U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Search & Rescue Mission
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++++++ - continued from 20 May, 1545h - 1550 - Qu.6177BF - Own Uboat sighted bearing 323°, on southerly heading, E=8500. 1555 - "ALARM!". Crash diving from several twin-engine bombers. approaching from the North on a southerly heading, E=7000. Water depth is 100m. At A-30, several bombs and again at A-10 - no damages. Suspect about 3 pair of bombers and about 24 bombs being dropped. Hearing thud-like explosions coming from direction of the own Uboat, and only faint screw noises. 1616 - S-Tiefe. Observing airplanes, bomb splashes and explosions, and flares being fired in the area of the own Uboat. 1622 - Surfaced after 27min. and 1.5sm. Weather and Sea unchanged since Etmal. Running carefully toward the own Uboat, as not to veer off the mine-free path. Exchangig E/S-Signals. The Uboat is U 701 (Kptlt. Horst Degen), and is unable to dive. 1642 - Qu.6178BF - The damage to the boat can clearly be seen. Running lee-ward, distance is about 20m. As a rope connection can not be established due to the high waves and swell, crew members from U 701 are taking to the water in groups and are drifting toward our boat. However, as the sea is running, the various groups can not see each other or stay together in the water. Two of the men, a boatswain's mate and the midshipman, struck out for shore, 30 miles distant, against the warning of the others, and were never seen again. 1701 - Compressed Air Supply filled. It is almost completely dark. 1715 - Last crew members from U 701 to take to the water are the Commander and the L.I. Secret documents were left with the boat. There was no time to explode scuttling charges even had that been necessary. Apparently, no attempt was made to send a radio signal reporting the sinking of the U-boat. Out of the entire crew of 46, 18 men make it to our boat and are taken under deck. There were 28 casualties. 1730 - Back to approach path Bogenlampe and running off on course 80°. 1735 - Small-Ahead, preparing for submerged cruise. 1745 - Diving for sugmerged cruise at A-20, 135rpm/3kn 1935 - O₂ = 20%. 1942 - As we get closer to Lorient, much warship and steamer traffic can be heard to the west and south of Île de Groix and later also, to the north of it. 2100 - Silent Running. Boat continuing return voyage. RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Return to base
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++++++ Thursday, 21 May 1942 - South of Île de Groix - 0005 - O₂ = 19%. 0236 - Sunrise. 0400 - Secured from Silent Running. 0408 - S-Tiefe. Weather and Sea appear to have subsided somewhat. 0410 - Surfaced after 10h 25min. and 30.4sm. East4/3, overcast, light haze, visibility 5.4sm, ~1000mb. 0420 - Boat ventilated. 6800Ah, 2xSmall-Ahead. R-Boat bearing 238, E=7500. Exchanging E/S Signal. Light damage to Flak repaired. 0515 - Outbound VIIC boat on test cruise to our port beam. A Ju52-Mausi, is patrolling the area north of Île de Groix. 0525 - Point Luci-1 - Taking on escort (R-Boat). 0552 - Releasing escort (R-Boat). Entering Lorient. 0700 - All available hands on deck for greeting in the harbour. Making fast. Mooring boat at Isère. Disembarking of survivors of U-Degen and handing over of the POW to the Military Police. Lorient - Qu.6157BF - Days Run: 92.6sm - ↗ 59.2sm (7h 38') - ↘ 33.4sm (11h 22') - since Etmal. 99.0cbm (2.0cbm/19h). Battery 6800Ah. 10.5cm: 28xLkG. 2xM.G.-2cm-C/30: 6651xPbG. East4/3, overcast, light haze, visibility 5.4sm, ~1000mb. Clearing out of boat: 99cbm; 10.5cm: 28xLkG; M.G.2cm-C/30: 6651PbG. Discharging of battery (6800Ah). Placing boat in dry dock for Shipyard Overhaul. Routine work by the crew throughout. RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U-957 - Patrol 04...
U-957 - Patrol 04...
