[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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KTB - U 112

Thursday, 30 January 1941 - West of Rockall Bank

0130 - Qu.2855AL

0702 - Incoming F.T.: From Toreli:
4 ships for 17489ts sunk. - Langobardo -

0745 - Morning Dawn.

0920 - Sunrise.

1200 - Qu.3922AL - Days Run: 263.0sm - ↗244.2sm (17h 30') - ↘18.8sm (6h 30')
104.6cbm (10.3cbm/24h). 7400Ah. 7 Eto and 3 Ato internal. Weather unchanged in 72h.

Diving for listening check, about 1h from estimated interception point with convoy 1650/28. Nothing heard.

1245 - Surfaced. Weather has improved: NW2/2, partly cloudy, light haze, medium visibility, >1000mb.

1255 - "All engines stop!". M.G.-2cm-C/30 manned. Commenced external torpedo reloading.

1300 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Air reconnaissance reports an inbound convoy in Qu.6369AL. All boats to operate on this convoy.

Cmdr.: "I suspect, that this is convoy 1650/28, traveling at a higher speed than first thought and at changing courses."

1600 - 4 Ato taken under deck. Charging batteries at 7400Ah: Stbd.-Diesel 500RPM - Charging;
Port-Diesel 285RPM - Propulsion, 7kn.

1653 - Sundown.

1659 - Incoming F.T.1650/30: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst reporting inbound convoy in Marqu.3879AL, course east, speed 7kn.

Cmdr.: "This must be convoy 1650/28, that somehow managed to circle around our position."

1706 - Stopped charging batteries at 9000Ah and chasing after convoy 1650/28/30 on course 88°, Full Speed Ahead.

Cmdr.: "The convoy is running right in between the two patrol positions of U-Oesten (U 106) to the north and U-Kuppisch (U 94) to the south.

Boat operating on convoy 1650/28/30.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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KTB - U 112

Friday, 31 January 1941 - West of Rockall Bank

0034 - Incoming F.T. 0030/31: From B.d.U.:
Convoy 1650/30 now in Qu.3894AL bottom left, on course 88°, speed 7kn.

0130 - "Smoke plume ahead, bearing 0°!" It is convoy 1650/28/30. Commencing overtaking maneuver.

0227 - Evading the port escort on a search pattern until 0235h, E=4000. Either a Tribal or V&W Destroyer.

Convoy consisting of about 20 ships, 1 Cruiser, 1 Aircraft Carrier and 3-4 escorts.

0235 - Contact report sent:
"Gustav Gelb!". Convoy 1650/30 in 3895AL bottom left. Course 88°. Speed 7kn. 20 ships, 1 Cruiser, 1 Aircraft Carrier, 3 escorts. - RST -

The cruiser is HMS Norfolk, the Aircraft Carrier is HMS Glorious.

0235 - Second contact report sent:
Convoy 1650/30 now in 3895AL bottom right. Course 88°. Speed 7kn. 20 ships, HMS Glorious and HMS Norfolk, forward sweeper and 1 escort to either side. NW2/2, partly cloudy, light haze, visibility 8000, >1000mb. - RST -

0349 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Free to attack!

Cmdr.: "Even though, U-Kuppisch and U-Oesten must be close by, I receive the free-to-attack order."

0400 - The half moon is in the south. Decks awash. "Battle Stations!".

Surface attack with bow tubes. Own course 177°; Own speed 1.6kn. Shooter: Ob.Ltnt.z.S. & I.W.O. Emmo MARBACH.

0424 - Shot with Tubes I+II, G7e, K-b/G7H (contact fuse); Running depth 8m; Vt30kn.
Target ship: HMS Glorious.
Target course 89°; Target distance 5000m; Target angle red76°; Target speed 7kn; Firing angle 0°.

0425 - Shot with Tube III, G7e, K-b/G7H (contact fuse) and with Tube IV, G7a, K-a/G7H (contact fuse); Both running depth 4m and Vt30kn.
Target ship: HMS Norfolk.
Target course 89°; Target distance 2600m; Target angle red77°; Target speed 7kn; Firing angle 0°.

All 4 torpedoes are hits! HMS Norfolk capsizes to her port side.

Cmdr.: "I'm turning hard to port, to bring the stern torpedoes to bear. However, as the convoy is zig-zagging and the forward sweeper is running to our shooting position, I blow the tanks and run off on a northerly heading."

0444 - "Dismissed from Battle Stations!". Commenced torpedo loading.

- to be continued -