KTB Patrol 2 // U.-Gelhaar // WolvesAtWar VII Campaign

[Kapitän]

Fri., 12.1.40 - Northeast of Scapa Flow

0615 - Qu. A N 1462 - Fair Isle 9 sm abeam to starboard.

1200 - Qu. A N 2642 - Days Run: 120.4 sm - ↗ 99.3 sm - ↘ 21.1 sm
41 cbm. 2 external Ato. WNW8, Sea7, medium northern swell, moderate, ~1000mb, light haze, medium visibility, -2°C
Sunrise 1242 - Sunset 1901

Diving for submerged cruise at A-40.

1434 - Qu. A N 2643 - Above there must be a tremendously violent storm, because all of a sudden, the boat drops by 20m. Continuing submerged cruise at A-20.

2100 - Qu. A N 2654 - Surfaced for venting the boat, replenishment of air supply and charging of batteries.

Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Ob.Ltnt.z.S. & Cmdr.

[Kapitän]

Sat., 13.1.40 - North Sea

0415 - Qu. A N 2691 - Passed the Fair Isle Passage. Crossing the Prime Meridian.

1150 - Qu. A N 4215 - Alarm! Three French naval planes fly over the boat, approaching from 210° true, heading northeast. At A-Meter no bombs. Submerged cruise at A-40.

1200 - Qu. A N 4215 - Days Run: 125.3 sm - ↗ 104.9 sm - ↘ 20.4 sm
40 cbm. 2 external Ato. WNW8, Sea7, medium northern swell, moderate, ~1000mb, light haze, medium visibility, 0°C
Sunrise 1230 - Sunset 1858

2100 - Qu. A N 4251 - Surfaced for venting the boat, replenishment of air supply and charging of batteries.

Incoming F.T.:
Mathes: Hold position and wait for "U.-Schütze". After rendezvous in front of the Channel, proceed together to the operational area at the west coast of Spain. - B.d.U. -

The fifth week at sea was characterized by the daily work routine under extreme weather conditions during the return cruise and the brake into the North Sea via the Fair Isle passage. With no opportunity to load the two Ato from the upper deck containers under deck, we had to evade some sound contacts and B-Dienst reports of enemy shipping. During the final stretch toward home, the crew has to remain vigilant against the persistent enemy air cover.

Gelhaar
Ob.Ltnt.z.S. & Cmdr.

[Kapitän]

Sun., 14.1.40 - North Sea

0848 - Qu. A N 4299 - Smoke trail bearing 60°! Vessel proceeding slow on heading WSW, E=10000.

Very difficult to make out but appears to be some kind of warship, possibly a destroyer. As we are positioned outside its field of view, we remain surfaced.

1200 - Qu. A N 4615 - Days Run: 128.8 sm - ↗ 106.9 sm - ↘ 21.9 sm
37 cbm. 2 external Ato. WNW7, Sea6, light northern swell, moderate, ~1000mb, light haze, medium visibility, 1°C
Sunrise 1218 - Sunset 1858

No further occurrences. Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Ob.Ltnt.z.S. & Cmdr.

[Kapitän]

Mon., 15.1.40 - North Sea

0516 - Qu. A N 3715 - Diving from steamer starboard ahead 30. E=6000, on course 265°.

At T=20 another sound contact with a single steamer bearing 286°, that runs rather fast on course 265°, E=20000.

0601 - Surfaced for venting the boat, replenishment of air supply and charging of batteries.

1200 - Qu. A N 3755 - Days Run: 170.6 sm - ↗ 168.2 sm - ↘ 2.4 sm
34 cbm. 2 external Ato. WNW7, Sea6, light northern swell, moderate, ~1000mb, light haze, medium visibility, 2°C
Sunrise 1153 - Sunset 1859

1500 - Qu. A N 3759 - One neutral steamer bearing 323°, on westerly heading. Evaded outside its field of view.

No further occurrences. Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Ob.Ltnt.z.S. & Cmdr.

