[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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KTB - U 113

Friday, 23 January 1942 - Kiawah Island -

1401 - Norddeich Radio sending O.K.W. report about Kptlt. Reinhard Hardegen (U 123) being awarded on this day with the Knights Cross!

1515 - Boat operating on Ship Contact Report 1510/23, in Qu.3916DB, on course SSW, slow speed. Plotting course considering enemy speed of 6kn. New course 130°, Full Ahead.

1603 - On new course 140°.

1610 - Ship Contact Report 1510/23 comes into sight, bearing 347°, E=9000. Is identified as a M04B Merchant of 5650ts, draught 7.0m, on course 194°, speed 7kn.

1612 - On new course 180°.

1620 - Boat is positioned lee-ward and moving along the stbd. side of the steamer on parallel course 193°, in order to overtake and maneuver into attack position.

1638 - Incoming F.T.: From U 125:
Leaving operational area for area DC, because of lack of ship movement. - Folkers -

Cmdr.: Apparently, U-Folkers did not find any shipping in its Op.-area of CA 38, 59, 62, 63, and is now going to operate just east from us. Perhaps, the enemy has already stopped ships leaving port and the only ships still to be found, are the ones that were already or were still at sea, when the order was given.

1703 - Incoming F.T.: From U 123:
Have passed Bermuda on return cruise. Marqu.DD 25. City and harbor dimmed out. Lights extinguished even to single buoys. Searchlight defenses on harbor entrances. No mine defenses, no patrols or ship movements observed. - Hardegen -

Cmdr.: No mentioning of any air patrols, of which we had plenty.

1716 - Incoming F.T.: From U 85:
Sunk steamer in BD 8793. Attacked according Order No.50, Figure 23b (sinking of ship sailing alone screened by destroyer). - Greger -

1720 - Reached position forward of steamer, angle to bow 0°, E=7500. Reducing speed, on course 150°.

1739 - Incoming F.T.: From U 66:
Have sunk the U.S.A. tanker Venore, 8017ts, Qu.7968CA - Zapp -

Cmdr.: The position given by U-Zapp is off Cape Hatteras, just to the North from us.

1745 - Qu.3945DB - Diving for submerged attack.

1800 - "Battle Stations!". Flooding tube III & IV.

1803 - Incoming F.T.: From U 553:
All torpedoes fired, returning to port. Results: 2 tankers (16,000 BRT) sunk. Ships taking outer coastal route, about 100 miles east of Cape Hatteras - Cape Race line, steering for convoy assembly point.
- Thurmann -

1807 - Double Shot with tube III & IV: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 4.5m; Vt30. Own course 284°; Own speed 2kn ahead; Shooter: Kptlt. & Cmdr. RST.
Target ship: British M04B Merchant of 5650ts, draught 7.0m.
Target course 194°; Target distance 926m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 6kn; Firing angle tube III α 004°, tube IV α 001°.

=> Both torpedoes are hits after 51 Sec.!

Going on parallel course along port side of the steamer, which is continuing on with a list to port. Has upper deck cargo in crates.

1813 - The steamer capsizes over the port side and sinks. After about 1.5min., loud underwater explosions. Noticed 3 boats with 9 survivors

1820 - Boat remains submerged, running off on course 90°. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

1900 - T=50. 65rpm/1.6kn. Beginning of torpedo maintenance and reloading.

1924 - Tubes II & III reloaded with G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ).

1928 - O₂ = 20%.

1949 - Tube I & IV reloaded with G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ). Break until 2005h.

2047 - Sundown.

2135 - Tubes V & VI serviced. No damages found.

2235 - At Reception Depth. No F.T. received.

2242 - S-Tiefe. Darkness. Weather and Sea unchanged.

2245 - Surfaced after 5h and 8.7sm.

2300 - On new course 0°. Boat ventilated. Charging Batteries (9100Ah):
- Port Engine Propulsion 285RPM/6kn;
- Stbd.Engine Charging, 496RPM.

2355 - Batteries charged (55' for 900Ah). 2x235RPM/7kn.

Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag".

