The Old Man 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
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U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Second convoy of this patrol destroyed
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kapitän
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.
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Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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- continued from 25 April, 0812h - α 017°.
0903 - Closing tubes III.
The steamer starts to engage the boat with its stern deck gun! The torpedo is a dud, hits the steamer amidships after 1min. 48Sec., but fails to detonate!
0904 - Qu.2625ED - Flooding tube II.
Single Shot with tube II: G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ); Running depth 2.5m; Vt30; Own course 92°; Own speed 1kn ahead decks awash; Shooter: Ltnt.z.S & I.W.O. Rainer SCHEUFLER.
Target ship: Pos.1 Small Passenger Ship of 1449ts, draught 4.6m.
Target course 001° zig-zagging; Target distance 1200m; Target angle red82°; Target speed 2kn; Firing angle α 011°. Closing tube II.
The torpedo is a hit after 1min 15Sec.!
Also, this steamer explodes in a huge fireball and sinks in less than 1 minute, on an even keel, generating a lot of smoke. Boats cannot be made out.
0908 - Blowing tanks and manning deck gun.
0910 - E=900. "Weapons Free!". Shooting a round of the deck gun across the bow of the Mexican steamer. At first no reaction, but then, the steamer returns fire with its stern deck gun and 1-2 Flak guns, however, the shots are way off.
0917 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged since 23 April, 1300h.
0913 - After 19 shots and 16 hits (45 remaining) with the deckgun - the 9th hit taking out the steamers stern deck gun - the Mexican steamer sinks on an even keel, also generating a lot of smoke.
"Secure Weapons!". Approached the sinking position and questioned and supplied 7 survivors in 2 boats.
0930 - Running off at high speed on northerly heading. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".
- to be continued -
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