[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, 6 February 1942 - Southeast of Nova Scotia -

0355 - Qu.4755CC - On new course 75°.

0502 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
To U 67 (Müller-Stöckheim), 129 (Clausen), 156 (Hartenstein), 161 (Achilles) and 502 (von Rosenstiel): Prepare to reach the area of the South Caribbean by mid February. Await new Op.-Orders under Codeword "Neuland".

Cmdr.: The preparations for commitment of the next boats type IXc to Trinidad and Aruba, has begun.

0700 - Diving for torpedo loading.

0750 - T=30. 135rpm/3kn. Commencing torpedo loading.

0800 - All four bow tubes reloaded. Commencing loading of stern tubes.

0831 - Sunrise. O₂ = 20%. Both stern tubes reloaded.

0835 - Surfaced after 1h 35min. and 4.6sm.
Weather unchanged since 5 Feb., 0151h.

0845 - Boat ventilated. "All Engines Stop!". Commencing loading of remaining external torpedoes.

0901 - Incoming F.T.: From U 106:
Sunk the British Opawa, 10354ts, in Qu. CB 5682. - Rasch -

Cmdr.: U-Rasch, who belongs to the second "Paukenschlag"-Wave, must also be already on its return voyage, as it is a IXB type boat.

1050 - Two external bow torpedoes loaded under deck.
Continuing on with 2x235RPM/8kn.

1106 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst intercepted an enemy radio transmission, that in Qu.DD3174, the Panamanian Steam merchant Halcyon is being attacked by an enemy merchant raider, and that an American Cruiser has left Hamilton, Bermuda, in order to assist.

Cmdr.: The position given is about 325sm southwest from us and about 380sm from Bermuda. I'm not aware of any friendly merchant raiders operating in this area.

1200 - Qu.4733CC - Days Run: 118.8sm - ↗ 114.2sm (22h 25') - ↘ 4.6sm (1h 35').
107.3cbm (1.7cbm/24h). On course 75°. Battery 9700Ah. 8 internal Ato. 136x10.5cm-SpG. 7676xM.G.-2cm-C/30-PbG. Weather unchanged since 5 Feb., 0151h.

1200 - First Position and Status Request for U 82 (Rollmann).

- to be continued -

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

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- continued from 6 February, 1200h -

1300 - Diving for Trial Dive acc. B.d.U.-Standing Order 507.

1301 - Incoming F.T.: From U 103:
From 2-5 Feb. operated in CA 50 (south of New York) and sank 3 tankers and 1 freighter, totaling 26,539 BRT. 4 unexplained misses. Brisk north-bound traffic in CA 55 to 59. (rest of radio message fragmented, repeat requested by B.d.U.)

1302 - At Reception Depth, Sound Contact with two steamers bearing 148°, E=13000, on course ENE, slow speed.

1312 - Surfaced after 12 min. and 0.8sm.
Boat operating on sound contact 1302/06. On new course 159°.
Boat moving to the stbd. side of the sound contacts, in order to be able to attack with the sun in back.

1318 - Incoming F.T.: From U 136:
On 5 Feb., 2236h, sunk a two-funelled destroyer of convoy ON.63, in Qu. AL 6146. Lost contact. - Zimmermnn -

1322 - Incoming F.T.: From U 105:
Rescue attempt "Spreewald" to take over survivor failed. Dornier 24 snapped a wing during landing. Air Crew taken on board. - Schuch -

1405 - Intercepted open F.T. on the 600m-Frequency:
SSS SSS SSS Halcyan SSS SSS SSS
fired at (in DD 3165) by submarine.

Cmdr.: So, the first report from 1106h about an attack by a Merchant Raider was false. The only boat in the vicinity is U-Bleichrodt.

1328 - The sound contact 1302/06 comes into sight: Two U.S.A. steamers in keel line on course 70°, speed 7kn: Forward a Large Tramp-Steamer of 6651ts, draught 8.7m, in back a Large Cargo Steamer of 8656ts, draught 9.0m; Distance between them is about 400m.

1335 - At Target Angle 0° and E=7500, diving for submerged attack. S-Tiefe.

1346 - Turning boat hard to port and to attack course 340°. Boat now has the sun in the back.

1353 - "Battle Stations!". Flooding tubes I & IV for a salvo shot.

