The Old Sailor's New Patrol Logs

[Sailor Steve]

I've said in the past that ever since my SH1 days I've been in the habit of running simultaneous careers from all available squadrons/flotillas. This is my second new career this time around. It chronicles the path of Gustav Bischoff, commanding Type IX U-boat U-38, also out of Flotilla Salzwedel (2nd), Wilhelmshaven. It's not quite so exciting as the first.

19.8.39
0722 Departed dock at Wilhelmshaven.
0745 Passed locks.
0938 Out of Jade into North Sea. Destination BF14, southwest of Ireland.

20.8.39
0630 AN3877. Course 325, 10 kts. Partly cloudy. Sea 4. Wind 7 m/s. Waves 1m.
1227 Crossed time zone GMT. Set clocks to 1127.
1307 Ship sighted.
1333 Thistlebrae class freighter.

21.8.39
0630 AN2973. Course 340. 8 kts. Clear, Sea 6, Wind 11 m/s, Waves 3m.
1647 Ship sighted. Lost sight, never identified.

22.8.39
0630 AF8422, Course 257, 9 kts. Clear, Sea 6, Wind 11 m/s, Waves 3m.

23.8.39
0630 AF7829. Course 257, 8 kts. Overcast, Sea 7, Wind 14 m/s, Waves 4m.

24.8.39
0630 AN1133. Course 257, 8 kts. Overcast, Sea 7, Wind 14 m/s, Waves 4m.

25.8.39
0630 AM3412. Course 252, 8 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 7, Wind 17 m/s, Waves 4m.

26.8.39
0215 Time change to GMT -1. Changed clocks to 0115.
0530 AM2691. Course 212, 8 kts. Light rain, Sea 7, Wind 14 m/s, Waves 4m.

27.8.39
0530 AM5183. Course 212, 8 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 7, Wind 16 m/s, Waves 4m.
1700 Weather improving.

28.8.39
0530 AM8411. Course 182, 9 kts. Overcast, Sea 5, Wind 9 m/s, Waves 2m.

29.9.39
0113 Entered BF1411, set slow speed. Weather worsening again.
0530 BF1412. Course 090, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 7, Wind 16 m/s, Waves 4m.
0738 Ship sighted.
0740 Big tanker, not far away, barely visible in mist and rain.
0849 Lost sight of him.

30.8.39
0530 BF1463. Course 180, 4 kts. Scattered clouds, Sea 7, Wind 15 m/s, Waves 4m.

31.8.39
0530 BF1487. Course 270, 4 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea 7, Wind 17 m/s, Waves 4m.
0800 Weather clearing.
1330 Storm has passed. Quite nice now.

1.9.39
0530 BF1419. Course 122, 6 kts. Clear, Sea 2, Wind 2 m/s, Waves 0.2 m.
1902 OKM: It's official - we're at war with Poland.

2.9.39
0530 BF1439. Course 000, 6 kts. Clear, Sea 0, Wind 0 m/s, Waves 0 m.

3.9.39
0530 BF1477. Course 000, 6 kts. Clear, Sea 0, Wind 0 m/s, Waves 0 m.
1300 OKM: Rules for shipping.
1552 FdU: War with Britain!!!
1500 Weather growing worse.
1653 War with France. Defensive actions only.

4.9.39
0530 BF1485. Course 140, 5 kts. Overcast, Sea 4, Wind 7 m/s, Waves 1 m.
1102 OKM: Passenger ships off limits.

5.9.39
0530 BF1465. Course 140, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 6, Wind 13 m/s, Waves 3 m.

6.9.39
0530 BF1436. Course 220, 4 kts. Overcast,, Sea 7, Wind 17 m/s, Waves 4 m.
1042 FdU: Avoid French shipping.
1812 Sighted 2 ships, fairly close.
1817 1st is Temple Mead class freighter.
1818 2nd is British Merit class tanker, 8300 tons.
1820 Weather very heavy. Will shadow.
1822 Freighter flagged as Russian.
2156 Lost them in the dark. Diving to 20 meters to listen.

