[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, 2230h -

2241 - Turning boat hard to stbd., in order to bring the stern tube to bear. K.F.-Astern, 3kn.

2244 - On course 185°.

2248 - Qu.1714AM - Single Shot with tube VI: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 4.5m; Vt40. Own course 185°; Own speed 3kn astern; Shooter: OFähn.z.S & I.W.O. Udo HARTENSTEIN.
Target ship: Position 4 Medium Freighter, draught 8.0m.
Target course 95°; Target distance 1500m; Target angle red79°; Target speed 4kn; Firing angle α 003°.

=> Torpedo is hit amidships after 69 Sec.!
The steamer breaks in two and is burning over its entire length. Both halves sink within 1min. Flames linger on the surface long after the ship has sunk.
Running off right after the shot with K.F.-Ahead on course 005°.

2251 - The Corvette comes back into sight, E < 3000m.
Running off with A.K. on course 54°. Too late: The boat is being picked-up by the Corvette Radar. As before, the Corvette is approaching the boat with a high bow wave at angle 0° and its max. speed of 16kn. With the current sea state, the max. speed of the boat is still 15kn, the corvette is slowly gaining on us again.

2300 - Diving from approaching Corvette at a distance of 2800m. Speed 1/3-Ahead, 185rpm.

2307 - At A-Meter everything is very quite. Reducing speed to 135rpm and Silent Running. There! A single ASDIC ping. Diving deeper.

2310 - At A+20, sound contact with Corvette, which does not drop any Wabos. Diving position is about 800m astern.

2346 - At reception depth.
Incoming F.T.: From U 558:
Have sunk the Canadian Freighter Vancouver Island, 9472ts. - Krech -

2352 - Surfaced after 52' and 2.5sm.
The Corvette is 4000m astern, still searching for us at the diving position. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

All internal eels expended.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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Thursday, 16 October 1941 - Northwest of Rockall Bank -

0015 - The Corvette had gone out of sight, is now back in sight, bearing 79°, E=6000, on easterly course.

0029 - On course 95°. Speed 1/3 Ahead.

0050 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
On 15 October, 2250h, sunk out of convoy 0710/15, 1 steamer of 4792ts and torpedoed 2 Ore Freighters for combined 8157ts, Qu.1714AM. Had to dive twice from Corvette after radar detection, moderate Wabo pursuit, no damages. Continue to shadow remnants of convoy. 171cbm. 8 external Ato. WNW5/4, overcast, light haze, visibility 5-6sm, ~1000mb. - RST -

0139 - Boat is searching for the torpedoed Ore Freighter. Flower Corvette bearing 72°, E=4000, on opposite course.

0145 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Message received. Group Mordbrenner was at 0130h, in Qu.3663AL, on course 008°.

0152 - Ore Freighter comes into sight, bearing 004, E=4500. Turned boat around hard to port, new course 95°. Boat is now positioned lee-ward. The torpedoed OreII-Freighter, must be positioned ahead of the Corvette.

0200 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Convoy 0710/15 now in Qu.1715AM top left, course 95°, speed 5kn. - RST -

Contact keeping report is not heard by HQ.

0331 - Incoming F.T.: From U 568:
Convoy SC.48: Again being driven off by Corvette. Attempting to regain contact to convoy. - Preuß -

Cmdr.: Apparently, the other boats have similar issues with the convoy escorts, as we have.

0444 - Early Morning Dawn.
Caught up with the torpedoed OreII Freighter, bearing 350°, E=3500. Crossed over to luff-side again, on course 50°.

0501 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Group Mordbrenner is to carry out a reconnaissance off the Belle Isle Straits. Boats U 573, U 374, U 208 and U 109 received orders to steer to square AJ 71, day's run 120 miles.

Cmdr.: The B.d.U. is vacating the area off the southern tip of Greenland. The Naval War Staff, must have given permission to attack outside the blockade area.

0543 - Now, the Corvette also comes into sight, bearing 139°, E=8000, on course 95, speed 5kn. Boat is running on parallel course.

0633 - Incoming F.T.0204/16: From U 568:
Convoy SC.48 now in AK 6649. At 0114h, sunk the British Empire Heron, 6023ts, out of same convoy. - Preuß -

0656 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since 15 Oct., 0400h.

0701 - Incoming F.T.: From U 568/U 502/U 558:
Boats continue to maintain contact to convoy SC.48.

0731 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst reporting the departure of convoy HX.155. Arrival in Op.-Area is expected around 24 Oct.

Group Mordbrenner is answering position request 0730/16:
U 208, U 374, U 573 from Qu.3832AL, on course NNE;
U 109 from Qu.3669AL, on course SW.

0800 - Running off from convoy. Boat is moving to the south, in order for improved weather and sea conditions to allow the loading of the external torpedoes.

1055 - On course 180°. Evading the already torpedoed Ore Freighter on the surface.

1200 - Qu.1728AM - Days Run: 158.5sm - ↗ 140.7 (17h 47') - ↘ 17.8sm (6h 13').
169.7cbm (4.4cbm/24h). On course 180°. 6900Ah. 8 external Ato. Weather unchanged since 15 Oct., 0400h.

- to be continued -