[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

- continued from 1 Feb. 0715h -

0721 - Dived at a distance of 4000m. S-Tiefe. Silent Running. "Battle Stations!".

0747 - Qu.1894AM - Own course 175°; own speed 3kn ahead.
Shot with Tube IV, G7a, K-a/G7H (contact fuse); Running depth 4m; Vt44kn.
Target ship: Standard Merchant 6311ts, loaded with military aircraft on the upper deck.
Target course 88°; Target distance 1392m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 7kn; Firing angle 335°.

The torpedo is hit in the forecastle after 70sec.!

The merchant is burning and has a list to port but continues on. The stbd. aft escort - a L-Class Destroyer - is searching for us in the general area of our attack position but doesn't drop any Wabos.

0801 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Final work-up's and testing of new boats in Danzig closed, due to severe ice conditions in the Baltic Sea. Instead, ready boats are sent to the front for the duration of 1 patrol. B.d.U. returns from vacation.

0825 - Incoming F.T.0820/1: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst reports enemy convoy in Qu.0133AM, on course East, speed 6kn.

0838 - Sunrise.

0852 - After about 1h of ASW action, the L-Class Destroyer runs back to the convoy.

0900 - "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

0904 - Surfaced after 1h 43' and 5.2sm.
Shadowing convoy to check if torpedoed steamer will fall behind or sink. Visibility is 10000m.

0945 - Stbd. aft L-Class Destroyer on search pattern until 1105h, taking turns with the stbd. forward L-Class Destroyer.

1110 - Cmdr.: "As the torpedoed steamer is still running in formation of the convoy and seemingly has special escort from the stbd. destroyers, I break off the action and retreat to the south on high speed, in order to catch convoy 0820/1."

1200 - Qu.1899AM - Days Run: 230.0sm - ↗224.5sm (22h 11') - ↘5.5sm (1h 49')
90.4cbm (6.4cbm/24h). 9400Ah. Weather: NW2/2, partly cloudy, light haze, visibility 10000m, >1000mb.

- to be continued -

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

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KTB - U 112

- continued from 1 Feb. 1200h -

1245 - Convoy 0820/1 comes into sight, the aft escort - a Flower Corvette - 9000m ahead.

1252 - The corvette goes on a search pattern.

1257 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
"Gustav Gelb!". Convoy 082071 in Qu.2922AM top left, on course 88°, speed 7kn, 6 Steamer in keel-line, 1 Corvette in back. No more eels, will try to attack with deck gun. - RST -

1302 - The corvette returns to the convoy. Boat moving to the sun side in the south, E=5500m.

1309 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Free for ambush attack with surface weapons. Expect status report after attack.

1323 - Qu.2922AM - Approaching convoy at angle 180°, with sun in the back. "Weapons Free!", at a distance of 5500m to the Corvette. After 21 rounds with the 10.5cm gun, the corvette sinks, E=3000!

1339 - The convoy is sending "SSS". At a distance of 3500m to the pos.4, Large Merchant, "Weapons Free!". After 27 rounds with the 10.5cm gun, the steamer explodes and sinks!

1343 - The convoy is zig-zagging. "Weapons Free!", at the pos.3, Large Merchant. After 30 rounds with the 10.5cm gun, the steamer sinks, at 1348h!

1350 - "Weapons Free!", at the pos.2, M-12 Merchant. After 15 rounds with the 10.5cm gun, the steamer sinks!

1354 - "Weapons Free!", at a distance of 1400m to the pos.6, SAR-Merchant. After 11 rounds with the 10.5cm gun, the steamer sinks!

1355 - "Weapons Free!", at a distance of 1700m to the pos.5, Ore-II-Merchant. After 11 rounds with the 10.5cm gun, the steamer sinks!

1402 - "Weapons Free!", at a distance of 3000m to the pos.1, Ore-Merchant. After 21 rounds with the 10.5cm gun, the steamer sinks!

Running back to the different sinking positions:
- Nothing found from the Ore-Merchant;
- Only debris found from the Ore-II-Merchant, fished a life belt out of the water;
- Nothing found from the SAR-Merchant;
- Questioned and supplied 15 survivors in 4 boats from the M-12-Merchant;
- Questioned and supplied 12 survivors in 3 boats from the pos.3, Large Merchant;
- Nothing found from the pos.4, Large Merchant;
- Questioned and supplied 14 survivors in 4 boats of the Corvette, took 2 Officers prisoner.

1505 - Running off on southerly heading at medium speed. Have 10 rounds of 10.5cm SpG left. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

- to be continued -