7.9.39
0310 Repeated diving yields no sounds. We've lost them.
0530 BF1466. Course 233, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 6, Wind 14 m/s, Waves 3 m.
1824 Ship sighted.
1830 Standard freighter, 4850 tons.
1853 American flag. Too rough to stop her and investigate. Letting her go.

8.9.39
0530 BF1422. Course 000, 9 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 7, Wind 15 m/s, Waves 4 m.
1048 Have been ordered to return home. Can only hope we meet a fat target on the way.

9.9.39
0530 AM8447. Course 352, 4 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 7, Wind 14 m/s, Waves 4 m.

10.9.39
0530 AM5414. Course 000, 8 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 7, Wind 15 m/s, Waves 4 m.
1217 FdU: French-escorted convoys may be attacked.
2001 OKM: War with Canada.

11.9.39
0530 AM2876. Course 057, 8 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 7, Wind 15 m/s, Waves 4 m.

12.9.39
0327 Time change. Set clocks to 0227
0630 AM3532. Course 060, 9 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 7, Wind 16 m/s, Waves 4 m.
0753 Weather finally lifting.

13.9.39
0630 AN1125. Course 060, 8 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea 5, Wind 10 m/s, Waves 2 m.
1432 Weather increasing again.

14.9.39
0630 AF7845. Course 090, 8 kts. Clear, Sea 7, Wind 14 m/s, Waves 4 m.

15.9.39
0013 Have decided to detour south near British coast. One last chance to pick up a ship or two.
0630 AN2713. Course 180, 9 kts. Clear, Sea 7, Wind 16 m/s, Waves 4 m.

16.9.39
0630 AN4846. Course 180, 9 kts. Scattered clouds, Wind 15 m/s, Waves 4 m.
1815 Plane spotted. Dive to 20 m. Lookout Klomki thought it might be an Anson.
1819 Heard a bomb go off, far away.
2200 Surfaced.

17.9.39
0630 AN5973 Course 180, 9 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea 6, wind 13 m/s, Waves 3 m.
0710 115 km off Hull. Turning east for home.

18.9.39
0217 Wind lessened considerably, sea much calmer. First good weather in more than a week.
0630 AN6882. Course 090, 10 kts. Clear, Sea 4, Wind 7 m/s, Waves 1 m.

19.9.39
0432 Time change - GMT +1. Set clocks for 0542.
0728 Sighted land.
0730 No report. Will be home in a few hours.
0821 Entered Jade.
0947 Passed inner buoy. Speed 5 kts.
0958 Passed lock into Wilhelmshaven.
1023 Tied up at dock. Patrol officially over.
　
　
Days at sea: 32
Damage sustained: None
Torpedoes Expended: 0
Deck Gun Ammunition Expended: 0
Ships Sunk: 0
Tonnage Sunk: 0

[Sailor Steve]

Third career start.

Werner Casparie, commanding U-56, Type IIc, Flotilla Weddigen (1st), Kiel.

25.8.39
0718 Departed Tender at Kiel.
0753 Left inner harbor. Orders to patrol AO95, off Danzig.
1340 Sighted lightship off Fehmarn.

26.8.39
0715 AO7875. Course 064, 8 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea 0, Wind nil, Waves calm.

27.8.39
0715 AO8471. Course 075, 8 kts. Clear, Sea 1, Wind 1 m/s, Waves 0 m.

28.8.39
0715 AO9511. Course 090, 4 kts. Clear, Sea 0, Wind 0.2 m/s, Waves 0.

29.8.39
0715 AO9533. Course 090, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 5, Wind 9 m/s, Waves 2 m.

30.8.29
0715 AO9555. Course 270, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 6, Wind 13 m/s, Waves 3 m.

31.8.39
0715 AO9511. Course 105, 3 kts, Clear, Sea 8, Wind 20 m/s, Waves 6 m.

1.9.39
0715 AO9562. Course 105, 3 kts. Clear, Sea 8, Wind 18 m/s, Waves 5 m.
2100 OKM: War with Poland.

