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Leandros · 12-29-13, 06:51 PM

U-2502 - XXI - Oberleu z.S. Müller - Sep. 16 1944 - Bergen Approaches - Patrol 5

Left Bergen this morning. Took over U-2502 in June, now on its 5th patrol. Have had serious problems with the diesels. The first patrol went fairly well but was not able to reach its designated max. surface speed. Bumped into a large convoy west of the Hebrides. Had a good load of homing torpedoes so we were able to fight off the escorts for a while. In the end we had to dive and got away only by going under the convoy. Even after having sunk some the escorts there were still a dozen chasing us. To engage escorted convoys now seems like suicide.

Patrol 2 and 3 were disappointments. Had to turn back on both occasions due to engine trouble. Patrol 4 almost ended in disaster. Lost almost all engine power to the extent that submerging in a normal way was impossible. It simply would not go under with the low surface speed. When crash diving we got under but were not able to control the depth. Fortunately this happened before we got into the Atlantic so we humped back to Bergen.

So far everything works nicely, except for the radar which is unserviceable but our mission can turn out to be a himmelfahrtskommando - AM 68. That is in the Irish Channel. B-17's came over when we left port. Stayed on the surface, AAA was effective. Four B-17's on fire, if not by us.

Fred

Below:

1. Patrol 1 - passed own convoy when leaving Bergen - T-boot Type 37
2. Patrol 1 - the escorts were after us like wild animals
3. Patrol 1 - finally up again
4. Patrol 1 scoreboard
5. First 4 patrols

12-29-13, 06:51 PM	#4552
Leandros Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Stockholm Posts: 676 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	U-2502 - XXI - Oberleu z.S. Müller - Sep. 16 1944 - Bergen Approaches - Patrol 5 Left Bergen this morning. Took over U-2502 in June, now on its 5th patrol. Have had serious problems with the diesels. The first patrol went fairly well but was not able to reach its designated max. surface speed. Bumped into a large convoy west of the Hebrides. Had a good load of homing torpedoes so we were able to fight off the escorts for a while. In the end we had to dive and got away only by going under the convoy. Even after having sunk some the escorts there were still a dozen chasing us. To engage escorted convoys now seems like suicide. Patrol 2 and 3 were disappointments. Had to turn back on both occasions due to engine trouble. Patrol 4 almost ended in disaster. Lost almost all engine power to the extent that submerging in a normal way was impossible. It simply would not go under with the low surface speed. When crash diving we got under but were not able to control the depth. Fortunately this happened before we got into the Atlantic so we humped back to Bergen. So far everything works nicely, except for the radar which is unserviceable but our mission can turn out to be a himmelfahrtskommando - AM 68. That is in the Irish Channel. B-17's came over when we left port. Stayed on the surface, AAA was effective. Four B-17's on fire, if not by us. Fred Below: 1. Patrol 1 - passed own convoy when leaving Bergen - T-boot Type 37 2. Patrol 1 - the escorts were after us like wild animals 3. Patrol 1 - finally up again 4. Patrol 1 scoreboard 5. First 4 patrols __________________ www.fredleander.com - look in to see my new book on Operation Sea Lion "Saving MacArthur" - a book series on how The Philippines were saved Last edited by Leandros; 12-30-13 at 10:54 AM.