Tell us what you are upto in your current campaign [Archive] - Page 21

KingOfNothing22

10-01-15, 06:12 AM

04/05/1940
04:47 - Kiel Canal - Departed Kiel at 04:21 and beginning course through the Kiel Canal. Boat has been fitted with new AFA 27 MAK 800 batteries. Cruising at 7kn, weather is clear with a slight north-easterly breeze.

15:56 - Exiting canal. Orders are to proceed to AM29. Weather partially cloudy with light fog.

05/05/1940
07:37 - AN93 - Received new orders to proceed to AF81 to assist in Norwegian campaign. Heading 303°, speed 7kn. Weather currently clear with light fog, moderate northerly breeze, sea 2.

06/05/1940
15:25 - AN34 - No incidents to report. Heading 321°, speed 8kn. Heavy rain and fog, poor visibility. strong north-easterly breeze. Sea 4.

18:27 - AN34 - Experiencing significant engine problems, unable to achieve more than 8kn. Unable to repair at sea - permission granted to return to Kiel for repairs.

07/05/1940
01:44 - AN34 - New orders received to put into Stavanger for repairs.

20:46 - Docked at Stavanger.

08/05/1940
05:51 - Left Stavanger at 05:48 with engine repairs completed. Proceeding to AF81 as previously ordered. Weather is clear with a light northerly breeze. Sea 2.

08/05/1940
10:26 - AF8787 - No incidents to report. Course 332°, 7 knots. Weather partially cloudy with strong gales. Sea 7.

21:57 - AF8449 - Sighted 3 enemy destroyers off port bow travelling SSW. Diving to evade, plan to surface at 00:00 if they pass without incident.

10/05/1940
01:08 - AF84 - Surfaced at 01:05 after destroyers turned about and passed travelling in the opposite direction. Forced to alter course to 004°.

04:58 - AF8178 - Arrived in patrol area, starting search pattern. Course 026°, speed 8kn. Weather unchanged.

11/05/1940
10:03 - AF8133 - No incidents to report. Course 319°, speed 8kn. No change in weather, sea remains 7.

12/05/1940
10:14 - AF8126 - No incidents. Course 346°, speed 9kn. Weather is partially cloudy, strong southerly breeze. Sea 5.

13/05/1940
14:44 - AF8119 - Received new orders to proceed to AF77. Course 251°, speed 9kn. Weather clear. strong breeze, direction SSE. Sea 4.

14/05/1940
10:34 - AF7615 - No incidents to report. Course 251°, speed 7kn. Light breeze, north-easterly. Sea 4.

15/05/1940
12:53 - AF7736 - Arrived in patrol area. Commencing search pattern.

16/05/1940
13:08 - AF7784 - Nothing to report. Course 331°, speed 7kn. Strong gusts, direction WNW. Light fog. Sea 4.

17/05/1940
02:47 - AF7772 - New orders to proceed to AM36. Course 213°, speed 7kn. Weather unchanged.

18/05/1940
13:22 - AM3624 - Patrolling assigned grid. Heading 265°, speed 6kn. Weather partially cloudy, light fog. Strong west-north-westerly gales. Sea 5.

19/05/1940
07:15 - AM3655 - Reported enemy convoy travelling WSW between Scotland and the Hebrides. Due to proximity to land and shallow waters, have taken the decision to attempt to intercept it by moving west around the Hebrides. Expecting to find it in AM53 in around 22-24 hours. Course 295°, speed 14kn. No change in weather. Sea 6.

20/05/1940
07:27 - AM5327 - Sighted lone destroyer travelling SSE.

07:48 - Destroyer turned towards us. Dived to periscope depth and identified it as a Tribal class. Fired two T2 torpedoes from 2,500m scoring one hit believed to be on bow. Sank within minutes for 1,850GRT. Continuing E to search for the convoy.

12:31 - Have entered AM61. No sign of convoy so far, believe it to be heading SSE between Ireland and Britain. Weather is now extremely poor - heavy rain and fog. Strong northerly gales. Sea 6.

13:22 - Sighted large merchant travelling ESE at close range. Dived to periscope depth and attacked with five T1 torpedoes within 500-700m, scoring four hits. Sunk for 8,631GRT. Abandoning hunt for convoy due to weather and suspected course. Course 285°, speed 8kn. Seven torpedoes remaining - 4 fore torpedoes, 3 aft.

21:39 - Dived for the night to save fuel. Detecting multiple sound contacts but weather is too poor to attempt attacks. Course 286°. Heading towards AM52, planning to surface at 06:00.

UKönig

10-05-15, 02:49 PM

The story begins with our intrepid underwater heroes in probably the most dire of all states as they've ever been in.

Our 14th patrol had been cut short for reasons of severe battle damage...

A faulty repair on the port-side rudder had caused some steering problems, making the helmsmen work harder to stay on course.

As a result of that, we stumbled across a moderately guarded small convoy. Two corvettes and two Hunt I destroyers, with 1 Clemson class destroyer on sweep patrol (must have been the training fleet!). Also, a few of the cargo ships were sailing in differing directions, and kept falling out of line.
Puzzled, I had my radio officer check into the surface frequency. His english language skills are above average, and through him we were able to learn that the Clemson's Asdic was not working. Plus one for me, I thought. Also that some of the ships had suffered damage on the trip over in a bad NA storm, and that was why they kept steering in funny directions, it wasn't intentional.
Another plus one for me.
The first shot hit a corvette coming up the port flank. Had to wait for the calm to return before turning my attention to the convoy. Two shots on a troop ship, 1 on a small merchant and one on a tanker. All hits, although there was some time passed between the sinking of the small merch and the sinking of the tanker. I got to play with the escorts in the meantime, but their general inexperience and faulty equipment kept us from serious harm. Through our radio officer, we learned the name of our feared underwater weapon. They called it "the hedgehog" I thought "porcupine", either way...
We sank the second corvette with our tube 6 loaded seeker, as he was making an attack run on our bold canister, it ran up and blew the rudder and props off, causing it to slowly but deliberately tilt downwards....
The shame of the attack was the Clemson (which also took a torpedo from us) managed to score several close calls. Not enough to bust the pressure hull, but enough to destroy our port rudder and jam our diveplanes. Not too serious yet, as long as we don't need to change depth.
One of the two remaining Hunt destroyers came up to assist, further seeding the area with charges. A lucky hit near to the forward end damaged the outer bow caps on all four tubes, the worst was that the shockwave blew all four inner doors off the tubes, thus letting in a steady flow of water...
Damage control parties getting to work trying to repair 4 bow tubes as water gushes in, it's almost impossible, but somehow they work. U-802 has now more ballast forward of the control room, with water, men and tools, but this kind of damage must be repaired... I check the manometer, depth now 90m and still descending. All ahead slow, in fact, forget that order, all ahead 1 knot. Bad situation captain. Another depth charge near to the boat causing a severe pitching. The battery bilge is open for damage control in a previous attack. I had the forward bulkhead between the crew/torpedo section closed to contain the flooding, but the water is starting to advance anyway.
Then another explosion causes the lights to flicker and the boat to pitch hard to the right. I look through the control room hatch (still open) into the officer's section, in time to see my framed photograph of me with the Admiral, at my Knight's cross award ceremony, fall off the hook and hit the floor, where the glass shatters, spilling my photo out, and down into the battery bilge, where the escaped acids from some of the damaged cells quickly go to work, destroying a fond memory.
"There, you see! This is why I can't have nice things!" I blurt out to the surprise of the control room crew.
"Sir?" "New depth 120m". Still at one knot, crew working forward have repaired the battery and power is flowing better now, but the crew hatch is still sealed and we (presume) that they are still working on fixing the inner tube hatches. The downward tilt is about 35 degrees and we are now at 150m and still descending. Soon, the creaking in the beams, sort of like satan's fingernails down a blackboard...sets all our teeth on edge...
Blow ballast!, get us back up. The hydroplanes are out of action, too much water and other ballast forward, one knot and getting deeper, the emergency lights click on after a few minutes of darkness...water, running, dripping, splishing, splashing... we are so screwed.
Blow ballast!!
"I am blowing sir, look!" The compressed air gauge is running down at a frightening rate and it doesn't seem to be having the smallest effect...
"Both engines full speed, reverse" I order the engineer, in what I hoped was a calm sounding voice.
"Both engines full speed, reverse" He quickly, too quickly, repeats.
"Continue blowing ballast but watch our depth, we are only going to get one shot at this".
Very soon the bow compartment is clear, the crew has managed to restore all four inner caps and the water is being drained into the bilge for pumping out. Now that the are not needed forward, I order excess crew around to redistribute the balance.
To calm myself, I close my eyes and try to picture what it looks like outside the boat. Put myself in tune with the machine and the water to feel if my tactic is having any effect. No doubt the crew probably thought I was panicking, but whatever, I could sense it! We are rising! I open my eyes and see the depth guage now says "80m" "75"..."70"..."65"...
Whoa, better slow down, I don't want to breach the surface ass first!
We managed to get away from the convoy, with hardly any escorts left, the two Hunt destroyers had more important work than killing a U boat. They could hear the underwater calamity and probably assumed it was the pressure, crushing our hull.
Unfortunately, with our damaged hydroplanes we could not get above 89 meters. I had slowed our ascent, but we sank back down into the deeps again before I could level off. We managed to do so about 80-odd meters, but without functioning dive planes, and about as much compressed air as to blow out a candle, we were stuck. Then came our second stroke of brilliance. I had all the crew pile into the aft sections to over come our trim through sheer manpower alone. Gradually, by 1 meter per minute, we managed to ever slowly inch our way back to the surface, and to fresh air.
U-802 made it back to the world above, but our patrol was over. With no dive planes and a left rudder destroyed, our boat was helpless. We could only make left hand turns by differential thrust. By underpowering the port engine and over powering the the starboard one, along with the remaining rudder hard over, was the way we turned back to base. Stuck on the surface.
Lucky was the U-802 when it showed up in Lorient about 8 days later, along the way having shot down no less than 18 short sunderlands.
Put yourself in that situation, no diving, can barely turn, AA ammo running low, airplanes all over...
Somehow, through it all, the pressure hull maintained integrity, it was our exterior surfaces that took the kicking.
Patrol 15 begins in Feb. of 1944...

Andrakis

10-08-15, 11:13 AM

U-45 is now U-101, as the Kriegsmarine decided the Kaleun was deserving of a new boat. We now sail in an IX(B), one of Germany's newer wondrous submarine technologies. The Kaleun requested the enlarged conning tower to hold two flak guns. Not realizing it at the time, this was quite a prescient choice.
The new boat was ready in late October, 1941.

U-101 was commanded to sail to a region a few zones West of the straight of Gibraltar. She sailed there without incident, aside from a few Spanish ships traversing the area. When the patrol zone was reached, the navigation pattern was drawn up and U-101 set to it, intermittently diving for hydrophone listens for long distance contacts. Nothing. Drills commenced to alleviate boredom and confirm the seaworthiness of the U-101. Diving felt a bit slower, but the additional 6 torpedoes in the external bays are sure to come in handy.

The Kaleun radioed HQ in a request to find more favorable waters. HQ confirmed and directed U-101 closer to the strait. We set patrols in the deeper waters that fed into the Strait, taking care to stay away from the dangerous bottleneck that the actual Strait is. We have seen a lot of traffic feeding into the strait in prior months and hoped it would be the same. There would be plenty.

Initial contacts were a few unescorted merchants, plodding along with seemingly little regard for submarines. The first, an MX10b(?), went to the bottom quickly and without struggle. The second, a medium merchant, also ate its fish without an argument. However, the crew was able to send a distress call and the first of many run ins with the RAF occurred within 20 minutes of sinking. Fortunately, the RAF encounter was a pair of Hurricanes who only strafed the tower with their machine guns on their initial pass. Before they could turn and reorient themselves, the crash dive had taken U-101 deep enough to avoid reproach. Bombs were heard on the surface, too far to make a difference. Perhaps the pilots were rookies, or perhaps they had hoped to deal with any flak gunners in their initial pass, but the decision to hold their bombs saved the U-101 a great deal of trouble. :doh:

The hurricanes would prove to be only the first of a number of sorties during the next few days. The boat performed admirably, with crash dives taking the boat out of danger each time. Kingfishers, hurricanes, catalinas - all were seen during the patrol, and fortunately, avoided.

A few days later, a contact report flagged an enemy convoy coming out of the straight with an easy intercept to boot! U-101 was moved into position at periscope depth and waited. *Warship, bearing 87! Closing!" was the report from the man on the hydrophone. Then, other reports, at least 20 merchants. The Kaleun waited a bit longer, then extended the periscope to take a look in the wee morning hours. A large convoy was poised to trail in front of her forward tubes, with the destroyer escort zigzagging along in front.

The boat was silent except for sounds of the ocean around us and the statistics being communicated to the weapons officer. Two salvos were prepped, one for an ore carrier, and one for a far off empire freighter. When they were plotted, both salves were fired with minimal spreads. Once the fish had swum, the U-101 promptly turned 180 degrees to fire her rear tubes and then make her escape. The initial salvos now struck home, causing the convoy to begin its haphazard zigzagging. Two electric eels in the rear were fitted with magnetic contacts, shallow drag, and sent on a course towards to nearest merchant (MX10?) as it turned to face towards the U-101. My hope was that the proximity detonation caused by the magnetic pistons would be useful in near misses that ran along the hull of a boat. Once those eels had left, we crash dove to 180m and began our slow, silent exit. Another explosion sounded, followed by secondary explosions. Then the pings started. U-101 jockeyed with two destroyers for the following hour, with hard 90 degree turns when the boats passed overhead, then returning to slow moving and gentle turns. A few charges were enough to shake the ship, but no external damage was done and eventually we slipped away.

Following these successes (and few torpedoes), the U-101 decided to return home. We made for the Spanish coast and then sailed back to Lorient, hoping that the RAF patrols would lack areas to launch from in the neutral country. Our maneuver at least showed a correlation between these things, as the air attacks dropped off significantly and a safe voyage brought us home.

*One of the magnetic torpedoes had managed a hit on what appeared to be a munitions carrier, as the merchant broke apart quickly and violently. The ore carrier had eaten two eels and began to sink. The salvo intended for the empire freighter had been cut off by a smaller boat in an earlier convoy line! One of these torpedos went off, the other was unaccounted for (dud/miss?) *

UKönig

10-08-15, 01:19 PM

I am going to keep this short, this time, except to say that Patrols 15 and 16 were both duds.

The term "Auf Knieschreiben und brustwarzen zurück kriechen" is becoming all to familiar.

We suspect that the diesels were not properly repaired when we were drydocked in Lorient. The boys and I are suspecting French sabotage.

In any case, we have requested and been approved for transfer to the 11th flotilla out of Bergen, Norway, where patrol #17 begins. U-802 is becoming the bad luck boat. No more crew being killed, not since patrol 3 or 4, just, an inability to reach the operational area before serious battle damage (often scored through a lucky hit), has forced us back to base for repairs.

Maybe the change of scenery will do us good...

Aktungbby

10-08-15, 02:21 PM

FEB/40: Barking the Outer Hebrides en route to Wilhelmshaven via N. ZEE. BdU advised heavy enemy traffic in Channel so opt for safe route home; Air-cover is moderate; bagged last freighter out of Liverpool 6000 tons; Total: 7 sunk/ 46,000 tons-all at night- 3-surface 4-submerged. Problems with duds- three eels left 2 eto/1 ato. Used deck gun on second sinking after rear tube eel was dud-70 rounds expended. No repairs or damage.:Kaleun_Binocular:

KingOfNothing22

10-09-15, 11:43 AM

21/05/1940
10:14 - AM52 - No improvement in conditions. Course 284°, speed 8kn.

22/05/1940
10:03 - AM52 - No incidents to report. Weather overcast with fog. Minor improvement in visibility. Severe north-westerly gales. Sea 7. Course 158°, speed 7kn.

11:53 - AM52 - Alarm and deep-dive test. Reactions were satisfactory, boat submerged in 32 seconds. Boat held together at 180m.

23/05/1940
10:22 - AM52 - Received orders to AM43. Also received information that the use of magnetic pistols is to be suspended indefinitely. Will only use impact pistols from here-on-in. Course 275°, speed 8kn. Weather has worsened - heavy rain and fog, south-easterly gales.

24/05/1940
09:32 - AM43 - Arrived in patrol area. No improvement in weather. Course 305°, speed 7kn.

25/05/1940
11:02 - AM43 - No incidents to report. No improvement in weather. Course 339°, speed 8kn.

26/05/1940
10:35 - AM43 - Nothing to report. Winds have eased. Sea 5. Course 144°, speed 9kn.

27/05/1940
11:17 - AM43 - No incidents. No change in weather. Course 321°, speed 7kn.

15:24 - Bad weather has passed. Clear skies, very light fog. Still. Sea 2. Course 209°, speed 8kn.

28/05/1940
AM4351 - Received new orders to return to AM34. Course 048°, speed 8kn. No change in weather.

29/05/1940
06:55 - AM2676 - Received report of convoy in AM02. Predict it to be travelling through AM53. Moving to intercept. Course 142°, speed 17kn. No change in weather.

15:16 - AM0263 - Sighted enemy vessel at around 14:50. Identified it as a Flower class corvette. Dived to avoid, passed without incident. Continuing to AM53.

19:24 - AM5327 - Arrived in area of suspected convoy route. Loitering on the surface for signs of activity. Also have reports of a task force heading into the area.

30/05/1940
04:40 - AM39 - Convoy has slipped through the net. Task forces are known to use the area between Scotland and the Hebrides. Have decided to wait in deep waters in this area to see if it passes through. Course 079°, speed 10kn. No change in weather conditions.

10:12 - AM39 - Conducted hydrophone check - still no sign of the task force.

15:23 - AM39 - Forced to dive after being spotted by an enemy corvette. Attempted to fire a single T1 torpedo as it was moving head on, failed to hit. Task force passed by as corvette and other escorts carried out depth charge attacks around us, though none were close. Surfaced 30 minutes after contacts broke off and headed NE. Submerged for a total of 3.5 hours. Returning on course to AM34. Course 243°, speed 8kn. No change in weather.

31/05/1940
10:58 - AM34 - Arrived in assigned grid. Weather is poor - heavy rain. Moderate northerly winds, sea 5. Course 019°, speed 8kn.

01/06/1940
11:14 - AM34 - No incidents. Weather has deteriorated - strong north-westerly gales, sea 6. Course 175°, speed 8kn.

02/06/1940
06:56 - AM34 - New orders - patrol area is now extended north to include AM32. Course 307°, speed 8kn. No change in weather.

15:36 - AM32 - Fuel down to below 50%. Course 037°, speed 8kn. No change in weather.

22:01 - AM32 - Storm has passed. Weather is clear with moderate south-westerly winds, sea 4. Course 042°, speed 9kn.

03/06/1940
10:30 - AM3263 - Nothing to report. No change in weather. Course 011°, speed 9kn.

04/06/1940
03:05 - AM3431 - Received report of a task force in AM64. Estimated destinations to be either Loch Ewe or Scapa Flow. Attempting to intercept in AM36. Course 128°, speed 8kn.

05/06/1940
11:28 - AM36 - No sign of task force as of yet. Continuing search. Course 092°, speed 8kn. Weather is clear with strong north-westerly gusts. Sea 6.

06/06/1940
03:29 - AM36 - Assuming the task force has docked at Loch Ewe. Abandoning search.

07/06/1940
11:36 - AM3251 - No incidents. Weather clear with a light north-north-westerly breeze, sea 3.

08/06/1940
10:52 - AM34 - Nothing to report. Weather is cloudy with southerly gusts, sea 5. Course 011°, speed 8kn.

09/06/1940
11:15 - AM32 - No incidents. Heavy rain and southerly gusts. Sea remains 5. Course 116°, speed 8kn.

10/06/1940
19:23 - AM3443 - Received report of task force in AM38 moving NE. Moving to AM36 to attempt to intercept. Course 137°, speed 11kn.

11/06/1940
05:17 - AM36 - Aircraft alarm. Dived to evade.

08:33 - AM36 - Spotted and attacked a large cargo vessel. Conducted a submerged attack firing three TI torpedoes using impact pistols from 1,200m. One torpedo failed after around 300m, two hit. Sunk after 20 minutes for 6,555GRT. No fore torpedoes remaining, commencing home passage.

12/06/1940
20:16 - AF77 - Nothing to report. Heavy rain with easterly gales, sea 7. Course 060°, speed 8kn.

13/06/1940
18:50 - AF76 - No incidents. Course 090°, speed 9kn. Weather has improved - clear skies with a light southerly breeze.

14/06/1940
18:38 - AN23 - No incidents. No change in weather. Course 158°, speed 8kn.

15/06/1940
11:52 - AN34 - Diesel reserves down to below 25%. Sea 3. Course 140°, speed 10kn.

16/06/1940
20:48 - AN96 - Back in German waters. Entering Kiel Canal around midnight.

17/06/1940
09:33 - Arrived in Kiel. Patrol officially ended.

Patrol results:

Total ships sunk: 3
Total tonnage: 17,036
Total aircraft shot down: 0
Days at sea: 45

Karl-Heinz

10-09-15, 07:32 PM

Really enjoying the game. Had a couple of crew either offed by partisans or arrested for drunkenness. Just an incredibly immersive game. I still haven't gone to manual torpedo calculations, but fun just the same. Currently sniping a large convoy in a IXB.

KingOfNothing22

10-13-15, 06:15 AM

It's a long one!

30/09/1940
07:00 - AN96 - Departed Kiel at 22:41 and have just navigated Kiel Canal. Proceeding to the North Sea. Weather is partially cloudy with a slight north-easterly breeze. Heading 265°, speed 10kn.

31/07/1940
10:00 - AN91 - Entering the North Sea, no incidents as of yet. Orders are to proceed to AM19. Strong westerly gales, sea 6. Course 319°, speed 7kn.

01/08/1940
07:00 - AN3453 - No incidents to report. No changes in weather. Course 317°, speed 7kn.

14:10 - AN31 - Conducted alarm drill and deep-dive test. Boat was submerged in under 30 seconds and held out at 180m. Weather unchanged, course and speed remain unchanged.

02/08/1940
11:00 - AN2353 - Strong southerly gales. Sea 7. Heading 330°, speed 7kn.

03/08/1940
07:10 - AF7688 - No incidents. Weather partially cloudy with moderate north-westerly winds. Sea 6. Course 287°, speed 8kn.

04/08/1940
07:00 - AF7573 - Weather is clear with strong south-westerly gales, sea 7. Course 247°, speed 8kn.

05/08/1940
09:00 - AN11 - Weather is poor. Heavy rain, strong west-north-westerly gusts, sea 7. Visibility is nil. Heading and speed unchanged.

06/08/1940
07:30 - AM34 - No change in weather. No change in heading and speed.

07/08/1940
05:24 - AM26 - Spotted a large trawler. Unable to attack due to weather conditions. Visibility is down to 1km. Continuing to patrol area. Course 249°, speed 6kn.

08/08/1940
09:35 - AM18 - No changes in weather. Heading 250°, speed 9kn.

09/08/1940
18:20 - AM19 - Patrol area reached, adopting a ladder search pattern. Weather is still atrocious. Course 270°, speed 8kn.

10/08/1940
07:00 - AM19 - Continuing patrol in assigned area, no change in weather. Course 091°, speed 6kn.

11/08/1940
07:05 - AM19 - No incidents. Rain has stopped, west-north-westerly gales. Sea 7. Course 271°, speed 7kn.

12/08/1940
07:00 - AM19 - Cloudy, moderate southerly winds. Sea 5. Course 270°, speed 9kn.

13:25 - Received report of convoy in AL36 travelling north-east at 10kn. Moving to intercept - heading 012°, speed 16kn. No change in weather.

13/08/1940
05:46 - AM13 - Should be within range of the convoy, no visual or sound contacts as of yet. Course 298°, speed 12kn. Weather unchanged.

06:52 - Weather has improved. Partially cloudy, light north-north-westerly breeze. Sea 3. Course unchanged, speed 7kn.

14/08/1940
08:40 - AM1353 - No success in finding convoy, no further reports received. Abandoning hunt. Orders to proceed to AM17. Heading 211°, speed 7kn. Weather clear and still. Sea 2.

15/08/1940
07:05 - AM1775 - Reached new patrol area. No incidents. Partially cloudy, light north-easterly breeze. Sea 4. Course 029°, speed 7kn.

16/08/1940
04:02 - AM1756 - New orders from BdU to proceed to grid AM51. Weather clear and still, sea 2. Course 117°, speed 8kn.

23:55 - AM43 - Sighted ship, identified it as a neutral hospital ship travelling west. Continuing on course to AM51.

17/08/1940
03:45 - AM4326 - Spotted and attacked a large merchant. Conducted a submerged attack firing two T1 torpedoes with magnetic pistols from 1,100m. One hit, one miss - fired a third T1 from 950m also using magnetic pistol. Hit causing it to sink for 8,379GRT. Lifeboats observed. Continuing to AM51.

08:13 - Arrived in AM5111. No change in weather. Course 124°, speed 7kn. 11 torpedoes remaining.

18/08/1940
06:47 - AM5197 - Picked up a radio signal 25km away from our current position. Moving to intercept. Course 134°, speed 14kn.

07:59 - AM54 - Sighted vessel, identified it as a cargo/passenger type. Approached at full speed before slowing to engage with deck gun. Sank for 2,234GRT. Lifeboats observed drifting east.

