Tell us what you're up to in current campaign (lets get this one going lol)

[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)

Monday, 12 July 1943 - Indian Ocean -

Annex 2.4

Radio Messages transferred by Schliemann:

U-boat Situation.

D. Situation in Biscay:

So far, 4 losses have occurred this month in Biscay, U 126 and U 535 on return passage and U 528 and U 514 on outward passage. It is fairly certain that the first two were the victims of an enemy air attack, but there is no clue as to the cause of loss of the other 2. It is strongly suspected that the enemy has laid a form of blockade around Biscay with part of the defence forces withdrawn from the N. Atlantic, convoys concentrating in BF 70, BE 90, BF 10 and BE 30. The following facts speak for this:
1) Increased sightings of A/S vessels of all kinds (destroyers, corvettes, trawlers) by U-boats.
2) Increased sightings of destroyers and cruisers by aircraft.
3) U 650's report of a long methodical D/C hunt heard in her hydrophones in BE 90. U 450 and U 119 were probably sunk at this time.
4) The unexplained disappearance of inward and outward-bound boats in Biscay.
5) A report from Naval Attache Madrid of the sighting of 3 destroyers and one other patrol vessel in the Cape Finisterre area and off El Ferrol.
6) Enemy press reports of the blockading of Biscay by naval forces.

This organized blockade may develop into a really serious danger for U-boats. The activity of English A/S a/c already makes great demands on the battery capacity of the boats which are submerged all the time, so that sometimes the boats are forced to proceed on the surface to charge their batteries in spite of danger from enemy a/c and keep off the planes with their Flak armament. The presence of English naval forces, which, according to experience, can be brought up to the U-boats in a very short time by the a/c will mean a considerable increase in losses which are already numerous due to English a/c alone. Every effort must therefore be made,
1) To obtain an exact idea of the disposition of these light naval forces and their method of operation, so that the boats can be given routes which will evade the blockade or enable them to break through it at the most favorable points. This will have to be done by organized air reconnaissance and systematic evaluation of all Radio Intelligence reports and reports from U-boats themselves.
2) To attack and destroy anti-submarine forces reported with our own few naval forces (destroyers).
3) To combat these light anti-submarine vessels, which usually operate in two's or three's with the FW 200s available, suitably armed.

If we cannot succeed in driving the English forces off from Biscay, further losses will be inevitable. The danger is particularly serious for damaged U-boats returning. The situation with regard to combating the enemy anti-submarine aircraft by G.O.C. Atlantic Air Forces' heavy bomber formations, has not in the main changed. It must however be noted, that enemy air activity has abated considerably W. of 8° W., so that at least in this sector of Biscay, the U-boats are safer against surprise attacks. It is to be hoped, that the new ME 410s will reduce the superiority of the English Mosquitoes and Beaufighters to such an extent, that the Ju 88s operating further south will be able to carry out their sweeps with less than 8 aircraft at a time. If fewer aircraft can operate in one formation, more sorties can be flown and greater success achieved. It is probable however, that the enemy will counter the new aircraft by increasing the numbers of Mosquitoes and Beaufighters.

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)

Tuesday, 13 July 1943 - Southeast of the Mascarene Islands -

- 10th week at sea completed -

1000 - Early Morning Dawn.

1101 - Sunrise.

1200 - Qu.1293KS - Days Run: 184.9nm - ↗ 24h
Total: 12469.2nm (69tg 22h) - ↗ 12046.4nm (63tg 07h 05') - ↘ 422.8nm (6tg 14h 55')
Course 20°; 507.5cbm (2.5cbm in 24h); Battery 100%; 2xEtoFat; 8xBold.
ESE7/6, overcast, light haze, visibility ~3.5nm, ~1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 1w 2d 12h)

1206 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Supply from Schliemann completed. Compressor still faulty. 2 EtoFat, 507cbm. Continue outbound voyage according Op.-Orders. ESE7/6, overcast, light haze, visibility ~3.5nm. - RST -

1439 - Incoming F.T.: From U 607:
Air attack. Casualties. Sinking. - Jeschonnek -

Cmdr.: U 607 was previously commanded by Kptlt. Ernst Mengersen (ex U 101).

1708 - Incoming F.T.: From Schliemann:
Positioned in Marqu.4661KS bottom right.

Cmdr.: Is 27° 27' S, 62°53' E.

2140 - Sundown.

2312 - Incoming Radio Reports:

From O.K.W.:
a) After our advances at Kursk were stopped, The Führer ordered Operation Citadelle to be suspended, and told Erich von Manstein that the forces to repel the Allied thrust through Italy and the Balkans would have to be found from the Eastern Front.
b) On Sicily, the Allies were able to take the cities of Augusta and Ragusa, as well as captured the Primosole Bridge over the Simeto River by the British 1st Airborne Division, despite our heavy resistance. Meanwhile, British Air Vice Marshal Harry Broadhurst, moved his Western Desert Air Force Headquarters to Pachino, Sicily, with three squadrons of Spitfire VC fighters under his command. Over the next week, our Luftwaffe operations will be reduced from 275-300 sorties per day to less than 150.
c) In the Gulf of Kula of New Georgia in the Salomon Islands, the Japanese sank the US Destroyer Gwin and heavily damaged 3 US Cruisers, while loosing only the Cruiser Jintsu.

From O.K.M.:
a) In Bremen, the Atlas Werke AG held its final General Meeting. Shortly after, Krupp will take over Atlas's operations and will rename the company Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH.

From B.d.U.:
a) U 709 (Oblt. Karl-Otto Weber) is starting on her return passage with one battery having completed repairs.
b) U 43 (IX; Oblt. Hans-Joachim Schwantke; ex Lüth) sailed today for mining operation.
c) U 177 (IXD2; KrvKpt. Robert Gysae) and U 181 (IXD2; KrvKpt. Wolfgang Lüth) will again operate off Capetown during the next new moon period. Until then they have freedom of action.
d) "Milkcow" U 462 (Oblt. Bruno Vowe) which was to have been the tanker for the Far Eastern boats, and was to have refueled them in about FD 20, is again out of action. The Far Eastern boats will therefore have to be supplied further N. than intended, (DG 7754). As the tanker U 487's (Oblt.d.R. Helmut Metz) stocks will not be sufficient an outward-bound operational boat (U 160; IXC; Oblt. Gerd von Pommer-Esche) will have to be used as reserve tanker. It will then be possible to let all Far Eastern boats, as well as U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl), have 40 cbm and the corresponding provisions and also to supply U 527 (Kptlt. Herbert Uhlig) for her return passage. After supplying on approximately 15 July, U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) will steer for EO 20.

With this quantity of fuel the Far Eastern boats can reach Penang without difficulty, if for some reason the second supply cannot take place.

The IXC and VIIC boats at present on outward passage will have to occupy their attack areas without first refueling. For this reason the VIIC boats which have so far been replenished by the tanker are to operate in the Caribbean or off the Brazilian coast, so that the VIIC boats proceeding south without refueling can occupy the less remote sea area off Freetown. The boats should be able to arrive there with about 80 cbm. If the 3 next U-tankers to sail get through Biscay unscathed one of them will go to ER, so that the boats off Freetown can remain as long as possible in their operations area. They must start their return passage with about 20 cbm, and would thus have 60 cbm to use until then in their operational area.

The second U-tanker is to proceed as far west as possible to supply the Caribbean and American boats. Nothing has been decided yet for the last tanker to leave.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115