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

[Kapitän]

Thu., 14.9.39 - West of Ireland

1200 - Qu. A M 4485 - Days Run: 197.1 sm
55 cbm. NE6, Sea5, light swell from north, cloud cover, hazy, <1000mb, medium visibility
Sunrise 1124 - Sunset 0148, 15.9.39

No further occurences. Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Kptlt. & Kmdt.

[Kapitän]

Fri., 15.9.39 - Rockall Bank

1000 - Incoming F.T.: From F.d.U.:
Supply Ship "Altmark" is available for provisioning in Marqu. B E 3, until end Sept.

1200 - Qu. A M 1751 - Days Run: 200.9 sm
52 cbm. NE7, Sea6, light swell from NNE, clear, light haze, >1000mb, good visibility
Sunrise 1118 - Sunset 0210, 16.9.39

No further occurences. Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Kptlt. & Kmdt.

[Kapitän]

Sat., 16.9.39 - North of Rockall Bank

1200 - Qu. A M 1279 - Days Run: 200.3 sm
49 cbm. NNE7, Sea6, light swell from north, clear, light haze, >1000mb, good visibility
Sunrise 1105 - Sunset 0204, 17.9.39

No further occurences. Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Kptlt. & Kmdt.

[Kapitän]

Sun., 17.9.39 - South East of Iceland

1200 - Qu. A E 9772 - Days Run: 207.9 sm
45 cbm. NNE4, Sea3, light swell from north, clear, >1000mb, good visibility
Sunrise 1054 - Sunset 0203, 18.9.39

No further occurences. Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Kptlt. & Kmdt.

[Kapitän]

Mon., 18.9.39 - West of Färöer

1200 - Qu. A E 6758 - Days Run: 212.2 sm
41 cbm. NNE4, Sea3, light swell from north, clear, >1000mb, good visibility
Sunrise 1042 - Sunset 0154, 19.9.39

16:00 - Qu. - A E 6759 - Test dive to A+20 and torpedo maintenance at A-30.

19:00 - Qu. - A E 6791 - Surfaced.

Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Kptlt. & Kmdt.

[Kapitän]

Tue., 19.9.39 - Artic Sea

1200 - Qu. A E 9253 - Days Run: 183.9 sm - ↗ 174.2 sm - ↘ 9.7 sm
38 cbm. SSE7, Sea6, light swell from north, clear, >1000mb, good visibility
Sunrise 1033 - Sunset 0150, 20.9.39

No further occurences. Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Kptlt. & Kmdt.

[Kapitän]

Wed., 20.9.39 - Färöer

1200 - Qu. A E 9663 - Days Run: 198.7 sm
34 cbm. SSE7, Sea6, light swell from north, clear, >1000mb, good visibility
Sunrise 1024 - Sunset 0135, 21.9.39

No further occurences. Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Kptlt. & Kmdt.

[Kapitän]

Thu., 21.9.39 - Shetland Islands

1136 - F.T. 1130/21: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst report: Enemy convoy in Marqu. A F 7578, on heading SSW, speed 5 knots.

1200 - Qu. A F 7819 - Days Run: 196.8 sm
31 cbm. NNW7, Sea6, light swell from north, cloud cover, hazy, <1000mb, medium visibility
Sunrise 1019 - Sunset 0121, 22.9.39

F.T. 1200/21: To B.d.U.:
Operating on B-Dienst reported convoy. Approximate contact in Qu. A F 7815, at 1300h. "Gelhaar"

1325 - Qu. A F 7815 - Enemy convoy sighted. Three ore steamers traveling in keel line and with dimmed lights, on heading 200, speed 5 knots.

F.T. 1320/21: To B.d.U.: B-Dienst reported convoy sighted. Preparing to attack. "Gelhaar"

1340 - Running from lee-ward position to luff-side. Wind and sea conditions are unfavorable. Running depth setting of torpedoes should be minimum 4m, preferably, 6m or deeper.

1400 - Diving for submerged attack. Sonar operator reports four screw noises. Convoy comes in sight. It is in fact, four ore merchants in keel line: Two big ones of about 5000 GRT each, in front and back and two smaller ones of about 3500 GRT each, in between. I couldn't see the fourth one before due to the severe weather conditions. All four are English and travel with dimmed lights. From the ship recognition chart they have a draught of 5.8m. So, I estimate, that a torpedo running depth setting of 6-7m should suffice.

