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pikke · 12-31-21, 03:46 AM

March 20, 1940 AN44

0712 Almost as soon as U48 completed its assigned patrol we got an incoming message from BdU: Enemy convoy in grid AN18 moving slow and heading SSW. U48 is now running on the surface to get ahead of them. We should be able to establish contact in 2 hours.

0942 U48 is now in grid AN01, almost straight east from Aberdeen, and we have them on sonar. They are NNW of us. This convoy is way slower than expected. We will surface again and dash westward to place ourselves in good position.

1003 Ship spotted! A warship...I bet she is the leading escort. Let's report our contact to BdU and dive.

1023 Not a very large convoy, just four columns, but there seem to be some big babies leading the second column from the west: possibly an empire type freighter and another big one in tow.. Three warships spotted so far: frigate in the lead, then what looks like a destroyer west of the convoy and perhaps another frigate to the east. U48 will attack the west side of the convoy.

1053 Convoy is moving at 5 knots...that's slow...but makes me happy. Leading Black Swan is now doing patterns east of us and quite close...but we are crawling at 20 meters and I'm confident she will not detect us. Our targets are an Empire type freighter and the Ore Carrier just behind. On the other side of the convoy there is a Large Cargo sailing behind a Medium Cargo. If we get the chance I'll try to engage those two in the next attack. Time to change course to get into firing position. New course 110 degrees!

1110 U48 is now ready to attack! We will shot each ship with a two torpedo salvo: Tube 1 and 4 at the Ore Carrier, Tube 2 and 3 at the Empire type freighter.
Tube 1 and 4 are G7e set for impact pistol, running depth 4.5 meters, spread 4 degrees.
Tube 2 and 3 are G7a set for magnetic pistol, running depth 7.3 meters, spread 3 degrees, speed setting fast. Range will be about 600m for both targets, speed 5 knots.
We will wait until the Ore Carrier is in a good position and attack her first, then we will go for the freighter. Angles on her will be less than ideal and that's why we will use the magnetic pistol.
Our sonar operator is tracking our targets, we should be able to attack soon.

1112 We should be good...raise periscope!...here is the freighter right in front of us...and here is the Ore Carrier...AoB 75° starboard...let's wait a few seconds more...open tubes 1 and 4...Fire!...Now the freighter..here she is...AoB 100° starboard...range maybe 750m...open tubes 2 and 3...fire!...Lower periscope! Down to 25 meters!

1113 Impact! Two impacts on the Ore Carrier!..Yay!...impact on the Empire-type freighter!...and...a miss?...mmm..torpedo still running...either it missed or the fuse didn't work properly. Anyway, this should be enough to at the very least badly cripple these ships...increase speed to 4 knots. I want to hide between the merchants...Ore Carrier is going down!...good!
Ship sunk! SS Coracero (Ore Carrier), 7744 tons. Cargo: Bauxite. Crew: 85. Crew lost: 28

1122 This convoy is in chaos...ships are maneuvering here and there...warships are amidst the herd right now but I bet they are struggling just to move around. U48 is slipping away at 3 knots and heading NE. My plan is to break contact and re-engage later. Our last torpedo was a miss.

1134 Empire-type freighter is sinking! I guess the reason why these merchants where moving here and there was to avoid collision with the slowing ship. 4 torpedo launched, three hits, two quite big ships sunk...not bad!
Ship sunk! SS Glenfinlas (Empire-type Freighter), 7499 tons. Cargo: Coal. Crew: 58. Crew lost: 31

1159 Convoy is slowly moving away and there are two warships searching the area, some way SW of us. I think we managed to give them the slip.

1332 Convoy is still quite close, they are moving at 3 or 4 knots and ships in there are either zigzagging or rearranging their disposition. One warship left this area to go back to the convoy, the other is still sniffing around and came close enough to ping us a couple of time but not enough to get a proper fix.

1532 Convoy is now quite far away and much closer to the coast than I would have liked. The warship searching for us is now leaving. She did her job, forced us to stay here while the convoy sailed away. I'll wait until she is duly gone before surfacing.

1615 U48 is on the surface, recharging batteries and ventilating the boat. I'm pondering our choices. There is a chance that this convoy is hugging the coast all the way to Dover. I may be able to cut south and re-engage them near Dundee...yes, we will do that.

Edit: A wonderful 2022 to you all, fellow Kaleuns!

