Tell us what you are upto in your current campaign

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Krolm

July 4th 1943 Patrol 3
Miraculously made it out alive from a convoy that had 10 escorts i think the trick is to attack the convoy from within. Sadly forgot to set the torpedoes to impact and one torpedo ran under the ship lost out on potential 12000 GRT must settle with 8000 GRT Overall not worth it

WOW, 10 escorts!!! How did you manage that?

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

+++++

Wednesday, 5 November 1941 - Lorient (Qu.6157BF) -

Clearing out of boat:

94.1cbm (+2cbm Reserve); 8 external Ato;
10.5cm: 150xSpG+30xLkG; M.G.-C/30-2cm: 8000PbG.
Discharging of battery (7700Ah).
Placing boat in dry dock for Shipyard Overhaul.
Routine work by the crew throughout.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

+++++

Thursday, 6 November 1941 - Lorient

The totals of this 2nd war patrol with U 113 and 14th war patrol overall are:

Traveled surfaced: 5461.3sm - 29 days, 17h, 41min.
Traveled submerged: 118.0sm - 2 days, 16h, 49min.
Traveled total: 5579.3sm - 32 days, 10h, 30min.

Total of 4 merchants for 18091ts sunk and 2 Ore-Freighters for 8157ts torpedoed.

Of that from Op. against convoy 0710/15 (perhaps, detached from HX.153):
3 steamers of 15812ts sunk and 2 steamers of 8157ts torpedoed.

Independently travelling ships:
1 steamer of 2279ts sunk.

Torpedo hits: 8 (4 Eto and 4 Ato).
Torpedo misses: 2 Eto on zig-zagging steamer.
Torpedo failures:
- 4 Eto (Pi-G7H) understeered in high sea. Of these:
- 1 Eto was not serviced yet after leaving port and
- 1 Eto was subject to high water pressure due to an open torpedo tube, when the boat had to dive from an approaching destroyer.

Crash Dives: 1 from a destroyer.

Depth Charges: 182 - no damage.

Pressure hull: 100% (Accumulated: 0%).

Honour points: 1521.84 (Accumulated: 27066.89).

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

+++++

Thursday, 6 November 1941 - Lorient

The totals of this 2nd war patrol with U 113 and 14th war patrol overall are:

Traveled surfaced: 5461.3sm - 29 days, 17h, 41min.
Traveled submerged: 118.0sm - 2 days, 16h, 49min.
Traveled total: 5579.3sm - 32 days, 10h, 30min.

Total of 4 merchants for 18091ts sunk and 2 Ore-Freighters for 8157ts torpedoed.

Of that from Op. against convoy 0710/15 (perhaps, detached from HX.153):
3 steamers of 15812ts sunk and 2 steamers of 8157ts torpedoed.

Independently travelling ships:
1 steamer of 2279ts sunk.

Torpedo hits: 8 (4 Eto and 4 Ato).
Torpedo misses: 2 Eto on zig-zagging steamer.
Torpedo failures:
- 4 Eto (Pi-G7H) understeered in high sea. Of these:
- 1 Eto was not serviced yet after leaving port and
- 1 Eto was subject to high water pressure due to an open torpedo tube, when the boat had to dive from an approaching destroyer.

Crash Dives: 1 from a destroyer.

Depth Charges: 182 - no damage.

Pressure hull: 100% (Accumulated: 0%).

Honour points: 1521.84 (Accumulated: 27066.89).

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

+++++

Friday, 7 November 1941 - Lorient

B.d.U. Assessment:

This was the second war patrol of this boat and crew. This war cruise was hampered by bad weather and much increased ASW capabilities of the enemy, who has equipped its escort vessels with 3000m and 7000m range radar. The boat and crew experienced its "baptism of fire", with nearly 200 depth charges being dropped on the boat. It has to be noted, that the boat did not experience any damage from these attacks, because of the exemplary behavior and skill of the commander and crew. It is also noteworthy, that the boat did not encounter any enemy airplanes, throughout the entire patrol. As it was not possible to load the external torpedoes under deck due to weather, the commander made the best of the opportunities that he was presented with. He also, sighted three further convoys and managed to keep contact and send shadowing reports. The sinking of 4 steamers of 18091ts and torpedoing 2 steamers of 8157ts, is a fine success.

