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)
Friday, 30 April 1943 - Bordeaux
- Taking on of Provisions, Ammunitions, Torpedoes:
- Rohr I-II-IV: T-3, Pi-2/39H (MZ/AZ)
- Rohr III: AtoFAT, Pi-1/G7H (AZ)
- Fwd above floor plates: 2 x T-3, Pi-2/39H (MZ/AZ)
- Fwd below floor plates: 1 x T-3, Pi-2/39H (MZ/AZ) and 3 x AtoFAT, Pi-1/G7H (AZ)
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Daily F.d.U. Briefing
O.K.M.-Report:
a) Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci transmitted her final signal in the Atlantic Ocean about 600 miles northwest of Cape Town.
B.d.U.-Report:
a) Convoy No. 33 (ONS.5):
The weather conditions in the convoy area were also unfavorable on the 30th. Wind S.W. 7, visibility 4 seamiles high, steep waves running against the boats.
At 0447, U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter Arthur Stahl) receives F.T.2307/29/183: Stahl: At 0400 switch to circuit Hubertus. At 0908, U-Stahl dives for trimming excerises and surfaces at 0930.
U 381 (Kptlt. Wilhelm-Heinrich Graf von Pückler und Limpurg) reported the convoy in AD 9853, speed 5 knots, course 220° at 1600 according to hydrophone and depth charges. It was able to maintain contact until 1700, but then lost it owing to bad visibility.
U-Stahl meets U 209 (Kptlt. Heinrich Brodda) at 2125. Comparison of navigational data reveals the same, U-Brodda will search in SE direction, U-Stahl in SW direction, position of U-Stahl at 2400 is Qu.AJ 3312.
There have been no further reports of the convoy.
U 386 (Oblt. Hans-Albrecht Kandler) and U 528 (Oblt. Georg von Rabenau) began return passage owing to considerable damage to boats caused by aerial bombs and depth charges. The operation continues.
B-Dienst Report:
a) After receiving a special Radio Intelligence report according to which the expected convoy in BC 5489 is to alter course to "Unknown" (probably between 0 and 90°) patrol lines are to be transferred as follows: Group "Specht" from AJ 7679 via 8824 to BC 2666, Group "Amsel" from BC 4372 via 3875 to 9264. The entire disposition is therefore transferred to the S.
b) Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9) and her escorts detached from Convoy HX-235 in the eastern Atlantic and set course toward Belfast.
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)
Saturday,
1 May 1943 - Bordeaux
-
Taking on of Provisions, Ammunitions, Torpedoes:
- Rohr V: EtoFAT, Pi-2/39H(MZ/AZ) - only as circle runners against escorts.
- Rohr VI: T-4 ("Falke"), Pi-4(MZ) - only stern tube; only against merchants due to its slow speed of 20kn.
- Aft below floor plates: 2 x EtoFAT, Pi-2/39H(MZ/AZ) and 1 x T-4 ("Falke"), Pi-4(MZ)
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Daily F.d.U. Briefing
O.K.W.-Report:
a) The International Medical Commission completed its investigation on the Katyn Massacre, concluding that the Soviet Union was responsible for the atrocity.
b) US troops captured Hill 609 in Tunisia.
O.K.M.-Report:
a) Seaplane tender Richthofen is commissioned into service.
B.d.U.-Report:
a) Convoy No. 33 (ONS.5):
The continuing bad weather also prevented contact being reestablished on 1st May.
At 0428 the I.W.O.(Ltnt.z.S. Gerhard Nolte) of
U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter Arthur Stahl) gives ALARM, as he believes to have seen an airplane shining a light on the water in the distance. The latter has been confirmed by U 954 (Kptlt. Odo Loewe) per F.T.1800/1/883. At 1200, position of
U-Stahl is Qu.AJ 3247, snow flurries. There is still no sound contact of the convoy and the F.T. reception is very poor, sound volume 1. At 1712,
U-Stahl sends a short weather report as ordered with F.T.1253/1/878. At 2143,
U-Stahl receives F.T. 2011/1/885: If at dusk no contact, break off operation. Remain in the current position. "Stahl" send position and fuel. At 2400, position of
U-Stahl is Qu.AJ 3428.
To sum up:
The operations against the convoy with 16 boats in all suffered from first to last from very hazy weather and strong S.W. wind, against which the boats had to struggle during their pursuit of the enemy. Lookout, finding and shadowing of the convoy were much hampered thereby. In all, only 5 boats contacted the convoy. After 29th April contact could not be reestablished.
The only success was scored by U 258 (Kptlt. Wilhelm von Mässenhausen), who probably sank 2 ships and torpedoed a third. Naval defences were not reported as very strong. No reports were received about them. There was some air activity on the first day, but only seaplanes. During the last night a boat reported continuous air patrol, probably based on Greenland. The same boat observed what was probably a new type of location gear. The Commander repeatedly noticed planes approaching at great height and carrying a light like a planet that went on and off. No location was heard at the time.
Two boats had to give up the chase because of enemy counter-measures. They were bombed and depth-charged and badly damaged. No boats were lost while attacking the convoy.
The whole operation was hampered by heavy atmospherics, so that Operational Control had no definite information on the course of the operation from midnight until noon the next day. It can therefore be said that this attack failed only because of the bad weather, not because of the enemy's defences.
As there was little prospect of picking the convoy up again while weather remained hazy, the boats were ordered to break off the operation at dusk on 1st May.
b) "Milkcow" U 487 (Oblt.d.R. Helmut Metz) has given her remaining fuel to "Milkcow" U 461 (Kptlt. Wolf-Harro Stiebler), has taken over Engineer Officer from U 504 (Kptlt. Wilhelm Luis) and is continuing her homeward voyage.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115