19/08/1940
07:00 - AM5115 - Weather clear, light westerly breeze. Sea 2. Course 061°, speed 7kn.

23:56 - Picked up another radio signal around 100km south-east of us, believed to be travelling east-north-east. Moving to attempt to intercept.

20/08/1940
06:09 - AM52 - Spotted 2 vessels whilst intercepting the radio signal. Intended target was cargo/passenger type travelling east-north-east. Second was a coastal freighter travelling west. Attacked the first with deck gun. After several hits below the waterline, turned to attack the second also with the deck gun. The second sank quickly for 1,869GRT. Turned back to the first which was now stationary but not sinking. Dived and fired one aft T1 torpedo from 500m causing it to sink for 2,226GRT. No lifeboats from either boat. Returning to AM51.

21/08/1940
06:50 - AM5154 - Report of convoy in grid AM0213 travelling south-east at 8kn. Moving to intercept, expect contact in around 10 hours. Course 080°, speed 17kn.

10:17 - AM5139 - Spotted lone ship off starboard beam. Initially planned on letting it pass in favour of continuing towards the convoy but it was moving towards us - decision taken to move in and attack with deck gun. Due to convoy speed and distance intercepting should still be possible.

10:48 - Identified vessel as tramp steamer. Sunk for 2,109GRT. Continuing on intercept course, heading 076°, 17kn.

14:50 - Spotted escort ship. Diving to periscope depth to observe and carry out hydrophone check.

19:39 - Slipped into convoy at silent speed at around 18:10. Torpedoed and sank two medium tankers for 8,888GRT each, both hit with two T1 torpedoes. Attempted a fifth shot on a large merchant but torpedo failed to explode, possibly due to ship zig-zagging. Forced to dive deeper as escorts closed in, took minor damage to forward deck from a depth charge. Turned about during one attack which appeared to throw off the escorts as all further attacks occurred well aft of us. Escorts turned away at around 19:00 at speed. Surfaced at 19:35, carrying out deck repairs and reloading torpedoes. 3 fore torpedoes left, will shadow the convoy and attempt a night attack.

22/08/1940
00:54 - AM53 - Deflected off course by a destroyer. Currently unable to locate convoy.

05:14 - Sighted convoy. Moving in to attack.

08:14 - Sighted by escorts while moving into position. Fired a salvo of three fore torpedoes into the convoy. No hits, convoy has dispersed. Depth charged for two hours, no damage taken. One aft torpedo remaining. Informed BdU of intentions to return to Kiel.

10:13 - Message from BdU - "Return to Kiel denied. Proceed to BF54 and await further orders." - Heading 275°, speed 7kn. Weather clear with light fog. Light north-easterly breeze. Sea 3.

23/08/1940
17:01 - AM5457 - No incidents. No change in weather. Course 249°, 7kn.

24/08/1940
09:22 - AM4994 - Course 195°, speed 7kn. Diesel fuel reserves down to below 50%.

25/08/1940
07:30 - AM7687 - Sea 6. Course 170°, speed 5kn.

19:01 - AM7988 - Sighted Granville type freighter. Fired aft torpedo from 460m at shallow depth then surfaced and finished with deck gun for 4,754GRT. Continuing on course, sea now 4.

26/08/1940
08:12 - BE3656 - Weather partially cloudy. Light southerly breeze. Sea 4. Heading 171°, speed 7kn. BdU order us to continue to BF54 despite having no torpedoes.

27/08/1940
07:40 - BF1795 - Heading 110°, 7kn.

28/08/1940
07:18 - BF43 - Weather overcast, sea 5. Course 110°, speed 6kn.

09:49 - New orders to proceed to BF64, further orders will be given on arrival.

29/08/1940
07:53 - BF54 - Course 097°, 6kn.

30/08/1940
08:15 - BF64 - Reached assigned grid. Awaiting further orders. Heading 022°, 6kn.

31/08/1940
08:00 - BF64 - No new orders received. Sent another request to put in to a port. Course 270°, speed 6kn.

01/09/1940
00:39 - BF64 - Received orders to put into St. Nazaire and informed this is now our home base. Heading 067°, speed 12kn.

07:15 - Docked at St. Nazaire. Patrol ended.

Patrol results:

Total ships sunk: 8
Total tonnage: 39,346
Total aircraft shot down: 0
Days at sea: 35

Promoted to Oberleutnant zur See
Awarded Iron Cross Second Class, U-Boat Badge and U-Boat Front Clasp

KingOfNothing22

10-15-15, 11:17 AM

Short and sweet...

09/09/1940
17:17 - BF65 - Escorts have just turned away 18km from St. Nazaire, departed at 16:08. Weather is overcast with a light northerly breeze, sea 3. Our orders are to make our way to BF15. BdU are advising we zig-zag out due to enemy submarine and air activity in the area. Mean course 245°, speed 7kn.

10/09/1940
13:00 - BF64 - Still zig-zagging. Mean course unchanged, 7kn.

11/09/1940
00:15 - BF58 - Have changed course to 287°. Weather partially cloudy with strong westerly winds, sea 5. Speed 6kn.

12/09/1940
14:02 - BF46/BF43 - Sea now 6. 264°, 7kn.

13/09/1940
15:00 - BF1769 - Weather is clear, sea 6, north-north-westerly gales. Heading 024°, 6kn.

18:59 - BF1817 - Report of convoy in BF16 travelling west, speed 8kn. Moving to attempt to intercept - course 049°, 10kn.

14/09/1940
03:56 - BF15 - Spotted convoy at around 01:45. Dived and moved into position. Known to have two other boats - U-64 and U-104 - in contact with same convoy. Observed flashes on the horizon at around 02:10. U-104 had been caught on the surface and was being engaged by escorts, lost contact with them. U-64 forced to turn away by other escorts who were now astern of the convoy. Took advantage of this and moved inside the convoy. Fired all 5 of our torpedoes in quick succession - 2 each fired at ore carriers and aft torpedo fired at a medium cargo. All but 1 fore torpedo hit their targets. First ore carrier was damaged, second listed to 45° and then sunk for 8,817GRT, medium cargo sank almost immediately for 5,382GRT. Managed to sneak out astern of the convoy while escorts attempted to locate us to no avail. Torpedoes have been reloaded, surfaced and now shadowing convoy. Have broken off contact from U-64.

17:02 - BF17 - Made second attack on convoy. Fired at two more ore carriers - the first was undamaged after torpedoes exploded prematurely. Second was hit by both torpedoes and sank for 8,819GRT. Escorts attempted to depth charge us, managed to escape unharmed. Fore tubes reloaded with 2 remaining, plus one fore and aft external reserves. Will attempt to reload these when well away from the convoy. Attempting to leapfrog convoy and make one more night attack. Course 180°, 9kn. Weather clear, north-north-westerly gales, sea 6.

15/09/1940
02:15 - BF41 - Loaded external reserves. Overtook convoy and then attacked a large merchant with remaining fore torpedoes. Two hits, sunk for 8,588GRT. Headed east to avoid escorts and managed to locate a straggler. Identified as a tramp steamer, sunk with aft torpedo for 1,958GRT. Staying down at 30m, planning to surface at dawn. Course 047°, 2kn.

16/09/1940
09:00 - BF15 - Back in patrol area. No change in weather. 027°, 7kn.

12:44 - Have decided to return to St. Nazaire having used all but one torpedo. Course 160°, speed 6kn.

17/09/1940
17:50 - BF54 - 112°, 10kn. Weather is clear, light north-westerly breeze, sea 3.

18/09/1940
BF6455 - 087°, speed 10kn.

19:42 - Arrived in St. Nazaire. End of patrol.

Patrol results:

Total ships sunk: 5
Total tonnage: 33,564
Total aircraft shot down: 0
Days at sea: 10

Awarded Iron Cross First Class
Transferred to U-221

Hambone307

10-16-15, 01:14 AM

June 5, 1942

Two days into the first partrol of U-465.

We set sail from Norway on the 4th, orders to patrol the Iceland-England gap. Shortly after arriving in our AO, we got a report of a large convoy heading south towards Scapa Flow. We changed course to intercept; Estimated intercept is 15:45 Hrs.

Approximately 3000m off the predicted course, we went to periscope depth and waited. After waiting about an hour, our sonarman notified us of approaching sound contacts. He identified multiple merchants and a few escorts at which point I directed our weapons officer to raise attack scope. I scanned the horizon and saw approximately 20 plumes of smoke from the merchants, the nearest of which appeared to be aflame. I saw the lead escort, a V&W class on a course of about 180 that would take it past us at an estimated 6000m. Once the lead escort passed, I chose my targets and set up for an attack. The first target was to be a large merchant, calculated to be at a range of 4500m on a course of 170. Due to moderate seas, we set depth of our two loaded Type 1s to 4m, pistols set for impact. Tube doors were opened and two torps were let loose set for minimum spread.

The second target was identified as a medium merchant. We set one TIII for impact detonation at a depth of 4m and let it loose.

The third target was a second V&W class at approximately 2500m tracking 185. Our last bow tube containing a TIII was set for magnetic detonation, depth 3m and let loose; timed so it should detonate at the same time as the first two torps.

All torpedoes were running hot, straight, and normal according to our sonarman and stopwatches were set as we set course to 270, depth 40m so we could withdraw to shadow the convoy and reload bow tubes.

After five minutes, the boat fell completely silent. The only noise coming from the heavy breathing of the crew in anticipation of the telltale *thud* from the torpedoes detonating. Time slowed down as we hit the eight minute mark. My weapons officer leaned over to me and said "they should have hit by now". I told him to wait and that our watches could be off. After ten minutes, we still heard nothing. At that point, our sonarman called me back to his station. "Sir, screws increasing in speed, I think they saw the torpedos." I cursed under my breath and told him to monitor the escorts.

After fifteen minutes we heard the telltale thud of the torpedos detonating. But it didn't sound like it should have. There was no secondary explosions, nor screeching of metal. Our torpedos completely missed and the thud we heard was them detonating after running out of fuel. Everyone looked at one another, some of them cursing the torpedoes, others questioning if they did anything wrong while setting up the torpedos for attack. Before we could start assessing what went wrong, we heard the telltale *ping* of the escort's sonar. I ordered our depth 90m and hoped that the escorts would not find us.

After 5 agonizing minutes, we heard one of the escorts hit home. We were being pinged and our sonarman told us that he was approaching fast. We changed course to 300 in hopes that, if he was setting up for a run, he would miss. We heard the escort go right over us and heard the *plop* of charges being dropped. "hold fast men!" I said, "These will be close!" And boy, were they close. The first charge detonated off our port side, rocking the boat violently. Valves burst open from the pressure and the lights flickered. The second charge burst off of our starboard side, shattering lights and throwing everyone off of their feet. We heard the third charge bounce off of the top of our boat and roll down the side. "My god this is it" my helmsman muttered. The third charge never went off and we breathed a sigh of relief.

While the escort was setting up for another run, I called for a damage report, and change of course to 195, hoping to keep us in the escorts baffles. The damage report came back and was better than I expected. We had minor damage to the fore batteries; leaking water was shorting out one of the banks, and my electricians were fast at work to fix it. The Bow torpedo tube seals were leaking as well and were being worked on. My sonarman quietly called out "two more escorts closing fast!" "Hold on boys, this is going to be a rough ride" I said to my crew. The two escorts crossed over us and dropped their charges.

These had to be experienced crews, because those two runs almost did us in. My navigator was thrown up against a bulkhead, knocking him out cold, several other crew members were also severely injured. Damage reports came in from all over our boat. Port electric engine was out of action, our diesels were knocked off of their mounts, port and starboard driveshaft seals were leaking badly, aft battery bank was knocked out and was leaking acid, aft dive planes were jammed, flooding reported in bow torpedo room and crew quarters, aft battery room and engine room. Two of our torpedos were knocked loose from their storage and crushed the legs of one of my torpedo men. We started to lose depth control and began to sink.

As my crew worked feverishly to control the flooding and regain depth control, I watched the depth gauge plummet. 100m, 125m, 180m, 200m; It seemed as if this would be the end. Creaking and groaning of steel began to fill the air as we hit 230m. I ordered to blow ballast. Our boat kept sinking. "Blow ballast!" I shouted again. We kept filling the tanks with air until the pressure gauge was in the red. After what seemed like an eternity, we started to rise after hitting 300m. I told our sonarman to find those escorts. Amazingly, our hydrophone was still working and he reported that the escorts were moving away, back towards the convoy! We managed to slow our ascent and leveled off at 50m, waiting for the convoy to move out of range, hoping that all three escorts went with them.

I ordered periscope depth, and we hobbled our way there only to find that both attack and observations scopes were flooded. I took the gamble and ordered to surface. The horizon was clear and we began to assess the external damage. Our boat looked like a VW in a hailstorm with all of the crumpled metal. Our deck gun was hanging off of it's mount and our AA gun was gone. We managed to get the batteries working enough for some slow maneuvering and signaled an SOS. After 20 hours of working to restore what systems remained to operational status, we were met by U-451 and were towed back to home waters.

Upon arrival at base, the dock crews stared in awe of the damage we sustained and were seen muttering among themselves and pointing. Our boat was scrapped and I was summoned to the admirals quarters for the whipping of a lifetime.

*Moral of the story, this game can really be cruel for a new crew and always leaves me coming back for more! Nothing is better than a game that provides great suspense and the ability for the player to use his/her imagination!

Aktungbby

10-16-15, 08:23 AM

Encounter'd six vessel convoy/w 3 escorts-all destroyers. Sank four incl one tanker. Two dud eels. Just off continental shelf of NW Ireland. Heavy Sunderland air-cover and destroyer escorts are alert. Shifting to S. of Ireland through Irish Sea West of Isle of Man for reported convoy traffic. Six eels left. No damage.

KingOfNothing22

10-18-15, 09:02 AM

Happy times indeed! Our first patrol in a new VIIC.

18/10/1940
13:34 - BF65 - Departed St. Nazaire at 12:15. Escort ship has just turned about. Boat has been loaded with 14 T1 torpedoes, 220 88mm shells for our deck gun and 1,000 20mm rounds for our single flak gun. The boat has also been fitted with MAK 800 batteries and a KDB hydrophone. I suppose we'll see if the stories of its extreme vulnerability are true. Course 245° travelling at cruising speed. Weather is good - partially cloudy with light fog. Gentle north-easterly breeze, sea 3.

19/10/1940
09:00 - BF5579 - 280°.

12:35 - BF5498 - Conducted an alarm drill and deep-dive test. Crew performed well but boat took just over 30 seconds to get under. Then took her down to just below 180m without incident, all valves and seals held.

14:15 - BF5486 - Carried out a second alarm drill. This time the crew reacted much quicker and the boat was down in 27 seconds.

20/10/1940
01:40 - BF4529 - 280°.

23:28 - BF41 - Radioman picked up a radio signal in BE69, moving in to intercept.

21/10/1940
04:54 - BF4443 - Located vessel and identified it as a British cargo/passenger steamer. Attacked it with our deck gun, sinking her for 2,399GRT. Spotted a lifeboat in the water. 190 88mm shells remaining. Returned on course to BE61, 292°.

11:47 - Radioman has detected another radio signal, this time in BE68. Making our way to investigate.

19:25 - BE6678 - Spotted two ships - a large merchant and coastal freighter. Submerged and attacked from 1,500m firing 4 fore torpedoes. Aimed 3 at the large merchant and the 4th at the coastal freighter. All but one found their target. The large merchant began sinking quickly for 11,865GRT and the coastal freighter soon followed for 1,869GRT. Numerous lifeboats and survivors in the water. Surfaced and continued heading to patrol area. 314°.

22/10/1940
09:20 - BE6219 - 313°.

12:26 - BE6135 - Arrived in patrol area, 270°.

23/10/1940
09:00 - BE6173 - West-south-westerly gales, sea 6. 180°.

24/10/1940
09:04 - BE6155 - 270°.

15:50 - BE6118 - Spotted a cargo/passenger type travelling alone. Submerged and got into position, fired one aft torpedo hitting the bow. Shadowed her for an hour before firing a second which failed to detonate. Surprisingly, and to our frustration, the ship has not slowed despite the damage taken. Not wanting to risk wasting more torpedoes and not being able to use our deck gun due to weather conditions we've been forced to let her go.

25/10/1940
10:00 - BE6152 - 090°.

26/10/1940
08:56 - BE6176 - 269°. Sea is 7.

16:10 - BE61 - Report of a convoy in BE62 travelling north. Joining in the hunt despite poor sea conditions. Travelling 029° at HF.

27/10/1940
00:31 - BE38 - Sighted convoy off our starboard beam. Moving into attack under the cover of darkness.

02:12 - Successfully attacked convoy! Picked out two large cargo vessels as our targets. Fired a salvo of 2 at each from 5,000m, 0.5° spread. The first was not hit after both torpedoes failed. The second was hit by both torpedoes taking massive damage to her port quarter and beam. Dived and continued closing in while reloading last 2 remaining fore torpedoes. Fired them at the other large cargo from 1,700m this time both hitting her port beam. Sunk respectively for 8,254GRT and 8,253GRT. Dived to 50m aware of escorts searching frantically for us. Waited while travelling at KF. No attacks made on us, possibly due to rough weather making it more difficult to locate us. Slipped out to the east and waited for contacts to fade. Surfaced at 02:10. Have decided to commence return passage having only 2 aft torpedoes left. Travelling 117° at LF.

10:16 - BE38 - Report of another large convoy in BE63 travelling west-south-west at 8kn. Decided to attempt to locate it in spite of weather and only having limited aft torpedoes.

28/10/1940
10:53 - BE65 - No contact with convoy. Doubling back for around 75km before continuing on return passage.

15:20 - BE65 - Detected single freighter while carrying out a hydrophone check. Intercepted and successfully attacked. Granville-type freighter, sunk with 1 torpedo for 4,708GRT. Commencing return passage.

29/10/1940
11:08 - BF44 - 094°. Sea still 7.

30/10/1940
08:55 - BF46 - 094°. Overcast with east-south-easterly winds. Sea 6.

31/10/1940
09:25 - BF55 - 097°.

01/11/1940
07:17 - BF65 - 20km off St. Nazaire. Awaiting arrival of escort ship before heading into port.

09:48 - Put in to port. End of patrol.

Patrol results:

Total ships sunk: 6
Total tonnage: 37,348
Total aircraft shot down: 0
Days at sea: 15

Awarded German Cross.

UKönig

10-18-15, 02:57 PM

U 802 encountered an American task force consisting of 1 'casablanca' escort carrier and 4 'buckley' destroyer escorts, just south of Iceland.

Two DE broke off from the carrier to intercept U 802 and with 2 lucky shots, we sunk both.

Broke the surface to take up pursuit, and one of the remaining DE picked us up on radar and turned back to engage. Quickly dove to PD again and fired a shot from tube 3, which missed. But the escort made a fatal mistake as he was passing on our port side which put him directly in line with our only seeking torpedo. 3 escorts down. Tubes being frantically reloaded. Surfaced again to take up pursuit. The 4th and final DE turned to engage. Dove to PD for the 3rd time in 15 minutes (starting to feel like a dolphin here), and when the moment was right, let him have it. No escorts remain.

Surfaced again to deal with the carrier. Torpedo loaders out on deck trying to get our fish from the external lockers. Hanging back a bit from the carrier, working out what his next move will be. Got into range and managed to score a hit, but only on the portside prop. As soon as we hit him, he cranked up the speed to about 14 knots on the remaining shaft. Played porpoise with the carrier for a few minutes. He scored a few hits on our boat with his aft mounted cannon which discouraged us from surface pursuit. But when he turned into the wind and launched his fighters, we decided at that point to abandon the chase as it had become far too dangerous. In the end, we (wisely, bitterly) let him go.

U 802 now has some serious leaks owing to damage of the pressure hull. Deep diving is out of the question, and our further combat worthiness is in some doubt. We are currently approaching the convoy lanes off of Newfoundland, but with battle damage and few torpedoes, the decision to return to base is looking more attractive by the hour.

The hunt continues (but not for long, methinks)...

Aktungbby

10-18-15, 03:22 PM

South East of Greenland. Beaconing convoy to alert 'rake" of U-boots further east to close in. Large Halifax convoy with at least six escorts incl two destroyers appear very alert. The Need to communicate position not helping my 'Itchy neck sydrome'! Convoy commander must be new or inept; several merchantmen and tankers are straggling, failing to keep formation and are easy targets. Seas are heavy; I will have to approach submerged to avoid eels broaching and steady the cross hairs, I am at port rear of convoy on base of course 80. New VIIC handling well: minor engine repair.:salute: Visibility is low under 4,000 meters. Rake is slim following previous wolfpack operations; only 3 boots on station; one is reportedly Kretschmer; so hope for success-I can 'play up' under the master's eye perhaps; When cleared by BdU of beacon-duty, will try to head the convoy an commence eel launchs. Those two destroyers are worrisome.

KingOfNothing22

10-19-15, 08:45 AM

A close call...

20/11/1940
02:10 - Departed from St. Nazaire on our 5th patrol. Travelling 245° at cruising speed. Standard loadout - 14 T1 torpedoes, 220 88mm shells and 1,000 20mm rounds. Our mission orders are to proceed to AM34, just north of the Scottish coast. Expecting plenty of aircraft and warships rather than convoys, we will see in time. Weather is clear with a slight north-easterly breeze, sea 2.

21/11/1940
09:18 - BF4633 - 277°. Sea 3.

22/11/1940
06:11 - BF1769 - Detected a radio signal 24km away. Moving to intercept.

07:13 - Sighted vessel. Got in close at periscope depth to attack only to ascertain it is a neutral vessel. Calling off our attack, much to the disappointment of the crew. Returning on course but staying down for the time being as to not give away our presence. 304°.

23/11/1940
00:52 - BF1148 - Radioman has detected another signal this time in BF17, believed to be heading NNW. Doubling back to intercept.

10:48 - Made contact with two vessels in BF14 - a coastal freighter followed by a medium cargo. Attacked simultaneously from around 1,000m. Fired one at the freighter and two at the medium cargo all set for magnetic pistols. All hit exploding under the keel of each ship as intended but the desired effect of breaking their backs was not achieved. Freighter still sank quickly for 1,870GRT. The medium cargo took almost an hour longer to sink after we also engaged with the deck gun. Sank for 3,861GRT. Lifeboats observed amongst surface debris. Returning to course, 340°.

24/11/1940
00:27 - AM8775 - Attacked a tramp steamer with our deck gun and sunk for 1,957GRT. 170 shells remaining. Heading 000°.

04:59 - AM9743 - Attacked coastal freighter with deck gun and sunk for 1,871GRT. 355°.

25/11/1940
13:57 - AM5133 - 030°

26/11/1940
09:01 - AM3571 - 053°

13:49 - AM3522 - Detected a signal 60km west of us. Moving to intercept, 245°.

18:17 - AM2666 - Located a pelagic trawler and attacked with deck gun. Sunk for 888GRT. Continuing to AM34 - 055°.

27/11/1940
09:10 - AM3335 - Heavy rain and heavy fog. ESE winds, sea 4. Visibility is extremely poor. 057°.

28/11/1940
12:06 - AM3445 - Been in patrol area for around 24 hours. No change in weather. 090°.

29/11/1940
11:43 - AM3473 - 090°.

16:42 - AM3488 - Task force in AM38 travelling ENE. Will move in to intercept.

23:32 - AM36 - Unable to locate task force, returning to AM34. Conditions still poor.

30/11/1940
21:25 - AM34 - Report of convoy leaving Scapa Flow and moving west. Moving to intercept. 139° at HF.

01/12/1940
05:11 - AN1541 - Located convoy and launched attack at around 03:20. Attacked 5 ships all at close range, sinking 4 - 2 Granville type freighters for 4,707/4,708GRT, 1 small freighter for 2,255GRT and 1 medium cargo for 4,801GRT. Small freighter spotted us and opened fire with small arms, took minor damage. Dived as destroyer was closing. Depth charged taking serious damage. Forward batteries completely destroyed with severe forward deck damage. We were already close to the bottom (a mere 89m down) when flooding caused us to fall to the bottom. No crew injuries. Able to carry out sufficient repairs and get us off the seabed by blowing the ballast. Continued at limited speed while destroyer continued attempting attacks, eventually losing it. Surfaced as soon as possible and now heading back to St. Nazaire.

02/12/1940
09:48 - AM2492 - 266°.

03/12/1940
09:08 - AM2784 - 232°.

04/12/1940
09:53 - AM4927 - 188°.

05/12/1940
09:00 - AM7951 - 180°.

06/12/1940
12:15 - BE6353 - 120°.

07/12/1940
09:47 - BF4552 - 098°. Overcast, sea 5.

08/12/1940
09:37 - BF5489 - 098°, sea 6.

09/12/1940
09:24 - BF6461 - 072°.

13:04 - Docked at St. Nazaire, end of patrol.

