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Old 04-17-23, 01:39 AM   #389
Kapitän
The Old Man
 
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Default 12. Unterseebootsflottille - Bordeaux

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

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U 115
- KTB -
First War Patrol
(17th war patrol overall)

Friday, 16 April 1943 - 12th U.-Flotilla Bordeaux (Korvkpt. Klaus Scholtz; ex U 108) -

Daily F.d.U. Briefing

O.K.W.-Report:
a) The first night fighter attack on London, carried out by thirty Focke-Wulf 190 aircraft, resulted in two bombs hitting the city, and four German pilots getting lost, thought that they were over France and landed at West Malling RAF fighter base in Kent where three were taken prisoner and one was killed crash-landing.
b) 13 British Spitfire fighters intercepted a large Axis air convoy off Tunisia, claiming to have shot down 7 SM.82 and 1 Bf 109 aircraft at the cost of only 2 Spitfire fighters.

O.K.M-Report:
a) Italians raised the wreck of the French Cruiser Foch at Toulon, France, for repair.
b) Convoy warfare in March has led to a considerable using up of U-boats. A large number of boats have returned owing to fuel and torpedo exhaustion and damage. The resulting gaps must be filled as quickly as possible, if the monthly sinking figures are to be increased. On 6.4, therefore, all boats of type IX about to put out were ordered to proceed to the North Atlantic in order to make up the number of U-boats needed there to intercept convoys.
The fact that sinking results (as far as can be seen) in the southern operational area have decreased (owing to absence of traffic caused by withdrawal of ships for operations in North Africa, and the frequent changes in isolated vessel and convoy traffic.) makes this order timely. Whether future events will justify it remains to be seen.

B.d.U.-Report:
a) At 0141, U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter Arthur Stahl) gives short weather report acc. F.T.2209/15/104.
b) U 177 (IXD2; Kptlt. Robert Gysae) reports on "Bachstelze" (observation device).
On the southbound passage from 33°N there were two take offs daily. Successful operation up to seaway 4 and medium swell. Critical point when landing, pitching of boat is no great hindrance as the landing platform is midships and static. It is advisable to wind in the last meter of wire by hand.
The Commander considers more discrimination in the choice of personnel and better training in engine maintenance necessary.
c) A meeting has taken place between U 154 (Oblt. Oskar-Heinz Kusch), U 159 (Kptlt. Helmut Friedrich Witte) and U 518 (Kptlt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Wissmann). The crew of U 167 (KrvKpt. Kurt Sturm) has been evenly distributed among the boats.
d) Since U 376 (Kptlt. Friedrich-Karl Marks) put out of La Pallice on 6.4., it has not reported. The boat was detailed to search for the crew of "Irene". Apart from aircraft sightings of U-boats, there is no information of any kind whatsoever from the Biscay area or W. of it. Several requests for a situation report remained unanswered. The boat must be presumed lost.

B-Dienst Report:
a) According to special Radio Intelligence reports, the SC 126 convoy was in BC 8485 at 2100 on 12.4., and is to have carried out a change of course.
b) The first release of a non-explosive "Upkeep" bouncing bomb took place at Reculver, off the North Kent coast in Britain, but the device broke up on hitting the water.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

+++++++

U 115
- KTB -
First War Patrol
(17th war patrol overall)

Saturday, 17 April 1943 - 12th U.-Flotilla Bordeaux (Korvkpt. Klaus Scholtz; ex U 108) -

Daily F.d.U. Briefing

O.K.W.-Report:
a) In response to our discovery of a mass grave at Katyn, the Soviet Union insist that the massacre was committed by us. The Polish government-in-exile in London, requested the International Red Cross to investigate the matter.
b) US bombers attacked Palermo, Sicily. Our Luftwaffe shot down 5 bombers and 1 fighter.

B.d.U.-Report:
a) At 2400, U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter Arthur Stahl) is standing up and down in ordered attack area (Qu.AL 1343) at most economic crusing speed (135° - 315°).
b) It can no longer be considered possible to intercept SC 126 with Group "Meise". It is possible that the convoy sailed through the center of the line in the bad visibility of the last few days. As visibility has improved since yesterday and these conditions are likely to continue for some time, Group "Meise" is to remain in this area, but further to the N. The reason for this is the assumption that the HX and SC convoys expected in the next few days will again use the northern route.
c) U 180 (IXD1; Fregkpt. Werner Musenberg) and the Japanese U-boat I-29 are ordered to meet at 0600 on 23.4 in JA 2432. After execution of special duties (transfer of two Indian Nationalist agents; to be put ashore by I-29 at Sumatra), U 180 is to operate in the lower third of KP and KQ and the upper third of KZ and JA, with central point off Durban. E.W. traffic is presumed in the vicinity of this port.

B-Dienst Report:
a) Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9) departed Boston bound for Argentia, Newfoundland, while in a routine change of command, Captain Arnold Jay "Buster" Isbell relieved Captain James Sykes as commanding officer of Escort Carrier USS Card (CVE-11), while the ship was at anchor in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
b) The demanding training of dropping the new "Upkeep" bombs at low altitudes had proven too much for some British pilots, bringing 617 Squadron's stenghth down to 21 crews.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
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