2.9.39
0715 AO9526. Course 255, 3 kts. Clear, Sea 8, Wind 19 m/s, Waves 6 m. We are restricting our location to the northwest corner of the grid, north of the Danzig area, squares 9511 to 9533, 9547 to 9569.

3.9.39
0134 Ship sighted. Weather has calmed considerably.
0147 Too dark to identify properly.
0150 Ordered Periscope Depth.
0156 Seems to be some kind of fishing vessel.
0202 Motor Yacht, 110 tons.
0205 Surfacing. Going to stop him. 1WO Nonnenbroich advises against this, arguing that we shouldn't reveal ourselves unless we plan to sink him. I point out that we are already at war. They know we have forces in the area.
0217 Vessel has stopped.
0220 Have closed to hailing distance. He's flying the Swedish flag.
0224 Sending Nonnenbroich over with 2 armed matrosen.
0237 Raft boat is returning.
0239 Nonnenbroich reports papers are good. Letting him go.
0242 Boat stowed, underway.
0312 OKM: We are at war with Britain!
0715 AO9511. Course 358, 4 kts. Clear, Sea 3, Wind 4 m/s, Waves 1/2 m.

4.9.39
0715 AO0522. Course 240, 4 kts. Rain, Sea 4, Wind 6 m/s, Waves 1 m.

5.9.39
0715 AO9511. Course 135, 3 kts. Rain, Sea 8, Wind 20 m/s, Waves 6 m.

6.9.39
0715 AO9555. Course 143, 3 kts. Driving Rain, Sea 7, Wind 18 m/s, Waves 5 m.

7.9.39
0715 AO9546. Course 217, 3 kts. Clear, Sea 8, Wind 19 m/s, Waves 6 m.

8.9.39
0715 AO9514. Course 000, 3 kts. Clear, Sea 9, Wind 21 m/s, Waves 7 m.

9.9.39
0715 AO9527. Course 180, 4 kts. Clear, Sea 5, Wind 10 m/s, Waves 2 m.

10.9.39
0715 AO9552. Course 340, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 7, Wind 16 m/s, Waves 4 m.

11.9.39
0715 AO9512. Course 340, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 8, Wind 19 m/s, Waves 6 m.

12.9.39
0715 AO9513. Course 090, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 5, Wind 10 m/s, Waves 2 m.

13.9.39
0715 AO9545. Course 270, 3 kts. Heavy Rain, Sea 8, Wind 19 m/s, Waves 6 m.
0809 Post boat sighted. German. Raised flag to make sure he knew our nationality. Not sure how he's doing in this weather.

14.9.39
0715 AO9519. Course 270, 3 kts. Heavy Rain, Sea 9, Wind 21 m/s, Waves 7 m.

15.9.39
0715 AO9516. Course 180, 3 kts. Heavy Rain, Sea 7, Wind 16 m/s, Waves 4 m.

16.9.39
0715 AO9515. Course 300, 4 kts. Clear , Sea 4, Wind 6 m/s, Waves 1 m.
1645 Ship sighted.
1651 Minesweeper. Ordered periscope depth.
1655 Sound has two targets.
1658 Three targets now.
1700 Ship #1 is a military barge.
1702 #2 is the minesweeper.
1708 They're ours! German!
1714 #3 is another barge. Staying submerged - who knows what they might do if we pop up next to them?
1720 Diving to 20 m, resuming course.
2109 Surfaced.

17.9.39
0715 AO9524. Course 063, 4 kts. Clear, Sea 3, Wind 5 m/s, Waves 0.5 m.
1729 Ship sighted.
1725 Another minesweeper. Probably ours, periscope depth anyway.
1732 Periscope check confirms they're ours - both of them.
2140 Surfaced. Weather steadily worsening.

18.9.39
0715 AO9513. Course 318, 3kts. Clear, Sea 8, Wind 19 m/s, Waves 6 m.

19.9.39
0715 AO9517. Course 045, 3 kts. Clear, Sea 8, Wind 18 m/s, Waves 5 m.

20.9.39
0715 AO9524. Course 045, 4 kts.
1803 Ship sighted.
1806 Two of them.
1842 Small steamer and tug boat.
1908 Turns out they're Danish. Letting them go.

