[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Wednesday, 24 February 1943 - Danzig

At Danziger Werft AG, for Repairs and Overhaul.

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Major General Omar Bradley arrives in French Algeria.

Aircraft Carrier USS Ranger (CV-4) launches 75 USAAF P-40L fighters off Casablanca, French Morocco, to reinforce Allied forces fighting in North Africa. Ranger begins withdrawing toward Norfolk, Virginia almost immediately.

Italian U-boat reported convoy in CG 1778 with course 340°, speed 12 knots. German boats were ordered to operate against it as far as possible but not to pursue it.

U 160 (Kptlt. Georg Lassen) has been in the Capetown area since the 14th February and, in this area as well as cruising from GQ 55 over GQ 93 to GR 95, found no traffic. Boat sank the steamer "Roger P. Taney, 6,800 GRT in GF 2224 on the 8th February, course 250° from Capetown to New York.

Convoy No. 10 (ON.166):
In the area of the convoy on the 24th the weather situation by day was particularly calm, wind N.E. 1, visibility 10 miles. It was particularly dark before the moon rose which made contact with the convoy very difficult, then there was bright moonlight towards 0300. By day, contact was maintained by U 603 (Oblt. Hans-Joachim Bertelsmann) and was reported by this boat, at 2124 for the last time in BC 9186. Before darkness U 621, U 600 and U 628 also came up to the convoy, only U 628 (Oblt. Heinrich Hasenschar) of these being able to maintain contact. At 0639 U 628 reported the convoy in BC 5987. U 91 (Kptlt. Heinz Walkerling) also contacted the convoy at 0414 in 9175. In the first half of the night contact was maintained for the most part only by hydrophone fixes, but after the moon rose the convoy was again sighted. According to reports from U 628, which reported the convoy further to the N.W. than the other boats, it appeared that there were two separate convoy groups. This was confirmed by two reports from U 603 which assumed the convoy to be divided. U 603 reported at midday on the 24th a bunch of 7 steamers while U 92 (Kptlt. Adolf Oelrich) had definitely seen during underwater attack a bunch of 5 steamers. The two groups could not be distinguished exactly according to dead reckoning. On the 24th by day and in the night of the 25th, there were reports of air cover with the convoy. One boat was attacked by aircraft. 4 boats reported being pursued and depth-charged. U 604 (Kptlt. Horst Höltring) being obliged to retire for repairs owing to considerable depth-charge damage.
U 603, 628, 468, 600, 653, 621 and U 91 are operating now against the rest of the convoy. The convoy was, at 0639 on the 25th February, in BC 5987.

Convoy No. 11 (ON.167):
ince it is assumed that the convoy will deviate to the north in order to avoid the area of the boats operating against Convoy No. 10, the patrol line will be moved northward, that is from BC 3685 to BC 6935. The boats will take up positions in the following sequence: U 332, 432, 753, 226, 383, 758, 607, 664, 84, 409, 591.

Convoy No. 12 (UC.1; aka 'Greyhound' convoys):
In spite of avoiding movements to the south, contact was maintained by U 521, 202, 504, 66 until 0216. Convoy route DG 5812, 5713, 4922, 4892. Mean course of the convoy 250° cruising speed 10 knots. Course leads on to the Windward Passage.
U 558 (Kptlt. Günther Krech) reported, in 5389 at 2345 on the 23rd February, a damaged freighter sighted and a stopped tanker sunk, 9,000 GRT.
U 87 (Kptlt. Joachim Berger) broke off operations owing to shortage of lubricating oil.
U 522 (Kptlt. Herbert Schneider) has not reported since underwater attack, in spite of orders to do so.
U 382, 218, 43, 558 were attacked by night, detected by destroyers and attacked with depth-charges. U 382 (Kptlt. Herbert Juli) heavily damaged, withdrew for repairs.
Further boats were driven off by destroyers. U 202 (Kptlt. Günter Poser) and U 521 (Kptlt. Klaus Heinrich Bargsten) fired but unsuccessfully.
Weather: Wind east southeast 3, sea 2, 3/4 clouded, good visibility.
Conditions for detection by destroyers were apparently particularly favorable.
Sinkings:
U 558 (Kptlt. Günther Krech) reported later: On 23rd February at 2345 a damaged steamer sighted and a stopped tanker of 9,000 GRT sunk. DG 5385.

As several boats in the Gibraltar disposition are operating against Convoy No. 12, a new distribution is ordered, as follows: U 107 - CG 81 and 84, U 511 - CG 82 and 85. U 410 - CG 83 and 86. U 103 - CG 89, DJ 21 and 24. U 445 - CG 91, 94, 97, DJ 22 and eastward up to own minefield (Western line of this minefield lies 1.5 miles eastward CG 9585).

U 106 (Kptlt. Hermann Rasch; ex Oesten) will proceed to DF 60 at slow speed. After refueling from "Milkcow" U 461 (Kptlt. Wolf-Harro Stiebler) operations in the American area are intended.

In Route A the area between 5° South and 40° North now open for attack on single vessels.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) concludes Torpedo Firing Training with the 25th Flotilla Danzig and Agru.-Front Hela.