September 14th, 1941 - Hunting In The North Atlantic https://i.ibb.co/FscmdSt/01.jpg 12:50am - Radio Contact Report Recieved... "Enemy Large Convoy" https://i.ibb.co/QNRJg8t/02.jpg Upon Hydrophone Contact: Enemy Convoy Has Zigged, Plotting New Intercept Course... https://i.ibb.co/23zbQ2K/03.jpg Have Reached Intercept Point, Diving To Reestablish Hydrophone Contact... https://i.ibb.co/M7VwFV3/04.jpg "Contact Warship, Medium Speed Closing! Bearing 270, Long Range..." https://i.ibb.co/mBcbrqQ/05.jpg |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Debriefing with BdU
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++++++ Friday, 22 May 1942 - Lorient The totals of this 4th war patrol with U 113 and 16th war patrol overall are: Traveled surfaced: 9536.9sm - 35 days, 20h, 13min. Traveled submerged: 751.0sm - 10 days, 3h, 47min. Traveled total: 10287.9sm - 46 days, 0h, 0min. Total of 9 merchants for 26,695ts and 7 tankers for 52,248ts (Total of 78,943ts) sunk. Also, 2 Cruisers for 10,840ts and 1 Escort of 610ts sunk: HMS Aurora (12) in the harbor of Port-of-Spain and HMS Phoebe (43) from convoy OS.27. Additionally, 2 U.S.A. Grumman TBF "Avenger" airplanes, belonging to Escort Carrier "USS Long Island" (CVE 1) shot down and 1 pilot taken prisoner. Also, 1 Tanker of 18,192ts from convoy OS.27 torpedoed. All in all, 20 ships for 108,585ts sunk or torpedoed. From the report of the Cmdr., Aircraft Carrier based airplanes are operating along the convoy routes in CF30 and CG10. Enemy Air cover over Bay of Biscay, seems to have shifted from Qu.40BF to Qu.50BF. Torpedo hits: 18 (9 Eto and 9 Ato). Torpedo misses: 1 Ato on zig-zagging convoy at night. Torpedo failures: - 1 Eto and 2 Ato were duds. - 2 Ato ignited prematuraly. - 4 Ato understeered. Note: All torpedoes with Pi-G7H. 6 Ato were taken on from supply ship. Crash Dives: 19: - 16 from airplanes; - 1 from Warship; - 2 from armed merchants. Depth Charges/Fliebos: 102 (all from airplanes) - None from Warships. The Bold-1 was not deployed. Pressure hull: 52.58% (Accumulated damage: 47.92%) Honour points: 4354.78 (Accumulated: 32180.09) RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U-957 - Patrol 04...
U-957 - Patrol 04...
Enemy Convoy Approching... Lead Escort Identified. https://i.ibb.co/2Mp9z1M/06.jpg "All Stop, Rig For Silent Running!" https://i.ibb.co/Ct03PX8/07.jpg :o https://i.ibb.co/dJ81g28/07b.jpg Lead Escort Has Passed, Selected Convoy Targets Approching... Open Outer Doors On Tubes 1, 2, & 5. https://i.ibb.co/5Y59858/08.jpg Tube 5... Los! https://i.ibb.co/cLS20WM/09.jpg Tube 1... Los! https://i.ibb.co/dcmP01y/10.jpg Tube 2... Los! https://i.ibb.co/vX7nHJL/11.jpg https://i.ibb.co/yywWy9G/12.jpg https://i.ibb.co/Rj76YLB/13.jpg Third Convoy Target Approching... Open The Outer Door On Tube 3. https://i.ibb.co/1XS8mch/14.jpg Tube 3... Los! https://i.ibb.co/MgShmmP/15.jpg https://i.ibb.co/q78Sbmv/16.jpg "Contact Warship, Moving Fast, Bearing 175, Closing!" https://i.ibb.co/D54NWT5/17.jpg "Set Course 095, Make Depth 100 Meters, Ahead Flank!" https://i.ibb.co/smQKtnP/18.jpg https://i.ibb.co/LYVSvjQ/19.jpg https://i.ibb.co/xzK3Vsg/20.jpg https://i.ibb.co/1JFPTwq/21.jpg https://i.ibb.co/QJbN2T1/22.jpg https://i.ibb.co/995n7cn/23.jpg https://i.ibb.co/ncNVPFg/24.jpg After A Few Hours And Many DC Runs, The Warship's Sound Contact Began To Fade On The Hydrophone... No Damage Was Received Due To The Warship Never Having A Good Fix On Us.. https://i.ibb.co/J2gh2yH/25.jpg No Sound Contact On The Hydrophone... "Surface!" https://i.ibb.co/kxQg7nP/26.jpg |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - B.d.U. Assessment
