[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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U 115
- KTB -
First War Patrol
(17th war patrol overall)

Wednesday, 9 June 1943 - West of St.Helena -

0520 - Qu.9215FS -

0619 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Taken over from Supply Ship 76cbm and provisions. On 8.6., 0424, sunk English steamer 2359ts in Qu.5555FS. Have 507cbm and 5 eels. Weather and Sea unchanged for over a week: SSE6/5, cöear, visibility 7nm, >1000mb. Continue outbound transit acc. Op.-Orders. - RST -

0944 - Incoming Radio Reports:

From O.K.W.:
a) Tito was wounded by a German air attack.

From B.d.U.:
a) U 177, 197, 178, 196, 198 and 181 will supply from a ship from 20.6. in KS 77. Boats are to leave their attack areas in time for this. U 115 is making for Cape Town area.
b) U 409 (Oblt. Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann) has passed through the Straits of Gibraltar.
c) U 758 (Kptlt. Helmut Manseck) reported beating off an attack by eight carrier aircraft (identified as Martlet, Lysander (!) and Mustang) from USS Bogue escorting convoy GUS 9, with their powerful new quadruple flak gun and claiming one shot down and four damaged. The boat suffering only minor damage but seven men are wounded, forcing her to return to base. Boat is able to dive to 40 meters. She will remain where she is for another 3 days and is then to make her return passage in company with 2 other boats.
d) U 450 (Oblt. Kurt Böhme) now only needs medical assistance. U 341 (Oblt. Dietrich Epp) will remain with her until U 592 (M.O. boat; Kptlt. Carl Borm) arrives.

B-Dienst Report:
a) In an enemy U-boat situation report of 2.6., the enemy believes X U-boats to be N of 40° N and W of 40° W, and a further 20 boats patrolling between 57° N 43° W and 47°? N 35° W.
On 5.6., a large number of boats was believed possibly to be within 150 miles around 50° N 30° W. During the last few days there have not been more than 3-4 boats in the N. Atlantic and it seems possible that the enemy has been deceived by our planned radio traffic and suspects a large number of boats in the N. Atlantic, because of the many outgoing messages on radio services which cover the N. Atlantic area.

1200 - Qu.9269FS - Days Run: 188.5nm - ↗ (24h)
Total: 6200.1 (35tg 22h) - ↗ 5943.7nm (31tg 23h 54') - ↘ 256.4nm (3tg 22h 06')
507cbm (1cbm in 24h); Battery 97%; 2xT-3, 2xEtoFat, 1xT-4; 9xBold; SSE6/5, clear, visibility 7nm, >1000mb (Weather and Sea unchanged in 8days, 20h) - Early Morning Dawn -

1254 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged in 8 days and 21h.

1812 - Qu.9397FS - Smoke plume bearing 244°, E=13000. Identified as an English Playmaster Cargo of 2325ts, draught 7.0m; On course 232°, at top speed of 11kn.

2015 - At E=10000, going on parallel course and speed. Boat is postionend on the forward luff-side. In due course, approaching the steamers course track, while keeping distance of 10000-12000m.

2140 - Diving for submerged attack. S-Tiefe. Both periscopes in use.

2146 - Staying in position about 500m across the port beam of the steamer course track.

2154 - Steamer comes into sight at E=5800, has a deck gun on the stern and a twin-flak on either side of the aft bridge; also, upper deck cargo in boxes. Retracting B-Periscope. "Battle Stations!".

2207 - Flooding tube II.

2210 - Qu.9618FS bottom center - Submerged Single Shot with tube II (A-Periscope): T-3/Pi39H (MZ); Running depth 8m (1m below target draught); Vt30.
Target ship: English Playmaster Cargo of 2333ts, draught 7.0m.
Target course 232°; Target distance 500m*; Target angle red90°; Target speed 11.0kn; Firing angle α 008°.
Own course 322°; Own speed 2.6kn ahead.
Weather/Sea: SSE6/5, medium swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.