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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

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

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Thursday, 25 February 1943 - Danzig

At Danziger Werft AG, for Repairs and Overhaul.

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Battle for Kasserine Pass in Tunisia closes with the Americans, inexperienced and poorly led, suffering a major defeat. Nevertheless, the Americans will regain the pass at the end of the battle as overall strategy dictate the Axis forces to withdraw back into northern Tunisia.

U 410 (Oblt. Horst-Arno Fenski) lost contact, after a 12-hour chase, of a large vessel with two funnels when the weather suddenly deteriorated. The steamer was proceeding on a course of 15°, speed 16 knots. Last position CF 3549.

Situation of U 509 (Kptlt. Werner Witte): Only one steamer with course 160° sighted from 15/21 February in area GR 2948 - 5358. Moderate sea patrol. In view of own minefield, a nearer approach to the harbor to determine number of ships and their courses was not possible. Further operations intended in GR 6477 to 6763.

Convoy No. 10 (ON.166):
Weather situation in the area of the convoy was extremely unfavorable for operations on the 25th and in the night of the 26th. The visibility was generally less than 300 meters owing to thick fog, sea calm, it only freshened towards evening to wind S.E. 5. At 1127 on the morning of the 25th U 468 (Oblt. Klemens Schamong) contacted the convoy in BC 8239 and reported on it continually until 2130. It was also possible to maintain contact by hydrophone fix, when darkness fell, however, contact was lost in view of an especially dark night. U 600 (Kptlt. Bernhard Zurmühlen) and U 621 (Oblt. Max Kruschka) also came up to the convoy for a short time.
U 468 reported on the morning of the 25th that the convoy still consisted of 26 large steamers and tankers, while U 600 reported 4 more steamers. Possibly this was a new convoy which had joined the one already attacked.

U 606 (Oblt. Hans-Heinrich Döhler) - U 225 (Oblt. Wolfgang Leimkühler) and U 623 (Oblt. Hermann Schröder) were operating against Convoy 10 and have not reported up to now in spite of repeated orders to do so. While U 606 certainly reached the convoy and, according to a report from U 92 (Kptlt. Adolf Oelrich), at 2222 on the 22nd February after successfully attacking, was probably machine-gunned and subsequently pursued and depth-charged, it is not certain that the other two boats contacted the convoy at all. They were ordered to report on the weather for the first time on the 22nd but did not reply. Since boats generally report on contacts at once, their loss must have occurred earlier unless the circumstances are exceptional. 3 boats are considered lost.

Convoy No. 11 (ON.167):
Apart from destroyers reported by U 664 (Oblt. Adolf Graef) and U 607 (Kptlt. Ernst Mengersen) nothing was sighted in the patrol line. On the 26th February at 1034 Group "Sturmbock" was dispersed. Convoy operation concluded.

Convoy No. 12 (UC.1; aka 'Greyhound' convoys):
Contact was again made by U 202 (Kptlt. Günter Poser) in DF 7134 at 0912, which was maintained until 2118 by U 202, 66, 558, and 504. Convoy route DF 7121, 9345, 9264. At 0430 the convoy was again detected in DF 9124 by U 558 (Kptlt. Günther Krech), and reported on until 0820. Position of convoy at 0820 by U 558, DF 8365.
The following broke off operations: U 218 (VIID; Kptlt. Richard Becker) owing to rudder damage, U 382 (Kptlt. Herbert Juli) owing to heavy damage from depth-charges. U 202 (Kptlt. Günter Poser), U 43 (Oblt. Hans-Joachim Schwantke) owing to fuel shortage.
The question of approach is becoming increasingly difficult in view of very watchful, numerous and scattered escorts.

U 522 (Kptlt. Herbert Schneider) was operating against Convoy No. 12 and reported it last at 1536 on the 23rd February as being in DG 6158. The boat then dived for daylight attack. She has not reported again although repeatedly ordered to do so. Loss is probable.

U 68 (Oblt. Albert Lauzemis; ex Merten) was withdrawn, in view of faulty radar intercept gear, from the Windward Passage area where the air cover is very strong, and will proceed to DN 30 and DO, upper third, as a temporary operational area. Later operations with additional boats in the outer area of the American coast are intended. U 185 (Kptlt. August Maus), which was originally to have operated off Hatteras, will be ordered to the Windward Passage in place of U 68 in order to keep the former operational area clear before the arrival of a group of U-boats.

U 119 (XB; Kptlt. Alois Zech) carried out special task of laying a minefield off Reykjavik and will now proceed to BD 42 to give up her remaining fuel.

"Milkcow" U 460 (Kptlt. Ebe Schnoor) has supplied U 223 (Oblt. Karl-Jürgen Wächter) and U 186 (Kptlt. Siegfried Hesemann) the last boats, and will now return. The whole conduct of supply operations by U 460 was excellent.

In view of strong pressure by the Americans on the commander of the Vichy-controlled Islands in the Caribbean, boats are instructed not to approach these in cases of emergency owing to danger of internment.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) is on transit to Kiel.

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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115