Tell us what you are upto in your current campaign

[Salvadoreno]

Hey Snestorm and Sublynx.

Have you guys ever figured out how to mod out those 2 ships convoys fom 1943-1945??

I opened the Campaign layers and got a little overwhlemed with all the crap on there. Shew. :nope: Now i know why i dont mod. But it looks as simple as a deletion of an entry from 1943-1945

[Bakkels]

Well I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but I'm watching The American. And a ship comes on to screen and the first thing I think is: 'That's looks like an Ore Carrier! woohoo 6500 tons!" How weird is that.... :haha::nope:

[sublynx]

Hey Snestorm and Sublynx.

Have you guys ever figured out how to mod out those 2 ships convoys fom 1943-1945??

I opened the Campaign layers and got a little overwhlemed with all the crap on there. Shew. :nope: Now i know why i dont mod. But it looks as simple as a deletion of an entry from 1943-1945


Same problem here. The file is really big. But I might try to modify it anyway when I get the time. I'll let you know if I find those 2 ship convoys, but I'm not sure when I get enough time on my hands to start going through the file.

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No 3
30 October 1939
14:00 hours
U-36 left home port with orders to patrol Grid AM23

3 November 1939
22:19 hours , grid AN14
While on the surface U-36 came across an enemy small freighter. To our surprise the freighter opened fire with one 5 inch gun. The deck fun crew rushed into position and answered back. 19 88mm rounds were enough. The aim of the freighters gunners was awful.

4 November 1939
13:36 hours grid AN13
A harbour tugboat was sunk with a single 88mm round

9 November 1939
01:44 hours grid AM52
One TI was fired at a large merchant in calm seas. The torpedo was dud. U-36 surfaced and fired 52 88mm rounds to sink the enemy ship.

11 November 1939
03:40 hours grid AM2
Medium cargo was sunk by 3 TIs. Weather was bad heavy seas 12m/s winds no rain.
17:53 hours grid AM52
Small freighter was sunk by 1 TI torpedo in bad weather. Contact was established via hydrophone

13 November 1939
04:17 hours grid AM52
Small freighter sunk by 1 TI torpedo. Contact was made by sighting.

21 November 1939
21:00 hours grid AN55
Passenger /cargo sunk by 39 88mm rounds

30 November 1939
07:39 hours grid AN14
Small freighter sunk by 31 88mm rounds

2 December 1939
12:47 hours
U-36 returned safely at Wilhelmshaven
8 ships sunk
27416 tons
34 days at sea
No crew losses.

[Snestorm]

Snestorm, I've never had a patrol assignment to Cape Town. Did you choose it via SH3Commander or is it due to a mod? (I live in Cape Town.)

I'm glad the tip worked out well for you. I try to keep an eye out, and share when I can.

Capetown:
Although it has some nice features, I don't use SH3Commander.
Although my 2. Flotilla Mod may increase the chances of going to Capetown, stock sent me there quite often also. It's generaly a grid for IXs during the latter years of the war.

It's quite a ride down there. Realy pushes the fuel, especialy for IXBs. I go where they send me, but if I were to pick my own grids they'd almost always be The Western North Atlantic.

Never made it to your hometown on my last patrol, but BDU has me set to head that way again on the next patrol. Aircraft out of Capetown have taken their toll on more than one of my boats. So, when I get a Capetown patrol, I always assume it's going to be my last patrol.

[Snestorm]

Hey Snestorm and Sublynx.

Have you guys ever figured out how to mod out those 2 ships convoys fom 1943-1945??

I opened the Campaign layers and got a little overwhlemed with all the crap on there. Shew. :nope: Now i know why i dont mod. But it looks as simple as a deletion of an entry from 1943-1945

Advice:
Alter, but never delete.

It's easy to get overwhelmed in there. It can take the better part of a day just to scroll the file. As an alternative to deleting, you can reduce the SpawnProbability to as low as 1%.

The hardest part will be locating those ships in the file.

[Kmdt Kozhein]

Well I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but I'm watching The American. And a ship comes on to screen and the first thing I think is: 'That's looks like an Ore Carrier! woohoo 6500 tons!" How weird is that.... :haha::nope:

Hah hah, that happens to me on drives into the city where I live because you can see ships leaving and entering Table Bay (Cape Town). A friend's apartment overlooks the bay. Sometimes, when we have sundowners, all I can think is: Man, I wish I brought my u-boot.

I'm glad the tip worked out well for you. I try to keep an eye out, and share when I can.

Capetown:
[...]
It's generaly a grid for IXs during the latter years of the war.

[...]
So, when I get a Capetown patrol, I always assume it's going to be my last patrol.

Ok, I see. Yep, I also go where I am sent. I've never been fond of the IXs; they feel too roomy :-?.

I'll wave when you get to Cape Town, and tell you where the gun batteries are... :arrgh!:

[Snestorm]

Never made it to, or anywhere near, Capetown.

Encountered a convoy west of The Canaries.
Fuel could be spent on the convoy, or the Capetown trip, but not both.

Over the next several days 6 approaches were made, and 5 attacks were carried out. 14 of 14 torpedoes were expended. Grids covered were DT62, DT38, DT35, DT32, DH78.

3 ships were sunk for 24.550 GRT.

Beginning in the area west of Gibralter there were a number of alarms for aircraft, and on 2 occasions RN destroyers were encountered along Spain's west coast. Aircraft destroyed the radio antena, radar antena, flak gun, and both periscopes.

U159 docked at Lorient on 9.nov.43.
Her history to date is:
5 war patrols between 17.apr.42 and 9.nov.43.
10 merchants sunk for 96.489 GRT.

It appears that Capetown is still on the menu for our next patrol.
GR83 has our name on it.

[sublynx]

Hah hah, that happens to me on drives into the city where I live because you can see ships leaving and entering Table Bay (Cape Town). A friend's apartment overlooks the bay. Sometimes, when we have sundowners, all I can think is: Man, I wish I brought my u-boot.


This reminds me of a thread I once read:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=96925&highlight=addicted&page=3

I tend to watch cars driving by and try to figure out what their AOB is :arrgh!:

[sublynx]

Leutnant z.s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotilla, Bergen
Orders: Patrol grid AK13

To BDU. Patrol assessment. The results of our first patrol were weak. Four small merchants sunk for 8600 BRT, three damaged. Most of the torpedoes hit, but in 400 - 500 meter visibility it was difficult to plan any shots. Four of the torpedoes were shot as point and shoot shots at ships that could not be identified because of the low visibility. Three of those did hit something but it was all guesswork prepared by hydrophone bearings.

We did have one opportunity to attack in good visibility, but I didn't order the navigation officer to calculate the fastest course to intercept outside the enemy's sighting range. I was lazy there and the result was we never got a chance to attack in visibility of more than 500 meters. If I had taken the time and effort to count the approach exactly we would have had a decent chance of getting a salvo fired at a light cruiser. I guess have to be more aggressive. My crew did an excellent job on the patrol and I am confident our next patrol will be much more successful.

[Snestorm]

Leutnant z.s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotilla, Bergen
Orders: Patrol grid AK13

To BDU. Patrol assessment. The results of our first patrol were weak. Four small merchants sunk for 8600 BRT, three damaged. Most of the torpedoes hit, but in 400 - 500 meter visibility it was difficult to plan any shots. Four of the torpedoes were shot as point and shoot shots at ships that could not be identified because of the low visibility. Three of those did hit something but it was all guesswork prepared by hydrophone bearings.

We did have one opportunity to attack in good visibility, but I didn't order the navigation officer to calculate the fastest course to intercept outside the enemy's sighting range. I was lazy there and the result was we never got a chance to attack in visibility of more than 500 meters. If I had taken the time and effort to count the approach exactly we would have had a decent chance of getting a salvo fired at a light cruiser. I guess have to be more aggressive. My crew did an excellent job on the patrol and I am confident our next patrol will be much more successful.

From BDU
To U552

I tend to consider 4 ships sunk under very adverse conditions to be anything but a "weak" showing. Patrol well done!

[Snestorm]

Underway from Lorient on 4.jan.44 at 0447.
Sunrise 0800. Sunset 1630. Half moon. Clear & calm.

U159 has again been assigned to the Capetown area.
GR83 is to be the launch point into the coastal grids south of Capetown.

The commander is less than impressed with the new torpedo loadout, which consists of a majority of FAT torpedoes, and a minority of accuistic torpedoes.
Due to the turning properties of the torpedoes involved, the old commander has, for the first time, ordered that the magnetic pistols not be disabled. His traditional depth setting of 3 meters, will remain unchanged.

Crossed most of The Bay submerged, except to recharge oxygen and batteries.
Once a heavy fog moved in the routine was changed to "running" (at 6½ knots) on the surface during the hours of darkness.

14.jan.44
0600. Present position is grid CG51 (W of Spain & Portugal).
Expect very slow progress until The Canaries have been passed.
No contacts, of any type, to date.

[sublynx]

From BDU
To U552

I tend to consider 4 ships sunk under very adverse conditions to be anything but a "weak" showing. Patrol well done!

Thanks for the encouragement and good luck on your patrol to Capetown! Hopefully those new types of torpedoes will work for you!

[Kmdt Kozhein]

...
We did have one opportunity to attack in good visibility, but I didn't order the navigation officer to calculate the fastest course to intercept outside the enemy's sighting range. I was lazy there and the result was we never got a chance to attack in visibility of more than 500 meters. If I had taken the time and effort to count the approach exactly we would have had a decent chance of getting a salvo fired at a light cruiser. I guess have to be more aggressive.

Be more aggressive! Or face court marshal?

Underway from Lorient on 4.jan.44 at 0447.
Sunrise 0800. Sunset 1630. Half moon. Clear & calm.

U159 has again been assigned to the Capetown area.
GR83 is to be the launch point into the coastal grids south of Capetown.
...

Good hunting!

I'm crossing the Northsea (May 1941) on my way to AM37. Not looking forward to this patrol. I have very bad memories of making an attack on a convoy in bad weather and coming under attack by 3 destroyers. We escaped unscathed, but it wasn't pleasant.

I hope though to up my tonnage in that channel at the confluence of AN 18 & 44 as pointed out before by Snestorm.

Oh, I also watched Das Boot for the nth time last night.

[The Dean]

On the subject of Capetown, I made my first journey there a few patrols ago (#12 I think). Bagged next to nothing for my trouble, small tanker and a heavy cargo ship for something like 12K GRT. Seeing as how I was driving an IXB, the trip home to Lorient was a bit tense. :o




Patrol 15 - October 20th, 1941. U108 IXB.

Sent to patrol CF96, for the second consecutive mission. Remained on station for 3 days, and snagged one of those odd two-merchant convoys, as well as a lone heavy freighter. Elected to head due north, hoping to expend the rest of my fuel (and torpedoes) off the west coast of Ireland on some convoy or another. On the way, however, I ran head on into a small convoy headed due south. Contact was made in BF74, 8-10 smallish merchants and 2 heavy cargo ships, escorted by 2 corvettes and a trawler.

:shifty:

Screw Ireland. Catch as catch can.

Contact lasted for 2 days and carried south into BF77. 4 attacks made, two from within the convoy, two ranged. Both heavy freighters and 5 small merchants sent to the bottom. Was greatly amused upon noticing the convoy's map icon at one point had dryly adjusted itself from "convoy" to "small convoy." Sonar detected reinforcements on the way to assist the hapless corvettes, so I bugged out and headed for home and sweet, sweet renown.


Returned to Lorient November 4, 1941. 10 ships sunk for 39.242 GRT. Shortest and most productive patrol in over a year.



Debating a transfer to La Speiza in the near future.

[Snestorm]

Thanks for the encouragement and good luck on your patrol to Capetown! Hopefully those new types of torpedoes will work for you!

Thanks for the good wishes.

The FATs I can learn, get used to, and maybe even like.
It's the thought of what BDU expects to be done with the 5 accuistics that's a bit unnerving.
And they expect us to survive attempting that 5 times?!
No choice but to give it my best, without trying to compete with the kamikazis.

[Snestorm]

Be more aggressive! Or face court marshal?



Good hunting!

I'm crossing the Northsea (May 1941) on my way to AM37. Not looking forward to this patrol. I have very bad memories of making an attack on a convoy in bad weather and coming under attack by 3 destroyers. We escaped unscathed, but it wasn't pleasant.

I hope though to up my tonnage in that channel at the confluence of AN 18 & 44 as pointed out before by Snestorm.

Oh, I also watched Das Boot for the nth time last night.

Thank you, sir.

Be careful in AM37. There is traffik, but it's rather shallow and infested with aircraft.

The deeper parts od AM53 might be a nice place to finish up.
In on the surface by night, and outward submerged by day.
Your hydrophone operator should be a busy man.

However you decide to tackle it, Good Hunting!

[Snestorm]

On the subject of Capetown, I made my first journey there a few patrols ago (#12 I think). Bagged next to nothing for my trouble, small tanker and a heavy cargo ship for something like 12K GRT. Seeing as how I was driving an IXB, the trip home to Lorient was a bit tense. :o





Returned to Lorient November 4, 1941. 10 ships sunk for 39.242 GRT. Shortest and most productive patrol in over a year.



Debating a transfer to La Speiza in the near future.

Nothing quite like keeping one eye on the fuel, and the other on the lookout for the RAF, or whatever other fuel guzzlers show up, eh?

Thumbs up on your patrol. Well done!

La Speiza? For a IX driver?
I fear you'll die of boredom, but you'll never know for sure unless you give it a shot.

[sublynx]

Be more aggressive! Or face court marshal?

I sure don't want to follow the course Heinz Hirsacker sailed ...

http://uboat.net/men/commanders/495.html

:arrgh!:

[sublynx]

Leutnant z.s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotilla, Bergen
Orders: Patrol grid CF32

31.7.1942
0203 Grid AE86. Cloudy, visibility 8 - 9 km, wind 8 m/s. Two US destroyers sighted while running on the surface. Initial distance 8 - 9 kilometers. Their estimated course was 195, speed over 19 knots. A Somers class followed by a Clemson class, the distance between the ships was estimated at 3000 meters. Evaded at periscope depth, they didn't seem to have a clue about my presence, so probably not radar equipped. The pair might have been an ASW group patrolling the narrow sea area between Iceland and Scotland that is not patrolled by enemy airplanes.

[Snestorm]

8.mar.44
Present location is the eastern border of GR81.
Enrout to patrol grid GR83 (South of Capetown).

Managed to remain undetected up to this point.
CPA to Capetown will be approx 100 miles to the SSE.
No contacts of any kind since departing Lorient.
Should the grid prove to be dry, U159 will extend the patrol SSEward along the shallows, unless or until detected.

[Depesz]

Herr Kaleun M.Miklaszewski reporting that Rodney has been destroyed, 36k tons for just 1 ship :) fired 4 fast magnetic torpedoes , 2 malfunctioned the other 2 hit near the engines, that's it. No fireworks, no explosions, too many water flooded and he just went down pretty fast. His escort was not smart, never found me. They were not even near :) Will Hitler invite me for a drink ? :D

[sublynx]

Will Hitler invite me for a drink ? :D

Very likely! Now you have a chance to speak your mind up! According to Wikipedia, this is how Reinhard Hardegen did it, when he got the chance to have a drink with the leader:
"Before this, however, he and fellow Oak Leaves winner Erich Topp (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Erich_Topp) were invited to a dinner with Adolf Hitler (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Adolf_Hitler). During the dinner, Hardegen caused great embarrassment by sharply criticizing the lack of priorities given to the U-boat war by Der Führer, causing Hitler to go red with anger and Hardegen to receive a reprimand from Chief of Staff Alfred Jodl (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Alfred_Jodl), to which Hardegen replied, "The Führer has a right to hear the truth, and I have a duty to speak it."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhard_Hardegen

Now's your chance to make a lasting impression to the war and to the Battle of the Atlantic!:arrgh!: Just don't make him so mad, that he'll send you to the Russian front or even worse, to a cozy desk job...

[Snestorm]

18.mar.44
Presently in GR49.

U159 spent 6 days in her assigned grid of GR83, and beyond in GR91 when nothing turned up.

Following our last report, on 8.mar.44, we had a warship sound contact.
We came to periscope depth, but never gained visual contact.

In GR91 sound reported 2 medium speed merchants approaching, during daylight hours.
Upon coming to periscope depth, there was nothing to be seen but Heavy Fog.
Came up with a hydrophone based speed & course guesstimate, and decided to try one of our new fangled accuistic torpedoes fired via the hydrophone.
Must have been a good guess, as there was a giant flash directly at 000 on the periscope.
Never actualy saw the target, before or after the shot.
The impact stopping of the stop watch tells me he was at about 600 meters.
Had to add a little speed on our way down to 50 meters, as his companion was close abeam. Target slowed from Medium to Slow, but never went DIW.
With the air and base at Capetown being just over 100 miles away, U159 did not persue on the surface.

Along our departure route, in GR81, sound reported a medium speed warship approach, off our stern. Turned my stern toward his direction of travel, and came to periscope depth at high speed. Estimated course 270, at 12 knots.
Laid the settings in, and waited for the proper time to fire my second accuistic torpedo of the patrol.
Very briefly slowed boat to under 1 knot, fired tube 6, and headed for 100 meters in anticipation of becoming the hunted. Bang! A Hunt III Class destroyer went down, 175 miles SW of Capetown.
This time I had to feel for ship and crew.

We've left our mark, and it's time to vacate the area.
Present plan is a return to Lorient along the Freetown - UK shipping lanes.
Hopefuly, a convoy will turn up, and I can put the FAT torpedoes to work.
Now that I know they can be fired normaly, and in a fan, I'm coming to like them.
(My first SH3 install wouldn't allow them to be fired in salvo, and I hated them).

[sublynx]

Never actualy saw the target, before or after the shot. --- Hopefuly, a convoy will turn up, and I can put the FAT torpedoes to work.
Now that I know they can be fired normaly, and in a fan, I'm coming to like them.


Now this sounds like a megaimprovement on the weaponry we have on board :rock: It will be most interesting to get a chance to try these torpedoes! :/\\x:

[Hotspur1337]

Near Gibraltar with only one torpedo left. Along came a large merchant, which I figured would be a waste of the torpedo, since I've never taken a large one down with fewer than three torpedos, so I decided to try a magnetic shot under his keel right below the stack.

It worked. He sunk right quick.

BdU is buying the first round.

[VONHARRIS]

U-36 will be docked for some time as her captain is down with the flu. Bdu decided not to replace him , so the crew now will do some skin change jobs and conduct some exercises under the IWO.

[sublynx]

Leutnant z.s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotilla, Bergen

10.8.1942
Convoy attack. Three attacks made against an inbound convoy, at grids AM27 and AM28. The convoy's course was estimated as 117 degrees, speed 7 kn. The convoy had five columns of ships, each with four ships line astern. The columns were estimated to be 500 meters apart. The convoy was guarded by a destroyer as a front guard, and five corvettes at the sides and back. All of the attacks were made submerged, windward at a perpendicular course, torpedoes shot from inside the convoy during two of the attacks and from outside during one of the attacks. AOB of 80 - 90 was used, but at one attack at very short range, the shots had to be made at an AOB of 45 degrees and 79 degrees, in order to give the torpedoes time to arm. The ranges varied from 500 meters to 2200 meters. Four ships were sunk for 19000 BRT and one 4000 BRT tanker damaged. 11 torpedoes were used, 9 hit their targets. Escape was made diving at silent speed of 1 - 2 knots to a depth of A+60 or A+70. During two of the attacks the escorts didn't find us and no DC's were dropped. During one of the attacks, we were found, probably by ASDIC and approximately 40 DC's were dropped in groups of 5 - 6 charges at a time. Evaded DC's at AK and turning hard, then going back to silent running. Four BOLD canisters were released and seemed to be helpful in confusing the escorts.

Enemy contacts.
Grid AE86 A pair of destroyers
Grid AM33 An airplane. Warship sounds on hydrophone
Grid AN41 A trawler

[The Dean]

70 km out from Lorient, I decide I'm going to engage an aircraft to test out my IXB's shiny new flak tower. I shoot down a Hurricane, absolutely no problem, I'm congratulating myself and the crew, when suddenly my Watchman calls out, "aircraft spotted." Hmm. Better check that out.

My jaw hits the deck as I see over a dozen Short Sunderlands incoming, 2 km out. Before I'm able to give an order, I've got 1 watch crewman dead, 1 wounded, and 2 Sunderlands damaged. I was going to flee, but now I'm mad. Those guys had been with me since I shipped out in '39. I order us up to flank speed and reload the flak guns. We're in for a fight.

I've noticed that travelling at flank speed limits the willingness of aircraft to expend DCs, and its working here. They seem content to strafe back and forth in waves. My replacement flak gunners are having a field day, with over half the enemy air force smoking. But now they're diving in from both sides at once, my officer yelps something about too many enemies for our flak cover to handle, but I ignore him. At this point I'm afraid to slow the boat for any reason, even to dive. I take over the guns intermittently to help out. The Sunderlands begin to drop out of the sky. Two collide in their attempts to remain airborne. Several explode and nosedive into the Biscay. Another of my gunners cries out and goes down, and is quickly replaced. 3 crewmen repairing my flak guns, including my watch officer, receive light wounds and are hustled to the medic below. The remaining Sunderlands - 4 from what I could tell - had enough and turned for home, smoking. One eventually drops into the ocean, no idea if the rest made it.

70 km into my patrol that was expected to last a minimum of a month, I'm turning back to Lorient. 3 crewmen dead, 3 wounded. 1 flak gun destroyed, damaged radio and forward decking. In exchange, my boys were credited with 12 enemy aircraft destroyed, 1 Hurricane and 11 Sunderlands, an indescribably fortunate outcome.

I gambled that I would be able to negate the chances of being DCed while running at flank speed, and it paid off. In retrospect, it was a risky assumption that I was fortunate to survive, and even more fortunate to have worked so favorably. Not a choice a captain wants to make, but 3 crewmen for a squadron of Allied aircraft seems like an acceptable trade-off. Although I can't imagine I'll be very popular after this patrol.

[Missing Name]

I was fortunate to survive, and even more fortunate to have worked so favorably. Not a choice a captain wants to make, but 3 crewmen for a squadron of Allied aircraft seems like an acceptable trade-off. Although I can't imagine I'll be very popular after this patrol.

Christ, you're even crazier than I am...

[Snestorm]

Now this sounds like a megaimprovement on the weaponry we have on board :rock: It will be most interesting to get a chance to try these torpedoes! :/\\x:

I think you'll like the accuistic torpedoes.
The historical loadout for '44 is generiouse with them.
They do seem to come in handy for odd situations.

The FAT plan:
Convoy, confident shot = salvo of 3 fired normaly.
Convoy, unconfident shot = 1 or more fired as pattern runners.
(With all the settings to be laid in, there may only be time for 1. The escorts seem to start zeroing in on my firing position the instant a torpedo is fired. They've come a long way.)

[Snestorm]

U-36 will be docked for some time as her captain is down with the flu. Bdu decided not to replace him , so the crew now will do some skin change jobs and conduct some exercises under the IWO.

Get well soon Hr Kaleun.

(U36 is a VII(A), with an external stern tube, non-reloadable at sea, and must be fired while submerged as the tube sits above the waterline. How's that for a challenge?)

VII(A): 27 - 36.
IX(A): 37 - 44.

[Snestorm]

Leutnant z.s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotilla, Bergen

10.8.1942
Convoy attack. Three attacks made against an inbound convoy, at grids AM27 and AM28. The convoy's course was estimated as 117 degrees, speed 7 kn. The convoy had five columns of ships, each with four ships line astern. The columns were estimated to be 500 meters apart. The convoy was guarded by a destroyer as a front guard, and five corvettes at the sides and back. All of the attacks were made submerged, windward at a perpendicular course, torpedoes shot from inside the convoy during two of the attacks and from outside during one of the attacks. AOB of 80 - 90 was used, but at one attack at very short range, the shots had to be made at an AOB of 45 degrees and 79 degrees, in order to give the torpedoes time to arm. The ranges varied from 500 meters to 2200 meters. Four ships were sunk for 19000 BRT and one 4000 BRT tanker damaged. 11 torpedoes were used, 9 hit their targets. Escape was made diving at silent speed of 1 - 2 knots to a depth of A+60 or A+70. During two of the attacks the escorts didn't find us and no DC's were dropped. During one of the attacks, we were found, probably by ASDIC and approximately 40 DC's were dropped in groups of 5 - 6 charges at a time. Evaded DC's at AK and turning hard, then going back to silent running. Four BOLD canisters were released and seemed to be helpful in confusing the escorts.

Enemy contacts.
Grid AE86 A pair of destroyers
Grid AM33 An airplane. Warship sounds on hydrophone
Grid AN41 A trawler

Great job, and report. I love all the details included.

[Snestorm]

10.apr.44
Present position is FS35.

On 31.mar.44 at 2241 the lookouts spotted a ship. Grid = GF81.
("Ship spotted" brings a different sensation now, than it did in '39!)
Turned out to be a C2 Cargo.
At 2255 a single Fat torpedo is fired from tube 2.
Course 247, speed 6 knots, range 1000 meters.
FAT set to reverse course at 1400 meters, with 800 meter legs.
The guesstimation turned out to be spot on, and the additional settings unneccesary.
FAT struck the target 52 seconds after firing, sinking her for 6447 GRT.

Our first merchant of the patrol sunk, and it "only" took 3 months.

7.apr.44 (FS63) and 8.apr.44 (FS39): A L A R M !
Our thus far undetected status has come to an end.
With the fuel economy requirements of this patrol, on the surface we're just like a USN LST (Large Slow Target). Should we survive, this is going to be one long patrol.

[sublynx]

Great job, and report. I love all the details included.


Thanks Snestorm, I have to say you are very good at giving positive feedback :salute:

I feel that reading well written patrol reports by other commanders (like yours are) gives me information I can use and try on my own patrols. I try to write mine so, that anyone reading them can get some info he might find helpful.

[VONHARRIS]

Get well soon Hr Kaleun.

(U36 is a VII(A), with an external stern tube, non-reloadable at sea, and must be fired while submerged as the tube sits above the waterline. How's that for a challenge?)

VII(A): 27 - 36.
IX(A): 37 - 44.

Thank you.

I seldom fire torpedoes from the surface so that will not be a problem. I will not use the 2 additional stern torpedoes.
I am thinking this time of running a VIIC career in the Med.

[Kaptain Schlag]

Recently joined forums

Here is my first documented career.
------------------

Kaptain Schlag
U-46
2nd flotilla wilhelmshaven
august 1st 1939
Realism:
63%
everything checked except:
limited compressed air

realistic repair time-reasoning is I'm a newb to more realistic simulation style play as I'm a bit young and usually brash

no external view- I like to see my kills drown!

no noise meter- a crutch to learn for perhaps a more realistic career after this.

no weapons officer assistance- I don't feel like doing all the annoying calculations.
---------------
that said I am now departing on my first patrol,
may the seas be calm and bountiful.:arrgh!:

[Kaptain Schlag]

I was assigned AM23 as my patrol grid, however, upon setting sea Kaptain Schlag felt some rouge in him which he hid from the crew and decided while he would patrol AM23, he would do so and leave for other more promising shipping lanes. East of Scapa Flow, the U-46 claimed its first victim a tribal class destroyer with one torp to the mid. The next victim would prove to be a coastal tanker which was sunk without fuss vis the 88mm deck gun. The third and final victim was a passenger-cargo which took two torps to the mid-aft section of the ship and promptly sunk.

While still on the hunt after this last sinking, no further targets were found on the voyage back although reports of a Brit task-force came in, via a good memory, I recall from previous careers that this task-force is nothing but 5 destroyers.

During the gradual return to base sound contact was made southwest of Scapa Flow with 4 warships however a sleepy Kaptain Schlag was late in ordering the ahead flank and decided not to risk getting caught by Scapa Flow's elite defense forces.

Kaptain Schlag then reported in at Wilhelmshaven on the 28th of Sept. 1939

3 ships met Davey-Jone's locker
4650 tonns of enemy contraband sent to the bottom
-------------
Kaptain Schlag upon arrival wants to ask his fellow submariners if there are any mods compatible with GWX 2.0 that would enhance the patrol experience such as getting relevant radio messages and intel during patrol and/or adding other details that would enhance the patrol experience.:D
End of Report
---------------

[sublynx]

Kaptain Schlag upon arrival wants to ask his fellow submariners if there are any mods compatible with GWX 2.0 that would enhance the patrol experience such as getting relevant radio messages and intel during patrol and/or adding other details that would enhance the patrol experience.:D
End of Report
---------------

Welcome Kaptain Schlag, may you hammer lots of enemy contraband down to Davy Jones's quarters! :/\\x:

Wreford-Brown has made radio mods and you can also find something at the downloads section of this forum, I believe. Here's one link:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=137713&page=12

[sublynx]

Leutnant z.s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotilla, Bergen

4.9.1942
13:01 Arctic Ocean (526 km from Bodö, 583 km from Harstad). Clear, visibility 8 - 9 km, wind 15 m/s from 133). Reporting a slow convoy on a westerly course. The port flank of the convoy is covered by 2 - 3 patrol boats, probably of the Isles class. There is also a River class frigate on the port side. Judging from hydrophone contacts the convoy is large and there are more escorts.

While approaching the convoy our FuMB-1 gave a radar warning three times. Apparently the enemy didn't notice us, though. The wind is 15 m/s, so maybe the conning tower of our boat is too small to notice in the heavy seas.

Estimating the convoy's course by hydrophone readings went quite badly this time (not moving, 20 minute intervals) and we ended up close to the convoy but too far back. A crewman accidentally launched a BOLD canister, while we were submerged at the back of the convoy. The closest escorts had passed us and were approximately 1500 to 3000 meters from us. An Isles class boat and River class boat turned towards us. I decided to go ahead at AK speed at first. Then up periscope and noticed that the enemy were speeding towards the site of the BOLD launch. From the enemy's reactions I think that it could be possible to use a BOLD canister to lure an escort towards the decoy on a straight and somewhat predictable course and then try to sink it. While moving towards the decoy, it would be moving very fast though.

We are now trying to pull away from the escorts, and maybe get some stragglers sunk - there is at least two 2000 BRT merchants that can't keep up with the convoy in these heavy winds. This time we have the air superiority and the enemy is without any air patrol capability, if there is not a carrier nearby - not a big chance of that, considering Tirpitz in Narvik and the enemy still remembering what happened to HMS Glorious.

Unger

[Snestorm]

Thank you.

I seldom fire torpedoes from the surface so that will not be a problem. I will not use the 2 additional stern torpedoes.
I am thinking this time of running a VIIC career in the Med.


Super cool!
I too like running VII(A)s & IX(A)s in early war.

The Med, eh?
Was curiouse, and gave it a try once.
Found it to be dull, with no place to go.
I think you're going to get bored in there, but it's worth experiencing at least once.

[Snestorm]

25.maj.44
0600
Grid BE64

Been crawling toward Lorient since our last report 10.apr.44 (FS35).
Enemy aircraft have kept our surface time lower than desired, and as a result the patrol has been overly long, and underly productive.
Fuel fell below 25% long ago.

Course is 090. Will turn northeastward upon entering the shallows of lower BF55.

[frau kaleun]

-------------
Kaptain Schlag upon arrival wants to ask his fellow submariners if there are any mods compatible with GWX 2.0 that would enhance the patrol experience such as getting relevant radio messages and intel during patrol and/or adding other details that would enhance the patrol experience.:D
End of Report
---------------

GWX 2 or GWX 3? Not sure if that's a typo. GWX 3 is the latest (and final) version.

First time I've heard anyone asking for more radio messages during a patrol... :hmmm: :O:

[capten yian]

Lieutenant z. s. Yiannis

After 15 day at sea where crosscheck my crew my UB and my abilities
i start my first real patrol

Patrol No2
Type VIIB
Home port Wilhelmshaven
August 21 hours 19:25
Orders to patrol:Grid BF17
Weather: Clouds partial,Precipitations none,Fog light
wind speed 4 meters per second direction 0

good hunting

Play Grey Wolves 3.0 realism 85%

[capten yian]

Leutnant z.s.Yiannis
Patrol No 2
Day 11 at sea
September 1 hours:19.16
Weather: Clouds Overcast,Precipitations none,Fog medium
wind speed 15 meters per second direction 202
The war began....
I finished my patrol in Grid BF17
Now looking forward for juice ships

Good hunting

[Kermit the Frog]

U93 (type VIIC) Zweite Flotilla, Lorient, Kapitänleutnant Kermit the Frog melde gehorsam.
26 patrols "full real" each one. (GWX+OLC+Manos Optics)
Longest patrol - 46 days on U47 (type VIIB)
Most successful patrol -
19th (15.09.'40-21.10.'40) 15 ships for 108929BRT,
10th (24.02.'40-07.02.'40) 4 ships for 97957BRT, HMS Glasgow, Revenge, and Hood sank.

