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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)
Monday, 26 April 1943 - Bordeaux -
Pre-war patrol preparation:
- Trimming trials at Bordeaux roadstead and Test cruise at Gironde Estuary.
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Daily F.d.U. Briefing
O.K.W.-Report:
a) RAF bombers conducted a raid against Duisburg.
B.d.U.-Report:
a) U 566 (Kptlt. Hans Hornkohl) experienced a severe a/c depth charge attack at 2325 in BF 4599 (outbound from Brest). Unable to submerge, return passage. Close escort by 4 Ju 88's from daylight, also escort by F.O.I.C. Western Defences.
b) Final summary on Convoy No. 28 (HX.234):
The slight success achieved, in an operation lasting four days and with a fairly large numbers of boats, may be explained as follows: The conditions of convoy warfare are becoming increasingly difficult, above all the case of convoys in the N., where the nights are especially short, and the enemy is able to provide protection with strong air forces from Greenland, and to an even greater extent from Iceland. Boats usually choose a night when a large number of boats are in contact with the convoy, and the not disproportionately strong defence makes success appear likely. The night of 23/24 in this case. Before this, only one boat was in contact and afterwards the air protection was too strong. This night was the only chance. It could not be exploited owing to the very unfavorable weather conditions in conjunction with the inexperience of the large number of new Commanders who were not equal to the situation.
On the next to last day the convoy air escort was particularly strong and all hopes of success had to be abandoned. Surface protection was of normal strength. 4 boats were attacked by depth charges by the convoy. One boat U 189 (KrvKpt. Hellmut Kurrer), was sunk by the convoy escorts after reporting contact for the last time on the afternoon of the 23rd.
c) U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter Arthur Stahl) is standing up and down in ordered position of new patrol line.
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)
Tuesday,
27 April 1943 - Bordeaux -
Pre-war patrol preparation:
- Testing of Navigational and Radio Equipment.
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Daily F.d.U. Briefing
O.K.M.-Report:
a) Torpedo boats Jaguar and Greif, and Destroyer Z4 Richard Beitzen, escorted light cruiser Nürnberg out of Harstad, Norway, toward Kiel.
b) U 180 (IXD1; Fregkpt. Werner Musenberg) has taken on the anticipated apparatus from the Japanese U-boat (I-29). It is operating as ordered in the area off Durban.
B.d.U.-Report:
a) For quite some time it has been possible to dispose a patrol line with boats from home waters and Western France, between Iceland and Greenland. The object of this is the interception of the next ONS convoy at present proceeding in the N. The following boats form the new Group "Star":
U 710 - 650 - 533 - 386 - 528 - 231 - 532 - 378 - 381 - 192 - 258 - 552 - 954 -
U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter Arthur Stahl) - 209 - 413. At 1119, they are ordered per F.T.1038/27/191, to take up position in patrol lines from AD 8731 via AK 3523 to AK 0329 at 0900 on 28.4. A slower S.W. bound convoy is expected here from 28.4.
U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter Arthur Stahl), is proceeding with diesel/electric propulsion to the new position, and dives from 0930-0956 for trimming exercises. At 1214,
U-Stahl has has to crash dive from A/C. At 1235 the Attack Periscope is steamed over, which is fixed by wiping down the mirror.
U-Stahl surfaces at 1304 and is in Qu.AK3847 at 2400h.
B-Dienst Report:
a) According to a special Radio Intelligence report the SC 127 convoy should have been in BC 5447 at 2100 on 20.4, from there to a point BC 5278 and then on a course of 35° degrees. According to a new decoded report, the convoy was actually in BC 4372 on the evening of 21.4. It therefore curved prematurely to the N., probably to avoid a suspected U-boat disposition. At this time Group "Meise" with 19 boats, was in patrol line from AJ 1690 to AJ 6980.
b) According to an American U-boat situation report the enemy suspected 15 boats in the area 50 - 55° N and 39 - 45° W on 25.4. Actually Group "Specht" had 16 boats in this area. In spite of the fact that on the previous days numerous wireless messages were sent and U-boats sighted, the very exact dividing line of this patrol line is significant, especially, as up to then Group "Specht" was on the move and took up the present disposition from the south, only shortly beforehand. This confirms, more than ever, the suspicion that the enemy has at his disposal a radar device, especially, effective for aircraft, which our boats are powerless to intercept.
c) Further, 5 boats were reported within 150 seamile circumference of 50° N, 34° W. Supplies have taken place here for a long time. Unfortunately, the boats have often inaugurated radio concerts here and this had led to the interception of the supply point. It is, however, significant that this was suspected in the area where there has been no wireless activity for several days.
d) Radar jamming devices began operations in eastern England.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115