[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

+++++

KTB - U 113

Sunday, 11 January 1942 - NNE of Bermuda -

0600 - Charging batteries at 5800Ah:
Stbd.Diesel Charging: 496RPM; Port Diesel Propulsion: 285RPM, 7kn.

0820 - Qu.1355DD -

0925 - Early Morning Dawn.
Batteries Charged => 3h 25' for 4200Ah. 2x235RPM, 7kn.

1041 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since 9 Jan., 2210h.

1037 - Qu.1346DD - "ALARM!". Diving from two pair of single engine airplanes in 170°true, on northerly heading, sighted at 8000m.

1039 - At A-20, no bombs.

1050 - At Reception Depth.

1052 - Surfaced after 15min. and 0.9sm.
Battery: 9800Ah. 2x235RPM.

1056 - Immediately after surfacing, again, "ALARM!". Diving from a twin engine airplanes in 205°true, on northerly heading, is already verily close, about 5500m.

1058 - At A-20, no bombs.

1105 - At Reception Depth.

1111 - Surfaced after 15min. and 0.9sm.
Battery: 9700Ah. 2x235RPM.

1200 - Qu.1345DD - Days Run: 159.6sm - ↗ 153.2sm (22h 05') - ↘ 6.4sm (1h 55').
165.3cbm (3.5cbm/24h). On course 270°. Battery 9700Ah. 14 internal and 8 external torpedoes. Weather unchanged since 9 Jan., 2210h. Pressurized Air Supply filled.

1202 - Incoming F.T.: From SS Cyclops (9076ts):
Have been torpedoed in 41° 51'N, 63° 48'W (CB 2424).

Cmdr.: Do we have a trigger-happy "Paukenschläger"?

1301 - Qu.1344DD - "ALARM!". Diving from a twin engine airplane, identified as a Catalina, in 205°true, on northerly heading, direct approach, E=5000. At T=20, two bombs abeam to stbd. and in further course more bombs at the diving position, 500m astern. At A-20, no damages.

Cmdr.: It seems that the enemy air patrol behavior has become more deliberate. I wonder if the sinking of the steamer east of Boston has anything to do with this. In any case, the enemy is now aware of our presence in the area.

1326 - At Reception Depth.

1327 - At S-Tiefe, a twin engine double-decker airplanes in 190°true, flying off on southerly heading, E=5000.

1331 - Surfaced after 30 min. and 1.6sm. Battery 9500Ah.

1344 - Qu.1344DD - "ALARM!". Diving from a pair of twin engine double-decker airplanes in 165°true, E=8000, on course NNE but at E=5000, turned towards the boat. At first one airplane was sighted and only then, the second airplane came into sight, as they approached out of the sun.
The airplanes are identified as type DeHaviland DH Dragon.

1345 - During the diving process, to well placed bombs. At T=30, two more bombs and strong concussions.

1346 - At A-20 no damages. Boat remains submerged for submerged cruise at A-20, 105rpm, 2kn, Silent Running.

1400 - More Wabos at the diving position, 1700m astern.

Cmdr.: The element of surprise is now clearly gone. Also, we will now very likely not reach the ordered patrol area at the designated time either. If we can manage to make the enemy believe that we have been sunk, we might gain some valuable time. In any case, the enemy does not appear to have any shortages of airplanes and aircrews.

1608 - O₂ = 20%.

1715 - Stopped Silent Running. Battery 9100Ah (2h 15' at 105rpm/2kn => 400Ah). Dinner until 1800h.

1800 - Back to Silent Running, 135rpm, 3kn.

1840 - Qu.1266DD - The whole time, Wabos in various distances, no damages.

2030 - Sundown.

2058 - O₂ = 19%.

2150 - At Reception Depth.

2154 - Surfaced after 8h 10min. and 21.9sm.
Weather unchanged since 9 Jan., 2210h.
Battery 8200Ah (4h at 135rpm/3kn => 900Ah). 2x285rpm, 7kn.
The Flak was slightly damages during the last air attack and is quickly repaired.

2218 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled.

2220 - Charging Batteries: Port-Diesel Propulsion, 285RPM, 7kn; Stbd.-Diesel Charging, 496RPM.

2400 - Batteries Charged: 1h 40min., for 1800Ah. 2xH.F.-Ahead, 12kn.

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

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

+++++

KTB - U 113

Monday, 12 January 1942 - North of Bermuda -

0040 - Qu.1255DD -

0210 - Qu.1246DD - Boat is being attacked by a pair of DH Dragons from 130°true, direct approach, E=4500. The bombs are off the stbd. beam, no damages. After the attack, the airplanes fly off initially on course East at a distance of 4500m astern of the boat, continue on course South.

Cmdr.: It is quite concerning, that the airplanes managed to detect the boat in the dark! Also, the plan to suggest to the enemy that we have been sunk, has not worked.

0715 - Qu.1155DD -

0935 - Early Morning Dawn. 2x285RPM, 7kn.

1051 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since 9 Jan., 2210h.

1057 - Qu.3366DC - A pair of single engine airplanes in 135°true on course NW. At a distance of 4500m, turn back and fly off on course SE. Must have reached their maximum range, about 180sm from Bermuda. The airplanes are identified as type Seversky P-35.

1102 - Incoming F.T.: From U 43 (IX):
Have sunk the Swedish Yngaren, 5246ts, straggler from convoy HX.168. - Lüth -

1137 - Qu.3366DC - "ALARM!". Diving from a twin engine airplane in 155°true, on course WNW, E=6000.

1138 - At A-20, no bombs. Boat remains submerged. 135rpm, 3kn.

1200 - Qu.3366DC - Days Run: 177.7sm - ↗ 154.2sm (15h 20') - ↘ 23.5sm (8h 40').
160.0cbm (5.3cbm/24h). On course 270°. Battery 9800Ah. 14 internal and 8 external torpedoes. T=60. Lunch Break.

1305 - At Reception Depth. No F.T.s received.

1320 - At A-20. Submerged cruise, 135rpm, 3kn, Silent Running.

1328 - O₂ = 20%.

1347 - The whole time, Wabos in various distances, no damages.

1715 - Interrupted Silent Running for Dinner until 1800h.

1820 - O₂ = 19%. At Reception Depth. No F.T.s received.

1825 - At A-20. Submerged cruise, 135rpm, 3kn.

2150 - At Reception Depth.

2152 - S-Tiefe. Darkness.

2200 - Surfaced after 10h and 29sm since Etmal (Total: 10h 23min. and 30.3sm).
Battery 7900Ah => 10h at 135rpm/3kn => 1900Ah. 2x285RPM, 1/3-Ahead,

2209 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled.

2225 - Qu.3355DC - Charging batteries: Port-Diesel Propulsion, 396RPM, 9kn; Stbd.-Diesel Charging, 496RPM.

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

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.