12 Oct 1941
We're leaving Lorient. I used to do this by night, but the choice is not mine. Luckily we have our Bf-109 escort, but they cannot save us from British subs trying to hunt us down, as soon as we start our journey... So, we're running as fast as our little boat can, and going submerged right after leaving harbour.
Ah... Another jurney. Now 25m under surface, when my boat is safe, I'm looking into my logbook. Last patrol was very tired for the crew. Hunting down a convoy in storm was hard, but convoy escort also has it's own troubles, and because of them I managed to find a blind spot in defence. I used this knowledge well. One pass, one torpedo, one ship. Old school. I was constantly repeating this trick, until I assumed, that there's no ship worth of torpedo, and there's still three of them left.
I break the contact with the convoy remainings, and sail away to find adventure. I choose Gibraltar as my hunting area, but before I came there, and made a contact with a big convoy. In heavy storm, rain, with 500m visibility I went submerged to periscope depth, and send whale factory ship, and one empire type freighter to the bottom of the ocean. Because of very bad weather I didn't chase the convoy and decided to continue my trip to Gibraltar with the last torpedo on board.
The sea was unbelievably calm, with gentle, warm wind. I let my crew to smoke... And then, we saw her. She wasn't a very big ship, but the way she was travelling. Easy, without zigzaging manoeuvres 8 kt, HDG 90. I went submerged to periscope depth and came close. I put my eel just before last mast, she fought well, but without a chance...
http://www.fotosik.org/images/30442702840286907249.jpg (http://www.fotosik.org/)
Times seems to become harder and harder. Through all the 41 year we're suffering heavy losses. First Kretschmer, Schepke, Prien than Endrass. We lost all the mighty Dönitz aces. Then we lost Bismarck.
Patrols becomes more and more dangerous...
I remember my first meeting with Brits radar. They almost sunk us! Usually, it's easy to know when you're discovered. Guns, lots of light, etc... But this time was different. I looked around and I saw her. This shiny new corvette running at full speed straight towards us in silence, 1~1,2 km from us. We barely managed to dive... I can't remember more terrifying adventure in my life. Next try, and again, he discovered us. Finely we assumed that his radar is able to detect us in range ca. 3km.
My thoughts are broke by a cook. -"Sir? I've prepared a coffe while we were on surface. Would you like sir?"- I closed a book. We'll see...

[Kaptain Schlag]

Patrol 5
--------------
Nov 10th, 1939

Attempting to raid Cherbourg at night, see how this goes...

It's too early to die:damn:

[Snestorm]

1.jun.44
BF61 - Lorient.

Docked at 0500, after 5 months at sea.

Since our last report, of 25.maj.44:
27.maj.44 - BE66 (SSW of Ireland, NNW of Spain)
At 1116 sound reports a medium speed warship closing.
U519 goes from 50 meters to periscope depth at Standard.
At 1235 an accuistuc torpedo is fired from tube 3.
River Class Destroyer Escort. Course 348, making 12 knots.
Wrong! Miss.

At 1822 (just prior to evening's surface time) a medium speed merchant is reported by sound.
With her nose pointed toward the distant contact, U159 surfaces to replenish the oxygen supply, then returns to periscope depth.
The weather is Calm & Clear, with a ½ moon.
Perfect weather for a night submerged attack, with ample light.
At 1920 three FAT torpedoes are fired normaly, in a fan of 3 degrees (tubes 1, 2, 4).
C2 Cargo. Course 035, making 9½ knots. 1800 meters.
At 1924 the target passed 000 R, and was assumed to be missed.
As an accuistic torpedo left tube3, three impacts were heard, and the target immediately sunk for 6418 GRT.
(Sorry BDU. I wasted an accuistic torpedo "for insurance purposes".

29.maj.44
At 1646 a medium speed warship is oicked up on sound.
This is the first warship contact we've had this far south, at BF45's southern border.

The weather changed to medium fog, with 15 m/s winds, and stayed that way for the duration of the patrol.
U159 made nightly high speed runs across The Bay, and had no encounters with aircraft.

Patrol results:
2 merchants sunk for 12.865 GRT.
1 1050 tonne destroyer sunk.
Hull & Crew Integrity at 100%.
Diesel reserves between 4% and 5%.
8 of 14 torpedoes expended.

U159's history to date:
6 war patrols completed between 17.apr.42 and 1.jun.44.
12 merchants sunk for 109.354 GRT.
1 1050 tonne warship sunk.

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No4
01 January 1940
Someone in BdU seemed to hate us so this was our departure date.
22:59 hours U-36 slipped out Wilhelmshaven and set course for CF32

05 January 1940
Grid AN41 18:29 hours
We came across an enemy scnooner , they seemed harmless and at first I decided to let them sail on since they didn't seem to have spotted us. Suddenly a man from the wactch crew shouted "Radio antenna" pointing his hand at the scnooner.
ALARM, Deck gun crew on station. 3 88mm rounds took care of the problem. I don't know if they had reported our position.

06 January 1940
Grid AN14 06:48 hours
Empirpe type freighter sunk in bad weather 3 bow torpedoes fired (1 dud)

10 January 1940
Grid AM52 07:53 hours
Granville type freighter sunk with 1 bow torpedo

17 January 1940
Grid CF32 06:09 hours
Small freighter sunk by 2 bow torpedoes (1 dud)

19 January 1940
Grid CG49 17:42 hours
Small merchant sunk by 1 bow torpedo

21 January 1940
Grid CG86 10:20 hours
Large merhant sunk by 52 88mm rounds in calm seas and 0m/s winds

22 January 1940
Grid CG95 13:48 hours
Granville type freighter sunk by 24 88mm rounds

Grid CG95 15:06 hours
Large merhant sunk by 51 88mm rounds in calm seas and 0m/s winds

30 January 1940
Grid BE35 22:20 hours
We intercepted an enemy convoy after a long chase. 4 bow TIs fired and all missed. No explosion heard. A total loss of torpedoes.
No bow torpedoes left.
Return passage.

03 February 1940
Grid AN41 20:45 hours
Coastal tanker sunk by 8 88mm rounds.

05 February 1940
21:57 hours U-37 docked safely at Wilhelmshaven
36 days at sea
9 ships sunk
43316 tons
No damages or deaths.

[sublynx]

(sorry guys this report is going to be a long one... don't bother reading if you're in a hurry! And good to see some action packed reports here in the thread :salute:)

Leutnant z.s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen

4.9.1942
18:09. Länge 10, 23' Ost, Breite 72, 14' Nord. Cloudy, heavy rain, visibility 700 – 1100 meters. First attempt to attack the convoy we were chasing had to be aborted due to bad weather. The convoy's course was difficult to estimate from hydrophone bearings while moving and then diving again to get new bearings. Compressed air was down to 75 %. The second attempt in locating the convoy was made more patiently and a course estimate of 250 – 270 degrees was made. While approaching the convoy Metox gave four warnings. Our own radar didn't locate anything approaching.

From about 5 – 10 kilometers from the convoy the approach was made submerged while trying to make a better estimate of the convoy's course. Judging by the hydrophone screws the front and sides of the convoy were covered by 5 – 6 escorts. A River class frigate was sighted 1100 meters from us, making approximately 10 knots. The AOB and course was too difficult to estimate in low visibility and our shooting solution was very much an estimation and I decided not to shoot. An 11000 BRT tanker was sighted but we couldn't get a decent solution since the ship was too close to our boat.

However at 16:57 hours an aft torpedo was shot at a 9000 BRT frachter. Impact pistol, depth 4 meters, range 700 meters, AOB 90 degrees Steuerbord, Schusswinkel 21, bearing 180. The ship's speed was estimated to be 7 knots. Right after the first shot another torpedo from rohr 1 was shot at a 3800 BRT frachter. Impact pistol, depth 4 meters, range 470 meters, AOB 84 backbord, schusswinkel 28, bearing 6 degrees.

The estimations were made hurriedly, and judging by the hydrophone sounds the torpedo shot at the smaller ship was very short. The aft torpedo however hit it's target and a huge series of explosions was heard on the hydrophone, followed by sounds of a sinking ship. The 9000 BRT frachter was probably carrying ammunition for the convoy and the torpedo must have exploded those too.

Escaped making 1 – 2 knots, diving to A+70, first just going straight ahead, and when the escorts were estimated at having no clue of our position, turning away from the convoy's direction. Now reloading, 10 G7e torpedoes left inside the boat and 2 G7a's outside.

In this kind of weather the new FAT torpedoes that have been experimented successfully by U-159 might be very useful. Not having a revolving radar makes it more difficult to approach the convoy in this weather– we have to keep our bow pointed to the convoy's general direction if we are to get a warning about an escort making a dash for us.

5.9.1942
05:31. Länge 9, 03' Ost, Breite 72, 14' Nord. Cloudy, heavy rain, visibility 700 – 1100 meters. A second attack against the convoy was made. After five hours of regular hydrophone checks and maneuvering, the convoy's course was estimated at 261 degrees, 7 knots. The attack was made with a course of 171 degrees from inside the convoy, which was easy as there were only escorts on the sides of the convoy. Fast screws were heard at a relative bearing of 230, probably the front guard had left it's post and was returning some distance away. One of the port escorts was seen, but not recognized in low visibility. A 1800 BRT Küstenmotorschiff was seen but was too close for attacking at a good AOB. At 05:04 hours three G7e torpedoes were shot at an 11000 BRT walfabriksschiff. Range 870 meters, speed 7 knots, bearing 343, AOB 76, schusswinkel 0. Three hits were heard on the hydrophone in less than a minute and afterwards sounds of metal bending. Presumed sunk. Escaped diving at silent speed to A+80, no initial course change. We are now getting ready to start pulling away from the convoy. The escorts didn't notice us.

Oberfähnrich z.s. Akermann deserves a medal for his efforts on the accurate estimation of the convoy's course in these weather conditions, as do radiomen Stwora and Gertenbach for accurate enough hydrophone bearings and keeping us away from merchants on collision course. In fact all of the crew have made an immense job in our patrol so far, but I probably can't get Iron crosses for everyone – though I might be able to pull that off, if we manage to sink a couple of big ones more. With seven ETO's left inside the boat (two ATO's outside, but not much use in this weather) I expect we should be able to attack the convoy with full force twice more.

10:33. Länge 8, 34' Ost, Breite 72, 03' Nord. Cloudy, heavy rain, visibility 700 – 1100 meters. At 9:34 hours a destroyer was sighted at a relative bearing of 180 degrees, distance 900 - 1000 meters. The escort opened fire immediately and put it's searchlight on. Crash dive, AK, hard turn starboard, 2 BOLD canisters launched while diving to A+70. The boat was rattled by presumably 20 mm or 37 mm gunfire.

The destroyer dropped 6 sets of depth charges, presumably on the sites where the decoys where launched. The intervals between drops were between 5 – 6 minutes. Between 5 – 7 depth charges were dropped in each set. The first DC's dropped in a set exploded after a descend of 15-16 seconds and the second DC's dropped after 20-25 seconds. Presumably the sets are designed so that the first DC's explode nearer the surface than the latter ones. If this is the case, the DC's probably affect a very narrow, but deep area.

No internal damage to the boat from getting hit by the gunfire has been found. DC's probably were too far away to affect the boat. Damage to the hull can't be inspected until we surface and the wind gets mild enough for the crew to be able to walk on the hull. I have decided to let the convoy pass. We are now headed towards the back of the convoy, in hope of spotting possible undefended stragglers. If the weather doesn't change, we have to sail to nearest port in Bodö to inscpect the boat.

Prior to getting attacked by the destroyer at 9:34, Metox had given radar warning signals at 6:32, 7:15, 7:25, 7:45 and 7:56 hours. I took these as coming from the general direction of the convoy and presumed them harmless and I didn't order a zig zag course. However, it is possible that an escort slipped behind us from the bearings calculated and approached from 180 degrees relative bearing in order to get close from direction where GHG has the worst chance of picking the hunter. I badly underestimated the enemy's capabilities and we only escaped because the destroyer's gunners didn't do their job properly. In low visibility it might be better to follow a convoy out of the range of their radar and while making hydrophone checks, also check one's 180 degree position.

The younger crewmen seem to be quite happy about our close escape and perhaps not realizing how close to death we really were. The more experienced men seem to be more aware of the seriousness of the event, but keep a brave face in order to not frighten the youngsters.

14:48. Länge 8, 36' Ost, Breite 71, 57' Nord. Cloudy, medium rain, visibility 700 – 1100 meters. At 12:13 hours there was a contact on the hydrophone. Estimated targets range, speed and course from FuMo 29 bearings as 261 degrees, 2 knots. At 14:05 hours one G7e shot from Rohr 5 at a 1600 BRT trampfrachter. Range estimated at 600 meters, AOB 90, schusswinkel 0, impact pistol, depth 3 meters, bearing 178 degrees. 45 seconds later a hit between the front masts, the aiming point was just before the bridge. 42 minutes later sounds of a sinking ship on the hydrophone. Six G7e torpedoes left inside the boat and two G7a's in outside storage. I am continuing towards the port at Bodö.

Unger

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No5
6 March 1940
20:21 hours
U-36 left port under the escort of a minesweeper with orders to patrol grid AM32

11 March 1940
Grid AN11
09:45 - 18:53 hours
The RAF had sent a whole squadron of Swordfish biplanes during these hours
Of 9 planes attacked only one returned home. 1620 20mm rounds were used.
The attacks were one at a time.

25 March 1940
Grid AD59
Convoy attack , 4 bow TIs fired , 2 hits scored
10:33 hours Small freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo
10:34 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo

30 March 1940
Grid AD59
Convoy attack 4 bow TIs fired 4 hits scored
No ships sunk
2 torpedoes were aimed at a convreted whale factory ship and the other 2 at a large cargo.
No evidence as to what ship the torpedoes had hit.

No other contacts during return passage

10 April 1940
14:43 hours U-36 docked at Wilhelmshaven.
36 days at sea
2 ships sunk
4266 tons
8 aircrafts shot down

vonHarris and the whole crew were transferred to the new U-96 VIIC boat
New batteries , allowing shorter recharge times were installed as well as a new color scheme.


@sublynx
Nice report with a lot of details.

[captaintex]

I just came back from what was supposed to be a trip to the med. Waiting for the right conditions to pass Gibraltar i met a huge convoy just a few hundred miles outside Morocco. Managet to sink a few escorts, a tanker, and two rms Aquatanias. I saved one acoustic fish incase a escort ship would follow me as i tried to escape and actually two did. After hours of bombardement one of them gave up and i decided the best thing to do was to get up at topedo depth and fire the last fish. I did and the escort blew up in a terrible blaze. I hadnt slept for some time to i gave the highest ranking officer orders to get us back to France while i took a long nap :).

Satisfied with the tonnage, 102 000.


Not 100% realism though :p

[Snestorm]

The destroyer dropped 6 sets of depth charges, presumably on the sites where the decoys where launched. The intervals between drops were between 5 – 6 minutes. Between 5 – 7 depth charges were dropped in each set. The first DC's dropped in a set exploded after a descend of 15-16 seconds and the second DC's dropped after 20-25 seconds. Presumably the sets are designed so that the first DC's explode nearer the surface than the latter ones. If this is the case, the DC's probably affect a very narrow, but deep area.

15 - 16 seconds = 45 - 48 meters.
20 - 25 seconds = 60 - 75 meters.
DC drop rate = 3 meters / second.
Helpful?

Very nice, and extremely interesting report.
I realy enjoyed the read.

[Snestorm]

vonHarris and the whole crew were transferred to the new U-96 VIIC boat
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=#ffffff]New batteries , allowing shorter recharge times were installed as well as a new color scheme.

You got the VIIC!? Wow! Big change. This is going to be super-interesting to follow. Good luck with the new boat, and adventure.

[sublynx]

15 - 16 seconds = 45 - 48 meters.
20 - 25 seconds = 60 - 75 meters.
DC drop rate = 3 meters / second.
Helpful?



Oh yeah!! :D Extremely helpful, thanks a lot Snestorm! I'll keep that 3 m/s in mind and try to find out if there is something I can do to make avoiding DC damage more likely. If I don't succeed, at least I have something to do while the DC's keep exploding.:arrgh!:

[capten yian]

Leutnant z.s.Yiannis
My first contact
Patrol No 2
Day at sea 14
September 5 hours:06.07 Grid BF41
Weather: Clouds Overcast,Precipitations none,Fog medium
wind speed 7 meters per second direction 125
ship sunk Medium cargo by 1 bow torpedo

September 5 hours:10.04 Grid BF41
Weather: Clouds Overcast,Precipitations none,Fog medium
wind speed 7 meters per second direction 100
ship sunk Passenger/Cargo by 2 bow torpedo

Patrol No 2
Day at sea 15
September 6 hours:02.54 Grid BE39
Weather: Clouds Overcast,Precipitations none,Fog Ligth
wind speed 7 meters per second direction 50
small convoy of ships in 7000 km..approach and
ship sunk Nipiwan Park-type Tanker sunk by 11 88mm rounds.
ship sunk Coastal Freighter sunk by 18 88mm rounds.

[Snestorm]

Underway from Lorient 27.jul.44 at 2025.
Assigned grid is DC72 (W of Florida, USA).
Sunrise 0450. Sunset 1940. ½ moon, and growing.

After just 1 day out Heavy Fog moved in, making our exit from Lorient safer and faster.

2.aug.44
BF45 (275 miles S of Ireland).
Heavy Rain & Fog. Wind 8 m/s.
At 1335 sound reports a medium speed warship approaching.
U159 immediately points her bow toward the warship, and goes to periscope depth, where the weather becomes known.
At 1338 a second warship is reported, and at 1342 2 more, allcoming straight at us.
A T5 accuistic torpedo is set up to be fired into the group, with hopes that it will home in on a target.
Bearing & AOB 000. Speed 12 knots. Depth 3 meters.
At 1405 sound reports the closest warship at 000, medium range & speed.
Fire 3. New depth 100 meters, at silent speed..
The torpedo never detected the warships, and the warships never detected U159.
Lesson learned: Even with accuistic torpedoes, the shot still has to be properly set up.
(One ship passed directly over us, on a directly opposite course).

3.aug.44
BF44 (Still 275 miles S of Ireland)
Heavy Rain & Fog. Wind 7 m/s.
At 1611 sound reports a medium speed warship closing.
Periscope depth. Listen. Point stern ahead of our visitor.
Again we will attempt to fire on sound only.
Estimated course is 280, making 12 knots. Depth 3 meters (always).
Course is confirmed by sound "constant bearing" 30 degrees prior to the shot.
1647: Fire 6! And at 1651 a big explosion is heard, in spite of being in our baffles.
Town Class Destroyer (1190 tonne) sunk.

5.aug.44
BE66
Temporary sound contact on a fast warship, at long range.

18.aug.44
BD74 ("No man's land", between Canada & The Azores).
1841: "Detecting radar signals". A L A R M ! Crash dive!
1842: Sound: "Warship. Closing very fast." Destroyer!
Heavy Rain & Fog. Wind 15 m/s.
1852: Depth charges are heard in the distance.
1856: 2 weak pings are heard, with a wide gap.
1911: Warship moving away at medium speed.

20.aug.44
0830: Present position is CD96.
Heavy Rain & Fog. Wind 8 m/s.
2 of 14 torpedoes expended.
(3 T5 torpedoes, and 9 FaT torpedoes remaining).

[VONHARRIS]

You got the VIIC!? Wow! Big change. This is going to be super-interesting to follow. Good luck with the new boat, and adventure.

Yes, I want to fight in the Med and histocally speaking no IX ever sailed in the Med.

U-159 seems to have some issues with those promising homing torpedoes.

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No6
10 May 1940
18:10 hours
U-96 left Wilhelmshaven for grid AN34 in Norway

Patrol area reached with no enemy contacts
24 hours and no contacts either
U-96 requested orders and was ordered to patrol the area south of Iceland

15 May 1940
Grid AN41
21:31 hours Passenger/cargo sunk by 1 bow + 1 stern torpedoes
U-96 remained submerged to reload the empty tubes

16 May 1940
Grid AN26
05:44 hours Large cargo sunk by 4bow + 1 stern torpedoes
U-96 remained underwater to reload
Grid AN14
13:37 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 2 bow torpedoes

16:30 hours Large tanker escorted by ASW trawler was picked up by hydrophones. 4 bow tubes were fired , 2 explosions heard 1 possible missed and the other is unaccounted for. The tanker escaped

With only 1 bow + 1 stern externally loaded torpedeos unusable becasuse of 12-15 m/s winds U-96 started her return passage
vonHarris was blaming the new camouflage pattern for his bad luck with the tanker and everybody agreed.

19 May 1940
20:13 hours
U-96 docked at port
vonHarris rushed out to file a request for skin change with some excuse he made up that this one wouldn't blend in with the enviroment.
Strangely the request was approved.
10 days at sea
3 ships sunk
12698 tons
No casualties or damages

[Snestorm]

U-159 seems to have some issues with those promising homing torpedoes.

Can't complain. U159's success rate is about 50% whereas, the historical success rate was about 33%.
Unknown whether SH3's T5s are better than the real ones, or we were just fortunate.

Even late war, my favorite torpedo is the good old G7A.
Hard as it is to resist going 100% steamers, I try to keep them down to historical limitations.
Don't care for G7Es, but always keep them in the majority.

[Snestorm]

25.aug.44
DF18

At 1247 ZT (Zone Time) U159 was depth charged and sunk by a USN DE, while attempting a daylight submerged attack against a USA - Gibralter convoy.

U159 reported the convoy on a course of 094 and making 6 knots, but made no additional reports thereafter.

The Campaign consisted of 3 Boat Careers.

U6 IIA:
3 war patrols between 1.sep.39 and 7.mar.40.
2 merchants sunk for 4.389 GRT.
Boat retired from frontline service to become a schoolboat.

U122 IXB (my darling boat):
7 war patrols between 2.maj.40 and 20.feb.42.
29 merchants sunk for 211.398 GRT.
Boat retired from frontline service to become a schoolboat.

U159 IXC:
7 war patrols between 17.apr.42 and 25.aug.44.
12 merchants sunk for 109.354 GRT.
2 warships of 2.240 tonne sunk.
Sunk in grid DF18 by a USN Destroyer Escort, while attempting a convoy attack.
All hands lost. Commander, 4 officers, 19 POs, and 32 ratings.
(Error #1 was trying to go deep at high speed following a very general attack.
Not staying at silent speed cost the boat.)

I've got an appointment with '39 again.

[VONHARRIS]

Can't complain. U159's success rate is about 50% whereas, the historical success rate was about 33%.
Unknown whether SH3's T5s are better than the real ones, or we were just fortunate.

Even late war, my favorite torpedo is the good old G7A.
Hard as it is to resist going 100% steamers, I try to keep them down to historical limitations.
Don't care for G7Es, but always keep them in the majority.

My weapons layout is TIs only.
If I make it later the TI FATI is OK and the TIV and TV.

Sorry about the the loss of U-159
Welcome back to 1939!:salute:

[Snestorm]

My weapons layout is TIs only.
If I make it later the TI FATI is OK and the TIV and TV.

Sorry about the the loss of U-159
Welcome back to 1939!:salute:

Ja. We prefer the same eels.
The T1 FaT1 is a great torpedo, but then they ruin the concept later with the FaT2.

The reason for the G7E wasn't quality, but quantity.
It took 3 times the man-hours to build (the superior) G7A, than it did for the high maintnance, low performance G7E.

[sublynx]

Ob.lt. z. s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Freie jagd, sea area between Norway and Bäreninsel

3.10.1942
02:29 AN24 Cloudy, visibility 8 - 9 kilometers, wind 7 m/s. Just started our fourth patrol. The boat was fitted with an Alberich anti-ASDIC coating and an extra day of work was needed to repair the damage to the ship's pressure hull that was caused by a destroyer's gunfire in our last patrol. We had inspected the damage at the port of Bodö and I had decided to return to Bergen for repairs. The brass commented that I was not aggressive enough, to return to base for minor damages. I was promoted to Ob.lt. z.s., however, so probably not much harm done.

While refitting the ship, to a great shock of us all, we hear that U-159 has been lost. The commander and the crew was known to us all from many patrols back and it's a black day indeed, but I must concentrate on getting my boat and crew to tiptop shape for the next patrol.


8.10.1942
20:46 650 km SW of Bäreninsel. Cloudy, visibility 8 - 9 kilometers, wind 7 m/s. Icebergs sighted. A beautiful sight and at the same time, a warning for the watch crew to keep their eyes open. I looked at this magnificent sight of nature and couldn't help but mourning the loss of U-159.



http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3430/icebergmoon.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/29/icebergmoon.png/)

12.10.1942
05:35 Länge 21, 52' Ost, Breite 73, 13' Nord. Clear, visibility 8 - 9 kilometers, wind 15 m/s. At at 00:10 and 01:15 contact reports received from BdU. Reconnaissance pilots flying from Alta did a really good job: the sightings were so accurate that we were able to pinpoint the convoy's course exactly. 266 degrees, 7 knots. Nice over-sea navigation by the pilots! With no landmarks they have had to calculate their location, and obviously they did it spot on.

Seven Metox warnings received while approaching the convoy from the starboard side. Area checked regularly with hydrophone, visibility 7 – 8 km, not much chance of getting surprised like the last time we had Metox warnings. At 03:01 ships were sighted. Two destroyers, one destroyer escort, one patrol boat and 16 merchants seen, but very likely there are more. An A&B destroyer as a front guard and a Tribal as starboard first guard. My attack course was 176 degrees, trying for an outside shot. Approached submerged at PD.

The Tribal passed us from behind at a distance of 2000 meters. Suddenly it changed course towards the convoy and us. It came to a distance of only a couple of hundred meters at a very fast speed, but didn't notice us. We had to wait for it steaming away from us, before we were able to continue calculating a solution. The Tribal took a post in front of the convoy, slowing down to listen, judging by the hydrophone screws.

A 9000 BRT merchant, presumably the second ship at the middle column, was chosen as target. At 04:11 rohr 1 was launched: range 4000 meters, speed 7 kn, schusswinkel 359, AOB 70, bearing 347 and right after that rohr 2 at a bearing of 346. The first G7e was aimed at the bow and the second between the funnel and the bridge. The range was long, but there were plenty of ships in the vicinity of the target and I thought that it would be possible to hit something, even if the solution would be wrong.

We shot only two torpedoes, because the second starboard guard was getting too close to us for further estimations. A dive was begun at silent speed, RPM 100. After about four minutes two explosions were heard and afterwards a ship exploding. Presumed a certain sinking, but because of the distance, not sure if it was our intended target or another ship.

When the eels hit, our boat was diving at silent speed towards A+80 at a depth of 25 meters. We were immediately picked up by Asdic. The pings sounded very strong and I decided to crash dive. One Bold canister was launched immediately and a hard turn was started to lose the Asdic contact. Another Bold canister was launched when were deep enough to go back to silent running. A course change at silent speed was made. Two to three destroyers were dropping DC's, at times almost at the same time. I had no situational awareness of the situation. There were too many ships at close range, merchant sounds on the background, and fast bearing changes from the destroyers.

However the DC's exploded nowhere close and I can only assume that the enemy were chasing the decoys, and probably doing that very accurately. All in all, at least seven sets of DC's were dropped. While descending I ordered the RPM’s to 70 when I felt too uncomfortable and then back to 100 RPM, when I felt the hunters had lost us.

At A+80 a course was taken away from the closest escorts. We have now escaped and are getting ready for another approach. 10 G7e's left inside the boat and 2 G7a's outside.

Unger

[Osmium Steele]

Patrolling CG89, the western approaches to Gibraltar, at PD, heading 000.

I hear a single high speed screw bearing 305, and smack my sonar operator on the head. While tracking it to get a heading, another shows up, but man that is a high bearing rate. They are MOVING!

I plot an intercept, but it soon becomes evident I'm not gonna get close enough. (I have no flank speed, a malfunction which showed up off the west coast of Spain)

I cried a little tear as I watched a Nelson, Revenge, and 2 Southampton class ships escorted by only 3 destroyers steam by to the north at 21 knots.

The closest was the Revenge class at 7700 meters CPA, and I only had electrics loaded in the bow tubes. :wah:

[Missing Name]

Oblt. Wolfgang Grimm
U-127, Type IXB
Patrol 1: BE68, 12/4/1939 - 12/31/1939.

Set out from Wilhelmshaven and headed northwest.

By the 10th, an estimated 17,800 tons of British merchant shipping, as well as a destroyer on the 9th.

Sustained light damage from a coastal patrol craft on the 11th in the Hebridean Sea.

A convoy was intercepted on the 13th. In the first strike, the HMS Nelson was sunk along with about a 7,000 ton collier. The second strike took out another 8,800 tons. Heavy seas likely resulted in no survivors.

During the remainder of the patrol, about 36,000 tons of merchant shipping were sunk. An engagement with a Q-Ship on the 27th resulted in light damage, with the Q-Ship destroyed.

Returned with a somewhat twisted forward deck and a weakened fuel tank.

Total: 18 merchants, 3 warships sunk. 69,400 tons of shipping.

[sublynx]

I plot an intercept, but it soon becomes evident I'm not gonna get close enough. (I have no flank speed, a malfunction which showed up off the west coast of Spain)

I cried a little tear as I watched a Nelson, Revenge, and 2 Southampton class ships escorted by only 3 destroyers steam by to the north at 21 knots.

I can imagine how you felt at that time... probably :damn: and :wah: and :/\\!! and then:()1:to erase the memory.

In a book by Lawrence Paterson (U-boat War Patrol: The Hidden Photographic Diary of U-564) there is a description how Teddy Suhren and U-564 met Rodney and Nelson in a perfect firing position - and just at the crucial moment they changed the course...

Now the mood at the U-boat at that real life situation, I can't imagine at all!!

[Snestorm]

The closest was the Revenge class at 7700 meters CPA, and I only had electrics loaded in the bow tubes. :wah:

Wow, how ironic.
My next planned step for toughening up SH3 was (is) a steep reduction in the number of steamers carried.
As you've involuntarily demonstrated, this can make a big dent in the tonnage.

No guarantees of a hit at that range, especialy with a fast target, but it's a shame that you were deprived an oppertunity to try.

[VONHARRIS]

My last career got corrupted: I couldn't enter port to dock at the end of the patrol so I deleted it.

New career started: U-50 VIIB
Details to follow
I think that Kaleun Snestorm is about to sail off soon. I hape we have time-paraller careers

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No1
01 August 1939 - 04 August 1939
Shakedown patrol
Drills and exercises conducted : Deck gun and flak funs fired and a torpedo was fired at nowhere

Patrol No2
03 September 1939
U-50 set for her maiden war patrol. Orders were to patrol grid AN11

07 September 1939
Grid AN14
10:42 hours Enemy coastal tanker sighted. U-50 dived and a perfect position for a stern shot was obtained. Fire 5. Torpedo los Eel ist im Wasser
And ... it passed astern. The youngster at the aft torpedo room failed to open the tube in time. His name was Bernard.

16:18 hours Enemy coastal freighter sunk with 23 88mm rounds. The weather was very good (0m/s winds) so we dared to move in the external torpedo. We were lucky and the operation was completed with no problems

18:31 hours We have just finished the moving of the torpedo when an other coastal freighter showed up. The deck gun crew fell quickly into position and 27 88mm rounds did the job.

09 September 1939
Grid AN11
14:54 hours Coastal tanker sunk by 1 bow torpedo

12 September 1939
Grid AM52
14:44 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo
23:03 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo

13 September 1939
Grid AM52
13:29 hours Tugboat sunk by 1 stern torpedo. The youngster performed exellently this time.
17:39 hours Medium cargo cargo sunk after long chase using 3 bow + 1 stern torpedoes
22:58 hours. While on the surface U-50 was surprised by an armed merchant vessel and took minor damage, After diving to PC the armed merchant was sunk by 1 bow torpedo.

20 September 1939
Grid AN11
11:49 hours Granville type freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo

21 September 1939
Grid AN14
06:48 hours Large merchant sunk by 2 bow torpedoes

24 September 1939
20:26 hours
U-50 returned to Wilhelmshaven
von Harris went straight to HQ to file an official report of the armed merchant.
He was greeted by the flottila commander who told him about the British Q-ships.
von Harris' report just confirmed their existance. An order was issued for all commanders to pay attention.
von Harris joined Kaleun Snestrom at the officer's club and told him all about this new threat.
22 days at sea
10 ships sunk
32616 tons
no casualties
91% hull integrity

[Osmium Steele]

I've read numerous places on this forum that there are no real wolfpacks in game.

