[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

+++++++

Sunday, 7 February 1943 - Stettin

Conducting tactical exercises and training together with U 648 (Stahl)*, with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER).

+++++++

The Japanese Army completes Operation Ke, the evacuation of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, as the final 1,796 soldiers are evacuated by 18 ships.

U 628 (Oblt. Heinrich Hasenschar) sighted the hospital ship "New Foundland" in BE 6588, course S., 13 knots. Boat continued on her outward passage.

U 511 (Oblt. Fritz Schneewind) reported 2 escort vessels on a main course of 1200 in CG 4826. U 202 (Oblt. Günter Poser) also sighted a corvette, 95°, in DH 3146.

U 183 (Korvkpt. Heinrich Schäfer) heard weak sounds bearing 60° from BE 6712. Noise at first approached, then hydrophone bearing lost. Constant air patrol.

Convoy No. 6 (SC.118):
Weather in the convoy area on the 7th was reported as WSW 4 - 5, good visibility deteriorating at times owing to showers. According to boats' reports the convoy was making 7.5 knots, and changing course more and more to the E. in the direction of the North Channel. Contact with the convoy was not regained until 1544 in AL 4273 by U 456 (Kptlt. Max-Martin Teichert). She lost contact an hour later and U 402 (Kptlt. Freiherr Siegfried von Forstner) found the convoy again at 1730. She too lost contact at 1900 shortly before dark. U 456 and U 402 both regained contact at 2310 and 0215 respectively. The convoy was held until 0700, when it was reported in AL 5221. Besides these 2 boats only U 608 (Kptlt. Rolf Struckmeier) came up to the convoy. U 456 was picked up by the escort twice before attacking and did not manage to fire.
U 402 reported an 8,000 GRT freighter sunk with her last electric torpedo.
U 605 (Kptlt. Herbert-Viktor Schütze) reported a 12,000 GRT tanker sunk.
The enemy's air escort did not appear until towards evening on the 7th, whereas on the previous day there had been far more aircraft with the convoy. Although the boats must be exhausted after 4 days, the operation is being continued as 8 boats still have torpedoes left and U 402 can still give valuable service as shadower. U 456 has broken off owing to lack of fuel, and U 438 owing to damage, apparently not due to enemy action. U 454, 613, 402, 135, 614, 608, 624, 609, and 89 are still operating.
U 465 (Kptlt. Heinz Wolf) and U 262 (Oblt. Rudolf Heinz Franke) had to break off pursuit of the convoy owing to damage and return. As both have fuel to spare they have been ordered to rendezvous with U 413, U 266 and U 594 in AK 9442.
Several SSS and torpedo reports from an unidentified position. Probably from this convoy.

Convoy No. 7 (GIB.2):
U 218 (VIID; Oblt. Richard Becker) sighted a small convoy in DH 9473 at 0820, consisting of about 3 steamers and 3 escort vessels, course N, speed 10 knots. The first report of this was not received by control until 1230. The convoy was then on a NE course.
Group "Rochen" and 5 boats of Group "Delphin", which are well off for fuel (U 87 - 202 - 264 - 558 - 258) were ordered to operate against the reported enemy. The 5 "Delphin" boats could arrive by 8.2. Owing to strong air patrol U 218 was constantly forced to dive and lost contact at 1523 in DH 9188 main course 45°, speed 8 knots. The following were identified 2 freighters, 1 tanker, 1 destroyer and 2 corvettes. The boats then continued to search independently along an enemy course of 45 - 55°. At 2130 U 66 (Kptlt. Friedrich Markworth) located the convoy in DH 9244. Towards 0200 U 43 (Oblt. Hans-Joachim Schwantke) took over a shadower and shadowed until morning. Convoy's last position at 0643 was DH 6885. No successes were scored. The operation is continuing.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Tactical Exercises in the Baltic Sea, together with U 115 (RST)*.

+++++++

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

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

+++++++

Monday, 8 February 1943 - Stettin

Conducting tactical exercises and training together with U 648 (Stahl)*, with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER).

+++++++

Soviet troops capture Kursk.

