[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Saturday, 20 February 1943 - Danzig

At Danziger Werft AG, for Repairs and Overhaul.

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Admiral Kurt Fricke steps down as the Chief of the Department of Naval Operations at the Navy High Command. On 21 March, he will be made the commanding officer of Naval Group Command South.

German and Italian troops defeat American troops at Kasserine Pass in Tunisia, making the first use of their new 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 rocket launcher; the force attacking Sbiba Pass, is met with stronger resistance.

U 516 (Korvkpt. Gerhard Wiebe) sank the American tanker "Deer Lodge" 6,187 GRT course 60°, on the 17th February in KZ 4113. The boat had been patrolling from the 10 - 17 February in KY 6263 - 6566 and KZ 4110 and sighted 3 ships in all. No increased or regular east-west traffic observed.

Situation U 518 (Kptlt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Wissmann): Has been in the operational area off the Brazilian coast for 8 days. Only single escorted and unescorted vessels sighted along the 200 m. line. Neutral traffic continuing. Modern freighter of 8,000 GRT course 220° speed 13 knots sunk on the 18th February in FJ 8577. Air cover in the area strong, continual in some parts. After the sinking, location of aircraft by night.

U 106 (Kptlt. Hermann Rasch; ex Oesten) reported a convoy of over 20 steamers at 2318 in BE 98 course 150°. Since there were no boats in the vicinity U 106 had freedom of action. She was however, forced to dive, owing apparently to the strong defence of the convoy, and lost contact.

U 504 (Kptlt. Wilhelm Luis) dived in DG 1487 in view of single corvette with mean course 50°. Since this was possibly an escort vessel and, in this case, there might be other ships in the vicinity U 504 received orders to pursue. The remaining boats of Group "Rochen" excluding U 258 and 264 proceeded immediately on course 120°, speed 7 knots. No further reports received.

Convoy No. 10 (ON.166):
On the 20th February, 1055, U 604 (Kptlt. Horst Höltring) reported a hydrophone fix, wide spread. So that it was assumed that this was the expected S.W. bound convoy. When, an hour later, the boat reported a steamer with 3 corvettes it was safe to order further boats to operate against the convoy. Operational orders were given to U 600, 91, 92, 603, 454, 332, 753, 621, 623, 628, 653, 225, 377 and 468 16 boats in all, therefore. At 1347 U 604 reported the convoy in AK 9618. She maintained contact, with two short intervals, until 0324 on the 21st February. She was forced off by destroyers and was depth-charged. The convoy was again reported by U 332 (Oblt. Eberhard Hüttemann), according to hydrophone fix, to be in BD 3172 at 0740.
The convoy then proceeded on an initial south-westerly course and later on a straight southerly course and, according to dead reckoning, had a speed of almost 8 knots, which indicates an ON convoy. 16-20 steamers were reported by U 604.
On the 20th February no further boats approached the convoy in spite of continuous contact by U 604, probably on account of the fog by day and constantly changing visibility at night.
The operation on the convoy is continuing with Groups "Ritter" and "Knappen".

U 522 (Kptlt. Herbert Schneider) refueled from "Milkcow" U 461 (Kptlt. Wolf-Harro Stiebler).

U 211 (Kptlt. Karl Hause) was heavily bombed by aircraft in BE 1658 and is returning in view of reduced diving capacity.

There is no further news from U 268 (Oblt. Ernst Heydemann). The boat was not found by air units and sub-chasers and must be assumed lost.

U 201 (Oblt. Günther Rosenberg; ex U-Schnee) and U 69 (Kptlt. Ulrich Gräf; ex. U-Metzler, "The Laughing Cow"), last reported on the evening of the 17th February near Convoy No. 9 (ON.165). The boats reported contacts from BC 3136 or BC 3252. Since there are no reports of aircraft, loss by action of escort units probable.

American movie studio executives agreed to allow the Office of War Information to censor movies.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Torpedo Firing Training with the 25th Flotilla Danzig.

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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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Sunday, 21 February 1943 - Danzig

At Danziger Werft AG, for Repairs and Overhaul.

