Quote:
Originally Posted by Kapitän
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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U 115
- KTB -
First War Patrol
(17th war patrol overall)
Saturday, 29 May 1943 - Middle Atlantic
0025 - Qu.7966ES -
0033 - As contact with the Supply Boat cannot be established and the weather report does not suggest any improvement of the seastate any time soon, decision is made to continue with the outbound transit. Running off on southerly heading. 2x225RPM/8kn.
0121 - Qu.7969ES - Course 169°.
0700 - Qu.2141FD - Diving for Torpedo Maintenance and Trial Dive.
0705 - T=50. Beginning torpedo maintenance.
0756 - Tube I serviced.
0814 - Tube II pulled - Watch Change at 0808 -
0848 - Tube II serviced.
0939 - Tube III serviced (Tubes I-III are T-3/Pi39H). - Break until 1000 -
1051 - Tube V serviced (EtoFat/Pi39H). - Break until 1100 -
1109 - Sunrise.
1151 - Tube VI serviced (T-4/Pi39H). CO₂ Warning at 1.7% (after 4h 51min.). Submerged cruise at A-20.
1200 - Qu.2148FD - Days Run: 151.7nm - ↗ 138.7nm (19h) - ↘ 13.0nm (5h)
Total: 4494.5nm (24tg 22h) - ↗ 4292.8nm (21tg 20h 24') - ↘ 201.7nm (3tg 01h 36')
448.5cbm (2cbm in 24h); Battery 71.4%; Course 169°; 3xT-3, 2xEtoFat, 1xT-4; 9xBold; T=A-20; CO₂ =1.7%. - Lunch Break -
1257 - S-Tiefe. Weather and Sea unchanged.
1300 - Reception Depth. Beginning of Trial Dive acc. B.d.U. Standing Order No.507 & No.308. 145rpm/3kn.
1340 - Boat is safe and secure at 2A-Meter. Setting for T=20 with 96rpm.
1357 - Boat rises to T=19.5m. (17min. for 140m).
1400 - Weather and Sea appear to be unchanged. Battery 65.7%; Compressed Air Supply 265 Atü; CO₂ 2%.
1405 - Surfaced after 2h 05' and 6.2nm - since Etmal (Total: 7h 05' and 19.2nm). - N6/5, medium swell, clear, good visibility, >1000mb.
1410 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled.
1415 - Qu.2172FD - Charging batteries (65.7%): Stbd.-Charging, 496RPM; Port-Propulsion, 285RPM/8kn.
1710 - Batteries charged => 2h 55min. for 34.3%. 2xSmall-Ahead/185RPM/7kn.
2005 - Qu.2443FD - NW1/1, clear, very good visibility, >1000mb - Crash dive for training. T=10 after 39 Sec.
2007 - A-Meter.
2010 - Setting for T=20 at 96rpm.
2019 - Reception Depth (9min. for 60m). Battery 97%.
2025 - Surfaced after 20min. and 1.1nm. - WNW1/1, clear, very good visibility, >1000mb.
2028 - Compressed Air Supply filled.
2030 - Test Run of main diesels acc. B.d.U.-Standing Order No.510. - 2xSmall-Ahead/185RPM/6.8kn.
2030 - 285RPM/1/3-Ahead/10.6kn.
2035 - 375RPM/2xH.F./13.4kn.
2040 - 455RPM/Full-Ahead/16.5kn.
2045 - 496RPM/A.K./18.3kn/30min.
2115 - Reducing speed in speed settings of 5min. decrements.
2130 - 2x225RPM/8kn.
2306 - Incoming Radio Reports:
O.K.W.-Report:
a) Major air raid by the RAF against Wuppertal with 1,900 tons of explosives. The British claim that half of the city has been destroyed. There were many civilian casualties.
