[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 25 April, 0930h -

0951 - Compressed Air Supply filled.

1005 - Qu.ED23 - Back in ordered patrol area. Small-Ahead.

1031 - F.T. from B.d.U.: To U 506 and U 507:
Würdemann and Schacht: Pay attention to traffic situation in the Gulf of Mexico. - B.d.U. -

1040 - Beginning of torpedo reloading.

1054 - F.T. from U 582: To B.d.U.:
Have supplied with provisions for 18 days and 55 cbm fuel from tanker. - Schulte -

1056 - Tubes II & III reloaded with G7a.

1100 - "All Engines Stop!". Beginning of external torpedo loading.

1101 - F.T. from U 582: To B.d.U.:
Was in CB 80 and 90 from 14-22 April. No traffic. On 21 April in CB 8252 Portuguese ship, course west. - Schulte -

1140 - Loaded first external Ato in bow compartment.

1200 - Qu.2385ED - Days Run: 200.3sm - ↗ 200.0sm (23h 55') - ↘ 0.3sm (05').
186cbm (6cbm/24h). Battery 9500Ah. 15+2 Torpedoes. 10.5cm: 45xSpG, 29xLkG. On course 0°. Weather and Sea unchanged since 23 April, 1300h.

1230 - Loaded second external Ato in bow compartment.
Small-Ahead.

1255 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Since 20 April, 1417h, no airplanes or ASW vessels. Today from 0805h until 0915h, destroyed convoy 0530/25. Two Panamanian and one Mexican Passenger Ships, loaded with War Materials, incl. Ammunitions, as well as, Military and Civilian Personal, on course 0° in Qu.2625ED, total of 9369ts. 2 Eto hits and 1 Ato a dud. Use of deck gun. Still have 15 internal and 2 external eels, 45 rounds of 10.5 and 186cbm. NNW1/1, partly cloudy, light haze, visibility 3-4sm, >1000mb. Continuing acc. Op.-Order. - RST -

1302 - Incoming F.T.: From U 402:
No traffic since 19 April in CA 98 and 99 and south of this. Slight air patrol observed.
- Freiherr von Forstner -

1305 - Diving for Torpedo Maintenance and Trial Dive.

1306 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Congratulations! Excellent Results! - B.d.U. -

1310 - At T=50. Beginning of Torpedo Maintenance.

1440 - Both bow Eto serviced.

1453 - O₂ = 20%.

1635 - Both stern Eto serviced.

1640 - Beginning of Trial Dive acc. B.d.U.-Standing Order 507. 135rpm/3kn.

1700 - Boat is safe and secure at 2A-Meter.
Setting for Reception Depth.

1719 - At Reception Depth.

1725 - Surfaced after 4h 20min. and 12.4sm.
Weather and Sea unchanged since 23 April, 1300h.

1730 - Charging batteries (8900Ah): Port Diesel Propulsion 285RPM/8kn; Stbd.Diesel Charging 496RPM.

1740 - Boat ventilated.

1801 - Norddeich Radio sending report about air raid on Lübeck during the night of 24-25 April, 204 dead and many injured.

1845 - Batteries charged => 1h 15' for 1100Ah.

1850 - 1/3-Ahead. On course 138°.

2030 - 325RPM/11.5kn.

2122 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged since 23 April, 1300h.

2303 - On new course 180°.

Boat operating acc. Op.-Order as per F.T.0907/23.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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Sunday, 26 April 1942 - Lesser Antilles -

- Third week at sea completed -

0141 - On new course 153°.

0727 - Qu.3755ED - On new course 180°.

0810 - Morning Dawn.

0846 - Qu.3785ED - A Colombian Colonial Freighter of 2540ts, bearing 22°, on course 350°, 5kn, E=5500.

0850 - Running to, on course 270°.

0855 - At E=3000, own speed 1kn. "Manning Deck Gun!".

0900 - At E=2200, firing a star shell over the steamer.
Steamer answers by firing with her stern deck gun and sending "SSS".

"Weapons Free!". With her third round, the steamer scores a near hit on the port side in the area of the diesel engines. The port diesel engine is knocked off-line for about 1 minute. After this, the steamer deck gun stops firing for the most part of the engagement but resumes again later on.

The final hit scored on the steamer, causes the stern deck gun ammunition to explode, setting the entire ship on fire. After 19 shots and 13 hits (Remaining 26SpG/28LkG), the steamer breaks in-two in a huge explosion and both halfs sinking in flames of fire. The flames linger on the ocean surface for about 3 min. after the steamer has sunk.

0908 - The port diesel is back online. Running to the sinking position - nothing found!

0910 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged since 23 April, 1300h.

0920 - Running off on southerly heading, 325RPM/11.5kn.

0939 - Qu.3785ED - "ALARM!". 2-3 pair of Catalina's approaching from 140°true, are already fairly close. Machine Gun fire. During the diving process several well placed bombs. Water entry in the Control Room, the Main Bilge Pump and the F.T.-Equipment are damaged.

0943 - Restored trim at A-Meter. The Water Entry in the Control Room is repaired.

0948 - The Main Bilge Pump is repaired. The whole time more bombs are dropped at and around our diving position.

1001 - The F.T.-Equipment is repaired.

1003 - Commencing Trial Dive acc. B.d.U.-Standing Order 507.

1009 - At A+35, the Pressure Hull is cracking. Blowing tanks (0.5 Atü) and setting for Reception Depth.

1018 - Restoring trim at T=50.

1020 - Commencing of Torpedo Maintenance.

Cmdr.: I decide to do the required torpedo maintenace now, as it also serves as somewhat of a distraction for the crew.

1113 - O₂ = 20%.

1150 - Stern tubes serviced.

1200 - Qu.3788ED - Days Run: 197.4sm - ↗ 178.2sm (17h 19') - ↘ 19.2sm (6h 41').
181cbm (5cbm/24h). Battery 9500Ah. 15+2 Torpedoes. 10.5cm: 26xSpG, 28xLkG. On course 178°. T=50.

- to be continued -