[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 28 April, 0400h -

0500 - About 16km from the sinking position, diving for torpedo re-loading and submerged cruise.

0506 - T=50, 135rpm/3kn.

0553 - Sound contact with steamer, bearing 102°, at medium speed on course 130°, E=20000.

0600 - Beginning of torpedo loading.
Sound contact turbine, bearing 340°, fast on course 320°, E=22000.

0603 - Sound contact turbine, bearing 284°, at medium speed on course 272°, E=21000.

Cmdr.: It seems that we reached the outer defense line, about 100sm from Port-of-Spain.

0619 - Qu.9492ED - Tubes II&III re-loaded. Sound contact 0600/28 is passing our port beam on opposite course, E=3500.

0623 - Interrupting torpedo works, going to Silent Running.

0630 - Lost sound contact 0600/28, in relative bearing 200°, on course 320°, E=7000.

0644 - O₂ = 20%. Sound contact turbine, bearing 159°, fast on course 183°, E=7000 - seems to be sound contact 0600/28, now on its way back toward the main land.

0648 - Lost sound contact 0603/28, in relative bearing 200°, on course 272°, E=10000.

0652 - Sound contact 0613/28 is passing our stbd. beam on parallel course, E=7500.

0705 - Continuing torpedo re-loading.

0709 - Sound contact turbine, bearing 159°, at medium speed on course 271°, E=18000 - seems to be sound contact 0603/28.

0713 - Lost sound contact 0613/28 in relative bearing 52°, fast on course 182°, E=18000.

0719 - Lost sound contact 0709/28 in relative bearing 155°, medium speed, on course 271°, E=21000.

Cmdr.: Both patrol vessels have crossed our diving position.

0723 - Re-loaded all bow tubes.

0742 - Re-loaded both stern tubes.

0800 - Beginning of trial dive, 135rpm/3kn.

0807 - Boat is safe and secure at A+20.

0819 - At A-20. Sound contact turbine, bearing 334°, fast on course 318°, E=18000 - seems to be the same as sound contact 0600/28 and 0613/28, repeating its patrol pattern.

0838 - Sound contact 0819/28 passing our port beam on course 318°, E=5000.
Lost steamer sound contact 0553/28, in relative bearing 17°, medium speed, on course 130°.

0850 - Sunrise. Setting for T=20.

0857 - At T=20.

0858 - S-Tiefe. Wind and Sea seem to be unchanged, fog.
Lost sound contact 0819/28 in relative bearing 198°, fast on course 318°, E=10000.

0900 - Surfaced after 4h and 11.6sm.
Weather and Sea unchanged since 0210h.

0910 - Boat ventilated. Charging batteries (8200Ah):
Port-Diesel, Propulsion 396RPM/9kn; Stbd.-Diesel, Charging 496RPM.

1000 - Port-Diesel, 285RPM/7kn.

1020 - Qu.9499ED - The charging process has not yet been finished (9500Ah), when the boat is being attacked by a S-Boat with surface weapons. Direct approach from relative bearing 136°, is already very close, coming out of the fog. The conning tower is taking some damage. "ALARM!". Water depth here is 105m.

1025 - At A-Meter, Silent Running. Depth under keel is 30m.

1030 - The S-Boat is circling our diving position.

Cmdr.: I suspect that the S-Boat is the sound contact we obtained throughout the morning, last heard at 0819h. As it directly approached us out of the fog, it must also be fitted with somekind of radar equipment.

1037 - Sound contact with what appears to be a cutter of somekind, bearing 352°, on course 32°, slow speed, E=20000.

1039 - Second sound contact with a cutter, bearing 356°, on course NE, slow speed, E=20000.

1045 - Third sound contact with a cutter, bearing 359°, on course NE, slow speed, E=20000 - seems to be a fishing trawler fleet.

1055 - T=60.

1109 - On new course 135°.

1116 - T=20. Sound Contact turbine bearing 190° within our own baffles (can only be heard if operating the hydrophone yourself, command key-"H"). Turning rudder 15° to port, for the Sound Operator to hear the contact as well.

1121 - Sound contact 1116/28 is identified as the S-Boat still at our diving position, 6000m astern. Boat remains submerged.

1156 - S-Boat running off on course 86°.

1200 - Qu.9811ED - Days Run: 183.3sm - ↗ 152.2sm (13h 20') - ↘ 31.1sm (10h 40').
173cbm (6cbm/24h). Battery 9100Ah. 7 internal & 2 external Ato. 10.5cm: 26xSpG, 28xLkG. On course 103°. T=20.

- to be continued -

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

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- continued from 28 April, 1200h -

1214 - O₂ = 20%. Sound contact 1116/28 is running off on northerly heading.

1224 - S-Tiefe. On course 136°. Distance to sound contact 1116/28 is 20000m.

1230 - Surfaced after 30min. and 1.6sm since Etmal, and 2h 10min. and 6.5sm in total.

NNE6/5, overcast, rain, hazy, poor visibility, <1000mb. Wind and Sea increasing and shifting East.

1238 - Slight damage to Flak repaired.

1245 - Boat ventilated. Charging batteries (9100Ah):
Port Diesel, Propulsion 285RPM/6kn; Stbd.Diesel, Charging 496RPM.

1340 - Batteries charged => 55min. for 900Ah. 2x1/3-Ahead.

ENE7/6, overcast, rain, hazy, poor visibility, <1000mb. Water depth here is 150m.

1415 - Diving for submerged cruise.
Sound contact bearing 339°, fast on a westerly heading, about 13kn and on course 277°.

1421 - Surfaced directly from T=20, after 6min. and 0.4sm.
It stopped raining but still foggy, wind and sea shifting East.

1425 - On course 185°. Preparing boat for surface attack according B.d.U.-Standing Order No.302.

1430 - "Battle Stations!". 2xH.F.

1432 - Flooding tubes I&IV for salvo shot.

1434 - 1/3-Ahead.

1435 - Small-Ahead.

Cmdr.: Out of the fog appears a Small Panamanian Passenger Steamer of 1449ts, draught 4.6m. I decide to switch to single shots.

1439 - Small-Astern. Just before the first torpedo is launched, the steamer fires one round with its stern gun, but the shot passes well over the boat, E=700, also, has slowed down to 2kn, possibly going into reverse, and turns away to its port side.

1440 - Qu.9815ED - Single Shot with tube I: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 3.0m; Vt30; Own course 185°; Own speed 2kn astern; Shooter: Ltnt.z.S & I.W.O. Rainer SCHEUFLER.
Target ship: Panamanian Passenger Steamer of 1449ts, draught 4.6m.
Target course ~260°; Target distance 700m; Target angle green87°; Target speed 2kn; Firing angle α 342°.
Closing tube I.

Torpedo is a failure, understeers midships!

1441 - Qu.9815ED - Small Ahead. After the shot, Small-Astern.
Single Shot with tube IV: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 3.0m; Vt44; Own course 185°; Own speed 5kn ahead; Shooter: Ltnt.z.S & I.W.O. Rainer SCHEUFLER.
Target ship: Panamanian Passenger Steamer of 1449ts, draught 4.6m.
Target course ~260°; Target distance 750m; Target angle green87°; Target speed 2kn; Firing angle α 345°.
Closing tube IV. Compressed Air Supply filled.

Torpedo is a failure, understeers midships!

1442 - The steamers fires another shot with its stern gun, which misses the boat by a hair.

"ALARM!". At A-20 no damages. Breaking-off attack. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!". Boat remains submerged, running off on course 133°.

Cmdr.: The steamer seems to be stationary about 1000m astern. However, I will not expend another torpedo at this small target in such weather and sea conditions.

1510 - T=50. Reloading tube IV.

1520 - Tube IV reloaded with G7a. Continue submerged cruise at A-20, 135rpm/3kn.

1624 - O₂ = 20%.

2004 - O₂ = 19%.

2046 - Sundown.

2055 - S-Tiefe. It has cleared-up, but wind and sea are still stormy.

2057 - Surfaced after 6h 15min. and 18.4sm.
SSE7/6, clear, light haze, good visibility, >1000mb.
Battery 8700Ah, Compressed Air Supply 5.4Atü, 2x1/3-Ahead.

2114 - Boat ventilated.

2151 - Qu.9855ED - On new course 190°. It has grown dark.

2205 - Compressed Air Supply filled. Charging Batteries: Port-Diesel Propulsion, 396RPM/8-9kn; Stbd.-Diesel Charging, 496RPM.

2256 - 7sm north of Chacachacare - Lighthouse is dimmed. Port-Diesel on 1/3-Ahead.

2320 - 4.3sm north of Chacachacare - Batteries charged: 1h 15min. for 1300Ah. Small-Ahead in order to prevent any bow waves or stern wake.

2351 - On new course 220°. Passing the Bocas del Dragon, between Punta Peñas in the West and Chacachacare in the East.

2400 - 1/3-Ahead. "Maneuver Stations!".

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

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.