1408 - Incoming F.T.: From U 109:
Fuel taken over from Kals. 6.2. "Halcyan" sunk in DD 3174 gunfire after 2 misses with torpedoes. Total success 4 steamers totaling 29,330 BRT. On homeward cruise. - Bleichrodt -

Cmdr.: As suspected, Bleichrodt also sunk this steamer. Now, it is our turn ...

1410 - Qu.4818CC - Salvo Shot with tubes I&IV: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 6.5m; Vt40; Salvo Angle 1°. Own heading 340°; Own speed 1.6kn ahead; Shooter: Kptlt. & Cmdr. RST.
Target ship: Pos.1 U.S.A. Large Tramp-Steamer of 6651ts, draught 8.7m. Target course 70°; Target distance 944m; Target angle green90°; Target speed 7kn; Firing angle α 010°.

Closing tubes I & IV. Flooding tubes II & III.

1411 - Qu.4818CC - Salvo Shot with tubes II&III: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 6.5m; Vt40; Salvo Angle 1°. Own heading 340°; Own speed 1.6kn ahead; Shooter: Kptlt. & Cmdr. RST.
Target ship: Pos.2 U.S.A. Large Cargo Steamer of 8656ts, draught 9.0m. Target course 70°; Target distance 944m; Target angle green90°; Target speed 7kn; Firing angle α 342°.

Closing tubes II & III.

Tube I is a hit midships after 45 Sec. on the Pos.1 U.S.A. Large Tramp-Steamer of 6651ts; Tube IV is a failure, as it hits but fails to detonate!

Tube II is a failure as it understeers the Pos.2 U.S.A. Large Cargo Steamer of 8656ts; Tube III is a hit in the forecastle!

The forward steamer looses headway and settles with the stern in the water. The back steamer settles in the water by the bow and is loosing speed, as it tries to pass the forward steamer along its stbd.side. Both steamers are armed, the Large Tramp-Steamer with a deck gun on the bow and a Flak gun on the stern, and the Large Cargo Steamer with a deck gun on bow and stern, and two Flak guns on the bridge deck and two behind the funnel. The Large Cargo Steamer has upper deck cargo loaded, barrels in the front and containers in back.

1412 - Turning boat hard to stbd. in order to bring the stern tubes to bear.

1415 - Boat on course 163°, 65rpm/1.6kn.

1422 - Flooding tube V.

1423 - Qu.4818CC - Coup de grâce with tube V: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 6.5m; Vt40. Own heading 163°; Own speed 2kn astern; Shooter: Kptlt. & Cmdr. RST.
Target ship: Pos.2 U.S.A. Large Cargo Steamer of 8656ts, draught 9.0m. Target course ~95°; Target distance 727m; Target angle green90°; Target speed 1kn; Firing angle α 010°.

Torpedo is a hit amidships after 30 sec.!
Closing tube V.

The steamer looses headway and settles deeper in the water. After 3 minutes, the steamer sinks by the bow, while capsizing over the stbd.side. One loud underwater explosion.

1433 - Maneuvering boat into position for a Coup de grâce. Small-Astern, 2kn.

1440 - Flooding tube VI.

1444 - Qu.4818CC - Coup de grâce with tube VI: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 6.0m; Vt30. Own heading 152°; Own speed 2kn astern; Shooter: Kptlt. & Cmdr. RST.
Target ship: Pos.1 U.S.A. Large Tramp-Steamer of 6651ts, draught 8.7m. Target course 63°; Target distance 500m; Target angle green90°; Target speed 0kn; Firing angle α 000°.

Torpedo is a hit amidships after 30 sec.!
The steamer sinks immediately after the hit by the stern. Closing tube VI.

1452 - Surfaced after 1h 17 min. and 2.2sm.
Running toward the sinking positions.
Questioning and supplying 12 survivors in 3 boats of the Large Cargo Steamer and 3 survivors in 1 boat of the Large Tramp-Steamer - the crew was trying to save the ship, when the second torpedo hit, and trapped everyone beneath deck, when the ship sank so quickly.

1540 - Loaded tubes I & IV. Running off on general course, 2x235RPM/8kn.

1754 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since 5 Feb., 0151h.

1900 - Incoming F.T.: From U 107:
Sunk the U.S.A. Steamer Major Wheeler, 3431ts, ESE of Cape Hatteras in Qu.DC 2134. - Gelhaus -

Cmdr.: U-Gelhaus is also part of the second "Paukenschlag"-wave.

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

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.