[Bubblehead1980]

Dark Waters V6 with BH Dark Waters Mod Test V1.0
100 difficulty, contacts off, cams on.

________________________________


U-46 under Kapitanleutnant Philip Thomsen, departed Lorient on September 9, 1940 for patrol in Grid AL 65, in the North America-UK convoy routes.
Transit to assigned area was uneventful, aside from storms 14-16 September. On September 20, a battle with a large Eastbound convoy began.




20.06.1940
-------------

Weather| Partial Clouds, Light Fog,Winds 0 kts.
Sea State| 1
Moon| Three-Quarters


12.45 Received contact report from U-47.
Convoy spotted Grid AL 523. Course 092 Speed 8 kts.


12.47 Detected U-47 beacon. Set course 268 for intercept.
Current position| Grid AM 1796.

13.00 Received orders from BdU to close for rudeltaktik-Night attack.


14.00 Received message from BdU. Convoy reported as 40 ships, unescorted.


23.22 U-99 radioed commencing attack.


21.09.1940
----------

Weather| Clear.Light Fog.Winds 0 kts.
Sea State| 0
Moon|Quarter


00.00 Position| Grid AL 6225. Convoy position
estimated 200 KM West. Continued following
U-47 beacon.

04.51 U-48 radioed commencing attack.


05.51 U-99 radioed three vessels sunk. All torpedoes expended.


06.00 U-47 radioed one vessel sunk. Final torpedo expended.
Maintaining shadow and beacon.

06.10 Submerged at dawn for sound check.

06.13 Many distant props noises bearing 000.

06.20 Surfaced.


07.10 Convoy sighted! Bearing 020 6000 meters.
Course 092 Speed 8 kts

Light fog and morning low light at dawn hid convoy well.
Contact Report sent. Took over as shadow boat, moved ahead
for night time gruppe attack.


08.00 Lost visual contact. Submerged for sound check.

08.02 Sound contact convoy approaching from astern.

08.03 Spotted convoy via periscope.
Opted to allow convoy to pass above,
then surface and shadow convoy from astern.

08.10 Depth 30 meters, convoy passed above.


08.40 Periscope depth. Convoy 4000 meters ahead bearing 000.
Course 092 Speed 8 kts.


09.00 Surfaced. Assumed positioned 11 KM astern of convoy.
Sent position report to BdU.

12.00 Sent position and updated contact report to BdU.
Position| Grid AL 6216. Course 092 Speed 8 kts.
30-40 ships, no escorts observed.


13.00 Received message from BdU reporting U-100, U-38, U-43, and U-65
are in transit to intercept convoy for night attack and rudeltaktik.
Continued broadcasting.


15.50 Five escort vessels rendezvoused with convoy.
One Destroyer, four corvettes.


17.44 Submerged for sound check. Lost visual
contact in dusk skies.

17.46 Convoy ahead bearing 350-020.


17.50 Surfaced.


18.00 Regained visual contact on convoy.
Sent updated report to BdU.
Convoy Course 093 8 kts.

20.00 Escort spotted patrolling aft of convoy.
Type.Corvette, possibly Flower Class.

20.50 Sent updated contact report.
Position| Grid AL 6319. Course 093
Speed 8 kts.

21.00 Received permission from BdU to commence attack on convoy.

21.05 Battlestations. Increased speed to attack from astern.

22.00 Fired Tubes 1,2 (TII) at 9000 ton merchant vessel from astern.

22.07 Torpedoes missed!

22.23 Inside convoy. Fired two torpedoes on 8300 ton tanker from 1500 meters.

22.24 Two torpedoes impacted. Tanker exploded.
8300 ton tanker sunk Grid AL 6328

22.30 Approaching vessel. Came under fire from corvette , which suddenly
emerged from the night,bearing 270 3000 meters
Alarm! Dive!

22.31 Ordered 100 meters. Rigged for wasserbombe/silent routine.

22.32 Wasserbombe explosions, above.

22.41 Pinging. Boat at 100 meters depth.

22.43 More wasserbombe, not close.

23.00 Enemy did not push attack long. Likely to rejoin convoy.

23.15 Periscope depth.

23.20 Surfaced. Spotted escort 5000 meters bearing 280.


23.40 Worked back inside convoy, targeted large freighter, but
came under fire from deck gun, avoided.

23.43 Avoided enemy escort on surface. Spotted 8300 ton tanker bearing
010 4000 meters.


23.48 Fired two torpedoes (TI, TII) at 8300 tanker. 2000 meters range.

23.49 Torpedo impact! (TI) TII missed. Brought stern around for another
shot.

23.54 Fired stern tube range 600 meters.

23.55 Tanker exploded on impact.
8300 ton tanker sunk Grid AL 6329

23.56 Withdrew to reload torpedoes. U-48 radioed commencing attack.



22.09.1940
----------

Weather| Clear Clouds.Light Fog.Winds 0 kts.
Sea State| 0
Moon| Quarter


00.00 Continued reload. Position Grid AL 6337.


01.05 Torpedo reload completed. Moved back inside convoy, avoided
two marauding escort vessels.

01.23 Spotted 9000 ton merchant vessel, presenting ideal set up.

01.27 Fired Tubes tubes 3,4, (TI) from 2000 meters. Torpedoes missed
as ship took radical evasive maneuvers, either "routine" or
spotted wakes/U-46. This is undetermined.

01.30 One torpedo impacted a 5800 ton merchant ahead of intended target.
Vessel erupted in a wall of flames with many explosions, believe
was loaded with ammunition.Vessel went dead in water, sinking. 5800
ton merchant later sunk at 0200.

01.34 Fired two torpedoes (TII) at 9000 ton merchant.
One impacted, failed to explode. Other missed for unknown reason.

01.38 Fired two more torpedoes (TI) at 9000 ton merchant. Range 700
meters.

01.39 Two torpedoes impacted target! Large fires, vessel went dead in water.

01.48 9000 ton freighter sunk!

01.54 One torpedo remained, began set up on 4000 ton merchant when
a large tanker was spotted emerging from night fog at bearing 290/

01.58 Contact identified as 10500 ton tanker!

02.01 While maneuvering for attack, a 3800 ton merchant, previously
undetected, emerged and attempted to ram us. Avoided collision,
narrowly. Also took gunfire from unknown vessel, with shell splashes
off to port, not close. No damage.


02.07 Fired final torpedo (Stern tube, TI) on 10500 ton tanker
from 800 meters.

02.08 Torpedo impact! Tanker burned, went adrift.

02.10 Opened fire with deck gun on tanker.

02.12 Escort spotted astern closing fast! Cleared
the deck.

02.13 Alarm! Dive!

02.14 Rigged for Wasserbombe and Silent Routine


02.18 Wasserbombes, one close, minor leaks reported in propulsion rooms.


02.30 At depth of 125 meters, enemy appeared to lose contact.


02.35 Large explosions from tanker bearing.


03.30 Surfaced. 10500 tanker burning, sinking, decks awash.


03.32 All torpedoes expended, prepared to finish tanker
off with deck gun

03.33 Series of internal explosions rocked tanker, which slipped beneath
the waves soon after. 10500 ton tanker sunk.


03.35 Set course to regain contact with convoy. Sent status report to BdU.


03.40 BdU ordered return to base to refit. Set course for Lorient.



Arrived at Lorient at 11.00 on September 28th, ended patrol.


Vessels sunk| Two merchants, three tankers.

Tonnage Awarded| 44206