Patrol results:

Total ships sunk: 9
Total tonnage: 26,918
Total aircraft shot down: 0
Days at sea: 20

Awarded the Knight's Cross

KingOfNothing22

10-22-15, 07:06 AM

5th March, 1941 - 21:03 - BF 6462
My first command and wartime patrol. U-221, a new Type VIIC boat. Thankfully my crew is made up of mostly experienced men, some of whom have several patrols under their belts. We left St. Nazaire at 18:30. Ideal as it means we have the cover of darkness to help us get out. We're zigzagging all the same - there's been a lot of Tommy submarine activity lately, especially up near Lorient. We're going at full speed while we clear the shallow waters and after that we'll cruise at around 10 knots. Our mean course is 235°. Our orders are to go to AL95 - apparently it's an area where several merchant and convoy routes either merge or cross paths, so we should get plenty of traffic. Weather is clear, visibility is good. Winds 2 NE, sea 1.

8th March, 1941 - 18:30 - BE 6372
We've just received word of a convoy in BE 39, about 130km away from us, heading ENE at 7 knots. Mettin, our navigator, has plotted an intercept course that should get us in range in around 10 hours. If all goes well we'll arrive just ahead of them with them off our port side. Now heading 052° at G.F.

9th March, 1941 - 02:38 - BF 1747
The closer we get to our intercept point the worse the weather seems to become. Winds 5-6 W, sea 6, very heavy swell. Our speed is reduced and our visibility is somewhat reduced by the spray. Attacking is going to be a lot harder if we find them, especially with torpedoes apparently running deep as it is.

07:09 - BF 1479
We did it, we sank our first ship! A large tanker for a juicy 13,752GRT. We were lucky and managed to intercept the convoy right where we wanted while it was still dark, allowing us to slip the front and starboard escorts with relative ease. We dived and managed to work our way into the middle of the convoy. After sighting the tanker we picked it as our target and moved into an attack position. All four bow tubes flooded and ready, though I only planned on firing two at her. We fired our first two from 950m, bow angle of 090°. Perfect positioning, in theory. Both of them appeared to hit but we couldn't observe any damage to her. I took the decision to fire our remaining two, the angle 100° or so. They both hit her too. The third hit exploded under her keel, breaking her back and splitting her in half - what a sight! We then turned our attention to potential targets aft of us. Our initial target was going to be a nice, fat ore carrier but the convoy had started to zigzag and we calculated her range to be 2,220m. Not a chance. I had to settle for a small merchant instead. Fired our stern torpedo from 700m, bow angle 080°. We waited well over a minute... Nothing. "Time's up. Did it miss?! Surely not at this range!" quipped my 2 WO. Torpedo failure perhaps? The calculations should have been right. Maybe it failed to explode, or it ran too deep as so many have been reported to do. "Nothing we can do now." I said, before ordering we dive to 40m and turn to 270°. The escorts had finally woken up and were beginning to hunt for us. Not fully awake, it would seem, as after an hour of them circling we heard them turn away and move back towards the convoy. We're currently reloading our torpedoes but as the convoy is in shallower waters and zigzagging I've decided not to press any further attack. Surfacing in around an hour if there are no further incidents.

We were able to get a photo through the periscope of our unsuspecting victim while moving into position.
http://i.imgur.com/iRb8qSs.png

K-61

10-22-15, 11:18 AM

I think we have some budding authors here, judging by the highly entertaining patrol reports I read here. :salute:

UKönig

10-22-15, 01:56 PM

KingOfNothing22

10-22-15, 02:30 PM

UKönig

10-22-15, 02:47 PM

KingOfNothing22

10-22-15, 04:52 PM

11th March, 1941 - 20:07 - AL 9597
Arrived in our assigned grid. No activity as of yet and no change in the weather.

16th March, 1941 - 11:37 - AL 9582
Fifth day in our patrol area. No contacts. Nothing. Winds 6 E, sea 7.

18th March, 1941 - 08:01 - AL 9581
Finally received new orders - head NW to AK51. Weather is partially cloudy, excellent visibility, winds 5 N, sea 2.

20th March, 1941 - 05:06 - AL 7133
Sunk our second ship! This time it was a coastal freighter for 1,869GRT. We thought it odd to find such a small vessel this far out. Unescorted, too. Straggler from a convoy? Maybe. We approached her at full speed on the surface before slowing to engage her with the deck gun. We scored 8 hits above and below the waterline. I ordered a temporary ceasefire to allow them time to evacuate the ship before continuing to fire. After another 10 rounds there were several massive explosions wiping out the bridge and most of the upper deck. She sank within minutes after. We saw a single lifeboat drifting in the water but despite my ability to speak English, we did not engage with them. Continuing to our new patrol area.

22nd March, 1941 - 21:26 - AK 5199
Arrived in new patrol grid. Heavy rain, visibility is poor. Wind 2 ENE, sea 3.

23rd March, 1941 - 00:08 - AK 5168
Received two reports of convoys - on in AK 01 heading ENE and the other in AK 29 heading WSW. As the second convoy is closer and heading in our direction I have decided to attempt to intercept it in spite of bad weather.

03:26 - AK5132
Improvement in the weather. Visibility is now up to around 7km.

08:40 - AK 5135
Attacked the enemy convoy at around 04:30. We began by sneaking into the centre columns and firing at a ceramic-type liner, followed immediately by another large tanker. Our luck was in, all four torpedoes found their mark. Both began to sink quickly. Shortly after we attacked an ore carrier with our stern torpedo, again scoring a hit. Aware that one hit on such a vessel was not enough I ordered our remaining bow torpedoes to be reloaded while moving us into position for a second attack. With one of the torpedoes reloaded a short time later we fired at the ore carrier. Another hit, we couldn't believe our luck! As we got our last bow eel loaded we attempted to target another tanker, since they catch fire so easily. To our disappointment this one failed to explode. I ordered us to dive to 80m and we managed to give the escorts the slip yet again. We have 2 reserve torpedoes left but we're waiting for better conditions before we can reload them. Ship tonnages were 12,392 (liner), 12,959 (tanker) and 9,108 (ore carrier). Adding this to our previous kills takes our total so far to 50,090 - phenomenal! I've decided to begin our return passage to St. Nazaire, provided BdU do not have other ideas for us.

K-61

10-22-15, 05:50 PM

I agree!

I can't personally explain the appeal of the U-boat and the Atlantic war, except that maybe in a past life....

In any event, I grew up in a Navy family and my hometown of Halifax was heavily involved in operations against the Germans, in both world wars. For me, I take a kind of 'perverse pleasure' in fighting for the other side, as it were.

I said before a few years ago that in NS, we were raised to regard the Germans as traditional enemies, not with outright hatred exactly, but with extreme distrust, so for me, joining the virtual Kriegsmarine is a stab at that animosity. As is my half-German wife.

Like most of us here on this forum, we seem to have an unhealthy devotion to the subject matter, and as such, I try to write my patrols into quasi-sounding real life events, because it is so involving.

Just my 2 bits.

Our families are not that far apart. My parents are from Newfoundland, but I was born and raised in Toronto, but not living in the city since my teens. Don't miss the city and am much happier in a town west of T.O.

During WW1 my great grandfather was in the Royal Navy, in WW2 his son was in the merchant marine. I agree with your sentiments, it does seem strange to be sailing for the other side, but it is only pixelated mayhem we commit. No kittens are harmed during our fun.

KingOfNothing22

10-23-15, 06:39 AM

30th March, 1941 - 05:58 - BE 6189
A whole week since our last contact. Nothing has happened. It's as though every British ship in the North Atlantic has disappeared. Very few reports from other boats. A couple of steamers sunk. One small convoy off Iceland, lost contact. That's all. Weather is no better, either. This swell has been in just over a week. No chance to get these torpedoes out of their upper deck compartments while it's like this. Still nothing from BdU. The lowest point of our patrol so far, even with the news of us losing Prien and then Kretschmer.

12:45 - BE 6521
Spotted a freighter at long range off our port beam. Outward bound. Weather conditions and the fact we still haven't been able to reload meant we were forced to sit and watch her disappear off the horizon. Morale has really taken a battering over the last 48 hours.

21:33 - BE 6617
As if things could not get any more frustrating for us. A convoy in BE 63, heading straight for us. Even in the knowledge that we currently have no way of attacking them, BdU have ordered us to locate and shadow it. We're praying for calmer seas so we can get these reserves reloaded and get back into action. As we aren't far off the Spanish coast, I had requested permission to sneak in to the Spanish coast to find a quiet spot to reload in calmer waters. Denied.

31st March, 1941 - 01:18 - BE 6627
Convoy sighted. One vessel appears to be on fire. Have relayed the relevant information to BdU and shadowing her. Looks as though there are 24 steamers with 4 escort destroyers. Now we simply watch and wait.

12:13 - BE 6921
After what has felt like an eternity two boats are no in contact with the convoy. BdU have relieved us and ordered us to break off and continue on course to St. Nazaire provided there is no change in weather.

4th April, 1941 - 01:45 - St. Nazaire
We're finally home. After 31 days at sea. Our arrival back home was less than glamorous - miserable weather, visibility almost nil. No marching band, no crowds to welcome us in. There had been a collision in the harbour too between two freighters. One had caught fire, must have been some impact! The boat is now safely in it's pen and following a debrief with Korvettenkapitän Sohler I've been promoted to Oberleutnant zur See.

http://i.imgur.com/MynsYgk.png
The only other photo from this patrol - SS Aage, the coastal freighter we sank, well ablaze following our deck gun attack.

Patrol results:

Ships sunk: 5
Tonnage: 50,090
Days at sea: 31

Taifun206

12-10-15, 07:17 PM

On Patrol 2 playing real time.
This is my first and last Message which i sending from Sea.
2 At Sea during patrol AL 39 riding high waves 13kn.
Hard stress for the Crew 8Days Storm...
Hard to sleep, Hard to watch :doh:
For now on, Funk is Offline.
Cya on the ground. :rock:
http://fs5.directupload.net/images/151211/wkolkjuo.jpg (http://www.directupload.net)

ivanov.ruslan

12-11-15, 10:33 AM

Today, for the begining, standard, an eight thousand ton
merchant ship in the quadrant BC 17
Firing of the fourth tube, one torpedo from a distance 15 kb
http://prikachi.com/images/788/8510788l.jpg

A little earlier, however, I had a meeting with some old friends, meeting, as seen ended in my favor

http://prikachi.com/images/801/8510801I.jpg

Aks

12-11-15, 10:39 PM

11th April 1940 in grid AF81 my type IIA boat intercepted British Task Force - HMS Nelson and 9 destroyers. I fired to battleship from distance 3200 m. Salvo of three. Spread angle 3 dgr. Immediately diving. We have heard two explosions at expected time. After 40 mins of bombing task force gone to east. When i engage a periscope depth i was shocked - HMS Nelson lost speed and was at 2000 m away from me. Destroyers leave him alone! :salute:
http://prikachi.com/images/745/8511745T.jpg
We reloaded two last torpedoes and fired one just under cannon X, and another one - under the tube. At 0545 we watched third and fourth hits.
http://prikachi.com/images/746/8511746J.jpg
Sorry for image quality - there was a storm.
We watched big fire in cannon X
http://prikachi.com/images/748/8511748E.jpg
At 0602 HMS Nelson sunk
http://prikachi.com/images/749/8511749H.jpg

GWX 3.0. Realism - 100 %.

ninja turtle

12-13-15, 05:44 AM

:salute: Writing things up makes the game a lot more entertaining for me, it feels like I can immerse myself in the role of a u-boat skipper to a much greater degree too.

I was inspired by this thread to give it a go and I've spent the last few weeks writing patrols up in different ways to try and strike the right balance. I think I've found it now, styling it more as a Kaleun's personal journal with key events instead of a KTB with something for every single day of the patrol, not to mention the occasional photo! Either way as long as I'm still playing SH3 and people are still reading them, I'll still be writing them up and posting them. It's great being able to contribute to this fantastic community :) :subsim:

I totally agree! I'm currently doing the exact same thing (but more as a KTB) which hopefully I'll post shortly.

I'm following certain historical Kaleuns and his U-Boat staying within the confines of the patrol dates and grids whenever possible. At the moment it's Helmut Rosenbaum with U-2 and am in the middle of his second and last patrol before he moved to U-73 (which I will also follow).

Incidentally KingOfNothing did you type the post straight into the forum or attach your report from SHCmdr?

:subsim:

sublynx

12-13-15, 11:08 AM

Interesting! I'm looking forward for your reports!

Arnold

12-14-15, 01:14 AM

After a long time in retirement, this old sea dog has been re-called to the service of his country. While my Bosun is helping my 1st with provisions, I pack my collection of 78 RPM records for our voyage; "Sing, sing, sing" by Benny Goodman, "When you're smiling" by Billie Holiday, "It's a long way to Tipperary", "Jerusalem", "South Australia", "Ain't misbehavin' by Fats Waller, "Finnegan's Wake", "Don't forget your old shipmate", "When Irish eyes are smiling" by John McCormack, "Dizzy Fingers" by Zez Confrey, "Souza: The Stars and Stripes Forever", "Eternal Father Strong to Save" by the U.S. Navy Band, "Jattendrai", "Lil Marleen", "Panzerlied", "My hat's on the side of my head" by Roy Fox, "Suite Bergamasque, L.75:III: Claire De Lune, sixteen records in total, a few that would make the propaganda ministry a bit nervous. In my sea bag, I've added a supply of Cuban cigars.
One last evening in the tavern with the crew. I notice one greenhorn, passed-out, face-first in his plate of macaroni & cheese. Upon my waking him, he lifts his head, pulling a good portion of the cheese with him. He says, "take me drunk, I'm home!". *sigh*

Walruss

12-14-15, 01:51 AM

U-33, Erich Walz type VII b.

Day 7 of patrol in grid AM28. Day 12 at sea. Only action I had was a few days out off the coast of Norway- sunk a polish merchant with the deck gun.

Currently running at 20 meters submerged cruise due to a nasty North Atlantic Storm up top. Bugger the rain and seasickness!

Lone Wolf Flotilla Campaign

Aktungbby

12-14-15, 02:29 AM

Arnold!:Kaleun_Salute:

Arnold

12-14-15, 01:38 PM

It's good to be back at sea again. We have a great bunch of gentlemen, here at SubSim. A few convinced me on Facebook to play SH3 again, after several years away. My video card broke back then and I didn't play again after the replacement was installed. I downloaded the game yesterday, via Amazon, played it , did a shakedown cruise in a harbor, then saved the game. Everything worked! The only Mods I've done is to fix the fatigue numbers and add Mp3 music files to the record player.
As we left the harbor, the band was playing while I was on the bridge.
I could hear the crew singing the old sea shanty, "South Australia" below decks. When I grow weary of listening to the news of trouble in the world, it's nice to just to stand on the bridge on a clear evening, light-up a cigar and watch the stars and the waves, listening to favorite song from that era.
1st patrol
1 Sept 39
19:00 hrs
With a full moon, we set sail to AN56, as ordered. I order ahead slow and plot a course. I set the torpedoes to contact/ fast speed. The light from the Frensel lens of each of three lighthouses mark the entrance of the harbor. I tell the Bosun I want the duty watches set to match the merchants we hunt. "Aye! aye!" he replies. I have more important things to do than play "musical chairs" with the crew. If six on, six off is good enough for the merchants, it's good enough for my crew. So that's it, I change the watch every six hours to provide rest, rather than every time they "look" tired.
Once we leave the harbor, I order ahead one third.
On the bridge, I look for the constellations I learned years ago, when I was a Boy Scout. These kids today have 'The Hitler Youth", instead.
There it is! The Big Dipper, pointing to the North star.
Seeing these stars remind me of the time I saw Halley's Comet streaking across the sky, back in April of 1910. I was watching it, amazed, then went into the house to yell to the upstairs bedroom to my wife, 'Honey! Come outside to see Halley's comet!"
She yelled back, "You're not going to the Hale bar with Bob!"

Arnold

12-15-15, 01:38 AM

28 SEPT 39
Patrol 1
U-4
00:50 hrs 2nd watch, ten minutes early. How considerate.
0:500 hrs test dive/sound check at 30 meters
The morning sun feels good. Fresh bratwurst & sauerkraut on fresh bread for breakfast. A clear day with a light wind. The sea is almost as smooth as glass. A good time to use my own eyes to scan the horizon for smoke.
Noon. Daily position report sent to Bdu.
12:27 hrs The radioman reports hearing a position report from a German freighter, bearing 80 degrees, course SW, heading in our direction.
Ahead standard. Let's get ahead of their course, gentlemen. I wouldn't want to get in a position where we have to fire a shot across the bow, like the Russians did recently to avoid a collision in the Aegean with a Turkish fishing trawler.
13:00 1st watch. I order ahead 1/3 and grab a bit of sleep.
19:00 2nd watch
01:00 1st watch
Let's play SH3 musical chairs, shall we?
My Chief, Otto Totenhagen, takes a well-deserved rest. He likes the bow compartment, for some unknown reason. sub-Lt. Friederichs takes his place, after R&R in the stern quarters.
Our Navigator, Adolf Carlewitz retreats to the stern quarters, replaced by sub-Lt. Hartenstein. Six hours from now, these officers will trade places again.
The controlroom mates change watch with men from the bow compartment.
Those in the engineering sections are used to six hour watches.
As with the controlroom, men are replaced, one-at-a-time with those in the bow compartment Warrant Officers with those in the stern compartment.
With the exception of foul weather, bridge watches are replaced every six hours. This leaves the sonorman and radioman who work six hour watches, replaced by officers from the stern compartment.
Of course, some may get less R&R from time to time.
It all goes out the window during battle stations.
It's all done to keep the good order on the boat.

Walruss

12-15-15, 04:46 AM

10th Nov 1939

39 days at sea. 20+ days of scheiss weather in the north Atlantic.

Have been plagued by torpedo failures and bad weather. Two ships sunk, one by deck gun in the first days out, one by torpedo West of France. Now in AM43. Convoy attack a few days ago failed despite textbook setup - torpedoes either ran too deep, missed, or failed to explode.

Found a lone merchent of at least 7,000 GRT in my patrol zone in the early
hours of this morning. 1 failed impact pistol, 1 premature detonation, 1 miss.

The boys are demoralized. For most of them, their first time on a U-boot and the first wartime patrol of all of us. We won't be returning completely empty handed, yet still it feels like a failure.

Cannot reload the remaining eels as they are stored externally. Fuel down to 50%. Awaiting orders from BDu to return home.

Erich Walz, Officer Commanding U-33.

Arnold

12-16-15, 04:32 AM

U-4
2 OCT 39
10:00 hrs Patrol area AN56 reached without incident.
How ironic it seems that men have made rules regarding war.
As if mankind is forever resigned to resolve our conflicts with violence.
I have decided on my conduct during this war. Once an enemy sailor is free from the duty of his ship, as it sinks below him, I will do my best to see the lad return home safe and sound.
Our Navigator has plotted a patrol course.
10:22 A call is received from the voice tube on the bridge, rain has started, hand up rain gear. I order two hour bridge watches. I climb into my foul weather gear. I climb to the bridge, light a cigar and raise my glasses to scan the horizon. I lower my glasses to finish my cigar. The rain is cold, the sea remains calm. I go down below.
Noon: Daily position report to Bdu. We steer West.
I catch some sleep.
Carl Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

12-16-15, 08:49 AM

U-4
2 OCT 39
I had a conversation with our cook, Henning Sauer, in the gally this evening.
"Good evening, Sauer"
"Good evening, Cap'n"
"You're married, aren't you, Sauer?"
"Yes, sir, 5 years!"
"That's good Sauer, do you and your wife have pets?"
"Yes, sir, a canary named "sparky"
"No dogs?"
"No sir"
"Never had a dog, even as a kid?"
"No sir".
"I have two dogs, Sauer, Labrador retrievers".
"When I open a can of dog food, I immediately can tell what it smells like".
"Yes, sir".
"You getting where I'm going with this, Sauer?"
"No, sir"
"You served spaghetti and dog food to the crew this evening"
"But, sir, the cans did not have any labels on them!"
"Go on"
"When I opened a few cans I found spaghetti noodles
and I opened some other cans and found meatballs".
"Sauer, I want you to inventory the entire provision of food in the forward head and throw over the side any can without a label."
"Aye, aye"

Arnold

12-17-15, 11:05 PM

8 OCT 39
U-4
09:08 hrs The lighthouses of Wilhelmshaven welcome us home from our 1st patrol. Heavy fog stayed with us from the 2nd of October until today. Our only use to Bdu was to deliver weather reports.
I worry these daily radio transmissions to Bdu at Noon, to report our position, will one day be our undoing.
This Commander is a student of the Wolfgang Luth school of maintaining good order among a crew of young lads.
Contests.
Hollywood films in the bow compartment.
Newspaper.
Hook & line cod fishing off the aft quarters, using planer boards and cannon ball - type sinkers. The boys like fresh fish.
'Men, the London fog was our enemy on this patrol. Chin up. Mind your manners in town. End."
Carl Lange Jr. Lt. j.g.

Walruss

12-18-15, 01:21 AM

Christmas day, 1939

Put to sea in late November with secret orders to rush an agent to Cadiz through the channel! (Flotilla orders) before refuelling at the COrriantes and patrolling the entrance to the straights of Gibraltar.

Put down 5 ships on the way to execute orders for about 20,000 GRT. Refuelled at the COrriantes and scored another couple of torps (dice roll resupply of 3) - returned to patrol outside Gibraltar by the 21st Dec. In just 4 days sunk 7 ships for over 40,000 GRT!

Down to 2 torpedoes and out of deck gun ammo, making for Germany, presently N/E of Lisbon!

New Personal best on a single patrol!

Arnold

12-19-15, 04:48 AM

5 NOV 39
U-4
0240 hrs
Dieter Hessler made rate of radioman while the boat was re-fitted for sea. A machine gun was mounted on the bridge.
A half moon and clear sky mark our departure on our second patrol
Ahead slow. Plot course to AN26. Set torpedoes to contact pistols.
Harbor cleared. Ahead 1/3.
With the hope of clear skys following us on this patrol, I've asked Father Zinke, a Master Chief and ordained priest for a fair weather prayer.
We'll see soon how well he stands with the All Mighty.
I hand a record to the radioman.
"Anchors aweigh" by the U.S. Navy band plays on the overhead speakers.
Lt. j.g. Carl Lange Jr.

Arnold

12-19-15, 05:00 AM

New Personal best on a single patrol!

:Kaleun_Salute:

ivanov.ruslan

01-07-16, 08:21 AM

5 October 1942 Good storm as I shake today in grid CA 29, with ten meter waves :cool:

Report LI:Momentane tiefe 10 meters http://www.nariba.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gifhttp://www.nariba.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gifhttp://www.nariba.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif

gazpode_l

01-16-16, 12:23 PM

Currently doing patrol no1 with a new skipper after I recently resumed playing after 4yrs of absence. (last played 2011 with my best skipper R. Hessler scoring in excess of 130,000GRT sunk during the course of 8 patrol nefore being finally sunk!)

I started a patrol over xmas and bagged 4x large merchants for aprox 44,000grt, however upon completing my patrol, a software glitch between my copy of SH3 commander and the game meant the game created a new save showing my skipper as dead,(SH3 commander showed him as being lost at sea during patrol 1) despite reaching base safely..

So I've restarted a new career...AGAIN!

Anyways, we're about a week of game time in, having been gifted a patrol grid of BE63 (not too far west of St Nazaire!!) we are now just of the north of Ireland having found a lone Medium merchant, we sunk her with thre definate hits and one premature detonation from my second shot, I suspect caused by torpedo no1 explosion on target.

The merchant sunk quickly after no4 definately found its mark and we are now heading slightly north seeking more targets. Weather is good for January with a light breeze and partly cloudy skies.

Geoff-A

01-16-16, 10:06 PM

U-45, Feb 1940, on patrol in North Sea. Dropped in to Norway en-route to look for any possibles.
Neutral tanker spotted, reported, let go (ahhhh! frustration), weather now horrible. Heavy rain, Heavy fog, huge seas - only surfacing long enough to charge batteries then slip under again.
At this rate I should hit AM11 in about 12 months time......

ivanov.ruslan

01-21-16, 08:28 AM

U 123,11 Januar 1942

Today, during charge the battery at night, near Beaufort, suddenly come upon us two minesweepers and one Clemson
We hang around a little on the carousel in the shallows along the shore, and suddenly it occurred to me that if I stay underwater position in these shallow waters that will be the end, so I decided, after another attack with depth charges and subsequent brief lull, blowing ballast and full move under the cover of darkness, headed for the ocean ....

Well, we ate one another projectile, but saved skin :)

-=Spy=-

01-24-16, 07:44 AM

Ahoy, -=Spy=- (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/member.php?u=249427).
You last visited: 11-10-2009 at 08:08 PM Private Messages (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/private.php): Unread 0, Total 0.

Finally reinstalled Silent Hunter, with GWX for the first time. Ran a couple patrols just to reorient myself, then decided to try a 1939 career. Stuck myself in between the entrance to Dundee and the Firth of Fourth, waited for the war to start. After a day or two, hydrophones pick up a merchant ship approaching in just the right way. It's night and stormy, but he helpfully left his lights on, being ID'd as a medium cargo passing about 1.5km off my bow. I let loose a pair of torpedoes and both strike home. I couldn't resist passing close enough to admire the wreckage as it settled, the flag just barely peeking out from the waves. The Norwegian flag.

So now I've started a 1940 career, and other than letting a Revenge class get away after two torpedoes to the side on my second patrol, everything's going much better.

Jimbuna

01-24-16, 09:22 AM

BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!! http://i.imgur.com/6NnyXT8.gif

Opitz

01-25-16, 03:03 PM

My first commander Heinrich Höppner was commander of u-23 since beginning of war and in February 1940 was recalled back to Kiel after 4 patrols to command 5th Flotilla...
He survived the war and died peacefully surrounded by his family on 3th June 2000.