1436 - Two single shots with tube I and II (G 7 e, Pi-G36, magnetic fuse, running depth 7m and 6m, respectively) on the position 1 steamer: E=500, inclination green 90°, enemy speed 4 knots, aim-off red 10°, own course 110°. Both are hits amidships after 22 seconds!
The steamer continues apparently unfazed.

1441 - Incoming F.T.:
Gelhaar: Permission to attack. Report in later. - B.d.U. -

1449 - Two single shots with tube III and IV (G 7 e, Pi-G36, magnetic fuse, running depth 7m and 6m, respectively) on the position 4 steamer: E=550, inclination green 90°, enemy speed 4 knots, aim-off 0°, own course 110°. Tube III is a hit amidships after 27 seconds! Tube IV understeers and misses!
This steamer also, continues apparently unfazed.

I go on parallel course 200° with the convoy and haul ahead submerged on the starboard side. Reloading torpedo tubes I and II at T=33.

1528 - Qu. A F 7818 - In attack position again.
Single shot with tube I (G 7 e, Pi-G36, magnetic fuse, running depth 7m) on the position 1 steamer, which by now has a list to starboard of about 30°: E=500, inclination green 90°, enemy speed 4 knots, aim-off red 5°, own course 110°. It's a hit amidships after 25 seconds!
The steamer disintegrates in numerous explosions, brakes in half and sinks within a few seconds.

1531 - I decide to attack the position 2 steamer.

Single shot with tube II (G 7 e, Pi-G36, magnetic fuse, running depth 7m): E=500, inclination green 90°, enemy speed 4 knots, aim-off green 5°, own course 110°. The torpedo explodes prematurely after 20 seconds!

1542 - I veer the boat to fire the stern tube at the previously torpedoed position 4 steamer.
Single shot with tube V (G 7 e, Pi-G36, magnetic fuse, running depth 7m): E=500, inclination green 90°, enemy speed 4 knots, aim-off green 5°, own course 290°. It's a hit amidships after 23 seconds!
At first, the steamer continues with a heavy list to starboard, fires are raging aboard the steamer. Three minutes later, she disappears beneath the waves.

I go on parallel course 200° with the remaining two steamers and haul ahead submerged on the starboard side. Reloading torpedo tubes I - V at T=31.

1654 - Qu. A F 7842 - In attack position again.
Single shot with tube I (G 7 e, Pi-G36, magnetic fuse, running depth 7m) on the position 2 steamer: E=500, inclination green 90°, enemy speed 4 knots, aim-off red 5°, own course 110°. It's a hit amidships after 30 seconds!
The steamer immediately stops and sinks by the bow after 2 minutes.

1704 - Single shot with tube II (G 7 e, Pi-G36, magnetic fuse, running depth 7m) on the position 3 steamer: E=300, inclination green 90°, enemy speed 4 knots, aim-off green 15°, own course 110°. The torpedo understeers and misses!
I go to T=20 and give chase to the steamer.

1722 - In attack position again.
Single shot with tube III (G 7 a, Pi-G36, magnetic fuse, running depth 7m, Vt 30 knots) on the position 3 steamer: E=500, inclination green 90°, enemy speed 3 knots, aim-off 0°, own course 110°. It's a hit in the after section and underneath the bridge after 33 seconds!
The steamer sinks by the stern after 2 minutes.

1730 - Surfaced. I approach two life boats with eleven occupants of the number 3 steamer and three life boats with 12 occupants of the number 2 steamer. Helping and aiding of the survivors is not possible due to the severe weather and sea conditions. Even the communication with the survivors is very difficult. Apparently, the convoy was bringing in an iron ore shipment from Sweden. However, I cannot make out the names of the ships.

1830 - At the sinking positions of the other two steamers, I cannot find any debris or signs of any survivors. I retire to the east.

2315 - Qu. A F 7854 - Diving from approaching Swordfish aircraft at bearing 240° true, E=9000. No bombs at A-Meter.

2345 - Surfaced. Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Kptlt. & Kmdt.

[Kapitän]

Fri., 22.9.39 - Shetland Islands

0045 - Qu. A F 7855 - Outbound aircraft at bearing 240° true, E=9000 on heading SW. Boat remains surfaced.

0402 - Qu. A F 7886 - Port ahead bearing 25°, a small English coastal tanker with dimmed lights lying still. Approaching very carefully for danger of a Uboat trap.

