[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Wednesday, 6 August 1941 - North of Rockall Bank

0102 - O₂=20%.

0410 - Tubes I-IV serviced and inspected together with the two Eto above the floor plates for possible sabotage - no findings. Provisionally finished torpedo maintenance and inspection, as the fwd. reserve torpedoes under the floor plates are not accessible and the stern compartment is occupied with the wounded coxwain's, that are not in condition to be moved.

0418 - Commencing trial dive. 185rpm.

0432 - Boat is safe and secure at 2A-Meter.

0445 - Surfaced after 5h 28min. and 16.5sm.
NNE5/4, partly cloudy, visibility 8-9sm, >1000mb.

0452 - Boat ventilated.

0457 - In the meanwhile, both Coxwain's have succumbed to their injuries. "All engines stop!".

0500 - Qu.1395AM bottom middle -
Sea Burial of Coxwain(AA), Wilhelm BARSCH and of Coxwain&No.3, Konrad SCHMIDT with military honors, in position 59°12'N, 014°06'W.

0530 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since 0452h.

The radio and torpedo crew are taking shifts in the third sea watch.

0945 - Qu.1524AM - Reached 15°W.

1000 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Reached 15°W. Switching to Atlantic Frequency. On 5.8., 2057h, sunk steamer of 6619ts with deck gun, in Qu.1448AM. A lot of enemy air patrols in Rosengarten and further course, 3 crash dives and bombs, no damages. On 5.8., 2315h, attack by 3 Catalina's, in Qu.1393AM, attackers hit by flak and flying off burning, flak crew killed by airplane gun fire. Sea Burial of Coxwain(AA), Wilhelm BARSCH and of Coxwain&No.3, Konrad SCHMIDT with military honors, in position 59°12'N, 014°06'W. Checked bow torpedoes for sabotage, no findings. Boat safe and secure at 2A-Meter. 178.5cbm. 22 eels. NNE5/4, partly cloudy, visibility 8-9sm, >1000mb. - RST -

1029 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Message received, continue as ordered. New patrol grids for U 129 (Clausen)-AL2682, U 206 (Opitz)-AL1356, U 567 (Fahr)-AE7777, U 113 (RST)-AL3382, depth 100sm. After reaching new patrol grid, attacks only against convoys or especially valuable single traveling ships.

1200 - Qu.1515AM - Days Run: 250.3sm - ↗ 233.8 (18h 32') - ↘ 16.5sm (5h 28')
177.6cbm (8.8cbm/24h). 7900Ah. Weather unchanged since 1000h.

1306 - Norddeich Radio sending O.K.W. report about enemy air raids in West and South Germany, especially, on Karlsruhe and Mannheim, with civilian casualties. Flak and night fighters shot down 8 British bombers.

Throughout the afternoon, several special reports from Radio Berlin about the progress on the eastern front.

1818 - Qu.3655AL -

2212 - Sundown. Midnight Twilight. Weather unchanged since 1000h.

2355 - Incoming F.T.2350/6: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst reporting small enemy convoy in Qu.3515AL, on course ESE, speed 5kn.

2400 - Boat operating on convoy 2350/6. New course 49°, full speed ahead.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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Thursday, 7 August 1941 - South of Iceland

0227 - Incoming F.T.0220/7: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst reporting convoy 2350/6 still in Qu.3515AL, on course 120°, speed 5kn.

0230 - Estimated contact with convoy 2350/6 in 30min. "All hands on standby positions!".

0256 - "Smoke Plume ahead to port!".
4 steamers in keel line and 1 escort destroyer in the back:
Pos.1-4: Medium Tanker 7710ts, Whale Factory Ship 5460ts, Hog Island Steamer 4687ts, Medium Size Steamer 2010ts.

0345 - The escort is going on a search pattern to stbd. and aft, until 0405h.

0410 - Approaching convoy with narrow angle on course 270°.

0420 - Diving for submerged attack, at E=7500.

0435 - Qu.3443AL - "Battle Stations!".

0440 - Flooding bow torpedo tubes. Own course 210°. Own speed 1.6kn, 65rpm. All bow torpedoes are G7e and all pistols are G7H/K-b(AZ); Running depth 5m; Vt30.

0503 - Salvo shot with tubes I&IV, salvo angle 2°.
Target ship: Pos.1 Medium Tanker.
Target course 120°; Target distance 635m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 4kn; Firing angle 343°.

0504 - Salvo shot with tubes II&III, salvo angle 2°.
Target ship: Pos.2 Whale Factory Ship.
Target course 120°; Target distance 635m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 4kn; Firing angle 29°.

Tubes I&IV are hits midships after 35/36 Sek.!
The tanker explodes over its entire length and sinks on an even keel.

Tube II is a hit in the forecastle after 36 Sek., while Tube III is a hit after 37 Sek. but fails to detonate!

The Whale Factory Ship also explodes over its entire length and sinks on an even keel. Further underwater explosions after the sinking.

Turning boat around to course 27° to bring the stern tubes to bear.

0511 - Shot with tube V: G7e/G7H/K-b(AZ); Running depth 4m; Vt30. Own course 27°. Own speed 1.6kn astern.
Target ship: Pos.3 Hog Island Merchant.
Target course 120°; Target distance 809m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 4kn; Firing angle 17°.

Tube V is a hit in the forecastle after 39 Sek.! The steamer settles by the bow but continues on with 1-2kn.

Cmdr.: "I decide to save the last loaded torpedo for the pos.4 steamer but can't bring the tube to bear, as the steamer hides behind, to the stbd. side of the torpedoed pos.3 steamer. I decide to go on parallel course and get in front of the steamers and reload the torpedoes."

- to be continued -