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Old 01-26-23, 05:19 AM   #308
Kapitän
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Default 4th Training Flotilla, Stettin and AGRU-Front

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Originally Posted by Kapitän View Post
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

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Monday, 25 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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Our troops evacuate Voronezh and Armavir in southern Russia, and the remnants of the 6.Armee are split in two pockets, north and south, in Stalingrad.

In his Order of the Day, Stalin claimes that Soviet troops have routed 102 enemy divisions in two months of fighting.

U 575
(Kptlt. Günther Heydemann) - in patrol line of group "Delphin" - sank a large 10,000 ton vessel on a course of 1200, speed 12 knots in DG 1326. According to P.O.W. (Chief Cook Robert Daigle) reports the ship belonged to the expected convoy which put out of New York for Casablanca on 13.1 and which dispersed owing to bad weather on 22.1. (UGS.4). It can, therefore, be presumed that still further isolated vessels will pass the patrol lines. "Delphin" boats have received directions to report every ship sighted isolated.

Convoy No. 3 (SC.117):
Boat of the "Haudegen" group reported on request, that owing to persistent N.W. storms their passage speed still only amounts to 4 knots. This means that the lines previously ordered cannot be occupied before 0800 on 26.1. In order to intercept the convoy with certainty, Group "Haudegen" received orders to take up position in new patrol lines from AD 9533 to AK 4183. Further, boats are directed to operate at their own discretion and without orders from Command on receipt of convoy contact messages. U 266 (Kptlt. Ralf von Jessen) presumes convoy to be in AJ 2755 as two perfect hydrophone observations were obtained at 0300 on 25.1. in this area. No further messages received. Group "Jaguar" maintains an independent search from NE to E. Several boats are so low in fuel that they will have to start the return passage within 24 hours. Lack of sufficient tankers is now uncomfortably noticeable. The operation continues.

Owing to U 384's (Oblt. Hans-Achim von Rosenberg-Gruszcynski) necessary return, the line occupied by Group "Landsknecht" will be narrowed by one position on 1200 on 26.1 and will then extend from AL 4447 to BE 2138. According to present reckoning the arrival of the expected convoy cannot be expected until after today as the leaving times of the ON convoys has probably been postponed for 2 or 3 days.

U 214
(VIID; Kptlt. Günther Reeder) which was originally to have searched for traffic in DP 70, has received orders to proceed with small steps via DQ 70 to DR 55 and to operate there according to fuel supply. The grid mentioned is approximately the intersection point of the Trinidad/North Africa tanker convoy route and according to Radio Intelligence Report (special) a confirmed straggler route.

Owing to the temporary breakdown of "Milkcow" U 462 (Oblt. Bruno Vowe) the replenishment of supplies by U 124 (Kptlt. Johann Mohr) and U 105 (Oblt. Jürgen Nissen), in DF 50, must be carried out by a type IXc boat. U 504 (Kptlt. Wilhelm Luis) received orders to proceed to DP 3755 and carry out replenishment of supplies. Later replenishment of this boat by U 118 (XB; Korvkpt. Werner Czygan) is intended.

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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Tuesday, 26 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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Soviet troops capture Voronezh, southern Russia.

Enemy reports a sunk ship still sticking out of the water in FB 9119.

U 358 (Kptlt. Rolf Manke) sank a fully loaded tanker of type "Nordatlantic" of 10,000 GRT, on a course of 90°, speed 11 knots in AK 2550.

U 594 (Oblt. Friedrich Mumm) encountered wreck of tanker "Kollbjoerg-Oslo" in AJ 3284 while operating on Convoy No. 3 (SC.117), and sank it.

Convoy No. 3 (SC.117):
As no contact messages were received up to nightfall, the convoy must according to dead reckoning, have passed the lines. U 384, 525, 707, 223 and 466 were to allocate to the Group "Haudegen" and if there was not contact, ordered to proceed to the S.W. at 0800 on 27th. If however, the convoy was still W. of the group it would have been intercepted during the night. Disposition in about AK 50 and 80 was intended for Group "Jaguar" until the low fuel supply was exhausted.
None of these orders were put into effect, as the group had been operating on destroyer sightings and hydrophone bearings of several boats, since 1900. The relevant W/T messages could not be picked up by the control station until 2400.
Subsequently, U 266 (Kptlt. Ralf von Jessen) and U 383 (Oblt. Horst Kremser) sighted a destroyer on an eastward course in AJ 3450 at 1800. U 466 (Oblt. Gerhard Thäter) reported a broad listening band from 260 to 290 from AJ 35 at 2120 and at 0237 destroyer and steamer noises were confirmed with certainty.
According to further hydrophone bearings, the boats must be on either side of the convoy. Both groups are operating at high speed. Direct sighting reports were, however, not received up to morning. The large number of boats coming up from all sides ensures the interception of the convoy at dawn.

U 444 (Oblt. Albert Langfeld) has begun the return passage owing to fuel shortage. Patrol lines occupied by Group "Landsknecht" are therefore shortened by one position to the southeast.

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

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
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