Karl Dönitz

Vizeadmiral & B.d.U.

[ConvoyHunting]

Second patrol of U-64, part. I

07.06.1940
20:28 - Leaving Wilhelmshaven harbour, course 323 at 10Kts. Clouds overcast, visibility moderate, wind 6mps 357

12.06.1940
AF7877
20:50 - Visual contact with british medium cargo, bearing 062 at 7Kts. Since she was unarmed, we fired two torpedoes during surfaced night attack. One hit, one miss. Sunk for 5647 tons. Course 248 at 11Kts. Fuel 95, torpedoes 20. Clouds clear, visibility moderate, wind 7mps 320.
AF7798
22:52 - Short signal transmission send to BDU : 2252/12/52 BB BWM LBDF EIWI VENW LJEC HGQK LJSU QOIZ GOMV CONZ YAC BWM
23:19 - HF transmission received from BDU : "RADIO MESSAGE ACKNOWLEDGED - CONTINUE ASSIGNED OPERATION"

17.06.1940
AM8777
23:27 - HF transmission received from BDU : "U-52 REPORTED CONVOY AM0182 - COURSE ESE AT 8KTS - U-52 SENDING BEACON SIGNALS TO UBOOTE NEAR LOCATION".
We are obviously too far to take part to the chase. Fuel 85, torpedoes 20. Course 178 at 10Kts. Clouds partial, visibility moderate, wind 1mps 191.
BF1745
12:52 - HF transmission received from BDU : "KONDOR REPORTED CONVOY BF1278 - COURSE NE 7KTS - SENDING BEACON SIGNALS"

19.06.1940
BF7479
20:41 - Visual contact with unarmed french medium cargo, bearing 008 at 9Kts. Fired one torpedo during submerged attack, one hit. Then engaged with deckgun on surface to finish her. Sunk for 4517 tons. Fuel 80, torpedoes 19. Course 177 at 11Kts. Clouds clear, visibility unlimited, wind 0mps 37.

20.06.1940
CG2122
04:31 - HF transmission send to BDU : 0431/20/71 BJQ JPIY UCRN BDFM ZYPC CSJQ HQOG NTFG TFBN FTBX YTXC SZTW JYNX YVQY KUWO KKOG EDRT G BJQ
05:04 - HF transmission received from BDU : "TRANSMISSION ACKNOWLEDGED - CONTINUE OPERATION"

21.06.1940.
CG8113
16:12 - Operation area reached. Fuel 80, torpedoes 19. Course 180 at 6Kts. Clouds clear, visibility moderate, wind 2mps 126.
CG1852
21:40 - Position reported to BDU via short signal transmission : 2140/21/19 BB SFH BPAY RTWQ UTJ SFH
22:13 - HF transmission received from BDU : "SHORT SIGNAL ACKNOWLEDGED"


22.06.1940
CG8254
08:59 - Spotted two ennemy aircrafts. Crashdive. Aircrafts bombed us with depthcharges. Minor damages on flak gun, hull integrity 99%. Course 180 at 4Kts.

23.06.1940
CG9156
05:18 - Visual contact with two neutral brazillian ships, one small merchant and one small tanker. Bearing 323 at 5Kts. Dived to avoid contact. Course 270 at 7Kts. Clouds clear, visibility moderate, wind 14mps 165.

24.06.1940
CG8546
19:03 - Clouds overcast, precipitation heavy, visibility poor, wind 15mps 345. Course 000 at 3Kts.
19:20 - Short weather report transmission send to BDU : QQ241902Z N IYRO JAPM YOGL EVFN QMEC RKG
19:49 - HF transmission received from BDU : "SHORT WEATHER REPORT ACKWNOLEDGED - CONTINUE OPERATION"

26.06.1940
CG8655
11:50 - HF transmission received from BDU : "AREA N OF 5880 AND E OF 0300 IS CLOSED TO ALL UBOOTE AT SEA BECAUSE OF LUFTWAFFE OPERATION"