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++++++ Saturday, 23 May 1942 - Lorient KTB - U 113 B.d.U. Assessment: This was the fourth war patrol of this boat and crew, and was performed under much increased air activity by the enemy. The outbound and return cruise went smoothly, as did refueling und supply from the supply ship. The return voyage was marked by Carrier based A/C along the convoy routes in CF30 and CG10, whereas, the enemy air cover over the Bay of Biscay seems to have shifted from Qu.40BF to Qu.50BF The weather conditions were favorable while operating in the assigned Op.-area of the Carribean. The sinking of an enemy cruiser and other valuable shipping in Port-of-Spain, after the boat being damaged and without radio contact after the air attack on 26 April, as well as the sinking of a second Cruiser from convoy OS.27, are to be highlighted. The selfless actions by the boat and crew in saving members of the stricken boat in the Bay of Biscay, as well as, the desctruction of 2 enemy airplane with an enemy pilot taken prisoner, deserve every respect. It is therefore with great honor, that the Commander is being promoted to Korvettenkapitän, and given a postion on the B.d.U.-Staff, as 1. Admiralstabsoffizier operativ (A I op) 'Geleitzugs-Asto' (convoy staff officer), in Paris, Avenue Maréchal Maunoury. Consequently, the Commander will relinquish the command of the boat to the current XO. Karl Dönitz Admiral (3.) & B.d.U. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Awards & Promotions Ceremony
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++++++ KTB - U 113 Sunday, 24 May 1942 - Lorient Awards & Promotions: The Commander is being promoted to Korvettenkapitän, and will take over as 1. Admiralstabsoffizier operativ (A I op) 'Geleitzugs-Asto' (convoy staff officer). The XO, Ob.Ltnt.z.S. Rainer SCHEUFLER was promoted to the Commander of U 113! He also received the Iron Cross 1st Class & U-boat War Badge! The II.W.O., Ltnt.z.S. Jakob APPELT, and Chief QuartermasterOtto TOTENHAGEN, also, received the Iron Cross 1st Class! The L.I., Ltnt.-Ing. Fritz FRIEDERICHS, was awarded with the German Cross in Gold! The No.1 Boatswain's Mate 2cl. Leo ALBRECHT, the No.3 Coxswain Werner KIRCHHOFF, the OMasch(D), Chief Machinist Mattheides ROHDE and the OMasch(E), Machinist Kurt MARKS, were awarded with the Iron Cross 2nd Class! The A/A Mate Philipp HARTMANN, was promoted to Boatswain's Mate 2cl. and awarded with the U-boat War Badge! The two Seaman 1cl. Gustav CLAUSEN and Ebe FISCHER, were both promoted to Leading Seaman 1cl. The No.1 Boatswain's Mate 2cl. Leo ALBRECHT, the A/A Boatswain's Mate 2cl. Philipp HARTMANN, the Fireman 1cl.(DBb) August EPPEN, the two Seaman 2cl.(T) Günther HANSEN and Ernst THOMSEN, the two Seaman 2cl.(Radio) Alfred EULER and Ernst RAHN, and 18 further enlisted men, were awarded with the U-boat War Badge! The crew is given leave of 6 weeks at home, in 2 shifts of 3 weeks each. Fourth war patrol with U 113 and 16th war patrol overall completed. RST KvtKpt.&Cmdr. |
U-957 - Patrol 04...
U-957 - Patrol 04...
