[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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- 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 -

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

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- continued from 15 October 1941, 2000h -

2004 - Flooding tube II.

2011 - On course 185°. Inrun begins.

2014 - The boat is getting too close. K.F.-Astern.

2017 - The boat is being picked-up by the Corvette Radar. The Corvette is approaching the boat with a high bow wave at angle 0° and its max. speed of 16kn.

Running off with A.K. at course 90°. With the current sea state, the max. speed of the boat is 15kn, the corvette is slowly gaining on us.

2021 - Diving at a distance of 1600m to the Corvette.

2024 - At A+50. Silent Running. The order to close torpedo tube II was not given. The boat must reach S-Tiefe as soon as possible, before any water entry occurs or the torpedo in tube II is being damaged.

Group "Mordbrenner" can be heard in the hydrophone bearing 268°, E=19000, on a northerly course. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

The Corvette is dropping 22 Wabos at our diving position, 900m astern.

2049 - S-Tiefe. Closing torpedo tube II. The Corvette is still on ASW action at our diving position. Estimated distance is 3000m, just outside the enemy radar range.

2051 - Surfaced after 30 min. and 1.6sm.

2055 - The boat is still in favorable attack position.
"Battle Stations!". Turning in toward the steamers on course 185°. The Corvette has gone out of sight.

2058 - Qu.3833AL - Single Shot with tube II: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 3.5m; Vt30. Own course 185°; Own speed 3kn ahead; Shooter: OFähn.z.S & I.W.O. Udo HARTENSTEIN.
Target ship: Position 3 OreII Freighter, draught 5.8m.
Target course 95°; Target distance 1700m; Target angle red105°; Target speed 5kn; Firing angle α 332°.

=> The torpedo is a failure, understeers midships under the steamer!

Cmdr.: Perhaps, due to damage when the torpedo tube was not closed, when diving from the approaching Corvette.

2059 - Qu.3833AL - Single Shot with tube IV: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 4.5m; Vt30. Own course 185°; Own speed 3kn ahead; Shooter: OFähn.z.S & I.W.O. Udo HARTENSTEIN.
Target ship: Position 4 Medium Freighter, draught 8.0m.
Target course 95°; Target distance 1800m; Target angle red68°; Target speed 5kn; Firing angle α 015°.

=> Torpedo is hit amidships! The steamer continues on with a list to port and falls behind the OreII Freighter.

2101 - Running off on course 90° and 1/3-Ahead.

2129 - The Corvette is returning to the convoy.

2155 - "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

2222 - The already twice torpedoed steamer doesn't sink. The Corvette has disappeared. Approaching the steamer at a narrow angle.

2230 - "Battle Stations!". Flooding tube VI.

- to be continued -