21.9.39
0455 Ship sighted.
0510 Lost sight in the dark.
0522 Sighted again.
0523 Polish! We are so close I hail them immediately.
0527 Crew abandoning ship.
0532 Crew well away. Fired 1 torpedo, hit.
0543 Ship sank. Interviewed crew. SS Goulburn, 3103 tons, carrying a mixed cargo. 26 crew, well away.
0715 AO9517. Course 000, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 4, Wind 6 m/s, Waves 1 m.
1111 Started raining.

22.9.39
0715 AO9522. Course 180, 4 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 5, Wind 8 m/s, Waves 2 m.

23.9.39
0715 AO9514. Course 000, 3 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 8, Wind 19 m/s, Waves 5 m.

24.9.39
0715 AO9528. Course 000, 3 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 9, Wind 21 m/s, Waves 7 m.
2255 Diesel fuel reserve at 50%.

25.9.39
0715 AO9517. Course 000, 3 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 8, Wind 18 m/s, Waves 5 m.

26.9.39
0534 Ship sighted.
0545 Lost in the mist and rain.
0715 AO9513. Course 140, 3 kts. Rain, Sea 8, Wind 19 m/s, Waves 6 m.

27.9.39
0715 AO9527. Course 217, 4 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 5, Wind 8 m/s, Waves 2 m.

28.9.39
0715 AO9544. Course 090, 4 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 4, Wind 7 m/s, Waves 1 m.
1314 OKM: Fighting in Warsaw.

29.9.39
0715 AO9521. Course 240, 4 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 4, Wind 6 m/s, Waves 1 m.

30.9.39
0715 AO9512. Course 090, 4 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 5, Wind 10 m/s, Waves 2 m.

1.10.39
0715 AO9546. Course 270, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 8, Wind 20 m/s, Waves 6 m.
0842. FdU: Poland has fallen, ordered home.
1414 Ship sighted, moving fast. We can't catch him in this weather.

2.10.39
0715 AO9417. Course 278, 6 kts. Overcast, Sea 8, Wind 19 m/s, Waves 6m.

3.10.39
015 AO8387. Course 286, 7 kts. Clear, Sea 6, Wind 11 m/s, Waves 3 m.

4.10.39
0715 AO7833. Course 230, 7 kts. Clear, Sea 5. Wind 9 m/s, Waves 2 m.
1658 North of Fehmarn. Lightship in sight.
1722 Sighted small tanker. Ours of course.

5.10.39
0328 Sighted land.
0357 Sighted Laboe Naval Memorial.
0359 Entered inner bay, set speed 5 kts.
0604 Tied up at tender.

　
Days at Sea: 42
Damage sustained: None
Torpedoes expended: 1
Deck Gun Ammunition Expended: N/A
Ships sunk: 1
Tonnage sunk: 1303

AO9517: SS Goulburn, 1303 tons. Cargo General. Crew 26. All survived sinking, 6 lost next day in storm.

[Sailor Steve]

After taking forever to finish this next patrol, it has taken me more than two weeks to type it up. I've been busy with other things, including getting SH4 running the way I want it.

This is the first patrol for my fourth career, all running in sequence. It will be the last report here for awhile, because I'm going to be starting an SH4 career next. This one is also long and boring.

Otto Döbele, commanding U-54, Type VIIb, Flotilla Wegener (7th), Kiel.

29.9.39
1326 Departed Kiel.
1418 Exited Holtenau Lock, into Canal.
1700 Passed Rendsburg.
1910 Passed Hockdonn.
2106 Exited Brunsbuttel Lock, into Elbe. Opened orders: Am24.

30.9.39
0045 Out of Elbe into North Sea.
1038 Crossed Time Zone - now 0938.
1225 AN9387. Course 318, 10 kts. Clear, Sea 0, Wind 0, Waves 0.
1300 FdU: Prize Regulations to be abandoned.

1.10.39
1225 AN3448. Course 320, 10 kts. Clear, Sea 2, Wind 3, Waves 0.25.