=> Torpedo is a hit midships underneath the steamer after 35 Sec.! => 35 Sec. x 15.43m/s (30kn) => 540m*.

2219 - Steamer immediately looses headway after the torpedo impact and sinks on an even keel and loud underwater explosions.

2221 - "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

2230 - Surfaced after 50min. and 1.4nm. - Weather and Sea unchanged. Boat ventilated.

Running to the sinking position. Nothing found but some debris and an empty Carley float (no markings found).

2300 - Running off on course 115°.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

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

+++++++

U 115
- KTB -
First War Patrol
(17th war patrol overall)

Thursday, 10 June 1943 - WSW of St.Helena -

0003 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged in 9 days and 8h.

0437 - Incoming Radio Reports:

From O.K.W.:
a) USAAF and RAF began a coordinated air offensive with the RAF over Europe, conducting area bombing at night and the USAAF flying precision bombing raids by day. The British Assistant Chief of the Air Staff noted that the primary objective of bombing campaign was "the destruction of German air-frame, engine and component factories and the ball-bearing industry on which the strength of the German fighter force depend" and the secondary objective was "the general disorganization of those industrial areas associated with the above industries".

From O.K.M.:
a)To all Mediterranean boats: Our Luftwaffe is reporting movements of major enemy naval forces towards the Italian islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. All boats are ordered to proceed to the WSW of these islands and to attack enemy forces.
b) HMS Cumberland arrived at Spitzbergen, Norway for support operation "Gearbox".

From B.d.U.:
a) U 181 (IXD2; KrvKpt. Wolfgang Lüth) situation report: Waited for convoys in KP 35 and 36 from 27.5. to 5.6. and found nothing. 3 Portuguese vessels and one ship without name on the 50 meter line and 40 miles to seaward a large hospital ship, course NE off Lourenco Marques since 6.6. in sight of pilot boats. 1000-tonner sunk there P.M. 7.6. One smoke cloud sighted on 6.6. and one on 8.6., and the gunboat "Alfonso" on 9.6. Otherwise nothing.
b) Aircraft reported a convoy of 27 transports with strong escort in BE 9242, course south. No operation is intended against the convoy but boats in the vicinity are to make use of any chances to attack.
c) "Milkcow" U 460 (Kptlt. Ebe Schnoor) has delivered her remaining fuel to U 118 (XB; KrvKpt. Werner Czygan), except for 18 cbm which she has kept back for U 92 (Kptlt. Adolf Oelrich).
Cmdr.: This is the Milkcow we couldn't find for resupply.

B-Dienst Report:
a) British Admiralty introduced Naval Cypher No. 5, replacing No. 3 and No. 4, intended to finally ending our ability to read British naval orders.
b) According to an English U-boat situation report, 4 boats are believed to be between Madeira and the Azores, 4 or 5 patrolling within 200 miles around 43° N, 41° W and 5 or 6 patrolling within 200 miles around 33° N, 43° W.
c) "S.S.Highland Court" struck a mine, probably in the minefield laid by U 119 (XB; Kptlt. Horst-Tessen von Kameke), in BB 7583 and sank.

0722 - Qu.7475FT -

0808 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
On 9 June, 2211h, sunk single English Playmaster Cargo of 2333ts, on course 232°, 11kn, Qu.9618FS bottom center. Still have 4 eels and 504cbm. SSE6/5, medium swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb. Continuing outbound transit. - RST -

1200 - Qu.7731FT - Days Run: 192.5nm - ↗ 191.1nm (23h 10') -
↘ 1.4nm (50')
Total: 6392.6nm (36tg 22h) - ↗ 6134.8nm (32tg 23h 04') - ↘ 257.8nm (3tg 22h 56')
503cbm (4cbm in 24h); Battery 95%; 1xT-3, 2xEtoFat, 1xT-4; 9xBold;
SSE6/5, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb (Weather and Sea unchanged in 9days, 20h) - Early Morning Dawn -

1312 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged in 9 days and 21h.

2357 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged in 10 days and 8h.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115