UKönig

01-26-16, 09:26 PM

U-802 has been on enforced down time, but hopefully soon we will be back to sea, and to glory. I miss my subsim...

ivanov.ruslan

01-27-16, 12:57 AM

Attack!Hunt!Sink everyting ... :salute:

Walruss

01-27-16, 10:09 AM

Lt. Werner Krautsch (Uber geman name, thankyou sh3 cmdr!) on his first patrol out of Lorient,

Jan 19th 1941 The patrol started in a lively fashion with a convoy attack sinking two ships for an estimated 4,000 GRT each. Something strange happened though, when running decks awash in the night a Corvette seemed to appear out of the fog, always seeking close as if it knew where to look.... inevitably it opened fire on one of it's passes and we dove to evade but not before taking a hit. Thankfully nothing serious from the glorified tugboat though he proved tenacious enough a hunter - holding us down for well over 8 hours!

The stern torpedo room took on a little water before the Chief brought it under control before it got bad. In the morning the convoy had passed us by and we were able to surface and inspect the damage. The shell had passed just under us and penetrated the keel rather than the pressure hull, though it's detonation blew out the starboard prop seals, hence the leak. He assures me he'll have it fix and the prop turning again in a day or so, providing there's no further damage. A lucky escape!

Gerhard_Liebe

01-27-16, 10:59 AM

It's June 12 1941, currently been at sea for just shy of a month and have been cleaning house on the merchants heading into the Liverpool/Bristol ports from the southwest. Grid square patrol was done weeks ago so now I'm trying to lighten my payload before heading back to Lorient.

5 C type cargos at the bottom, out of fore eels, full compliment of aft torps, all but 30-35 HE 88's still on board. Weather has taken a turn for the worse, going to zig-zag the shipping lane for a day or two and see if it'll clear for deck gun shenanigans.

This is my first patrol with SH3 commander and so far I really like a lot of the features. Think I'll give it a few more patrols and start a new career with maybe GWX as well. The vanilla is losing its luster a bit :D

This is the first "true" subsim I've ever played and I have to say it's really a lot of fun. Even though it really is a lot of waiting around lol

20000 Leagues

01-30-16, 10:47 AM

U-101 Left Wilhelmshaven on August 1, 1940. We've been transferred to Brest, France, but haven't stopped in for a visit yet. I decided to cruise through the Channel and see what we could find off the south tip of Ireland. We ran into a task force S/W of Plymouth. Four destroyers and two Swordfish down, and we broke out into the Atlantic.

August 13, 1940, and we've been out of position for every convoy reported. I haven't observed a single merchant on this voyage. I moved us to about 1000 km's N/W of Spain to investigate tanker traffic. Nothing here.

It's now August 16, 1940, we're about 1300 km's due west of Brest, France. Not a single merchant down. I'm almost down to 1/4 tank of diesel, the crew is getting tired and I still have eels on board. By far the most dismal tour of this year.

It's August, the sea has been calm and the weather nice. I guess we'll call this our pleasure cruise. I'm heading to Brest now for a good steak, a little schnapps and some French women. Hopefully our next voyage will be better!

Arnold

01-31-16, 11:40 PM

5 NOV 39
U-4
03:38
I should decorate our Master Chief for his weather prayer, the sea is smooth as glass with clear sky's!
I'm on the bridge. The sounds of "Deep purple" by Bea Wain drift up from the open hatch.
06:30
The morning sun is starting to rise aft of us. A friendly merchant tug follows along side our port side, within shouting distance. I match speed with them. I call down below for volunteers to the bridge. The gramophone is brought up from below and set by the megaphone.
With the volunteers gathered on deck, "Finnegans Wake" is played on the gramphone. We sing the lyrics of the song, in our best Irish tenor voices across the waves to the tug:
"Whack fol the da O, dance to your partner
Welt the floor, your trotters shake
Wasn't it the truth I told you?
Lot's of fun at Finnegans wake!"
The tug's crew cheers. Smiles all around. "Good song, Capt'n", my 1st says. "Circle of life, gentlemen", I say. The tug stays with us for four hours, then turns South. The sun sets. The sea remains calm. I enjoy a cigar while on the bridge.
This evening's schedule calls for a propaganda film to be shown in the bow compartment. The film projector and screen of canvas are assembled, the off-duty watch is seated. The film rolls; goose-stepping grunts on parade. Half-way into the film, the sound narrative stops and the English song "The Lambeth Walk" takes it's place. Jackboots stepping to the tune of "The Lambeth Walk". Ever laugh so hard your jaws ache?
Her Goebbles would not be happy.
9 NOV 39
We reach our patrol area , AN26, on Her Donitz's chess board. We turn North. We are surprised by am Englishman bearing gifts of depth charges from above. I assign Sauer to the machine gun aft, Totenhagen and I stay on the bridge. "Come back again, Tommy, we will stand and fight!"
09:36
Ship spotted. A small freighter. Dive, periscope depth, get close for observation. "Its an English flag, gentlemen, battle stations!", I say.
Set up solution, open bow caps, fire!
The merchant's crew get into a life boat. They probably have a wireless set in the lifeboat. I radio the British authorities anyway concerning the sinking position just to make sure the lads get back home again.
The merchant slowly sinks by the stern. We approach the life boat.
'What's the name of your ship?", I shout to them.
"The Mount Kyle!" is the reply.
"What's your name, sailor?", I ask.
"Murphy, Electrician's mate, 2nd class, from Newfoundland." he says.
"Tell me, Murphy, what was it like to grow up in Newfoundland?", I ask.
"Well, only the rich kids packed meat sandwiches in their lunch pails for school. Us poor kids packed lobster sandwiches!"
I find the Mount Kyle in the manifest, 2343 tons.
We dive, return to course and do not surface again until we are ten kilometers away from the life boat.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

02-02-16, 05:09 AM

U-4
9 NOV 39 18:03
On a routine sound check at 40 meters depth, Heller hears slow engine turns at 90 degrees, long distance.
Battle stations. Steer North.
18:06 Ship spotted. We slow to 1 knot. Turn to 140 degrees. Open bow caps. British flag identified.
18:16 Angle on the bow: 90 degrees. Fire! That slowed her down. Fire! Dud eel. Fire! That did it. Three eels to sink one small merchant. *sigh*
We surface. No survivors in the wreckage. We find a life ring, "Benjamin Hill", it reads. I check the manifest, 2042 tons. Sunk within seven kilometers from the Mount Kyle. I decide to remain in this area. Good hunting here.
We are down to one electric eel. 60% fuel remains.
Just one more merchant, boys, and we'll head for the barn.
10 NOV 39 09:55 Dawn. Sea calm. Conrad is on the machine gun. Tottenhagen & I are on the bridge. It looks like we will have another clear day. My thoughts are on that kid, Murphy, from the Mount Kyle. Hope they get back home okay.
I know the rules of war require me to stop and search these merchants.
Unfortunately, they don't listen to my request to stop, via the megaphone and keep going on as if nothing is wrong.
10:38 I climb down to the control room. I survey the compartments, quietly. Men sleeping in the petty officer's quarters and bow compartment.
10:45 I return to the bridge as the morning sun appears off our port side.
A half moon aft. Sea calm. I light a cigar.
It's mornings like this when I think of the times I went fishing with my Grandfather. We'd get up before daylight and quietly wait for the daylight in his metal row boat. He could always catch more fish than I. I'd spend my summers with him and my Grandmother, fishing almost every day.
I learned how to wait for the fish to bite, rather than always moving the boat to find them. In other words, if the fish were bitting, stay put.
I can be very content on the bridge, watching the waves, smoking a cigar, while the boat's routine goes on below me.
18:45 Ship spotted, bearing 20 degrees, long range.
Dive, periscope depth. Scope up. There she is! A big one!
With only one eel left, the best I can hope for is to slow her down and maybe lighten her deck cargo a bit with the machine gun.
18:55 Open bow caps. She's 1000 meters away. We slow to 1 knot.
British flag identified.
19:00 Fire! Surface. She has slowed to 6 knots. She begins to zig-zag, yet, at this slow speed she can't outrun us.
19:39 Using rudder controls I bring us along side her and machine gun her deck cargo. Fires start on her deck. Cargo explodes and flys in all directions. In the middle of all this an enemy plane arrives and drops a depth charge. We stay up and fight!
20:00 Out of ammunition. Quite a battle! I'd call it a draw.
No battle damge to us. No injuries among us either.
20:08 Status report to Bdu. No eels left, no shells, 60% fuel remains.
Well done, men. 1/2 bottle of Beck's for the officers and crew.
21:09 Message from Bdu: Return to base.
11 NOV 39 Daylight comes at 10:30 hrs. We dive and remain below all day until 20:50 hrs.
14 NOV 39 17:15 We enter the harbor of Wilhelmshaven with 10% fuel remaining. Ahead slow. All stop.
Now we dive into the foaming beer because U-4 is back at the pier!
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

02-03-16, 04:16 AM

U-4
12 DEC 39 03:00
Ahead slow. Clear sky's. Calm sea. Carlewitz plots a course for AN16, our patrol area. Konrad Schmidt made rate of Radioman while we were ashore.
We set our steam eels for contact pistols, fast speed.
15 DEC 39
Half-way to our patrol area, I assign a man to the machine gun during the daylight hours, with orders to fire on approaching aircraft. More depth under us now. More wiggle room to work with.
17:57 A sound check at 30 meters reveals a contact, bearing 280 degrees, medium turns. Steer 19 degrees, surface, battle stations, ahead full. I climb to the bridge. Some daylight remains for us. I scan the horizon on our port side. There she is, a small merchant, doing 9 knots.
Steer 12 degrees.
18:12 Periscope depth is ordered. Slow speed, steer 342 degrees.
18:22 Let's get close to her. With some daylight left, I hope to identify the flag.
18:35 Open bow caps. British flag. Fire! Surface the boat.
She sinks slowly by the stern, giving her crew time to get into the life boat.
We steer towards the lifeboat. "Any injuries?" I ask them. "No" is the reply. "What is the name of your ship?" I ask. "Monty Python" is the reply.
I check the manifest, 2343 tons.
I radio a report of the sinking, with our position and the name of the ship to the British authorities.
18:45 I steer South, dive to 40 meters then steer NW towards our patrol area. We will try to stay under until I'm certain the crew of the life boat can no longer see us.
19:21 Sound contact, slow turns, long range, 57 degrees.
19:24 Sound contact moving right to left. We are 4 kilometers away from the life boat from the "Monty Python". I take a risk they may sight us and surface the boat. Let's see how much daylight we have up there, gentlemen.
19:30 Surface, ahead full, steer 313 degrees. A quarter moon lights the night.
19:49 There she is, a small one, heading SW.
19:53 Battle stations. In this light I'm going to have to get close to identify a flag. If in doubt, I'll hold fire.
19:56 Periscope depth, slow to one knot speed.
20:02 All stop. Here she comes, doing 7 knots, bearing 80 degrees, 2000 meters away. Open bow caps. I lock the scope on her.
20:14 Norwegian flag. Close bow caps, down scope, ahead slow, return to our plotted course, make your depth 40 meters.
20:25 Surface. I ask Radioman Creutz to put "Opus No. 1" by Tommy Dorsey on the gramophone. I climb to the bridge and light a cigar.
23:37 I climb down below to the control room. I ask the Radioman Schmidt to put "Woo - Woo", by Harry James on the gramophone. I dance a little jig. The two controlroom mates at the diving controls tap their toes to the music. Smiles all around.
A good day.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

k2r

02-03-16, 10:46 AM

This is the KTB of the U-103 second patrol (Leutnant s. Z. Wilhelm Pinderschlast).
On march 1941, the BDU wanted the 2nd Flotilla to strike against the Liverpool-Gibraltar convoy line and the merchant traffic from England to the Mediterranean sea. The U-103 was one of the U-Boats assigned to this task.

07 march 1941
1121 : Leaving Lorient to patrol grid BE99. Special order : maintain radio silence until the patrol zone is reached.

08 march
2200 : grid BF42. Strong winds 13MPS direction 226 and high sea. We stay submerged until better weather conditions. Surfaced only for the batteries.

12 march
1120 : Patrol zone reached. No traffic encountered. Strong winds 15MPS direction 86 ans high sea. Patrol report and weather conditions transmitted to BDU.
1152 : Radio message from BDU “Transmit patrol report every three days only.”

13 march
0407 : Smoke on horizon.
0441 : Engaged and sunk british merchant ship “SS Lycaon” 1065GRT with two torpedoes.

15 march
1827 : No traffic. Winds 4MPS direction 10 and calm sea. Patrol report and weather conditions transmitted to BDU.

16 march
1529 : Smoke on horizon.
1645 : Engaged and sunk british cargo “SS Dumra” 2253GRT. Engaged with deckgun.

18 march
1531 : No traffic. Winds 15MPS direction 165 and high sea. Cloudly sky and no good conditions for hunting. Patrol and weather reports transmitted to BDU.

21 march
1602 : No traffic and bad weather. Heavy rain, winds 7MPS direction 5. Reports transmitted to BDU.

23 march
1412 : Hydrophone contact while submerged.
1714 : Engaged and damaged british merchant. Fired one torpedo. The weather conditions were too rough and we lost contact with the enemy ship after the first hit.
2034 : After hours of research, we were unable to find and maintain contact with enemy ship. Return to patrol course.

24 march :
1527 : No traffic. Bad weather for hunting. Strong winds 15MPS direction 166 and very high sea. Reports transmitted to BDU.

27 march
1933 : No traffic. We’re still caught in bad weather. Winds 15MPS direction 343 and high sea. Reports transmitted to BDU.

29 march
1728 : Smoke on the horizon.
1829 : Engaged and sunk british Empire cargo “SS Tahsina” 6783 GRT. Fired two torpedoes.

30 march
1647 : No traffic. Winds 9MPS direction 136. Patrol and weather reports transmitted to BDU.
1930 : Received transmission from BDU : “To U103 – Condor aircraft spotted a british cargo in your patrol zone BE99 heading north at slow speed. Try to intercept – BDU”.
1955 : Smoke on horizon.
2026 : Engaged and sunk british Granville cargo “SS Thistlegarth” 4707 GRT. Fired one torpedo.

2 april
1742 : No traffic and bad weather conditions. Strongs winds 15MPS direction 104, clouds and high seas. Reports transmitted to BDU.

5 april
1723 : No traffic. Winds 4MPS direction 168 and clear skies. Reports transmitted to BDU.

8 april
1551 : Still no traffic. One month at sea now. Bad weather and no visibility. Winds 15MSP direction 34. Patrol and weather reports to BDU.

11 april
1350 : No traffic and bad weather again. Heavy rain, winds 15MPS direction 356 and high sea. Reports transmitted to BDU.

12 april
2340 : Smoke on the horizon.

13 april
0044 : Engaged and sunk british cargo “SS Kelantan”2229GRT. Fired one torpedo.

14 april
1444 : No traffic. Winds 15MPS direction 134, clouds and high sea. Reports transmitted to BDU.

17 april
1414 : Still no traffic and bad weather. Strong winds 15MPS direction 281 and high sea. Reports transmitted to BDU.

20 april
1023 : Received radio transmission from BDU : “To U103 – New radio procedures : maintain total radio silence until next success or vital fuel/rations reports – BDU”

23 april
2035 : Smoke on the horizon.
2104 : Engaged and sunk british Empire cargo “SS Pacific Grove” 6785 GRT. Fired four torpedoes. Becoming short on torpedoes and rations. Reports transmitted to BDU.
2134 : Received radio transmission from BDU : “TO U123 – New orders : return to base and maintain radio silence like the last procedures. “
2200 : Leaving the patrol zone and heading to Lorient.

25 april
1640 : Grid BF49. Smoke on the horizon.
1703 : Engaged and sunk the greek merchant “SS Penlover” 2393 GRT. Engaged with deckgun.

27 april
1441 : Docked at Lorient. End of the patrol.
Days at sea : 52
Enemy merchant ships sunk : 7
Enemy merchant ships damaged : 1
Patrol GRT : 35764

Aktungbby

02-03-16, 12:58 PM

k2r!:salute:

siege00

02-03-16, 02:21 PM

---------------------- 93% Realism ----------------------
We need steady optics since we have no prisms.
Event camera enabled until I've some more practice.
Weapons Officer assistance for identification only.
------------------------------------------------------------

Received patrol orders after our shakedown cruise (Patrol 1) to maintain radio silence and patrol grid AM18 (Patrol 2 - 19390824 - 19390913).

We tracked a few surface vessels through our grid and conducted tracking / firing drills as I'm a bit out of practice.

19390903 - AM18 - After the outbreak of hostilities, we received word that a small convoy would be coming through our patrol grid. Found 4 ships, British flagged, sank 2 of them with torpedoes and 2 with the deck gun. They were not armed. All torpedoes found their marks and calm seas with our deck gun ended them. It was like shooting fish in a barrel.

19390904 - AM25, AM1 - Found a few more single ships, also flagged british, ended 1 with a single torpedo shot, the other with the deck gun. No armed resistance.

19390912 - AN34 - Tracked a vessel, plotting an intercept course after receiving radio messages from B-Dienst. Sea state was pretty horrible with 10 knot winds and heavy rain and fog (approx 1km visibility). Used sonar and previous plotting to estimate a firing solution and get into position. Magically appearing out of the fog about 20 degrees before firing, we were able to put an eel into the hull. It went down quickly. Which was fortunate because we couldn't use the deck gun to finish.

After multiple unsuccessful attacks due to poor sea state and torpedo failures, we returned to Wilhelmshaven with a total of 42,977 in tonnage.

A great patrol but not without its disappointments.

With the sea state being so rough through many encounters, we had to rely on torpedoes. Relying on the torpedoes, and lining up great shots, only to have 6 torpedoes in our inventory fail, was very disappointing (we even had the torpedo depth set to smooth water). We also tracked an unarmed merchant in the Nord Meer, that we would have loved to add to our tonnage, but after getting close enough to identify the flag, spitting distance really since it was the middle of the night and the moon was on the other side of the ship, it turned out to be a Russian ship.

We were constantly harassed by Flugzeug during our return trip by day near Britain.

Looking forward to our next patrol.

On a side note:
- I try to be as patient as possible with the time compression and enjoy 'being at sea'. This patrol probably took 36+ hours of actual playtime, I cruise while I'm working from home sometimes, and try to run intercepts at near to realtime. The tension must be properly built. lol
- This is the first campaign I've run in years.
- I've considered tuning down the torpedo failures, but having them in keeps things interesting to say the least. And who can be a WWII submariner without knowing frustration.
- I considered installing the flags enlighten mod, but having to get close enough to spit at the Russians, while wondering if I could attack them or not, was extremely satisfying, especially when I realized that by getting on the other side of them to view the flag in the moonlight added an insane amount to the realism of the game.
- Manually tracking targets with map work, the RAOBF, and Angriffsheibe make the torpedo shots / kills all the more glorious.
- I recently added Ahnenerbe's hi res / widescreen mod and plan on trying it on the next patrol. Looks very promising in practice.
- I want to thank all the modders that make a good game when it was released, a great game even into modern times.

Mod list:
_LSH3-2015__FULLVERSION
_LSH3-2015_ATM-BlueWater-SunFix
_LSH3-2015_SLS_SpecialEffectsBig
_LSH3-2015__HistoricalMessages
_LSH3-2015__Patch_HSIE-V16B1
Thomsen's Sound Pack V3.2cg (I love the ambience even if the voice overs are repetitive and don't make sense in Deutsch)
Ahnenerbe WideGui 1920 x 1080 Final

* Now just to find some nice tracks for the gramophone.
Und jetzt brauche ich viele Bier! :up:

Arnold

02-04-16, 03:11 AM

U-4
15 DEC 39
23:50 hrs., 2nd watch climbs to the bridge, Degen, Hansen, Rausch, Barsch and myself.
I ask Degen, "you like the selection of records I took along this time?"
"Yes sir," he replies.
"If only they didn't take as much room to store them," I say.
"Perhaps one day we can record music in a smaller media, Capt'n," he says.
"Yes, something the size of a book of matches", I say.
"Which records did you bring this time, Capt'n?, he says.
"The stars and stripes forever", by Sousa
"Woo-Woo", by Harry James
"Deep Purple", by Bea Wain
"Opus No. 1" by Tommy Dorsey
"Ain't misbehavin" by Fats Waller
"Don't forget your old shipmate", by Jerry Bryant
"Dizzy Fingers", by Zez Confrey
"My hat's on the side of my head", by Roy Fox
"When Irish eyes are smiling" by John McCormack
"Sing, sing, sing"by Benny Goodman
"South Austraila", by Dubliners
"Finnegans Wake", by the Irish Rovers
"When you're smiling", by Billie Holiday
"Sir, I was wondering, how is it you have records with a recording date of 1940 on them?", he asks.
"Simple, I have a HP desktop PC in the storage locker above my bunk.
I connect it to the satellite dish on the bridge, purchase and download MP3 files from Amazon digital music, then click and drag the files to the gramophone folder", I say.
A blank stare is his only response.
16 DEC 39
09:57 hrs. It will be light soon. Dive. Make your depth 40 meters. Ahead 1 knot.
20:11 hrs. We bring her up to periscope depth for a look around. Clear sky. Heavy sea. A bit of light left. We surface.
18 DEC 39
07:21 hrs. Make your depth 40 meters. Slow to 1 knot.
08:05 Sound contact. Merchant, slow turns, closing, 342 degrees, long range. Surface, steer 280 degrees, ahead slow.
08:26 No moon this evening. Very dark. Cold. Steer North.
09:03 There she is! A tug boat.
09:34 English flag. Fire! She goes down by the stern very fast.
We search the wreckage. No survivors.
10:11 Make your depth 40 meters, ahead 1 knot, return to plotted course.
19DEC 39
06:00 hrs. Patrol area AN 16 reached. Plot a course for Scapa Flow.
I climb up to the bridge. Once there, I begin to sing:
"Eternal Father strong to save
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave
Who bids the mighty ocean deep
It's own appointed limits keep
Oh, hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea."
14:38 Sound contact, warship, fast turns, closing, bearing 58 degrees, long range. Battle stations.
15:50 Warship sound contact fades, then is gone completely, last bearing 222 degrees. Secure from battle stations.
18:52 Sound contact, merchant, slow turns, closing, bearing 112 degrees, long range. Steer North, periscope depth, maintain speed.
19:51 Ahead slow, she's at 40 degrees, a small one. I estimate we will be about 800 meters away from her when we make the T.
19:55 Open bow caps. British flag.
19:58 Fire!
Fires on deck. She sinks slow, neither by the bow nor the stern.
We stay down to avoid aircraft.
Make your depth 40 meters. Speed 1 knot. Return to plotted course to Scapa Flow. Two eels remain.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

02-04-16, 11:45 PM

U-4
19 DEC 39
21:21 Surface the boat, ahead slow. Clear sky's. Heavy sea. Crescent moon. Two hour watches. I climb to the bridge. I raise my glasses to slowly scan 360 degrees.
Cold. Like hunting deer in the Black Forest back home. Up before dawn to sit quiet all day in the hunting blind. Search for any sign of movement in the woods.
A twig snaps to the left, a slow turn of my head and there he is!
An eight - point buck!
Here, the English are our prey. They come within range.
We pull the trigger.
To warm our hands on the bridge, a No. 10 tin can with cotton waste soaked with rubbing alcohol is set on fire.
22:50 Ship spotted. 82 degrees. Long range. Dive, periscope depth, speed 1 knot, steer 290 degrees.
22:56 All stop. Up scope. A tin can, doing 13 knots. Battle stations.
Rig for silent running.
23:02 She's at 50 degrees.
23:05 Secure from silent running. Open bow caps.
23:07 Fire! One minute later she goes down by the stern.
Ahead slow. Surface. Search the wreckage for survivors.
23:15 "Capt'n! I see men in the water!" one of our own shouts.
"Steer towards them", I say.
We fish out ten survivors from the tin can, all of them suffering from the cold. They're taken below, wrapped in blankets and seated near the electric heaters.
We radio BdU a patrol report.
23:36 Radio message from BdU: "Return to base".
Carlewitz plots a course for Wilhelmshaven.
I put Hartenstein in charge of our "guests". 38 men on board now.
24 DEC 39
Christmas Eve
A Christmas tree is assembled and decorated.
A shot of schnapps and 1/2 bottle of Becks beer for everyone,
including our guests.
"Silent night, Holy night,
All is calm, all is bright..."
I climb up to the bridge. I light a cigar. I face aft to avoid the ocean spray.
The setting sun warms my back.
25 DEC 39
18:44 Christmas Day. There they are, the lighthouses of Wilhelmshaven.
Four petty officers, in shirt sleeves, accompany me on the bridge.
Clear sky's. Sunny. Ahead, flank speed. Soon, we make 12 knots!
Thurmann is smiling in the engine compartment. He loves his diesels.
At this speed I hope to burn off any soot deposited in the exhaust valves.
We coast up to the crowd and the band on the pier.
Prisoners ashore first. Off to the stalag they go.
Good to be home.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Missing Name

02-05-16, 09:08 PM

Jan 1941. Stalking around Faxafloi Bay in the dark, a Town-class destroyer suddenly sailed from the gloom less than 300 meters ahead, heading right down my throat. The crew must have been super busy, because my tower was still above water when it passed maybe 10 meters off to port and kept on sailing towards Reykjavik.

