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Old 10-05-21, 12:29 PM   #5954
Kapitän
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Default U 113 (IXC) - 2nd War Patrol - Continuing outbound transit

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Originally Posted by Kapitän View Post
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

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Saturday, 4 October 1941 - Bay of Biscay -

0230 - Reducing speed to 1/3, due to the sea continuously washing over the bridge.

0344 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
U 129 (IXC, Kptlt. Asmus Nicolai Clausen), which was an escort for the U-boat supply ship "Kota Pinang" and which was cruising in the Atlantic together with this ship, reported that the "Kota Pinang" was sunk from a distance by shell-fire from a cruiser of the Belfast Class in BE 7722. It has saved the entire crew (119 men) and has started on return to base. Its diving capacity is restricted by this additional load of men. It has been arranged with the Naval War Staff to hand over this crew in Ferrol, as it is not justifiable for U 129 to pass through the Bay of Biscay under the circumstances. U 129 received orders to do this.

0518 - Morning Dawn. New course 301°. 2xH.F.

0630 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since last Etmal.

0909 - Qu.4255BF -

0930 - Boat is operating on ship contact report 0920/4. New course 128°.

1050 - Outbound steamer sighted bearing 331°, E=14000, on opposite course of the inbound ship contact, which also coming into sight, bearing 10°, E=14000.

The outbound steamer is a Refrigeration Ship of 4185ts, draught 5.8m and the inbound steamer is an Ore-II-Freighter of 3400ts, draught 5.8m. As the Refrigeration Ship has a wider field of view than the Ore Freighter, new course 180° is set, in order to get closer to both steamers on the surface, without being sighted be either.

1100 - New course 135°. The wind speed is still 13m/s and the boat is lee-ward. Therefore, the torpedo running depth has to be set between 3.25-5.2m. With the draught of both ships being 5.8m, a torpedo running depth of 4m is set for all bow torpedoes (G7e, Pi-G7H).

1101 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
It has been arranged with the Naval War Staff to hand over the crew of the "Kota Pinang" in Ferrol, as it is not justifiable for U 129 to pass through the Bay of Biscay under the circumstances. U 129 received orders to do this.

1110 - "Battle Stations!".

1112 - Flooding tube I.

1116 - Qu.4283BF - Single Shot with tube I: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 4m; Vt30. Own course 130°; Own speed 10kn; Shooter: OFähn.z.S & I.W.O. Udo HARTENSTEIN.
Target ship: Inbound OreII-Freighter, draught 5.8m.
Target course 45°; Target distance 4500m; Target angle red83°; Target speed 5kn; Firing angle α 359°.

=> The torpedo is a failure, as it understeers.

1119 - New course 120°. Speed is reduced, as the boat is in danger of being detected. Flooding tube II.

1121 - Qu.4283BF - Single Shot with tube II: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 4m; Vt30. Own course 120°; Own speed 6kn; Shooter: OFähn.z.S & I.W.O. Udo HARTENSTEIN.
Target ship: Inbound OreII-Freighter, draught 5.8m.
Target course 45°; Target distance 3000m; Target angle red93°; Target speed 6kn; Firing angle α 358°.

=> The torpedo is a failure, as it understeers.

1122 - Qu.4283BF - Single Shot with tube III: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 4m; Vt30. Own course 120°; Own speed 6kn; Shooter: OFähn.z.S & I.W.O. Udo HARTENSTEIN.
Target ship: Outbound Refrigeration Ship, draught 5.8m.
Target course 150°; Target distance 4500m; Target angle green76°; Target speed 7kn; Firing angle α 004°.

=> The torpedo is a failure, as it understeers.
Flooding tube IV.

1125 - As the two steamers overlap, they are being attacked by a pair of German aircraft - identified as Ju88 - approaching from 125°true. The bombs miss their intended targets. Both steamers - especially, the Refrigeration Ship - are putting up medium flak fire, which do not hit the aircraft.

1128 - New course 135°. Speed 1/3.

1130 - Qu.4283BF - Single Shot with tube IV: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 4m; Vt30. Own course 135°; Own speed 8kn; Shooter: OFähn.z.S & I.W.O. Udo HARTENSTEIN.
Target ship: Outbound Refrigeration Ship, draught 5.8m.
Target course 150°; Target distance 3200m; Target angle green104°; Target speed 7kn; Firing angle α 016°.

=> The torpedo is a miss, as both steamers have started to zig-zag and are sending distress messages.

Right after the surface shot, diving to S-Tiefe. K.F., 135rpm.

1136 - At reception depth and running off on course 304°. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

1200 - Qu.4283BF - Days Run: 248.4sm - 246.8 (23h 30') - 1.6sm (30').
221.5cbm (12.4cbm/24h). 9100Ah. 10 internal torpedoes (6xEto, 4xAto). T=20. On course 304°.

- to be continued -


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

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- continued from 4 October 1941, 1200h -

1203 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
For Cmdr. eyes only of boats operating in the Mediterranean!
Unloading of aircraft in Gibraltar noticed by agents, possibly for transfer to Malta. Boats to make preparations for special operations in Marqu.CH9.

1301 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
During the night no contact was made with the convoy going to the south.

1302 - First status and position request sent by B.d.U. to U 111 (Kleinschmidt).

1313 - T=50. O=20%. Commencing reloading of bow torpedoes.

1348 - Bow tubes reloaded:
Tubes I&II: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ);
Tubes III&IV: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ).

1355 - S-Tiefe.

1400 - Surfaced after 2h 30' and 7.4sm. Weather unchanged. Battery 9000Ah. 2x1/3-Ahead.

1403 - Boat ventilated.

1450 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Two inbound neutral steamers on morning of 5.10., in Qu.6300BE.

1500 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
(F.T. could not be heard.)

1500 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Two inbound neutral steamers on morning of 5.10., in Qu.3900BE.

1504 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Air reconnaissance picked up the convoy again and reported its position in AL 8836 at 1500h.

1505 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
5 boats are now operating on the convoy. They are instructed to search in different sectors, on courses of 1700 to 2200 from the position of the convoy reported from the air. Renewed air reconnaissance is fixed for the 5th October.

1805 - Sundown. 3/4-Moon rising in SE. Weather unchanged since Etmal, 3 October.

2200 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
On Point Kern three suspicious fishing vessels, remained undetected. Deep dive trial acc. Op.-Orders successful. 4.10., 1115h, four single Eto on two steamers on opposite course in Qu.4283BF, three understeered, one missed. Two Ju88 attacked same steamers, bombs missed. Current position Qu.18BF. 221cbm. 10 internal eels. SSE6/5, clear, visibility 8-9sm, >1000mb. Continue outbound transit acc. Op.-Orders. - RST -

2228 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Message received. Continue acc. Op.-Orders.

Boat continuing outbound transit acc. Op.-Orders.

RST
Kptlt.&Cmdr.
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