[Kapitän]

Tue., 16.1.40 - North Sea

1200 - Qu. A N 9182 - Days Run: ↗ 178.7 sm
31 cbm. 2 external Ato. WSW7, Sea6, light northern swell, moderate, ~1000mb, light haze, medium visibility, -4°C
Sunrise 1138 - Sunset 1901

Incoming F.T.:
Sunk three steamers west of the Channel. My position has been compromised, heading south. "Mathes"

No further occurrences. Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Ob.Ltnt.z.S. & Cmdr.

[Kapitän]

Wed., 17.1.40 - Deutsche Bucht

0340 - Norderney - Outgoing F.T.:
Arrival Whvn III,1300h. Requesting Escort. "Gelhaar"

0359 - Qu. A N 9585 - Incoming F.T.:
Gelhaar: Due to ice, one barrage breaker and two tug boats at Roter Sand, 1030h. - B.d.U. -

1030 - Roter Sand - Taken in tug by escort. Installed bow ice protector. - 1145 - Schillig Roads

1200 - Qu. A N 9811 - Days Run: ↗ 184.7 sm
30 cbm. 2 external Ato. WSW4, Sea3, clear, >1000mb, good visibility, -7°C
Sunrise 1127 - Sunset 1902

1330 - Entered port via Whvm III.

1340 - Moored boat in U-Boot base. Cut off engines. Closed comm channels.

1345 - Greeting at the pier.
Presentation of Ob.Ltnt.-Ing. & L.I. Paul Schlicht and Btsmt.& Nr.3 Ewald-Rudolf-Fischer with the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (E.K.II), as well as, all crew members that have completed two war patrols, with the U-Boots-Kriegsabzeichen in Bronze.

Special experiences:

The boat functioned satisfactorily. There was poor weather with strong southwest winds, medium swell and freezing rain. No traffic was found in the initial operational area but the alternative patrol zone along the west coast of Portugal, offered many profitable targets. The fact that the crew was on their 2nd war patrol could be felt throughout. The normal routine was without major problems or damage.

Only one enemy naval surface vessels was encountered, when sighted in the North Sea during the return cruise, without being engaged by it. The enemy has increased its air surveillance, which consequently, led to the boat running aground in shallow water once.

Duration of mission: 45 days 23 hours 0 minutes.
Of which surfaced: 31 days 13 hours 12 minutes.
Of which submerged: 14 days 9 hours 48 minutes.

Total traveled surfaced: 5535 nm.
Total traveled submerged: 820 nm.
Total traveled Overall: 6355 nm.

Crash dives: 5

Success of Mission:
Hits: 5
Misses: 1
Failures: 6 (3 premature explosion, 1 understeered, 1 dud, 1 surface runner)
Total: 12

Note: All premature detonations and one surface runner were G 7 e, Pi-1 K-b, MZ; understeered and dud torpedoes were G 7 a, Pi-1 K-a, MZ, Vt30.

Ships sunk 3.
Estimate of sunken tonnage is somewhat imprecise.
Total estimate 19000 GRT.
Also, 1 aircraft shot down: French Latecoere 298

Gelhaar
Ob.Ltnt.z.S. & Cmdr.

[sublynx]

congratulations on getting back Safe and sound despite heavy air Activity. a rough patrol with lousy weather and lots of torpedo failures.

hopefully there'll be another patrol report to read in the near future!

[Kapitän]

Thu., 18.1.40 - Wilhelmshaven

Offloaded 2 external Ato and equipment.

Boat leaving Wilhelmshaven for the Stülcken shipyard in Hamburg, as the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal is closed due to ice. Installed bow ice protector. Taken in tug by escort.

Arrival in Hamburg. Moved boat into dry dock.

Beginning of shipyard periodic maintenance.

Second war patrol completed.

Gelhaar
Ob.Ltnt.z.S. & Cmdr.

[Kapitän]

Thank you! Yes, it was a long and tedious patrol. Now, it's time to get some rest before the next one in the new year. Enjoy the holidays and Merry Christmas!

[Zosimus]

I read every post. Thank you!

[UKönig]

Originally Posted by Zosimus

I read every post. Thank you!

As did I. Very enjoyable!