[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Tuesday, 2 March 1943 - Danzig

Concluding Repairs and Overhaul at Danziger Werft AG.

B.d.U. HQ moves from Paris to Berlin, Hotel am Steinplatz (until 12/43).

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Our troops destroy the Soviet 3rd Tank Army near Kharkov, Ukraine, which had only just been recaptured by the Soviets two weeks prior.

U 518 (Kptlt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Wissmann) sighted a convoy on an easterly course, speed 8 knots in FJ 8719 at 1400 on 28.2. All together 18 empty steamers, 5 escort vessels. The boat attacked and sank a freighter of 7,000 GRT in FJ 9411. In other attacks with 14 electrical torpedoes, under good firing conditions there were 8 failures owing to erratic depth keeping. Set depth 2 and 3 inches, seaway 1, slight swell.
In the course of 2.3. U 518 was continually forced to submerge by non-stop air activity, and broke off the pursuit owing to the hopeless position.
Situation: No traffic was confirmed apart from the reported convoy during a 7 day search in FJ 80. There was a slight surface but strong systematic air patrol. Radar activity off Bahia. Further operations are intended in FJ 30.

Convoy No. 13 (HX.227; Group "Neptun"):
In order to obtain a clear picture of the intentions of the boats, they were requested to send a situation report. Subsequently they received the following orders: U 634 (Oblt. Eberhard Dahlhaus) and U 566 (Oblt. Hans Hornkohl) were to make for AJ 69 at economical cruising speed. Both boats are so far astern that pursuit of the convoy was pointless. U 448 (Oblt. Helmut Dauter), U 359 (Oblt.z.S.d.R. Heinz Förster), and U 659 (Kptlt. Hans Stock) continued to operate on a convoy course of 230° and 250° with a passage speed of 7 to 10 knots. U 608 (Kptlt. Rolf Struckmeier) and U 377 (Kptlt. Otto Köhler) broke off ops owing to fuel shortage, without having established contact, and are proceeding to supply point, U 376 (Kptlt. Friedrich-Karl Marks) to Western France without replenishment. U 405 (KrvKpt. Rolf-Heinrich Hopman) also had no contact. A clear report of the numbers and size of the ships sunk is requested. Search for the convoy continues. No new sightings up to morning. U 709's (Oblt. Karl-Otto Weber) wireless transmitter has broken down and it operates independently from now on (confirmed subsequently from report of 5.3.).

New position for boats supplied by "Milkcow" U 461 (Kptlt. Wolf-Harro Stiebler) for further operations is BC 33. Reinforcing of Group "Burggraf" is proposed.

The following have taken on supplies from "Milkcow" U 462 (Oblt. Bruno Vowe), U 332, 603, U 628 (Fu.M.B.) on 28.2., U 383, 753, 226 and 91 on 1.3. Amount in tanker 384 cubic meters, provisions for 102 days, 4 torpedoes.

U 590 (Kptlt. Heinrich Müller-Edzards) is near U 508 (Kptlt. Georg Staats) and remains there to assist until it has decided whether the boat is able to submerge or not. U 172 (Kptlt. Carl Emmermann) has filled up and is now proceeding to the ordered position = CA 50.

U 525 (Kptlt. Hans-Joachim Drewitz) was bombed by an a/c in BF 5546 and is unable to submerge. It proceeded at a speed of 9 knots on the approach to Lorient. 3 fishing steamers and 2 Junkers 88 were sent to render assistance. The boat put in to Lorient without further incident.

On Aircraft Carrier USS Ranger’s (CV-4) return voyage from North Africa to Norfolk, one of her patrol planes observes two life boats adrift. One of Ranger’s escorts, destroyer USS Hobson, picks up 46 survivors from the British merchant ship St. Margaret, torpedoed by U-66 (Kptlt. Friedrich Markworth; ex Zapp) three days earlier on 27 Feb 1943.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) undergoes Final Repairs at Blohm & Voss shipyard Hamburg.

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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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Wednesday, 3 March 1943 - Danzig

During the shipyard time, Short Range Radar FMG 41G (gU) FuMO 29 Seetakt equipment; FuMB-1/Metox600A; and Bold-2, were installed.

1600 - Casting off. Leaving Danzig for transfer to Kiel.

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B.d.U. HQ moves from Paris to Berlin, Hotel am Steinplatz (until 12/43).

Soviet troops recapture Rzhev, Russia.

Convoy No. 13 (HX.227; Group "Neptun"):
As contact was not reestablished before nightfall the boats discontinued the pursuit and were assigned to new operations areas.

A new patrol lie is to be disposed, composed of boats from home and Western France, to intercept other ON, HX and SC convoys. U 447, 229, 665, 633, 641, 190, 530, 642, 439, 618, 757, 406, 86, 373, 441, 440 and 221 form Group "Neuland" and are to take up position at 1200 on 7.3. from AK 6685 to BE 1521, course 240°, speed 5 knots. Boats able to reach their position sooner, have freedom of movement outside the position.

U 119 (XB; Kptlt. Alois Zech) is proceeding to BD 29 for the proposed supplying of U 377 (Kptlt. Otto Köhler) and U 608 (Kptlt. Rolf Struckmeier).

The following have taken on supplies for further ops. from "Milkcow" U 462 (Oblt. Bruno Vowe) = U 653, 621, 600 and 468. U 182 (IXD2; Kptlt. Nicolai Clausen) took fuel and trunks on board for execution of special duties.

In order to obtain a survey of defence and mining conditions in the Iceland Passage, the 10 last boats from home to arrive in this area were requested to send a situation report. From this it can be seen that aerial reconnaissance is to be expected in the entire area; although some boats have made no mention of the fact. Mines and surface patrols were only occasionally encountered.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) undergoes Final Repairs at Blohm & Voss shipyard Hamburg.

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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115