[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Tuesday, 15 December 1942 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft

Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.; Freg.Kpt.d.R. Ernst HASSHAGEN) and 22nd U-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Wilhelm Ambrosius):

Dry-Run Exercises with Machinery/Mechanics; Weapons; Torpedoes.

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U D 3 (ex Dutch submarine O 25; Krvkpt. Hermann Rigele) hunted strongly zig-zagging tanker on a general course of 140° speed 12 knots, from EH 9984 to EH 3681. Contact lost after triple miss.

U 159 (Kptlt. Helmut Friedrich Witte) sank "Star of Suez" of 4,999 GRT course 120° in FC 3725. Carrying motorcars and aircraft parts from New York to Alexandria. This confirms the supposition that the traffic at the moment runs, greatly spread out over the area between St. Paul's Rocks and the Brazilian coast.

As there is no possibility of our own traffic being encountered in the northern section of "Route Anton" permission for attacks on isolated vessels N. of 30° N. is given, until 0000 on 19.12.

The supply situation is at the moment very tense, owing to the scarcity of tankers and the bad weather conditions. Boats are warned that supplies can only be expected on the express orders of the Command.

The outward bound steamer "Germania" escorted by 4 U-boats ran into a northward bound convoy towards 1400 in about BE 9166. As escape was not possible, the ship was scuttled by the crew of the escorting boats. U 706 was in contact last. Measures for the rescue of the crew are ordered. Success, however, is questionable, owing to the weather predominating at the moment. 5 boats are searching the place of sinking for survivors.

Of the boats detailed for the protection of the "Germania" one was near the ship. The sinking though, as anticipated, could not be prevented. How the other 3 ships were placed in relation to the ship is not known. In any case they were useless. A real support for a blockade runner could only be formed by an all round screen at a distance of 50 - 60 sea miles from the ship. With a range of visibility of 10 sea miles - a favorable supposition - 15 boats would be needed during the day, a number by no means available. But even this protection is theoretical, as, owing to the necessity of submerging in the event of aircraft, differences in fixes, deterioration of visibility, the possibility of not being able to report the sighted enemy before submerging, and other incidents, the position could be changed entirely.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.G. in Danzig.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

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

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Wednesday, 16 December 1942 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft

Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.; Freg.Kpt.d.R. Ernst HASSHAGEN) and 22nd U-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Wilhelm Ambrosius):

Dry-Run Exercises with Machinery/Mechanics; Weapons; Torpedoes.

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Soviet troops launch an offensive towards Rostov-on-Don, defeating Italian units on the Don River, with the aim to cut off our troops in the Caucasus.

Overnight and into the next morning, the US 1st Infantry Division raids Maknassy, Tunisia, taking 21 of our troops prisoners.

Following order was given to Group "Westwall", which is calculated to be E. of the Azores:
U 103 - 653 - 91 - 92 - 130 to proceed to CE 6355 to take over radar interception gear or fuel from U 463. U 155 and U 91 were to meet in CF 2711 to transfer fuel.
The other boats of the group were ordered to new attack areas:
U 106 to CF 35 and 36; U 183 to CF 37 and 38; U 155 to CF 53 and 61; U 519 to CF 62 and 63; U 564 to CG 14 and 15; U 515 to CF 39 and CG 17; U 86 to CF 66 and CG 44.

Luftwaffe sighted a convoy with aircraft carrier at 1415 in BE 8368, course 210°, high speed, while searching for survivors of the tanker "Germania". Search for "Germania" was immediately broken off, as there was no prospect of success. The boats that had been told off for this task - U 514 - 125 - 563 - 706 were instructed to attack the convoy. U 563 reported that weather prevented his carrying out the order. No further message was received by the morning. Operation was continued.

Operations against convoys No. 69-70 were badly affected by bad weather. The weather alone made very heavy demands on the boats. As successes were scored despite this weather, the crews are to be highly commended. The strength of the defenses cannot be judged in the prevailing conditions.

Boats in the area of Route "Anton" have again been informed that it is restricted, as the blockade runner "Rhakotis" was expected to pass the Equator about 16.12., on its way to the North.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) concludes Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.G. in Danzig.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115