[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

- 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.

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

+++++

KTB - U 113

Monday, 26 January 1942 - South of Cape Hatteras -

0037 - O₂ = 20%.

0222 - Sound contact of steamer in Qu.7997CA, at medium speed on course 232°, E=20000. Is too far away, also, it is still dark.

0230 - On new course 0°, 105rpm/2kn.

0436 - Sound contact of steamer bearing 38°, E=21000, approaching at medium speed, on course 205°.

0449 - On new course 90°. Second sound contact of steamer bearing 306°, E=20000, at medium speed, on course 240°.

0505 - The first sound contact now bearing 317°, E=10000. Full Ahead.

0513 - S-Tiefe. Darkness, overcast, sea has subsided somewhat.

0515 - Surfaced after 7h 15min. and 13.0sm.
Weather: N5/4, overcast, hazy, limited visibility, ~1000mb.

0517 - "Shadow bearing 325°, E=3500m!". Boat ventilated. On new course 115°.

0520 - "Battle Stations!". Flooding tube I. Ship is identified as a Supply Tanker of 3150ts, draught 6.0m.

0524 - Qu.7998CA - Single Shot with tube I: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 3.5m; Vt30. Own course 115°; Own speed 2kn ahead; Shooter: Ltnt.z.S & I.W.O. Rainer SCHEUFLER.
Target ship: Supply Tanker of 3150ts, draught 6.0m.
Target course 205°; Target distance 1300m; Target angle green63°; Target speed 11kn; Firing angle α 356°.

=> Torpedo is a hit amidships after 73 Sec.!

Tanker starts to zig-zag, continues on and is sending "SSS". Going on parallel course 205°.

0530 - The tanker doesn't sink. Manning deck gun. Distance to tanker is 1000m. "Weapons Free!".

0535 - After the second shot, the tanker is pointing a search light at the boat. After 6 shots and hits with the deck gun, the tanker sinks in a sea of fire. Running off with Full Ahead on course 300°.

0551 - Compressed Air Supply filled.

0555 - The second sound contact comes into sight at the plotted position and time. Ship is identified as a Small U.S.A. Merchant of 1667ts, draught 6.8m. Going to new course 330°. Small Ahead.

0559 - Qu.7998CA - Single Shot with tube II: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 4.5m; Vt30. Own course 330°; Own speed 6kn ahead; Shooter: Ltnt.z.S & I.W.O. Rainer SCHEUFLER.
Target ship: Small U.S.A. Merchant of 1667ts, draught 6.8m.
Target course 240°; Target distance 2000m; Target angle red69°; Target speed 9kn; Firing angle α 002°.

=> Torpedo is a hit in the forecastle after 1 min. 58 Sec.!

The torpedo hit is followed by a huge explosion, debris are flying through the air. After 1-2 minutes the steamer sinks on an even keel. Spotted 3 boats with 9-12 survivors.

0605 - Running off at high speed on course 58°.

0636 - Incoming F.T.: From U 123:
Sank the armed steamer "Culebra", 3044 BRT, after a gun battle in CC 79. Ship was loaded with aircraft parts. - Hardegen -

0700 - Diving for submerged cruise at T=20, 105rpm/2kn.

0703 - Sound contact turbine, bearing 125°, E=8000, slowly on course 235°.

0808 - Lost sound contact 0703/25, bearing 155°, E=18500, in position Qu.7998CA.

0857 - O₂ = 20%.

0920 - S-Tiefe. Morning Dawn. Weather and Sea unchanged. Back to Reception Depth.

0956 - Incoming F.T.: From U 106:
Sank the British "Traveller", 3963 BRT. - Rasch -

Cmdr.: U-Rasch belongs to the second wave of "Paukenschlag" boats, which have already left the Western bases.

1010 - Sunrise.

1015 - Surfaced after 3h 15min. and 7.8sm.

1020 - Boat ventilated. Charging Batteries (7700Ah):
- Port Engine Propulsion 285RPM/6-7kn;
- Stbd.Engine Charging, 496RPM.

1200 - Qu.8772CA - Days Run: 83.3sm - ↗ 50.6sm (7h) - ↘ 32.7sm (17h).
131.9cbm (2.6cbm/24h). On course 62°. Battery 9700Ah. 3 internal Eto and 2 Ato. Weather unchanged since 0515h.

- to be continued -