[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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

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Wednesday, 17 February 1943 - Danzig

At Danziger Werft AG, for Repairs and Overhaul.

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The Führer arrives at the headquarters of Army Group South in Russia.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder becomes AOC-in-C Mediterranean Air Command with responsibility for all air operations.

American forces east of Kasserine Pass, Tunisia, retreat into the pass.

U 525 (Kptlt. Hans-Joachim Drewitz) reported a steamer sighted by two destroyers in BD 4112, course 200°. Contact lost owing to poor visibility (2 miles).

U 606 (Oblt. Hans-Heinrich Döhler) sighted for a short time in BC 3899 vessel with course 215°, speed 15 knots, fog.

Convoy No. 9 (ON.165):
On the return passage U 69 (Kptlt. Ulrich Gräf; ex. Jost Metzler, "The Laughing Cow") sighted a convoy with course 225° in AJ 9982. Since the convoy was about 500 miles from the coast so that there was sufficient area for operations, Group "Taifun" as well as the returning "Haudegen" boats received orders to attack the convoy as far as fuel supplies permitted. Since all the boats were comparatively low (in fuel) refueling facilities were provided in BD 42 (by "Milkcow" U 460 (Kptlt. Ebe Schnoor). The convoy consisted of 20 steamers proceeding in open formation without remote escort. Position at 1701 was AJ 9988, course 215°, speed 9 knots. U 201 (Oblt. Günther Rosenberg; ex Adalbert Schnee) made contact also at 2000 and reported last at 2207 from BC 3136 then both boats lost contact. U 607 (Kptlt. Ernst Mengersen) must have been quite near as she requested D/F signal but she also did not sight the convoy. In order to reestablish the convoy by conducted action (search sectors etc.) all boats were instructed to give their positions. The reports of positions were so irregular that the plan could not be carried out. U 201 - U 69 and U 223 (Oblt. Karl-Jürgen Wächter) have not reported up to now. The operation is being continued.

"Milkcow" U 460 (Kptlt. Ebe Schnoor) is to proceed to BD 42 to supply the "Haudegen" boats, contrary to previous order.

Convoy Report U 522 (Kptlt. Herbert Schneider):
The above boat sighted at 0836 in CF 5872 a small convoy of 5 steamers and 3 escorts, course 1500, speed 12 knots. Action by Group "ROBBE" was impossible because of insufficient speed superiority. The boats would only have reached the convoy in an area where air cover was strong and continuous. U 522 herself had only 17 cbm of fuel left.
She was ordered to continue pursuit as long as possible with this. With visibility variable contact was lost towards 1600. U 522 suspected zig on to course 90° and proceeded in this direction, however, without finding the convoy again. The last hydrophone fix was at 2000 from CF 9177 in direction 110°. Towards 0500 the operation was broken off in CF 9567, fuel being at 7 cbm. No sinkings.

All groups were ordered, so as to avoid location of the patrol line by enemy aircraft, to man their radar interception service as far as possible and in case enemy aircraft were sighted, to dive at once and remain submerged for about 30 minutes.

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