I didn't even think to hit the screenshot button...

Arnold

02-06-16, 03:29 AM

27 JAN 40
U-4
21:29 hrs Reports from other boats regarding dud eels. Jurgen Zinke made rate of Radioman while ashore. I request and receive permission to transfer to our original boat, U-4. Steam eels set to contact pistols, fast speed.
Ahead slow. Carlewitz plots a course to our patrol area AN73, shallow waters. *sigh* I don't sleep well in shallow waters. I'd rather have one hundred fathoms under our keel. I climb to the bridge. Clear sky's. Calm sea. Half moon.
I hear the sounds of "Ain't misbehavin'" by Fats Waller from the open hatch.
Our boat is now referred to, among the barracks, as the "Clown Car" after our last patrol ended with 38 men exiting when we docked. I squared it away with Donitz about taking prisoners. Having experienced P.O.W. status himself, he advised he was willing to "look the other way" as long as we acquired tonnage during our patrols.
28 JAN 40
0849 hrs I climb to the bridge this morning. The coast of the continent visible on our port. Barrier islands visible on our starboard.
These barrier islands remind me of the time, years ago, my brother & I travelled to Lake Superior in the States to visit Isle Royale. At the Eastern end of the island's Rock Harbor, we paddled my canoe Westward, between the island and barrier islands to the South. In every gap between those barrier islands, the waves from Lake Superior hit us. We discovered thimble berries the size of your thumb in a meadow there. A good memory.
29 JAN 40
2031 hrs. Ship sighted. Dive, make your depth 10 meters, steer 190 degrees, ahead 1/3. Battle stations. Very shallow waters here.
Our target makes a turn South. We steer 213 degrees. English flag.
2045 hrs. Fire! She goes down by the stern, very slowly. Men have time to get into a life boat. We approach them and ask, "Name of your ship"?
"Jenny Lynn", is the reply. I check the manifest, 2343 tons.
Close to shore, fair weather, provisioned well, they have a good chance.
"Return to plotted course", I order. Secure from battle stations.
0212 hrs. Ship spotted, heading right at us. Steer 200 degrees. Battle stations. We sail a while, then turn to make the T.
0217 hrs. All stop. Polish flag. Open bow caps.
0222 hrs. Fire! Dud. Secure from battle stations, make your depth 10 meters, ahead slow.
0229 hrs. Surface, return to plotted course.
30 JAN 40
0952 hrs. I climb to the bridge. Clear sky's. Calm sea. Cold. The morning sun rises at 210 degrees aft. I light a cigar. My thoughts turn towards that dud eel from last night. Zander is dissecting our eels this morning.
Noon daily position report sent to BdU: AN82
- note to self: leave "Dizzy Fingers", by Zez Confery in the barracks on next patrol because it was difficult to hear when it was played. -
Non-stop sound reports in this area. Merchants, warships and small craft.
1 FEB 40
2000 Sound report, warship, 60 degrees bearing, long range.
Dive, make your depth 10 meters, rig for silent running, steer 45 degrees.
I wear the headset of the sound man, Zenke, to follow the contact.
Let's see if we can turn fast enough to make the T. Scope up. Open bow caps. An armed trawler, doing 10 knots. Secure form silent running.
Battle stations. Almost there, AOB 84.
2313 Fire! Down scope. Dud. Rig for silent running. Speed 1 knot.
Return to plotted course.
2330 Secure from silent running, Surface. Recharge batteries. Two eels remain.
2 FEB 40
0840 hrs. Ship spotted, a big one, 41 degrees, long range.
Dive, make your depth 10 meters, speed 1 knot. Scope up. A c-2 cargo, bearing 85 degrees, doing 9 knots.
0926 All stop. British flag. Open bow caps.
0926 Fire 1! Connect 2. Open bow caps. Fire 2! Fires seen in front of the bridge. She slows to 4 knots and limps to her destination.
No eels remain. Carlewitz plots a course for home. I hand Cruetz at the radio, our patrol report with instructions to wait until noon to send it to BdU.
We hear a depth charge explosion near our last position.
Noon. Surface, ahead slow, patrol report sent to BdU, dive, make your depth 10 meters, speed 1 knot, return to plotted course.
1221 Radio message from BdU : return to base
For the next six days, we settle into a routine; dive at 0800 hrs., surface at Noon for the daily position report to Bdu, then dive and remain submerged until 2000 hrs. when we surface again.
We listen to the radio and the gramophone records. We play cards. We watch films in the bow compartment. During those times when we are on the surface, I climb to the bridge, light a cigar and watch the waves.
9 FEB 40
0127 hrs. We turn the corner and there they are, the lighthouses of Wilhelmshaven.
Ahead flank.
0153 Ahead slow.
0212 Speed 1 knot. All stop.
Home.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.
Our new Tower emblem is shown below.

Arnold

02-07-16, 01:40 AM

5th patrol start
U-4
8 MAR 4
1919 hrs. Ahead slow. Carlewitz plots a course to AN28, SE of Bergen, Norway. Deep water. Good. I'll sleep well.
Both diesel engines upgraded. Problems remain with dud eels.
Degen made rate of medic while we were ashore.
Before I climb to the bridge, a hand Creutz a phonograph record, with instructions to wait until I'm on the bridge to play it.
"Aye, aye, Capt'n", he says. I climb to the bridge. Clear sky's. Calm sea.
From the open hatch I hear a few guitar strums, then the voice of Gene Autry singing, "I'm back in the saddle again". I sing along...

"I'm back in the saddle again
Out where a friend is a friend
Where the longhorn cattle feed
On the lowly gypsum weed
Back in the saddle again"
With limited space on board for records, I've shuffeled the deck and settled on these selections for this patrol:
"Ain't misbehavin" by Fats Waller
"Anchors Aweigh" by the U.S. Navy Band
"Back in the saddle again", by Gene Autry
"Deep Purple", with Bea Wain.
"Finnegans wake", by The irish Rovers
'My hat's on the side of my head" by Roy Fox
"South Australia" Dubliners
"The Stars and Stripes Forever" by Souza
"The Star of the County Down", with John McCormack
"When Irish eyes are smiling" by John McCormack
"When you're smiling" with Billie Holiday
"Woodchoppers Ball" by Lawrence Welk
"Woo -Woo", by Harry James
9 MAR 40
1919 hrs. This evening's film in the bow compartment is "Stagecoach" with John Wayne.
Things go smoother around here when the food is good, clothing and bedding are clean and the bilges are clean.
Daily position reports sent to BdU:
11 MAR 40: AN38
12 MAR 40: AN35
12 MAR 40
1747 hrs. Sound report, merchant, medium turns, 211 degrees, long range. Steer South. Ahead standard. A good chance she's a neutral in these waters. We investigate anyway. Steer 121 degrees.
1809 Dive. Make your depth 30 meters. Ahead slow. I put the headphones on in the sound room. She's sailed 9 km since the first sound report.
In this light we should see her soon. Surface. Steer South. Ahead 1/3.
1825 hrs. I'm on the bridge with my glasses.
1829 hrs. I spot her first, bearing 340 degrees. Ahead full.
1847 hrs. She sees us and begins to zig zag, yet, she cannot out run us.
Steer 270 degrees. We get in a forward position, then turn to make the T.
1906 hrs. Open bow caps. British flag. Fire! Dud. Re-position boat for firing solution.
1909 hrs. Steer 256 degrees. Steer 280 degrees.
1912 hrs. Ahead slow. All stop. Open bow caps. Fire!
1915 hrs. She goes down slowly by the stern. Men climb into a life boat with one appearing injured. We approach them. They ask if we have a doctor on board, one of their men has a broken thigh. We bring the injured sailor on board. Our medic, Degen tends to the lad's broken leg.
"Name of your ship?' I ask.
"John Bull" is the reply. I check the manifest, 2042 tons.
We are 50 km from the coast of Norway. We throw the life boat a line.
Steer 20 degrees. Ahead slow. It matters little to me if the men in the lifeboat have a wireless set with them. I'm not worried about aircraft in this area and if they signal a warship, two things will happen, the tow line will be cut and the warship will be attacked when it appears.
Degen reports our guest has a good chance for recovery.
1940 hrs. Batteries recharged, switch to standard propulsion.
13 MAR 40
0014 hrs.
All stop. We're 11 km from the coast. The life boat comes along side. Our guest is returned to them. I advise them I intend to sail to within sight of land, then set them free. Ahead slow.
0107 hrs. All stop. Land sighted 4 km away. We pull in the tow line.
The sailors in the life boat man the oars. Dive. Make your depth 30 meters. Ahead 1 knot. Return to plotted course. 3 eels remain. I mark a spot with the pointer 10km away and order we surface at that point. Ahead slow.
I retire to my rack. I sleep well.
0513 hrs. Surface. Ahead slow.
0541 hrs. Battieries recharged, switch to standard propulsion.
Noon daily position reports to Bdu:
13 MAR 40: AN35
14 MAR 40: AN31
14 MAR 40
2330 hrs.
Our patrol area, AN28 has been reached.
I climb to the bridge. 75% diesel remains. Two hour watches in this bad weather; clouds overcast, heavy snow, thick fog, wind direction 315 degrees, wind speed 11 mps.
I turn away from the wind and light a cigar.
0630 hrs. Dive. Make your depth 50 meters. 1 knot speed.
Records play on the gramophone.
Our routine continues, surface at Noon for daily position reports to Bdu, dive, then stay submerged until dark.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

02-08-16, 02:12 AM

5th patrol
U-4
16 MAR 40
0953 hrs. Sound contact, merchant, slow turns, closing, 73 degrees, long range. Steer 270 degrees. Speed 1 knot. Make your depth 26 meters.
I put the headphones on and hear slow turns, 290 degrees.
In this weather, I'll have to make one of those 400 meter, sudden, out-of-the-fog flag identifications. I turn to Zinke sitting next to me. "You called it right, she's coming at us", I say.
1031 hrs. She's heading aft of us. Steer 90 degrees.
1037 hrs. Surfaced, we maintain course and speed. I'm on the bridge with my glasses. Battle stations. I switch to the UZO, scanning the horizon. Heavy snow.
Suddenly, the huge bow of the merchant fills the lens of the UZO.
I shout "%$#@"!!! Sound collision! She glides past our bow, 50 meters away. I scan her rigging, British flag.
"Think she saw us, gentlemen? ", I ask. Ahead full. Steer North.
She zig zags . Steer 90 degrees. Too close for a shot. We may have to shoot blind in this fog. Using rudder controls we get into a T. I plot her general course, North, then steer to a point 500 meters away from her to make the T. Steer 90 degrees. She disappears in the fog. Steer 70 degrees. Open bow caps. Fire 1! Missed. Fire 2! Missed. As she appears from the fog, I see her stern, with enough room for an eel run to sting.
Open bow caps. Fire 3! She makes her zig zag turn right into a broadside shot. That did it. Fires on her deck. She sinks slow. Men climb into a lifeboat. Speed 1 knot. We drift alongside the burning merchant. Not too close, gentlemen, she may take us with her, if cargo explodes on her deck.
She goes down by the stern. We are close enough I can read the merchant's name on the bow, "Camille", 2343 tons.
We are 160 km from the Norway coast. We approach the life boat. All stop.
I call to the men in the life boat, "you lads stay right there, we have to dive the boat to get the engines running again. We'll be right back!"
Dive. Make your depth 20 meters. Ahead slow. Soon, the hum of the E-motors is heard.
Surface. Ahead 1 knot. Steer to the life boat. Thurmann throws a line to the life boat as it pulls along side us.
"Anyone hurt?" I ask. "No" is the reply.
"We are 160 Km from the coast, we will tow you there", I say.
A tow rope is lowered to the life boat.
Carlewitz plots a course to the coast of Norway, bearing 100 degrees.
Patrol report sent to BdU.
Just about 60 minutes, in real time, with that last incident.
Shoot from the hip. Just like John Wayne. Snap shots. Reckless waste of expensive, $5,000 mark torpedoes. It's what I live for.
1217 hrs. Radio message from BdU: "Return to base"
I'm in the controlroom, sitting on the chart chest. I ask the Chief, Totenhagen, "ever been to Bergen?" "No" is his reply.
'Let's go there", I say.
"But sir, you're playing stock, do you remember years ago, what we found in Scapa Flow, after running the gauntlet of tin cans?", he asks.
"Yes, I remember, an empty harbor.", I say.
"You got any urgent matters back home?" I ask him.
"No" is his reply.
"Good, let's tow the lads to Bergen, set them free, then we give the crew liberty", I say.
Word travels quickly aboard. Liberty in Bergen!
Carlewitz plots a course, weaving among the fjords to Bergen.
Frederichs, our No. 1, isn't happy. "What about BdU?", he asks.
I reply, "they ordered us to return to base. They didn't say how soon".
17 MAR 40
0920 hrs. We reach the coast of Norway.
Noon position report to BdU: AN24
1332 hrs. On the bridge, with my glasses, I see the shore 2 Km away.
Beautiful mountains.
1505 hrs. Wow! That's a huge mountain! 250 meters away!
1602 hrs. On the bridge, without glasses, I see the lights of the Bergen lighthouses in the fog dead ahead.
Almost there boys. Mind your manners in town.
Carlewitz asks, "How long can we stay here, Capt'n?"
"I'll ask the harbor master", I reply.
1620 hrs. We sail up cross-wise to the pier and throw out the anchor.
All stop. We'll use the life boat to reach shore. Quiet and peaceful here. The fishing must be good. I saw a couple of men fishing from the pier.
Not one ship in sight.
The crew from the Camille are taken aboard. Sausage & sauerkraut are served for supper.
The overhead speakers crackle:
"The harbor master gives us 48 hrs., we sail 19 MAR 40 at 1620 hrs., liberty gentlemen, play nice in town, End"
I remain aboard with a small crew. Hartenstein, wearing a sidearm, commands the life boat to shore. He's accompanied by an armed guard.
I'm not worried about problems with the crew from the Camille.
They're grateful to be ashore.
I'm certain the Tommies have a representative in Bergen to help the lads get back home, safe & sound.
I catch up on some sleep. Records play on the gramophone. 48 hours goes by fast. We drift a bit in the harbor, turning head-on in the current, yet, our anchor holds fast.
19 MAR 40
1500 hrs.
"Entire crew is accounted for, Capt'n", says our No. 1
"Very well", I reply. Dive, make your depth 5 meters, ahead slow, return to plotted course.
1520 hrs. Surface. Ahead slow. 70 % diesel remains.

Daily Noon position reports to BdU:
20 Mar 40: AN24
21 Mar 40: AN29
22 MAR 40: AN84
23 MAR 40: AN38
24 MAR 40
0643 hrs.
We turn the corner and see the beacons from the lighthouses of Wilhelmshaven. Ahead flank.
0709 hrs. Ahead slow.
0720 hrs. 1 knot speed. I'm on the bridge.
From the open hatch I hear "Woodchoppers Ball" from the gramophone.
The song ends just as we hear the German National Anthem, played by the band.
All stop.

Arnold

02-09-16, 02:30 AM

6th patrol
We transfer to U-5.
Totenhagen made rate of watchman while we were ashore.
Officers Fredericks and Hartenstein were dismissed without replacements.
21 APR 40
1604 hrs.
Ahead slow. Carlewitz plots a course to our patrol area, AN21.
We maintain a routine of staying submerged during the daylight, except for surfacing at Noon for five minutes to ventilate the boat and send the daily position report to BdU.
I take a peek with the scope before we surface, since the time darkness arrives varies each day with the weather conditions.
The object of this routine is to avoid aircraft.
I climb to the bridge. Sunshine. Clear sky's. Calm sea.
I light a cigar.
From the open hatch, I hear John McCormack sing, "Star of the County Down".
"Near Banbridge town
In the County Down
One morning last July
Down a boithrin green
Came a sweet cailin
And she smiled as she passed me by"
"She looked so sweet
From her two bare feet
To the sheen of her nut-brown hair
Such a coaxing elf
I was ashamed of me self
For to see I was really there"
"From Bantry Bay
Up to Derry Quay
And from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen
Like the sweet cailin
That I met in the County Down"
As I listen to the lyrics, I remember the times in my life when I was thunderstruck as well.
I finish my cigar and climb down to the control room.
Daily Noon position reports to BdU:
22 APR 40: AN 95
23 Apr 40: AN 63
24 APR 40: AN 49
25 APR 40: AN 46
25 APR 40
2200 hrs.
As we surface, we find ourselves in a storm that will last for five days.
Overcast sky's, thunder, lightning, very heavy sea.
Poor flying weather. Good.
Daily Noon position reports to BdU:
26 APR 40: AN 42
27 APR 40: AN 42
28 APR 40: AN 42
29 APR 40: AN 27
30 Apr 40: AN 27
30 APR 40
2246 hrs.
Clear weather. Heavy sea. Patrol area AN 21 reached.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

02-10-16, 11:05 PM

U-5
1 MAY 40
AN21
0013 hrs.
From the open hatch to the bow compartment, I hear laughter.
They're playing a "Laurel & Hardy" film.
1140 hrs. We're at periscope depth. Sky scope up. A look around.
Down scope. Surface.
1147 hrs. Ventilate the boat. Ahead slow.
I climb to the bridge. Clear sky's. Medium sea.
1154 hrs. Boat ventilated. Dive. Make your depth 30 meters. Speed 1 knot.
- "The conversation" -
At lunch this afternoon, seated at the table with my two officers, Carlewitz & Totenhagen, it came up in conversation, a question about my goals.
"What would you like to accomplish, sir?" - Totenhagen asked.
"No. 1 would be to learn. I want to acquire the skills necessary to complete this war in an honorable manner, " I say.
"What if we die?" Carlewitz asked.
"Dead is dead, my friend. A notice will be posted of our overdue status and our story ends," I say.
"We can all be replaced. A new Captain's name will take our place", I say.
'If he only survives a few days, then another will replace him, until the war ends", I say.
"No details of the patrols will be posted until he reaches the date and time the prior Captain was reported over due, " I say.
"It may be a long while before a new Captain appears on the horizon", I say.
"I wonder how many different Captains will it take before one Captain is able to hunt & evade from the start to finish?" I say.
"I am not going to hide behind a tree when things become difficult."
"No, when opportunity knocks, we will answer the door", I say.
2 MAY 40
0019 hrs.
I climb to the bridge. Zander & Sauer are rigging up two fishing poles on either side of the tower. They're using treble hooks wired to big spoons for lures. If we have to make any sudden moves, the lines will be cut.
Fresh cod for dinner would be nice.
This fishing reminds me of the time my brother & I visted Isle Royale.
We met Elling Seglem, a Norwegian fisherman there. He was from Chicago.
Every Summer, he would travel by train from Chicago to Duluth, then take the passenger ferry to Isle Royale. Elling reminded me of my Grandfather, with his good sense of humor. After Ellig died, his family gathered all of his letters home into a book, titled "Dairies of an Isle Royale Fisherman"
ISBN -O - 935289-13-5
Library of Congress control No. 2002112588
0205 hrs.
Sauer gets a bite on his line, soon followed by a bite on Zander's line.
For the next four hours, 30 cod are landed, enough for every soul aboard!
Cans of lard and bags of corn meal are obtained from storage.
Our cook, Sauer, heats up the frying pan on the stove.
Soon, the smell of fried fish fills the boat.
We wash it all down with beer, 1/2 a bottle each.
3 MAY 40
0134 hrs.
Sound contact. Merchant. Medium turns. 244 degrees. Long range.
Closing. Steer 150 degrees. Ahead slow.
0240 hrs.
There she is, dead ahead, moving away, a big one! Battle stations.
Steer 180 degrees. We run along side her, four miles away.
We sail to a forward position, turn to 120 degrees to make the T.
0400 hrs.
Dive. Periscope depth. Ahead flank.
She's about 5,00 meters away, a C-2, doing 9 knots.
0418 hrs.
Attack scope up. Open bow caps. I take a chance she's not a neutral. Can't see the flag from this distance. Fire 1!
Connect tube 2. Open bow caps. Fire 2! Connect tube 3.
Open bow caps. Fire 3!
Now we wait.
We hear two explosions. I look and she has slowed to 7 knots and starts to zig zag. Her general course is SSW.
0424 hrs.
The electric eel missed. Surface. We'll run along side her and load two more fish in our tubes.
0428 hrs.
We are doing 9 knots, getting in a forward position ahead of her.
The men in the bow are singing the sea shanty "South Austraila" as they heave the eels into the tubes.
0434 hrs.
Tubes 1 & 2 are loaded, both steam eels. Set pistols to contact, speed fast.
Steer 120 degrees to make the T. Periscope depth.
0459 hrs.
Ahead slow. Open bow caps. Attack scope up. She's 1100 meters away.
0500 hrs.
Fire 1! Connect tube 2. Open bow caps. Fire 2! That did it. Fires on her deck. She splits in half and sinks fast.
0503 hrs.
Surfaced, we search the wreckage. No survivors. A life ring is found.
"King Arthur" is written on it. British.
Patrol report sent to BdU.
Rausch crafts a white-colored pennant. 6446 is written on it.
0607 hrs.
Radio message from BdU: "Return to base"
Carlewitz plots a course for home.
Dive. Make your depth 30 meters. Speed 1 knot.
4 MAY 40
0330 hrs. We surface. Clear sky's. Heavy sea. I light a cigar.
0730 hrs. Dive.
Daily Noon position reports to BdU:
5 MAY 40
AN 27
6 MAY 40
AN 42
7 MAY 40
AN42
8 MAY 40
AN 43
9 MAY 49
AN 46
10 MAY 49
AN 49
11 MAY 40
AN 63
12 MAY 40
AN 93
13 MAY 40
AN 95
50% diesel remains.
1447 hrs.
A harbor ship is on fire! Steer 240 degrees. Ahead flank!
A mine?
Ahead slow. A torpedo boat. Ours.
We fish two men out of the water, alive. On fire, with her ensign flying, she remains afloat. The other crewmen are missing.
"Keep a sharp eye, gentlemen", I say.
1735 hrs.
A mine sweeper moves aft of us.
1833 hrs.
We turn the corner. "Maintain course and speed", I order.
1940 hrs.
We enter the Wilhelmshaven harbor as a light wind from the East is under a storm front above us.
Speed 1 knot.
All stop.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

02-11-16, 09:39 PM

7th patrol
U-5
10 June 40
2019 hrs.
Hansen was promoted to Chief Seaman.
Carlewitz made rate of damage controlman.
Ahead slow. Carlewitz plots a course to our patrol area, AN 67.
Shallow water, heavy traffic.
He examines the sea chart to locate a suitable area. He spots a deep channel in our patrol area, about 9 Km wide and 60 Km in length. Good.
I climb to the bridge, light a cigar and keep a close eye on the water dead ahead of us.
"1 x TC, if you please, Chief", I say.
"I want to watch ahead of us for mines", I say.
I'm not certain if it was a mine that got that torpedo boat on our last patrol. Best to be ready at the rudder controls if a porcupine appears.
13 JUNE 40
2240 hrs.
AN 68
We surface in a storm. Medium sea. Bad flying weather. Good.
Ahead slow.
14 JUNE 40
0902 hrs.
AN 67
We reach our patrol area. Using the pointer, I begin to mark positions, sounding, with a note for each depth.
Mark # 1 - 39 meters
Mark # 2 - 44 meters
Mark # 3 - 54 meters
1825 hrs.
Dive. Make your depth 30 meters. Speed 1 knot.
2235 hrs.
We're running on the surface, ahead slow. The storm continues.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

02-13-16, 12:26 AM

7th patrol
U-5
14 JUNE 40
2338 hrs.
We're running on the surface.
I climb to the bridge. Heavy sea. Rain.
At times, the tower is underwater for four seconds.
Tough to keep a cigar lit in these conditions.
15 JUNE 40
1135 hrs.
Foul weather gear drys by the electric heaters.
Carlewitz reads a book at the chart table.
Totenhagen sleeps in his rack.
Six men sleep in the bow compartment.
Seven men, including Totenhagen, sleep in the stern quarters.
Creutz, in the radio room, listens to a soccer game back home.
1811 hrs.
Sound contact. Warship. 217 degrees. Long range. closing.
Steer 270 degrees. Maintain speed 1 knot.
Give her the narrow silhouette.
1828 hrs.
Sound contact at 360 degrees. Rudder amidships.
Zink, in the sound room, can no longer hear the contact.
I put the headphones on.
I can hear her at 360 degrees.
Using the rudder controls, I keep the sound bearing within 10 degrees from 360 degrees.
1909 hrs.
I can no longer hear the sound contact.
Return to plotted course.
0200 hrs.
Surfaced, I climb to the bridge.
Heavy sea. Overcast. Thunder. Lightning. No rain.
I light a cigar.
16 JUNE 40
0748 hrs.
Dive. Make your depth 30 meters. Speed 1 knot.
NOON
AN 67
75% diesel remains.
1213 hrs.
We test our endurance.
Dive. Make your depth 30 meters. Speed 1 knot.
Men off-duty wear CO2 cartridges.
17 JUNE 40
0248 hrs.
50% O2 remains
0812 hrs.
30% O2 remains. Periscope depth.
0817 hrs.
Surfaced. Twenty hours submerged.
18 JUNE 40
0300 hrs.
Periscope depth. Sky scope up. A look around. Cloudy.
Surface. Ahead slow. I climb to the bridge.
Medium sea. Thunder. Lightning. No rain.
I light a cigar.
0330 hrs.
I climb back down to the control room, go to my locker above my rack.
There, I find my album of "The Grand Canyon Suite" composed by Ferde Grofe in 1931. I give the record to Cruetz, in the radio room, with instructions to play the selection titled, "cloudburst".
Seems appropriate considering the weather.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