2.10.39
1225 AF8777. Course 337, 10 kts. Partly Cloudy, Sea 2, Wind 2, Waves
0.25.
1313 Ship sighted.
1350 Periscope depth.
1407 Surfaced.
1408 Fishing boat.
1418 Norwegian. Resuming course.

3.10.39
1225 AF7768. Course 260, 10 kts. Partly Cloudy, Sea 0, Wind , Waves 0.

4.10.39
1225 AM3253. Course 260, 10 kts. Partly Cloudy, Sea 3, Wind 5, Waves 0.5.
1321 Plane sighted! Dove to 50m.
1500 Surfaced.
1756 Crossed Time Zone - now 1656.

5.10.39
1029 OKM: Poland has surrendered.
1125 AM3177. Course 250, 10 kts. Partly Cloudy, Sea 4, Wind 7, Waves 1.
1217 Have arrived at AM2433.

6.10.39
1125 AM2489. Course 270, 5 kts. Clear, Sea 2, Wind 2, Waves 0.25.

7.10.39
1125 AM2417. Course 000, 5 kts. Clear, Sea 2, Wind 3, Waves 0.5.

8.10.39
1125 AM2491. Course 118, 5 kts. Clear, Sea 2, Wind 2, Waves 0.25.

9.10.39
1125 AM 2432. Course 242, 5 kts. Clear, Sea 1, Wind 1, Waves 0.1.

10.10.39
1125 AM 2477. Course 239, 5 kts. Clear, Sea 0, Wind 0, Waves 0.
1842 Storm moving in. Raining

11.10.39
1125 AM2443. Course 132, 3 kts. Rain, Sea 9, Wind 23, Waves 7.

12.10.39
1125 AM 2429. Course 000, 3 kts. Rain, Sea 9, Wind 21, Waves 7.

13.10.39
0055 Rain has stopped. Sea much calmer.
1125 AM2496. Course 000, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 6, Wind 11, Waves 3.

14.10.39
1125 AM2467. Course 217, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 6, Wind 13, Waves 3.

15.10.39
0530 Storm has passed.
1125 AM2425. Course 230, 5 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea 5, Wind 8, Waves 2.

16,10,39
1125 AM2441. Course 000, 5 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea 4, Wind 7, Waves 1.

17.10.39
1125 AM2484. Course 000, 5 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea 2, Wind 3, Waves 0.25.

18.10.39
1125 AM2482. Course 152, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 23, Waves 7.

19.10.39
1125 AM2437. Course 157, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 24, Waves 8.
1453 Plane sighted. Crash dive!
1455 Level at 70 m.
1900 Periscope depth.
1903 Surfaced.

20.10.39
1125 AM2499. Course 000, 5 kts. Clear, Sea 1, Wind 2, Waves 0.25.
1606 FdU: Ordered to move to AM26.
1816 Arrived AM2633.

21.10.39
1125 AM2697. Course 270, 5 kts. Clear, Sea 1, Wind 3, Waves 0.25.

22.10.39
0559 Plane sighted! Crash dive.
0601 Just passing 60 m when bombs went off right above us.
0602 Another bomb. Safely at 70 m.
0858 Periscope depth.
0900 Surfaced.
1125 AM2678. Course 270, 5 kts. Clear, Sea 1, Wind 1, Waves 0.1.

23.10.39
1125 AM2623. Course 090, 5 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea 2, Wind 3, Waves 0.25.
1820 Ship sighted.
1822 Enemy task force! 20 km south of us!
1823 Running at full speed to intercept.
1852 Planes sighted! A pair of Swordfish. Too dark for them to see us.
1853 They've seen us! Crash dive!
1854 Bomb hit! Boat shaken badly.
1855 70 m. Damage reports main pump out of action, hydrophones out of action, radio damaged, both periscopes damaged.
1915 Their destroyers haven't come after us. Continuing to repair damage.
1920 Radio repaired.
1929 Main pump repaired.
1933 Hydrophone repaired.
1935 Sound reports no contacts.
1942 Unable to use periscopes. Surfaced anyway.
1944 Discovered heavy damage to flak gun.
2052 Observation periscope repaired.
2103 Attack periscope repaired.
2135 Radio antenna repaired.
2326 Flak gun repaired.