28.06.1940
CG8697
01:32 - HF transmission received from BDU : "B-DIENST REPORTED LOCATION OF ENNEMY CONVOY IN CG95 - COURSE NW AT 7KTS".
CG8666
04:48 - Visual contact with british medium cargo, course ESE at 6Kts. Unable to identify if she was armed or not. Chasing ennemy cargo to find a good spot for a submerged attack ahead. Fired two torpedoes, two hits. Sunk for 4798 tons.Fuel 75, torpedoes 17. Course 000 at 5Kts. Clouds partial, visibility moderate, wind 0mps 43.
CG8664
07:35 - Visual contact with unarmed british tramp steamer, course ESE at 5Kts. This is very small prey, but the weather condition was favourable for a surfaced attack with deckgun. Sunk for 2657 tons.
CG8655
15:00 - Aircraft spotted, crashdive. No sounds of depthcharges. Course 270 at 3Kts.
CG8646
20:33 - HF transmission send to BDU : 2033/28/121 LHV KTVP NDDV OSPO JKZU SDBH ZKQT RHVF SWJE JTYT HQMG FRTP ZJJE ILGH XTID CMQJ UDKC WBVF BOYF VYOR MVTH GDFT SJNN FYHW YULP GHHY CGCY OKEQ HTBO CZX LVH
20:58 - HF transmission received from BDU : "TRANSMISSION ACKNOWLEDGED - CONTINUE ASSIGNED OPERATION"

29.06.1940
CG8634
09:08 - HF transmission received from BDU : "COHAUSZ IN U-A SPOTTED AND ALREADY ENGAGED CONVOY IN CG7723 - COURSE NW AT 6 KTS"
CG8625
14:59 - HF transmission received from BDU : "0908/29 CONVOY - LAST REPORTED POSITION CG7422 - ZIGZAGGING"

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

+++++

Friday, 7 November 1941 - Lorient

B.d.U. Assessment:

This was the second war patrol of this boat and crew. This war cruise was hampered by bad weather and much increased ASW capabilities of the enemy, who has equipped its escort vessels with 3000m and 7000m range radar. The boat and crew experienced its "baptism of fire", with nearly 200 depth charges being dropped on the boat. It has to be noted, that the boat did not experience any damage from these attacks, because of the exemplary behavior and skill of the commander and crew. It is also noteworthy, that the boat did not encounter any enemy airplanes, throughout the entire patrol. As it was not possible to load the external torpedoes under deck due to weather, the commander made the best of the opportunities that he was presented with. He also, sighted three further convoys and managed to keep contact and send shadowing reports. The sinking of 4 steamers of 18091ts and torpedoing 2 steamers of 8157ts, is a fine success.

Karl Dönitz

Vizeadmiral & B.d.U.

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

+++++

Saturday, 8 November 1941 - Lorient

Awards & Promotions:

The Commander was awarded with the German Cross in Gold!

The XO, OFähnr.z.S. Udo HARTENSTEIN was promoted to Ltnt.z.S., and Quartermaster Otto TOTENHAGEN, was promoted to Chief Quartermaster!

The XO, the Chief Quartermaster and the L.I., Ltnt.-Ing. Fritz FRIEDERICHS, were awarded with the U-boat War Badge!

The 2nd Sea Watch, was awarded with the Iron Cross 2nd Class!

The crew is given leave of 4 weeks at home, in shifts of 2 weeks each.

Second war patrol with U 113 and 14th war patrol overall completed.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

[WolfyBrandon]

U-957 Reporting In...



It's been a while, but now that I'm back on vacation I have the time to play again.

-----------------------------------------------------

The U-957 headed out for her second patrol on July 14th, 1941 at 1:45am, and returned back at Brest on July 29th, 1941 at 8:50pm.

Headed to Patrol Grid CG89 just west of the Strait of Gibraltar.

Managed to sink a few merchants on the journey headed south to the patrol grid.

After patrolling CG89 for 24 hours, moved into the the Straight and caught a large target headed west out of the straight...

Sadly the target turned out to be Neutral (Spain), so had to watch it pass.

July 25th, 1941 - Intercepted a convoy around 10:30pm in patrol grid CG88, got into position ahead of the convoy and let the lead destroyer pass overhead. Maneuvered to position near the center of the convoy and found a high priority target.

