[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

- continued from 14 May, 2330 -

Incoming Radio Reports from 2300 and 2304:

O.K.W.-Report:
a) Japanese 3rd Division captured Gong'an, Hunan Province, China.
b) US aircraft bombed the Bluie East Five site in eastern Greenland, suspecting German usage of the site.
c) The Martin B-26 Marauder made its operational debut in northern Europe with a partially successful attack by US 322nd Bomb Group on the Velsen power station at Ijmuiden in the Netherlands.
d) The US 8th Airforce attacked Kiel. During the raid 3 Uboats are destroyed.

B.d.U.-Report:
a) After taking over potash cartridges and binoculars, U 217 (VIID; Kptlt. Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke) is to operate in the American area. Approach point CB 41.
b) U 223 (Oblt. Karl-Jürgen Wächter) is again able to crash dive and is proceeding home at 6 knots.
c) U 186 (KrvKpt. Siegfried Hesemann) was directed to attack Convoy No. 39. She last reported on 12.5. from CE 2244: "intend to attack reported enemy forces". The boat was probably destroyed during this daylight attack. She is presumed lost.
d) U 89 (KrvKpt. Dietrich Lohmann) stalked Convoy No. 38 and on 12.5. sighted smoke plume and carrier borne plane in BD 6921. Since that time boat has not reported again despite challenge. She must be presumed lost - probably through air attack.

B-Dienst-Report:
a) According to a special Radio Intercept intelligence report the convoy "HX 238" was in BC 4851 at 2000 on 12.5. From that position she steered a course of 48° to BC 4338 and from that position was to change her course to 350°.
b) Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier USS Card (CVE-11) departed New York bound for Casablanca, Morocco ferrying aircraft and troops.
c) Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9) transfered from Belfast to the Firth of Clyde, Scotland for calibration of her HF/DF radio detection gear.
d) In Britain, following more "Upkeep" bomb dropping training at the Wainfleet Bombing Range on the Wash (where a wooden mock up of the dam's towers had been constructed) at full night dress rehearsal was conducted on the Uppingham and Colchester reservoirs.
e) British Mosquito reconnaissance aircraft photographed a German rocket at Peenemünde, Germany; it was estimated to be 38 feet in length and 2 feet in diameter.

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)

Saturday, 15 May 1943 - Northwest of Madeira

0015 - T=50. Commencing torpedo reloading.

0127 - Torpedoes reloaded with previous loadout.

0132 - Course 121°. Sound contact with stationary steamer bearing 275°, E=15300. Suspect the vessel hit by the T-4 "Falke".

0138 - At Reception Depth.

0145 - Surfaced after 3h 45min. and 11.0nm. Weather and Sea unchanged.

0147 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled; Battery 80%.

0150 - Running after convoy on course 31° and 1/3-Ahead.

0229 - On course 0°. FuMB Detection in 23°true, E=16000.
At the same time, Granville steamer 2197ts sighted, bearing 32°, E=5300, stationary. Must be the steamer torpedoed with the T-4 "Falke". Has upper deck cargo in crates and a deck gun on the ships stern. Is also armed with a gun on the bow and at least 4 Flak guns.

0235 - At E=4800 diving for submerged attack.

0252 - T=18, H.F., course 15°.

0307 - Turning in toward steamer, approaching from the port side, course 105°.

0317 - S-Tiefe. "Battle Stations!". Flooding tube III.

0318 - Qu.8749CF - Submerged "Coup de grâce" with tube III: AtoFat/PiG7H (AZ); Running depth 4m; Vt40; FAT-Settings: Straight Run 2000m - Giro Angle green90° - Giro Run 1600m; Own course 105°; Own speed 2kn ahead; Target ship: Granville Bulk Carrier 2278ts, draught 6.0m.
Target heading 15°; Target distance 1000m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 0kn; Firing angle α 001°.
Weather/Sea: S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.

=> Torpedo hits after 50 Sec.(1029m), but fails to detonate.

0321 - Retreating backwards and diving for torpedo reloading. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

0343 - T=30. Tube III reloaded with AtoFat (PiG7H/AZ).

0357 - S-Tiefe. "Battle Stations!". Flooding tube III.

0358 - Qu.8749CF - Submerged "Coup de grâce" with tube III: AtoFat/PiG7H (AZ); Running depth 4m; Vt40; FAT-Settings: Straight Run 2000m - Giro Angle red90° - Giro Run 1600m; Own course 105°; Own speed 2kn ahead; Target ship: Granville Bulk Carrier 2278ts, draught 6.0m.
Target heading 15°; Target distance 1000m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 0kn; Firing angle α 002°.
Weather/Sea: S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.

=> Torpedo hits after 37 Sec.(761.4m), but fails to detonate. Flooding tube IV.

0359 - Qu.8749CF - Submerged "Coup de grâce" with tube IV: AtoFat/PiG7H (AZ); Running depth 4m; Vt40; FAT-Settings: Straight Run 2000m - Giro Angle red90° - Giro Run 1600m; Own course 105°; Own speed 2kn ahead; Target ship: Granville Bulk Carrier 2278ts, draught 6.0m.
Target heading 15°; Target distance 1000m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 0kn; Firing angle α 002°.
Weather/Sea: S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb.
Shooter: KvtKpt. & Cmdr. RST.

=> Torpedo is a hit amidship after 32 Sec.(658.5m)!

A big hole can be seen where the torpedo hit but at first, no apparent signs of the ship sinking can be seen.

0407 - By now, the ship has a distict list to port and some of the crew can be seen trying to launch some boats in the heavy sea.

0408 - "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

0409 - The steamer sinks with loud and big explosions.

0411 - Surfaced after 1h 36min. and 3.8nm.

Running to the sinking position. Nothing found except an empty life boat and some debris. The life boat has the name BARON RUTHVEN written on it. Running off on course 209°, 1/3-Ahead.

Note: All Fat-Attacks acc. B.d.U.-Standing Order No. 306 and all Pi-2/MZ-Attacks acc. B.d.U.-Standing Order No. 309.

0600 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
From 14.5., 2300 to 15.5., 0400, sunk from convoy 1030/14/5 in submerged attack, 3 steamers for 10,000ts., Qu.8748CF to 8749CF. Double salvo T-3, single shot T-3 and T-4 hits. One EtoFat a miss on a Black Swan Sloop. 3 AtoFat duds, 1 AtoFat a hit on Coup de grâce on a Granville Bulk Carrier that was torpedoed with the T-4. Last position of convoy 1030/14/5 on 14.5., 2330, Qu.8749CF top left, course 31°, speed 10kn, 20 steamers and 9 escorts in two groups due to storm. A single Sunderland over the convoy. Still have 3 T-3, 2 EtoFat and 1 T-4. 482cbm. S7/6, medium heavy swell, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb. Continue outbound transit acc. Op.-Orders. - RST -

0850 - Charging batteries (74%): Stbd.-Charging, 496RPM; Port-Propulsion, 285RPM/7kn.

1105 - Batteries charged => 2h 15min. for 26%. 225RPM/8kn.

1200 - Qu.1255DH - Days Run: 202.4nm - ↗ 185.6nm (18h 04') - ↘ 16.8nm (5h 56')
Total: 2050.0nm (10tg 22h) - ↗ 1964.7nm (9tg 15h 29') - ↘ 85.3nm (1tg 6h 31')
480cbm (7cbm in 24h); Course 211°; 3xT-3, 2xEtoFat, 1xT-4; 9xBold; Weather and Sea unchanged in 2 days and 14h.
Note: Possible salvo shots with 3 torpedoes are: I-II-III and II-III-IV.

- to be continued -