From B.d.U.:
a) In order to make it difficult for enemy aircraft in the Biscay area to find U-boats and in order, in case of enemy air attacks, to be able to counter the enemy when surfaced, which has proved to be most practical , with heavy and successful gunfire, all boats returning in a position W. of 16° should continue the return passage together, through the Biscay area in Groups up to 4 boats.
b) U 707 (Oblt. Günther Gretschel) which is able to submerge and is proceeding with U 952 (Oblt. Oskar Curio) will be closely escorted on the 30th May by 5 Ju. 88 until met by escorts.
c) Since U 128 (Oblt. Hermann Steinert; ex Heyse) did not arrive for refueling she must be considered lost.
2322 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged in 3h.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115 |
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
+++++++
U 115
- KTB -
First War Patrol
(17th war patrol overall)
Sunday, 30 May 1943 - Northeast of Brazil
0445 - Qu.2785FD - Crossing Equator -
Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
After standing up and down for 3 days, supply boat still not found. Continued outbound transit. Switching to Circuit Afrika-I. 6 eels. 447 cbm. WNW1/1, clear, very good visibility, >1000mb.
1006 - Incoming Radio Report: From B.d.U.:
The orders given, in view of the new situation, for the protection of boats against surprise aircraft attacks are summarized as follows in B.d.U.-Standing Order No. 13:
The danger of surprise by locating aircraft, particularly by night is great. The following basic principles should be observed by the boats: be as careful as possible while under way and at waiting positions - avoid losses. If the enemy is sighted then go into operation with courage and tenacity in spite of danger from aircraft, remain surfaced and ward off attacks of aircraft when necessary. It is, therefore, ordered that:
1) U-boats approaching and returning from the Biscay area up to 18° W and in the approach area home North Atlantic up to and including square AL, upper third, will proceed submerged as a general rule. They will surface only for charging the battery and ventilating the boat and only by day. Surface run by day is permissible only in very good visibility which excludes the possibility of surprise. Boats should proceed surfaced as a rule on incoming routes. Only submerge when danger of aircraft is acute. Boats will proceed out in the morning and in at evening, so that the incoming route is passed by day. See Standing Order 483, Section D 1.
2) Special instructions will follow regarding passage of several boats together.
3) Procedure in the operational area North Atlantic, i.e. AL, lower and middle third, AK, AD, AJ, BC, BD, north half BE, CG, CF east half, under way and when stopped in position.
a) By night: One main engine slow to half speed and the other Diesel engine ready to start up, boat's ventilator switched off. Reason: to detect aircraft approaching by means of hydrophone.
b) By day: With higher cruising speed than before confirm that the boats is maneuverable and able to dive.
c) If weather conditions are unfavorable, proceed only submerged by day and night.
4) Procedure in coastal area os America, the Caribbean, middle and South Atlantic according to situation and decision of the Commanding Officer.
5) When operating against the enemy no restrictions as to surface run, attack is the most important factor.
6) When proceeding on the surface always keep radar interception apparatus and Flak guns ready for action and manned.
7) B.d.U.-Standing Order No. 483, Section a) Fig. 2 and Section C) invalid at present. Carry out correction in pencil. B.d.U.-Standing Order No. 13, dated April 1943 and admonitory radio message 2303/22/48/165/259/379/416/718/845 is therefore invalid and should be destroyed.
8) In message to O.K.M., O.K.W. is reporting that development of new FuMB-Technology and Accoustic Torpedoes is continuing with highest priority.
1025 - Early Morning Dawn. 1/4-Moon in the East.
1122 - Sunrise. SW1/1, clear, very good visibility, >1000mb.
1149 - All engines stop. Manning flak guns (still outside of Ascension Island air cover zone) - Equator-Crossing Ceremony -
1200 - Qu.5194FD - Days Run: 187.9nm - ↗ 180.6nm (21h 35') - ↘ 7.3nm (2h 25')
Total: 4682.4 (25tg 22h) - ↗ 4473.4nm (22tg 17h 59') - ↘ 209.0nm (3tg 04h 01')
447cbm (1.5cbm in 24h); Battery 97%; Course 169°; 3xT-3, 2xEtoFat, 1xT-4; 9xBold; SSW1/1, clear, very good visibility, >1000mb.
1400 - Continuing outbound transit. 2x225RPM/8kn.
2000 - SE5/4, clear, very good visibility, >1000mb.
2321 - Sundown.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115