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)
Thursday,
24 June 1943 - Off Cape Town -
- continued from 24 June, 1057 -
1155 -
Outgoing F.T.:
To B.d.U.:
24 June sunk 2 steamers off Capetown: 0139 Australian High Speed Cargo 3923ts, Qu.5385GR bottom center. 0958 Australian Large Ore Carrier 7333ts, Qu.5621GR center top right, with Falke. Steamers leaving Capetown in intervals of 20-50min., on course 240°, via Qu.5388GR center until Qu.5621GR center left, and then continue on course SSW. Medium air patrol: 23 June, 2349 shot down 1 Liberator in QU.5385GR top right. On 24 June, 0443 attack from twin engine airplane in Qu.5385GR center right, 2% hull damage, no further damages. Entry between Capetown and Robben Island is patrolled by 1 Hunt-I and 1 Armed Trawler. Area off Capetown is patrolled by several Black Swan Sloops. During ASW chase on 24 June from 0600 to 0800, received 158 Wabos, 2% hull damage, total hull damage 9%. No further damages. Still have 2 EtoFat and 461cbm. SSE4/3, clear, visibility 4-5nm, >1000mb. Continue outbound transit. - RST -
1200 - Qu.5627GR -
Days Run: 119.7nm - ↗ 75.9nm (7h 30') - ↘ 43.8nm (16h 30')
Total: 8895.1nm (50tg 22h) - ↗ 8525.0nm (45tg 6h 29') - ↘ 370.1nm (5tg 15h 31')
Course 180°; 461cbm (1cbm in 24h); Battery 71.4%; 2xEtoFat; 8xBold.
SSE4/3, clear, visibility 4.5nm, >1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 13h) - Early Morning Dawn -
Diving for submerged cruise at Reception Depth.
1202 - Deterrent-Wabos are being dropped about 6 times in the distance until 1258. As there is no sound contact with warships, suspect being dropped by A/C.
1305 - Sunrise - After lunch break, going to T=50 for torpedo maintenance and loading. Sound contact steamer bearing 43°, on course SSW, speed 10kn, E=37400; Suspect steamers leaving Capetown along the ascertained shipping lane.
1309 - At T=50. Beginning of torpedo maintenance and loading.
1400 - Tube V serviced (EtoFat/Pi39H).
1416 - Tube VI loaded (EtoFat/Pi39H).
Sound contact bearing 145, fast on course SSW, along the steamer route course 202°. Setting for Reception Depth.
1423 - T=20.
1425 - S-Tiefe. Just before surfacing, a Catalina is sighted in the B-Periscope bearing 151°, on course 202°, along the shipping lane, E=8000; Goes out of sight at 1430 in relative bearing 55°.
1432 - Qu.5651GR top center - Surfaced after 2h 32min. and 6.6nm.
1437 - On course 270°. 2xH.F. going to investigate the sound contacts.
1441 - Steamer sighted bearing 38°, E=13300; Is identified as a Large Ore Carrier of 7330ts, on course 200°, speed 10kn.
1445 - When going on course 245° to intercept, a Hansa-Type Cargo of 3291ts is sighted, and between the two another steamer, all appear to be going on course 200°, speed 10kn.
Cmdr.:
It appears as though, that the steamers leaving Capetown have assembled to a small convoy.
1451 - On course 235°; Full-Ahead, 16kn.
1454 - Qu.5643GR top center right - FuMB-Detecion in 240°true, E=16500.
1455 - Airplane in direction of the FuMB-Detection, E=6000, direct approach. It's too late to dive. Evading with A.K. hard to port, presenting our beam. The airplane drops 3 bombs behind the boat and flies off on course NE, no damages.
1457 - The 3rd steamer comes into sight, a Vostok Cargo of 7200ts, running 4000m to the stbd. beam of the Hansa Cargo. Boat is continuing on course 235° and Full-Ahead, 16kn.
1503 - Qu.5643GR center right - Again airplane (Consolidated) in 225°true on course NE, E=9000 (no FuMB or Magic Eye Detection). "ALARM!". At T=25, 2 bombs, lights go out temporarily. At T=75, another 3 bombs.
Pressure Hull sustained 2% damage (Total 11% => 89% of 230m =>
204.7m safe diving depth).
1512 - Sound contact with 4 steamers. Setting for Reception Depth.
1521 - T=20. Compressed Air Supply 290Atü, Battery 65.7%.
1523 - At S-Tiefe the Large Ore Carrier can be seen 7600m to our stbd. beam, and behind the Hansa Carrier, E=7400.
1526 - Surfaced after 23min. and 1.2nm. Going to parallel course 200°, 1/3-Ahead.
1530 - Compressed Air Supply filled. 2xH.F. The Vostock Carrier comes into sight and 3000m behind her another Hansa Carrier.
1535 - Full-Ahead.
1540 - Qu.5643GR top center right - Magic Eye Detection and right afterwards a Catalina in 52°true, E=6300, direct approach out of the sun. Evading with A.K. hard to port, presenting our beam.
1541 - The Catalina flies over the boat without attacking it. 3 bombs underneath each wing can clearly be seen. After the fly-over, "ALARM!". At E=2900, the Catalina turns around and approaches again. At T=35, 3 bombs, little concussions.
1545 - At A-Meter 2 more bombs and 1 more at 1546 - that was all of the 6 bombs she had. No damages.
1548 - Sound contact with to surface vessels bearing 225°, E=38000 and 235°, E=32500. Setting for Reception Depth.
1558 - T=20. Compressed Air Supply 290Atü, Battery 63%, CO₂ 1.1%.
1600 - At S-Tiefe, only the Hansa Carrier 4400m behind the Large Ore Carrier can be seen. Turning boat around hard to stbd. to course 290°, and operating on sound contacts 1548.
1610 - Surfaced after 29min. and 1.5nm.
1613 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled. 1/3-Ahead.
1618 - Qu.5646GR top center - FuMB-Detection in 204°true and right after a airplane on course NNE, E=11500.
1619 - "ALARM!". At T=45, 1 Wabo.
1622 - At A-Meter, 4 bombs and at 1623 1 more bomb. No damages.
1627 - 2 more bombs - no damages.
1628 - Sound contact 1548 now bearing 80°, E=29000 and 62°, E=28000. Setting for Reception Depth. 2 more bombs - seems to be more than one airplane.
- to be continued -