[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, 23 February 1943 - Danzig

At Danziger Werft AG, for Repairs and Overhaul.

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Erwin Rommel orderes his forces in western Tunisia to move east to avoid being attacked on both sides.

Convoy No. 10 (ON.166):
The weather situation in the area of the convoy was wind W. 2, sea 3 on the 23rd February midday. Towards evening it freshened to west south west 5, sea 4. At 1030 U 707 (Oblt. Günther Gretschel) contacted the convoy and reported it continuously until 0110 on the 24th. Besides this boat the following also approached the convoy, U 621, 358, 653, 468, 92, 600 and 628. On the morning of the 24th U 628 (Oblt. Heinrich Hasenschar) reported the convoy in BC 9361.
According to data, the convoy had maintained its mean course of 250° until 0200 on the 24th. According to the latest report of U 628 it was proceeding at 8 knots.
There was no air cover with the convoy on the 23rd. 4 boats reported being depth-charged, U 454 (Kptlt. Burckhard Hackländer) with serious damage, so that the boats had to turn back. U 303, 223, 186 and 358 also broke off the operation in order to refuel.
The operation against the convoy is being continued.

Convoy No. 11 (ON.167):
No contact.
According to aircraft locations, the convoy is about in the same latitude. A patrol line has been ordered from BC 3995 to BD 4755.
In operation: U 758, 664, 591, 84, 432, 409, 753, 332, 383, 226, 607.
The location reports received from the boats show that the majority are probably already behind the convoy.
The convoy is awaited towards 1800 on the 25th February in the area of the patrol line.

Convoy No. 12 (UC.1):
Contact constantly by U 522 (Kptlt. Herbert Schneider), which dived for attack at 1540. Since then contact by U 202 (Kptlt. Günter Poser) until 2220, then by U 87 (Kptlt. Joachim Berger) until 0820. Convoy route DG 6239, squares 6191, 5624, 5812.
All the boats contacted the convoy which consisted of 16 large ships in two lines abreast, with 2 destroyers each as remote escort fore and aft, two destroyers and two corvettes as close escort. Speed of convoy was 10 knots. Probably convoy bound from Gibraltar to America.
Weather: wind S.E. 2-3, sea 1 - 2, 1/10 - 3/10 clouded, good visibility.
In the course of night attacks 5 boats were seen by escorts and attacked with depth charges.
Sinkings:
U 382 ptlt. Herbert Juli): 2214 1 "Falke" on a bunch of steamers, hits not observed, since submerged. 1 single F.A.T. and a two-fan on 2/8,000 tonners, 3 hits heard. Sinkings probable.
U 202 (Kptlt. Günter Poser): At 2220 in CG 5624 1 tanker, 1 steamer each 6,000 GRT sunk 2 further hits probable.
U 569 (Oblt.z.S.d.R. Hans Johannsen): At 2230 3 hits on large tanker, effect not observed, since she dived on account of destroyers.

U 180 (IXD1; Fregkpt. Werner Musenberg) will proceed over BD 80 and is to take over there from "Milkcow" U 462 (Oblt. Bruno Vowe), 60 cbm. fuel and the casks for special purposes (U-180 to meet I-29 in the Indian Ocean to transfer two Indian Nationalists to the Japanese submarine, one of whom is Subhas Chandra Bose. I-29 to put both men ashore at Sumatra).

Rendezvous "Milkcow" U 461 (Kptlt. Wolf-Harro Stiebler) and U 511 (Oblt. Fritz Schneewind) for handing over Radar interception cables carried out.

U 403, 525, 607, 226, 283 refueled from "Milkcow" U 460 (Kptlt. Ebe Schnoor).

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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Wednesday, 24 February 1943 - Danzig

At Danziger Werft AG, for Repairs and Overhaul.

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Major General Omar Bradley arrives in French Algeria.

Aircraft Carrier USS Ranger (CV-4) launches 75 USAAF P-40L fighters off Casablanca, French Morocco, to reinforce Allied forces fighting in North Africa. Ranger begins withdrawing toward Norfolk, Virginia almost immediately.

Italian U-boat reported convoy in CG 1778 with course 340°, speed 12 knots. German boats were ordered to operate against it as far as possible but not to pursue it.

U 160 (Kptlt. Georg Lassen) has been in the Capetown area since the 14th February and, in this area as well as cruising from GQ 55 over GQ 93 to GR 95, found no traffic. Boat sank the steamer "Roger P. Taney, 6,800 GRT in GF 2224 on the 8th February, course 250° from Capetown to New York.