Last night I received a report of a large enemy convoy approaching Gibraltar and saw the icon on the map. A surprisingly short time later, the original icon had not decayed, I received an updated report. This time the icon had 2 circles trailing it!! :yeah: A Type VII and a a type IX were already hitting it!

As I awaited the convoy from in front, through the scope I saw a distant explosion followed some time later by a gray ship sunk icon on the nav map. (Score another one for the goody guys! :()1:)

Has anyone else ever seen an axis submarine attack? I've previously seen the evidence of attacks, but never an attack itself.

22,000 tonnes lighter, the convoy steamed through the straits. :up:

EDIT: Here's a thought. The game simulated the attack out of my visual range, and I witnessed a secondary explosion and subsequent sinking? Maybe? Quite a few ships were on fire when I got to the convoy, including one of the escorts, a Black Swan.

No clouds, winds 9m/s, no rain so I'm pretty sure it wasn't storm damage.

[sublynx]

I've read numerous places on this forum that there are no real wolfpacks in game.

Last night I received a report of a large enemy convoy approaching Gibraltar and saw the icon on the map. A surprisingly short time later, the original icon had not decayed, I received an updated report. This time the icon had 2 circles trailing it!! :yeah: A Type VII and a a type IX were already hitting it!

As I awaited the convoy from in front, through the scope I saw a distant explosion followed some time later by a gray ship sunk icon on the nav map. (Score another one for the goody guys! :()1:)

Has anyone else ever seen an axis submarine attack? I've previously seen the evidence of attacks, but never an attack itself.

22,000 tonnes lighter, the convoy steamed through the straits. :up:

EDIT: Here's a thought. The game simulated the attack out of my visual range, and I witnessed a secondary explosion and subsequent sinking? Maybe? Quite a few ships were on fire when I got to the convoy, including one of the escorts, a Black Swan.

No clouds, winds 9m/s, no rain so I'm pretty sure it wasn't storm damage.

I've not seen that kind of stuff yet, but from the posts in this forum I understand that GWX simulates wolfpack attacks. The attacking subs can't dive nor use torpedoes, I hear. They use their guns. That's why you saw a Black Swan on fire, I guess. If you hit a Black Swan with a torpedo it typically sinks, if you fire at it with a deck gun, it caughts fire. I'm looking forward to seeing that kind of action myself, even if the wolfpack simulating is kind of limited.

[sublynx]

Ob.lt. z. s. Helmut Unger
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen

21.10.1942
Patrol report. A heavily guarded inbound convoy south of Bear island attacked three times for seven ships sunk and 44579 BRT. 12 G7e's used.

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/776/patrol4.png (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/patrol4.png/)

Observations made.
1. Alberich coating seemed to be working very well. We were not chased at all in two of our three attacks and even the time we were attacked, the enemy only noticed us after the first torpedo had exploded.
2. The enemy convoy had a wide formation (columns maybe 1 - 2 kilometers apart) for the day time and a narrow formation ( columns about 500 meters apart) for the night time.
3. After attacking the convoy it might be advantageous to exit to the opposite direction the convoy is moving - there might be stragglers following the convoy that can picked off easily.
4. External torpedoes can be loaded in friendly ports, even if it's windy.*

*This is of course of help only to those players that play by the selfmade rule that external torpedoes can only be loaded in good weather. Sailing to a port will probably calm the weather - SH3 can't handle ports in 15 m/s winds: ships would collide hear and there, so sailing to a port means the wind will start to calm before you enter (at least in my game, but who knows if this applies to all versions of SH3/GWX/etc). Even if the wind does not change, I think it could be considered realistic to load the torps anyway. Ports are built in places where waves can't hit with their full force and ports have facilities that would make the loading easier.

[frau kaleun]

U-35, U-Flotilla Saltzwedel
Oberleutnant Karl Linke, Kommandant

Patrol 2

Left at: August 19, 1939, 20:13
From: Wilhelmshaven
Mission Orders: Patrol grid BF18

4.9.39.
08:54
Grid BF 17
Ship sunk: SS Aldan (Small Freighter), 1854 tons
Cargo: Grain. Crew: 33. Crew lost: 9

6.9.39.
Grid BF 17
13:06
Ship sunk: SS Wild Wave (Medium Cargo), 3871 tons
Cargo: Military Vehicles. Crew: 59. Crew lost: 25

13:09
Ship sunk: SS Christian Holm (Tanker), 8505 tons
Cargo: Aviation Fuel. Crew: 63. Crew lost: 60

Grid BE 39
23:12
Ship sunk: MV Anna Knudsen (Tanker), 8595 tons
Cargo: Crude Oil. Crew: 49. Crew lost: 13

14.9.39.
Grid BF 14
08:35
Ship sunk: SS Ninghai (Small Freighter), 1855 tons
Cargo: Foodstuffs. Crew: 27. Crew lost: 9

16.9.39.
Grid BE 36
09:14
Ship sunk: SS City of Bombay (Large Merchant), 9972 tons
Cargo: Scrap Metal. Crew: 106. Crew lost: 73

17.9.39.
Grid BE 39
10:49
Ship sunk: SS Torres (Medium Merchant), 5173 tons
Cargo: Textiles. Crew: 77. Crew lost: 53

14:09
Ship sunk: SS Kaipara (Medium Merchant), 6159 tons
Cargo: Mail/Packages. Crew: 44. Crew lost: 31

14:13
Ship sunk: MV Backhuysen (Medium Tanker), 3491 tons
Cargo: Aviation Fuel. Crew: 54. Crew lost: 16

Returned: September 27, 1939, 12:51
To: Wilhelmshaven

Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 9
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonnage: 49475 tons

Promotions
Matrosengefreiter Fritz Hüttinger, to Matrosenobergefreiter
Matrosengefreiter Gerhard Böhling, to Matrosenobergefreiter

Medals & Awards
Elektro Obermaschinist Erich Kahls, Iron Cross 2nd Class


Lost my 10th kill of the patrol on Sept 19 when the innocent looking merchie I snuck up on in the dark turned out to be armed and ready to take us on... probably a Q-ship. First time I've not been able to take one of them out, even after they started shooting back. Got too close on the surface - nice for that first shot, an impact that hit 'em right where I was aiming... but not so nice when they realized I was there and opened fire! :damn:

We began taking damage immediately and I gave the alarm. The LI put us 70 meters down toot sweet and fortunately we had no casualties among the bridge crew or in the damaged compartments. Possibly it was a blessing that the sea was too rough to man the guns or no doubt I would've had men out on the the deck preparing to finish off the target once we'd pulled away to a safer distance after the first eel hit.

Initial report was that both diesels and e-machines were damaged along with the compressor and aft battery. We had flooding in the stern crew quarters and our radio was out. Once the critical issues were addressed we began ascending back to periscope depth... both 'scopes were in questionable condition but I was able to raise the attack scope and try to line up another shot on our intended victim. Set one of our last two eels to impact and let 'er rip, looked like a perfectly lined up shot too, but it hit the ship and didn't go boom. :stare:

With one eel left and the target still making way despite whatever damage was done by our initial attack, I altered course just enough to put a magnetic under her keel... or so I thought. Maybe the 'scopes were in worse shape than I realized, or maybe the eels were duds... we were still too close for the shots to have been off by that much if everything was working right. Anyway, no dice, and the first hit wasn't enough to sink her, so we had to let her go.

So we began the long journey home sans radio, as it turned out our antenna was kaput. Sighted a number of juicy lone merchants on the way, but had no eels left and with winds of 13-15 m/s the whole way we couldn't use the guns. And we couldn't send a contact report to give anyone else around a chance at 'em either.

Oh well, we finished just shy of 50k GRT for our first combat patrol... nicht schlecht, herr Kaleun! :arrgh!:

Needless to say after over a week with no reports of our location or situation, the boys at Wili were glad to see us chugging into the harbor. We signalled to a passing patrol that our radio was out and they called it in, and it wasn't long before a trusty little minesweeping friend arrived to escort us home.

Also I think I get bonus points for actually taking all my damage during the patrol, as opposed to bouncing off the gates and sides of the locks on the way in and out. :yeah: :O:

[gazpode_l]

After some time not playing SH3 due to being away on HOL in R/L, I am back with my commander, "Walter Suhr" who's skipper of U-93.

We are Currently located in AM94.

LATEST EVENTS:
After destroying a small-ish steamer (some 1000grt aprox) we persued a sound contact in the bristol channel (Aug, 1941). Some time later, two prop contacts have become one, BUT we are in visual range - however the contact eventually turns out to be a "HUNT III" class destroyer.

The DD made a number of runs against us but wasn't very good at his accuracy. After around an hour or so, we managed to lose our pursuer by tactically changing depth and running quiet, whilst also presenting a small profile to the enemy.

Just before dawn the following day an ALARM is triggered when 2x Hurricane fighters are spotted. However they are at high altitude and clearly haven't spotted us.

We continue up "ST George's Channel" and towards wexford with a view to finding any targets in what looks like a possible anchorage, found on the chart by the navigator.

[Fish In The Water]

Also I think I get bonus points for actually taking all my damage during the patrol, as opposed to bouncing off the gates and sides of the locks on the way in and out. :yeah: :O:

Yup, definitely worth a gold star! :D

PS. Good to see you back at sea... :up:

[frau kaleun]

Yup, definitely worth a gold star! :D

PS. Good to see you back at sea... :up:

Oh man, it's so good to be playing again. But now I'm back in base and drowning in paperwork. I've gotten obsessed with giving my crew more realistic ranks, even though the game won't ever recognize them... but I like to keep track of them that way because it helps me remember who's who and where their duty station is. I'm actually on the verge of building a separate database to sort it all and I'm awash in funkmaats and mechanikergefreiters. :88)

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No3
24 October 1939
02:42 hours
U-50 left Wilhelmshaven to patrol grid BE99 northwest of Spain

28 October 1939
Grid AN14
12:21 hours Small trawler spotted in bad weather. U-50 dived to avoid detection and continued on her course as the target didn't worth a torpedo.

29 October 1939
Grid AN13
02:24 hours A motor vessel was seen in 15m/s winds U-50 dived and carried on undetected.

10 November 1939
Grid BF18
11:55 hours Small merchant sunk by 1 bow torpedo

12 November 1939
Grid BF17 Convoy attack. Sole escort was a Polish destroyer
4 bow + 1 stern torpedoes fired , 4 hits scored
13:58 hours Passenger/cargo sunk by 1 bow torpedo
14:06 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 1 stern torpedo.

16 November 1939
Grid BF17 Convoy attack in fog and rain (submerged)
17:20 hours 4 bow torpedo fired 1 hit scored but no ships sunk
With no torpedo left (only the externals) U-50 set course for home

18 November 1939
Grid AM54
13:08 hours
Tramp steamer sunk by 29 88mm rounds
The weather calmed down , winds fell to 0m/s so we were able to move in the external torpedoes. 1 bow + 1 stern tubes loaded.

20 November 1939
Grid AN13
07:59 hours
Motor vessel sunk by 22 88mm rounds

10:03 hours U-50 crash dived to avoid enemy aircraft.

23 November 1939
05:25 hours U-50 docked at Wilhelmshaven soaking wet in heavy rain and very bad weather
31 days at sea
5 ships sunk
8590 tons
No damages or casualties

It was good to know that U-35 Frau Kaleun was out at sea again. Gute Jadg FK.
No news of Snestorm yet.

[VONHARRIS]

I had some time off in real life so I have managed to complete one more patrol

Patrol No4
23 December 1939
21:54 hours U-50 set out to sea

29 December 1939
Grid AN14
12:15 hours Coastal tanker was missed by 1 stern torpedo. I didn't chase her anymore

01 January 1940
The New Year found U-50 at grid AM31 sailing west doing 7-8 knots on the surface. The weather was awful but the New year was celebrated with beer for everyone.

05 January 1940
Grid AE79
21:04 hours An enemy destroyer showed up all of a sudden. U-50 managed to dive undetected. The hydrophones revealed an armed merchant cruiser and an aux cruiser behind the leading DD.
A shot position was obtained easily as the enemy ships were not zigzagging
2 bow torpedoes fired on the AMC and 1 bow on the Aux cruiser and U-50 started to turn immediately away from the scene
2 explosions rocked the AMC and she sunk within minutes , but the torpedo that hit the aux was a dud. The stern tube was fired at the aux but at not a preferable angle and it didn't explode.
U-50 dived at 100m and left the area safe and sound

15 January 1940
Grid AD83
20:30 hours heavy fog and rain.
U-50 was literally run over by an enemy convoy. In the confusion occured there , 4 bow tubes were fired
21:04 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo
21:25 hours Small merchant sunk by 1 bow torpedo.
A troop transport of 8000grt and the RMS Laconia passed 100m in front of my attack scope: too close to fire but to far to ram me.

25 January 1940
Grid AN48
18:31 hours Tramp steamer sunk by 2 bow torpedoes. She was already on fire possibly a Luftwaffe attack.

27 January 1940
11:21 hours U-50 docked at home port
36 days at sea
4 ships sunk
20511 tons
No damages or casualties

[Howard313]

September 16th, 1939
Patrol 1

We've been patrolling the English Channel for about half a month and have scored four kills for 20,000 tons. We have about three quarters of our fuel left and enough torpedoes to possibly get even another 20,000 tons if we are lucky.

The patrol has been somewhat uneventful, although one Allied aircraft attempted to bomb us while we were attacking a lone merchant with the deck gun, only one bomb was dropped before it called off the attack probably to avoid damaging the merchant, no damage or casualties.

Dodged a group of three patrolling destroyers by resting silently on the ocean floor as they passed overhead. (God I love doing that)

Good to be starting a new campaign! :arrgh!:

[sublynx]

Ob.lt z.s. Helmut Unger to report immediately to Kiel for reassignment to training duties.

Relinquish command of U-552 to your exec.

L. Buchheim
Kapt.z.s., Kommandant

[Fish In The Water]

But now I'm back in base and drowning in paperwork. ...I like to keep track of them that way because it helps me remember who's who and where their duty station is. I'm actually on the verge of building a separate database to sort it all and I'm awash in funkmaats and mechanikergefreiters. :88)

Somehow I wouldn't expect anything less...

Truth is I recognize the symptoms all too well. It all starts with an eminently practical reason, (such as remembering who's who), and the next thing you know you've got an all new game within a game. :doh:

It's all good though. Adds depth and all that. So hey, why not enjoy? :)

[frau kaleun]

Somehow I wouldn't expect anything less...

Truth is I recognize the symptoms all too well. It all starts with an eminently practical reason, (such as remembering who's who), and the next thing you know you've got an all new game within a game. :doh:

It's all good though. Adds depth and all that. So hey, why not enjoy? :)

Well, it will make having paid the big bucks for Office Professional not quite the pointless extra expense it would have been otherwise. :O:

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No5
26 February 1940
17:06 hours U-50 left the safety of Wilhelmshaven for the dangerous waters of the North Atlantic

29 February 1940
Grid AN56
07:08 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 37 88mm rounds

12 March 1940
Grid AD83
A radio message informed us of the beginning of the Norwegian campaign. Our current position disallowed us any participation. Patrol continued as normal

15 March 1940
Grid AD83
Convoy attack with exellent results. U-50 managed to penetrate the destroyer screen and attacked within the convoy columns, This was NOT a by the book attack. All tubes fore and aft were fired at close range.
00:53 hours Tanker 02 sunk by 1 bow torpedo. Ship exploded
00:53 hours Medium cargo sunk by 1 bow torpedo. Ship exploded
01:15 hours Small merchant sunk by 1 stern torpedo
01:37 hours Ore carrier sunk by 1 bow torpedo
One more tanker was damaged but escaped

20 March 1940
Grid AD59
Convoy attack. This time is was done from outside the destroyer screen.
All tubes fore and aft were fired. I shouldn't have fired the aft torpedo. It was a waste of ammo.
15:52 hours Motor tanker sunk by 2 bow torpedoes. Ship exploded
15:53 hours Granville type freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo
A large merchant was probally hit and the other torpedoes missed

29 March 1940
Grid AN14
06:12 hours A&B class DD sunk by 1 bow torpedo. Ship cut in half.

30 March 1940
Grid AN61
14:18 hours Q-ship sunk by 1 bow torpedo. The fish missed the aiming point midships and struck the target aft. Fortunately the flooding was enough to bring her down.
No torpedoes left

31 March 1940
22:54 hours
U-50 docked at home port
35 days at sea
9 ships sunk
41415 tons
No damages or casualties

von Harris and all his crew were transferred to U-65 IXB type boat

[sublynx]

Leutnant. z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol AE69

1.11.1942
03:43 AN24 cloudy, visibility 8 - 9 km, wind 7 m/s. I’ve just taken command of U-552 after it’s former commander was dismissed to training duty, after completing only four patrols. The crewmen speculate that BdU wasn’t happy about his decision to return to base for repairs after getting some very minor damage to the boat.

Our patrol grid is NNE of the Faroe islands. The area is covered by enemy air patrols. I have ordered the navigator to lay a course that takes us to our patrol grid out of reach of enemy air for as long as is possible. Onboard we have two of the brand new and top secret TI FAT I G7a torpedoes. I have strict orders to only use them at night time – the enemy must not become aware of the fact that these torpedoes can change their course after the initial run.

13.11.1942
14:45 AE69 clear, visibility 8 – 9 km, wind 9 m/s. At 13:34 hours an unidentified airplane sighted at a relative bearing of 247, long range. Crash dive at AK and a hard turn towards the plane. No sounds of depth charges or bombs heard on the hydrophone. Now running surfaced again.

14.11.1942
07:53 AE69 clear, visibility 8 – 9 km, wind 9 m/s. At 07:42 hours warship screws heard on the hydrophone. Contact lost at 07:52 hours, before the enemy’s course could be estimated accurately. Probably two warships on a westerly course, making at least 20 knots or more.

15.11.1942
14:43 AE69 clear, visibility 8 – 9 km, wind 9 m/s. The radio tells us the Russians are attacking in Stalingrad, the British in El Alamein and the Americans have landed in North Africa. Wehrmacht in trouble everywhere, I guess – and here are we leisurely cruising in this glorious sunshine, not one cloud in the sky, everything as peaceful as anything can be, listening Vera Bergmann and Rudi Godden singing Kleine Mama on the gramophone. What a great song - and not at all a bad deal for us U-boat men, making our contribution to the war effort in this way!

[Snestorm]

My last career got corrupted: I couldn't enter port to dock at the end of the patrol so I deleted it.

New career started: U-50 VIIB
Details to follow
I think that Kaleun Snestorm is about to sail off soon. I hape we have time-paraller careers

Right behind you, my friend.

Sorry to hear of the corruption of your previouse carreer.

[Snestorm]

After some time not playing SH3 due to being away on HOL in R/L, I am back with my commander, "Walter Suhr" who's skipper of U-93.

We are Currently located in AM94.

LATEST EVENTS:
After destroying a small-ish steamer (some 1000grt aprox) we persued a sound contact in the bristol channel (Aug, 1941). Some time later, two prop contacts have become one, BUT we are in visual range - however the contact eventually turns out to be a "HUNT III" class destroyer.

The DD made a number of runs against us but wasn't very good at his accuracy. After around an hour or so, we managed to lose our pursuer by tactically changing depth and running quiet, whilst also presenting a small profile to the enemy.

Just before dawn the following day an ALARM is triggered when 2x Hurricane fighters are spotted. However they are at high altitude and clearly haven't spotted us.

We continue up "ST George's Channel" and towards wexford with a view to finding any targets in what looks like a possible anchorage, found on the chart by the navigator.

Very high risk grids.
Salute, Hr Kaleun.

[Snestorm]

Oh man, it's so good to be playing again. But now I'm back in base and drowning in paperwork. I've gotten obsessed with giving my crew more realistic ranks, even though the game won't ever recognize them... but I like to keep track of them that way because it helps me remember who's who and where their duty station is. I'm actually on the verge of building a separate database to sort it all and I'm awash in funkmaats and mechanikergefreiters. :88)

Welcome back to this end of the forum.
Good to see your reports again.

[sektor2006]

I am doing my first patrol in a Type IIA boat in North Sea, it is September 1939.

I sank a merchant ship in a terrible storm - clouds, fog, wind, rough sea + heavy rain. I used the hydrophone to find the ship - I guess I am getting better. :)

I now chase another small merchant in the same weather conditions- I shot one torpedo but it missed (bad angle) and now I am waiting for my other 2 torpedoes to reload. It takes a loooong time...

So far so good since this is my first real patrol of this game.

[sublynx]

I sank a merchant ship in a terrible storm - clouds, fog, wind, rough sea + heavy rain. I used the hydrophone to find the ship - I guess I am getting better. :)

So far so good since this is my first real patrol of this game.

First real patrol and a sinking in almost negligent visibility?! Well, you certainly have a great start to your career :arrgh!: It takes a lot of preparing and patience to manage that. Gute Jagd!

[sektor2006]

Thanks! :) Well, basically the strategy is rather simple - the hydrophone is my best friend in such low visibility. Once you figure out where the ship is, just move in that direction and with a bit of luck you will be able to spot it and quite possibly sink it. :) It's a game of listening and some geometry incl. the map.

I am really excited. I've been playing the game for about 10 days now and not every day, still learning it for the most part and now everything starts to fall in place and it does pay off! :sunny:

[Snestorm]

The real U39:

"Sunk 14 Sept, 1939 north-west of Ireland, in position 58.32N, 11.49W, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Faulknor, HMS Foxhound and HMS Firedrake. 44 survivors (no casualties).

14 Sep 1939. U-39 was the first U-boat sunk in the war, after an unsuccessful attack against the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (premature magnetic-pistol torpedo explosions)."

Picked this boat because of my torpedo loadout, and settings, decision.
Not using the 20-20 hindsight available, I expected torpedo problems, and got my share of them.
With the exception of tube 3 (G7A), all bow torpedoes are G7E.
Owing to the external stern tubes, both stern torpedoes are G7As. That's a big plus!
Instead of using my stardard "3 meters impact" setting (which works very well), I've opted to leave the magnetic pistol of all torpedoes functional, and use the primary depth setting of 4 meters.
Why? Because, nobody initialy knew that the torpedoes were faulty. So, I disallowed myself from fixing a problem that was unknown at the time.

P A T R O L 1 :
U39 pulled out of Willy on 1.sep.39 with orders to make for waters west of England's Western Approaches, and await further instructions.

9.sep.39
AN11
At 1454 loud explosion is heard in the distance, by watchstanders on the bridge.
A hydrofhone check reveals the sound of a sinking ship.
That evening the Radioman discloses that Kaleun VONHARRIS, in U50, has sent a Ship Sunk Report from the area. We never did see him, or anything else, in the grid.

10.sep.39
AM333 (90 miles south of Færøerne. 150 miles NW of Loch Ewe.)
0648: A L A R M ! Aircraft.

12.sep.39
AM26 (225 miles WNW of Loch Ewe.)
0721: A L A R M ! Aircraft.

14.sep.39
AM29
1014: "Ship sighted". Corvette at Long Range.
U39 goes to 15 meters, followed by periscope depth.
The corvette didn't seem to have noticed us, but our hydrophone operator noticed his convoy!

Convoy couse and speed were eventualy estimated at 102 making 6 knots.
First attack went well. 3 G7Es fired for 2 impacts. C2 sunk for 6.448 GRT.

All 4 of the attacks that followed failed, primarily due to premature explosions enmass.
The G7As did better at reaching the target, but were seen to explode with no apparent effect. This at least confirmed that the torpedoes were, in fact, aimed properly.
Very, very frustrating.

U39 docked at Willy on 29sep.39, 5 days behind U50.

Patrol results:
1 ship sunk for 6.448 GRT.
12 of 12 torpedoes expended.

At the end of debriefing, BDU said the torpedo situation would be looked into.

(Does anybody know what date the order to disable magnetic pistols came out?)

[sublynx]

Thanks! :) Well, basically the strategy is rather simple - the hydrophone is my best friend in such low visibility. Once you figure out where the ship is, just move in that direction and with a bit of luck you will be able to spot it and quite possibly sink it. :) It's a game of listening and some geometry incl. the map.

I am really excited. I've been playing the game for about 10 days now and not every day, still learning it for the most part and now everything starts to fall in place and it does pay off! :sunny:

Hydrophone is definetely the mother of all successful action in this game. And the nice part in SH3 is that there always seems to be something new to learn. :)

[Snestorm]

I am really excited. I've been playing the game for about 10 days now and not every day, still learning it for the most part and now everything starts to fall in place and it does pay off! :sunny:

Your off to a great start!
Enjoy, but be warned, it's addictive.

[sublynx]

I've opted to leave the magnetic pistol of all torpedoes functional, and use the primary depth setting of 4 meters.
Why? Because, nobody initialy knew that the torpedoes were faulty. So, I disallowed myself from fixing a problem that was unknown at the time.

(Does anybody know what date the order to disable magnetic pistols came out?)

Excellent idea, I think I'll try that too, the next time I start from 1939 :)

In GWX BdU sends you a radio order about using only impact at an appropriate time, if I remember correctly.

Dönitz's The Conduct of the War at Sea mentions the torpedo failures and subsequent tests in many places but fails to give an exact date.

In BdU's war diary March 1941

http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDUKTB30285.htm

the torpedo problem is widely discussed.


This link (go to page 52 - 53) discusses the torpedo problem with more exact dates.

http://books.google.fi/books?id=eFZb_BqP10UC&pg=PA53&lpg=PA53&dq=professor+cornelius+torpedo&source=bl&ots=H_Bxnarf1g&sig=UUZ5ur21QUD4NWiYqyRuyBUjTgw&hl=fi&ei=QxTeTeLHIsvJswaZibHTBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEkQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false

According to the book, the date was 23.5.1940.

Hope this helps :DL

[Snestorm]

Excellent idea, I think I'll try that too, the next time I start from 1939 :)

In GWX BdU sends you a radio order about using only impact at an appropriate time, if I remember correctly.

Dönitz's The Conduct of the War at Sea mentions the torpedo failures and subsequent tests in many places but fails to give an exact date.

In BdU's war diary March 1941

http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDUKTB30285.htm

the torpedo problem is widely discussed.


This link (go to page 52 - 53) discusses the torpedo problem with more exact dates.

http://books.google.fi/books?id=eFZb_BqP10UC&pg=PA53&lpg=PA53&dq=professor+cornelius+torpedo&source=bl&ots=H_Bxnarf1g&sig=UUZ5ur21QUD4NWiYqyRuyBUjTgw&hl=fi&ei=QxTeTeLHIsvJswaZibHTBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEkQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false

According to the book, the date was 23.5.1940.

Hope this helps :DL

Thank you for the info, and source.
You are fantastic!

Ja. It looks like 23.maj.40 is the day I can have all the magnetic pistols removed.
I guess the depth setting change, from 4 to 3, will also have to wait.

As frustrating as this will be, it should help reduce my tonnage to more historicaly acceptable numbers. (Been modding hard towards that end too.)

[sublynx]

As frustrating as this will be, it should help reduce my tonnage to more historicaly acceptable numbers. (Been modding hard towards that end too.)

It's a sure way of getting the tonnage down and feeling the frustration of the sub commanders who made perfect shots at a battleships, waiting for the Ka-boom and the glory - and then wondering what went wrong :arrgh!:

[Osmium Steele]

http://images1.variety.com/graphics/photos/_storypics/marvin_martian.jpg

Where's the Ka-Boom?

There was supposed to be an Earth-shattering Ka-Boom!

[Snestorm]

There was a big ka-boom, half way to the taget.
Premature.

[sublynx]

http://images1.variety.com/graphics/photos/_storypics/marvin_martian.jpg

Where's the Ka-Boom?

There was supposed to be an Earth-shattering Ka-Boom!


Never noticed before how much like a German submarine commander Marvin the Martian is :har: They must have a drawn him watching at a picture of Günther Prien.

[Fish In The Water]

I am really excited. I've been playing the game for about 10 days now and not every day, still learning it for the most part and now everything starts to fall in place and it does pay off! :sunny:

Great to have some new blood...

Really glad you're enjoying it. Have fun and good hunting! :arrgh!:

[frau kaleun]

Welcome back to this end of the forum.
Good to see your reports again.

Thanks. It feels good to have something to report! :DL

http://images1.variety.com/graphics/photos/_storypics/marvin_martian.jpg

Where's the Ka-Boom?

There was supposed to be an Earth-shattering Ka-Boom!

:rotfl2:

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No6
30 April 1940
U-65 left Wilhelmshaven to patrol gird AL21
It was heard that Kaleun Snestorm had serious troubles with those magnetic pistols , causing him the loss of tonnage during a convoy attack. At least he came home in one piece.

4 May 1940
Grid AN14
21:12 hours A harbour tugboat was sunk by 6 105mm rounds. The gun crew really loved the 105mm gun. They prefer it over the 88mm.

15 May 1940
Grid AK37
After 11 days of boredom a convoy was spotted. Course and speed were estimated by hydrophone readings and it looked like they were coming right in our path.
4 bow tubes were fired , visually aimed
3 torpedoes aimed at a Nelson class BB and one at a tanker
All four torpedoes exploded on their targets
Meanwhile U-65 had turned her stern at the convoy and both aft tubes were fired at the same targets
12:09 hours Tanker 03 sunk by 1 bow + 1 stern torpedo ship exploded
12:09 hours Nelson class BB - HMS Rodney - sunk by 3 bow and 1 stern torpedo
U-65 came under DC attack which caused medium flooding but the LI and his crew did their magic and we survived.

After patroling grid BB99 with no contacts , the LI noticed that our fuel was way below the anticipated level. We were losing fuel. It looked like that the DCs during the convoy attack had caused serious damage. The LI calculated our fuel and it was obvious that we couldn't make it home. I gave the order to radio BdU and the answer was to reach SS Belchen for repairs and refuel.

29 May 1940
Grid BC21
08:58 hours
On the way to SS Belchen we found an enemy armed merchant - an infamous Q-ship. A bow G7a was enough to blow her out of the water

2 June 1940
08:08 hours U-65 found the SS Belchen in the icy waters of the North west Atlantic. Time to repair the fuel tank : 4 days
34 days at sea
4 ships sunk
47519 tons
90,75% hull integrity

[sublynx]

Leutnant z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen

5.12.1942
Back at port after my first mission as commander of U-552. During the month we patrolled AE69 not once did we even see an enemy ship. The morale of the crew is miserable. The PQ convoys must now be using another route.

In port I heard that U-39 had a bad patrol too. They did see lots of action, but the torpedoes had depth keeping and impact pistol trouble. At least they sunk a ship. But other boats have had successful patrols: the best one must be U-65's sinking of HMS Rodney.

Patrol observations.
1. AE69 on the 18th of November, 14:20 hours two Metox warnings. Dive to PD, no hydrophone contacts. My assumption is that the two radar beams must have come from a pair of radar equipped enemy planes. Nothing was seen though, no DC's or bombs heard. Another explanation could be that our Metox was just malfunctioning.
2. AE 69 on the 22nd of November, 23:55 hours a very strange sight. A convoy under Finnish flags. A patrol boat, a barge, a tanker and two merchants. The Finns are not at war with the United States, but Britain has declared war against them, so it was very surprising seeing them near the Faroe islands in British controlled area.

Either the ships were trying to sneak across the Northern Atlantic to a country that is not at war with them or the English have decided to leave the Finns be - it is rumored that Churchill only declared war on them to please the Russians and altough the Royal Navy bombed the Finnish harbours at Petsamo and Kirkenes last year, there has not been any shooting between them since that incident.

Dietzmann

[Missing Name]

Oblt. z. s. Wolfgang Grimm
U-127, Type IXB
Patrol 2: BE37, 1/19/1940 - 2/06/1940.

Left Wilhelmshaven, clear skies and a hint of wind.

2 merchants were sunk in the North Sea on the 22nd.

On the 23rd, another merchant was attacked. As we surfaced to finish her off, a destroyer arrived and fired a few shots. DD sunk with 1 torpedo.

The 24th saw a great amount of activity. A lone merchant was sunk NW of Scapa Flow, early in the morning. At around midday, a convoy was sighted. Targets were picked: 3 larger merchants. Two hits, one torpedo failed to detonate. Escort attack was light. 62 depth charges dropped, with no damage.

2 merchants were sunk on the 25th.

On the 26th, two convoys were encountered in the Sea of Hebrides.

The first had two large merchants sunk. One sank immediately, with some of the stern visible above water. The second suffered engine failure, was abandoned by the convoy and finished off with the deck gun.

