[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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U 115
- KTB -
First War Patrol
(17th war patrol overall)

Thursday, 13 May 1943 - East of the Azores

0310 - Qu.5855CF -

0630 - Early Morning Dawn.

0749 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged in 10h.

0819 - Qu.5877CF Center - "ALARM!" for Flying Boat, only medium speed. Was initially sighted at 0818 in 100°true, E=8800, on course NW. Turned towards the boat in 60°true and E=5800.

0822 - At A-Meter 1 Wabo and at 0823 another 2 Wabos - no damages.

Suspect the same airplane that was sighted on 11 May, at 1828, in Qu.6155CF.

0917 - At Reception Depth.

0919 - Surfaced after 1h and 2.8nm.

0920 - Boat ventilated.

0925 - Compressed Air Supply filled.

1032 - Qu.8133CF bottom left - FuMB-Detection (also, Magic Eye) and shortly after a Flying Boat sighted in 280°true, E=12000. Boat remains surfaced.

This seems to be again the same airplane as sighted at 0819h and on 11 May.

1107 - Qu.8135CF top right - FuMB-Detection in 330°true, E=15000 (no Magic Eye).

1108 - Diving for Flying Boat identified as Sunderland, in 335°true, E=10600, on course SE.

1110 - At Reception Depth no bombs.

1138 - Surfaced after 30min. and 1.5nm.

1139 - Boat ventilated.

1200 - Qu.8135CF - Days Run: 162.0nm - ↗ 148.7nm (19h 20') - ↘ 13.3nm (4h 40')
Total: 1658.6nm (8d 22h) - ↗ 1592.0nm (7d 22h 05') - ↘ 66.6nm (23h 55')
489cbm (2cbm in 24h); Course 227°; Battery 96%; Weather and Sea unchanged in 14h.
Note: Possible salvo shots with 3 torpedoes are: I-II-III and II-III-IV.

1550 - Qu.8155CF –

1736 - Qu.8157CF bottom left - FuMB-Detection in 145°true, E=14300 (also, Magic Eye). Shortly afterwards, appears "our" Sunderland again in 145°true, on course 306°, E=10900.

1737 - Diving for Sunderland. At T=20 no bombs.

1817 - Surfaced after 40min. and 1.9nm.

1818 - Qu.8173CF - Boat ventilated. Shortly after surfacing, the boat is attacked by the Sunderland from 250°true, is already very close. The airplane must have been equally surprised to see us, as we them, because the 3-4 Wabos fall wide to port. Sunderland flies off on course SE, machine gun fire from the tail turret. Boat remains surfaced.

Boat sustained 2% hull damage; total of 4% for this patrol (230m x 96% => 220.8m)

Cmdr.: This sea area is certainly highly patrolled by air - usually an indicator for high value shipping traffic.

2155 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged in 24h.

2304 – Incoming Radio Reports:
From O.K.W.:
a) At 1100, the Axis Forces in Tunisia, accepted the terms of unconditional surrender. Besides 130,000 German and 120,000 Italian troops, General von Arnim and 25 further Axis Generals have been taken prisoner of war.
b) The Royal Navy has begun with the bombardment of Pantelleria.
c) 26 B-24s of USAAF 44th Bomb Group launched from Benina Airfield in Libya at 0400 hours. 20 of them reached their target, the Wiener Neustadt Air Frame Works.
From O.K.M.:
a) Italian torpedo boats stationed at Yalta, Ukraine, conducted their last sortie from this base.
From B.d.U.:
a) U 180 (IXD1; Fregkpt. Werner Musenberg) Situation report: From 4-7 May stalked E-W traffic off Durban but found nothing. No traffic in KP 39 either. Destroyer and corvette in KP 9123, course 220°. Probably shot down a Handley Page on 12.5. in KZ 4155. Coastwise traffic off Cape St. Lucia according to bearings obtained.
b) U 217 (VIID; Kptlt. Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke) reported that she had carried out minelaying task. Mines were laid in AM 8926 and 28.
c) U 218 (VIID; Kptlt. Richard Becker) met Milkcow U 461 (Kptlt. Wolf-Harro Stiebler) to get medical attention for a sick man with a broken leg, who was subsequently transferred to U 461.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