Convoy No. 10 (ON.166):
In the area of the convoy on the 24th the weather situation by day was particularly calm, wind N.E. 1, visibility 10 miles. It was particularly dark before the moon rose which made contact with the convoy very difficult, then there was bright moonlight towards 0300. By day, contact was maintained by U 603 (Oblt. Hans-Joachim Bertelsmann) and was reported by this boat, at 2124 for the last time in BC 9186. Before darkness U 621, U 600 and U 628 also came up to the convoy, only U 628 (Oblt. Heinrich Hasenschar) of these being able to maintain contact. At 0639 U 628 reported the convoy in BC 5987. U 91 (Kptlt. Heinz Walkerling) also contacted the convoy at 0414 in 9175. In the first half of the night contact was maintained for the most part only by hydrophone fixes, but after the moon rose the convoy was again sighted. According to reports from U 628, which reported the convoy further to the N.W. than the other boats, it appeared that there were two separate convoy groups. This was confirmed by two reports from U 603 which assumed the convoy to be divided. U 603 reported at midday on the 24th a bunch of 7 steamers while U 92 (Kptlt. Adolf Oelrich) had definitely seen during underwater attack a bunch of 5 steamers. The two groups could not be distinguished exactly according to dead reckoning. On the 24th by day and in the night of the 25th, there were reports of air cover with the convoy. One boat was attacked by aircraft. 4 boats reported being pursued and depth-charged. U 604 (Kptlt. Horst Höltring) being obliged to retire for repairs owing to considerable depth-charge damage.
U 603, 628, 468, 600, 653, 621 and U 91 are operating now against the rest of the convoy. The convoy was, at 0639 on the 25th February, in BC 5987.

Convoy No. 11 (ON.167):
ince it is assumed that the convoy will deviate to the north in order to avoid the area of the boats operating against Convoy No. 10, the patrol line will be moved northward, that is from BC 3685 to BC 6935. The boats will take up positions in the following sequence: U 332, 432, 753, 226, 383, 758, 607, 664, 84, 409, 591.

Convoy No. 12 (UC.1; aka 'Greyhound' convoys):
In spite of avoiding movements to the south, contact was maintained by U 521, 202, 504, 66 until 0216. Convoy route DG 5812, 5713, 4922, 4892. Mean course of the convoy 250° cruising speed 10 knots. Course leads on to the Windward Passage.
U 558 (Kptlt. Günther Krech) reported, in 5389 at 2345 on the 23rd February, a damaged freighter sighted and a stopped tanker sunk, 9,000 GRT.
U 87 (Kptlt. Joachim Berger) broke off operations owing to shortage of lubricating oil.
U 522 (Kptlt. Herbert Schneider) has not reported since underwater attack, in spite of orders to do so.
U 382, 218, 43, 558 were attacked by night, detected by destroyers and attacked with depth-charges. U 382 (Kptlt. Herbert Juli) heavily damaged, withdrew for repairs.
Further boats were driven off by destroyers. U 202 (Kptlt. Günter Poser) and U 521 (Kptlt. Klaus Heinrich Bargsten) fired but unsuccessfully.
Weather: Wind east southeast 3, sea 2, 3/4 clouded, good visibility.
Conditions for detection by destroyers were apparently particularly favorable.
Sinkings:
U 558 (Kptlt. Günther Krech) reported later: On 23rd February at 2345 a damaged steamer sighted and a stopped tanker of 9,000 GRT sunk. DG 5385.

As several boats in the Gibraltar disposition are operating against Convoy No. 12, a new distribution is ordered, as follows: U 107 - CG 81 and 84, U 511 - CG 82 and 85. U 410 - CG 83 and 86. U 103 - CG 89, DJ 21 and 24. U 445 - CG 91, 94, 97, DJ 22 and eastward up to own minefield (Western line of this minefield lies 1.5 miles eastward CG 9585).

U 106 (Kptlt. Hermann Rasch; ex Oesten) will proceed to DF 60 at slow speed. After refueling from "Milkcow" U 461 (Kptlt. Wolf-Harro Stiebler) operations in the American area are intended.

In Route A the area between 5° South and 40° North now open for attack on single vessels.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) concludes Torpedo Firing Training with the 25th Flotilla Danzig and Agru.-Front Hela.

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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115