02-14-16, 04:54 AM

7th patrol
18 JUNE 40
Noon AN 67
Clear sky's. Calm sea.
19 JUNE 40
0203 hrs.
Sound contact. Bearing 350 degrees. Medium turns. Merchant.
Steer North. Maintain depth of 18 meters. Speed 1 knot. O2 95%
'I x TC, if you please Chief", I order.
0203 hrs.
Sound increases in volume. Good.
220 hrs.
Steer 10 degrees. Speed slow. We steer to a T.
0225 hrs.
Slow to 1 knot so I can listen in the sound room.
I experiment, using a pair of rifle range ear muffs over the headset to see if I can hear better that way. Much improvement!
She's at 330 degrees.
Battle stations. Set 3 steam eels to contact pistols, fast speed.
Steer 4 degrees.
0235 hrs,
Steer North.
0236 hrs.
Speed 1 knot.
0239 hrs.
She's at 336 degrees via sound contact.
0251 hrs.
Steer 45 degrees. She's at 286 degrees.
0256 hrs.
All stop. Rudder amidships.
0257 hrs.
Scope up. I spot her smoke at 290 degrees. Down scope.
I estimate she's 3 1/2 Km away, right on course, SSE.
0309 hrs.
Scope up. She's at 310 degrees. Range 2200 meters away. Speed 8 knots.
A small merchant. Down scope.
0319 hrs.
British flag. Open bow caps. Fire 1! She sinks slow, turns on her starboard side before sinking. Men have time to climb into a life boat. Surface.
Steer to the life boat. We pull along side the life boat. Hansen, on the bow deck, throws a line to them. They secure the line to a clete on the bow of the life boat.
"Anyone hurt?", I ask. "Two dead , two injured", is the reply.
"Bring the injued on board", I say. While the dead are sewn into canvas and buried at sea, our medic Degan, tends to the injured taken below. We are 143 Km from the British coast.
"Name of your ship?", I ask. "El Chapo", is the reply. 2343 tons.
Their Captain and I agree to keep the two injured men on our boat. One is critical . If they were to remain in the life boat, their chances of survival are nil.
Well provisioned, including a wireless set, the men in the life boat hoist a sail then steer SSW.
0343 hrs.
Dive. Steer West. Make your depth 20 meters. Speed 1 knot.
19 JUNE 40
Noon
AN 67
Surfaced. Clear sky's. Medium sea. Ahead slow.
One of the injured men passed away last night. We bury him at sea.
The other injured sailor is healing from a broken leg.
"William" is from Birmingham, 18 years old, a good-natured kid.
The crew like him.
1233 hrs.
Dive. Make your depth 18 meters. Speed 1 knot.
1926 hrs.
Sound contact. Warship. Closing fast. 42 degrees. Medium range.
Rig for silent running.
1932 hrs.
She's running aft of us, moving away, towards the last position of the life boat from the "El Chapo".
"There goes the 7th Cavalry, gentlemen", I say.
We're 20 Km away from the life boat.
20 JUNE 40
1259 hrs.
I'm wearing the head set in the sound room when I hear engine noise, bearing 80 degrees. Medium turns.
Ahead 1/3.
1305 hrs.
Zinke puts the headset on and reports a sound contact; merchant, medium turns, 81 degrees, closing, long range.
1310 hrs.
Battle stations. Her general course is SE.
Carlewitz is busy making pencil marks on the chart.
1324 hrs.
Ahead standard, we're 3 Km from the T. She's 9 Km away on our starboard side.
1329 hrs.
We're 1 1/2 KM from our deer blind. She's 8 Km away. Ahead slow.
1343 hrs.
Periscope depth. Speed 1 knot. She's 4 1/2 Km away at 85 degrees.
We're 900 meters from her course.
All stop. Up scope, x6. There she is, a C-3, doing 8 knots.
Down scope.
1350 hrs.
She's 3000 meters away, bearing 80 degrees.
1353 hrs.
Up scope. Lock scope. She's 2000 meters away. Open bow caps.
1400 hrs. I unlock the scope. British flag. I aim for her fuel bunker.
1403 hrs.
Fire 1! Connect tube 2. Open bow caps. Fire 2! That did it. The eel hit, she caught fire, split in half, then settled down to the shallow sea bed, creating a navigation hazard. Her crew have time to climb into two lifeboats.
Down scope. Surface.
1408 hrs.
Surfaced, we steer to the life boats. Speed 1 knot.
Rudder controls are used to steer aft of her. Very calm sea.
The sun has set on our starboard side with light reflecting on the wreck.
"Everyone accounted for? I call to them. "Yes", is the reply.
Some cargo remains on the exposed aft deck.
Sauer mans the machine gun. I take control of the machine gun to plink away at the remaining cargo, 200 meters away. It takes a bit of timing for the gun sight cross hairs to settle on the cargo, with the ocean swell rocking the boat. A few more shots and I hit it, causing it to explode, sending debris in all directions.
Both life boats are secured to the sides of our boat.
"Anyone hurt?", I ask. "One dead, fourteen injured", is the reply.
"Name of your ship?, I ask.
"Poncho Villa", is the reply. 7909 tons.
"Bring the injured aboard", I call to them.
The dead sailor is sewn into canvas. He is buried at sea.
Both life boats set sail for the English coast.
Degen, our medic, gives me his report regarding our guests.
Everyone's injuries are stable, with no life-threatening injuries.
They occupy the entire bow quarters.
Dive. Make your depth 15 meters. Speed 1 knot. 70% diesel remains.
Steer NE.
21 JUNE 40
0242 hrs.
We're on the surface.
I'm on the bridge. I light a cigar.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

02-15-16, 12:13 AM

7th patrol
U-5
21 JUNE 40
0943 hrs.
Zinke reports a sound contact. Warship, fast turns, 278 degrees, closing, long range. We steer 230 degrees. Rig for silent running.
I put the headphones on. Steer South. Sound contact 360 degrees.
Rudder amidships.
1008 hrs.
Using rudder controls, at 1 knot speed, we match our rate of turn with the sound contacts, slowly following her lead as she heads aft of us.
Give her the narrow silhouette. She's 6 Km out, moving away.
1026 hrs.
I can no longer hear the sound contact. Secure from silent running.
Surface. Ahead slow.
1030 hrs.
We're surfaced. I climb to the bridge. Stormy. No rain.
75% O2. 68% diesel remains. Recharge batteries.
I slowly scan the horizon with my glasses.
1039 hrs.
Boat ventilated. I climb down to the control room
"It's a Long Way to Tipperary", with John McCormack is playing on the gramophone.
1145 hrs.
Battery recharged. "Standard propulsion, Chief", I order.
NOON
AN 59
Rain starts topside. Dive. Make your depth 15 meters. Speed 1 knot.
2005 hrs.
I'm in the sound room, with the headphones on.
Sound contact. 20 degrees. Long distance. Slow turns.
Steer 325 degrees. Battle stations.
Two remaining steam eels pistols set to contact, fast speed.
2012 hrs.
Sound contact 24 degrees, closing. We steer North.
2017 hrs.
Rudder midships. Sound bearing 350 degrees.
2027 hrs.
Sound bearing 354 degrees. Her general course is SSE.
Carlewitz makes pencil marks on the sea chart.
We steer 60 degrees to make the T.
2032 hrs.
Radioman Zink can hear her now, a merchant, slow turns, long range, closing, 306 degrees. Carlewitz plots her course, which becomes more accurate with each bearing made. We're about 3 Km from her plotted course. She is about 10 Km from us. Surface. Ahead 1/3.
2053 hrs.
Dive. Make your depth 15 meters. Speed 1 knot.
She's at 300 degrees, about 5 Km away.
2100 hrs.
Periscope depth. She's 4 Km away, 313 degrees.
2104 hrs.
Attack scope up. 6 x. There she is, 320 degrees, a small coastal merchant, doing 8 knots, out about 2000 meters. Down scope.
2106 hrs.
Scope up. Open bow caps.
2113 hrs.
897 meters away, British flag. Fire 1! That did it.
She sinks fast by the stern. Surface. Ahead slow. Steer to the wreckage.
Down scope.
We spot one man in the water, alive. We fish him out, bundle him in a blanket and take him below.
"Your ship's name?", I ask him.
"Arthur Treacher", is his reply. 2042 tons, loaded with sacks of potatoes and canned fish.
Wolfbauer, on the bridge, spots a section of wooden hold decking from the ship, with two crates secured on it. We fish it out of the water, hauling it up on our bow decking. We pry open one crate to discover it filled with 50 lb sacks of potatoes. The oher crate was filled with canned fish. All of it is taken below. Fish & chips for dinner, with grateful appreciation to the "Aurthur Treacher".
Good. Now we should have plenty of provisions to last us.
I'm on the bridge with Zahn, Marks, Wolfbauer and Bahn.
Overcast. Stormy. I light a cigar, then ask Adolf Bahn,
"isn't your middle name Bernard"?
"Yes sir, it my mum's maiden name", he reply's.
Trouble on the horizon, boys.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

02-16-16, 12:40 AM

7th patrol
21 JUNE 40
2136 hrs.
Batteries recharged. Standard propulsion.
Dive. Make your depth 10 meters. Speed 1 knot.
2213 hrs.
I put the headphones on in the sound room. No contacts heard.
Our 16 guests on board are all recovering from their injuries. They have to "hot-bunk" in the bow quarters, where they are confined, with one slop bucket, until we reach shore.
I check in on them.
They're listening to an English soccer match, when suddenly, the game is interrupted by actor and actress voices from a radio play titled "Heidi".
A collective moan is made by the sailors.
In the forward torpedo room, Adolf Bernard Bahn is reading the technical manual for the Foche-Achgelis Fa-330.

Rotor speed: 205 RPM
Cruising height: 130 meters
Max. height: 219 meters
Min. pulling speed required: 15 knots.
Cost of aviation seat belt: 7 marks
Cost of Fa-330: 6000 marks
Cost of watching "Bernard" sail off the stern on the end of a string:
Priceless
22 JUNE 40
0535 hrs.
Periscope depth. Sky scope up. Down scope. Surface.
Ventilate the boat. I climb to the bridge. Overcast sky. Heavy sea.
Ahead slow. I light a cigar. 65% diesel remains.
0547 hrs.
Boat ventilated. Dive. Make your depth 10 meters. Speed 1 knot.
As the radioman plays "J'attendrai" with Rina Ketty, I drift off to sleep in my bunk.
0818 hrs.
We're on the surface. I'm on the bridge, next to our navigator, Carlewitz.
"Plot a course for home", I say to him.
"Aye aye!" is his happy reply.
I climb back down below to go back to sleep.
0826 hrs.
Radioman Heller sends a patrol report to Bdu. Thirty two minutes later, BdU sends a reply, "Keep up the good work!"
Daily Noon position reports to BdU:
22 JUNE 40: AN 59
23 JUNE 40: AN 67
24 JUNE 40: AN 69
25 JUNE 40
0835 hrs.
30% diesel remains
1x TC.
We turn the corner to see the lighthouses of Wilhelmshaven welcome us home. Clear skys. A light fog is above the harbor. The morning sun is on our starboard.
Radio message from BdU: Swiss diplomat will be waiting on the pier for our "guests". None of them are going to the stalag. They're civilians as far as I'm concerned.
I send the 2nd sailor from the left on the bridge down below so I have a clear view on the bridge. I light a cigar and enjoy the ride to the lighthouses, 2 Km away.
0900 hrs.
Ahead slow.
0908 hrs.
Speed 1 knot.
0917 hrs.
All stop.
Admiral Donitz meets us at the pier. I ask for a transfer from the 1st to the 7th Flotilla.
Request approved.
We are ordered to deliver our boat from Wilhelmshaven to Kiel.
She will be used as a training boat from now on, with a new U-number.
More men are enlisted, including three new officers.
New new recruits travel by train to Kiel.
Our new boat, a Type VII-C, will retain our U-5 number.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

02-17-16, 01:05 AM

8th patrol
U-5
24 JULY 40
1003 hrs.
1 x TC
Loaded with 14 steam eels, we sail from Kiel.
Eels are fitted with contact pistols, set for fast speed.
Ahead slow.
Carlewitz plots a course for our patrol area, AN 69.
In my duffel bag I've packed several boxes of cigars and eight records;

"Deep purple" with Bea Wain
"It's a Long Way to Tipperary" with John McCormack
"J'attendrai" with Rina Ketty
"My Hat's On the Side of My Head" with Roy Fox
"South Australia" Dubliners
"The Music Goes round and Around" with Harry Hall
"Woodchoppers Ball" Lawrence Welk
"Woo-Woo" Harry James
Our cook, Sauer, made rate of damage controlman.
With 52 men on board, including myself, we now have four radiomen, four torpedomen, three machinists, two damage controlmen and two medics.
Watch on board will be the same as in our dugout canoe, 6 on, 6 off.
On the tower, the lighthouse emblem.
125 x TC
Daily Noon position reports to BdU:
23 JULY 40
AO 77
24 JULY 40
AO 75
24 JULY 40
1947 hrs.
1 x TC
We are at the Southern end of "The Sound," on the Eastern shore of Denmark. Depth under keel: 15 meters.
I ask Carlewitz, "you remember, years ago, what the depth was at the Southern end of the Langelands Baelt?"
"8 meters, sir" he says.
"That's what I remember too, very shallow there", I say.
"We'll use this route from now on", I continue.
125 x TC
Daily Noon Position reports to BdU:
25 JULY 40
AO 44
26 JULY 40
AO 41
27 JULY 40
AN 36
28 JULY 40
AN 38
1 x TC
29 JULY 40
0750 hrs.
Patrol area AN 69 reached.
162 tons of diesel remains.
39 meters under our keel.
Steer West
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

02-18-16, 04:40 AM

8th patrol
U-5
29 JULY 40
0759 Hrs.
1 x TC.
We're on the surface. Five green horns man the bridge watch, set for two hours in this heavy sea. Clear sky's. Ahead slow.
Carlewitz plots our patrol course, a narrow rectangle, running West, then South, then East. Records play on the gramophone.
On board, the green horns are tasked with the worst jobs; clean the bilge, empty the slop buckets.
Those of us with seven patrols under our belts live the life of leisure.
I climb to the bridge.
In my pockets; a wrench, two muffler clamps with lock washers and nuts and two metal fising pole holders. Within a half hour, I've got both fishing pole holders attached to the metal railing on the aft portion of the bridge.
Puzzled looks from the green horns.
I climb down below and search for Adolf Bernard Bahn, finding him in the bow compartment.
"You really want to fly that Fa330?" I ask him.
"Yes, sir!", is his reply.
"You may get your chance if we ever get a bigger boat and are sent to the South Atlantic", I say.
As if on que, the entire assembly of sailors in the bow compartment begin to sing:
"Into the air, Junior Birdmen
Into the air, pilots green!
Into the air Junior Birdmen
Climb into that old machine!"
0934 hrs.
I catch some sleep. With Totenhagen and Carlewitz on duty, I know the boat is in good hands.
30 JULY 40
0800 hrs.
We've completed the 24 hours in our patrol area.
153 tons of diesel remains.
Carlewitz plots a course to AN 16.
Our routine will be as follows:
We will try to surface at noon every day to make our daily position report to BdU. Once the boat is ventilated, we dive.
We will try to maintain a speed of 1 knot while submerged.
We surface at dark, then dive at first light.
Diving, surfacing and checking for light conditions topside are accomplished in 1 x TC.
Sailing to AN 16 is accomplished at 125 x TC., or 9 hours, 25 minutes real time.
Daily Noon position reports to BdU:
30 JULY 40
AN 66
31 JULY 40
AN 65
1 AUG 40
AN 62
2 AUG 40
AN 61
3 AUG 40
AN 61
4 AUG 40
AN 48
5 AUG 40
AN 48
6 AUG 40
AN 45
7 AUG 40
AN 44
8 AUG 40
0016 hrs.
The first of six warship sound contacts made durng the next two days.
I get plenty of practice giving the tin cans the narrow silhouette.
We keep a shallow depth, speed 1 knot, follow the sound contact until 360 degrees or (for the first time for me) at 180 degrees. Once she's reached those bearings (360 or 180) I set my rudders to amidships. I wasn't certain if I could still hear them in our baffles. I did! Just one more reason to clean the wax out of my ears on a regular basis.
10 AUG 40
0148 hrs.
We surface to ventilate and recharge the batteries.
We have reached AN 16.
Our Chief, Totenhagen is on the bridge with me.
Clear sky's. Heavy sea.
"What do you think about our new boat? I ask him.
"She's a sweety!" he says.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Hambone307

02-18-16, 09:36 PM

To: BdU
From: U-78
2 Nov 1941

Attacked convoy as ordered. Detected by escorts. Attacked. Flo----

Excerpts from journal found among U-boat wreckage:

Kapitan Karl Giesling

2 Nov 1941
00:00 Convoy sighted. Bearing 290, Range medium. Turning to 180 to intercept. Poor weather. Fog.
00:25 Lead ship V&W class. 2x Merchants, Granville Freighters. Trail V&W class. Contact Report sent.
00:26 Ordered periscope depth, ahead slow.
00:30 BdU orders attack. Lead escort has turned to heading 010. May have been detected.
00:34 Lead escort tacking, Active sonar heard. We have been detected. Ordered tube 2 readied. Shallow, magnetic pistol, fast speed.
00:35 Torpedo loose at range 900m, gryo angle 0, 35s eta.
00:36 MISS. Emergency dive, actively engaged with sonar.
00:40 Depth Charges. Hydrophones damaged, Tubes 3+4 destroyed, 1+2 damaged. Flooding bow torpedo room. Escorts WELL TRAINED.

02:10 Escorts evaded. Multiple runs with charges. Tubes 1+2 6 hour estimated repair. Hydrophone estimated 2 hours. One torpedo stuck in tube 4. Flooding controlled and water pumped out. Bdu Advised of situation. Ordered to shadow convoy until further notice.
08:15 Tubes 1+2 repaired. Dove to reload tube 1 due to sea state. Still poor weather, fog.
08:30 Tube 1 reloaded. Contact with convoy re-established via Hydrophone. Tube 2 unable to load. Welds on loading rail broken. Surfaced to send contact report. BdU orders us to move ahead of convoy. Sounds like BdU has sent another boat to assist from other radio traffic.

10:00 In position. BdU has ordered attack.
11:30 Passed lead escort undetected. Tube 1 fired at lead Granville Freighter. Range 900m, 50s eta.
11:31 Impact midships. Immediate secondaries. No movement on deck.
11:33 Ship listing to starboard. Sinking quickly. No lifeboats manned. Presumed no survivors. Diving to evade escorts.
11:45 Depth 120m, ahead slow, silent running. Detected by escorts. Someone dropped wrench-- will identify and discipline at later date. TWO sets of sonar pings. DD off port and starboard side, closing fast. Ordered new depth 150m. Bow crew just advised that patches are now leaking, bilge filling rapidly. Active sonar stopped. Two sets of screws heard passing over. Depth charges. First attack missed. Metallic clang heard in conning tower -- possible charge stuck. Second attack incoming. Hope the charge is dud.
12:01 Destroyers have passed over. Splashes heard. These will be close. Ordered crew brace for impact.

End of Journal.

U-78 was destroyed by a depth charge that had stuck between the periscopes and side of conning tower. During the second attack on her, a depth charge detonated close by and set off the charge that was stuck in the conning tower. U-78 was split in two and all crew lost. This was the crew's third war patrol. In the end, U-78 was not assisted by another U-boat, but by the Luftwaffe. U-78 had successfully sank the targeted freighter. The Luftwaffe bombers destroyed the second freighter and began their attack on the two escorts. Sadly, the Luftwaffe was unable to stop the killing blow being dealt to U-78.

Time to start a new campaign... :dead:

Arnold

02-19-16, 06:00 AM

8th patrol
U-5
AN 16
18 FEB 40
0305 hrs.
Dive. Make your depth 40 meters. Speed 1 knot.
In the sound room, I wear the headphones. No sound contacts.
0356 hrs.
Hessler in the radio room plays the records on the gramophone.
0700 hrs.
2nd watch.
My method of 'the changing of the guard" is to provide every crewman on board with an equal amount of time off-watch.
0710 hrs.
Sound contact, merchant, 219 degrees, slow turns, long range.
closing.
Steer 90 degrees. Surface. Ahead standard.
Carlewitz is making pencil marks on the chart.
"Her general course is North" he says.
0735 hrs.
Battle stations. We're about 2 Km from her course line. Ahead 1/3.
0737 hrs.
Dive. Periscope depth. Ahead slow.
0738 hrs.
I put the headphones on. She's at 55 degrees. Loud. Steer 110 degrees.
Speed 1 knot.
0750 hrs.
All stop. Up scope. There she is. A small one, doing 8 knots.
0759 hrs.
Open bow caps. She's at 60 degrees.
In this heavy sea, the scope view is blurred often by the waves.
Every time I get a look at her, I try to I.D. the flag.
0805 hrs.
700 meters away. British flag. AOB 90 degrees. Fire 1!
She goes down fast by the bow. Down scope. Surface.
Steer towards the wreckage. No survivors. No ship's name I.D. either.
I estimate her to displace 2,000 toms.
0830 hrs.
Tube one loaded. Secure from battle stations. Dive.
Make your depth 30 meters. Speed 1 knot. Return to plotted course.
Tonight's film in the bow compartment: "The Wizard of Oz".
sub-Lt. Bauman, with the rate of torpedoman, is in the control room.
"When the sea calms, we'll get that eel out of the deck storage, okay?" I say to him.
"Aye, aye" is his reply.
0841 hrs.
I put the headphones on in the sound room to listen for the 7th cavalry.
No sound contacts.
0841 hrs.
I sleep.
32 xTC.
1155 hrs.
Periscope depth. Sky scope up. Ahead slow. Down scope. Surface.
1206 hrs.
AN 16
I climb to the bridge. I light a cigar.
1211 hrs.
Batteries recharged. Standard propulsion set.
I've got a glass tube, with a cork stopper in my pocket and a lit cigar in my hand. When a big wave is about to hit the tower and dunk all of us underwater for a few seconds, I drop my lit cigar into the tube and seal it with the stopper. When we emerge from the dunking, I remove the cork stopper and continue smoking the cigar.
143 tons of diesel remains.
1224 hrs.
Boat ventilated. Without my glasses, I scan the sky.
Totenhagen shouts, "aircraft spotted, 188 degrees!"
Alarm! Crash dive. Steer 190 degrees. Ahead flank.
Make your depth 90 meters.
I ask the Chief, "how much in the air tanks?"
"150" he says.
1340 hrs. Periscope depth. Sky scope up. 4x. Down scope. Surface.
1420 hrs.
I climb to the bridge with the Totenhagen.
"Come out of the sun, did it?" I aks him.
"Yes sir, a Condor" he replies.
"Probably on a bombing run to Scapa Flow" I say.
"The plane had a long banner trailing behind it, like one of those your see at the soccer game, when a plane goes over, pulling a sign that says "drink Becks beer" he says.
"Just before I climbed down the hatch, I turned around and raised my glasses" he says.
"Well, what was written on the banner?, I ask.
"Join the Donitz Flotilla!", he says.
1615 hrs.
Air tanks filled with compressed air, 100%.
Dive. Make your depth 40 meters. Speed 1 knot.
We evade a warship sound contact at 2020 hrs. until she can no longer be heard at 2039 hrs.
11 AUG 40
0343 hrs.
We're on the surface. Heavy sea. Clear sky's. The sun has set.
I light a cigar.
Carl A. Lange Jr. sub-Lt.

Arnold

02-20-16, 12:23 AM

^
I got my realism set for no event camera. Does that make a difference when I try to take a screenshot?
Screenshots are something I haven't tried before in SH3.
Also, if I am able to get a screenshot (control + F 11), where does the photo end up in my computer? The documents folder or the pictures folder?
Or, some top secret folder, buried by Ubisoft in a place where no one would expect to look?.
I've tried twice with no results.
I also hit the "enter" key, next to the number pad, when I tried to drop the control panel down, sending an eel out the bow tube.
Well, it's been fun lads. I'm outta here.
Join this. Do that.
Sounds like my ex-wife.

jakethescot

02-20-16, 05:52 PM

A first. Just started a new campaign and on the first patrol I'm in AM26. I see an SO1B and go to periscope depth. At about 2500m, I fire one torpedo. It hits and there's a huge explosion. Get the 'torpedo impact' confirmation and am waiting for the smoke to clear, and it's gone. The ship just vanished. No ' she's going down ' or anything. It's just not there anymore. Didn't get a 'kill' either. I'm using NYGM and have been for a long time and have never until now seen this.

Hambone307

02-22-16, 07:04 PM

U-123

L.z.s Calamity

Received orders mid patrol to travel to La Spezia for temporary reassignment. Have traveled through Strait of Gibralter without incident until now.
Submerged at 0500 to avoid patrols. Forced to stay under due to increased Destroyer activity.
At 16:10 five destroyers detected via hydrophone.
16:38 we were detected.
16:40 on reserve O2.
Crew ordered to bunks. Damage control team on standby. Trying to conserve oxygen.
18:20 Contact with destroyers lost. Surfaced to recharge batteries and replenish air supply. Minor damage from depth charges.
Proceeding to La Spezia.