The second convoy was warned of our presence and an escort was sent to the back to lie in wait for me. We were caught unaware, but sank the enemy with the deck gun, sustaining no damage. The spoiled approach meant waiting for the convoy to turn into a more favorable position. 4 merchants sunk. Remaining escorts quickly lost us.

2 more merchants sunk enroute to BE37.

Another convoy was intercepted as we headed north again on the 31st. 1 merchant and a light cruiser sunk. At this point, we had no more torpedoes.

1 merchant sunk on the 2nd.

A fourth convoy was intercepted on the 3rd in the North Hebrides. Collided with destroyer and depth charged 40 times. Very light structural damage.

2 more merchants sunk on the 3rd and 4th. No more deck gun shells.

Pulled into Wilhelmshaven on the 6th. Aft torpedo tube doors were somewhat warped but were still functional.

Total: 20 merchants, 3 warships (CL, DD, DE) sunk. 126,500 tons of shipping.

[sektor2006]

Guys, how do you make these patrol reports?

As to me, I sank a second merchant ship in this bad storm and happily returned to base. Result - 2 sunk merchant ships for a total tonnage of 4800 tons, 5 spent torpedoes, a war badge for someone on the crew, 1000 renown points. :) This was my first patrol ever.

[sublynx]

Guys, how do you make these patrol reports?

As to me, I sank a second merchant ship in this bad storm and happily returned to base. Result - 2 sunk merchant ships for a total tonnage of 4800 tons, 5 spent torpedoes, a war badge for someone on the crew, 1000 renown points. :) This was my first patrol ever.

Great start for your career, sektor2006 :/\\x:

As for writing patrol reports, I got the inspiration after reading the reports here in the thread and historical U-boat patrol reports in:

http://www.uboatarchive.net/KTBList.htm (http://www.uboatarchive.net/KTBList.htm)

I now have a paper notepad for quick notemaking beside my laptop, and my old laptop with a word processor open is waiting for a lull in the action. SH3 has times when you just wait for the convoy to get closer or the escorts get farther away and can’t really do anything but wait. At those times I tend to stay in TC x1 and write action reports about what has happened so far.

I find this fun from a role playing perspective and I also think writing reports is starting to affect my situational awareness as well. I now spend a lot more time gathering information about the enemy and the situation, and more time thinking about how to make the attack safer and more successful. I think I get better at the game by taking the time to write a report about the patrol.

[sektor2006]

Great to have some new blood...

Really glad you're enjoying it. Have fun and good hunting!

Thank you for the warm words! I've been a fan of the series since I was little. A long time ago I played a game with a submarine, but I didn't know English so I couldn't understand the game and I don't remember the title of the game, but I suppose it was Silent Hunter 1.

Can I ask something? I am on my second patrol - in fact I just started it. The weird thing is that:
1. I have to patrol the same grid (AN81).
2. The date is again Sep 1, 1939, although when I returned to base the date was Sep 9, 1939.
3. Great Britain is not an enemy.

Yet, my statistics is there - 2 sunk ships, 600 points renown for a total of 1100 points, a medal. What is going on? How can I go back to Sep 9, 1939 - to normal time?

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No7
03 June 1940
After repairs were completed , U-65 was refeuled and rearmed ready for action.
Following BdU instructions my IWO remained on the SS Belchen to meet with
U-552 to be transfered to Bergen. My IIWO replaced him and we got another officer also. U-39 is still in port
20:10 hours U-65 left the company of the SS Belchen (The crew will miss the dinners on that ship) with orders to patrol AL22

08 June 1940
Grid AK27 Convoy attack in fine weather , calm seas no winds
4 bow tubes fired and U-65 started turning to bring the aft tubes in action
04:14 hours A large troop ship(24000grt) was hit by two bow torpedoes and sunk
The whole convoy slowed down to 2Kts with the ships going into complete disarray going into every possible direction and the escorts didn't know what to do , a total mess
U-65 dived to 100m and reloaded
When we came to periscope depth the situation was the same
All six tubes fired into the convoy again
06:09 hours Passenger/cargo sunk by 2 bow torpedoes (they were aimed at a fast passenger ship)
06:38 hours A tanker 06 was sunk by 1 stern shot after she was already hit by a bow torpedo in the first attack
U-65 dived again at 100m and reloaded the 2 bow tubes
Again we came at persiscope depth and fired both tubes each a tanker. Although both torpedoes exploded no other ship was sunk.
U-65 dived at 150m and left the area undetected.
This has never happened before. It was a very strange incident.

20 June 1940
Grid AN26
20:09 hours U-65 crash dived to avoid enemy aircraft

21 June 1940
Grid AN14
23:28 hours A coastal freighter was sunk by 1 bow torpedo. She was escorted by a motor torpedo boat

22 June 1940
Grid AN14
U-65 was still submerged when heavy screws were heard at bearing 165. U-65 turned her bow at the contact and three different warships were heard coming our way.
Up scope: A Dido class CL an aux cruiser and an armed merchant cruiser with no escorts. Their speed was estimated to 15 kts
All 4 bow tubes were readied and fired: 1 at the Dido 2 at the AMC and 1 at the aux cruiser.
A lookout on the CL spotted the incoming torpedo and the cruisers started evasive actions.
The Dido was hit aft but no damage was done as she continued on. The fishes aimed at the AMC either missed or were duds but the one that hit the aux cruiser left her dead in the water.
By that time U-65 presented her stern to the aux cruiser and fired both aft torpedoes.
02:31 hours Auxiliary cruiser sunk by 1 bow + 2 stern torpedoes
U-65 left undetected as the other two ships left the area

07:03 hours U-65 crash dived to avoid enemy ASW group of 4 DDs

24 June 1940
09:48 hours
U-65 entered the port of Wilhelmshaven
22 days at sea
5 ships sunk
50574 tons
No damages or casualties

[Gerald]

Good work, :up:

[sublynx]

Leutnant z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol AM21

25.12.1942 Bergen
0211 Cloudy, 8-9 km, 7 m/s. Leaving Bergen under a watchful eye of a pair of BF109F's. The gramophone plays Christmas carols and I think that everybody's thoughts wander towards our families celebrating Christmas back home. We should really be concentrating on our mission. BdU's report warns that enemy air patrols cover all of our planned operation area now. Enemy warship patrols have been spotted more often east of Bergen. The report also mentions my old boat, U-65, which has returned to it's port safe and sound after a very successful patrol.

26.12.1942 Nordzee
1657 AF76 Cloudy, 8-9 km, 7 m/s. At 1609 a Metox warning. Dived and got a warship contact. At 1633 hours three destroyers and a light cruiser, probably of the Fiji class seen on periscope. Course estimated at 202 degrees, speed 13 knots. Too far to attack. KDB might have a malfunction, so we rely on GHG now.

28.12.1942 North of the Hebrides
1306 AM36 Cloudy, 8-9 km, 7 m/s. After a 15 hours chase at HF we arrive to an intercept point of a reported convoy, only to notice that the convoy has altered it's course and we can't find it. I was prepared for an attack in shallow waters, but I'm not going to start a search operation in shallow mined waters, that are covered with incessant air patrols and destroyer patrols.

29.12.1942 Nordmeer
1903 AM22 Clear, 8-9 km, 0 m/s. At 1528 a Metox warning. Nothing heard with the hydrophone and nothing seen with the observation periscope, so we surfaced again. At 1802 an airplane was sighted at a relative bearing of 199 degrees. Dived to periscope depth while observing the airplane with a periscope. Two heavy bombers sighted, may have been four-engined. I didn't order a crash dive, because I wanted to observe the enemy and they didn't look like they saw us or the periscope in the dark. The planes flew over to our approximate surface location, gathered some height and then dived towards the location. It was hard to see but I think they dropped a bomb or a depth charge. Nothing was heard exploding, though. The earlier radar warning might have been becoming from the planes. There seems to no airplane safe area between Iceland and Britain anymore.

30.12.1942 Nordmeer
0010 AM21 Clear, 8-9 km, 0 m/s. We have now arrived to our patrol grid. We are preparing for a little new year celebration, a nice meal, and a little shot of rum for everyone. The mood on the boat is good. I, however wonder to myself what the new year will be like for the U-boats of the Kriegsmarine.

Dietzmann

[pickler]

u-67 type IX-C part of operation drumbeat. at bc78 april 1942. target AC29 New York Coast. had really good weather with 0 wind until near Canadian coast. huge waves upto 10m high. submerged and doing 2kts at 50m.

[Kip336]

U-336, a VIIB west of Ireland, July 1940.

Just saw a coastal freighter, escorted by an Armed Trawler. We had minor damages, and 1 torpedo left from an earlier disagreement with an Destroyer.

Torpedo hit, but after 1 hour of playing Cat & Mouse with the Trawler, she was still afloat.

The trawler got a few depth chargers too close for comfort, destroying the aft batteries.

With a deep, annoyed sigh I ordered a Blow Ballast, and man the gun.

15 shots of the Good News towards the Trawler, 13 hit, she's going down!
About 10 shots in return (Took er by suprise from the back) and lots of machine gun fire. An injury, some damage to the conning tower and a bit of leaking in the bow quarters.

2 shots of the Good news towards the Freighter.

Time to head home and repair.....wait.....another coastal freighter...

[Snestorm]

Patrol No6
30 April 1940
U-65 left Wilhelmshaven to patrol gird AL21
It was heard that Kaleun Snestorm had serious troubles with those magnetic pistols , causing him the loss of tonnage during a convoy attack. At least he came home in one piece.

And the troubles continue (til 23.maj.40).

(Your driving my favorite boat. She has a fan in me. Enjoy the ride.)

Glad to see you have survived your own torpedo problems.
A piece of (the real) U65's history (uboat.net):

"13 Apr 1940
During the Norway invasion the brand-new U-65 attacked a group of British destroyers but his torpedoes failed and the destroyers attacked the boat causing some damages."

I see you've taken some revenge.
Well done, Hr Kaleunt!

[Snestorm]

Guys, how do you make these patrol reports?

As to me, I sank a second merchant ship in this bad storm and happily returned to base. Result - 2 sunk merchant ships for a total tonnage of 4800 tons, 5 spent torpedoes, a war badge for someone on the crew, 1000 renown points. :) This was my first patrol ever.

Outstanding patrol!

[Snestorm]

Underway from Willy on 24.nov.39, bound for England's Southern Approaches.

Passed between Færøerne & The Shetlands without incident.

9.dec.39
BE35
0339: "Ship spotted!"
Ship? Convoy!

0351: 3 G7Es are fired at 3 targets. 1 premature, and 2 impacts.
Little Freighter sunk for 2.335 GRT. (Night surface attack).
0352: 1 G7A is fired for a hit, but no sinking.
Convoy determined to be on a course of 359, making 6 knots.
U39 goes to 100 meters, and remains undetected.
3 escorts are counted on hydrophone.

BE32
0530: Surface.
0707: Submerge for predawn submerged attack.
0750: 3 G7Es fired at a T3 Tanker.
Premature. Impact. "Miss" (Torpedo was seen to explode without effect).

0940: Surface.
1016: Dive for Destroyer. We remained undetected.
1029: Surface.

1230: 4 G7Es are fired at the T3 Tanker!
Premature. Premature. Impact. "Miss" (Explosion was right behind #3's).
New depth 100 meters.
Follow in wake of convoy, and find no stragglers.

1816: 2 G7As are fired from the external stern tubes.
Premature. "Miss", which was seen to explode on/or beside the target.

With all torpedoes expended, U39 remains as shadower for the next 24 hours.

Upon being relieved as shadower, U39 is ordered to BE61, where she is to act as weather boat for 48 hours.

27.dec.39
AN96
2025: A collision is narowly avoided with a friendly Destroyer.

AN98
2230: Docked at Willy.

Patrol results:
1 ship sunk for 2.335 GRT.

U39's history to date:
2 war patrols completed.
2 ships sunk for 8.783 GRT.

[VONHARRIS]

30 July 1940
Grid AN11
U-65 spotted an enemy task force consisting of HMS Nelson HMS Ark Royal 2 cruisers of the Southampton class and several DDs.
During the initial approach a mistake in the engine room betrayed the position of the Uboot exactly at the point where torpedoes were to be launched.
The DDs rushed to the position and U-65 came under heavy DC attack. The flooding was uncontrolable and the Uboot dived to 260m before imploding.
All hands lost.


New career U-103 IXB

[sublynx]

Leutnant z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol AM21
2.1.1943
1913 AM21 clear, 8-9 km, 0 m/s.

To BdU:

Boat status.
The boat's pressure hull is badly damaged, most of the glass in our meters is shattered, but everything seems to be working. Twelve torpedoes stored internally. Two in external storage of which one is damaged and useless. I am continuing my mission.

Patrol results.
Today at 1900 hours a 500 BRT boat sunk by 88 mm and FlaK fire.

Enemy sightings.
30.12.1942
0947 AM23 airplane, relative bearing 208. Dived.

1.1.1943
1733 AM21 Metox warning, watch crew reported airplane engine sounds and the hydrophone operator two warships on a southerly course. Dived.

2.1.1943
1005 AM21 airplane sighted and radar contact, relative bearing 17. Dived.
1635 AM21 Metox warning. Dived. A merchant heard on the hydrophone, nothing seen with the observation periscope. Surfaced, and was attacked almost immediately by a two-engined airplane, relative bearing 90, close range. Boat hit by gunfire and a bomb or a depth charge. Dived to A-40. Medium damage in almost every compartment and flooding. The boat was repaired by 1658.

Situation assessment.
Long chases after reported contacts are very difficult at the moment, because of the enemy's increased air activity.
Crew worked efficiently in stopping the flooding, no panic occurred. However, the crewmen seem to be getting tired from the incessant airplane sightings.

On a personal note as a former crew member of U-65 I want to send my condolences to the families of U-65.

Dietzmann

[Kip336]

September 4, 1939 - 17:00 hrs
Sank a small coastal freighters a few hours ago. Miles away in our 6, destroyers are eagerly trying to find the responsible sub.

Watch officer reports a ship bearing 300. After a bit of plotting we close in to find a Coal Tender.
Don't want the fleet of destroyers behind the U-336 to know where it's going. We'll pass.


September 6, 1939 - 0500 hrs.
Just west of the Approaches. Message from BDU that a convoy with medium speed is headed....right for us at about 20km distance.
Dove to 40m and awaited the convoy.
Soundcontact! Contact..contact...contact..contact..
Atleast 6 hydrophone contacts, periscope depth confirms this, a large convoy, about 15-20 ships escorted by a cruiser and some destroyers.


(And then came RL work.....I'm excited to wreak havoc on my first ever convoy!! Tips? )

[Snestorm]

(And then came RL work.....I'm excited to wreak havoc on my first ever convoy!! Tips? )

Stay at periscope depth and silent speed , so you won't be a blind mole.

Keep your nose (or if need be, stern) pointed at the lead escort.

Set up perpendicular to the convoy's course, when safely able to do so.

Try to pick a fairly distant but valuable target, in the first row.

Fire a 3 torpedo fan.

Scope down (Don't stay for the show).

Go deep at silent speed.

Use 5 degree rudder to turn yourself toward a 45 degree escape from the convoy's track.
(What the escorts do, may alter or delay this action.)

Don't reload tubes until the enemy has been disengaged.

[Gerald]

Stay at periscope depth and silent speed , so you won't be a blind mole.

Keep your nose (or if need be, stern) pointed at the lead escort.

Set up perpendicular to the convoy's course, when safely able to do so.

Try to pick a fairly distant but valuable target, in the first row.

Fire a 3 torpedo fan.

Scope down (Don't stay for the show).

Go deep at silent speed.

Use 5 degree rudder to turn yourself toward a 45 degree escape from the convoy's track.
(What the escorts do, may alter or delay this action.)

Don't reload tubes until the enemy has been disengaged. Good sir!

[Snestorm]

Departed Willy on 21.feb.40, bound for BE29.

2.mar.40
AM43
1324: "Ship spotted! Long range!"
New depth 15 meters, followed by periscope depth.
(Otherwise, my conning tower is exposed for too long).
Target: C2 Cargo.
Course: 180.
Speed: 6 knots.
New depth 20 meters. Ahead flank.
(High speed at periscope depth leaves a visible wake).
Periscope depth. Silent speed.
1340: Fire 1, 2, 4 (G7E x 3). One premature.
1342: One hit aft the bridge. One miss.
1343: Surface! (Deck gun decision over-ruled by weather.)
1345: Fire 3 (G7A). Range 700 meters.
1346: Impact at his bow. Submerge and match course. Target DIW.
1357: Fire 5.
1358: Impact! Target broke in two.
C2 Cargo sunk for 6.447 GRT, and it "only" took 5 toepedoes.
For this target G7A functionality was 100%, while G7E was 50%.
(Kaleun's functionality seems to have been 80%.)

6.mar.40
BE29
0850: On station.
20.31: Radio. Outbound convoy. BE53. W. 6 knots. (One grid south).
Heavy Rain & Fog. Wind 14 m/s.

7.mar.40
BE53.
0124. Hydrophone contact on convoy.
Remaining submerged in spite of darkness.
This time we can see no further surfaced, than we can submerged.
0222: Fire 6 (G7A) on hydrophone bearing.
Explosion heard after 55 seconds.
No stragglers, or sinking sounds were heard.
A premature is assumed.
Convoy lost due to fog. Returning to BE29.

BE29
1644: Sound reports medium speed warship closing.
Bingo! A second outbound convoy.
Heavy Rain & Fog. Wind 14 m/s.
1815: Snap shot at a suddenly visible Little Merchant.
Fire 1, 2, 4 (G7E x 3).
No detonation. Too close.
Convoy course determined to be 264, and making 6 knots.

8.mar.40
(Have been trailing via hydrophone, and sporadic surfacing).
0010: Surface. Light Fog. Wind 2 m/s. Ja!!!
0141: Corvette sighted at 4.900 meters, and lost at 5.000 meters.

BE28
0238: Submerge 30 degrees off lead escort's track, undetected.
0350: Fire 1, 2, 4 (G7E x 3).
Little Merchant sunk for 2.338 GRT.
A merchant vibrated the boat, as we passed just under her!
(Scary while watching the stop watch in the conning tower!)
All torpedoes expended.

23.mar.40
AN98
0200: Docked at Willy, and mourning the loss of U65.

Patrol results:
2 ships sunk for 8.785 GRT.
12 of 12 torpedoes expended.
Crew & Hull Integrity 100%.

U39's history to date:
3 war patrols completed.
4 ships sunk for 17.568 GRT.

[Snestorm]

Good sir!

Tak.

[Gerald]

Tak. You are always welcome.

[Kip336]

Did my first attempt at intercepting a convoy.
Because I have no map contacts, I'm plotting on a piece of paper, which seems to go pretty OK, just need to remember to convert all the bearings to true bearings.

The seas are heavy, making it difficult to keep up with the convoy that's steaming ahead at 12 knots, it makes distance calculation really hard.

I don't trust my AOB wheel. It keeps giving me an AOB that always seems to be off by big numbers.
The AOB manual has another disc that I don't seem to have...

While messing around with the AOB wheel I didn't pay attention and strayed too close, the Flower escorting the flank saw me.


I'm going to cheat and try again tommorow, I want to get the AOB thing down. The manual must be faulty, I'll eyeball the AOB vs what the wheel says.

[sublynx]

Leutnant z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol AM21
6.1.1943
1417 AM23 clear, 8-9 km, 0 m/s.

To BdU:

Boat status.
Six internally stored torpedoes left. Two in external storage of which one is damaged and useless. I am now shadowing an outbound convoy for a second attack, about 20 freighters with 6 escorts close and a small task force guarding it from a distance. Course 297, speed 9 knots. Contact with the convoy lost, but I am trying to locate it again.

Patrol results.
2.1.1943 at 1900 hours a 500 BRT boat sunk by 88 mm and FlaK fire.
6.1.1943 at 0919 hours a 7000 BRT Liberty freighter sunk by two torpedoes.
6.1.1943 at 0932 hours an unknown freighter possibly sunk.

Enemy sightings.

2.1.1943
2128 AM21 airplane 71 degrees relative. Dived.

3.1.1943
1408 AM21 airplane. Dived.

6.1.1943
0741 AM23 a large outbound convoy.
1122 AM23 small taskforce.
1131 AM23 Metox warning. Erroneously thought as coming from the task force.
1132 AM23 airplane. Crash dived. Two explosions shook the boat and knocked shook stuff off shelves, but no damage the boat.
1301 AM23 Metox warning. Dived. No contacts.
1335 AM23 airplane. Crash dived. Three depth charge explosions shook the boat, the 3rd one violently, but no damage caused.

Situation assessment.
Intercepting the convoy was done at night, speed AK to utilize airplane-free night time to the fullest. The enemy seems to be covering the convoy with airplanes and a small task force of probably one destroyer and a capital ship. Moving on the surface at daytime is becoming very difficult because of the air patrols. Torpedo loading from external storage might be possible during night time, but not at daytime because of the constant risk of getting attacked from air.

Dietzmann

[Gerald]

Patrol No7
03 June 1940
After repairs were completed , U-65 was refeuled and rearmed ready for action.
Following BdU instructions my IWO remained on the SS Belchen to meet with
U-552 to be transfered to Bergen. My IIWO replaced him and we got another officer also. U-39 is still in port
20:10 hours U-65 left the company of the SS Belchen (The crew will miss the dinners on that ship) with orders to patrol AL22

08 June 1940
Grid AK27 Convoy attack in fine weather , calm seas no winds
4 bow tubes fired and U-65 started turning to bring the aft tubes in action
04:14 hours A large troop ship(24000grt) was hit by two bow torpedoes and sunk
The whole convoy slowed down to 2Kts with the ships going into complete disarray going into every possible direction and the escorts didn't know what to do , a total mess
U-65 dived to 100m and reloaded
When we came to periscope depth the situation was the same
All six tubes fired into the convoy again
06:09 hours Passenger/cargo sunk by 2 bow torpedoes (they were aimed at a fast passenger ship)
06:38 hours A tanker 06 was sunk by 1 stern shot after she was already hit by a bow torpedo in the first attack
U-65 dived again at 100m and reloaded the 2 bow tubes
Again we came at persiscope depth and fired both tubes each a tanker. Although both torpedoes exploded no other ship was sunk.
U-65 dived at 150m and left the area undetected.
This has never happened before. It was a very strange incident.

20 June 1940
Grid AN26
20:09 hours U-65 crash dived to avoid enemy aircraft

21 June 1940
Grid AN14
23:28 hours A coastal freighter was sunk by 1 bow torpedo. She was escorted by a motor torpedo boat

22 June 1940
Grid AN14
U-65 was still submerged when heavy screws were heard at bearing 165. U-65 turned her bow at the contact and three different warships were heard coming our way.
Up scope: A Dido class CL an aux cruiser and an armed merchant cruiser with no escorts. Their speed was estimated to 15 kts
All 4 bow tubes were readied and fired: 1 at the Dido 2 at the AMC and 1 at the aux cruiser.
A lookout on the CL spotted the incoming torpedo and the cruisers started evasive actions.
The Dido was hit aft but no damage was done as she continued on. The fishes aimed at the AMC either missed or were duds but the one that hit the aux cruiser left her dead in the water.
By that time U-65 presented her stern to the aux cruiser and fired both aft torpedoes.
02:31 hours Auxiliary cruiser sunk by 1 bow + 2 stern torpedoes
U-65 left undetected as the other two ships left the area

07:03 hours U-65 crash dived to avoid enemy ASW group of 4 DDs

24 June 1940
09:48 hours
U-65 entered the port of Wilhelmshaven
22 days at sea
5 ships sunk
50574 tons
No damages or casualties
Good work, :up:

[VONHARRIS]

Good work, :up:
Thank you.
This was the last patrol for U-65
She was lost with all hands in the next one.

[Gerald]

Thank you.
This was the last patrol for U-65
She was lost with all hands in the next one. Better luck next time, :salute:

[BossMark]

Just about to start a fresh campaign after nearly 2 years without playing this marvellous sub sim

[Gerald]

Just about to start a fresh campaign after nearly 2 years without playing this marvellous sub sim Good luck on the voyage Captain, :salute:

[VONHARRIS]

01 December 1939
11:53 hours U-103 under Kaleun vonHarris set off Wilhelmshaven to join the Fatherland's war efford.
Orders were to patrol grid BE94

06 December 1939
Grid AN13
00:25 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 9 105mm rounds

09 December 1939
GridAM57
09:47 hours Passenger cargo sunk by 8 108mm rounds

11 December 1939
Grid BE62
08:10 hours Tanker 07 sunk by 35 105mm rounds. The tanker was empty as no explosions were seen

25 December 1939 Christmas day
Convoy attack
Grid AM51
The weather was nice , no winds and calm seas
4 bow + 2 stern torpedoes fired from within the convoy columns
22:58 hours Southampton class CL sunk by 2 bow torpedoes
22:59 hours Granville type freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo
23:02 hours Q-ship sunk by 1 stern torpedo
U-103 came under DC attack while diving to 160m. The charges fell and exploded at 30m while U-103 was at 35m.
The boat was hit at the conning tower and flooding took place in the Zentrale and the aft compartments.
Fortunately , the flooding was stopped and U-103 silently dived to 160m. DCs continued to fell but they were set to explode shallower so no more damage was done.
After 6 hours (game time) U-103 started rising as no contacts were heard anymore. It was discovered that both scopes were destroyed. When the boat surfaced more damages appeared : radio antenna out , 2cm flak gun destroyed.
vonHarris decided to finish this patrol and head for home. U-103 was blind when submerged.

29 December 1939
Grid AN45
03:43 hours On the way home we stumbled across a large merchant flying Polish colors. 3 bow torpedoes and 16 105mm rounds were enough to sink her.

30 December 1939
13:25 hours
U-103 docked at home port
8 ships sunk
42208 tons
98% hull integrity

We have learned that Kaleun Snestorm in U-39 is not having so much trouble with his torpedoes anymore
U-552 is still fighting it out in the frozen waters of the North Atlantic.
Gute Jagd Herr Kaluens

[Osmium Steele]

Excerpts from the War Diary of Wilhelm Oster - U126, 2nd Flotilla

20.1.42 My pride in these men cannot be overstated. Their esprit lifts my soul every day. All the hard work and training has finally paid off.

Assigned to patrol the waters off New York, by the time we left the Halifax area, we had amassed 56,000 tons of shipping, including three tankers, and two troop ships, one a converted Ceramic ocean liner.

With only two T1s forward and two aft, we could have returned to Lorient to a heroes welcome. No one could have blamed us.

The men made their wishes clear. Onward! Beat the Drum!

We sank our first US flagged ship in CB17, a great lakes freighter. Halifax radio stations mentioned a few hours later the SS Norfolk had not checked in...

This morning, at 0326, we reached our patrol grid CA55. A bit later sonar reports a warship contact, then a merchant, and another, and another...

We have three torpedoes, two fore and one aft, and 78 rounds for the deck gun.

The convoy consists of a tramp steamer, ore carrier, and SIX tankers!!! Escorted by a lone Somers class DD!!

The first fish took out the escort, the second a front line tanker. We surfaced and, much to our surprise started taking fire!!

As we moved away to minimize aspect and open range, we fired the aft fish and hit the ore carrier..

Circling the convoy, we continued to pepper the enemy until we ran out of ammunition for the deck gun. Only the steamer, a Nipiwan tanker and medium tanker, the SS Svenor, remained.

We opened fire on the medium tanker, the SS Svenor, with the twin barrelled 20cm flak cannons, and much to our collective surprise, we damaged her. We witnessed multiple fires, so we poured it on, though finding the range was tricky. She exploded at 0727. Not a single torpedo had been fired at this ship!

Five tankers and one ore carrier later, we turned for home.

Totals 16 ships - 102,294 tons

1 warship
2 troop ships
8 tankers
5 cargo ships

I should probably note, that we cannot submerge below periscope depth without taking on water beyond the capacity of our pumps. Our hull looks like swiss cheese.

Getting home should be... ... interesting. BdU has agreed to buy the first round!

<9.45% H.I. as it later turns out :arrgh!:>

[Fish In The Water]

Our hull looks like swiss cheese.

Getting home should be... ... interesting. BdU has agreed to buy the first round!

So they say now, but just wait 'til they see what you did to their sub... :03:

[Osmium Steele]

Here's a tip.

If it is raining heavily and visibility is below 700m, check your ever-lovin' baffles regularly or you might miss that 12000 ton Ceramic liner approaching from dead astern at 18 knots!

It passed close enough, 1500 meters, that my sonarman heard it while we were on the surface! I didn't even think that was possible! I just had time to ID it as it sped away. Oh I wish someone would invent an acoustic homing torpedo...

Sometimes I think those of you who run around at TC1 all the time have the right idea.

[The Dean]

Totals 16 ships - 102,294 tons

1 warship
2 troop ships
8 tankers
5 cargo ships

I should probably note, that we cannot submerge below periscope depth without taking on water beyond the capacity of our pumps. Our hull looks like swiss cheese.

Getting home should be... ... interesting. BdU has agreed to buy the first round!

<9.45% H.I. as it later turns out :arrgh!:>

Sounds like a party off the East coast. A fun patrol to read - and nice haul! :salute:

[Luno]

After a pretty lousy first campaign, I've started again. This time I'll write reports :yeah:

Now I'm playing as Lt.Jr. Roland Thorstein. My boat is U-13, a type II A of U-flotilla Weddigen at Wilhelmshaven.

Sept 3, 1939
Wilhelmshaven
17:53 - In port and ready to set sail. The weather is good and the friends and family of the crew are cheering us on. The war just began and anticipation is high, but spirits are good.

Sept 5
AN-38
3:37 - The watch has spotted a coastal merchant. After approaching closer, we conclude that the vessel is German, heading to Wilhelmshaven, and we continue on our way.

5:00 - The weather turns dismal. Skies are overcast and winds are high, whipping up the sea. The rain is pouring and the fog is so thick it's hard to see the bow.

AN-37
16:15 - We received a contact report of a Norwegian vessel close by. After plotting and following the intercept course, we dove to 20 meters to listen in (the fog was still very dense). To our surprise, the SO heard a second contact very close by. I gave the order to give chase to the yet unidentified contact. The odds were that it would be another Norwegian ship, but the British do use these lanes. We surfaced to intercept. At the rendezvous point we saw nothing, owing in part to the fog. We dove again to listen. This procedure had to be repeated a few times, but we knew we were close.

21:00 - We got so close that we could hear the ship pass overhead. I ordered the ship to periscope depth and took a look. There it was, a merchant, dead ahead, maybe a kilometer... I decided to check the range, and was shocked to see 200 meters :o As it turns out, I forgot to zoom in - now the stern took up the whole field of view! At this point, we could easily make out the Norwegian flag, and let the merchant go. It quickly disappeared into the fog, becoming invisible by 500 meters. I began to realize that spotting targets in this weather would be impossible. Somewhat dejected, we press on.

Sept 6
22:00 - The fog has cleared and the waves have subsided. Thank heavens!

Sept 7
AN47
13:15 - We have reached the assigned patrol grid. The water is as smooth as glass.

Sept 8
13:00 - The watch spotted two Hurricanes which passed overhead. I ordered a quick dive, and asked the NO to check the depth under keel. Thankfully, we had a fair amount of space. When the hatch closed I could see them coming around to make another pass. We heard two rounds of depth charges, none close enough to do damage. This is a wake-up call. Time to be more vigilant now that we're just off the English coast.

18:20 - Surfaced from the last attack. We were moving underwater closer to the coast in hopes of snagging a merchant in/out bound to Firth of Forth. Now that it's dark, we continue on our way on the surface.

Sept 9
AN-01
8:58 - Another Hurricane. We were much faster to react this time, and we were out of sight before it dropped its DCs. We were not hit.

10:00 - The SO reported a warship. The airplane must have relayed our last position to it. I decided to investigate

10:40 - I spotted the warship by periscope. It was a 2D-River Escort, chugging along at a relatively slow speed. It seemed like an easy target and would alleviate some headache if I could get rid of it now. I fired off one eel, and immediately dove. Taking a listen through the headphones, I could hear the engines suddenly rev up. Darn! I had forgotten about the visible wake. Now it was on to us, followed the wake to our position, and started pinging. I ordered a dive to 60 meters and when the pinging stopped, ordered flank speed. We narrowly escaped the DCs which badly rocked the sub. Thankfully only minor damage was sustained in the aft quarters.

We made a hard 90 degree turn and then ran silent. The DD continued to drop charges, which was nerve wracking for the crew, but we received no hits.

Then the SO reported another warship, fast approaching. Were they going to send the whole navy?! Both ships began to circle and drop DCs all over the place. I did not hear any more pinging however.