Tube 1 & 2... LOS!

Tube 1 impacted the forward magazine causing a massive explosion which turned out to be fatal.

Sank a few more merchants then dove to 90 meters with silent running and broke contact from the convoy before the escorts could locate me.

Did some calculations on the map and was able to re-intercept the same convoy again the following day.

Was able to sink both a CAM-Ship and Empire-type Freighter before having to evade the escorts who were not happy about being attacked for the second time.

After being rocked slightly from depth charges then listening to the escorts fade away on the hydrophone, I broke away and plotted the return trip home. Along the way the watch crew reported ship spotted which turned out to be a small allied merchant. Seeing it was unarmed I had the crew man the deck gun and use some high explosive rounds to send her to the bottom

Shortly after sinking the merchant and returning to the course headed home, the watch crew shouted "Aircraft Spotted!"

Damn, the merchant must have radioed in the surface attack, ALARM! Crash Dive!

Well looks like the survivors from the merchant will be taken care of. Waited a few hours then surfaced and continued the trip home.

July 28th, 1941 - Caught up to another merchant during the trip home, this time at night during a storm. Sent two torpedoes her way - both hit causing a quick sinking.

Returned back at Brest on July 29th, 1941 at 8:50pm (First Picture). It was a great patrol sinking 11 Merchants & 1 Light Cruiser for a total of 63,956 tons, and also received a few awards...

WolfyBrandon

[ConvoyHunting]

Since my last career crashed, I started a new one with Klaus Scholtz and the U-108.


First patrol - Part I.

01.04.1941
Lorient
18:29 - Put to sea for first war patrol from Lorient. Up to Point II with escort.

02.04.1941
Bay of Biscay
BF5241
09:44 - Dive test to 40m.

03.04.1941
BF4334
02:13 - Dived because of rain and bad weather conditions. Clouds overcast, precipitation medium, visibility poor, wind 15mps 23.
BF1946
16:32 - No Improvement of weather conditions. Clouds overcast, precipitation medium, visibility poor, wind 15mps 129.

04.04.1941
BF1598
01:03 - Improvement of weather conditions. Radio switched to "Ireland" circuit. Clouds partial, visibility moderate, wind 6mps 30.
BF1552
06:20 - Crash dive for training. Flooding trainging.
BF1138
16:14 - Incoming transmission from BDU : KONDOR REPORTED LARGE CONVOY BF1799 - COURSE E AT 7KTS.

05.04.1941
AM8743
03:38 - Dived because of high waves and strong wind. Clouds overcast, visibility moderate, wind 15mps 131.
AM7861
20:43 - Incoming transmission from BDU : B-DIENST REPORTED LARGE CONVOY BF2121 - COURSE ENE AT 7KTS.

06.05.1941
AM7235
08:31 - Crash dive for training.

07.04.1941
AM4571
00:38 - Dived because of heavy precipitation and poor visibility, wind 14mps 209.
AM4158
16:15 - Clouds overcast, precipitation heavy, visibility poor, wind 14mps 339.

08.04.1941
AL0397
02:53 - No improvement of weather conditions.Clouds overcast, precipitation heavy, visibility poor, wind 7mps 269.
AL0344
18:04 - Clouds overcast, precipitaiton medium, visibility poor, wind 15mps 122.

09.04.1941
AL3764
04:43 - Stil no improvement of weather. Clouds overcast, precipitation medium, visibility poor, wind 15mps 115.
AL3912
14:41 - At last, return of decent weather conditions. Clouds clear, visibility moderate, wind 5mps 337.

