[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 24 April, 0600h -

0735 - Qu.2332ED - Reached ordered patrol grid!
On new course 218°. Small-Ahead, 205RPM.

0835 - Morning Dawn. "All Engines Stop!".

0840 - Commencing of loading 2 external torpedoes under deck.

0900 - Incoming F.T.: From U 154:
Sank 3 tankers and 2 freighters in the area of the Greater Antilles, 28715ts. - KKpt. Kölle -

0918 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged since 23 April, 1300h.

1000 - 2 Ato loaded in the bow compartment above the floor plates. 6 internal Eto, 8 internal Ato and 4 external Ato.

1015 - Incoming F.T.: From U 459:
The following have been supplied: U-Scholtz - 35 cbm and provisions for 12 days. U-Cremer - 40 cbm and provisions for 14 days. U-Suhren approximately 25 cbm and provisions for 10 days. - von Wilamowitz-Möllendorf -

1019 - 2x325RPM/11.5kn(1/3-Ahead).

1030 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Status report: On 20 April, 1417h, Alarm from single Catalina in 230°true, on course NE, no bombs, Qu.9844DP.
On 24 April, from 0307h until 0544h, destroyed coastal convoy 2340/23 on course 98° with 2 Ato and deck gun, Qu.8959DO to Qu.8968DO, 1 patrol boat, 1 tanker, 4 freighters, 8991ts. Reached ordered patrol grid and have taken 2 external Ato under deck. 14 internal and 4 external eels. 192cbm. NNW1/1, partly cloudy, light haze, good visibility, >1000mb. Continuing acc. Op.-Orders. - RST -

1038 - Incoming F.T.: From U 553:
"GUSTAV GELB!". Convoy sighted in BE 7317, on course 20°, 8 knots, 12 ships, so far 2 destroyers distinguished. - Thurmann -

1059 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Sinkings recorded. Report imediately in case of any survivors. - B.d.U. -

1102 - F.T. from B.d.U.: To U 553:
Thurmann: Do not attack and continue outward passage.
- B.d.U. -

1111 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
On 24 April, 0545h, questioned and supplied 7 survivors in 2 boats from Small Coastal Steamer Santa Teresa, in Qu.8968DO. - RST -

1200 - Qu.2353ED - Days Run: 241.1sm - ↗ 236.8sm (22h 30') - ↘ 4.3sm (1h 30').
192cbm (9cbm/24h). Battery 9500Ah. 14+4 Torpedoes. 10.5cm: 64xSpG, 29xLkG. On course 219°. Weather and Sea unchanged since 23 April, 1300h.

1216 - Small Ahead.

1255 - Qu.2355ED - On new course 135°.

1807 - Norddeich Radio sending report about successes of the 4th Wave of Paukenschlag boats: U 552 (Kptlt.Topp) 7 ships for 45,731ts; U 754 (Kptlt.Oestermann) 4 ships for 29,309ts, and a Canadian convoy of steam tugs for 2,759ts; U 203 (Kptlt.Mützelburg) 2 ships for 14,232ts, plus the tankers Harry F Sinclair and Stanvac Melbourne torpedoed; U 571 (Kptlt.Möhlmann) 3 ships for 24,319ts; and U 572 (Kptlt.Hirsacker 2 ships for 9,532ts, and the British tanker Ensis damaged.

1843 - On newe course 270°.

2134 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged since 23 April, 1300h.

Boat patrolling ordered patrol grid.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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Saturday, 25 April 1942 - East of the American Virgin Islands -

0247 - On new course 45°.
0320 - Boat operating on ship contact report 0000/25, in Qu.3712ED, course WNW, medium speed.
Altering course to 180°, Full-Ahead.

0530 - At plotted interception point noting found. Reducing speed in order to allow dieel engines to cool down before submerging.

0538 - Shortly before diving, Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst reporting a small enemy convoy in Qu.2655ED, on course north, speed 9kn.

0540 - Diving for sound check. At Reception Depth nothing heard.

0545 - Surfacing directly from Reception Depth, after 5min. and 0.3sm. Boat returning to course 45°. Full-Ahead.

Cmdr.: I suspect that the ship contact report 0000/25, actually is this convoy reported by the B-Dienst, and that it has changed its course to north, which is the reason for us not making contact at the plotted interception point.

0704 - "Smoke Plume Ahead Stbd.30!". 3 steamers in keel line, traveling darkened. Escorts cannot be seen. Water depth here is 33m.

0732 - "Maneuver Stations!".

0735 - At E=5000 the ships can be identified:
In front in the middle two Small Passenger Ships of 1449ts each, draught 4.6m and in back a Large Ferryship of 6200ts, draught 8.5m. The forward and rear steamers are Panamanian, the steamer in the middle is identified as Mexican. The forward steamer is also painted with camouflage painting. All are traveling darkened.

0745 - 2xH.F. Boat is passing the convoy along its port beam on parallel course 0°, distance 4000m. Speed of the convoy is 9kn.

Cmdr.: My plan is to attack the large Ferryship with one torpedo and to fire a star shell in order to observe how the convoy will react. If they will start sending "SSS" and/or act in some kind of hostile manner, I will engage and sink them.

0750 - 1/3-Ahead.

0755 - Turning into the convoy on attack course 91°. Small Ahead. "Battle Stations!". Preparing boat for surface attack according B.d.U.-Standing Order No.302.

0758 - Flooding tube III.

0801 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Mützelburg: Port of Entry is Brest.
Hardegen and Loewe: Port of Entry is Lorient.
- B.d.U. -

0802 - Qu.2625ED - Single Shot with tube III: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 5.5m; Vt30; Own course 91°; Own speed 7kn ahead; Shooter: Ltnt.z.S & I.W.O. Rainer SCHEUFLER.
Target ship: Pos.3 Large Ferryship of 6200ts, draught 8.5m.
Target course 001°; Target distance 2600m; Target angle red73°; Target speed 9kn; Firing angle α 000°.

Closing tubes II. Running off on northerly heading with 1/3-Ahead.

Torpedo is a hit midships after 2min. 41Sec.!

The steamer explodes in a huge fireball across its entire length, breaks in-two and both halfs sinking in less than 1 minute. Flames linger on the ocean surface for well over 2 minutes after the sinking. Boats cannot be made out.

The other two steamers begin zig-zagging and sending "SSS". Now, also a deck gun on the stern can be made out on both steamers.

0812 - Reloading of tube III.

Cmdr.: I decide to attack the forward Panamanian steamer with an Ato and to stop the Mexican steamer for investigation, as they clearly are not transporting passengers, but have to hurry, as it is getting light very fast now.

- to be continued -