24.10.39
1125 AM2655. Course 242, 5 kts. Partly Cloudy, Sea 2, Wind 2, Waves 0.25.

25.10.39
1125 AM2617. Course 000, 5 kts. Partly Cloudy, Sea 3, Wind 5, Waves 0.5.

26.10.39
1125 AM2691. Course 118, 4 kts. Partly Cloudy, Sea 7, Wind 17, Waves 4.

27.10.39
1125 AM2633. Course 000, 4 kts. Partly Cloudy, Sea 8, Wind 20, Waves 6.

28.10.39
1125 AM2682. Course 000, 4 kts. Partly Cloudy, Sea 8, Wind 18, Waves 5.

29.10.39
1125 AM2672. Course 227, 4 kts. Partly Cloudy, Sea 7, Wind 15, Waves 4.

30.10.39
1125 AM2614. Course 134, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 10, Wind 25, Waves 9.

31.10.39
1125 AM2658. Course 000, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 24, Waves 7.
1928 Ship sighted. Periscope depth, closing.
1930 Looks like a destroyer and two transports.
1932 Sound reports two ships, both large.
1936 Sound confirms two transports and smaller ship.
1938 1 V-class destroyer and an armed merchant cruiser. Range 4000.
1940 Fired two bow tubes at each AMC. First two both hit. Diving to 70 m.
1941 Heard 1 hit on second target.
1953 Can hear depth charges some way off.
1958 Sound reports breaking-up noises.
2000 More breaking-up sounds, different direction. Did both sink?
2620 Have lost all sound contact.
2100 Returning to course, reloading torpedoes.
2358 Periscope depth.

1.11.39
0011 Surfaced
1125 AM2668. Course 137, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 10, Wind 26, Waves 9.

2.11.39
1125 AM2636. Course 203, 3 kts. Heavy Rain, Sea 10, Wind 27, Waves 9.

3.11.39
1125 AM2661. Course 000, 3 kts. Heavy Rain, Sea 10, Wind 25, Waves 8.

4.11.39
1125 AM2685. Course 000, 3 kts. Light Rain, Sea 9, Wind 23, Waves 7.

5.11.39
1125 AM2681. Course 207, 3 kts. Light Rain, Sea 8, Wind 20, Waves 6.

6.11.39
1125 AM2618. Course 207, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 10, Wind 25, Waves 8.

7.11.39
1125 AM2617. Course 000, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 22, Waves 6.

8.11.39
0436 Diesel fuel 50%.
1125 AM2676. Course 000, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 21, Waves 6.

9.11.39
1125 AM2682. Course 153, 3 kts. Clear, Sea 9, Wind 23, Waves 7.

10.11.39
1125 AM2629. Course 150, 3 kts. Clear, Sea 9, Wind 24, Waves 7.

11.11.39
1125 AM2638. Course 000, 3 kts. Clear, Sea 10, Wind 26, Waves 9.

12.11.39
1125 AM2693. Course 000, 4 kts. Clear, Sea 8, Wind 18, Waves 5.

13.11.39
1125 AM2628. Course 252, 4 kts. Clear, Sea 8, Wind 19, Waves 5.

14.11.39
1125 AM2646. Course 090, 4 kts. Clear, Sea 8, Wind 18, Waves 5.

15.11.39
1125 AM2668. Course 357, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 6, Wind 12, Waves 3.

16.11.39
1125 AM2677. Course 252, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 7, Wind 14, Waves 4.

17.11.39
1125 AM2622. Course 117, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 7, Wind 15, Waves 4.
1230 BdU: Ordered to Grid AM01.

18.11.39
1125 AM2277. Course 237, 7 kts. Rain, Sea 9, Wind 20, Waves 7.
1211 Entered AM0133.

19.11.39
1125 AM0197. Course 270, 5 kts. Light Rain, Sea 9, Wind 23, Waves 7

20.11.39
1125 AM0177. Course 000, 3 kts. Light Rain, Sea 9, Wind 22, Waves 7.

