[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, 22 October 1941 - Western Rockall Bank -

0112 - O₂ = 19%.

0500 - Morning Dawn.

0629 - Sunrise. O₂ = 18%.

0635 - At reception depth.

0640 - Surfaced after 12h 10' and 17.2sm.
Weather unchanged since Sundown, 21 Oct.

0649 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled. Battery 5900Ah.

0702 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Convoy HX.155 is approaching target patrol area. Code word is "Taskforce". Warning: Be aware of friendly units! Good luck and Happy Hunting!

0708 - Charging batteries at 5900Ah:
Port-Diesel propulsion 205RPM, 4-5kn;
Stbd.-Diesel charging, 496RPM.

0940 - Batteries charged: 2h 32' for 4100Ah.

1015 - New course 90°.

1200 - Qu.1779AM - Days Run: 82.6sm - ↗ 65.4 (11h 50') - ↘ 17.2sm (12h 10').
154.7cbm (1.8cbm/24h). On course 90°. 10,000Ah. 8 external Ato. Weather unchanged since Sundown, 21 Oct.

1255 - The fog is lifting. Wind and sea are dying down somewhat, shifting to South.

1420 - SSE5/4, overcast, hazy, medium visibility, ~1000mb.

1508 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Group "Breslau": According to an Intelligence report the expected Gibraltar convoy (HG.75) is starting about 1600h. It will pass Tarifa about 1945h, and Cape Spartel about 2025h.

Cmdr.: This serves to call attention to the excellent work of the Commanding Officer in Spain. A direct attack on this convoy is only possible because of the certainty that B.d.U. has received reliable reports on the time the convoy is leaving port, what ships it consists of, and when it is to pass Tarifa. Today again, as is the rule, these reports have come in prompt and complete.

Group Breslau consisted originally of 6 boats but U 204 Kptlt.Walter Kell, has already been sunk with all hands lost, on 19 October:
U 71 (VIIC, Kptlt.Walter Flachsenberg)
U 83 (VIIB, Oblt.Hans-Werner Kraus)
U 206 (VIIC, Kptlt.Herbert Opitz)
U 563 (VIIC, Oblt.Klaus Heinrich Bargsten)
U 564 (VIIC, Oblt.Reinhard "Teddy" Suhren)

1742 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since 1420h.

1801 - Norddeich Radio sending report about Operation Siegfried in the Baltic:
Decision in the battle for the Estonian island of Dagö (Estonian Hiiumaa). Due to strong pressure of the German 61st Infantry Division (18th Army, Army Group North), the Red Army started on 16 October, 1941, to evacuate part of the island's troops to Odensholm and Hangö. On October 21, 1941, the resistance of the Red Army ended at Cape Takhkona. During this operation, 3388 Soviet troops were taken prisoner.

Boat operating acc. Op.-Orders as per F.T.0702/22.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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Thursday, 23 October 1941 - Rockall Bank -

0030 - Incoming F.T.0021/23: From U 71:
Have contact to convoy HG.75. - Flachsenberg -

0243 - New course 297°.

0301 - Incoming F.T.: From U 206:
Convoy HG.75: Being driven off by escort. Resume pursuit of convoy. - Opitz -

0500 - Morning Dawn.

0601 - Incoming F.T.: From U 564:
Convoy HG.75: Being driven off by escort. Convoy has strong protection. - Suhren -

0625 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since 22 Oct., 1420h.

0656 - Incoming F.T.0650/23: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst reporting enemy convoy in QU.1789AM, on course East, speed 7kn.

0700 - New course 217°, 1/3-Ahead.
Cmdr.: "Commander to crew: Boat is operating on an enemy convoy reported by B.d.U. Estimated contact in 1h. All hands on Maneuver Stations!"

0755 - New course 270°, Slow-Ahead. "Shadow Ahead!"
A Heavy Cruiser comes into sight and at 0800h, also a Clemson Destroyer, probably, the forward sweeper. Visibilty is about 5500m.

0805 - Turning boat hard to port, to new course 98°.

0808 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
"Gustav Gelb!" Sighted convoy 0650/23 in Qu.1797AM, on course 96°, speed 7kn. 1 Heavy Cruiser. Have no internal eels. Keeping contact. 153cbm. SSW5/4, overcast, hazy, visibility 3sm, ~1000mb. - RST -

0826 - The forward sweeper runs back to the convoy. Came as close as 2400m but didn't see us. Fortunately, he doesn't have radar.

The Heavy Cruiser is identified as a Dorsetshire Class Cruiser (40), runs in the port column of the convoy, and has a radar with 3000m range.

0907 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Convoy 0650/23 now in Qu.1798AM middle left, on course 96°, speed 7kn. 1 Heavy Cruiser is Dorsetshire Class, runs in port column, has 3000m range radar. Forward sweeper is Clemson Destroyer, has no radar. Keeping contact. SSW5/4, overcast, hazy, visibility 3sm, ~1000mb. - RST -

0923 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: No other boats available. Attack if possible.

Boat running to Luff-side of convoy. On course 129°.

1001 - Contact report from U 564 (Suhren) on convoy HG.75.

1004 - Contact report from U 206 (Opitz) on convoy HG.75.

1006 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Convoy 0650/23 now in Qu.1798AM bottom right, on course 98°, speed 7kn. Attack due to no internal eels not possible. Keeping contact. Forward stbd escort is V&W Destroyer, has no radar. SSW5/4, overcast, hazy, visibility 3sm, ~1000mb. - RST -

1028 - Contact report from U 71 (Flachsenberg) on convoy HG.75.

After 2h, the forward sweeper runs back to the convoy again.

1051 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Attack if possible. Send status report after attack.

The forward stbd escort (V&W destroyer) goes on a search pattern until 1105h.

1122 - At a distance of 6000m, the stbd column of the convoy comes into sight. After 30 min., the forward stbd escort goes on a search pattern again, until 1140h.

1200 - Qu.1933AM - Days Run: 152.3sm - (↗24h).
151.2cbm (3.5cbm/24h). On course 97°. 10,000Ah. 8 external Ato. Weather unchanged since 23h. Reached enemy air cover zone of England.

- to be continued -