Suddenly, though, the boat lurched, and damage was reported in several compartments. Despite maintaining depth at 60 meters we hit something on the seabed. I should have pinged for the bottom - the damage was repaired in minutes, but could have been much worse.

When I was satisfied that the DDs were far enough away and were no longer circling to find us, I ordered periscope depth to observe. We found one off our bow, 5km away, moving away.

14:45 - by now no more sounds were heard, and I ordered the boat surfaced. My crew, and myself, were shaken by the experience, and became fairly fatigued. Several stubbornly wanted to stay at their posts, but I ordered them to get rest. We would need everyone on their toes.

Note to self - before attacking a warship, be sure to fire electric torpedoes only. Despite having 4 torpedoes, we had close to 50% fuel remaining, and made the decision to return to port.

:salute:

[sublynx]

Leutnant. z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol AM21

To BdU:

7.1.1943
0415 AM14 clear, 8-9 km, 0 m/s

Shadowing convoy, reloading after our second attack. Four torpedoes left. Course estimated as 230 - 250 degrees, 9 knots. An escort carrier or a carrier is very probably at a distance of 100 – 150 kilometers from the convoy. 5 columns of 3-4 merchants line astern. Six escorts around the convoy, Black Swans and Flowers identified. A 5000 BRT freighter very probably sunk.

Metox warnings all the time during 6.1.1943.
1602 one engined airplane seen on observation periscope
1630 two one-engined airplanes seen on observation periscope
1701 one one-engined airplane seen on observation periscope
2003 three one-engined airplanes. Crash dived. An explosion heard after crash diving.

After our attack a convoy escort was able to sound locate us in spite of us being at a depth of A+70 and the escort being at a relative bearing of 180 degrees. It seemed that changing course helps in losing Asdic contact but a change in depth seemed to be even more helpful. At A+60 while turning away from the pinging, the enemy lost contact. Speed mostly 2 knots, 100 RPM, only occasionally slowed down to 1 knot, 70 RPM. Depth charges dropped in sets of six DC’s at a time, launched in pairs. Explosions at an approximate depth of 120 - 150 meters. The four Bold's we launched seemed to be helpful, but not as helpful as in our previous battles.

[DvdW]

11th patrol with my U-252 (VIIC/42)
3 jan. 1943
Patrolgrid: BE82

Score:
2x Coastel Merchant
1x Bogue Escort Carrier (escorted by 4 destroyers, note: never ever do that again....)
1x C Class Destroyer
1x Liberty Cargo
1x T3 Tanker
1x C2 Cargo
1x Evarts Destroyer Escort

[Snestorm]

Well, the first Patrol 4 was moving along well.
3 ships sunk for 15.236 GRT.
4 of 12 torpedoes remaining.
Had to get some sleep between convoy attacks.
Paused the game, and layed down.
Evidently, there was a brief power outage.
So much for that Patrol 4.
No saves. Back to Willy for another go. "Oh well."

Current Patrol 4:

18.maj.40
AN98
2047: Underway from Willy, for CF98.

2256: "Ship spotted." Destroyer!
Man the rails! Attention to starboard!

23.maj.40
0900: Radio message: All torpedoes to have magnetic pistols removed, and fired at a depth setting of 3 meters.
As happy as this makes me, the leading Torpedoman reports that he can not remove the magnetic pistols of the 2 external stern tubes. Life goes on.

3.jun.40
BE59
0039: Radio dispatch. "Convoy. BE83. NNE. 6 knots."

BE67
0341: Radio dispatch. "Convoy. BE91. NNE. 6 knots."

BE91
0417: In contact with convoy (Escort sighted).
Weather: Clear sky. Dead calm sea.
Submarge for appraisal and/or attack.
Conditions are ripe for the 2 stern torpedoes.

0458: Convoys course reckoned at 022. Speed remains 6 knots.
Fire 5 & 6 at C2 Cargo. New depth 99 meters.
Fan shot. 2 degree spread. Depth 3 meters. Magnetic pistols remain.

0500: Passing 20 meters. Impact! Impact! Escort nearby. VCS.
0509: Ping.
0514: DC! Damage & Flooding.
0519: DC! U39 has dropped, involuntarily, to 132 meters.
0522: Aft Berthing, and Aft Torpedo Station (No Aft Torpedo Compartment on IX(A)s) repaired & dewatered.
0525: New depth 151 meters.
0526 & 0532: DC!
0539: New Course 157.
0625: Sunrise (per Quartermaster).

BE67
0635: Surface and commence external repairs.
0730: Sound check on paralell course to convoy's.
Convoy sound located at 310 R. Surface.
0745: U39 making good 18 knots!
0818: New course 352.
0838: Submerge for attack.
(Out a bit far, but too late now.)
0946: Fire 1, 2, 4. at the same C2 Cargo as in attack 1.
0952: Miss. (Target was too far for the G7Es).
(Firing my only bow G7A would have been much wiser!!!)
Un-noticed, and undetected.

1109: Surface.
1159: "We've been detected, sir." B A N G !
Dive! "We have hull damage, sir!"
(New depth 150 meters, changed to 100 meters.)
The upper bridge took a hit, causing cracks at the base of the conning tower.
Escort did drop DCs, but did not gain ASDIC cotact with us.

BE91
2000: CE says the boat is unsafe beyond 100 meters.
Attack abandoned. Patrol continues. 7 of 12 torpedoes remaining.

[Gerald]

Good, :up: but you should not expose you to such a.

[Snestorm]

Good, :up: but you should not expose you to such a.

We never saw it coming.
The lookouts could use some retraining.

[DvdW]

Small (bit offtopic) question:
Is it worth to sail far far away (across the Atlantic, or to the Indian or Artic ocean) when you you're playing SH3 without any mods...? Or should i just keep sailing the North Sea and the Western Approaches?

[Snestorm]

Small (bit offtopic) question:
Is it worth to sail far far away (across the Atlantic, or to the Indian or Artic ocean) when you you're playing SH3 without any mods...? Or should i just keep sailing the North Sea and the Western Approaches?

Hotspots: England, Canada, Gibralter.

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No2
29 January 1940
U-103 has finished routine refit and she was about to set off for her 2nd war patrol
06:36 hours U-103 left port

9 February 1940
Convoy attack
Grid BE39
We gained contact with a convoy in bad weather , rain and windy night
U-103 managed to obtain visual contact with some ships of the convoy
04:09 hours Ore carrier sunk by 1 bow torpedo
We also have fire a spread of three torpedoes at a big shadow and 3 explossion were heard. The sonarman didn't hear any break up noises. We must have hit something but not hard enough to bring her down

12 February 1940
Convoy attack
Grid BE39
In the same bad weather , we intercepted a convoy after a BdU message.
3 bow and 2 stern tubes were fired
von Harris saw through the attack scope a large cargo being hit twice and set on fire and an auxiliary cruiser having the same luck.
Despite that no ship was sunk

19 February 1940
Grid AM52
18:37 hours Large cargo sunk by 2 stern torpedoes

22 February 1940
Grid AM52
00:14 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo
2 bow torpedoes remaining.
The weather was too rough to bring the external torpedoes in

23 February 1940
Grid AM52
08:26 hours We fired our last 2 torpedoes at a medium cargo but she remained on the surface.
U-103 surfaced and encountered 7m/s wind. Despite that the gun crew rushed to their gun. Acting above and beyond the call of duty they fired 23 rounds which finally sunk the medium cargo. Iron crosses for them when we come home.

10:02 hours A large merchant was seen. I just couldn't let 10.000 tons sail away and asked the gun crew if they were able to operate the gun in 7m/s winds. I didn't have to say another word.
After 20 rounds the ship was sunk.
The torpedo crew wanted to allow them to bring the externals in but that was out of the question since the wind was getting stronger and rain began to fell.
U-103 headed for home.

2 March 1940
17:40 hours
U-103 docked at home port
5 ships sunk
34232 tons
Minor damages (99% hull integrity)
vonHarris went to the HQ to file in his patrol report. There he was informed that he had badly damaged the HMS Queen Elizabeth and the auxiliary cruiser HMS Antonia
vonHarris asked if there were any news about U-39 and U-552. It appeared that both boats were at sea fighting the Brits

[Gerald]

:yeah:

[Missing Name]

Small (bit offtopic) question:
Is it worth to sail far far away (across the Atlantic, or to the Indian or Artic ocean) when you you're playing SH3 without any mods...? Or should i just keep sailing the North Sea and the Western Approaches?

I like Halifax, too. Very risky, though.

[BigK]

U-54 June '40

U-54 was steaming towards its patrol grid in the Mid-Atlantic when a message about a convoy nearing St. George's Channel was received. Naturally the Kaleun set an intercept course and got lucky after a day and picked up several merchant screws. After determining their course an ambush was planned and executed.

Escort present were:

3 (maybe more) ASW trawlers
1 Black Swan
1 J&K classes
(perhaps more, didn't wait but gtfo after launching all torps)

Lined up my u-boot at periscope depth, it was a clear night so a surface attack was a no-go. Identified about 10 merchant ships and decided to focus on several large vessel, 2 large merchants and 2 ore carriers. I was still checking data when suddenly another warship contact popped up, in the middle of the convoy. Not a destoyer but a revenge class battleship.

Fired 2 eto's at it, both of them hit and it took on water. It slowed to a near halt but did not go under. Also fired 2 ato's at the nearest large merchant. One hit, other one missed.

After that, destroyer frenzy !! 2 of the trawlers and the Black Swan began sweeping and quickly discovered me. I was at a depth of 50m reloading my front tubes. Decided to move at flank speed under one of the merchant ships. This enabled me to reload all tubes without fear of depth charges.

Then I lured all escort to one side of the merchant vessel before moving at flank speed to the other side and up to periscope depth. Fired my last eto at the revenge, which it hit and sank. Stern ato was fired at the Black Swan beginning its attack run, it was 500m out so it was a close call especially when considering arming distance. But it was a perfect shot, detonated under the ship and it exploded. However, the other ASW vessel were closing in, so I quickly launched all my remaining front tubes. 2 missed and 1 hit an ore carrier. Then I made my way thru the convoy, while being pursued by 3 ASW and the J&K. Went up to periscope depth twice to launch the stern torpedo, one missed and the other one nailed the J&K.

After that I failed to evade the escorts for about an hour and was the subject of several attack runs. Only 1 hit and caused minor damage. Was able to succesfully evade the ships and returned to base with no merchant kills but about 36000 tons of warship resting at the bottom. :arrgh!:

[Fish In The Water]

...about 36000 tons of warship resting at the bottom. :arrgh!:

Well done! As far as I'm concerned, 'resting at the bottom' is the best place for 'em! :salute:

[Luno]

Nice reports all :up: Some very successful sorties, I see :arrgh!:

Continued from last time:

Sept 10, 1939
AN-53
23:40 - We received a radio report of a ship moving at medium speed, northeast bound. We were down to less than 50% fuel, but I made the decision to attempt an intercept. The weather though was bad - fog and heavy swells. The anemometer read 12m/s.

Sept 11
AN-53
2:15 - Visual contact with the ship. The sky was pitch black and it's hard to make out the silhouette. The initial assessment was a C2 Cargo, a juicy opportunity. I ordered us to go ahead-full to attempt a surface intercept. The waves crashed right up to the level of the conning tower. We were soaked and chilled to the bone, but we weren't going to miss this chance.

2:25 - Meanwhile, I was making measurements via the UZO and plotting probable routes. Something wasn't adding up. We got closer and I revised my assessment to a coastal merchant. The watch crew weren't entirely convinced...

2:30 - Revised assessment again. Damn, it was hard to see, but I was now certain that it was a regular small merchant. Despite the heavy winds, it was making 9 knots, it's known top speed. While it hadn't yet spotted us, I was sure it was running for a reason... After making satisfactory calculations, we ran parallel and ahead of the target in order to set up for a perpendicular attack, using the UZO.

4:06 - After getting into position, we fired tube 1. It hit right under the funnel. She then suddenly exploded and broke in two, the bow coming off just in front of the bridge. She sank immediately, within seconds. The odds of there being survivors were slim.

For a moment the watch crew and I stood staring at where the merchant once was. For over four hours in the pounding weather we had run at near top speed to catch it. Then it vanished in less than a minute, leaving no trace of its existence. We were suddenly left alone, in what seemed like silence, in the absence of the drone of diesel engines or the crashing of the bow fighting against the swells.

Minutes later, U-13 disappeared into the night...Only the wind, sea, and stars bore witness to our deed.

19:53 - The weather has cleared a bit, but the wind is still high. I asked the radioman to send a report to BdU. They congratulated us for our efforts and for sinking our first ship. The crew was exhausted, and the fuel was dwindling, but I was sure we'd make to base with plenty of reserve. Despite having 3 torpedoes left, we continued homeward.

Sept 12
AN-66
22:50 - The storms have returned. The waves again were high, and peals of thunder came from all directions. Lightning tore from the sky on the horizon.

Sept 14
Wilhelmshaven
7:39 - Docked at port. Despite the miserable weather and early hour, we were warmly greeted by our loved ones.

Engineers at port assessed the damage to the boat and stated that the hull integrity was down to 96% from the depth charge attack. Our kill was confirmed by the command - she was the SS Empire Merchant, officially carrying coal, but I suspect otherwise given her speed. Maybe sensitive documents or VIPs... Tonnage sunk was 2,900 GRT.

It was a successful first patrol, but now it's time to rest before our next sortie.

:salute:

[sublynx]

Leutnant. z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol AM21

To BdU:

7.1.1943
1509 AM15 clear, 8-9 km, 0 m/s

Radio reports tell of great successes by the Kriegsmarine. The radioman didn't hear the end of the report but at least the commanders of U-54, U-103 and U-252 were honoured by mentioning their names in the news flash.

Shadowing convoy. Three torpedoes left. Course estimated as 245 degrees, 9 knots. 5 columns of 3-4 merchants line astern. Six escorts around the convoy, Black Swans and Flowers identified. At 1122 hours a 7000 BRT freighter on the port side column of merchants very probably damaged with a TIII G7e torpedo, depth 10.5 meters, magnetic pistol. Shot at an estimated range of 2500 meters, rohr 5. The estimated impact time was 2 minutes 30 seconds at an AOB of 90 degrees port. Explosion heard after a run of 2 minutes 37 seconds. Escaped diving silently at 100 RPM. Slight pinging heard twice, first for about 40 - 60 seconds while initially at a depth of about 35 meters, minutes later a much shorter series of pings for a few seconds. Evaded turning and continuing silent diving. No Bold launches, no depth charges.

Surfaced at 1243. Two Metox warnings, at least two airplanes sighted. Crash dive, AK, hard turn port side. 3 - 6 explosions almost simultaneously at a depth of 20 - 30 meters, no damage. The airplanes were not sighted with the periscope and it might have been that the airplanes were circling quite precisely over us.

The fact that we have attacked the convoy thrice and been in constant threat from airplanes since yesterday morning is beginning to show on some of the crewmen, who are getting tired and jumpy.

Metox warnings again at 1343 and 1454. Dived. Now running surfaced again. Trying to get into a position to pass the convoy during the expected lull in air activity during the night, for a fourth and final attack on our convoy, and then back home.

[Gerald]

Good, :up:

[Missing Name]

Kptlt. z. s. Wolfgang Grimm
U-127, Type IXB
Patrol 3: DH37, 2/23/1940 - 3/23/1940.

14 merchants sunk for 53,000 tons.
2 warships sunk for 12,000 tons. (1 DD, 1 CL.)

Sustained damage from convoy defenses, west of Libson. Pressure hull weakened; it's expected to take some time to repair.

-----------

After that, I fiddled around with the game's files YET AGAIN. Some more "discoveries" have been made.

Dialogue I haven't seen pop up yet:
- Cannot bury crew while submerged!
- U-Boat surrenders.
- Enemy ship on collision course, sir!
- Submarine; Aircraft; Land (Identifying hydrophone contacts)
- GROUND UNIT SPOTTED!
- We cannot stop the flooding!!!
- We should move to beside the supply boat!
- Transferring supplies!
- Re-supply operation on going!
- Re-supply operation interrupted!
- Re-supply operation completed!
- The escort is ready, sir!
- We must follow the escort, sir!
- We’ll follow the escort, sir!
- We’re docking, sir!
- Enemy radio message intercepted!
- Ship sinking!
- Ship breaking up!

Has anyone ever seen any of those before?

- The USS Cyclops is somewhat modeled in game. It's kind of a ghost ship, incomplete and with transparent textures. Torpedoes and guns have no effect on it. In fact, you can run straight through it.

- The Revenge/Royal Sovereign and Nevada class battleships use the same model, just with different turrets. The dead giveaway are the masts - a clearly British style.

[Luno]

Lt.Jr. Roland Thorstein
U-13 Type II A
U-flotilla Weddigen

Sept 18, 1939 - Still docked in port. I've asked the port crew chief's to reload the empty reserve tubes with the electric TII. There are only a few available, and I can't wait to "test" them.

A. Libe, my radioman got into a bar-fight and broke his jaw, so he'll be staying home. That guy's had such a temper because he hasn't been able to send contact reports to BdU :shifty: I wish he hadn't done that though because we've had to scramble to find a well-trained replacement. Bruno Fischer will take his place. He just got out of school, so we'll have to teach him a thing or two :know:

Lastly, we received some word concerning the Empire Merchant. The English picked up six survivors the next day, barely alive, clinging to debris. That was out of a crew of about 40...

Sept 27
5:13 - We're in port. The weather is fair and we're ready to set sail. There's only a slight chop in the harbor.

Sept 30
14:04 - We've reached the designated patrol grid, AN-47. It's been a slow trip. We haven't seen a single contact. All the reports are for ships that are just too far for us to catch in our "canoe". The wind has picked up but visibility is good. Maybe we'll get lucky soon...

Oct 1
AN-47
7:26 - We're still patrolling this grid. The wind has died a bit, but clouds and thunder have rolled in. I haven't slept too well; I'm just itching for some action. But I have to be careful - in September, we lost two U-boats.

10:57 - Watch has sighted a ship far on the horizon, some merchant, it's hard to say from here. We will watch what it does.

11:05 - After some reckoning, using the UZO for measurements, we begin our intercept course. The storm has gotten closer - there is lighting striking less than 5 km from our current position.

11:16 - I've determined that it's a small coastal vessel. I weighed the decision of using a torpedo. She would have been small fry, and not worth the expenditure. I considered sending Fritz to the AA gun, but the high seas were splashing over the deck. I did not want to risk any of my men falling overboard, so I let the vessel go, and went on my way.

21:07 - We are leaving AN-47 after patrolling for about 33 hours. The weather has cleared and we will sweep down the English coast, some 40 km offshore. I've ordered the watch to keep a sharp lookout.

Oct 2
AN-51
1:20 - Jackpot. We've received intelligence of TWO ships nearby, both heading towards our position. Their proximity makes it possible to attack both in short succession, if all goes well.

2:18 - Dove to 20 meters for a listen. The target is right where we planned. However, we picked up very faint sounds from another unknown ship. Jurgen Schultze, my hydrophone operator thinks it's a destroyer. I'll take his word for it, and remain cautious.

3:21 - Through the observation scope I identified the target as a Coastal Merchant.

3:32 - Fired 1 torpedo, impact pistol. Hit under the funnel...She was dead in the water. Since I now had the time, I waited to make sure she would sink. She was gone after some minutes. We surfaced and continued to the second contact.

4:32 - Ship spotted, and oh boy is it a big one. A C2! I decided stay on the surface for the attack.

4:45 - Fired two torpedoes. The first hit where it was aimed, under the funnel, and she was dead in the water. The second, which was fired at the bow, must have just gone past it after she slowed.

4:55 - After repositioning I fired off the first of the electric torpedoes. Too bad they couldn't be used to their full potential. It scored a hit on the bow. Now she was listing, but after two direct hits she wouldn't go down...

5:03 - After loading the last torpedo, we fired it off. It hit the stern, causing some fires. Now she was really going down. As I congratulated the men with me on top, we heard a second explosion. Then another, and another, from the rear to the front, like a domino effect. What a show! Then she broke in half and went down. Because the water was so shallow (less than 60 meters) the bow and stern remained at the surface for a long while afterward, still burning. Out of torpedoes, we turned home.

Oct 5
AN-69
5:19 - The weather turned foul again. The wind is now 15 m/s and the rain is really whipping us up, and only seems to intensify, but we'll be home soon.

Oct 6
Wilhelmshaven
12:54 - Back at port the wind died a bit, but the rain didn't. Maneuvering the boat through the harbor within a thick blanket of fog sure was tricky, but my helmsmen pulled it off with great dexterity, giving a good end to a good patrol.

Oct 9
As it turns out, we sank two iron ore carriers, the SS Goodwood, and then the MV Stag Hound. They were worth about 2200 GRT and 4800 GRT respectively. Most of the crew from each survived.

I've requested some TIIs again, but their availability is low. We'll see. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I'm the fifth highest scoring U-boat captain as of today.

:salute:

[Snestorm]

Continued, from our last report of 3.jun.40.
Prior damages restrict U39's max depth to at/around 100 meters, per CE.
2 attacks thus far, against 1 convoy.
6 G7E and 1 G7A torpedoes remain, in the bow.
No ships sunk to date.

7.jun.40
CF98
1940: On station.

9.jun.40
CF98
1100: Begin northward trek along the Freetown - UK shipping lanes.

CF95
1655: Radio dispatch: "Convoy. CF86. NNE. 6 knots. VON HARRIS shadowing."
Weather: Heavy Rain & Fog. Wind 11 m/s. (Responding at high speed).

10.jun.40
CF83
0231: Radio dispatch: "Convoy. CF83. NNE. 6 knots. VON HARRIS shadowing, without torpedoes."
Weather: No Rain. Medium Fog. Wind 7 m/s.
Submerging, and moving WNW.

CF59
0334: Sound contact, followed by many contacts.
0457: Fire 1, 2, 4 (G7E). 022 - 6 knots. Bow on shot.
Settings: 3 meters, impact, 2 degree spread. Bearing 000. Range N/A.
Impact! Little Merchant sunk for 2.343 GRT. (Unintended)
2 more impacts on the intended target (C2 Cargo), without effect.
0458: Fire 3 (My only bow G7A). Angled shot. Transport.
Settings: 3 meters, impact, Bearing 350, Range 3000 meters.
New depth 104 meters. Variouse courses, silent speed.
0500: Impact! Still evading stb escort.
0517: Sound report DIW merchant.
0618: 2 torpedoes are fired short range, sinking the Transport for 8.010 GRT.
No tankers sighted. Must be where VON HARRIS' torpedoes went.

30.jun.40
AN98
1200: Docked at Willy.

Patrol results:
2 ships sunk for 10.353 GRT.
Hull Integrity 89%.
Crew healthy & alive.
11 of 12 torpedoes expended.

U39's history to date:
4 war patrols completed.
6 ships sunk for 27.921 GRT.

[BigK]

19.9.40. 0929 Patrol 16
U-51, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: September 19, 1940, 09:29
From: Lorient

First mission from our new base in France. Manouvering to open sea is hell compared to Wilhelmshaven. But the distance to the Atlantic makes up for the pain at the start of the patrol.

Mission Orders: Patrol grid AM32

20.9.40. 1917 Grid BF 21 Spotted a lonely Large Merchant, moved into striking position and hit it with 2 torpedoes. Finished it off with the deckgun. During the attack a message from BdU came in about a convoy steaming towards England, so we set an intercept course and steamed ahead. :salute:

After a day and a half we heard noises during our periodic sonar sweeps and tracked the position of the convoy. Ambushplan was conceived and executed.

Launched 4 torpedoes at two different Empire-class freighter. 3 Torpedoes hit and 1 missed. Got attacked by 2 flower class destroyers and an A&B class. Evaded for a while then went up to periscope depth and launched stern and 2 bow torpedoes. Stern torpedo hit a Flower class, which immediately exploded. First bow torpedo missed the A&B class, second one hit and sank the crippled Empire-type.

22.9.40.
0824 Grid AM 51 Flower class, 950 tons
0831 Grid AM 51 Empire-type Freighter, 6784 tons

Picked up more warships on the hydrophone so decided to get out. Had some trouble evading patrols and got hit good with depth charges and made heavy water. Sank from 60 to 115 meters before regaining control and started rising again.

Made it home with 50% hull and no casaulties :D Drank a beer with the crew and fellow Kaleuns !!:up:

[Fish In The Water]

Drank a beer with the crew and fellow Kaleuns !!:up:

Cheers, and good work! :salute:

[Kip336]

Patrol #10
VIIB - U-336

6 Sept, 1939

07:00
Multiple sound contacts from the sonar.
A periscope up reveals bad weather, and we've drifted out of their course quite a bit.

We take up a position about 8000m from their left-flank. A Lone Flower Corvette patrols this side.


12:00
The bad weather continues, and the daylight doesn't give us much space to attack, we shadow the convoy more.

19:00
Sun is starting to set. It's getting time. After starting a few different plots, and comparing them with each other, we get the course and speed of the convoy down to an entire knot;

12 knots, 354 degrees true.

22:00
Now ahead of the convoy, we start to turn on a perpendicular track to get into position.
Bad weather is in our favor, and we manage to sneak past all the escorts, on the surface.
A Black Swan class was just 1500 meters away!

23:12 In the convoy. Behind us a large merchant, in front of us a Fiji class and a large merchant. Torpedo's los!

23:13 Torpedo 5 hits the merchant, it limps on at 12 knots.
23:14 Torpedoes 1 misses the Fiji, one detonates prematurely. The other 2 hit the Merchant, sending it down.

23:21 Reached the other side of the convoy undetected. We take up position and shadow them.


05:00 All tubes reloaded, external torpedoes are inside. Taking up a second position

05:48 There's the Fiji again. 2 torpedoes. One hits the ammo bunker, she explodes and starts sinking. The 2nd one hits the bow.
A medium cargo on the stern. Sinks by one torpedo

The last 2 bow torpedoes miss their marks (Probably a wrong range)
The escorts have no idea what's happening ,and run in the wrong direction


08:00 Time to surface and set course to Lorient, our new base as per BDU orders.
We transmit a message to BDU telling them of our attack.
"Return to port as situation permits. First round on Flotilla command"

[Gerald]

:salute:

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No3
U-39 returned home safe and sound having sunk an enemy troop transport, The Werhmacht would have less soldiers to fight against
U-552 is still out but alive

01 April 1940
03:15 hours U-103 left port for her 3rd war patrol

07 April 1940
Grid AN14
15:49 hours Coastal freighter sunk by 1 stern torpedo.
When we surfaced we were spotted by an enemy aircraft.
U-103 crash dived and avoided any damage. Two explosioms were heard far away.
18:50 hours A warship sound contact was heard at long range. It looked like that the aircraft called in surface units.
U-103 remained at 100m until nothing was heard

13 April 1940
Grid AM51
Convoy attack in bad weather fog and rain
No visual contact could be made
11:52 hours Medium cargo sunk by 2 stern torpedoes. She came out of the fog and presented a nice target
12:30 hours No other ships could be seen but we were spotted by a Flower class corvette and attacked.
Flooding begun in the Zentrale and fuel started leaking.
The situation was out under control but the fuel kept leaking
The escorts didn't spot the trailing fuel because of the heavy seas so we survived.

21 April 1940
15:35 hours U-103 docked at Wilhelmshaven
21 days at sea
2 ships sunk
6950 tons
96% hull integrity

[Gerald]

Good work, :salute:

[sublynx]

Leutnant. z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol AM21
12.2.1943

AL36 clear, 8-9 km, 0 m/s. During the night of 7.1.1943 attacked the convoy for the fourth time. Course estimated as 245 degrees, 9 knots. 5 columns of 3-4 merchants line astern. Six escorts around the convoy, Black Swans and Flowers identified.

At 2151 hours an 8500 BRT freighter on the port side column of the convoy targeted. Two FAT I's and one G7a launched. Depth 4 meters, impact pistol. Shot at an estimated range of 2500 meters. Estimated impact time was 2 minutes 31 seconds. Expected AOB at impact time 90 degrees port. Rohr 1 (FAT) aimed at just off the bow of the ship, Rohr 2 (G7a) at the middle of the ship and Rohr 3 (FAT) just off the stern of the ship.

The idea was that one of the torpedoes would miss for certain, aimed either too much to the front or too much to the back, but two of the torpedoes would hit for sure, no matter what kind of reasonable error we had made while estimating the right solution. Rohr 1 and Rohr 3 were FAT's in order to make sure that whichever torpedo missed would be a FAT torpedo and would eventually start zigzagging in the convoy. The FAT's initial run was 3200 meters, then a turn to port with a 1600 meter leg. Speed 30 knots in order to make sure the missing FAT would have the maximum running time. The attack was made at night so that the enemy would not be able to see the bubble stream.

An explosion was heard after a run of 4 minutes 24 seconds, indicating a run of 4400 meters and a big error in the estimation of range. A second explosion was heard shortly after, but it was unclear if the explosion was caused by a torpedo. After about 8 minutes after the launch of the torpedoes a third torpedo was heard exploding. The torpedo had traveled about 8 kilometers in that time. 12 minutes after the launchings, sounds of a sinking ship heard on the hydrophone. I have no idea of the type of the ship sunk.

Escaped diving silently at 100 RPM, straight towards the convoy. At 2240 hours I decided to start turning away from the convoy, which was another mistake as we were picked by ASDIC. Slight pinging heard at first, then harder, from 2242 to 2245 hours. DC's dropped spot on, but managed to evade by a hard turn, speed AK. Two Bold's launched. After the second one we went immediately to silent running at 1 knot and 70 RPM's.

The escort lost contact after it's initial run and started DC'ing an area relative bearings 220 - 170 from our stern, probably the area where the Bold's were. Six sets dropped with intervals of 4 - 5 minutes.

At 0011 a merchant heard with hydrophone. At periscope depth identified as a 4500 BRT freighter, stopped dead on the water. I assume this ship was hit by a FAT torpedo, which destroyed it's moving capability. Approached submerged to 1500 meters from it's unarmed bow. Ship engaged with deck gun and Flak guns. Initial rounds aimed on deck to keep the crewmen from using any light weapons. Sunk by 0205. Began the return trip to base with no torpedoes left.

Enemy contacts during return trip:

7.1.1943
0552 AL36 Metox warning. Dived.

8.1.1943
2236 AM16 Airplane sighted 36 degrees relative bearing at a medium range. Crash dive.

9.1.1943
0440 AM16 FuMo 29 contact long range 1 degrees relative bearing and right after that an airplane sighted. Dived.
0944 AM16 airplane sighted 340 degrees relative bearing at a long range. Crash dive.
2018 AM23 Two Metox warnings. Dived.

10.1.1943
0955 AM24 Metox warning. Dived.

During the 10th of January 1942 the weather luckily changed to rainy and there were no more airplane sightings or Metox warnings. Returned to Bergen at 0217 hours 15.1.1943.

The hull was badly damaged from the airplane attack 2.1.1943 and took 25 days to repair. During the repairs new Flak guns of the fastshooting type C/38 were fitted. We also got a new type of radar FuMo - 30, which Gott sei Dank revolves. Equipped with this radar I expect we can't be surprised again in low visibility.

BdU has credited us with 5 sunken ships and 25000 BRT. Some of the sinkings were a bit unsure, since I hadn’t witnessed all of them on the periscope, but intercepted radio distress calls confirmed some. BdU’s comment on my patrol report said that I should be more aggressive and stay in periscope depth and use the periscope more, even in mirror clear waters, to stay aware of the situation. That way I would have more information about the impact of our torpedoes too.

In my end report to BdU I made a suggestion that FAT torpedoes could be launched one just off the bow and one just off the stern and one G7e or G7a in the middle. That shooting method would guarantee two hits if the estimations are anywhere close to reality. One FAT would miss, but would still have a decent chance of hitting something else after it starts it’s course changes.

Ob.lt. z.s. Arnold Tente and Lt.z.s. Hans Fleischmeister were given orders to join training courses for taking command of U-boats of their own. Their skills will be badly missed. We went to the officers’ mess for a farewell drink and heard that U-336 has sunk a Fiji-class cruiser. U-103 had a lucky escape after getting a fuel leak and U-39 was hit so that it couldn't dive very deep, but still managed to return with everyone on board safe and sound.

We are now getting ready for a well deserved and very much needed leave.

Dietzmann

[Luno]

Good patrols everyone :) A little dicey at times, but you all made it back, well done.

[Jimbuna]

I'd post mine but driving a Type XXIII with only two eels and no room for reloads would look unimpressive.

[von Segelkartoffel]

Oberleutnant z.s. Baum reporting.
2nd Flotilla.
2nd patrol, 9th October 1939

The patrol started in good weather. My target grid was AM51.