Total 5x merchants torpedoed and sunk upon arrival at port.

New orders to proceed back through Strait of Gibralter to CG88 for 24 hours, and then return to France.

Jbmean

02-27-16, 10:12 PM

I started a new career with a fresh gwx 3.0 install on a type II.

I've run a bunch of patrols, I love the mod, and I suck at tracking targets with sonar. Hehe.

I've been watching tutorials on the four bearing stuff. I'm not super fast, but I guess it'll come with practice.

The good news is I can avoid destroyers and trawlers once detected.

I need some kills, soon. I'm still rocking a type II and the IX just came out.

noob

ivanov.ruslan

02-28-16, 02:36 AM

As Jimbuna says, be more aggressive http://i.imgur.com/6NnyXT8.gif

Jbmean

02-29-16, 01:48 PM

Finally got enough renown for a type VIIB. I feel like that captain in the fleet that everyone laughs at. Hehe.

I had a nice engagement with a convoy. Calculated the bearing, went ahead, parked, fired, evaded, rinse and repeat. I only sank one boat, though. I have to get a better angle on my salvos across the convoy to get more hits.

Also, should I try to use the magnetic detonator and fire just under the keel? I feel like my impact trigger torps aren't sinking vessels without multiple hits.

ivanov.ruslan

03-16-16, 11:20 AM

A few kilometers before the head of the convoy, waiting to improve visibility

http://prikachi.com/images/295/8694295A.jpg

http://prikachi.com/images/335/8694335e.png

Fahnenbohn

03-16-16, 11:24 AM

@ ivanov.ruslan : rusty IX submarine, hehe ... strange, the wind seems strong, but the waves are small (distorted image) ... watch out for radar ! ... this grey reminds me of something ... ;-)

ivanov.ruslan

03-16-16, 11:33 AM

Heh, small, three days welcomed me like 4 storey buildings :)

Aha,New Env Mod F.

ivanov.ruslan

03-18-16, 02:06 PM

Because the bad weather is not changed, i went on the attack

Cleavage.....

http://prikachi.com/images/136/8698136W.jpg

http://prikachi.com/images/134/8698134u.jpg

fumo30

03-18-16, 02:46 PM

^Nice ruslan!:salute:

I had a bad day june 6th 1942 in my Vllc near east coast of Florida also in bad visibility. Wasted 3 torpedoes for a great lakes freighter.:down: 1st one was a miss, the second one hit, but that tin can refused to sink and so I had to fire the third torp for coup de grace.

ivanov.ruslan

03-24-16, 11:09 AM

Ocean only Ocean No ships, no convoys nothing ....

http://prikachi.com/images/188/8709188M.jpg

Waves flooded deck and conning tower
http://prikachi.com/images/186/8709186r.jpg

Bow worship the ocean scary and focused
http://prikachi.com/images/185/8709185P.jpg

Fahnenbohn

03-24-16, 12:44 PM

Ocean only Ocean No ships, no convoys nothing ....

http://prikachi.com/images/188/8709188M.jpg

Well, the Atlantic is a vast territory ....

http://nsm08.casimages.com/img/2016/03/24//16032406521618069014091994.jpg (http://www.casimages.com/img.php?i=16032406521618069014091994.jpg)

By the way, what skin are you using for your U-Boot ? i find it beautiful ... :o

ivanov.ruslan

03-24-16, 12:50 PM

U-Boat IXC 40 (Skin Rust) Turm 3 from Uboat skin for German uboat compilation

BTW Fubar IXc late war skin is very nice too

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/roh_kudus/u_805sized.jpg

But I could not find turm to him my taste

Fahnenbohn

03-24-16, 01:34 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/roh_kudus/u_805sized.jpg

British flag on the submarine ... http://www.forumsig.org/images/smilies/colere.png

ivanov.ruslan

03-24-16, 02:17 PM

Тhis picture is the description file to visualize the color,U 805 https://www.nariba.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

http://prikachi.com/images/690/8709690D.jpg

fumo30

03-25-16, 01:20 PM

January 1943; We all died near that small island in front of firth of Lorient. :wah:I'm not sure what happened, most likely it was mine laid by enemy. I was well away from the German laid minefield that is presented in the harbor map.
Can anybody verify, that there really is enemy laid mines near Biscaya bay u-boot bases in sh3?

ivanov.ruslan

03-25-16, 04:29 PM

Incidentally, a few days ago i sink a submarine, not far from Lorient

But I dont believe this is the reason :shifty:

fumo30

03-26-16, 03:26 AM

@ruslan

I found this in the manual:

"Fair warning: GWX includes Allied minefields outside the Eastern Barrage, including minefields at depths where they will not affect surface ships but will affect U-boats at or below periscope depth."

So, I think that in theory it is possible to struck enemy mine anywhere.
It would be also fair the game to tell the player what hit him in the mission summary.

Nevertheless, the more realism, all the better. Thats how I like it.:up:
Its frustrating to die by a damn mine after all hair raising adventures experienced with enemy ASW forces from the very beginning of the war. But at the same time its rewarding to find that, this is what is really was about. Death lurking everywhere.

BTW, Congrats for sinking a pesky enemy sub.:salute: I tried that few times, but always missed. Its hard to make a proper solution not to have any information about subs in the recognition book...Well, if the seas are calm enough for the deck gun, or one have GNATs the case is different.

Hambone307

03-27-16, 09:45 AM

Speaking of enemy submarines...

I was making transit through the channel (near suicide in 1943) in hopes of stirring up some stuff towards the end of a dry patrol. As I was approaching the coast of France, I dove to periscope depth and made a turn back north-northwest and got a hit on the hydrophones. Target was identified as a T-Class British sub. I fired a spread of 3 electric torps at a range of 3000m. All missed the target so in a fit of foolishness, I ordered emergency surface, ahead flank, and had the deck gun manned. We sank the sub with 40 rounds from the 88. :arrgh!:

Sadly, there were three destroyers in the AO that picked us up two hours after the attack. We limped back to base after being DC'ed for 20 hours. I still count this patrol as a success, even though my boat was almost scrap metal! :yeah:

ivanov.ruslan

04-07-16, 10:37 AM

Difficult position in the quadrant CA

In the evening, while charging the battery was spotted purpose, medium transport.We fired a torpedo from surface position, which exploded in the ship's stern.We fired a few shells on the ship with deck gun to sink faster...

http://prikachi.com/images/86/8738086N.jpg

The u-boat continued on its course

http://prikachi.com/images/87/8738087d.jpg

In the morning we sent the bottom one minesweeper
http://prikachi.com/images/88/8738088O.jpg

The fight was brief
http://prikachi.com/images/89/8738089I.jpg

Spotted a large and fast convoy with course north -northwest
http://prikachi.com/images/100/8738100D.jpg

In the first attack and four fell into the target
http://prikachi.com/images/91/8738091f.jpg

http://prikachi.com/images/92/8738092h.jpg

Destroyers attacked with depth charges, but we managed to get out
http://prikachi.com/images/101/8738101V.jpg

The convoy slowly extends to the northwest and we deployed a new attack
Good luck!
http://prikachi.com/images/94/8738094b.jpg

hulldmg

04-11-16, 04:53 PM

Had to sign up after all these years of reading subim and vent (in a good way)

October 1939
Near British Isles, Daytime, wind 15m/s, good visibilty

Found myself right in the middle of a large convoy path in my Type 7.
It had ships from at least 3 different nations (allied & neutral)

With a Revenge class battleship right in the center of the convoy with 2 destroyer escorts (found that out later), mind you I still have orders from the Führer not to engage British capital ships... But the temptation is too high!

I position myself very close to it's path (in hindsight too close) and hope that the forward sweeping destoryer just barely misses my periscope.

I'm nervous as the battleship lumbers slowly closer and I'm cursing this weather and the dud magnetic torps I keep hearing about. I can't wait any more and fire 3 magnetic eels at +1000m right under it's belly.
Against odds, all 3 detonate and the battleship goes down fast!

I dive in mid convoy and wait for the right time to pop up again.
As I listen to hydrophones I can only detect one destoryer.

Hell with it! I go peri depth and see he is sweeping about 1000m behind me... Perfect!
I raise hell with my engines, trying to bait him but it doesn't work. I don't have time, only choice is to surface and hope the shells miss. They thankfully do! Another magnetic on the way, under the keel!
Stopwatch goes over the estemated time, just as I'm about to crash dive the torp goes off at the stern.

I now see the ships ahead of me and another destoryer heading through the convoy straight at me. Dangerous, but the best chance I got to take him out! Time to play chicken with 2 more magnetics as shells start flying past me. I fire off first at about 1200m... First dud? Missed? No time! I launch the second as he is 700m away. I give up and crashdive just as he goes up in flames!

With 6 eels and more than enough of 88mm shells left, I get to work on unarmed allied ships. Wish that damn weather would ease up though!
I start ruthlessly attacking the ships, trying to take out as many as possible as fast as possible as we are quite close to the British shores.

I literally felt like a wolf going through a herd of sheep and picking off the weakest prey. It wasn't as enjoyable as I though it would be. Especially their last ditch efforts at ramming me. Those I couldn't finish off, I hoped the weather takes care of their damaged hulls.

After 11 years this sim with GWX can still scare the **** out of me.
I don't remember why I bought it back in 2005 (having never played any subsim before it), but I do know why I still keep playing it!

Having worked up to enabling no map contacts and no external view, really makes you visualise and constantly trying to assess the situation you are in.

And while i'm no expert on this compared to some of you here I'm really suprised how much I have learned about this period in time and the paticular warfare.

Feeling 1/millionth of the terror those poor souls felt back then...
Testament to this Sim and the men who served in these war machines.

Thank you!

Aktungbby

04-12-16, 10:38 AM

hulldmg!:Kaleun_Salute: Great first vent!

Jimbuna

04-12-16, 01:04 PM

Good to learn you're enjoying your GWXperience http://i.imgur.com/7CYwRtL.gif

g8rk0k

04-17-16, 03:11 PM

I always join the flotilla that has the type 7b available right away and head for the area W. of Gibraltar strait. Then I just sinking ships and heading to Cadiz when I need to resupply. I have patrols that average 6 days each and there are so many ships passing through the area early on that are not in convoy. It's April 1940 and I just finished an 8 day patrol ~133k tons. I am using GWX 3.0 and found the sweet spot for those Large Merchants. Set torpedo to run at 5m and fire at the front of the ship, (there are two little funnels that stick up in front, I fire at a point right between them. The ship almost always goes down head first in 15-30 minutes tops. Rarely does it take longer.) I have all the renown I'll ever need for upgrading my boat as soon as the French Ports become available and level my crew up to elite status well before then

ivanov.ruslan

04-28-16, 12:22 PM

Khm, little to revive the topic
Night, duty officer reported that he saw the shadow of the back board
Gun group was lifted on alert and shoot the enemy, medium transport, from distance of two miles
http://prikachi.com/images/81/8775081T.jpg

Suddenly we were literally inundated with projectiles It turned out that submerged ship from us, there is another heavy transport that taking advantage of the darkness and flames from the other ship, managed to take us on sight
http://prikachi.com/images/80/8775080N.jpg

The battle was hot, even after the first few shots, it turned out that transport can be teeth But our gunner managed to deal with it, bursting into flames, trudging to the bottom
http://prikachi.com/images/83/8775083j.jpg

In the morning we plunged and receivables peleng to different targets, but nothing that worth, for now
http://prikachi.com/images/84/8775084B.jpg

bstanko6

04-28-16, 12:58 PM

Currently west of Ireland after being transferred to the type IX.

Received a radio contact of a convoy just northwest of us. We are on intercept course. Should make contact in 10 hours.

The worse feeling is the wait. I know it is in a shipping lane, but the lane is turning towards Britain. This convoy could be anywhere in 10 hours. I can't stand burning fuel with the idea I may not see a convoy!

This is my crew's first convoy in 4 patrols. I just know they are up to the task.

Von Due

04-28-16, 03:58 PM

U-47. Patrol 4, November 1939.

Port raiding, Dover and Dunkirk. Took out a Southampton at Dover, using 2 torpedos at close range.

Set course for Dunkirk. Encountered an Aelybryn merchant while enroute. Attack commenced. Target stopped by torpedo but did not sink. Use of gun interrupted by incoming enemy ASW ship. Stepped back until the enemy ceased searching. Returned to target and fired 1 round. Target sunk. Back on course to Dunkirk.

Arrived Dunkirk at night. Sailed on the surface under cover of darkness into inner harbour by the eastern entrance. Observed ships in port and targeted a large British tanker, a French large troop ship, a French medium C2 cargo ship, 2 V&W destroyers and a French Bourrasque destroyer.

Attack interrupted by passing Tribal destroyer. The Tribal was targeted before continuing the main attack.

http://i66.tinypic.com/6tlo28.png

All targets sunk. Left Dunkirk before noon.

1 torpedo left and almost full on gun ammo. Setting course for the east coast of Britain. Enemy task force reported north west heading south east. Unable to attack. Attempting intercept for sight report.

Von Due

05-04-16, 12:37 PM

Patrol 5. Started mid February 1940. Mid March now. After the last patrol I was given the opportunity to try out the IXB. Got some more men and set out. So far I have to admit I prefer the higher submerged speed, longer submerged range and shorter diving time of the VIIB and although the IX carries about 150% of the torpedo load of a VII, I'm not sure if this is one to keep.

Cruising the Mediterranian to give the boys a break from the grey, rainy atlantic. Visited the port of Gibraltar to deliver Berlin's best wishes to another Southhampton there, alongside a Tribal and an A class destroyer. Stumbled across a very small French convoy of 3 escorted by a lone minesweeper and got a large merchant and a C2 cargo ship.

Weather was great the first 3 weeks but turned for the worse. Got a radio message about a small convoy. Intercepted and found a rare sight, a German 4 ship convoy. By now the wind was 14 m/s and clouds were rolling in. Hours after we waved them off, a heavy storm hit us and it has been going on now for 2 weeks.

Almost got rammed by a French large merchant in a 2 ship convoy. We were less than 10 meters apart when she sailed past me. Surprisingly neither she nor her company spotted me in the night and heavy fog. Turned hard starboard to hide in the fog and took a parallell course at full speed and got into attack position. She was hit under the keel at short range and stopped but it took another torpedo to her boiler room and almost an hour for her to go down. Her company was a small merchant I let slip away.

Headed back to the strait hoping for better weather but the storm is still going. I took up a spot near Morocco at 60 meters waiting for traffic.

A large convoy is coming in from the west. Zero visibility. There are more than one warship there. It looks like they will pass not far from my spot. Intend to shadow until weather clears up or I can get more information on those warships. If they are British, they are probably headed for Alexandria, about 2 weeks away.

They got closer and it turned out they only have one escort, class unknown. The other I picked up were probably patrolling the western entrance.
The convoy is a 9 by 9 with an extra 2 ship southern column. Got in between the 2 southernmost columns. Too dark to see the ships to the south but north there are 2 Aelybryn class merchants and a medium C2 merchant. Moving into position to see the 2 remaining columns.

This may be the biggest disappointment yet. They took a sharp turn north and are now headed for Gibraltar, only a few hours away. I am not in position to attack. If they really are going for Gibraltar then I will call Berlin and have them level that town once and for all.

So that one didn't go well. Convoy scattered, some went to Gibraltar, others went separate ways. Going to try to find a lane west of the strait where distance to nearest port will give me the time I need, and hopefully better weather. Down to 66% fuel. There is a supply ship up north but I think I'll find some targets for the remaining torpedos then go back to Wilhelmshaven. Been out for a month now and there is still 2 weeks to get back, including getting through the channel.

Von Due

05-05-16, 09:32 AM

Weather finally cleared up as I reached Ireland. The wind is medium but the waves are high. Strange. Going around to the north into the Irish sea for some revenge after the vacation fiasco in the Mediterranian. All storm and no play makes Due a dull boy.

Caught up with 2 C&D destroyers north of Ireland, Got the lead from 6.700m. His buddy was not happy. Crawled south and west and around him until he left and got to a safe distance an hour later.

Caught British 2 merchants during the night and used the deck gun on them. 1 round left now. The first one was reportedly going medium speed but if so then medium is relative. The smoke from her funnel was at near 20 degrees. She took some 10-15 shells while the other shells went far off courtesy of the 8 m/s wind and 3 meter waves. The last one, a small merchant caught one in her fuel tank I believe. She broke in two.

Running low on fuel now. 50% left but if I can stay around the entrance to the Irish sea then I'm fine and the remaining 10 torpedos should find some work. Plan is to stay put at the doorstep out of the main lane then head back after I've run out of torpedos, go around Ireland then the channel. Alternative route around the Shetlands but it's a longer trek near Scapa Flow. Would need to go outside the Hebrides too.

Would be nice if I reached the channel at night with good weather. I'm getting seriously homesick now more than a month into this patrol.

Fahnenbohn

05-05-16, 12:06 PM

I'm getting seriously homesick now more than a month into this patrol.

And i think that your crew begins to be thirsty from drinking dehydrated water ! :rotfl2:

Von Due

05-05-16, 01:15 PM

And i think that your crew begins to be thirsty from drinking dehydrated water ! :rotfl2:

How they manage I don't want to know. In the 6 weeks they haven't touched the food. I swear the bananas and steaks are still untouched. Is this boat still fully manned?

EDIT:
Lucky shot. I overestimated the speed of this La Cordillera merchant, aimed for the bridge up front from around 1100m, missed by about 25 meters towards the bow. The silly girl drove herself down to a crawl. Still took the last shell from the deck gun, and a bunch of shells from the 3.7 before she made up her mind and sunk.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=1963&stc=1&d=1462473909

Von Due

05-06-16, 06:03 AM

This ended on a rather intense note.

Decided to take the northern route home, around the Hebrides and the Shetlands. Left the Irish Sea with 2 torpedos. North of the Hebrides I received a contact report on a large convoy heading towards the strait between the Hebrides and Scotland at 7 knots. Not too far away and in my general direction, I intercepted and made contact around 6 in the morning. Weather was very good with little wind and low waves, excellent visibility. It was still dark. I went decks awash for the watch crew to scan for trouble. Depth under keel around 124 meters.

I must have been tired. I only spotted the lead destroyer and what I assume was a 4 by 4 convoy, or possibly 4 by 5. Picked what looked like a British tanker in the second column from 3500 meters and took up attack position for a 90 shot at 3750m, both torpedos set to impact at 4.5 meters.

Time to impact a little over 3 minutes I backed off towards the 4000 meter mark, depth set to 110m.

First torpedo hit and destroyed the target. 2nd torpedo hit the wreck. Within 1 minute the hydrophone man called out incoming destroyer. I forgot to do the scan for flanking escort! No more than 2 minutes after, the destroyer started pinging us. Silent running and continuing a slow descent towards 110 meters. Within 3 minutes the lead destroyer came up and they began triangluate me.

Now started 1 1/2 hour of cat and mouse game. Frantically trying to determine which one was pinging to turn the narrow side towards him all while trying to keep an overall western and northern direction, away from the passing convoy. They must have been as tired as I was. They depth charged 100-300 meters from me. At first. Then one of them got lucky and damaged both periscopes, the radio antenna, and flak gun 1.

I then decided this was no good and it was time to try something new.
Staying at 110, as soon as the pinging stopped for his attack run, I went flank to 80 meters hoping his depth settings were accurate and that the 30 meters would do the trick for me. Apparently it did so from there I stayed at the current depth and as soon as they stopped pinging I flanked to 110 again. Back and forth between 80 and 110.

Somehow I managed. The convoy had traveled further into the strait and about 90 minutes after the attack, both destroyers turned around to catch up with their convoy. I waited another 30 minutes before surfacing.

Luckily, the damage wasn\t bad and the repair crew had it all patched up in record time, which was good. The sun was well up now and I was expecting spotter planes any moment.

A look at the fuel status and the planned route told me I could afford full speed around the Shetlands and back to base. The rest of the trip was uneventful. Spotted 2 lone merchants at 15000-16000 meters but did not pursue. Priority was to get this boat home.

ivanov.ruslan

05-06-16, 06:18 AM

Successful hunt it was!
Greetings !

Von Due

05-06-16, 06:59 AM

Successful hunt it was!
Greetings !

Thank you. Yeah it went rather well albeit a little long. 110,000++, 18 merhants and 4 warships. But I'll be damned. One of the last merchants in the Irish Sea took 3 torpedos before she went down. First one lit her on fire and had her speed down to no more than 0.2 knots... for the next 12 hours!! I swear that boat was possessed. Burning for 12 hours and refusing to stop. The second torpedo hit the boiler room and shut down the engine. By now she was a heavy smoker but she still refused to sink. Had to withdraw for a couple of hours due to passing destroyers. On returning I was cursing like an abominable sailor. Finally, on the 3rd torpedo, she gave up. In the meanwhile I did a C3 and another merchant, that took 2. After the first hit and she still was going, I was almost shouting. 2 possessed ships in the lane of passing destroyers, this was getting silly and infuriating. Luckily she only took one more or else I would have hired their constructor on the spot.

Now a return to Africa. Grid just off the strait of Gibraltar. Wonder how the bars on Gran Canaria are.

Fahnenbohn

05-06-16, 09:47 AM

One of the last merchants in the Irish Sea took 3 torpedos before she went down.

When you have a closer look at the ships' zones, it's sometimes astonishing how bad they are simulated ! This results in totally unreal behaviour.

See here : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=225467

Von Due

05-06-16, 10:35 AM

When you have a closer look at the ships' zones, it's sometimes astonishing how bad they are simulated ! This results in totally unreal behaviour.

See here : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=225467

Oh, I have looked and I shook my head in depressing recognition. I've seen tankers, fully ablaze, the captain to his knickers in sea water shooting off at 18 knots. Still, I keep getting surprised.

Speaking of ship zones. Is memory playing tricks on me or was there a way to have the zones show up in the rec manual? Or was that SH2? I need memory more than my computer needs it.

Fahnenbohn

05-06-16, 11:12 AM

Speaking of ship zones. Is memory playing tricks on me or was there a way to have the zones show up in the rec manual?

Oh yes, that's possible, but under certain conditions :
- the target must be between 350° and 10° in your periscope
- you must not be too far, maybe you must be less than 1 km from the target
- maybe i'm wrong, but iirc, the angle of impact must be around 90°
- to select the zone you want to shoot at, you must have locked the target.

Try this in the torpedo training mission, and let me know !

F.

Von Due

05-06-16, 11:55 AM

Oh yes, that's possible, but under certain conditions :
- the target must be between 350° and 10° in your periscope
- you must not be too far, maybe you must be less than 1 km from the target
- maybe i'm wrong, but iirc, the angle of impact must be around 90°
- to select the zone you want to shoot at, you must have locked the target.

Try this in the torpedo training mission, and let me know !

F.

I might, after I have done an exhaustive search on the internet on solutions to the drifting gun aim. I couldn't make this up if I tried but the gun aim camera was 20 degrees off. To hit the target I had to aim so far to the left I couldn't see the bleedin ship and it kept getting worse.

I remember there was an issue with that gun but this bad? At least now I noticed an early indication the gun sight is off. Normally you will see the nozzle of the gun when lookin through the sight at max zoom. If I can't see the nozzle, the aim has drifted to the right. This time I saw not only the nozzle but 1 more degree off and I would be staring into the face of the gun crew. Almost the entire gun was visible. This is def a camera issue. I am willing to bet it is related to the binocular camera/obs deck camera issue, when you use the binoculars and go back to the deck camera, everything is tilted and only way I found to fix that on the fly is to find some orientation where the horizon appears level, use the binoculars and hurry back to the deck cam.

EDIT: There is definitely something not right about the obs deck camera. Its position floats around. Spin the camera around 360 and you shift its position. Sometimes by quite a lot. One moment I was sniffing the scalp of the guy on the left, a few turns later I clipped into the guy on the right. They might start to question their captain if this camera doesn't get its act together. That, and use the binoculars and everything on the obs deck is tilted like some German expressionist film. It might very well be the gun sight shift is due to something similar, that its position isn't fixed along the relevant axis. Wonder what they linked it up to? Torp spread angle perhaps? Who knows but this is just plain silly.

Von Due

05-08-16, 09:14 AM

U 123, the new type IXB, Patrol 6, started April 24th 1940. Today is May 13th, about 4.40 in the morning. Current location Strait of Gibraltar.

Just done reloading the tubes and getting the last torpedos from external to internal stores. 2 British armed trawlers passing at 1200 meters while the operation went on. Went decks awash until they passed.

So far it hasn't been all eventful. Was lucky in the Channel with rotten weather allowing me to cruise the surface only doing the occational listening for warships. Weather cleared up with 8 m/s wind as I cleared the Channel, allowing me to use the guns on the few merchants I encountered. Out of deck gun ammo and running low on machine gun ammo. Shells for the 3.7 still plentyful but so far it hasn't impressed in effectiveness.

11 merchants down and 10 torpedos left. The last 2, both French medium C2 cargo ships caught in the strait, drove me to shout in fury. Both took 3 torpedos. One kept 2 knots for 2 hours before the 3rd torpedo stopped her. Another hour went before she went. What is it with these French and their ships? Are they transporting helium? If they could make their destroyers the same way then they would have won the war by September the 4th, 1939.

