[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Monday, 1 February 1943 - Stettin

Conducting tactical exercises and training with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER).

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Japanese troops begin to be evacuated from Guadalcanal by destroyers.

Trapped in the ruins of a department store in Stalingrad, Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus surrenders the southern pocket along with 14 of his generals; Paulus becomes the first German field marshal to surrender to an enemy force. Fighting continues in the northern pocket, however, and 85 of the 108 transport aircraft dispatched to airdrop supplies to the northern pocket are able to do so. Meanwhile, our troops fall back from Demyansk, Russia.

The Führer's special train "Amerika" is renamed "Brandenburg".

U 175 (Kptlt. Heinrich Bruns) heavily depth-charged by aircraft in EJ 9677 on 30.1. Heavy loss of fuel, ability to dive restricted. Early refuelling from U 118 (XB; Korvkpt. Werner Czygan) planned.

U 377 (Kptlt. Otto Köhler) is on her way to Peterhead and reports constant unmistakable radar location transmission from shore (AN 1616). She is moving away to the East. Boat has been informed that she is unlikely to be picked up by shore radar at such long range.

U 584 (Kptlt. Kurt Nölke) reported that she was still fit for operations and was allocated square AL 84 as temporary attack area.

Convoy No. 4 (HX.224):
At 1231/1/2 U 456 (Kptlt. Max-Martin Teichert) reported a convoy on a N. course in AK 9117. The former "Landsknecht" boats proceeding W. should already have been a long way astern of the convoy and all "Landsknecht" boats were therefore ordered to report by short signal if they were operating against convoy Teichert. 3 boats reported and of these only U 614 was detailed. The 2 others were hopelessly far astern and will join Group "Pfeil", which is being disposed along the course of this convoy, as it is believed that this is the HX and that the SC convoy may be astern of the HX on the same route. Besides U 615, U 632 and U 257 were also detailed against the convoy.
U 456 shadowed constantly until morning. The convoy was steering a main course of 10 to 15° and was making about 8 knots. At 0344 U 456 reported that she has sunk an 8,000 GRT freighter. The convoy was in AK 6271 at 0200/2 and the operation continues.

According to agent's and Radio Intelligence reports, a convoy passed Group "Rochen" on 31.1 and another one on 1.2 on N. and S. courses respectively. Boats have once more been reminded to keep a sharp lookout.

U 518 (Kptlt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Wissmann) is to be detailed against the Brazilian coastal traffic. New approach point is FJ 30.

Cruiser Köln departs Germany for the Baltic Sea.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) commences Tactical Exercises in the Baltic Sea.

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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

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

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Tuesday, 2 February 1943 - Stettin

Conducting tactical exercises and training together with U 648 (Stahl)*, with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER). - The construction of Graf Zeppelin is stopped in Stettin. -

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The last of the Sixth Army surrender in Stalingrad. A reconnaissance aircraft is dispatched to fly over Stalingrad, confirming that all fighting has ceased.

U 514 (Kptlt. Hans Jürgen Auffermann) was off Ponte Delgada and sighted a tanker with destroyers in territorial waters, outward bound on an E. course. She could not give chase owing to damage to a flange which was causing a leak.

U 404 (Kptlt. Otto von Bülow) situation: 1 steamer, 2 small craft on a S.E. course heard in hydrophones P.M. 2.1 in BF 2432. Did not manage to attack. No convoy seen. After simultaneous location by 8 shore stations, 3 aircraft searched with searchlights. Radar range as far as BF 2425. Return passage, as forward hydroplane out of action due to striking a rock.

Convoy No. 4 (HX.224):
In heavy weather. W 8, sea 7 and variable visibility the boats continued to operate against the convoy which was in AK 6271 at 0800/2/2. The convoy was making nearly 9 knots, which confirms that it is the HX. It maintained its NNE course on the 2nd, and then changed to an E. course during the night and made for the direction of the North Channel. The convoy was shadowed continuously by U 456 (Kptlt. Max-Martin Teichert), except for short intervals. A.M. on the 2nd U 632 made contact and remained in the vicinity of the convoy until A.M. on the 3rd. She then had to break off owing to lack of fuel. U 257 also reported that she was starting on her return passage. She was informed of the possibility of refueling. U 265, coming from home, was detailed against the convoy. 4 boats are therefore still operating: U 456, 265, 614 and 257.
U 456 reported sinking a 7,000 GRT tanker. The convoy was in AL 0189 at 0700/3/2.

Convoy No. 5 (SG.19):
At 1408/2/2 U 223( Oblt. Karl-Jürgen Wächter), the most northerly boat of Group "Haudegen", sighted a convoy, course 10°. A further 9 boats, the northern half of Group "Haudegen", were detailed to operate against it and U 223 was ordered to report strength of the convoy, as it may be a Greenland convoy. She reported 5 steamers, which fact made it clear that it was the suspected Greenland convoy. Only 5 boats were therefore operated against it: U 223, 358, 707, 268 and 186.
U 223 shadowed until AM 3/2 and was then driven off by escort vessels. U 358 was also shadowing. At 0600/3 U 223 reported that she had fired 5 single shots at 0452, scored 3 hits and sunk a 6-7,000 GRT ship for certain. The convoy was in AA 3852 at 0500/3 and the operation continues.

The German Consul has reported that a convoy on a N. course was sighted in the area of Group "Rochen" off Santa Cruz and the following new attack areas have therefore been ordered: U 218 : DH 9445, U 66 : DH 9548, depth 30 miles. U 43 : DH 9684, U 521 : DH 9672, U 108 : DH 9644, depth 15 miles.

The special operation (off Peterhead) ordered for U 377 (Kptlt. Otto Köhler) has been transferred to U 376 (Kptlt. Friedrich-Karl Marks). The boat has been informed by radio. U 377 is proceeding to the Atlantic.

The following have refueled: U 125 (Kptlt. Ulrich Folkers) from U 504 (Kptlt. Wilhelm Luis), U 266 (Kptlt. Ralf von Jessen) from U 466 (Oblt. Gerhard Thäter).

U 118 (XB; Korvkpt. Werner Czygan) reported the Straits of Gibraltar fouled as ordered on 2.2.

Ettore Bastico stepped down as the Governor-General of Italian Libya, succeeded by Giovanni Messe.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Tactical Exercises in the Baltic Sea, together with U 115 (RST)*.

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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115