[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Thursday, 4 September 1941 - West of The Channel -

0145 - Qu.1355BE -
New course 180°.

0600 - Sunrise.
Weather unchanged since 3.9., 1600h.

0601 - Neither Air reconnaissance nor other boats succeeded in finding the "Gysae" convoy. The search is being continued in the sector from 180° to 220° based on the last known enemy position. Two boats are being allocated to each sector.

0835 - Qu.1655BE -

0903 - L.I. reporting that we have 60cbm fuel left (25%).

1200 - Qu.1922BE - Days Run: 208.4sm - (↗ 24h).
57.1cbm (7.5cbm/24h). 9100Ah. 14 internal torpedoes.
10.5cm: 81xSpG+28xLkG; M.G.-C/30-2cm: 7820.

1520 - Qu.1955BE -

1837 - The U.S.A. destroyer "Greer" reports that she was unsuccessfully attacked with torpedoes by a submarine at noon today. A query put to the most likely submarines showed that U 652 (Fraatz) had encountered the destroyer and had been attacked with 3 depth charges. She reported that she had been forced to sheer of. Double miss observed. Moderate depth charge pursuit.

Further investigation will reveal that a British bomber had signaled the American destroyer USS Greer (DD 145) that U-Fraatz (part of Group "Markgraf") was in the vicinity (Qu. AD 8550, Southwest of Icland). "Greer" picked up a sonar contact at close range and started to track the boat. The aircraft dropped four depth charges and then left the scene. Shortly afterwards, Fraatz fired a torpedo at Greer, believing she was responsible. Greer then went on the attack and a two hour battle followed, during which she dropped 19 depth charges and Fraatz fired another torpedo - no damage to either side. US President Roosevelt will use this event in his campaign to convince the US to go to war against Germany and the "undeclared war" between German U-boats and US escorts will escalate dramatically from this point onward.

2058 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since 3.9., 1600h.

2210 - Qu.4355BE -

Boat operating on convoy "Gysae".

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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Friday, 5 September 1941 - North Atlantic -

0455 - Qu.4655BE. New course 90°.
NNW7/6, clear, light haze, good visibility, >1000mb.

0510 - Diving to T=50 due to high swell continually washing over the bridge. 65rpm, 1.6kn.

0608 - Sunrise. Breakfast.

0701 - O₂=20%. Beginning of torpedo maintenance.

1001 - Bow torpedoes serviced. Break until 1016h.

1101- O₂=19%.

1146 - Stern torpedoes serviced. Lunch break.

1200 - Qu.4656BE - Days Run: 157.1sm - ↗ 147.3 (17h 10') -
↘ 9.8sm (6h 50').
54.5cbm (2.6cbm/24h). 8800Ah. T=50. O₂=19%. 14 internal torpedoes.10.5cm: 81xSpG+28xLkG; M.G.-C/30-2cm: 7820.

1300 - Beginning of trial dive according to Standing Order 507.

1319 - Boat is safe and secure at 2A-Meter and reacts well at 135rpm, 3kn.

1339 - S-Tiefe. Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Search for the "Gysae" convoy is continuing. Boats receive orders to continue operations in the north to south patrol line between 15° and 23° West.

1340 - Surfaced after 8.5h and 13sm. Weather and sea are unchanged.

1345 - New course 49°. Boat has to run athwart.

1403 - Boat ventilated and compressed air supply filled.

1406 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Group "Markgraf" is given new attack areas, embracing the zone between Greenland and Iceland as far as about 400 miles south of the Islands.

1420 - Wind and Sea are dying down and turning to East. NNE5/4, clear, good visibility, >1000mb.

1505 - New course 90°.

1601 - NE3/2, clear, good visibility, >1000mb.
Incoming F.T.: From U 501:
Have sunk English Merchant "Python" 4500ts, - Förster -

Charging batteries at 8400Ah:
Port diesel propulsion 396RPM, 11kn;
Stbd. diesel charging 495RPM.

1715 - E1/1, clear, good visibility, >1000mb.
Batteries charged: 1h 15' for 1600Ah.

1801 - Norddeich Radio reporting about the Soviet Cruiser "Komintern" firing at coastal batteries at Fontanka, Romania, Black Sea.

2055 - Sundown. SE1/1, clear, good visibility, >1000mb.

Boat operating on convoy "Gysae".

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.