Quote:
Originally Posted by Kapitän
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Sunday, 20 December 1942 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft
Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.; Freg.Kpt.d.R. Ernst HASSHAGEN) and 22nd U-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Wilhelm Ambrosius):
Dry-Run Exercises with Machinery/Mechanics; Weapons; Torpedoes.
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The RAF uses "Oboe", an aid to the bombing radar, operationally for the first time.
All of the USAAF 59th Fighter Squadron's P-40F fighters are transferred to a French squadron in North Africa.
U 618 (Oblt. Kurt Baberg) had again made a sortie to Casablanca. No shipping, situation unaltered. Boat was allotted CG 47 as new area. It was intended that he should work with Group "Westwall".
U 91 (Kptlt. Heinz Walkerling) took over fuel from U 155 (Kptlt. Adolf Cornelius Piening) and radar interception cable from "Milkcow" U 463 (KrvKpt. Leo Wolfbauer) and is now continuing his homeward journey.
U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts exercises with the AGRU-Front, Hela.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115 |
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Monday,
21 December 1942 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft
Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.; Freg.Kpt.d.R. Ernst HASSHAGEN) and 22nd U-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Wilhelm Ambrosius):
Dry-Run Exercises with Machinery/Mechanics; Weapons; Torpedoes.
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Chief of the OKH General Staff, Kurt Zeitzler, asks The Führer for permission for Friedrich Paulus' 6.Armee, encircled within Stalingrad, to break out to meet Erich von Manstein's relief efforts from the outside. The Führer rejects this, noting that our troops are to hold Stalingrad.
U 176 (Kptlt. Reiner Dierksen) sighted a single destroyer in FK 3146 on 19.12., mean course 2400, speed 12 knots. Boat had repaired the damage caused by bombs and was again serviceable. He was given a free hand in FK as requested.
U 508 (Kptlt. Georg Staats) reported heavily armed freighter on course of 900, speed 12 knots, in DF 2556. Boat had fired all torpedoes and was on its homeward voyage. U 506, U 125 and U 514 which were in CF and making for the southwest, were ordered to stalk the ship that had been reported. They were to proceed at cruising speed without consuming large quantities of fuel.
U 86 (Kptlt. Walter Schug) was ordered to proceed at high cruising speed to CE 5186 and attack a large steamer that had been damaged. According to a radio intercept it was anchored half a mile off Flores. It may be the single ship that was torpedoed by U 103 (Oblt. Gustav-Adolf Janssen) on 13.12. in CE 1521. U 86 is to try to send a dinghy alongside the ship in the dark without being observed, break the anchor chain and sink the ship after it has drifted outside the territorial waters.
It is intended that U 436 - 575 - 381 - 620 and U 442 shall operate N.E. Natal. For the time being they are to make for CF 78. They will be refueled by "Milkcow" U 463 (KrvKpt. Leo Wolfbauer) in the vicinity of ER.
The boats U 164 - 128 - 134 and U 507 at present in patrol area, have a free hand outside Route "Anton" up to the coast of Brazil.
U 626 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Hans-Botho Bade) - a boat on its first operational trip, last reported on 14.12. from AL 26. The boat was then directed to attack a N.E. bound convoy, which, according to calculations it could hardly have reached. The request for a position report on 16.12. remained unanswered, as have all subsequent requests. The possibility of loss through sea damage exists. No details are yet known.
Convoy No. 70 (ON.153):
At 2200 on 21.12. the operation was broken off as there was little chance of picking up the convoy with only 4 submarines. Also these boats were urgently required for operations against the next ON convoy, for which only 8 boats were so far available.
Summing-up:
In all, 13 boats were stalking the convoy. Convoy was contacted according to plan in the center of the patrol strip at the expected time on 15.12. The operation was hampered by the bad weather. The boats had no fixes and finding and directing other boats was therefore considerably more difficult. Contact with the convoy was maintained without a break only during the first two days. After that, the convoy or single ships were reported only for short periods, mainly because of bad visibility.
No new information was gained about the convoy's defences. The naval escort was not able to attack the boats effectively because of the weather. Unfortunately, the submarines could not profit as the seaway was too heavy to permit firing torpedoes.
On 16.12. Consolidated and Catalina flying boats provided a strong air escort for the convoy. The planes could not attack the submarines either, but their presence made shadowing more difficult. 6 of the 14 submarines attacked the convoy and all were able to fire. One boat had no success. 6 ships totaling 35,836 GRT and 1 twin-funneled destroyer were sunk of the convoy which had been reported as consisting of 16 - 20 steamers.
No losses, no damage.
U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts exercises with the AGRU-Front, Hela.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115