[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

Sunday, 25 January 1942 - Southwest of Cape Lookout -

0019 - Qu.1182DC - The boat is being illuminated by a search light from a Catalina and attacked with machine guns and bombs. The bombs fall short to the port side of the boat, resulting in water entry in the Control Room and the Main Bilge Pump being damaged.

0020 - Diving at water depth of 33m. During the diving process 2 more bombs are dropped without effect. Boat cannot be held at 20m and drops to the ocean floor, resulting in further damage, to the forward battery, and to the bow and stern torpedo tubes.

0024 - All engines stop. Bottoming boat and repairing damages.

0027 - Back to Reception Depth. All damages repaired, however, the pressure hull seems to have been damaged as well.

0150 - Surfaced after 1h 30 min. and 4.8sm. Weather and Sea unchanged. Battery 8900Ah.

0156 - Some light damage to the Flak Guns repaired. The light damage to forward upper deck cannot be repaired yet, due to the swell washing over the deck.

0200 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
On 24 Jan., 1732h, sunk Panamanian Steamer, 2180ts, in Qu.1177DC. On 24 Jan., 1902h, attacked by Catalina, direct approach, bombs, no damages, Qu.1175DC. On 24 Jan., 2022h, direct approach by a P-38 "Lightning", no attack, Qu.1172DC. On 25 Jan., 0019, attacked by Catalina, direct approach, search lights, bombs and machine-gun fire. Water entry, main bilge pump and forward battery damaged. All damages repaired after bottoming boat at 33m. Qu.1182DC. 5 internal Eto and 3 Ato. 136cbm. NE6/5, overcast, light haze, visibility 5sm, medium swell, <1000mb. Continuing Op. - RST -

0228 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Message received.

0710 - Boat operating on new Ship Contact Report 0700/25, position Qu.1229DC, on course West, medium speed. This is within the Op.-area of U-Zapp.

0744 - Qu.1244DC - Boat is attacked by a pair of Catalina's, direct approach from 240°true. Bombs and Machine-Gun fire, Flak slightly damaged.

0745 - Diving to T=20. Water depth here is 26m. During the diving process and in due course more bombs, but without effect.

Cmdr.: It is now clear, that we are being hunted by enemy airplanes, that have been equipped with radar and special search lights.

0815 - Surfaced after 30 min. and 1.5sm. Weather and Sea unchanged.

0820 - Flak repaired. 2xH.F.-Ahead.

0930 - Early Morning Dawn.

0950 - Nothing seen at plotted interception point of ship contact report 0700/25. Diving for sound check. Water depth is 40m.

0951 - At Reception depth, sound contact of steamer bearing 140°, E=20000, going away. Seems to be ship contact report 0700/25.

Cmdr.: Again, the ship contact must have been alerted by aircraft and by-passed our position.

1020 - Surfaced after 30min. and 1.6sm. Weather and Sea unchanged. Battery 8500Ah.

1022 - Incoming F.T.: From U 66:
Sank altogether: 1 tanker 9200 BRT, 1 freighter-passenger 9000 BRT, 1 freighter 7500 BRT, 1 tanker "Charles Black" (14,000 BRT), 1 ore steamer 10,000 BRT, total tonnage 50,000 BRT. 3 undetermined misses on 3 other tankers. Heavy ship movements from the south to Cape Hatteras. Still have 2 torpedoes. - Zapp -

Cmdr.: Now, that the enemy has been alerted, the ship movement seems to be going from north to south.

1029 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged in 4 days.

1036 - Compressed Air Supply filled.

1200 - Qu.1227DC - Days Run: 149.1sm - ↗ 132.8sm (19h) - ↘ 16.3sm (5h).
134.5cbm (2.6cbm/24h). On course 75°. Battery 8500Ah. 8 internal and 8 external torpedoes. Weather unchanged since Sunrise, 21 January.

Cmdr.: The experiences gained since entering the Op.-area have shown, that the tactics to obtaining contact to a ship report with restricted visibility and strong enemy air cover, have to be altered to plotting an interception point based on sound contact, rather than visual contact.

- to be continued -

- continued from 25 January, 1200h -

1324 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
To U 66: Do not to pass Bermuda in order to make use of a fruitful area. - B.d.U. -

Cmdr.: U-Zapp is heading back to base and vacating the area that we are now entering.

1415 - Diving for torpedo maintenance and reloading, and trial dive acc. B.d.U.-Standing Order 507. Water Depth here is 130m.

1421 - T=50. 65rpm/1.6kn. Beginning of torpedo maintenance and reloading.

1437 - Tube I reloaded with G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ).

1557 - O₂ = 20%.

1700 - Tubes II, III & IV serviced. Break until 1715h.

1810 - Sound contact of steamer bearing 341°, E=20000, medium speed, on course 242°.

1845 - Tubes V & VI serviced. Distance to sound contact now 8000m.

1851 - S-Tiefe. Steamer in sight, identified as a U.S.A. Tramp Steamer II of 2300ts, draught 6.8m. Going on course 330°.

1900 - Qu.1216DC - "Battle Stations!". Flooding tube IV.

1911 - Single Shot with tube IV: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 4.5m; Vt40. Own course 330°; Own speed 3kn ahead; Shooter: Kptlt. & Cmdr. RST.
Target ship: U.S.A. Tramp Steamer II of 2300ts, draught 6.8m.
Target course 242°; Target distance 976m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 8kn; Firing angle α 000°.

=> Torpedo is a hit amidships after 38 Sec.!

The steamer immediately looses headway and settles in the water. A gaping hole can be seen under the bridge from the torpedo hit. The steamer is armed with a Flak gun behind the bridge and a stern gun, and is carrying upper deck cargo in crates. After 1-2 minutes the steamer sinks on an even keel, and after another minute, loud underwater explosions can be heard. No boats can be seen in the water. Water depth here is 225m.

1925 - Running off submerged on course 75°. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

1930 - Beginning of trial dive. 135rpm/3kn.

1938 - O₂ = 19%. At A-Meter.

2000 - Boat is safe and secure at 2A-Meter. Setting for Reception Depth.

2016 - Sundown. T=20.

2042 - S-Tiefe. Weather and Sea unchanged.

2045 - Surfaced after 6h 30min. and 11.9sm.

2050 - Boat ventilated. Charging Batteries (9100Ah):
- Port Engine Propulsion 285RPM/6kn;
- Stbd.Engine Charging, 496RPM.

2150 - Batteries charged to 9000Ah (1h for 1300Ah).

2200 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
On 25 Jan., 1912h, sunk U.S.A. Tramp II Steamer, 2300ts, in Qu.1216DC. Successfully performed trail dive acc. Standing Orders. 5 internal Eto and 2 Ato. 133cbm. NE6/6, overcast, light haze, visibility 5sm, medium swell, >1000mb. Continuing Op. - RST -

Diving for submerged cruise at Reception Depth, 65rpm/1.6kn, Silent Running.

2230 - Qu.1231DC - Sound contact turbine, bearing 121°, E=18000, medium speed on course 007°. Identified as a destroyer.

2318 - Qu.1232DC - About 34sm south of Cape Hatteras. The destroyer is passing our stern at a distance of 5000m and turns around on course SE. At the same time, a second sound contact with another destroyer bearing 346°, E=20000, on course 225°.

2340 - The second destroyer crosses our bow at a distance of 10000m, on course 225°.

2400 - The second destroyer is now about 5300m to our stbd. beam, still on course 225°. The swell seems to have subsided somewhat.

Cmdr.: Apparently, U.S.A. Naval Vessels have now joined the hunt for us.

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

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.