[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Monday, 15 February 1943 - Danzig

At Danziger Werft AG, for Repairs and Overhaul.

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American forces in Tunisia launch a counterattack at Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia. Though achieving some results, the Americans suffer heavy casualties and loose 46 medium tanks.

U 607 (Kptlt. Ernst Mengersen) sank "Atlantic Sun", 11,355 GRT in BC 5163, course 220°, 16 knots. According to statements made by prisoner (Ordinary Seaman William Golobich) the ship belonged to a convoy which it lost a few nights earlier in the fog. Presumably this was an extra-scheduled fast convoy.

U 509 (Kptlt. Werner Witte) encountered spasmodic traffic off Capetown, partly strongly escorted, leaving and entering the harbor on the 100 meter line. No night air activity. Good cooperation between land-based radar and sea patrol. Boat sank a 5,000 GRT ship on 10.2 in GR 6844.
According to an agent's report an American convoy of 27 steamers is said to be leaving Capetown for Australia on 15.2.

Following the new disposition of Group "Rochen": U 437, 410, 445, 382, 511, 569, 107 and 103 are being formed into Group "Robbe". They have been ordered to be in reconnaissance line at 1200/17/2 from CF 1671 to CF 4575, course 290°, day's run 140 miles.

Except for 5, all the Group "Haudegen" boats must now have less than 30 cbm fuel. This means that they could not operate even if a convoy is intercepted. Group "Haudegen" is therefore being dissolved. U 606, 69, 201, 226, 525, 303, 383 and 607 have been ordered to return. If these boats require to refuel this can be done in BD 51 from "Milkcow" U 460 (Kptlt. Ebe Schnoor). The remaining boats will stay in the sea area around Newfoundland and occupy the following attack areas: U 358 : AJ 87, U 186 : AJ 88, U 223 : BC 21, U 403 : BC 22, U 707 : BC 25. The Group will be called "Taifun".

At present there is no information as to what convoy routes are being used and several radio intelligence (X) reports show that the enemy is dispersed over the whole N. Atlantic and several patrol lines are being formed to pick up the convoys.

In addition to Group "Ritter", which proceeded as reconnaissance line from AK 3784 to AL 4711 at 1200/14/2, course 235°, day's run 60 miles, U 759, 405, 448, 638, 359, 135, 608, 376, 566 and 659 have been ordered to form a new reconnaissance line from AD 3718 to AK 3497 at 2000/18/2, course 235°, day's run 100 miles. These boats will form Group "Neptun". U 659 will not take up her position until 19 or 20/2, as she is too far away. These 2 lines overlap and should rake an area of about 450 miles. The disposition has the further advantage that it is unlikely to be detected by enemy aircraft.

U 155 (Kptlt. Adolf Cornelius Piening) has delivered a METOX set to U 217 (VIID; Kptlt. Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke).

The rendezvous of U 511 (Oblt. Fritz Schneewind) and U 108 (XB; Korvkpt. Werner Czygan) in CF 5275 will have to be transferred to CF 5171 owing to strong air activity in the former area.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Torpedo Firing Training with the 25th Flotilla Danzig.

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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

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

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Tuesday, 16 February 1943 - Danzig

At Danziger Werft AG, for Repairs and Overhaul.

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USAAF heavy bombers attack the U-Boat pens at Saint-Nazaire.

Norwegian commandos parachute into Norway, meeting up with the reconnaissance party near Telemark.

Soviet forces recapture Kharkov, Ukraine.

Our forces capture Sidi Bouzid and Sbeitla, Tunisia. The British 8th Army enter Tunisia, spearheaded by the 7th Armoured Division.

According to special intercept message HX No. 226 was in BC 1176 at 2000 on the 14th February. In view of this special intercept message, Group "Ritter" has orders to proceed to the N.W. and at 2200 on the 17th February to take up patrol line, with U 454, from AK 1677 to AK 5646. According to dead reckoning, the convoy could pass the patrol line at the earliest during the course of the night. If no contact is established by 1100 on the 18th February, the boats are to proceed, as reconnaissance patrol, with course 235° and daily run 80 miles. The extent of the patrol line corresponds approximately to the courses of HX convoys previously intercepted.

In order to ensure a better watch by hydrophone etc. during the night, Group "Rochen" is to remain stationary at 2100 in a patrol line already reached from CE 8156 to DG 1959, proceeding as from 0930 on the 17th February with course 285°, daily run 150 miles.

After refueling U 402 (Kptlt. Freiherr Siegfried von Forstner) and U 454 (Kptlt. Burckhard Hackländer) on the 15th February, "Milkcow" U 460 (Kptlt. Ebe Schnoor) is to proceed to BD 52 as the next supply rendezvous.

After return of U 124 (Kptlt. Johann Mohr) the reports of the Commanding Officer will be communicated to boats U 156 (Korvkpt. Werner Hartenstein and U 510 (Korvkpt. Karl Neitzel) now operating in the Trinidad area.

Dr. Mildred Harnack-Fish, a member of German resistance, is beheaded at Plötzensee Prison near Charlottenburg, Berlin.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Torpedo Firing Training with the 25th Flotilla Danzig.

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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115