[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 23 October 1941, 1500h -

1510 - Commencing trial dive acc. B.d.U. Standing Order 507, 135rpm/3kn.

1535 - Boat is safe and secure at 2A-Meter. Setting reception depth.

1552 - At reception depth. The convoy can now be heard in Qu.0113AM middle left.

Cmdr.: "This means, that my previous assumption that the convoy was heading south, was incorrect."

1600 - Surfaced after 1h and 2.7sm. Weather unchanged.

1609 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
According sound contact, convoy 0650/23 at 1600h in Qu.0113AM middle left, on course east, slow speed. Has 6 escorts, 2 destroyers on each side and in front, 1 corvette in back, no radar. Have 8 external Ato and 151cbm. Torpedo loading not possible due to weather. Heading west. SSW5/4, overcast, visibility 3sm, ~1000mb. - RST -

1632 - Contact report from U-Flachsenberg from convoy HG.75.

1649 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Message received. Until further notice, further radio transmission via short wave frequency.

1753 - Sundown. Weather unchanged.

1950 - New course 297°. Boat is operating on convoy HX.155.

2114 - Contact report from U 564 (Suhren) on convoy HG.75.

2201 - 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!

2337 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst is reporting a small enemy convoy in Qu.1671AM, on course ESE, speed 5kn.

Boat continues to operate on convoy HX.155.

Cmdr.: U 71 made contact with convoy HG.75 at 0030 in CG 9585. A little later U 564 and U 206 also reported it. The convoy was steering on a mean course of approximately 270°. The boats maintained contact during the whole day. This was a noteworthy performance, not to be expected in this area which is within the range of aircraft operating from Gibraltar, and in face of a strong convoy escort (10 escort vessels, 3 destroyers). The last position report came from U 564, CG 8835, at 2114h.
Air reconnaissance did not find the convoy in spite of the several shadowing reports which were transmitted by the U-boats. This fact is in opposition to past experience, where it has often been found that aircraft are more reliable in finding a convoy in a large area. It shows however, how dependent air reconnaissance is on the weather for results.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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Friday, 24 October 1941 - Rockall Bank -

- Third week at sea completed -

0102 - Incoming F.T.: From U 563:
Torpedoed one steamer and one destroyer from convoy HG.75. Sinking not observed. - Bargsten -

0500 - Morning Dawn.

0625 - Qu.1755AM -

0642 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since 22 Oct., 1420h.

0740 - Own boats of Group Reissewolf (Tearing Wolf), positioned in Qu.3666AL on course SW and in Qu.3832AL on course NNE.

This Group is intended to pick up the ON-convoy which according to Radio Intercept reports, is supposed to be in this area, and it consists of the following boats:
U 73 (VIIB, Kptlt.Helmut Rosenbaum)
U 77 (VIIC, Kptlt.Heinrich Schonder)
U 101 (VIIB, Kptlt.Ernst Mengersen)
U 432 (VIIC, Oblt.Heinz-Otto Schultze)
U 502 (IXC, Kptlt.Jürgen von Rosenstiel)
U 568 (VIIC, Kptlt.Joachim Preuss) - formerly, Commander of our sister boat U 10
U 751 (VIIC, Kptlt.Gerhard Bigalk)

1014 - Incoming F.T.1010/24: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst reporting an enemy task force in Qu.3489AL middle right, on course east, speed 7kn.

1102 - Boat operating on enemy task force 1010/24. New course 0°, speed 2xH.F.

1200 - Qu.1713AM - Days Run: 151.3sm - ↗ 148.6 (23h 00') - ↘ 2.7sm (1h 00').
149.5cbm (1.7cbm/24h). On course 0°. 9850Ah. 8 external Ato. Weather unchanged since 22 Oct., 1420h.

1540 - Boats of Group Reissewolf (Tearing Wolf), positioned in Qu.3666AL on course NE and in Qu.3669AL on course South.

1737 - New course 270°. Slow Ahead.

1757 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since 22 Oct., 1420h.

1801 - Norddeich Radio sending report about the French Vichy Government, allowing German naval units to be transferred to the Mediterranean, via the Seine and Rhône rivers.
Also, a heavy air raid of the RAF on Kiel reported.

1825 - Diving for sound check. Nothing heard on reception depth and on T=30.

1900 - Surfaced after 35min. and 1.7sm.
New course 248°, speed 2xH.F. Boat operating again on convoy HX.155.

1945 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
On 24 Oct., 1900h, nothing found from enemy task force 1010/24, in Qu.1379AM. Running off to SW and continue Op. on convoy HX.155. SSW5/4, overcast, hazy, visibility 3sm, ~1000mb. - RST -

1950 - Boats of Group Reissewolf (Tearing Wolf), positioned in Qu.1542AM on course SE.

2004 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Message received. As of now, all further F.T. transmission on LW 20.4kHz.

2121 - New course 180°.

2220 - Boats of Group Reissewolf (Tearing Wolf), positioned in Qu.3693AL on course North.

Boat operating again on convoy HX.155.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.