Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Friday, 09 October 1942 - Bremen, AG Weser, Deutsche Schiff und Maschinenbau
Standing by during the final stages of construction of U 115.
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With immediate effect, at B.d.U.'s request,
permission to attack is granted in the following extended sea area: East of the line FE 8910 via FM 4954 to GY 3598, south boundary 40° South, east boundary 27° East.
U 171 (Kptlt. Günther Pfeffer) was to have been at point L2 at 1600/9/10 to pick up escort. The boat arrived too soon, and towards 1400 she sank 3 miles northeast of L2 after an explosion. Probably hit by a
magnetic or acoustic mine. 30 members of the crew were saved, including all officers.
U 333 (Kptlt. Peter Erich "Ali" Cremer) is
being brought home by Kptlt. Lorenz Kasch (Replacement WO, Cmdr-at-sea-training on U 107, Kptlt. Harald Gelhaus). Boat is damaged, but is able to crash dive. The C.O. and First Watch Officer are not in critical condition.
Sinkings off Capetown:
U 159 (Kptlt. Helmut Friedrich Witte) on 9 Oct. in GR 8144, "Colorandan" (6,575 GRT), course 260°.
U 172 (Kptlt. Carl Emmermann) GR 5593 "Chichasaw City" (6,196 GRT) course 270°. GR 5671 "Firethory" (6,000 GRT) course 90°. GR 5648 freighter of 3,500 GRT, course 260°. Boat reports air and sea patrol from 8 Oct., was depth-charged in GR 5650, hunted for 28 hours with hydrophones and Asdic, no damage.
U 68 (KrvKpt. Karl-Friedrich Merten) reported heavy inward and outward-bound traffic day and night between the Cape and the mined area, course 160° or 320°. On 8 Oct. she sank a freighter of 8,000 GRT, a freighter of 6,000 GRT, and the American "Swiftsure" (8,207 GRT). On 9 Oct. the American "Examlea" (4,981 GRT) and a freighter of 6,000 GRT.
U 201 (Oblt. Günther Rosenberg) attacked a British ship type "Astroma" 8,401 GRT, in EP 3132 and reported a
clean case of pistol failure. She pressed on and sank the ship in EF 9773. Boat suspects from the way the steamer behaved that she was a
Q ship.
U 332 (Kptlt. Johannes Liebe) was
bombed by fast shore-based aircraft in EO 5181.
Attack periscope out of order.
U 438 (Kptlt. Rudolf Franzius) will not carry out special operation as
radar interception gear is not working. She will now steer for AK 93.
Italy's Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano notes in his diary, that Italian intelligence has learned that the
Allies are planning on invading North Africa, and it concernes him, as a successful Allied campaign would put Italy in danger.
RST
KrvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115