[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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KTB - U 113

Friday, 23 January 1942 - Kiawah Island -

0030 - Ocean Park -

0250 - In front of the entrance to Charleston, between Cummings Point and Sullivan's Island. As nothing can be seen, running off on course 77°.

0600 - Charging Batteries (9300Ah):
- Port Engine Propulsion 285RPM/6kn;
- Stbd.Engine Charging, 496RPM.

0632 - Incoming F.T.: From U 82:
Have sunk from convoy ON.56, the Norwegian tanker Leiesten, 6118ts. - Rollmann -

0645 - Batteries charged (45' for 700Ah). 2x235RPM/7kn.

0810 - F.T.-Intercept: On 600m-Wave:
SSS SSS SSS Thirlby SSS SSS SSS
sinking quickly
43.20N 66.15W

Cmdr.: The position given in the radio intercept is Marqu.BA9955, which is in the Op.-area of Paukenschläger Bleichrodt (U 109).
Later we will learn, that SS Thirlby was a straggler from convoy SC.66 and indeed sunk by U 109.

0955 - Early Morning Dawn.

1108 - Qu.3831DB - Sunrise - Weather unchanged in 48h.
"Commander to Bridge, Surface Vessel!".
A steamer bearing 339°, on course 235°, E=6000m, approaching with angle to bow 0°.

1110 - Diving for submerged attack. S-Tiefe. Trying to get distance from the course line of the steamer on course 90°.

1125 - Turning a full circle hard to stbd. and Full Ahead to bring the bow tubes to bear. However, the steamer is much faster than anticipated and by the time we have reached our attack course of 325°, is already crossing our bows.

1128 - "Battle Stations!". Flooding tube I.

1129 - Qu.3831DB - Single Shot with tube I: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 4.5m; Vt30. Own course 325°; Own speed 3kn ahead; Shooter: Kptlt. & Cmdr. RST.
Target ship: Small Panamanian Merchant of 2180ts, draught 5.6m.
Target course 235°; Target distance 1289m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 10kn; Firing angle α 316°.

=> Torpedo is a failure, Early Detonator!

1130 - Qu.3831DB - Single Shot with tube II: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 4.0m; Vt30. Own course 325°; Own speed 3kn ahead; Shooter: Kptlt. & Cmdr. RST.
Target ship: Small Panamanian Merchant of 2180ts, draught 5.6m.
Target course 235°; Target distance 1289m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 9kn; Firing angle α 304°.

=> Torpedo is a failure, Early Detonator!

1140 - Running off on course 60°, as a pair of Seversky P-35 are flying over the merchant on course NW and fly off again on course SE. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

1155 - Surfaced after 45 min. and 2.7sm. Battery 9700Ah.
Heading East to deeper waters for torpedo maintenance and reloading.

1200 - Qu.3831DB - Days Run: 152.4sm - ↗ 144.9sm (21h 35') - ↘ 7.5sm (2h 25').
140.7cbm (3.5cbm/24h). On course 90°. Battery 9700Ah. 11 internal and 8 external torpedoes. Weather unchanged since Sunrise, 21 January.

- to be continued -

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- continued from 23 January 1942, 1200h -

1401 - Norddeich Radio sending O.K.W. report about Kptlt. Reinhard Hardegen (U 123) being awarded on this day with the Knights Cross!

1515 - Boat operating on Ship Contact Report 1510/23, in Qu.3916DB, on course SSW, slow speed. Plotting course considering enemy speed of 6kn. New course 130°, Full Ahead.

1603 - On new course 140°.

1610 - Ship Contact Report 1510/23 comes into sight, bearing 347°, E=9000. Is identified as a M04B Merchant of 5650ts, draught 7.0m, on course 194°, speed 7kn.

1612 - On new course 180°.

1620 - Boat is positioned lee-ward and moving along the stbd. side of the steamer on parallel course 193°, in order to overtake and maneuver into attack position.

1638 - Incoming F.T.: From U 125:
Leaving operational area for area DC, because of lack of ship movement. - Folkers -

Cmdr.: Apparently, U-Folkers did not find any shipping in its Op.-area of CA 38, 59, 62, 63, and is now going to operate just east from us. Perhaps, the enemy has already stopped ships leaving port and the only ships still to be found, are the ones that were already or were still at sea, when the order was given.

1703 - Incoming F.T.: From U 123:
Have passed Bermuda on return cruise. Marqu.DD 25. City and harbor dimmed out. Lights extinguished even to single buoys. Searchlight defenses on harbor entrances. No mine defenses, no patrols or ship movements observed. - Hardegen -

Cmdr.: No mentioning of any air patrols, of which we had plenty.

1716 - Incoming F.T.: From U 85:
Sunk steamer in BD 8793. Attacked according Order No.50, Figure 23b (sinking of ship sailing alone screened by destroyer). - Greger -

1720 - Reached position forward of steamer, angle to bow 0°, E=7500. Reducing speed, on course 150°.

1739 - Incoming F.T.: From U 66:
Have sunk the U.S.A. tanker Venore, 8017ts, Qu.7968CA - Zapp -

Cmdr.: The position given by U-Zapp is off Cape Hatteras, just to the North from us.

1745 - Qu.3945DB - Diving for submerged attack.

1800 - "Battle Stations!". Flooding tube III & IV.

1803 - Incoming F.T.: From U 553:
All torpedoes fired, returning to port. Results: 2 tankers (16,000 BRT) sunk. Ships taking outer coastal route, about 100 miles east of Cape Hatteras - Cape Race line, steering for convoy assembly point.
- Thurmann -

1807 - Double Shot with tube III & IV: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 4.5m; Vt30. Own course 284°; Own speed 2kn ahead; Shooter: Kptlt. & Cmdr. RST.
Target ship: British M04B Merchant of 5650ts, draught 7.0m.
Target course 194°; Target distance 926m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 6kn; Firing angle tube III α 004°, tube IV α 001°.

=> Both torpedoes are hits after 51 Sec.!

Going on parallel course along port side of the steamer, which is continuing on with a list to port. Has upper deck cargo in crates.

1813 - The steamer capsizes over the port side and sinks. After about 1.5min., loud underwater explosions. Noticed 3 boats with 9 survivors

1820 - Boat remains submerged, running off on course 90°. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

1900 - T=50. 65rpm/1.6kn. Beginning of torpedo maintenance and reloading.

1924 - Tubes II & III reloaded with G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ).

1928 - O₂ = 20%.

1949 - Tube I & IV reloaded with G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ). Break until 2005h.

2047 - Sundown.

2135 - Tubes V & VI serviced. No damages found.

2235 - At Reception Depth. No F.T. received.

2242 - S-Tiefe. Darkness. Weather and Sea unchanged.

2245 - Surfaced after 5h and 8.7sm.

2300 - On new course 0°. Boat ventilated. Charging Batteries (9100Ah):
- Port Engine Propulsion 285RPM/6kn;
- Stbd.Engine Charging, 496RPM.

2355 - Batteries charged (55' for 900Ah). 2x235RPM/7kn.

Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag".

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.