[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

+++++

- continued from 15 October 1941, 1341h -

1356 - Tube II reloaded with G7e, K-b.

1407 - Tube V reloaded with G7a, K-a.

1416 - Surfaced after 2h 44' and 7.7sm.
Weather unchanged since 0400h.
Corvette bearing 80° on course ESE, E=8000.

1424 - Boat ventilated. Battery 7900Ah. New course 90°. 2xH.F.-Voraus.

1438 - Corvette goes on search pattern astern of the convoy, which is now running on course 95°.

1440 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
After making contact with convoy 0710/15, immediately pressed home the attack and sunk 2 steamers for 11020ts. Wabo attack, no damages. Chasing after convoy, has 3 ships left and 1 corvette with 3000m range radar. Qu.3689AL. 174cbm. 5 internal eels. WNW5/4, overcast, light haze, visibility 5-6sm, ~1000mb. - RST -

1447 - Incoming F.T.: From U 553:
Convoy SC.48: Chased off by escort. Running after convoy. - Thurmann -

Cmdr.: The incoming F.T.'s from U-Thurmann, are being read to the crew over the intercom system, mainly to the benefit of one of our Stbd.DieselFireman 1cl, who's uncle is U 553's commander.

1500 - The steamers are running array from time to time, apparently, in an attempt to confuse contact keeping boats.

1516 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Great Job!

1531 - Incoming F.T.: From U 568:
Convoy SC.48: Taking over as contact keeper. - Preuß -

Cmdr.: The commander from our sister boat U 10, when operating in the North Sea at the outbreak of the war, has joined the convoy battle of convoy SC.48.

1544 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
The boats U 77, U 101, U 751, U 73, which were enroute to the operational area, were likewise set on to convoy SC.48 at high speed.

1550 - Reached forward position of convoy.
Diving at E=7000, for submerged attack. S-Tiefe.
Turning boat hard to port, in order to bring the stern tubes to bear.

Group "Mordbrenner" (Arsonist), reporting in from Qu.3669AL, on course south.

1558 - Incoming F.T.: From U 568:
Convoy SC.48 proceeding east with a mean course of 40°. - Preuß -

1601 - Incoming F.T. from U 204 (Kell) cannot be deciphered.

1603 - "Battle Stations!". Flooding tube VI.

- to be continued -

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

+++++

- continued from 15 October 1941, 1603h -

1614 - The moment for the attack is ideal, as the Corvette is going on a search pattern astern of the convoy.

1626 - Qu.3931AL - Single Shot with tube VI: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 3.5m; Vt30. Own course 185°; Own speed 2kn astern; Shooter: Kptlt. & Cmdr. RST.
Target ship: Position 3 OreII Freighter, draught 5.8m.
Target course 95°; Target distance 729m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 6kn; Firing angle α 009°.

=> The torpedo is a hit midships after 35 Sec.!
After the torpedo hit, the steamer turns to port and heads directly for our position. Boat has to retreat with K.F.-Ahead, on course 005°. The steamer turns a full circle to port and almost get's in the way of the next torpedo shot.

1644 - Qu.3931AL - Single Shot with tube V: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 4.5m; Vt44. Own course 185°; Own speed 2kn astern; Shooter: Kptlt. & Cmdr. RST.
Target ship: Position 4 Medium Freighter, draught 8.0m.
Target course 95°; Target distance 1801m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 4kn; Firing angle α 000°.

=> The torpedo is a hit under the aft mast, after 86 Sec.!
However, the steamer continues on.

Cmdr.: Now the remaining three steamers have been torpedoed and are burning but not sinking, and I have only three torpedoes left under deck.

The Corvette is running up and down along the port beam of the convoy but not dropping any Wabos.

1715 - Boat running off submerged on course 51°.
"Dismissed from Battle Stations!". Dinner for the off-watch.

1720 - Group "Mordbrenner" (Arsonist), reporting in from Qu.3696AL, on course south.

1743 - O₂ = 20%. The convoy is now proceeding again on course 95°. The Watch Officers and Quartermaster are taking turns at the observations periscope.

1807 - T=49. Reloading of tube VI.

1816 - Tube VI reloaded with G7a, K-a.

1825 - Sundown - Surfaced after 2h 35' and 6.7sm.
Weather unchanged since 0400h.

1833 - Boat ventilated and on course 94°. Battery 7500Ah. 2xH.F.-Ahead.

1846 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
As the convoy which was expected to leave Freetown has not been picked up, the boats are now ordered to search toward the west, in an attempt to find the traffic.

1900 - Incoming F.T.: From U 564:
Refueling from "Gata" has been carried out. - Suhren -

U 562 (VIIC, Oblt. Herwig Collmann) reporting that it has entered Brest.

2000 - Turning boat hard to stbd. and approaching the convoy with a narrow angle. Course 265°. "Battle Stations!".

- to be continued -