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Originally Posted by Kapitän
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Saturday, 31 October 1942 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft
Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.; Freg.Kpt.d.R. Ernst HASSHAGEN) and 22nd U-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Wilhelm Ambrosius):
Dry-Run Exercises with Machinery/Mechanics; Weapons; Torpedoes.
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Convoy No. 63:
On morning of 31 Oct., Convoy "Maßmann" lay in CF 96 with NNE course and speed 7 knots. Convoy appeared to pass Gibraltar and continued northwards. With wind dropping from west and sea strength 3 - 4 contact was maintained by U 604 (Kptlt. Höltring) and U 509 Kptlt. Witte). By the afternoon six boats of the group had come up to the convoy. In the morning U 509 and U 604 had reported that all that remained of convoy was 4 - 5 ships. In the afternoon U 604 reported there were certainly 12. It therefore looked as though two groups had joined up in the afternoon while up to date very little had been reported about escort, and also no air patrol seemed to be present, suddenly from 1800 onwards all boats were driven off by heavy air activity and large destroyer escort. A number of boats reported aircraft contacts.
As rest of convoy route lay more and more within range of enemy air support, operation was broken off at daylight on 1 Nov. in CF 69.
In a tough four day battle with convoy under favorable weather conditions and not too strong an escort, 7 boats out of strong groups of 10 attacked successfully and sank a total of 18 ships together 133,131 GRT without a single loss.
U 412 (Kptlt. Walther Jahrmärker) and U 627 (Kptlt. Robert Kindelbacher) were both detailed to operate on Convoy no. 63, but neither made contact. After close of operation no reports were received in spite of many calls. It is possible that U 412 was destroyed by English aircraft on the outward journey, since it had not reported since sailing. Radio intercept report concerning aircraft attack received. On 27 Oct., U 627 reported convoy in AL 2559 at 0325 on easterly course and gave chase after which no further report was received. Loss of both must be reckoned with.
Friendly aircraft sighted 2 aircraft carriers at 1115 with 1 cruiser and 3 destroyers on course 180°.
U 519 (Kptlt. Günther Eppen) completed secondary duty 1 (Met Buoy Rockall). U D 5 (ex Dutch submarine O 27; KptzS. Bruno Mahn) completed refueling from "Milkcow" U 462 (Oblt. Bruno Vowe).
Heavy Crusier HMS Cumberland (County-class) sail from Scapa Flow in Scotland, with HMS Norfolk and screen of 5 destroyers. She is nominated for support of planned allied landings in North Africa.
Our 21st Panzer Division launch four successive strikes against Australian troops at Point 29 in Egypt, causing heavy casualties on both sides.
As The Führer is confident that Stalingrad will soon be under our control, he departs the Wehrwolf headquarters near of Vinnytsia, Ukraine and moves to the Wolfsschanze headquarters in Rastenburg, Germany (modern day Ketrzyn, Poland).
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
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Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Sunday, 1 November 1942 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft
Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.; Freg.Kpt.d.R. Ernst HASSHAGEN) and 22nd U-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Wilhelm Ambrosius):
Dry-Run Exercises with Machinery/Mechanics; Weapons; Torpedoes.
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U 563 (Kptlt. Götz von Hartmann) reports ship traveling alone in BE 2647 on course 0°.
Pursuit was broken off because of excessive use of lubricating oil.
U 664 (Oblt. Adolf Graef) was heavily attacked by aircraft in approximately AL 10 and has to
return to port. (Possibly air cover for an E. bound convoy).
U 575 (Kptlt. Günther Heydemann) reports in connection with sinking of 29 October that the ship formerly described as a freighter was actually a troop ship transport of the "Abosso" type (11,330 T). At the point where she sank there are about 10 cutters and many rafts full of soldiers. Boat sighted 3 steamers and 1 destroyer at 1329, 1 November in BD 6859, sailing on S. course. She is returning to base.
U 332 (Kptlt. Johannes Liebe) situation: nothing further seen in areas EE 60, EF 80 and EP 20 since 23 January.
U D 5 (ex Dutch submarine O 27; KptzS. Bruno Mahn) sighted destroyer in DG 8143, course 0°.
Aircraft reported convoy in BE 9755 at 1155, consisting of 10 merchant ships, and 3 patrol boats on N. course at low speed.
(Evidently the rest of SL 125.
"Milkcow"
U 463 (KrvKpt. Leo Wolfbauer) carried out transfer of supplies and is returning to port. Reports convoy in BD 6815, which steered course 270° at first and then changed to 180°.
U 516 (Korvkpt. Gerhard Wiebe) took on provisions for 10 days from "Milkcow"
U 462 (Oblt. Bruno Vowe).
Tanker situation: 555 cubic meters fuel oil; 8 cubic meters of motor oil; 169 day supply of provisions and 4 torpedoes.
Rommel begins to devise a plan to
withdraw his forces at El Alamein, Egypt westward to Fuka, but will not activate the plan yet.
Our III.Panzer Korps captures Alagir on the Terek River in the Caucasus.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115