10.04.1941
AL2763
06:56 - Crash dive for training. Flooding training.
AL2752
08:02 - Visual contact with warship, supposed to be a british Flower Class. Course N at 10Kts. Dive.
08:05 - Sound contact with at least ten ships, moving slow bearing 333. Surely a convoy !
08:29 - New visual contact with Flower Class warship through observation periscope.
08:42 - Visual contact with one ore carrier, Empire freighter and Granville freightr with observation periscope, range 3885m. General speed 5Kts.
08:45 - Suspision of being spotted by Flower Class, ramed againt us. Fired two torpedoes at close range, 700m. Torpedoe impact. Sunk for 950 tons.
08:51 - Dived to 80m. Heard two depthcharges explosions.
08:54 - Two depthcharges explosions.
09:08 - Back to periscope depth, fired four torpedoes at Empire-type freighter and one large merchant. Heard one torpedo impact.
09:16 - Heard four depthcharges explosions near us.
09:23 - Two depthcharges explosions, current depth 100m.
09:38 - Four depthcharges explosions. Sound contact with at least two escorts. 17 merchants ships in total.
AL2761
10:12 - Surfaced.
10:14 - Outgoing short signal transmission to BDU : 1014/10/39 BB SDH CBGI CYCZ WOPW VGXQ RZNG HRXY HRTB UCF SDH
10:43 - Visual contact lost with convoy, course 92 at 12Kts.
10:50 - Incoming transmission from BDU : SHORT SIGNAL ACKNOWLEDGED - KEEP CONTACT AND SHADOW CONVOY - SEND BEACON SIGNALS
AL2763
10:59 - New visual contact with convoy
11:00 - Incoming transmission from BDU : TO ROSENBAUM/MENGERSEN/SCHOLTZ - SCHOLTZ SHADOWING 17 SHIPS CONVOY AL2761 COURSE ENE AT 5KTS AND SENDING BEACON SIGNALS
11:41 - Forced to dive because of two Black-Swan class warships. Sound contact with rest of convoy moving slow bearing 031.
AL2739
13:35 - Starting to rain. Visual contact lost with convoy. Clouds overcast, precipitation heavy, visibilty poor, wind 15mps 53.
AL2844
15:28 - Outgoing short signal transmission to BDU : 1528/10/31 BB SDH ZTBI LQGM JAQZ AWGQ FUWG RBW SDH
15:54 - Incoming transmission from BDU : SHORT SIGNAL ACKNOWLEDGED - RETURN TO INITIAL ORDERS
16:16 - Incoming transmission from BDU : TO ROSENBAUM/MENGERSEN/SCHOLTZ - SCHOLTZ LEAVING PACK - CONVOY LAST POSITION AL2739 COURSE ENE AT 5KTS

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

+++++

Saturday, 8 November 1941 - Lorient

Awards & Promotions:

The Commander was awarded with the German Cross in Gold!

The XO, OFähnr.z.S. Udo HARTENSTEIN was promoted to Ltnt.z.S., and Quartermaster Otto TOTENHAGEN, was promoted to Chief Quartermaster!

The XO, the Chief Quartermaster and the L.I., Ltnt.-Ing. Fritz FRIEDERICHS, were awarded with the U-boat War Badge!

The 2nd Sea Watch, was awarded with the Iron Cross 2nd Class!

The crew is given leave of 4 weeks at home, in shifts of 2 weeks each.

Second war patrol with U 113 and 14th war patrol overall completed.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

+++++

Friday, 14 November 1941 - On leave

The U.S.A. are getting more and more involved in the Battle for the Atlantic. They are already escorting British convoys, which enables the British to concentrate their convoy escorts on the OG and HG convoys. Now, the U.S.A. has as of today, also started to arm its own merchant fleet. Another clear indicator, that a direct involvement of the U.S.A. in this conflict, is merely a matter of time.

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

+++++

Friday, 14 November 1941 - On leave

The U.S.A. are getting more and more involved in the Battle for the Atlantic. They are already escorting British convoys, which enables the British to concentrate their convoy escorts on the OG and HG convoys. Now, the U.S.A. has as of today, also started to arm its own merchant fleet. Another clear indicator, that a direct involvement of the U.S.A. in this conflict, is merely a matter of time.

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

+++++

Wednesday, 19 November 1941 - On leave

Telegram:
From B.d.U.:
To RST:

- TOP SECRET -

The enemy might have knowledge of our uboat dispositions. - STOP -
This might be achieved by: - STOP -
1. Disclosure/Treason (highly unlikely). - STOP -
2. Deciphering of our radio messages (is considered as out of the question). - STOP -
3. A combination of radio traffic and reports of sightings (cannot be confirmed or denied). - STOP -
4. Location (DeTe = radar) and consequent deviation (no evidence of this). - END -

[pikke]

January 3, 1940 Grid AN34
0938 In the last few days we managed to perform some proper training and functional checks.
Crew was busy identifying and fixing minor problems on the boat.
Had a small party on new year day just to raise morale a bit.
Weather has been stormy till yesterday but today the sea is very calm and visibility quite good.
We just dived for a sonar check and...surprise!...we got a contact south of us, possibly a merchant moving west.
U48 will surface again and get into visual range.
Hopefully this will be our first prey.