Evening of 9th Oct. Visual contact made with a tramp steamer, East of Hull. I ordered to man the deck gun and begin firing at long range. Several confirmed hits under the waterline and after a few minutes the ship was going down.

14. Oct.
After an uneventful trip to AM51 and patrolling it for 24h a convoy was reported in AM46, heading ENE at 5 kts. I immediately plotted an intercept course and burned fuel to get into a good position ahead of the convoy. The weather was messy, 16 m/s winds with mediocre visibility. Then again it was perfect for a night attack and I arrived to ambush the convoy just before midnight.

After some time we picked up the convoy with the hydrophone. Heard clearly an escort right in front of the convoy as well as one behind the convoy. Lots of merchants. Through the periscope I could see three columns of five ships, mainly small or coastal merchants with one large merchant in the middle. I was positioned between the first and the second row of ships, hoping to take out 2-3 of the small merchants plus the large one. As the large one was getting close, about 800m I began firing my torpedoes at the small merchants further away. I fired two at the smaller ones plus fired two at the large merchant. Both torpedoes aimed at the small merchants hit. My crew was ecstatic! Unfortunately I must have made a mistake entering the TDC data as both of the torpedoes meant for the closest target, the large merchant missed but after a while a third explosion was heard as one of the missed torpedoes had actually hit a third small merchant. Three ships were confirmed going down. I discreetly exited the scene running at 1 kts away from the convoy heading to a safe depth of 60m. After getting a safe distance I surfaced and prepared for a second run against the convoy.

Early morning 15. Oct.
We were again in position ahead of the convoy. Again our main target was the large merchant. The weather was getting worse and visibility was decreased and a thick cloud cover was hanging above us. Measuring the ranges on targets was proving to be difficult as the periscope was continuously dipping under the surface. In a perfect position 700m from the large merchant I fired one torpedo at a small merchant further away and three torpedoes at the large merchant, magnetic going right under its keel. Two torpedoes hit the large merchant, the third went right under the keel but did not go off for some reason. The torpedo aimed at the small merchant missed. After 10 minutes the large merchant exploded violently and went to the bottom. The escorts never realized what was going on. Once again I exited the scene running silent.

A few hours later I attempted a third attack on the convoy. Running low on torpedoes I fired two at a small merchant in a terrible weather. Unfortunately both missed and with only one torpedo remaining I decided disengage the convoy and head back to Wilhelmshaven. Just north of Scapa I ran into three warship contacts, apparently two destroyers and one larger ship by the sound of it. With the weather being awful and the fact that I only had one torpedo I decided against my curiosity to leave them well alone which was probably a very wise decision.

Total tonnage sunk: 18812 tons.

[Gerald]

Good work, :up:

[sublynx]

I'd post mine but driving a Type XXIII with only two eels and no room for reloads would look unimpressive.


On the contrary. Luno's reports here are impressive, although his boat is only a type II with 5 torpedoes. A XXIII is a boat I don't even have modded and you probably play in 1944 - 1945, which is an era I and probably many more of the readers of this thread haven't played yet at all. That alone would make the reports interesting - even if you carried no torpedoes at all. :)

If you got the time to write the reports, I'd bet they would be interesting. And who knows what you do with those 2 torpedoes. Maybe you sneak into Scapa Flow and sink a carrier and a battleship in 1945. :arrgh!:

[Gerald]

On the contrary. Luno's reports here are impressive, although his boat is only a type II with 5 torpedoes. A XXIII is a boat I don't even have modded and you probably play in 1944 - 1945, which is an era I and probably many more of the readers of this thread haven't played yet at all. That alone would make the reports interesting - even if you carried no torpedoes at all. :)

If you got the time to write the reports, I'd bet they would be interesting. And who knows what you do with those 2 torpedoes. Maybe you sneak into Scapa Flow and sink a carrier and a battleship in 1945. :arrgh!: But pretty much earlier in the war, there are obstacles that must be strictly observed, :yep:

[Luno]

Well now, I didn't think my reports were impressive. I'm sure you aces have seen it all already, but it's all a new experience to me. This is only my second ever campaign, and my first lasted four sorties :oops:

But I agree with, Sublynx, let's hear those reports Jimbuna! :up: I didn't know a single thing about subs until I bought this game, so hearing about the XXIII will certainly be very interesting! (In fact I'm looking at the Wiki page now...it sank the last allied ships of the war. That's pretty important!) I think I may just have to get this mod. :D

[sublynx]

Lt.z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol grid AN48

12.1.1943
1728 AN24 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 4 m/s. I think BdU wants to make a point to me of not diving deep at the first sign of trouble and has assigned AN48 with it’s shallow water as a patrol grid. We didn’t get the leave we wished either. We had to leave as soon as the boat was ready. My LI reports that the crewmen are pretty mad about this and blame me. The former commander of this boat didn’t get his boat this shot up that I have and now this thing of getting a patrol grid in shallow water, near the English coast with it’s airplanes and hunter killer groups. We will probably have to attack a group of destroyers, because it’s not very likely we’ll see any other type of ships.

1804 AN24 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 4 m/s. A lucky sight suddenly. Dolphins in the waters near Bergen! I let the crewmen watch this happy sight in turns and then even a type VII returns from it’s patrol in good shape too. I think the more superstitious crewmen take this as a good omen, thinking that maybe we’ll come back from our patrol safe and sound too. If one can see dolphins in Bergen, one can imagine us coming back without a scratch too! If all goes well on this trip, I’ll let a dolphin to be painted on the side of the conning tower.

http://img815.imageshack.us/img815/8783/sh3dolphinvii.png (http://img815.imageshack.us/i/sh3dolphinvii.png/)

2257 AN24 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 4 m/s. I have made diving experiments. Taking our new FuMo-30 antenna down when diving does not slow the boat down. A usual dive at AK or GF takes 39 seconds, HF 40 seconds, LF 50 seconds and KF 65 seconds. A crash dive is at least 10 seconds faster than a usual dive.

16.1.1943
1431 AN48 clear, 15 – 16 km, 1 m/s. Patrolling the grid has been a total surprise. There is no traffic at all, no airplanes, no destroyers, no freighters. Nothing. The depths we have measured at the grid have varied from a minimum of 73 meters to a maximum of 118. Continuing our patrol.

Dietzmann

[Oberon]

Willi Schmidt at sea during patrol 1, Kaleu of U-471 out of Salamis. Dec 3 1941. Encountered an Italian warship firing on a Greek merchant shortly after leaving port, that was quite impressive to watch. Got our own turn that night when we came across another Greek merchant. Came alongside, warned the crew to get out and then sank it with the deck gun, pointed the survivors in the direction of land, tossed them a few supplies and then got out of dodge.

[BigK]

It seems the patrols in the mid-late war period are either very dangerous or they fail to pick up anything interesting. Keep at it :up:

I'll post my last patrol in my VIIB. BdU has been satisfied with my and the crew's performance for quite some time and has offered a newer type of U-boat. VIIC types were available for a while now but I made the decision to wait till an IXB became available. Shortly before departing news came from BdU that our new IXB has completed all trials and ready for active duty. This will be our final mission in our old duck :).

1.12.40. 0457 Patrol 18
U-54, 2nd Flotilla
Left Lorient at: December 1, 1940, 04:57
Mission Orders: Patrol grid DH53

Nothing interesting on the way to our patrolgrid and all was silent during our patrol in the assigned sector as well. After a quick meeting with the senior officers I decided to try and sneak into Gibraltar harbor. Course was set and we got underway.

Sank a lonely Medium Cargo, 5082 tons with one torpedo and some shells. Resumed our course for Gibraltar. Approached the strait in the morning and was halfway through on the surface when we went down to periscope-depth and moved in. Silent-running was ordered and we mapped out the defenses, A couple of warships patrolling on the eastern side but nothing in the strait itself. After 2 hrs we picked up a fastmover and confirmed it was a torpedo boat.

Infiltrated the harbor area at about 2 o'clock. Spotted a freighter leaving and nailed it with 1 torpedo. Continued into the harbor and mapped it with the periscope. Found 4 anchored warships on the northern edge and lined up my boat. Approached to 1.5km and launched 1-4. All 4 hit (1 per ship), sinking the two destroyers immediately.

1714 Grid CG 96 Ship sunk! Tribal class 1850 tons
1714 Grid CG 96 Ship sunk! C&D classes, 1375 tons

Reloaded my tubes and fired 2 more at the frigates. Both torpedoes hit right under the mast and they quickly sank.

1736 Grid CG 96 Ship sunk! Southampton class, 10725 tons
1737 Grid CG 96 Ship sunk! Southampton class, 10725 tons

After that 2 Flower class and others came looking but I evaded them easily by running silent and keeping to the Western shoreline.

Total tonnage: 31627 (Merchant: 6952/Warship: 24675)

Returned to harbor and said my farewell to that rusty coffin which we called home for a long time. :cry:

[Gerald]

Good work,:yep:

[Luno]

Dolphins!? :o I wonder if they thought you were their long lost cousin :)

I don't know about '43, but in '39 there is plenty of small fry hugging the coast...but also plenty of DDs. Good luck! :ping:

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No4
21 May 1940
U-103 left Wilhelmshaven with orders to patrol grid AN34. Somebody in BdU must have drunk several bottles of Becks before assigning this grid to an ocean going IX type Uboot.
U-39 was still in port refiting. In the officer's club vonHarris tried to pursuade Snestrom to use his deck gun from time to time.
U-522 has left Bergen for her next patrol. Valuable experience was gathered by her Kaleun for the use of the FAt torpedoes

00:57 hours U-103 left port

After patrolling AN34 with no incidents , vonHarris requested new orders. This time he was told to move to grids AD59 and AD83

8 June 1940
Grid AD59
Convoy attack
13:09 4 bow + 2 stern torpedoes fired at the convoy
Two converted whale factory ships and a large cargo were the targets and they were all hit but no ship sunk. So much for my confidence in the TI torpedoes.
U-103 dived to 90m undetected and reloaded.
14:23 hours A Flower class frigate was sunk by 1 stern torpedo
14:28 hours A converted whale factory ship sunk by flooding from the first attack.
3 more bow torpedoes were fired but they either missed or were duds.

U-103 surfaced after everyone was gone and the torpedo crew brought the external reloads in sice the weather was very good , 2m/s winds.

10 June 1940
Grid AD83
Convoy attack
06:08 hours 4 bow torpedoes were fired outside the destroyer screen but they all missed. Possible miscalculation of the range.
U-103 turned and fired both stern tubes with no result.
It looked like as if the torpedoes vanished in thin air.

13 June 1940
Grid AD83
Convoy attack
17:36 hours For one more time all 4 bow torpedoes missed. We were shooting at the fishes not the enemy ships!
U-103 dived at 100m and escaped unharmed and undetected.

After this attack no torpedoes were left. U-103 started her return passage.
24 June 1940
U-103 docked at home port
We have wasted some 17 torpedoes in three convoy attacks
35 days at sea
2 ships sunk
12967 tons
No damages or casualties.

Something was wrong during this patrol, At least we returned home alive.

[sublynx]

Lt.z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol grid AN48

18.1.1943
1325 AN48 clear, 15 – 16 km, 1 m/s. Airplane sighted at long range relative bearing 194. Crash dive.

19.1.1943
1836 AN48 clear, 15 – 16 km, 1 m/s. BdU informs that U-103 has been in convoy action, but lots of torpedoes have missed. Possible depth keeping problems with TI torpedoes shot at long range. U-54 has raided Gibraltar.

21.1.1943
0128 AN48 clear, 15 – 16 km, 0 m/s. Airplane sighted at long range relative bearing 242 and FuMo – 30 contact at long range relative bearing 242. Dived to periscope depth. On the periscope two twin-engined airplanes observed. Could not be identified.

http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/5065/sh3twinenginepair.png (http://img860.imageshack.us/i/sh3twinenginepair.png/)

22.1.1943
2100 AN48 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 15 m/s. Warship screws heard and followed on the hydrophone. Probably two destroyers on a course of 260 – 270 degrees, speed estimated at 18– 22 knots. Could not be intercepted. Continuing patrol.

Dietzmann

[Gerald]

Nice work, :up:

[Jimbuna]

Nice work, :up:

:salute:

[frau kaleun]

Nice work, :up:

:salute:

I think it's high time you two just went ahead and got a room already. :O:

[Snestorm]

In my end report to BdU I made a suggestion that FAT torpedoes could be launched one just off the bow and one just off the stern and one G7e or G7a in the middle. That shooting method would guarantee two hits if the estimations are anywhere close to reality. One FAT would miss, but would still have a decent chance of hitting something else after it starts it’s course changes.

Although I've favored that method, the thought of adding two FaTs to the mix never occurred to me. Brilliant!

Our IWO, 2 Torpedomen, and myself, are looking forward to FaT classes aboard U552.

[Missing Name]

The interesting tidbits of patrol #4 - not done yet, kameraden!

5-07-1940, 1713. Wilhelmshaven.
Set off to help operations off Bergen, AN24.

5-11-1940, 0917. AN2411.
Dove to test out boat.
1045.
Depth of 265 meters reached. CE recommended against further testing. Heading for the surface.
1051.
Broke the surface. Crew shaken but proud.

5-15-1940, 2006. AE9893.
Ship spotted, bearing 240, course NNE. Approximately 9km away. Diving to periscope depth.
2010.
Target moving at approximately 9 kn. No other contacts. Full speed to intercept.
2023.
Target confirmed to be British. Fired G7e from aft tube V. Impact, 2m. Target expected to be dead astern. Estimated range and time to impact: 4.2km, 5:45.
2028.
Hit observed, just behind the bow, 5:46 after launch. Target is slowing down. Smoke.
2032.
Target is down by the bow, smoking heavily. Surfacing and heading over.
2042.
Explosions. Target is now down very heavily down the bow, sinking rapidly. Crew appears to be abandoning ship.
2044.
We have arrived. Ship is barely visible. Count two rafts.
2119.
Target found to be the SS Beecher, departed from Blythe and heading to Reykjavik. 5000 GRT, loaded with munitions and timber. Crew given water, food and bearing to land. Allied forces expected to arrive soon.

[Snestorm]

Underway from Willy on 25.aug.40, for patrol grid BF19.


On departure, we watched with great interest as U103 was having some major work done on her fuel tanks. Prior to that, there had been some leakage about the harbor.

Recieved a message on 1.sep.40, informing us of a base change to Lorient.

4.sep.40
AM51
2135: During a convoy engagement, both stern external tubes were fired at a T2 Tanker.
Both G7As impacted the target, without result.

5.sep.40
AM52
0337: Same convoy. Same target.
Tubes 1, 2, 3 (G7E) are fired with a 4 degree spread.
All torpedoes struck the target, sinking her for 10.871 GRT.

10, 11, 12.sep.40
BF15, BF16, BF12, BF13
Numerouse contact reports sent, and attacks made on outbound convoys.
Operated primarily in depths between 100 and 130 meters.
No daylight hours spent on surface.
Regular escort groups beefed up localy with Armed Trawlers.
5 attacks are carried out, and 3 additional ships sunk.

Passed through BF19 with empty tubes, enroute to Lorient.
There were no encounters in patrol grid.

Docked at Lorient on 16.sep.40. Awaiting the arrival of U103.

Patrol results:
4 ships sunk for 17.599 GRT.
U39 remained undetected throughout the patrol.
Boat and crew in good health.
12 of 12 torpedoes expended (3 G7A, and 9 G7E).
One C2 Cargo (3 G7Es) was missed due to a bad range estimate, and the limited range of the G7E.

U39's history to date:
5 war patrols completed.
10 ships sunk for 45.520 GRT.

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No5
24 July 1940
11:54 hours After refit U-103 left Wilhelmshaven to patrol Grid AM13. This is much better than the previous patrol

28 July 1940
Grid AN14
21:17 hours Aircraft attack. We had no time to dive as the palne was spotted at medium range so we exchanged gunfire with it. Flames erupted from its fusalage but it kept flying. The plane passed overhead without dropping bombs. At the same time U-103 crash dived. Nothing else was heard.

31 July 1940
Grid AM33
15:04 hours Small merchant sunk by 14 105mm rounds

05 August 1940
Grid AL33
17:54 hours Aircraft attack Exchanged gunfire and suffered minor damages, Crash dived to safety,

15 August 1940
Grid AD83
11:14 hours Aircraft attack Crash dived immediately

20 August 1940
No contacts in this area. I decided to leave and head for AM52

29 August 1940
Grid AM53
15:04 hours Small merchant sunk by 1 stern torpedo. This time the TIs are working in order.

31 August 1940
Grid AM52
03;37 hours Two hospital ships were spotted. U-103 dived to PC and remained there until the ships were out of sight.

02 September 1940
Grid AM51
15:43 hours . Tried to intercept convoy after BdU message. The bad weather - 15m/s winds - made operations very difficult

08 September 1940
Grid AM53
16:09 hours Granville type freighter sunk by 2 stern tropedoes

13 September 1940
Grid AM35
08:06 hours Aircraft attack. Crash dived Minor damages by near by DC explosion

14 September 1940
Grid AN11
11:26 hours. The LI reported that we had already used up half of our fuel

15 September 1940
Grid AN11
18;06 hours Small freighter sunk by 15 105mm rounds

19 September 1940
Grid AN14
12:37 hours Ore carrier sunk by 3 bow torpedoes. 4 torpedoes fired 1 was a dud.

23 Semtember 1940
20:33 hours
U-103 docked at Wilhelmshaven but something was wrong. The flottila HQ was no longer there.
We had never received the message informing us of our base change to Lorient France. U-39 was already there after a succesful patrol.
62 days at sea
5 ships sunk
19857 tons
88% hull integrity
no casualties

[BulSoldier]

Just started a new carrer

Current location an13 . On the way we had few encounters with enemy aircrafts , only one had managed to spot us an subsequently bomb us. No damage sustained.

Two enemy ships sunk in the eastern scotish coastal waters.
- Large trawler for 4-500 tons
- Middle Merchan for 3 5-800 tons

Atmospheric conditions:
-visibility 1500 or less.
-light waves

-Ammunition - 16 shells and 2 torpedoes fired.

Expected "hunting time" 2-3 weeks in northern and eastern coastal bristish waters.

[VONHARRIS]

24 September 1940
04:00 hours U-103 left Wilhelmshaven to reach the port of Lorient France

21:14 hours
Grid AN95
New orders came in : Patrol Grid CF23 and then return to Lorient

28 September 1940
Grid AN14
13:25 hours Heavy merchant sunk by 2 bow and 2 stern torpedoes

02 October 1940
Grid AM52
Convoy attack in bad weather and rain. Visibility through the attack scope : 500m max
03:11 hours Empire type freighter sunk by 2 bow torpedoes
03:16 hours Ore carrier sunk by 2 stern torpedoes
1 bow torpedo fired at a passenger/cargo but was a dud
1 bow torpedo fired at a large merchant
Since the escorts didn't have a clue what was going on the bow torpedo crew managed to reload tube No1
The torpedo was fired against the large merchant and exploded but she went on.
U-103 dived at 100m and left the area undetected

03 October 1940
Grid AM76
19:55 hours Granville type freighter sunk by 2 bow torpedoes + 1 dud
At that point all internal torpedoes were used up and the weather didn't permit the externals be brought in.
vonHarris radioed Bdu and requested new orders
He was told to return to Lorient

04 October 1940
Grid BE36
19:55 hours Empire type freighter spotted at the surface. With empty tubes U-103 dived to PC and waited for the ship to move out of sight.

05 October 1940
Grid BE36
00:06 hours Still submerged , U-103 picked up the screws of a merchant but ignored it.

07 October 1940
09:47 hours U-103 docked at Lorient.
14 days at sea
4 ships
28661 tons
No damages or casualties
U-39 was in port preparing for her next patrol.
Kaluens Snestorm and vonHarris had some beers at the officers club while crew members of both Ubooten had some fun in the city's bars.
There were no news of U-552.
A new twin 20mm flak gun was installed at U-103 to use at the next patrol

[Gerald]

Nice work,:up:

[VONHARRIS]

Nice work,:up:
Thank you , you have always a kind word.

[Kermit the Frog]

Oct 15 1941
Radio contact with convoy. Looks like they're heading Gibraltar.
-New Course! HDG 340, flank ahead.

Oct 15 1941 4:00 GMT+1, 3:00 local
Visual contact with convoy. 6 rows, one Black Swan class frigate leading convoy, 4 frigates on sides, and one hunter killer. For some time convoy is peacefully continuing its travel. They're still very far from us, when leading frigate starts zigzagging. What the hell?! Did he saw us? With washed deck? Impossible! We're still 6km far from frigate. I need to estimate course of convoy, and its speed. But everything is telling me that there is something unusual happening here.
-Dive! Periscope depth, periscope up!- I look around to see all the convoy zigzagging. I decide to prepare fire resolution on leading escort, however I didn't decide if I attack her or not. Corvette black Swan, zigzag +/- 180deg. stopwatch shows 14kts... again 9,5kts... again 6kts. She stopped her motors to listen!
-Silence on board! No shouts! No calls!
After a long long minute frigate turned motors again to run straight ahead flank speed. Now she's close to me... She slowed down and starts zigzag +/- 30deg I suppose. I measure speed... 12kts. Entering data into TDC... I fired G7a magnetic torpedo at range 800m and aiming angle 15deg.
She sunk at 4:20.
I went submerged inside the zgigzagging convoy and hit Large Tanker with one G7e magnetic torp, placed under last mast and Large Merchant placed also under stern mast, but before I could check the results I heard terrible... PING...PING
-Flank ahead! Dive!
...PING...10m...PING... PING...20m...30m...PING... PING... PING
-Frigate in attack run! Hard starboard!- 50m...80m...
KABOOOM!!! Endless explosions are shaking our boat. How many DCs can he drop simultaneously? I didn't expect any answer, but...
-I've counted 8 explosions sir- Says Torsten.
We're going deeper and deeper. The frigate over us is doing a circle to repeat attack. In the meantime I looked around over the crew... They seem rather curious than frightened. They're simply not used to DC exploding so close to us. I stopped dipping at 220m and went into silent run. Next series of explosions fall far over our head. After three circles I was ready to forget about the frigate over me, shadowing convoy maintaining the deep, when
...PING! ... ... PING! ... ... PING...............
Silence... You could hear a fly (if we had one) flying through the bridge...
-Enemy frigate. Bearing 230, closing, medium speed.- I took second headphone.
-Bearing?
-Constant...- Suddenly, steady sound of propellers turn into loud roaring. -Frigate in attack run, he's fixed on us! Steady guys... Steady...
-DCs in the water!- I'm hearing splashes. One, two, three, four, five, six! Twelve DC?!- Hard larboard! Flank ahead!- I couldn't believe myself.
I turned stopwatch with first splash, now I check... 60... 65...-one third aread!- 70... 74 KABOOKABOOKABOOM! Series of enormous explosions behind me. However my boat is slightly shaking! My boat looks untaught, but my crew is not. For the first time in my life I see fear in their eyes. It's not because our boat shake a little bit, or because they felt a "real gun powder". In our 26 further patrols We were returning many times "on our knees". It's something else. They need a rest... And I need replacements, fresh blood. Hydro said, that large tanker is sinking, but I couldn't find a smiled face.
-Frigate moving away, moving fast. They not turning back!
-Periscope depth! Full ahead.- After a long ascent I looked through observation periscope, to find Large merchant with stopped motors 500m from us bearing 330. I finished their senseless existence with one surface running torpedo. I looked around, and since no sign of escort I decided to surface the boat. The sun is just rising, and there's a long day before us. A day of shadowing a convoy. Luckily two burning freighters make it easy. We can shadow them staying behind horizon. Hydro just set a music... "Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt..." Suddenly I felt myself tired... I need a sleep.

To be continued...

[sublynx]

Lt.z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol grid AN48

24.1.1943
0511 AN24 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 5 m/s. Metox warning. Crash dive. No contacts on the hydrophone. Possibly an airplane despite the cloudy weather.
1045 AN24 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 5 m/s. Metox warning. Crash dive.

26.1.1943
0400 AN24 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 5 m/s. Dolphins on the hydrophone.
1608 AN24 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 5 m/s. BdU informs of a convoy 230 km SW. AN55 course SE, 7 knots. The convoy is behind the mined areas and in very shallow waters near to the English coast. I try to intercept anyway – BdU reported the convoy, so I expect he wants us to attack it, if possible.

28.1.1943
0511 AN59 clear, 15 – 16 km, 15 m/s. About 5 – 6 kilometers from the port side merchants on the convoy I decide I just can’t attack. I can see ground on the periscope, I have only one longer ranged torpedo loaded and it’s day time. Because of the high seas I can’t even attack the port destroyer, since I can see only quick glimpses of it’s masts on the periscope. I have to let the convoy pass, because it is too risky to maneuver – submerged I might hit the ground.
0818 AN48 clear, 15 – 16 km, 15 m/s. Metox warning. Dived. A four-engined airplane seen on the periscope. Possibly of the type Halifax.

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8361/sh34enginebw.png (http://img151.imageshack.us/i/sh34enginebw.png/)

1.3.1943
1005 AN48 clear, 15 – 16 km, 15 m/s. Airplane sighted at a relative bearing of 247 degrees. Crash dive.

4.3.1943
1756 AN45 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 7 m/s. Metox warning. Crash dive.
2147 AN45 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 6 m/s. Metox warning. Crash dive. At 2215 hours two destroyers seen on periscope at a range of 8 – 10 km, speed 16 – 20 knots. Couldn’t be intercepted. Tried to lure them into approaching by surfacing, but they probably didn’t get our radar profile, while at a distance of 10 – 15 kilometers and heading away from us.

5.3.1943
0515 AN45 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 7 m/s. Airplane sighted. Crash dive.
1756 AN41 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 7 m/s. Airplane sighted. Crash dive.

6.3.1943
1213 AN22 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 7 m/s. Metox warning. Dive.

8.3.1943
0536 AN24 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 7 m/s. Back at Bergen. We’re alive, the boat is not damaged at all, but we didn’t get a chance of firing even one torpedo. We’ll get the boat refueled, cleaned and resupplied and a short leave. I’ll have a dolphin painted on the conning tower. Hopefully the crewmen will find the emblem lucky and worry a bit less and concentrate on their tasks a bit more lighthearted.

While on leave in Germany, I plan to meet with the commanders of U-39 and U-103, who have had nice successes with no or only slight damage on their last patrols and nice tonnage to their credit. I do need to get some ships sunk on my next patrol or BdU is going to have my head on a plate.

Patrol observations: FuMo – 30 keeps switching off in high seas, but is still a major improvement compared to FuMo – 29’s switching off tendency.

Operating depths measured on our route:
AN21: 110 – 148 meters
AN22: 118 – 164 meters
AN27: 113 – 144 meters
AN41: 111 – 157 meters
AN45: 74 – 159 meters
AN52 east: 44 – 83 meters
AN53: 65 – 97 meters
AN55 east: 45 – 84 meters
AN56: 43 – 70 meters
AN57: 26 – 42 meters
AN59: 12 – 43 meters

Dietzmann

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No7
The commander of U-552 tried to visit us in Germany but he missed us for 2 days as we were transferred in Lorient. Both Snestorm and I talked to him on the phone and calm him down, He was afraid of the BdU judgement for not sinking any ship but for such a good commander that would be overseen. He had brought his crew and ship back home alive and in one piece

06 November 1940
00:28 hours U-103 left Lorient for grid AL33. A new twin 20mm flak gun was installed for testing

18 November 1940
Grid AD83
Convoy attack in light fog , no rain and 5m/sec winds
4 bow + 2 stern torpedoes fired
02:30 hours Ceramic type ocean liner sunk by 2 bow + 1 stern torpedoes
Turbine tanker hit by 1 bow torpedo but went on
Converted whale factory ship hit by 1 bow torpedo and despite the secondary explosions seen , she escaped

18 November 1940
Grid AD83
17:40 hours.
While on the surface , the torpedo crew had just moved the external reloads inside. The weather was very good 0m/s winds.
Aircraft spotted , a twin engined light bomber.
This was our chance to test out new twin flak gun.
Aircraft shot down during its initial approach. Minor damages from mashine gun fire, One parachute opened. We approached and gave a raft to the pilot and pointed him to the nearest land. He didn't resist nor he opened fire with his handgun. The other members of the aircraft crew died.

22 November 1940
Grid AD83
17:32 hours convoy attack in good weather
4 bow and 2 stern torpedoes fired
Laconia liner hit by 2 bow + 1 stern torpedo but escaped
Converted whale factory ship hit by 1 bow torpedo but she escaped
Large tanker hit by 1 stern torpedo , caught fire but didn't sink
No ships sunk in this attack

25 November 1940
Grid AD83
14:10 hours Convoy attack in good weather
Ore carrier hit by 1 stern torpedo but escaped (+1 dud)
14:13 hours Motor tanker sunk by 2 bow torpedoes
14:13 hours Small freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo
14:20 hours Small freighter sunk by 1 bow torpedo

No attacks by the escorts , U-103 dived at 120m and left undetected.
With 3 bow + 1stern torpedoes remaining vonHarris started the return passage

01 December 1940
Grid BE36
05:23 hours Large cargo sunk by 30 105mm rounds
When the ship went down the IWO saw two more ships bearing 003.
Since the weather was good 1m/s winds I decided to hunt them down.
They were two Granville type freighters.
And then it came: A shell landed some 500m in front of our Uboat. The merchants were armed and zigzaging.
U-103 kept a distance of 2500m and started shelling the enemy. Fortunately the enemy gunners were very wrong at their aim.
05:59 hours Granville type freighter sunk by 25 105mm rounds
The other merchant didn't open fire so I assumed she was unarmed and clased in. I was lucky
06:10 hours Granville type freighter sunk by 17 105mm rounds

13:58 hours Small merchant sunk by 19 105 mm rounds
14:22 hours Large merchant sunk by 1 bow torpedo and 56 105mm rounds. She was armed with 2 x 3in guns , one at each side

2 December 1940
01:43 hours Passenger/cargo sunk by 14 105mm rounds

3 December 1940
04:01 hours
U-103 docked at Lorient.
vonHarris wrote a report about the armed merchants so all other commanders would be warned and use extreme caution when attacking with the deck gun from now on. A hit from a 3in shell can easily end a patrol and make the Uboat unable to dive.
28 days at sea
10 ships sunk
61096 tons
1 aircraft shot down
90% hull integrity

[Snestorm]

U103 finaly showed up in Lorient, and the bars all turned a nice profit from our combined crews.

Departed Lorient, 5 days behind U103, on 11.nov.40.
Assigned the Freetown - UK shipping lanes, with a turnaround point at DT94.
News traveled to Lorient concerning the daring exploits of U552, into the extreme shallows of the AM50s, and their safe return to Bergen. Kaleun & Crew are thankful to be with the more level-headed Commander 2.Flotilla.

15.nov.40
CG15 (290 miles W of Spain).
Time ?: "Ship spotted! Long range." Corvette!
New course 336 (Nose to nose). New depth 15 meters, followed by periscope depth.
Weather: Clear. Dead calm. Full moon at night.
1759: Open tubes 1, 2, 4 for C2 Cargo.
1804: Fire 1, 2, 4 (T2 G7E). Target course 179, making 5 knots.
5 degree spread. Bearing 000. 3 meters. Impact only. Range 1.000 meters.
New depth 103 meters. 5 degrees right rudder.
1805: C2 Cargo sunk for 6.446 GRT.
1825: We have company. New depth 150 meters.
1827: Ping x 3.
1829: Many DC at varrying depths. (U39 passing 117 meters).
1831: Warship pinging from short range in our baffles. (passing 124 meters).
1834: New course 000. (passing 130 meters). DC.
1839: DC. (passing 140 meters).
1841: Distant pinging.

1921: Surface. Tubes to be reloaded on surface, per Handbook.
1927: Corvette. 7700 meters. Full moon. All Ahead Full!!!
1955: Paralelling convoys track. Heading 179.
2007: Corvette. 5500 meters. All tubes reloaded. All Ahead Flank!!
2022: Return to heading 179.

CG15
2035: Making good 18 knots. Convoy beyond sight to port.
2039: Begin arking inward (on guesstimations).
2114: Down we go. Will have to work our way outward for stern shot.
2241: Fire 6. New depth 102 meters.
2242: Little Merchant sunk for 2.339 GRT.
2243: (passing 20 meters). 5 degrees Left Rudder.
(Target was right beside a Corvette. Surprise!)
Known escort is 3 Corvettes, and 2 Armed Trawlers.
There are almost as many warships as merchants.
One C2 Cargo remains. The rest are Small, and Coastals.
2300: 5 degrees Right Rudder. New depth 152 meters.
2304: Ping. (passing 110 meters).
2306: U39 rocked hard by DC, but took no damage.
2309: Ping. (passing 124 meters).
2312: DC above.
2315: Slow pinging.
2318: Distant DC.