September 15th, 1941 - After successfully attacking the tanker Convoy for the second time and sinking 3 more tankers at night... it was time to break off since the escorts were becoming more wary and getting closer with their DC's. With 6 remaining torpedoes, It was time to begin the journey home with the remaining reserves, and see if we encounter another enemy convoy or single ship. 5:34pm - Radio Report Recieved: Large Enemy Convoy, Grid AM15, Headed Northeast... We plotted an intercept course, and upon hydrophone contact we learned the convoy had just zigged. https://i.ibb.co/XpBrwb4/00.jpg September 16th, 1941 - We adjusted course and arrived at the new intercept point... after some time I made visual contact with the convoy in the attack periscope... https://i.ibb.co/dQKNyGL/02.jpg https://i.ibb.co/x7K59CH/01.jpg We positioned ourselves on the right side between lanes 2 & 3, looking to see if a high value target was hidden near the center of the convoy... It didn't take long for one to come into view... https://i.ibb.co/CJPg79M/03.jpg https://i.ibb.co/J3HtfM4/04.jpg Though not as much tonnage as the tanker's we sunk earlier, the Dido-class Light Cruiser has good air defense that helps protect the convoy. Since recently BDU wanted us to also focus on warships, this was my target of choice. Tube 5 was empty since we used the remaining stores the previous night. We were unable to load the stern external store due to bad weather, but we were able to reload tubes 1-4 after we broke away from the previous convoy. I selected tubes 3 & 4 for the attack, and opened the outer doors. The lead destroyer had already long passed, so we began to move into position for the attack. https://i.ibb.co/yBbdbFM/05.jpg Tube 3... Los! https://i.ibb.co/wW4502v/06.jpg https://i.ibb.co/NSHnyWK/07.jpg https://i.ibb.co/jhLvfwF/08.jpg https://i.ibb.co/n6RBrXb/09.jpg https://i.ibb.co/09MsNNG/10.jpg Tube 3 hit the forward magazines causing secondary explosions throughout the ship. Sonar reported that the engines had stopped... I figured she was done for, and we got her. https://i.ibb.co/2kWj65R/11.jpg After a few moments sonar reported that the engines had restarted, looking through the periscope I could see she was moving again... "It's better to sink one ship, then to damage many..." Tube 4... Los! https://i.ibb.co/0B9pXx2/12.jpg https://i.ibb.co/frsVqf3/13.jpg https://i.ibb.co/9TvgwSb/14.jpg https://i.ibb.co/3shnh0W/15.jpg Sonar reported the engine had stopped again, and also... Warship, Bearing 200, Closing!... "Crash Drive, 110 Meters, Course 320, Ahead Fank!" https://i.ibb.co/kGFGcqC/16.jpg https://i.ibb.co/jWQRfGD/17.jpg https://i.ibb.co/3chRwjM/18.jpg https://i.ibb.co/QD5dnp0/19.jpg https://i.ibb.co/SmMJ2Qz/20.jpg https://i.ibb.co/VMBNgXs/21.jpg We listened to the warship behind us searching around our previous location for about an hour, no pings, no DC's... It never even detected us. https://i.ibb.co/VS9W2Mb/22.jpg After both the convoy, and the warship faded on the hydrophone, and there was no sound contact, we surfaced. https://i.ibb.co/DGjGD2R/23.jpg We arrived on our previous course, and continued sailing home... https://i.ibb.co/YZtTGbd/24.jpg |
U-957 - Patrol 04 Complete.
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Long trip!
I'm ducking relentless air harassment while looking for targets in my patrol zone SWE of Cape Town (GR89) after a long trip from Brest. Along the way, I sank three destroyers and an escort carrier in one encounter. I got the usual response to my patrol report after the action: "Keep up the good work!" The same I get for sinking unescorted merchant ships. Sigh. Ship sightings have been rare, but I got what I could and arrived here with six fish left: three in the bow, two in the stern, and one in the stern reserve.
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U-48 Close Call
Sh 4 Dark Waters mod but its U Boats, not many U boat threads for SH 4. Sure SH 3 captains can identify with this situation, a real close call.