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The Red Army of the Soviet Union celebrates its 25th Birthday.

Axis troops push American troops back toward Thala, Tunisia and threaten to cross the Tunisian-Algerian border. To date, the Americans have lost 100 tanks, 55 heavy guns, and 80 trucks.

According to a report from the German Consul in Laurenco Marques, a convoy of 20 - 30 ships is to leave Capetown on its way to India on the 23rd February.

New objectives for U 522 (Kptlt. Herbert Schneider) will be DH 96. Operation intended in that area. Latest report from Cape Jubi confirms assumption regarding future traffic; 9 ships were sighted northward bound.

U 106 (Kptlt. Hermann Rasch; ex Oesten) was detected in the attack, in spite of minimum use of periscope, and subsequently pursued for a long time. Since there was no contact she proceeded on her outward passage.

Convoy No. 10 (ON.166):
The weather situation in the area of the convoy was wind W. 3. It moderated further during the course of the day and at 2300 there was dead calm in the area of the convoy. U 332 (Oblt. Eberhard Hüttemann) contacted a tanker in BD 3417 at 1100. U 753 (Korvkpt. Alfred Manhardt von Mannstein) reported a single vessel in ED 2633 probably the same one. At 1408 U 454 (Kptlt. Burckhard Hackländer) then contacted the convoy again in BD 3457.
At 1610 she was again driven off. At 2050 U 92 (Kptlt. Adolf Oelrich) again detected the convoy and reported on it continuously until the next morning. At 0800 she was driven off in BD 3285. In addition to these two boats U 753 came up to the convoy in BD 2969 at 2000 but has ceased to report since then. U 91 (Kptlt. Heinz Walkerling) contacted the convoy at 2000 on the 21st February but was driven off by a flying boat and heavily depth-charged. She was forced to leave the convoy for repairs.
There have been four reports of aircraft from the boats, apparently only flying boats escorting the convoy.
The convoy proceeded on its south to south-easterly course up to the night of 21st then turned to course 250° towards midnight. Speed 8.3 knots according to data.

The operation on the convoy which was in BD 5285 at 0740 on the 22nd is being continued. U 377 (Kptlt. Otto Köhler) is not to operate against the convoy as it is too far away.

Convoy No. 11 (ON.167):
At 1850 on the 21st, U 664 (Oblt. Adolf Graef) sighted a convoy on a southward bound course in BE 1152. 4 boats in the vicinity, U 758 - 591 - 84 and 432 were sent into operation following this report. After taking on supplies U 409 further to the south, was also to operate against the convoy.
The convoy was reported by U 664 to consist of 10 steamers. Presumably this was the ONS convoy expected according to dead reckoning, which, however was not confirmed in view of the speed of 9 knots estimated. It might equally well be a small part of a convoy.
Contact with the convoy was maintained up to 2135 by U 664 which reported continuously. At 0337 on the 22nd February U 758 (Kptlt. Helmut Manseck) the next boat in line, then contacted the convoy and reported it for the last time at 0510 as being in BD 3654.

The operation on the convoy, which was in BD 3568 at 0945 on a S.W. course, is being continued. It is important for control purposes that contact be maintained with the convoy in order that further boats from the Höltring convoy (No. 10; ON.166) may be sent later to operate against it.

U 409 (Oblt. Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann) supplied U 437 (Oblt. Hermann Lamby) with spare parts.

"Milkcow" U 460 (Kptlt. Ebe Schnoor) refueled U 606 (Oblt. Hans-Heinrich Döhler) and U 303 (Kptlt. Karl-Franz Heine; both will operate on Convoy No. 10 (ON.166); U-Schnoor also, reported an enemy U-boat in BD 42; Rendezvous of supply Group "Schnoor" will be therefore, be moved to BD 4595.

The patrol lines of Group "Rochen" will be broken up. The boats will refuel as from 23 February "Milkcow" U 461 (Kptlt. Wolf-Harro Stiebler) in DG 3155.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Torpedo Firing Training with the 25th Flotilla Danzig.

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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115