[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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- continued from 20 May, 1545h -

1550 - Qu.6177BF - Own Uboat sighted bearing 323°, on southerly heading, E=8500.

1555 - "ALARM!". Crash diving from several twin-engine bombers. approaching from the North on a southerly heading, E=7000. Water depth is 100m. At A-30, several bombs and again at A-10 - no damages. Suspect about 3 pair of bombers and about 24 bombs being dropped.

Hearing thud-like explosions coming from direction of the own Uboat, and only faint screw noises.

1616 - S-Tiefe. Observing airplanes, bomb splashes and explosions, and flares being fired in the area of the own Uboat.

1622 - Surfaced after 27min. and 1.5sm.
Weather and Sea unchanged since Etmal.

Running carefully toward the own Uboat, as not to veer off the mine-free path. Exchangig E/S-Signals. The Uboat is U 701 (Kptlt. Horst Degen), and is unable to dive.

1642 - Qu.6178BF - The damage to the boat can clearly be seen. Running lee-ward, distance is about 20m. As a rope connection can not be established due to the high waves and swell, crew members from U 701 are taking to the water in groups and are drifting toward our boat. However, as the sea is running, the various groups can not see each other or stay together in the water. Two of the men, a boatswain's mate and the midshipman, struck out for shore, 30 miles distant, against the warning of the others, and were never seen again.

1701 - Compressed Air Supply filled. It is almost completely dark.

1715 - Last crew members from U 701 to take to the water are the Commander and the L.I. Secret documents were left with the boat. There was no time to explode scuttling charges even had that been necessary. Apparently, no attempt was made to send a radio signal reporting the sinking of the U-boat. Out of the entire crew of 46, 18 men make it to our boat and are taken under deck. There were 28 casualties.

1730 - Back to approach path Bogenlampe and running off on course 80°.

1735 - Small-Ahead, preparing for submerged cruise.

1745 - Diving for sugmerged cruise at A-20, 135rpm/3kn

1935 - O₂ = 20%.

1942 - As we get closer to Lorient, much warship and steamer traffic can be heard to the west and south of Île de Groix and later also, to the north of it.

2100 - Silent Running.

Boat continuing return voyage.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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Thursday, 21 May 1942 - South of Île de Groix -

0005 - O₂ = 19%.

0236 - Sunrise.

0400 - Secured from Silent Running.

0408 - S-Tiefe. Weather and Sea appear to have subsided somewhat.

0410 - Surfaced after 10h 25min. and 30.4sm.
East4/3, overcast, light haze, visibility 5.4sm, ~1000mb.

0420 - Boat ventilated. 6800Ah, 2xSmall-Ahead.
R-Boat bearing 238, E=7500. Exchanging E/S Signal.
Light damage to Flak repaired.

0515 - Outbound VIIC boat on test cruise to our port beam.
A Ju52-Mausi, is patrolling the area north of Île de Groix.

0525 - Point Luci-1 - Taking on escort (R-Boat).

0552 - Releasing escort (R-Boat). Entering Lorient.

0700 - All available hands on deck for greeting in the harbour. Making fast. Mooring boat at Isère.

Disembarking of survivors of U-Degen and handing over of the POW to the Military Police.

Lorient - Qu.6157BF - Days Run: 92.6sm - ↗ 59.2sm (7h 38') - ↘ 33.4sm (11h 22') - since Etmal.
99.0cbm (2.0cbm/19h). Battery 6800Ah. 10.5cm: 28xLkG. 2xM.G.-2cm-C/30: 6651xPbG. East4/3, overcast, light haze, visibility 5.4sm, ~1000mb.

Clearing out of boat:
99cbm; 10.5cm: 28xLkG; M.G.2cm-C/30: 6651PbG.
Discharging of battery (6800Ah).
Placing boat in dry dock for Shipyard Overhaul.
Routine work by the crew throughout.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.