24.12.39 Patrol in Grid AM 378 West of Hirta Island. ---------- Sea State: 0 21.04 Aircraft 180 very short range ! Alarm! Dive! Unidentified single engine aircraft appeared out of darkness and dropped several bombs/depth charges, which landed 10-12 meters off starboard bow/conning tower. Damage reported (see below). 21.05 Boat in uncontrolled dive, heavy forward due to flooding. Emergency procedures to stop descent, but hit bottom at 120 meters. Damage reported (see below). Damage from bombs/depth charges: 1. Flooding in bow torpedo compartment. 2. Bow Dive planes Transmission disabled. Damage from impact with sea floor: 1. Fore batteries severely damaged. Capacity reduced to 40 percent. 2. Additional flooding in bow torpedo room. 3. Hydraulic Pump 4. Trim Pump 5. Clean Fuel Oil Tank 6. High Pressure Air Compressor Injuries: Mostly minor. Matrosengefeiter M.H. Ritter seriously injured as was on watch topside when bombing occurred. 21.10 Ballast tanks blow with motors backing at full. 21.25 Surfaced. Repairs continued. |
SH 4 Dark Waters but figured U Boat Kaleuns here would enjoy..
U-47 August 21, 1940 21.08.40 Convoy Intercept. --------- Weather: Clear. Winds 0 kts Sea State: 0 Moon: 03.06 Received report of convoy in Grid AL 81 Course ENE 8 kts. Set intercept course. Estimated intercept time 13.00. 12.28 Submerged for sound check. 12.31 Distant prop noises bearing 036. Set course to close contacts. 12.35 Surfaced to close contacts. 12.55 Spotted enemy convoy bearing 345 17000 meters. 12.56 Contact Report Sent. Large Convoy Sighted Grid AL 82 Course 090 Speed 7 kts. 13.10 Received orders to attack immediately. Called Action Stations for submerged attack. 13.11 Submerged for attack. 14.00 Approached convoy from starboard side. 14.29 Inside convoy. Targeting middle columns. 14.32 Fired Tube No.1, No.2 (TI G7a) 8500 ton tanker. Range 1500 meters. Fired Tube No.3 (TI G7a) at large merchant Range 900 meters. Fired Tube No.4 at Second large tanker Range 1900 meters. 14.33 Two torpedo impacts on first tanker! One torpedo impact(Tube No.3) but no detonation. Torpedo was a dud. 14.34 Enemy escort pinging closing. Ordered hard dive 100 meters. Rigged for Silent Routine and wasserbombe. 14.35 Torpedo missed target. 14.36 Torpedo impact! Very large series of explosions followed by sounds of ship breaking up. Torpedo missed intended target but hit another vessel. Possibly a ammunition ship judging by the explosions. 14.41 Enemy passed above. Splashes. 14.42 Depth charges. 14.45 Boat at 120 meters. Enemy appeared to lose contact after first pattern. 14.53 Inside convoy with escorts not close. Rose to periscope depth. 14.59 8300 ton Tanker (Torpedoes 1 and 2 hit) sunk. 15.07 Fired Tube No.5 (TII G7e) at Hog Island Type A freighter. 4515 tons. Range 1100 meters. Fired then dove, escorting closing 15.10 Torpedo impact! Torpedo missed, but impacted another vessel. 15.11 Enemy above. Boat depth 108 meters. 15.20 Sounds of ship breaking up astern. 15.21 Distant wasserbombe explosions. 15.26 Distant wasserbombe explosions. 15.42 Unknown vessel sunk Grid AL 82. (Later identified as 3907 tons Medium Modern Passenger/Freighter) 16.20 Secured Action Stations and Silent Routine. Depth 160 meters. Ordered torpedo reload. 17.31 Reload completed. 17.54 Periscope depth. All clear. 18.01 Surfaced. Set pursuit course 090. 18.40 Spotted convoy bearing 056 15 km (In pursuit for night surface attack) |
On B.d.U.-Staff in Paris, Avenue Maréchal Maunoury
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+++++++ Wednesday, 01 July 1942 - Paris Taking up my new post on the B.d.U.