21.11.39
1125 AM0121. Course 090, 3 kts. Light Rain, Sea 9, Wind 21, Waves 7.

22.11.39
1125 AM0135. Course 345, 3 kts. Heavy Rain, Sea 9, Wind 23, Waves 7.

23.11.39
1125 AM0175. Course 345, 3 kts. Heavy Rain, Sea 9, Wind 23, Waves 7.

24.11.39
1125 AM0197. Course 090, 3 kts. Heavy Rain, Sea 9, Wind 23, Waves 7.

25.11.39
1125 AM0159. Course 297, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 21, Waves 7.

26.11.39
0252 Arrived AM2911.
1125 AM2921. Course 090, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 23, Waves 7.

27.11.39
1125 AM2963. Course 180, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 10, Wind 26, Waves 8.

28.11.39
1125 AM2988. Course 270, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 24, Waves 7.

29.11.39
1125 AM2917. Course 000, 3 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 23, Waves 7.

30.11.39
1125 AM2959. Course 118, 3 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 9, Wind 22, Waves 7.

1.12.39
1125 AM2936. Course 000, 3 kts. Heavy rain, Sea 9, Wind 23, Waves 7.
1654 Diesel fuel down to 25%. Heading home.

2.12.39
1125 AM5542. Course 055, 9 kts. Rain, Sea 10, Wind 26, Waves 8.
1836 Time Zone change - now 1936.

3.12.39
1225 AM3295. Course 073, 8 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 24, Waves 7.

4.12.39
0140 Ship sighted.
0142 Can barely see him in the dark & fog. Appears to be some kind of freighter.
0145 He's heading away from us. Coming to course 320.
0201 Cairnesk class freighter, 5100 tons.
0207 Fired two forward torpedoes. Both hit.
0215 Target stopped.
0400 After almost two hours target shows no sign of sinking. Have waited long enough. Will deliver coup de grace.
0402 Fired tube 3.
0403 How could it miss? Fired tube 4.
0404 Hit!
0418 Target sank.
0419 Diving to 50m to reload.
0423 50m. Reloading commenced.
1225 AF7794. Course 074, 8 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 24, Waves 7.

5.12.39
1225 AF7945. Course 093, 8 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 21, Waves 6.

6.12.39
0950 Submarine sighted! Crash dive!
0955 Return to periscope depth. Can't see him anywhere.
1000 No sighting, no sound contact.
1200 Surfaced.
1225 AN2334. Course 150, 8 kts. Overcast, Sea 10, Wind 26, Waves 8.

7.12.39
1225 AN3453. Course 150, 8 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, Wind 23, Waves 7.

8.12.39
1225 AN9345. Course 150, 8 kts. Overcast, Sea 10, Wind 26, Waves 8.
1553 Crossed time zone. Time now 1653.

9.12.29
0119 Position 11 km south of Helgoland
0552 Entered Elbe River.
0952 Left Brunsbuttel locks into Canal.
1430 Passed Rendsburg Swingbridge.
1812 Exited Holtenau lock into Kiel Harbor.
1902 Tied up at tender.


Days at sea: 72
Damage sustained: None
Torpedoes expended: 8
Deck Gun Ammunition expended: None
Ships sunk: 3
Tonnage Sunk: 32,876

AM2655: HMS Circassia, Auxiliary Cruiser, 13,850 tons. Crew 131, 17 lost.
AM2655: HMS Derbyshire, Auxiliary Cruiser, 13,850 tons. Crew 174, 73 lost.
AF7788: SS Gharinda, Merchant, 5,176 tons, Cargo spirits. Crew
54, 43 lost.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Very cool, Sailor Steve. I've contemplated doing something similar.

Am holding off while I contemplate getting a new rig... have had this one since just after GWX 2.1 release.

Gawd, I hope I can avoid dealing with Windows 8. Windows 7 maybe.

Am really feeling the pull to sail again after buying the Revell 1/72 Type IXC.

Good luck over there in the Pacific.