12-31-21, 03:46 AM	#6102
pikke Sparky Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Italy Posts: 152 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	U48 vs Convoy – part 1 March 20, 1940 AN44 0712 Almost as soon as U48 completed its assigned patrol we got an incoming message from BdU: Enemy convoy in grid AN18 moving slow and heading SSW. U48 is now running on the surface to get ahead of them. We should be able to establish contact in 2 hours. 0942 U48 is now in grid AN01, almost straight east from Aberdeen, and we have them on sonar. They are NNW of us. This convoy is way slower than expected. We will surface again and dash westward to place ourselves in good position. 1003 Ship spotted! A warship...I bet she is the leading escort. Let's report our contact to BdU and dive. 1023 Not a very large convoy, just four columns, but there seem to be some big babies leading the second column from the west: possibly an empire type freighter and another big one in tow.. Three warships spotted so far: frigate in the lead, then what looks like a destroyer west of the convoy and perhaps another frigate to the east. U48 will attack the west side of the convoy. 1053 Convoy is moving at 5 knots...that's slow...but makes me happy. Leading Black Swan is now doing patterns east of us and quite close...but we are crawling at 20 meters and I'm confident she will not detect us. Our targets are an Empire type freighter and the Ore Carrier just behind. On the other side of the convoy there is a Large Cargo sailing behind a Medium Cargo. If we get the chance I'll try to engage those two in the next attack. Time to change course to get into firing position. New course 110 degrees! 1110 U48 is now ready to attack! We will shot each ship with a two torpedo salvo: Tube 1 and 4 at the Ore Carrier, Tube 2 and 3 at the Empire type freighter. Tube 1 and 4 are G7e set for impact pistol, running depth 4.5 meters, spread 4 degrees. Tube 2 and 3 are G7a set for magnetic pistol, running depth 7.3 meters, spread 3 degrees, speed setting fast. Range will be about 600m for both targets, speed 5 knots. We will wait until the Ore Carrier is in a good position and attack her first, then we will go for the freighter. Angles on her will be less than ideal and that's why we will use the magnetic pistol. Our sonar operator is tracking our targets, we should be able to attack soon. 1112 We should be good...raise periscope!...here is the freighter right in front of us...and here is the Ore Carrier...AoB 75° starboard...let's wait a few seconds more...open tubes 1 and 4...Fire!...Now the freighter..here she is...AoB 100° starboard...range maybe 750m...open tubes 2 and 3...fire!...Lower periscope! Down to 25 meters! 1113 Impact! Two impacts on the Ore Carrier!..Yay!...impact on the Empire-type freighter!...and...a miss?...mmm..torpedo still running...either it missed or the fuse didn't work properly. Anyway, this should be enough to at the very least badly cripple these ships...increase speed to 4 knots. I want to hide between the merchants...Ore Carrier is going down!...good! Ship sunk! SS Coracero (Ore Carrier), 7744 tons. Cargo: Bauxite. Crew: 85. Crew lost: 28 1122 This convoy is in chaos...ships are maneuvering here and there...warships are amidst the herd right now but I bet they are struggling just to move around. U48 is slipping away at 3 knots and heading NE. My plan is to break contact and re-engage later. Our last torpedo was a miss. 1134 Empire-type freighter is sinking! I guess the reason why these merchants where moving here and there was to avoid collision with the slowing ship. 4 torpedo launched, three hits, two quite big ships sunk...not bad! Ship sunk! SS Glenfinlas (Empire-type Freighter), 7499 tons. Cargo: Coal. Crew: 58. Crew lost: 31 1159 Convoy is slowly moving away and there are two warships searching the area, some way SW of us. I think we managed to give them the slip. 1332 Convoy is still quite close, they are moving at 3 or 4 knots and ships in there are either zigzagging or rearranging their disposition. One warship left this area to go back to the convoy, the other is still sniffing around and came close enough to ping us a couple of time but not enough to get a proper fix. 1532 Convoy is now quite far away and much closer to the coast than I would have liked. The warship searching for us is now leaving. She did her job, forced us to stay here while the convoy sailed away. I'll wait until she is duly gone before surfacing. 1615 U48 is on the surface, recharging batteries and ventilating the boat. I'm pondering our choices. There is a chance that this convoy is hugging the coast all the way to Dover. I may be able to cut south and re-engage them near Dundee...yes, we will do that. Edit: A wonderful 2022 to you all, fellow Kaleuns!