation "Weserübung"). Heavy Cruiser Admiral Hipper and Battle Ship Bismarck in W'haven.

Received special torpedo orders due to the many torpedo failures during operation "Hartmut". Other Uboats have taken on transport roles in support of operation "Weserübung".

Moderate seas and very good aircraft visibility during outbound voyage. During return voyage, heavy seas and cloudy skies with rain and fog.


During outbound transit on Way1, we by-passed Qu.AN 66 and AN 69 to the north, due to the British mine fields in the area north of Terschelling. Also, had to evade Qu.AN 3700 and 3800 due to Mines and enemy submarines - U-Knorr (U 51) was attacked unsuccessfully with two torpedoes by the French submarine Orphée in Qu. 3751 AN.

Medium enemy air patrols during outbound voyage, virtually none during return voyage, owing to the bad weather.


In position due west of Bergen, received radio message from B.d.U., on 25 April, 2001h, that all boats of operation "Weserübung", are to break-off all operations and return to base immediately.

During return voyage, came across a small Norwegian convoy consisting of 3 unescorted and unarmed merchants and 2 small tankers. Commenced submerged daylight attack in good weather and medium sea conditions and scored 5 hits with MZ, one of which actually was a missfire right under the targeted merchant. One of the three steamers hit, had to be sunk with a coup de grâce.


In the end, 3 steamers and 1 tanker with together 6804 BRT were sunk, with each vessel being sunk in another Marqu., 2943/46/51/54 AN.

During the return voyage, the swell was so heavy, that the bridge hatch had to be closed part of the time.

We returned to W'haven on Monday, 29 April 1940, on the same day the British began evacuating their troops from Norway.

Torpedo hits: 5
Torpedo misses: None
Torpedo failures: 1 Eto missfired but right underneath the target ship

Crash Dives: 1
3 merchants and 1 tanker sunk for 6804 BRT

The Midshipman (j.g.) and acting L.I., performed well on his first assignment.


One Seaman 2cl (helmsman) had to be replaced.
(Unofficially, the helmsman was killed in a bar fight).

Received orders for Seventh War Patrol:
- Patrol area Qu. AF44 (South coast of Norway, Oslo/Kristiansand)
- Departure scheduled for Sunday, 26 May 1940...

UKönig 05-05-20 03:31 PM

May 28, 1942

Oberleutnant Erich Kartmann has been promoted and transferred to the 10th fleet.

Highly successful prior patrol to the Caribbean and American east coast, the U 110 was badly damaged and retired to the training command.

Assigned to the type IXc, U802, with orders to patrol ocean grid EJ98, and possible orders back to the Caribbean, but we will see how it goes.

U802 clearing the bay of Biscay, crash dived for attacking aircraft, everything holding together so far, the hunt continues...

Raptor82 05-09-20 01:30 PM

October 1939

Just set out from Willemshaven in U36 with a fresh crew that is already tired. I now am on my way to An36 I will complete my patrol there and head for Scapa Flow.

Kapitän 05-18-20 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptor82 (Post 2669528)
October 1939

Just set out from Willemshaven in U36 with a fresh crew that is already tired.


Probably, too much pre-war patrol drinking and partying of the crew ... is that also, one of the "Sh3-Cmdr Malfunction & Sabotage" Features? ;-)

Aquelarrefox 05-18-20 06:49 AM

Just u-65 type ix running into 6th flotilla, nothing unusual. Taking south Ireland in late 39

klh 05-18-20 08:00 AM

KTB-1 U-45 (klh)
 
It's been almost nine years since I stepped foot into a U-boat, but with the onset of a global crisis, I gladly volunteered to return to the Kriegsmarine. BdU assigned me to the U-45, a type VIIB boat of the 2nd Flotilla out of Wilhelmshaven. These boats felt very familiar, but some key upgrades made it seem like a new experience. Even the view felt wider, more expansive.

My new crew and I left Wilhelmshaven on 1 August 1939 for a short training cruise. After taking the boat on a jaunt through the English Channel and running practice target solutions on unsuspecting ships, we returned home on 12 August.

Kapitänleutnant Hähl, U-45


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