Just as I'm turning into the tanker for a bow shot, she picks up speed and runs off with 11 knots on heading NNW. To catch the tanker, I would have to run at flank speed to have a chance against the prevailing wind and sea conditions. With my fuel reserve in sight and the chance of this being a Uboat trap after all, I decide to withdraw and resume the return cruise.

0500 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Destroyed B-Dienst reported enemy convoy, consisting of 4 ore steamers traveling with dimmed lights, 17000 BRT, 7818 to 7842 AF. Broke off chase of small coastal tanker in Marqu. A F 7886 due to weather, running on course 335, speed 11 knots. Enemy air surveillance in Marqu. A F 7850. 31 cbm, 2 int and 2 ext Ato. Continuing return cruise. "Gelhaar"

0818 - Qu. A N 2131 - Crossing prime meridian.

1200 - Qu. A N 2166 - Days Run: 181.7 sm - ↗ 164.2 sm - ↘ 17.5 sm
27 cbm. 2 internal and 2 external Ato. NE7, Sea6, light swell from north, moderate, light haze, ~1000mb, medium visibility.
Sunrise 1100 - Sunset 0155, 23.9.39

1409 - Qu. A N 2271 - Diving from two pair of approaching Swordfish aircraft at bearing 250° true, E=7000. No bombs at A-Meter. Submerged cruise at A-40.

1509 - Surfaced.

1820 - Qu. A N 2713 - Diving from an approaching twin engine aircraft at bearing 277° true, E=7000. No bombs at A-Meter. Submerged cruise at A-40.

2015 - Surfaced.

Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Kptlt. & Kmdt.

[Sailor Steve]

Three weeks at sea and you finally got some trade! I was beginning to fear you'd be going home empty-handed. Too bad about the tanker.

Sorry for interrupting, but I've been following this with great interest.

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Three weeks at sea and you finally got some trade! I was beginning to fear you'd be going home empty-handed. Too bad about the tanker.

Sorry for interrupting, but I've been following this with great interest.

Thank you for following! However, that's what it was like in many cases: For example, the original/historic U 45 did not sink anything during its first of two patrols. With Sh3, I seem to have that happen often, that I don't come across any shipping, until my return cruise. Well, in this case, we're almost back home in W'haven

[Sailor Steve]

I fully agree. I've had several empty patrols, mainly because I tend to stay in my assigned grid for the entire patrol, occasionally using a die to decide if I'm assigned a new one, but even then it's in an adjacent grid.

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I fully agree. I've had several empty patrols, mainly because I tend to stay in my assigned grid for the entire patrol, occasionally using a die to decide if I'm assigned a new one, but even then it's in an adjacent grid.

Yes. Of course, in my case, I'm following orders of the B.d.U., according to the current Wolves at War VII Campaign ...

[Kapitän]

Sat., 23.9.39 - North Sea

0333 - Qu. A N 2759 - Twin engine aircraft at bearing 225° true, on heading 215°, E=6000. Boat remains surfaced.

1200 - Qu. A N 4315 - Days Run: 180.1 sm - ↗ 170.6 sm - ↘ 9.5 sm
25 cbm. 2 internal and 2 external Ato. NN7, Sea6, light swell from north, cloud cover, light haze, <1000mb, medium visibility.
Sunrise 1048 - Sunset 0142, 24.9.39

1349 - Qu. A N 4319 - Twin engine aircraft at bearing 270° true, on heading 225°, E=3500, is not approaching. Boat remains surfaced.

Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Kptlt. & Kmdt.

[Kapitän]

Sun., 24.9.39 - North Sea

1200 - Qu. A N 3491 - Days Run: 194.4 sm
22 cbm. 2 internal and 2 external Ato. NN7, Sea6, light swell from north, cloud cover, light haze, <1000mb, medium visibility.
Sunrise 1053 - Sunset 0121, 25.9.39

1402 - Qu. A N 3495 - Incoming F.T.: From F.d.U.:
As of now, French ships are to be treated like British vessels. Orders of 3.9. are suspended with immediate effect.

1528 - Qu. A N 3499 - Incoming F.T.: From F.d.U.:
By order of the Führer, allied ships that transmit radio messages when being engaged by uboats, are to be attacked without exception but not without an attempt to rescue the crew.

1810 - Qu. A N 3811 - A pair of French maritime patrol aircraft at bearing 315° true, on heading 210°, E=6000, not approaching. Boat remains surfaced.

Continuing return cruise.

Gelhaar
Kptlt. & Kmdt.