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

+++++++

U 115
- KTB -
First War Patrol
(17th war patrol overall)

Friday, 14 May 1943 - Southeast of the Azores

0203 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Reached first patrol point acc. Op.-Orders, on 12 May, 0900.
On 13 May, 0819, Sunderalnd in Qu.8133CF bottom left, and at 1108 in Qu.8135CF top right, and again at 1736 in Qu.8157CF bottom left. On 13 May, 1817, in Qu.8173CF top right, shortly after surfacing attacked by Sunderland with Wabos and Gun Fire, minor damages. Suspect the same airplane each time. Continue outbound transit. 488cbm. S7/6, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb. - RST -

0353 - Qu.7655CF -

0700 - Early Morning Dawn.

0810 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged in 1 day and 10h.

1036 - Incoming F.T.1030/14/5: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst reports enemy convoy in Qu.1287DH, on course NNE, speed 6kn.

Cmdr.: As suspected, the strong enemy air patrol indicated that there must be a convoy or other high value shipping passing through this area.

1045 - Boat is operating on the convoy. Course 139°, 2xH.F.
Estimated contact with convoy at 1730 in Qu.1229DH.

1200 - Qu.7917CF - Days Run: 189.0nm - ↗ 187.1nm (23h 20') - ↘ 1.9nm (40')
Total: 1847.6nm (9tg 22h) - ↗ 1779.1nm (8tg 21h 25') - ↘ 68.5nm (1tg 00h 35')
487cbm (2cbm in 24h); Course 140°; Battery 96%; Bold 9 each; Weather and Sea unchanged in 1 day and 14h.
Note: Possible salvo shots with 3 torpedoes are: I-II-III and II-III-IV.

1608 - Qu.7989DH center left - "ALARM!" for Sunderland in 115°true, on course WNW, E=10500.

1611 - At A-Meter no bombs.

1618 - Course 90°, 1/3-Ahead.

1637 - At Reception Depth.

1643 - Surfaced after 35min. and 2.0nm.

1644 - Sunderland can be seen flying off in 35°true, on course ESE, E=6000. Boat remains surfaced.

1646 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled.

1651 - Course 115°, 1/3-Ahead.

1834 - Qu.1226DH - FuMB-Detection twice in relative bearing 118° (no Magic Eye).

1837 - (Battle Class) Destroyer bearing 57°, E=14000, on course 31°, slow speed.

Cmdr.: After diving for the Sunderland, we almost missed the contact point with the convoy but found it now as calculated. Historically, Battle Class destroyers didn't see any action in WWII.

1845 - Boat is positioned toward the front of the port side of the convoy, which slowly comes into sight. Going on parallel course 31°. Convoy speed is determined as 6-7kn.

1855 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
"Gustav Gelb!" Sighted convoy 1030/14/5 in Qu.1229DH top right, course 31°, speed 6.5kn. Keeping contact with Battle Class Destroyer. S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 7.5nm, >1000mb. - RST -

1858 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Assume attack position and keep contact with convoy. Await further orders but if situation allows you are free to attack.

Shortly after sending the F.T., the (Battle Class) Destroyer goes on a search pattern and a second escort comes into sight. Boat has to keep distance to escorts by changing speed and course, E=11100.

2148 - A Sunderland crosses our stern at a distance of 6400m on course WNW, goes out of sight at E=12000.

All the while, the (Battle Class) Destroyer must smell that something is up, because she continuously goes on search patterns, while the other escort stoically stays its course.

Cmdr.: I decide to dive for a submerged attack while it is still dusk and before the Sunderland comes back around.

- to be continued -