16.nov.40
0307: Tube 3 (My only bow G7A) is fired at a C2 Cargo, deemed too distant for T2 G7Es.
0309: Target is struck, but uneffected.

0539: Escorts thwart final attack attempt.
Convoy continues toward Gibralter.
U39 continues toward the Freetown - UK lanes.

CG17
1740: Status. 2 ships sunk for 8.785 GRT.
7 of 12 torpedoes remaining.
6 bow (G7E), and 1 stern (G7A).

Following this patrol, I have to figure out how to stop this "Ship spotted", over and over again. It's that, or a desk job!

[BossMark]

December 25th 1939
U 123 has just finished her third patrol sinking 18000 tons of Allied shipping including one medium tanker and downing one Swordfish torpedo\bomber.

[Kip336]

A more detailed report will follow, just want to get this event out;

Was sailing from the Western Approach up north to catch up with about 3 convoys that where reported in the AL / AM grids at flank speed.

Most of the journey was done at flank speed in high seas, 18m/s wind, 0 visibility.

We dove to 40m multiple times when we reached AL to listen, and home in.

After listening for 20 minutes, with a lot of confusing reports;
Merchant bearing 270, long range! Closing!"
Warship, high speed constant distance, bearing 180
Merchant bearing 220, high speed, short range!
Merchant bearing 330, slow speed short range closing!

I decided to go up. It'd be rather odd to be surrounded by convoys on 4 sides, all going different ways.

Up on the surface at 4am, we didn't see a single thing. Not wanting to stick around, back to flank speed. I look around, and suddenly a white, flashing light...uh, that's odd.
Lets turn around and investigate, they wont see us.
Another light right in front of us.
To the right a flashing light....to the left.

"we're under attack!!"

Turns out, a merchant was attacking me, and I was in the middle of 3 convoys.

I sneaked away on surface. Will regain contact once the visibility is more.

[Fish In The Water]

December 25th 1939
U 123 has just finished her third patrol sinking 18000 tons of Allied shipping including one medium tanker and downing one Swordfish torpedo\bomber.

Congrats on the Swordfish! The pilot probably needed a bath, so thanks for helping him out! :D

[BigK]

My first patrol in the new sub, the crew and I went to Germany to make the trip with the new boat ourselfs. That way we got to know her a bit and it made our first patrol go much more smoothly.

5.1.41. 0221 Patrol 19
U-123, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: January 5, 1941, 02:21
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid DT29


The seas were clear when steaming to our designated grid, as was the grid itself. After some time covering suspected trading lines, we picked up screw noises and went down to periscope depth. The noise was coming towards us, so I decided to wait it out and see what shows up. Turned out to be a ASW trawler. After maneuvering a bit at silent running, I got a perfect shot and fired a torpedo. Range was about 500m, not giving the unaware ship time to react at the torpedo noises.

13.1.41. 1308 Grid EK 11 ASW Trawler, 1100 tons After that I continued the patrol and played some cards with the crew. Nothing much to do for about 4 days. But then, smoke at the horizon !! One warship identified, several unkowns. We went silent and down to periscope depth. As with the first, these ships were oblivious to the doom that was just meters below the surface.

17.1.41. 1054 Grid ET 38 V&W classes, 1188 tons
1104 Grid ET 38 ASW Trawler, 1100 tons
1125 Grid ET 38 ASW Trawler, 1100 tons

That'll thin out the enemy ranks in the mid-African area a bit. Still in high spirits, a message from BdU came in. Large convoy spotted, moving at low speed. Distance about 150k. We plotted the most likely intercept point and went there at maximum speed. Took us a day and a half to catch up, with another day waiting for the weather to clear and give us a good look of what we're dealing with.

A juicy convoy, several large cargo's, tankers, merchants and also a lot of smaller vessels. I picked a spot between the second and third row and drew up a new attack plan. Calculated the rough course and moved into ambushposition. Perfectly planned, only minor correction was necessary.
I had to avoid the large merchants because in order to get a clean shot, I would have to move in such a position that I could only shoot 1 highpriority target.

Launched all 6 torpedoes, of which 4 hit. No ships went down on the first hit. Went down to 175m and reloaded. Moved into a new firing position and fired again. One cargo went down immediately, another was dead in the water. I also hit and severely damaged a tanker.


20.1.41. 1724 Grid ES 31 Ship sunk! Large Cargo, 8449 tons
1739 Grid ES 31 Ship sunk! Intermediate Tanker, 3490 tons
1748 Grid ES 31 Ship sunk! Large Cargo, 8578 tons


Had to evade depth charges. Moved out of the convoy and about 10k away. Moved remaining external reloads inside and prepared for the final assault. Something went wrong, was almost ready to fire when escorts picked me up. Fired all remaing front torpedoes, because of which one large cargo later sank. Turned away and fired both stern tubes at the escorts, only 1 hit but managed to sink it.

1905 Grid ES 31 Ship sunk! Black Swan class, 1250 tons
1913 Grid ES 31 Ship sunk! Large Cargo, 8577 tons

Got DC heavy, one direct hit at 110m killed one of my senior officers. A 18 patrol veteran, who will be missed greatly. Also took on water and went down to 195m. Ship was keeping together :). Previously tested her @ 225m.

Managed to shake them off. So a lot of ships went under, but also a good man, colleague and friend. :cry:

[Snestorm]

21.nov.40
DH48
2102: Three T2 G7Es are fired at a C2 Cargo, during a night surface attack, on a NE (053) bound convoy. Weather is Medium Fog. U39 dived immediately after firing, and shortly after went to silent speed. Three explosions were heard, but no sinking sounds.
2145: Straggling vessel detected on sound.
2225: A single G7A is fired from the stern, sinking the straggler (DIW) for 6.448 GRT.
U39 goes deep and vacates the vicinity prior to the arrival of an escort.
Heavy Fog was found on surfacing, and further attempts at persuit were abandoned.

2.dec.40
DH71
1845: "Ship spotted!" Sea is dead calm. Target dead ahead.
VON HARRIS had recommended some gunnery practice. Done!
1856: C2 Cargo sunk with deck gun for 6.452 GRT.
The following day we recieved his warning concerning armed merchants.

5.dec.40
DT32
1559: Our last 3 torpedoes (G7E) are fired during a daylight submerged convoy attack.
Sea state is dead calm. Escort comprises 3 DDs.
1601: C2 Cargo struck, and sunk, for 6.453 GRT.

17.dec.40
BF61
2250: U39 ties up alongside U103 at Lorient.

Patrol results.
12 of 12 torpedoes expended.
Crew and Hull Integrity 100%.
5 ships sunk for 28.138 GRT.

U39's history to date:
6 war patrols completed.
15 ships sunk for 73.658 GRT.

[Gerald]

Good work!

[sublynx]

Leutnant. z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Freie Jagd Arctic ocean between Spitzbergen and Bäreninsel

31.3.1943 Arctic Ocean near Bergen
1138 hydrophone screws, eventually though to be a trawler.
1153 surfaced. Metox warning. Dived.
1229 after some underwater maneuvering we established a warship's course and speed, 22 knots, 60 RPM. The destroyer turns out to be one of our own type 34's. To scare the pants off of the destroyer we surface in perfect shooting position and take a picture of the meeting. If we make it back, we'll send the picture to the captain to remind him to keep zigzagging! If we had been an enemy submarine, he would have been in big trouble.


http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3039/type34bw.png (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/type34bw.png/)

7.5.1943
1308 Cloudy, visibility 3000 - 4000 meters, 15 m/s. After a month of watching icebergs north of Bear island, we are returning to base. Then a report comes in. A large convoy Länge 7, 28' Ost, Breite 67, 56' Nord. 213 kilometers from us, 25 degrees true bearing, making 5 knots, course W. Intercept estimated at 2030 hours.
1606 After a Metox warning and some hydrophone operations we listen helplessly as an unknown large warship passes us too far to be intercepted, course 215, speed 30 knots.
2041 Heavy rain, visibility 800 - 1000 meters, wind 15 m/s from 354. Nothing heard on the expected intercept location.
2113 A new report from BdU. Convoy 40 kilometers SW from us.
2203 Convoy heard relative bearing 345 - 15 degrees. Attack windward, inside the convoy, because the visibility is so bad.
2332 Based on hydrophone the convoy probably has 5 escorts and 24 merchants.
0057 Three TIII G7e's shot at a range of 600 meters. Rohr 1 and 2 at a 2200 BRT merchant and Rohr 5 at a 1800 BRT merchant.
0058 Three explosions.
0103 The 2200 BRT sunk, smoke rising from water. The 1800 BRT merchant on fire. Evasion at PD.
0135 The escorts seem to have lost us and I decide to surface.
0137 Search lights approaching straight at us. The enemy must have picked us up with radar, but we got no Metox warning! BdU must be informed of this. We dive towards the depths, first silently, then after we get some pings crash diving and turning away from the destroyer. Two Bold's launched. No damage, though the boat was badly rocked by the depth charges. After the initial run the escorts kept pounding the Bold launching site.
0248 Reloading and getting ready for a second attack. Nine torpedoes left inside the boat and two outside.

Dietzmann

[Jimbuna]

*not so much a detailed report*


Approaching the entrance to the Thames Estuary (about 70 clicks away) and observing a convoy of 20+ ships...only one problem, I'm in a Type XXIII with a full load (two eels) so need to make some choices regarding what to attack.

[gazpode_l]

After some time not playing SH3 due to being away on HOL in R/L, I am back with my commander, "Walter Suhr" who's skipper of U-93.

We are Currently located in AM94.

LATEST EVENTS:
After destroying a small-ish steamer (some 1000grt aprox) we persued a sound contact in the bristol channel (Aug, 1941). Some time later, two prop contacts have become one, BUT we are in visual range - however the contact eventually turns out to be a "HUNT III" class destroyer.

The DD made a number of runs against us but wasn't very good at his accuracy. After around an hour or so, we managed to lose our pursuer by tactically changing depth and running quiet, whilst also presenting a small profile to the enemy.

Just before dawn the following day an ALARM is triggered when 2x Hurricane fighters are spotted. However they are at high altitude and clearly haven't spotted us.

We continue up "ST George's Channel" and towards wexford with a view to finding any targets in what looks like a possible anchorage, found on the chart by the navigator.

********WALTER SUHR AND U-93 ARE LOST!!!******
In a position some 25km SW of Plymouth, UK

W Suhr proceeded on a recon of Plymouth harbour but was detected some 25km away by a group consisting of an ASW trawler and a torpedo boat.

After sustaining some attacks from the ASW, suhr thought he had evaded the enemy and pressed on ahead at 6knts submerged..

However, it now appears the enemy once again regained contact from a distant 3km, and now accompanied by a second ASW and a flower class corvette, W Suhr was soon under heavy attack.

Severe damages followed astern forcing Suhr to the bottom, a shallow 53m in depth. However, he managed to mostly repair u-93 and was bringing her back upto a reasonable depth of 40m when he sustained a direct hit from 2x D/C, meaning the end of the Boat and the loss of 41 hands, including Kln Suhr.

He will be missed. :dead: :cry:
Patrols completed: 4 (lost at sea during patrol 5)
No of Ships Sunk: 14 (11m/3w)
Total tonnage sunk 58,638Grt (54,000 merchant/4000 wship)

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No8
02 January 1941
21:02 hours
After a hell of a party with Kaluen Snestorm and all of the crews of both U-39 and U-103 for the New Year , it was time to leave.
Despite the drinking, all men of U-103 were in station and ready for action. The same was for U-39.
Intercepted enemy messages indicated that U-552 had made a succesful attack on an enemy convoy.
Orders were to patrol AK-23 , again in the North Atlantic with its storms.

06 January 1941
23:13 hours.
Grid AM78
Intercepted enemy convoy after Bdu message.
Visual contact was made but ... the lences on the attack scope mulfunctioned. I had to use the observation scope for this patrol
4 bow torpedoes fired
23:48 hours Ore carrier sunk by 1 bow torpedo ( + 1 dud)
23:48 hours Ore carrier sunk by 2 bow torpedoes
U-103 dived to 100m and left without firing the stern tubes.

21 January 1941
23:16 hours
Grid AD83
Aircraft sighted. It was a RAF light bomber. U-103 crash dived and escaped unharmed. 2 explosions were heard away from U-103 position

24 January 1941
13:00 hours
Grid AD59
Convoy attack in good weather
4bow + 2 stern torpedoes fired
Large tanker hit twice
Converted whale factory ship hit once
Medium merchant 02 hit once
No ship sunk. At least we were not spotted by the escorts

That attack brought back bad memories of a previous patrol.
Crew morale dropped.

25 January 1941
12:14 hours
Grid AD83
Aircraft attack, U-103 crash dived to safety.

27 January 1941
10:44 hours
Grid AD83
Aircraft attack, U-103 crash dived but she was damaged by machine gun fire.

30 January 1941
08:19 hours
Grid AD86
Failed to intrecept convoy after BdU message.

17:35 hours
Grid AD83
Aircraft attack, U-103 crash dived to safety. That was the fourth time we were attacked. von Harris decided that it was not safe to operate here anymore since no contacts were made.

31 January 1941
16:50 hours
Grid AE74
Aircraft attack. We engaged the plane with the twin 20mm and caused him some damage. After the aircraft overpassed us without dropping bombs we crash dived. In his second pass , he releashed two DCs that done minor damage to the boat.

08 February 1941
19:20 hours
Grid AM02
Convoy hydrophone contact. Unfortunately they were moving away. We surfaced and radioed BdU of the convoy

10 February 1941
15:24 hours
Grid AM02
Enemy warship on the hydrophones , moving away
And then : merchant closing and another ....
A convoy was heading towards us. With 15m/s winds and rain it wouldn't be an easy task to attack , but if I let this convoy pass it woulf have been very bad for the morale.
All six tubes fired on hydrophone readings. No explosions heard. It didn't matter since now the men knew we were the predators again.

Only 2 bow torpedoes remained in the front tubes and none aft. The weather is just awful. Time to go home

13 February 1941
10:13 hours
Grid AM79
Moving to intercept enemy convoy
11:34 hours torpedoes fired : 1 at an ore carrier and 1 at an intemediate tanker. Both hit , no ship sunk.
U-103 left undetected.

When we surfaced we encountered rain and 9m/s winds. This patrol was over. Back to Lorient.

18 February 1941
06:26 hours
U-103 docked at Lorient.
3 ships sunk
25846 tons
48 days at sea
U-39 was not there. Lets hope Kaluen Snestrom has better luck in his patrol.
No news from U-552.
We lost U-93 during a harbor raid. A good commander was gone. We shall revenge his death.
When vonHarris went to the HQ , he was in for a big surprise.
The flottila commander announced him that he was promoted to Kapitanleutant as from now.

[Hotspur1337]

A little southwest of Ireland, was able to safely get amongst a US/Greek convoy. Picked out a liberty cargo and let fly with one of my two remaining torpedos, both in the stern. Set the first for a meter deeper than her draft and scored a hit.

She went dead in the water, so I waited for the convoy to depart and let fly with my last torpedo. Instead of a direct hit in the side of the hull, I again set it for a meter deeper. It didn't go off.

I waited two days, and the ship never sunk. It just sat there the whole time, and it was too well armed to try to take it with the deck gun.

Oh well, I racked up 36,000 tons on the patrol anyway.

Stupid Yankees.

[Fish In The Water]

I waited two days, and the ship never sunk. It just sat there the whole time, and it was too well armed to try to take it with the deck gun.

Cheeky bugger! :damn:

[Osmium Steele]

Approaching the entrance to the Thames Estuary (about 70 clicks away) and observing a convoy of 20+ ships...only one problem, I'm in a Type XXIII


There you go, playing fast and loose with the historical accuracy adjustment knob again. :up:

[Jimbuna]

There you go, playing fast and loose with the historical accuracy adjustment knob again. :up:

SINK EM ALL!! http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[sublynx]

Leutnant. z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Freie Jagd Arctic ocean between Spitzbergen and Bäreninsel

Statusbericht

8.5.1943
1937 Länge 5, 25’ Ost, Breite 70, 51’ Nord. Heavy rain, visibility 800 – 1000 meters, wind 15 m/s from 353. Convoy, course 259, speed 5. Attacked windward from the centre. The front guard noticed us at an approximate distance of 600 meters. Evaded crash diving and turning away from it, one Bold launched immediately and 2 later, the first one when trying to go back to schleichfart and the other one when picked by ASDIC again. DC's heard at Bold launching area. Went back to PD and managed to sink one 2400 BRT freighter and damage a 4600 BRT freighter from the back rows of the convoy. The first one was seen hit and heard sinking. The latter one was hit in the stern of the ship, but was not heard sinking. The ship was found dead in water later and was finished with a torpedo. The torpedo must have ignited the ship's fuel reserves, since the ship exploded very violently.

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/4121/sh3explosion.png (http://img716.imageshack.us/i/sh3explosion.png/)

Three G7e's and one G7a used during the attack. Three hits, one miss. Five torpedoes left internally and two externally. Now shadowing convoy and getting ready for a third attack.

Congratulations to U-103 on returning safely from airplane ridden waters and good luck to the boats operating in the Thames estuary. Condolences to the families of the crewmen of U-93.

Dietzmann

[Jimbuna]

Nice shot http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

[gazpode_l]

Following the death of my previous skipper, I have stared a new career with a NEW skipper! I am now playing as "RUDOLF HESSLER"

KPT HESSLER is in command of U-65, a IXB, based out of Lorient as part of the second flotilla.

In his shake-down cruise, he took u-65 out to the grid of AL33 and left lorient at 11pm, OKT 1, 1940.

He patrolled the grid succesfully, which turned out to be a very quiet grid indeed. Nothing found there so the command was given to head around to some of the AM grids.

Passing through the Irish sea and down the channel, he encountered a lone merchant in grid AM65.

Torpedoes were fired (no reports on how many) and a succesfull sinking was registered with a score of 1,873 tons, agains SS Royalite.

Later, according to his log, he encountered a medium cargo, this time in grid AM95, further to the south. HESSLER managed to sink a second vessel, this one registering in at 5083GRT.

u-65 returned to Lorient on OKT 11th, after ten days out to sea on his shake-down and managed to sink two vessels. He is off to a great start and apparently the BDU is pleased, but has commented about making sure reports are as detailed as possible!!

He has now been allocated His next grid, which will be the ever dangerous AM53!

Reports from the other kaluen's coming in thick & Fast - VONHARRIS registering another 25k of british shipping aboard u-103 and was recently seen back at lorient, whereas SNESTORM is currently at sea with U-39. No word on what they are upto at present, although we've now heard from U-552 who's been operating succesfully against a convoy!

[Kip336]

(Continuation of my earlier report)

U-336 has been shadowing the convoy at AL23, going ENE/6 knots.
We made several passes through the convoy at periscope debt, using the very bad weather (about 100m of visibility :D ) to our advantage.


0045 - Another pass through the convoy
Destroyer attacking! bearing 264!
I turn the periscope around to see a bow coming up in the fog. It's wide. Too wide for a DD. Wait, it has a deck house with 3 windows? A tanker?

She passes by behind us.

HMS Nelson

Created some distance, turned around and plotter her course. They're not aware of me yet.

01:46
Fired a 2 torp, 2 degree torpedo salvo at the Nelson..hope for the best.

01:46 (+26 seconds) Torpedo treffer! - Torpedo treffer!

01:49 Visual with the Nelly regained...she's dead in the water.

It takes her hours, slowly but surely her stern settles deeper and deeper into the water.

06:10. Nelly goes down.

-----
Returning to Lorient...We took some bad damage earlier, and only have 2 fish left.

08:13: Large allied, Convoy, AL23 heading east 5 knots. 50 ships, 10 escorts.



I'm happy taking just the Nelly ;)

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No9
A class mate showed up in Lorient Kaluen Hessler in U-65 doing his shakedown cruise and getting familiar with the IX type. U-552 is continuing her attack on the enemy convoy. No news on U-39 yet

20 March 1941
08:12 hours U-103 left Lorient for grid DG91 for a change.

23 March 1941
Grid CG21
17:01 hours Spotted Spanish large ocean liner bearing 185 doing some 16kts

2 April 1941
Grid DG99
00:21 hours Failed to intercept enemy convoy after Bdu message. Original distance was 212 kms but the bad weather did not allow speeds more than 13 kts on the surface. As a result the convoy passed the meeting point. We were able to pick it up as it was moving away. No point in hunting it. vonHarris radioed the convoys speed and course to BdU

11 April 1941
Grid DJ16
09:22 hours Empire type freighter sunk by 2 bow torpedoes.

13 April 1941
Grid CG95
02:38 hours Spanish large passenger/cargo spotted at bearing 331 doing 10kts.

Grid CG94
09:10 hours Kingfisher shot down. That slow flying aircraft was an easy target
10:14 hours Kingfisher turned away by AA fire
11:37 hours Attacked by a couple of Hurricane fighter bombers. They came out of the sun and caught us by surprise. U-103 crash dived but took hits by 20mm cannons and two direct bomb hit on the forward deck, The deck gun was turned into a metal muss. The LI informed vonHarris that it was not safe to dive to 100m so the dive was stopped at 35m. Strange noises were heard indicating that the pressure hull was badly damaged.

20:03 hours U-103 surfaced. The damages were estimated as heavy and the desicion was taken. Patrol aborted. Retern to Lorient

U-103 went close to the Spanish coast and returned safely to Lorient

17 April 1941
13:36 hours. Back to port
29 days at sea
1 ship sunk
6786 tons
1 aircraft shot down
No casualties , thank God for that
30% hull integrity
U-103 had a long time period of repairs ahead.

[Gerald]

Always good results,:DL but you made it,good!

[maxextz]

love reading the accounts here.


im back playing again after nearly a year off:o
i started a new campaign and im on my fifth patrol and getting used to the controls again.

the great thing about this game is the random encounters that are rarely repeated so your kept on your toes.

last night while being stalked by a cruiser in very bad weather i fired 3 torpedo's at a cargo and all three bounced off the sides so i aimed the last one for the stern and that did the trick it was a nice explosion very satisfying.:arrgh!:

[Fish In The Water]

im back playing again after nearly a year off:o

Welcome back! Glad to hear you're still enjoying the hunt! :yep:

[sublynx]

Leutnant. z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Freie Jagd Arctic ocean between Spitzbergen and Bäreninsel

15.5.1943, back at Bergen
Patrol results.
A large convoy from Murmansk to England attacked thrice in low visibility and rain. Five freighters, 23000 BRT presumed sunk. The sinking of four of those witnessed by hydrophone or periscope and one sinking confirmed by Kriegsmarine radio intelligence.

Observations.
1. The enemy was able to pinpoint our surface location during one our attacks in low visibility of 800 – 1000 meters from an approximate distance of 3000 meters and Metox didn’t give a radar warning. Metox was thoroughly checked and was found to be in perfect working condition. It is likely that the enemy is now using a location finding apparatus we don’t know the capabilities of, nor can we detect it. I recommend a procedure of submerging regularly in low visibility for constant hydrophone checks until the enemy’s capabilities are recognized and counteracted. Otherwise in low visibility there is a big risk of getting ambushed by the enemy.
2. FAT torpedoes seem to be working perfectly against convoys. During this and the last patrol we have used them in two attacks and have had two FAT torpedoes hitting their initial targets and two torpedoes missing their initial target and then hitting something else. No depth keeping or pistol problems noticed.
3. FuMo – 30 radar is almost useless. It revolves too slowly to be of any big difference in quickly locating targets and is too weak in picking targets. We would need a much faster and much more powerful device.
4. The Arctic sea area is not worth patrolling anymore. The sea traffic there is almost nonexistent right now. Didn’t see any airplanes either.
5. Bold decoys have worked perfectly again.

Boat.
The boat is in good condition. The second version of Bold is being fitted to the boat. Funker Adam Stwora was promoted to Stabsbootmann and chief engineer Lt.z.s. Arthur Stuhldreher given EK2 and an assignment to command a U-boat of himself.

On a good note we have had news of U-336 sinking a battleship. On a more worrying note U-103 reports heavy air activity, and there has been no news of U-39 for days.

[Missing Name]

I was patrolling south of Iceland. Saved, and came back.

Now I'm trying to find a save that isn't corrupted...

[BigK]

Patrol 21
U-123, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: April 25, 1941, 20:16
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid ET13 All quiet during our journey to the patrolgrid. We spotted 2 small convoys but both were ships from neutral countries only. A tempting sight, we kept our torpedoes inside however.

After lingering around our patrol area for a few days the officer on watchduty spotted a merchant. We plotted an intercept and went down to periscope depth. It was a fat one, aimed 4 torpedoes at her, 3 hit almost evenly spread out. She went down quickly.

4.5.41. 1523 Ceramic-type Ocean Liner, 14595 tons

Continued the patrol and spotted another lonely merchant. Went down with 2 torpodoes.

5.5.41. 0331 Tramp Steamer, 1964 tons

Spotted a small convoy and decided to hit what I can. Fired all my remaining torpedoes and sank the following. Some smaller merchants were left and 1 or 2 escorts but I managed to get away before they closed.

10.5.41. 0610 ASW Trawler, 1100 tons
0618 Medium Cargo, 4958 tons
0635 Large Merchant, 10417 tons
0701 Small Tanker, 2078 tons

I was out of torpedoes and decided to rendezvous with our supplyship in the South-Atlantic, the Python.

16.5.41. 0756 Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 6
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonnage: 35112 tons


Patrol 22
U-123, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: June 5, 1941, 07:47
From: Python

Left python and set a course north. After the unsuccesfull patrol of the West-African coast the decision was made to recon and if possible raid St. Helena.

The approach went smoothly, hydrophones picked up two patrolling craft but these were easily evaded by running silent. Once inside the harbor I fired all tubes and dived to 150m (only the innermost of St. Helena's harbor is shallow. The rest is 1000+ m. Perfect for an attack. Will advise BdU to inspect this harbor more often). Reloaded and fired at the remaining vessels. Results were not bad:

7.6.41. 1628 Grid FU 28 Ship sunk! Fiji class, 10725 tons
1631 Grid FU 28 Ship sunk! Southampton class, 10725 tons
1640 Grid FU 28 Ship sunk! ASW Trawler, 1100 tons
1645 Grid FU 28 Ship sunk! ASW Trawler, 1100 tons
1645 Grid FU 28 Ship sunk! Tramp Steamer, 1992 tons
1738 Grid FU 28 Ship sunk! Small Tanker, 2053 tons


Upon exiting the harbor I struck a mine and had heavy flooding. Integrity was not damaged much (obviously, look @ pic :) ) but we lost some key equipment. We went down like a brick from 20m to 243m before flooding was under control and we leveled out.

Will buy the repair crew an extra round for saving the boat and everyone on it.

Pic taken at deepest point :

http://i52.tinypic.com/2v0erzn.jpg

[Killroyxx]

@BigK

243 m is cutting it pretty close!:) Did you have to blow the ballast?

[BigK]

@BigK

243 m is cutting it pretty close!:) Did you have to blow the ballast?

Yes, both batteries were destroyed so I couldn't get up with engines alone. Was very, very relieved to see the depthmeter stop falling and start raising. :woot:

[Snestorm]

Departed Lorient 11.feb.41, for JA38.

26.feb.41 to 29.feb41
AJ38
On station.

7.mar.41 to 8.mar.41
BC43, BC27, BC24, BC25, BC22, AJ89, AJ97
Convoy battle. Convoy on course 041, making 7 knots.
6 approaches (3 of which failed).
3 ships sunk for 23.773 GRT.

One aircraft alarm in BF54.

Docked at Lorient on 25.mar.41, and awaited the damaged U103 until 17.apr.41.
Fine dining is in order this time out.

Congrats to U65 for her daring penetration of The Irish Sea.
U552 on her successes in spite of extremely difficult and dangerouse times, and conditions.
U336 on sinking HMS Nelson.

U39's history to date:
7 war patrols.
18 ships sunk for 97.431 GRT.

Note: Had a nice long and detailed report, which got lost by the server.
Thus the shortened version above.

[gazpode_l]

21/10/41 - 3am
Depart :Lorient, france
Orders: Patrol Grid ref: AM53

21/10-3:35am
O.O.W (officer of watch) reports sighting of VIIB class u-boat at long range. Unsure at present whether these are any of those who are known to us.

22/10 4:45am (BF21)
Radio message recieved: INTEL reports enemy task force in grid AM53! U-65's aprox position is 90km NW of longships light, UK in grid BF21 - unable to action message - O.O.W issues instructions to continue with current course/speed and to dive in two hours for hydro-check.

22/10 6:00am (AM97)
contact report recieved via map only - merchant some 25km to our NE. Spd x4 (ahead full) ordered and pursuit commenced.

22/10 7:15am (AM97)
Distant contact identified as fishing trawler! U-65 returns to set course.

22/10: 9:00am
WARSHIP SPOTTED! - Distant sighting confirmed to be "Motor torpedo boat" dive to P/D

Other comments; We hear both u-39 and our classmate in U-103 are safely moored in Lorient. However U-103 is badly damaged and hefty repairs are needed. U-552 continues to hunt convoy's and finally u-123 is aparently badly damaged after a harbour raid and is crawling for her life back to port - hope they make it. :-?

All on U-65 expresses thier thanks in being made welcome to the party, and the continued support shown from other Kaluens! :salute:

[Gerald]

Departed Lorient 11.feb.41, for JA38.

26.feb.41 to 29.feb41
AJ38
On station.

7.mar.41 to 8.mar.41
BC43, BC27, BC24, BC25, BC22, AJ89, AJ97
Convoy battle. Convoy on course 041, making 7 knots.
6 approaches (3 of which failed).
3 ships sunk for 23.773 GRT.

One aircraft alarm in BF54.

Docked at Lorient on 25.mar.41, and awaited the damaged U103 until 17.apr.41.
Fine dining is in order this time out.

Congrats to U65 for her daring penetration of The Irish Sea.
U552 on her successes in spite of extremely difficult and dangerouse times, and conditions.
U336 on sinking HMS Nelson.

U39's history to date:
7 war patrols.
18 ships sunk for 97.431 GRT.

Note: Had a nice long and detailed report, which got lost by the server.
Thus the shortened version above. Impressive, as usual!

[Snestorm]

Impressive, as usual!

Thank you, sir.

[Gerald]

Thank you, sir. You are always, welcome my friend!

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No10
FInally U-39 returned to Lorient. I was starting to worry that something bad had happened. U-552 has also retuned home safely. U-65 is out at her first war patrol. After a daring raid in the South Atlantic U-123 is in need of assistance

After the neccesary repairs were done U-103 was ready to set sail. Orders were to patrol grid DH26
23 June 1941
07:24 hours. U-103 left Lorient. Kaleun Snestorm was on the conning tower of U-39 and waved us goodbye. I think I heard him shouting "Sink them all"

27 June 1941
Grid CG27
03:55 hours Medium merchant 01 sunk by 28 105mm rounds. I can't stop the deck gun but it is very risky,

3 July 1941
Grid DH58
16:24 hours. While on the surface , we saw an American Great lakes freighter bearing 349 doing 9 kts at long range.

10 July 1941
Grid EK74
08:39 hours Heading south

11 July 1941
Grid ET16
07:18 hours. Hydrophone and visual contact with small convoy after BdU message. 4 merchants + 1 escort calm seas
07:20 hours 4 bow torpedoes fired : 2 at an ore carrier 2 at a large merchant
Dowm scope
07:24 hours 3 explosions heard Up scope : The ore carrier is on fire listing heavily but the large merchant seems un harmed.
08:57 hours Sinking noises. Up scope Nothing seen. Later the BdU informed us of the sinking of an enemy ore carrier

19 July 1941
Grid EJ39
08:07 hours Dead calm seas , reloading of external torpedeos 0m/s winds

10 August 1941
Grid BE17
08:20 hours Medium merchant 01 sighted. Dived for submerged torpedo attack
08:32 hours Ship sunk by 2 stern torpedoes

16:45 hours Tanker 16 spotted probably unarmed. Moving in for deck gun attack
16:51 hours Tanker was sunk by 34 105mm rounds

Grid BE39
23:38 hours Tramp steamer spotted. Dived for submerged torpedo attack
23:44 hours Ship sunk by 1 bow torpedo

13 August 1941
Grid BF17
20:33 hours Hydrophone contact with enemy convoy. Bad weather helped us to penetrate the destroyer screen and attack from within the convoy
21:18 hours Passenger/cargo sunk by 1 stern torpedo
21:20 hours Medium merchant 02 sunk by 2 bow torpedoes
21:21 hours PING ... PING .... some escort was looking for us and he was close. No visual contact with the escort.
21:23 hours Converted whale factory ship hit by 2 bow torpedoes
21:26 hours PING.... PING.... wasserbomben. U-103 was rocked heavily and took some damage but now we were used to such conditions
22:05 hours U-103 was at 125m running silent and away. Distant pinging and DCs exploding.