-Staff, as 1. Admiralstabsoffizier operativ (A I op) 'Geleitzugs-Asto' (convoy staff officer). During the month of May, the enemy had started to adopt the convoy system along the East Coast of the U.S.A. and in the Gulf of Mexico, and as of this month, also, in the Caribbean. Saturday, 4 July 1942 Boats are free to engage Brazilian shipping. Allied convoy PQ-17 is attacked by 24 He 111 aircraft of German Luftwaffe unit I./KG 26 about 60 miles north of Bear Island (Bjørnøya), Norway. British RAF's third 1,000-plane raid targets Bremen, Germany, causing considerable damage to the city and the Focke-Wulf plant. While the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army has been moved to Voronezh, Russia to aid the city's defense, Adolf Hilter diverts the German 6th Army toward Stalingrad. Axis tanks continue the attack on Ruweisat Ridge near El Alamein, Egypt, making little progress; British aircraft fly 900 sorties on this day against the Axis offensive. The Allies, believing the Axis forces have lost their initial momentum, launch a limited offensive with elements of the South African 1st Division and New Zealand 2nd Division toward the Ruweisat Ridge. Sunday, 19 July 1942 B.d.U. withdraws the last two boats from the U.S.A. East Coast. 99 British bombers (40 Halifax, 31 Stirling, and 28 Lancaster) are launched to attack the Vulkan submarine yard at Vegesack district of Bremen, Germany; most bombs miss the shipyard; 3 bombers are lost. The Soviet 66th Naval Rifle Brigade arrives at Stalingrad and is assigned to the Soviet 64th Army. British cruisers HMS Dido and HMS Euryalus and four destroyers bombard Mersa Matruh, Egypt. General Walther von Brauchitsch is awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty of Finland. RST KvtKpt.& A I op (Geleitzugs-Asto) |
Left Lorient in March of 1941, on U-32's 3rd war patrol. Having just been promoted to Oblt. z. See, and the majority of the crew having been onboard for some time now, the ship was in good spirits as we set course for EK76.
Stopped by the approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar, sinking three lone merchants and tracking and engaging a convoy, though luck would not be on our side; of the four torpedoes fired, one missed, another detonated prematurely, and the remaining two were dodged as the convoy began maneuvering. Escorts depth-charged us for the better part of 3 hours before we finally gave them the slip, and we surfaced later in the evening of the 15th of April. With the weather so good, we continued hunting in the area, hoping to catch some more traffic, but after a few run-ins with air patrols, we made for the Canary Islands to resupply at M/V Corrientes, and enjoy some well-deserved liberty in Las Palmas. |
Hopefully the community will forgive necro-posting in this thread but 420+ pages of patrol reports seems worthy of retaining to report the loss of U-447.
The boat, under command of OLzS Erwin Aleve sailed from Bergen on September 7th 1942 to patrol AL42. After unsuccessfully attempting intercepts of two convoys, early on October 4th, contact was made with a large convoy near Rockall in appalling weather, rain, high seas and 15 m/s winds. The opportunity for an night surface attack was there and while getting into position, OLzS Aleve got a reply to his contact report which required shadowing and hourly contact reports. An end-around run brought the boat ahead of the convoy to maintain contact. Over the course of the next ten-hours, U-447 made nine contact updates, with each being acknowledged by BdU without orders to attack. Gradually as daylight came on and the rain ceased, the range opened to about 6500m. Finally at about 1215 local, the weather suddenly cleared and the boat was charged by no less three escorts. Breaking contact towards the convoy and evading the escorts eventually U-447 assumed a course parallel to the convoy and gradually dropped astern. The plan was to open the range until the boat could surface and do another end around. After some four-hours and at least 50 depth charges, the escorts seemed to have returned to the convoy and it seemed that the boat could surface safely around 1800 local. Sadly, just after 1630, Cat made an appearance and tread upon the keyboard and it would seem as though at some point the "D" key was pressed and U-447 begin a dive that would remain undetected and result in the boat exceeding crush depth undetected. This is what comes of leaving the game running to prepare beer BBQ beef ribs and losing situational awareness. We know that at least one U-Boat was lost due to toilet errors but the loss of U-447 to feline intervention is perhaps unique. Take the loss of the boat as a cautionary tale. OLzS Aleve's career was played out using SH-3 with Fifi's June 2022 NYGM Hardcore Mod. -C |
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