Gefreiter Werner Wrangel of the Panzerjager Battalion 183, becomes the only person to be awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, Iron Cross 1st Class, and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross at the same time.

Convoy No. 6 (SC.118):
The last report of this convoy was from U 402 (Kptlt. Freiherr Siegfried von Forstner) at 1100/8 in AL 5236. After that it was not sighted again. Boats were constantly forced to dive by strong air activity by land-based planes, and could not get ahead. The operation was nevertheless continued during the night 8/9, as there was a chance that the boats might come upon the convoy in the dark. But as it was not sighted again and no boat appeared to be in the vicinity, the boats were ordered to move away from the convoy by first light on the 9th, as air activity by land-based planes was likely to be very strong off the North Channel.
U 135 (Lt.z.S.d.R. Heinz Schütt) reported that she had been surprised by an aircraft that had 22 bombs. She reported further damage and broke off on the evening of the 8th. U 402 also had to break off prematurely owing to lack of fuel.
U 187 (Kptlt. Ralph Münnich), on her first enemy patrol, sighted the convoy (No. 6) at 1108/4/2 in BD 1199 and reported it again at 1144. Since then the boat has not replied to several signals. She may have been sunk by escort forces.

Convoy No. 7 (GIB.2):
Strong air activity continued. Ar 0800 U 108 (Kptlt. Ralf-Reimar Wolfram) believed the convoy to be in DH 6864 according to hydrophone bearing. Contact was then lost and reestablished by U 202 (Kptlt. Günter Poser) at 1745 in DH 6667. Convoy was zig-zagging around 50°. Close escort of 2 aircraft.
Boats were ordered to haul as far ahead as possible during the day so as to be able to attack at night. Boats which could not reach the convoy before first light were to break off then and move away to the W. At 1902 the convoy was in DH 6666. Visibility deteriorated badly and contact was lost, and was only regained for a short time by U 87 (Kptlt. Joachim Berger) in DJ 4446 and at 0625 by U 264 (Oblt. Hartwig Looks) in DJ 4194. U 264 fired 3 single misses at a corvette and was then driven off. According to reports received later U 43 (Oblt. Hans-Joachim Schwantke) fired a double miss at 800 meters with good data. U 521 (Kptlt. Klaus Heinrich Bargsten) attacked before first light on the 8th and sank a tanker of 10,000 GRT and a corvette in DH 6863 also torpedoed a freighter of 8,000 GRT, probably sunk. The operation was broken off at dawn as intended.
By then all boats had reported and moved away to the W. No boat was lost, damage was slight, so that all boats are still fit for operations.
2 ships totaling 18,000 GRT and a corvette were sunk. The operation has shown that extensive action in the area N. of the Canary Islands is no longer possible owing to strong air patrol by land-based aircraft (altogether 44 planes, according to radio interception).

According to observations from Ceuta and Tangier a convoy started to put to sea during the night as there are about 20 loaded ships with the convoy, this section may be destined for Casablanca. But there are also ships coming from Spain assembling there, which are presumably destined for England. On the assumption that at least a large section is going to England, Group "Delphin" has been ordered to form a new patrol line from CG 4652 to CF 9665. Order: U 125, 522, 511, 436, 442, 575, 381, 571, 620. The convoy is expected to arrive in the course of February 10th. Owing to low fuel stocks, this will probably be the Group's last operation, which they could only carry out on a homeward course.

U 706 (Kptlt. Alexander von Zitzewitz) has supplied from "Milkcow" U 460 (Kptlt. Ebe Schnoor) and is starting her return passage.

U 217's (Kptlt. Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke) supply from U 504 (Kptlt. Wilhelm Luis) has so far been interrupted twice owing to bad weather. Both boats are now in DF 6456 with course 65°.

U 176 (Kptlt. Reiner Dierksen) has been ordered to take over 2 Metox sets from U 118 (XB; Korvkpt. Werner Czygan) and deliver them to U 571 (Kptlt. Helmut Möhlmann) and U 620 (Kptlt. Heinz Stein) on her return passage.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Tactical Exercises in the Baltic Sea, together with U 115 (RST)*.

+++++++

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115