1006 U48 is now ahead of the target: a lone large merchant sailing West at 6 knots...we are still quite far away and cannot spot the flag...will dive soon and close in submerged to ascertain if it's an enemy ship.

1017 It's a polish large merchant! I did not think to find one around...good! We are going full to close the gap...seems unarmed...if so we will use our deck gun.

1021 No visible weapons so....up we go!

1026 Large merchant is going down!...first few shells set it ablaze...we stopped firing and got even closer...another handful of hits were enough...if only all of our preys were this easy.
U48 resumed plotted course and is now leaving the area, will go full for half an hour the slow down to one third. Nice start!

1522 AN46 Faint sound contact almost straight behind us...seems to be moving southward...turning around and closing the gap

1612 Lookouts spot a ship NE of our position heading SSW...changed our course to mantain distance while we close to her plotted course...seems another big ship...

1618 Diving for a stealthy approach. Seems like another large merchant moving at 7 knots...possibly british..if it's unarmed we will use our deck gun again.

1629 Our target is an unarmed bristish large merchant...no other sound contact in the area...U48 is now running parallel to it about 600 meters off to the starboard...time to surface and spoil their day..surface the boat!

1634 Used both deck gun and flak gun on our target...which is being rocked by secondary explosions and quickly sinking...two large merchant down and we have yet to use any torpedo.
Year 1940 is looking good so far

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

+++++

Wednesday, 19 November 1941 - On leave

Telegram:
From B.d.U.:
To RST:

- TOP SECRET -

The enemy might have knowledge of our uboat dispositions. - STOP -
This might be achieved by: - STOP -
1. Disclosure/Treason (highly unlikely). - STOP -
2. Deciphering of our radio messages (is considered as out of the question). - STOP -
3. A combination of radio traffic and reports of sightings (cannot be confirmed or denied). - STOP -
4. Location (DeTe = radar) and consequent deviation (no evidence of this). - END -

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

+++++

Thursday, 20 November 1941 - On leave

On 18 November, the British have launched a large scale offensive in North Africa (Operation Crusader), in relief of the besieged city of Tobruk, which requires every available uboat east and west of Gibraltar. Consequently, all Atlantic operations will be cancelled until the end of November.

[WolfyBrandon]

U-957 Reporting in...

Status Report: 08/21/1941
Position: CG94
Torpedoes Left: 3
Cargo Ships Sunk: 7
Warships Sunk: 2
Total Tonnage: 42,005

Patrol Grid CH75 for 24 Hours Complete. Will be returning back to base in a few days...

WolfyBrandon

[pikke]

January 5, 1940 Grid AN26
0022 U48 is now SSE of Lerwik and just got a sound contact west of us. Weather got worse: overcast, no rain yet but strong winds and huge waves. We are surfacing to get closer to the target and identify it. Must be careful though, there could be warships in this area.

0048 Ship spotted! It's barely visibile against the sky background...she is on a southward course...changing our own course slightly to SSW to position ahead of her...

0057 U48 is now diving...target is moving at 7 knots and looks like a Granville freighter...but it's still difficult to be sure...

0101 It's a Granville...will shot one eel, impact pistol, aiming for the bow.

0108 Torpedo is away...hopefully not a dud...Impact!...a bit forward but it started a nice fire...ahead full and going on parallel course

0117 She has slowed down and her nose is often under the waves, no more fire but still a lot of smoke

0140 Secondary explosions are rocking her and debris are spraying around! Down she goes!
Grid AN26 SS Victoria City (Granville-type Freighter), 4707 tons. Cargo: Phosphates. Crew: 70. Crew lost: 67

0236 Sound contact! A warship moving fast coming from the south...possibly investigating the area for survivors? Should pass some distance behind us but let's go on silent running...better safe than sorry

0252 that warship kept running northward and we didn't manage to get into visual contact...but looking at her speed it's probably a destroyer. Surfacing and moving away from this area.

