[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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)

Tuesday, 29 June 1943 - South of East London -

- 8th week at sea completed -

1010 - F.T. from F.d.U.-Nordmeer: To B.d.U.:
Status report about U.-Base on Franz-Josef-Island.

1200 - Qu.7342KZ - Days Run: 193.6nm - ↗ (24h)
Total: 9884.1nm (55tg 22h) - ↗ 9479.3nm (49tg 13h 25') - ↘ 404.8nm (6tg 08h 35')
Course 87°; 447cbm (2.5cbm in 24h); Battery 100%; 2xEtoFat; 8xBold.
SSE4/3, clear, visibility 4.5nm, >1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 5d 13h) - Early Morning Dawn -

1259 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged.

2225 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged.

2311 - Incoming Radio Reports:

From O.K.W.:
a) US Marines have landed at Lae on Nassau, New Guinea and the US 158th Regimental Combat Team and the US 6th Engineer Combat Company at Kiriwini Island, Trobriand Islands.
b) On 28 June, Köln was bombed by British terror bombers, heavily damaging the cathedral and inflicting heavy civilian casualties.

From B.d.U.:
a) U 180 (IXD1; Fregkpt. Werner Musenberg) reported aircraft attack from high altitude in BE9955 (west of Finisterre).
b) U 119 (XB; Kptlt. Horst-Tessen von Kameke) and U 449 (Oblt. Hermann Otto) were returning together via the Biscay area. The last certain position was BE 9256, dated 23.6. Since that date there have been no messages. On 25.6. there was particularly heavy English air activity, and an English unit was located in BF 8110. It is impossible to say whether this ties up with the destruction of the boats. It may have referred to an English U-boat which scored 2 lucky hits with a quadruple spread. The boats have not reported again. U 119 and U 449 (on her first war patrol) must be presumed lost.

B-Dienst Report:
a) According to an agent's report on 28 June, several steamers sailing in ballast may be expected to leave Freetown for Pernambuco, between 29. and 30.6. The boats have been instructed accordingly.
b) On 28 June, a Royal Air Force reconnaissance aircraft conclusively identified our long-range rocket launch sites at Peenemünde.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

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)

Wednesday, 30 June 1943 - South of Durban -

0310 - Qu.8187KZ -

1110 - F.T. from O.K.M.:
a) C-in-C has ordered the fragmentation of the Uboats force, in order to force dissipation of the enemy ASW forces. Re-fueling to be done in the South-Atlantic.
b) Because of the loss of U 194 (Kptlt. Hermann Hesse) and U 200 (IXD2; KrvKpt. Heinrich Schonder) and previous experiences, C-in-C has ordered with immediate effect, that no boat is to put out without quadruple mounted guns. A temporary postponement of operational orders for 3 to 4 weeks and a hold up in German shipyards must be taken into account.
The intention of sending several boats through the Channel, i.e. under strong escort at night and lying on the bottom during the day, is postponed for the time being as:
1) The prevailing moon quarter is unsuitable for such an undertaking.
2) The necessary forces are not available for the escort groups at such short notice. Further, the first attempt should not be made with a IXd2 (U 847; Kptlt. Herbert Kuppisch). The first breakthrough will probably take place during the next new moon period.
3) C-in-C has also ordered that the 4 boats, U 387, 277, 307 and 713 at present outward bound in the North Sea are to be temporarily placed at the disposal of S.O. U-boats Norway. S.O. U-boats Norway is planning the execution of several minelaying operations in the Kara Sea.

1145 - Early Morning Dawn -

1200 - Qu.8226KZ - Days Run: 193.6nm - ↗ (24h)
Total: 10077.7nm (56tg 22h) - ↗ 9672.9nm (50tg 13h 25') - ↘ 404.8nm (6tg 08h 35')
Course 87°; 444.5cbm (2.5cbm in 24h); Battery 100%; 2xEtoFat; 8xBold.
SSE4/3, clear, visibility 4.5nm, >1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 6d 13h)

1247 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged.

1300 - Qu.8234KZ - Diving for torpedo maintenance and trial dive.

1305 - T=49. Beginning torpedo maintenance.

1400 - Tube V serviced (EtoFat/Pi39H). - Break until 1409 -

1500 - Tube VI serviced (EtoFat/Pi39H).

1505 - Beginning of Trial Dive acc. B.d.U. Standing Orders No.507 and No.308. 145rpm.

1547 - Boat is safe and secure at 2A-Meter.

1550 - Setting for T=20 with 96rpm.

1606 - Reception Depth.
Battery 91.4%, Compressed Air Supply 300Atü(!), CO₂ 1.5%.

Cmdr.: L.I. reports that the Compressed Air Supply Gauge is faulty. Seems to be stuck at full. Repair is ongoing.

1610 - Qu.8235KZ - Surfaced from S-Tiefe after 3h 10' and 9.0nm. Weather and Sea unchanged.

- to be continued -