[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)

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 -

- continued from 14 May, 2148 -

2200 - Qu.8748CF - Diving for submerged attack, at E=11000, T=18.

2205 - Course 121°, which will be the attack course.

2211 - Sundown.

2222 - At E=4000 to Destroyer, rigging for Silent Running.

According to the sound contact, the storm must have divided the convoy into two parts, a faster section of 10 steamers in front and a slower section of 11 steamers behind. All in all, 9 escorts are heard.

2245 - The boat passes in between the forward port leading escort and the forward port side escort. No ASDIC is heard. Secured from Silent Running, 1/3-Ahead.

2258 - S-Tiefe. "Battle Stations!"

2301 - Qu.8749CF - Submerged Spread Shot with tubes I-II: T-3/Pi39H (MZ); Angle of divergence 1.5°; Running depth 4m; Vt30; Own course 121°; Own speed 4kn ahead; Target ship: Row Carrier 5761ts, draught 5.8m.
Target course 31°; Target distance 500m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 10kn; Firing angle α 353°.
Weather/Sea: S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.

Both torpedoes are hits, No.1 midships, No.2 in the aft section!

The steamer explodes in a huge fireball which can be heard and felt in the whole boat, and sinks burning over its entire length within 2 minutes. Must have been loaded with some very hazardous cargo.

We have to withdraw backwards as to not endanger the boat from the explosions and also, not to get rammed by a HogIsland Freighter, that is evading the torpedoed Row Carrier towards our position.

2306 - Qu.8749CF - Submerged Single Shot with tube IV: T-3/Pi39H (MZ); Running depth 4m; Vt30; Own course 121°; Own speed 5kn ahead; Target ship: Liberty Cargo 5681ts, draught 5.8m.
Target course 31°; Target distance 1500m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 10kn; Firing angle α 314°.
Weather/Sea: S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.

2306 - Qu.8749CF - Submerged Single Shot with tube III: AtoFat/PiG7H (AZ); Running depth 4m; Vt30; FAT-Settings: Straight Run 2000m - Giro Angle red90° - Giro Run 1600m; Own course 121°; Own speed 5kn ahead; Target ship: Liberty Cargo 5681ts, draught 5.8m.
Target course 31°; Target distance 1500m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 10kn; Firing angle α 304°.
Weather/Sea: S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.

Right after the shot, turning boat hard to stbd., to bring the T-4 to bear.

2309 - Flooding tube VI. The AtoFat (Tube III) is a hit but fails to detonate - suspect too sharp of an angle for the contact fuse.

2311 - Qu.8749CF - Submerged Single Shot with tube VI: T-4 "Falke"/Pi39H (MZ); Running depth 4m; Vt20; Own course 175°; Own speed 3kn ahead; Target ship: Liberty Cargo 5681ts, draught 5.8m.
Target course 31°; Target distance 1500m; Target angle red160°; Target speed 10kn; Firing angle α 138°.
Weather/Sea: S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.

2312 - Tube IV (T-3), that was a miss on the Liberty Cargo, is a hit on another unidentified vessel, after 6 min., so, almost at the end of its run time.

2317 - Sound Operator reports sinking sounds from the direction of the tube III torpedo impact.

2319 - The T-4 "Falke" is a hit after 8 min. Assuming hit on the Liberty Cargo.

A Black Swan Sloop and a C&D Destroyer are circling around our shooting position.

2325 - Flooding tube V.

2326 - Qu.8749CF - Submerged Single Shot with tube V: EtoFat/Pi39H (MZ); Running depth 4m; Vt30; FAT-Settings: Straight Run 2000m - Giro Angle green90° - Giro Run 1600m; Own course 210°; Own speed 3kn ahead; Target ship: Black Swan Frigate 1250ts, draught 3.7m.
Target course 265°; Target distance 1500m; Target angle red80°; Target speed 10kn; Firing angle α 284°.
Weather/Sea: S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.

After the shot, the Sloop is turning away on a northerly heading, while the C&D-Destroyer is shooting star shells and searching for survivors.

The EtoFat is a miss after the end of the run.

2330 - "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

A Diana Typ Steamer 2600ts, loaded with tanks on the upper deck, is passing our port beam on course 31°, slow speed.

- to be continued -