14 August 1941
Grid BF17
02:27 hours. Still submerged hydrophone picked up a merchant closing. Moved to PD.
03:32 hours Up scope no visual contact but clear sounds on the hydrophone
2 bow torpedoes fired
03:33 hours 2 explosions and a star shell seen
03:34 hours 2 bow tubes fired but either missed or were duds
03:45 hours visual contact medium merchant 06 dead in the water bearing 005 range 350m Tube 1 reloaded and fired. Ship sunk in a ball of fire.

16 August 1941
00:41 hours In heavy rain and darkness U-103 docked at Lorient
55 days at sea
8 ships sunk
44365 tons
No casualties
88% hull integrity

[Fish In The Water]

Now I'm trying to find a save that isn't corrupted...

Hope you find one...

A real shame this issue is so prevalent... :damn:

[sublynx]

Leutnant. z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol CG11

1.6.1943
1724 AN24 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 6 m/s. Leaving Bergen. The morale of the crewmen seems to be a bit shaky. Bad news from every front and now even in the U-boat front. Rumours say that tens of boats were lost last month. There are new boats and promising crews and commanders coming to replace them, like Hessler's U-65, but it doesn't look too good right now.

Thankfully U-39 has returned safely and U-103 wreaked havoc on a convoy and U-123 in a harbor raid. U-123 almost got destroyed by a mine, but they managed to repair the boat, and in a depth of 245 meters! Now those guys should send the steel workers who built that type IXB a bottle of champagne as a thank you for excellent work!

BdU’s new orders tell us that we should fight aircraft on the surface if we would lose a contact with a convoy by submerging, or if there is any doubt we can’t dive to 80 meters before the airplanes are on us. He promises four-barrelled Flak guns, homing torpedoes and a new type of radar are becoming available soon. But we don’t have any of these now and our patrolling grid and the route to it is covered by airplanes and destroyer's that will know where we are, before we have any idea of their presence.

3.6.1943
0913 AF78 clear, 15 – 16 km, 15 m/s. Two one-engined airplanes sighted coming straight at us, bearing 160, range 5 – 6 km. Shooting with all guns from long range. Crash dive and hard turn towards the enemy. At 0916 hours airplane engines heard clearly inside the boat, then two explosions. One farther away, one close enough to shake the boat. No damage, but we did have slight trouble getting the boat to respond to controls.
2225 AF78 cloudy, 8 – 9 km, 15 m/s. Two small freighters sighted. Course 70, speed 5 knots. Our radar worked so badly, that in the end the course was estimated by sighting bearings. Submerged in perfect position. Impact pistols used because of the rough seas. Depth 3 meters. A 2000 BRT steamer sunk by 2347 with a TIII G7e and a 2000 BRT freighter sunk by 2353 with a TIII G7e. 10 torpedoes left. We don't carry external torpedoes anymore, because BdU thinks the external carriages have leaked during depth charge explosions, causing uncontrollable flooding.

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7312/sh3a.png (http://img88.imageshack.us/i/sh3a.png/)

4.6.1943
0507 AF78 clear, 15 – 16 km, 7 m/s. Metox warning. Dived, nothing heard. Continuing towards our grid.

Dietzmann

[Gerald]

Good, :up:

[Snestorm]

20.maj.41
BF61
1825: Underway from Lorient, for FF58 (SE of Freetown).
Sunrise 0440. Sunset 1940. Calm & Clear.

23.maj.41
BF81 (N of Spain's NW corner).
1200: Save & Exit.
Cleared Biscay's shallows, and a reasonable distance farther, surfaced at Standard by night, and submerged at 2 knots by day.
With only 5 hours of darkness per night, the danger area was cleared in only 2 nights, after which speed was dropped to One Third Ahead (6 - 7 knots) both day and night.

No encounters to date.

[sublynx]

Good, :up:

Thanks Vendor, much appreciated :DL

[VONHARRIS]

20 August 1941
vonHarris was called to the flottila HQ. He was given command of the brand new U-505 IXC U boot. His IWO took over U-103 with a new crew since vonHarris requested the whole crew to be trnasfered to U-505
On his new Uboot vonHarris ordered the 3.7cm flak to be removed as it was useless. An Alberich sonar coating was installed to hide U-505 from the enemy's ASDIC

Patrol 11
15 September 1941
23;28 hours U-505 left Lorient for grid DT54

23 September 1941
Grid DH62
12:12 hours Coastal freighter seen
12:22 hours Ship sunk by 27 105mm rounds

28 September 1941
Grid DT54
00:42 hours Reached patrol grid

01 October 1941
Grid DT89
U-505 headed south for Kapverden and Freetown

05 October 1941
Grid ET28
16:59 hours Sound contact with enemy convoy while submerged
17:24 hours Enemy pinging but no attack. The coating might be working
17:27 hours 2 bow torpedo fired. More pinging. The escorts are closing in/
17:28 hours Explosion from torpedo heard. It must have hit something before its target. Black swan frigate sunk. DC attacks
18:05 hours Down at 127m running silent
18:49 hours Depth 160 m running silent. Escaped
22:00 hours. Surfaced , 0m/s winds, moving in external torpedoes

08 October 1941
Grid ET37
15:26 hours Moving in to intercept enemy convoy after BdU message
16:16 hours Sound contact made
17:24 hours 2 bow + 2 stern torpedoes fired
17:25 hours Large cargo hit twice medium merchant 06 hit twice
17:26 hours 1 bow torpedo fired
17:27 hours 1 bow torpedo fired on the large cargo
17:28 hours Large cargo hit for third time
18:08 hours Depth 73m running silent no pinging
18:20 hours Sinking sounds Medium merchant 06 sunk
21:40 hours Surfaced 7m/s winds no rain
22:11 hours Aircraft attacked spotted at medium range, Enganged with 20mm flak gun
22:14 hours Shot down PBY Catalina with RAF markings.

12 October 1941
Grid ET25
21:37 hours Lone destroyer spotted Dived at PD preparing a stern shot attack
21:46 hours 1 stern torpedo fired
21:48 hours A&B class destroyer sunk

14 October 1941
Grid ET29
01:37 hours Lone destroyer spotted Dived at PD preparing a stern shot attack
01:38 hours 2 stern shots fired
01:40 hours 1 explosion seen and a star shell was fired
01:44 hours L class AA destroyer sunk. vonHarris decided to leave the area for the safety of U-505

01 November 1941
Grid CG82
03:32 hours Medum merchant 02 spotted. Preparing for night surface attack
03:33 hours 2 bow torpedoes fired
03:35 hours 2 hits , ship is left DIW
03:37 hours 1 bow torpedo fired
03:38 hours Ship sunk.

02 November 1941
Grid DJ21
13;38 hours Aircraft spotted , crash dived

03 November 1941
Grid CG89
18:08 hours Moving to intercept convoy
18:33 hours Sound contact gained
19:40 hours 2 bow torpedoes fired
19:41 hours Turbine tanker hit twice 1 stern + 1 bow torpedoes fired
19:42 hours 1 bow torpedo fired Sinking sounds : Turbine tanker and medium merchant 02 sunk
22:29 hours Surfaced and spotted two ships falling back, No sign of the rest of the convoy
22:54 hours Start shelling medium merchant 06
22:57 hours Ship sunk by 28 105mm rounds
23:12 hours Start shellinr medium merchant 01
23:15 hours Ship sunk by 14 105mm rounds

04 November 1941
Grid CG82
16:37 hours Medium merchant 02 sunk by 3 bow torpedoes and 18 105mm rounds. Took a hit from a 3in shell. Major damages in the forward deck , gun crew killed. U-505 was unable to dive. This is the end of deck gun attacks,
17:00 hours Fought off PBY Catalina

07 November 1941
01:07 hours. U-505 returned to Lorient. No pennants this time as we had 3 deaths.
The Alberich sonar coating was helpful. It should be installed on all Ubooten if possible.
U-39 and U-552 are out there plunging torpedoes in enemy ships. No further news of U-65 yet
11 ships sunk
47626 tons
1 aircraft shot down
3 dead men

[Kermit the Frog]

6th June 1942. Sector CA28, 40km from New York.
I hunted down some juicy tankers, and one ceramic-type ocean liner. He just hit the bottom, when I saw a inbound convoy. Estimated course 295 deg. I see one leading escort, and two escorts on sides. After 10 min. I can recognize them. It's A&B DD as leader and old, ex American, four pipes DD's on sides. It's stupidity to attack a counvoy on this shallow waters. On the other hand... I never was too smart :88). The plan is simple: Two torpedos (just to be sure) to large tanker, one to modern tanker, and one to leading escort. Magnetic pistols set, depth also. Two TIII G7e, and two TII G7e torpedos ready to action. There's only lack of speed parameter in TDC. Because of big distance I can't estimate it precise enough. Once it's 8,5kt, and 9 kt other time. If I want to have torpedos hitting targets simultaneously I need to fire to large tanker first, then after ~one minute to modern tanker, and after another 1 min. 15' to leading escort. I don't have much time to enter speed parameter into TDC. 8,5 kt looks quite possible for me. Time to fire torpedo. First aiming point is last mast of large tanker. Shooting distance 4500m. FIRE TWO! FIRE THREE! Second aiming point is between last mast and funnel of Modern tanker, but I need to remember about corrections in distance, and wait some time to synchronize hits. NOW! FIRE FOUR! Last aiming point, first funnel of leading A&B destroyer. Same as previous: distance check, and wait to synchronize hits. Before shoot I double-check the speed... 8,5kt. SET! NOW! FIRE ONE! All eels are on the way. Now, run away from here. 200rpm both engines, turn 90 deg right, and prey. But we have no luck this time...
-Destroyer turning towards us!- Hydro says.
-Sh*t! Sh*t!! Sh*t!!! Sh*t!!!!!!!!
PING!......PING!......PING!.....PING!....PING!...P ING!..PING!.PING!PING!PING!PING!
A large torpedo detonation between pings couldn't drown this terrible sound. We're sitting duck. 13m to surface 10m to bottom. First DC series isn't very accurate, but after a while two DDs are pinging me, and the third vessel is listening by his hydrophone. If I want to survive this I have to reduce the number of persecutors. So... periscope up! It takes some time before the head of periscope touches the surface, but when it does... The only thing I see is water boiling around me. Boiling from hitting bullets! Periscope down! Immediately! But in a blink of an eye, before I lost a visual I saw old four pipe DD dead stop, listening us probably.
-Flank ahead! Hard starboard!- I turned my boat 30 deg right. Before turn end, I set stern torpedo: 0kts, straight run.
-FIRE!- I did this in last second because in next one some destroyer rammed us.
-Both periscopes destroyed! All antennas destroyed! All the bridge destroyed! Both flak guns destroyed! Board gun destroyed. Hydrophone, Radio, Sonar, Radar destroyed! Hull badly damaged! Hydro- and Radioman are dead!- Screams chef engineer. Just after he finished his monologue we've heard stern torpedo detonation.
-One less!- But our situation is helpless. I'm not dead yet, but now it's a matter of time. He will return.
-All leakages sealed!- Says CE
-Silence on deck!- I know, that I can hear a destroyer by my ears a couple seconds before he reaches me. -All stop!
Without my hydrophone, and periscope this single DD scares me to death.
PING...PING...PING...PING...PING...PING...PING...P ING...PING...PING...PING...PING...
All the time, without break, continuous terrifying sound.
PING...PING...PING...PING...PING...PING...PING...P ING...PING...PING...PING...PING...
I want to hide myself, lie on the floor, but there's nowhere to hide. Nobody breaths... Now when I'm blind and deaf my imagination sets me images of destroyer's bow cutting my command room. Images are so convenient, that I'm pretty sure that nothing can help us. I'm expecting a hit in a second... next second... next second... next second... next second... next second... next second...
Then I hear something else, something else except pings.
-DD's propellers larboard! Flank ahead, hard larboard!- Boat jumped submissively like a pike! -C'mon!!!!!!
Destroyer propeller is very loud now -Prepare for collision!- I shout, but... Destroyer passed, and instead of collision we hear DC explosion. ONE, TWO, THREE... Boat is shaking nervously after this third explosion, but holds still in one peace. No leakings! There is a hope for us. I look at the map of area. There it is. 20 km north of us, small bay... to wide and to narrow to let destroyer to continue its attacks. To small to use ASDIC... Perfect for us.
I spear You next 6 hours of real time evading destroyer and some vessel, while trying to reach our promised bay... Anyway, finally DD hit into a ground trying to ram us. We enter (Hewlett Bay I think) submerged, and wait there all the day under water. This is how I looked:

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/1766/sh3img86201121348906.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/835/sh3img86201121348906.jpg/)

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/4655/sh3img862011213340265.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/sh3img862011213340265.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

I order to surface few minutes past midnight. I was so happy so I could scream about it, but I couldn't because of destroyer not far from us. He stuck on ground, but his guns doesn't seem to be damaged. I don't see any other units nearby. I decide to escape the same way I came here. People aren't wiling to go down, but... They don't dare to disobey an order... Yet. We hit the ground couple times , but nothing serious happens. After a rest of the night, and all the next day spend on silence run, on periscope depth I was sure that we're safe, so an hour after sunset I order to surface the boat. Well... I order to surface remainings of u-boot. I spend the night circling around and recharging batteries. I have two torpedos left.

Should I finish a patrol and return base, or go back there and take my revenge...

What would be Your decision mates?

[Gerald]

Avoiding shallow water, is my hypothesis purely spontaneous, there are convoys of much safer water, remove the single ship in shallow water is okay, as long as you have an eye on the surroundings....and good luck, in your mission :up:

[Osmium Steele]

If the uzo still works, stationary targets are simple, and safe, to hit from max torpedo range at midnight. :arrgh!:

[Kermit the Frog]

UZO full operational :)

[VONHARRIS]

Kermit the frog

With that damage on your sub and without sonar and radio you are doomed. The only choice you have is go back avoiding any contact.

Good luck.

[sublynx]

What would be Your decision mates?

Well BdU might say: "Sink 'em all!", but I would call it a day. 'twas great reading this report, lots of nervecracking tension here. Congratulations on surviving :arrgh!:

[Osmium Steele]

Assigned to patrol just NW of San Juan Puerto Rico.

No joy in assigned oparea so... Hrm, can I raid San Juan? Let's find out.

Weather check: Heavy precip, visibility poor, 13m/s winds. Perfect! :oops:

Ok, so not so perfect, but you know what they say, "If you don't like the weather in (insert city here), stick around an hour, it'll change."

WRONG!! FIVE DAYS later and I'm sure I just saw Noah and his ark float by. Hurricane season, BAH! Sank the Somers class DD and trawler patrolling north of the harbor mouth to shake off the rust.

My chart notes the Mona Passage as a possible convoy route, so we head west of Puerto Rico and listen. Of course, the weather clears though the sea state remains very rough. Reduced a small merchant to flaming wreckage, but where's my convoy?

Sure enough, an unescorted two ship convoy, followed two days later by another. Followed four days later by an eight ship convoy with two escorts. Made three attack runs in just over a twenty-four hour period.

Totals: 11 ships sunk

2 warships
2 tankers
1 whaling factory ship
6 cargo (including 2 ore carriers)

Just over 64,000 tons of allied shipping.

Returning to Lorient with a single T-1 in tube #5.

I think I like the Mona Passage...

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No12
(time off in real life so more patrols can be done)
In Loreint , new batteries were installed in U-505 promising longer underwater ranges. Orders were to patrol Grid ES36

07 December 1941
01:56 hours. U-505 left Lorient under the cover of night to avoid aircraft attacks

20 December 1941
Grid EJ33
01:22 hours Moving in to intercept convoy
03:23 hours Sound contact established , calculations begun
03:55 hours Penetrated escort screen. 4 bow + 2stern torpedoes fired
03:56 hours Liberty cargo sunk by 2 bow torpedoes. Large cargo hit by 2 stern torpedoes
03:57 hours Turbine tanker sunk by 2 bow torpedoes
04:12 hours Depth 90m running silent no pinging
04:34 hours Depth 148 m running silent escaping
07:04 hours Surfaced , no rain , 1m/s winds , moving in external torpedoes

23 December 1941 (Kaleun's birthday , really)
Grid ET13
17:18 hours Moving to intercept convoy
19:52 hours Sound contact gained , convoy moving away , aborting approach

26 December 1941
Grid ES63
Reached patrol grid

28 December 1941
Grid ET42
00:10 hours Heading east for Freetown

29 December 1941
Grid ET52
02:40 hours Shells landed near U-505. Under attack by enemy destroyer. Minor damages , diving to PD
02:46 hours Somers class DD sunk by 2 stern torpedoes. Our first US ship
03:00 hours While submerged picked several merchant noises. Up scope US ships run at various speeds and various directions like crazy. Indetified as Turbine tanker , large merchant . ceramic type ocean liner , troop transport
03:57 hours 2 bow torpedoes fired
03:58 hours 2 bow torpedoes fired turbine tanker hit twice
04:02 hours 2 stern torpedoes fired large merchant hit twice. The ships kept moving unpredictable , Reloading tubes since depth was kept at PD speed steady at 2kts
04:06 hours 1 bow torpedo fired turbine tanker hit once more
04:56 hours 2 bow torpedoes fired
04:57 hours 1 bow torpedo fired
04:58 hours 1 bow torpedo fired. Internal torpedoes expended, down scope leaving the area
05:12 hours sinking noises large merchant sunk

2 external bow torpedoes remaining and carried in

09 January 1942
Grid CG54
10:24 hours merchant ship spotted dived for submerged torpedo attack
10:29 hours 1 bow torpedo fired
10:30 hours 1 bow torpedo fired , 2 explosions medium merchant 06 sunk

14 January 1942
03:30 hours U-505 docked in Lorient. No news of any sub yet.

39 days at sea
5 ships sunk
35735 tons
94% hull integrity
no casualties

[sublynx]

Leutnant. z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol CG11

4.6.1943 clear, 15 – 16 km, 7 m/s.
1105 AF77 Metox warning. Dived.
1410 AF77 Airplane sighted 332 relative bearing. Crash dived.
1713 AF77 Metox warning. Crash dived.
1812 AF77 Metox warning. Crash dived. Made a major course change as a precautionary measure.

5.6.1943 heavy rain, 800 – 900 meters, 15 m/s.
1105 AF77 Fumo-30 contact, 342 relative bearing, long range. Dived to periscope depth. Frachter, 34 RPM. Surfaced for making radar-based estimations. By 1120 a course of 30 - 40 degrees true and a speed of 9 knots estimated by keeping the ship out of visible range, at a constant relative bearing of 130 degrees and a range of 4000 meters.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3273/sh3fumo30.png (http://img19.imageshack.us/i/sh3fumo30.png/)

Two TIII G7e’s fired submerged at 1200 hours at an 8500 BRT freighter, impact pistol, depth 3, range 600 meters. One hit under the front mast and another just behind the bridge. A fire observed by periscope on the bow of the vessel. Then at 1213 hours first the sounds of the engine and the screws disappearing, then sounds of metal bending. Presumed sunk.

2243 AN11 Metox warning. Dived. Fast warship screws coming closer. Lost sounds by 2253.

6.6.1943 heavy rain, 800 – 900 meters, 15 m/s.
1200 AM34 BdU reports heavy traffic near Puerto Rico, New York and Freetown. Continuing towards our patrol grid. Eight torpedoes left.

Dietzmann

[gazpode_l]

NOTE TO USERS:-NB only had 2hrs to myself over last couple of days to play SH3, anticipate aprox 4-5hrs gameplay over next three days!!, so there might not be many reports from me until early next week when more free time will be availble to me! :damn:

Pat2,Rpt2, From R.Hessler U-65 (IXB)

22/10: 9:00am
WARSHIP SPOTTED! - Distant sighting confirmed to be "Motor torpedo boat" dive to P/D

22/10: 9:30am
Seems we have shrugged off the torpedo boats and that we can continue our progress north

22/10: 5pm
two more torpedo boats are spotted together with a pair of mystery mast-head lights in the long distance. they appear to be stationary!

22/10: 5:30pm
Dive again to avoid contact by torpedo vessels x2. Some two hours later they are still with us but at long range.

22/10: 7pm
A small motor vessel merchant is identified. Continued current course towards patrol grid.

23/10 3pm
We arrive at Am53 our patrol grid and setup a patrolling course

23/10 4pm
Radio report recieved: LG CONVOY, GRID AM53, SPD 7knts!!!

23/10 5pm
plotted intercept course and find we can easily get into position

23/10 7pm
first intial sighting of outer protection of convoy.

SAVE & EXIT @ 01:10hrs R/L Time


Other comments; Can't recall any word from U-123. U552 continues to do well against the enemy whereas U-103 now has a new commander and my friend from that vessel is now in U505. Hopefully they built her as well as they did some of the other boats.

[Snestorm]

Should I finish a patrol and return base, or go back there and take my revenge...

What would be Your decision mates?

Go home, Kermit!
Let's hope you make it.

Tommy is waiting his turn to play with you, when Sam is done.

Thanks for a great read, and good luck with the return voyage.

[Snestorm]

26.maj.41
CG45 (W of Spain)
1928: "Ship spotted! 339. Long range." Destroyer!
Turn nose on. Go to 15 meters for a quick listen.
1930: Periscope depth. Sound reports a convoy. Undected.
1954: Fire 2 (TII G7E). New depth 100 meters.
1956: Little Merchant sunk for 2.341 GRT.
Torpedo run 120 seconds. Convoy course 002, making 6 knots.
(All torpedoes set to 3 meters. Magnetic pistols removed.)

Gibralter - UK convoy. Course later corrected to 002. 6 knots stands good.

Our next attack was planned as a night surface.
We managed to penetrate the screen, but were forced to go to periscope depth because, we ended up at very short range, directly in front of the convoy. (Our broadside was overexposed).
2353: Fire 1, 2, 4 (TII G7E) at the only target visible in the periscope, with an 8 degree spread.
2354: Large Cargo sunk for 8.009 GRT.
Torpedo run was 40 seconds. Range 650 meters.

Next came our end run in preparation of a daylight submerged attack.
I wasted my only bow T1 G7A when a long range opertunity arose.
At 4.800 meters, I missed.
We turned immediatly after firing, and continued the end-around undetected.

27.maj.41
CG42 (Same convoy)
0600: Sunrise.
0649: Fire 1, 2, 4 (TII G7E), with 3 escorts close-by. New depth 102 meters.
0652: T2 Tanker sunk for 10.871 GRT. 2 degree spread.
Torpedo run time 3 minutes. Range 3.000 meters.

U39 remained undetected throughout all attacks, thus far.

1000: Surface to Medium Rain, Heavy Fog, 14 m/s wind.
Further persuit was abandoned.

CG45
2100: Save & Exit.

[Flaxpants]

Oct 26th, 1941

Currently sitting in the Western Mediterranean contemplating an attack on the port of Gibraltar....

Traveled from the Thalia in Cadiz and had a very 'exciting' trip through the straits avoiding depth charges and managing to sink a few merchants on the way. Am now letting the crew, and the sub recuperate, and am undecided about my next move. Its either a gung-ho attack on Gibraltar hoping for some juicy spoils or lurking around in the shipping lanes coming out of there.

Then home for Tea.

[VONHARRIS]

Good news came in: U-39 had attacked a convoy sinking some 19K tons and U-552 had also sunk 9K tons of shipping. U-65 was still in one piece in the dangerous waters of AM53.
In Lorient U-505 had her camouflage pattern changed.
This time the patrol grid was ED98 just north of the port of Spain in South America. Orders were NOT to engage any target until patrol area reached
13 February 1942
03:25 hours U-505 left Lorient

03 March 1942
Grid EE55
12:14 hours Aircraft spotted , crash dived

09 March 1942
Grid ED98
00:51 hours Patrol grid reached

13:42 hours A US fleet oiler spotted sailing unescorted. She was heavily armed so no deck gun attack. Dived to PD for torpedo attack
14:14 hours 2 bow torpedoes fired
14:15 hours Explosions , ship was left DIW , turning for stern shot
14:22 hours 1 stern shot
14:23 hours Explosion but ship still there
14:23 hours 1 stern torpedo fired
14:24 hours Hit , ship sunk after secondary explosions

19:37 hours Aircraft spotted
19:38 hours Crash dived , minor damages by machine gun fire 2 explosions heard

10 March 1942
Grid ED98
00:59 hours Moving to intercept small convoy
02:18 hours Visual contact , navigation lights on , neutral ships

12 March 1942
Grid ED98
00:42 hours Moving west to Curacao oil fields
03:50 hours A huge ship is spotted running fast dived to PD. Ship was indentified as the USS West Point a converted liner to troop ship
03:54 hours 3 bow torpedoes fired
03:56 hours All hit the target. She sunk in seconds, Only a few life rafts were seen

15 March 1942
Grid EC92
23;03 hours Airship of the US Navy spotted. Decided to engage this slow flying giant
23:10 hours 20mm rounds proved useless, Uboot damaged by cannon fire Crash dived to avoid more damages.

16 March 1942
Grid EC92
01:32 hours Still submerged a sound contact was established,
01:48 hours Ship was spotted and identified as turbine tanker , presumed unarmed
01:50 hours Surfaced and engaged with the deck gun from 2500m. 6 rounds fired
01:52 hours Return fire from the tanker, she was armed with a 4in stern gun and several small caliber weapons Damages and flooding Dived to PD
01:56 hours 2 bow torpedeos fired
01:57 hours 2 hits no visible damage to the tanker
01:58 hours 1 bow torpedo fired
01:59 hours 1 hit , ship was on fire slowing down , no smoke coming out from her funnel. Turning for stern shots
02:10 hours Coup de grace fired from stern tube
02:11 hours Ship hit and sunk

After surfacing the damages were estimated. The LI said that diving below 40m would be like signing our own death sentence. Time to go home

18 March 1942
Grid ED68
18:17 hours While on the surface , a ship was seen : turbine tanker unescorted. Dived to PD and waited as in her current course would pass some 500m from our stern,
18:38 hours 1 stern torpedo fired
18:39 hours She was hit and fire broke off on her stern.
18:40 hours 1 stern torpedo fire - hit after 40 seconds. At this range it was clearly seen that the ship was unarmed
18:43 hours Surfaced and opened fire from 500m range
18:45 hours She sunk after 16 105mm rounds

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/2738/patrol13.jpg


08 April 1942
07:03 hours U-505 returned to Lorient with out any further incidents
55 days at sea
4 ships sunk
67176 tons
44% hull integrity

1. Active sonar was installed
2. Bold decoys were intalled which can be very helpful as Kaleun Dietzmann
from U-552 has pointed out.

[Gerald]

A good job, where you were now, is always a bit tricky when the inlet is relatively narrow with some wicked DD guarding, :DL

[VONHARRIS]

A good job, where you were now, is always a bit tricky when the inlet is relatively narrow with some wicked DD guarding, :DL

Thank you , I survived this time

[Gerald]

You are a survivor man, :up:

[Kip336]

U-336, just south of Ireland.

Seems I've been making an error in my reports. It's not 1939. It's 1940. I was off by a year!!


January 30
---
0130: Departed from Lorient. Planning to go up north a little, then following the convoy routes breaking into the atlantic
1130: Single PT Boat sighted, unfortunaly, he saw me before I saw him. Crash dived. Minutes later hydrophone picks his friend up aswell.
1430: Surfaced.
1830: ASW Trawler sighted, he hasn't seen us yet with the sun behind us.
Set course towards him.
1833: ASW Trawler apparently saw us at 8800m. Maybe it's the diesel smoke plume, we're running at 18 knots towards him. He turns towards us and fires with the deck gun. We're running so fast, most his shells land behind us by 300-400m.
We greeted him with an 88mm shell, by pure luck, on his deck gun.
Continuing to shell him, he starts firing his machine guns at a range of 6000m, still missing by hundreds of meters. We shrug and continue shelling

4000m, his shots start to get closer. One manages to get about 50m away from the startboard side, we bring him the good news; 4 shots hit him.

2500m. A shell on the exhaust. He goes boom.

1840: ASW Trawler sunk, we continue our plotted course.

January 31, 1940
0848 2 Large convoys reported about
One west of us, going east at medium speed. "Large convoy"
One east of us, going west at medium speed. "Large convoy"
Some calculations show that the west one will reach us earlier, time to head towards him and wreak havoc. After that, will chase the east convoy

[Snestorm]

News from our Radioman:
U65 is giving farewell parties to convoys, before they enter english ports, in AM53.
U552 is dealing with overwhelming allied technoligical advances, and staff officers who fail to grasp the situation at sea.
U505 must be complimented on a very daring and impressive patrol to The Carribean Sea.
She even managed to sink one ship RIGHT outside of the USN's base at Port Of Spain.
Well done, Kaleun VONHARRIS! Glad you made it home in one piece.

U39's big news is that she just passed the 100.000 GRT mark.

6.jun.41
EK42
2317: "Ship spotted! 041. Long range"
There wasn't even time to ID him, beyond "merchant", as he was headed right for us.
Perfect situation for a stern attack BUT, U39 has external stern tubes, which can only be fired submerged, and are loaded with G7As, which are only to be fired at night!!!

Decided to gather what information I could, in a hurry, and dive for a submerged hydrophone shot. Bad idé! Course was estimated as 000, as opposed to the correct 348. Speed was estimated at 6 knots, as opposed to the correct 7 knots. The periscope showed nothing, as the night was overcast. Wind being 8 m/s ruled out use of the deck gun.

At 2345 tubes 2 & 4 were fired from 1.000 meters, with a 6 degree spread, and using the proper settings for course and speed. A 6 inch open mount was noted on the stern.
66 seconds later explosions were seen on both bow and stern of target.

U39 withdrew at Back Slow, keeping her nose pointed directly at the target, and remained undetected.

Target was followed until 2 hours before sunrise of next day. Target slowed to 5 knots, but showed no sign of sinking. There was no weather change, and 4 torpedoes were spent without return.

With all torpedoes spent, U39 was ordered to disregard the original objective, and return to base.

22.jun.41
BF61
0630: Docked at Lorient.

Patrol results:
12 of 12 torpedoes expended.
Crew & Hull Integrity 100%.
3 ships sunk for 21.221 GRT.

U39's history to date:
8 war patrols completed.
21 ships sunk for 118.652 GRT.

[sublynx]

Leutnant. z.s. Alfons Dietzmann
U-552, VIIC
11. Flotille, Bergen
Orders: Patrol CG11

Statusbericht

10.6.1943 AM51 clear, visibility 15 – 16 km, 6 m/s. Continuing towards our patrol grid. Seven torpedoes left. Progress has been slow, because the enemy's air patrols force us to dive very frequently.

Action report. On 9.6.1943, 1830 hours grid AM51 a ship was located by radio direction finding, at a distance of 36 kilometers, course 267, speed 7 knots. By 1932 hours identified as a 2000 BRT steamer. At 1957 hours one TIII G7e shot submerged from Rohr 5 from a range of 850 meters at an AOB of 90 degrees at impact time. In mirror clear waters a magnetic pistol was used, depth 5 meters. Hit the keel under the bridge. By 2007 hours the ship’s engines stopped, by 2017 ship observed sinking.

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/5917/sh3sink2.png (http://img192.imageshack.us/i/sh3sink2.png/)

Enemy sightings.
7.6.1943
0808 AM33 Metox warning. Dived.
1027 AM33 Metox warning. Dived.
1643 AM35 Metox warning. Dived.
8.6.1943
0354 AM26 Metox warning. Dived.
0651 AM26 Metox warning. Dived.
1159 AM28 Airplane sighted, range 5 – 8 kilometers, relative bearing 255. Crash dived. At 1201 hours the boat was at a depth of 70 – 80 meters, when three explosions were heard around the boat. Some plates and stuff were sweeped from the tables and shelves by the impact waves, but no internal or external damage has been found.
1528 AM28 Metox warning. Dived.
9.6.1943
0429 AM29 Metox warning. Dived.
1107 AM29 Metox warning. Dived.
1405 AM29 Metox warning. Dived.
1710 AM51 Metox warning. Dived.
10.06.1943
0112 AM51 Metox warning. Dived.

Congratulations to U-505's and U-39's commanders, who OKW news report mentioned for their successes during their long range patrols against the enemy.

Dietzmann