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

+++++

KTB - U 113

Saturday, 24 January 1942 - East of Charleston -

0200 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:

During outbound transit was forced south by heavy storm into the air cover zone of Bermuda. Many airplanes, was bombed once, no damages. Arrived in Op.-area on 15 Jan., 1536h. On 22 Jan., 0511h, sunk U.S.A. Steamer 1710ts, and on 23 Jan., 1813h, sunk British M04B Steamer 5650ts, both in Qu.3945DB. On 23 Jan., 1130h, double Eto Early Detonator on Panamanian Steamer 2180ts, in Qu.3831DB, attack broken off. All remaining torpedoes checked, no damages found. Current position Qu.3916DB, heading north. 9 internal and 8 external eels. 139cbm. NE6/5, overcast, light haze, visibility 5sm, medium swell, <1000mb.
- RST -

0245 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:

RST: Well "pauked". Continue acc. Op.-Orders.

0825 - Qu.3655DB -

0950 - 15sm south of Bald Head Island - Early Morning Dawn.

1051 - Off Frying Pan Shoals - Sunrise. Weather unchanged in 3 days.

1200 - Qu.3637DB - Days Run: 147.1sm - ↗ 139.0sm (19h) - ↘ 8.7sm (5h).
137.1cbm (3.6cbm/24h). On course 53°. Battery 10000Ah. 9 internal and 8 external torpedoes. Weather unchanged since Sunrise, 21 January.

1516 - Incoming F.T.: From U 130:

30000ts sunk. Expended all torpedoes. 130cbm. Commencing return transit. - Kals -

1702 - Qu.1177DC - "Surface Vessel!". A Small Merchant and a Coastal Schooner ahead, E=8000. Both on parallel course SSW, distance between them is about 1600m.

1715 - At E=4500, Diving for submerged attack. Water depth here is 33m.

1720 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:

Ship contact report in Qu.1167DC, on course WSW, medium speed.

1725 - Turning boat hard to port, in order to bring bow tubes to bear. Course is 300°. "Battle Stations!". Flooding tube I. Targeting the Small Merchant, which is another Panamanian Steamer of 2180ts, and is burning in the forecastle.

1731 - Qu.1177DC - Single Shot with tube I: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 4.0m; Vt40. Own course 300°; Own speed 2kn ahead; Shooter: Kptlt. & Cmdr. RST.

Target ship: Panamanian Steamer of 2180ts, draught 5.6m.

Target course 210°; Target distance 692m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 8kn; Firing angle α 007°.

=> Torpedo is a hit under the bridge after 27 Sec.!

The steamer catches on fire over its entire length. As its continuing on, its burning cargo is setting the water on fire. The steamer sinks after 1-2 minutes on an even keel, the top of the masts are still sticking out of the shallow water. 1 boat with 4 survivors seen in the periscope.

1736 - The U.S.A. Coastal Schooner is approaching the sinking position. Boat is staying at S-Tiefe and running off on course 30°. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

1825 - Surfaced after 1h 10min. and 3.5sm. Boat operating on ship contact report 1720/24. New course 68°, 2xH.F.-Ahead.

1902 - Qu.1175DC - Boat has to dive from a Catalina, direct approach from 230°true, E=6000, water depth is 26m.During the diving process, 2 bombs behind the boat, no damages.

1903 - At Reception Depth, 4 more bombs at the diving position, no damages.

1912 - Running off submerged on course 0°, 1/3-Ahead.

2012 - Surfaced after 1h 10' and 4.6sm. Weather unchanged. 9000Ah.

2021 - Qu.1172DC - Sundown. Weather unchanged since Sunrise, 21 January. Fly over by a double-tail airplane, identified as a Lockheed P-38 "Lightning", right over the boat from stern to bow, was all of the sudden right over the boat, flew off again on heading NNE. No gunfire or bombs dropped. Suspect air reconnaissance from Norfolk.

2050 - Nothing seen at calculated interception point of ship contact report 1720/24.

2125 - Diving for sound check. Water depth is 30m.

2130 - At Reception depth nothing heard.

2135 - Surfaced after 10min. and 0.3sm. Darkness. Weather unchanged. 2x235RPM.

Cmdr.: The ship contact must have by-passed our position, due to the airplane sightings.

Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag".

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.