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, 24 April 1943 - 12th U.-Flotilla Bordeaux (Korvkpt. Klaus Scholtz; ex U 108) -
Taking boat out of dry dock and putting on charging station.
During the shipyard time in Bordeaux, the pressure hull, torpedo tube no.6 and the flak guns were repaired. Several crew members had to disembark and were replaced, due to injuries sustained in the air attacks during the outbound transit.
Beginning of pre-war patrol preparation.
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Daily F.d.U. Briefing
O.K.W.-Report:
a) In the Mediterranean Sea, British submarine HMS Sahib (P 212; Lieutenant J. H. Bromage) was scuttled and abandoned by her crew to avoid capture after being seriously damaged by the Italian torpedo boat Climene and Ju88 aircraft off Cape Milazzo. All her crew was saved except for one who was wounded and will die on 3 May 1943. Her loss will be officially announced by the Admiralty on 6 May 1943.
O.K.M.-Report:
a) U 180 (IXD1; Fregkpt. Werner Musenberg) reported: Met at 0620 on 23.4. Exchange has so far been impossible owing to weather conditions. Boat accompanying until improvement in weather. (U 180 and the Japanese U-boat I-29 were ordered to meet at 0600 on 23.4 in JA 2432. After execution of special duties - transfer of two Indian Nationalist agents, to be put ashore by I-29 at Sumatra - U 180 is to operate in the lower third of KP and KQ and the upper third of KZ and JA, with central point off Durban. E.W. traffic is presumed in the vicinity of this port).
B.d.U.-Report:
a) Convoy No. 28 (HX.234):
At 0200, U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter Arthur Stahl) is back o Battle Stations but is kept at bay by convoy escorts and is attacked with escort surface weapons at 0315 and has to crash-dive at 0328 and turns toward the convoy. At 130m, U-Stahl receives the first Wabos and dives deeper to 140-150m, and is now positioned right under the convoy; ASDIC pings continue until 0600 in Qu.AK 2336. At 0625 U-Stahl surfaces and has to crash-dive 5 times due to airplanes until 1912 (at 1000 U-Stahl briefly sights the convoy in 46°true and a VIIC type boat 2nm abeam to port). At 1953, U-Stahl surfaces in Qu. AK 3354, Wind and Sea have increased and the boat can not go faster than 2xH.F., as the sea is continually washing over the Conning Tower. At 2300, U 267 (Kptlt. Otto Tinschert) reports contact in AK 3493, and again at 2330. At 2342, the wolfpack receives F.T. 2325/24/131 from HQ: To Trotha-Convoy: If during the night no attack opportunity, operate in such a way that by daybreak boat is positioned in front of the convoy.
In spite of the fact that altogether 12 boats were operating on the convoy on the night of 24th, and that at dawn several boats were still in contact, this could not be maintained during the day. The reason for this was the appearance of strong air escort with the beginning of daylight.
B-Dienst Report:
a) In the Pacific, after repeated failures, Admiral Nimitz discontinues the use of magnetic pistols on torpedoes for his theater of operation. Submarines under General MacArthur's command, however, continue to use them.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115 |
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)
Sunday,
25 April 1943 - Bordeaux - (Easter Sunday)
Pre-war patrol preparation:
- Taking on of Fuel Oil (510cbm at 865kg/m³) and Lubricating Oil.
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Daily F.d.U. Briefing
O.K.M.-Report:
a) U 119 (XB; Kptlt. Horst-Tessen von Kameke) has put out for special duties (Mining Op. Halifax).
b) U 177 (IXD2; Kptlt. Robert Gysae) reported experiences with "Bachstelze".
c) Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci hit British tanker Doryssa, en route from Cape Town, to Abadan, Iran, with a torpedo in the Indian Ocean at 1726 hours. At 1845 hours, a second torpedo hit her. Shortly after, Leonardo da Vinci closed in and sank the tanker with gunfire. 53 were killed, and the 11 survivors were picked up by British whaler HMSAS Southern Barrier five days later. Having expended all torpedoes, Leonardo da Vinci began her journey back to Bordeaux.
B.d.U.-Report:
a) Convoy No. 28 (HX.234):
At 0130,
U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter Arthur Stahl) sends F.T.0128/25/138: Due to A/C positioned 60nm behind Trotha-Convoy. Due to weather max. speed 11kn. Question continue Op.
At 0200, another boat reports wind N.N.E. 9, seaway 8, visibility 500 meters.
At 0900,
U-Stahl is diving for torpedo maintenance and at 1218, receives F.T.1050/25/151 from HQ: Break off Op., proceed to SW.
At 1554,
U-Stahl receives F.T.1249/25/153 from HQ: Group "Meise" in new order Junker, Mäder ..., proceed at cruisng speed to position in patrol line from AK 2386 to 0347. Slow NE convoy will pass the area of the patrol line tomorrow.
At 1718,
U-Stahl surfaces and is in AK 3451 at 2400h, wind and sea have subsided considerably.
The main reason for the failure of the operation can be attributed to the extremely changeable visibility experienced during the night, and very unfavorable weather, hail, fog, rain, snow squalls. The convoy exploited this very cleverly for his zig zags. The enemy sailed in line ahead with about 10 ships, and destroyers or escort vessels were disposed in the gaps (later it is determined, that convoy HX.234 consisted of 46 ships and 21 escorts).
The Commanders, for the most part inexperienced and fresh from home waters, were unable to cope with these conditions.
Air activity was so intense on the 24th, that all boats were beaten off and lost the convoy. As intensified air activity is anticipated in the vicinity of Iceland on the 25th, the operations were broken off on the morning of that day. Altogether 2 ships of 19,500 GRT were sunk and 2 ships torpedoed.
b) The loss of U 191 (Kptlt. Helmut Fiehn; Convoy No. 30/ON.178) and U 189 (KrvKpt. Hellmut Kurrer; Convoy No. 28/HX.234) must be presumed. The boats reported for the last time on 23.4 from AK 01 and AK 15 respectively.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115