[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Friday, 22 January 1943 - Stettin

Conducting tactical exercises and training with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER).

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The RAF conducts its first combat operation using the new Mitchell Mk.II bombers. Six aircraft from No. 98 and No. 180 Squadrons are sent out to attack oil installations at Ghent in Belgium. One aircraft is shot down by flak over the target and two others are lost when attacked by Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters. Following this disaster the RAF's Mitchell squadrons are stood down to concentrate on developing new tactics to fend off enemy fighters.

6th Army engineers report that the small Stalingradskaya Airfield close to the center of Stalingrad, is ready to receive transport aircraft. Several He 111 aircraft arrive later on the same day with supplies, some of which will be fatally damaged when their landing gears become caught in bomb craters on the runway.

The "Bafile" Battalion of the "San Marco" naval infantry regiment of Italian Navy, captures Djebel Bou Dabouss massif in Tunisia, capturing 200 prisoners of war, while loosing 24 killed and 65 wounded.

U 69 (Kptlt. Ulrich Gräf) a boat belonging to Group "Haudegen" heard several beacon locator noises with north-easterly deviations since 0600 on 22.1. According to fix at 0800 last bearing lay in AJ 3449. The boat is following this up in the direction of 20° in good visibility. The boats U 525, U 201, north and south of U 69 have also received instructions to steer on searching course, as the presence of an HX convoy must be presumed. This must have passed the patrol lines of Group "Jaguar" unobserved and proceeded at a very high speed.

U 69, 525 and 201 pursued until darkness fell without establishing contact. They are now proceeding on a course of 210°, cruising speed to the S. to reinforce Group "Jaguar". According to a Radio Intelligence report (special) received, the course of the awaited convoy leads through the middle of the channels occupied by Group "Delphin". As its arrival can take place from today, Group "Delphin" is to proceed on a course of 90°, speed 8 knots at 2030, as reconnaissance line. On 23.1 at 1000 to turn back on a course of 280°, speed 4 knots. The boats U 264, 258 and 558 coming up, are making for approximately the center of the line.

U 96 (Oblt. Hans-Jürgen Hellriegel; ex Lehmann-Willenbrock) on the return passage, reported a convoy in AK 7422 at 1315 and after several hours confirmed an isolated search group on a southerly course. As such an isolated group is unlikely in this area, the possible presence of a convoy must be presumed. Whether it is an HX or an SC convoy remains to be seen. In any case on receipt of U 96's message Group "Haudegen" (not U 69, 525 and 201) were ordered to proceed to the S.W. at a speed of 10 knots and ordered to take up position in reconnaissance lines from AK 4313 to 8394 for 1200 on 23.1. Course 235°, speed 6 knots. U 96 continues return passage.

U 66 (Kptlt. Friedrich Markworth) has only encountered Spanish coastal sailing vessels within the 40 sea mile line of DU 57 since 20.1. The boat has carried out a special task (landing Jean Lallart on the coast of Mauritania near Cape Blanc). Two sailors did not return to the boat after the successful landing. After waiting in vain for over 13 hours for his men (Bootsmaat Wagner and Matrosenobergefreiter Helmut Daschkey) to return, Kptlt. Markworth was forced to abandon them to whatever fate they had suffered. Heavy surf since then.
10 days later we will learn, that Lallart and the two men who rowed him ashore were immediately captured by the French.

Colonel-General Ludwig Beck and other anti-Hitler conspirators meet at the home of Peter Yorck von Wartenburg.

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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Saturday, 23 January 1943 - Stettin

Conducting tactical exercises and training with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER).

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The British Eighth Army capture Tripoli, Libya.

Soviet troops capture Armavir, Caucasus.

The Gumrak Airfield on the western side of Stalingrad, is taken by Soviet troops.

Air Reconnaissance: 3 aircraft in AL 90 and 60 to intercept an expected ON convoy.

Convoy No. 3 (SC.117): The following W/T with T.O.O. 0850 was received from U 413 (Oblt. Gustav Poel) at 1142: Contact with escort in AJ 7267. As according to the text of this message other message must have been already sent, and also U 598 (Kptlt. Gottfried Holtorf) had not reported contact at 1500 from AJ 4971, the boats of Group "Jaguar" are requested to send a short situation summary. It can be seen from the messages received that U 413 sighted a convoy on a course of 20° at 1714 on 22.1. in AJ 7855, and that it reported the same at 2240 in AJ 7592 and at 0545 in AJ 7291. Also the boat sank a straggler of 5,000 GRT in AJ 7592. Unfortunately these W/T messages were not picked up by the control station owing to interference presumably caused by the northern lights, and this had a particularly adverse effect on the operations decided for Groups "Jaguar" and Haudegen". As it is likely that at the moment there is no contact, the group "Haudegen" will be at once disposed on receipt of the first situation report, on a course of 300°, speed 9 knots. Disposition of a patrol line is planned for the forenoon of 24.1, if no contact has been established by then. Group "Jaguar" received ordered to continue the search, U 525, 69 and 201 are to operate at cruising speed on the information contained in U 413's report. U 268 reporting from N.W. of the Group "Haudegen" and 358 on the outward passage in A 30 are to be diverted to AJ 25. A W/T received from U 413 at 0117 reports that the boat lost contact at 0900 in AJ 7267. Last course doubtful, NE, speed 9 knots. Convoy drawn out, about 20 ships. Weather: variable visibility, wind N.N.W., freshening to 10-11. It does not appear from the number of ships involved to be the expected SC convoy. The operation continues.

U 214 (VIID; Kptlt. Günther Reeder) situation: 19 days in the Caribbean, submerged by day. No traffic in EC 90 at night, tanker escorts from Aruba only at dawn. It is only possible to stay there a short time owing to the strong current. U-boat chaser activity at night in EC 60 large craft radar small craft then attacked. Continue to search for traffic from DP 75 via EO 52 to EE 60.

U 175 (Kptlt. Heinrich Bruns) received instructions to return via DU 70. It is to search for further traffic there, and not leave the position to replenish supplies until there is only 20 cu. mtrs. of fuel left.

Owing to the return of "Milkcow" U 462 (Oblt. Bruno Vowe), U 105 (Oblt. Jürgen Nissen) and U 124 (Kptlt. Johann Mohr) received orders to remain in DF 50 using as little fuel as possible until the arrival of the next tanker (about 9.2).

General Dwight D. Eisenhower is tasked with planning the invasion of Sicily, with the target date set as the period of the favourable Jul 1943 moon. General Harold Alexander, Eisenhower's deputy, will be in overall command of all Allied land forces during the operation.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts exercises with the AGRU-Front Hela.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115