1038 Ship spotted! NW of our position and coming our way at 6/7 knots. U48 is diving to periscope depth, weather is still the same so we cannot use our deck gun.

1102 Target is a british tramp steamer...it's a bit of a waste to use a torpedo on such a small target but I'm not going to waste an opportunity...raising the scope...aiming at the bow, impact pistol...fire!...down scope...Impact! Right under the mast, huge fire! Looks good. Lower the boat to 18 meters...in this choppy condition we risk to broach the surface and we are very close...going on parallel course.

1135 We've been hearing explosions for a while and now she is sinking
Grid AN12 SS Isac (Tramp Steamer), 1829 tons. Cargo: Coal. Crew: 32. Crew lost: 6

2213 Ship spotted straight ahead! Dive to periscope depth!

2216 Think we made it before they could spot us...target still on previous course, not zigzagging, no searchlights...looks like a granville roughly heading SE...it appeared out of nowhere...visibility is really poor...U48 is now turning hard to port and going full to get into a proper firing position...will use our stern tube.

2218 British Granville-type Freighter...speed should be about 7 knots...aiming at bow mast...opening tube...fire!...hard to port, let's turn around and try to get a solution for our forward tubes, I'm not that confident on this attack...impact! Just behind the funnel...must have underestimated her speed...no visible fire...let's shadow it.

2237 She is slowing down and lokks a bit lower on the water even if with these waves it's difficult to be sure.

2302 She is dead on the water and listing heavily to the starboard. U48 is circling her like a shark.

2315 Secondary explosion and big fire now visible on her stern deck...looks good

2346 Grid AN12 Ship sunk! SS Zarian (Granville-type Freighter), 4708 tons. Cargo: Coal. Crew: 45. Crew lost: 22
U48 is now surfacing and leaving the area. We will soon get to our assigned patrol area.

[pikke]

January 7, 1940 Grid AM34


0622 We completed our assigned task in Grid AN11, spent 24 hours there and we met but a lone fishing boat sailing NE. Weather conditions were, and are, still pretty poor so we let her go. I'm not going to waste a torpedo on such a target.
The lives of those fishermen were saved by nothing but clouds, wind and rain...if you think about it it's terrifying...nothing but chance, really.
U48 is now sailing on the surface to recharge batteries and about to enter grid AM34.
The plan is to spend some time patrolling nearby Stornoway and find some worthy target there.


1011 Sonar reports a sound contact: merchant, medium speed, long range but closing...look like a vessel going NE...changing our course to SE to get ahead of it...no visual contact yet, it's not raining anymore but visibility still poor.


1023 Ship spotted...seems a small vessel...too far away to properly identify...speed 9 knots...increasing our speed to get closer to her plotted course...


1032 Look like a coastal freighter...it's a pity we cannot use our deck gun, using a torpedo on such a small target...oh well, it's still a target...slowing down and slightly adjusting our course...


1039 She is zigzagging now! Either they spotted our scope or our turret broached the surface...matters not, we are close and won't miss: fire!...won't be long...impact!...got her almost under the funnel...small fires and lot of smoke...looks promising...


1053 She is sinking! She slowed down and kept burning for the last few minutes, getting lower and lower on the water...Warship contact from NE of us, changing course to NW and leaving the area submerged.
SS Frey (Coastal Freighter), 1869 tons. Cargo: Steel. Crew: 24. Crew lost: 19


1104 Destroyer on the crime scene, but too late, we are away. Will wait till she is out of visual range and then surface again.

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Thursday, 20 November 1941 - On leave

On 18 November, the British have launched a large scale offensive in North Africa (Operation Crusader), in relief of the besieged city of Tobruk, which requires every available uboat east and west of Gibraltar. Consequently, all Atlantic operations will be cancelled until the end of November.

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

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Tuesday, 25 November 1941 - On leave

Today, very strong enemy air cover is reported in the Bay of Biscay, in Qu.BF40. In the future, boats need to plan for extended submerged cruises during outbound and inbound transit through the Bay of Biscay.