[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, 23 April 1942 - NE of Barbuda -

0052 - O₂ = 20%.

0603 - O₂ = 19%.

0820 - At Reception Depth.

0822 - S-Tiefe. Weather and Sea appear to be unchanged.

0830 - Incoming ship contact report of a neutral ship in Qu.9947DO, on course NW, medium speed.

Surfaced after 10h 10min. and 29.7sm.
N7/6, overcast, drizzle, hazy, poor visibility, <1000mb.

0833 - Boat ventilated.

0843 - Compressed Air Supply filled. Battery 6000Ah. 2x325RPM/9kn.

0903 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged since 22 April, 0830h.

0907 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
For Commanders eyes only!
To all boats of 2nd/12th U-Flotilla: If still possible, enter the fuel point Port-of-Spain and sink tankers. ACHTUNG: Do NOT enter via the south entrance as it is mined. Enter through the north entrance. Beware of the coastal batteries. - B.d.U. -

1025 - It is stopping to rain and clearing up somewhat. Wind and Sea are decreasing, as they shift West.

1200 - Qu.9955DP - Days Run: 154.4sm - ↗ 124.7sm (13h 50') - ↘ 29.7sm (10h 10').
201cbm (3cbm/24h). Battery 6000Ah. 6Eto+14Ato. 10.5cm: 138xSpG, 29xLkG. On course 270°. NNW4/3, partly cloudy, light haze, good visibility, >1000mb.

1207 - Light damage to forward upper deck repaired.

1300 - NNW1/1, partly cloudy, light haze, good visibility, >1000mb.

1401 - Norddeich Radio sending O.K.W. report, that on this day, Kptlt. Richard Zapp is being awarded with the Knights Cross and Kptlt. Reinhard Hardegen with the Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross.

Cmdr.: U-Zapp is also currently operating in our area.

1713 - Qu.9855DO - On new course 252°.

1805 - Charging batteries (6000Ah): Port-Diesel Propulsion 396RPM/9kn; Stbd.-Diesel Charging 496RPM.

2115 - Batteries charged => 3h 10min. for 4000Ah. 2x325RPM/11kn.

2133 - Sundown. Wind and Sea unchanged since 1300h.

2348 - Incoming F.T.2340/23: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst reporting a small enemy convoy in Qu.8945DO, on course East, speed 7k. - B.d.U. -

2357 - On new course 298°. Full Ahead, 16.5kn.

Boat operating on convoy report 2340/23. "On Maneuver Stations!".

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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Friday, 24 April 1942 - North of Anguilla -

0150 - Incoming F.T.0150/24: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst reporting that convoy 2340/23 is now in Qu.8958DO, on course 98°, speed 7k. - B.d.U. -

0152 - On new course 283°. 2xH.F.

0230 - "Smoke Plume Ahead!".

At first it appears that there are 6 steamers in 2 columns, but at a distance of 5000m it can be seen, that there are 6 steamers in keel line.

0238 - Boat on course 0°, in order to reach the luff-side and the side opposite of the moon, which will rise in about 2h.

Convoy consist of from front to back:
1. Coastal Steamer, 1174ts, draught 3.8m
2. Granville Freighter, 2010ts, draught 6.1m
3. Patrol Boat, 610ts, draught 2.5m
4. Coastal Tanker, 1250ts, draught 4.6m
5. Side-Wheeler, 2540ts, draught 4.7m
6. Coastal Steamer, 1174ts, draught 3.8m

0245 - Turning boat hard to stbd. and unto attack course 187°. "Battle Stations!".

0250 - Decks awash and preparing boat for surface attack acc. B.d.U.-Standing Order 302.

0302 - Flooding tube II.

0305 - Qu.8959DO - Single Shot with tube II: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 3m; Vt30; Own course 187°; Own speed 1kn ahead; Shooter: Ltnt.z.S & I.W.O. Rainer SCHEUFLER.
Target ship: Pos.2 Granville Freighter of 2010ts, draught 6.1m.
Target course 98°; Target distance 950m; Target angle red86°; Target speed 7kn; Firing angle α 345°.

Closing tubes II. Flooding tube III.

0306 - Qu.8959DO - Single Shot with tube III: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 1m; Vt44; Own course 187°; Own speed 1kn ahead; Shooter: Ltnt.z.S & I.W.O. Rainer SCHEUFLER.
Target ship: Pos.3 Patrol Boat of 610ts, draught 2.5m.
Target course 98°; Target distance 1000m; Target angle red67°; Target speed 7kn; Firing angle α 014°.

Closing tubes III.

Both torpedoes are hits after 59sec. First on the Granville Freighter midships and second on the Patrol Boat in the stern. The Patrol Boat explodes and sinks by the stern within 1 minute, while the Granville Freighter capzises to port and sinks on an even keel after about 2 minutes.

0308 - Blowing tanks and manning the deck gun. E=800.

0309 - "Weapons Free!". Engaging the Coastal Tanker.
After 2 shots and hits (136 remaining) - debries are flying through the air - the Side Wheeler is shining a search light at the boat and is firing with flak guns mounted on the bow, midships and stern. The rear Coastal Freighter is firing with a stern gun. At first the shots are way off but in due course getting closer.

0311 - After 17 shots and 16 hits (119 remaining) on the Side-Wheeler the rear Coastal Freighter scores a close hit. Distance now is 500m. The Flak, the Bow Torpedo Tubes and the Bow Compartment are taking some damage. The pressure hull also seems to have suffered some damage.

0312 - "ALARM!". Crash diving from firing merchants. Regaining trim at 45m and coming back up to T=20. The steamers can be heard above, running right over our position.

0320 - Back at Reception Depth, the damages to the Bow Torpedo Tubes and Bow Compartment are repaired. 135rpm/3kn.

0330 - On course 98°. Commencing loading of tubes II & III with the G7e torpedoes stored above the floor plates.

0352 - Tubes II & III reloaded. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

0355 - Commenced Trial Dive acc. B.d.U.-Standing Order 507.

0420 - Boat is safe and secure at 2A-Meter. Setting for Reception Depth.

0437 - At Reception Depth.

0439 - S-Tiefe. The Half Moon has risen in the Southeast. The steamers can seen in the glowing light from the burning tanker in relative bearing 347°.

- to be continued -