(Speaking of which... that Revell 1/72 Gato looks pretty cool toooo....)

<Sorry for the ramble.>

[jakethescot]

Smooth sailing. I hope all of your torpedoes hit home. I'll be watching your posts, especially for the Type II, since that's my boat of choice.

Sink 'em all, Mr. Steve.

[Sailor Steve]

Hey Todd, good to hear from you again.

Originally Posted by Kpt. Lehmann

Very cool, Sailor Steve. I've contemplated doing something similar.

Anal-retentive, obsessive-compulsive...I can't help myself.

Am holding off while I contemplate getting a new rig... have had this one since just after GWX 2.1 release.

My old one was bought just for SH3 back in 2005. I'm so glad I have this new one, or else I could never do the things I want with the SH series.

Gawd, I hope I can avoid dealing with Windows 8. Windows 7 maybe.

I have 8.1, and have no troubles with it at all.

Am really feeling the pull to sail again after buying the Revell 1/72 Type IXC.

I missed it.

Good luck over there in the Pacific.

No Pacific, at least not for a long time. All my patrols are in sequence, and I'm still in 1939. My SH4 will all be with Op Monsun until I get to 1942.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by jakethescot

Sink 'em all, Mr. Steve.

As you can see my luck so far is variable, with one career start being completely dry.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Hey Todd, good to hear from you again.


Anal-retentive, obsessive-compulsive...I can't help myself.


My old one was bought just for SH3 back in 2005. I'm so glad I have this new one, or else I could never do the things I want with the SH series.


I have 8.1, and have no troubles with it at all.


I missed it.


No Pacific, at least not for a long time. All my patrols are in sequence, and I'm still in 1939. My SH4 will all be with Op Monsun until I get to 1942.

I've missed it too.

If it is okay, I might lightly pick your brain when it comes to running SH3 on Windows 8.1. (Assuming I can convince my Admiral of my need for a new rig.) in the not so distant future.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Kpt. Lehmann

If it is okay, I might lightly pick your brain when it comes to running SH3 on Windows 8.1.

Never a problem.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Never a problem.

I've seen a few posts about using Win 8.1, but mostly they seem 'unsure' if you know what I mean. Anyhoo, I didn't mean to hijack your thread.

Thank you kindly, mate.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Kpt. Lehmann

I've seen a few posts about using Win 8.1, but mostly they seem 'unsure' if you know what I mean.

I followed the advice of others and it's running quite smoothly. When you're ready just let me know. Of course Windows 10 might be out by then, but we'll see how it goes.

Anyhoo, I didn't mean to hijack your thread.

Also not a problem. This thread will be sitting idle anyway, while I get my first career starts with SH4/OM.

[Meridian]

Hey Steve,

Is that your actual Mod Load order in post 1 or is it just a list of what you have installed ?

[Sailor Steve]

I ran into a few problems awhile back, and very little of it is manually and permanently installed now - it's all JSGME. That said, it's still all there and yes, that is the actual order.

Here is what I went through to get where it is now.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=217586

[Sailor Steve]

It's been almost a year since I last wrote something here. I've had several real-life holdups and a lot of projects I've been working on. Not the least of the problems was a complete reformat a few months ago. I saved my Silent Hunter files to an external drive, fully expecting for that to fail and have to reinstall the game and start over yet again. I put it back on my main drive and to my surprise everything works perfectly!

I did lose all four of my saved careers, but they only had one patrol each behind them, so starting over again is no big deal. I spent the last several days setting up the first new career and redoing the Academy drills. Yesterday I set up a false patrol so I could get the crew and boat the way I wanted them. Today I started the first patrol, out of Wilhelmshaven in a Type VIIa, August 19th, 1939. It only covered the first day, but an hour of it was spent just cruising out of the harbor, so the next session should go faster.

It's nice to be at it again.

[Sailor Steve]

I did four more game days, making my slow way north, and the next session will see me rounding Scotland and the Orkneys and Shetlands. So far I've only seen three other ships. Of course there's always the temptation to cheat and use the external view, so here's one ship as the crew saw it:



And as it really was: