[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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U 115
- KTB -
First War Patrol
(17th war patrol overall)

Thursday, 24 June 1943 - Off Cape Town -

- continued from 24 June, 2210 -

2215 - Qu.5644GR top center - Wellington bomber in 240°true, E=5000, direct approach (No FuMB and Magic Eye detection). Going to A.K. A/C is attacking with machine guns only. After the fly-over, the 2cm-C/30 shoots down the airplane, which is catching fire and crashing into the sea off to stbd., the flames lingering on the water for about 1min. Boat stays surfaced and continues battery charging, Port Diesel Half-Ahead, 375RPM, 10kn.

2256 - Qu.5566GR center top - Magic Eye detection, shortly after a airplane (Hudson or Ventura) in 64°true, direct approach. Going to A.K. and hard to stbd., "Open Fire!". The airplane drops 2 bombs that too short and flies off on course SW, "Cease Fire!".

2258 - Now a Catalina is approaching from 85°true, E=4200 (no FuMB/Magic Eye detection). Going to A.K. and hard to stbd., "Open Fire!". During the first approach spot light, but no bombs are dropped (perhaps, due to the accurate Flak fire). 3 bombs underneath each wing can clearly be seen.

2259 - Sundown. After the fly-over, "Cease Fire!", interrupting charging process and "ALARM!". Catalina is turning around and approaching from 275°true, E=2600. During the diving process no bombs.

2301 - At T=75, 3 Wabos, no damages. On course 13°.

2316 - On course 270°. Setting for Reception Depth.

2325 - T=20. Battery 64.3%, Compressed Air Supply 285Atü, CO₂ 1.1%.

2332 - Surfaced from S-Tiefe after 33min. and 1.7nm. - Weather and Sea unchanged.

2336 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled.

2337 - Charging batteries (64.3%): Stbd.-Diesel Charging 496RPM; Port-Diesel Propulsion 285RPM/8kn.

2339 - Right after manning the 2cm-Flak Gun, FuMB-Detection and right after a Catalina in 187°true, E=6000, direct approach, spot light. "Open Fire!". During the first approach no bombs are dropped, 3 bombs underneath each wing can clearly be seen.

2342 - After Magic Eye detection, a second airplane appears and drops 3 Wabos wide to port and behind the boat.

2343 - "ALARM!". During the diving process no bombs. At T=55, 2 Wabos.

2346 - At A-Meter, another 2+1 Wabos. No damages.

2354 - Setting for Reception Depth.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

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

+++++++

U 115
- KTB -
First War Patrol
(17th war patrol overall)

Friday, 25 June 1943 - West of the Cape of Good Hope -

0003 - T=20. Battery 62.9%, Compressed Air Supply 285Atü, CO₂ 1.2%.

0053 - Surfaced from S-Tiefe after 1h 10min. and 3.4nm. - Weather and Sea unchanged.

0057 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled.

0058 - Charging batteries (62.9%): Stbd.-Diesel Charging 496RPM; Port-Diesel Propulsion 285RPM/8kn.

0115 - Qu.5562GR bottom right - FuMB-Detection in 87°true, E=8700. Interrupting charging process (65.7%). Shortly after an airplane approaching from 87°true, is already fairly close. Going to A.K. and hard to port. The airplane (Hudson or Ventura) is dropping 3 bombs behind the boat and flies off on course SW.

Pressure Hull sustained 2% damage (Total 13% => 87% of 230m => 200.1m safe diving depth).

0118 - Boat stays surfaced. On course 270°. 2xH.F.-Ahead

0140 - Charging batteries (65.7%): Stbd.-Diesel Charging 496RPM; Port-Diesel Propulsion 285RPM/8kn.

0147 - Port-Diesel Propulsion 375RPM/10kn.

0157 - Qu.5561GR bottom right - Hudson or Bolo in 164°true, is already fairly close, flying over the boat without attacking (no FuMB/Magic Eye detection). The airplane is approaching the boat again from NW. Interrupting charging process (70.0%) and going to A.K. 2 bombs fall wide to stbd., no damages. The airplane flies off on course ENE, and is out of sight at E=4000. Suspect that the A/C had no radar fitted, which may explain not sighting the boat at first and the inaccurate bomb attack.

0212 - Boat stays surfaced. Charging batteries (70.0%): Stbd.-Diesel Charging 496RPM; Port-Diesel Propulsion 285RPM/8kn.

0228 - Port-Diesel Propulsion 375RPM/10kn.

0230 - Batteries charged 75% (74.3% acc. gauge).

0415 - Port-Diesel Propulsion 285RPM/8kn.

0445 - Qu.5551GR - bottom right - Batteries fully charged: 2h 33min. for 30%). 2x1/3-Ahead, 285RPM, 10kn. On course 180°.

0505 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Continued from F.T.1155/24: Steamers leaving Cape Town run from Qu.5621GR center left, on course 200° to Qu.5646GR centr left. From 24.6., 1500 until 25.6., 0200, U-Hunt with A/C and up to 10 escorts. Damage to hull, safe diving depth 200m. On 24.6., 2215, shot down one Wellington bomber in Qu.5644GR top right. Still have 2 EtoFat and 460cbm. Continue outbound transit acc. Op.-Orders. SSE4/3, clear, visibility 4-5nm, >1000mb. - RST -

1058 - Qu.5851GR - On course 130°.

1200 - Qu.5855GR - Days Run: 163.6nm - ↗ 147.8nm (13h 23') - ↘ 15.8nm (10h 37')
Total: 9058.7nm (51tg 22h) - ↗ 8672.8nm (45tg 19h 52') - ↘ 385.9nm (6tg 02h 08')
Course 130°; 459cbm (2cbm in 24h); Battery 100%; 2xEtoFat; 8xBold.
SSE4/3, clear, visibility 4.5nm, >1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 37h) - Early Morning Dawn -

1209 - Incoming Radio Reports:

From O.K.W.:
a) On 22 June, 60 British Lancaster bombers attacked factories at Friedrichshafen. The enemy had planned to attack a factory producing radar parts, but in actuality it is manufacturing parts for V-2 rockets.
b) Riots fueled by racial tension are finally under control in Detroit, Michigan, after three days of violence committed by both whites and African-Americans. During this period, 34 were killed (9 whites, 25 African-Americans), about 500 were wounded (about 75% African-Americans), more than 1,800 were arrested (about 80% African-Americans), and US$2,000,000 worth of damage were done to property.

From B.d.U.:
After an evaluation of the latest experiences on the Biscay passage, the boats receive the following directions in Standing Order No. 13, issued on 22 June 1943.
A. The procedure of U-boats in approach and operational areas depends to a great extent on the appearance, behavior and numerical deployment of the enemy U-boat chaser planes equipped with radar apparatus. Attacking tactics, time and place of the enemy operational concentration constantly changes and this, as soon as known, necessitates an alteration in the tactics of the U-boats and a continuous unavoidable amendment of the orders accordingly.
As far as possible, a certain report of enemy air force dispositions in the North Atlantic will be transmitted regularly.
B. The greatest danger to the U-boat lies in the surprise attack of aircraft locating by radar. Danger of surprise consists:
By day: In medium to heavy cloud, low-lying cloud, medium to poor visibility.
By night: In clear peaceful weather, bright moon light, phosphorescence on the sea.
Unfavorable for an attacking aircraft is: clear cloudless weather with good visibility or thick fog by day; further: changeable, stormy nights, in which the rough confirmation of the boat is possible with the radar apparatus, but the location of its exact position, speed and course and a therefore precise placing of the bombs, is greatly complicated.
C. The following principles are laid down:
Proceed with greatest caution on passage and in the waiting position in the operations area. Avoid losses.
If operations on a decided target are being carried out, then act with dash and determination, in spite of threatening aircraft activity, remain on the surface and beat off aircraft if necessary.
See also Standing Order No. 181, Section C and Appendix 1.
It is ordered in this connection:
1) a) On the out and return passage in the Biscay area as far as 18 W and outward passage Home Waters to North Atlantic as far as upper third of Naval Grid AL, boats must proceed principally submerged. Surface only to recharge batteries and ventilation of the boat generally only by day.
If daylight passage appears inadvisable owing to especially strong air activity, unfavorable visibility and defence conditions, proceed at night (See Section B).
If the visibility is sufficiently good to make surprise impossible, surface passage by day is permissible. Then, however, proceed at high speed, to gain distance.
1) b) On putting in routes, boats are to proceed on the surface. Submerge only in the event of acute danger from the air. Boats put out in the morning and put in the evening, so that the approach routes are passed during the daytime.
See Standing Order No. 483, Section D, para. 1).

- to be continued -