Weather right now is dead calm, light clouds and medium visibility. The prolonged attacks on the French ships has delayed my planned approach to the port of Gibraltar. Next attempt this evening. The enemy has only been sending armed trawlers to investigate. They are of little concern. Mine fields are a concern though. I might need to go in during the day to plot down any obstacle.

Time is 9.26
Daylight and I just spotted 2 Southampton with 2 destroyers, and the big gold nugget, it's either Nelson or Rodney, too early to tell yet but I am maneuvering in for a shot at her magazine. It will be a tight one, land not too far off where I need to be. Plan on electric at 3500 meters, hopefully I get a few meters more. Then off to see if I can get those cruisers.

http://i68.tinypic.com/207kwm1.png
Nelson the hotheaded. Took 2. Look closely under the A turret. I forgot to link up the TDC and was 0.5 degrees off... 2nd hit bullseye.

About 45 minutes later

http://i66.tinypic.com/2qtfpsj.png

http://i67.tinypic.com/209lhys.png
Each took 2. I need to reload the last 4 torpedos now so it's time to hit open water. Well worth the 6 torpedos.

Going in at daytime is going to push my oxygen supply and batteries. CO2 at 1.6 and charge at 4300A and about 10-12 hours before I consider it safe to surface, but I sure as helvetia wasn't going to let those off the hook.

The allies are getting up to speed now. When I enteredthe Mediterranian,all I saw was armed trawlers and MTBs. Leaving after the Gibraltar visit, suddenly there were corvettes and a Hunt I patrolling the strait. Cleared the Strait with 3 torpedos left and encountered 2 French ships west of the Strait. A passenger/cargo and a small merchant. The passenger ship was in lead and with a greater top speed I let it have one set at 3.5 meters in the engine room, to little effect. It kept more than 6 knots and showed no sign of slowing down. Attempts were made using the 3.7 on the small mechant but that gun is a goner if I have a saying. It is as useful on a submarine as a Ferris wheel, at least for sinking smaller ships. Out of machine gun ammo and deck gun ammo, I estimated their speed now that they were zigging, and set up for a short range shot at both. Aimed at the passenger, at the engine again, magnetic pistol and hit near the bow. Aimed at the small merchant closer to stern and hit something big because it blew up immediately. The passenger ship slowed down and eventually drove itself down.

Out of torpedos and gun ammo, I set course for the Channel and base. That place has gotten a bit crowded since I sailed through there some weeks ago. MTBs everywhere, single and formations but managed to dodge them, thanks to darkness and poor weather.

Eventually made it back to Wilhelmshaven.

The Netherlands have surrendered. It's only a matter of time before the army secures the French ports so we can have easy access to the Atlantic. I won't miss the Channel.

Von Due

05-09-16, 10:46 AM

U 123. Patrol 7. June 9th 1940.

What on Earth is BdU thinking, sending a long range boat to patrol the coast of Great Brintain? Patrol grid AN18... This is a job for the type II boys.

Enroute I received a contact on a taskforce moving SSE then turning SSW heading for what I guessed was Firth of Forth. Full speed on intercept course. Did not encounter the taskforce. Arrived the coast at grid AN51 on June 13th. Weather is good with medium wind.

Spotted a lightship and its towing ship to the NW at 15000 meters. Lookout reported we were being attacked. No sighting. Dove to periscope depth. No contact until 30 minutes later. 40 minutes after the initial warning, an armed trawler was spotted heading for us. At 3000-4000 meters away it changed course.

1420. Contact incoming eastbound from the inlet. Warship and merchant. Course to intercept.
Spotted an armed trawler escorting a lone Temple Mead, 4000 tons. Set up for stern tube attack at around 1100 meters. Target and escort changed course towards me. Moved forward to maintain range.

1505. Target hit at around 700 meters by single torpedo, exploded and sunk. Escort continuing after about 30 minutes. Did not come close to my position.

Stayed submerged waiting for nightfall. The boys will be busy this evening getting 2 of the stern torpedos from external to internal stores.

Submerged. Picked up another contact. Course to intercept. Spotted a Dalblair, 4000 tons at close range struggling up against the wind. Plotted target course and speed. No warship activity nearby. Flank ahead to take up position.

2053. Target hit by torpedo to her boiler room. Stopped completely. Did not sink.

Surfaced about 1200 meters from the Dalblair hiding in the fog and night. 2 hours to bring the torpedos inside and reload the tubes. Good thing two of my petty officers in the torpedo room earned their star. I need all the bunks I can get for the other crew to keep them from getting fatigued. Weather has turned for the worse. Heavy clouds, rain, zero visibility and 15 wind made the operation hard for everyone.

Returned to target, still afloat and showing no sign of sinking. Only a slight list to port. Hull below waterline mark still clearly visible. Not moving. Set up for single shot at front mast area.

2314. Target destroyed.

The boys are tired now. Most sound asleep. Staying on the surface now to move north towards patrol grid.

June 14th. Arrived patrol grid. No events enroute. Oberfahnrich z.S. Henning Emmrich, torpedomen stabsoberbootsmann Gerhard Shultz and August Eick moved one torpedo from forward external to internal. 1 hour but they are beasts. No fatigue drop on those. I need more of that kind. Sound contact single warship, small one probably another armed trawler, long distance to port, kept course. Morning. Clear skies, moderate visibility, 11 m/s wind. The wind might allow me to stay surfaced until I reach my planned point for submerging. The boys are still tired but most of them are now fit for duty is I rotate them often.

1141. Submerging to 40 meters. Funkmaat Stabsoberbootsmann Alfred Hertin is at the hydrophone. If anyone can pick up contacts, he is the one.

ivanov.ruslan

05-09-16, 02:53 PM

Again patrol During the day the wind increasingly louder, and finally passed into storm
http://prikachi.com/images/172/8797172D.jpg

We never understood how this came trawler He dropped us healthy rump with depth charges We understand that we have entered an experienced fighter Therefore, after another attack,we pay to periscope depth and fire a torpedo at the ship's stern Blowing ballast,we saw water tore housinghttp://prikachi.com/images/173/8797173m.jpg

In the morning the weather subsided, but shoot at us sent to patrol torpedo boat
I not love them because they bring aircraft and destroyers ...
http://prikachi.com/images/171/8797171T.jpg

Von Due

05-09-16, 03:52 PM

We never understood how this came trawler He dropped us healthy rump with depth charges We understand that we have entered an experienced fighter Therefore, after another attack,we pay to periscope depth and fire a torpedo at the ship's stern Blowing ballast,
we saw water tore housinghttp://prikachi.com/images/173/8797173m.jpg

That is an awesome image. Quite some weather you guys are having there and nice shot!

ivanov.ruslan

05-11-16, 03:44 AM

Yup, trawlers are not at all safe :)

Warship spoted
http://prikachi.com/images/405/8799405c.jpg

Alarm!Alle man voraus !
http://prikachi.com/images/407/8799407w.jpg

http://prikachi.com/images/413/8799413l.jpg

http://prikachi.com/images/412/8799412M.jpg

Hit us faster than the wind
http://prikachi.com/images/418/8799418I.jpg

Explosions, explosion, explosion
http://prikachi.com/images/415/8799415L.jpg

Boiled water
http://prikachi.com/images/414/8799414h.jpg

Received heavy damage and leaks Incidentally depth under the keel was about 30 meters I missed part of the ballast to compensate leakages, but part of the submarine surfaced
http://prikachi.com/images/425/8799425x.jpg

Soon received a solid dose shells
http://prikachi.com/images/428/8799428A.jpg

We were able to dive again, but with new damage
http://prikachi.com/images/429/8799429O.jpg

The game of cat and mouse continued until depletion of depth charges But the dog and then continue to haunt us more hourshttp://prikachi.com/images/416/8799416r.jpg

Finally he called and backup ,heavy cavalry ,formation Wildcats
http://prikachi.com/images/399/8799399g.jpg

Again depth charges, narrowly on hair :)
http://prikachi.com/images/420/8799420b.jpg

I dont remember how everything went, but again lucky How long ....
http://prikachi.com/images/423/8799423n.jpg

With rattle machine, undefeated, he withdrew into the ocean...Yup, none too safe these trawlers....

Fahnenbohn

05-11-16, 04:07 AM

Hit us faster than the wind

:ahoy:

Von Due

05-12-16, 01:27 PM

Current career is easy and pretty complicated. Doing a test career to test out new, to me anyway, targeting techniques. Too bad I have only seen 2 merchant ships in 19 days (!!!) if we don't count a fishing boat off the coast of Ireland that behaved in the most frustrating, to me anyway, way, speed constantly changing between 5.5 to 11 knots making it impossible to set up a solution valid for more than the next 30 seconds. I have never seen anything like that before.

ivanov.ruslan

05-12-16, 03:01 PM

Spotted eine tanker Efternung 3 km
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8801455hvdVFDCd.jpg

Rohr einz!Los!
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8801473tZmtyye7.jpg

Ales im Wasser
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8801472SJMa03Dv.jpg

Treffer!
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8801453KWefx9Jz.jpg

He walked to the bottom
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8801454lEhGFPm3.jpg

For this small tanker was not worth wasting torpedo The gun estimate on alert
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8801485LMMUOpwR.jpg

With the first shells had no success But it's over
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8801466h3wWaEkG.jpg

after It were the gun deck
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8801458fSgnssbt.jpg

Let off steam slid into the abyss
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8801475zDhHWoRt.jpg

The game continue...

Aquelarrefox

05-14-16, 04:28 PM

hi. type II, u-08, today retired after 12 patrols. GUSTAV FRETZER - 74.067 tns

i attach the log (text in spanish and some in english), especialiced in port attack in 39-40: Blyth, Hartlepool, and the better lerwick, with military ships sunk in everyone, manly minelayers.

some destroyers, some planes, some from a carrier i couldnt find.

https://mega.nz/#!lV9QnZbA!1k2DkqARIvoH4Xh_-7QpoX75lqIDDOU4_YjoJbaJmuM

well, next time mybe flotilla 2 with type vii-b in late 39, im still thinking.

ivanov.ruslan

05-15-16, 03:31 AM

At last the long-awaited words-ausblasen
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8804372g3VOW0Ze.jpg
http://prikachi.com/images/372/8804372g.jpg
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8804373MDyq7N15.jpg

We started cruising position mode screw-charge Throughout the day, nothing special, but a few attacks by aircraft and destroyers
http://prikachi.com/images/371/8804371R.jpghttp://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8804371RB3UMY63.jpg

Evening we were again on the surface
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8804368SWOFsTry.jpg
http://prikachi.com/images/368/8804368S.jpg

Watch crew spoted one trampdampher He failed to get
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/8804370s1hfgnfs.jpg
http://prikachi.com/images/370/8804370s.jpg

ivanov.ruslan

05-18-16, 03:42 PM

Shortly eclipse, heh, heh ...:D

Here are the Knights of distant communication
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/SH3Img17-5-2016_152917_8249OTZQra_sredna.bmp

Of the Nibelungs, acoustics giving us correct any data - and bearings, and the course and speed of the target
So now someone crawling around us .... But we saw nothing ...
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/SH3Img17-5-2016_153340_635RVjgv8K_sredna.bmp

Soon among the murky surface of the ocean emerged boards of ships-Groser Geleitzug
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/SH3Img17-5-2016_15340_159vxnG3hV_sredna.bmp

We went to convergence in surface position Because of stormy excitement, visibility was not good
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/SH3Img17-5-2016_153420_497eowgEPr_sredna.bmp

So, while one wave,revealed to us, the dark silhouette of the destroyer
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/SH3Img17-5-2016_153454_869ccs5F9a_sredna.bmp

who opened fire on us with all guns
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/SH3Img17-5-2016_153621_185dOexFZT_sredna.bmp

Of course not wait for him, to be retired in full swing electric motors at a safe depth
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/SH3Img17-5-2016_153839_767u7O1DM8_sredna.bmp

The place where we plunged
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/SH3Img17-5-2016_154552_2380f5ntfO_sredna.bmp

poured tens of depth charges
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/SH3Img17-5-2016_154541_648FhqnvhI_sredna.bmp

Lurking in the depths ,wait destroyers to retire, paid to periscope depth Even here, the waves tossed the boat like a rubber ball

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/SH3Img17-5-2016_155126_486cAPxNpP_sredna.bmp

We waited for the right time, sailed and went down in pursuit
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/SH3Img17-5-2016_155346_1423bHxifO_sredna.bmp

By the time that we hit this Avenger
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/SH3Img17-5-2016_15559_655Vd5q3qM_sredna.bmp

Let the hunt begin....
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/198/SH3Img17-5-2016_16159_4497fBxU7s_sredna.bmp

ivanov.ruslan

05-26-16, 03:57 PM

The hunt continues
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/921/V5ZM7c.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/922/Dq3h4Y.png

Approached and with both engines, but because of the danger of ram, dipped emergency
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/924/BVR3FZ.png

We are maintaining a depth of 11 meters, because the periscope is flooded by waves
Which was very risky, foam from breaking waves in the turm visible from afar
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/923/yFEmoW.png

When in terrible, all-seeing eye of the periscope we saw target -big liner
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/922/iBoJXz.png

We had salvo of two torpedoes at the liner, but both missed, one struck medium merchant -enough to bark dogs
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/922/RoFNyu.png

who immediately attacked us
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/923/4AWMjv.png

Managed to break free, we sailed and forced motors went down after convoy We caught up with the convoy in the morning
From our Nibelungs reported hearing the sound of screws on a large ship Periscope was raised
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/923/IOfGG1.png
and saw liner to enter quickly into a spider clamp crosshairs
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/922/2b5PiR.png

Again salvo of two tubes and pass again, the ship stopped the engines and two torpedoes passed in front of his bow Suddenly appeared and security
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/923/dClQ4v.png

And plunged again began the game of cat and mouse
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/921/B3VQwx.png

The next hours passed in pursuit of the convoy
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/924/uk6JZQ.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/923/XJhNYK.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/923/XRSV9D.png

revving engines
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/922/kWVGua.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/924/XWEMLi.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/921/5XkY8e.png

Immersion to avoid airstrikes
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/924/guZGjl.png

In the evening we reached the convoy,
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/924/DI1Yv5.png

Dipped in front of him, we approached a firing position and lifted periscope

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/922/VZT5vD.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/923/w4lWR2.png

The liner was front and the chance was not on his side this time
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/923/b6Qoqp.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/922/bEviN2.png

ivanov.ruslan

05-27-16, 12:07 AM

Come boldly into battle! :salute:

lolballz

05-27-16, 02:45 AM

Most recent career,
starting October 1, 1939,
sailed out in U-123 (IXB - SH3Commander).
First kill, H.M.S. Nelson (Rodney Class BB).
Then, someone tells me Type IX wasn't available until 1940.
I'm all about historical authenticity...
talk about a buzz kill. :/\\!!

Sailor Steve

05-27-16, 08:39 AM

Then, someone tells me Type IX wasn't available until 1940.
I'm all about historical authenticity...
talk about a buzz kill. :/\\!!
Someone told you wrong. See my reply in the thread you started. :sunny:

Benzin1973

05-30-16, 08:54 PM

- 14th patrol, august 1940, above england, early morning, agitated seas VIIC U46. Going arround england to my patrol grid near the gibraltar channel.

- Radio report, "enemy task force, sector [i forget], speed 7 knots".
Hmm, they are practically on my path! and in deep waters. Lets see if they have something juicy. Ill just take a peek.

- "Ship shighted!" - Periscope depth!
Hhhmm... lets see... damit! so hard to see, waves keep blocking my periscope!. its about 8-10 warships. Destroyers, light cruisers, is that a frigate? and... whats that huge thing???
Oh momma! that IS juicy indeed! heavily guarded, but it doesnt get much more juicy than this!
Should i go or abort? thats a LOT of DDs! But that thing just looks so... so.... tasty!! :D
Oh well, sea is agitated, theres lots of dept... Who wants to live for ever, right? Set intercept course! Start plotting their exact course and confirm their alleged speed of 7knots.

- Full stop! Im as close as i can get to it without his escorts runing over me (literally), and there is an escort destroyer about 3km from me, set to pass almost over my periscope! once he gets too close i wont even be able to peek thru the scope without him seeing me. Its now or never.

- I can barely see the thing for a maybe a second before a wave blocks my view, let alone range it. He seems pretty far away still, lets see the chart... dang! 3200m. Maybe i should abort? mhh, but its sooo tasty! Ef it! calibrating AOB from 0 heading, i allready know the speed, get expected range at time of intercept, punch the numbers on the TDC. Ill use Type II eels since its daylight, damit! i only have 2 loaded! it will have to do. Dont want to risk them seeing the eels if i use type 1s. Set to impact pistols, set to run at about 6.5 meters.

- That Escort DD is now about 2km away from me, cmon juicy momma, get within 10º!

- Damit! Juicy momma still @ 17º, but DD now about 1.5km away from me, i dont think he knows im here but hes heading straight for me! its now or never! FIRE 1!, FIRE 4!

- Confirm silent running!, set dept 200 meters!, course... what ever is on our 180, ahead slow [and STOP chewing on your fingernails!]

- Ok ok, they dont seem to be looking for me, why the hell im i descending so slow??? ok, im only going 3knots. Stay cool. Still a couple of minutes left on the timer.

- Nearly time, in compliance with my own rules, i will resign any chance to shadow and take another shot as penalty for using the external camera to see. Im dying to watch big momma take the hit Ok, hit F12 for ext camera... [im not gonna hit it, it was too far away]

- Torpedo impact!... Torpedo impact! - Crew cheers.
Ohhh yaa! 2 out of 2! @ over 3k away! amazing! [Note to self, from now on all targeting will be based on plotting data. Not just speed & AOB].
But i wonder if two hits are enough to sink juicy momma? shes big! ill shadow her for a little while, and see if she sinks using the ext camera.
But for now, my priority is keeping a close eye on those escorts.

- Ok, they clearly have no idea where i am. I feel relatively safe, take us up to say... 100 meters.
Time to see how juicy momma is doing. [F12] lets see, where are you? there...
Oh momma, you dont look so good...

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom//attachment.php?attachmentid=1998&stc=1&d=1464658043

- Ok, im falling behind, last escort looking for me has rejoined the convoy. Secure from silent running.
start the trip back to periscope depth. maybe i should incr- "Shes going down!" [crew cheers again] - :rock: :woot:- [nearly poop my shorts]

And that, ladies & gents, is my first attack against an enemy task force, and my first carrier (a.k.a. juicy momma) kill.

Man i love this game!

Fahnenbohn

05-31-16, 02:46 AM

@ Benzin1973 : Fabulous !! http://www.forumsig.org/images/smilies/bien/ANIMbien027.gif

Benzin1973

05-31-16, 11:39 PM

Thanks Fahnenbohn! :)
I had a ton-o-fun on that particular patrol.
...and in all SH3 really. so much so, that i cant bring myself to play SH4+UBM for more than 10 minutes, without jumping back to SH3! LOL :har:

Von Due

06-01-16, 05:37 PM

Awesome patrol there, Benzin1973. That must have been a thrill when that carrier turned up in the scope :D Nice job!

Zedwardson

06-02-16, 02:51 PM

After taking a year or so off from the game, I returned.

2nd patrol, first night of war with the UK I do a nice nighttime surface attack on a convoy I been tracking though my sector. Sank three ships before the Polish (!) escort forced me under. I tried to do another attack by shelling the last ship and try to shove a eel down the excort throat, which would allowed me to shell the convoy at my leisure. was forced down again, and went home with almost 20k tonnage on the first morning of the war.

ivanov.ruslan

06-02-16, 03:05 PM

Yes, hunting is definitely not an easy job
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/209/SH3Img31-5-2016_17749_42kNbKelp_sredna.bmp

Retribution comes inexorably
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/209/SH3Img31-5-2016_171211_645i6LWD6p_sredna.bmp

Intuition has saved more than once
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/209/SH3Img31-5-2016_171033_397YLOvHqe_sredna.bmp

Hardigen

06-02-16, 03:11 PM

Was returning to base from mid Atlantic when SW of Ireland picked up a C3. The weather was foul with fog but managed to put a fish in her stern on the starboard side , but to my dismay No loss of speed ,She must have felt it cause she starts zigzagging . I give chase and puts another fish on the port side stern(I always keep 1 or 2 Torps for the trip home you never know what you,re gonna bump into) NO Loss of way, they must have been Duds I,m playing the game at 100% realism can,t get the gun crew on deck due to the weather,so I pull off an head for home . Get another mission and save and exit .Then a few days Later windows 10 decides to try and take over my PC and install itself ,Well! I,m not having that Yet !! ( Windows 7 forever ) was told to restore to an earlier time , did that ,then 2 days later went on SH3 and blow me if I,m not back in the position before I picked up the C3. YEHHHH!!!!! Got her again BUT this time put the 2 on the Starboard quarter and she went down in 4 min , lifeboats and debris floating about . Thx window 10......HaHa HaHa

ivanov.ruslan

06-02-16, 04:03 PM

Reinhard,nice story,heh,heh ;)

Benzin1973

06-05-16, 10:02 PM

Task force groups... What would i do without them?

January 1941, 19th patrol. Going arround on the AM* grids looking for convoys, It had been going slow so far. Only found a lone "medium cargo" (RIP). Then i got my favorite radio message "Enemy task force..."

Since they were almost on intercept course to me, it dint take much manouvering to intercept them.
Several Destroyers, and two or three huge battlecruisers, going 24knots.
Since they were going very fast i barely had time to come up with a solution. Dint even identified the ship. Got all data from plotting.
4 shot salvo to his port and...

oops!

http://s26.postimg.org/n6nd3locp/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
subir foto (http://postimage.org/index.php?lang=spanish)

It was the HMS Hood! :rock:

I guess they dint take too kindly of me sinking their hero ship, they bombed me for quite a while. But i managed to escape (and discovered my Type VII can safely dive to 240 meters!).

Some time later i surface again, start reloading my tubes, and start heading back to my convoy huntung grounds when...

http://s26.postimg.org/wd5nqvtl5/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
subir imagen (http://postimage.org/index.php?lang=spanish)

Its the same Task force coming back! :woot:
Either they still have the grudge for me, or are heading back home. Either way, lets pay them another visit...
My last 4 bow torps go into the other battlecruiser (again dint even identified it). This time one doesnt detonate, but 3 connect solidly on its starboard.

Crash dive to 230 meters, some more bombing but for a far shorter time compared to last time. Maybe they ran out of dept charges? (or they have learned to fear me??? :har:)
The task force (whats left of it) has gone on its way, and the event cam hasnt poped up to show me the ship sinking, nor have i heard the crew cheering. Maybe it dint sink? (i had disabled external camera for this patrol).
Periscope depth. Lets take a peek...

She is dead in the water. And obviously sinking.
I wait for a while, and still it doesnt sink. Lets give it a hand! but im all out of bow torpedoes, get him on our tail... good.
TDC... Set speed to zero, AOB is irrelevant, range about 2.5k, Tube 5, fire!

http://s26.postimg.org/q4kbxaw09/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
subir imagen (http://postimage.org/index.php?lang=spanish)

More time pases. Still no "shes going down" message!
By now i have hit her 4 times (5 actually if you count the one that dint detonate), but im tired of waiting. Since my aft tube is now loaded again... Fire 5!

"Shes going down!"... Finally! she took her sweet time! Lets take a look from the surface. No one on hydrophone, no one on visual, Ok. Surface the boat!

ahh, beautiful day. some smoke on the horizon...

http://s26.postimg.org/vepaolg95/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
imagenes gratis (http://postimage.org/index.php?lang=spanish)

Hhmm, i wonder what ship was this? I dint identified it previous to firing at it. :hmmm:

LOL!

http://s26.postimg.org/dr7hqe6bt/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
sube imagenes (http://postimage.org/index.php?lang=spanish)

HMS Renow this time!

Sweet! lets go home now.
"Ship spotted!" [Grins]
Well, no point in returning home with one (hopefully) perfectly good torpedo!
Its a freighter... [Enter usual attack proceedure here].Fire 5!
RIP :arrgh!:

Results: The most productive, successfull patrol ibe ever had!

http://s26.postimg.org/g9t6r2s21/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
subir fotos online (http://postimage.org/index.php?lang=spanish)

106,509 Tons! :rock:

They gave me medals, promotions for my crew, and promoted me to Kapitanleutnant!

http://s26.postimg.org/xhzpw9g21/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
share image (http://postimage.org/index.php?lang=spanish)

Task force groups... What would i do without you? :har:

ivanov.ruslan

06-06-16, 01:51 AM

This is a successful hunt!:up:

Fahnenbohn

06-06-16, 04:12 AM

http://s26.postimg.org/wd5nqvtl5/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Its the same Task force coming back! :woot:

:har:

Leoz

06-08-16, 07:56 AM

Been using stock SHIII a lot. Now just into GWX3. Love it.

One thing I like about it is the white right-screen mouse-over compass. Helps out a lot.

1st real patrol after solving some tech issues with the install (now stable).

West of Gibraltar, Nov 1940, with a very green VIIB crew out of St Nazaire.

A small passenger / merchant, periscope attack, 485M, 1 G7e, (contact pistol), hit aft of dead center on the starboard side. Sank from the stern in 10 minutes.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1030&pictureid=8916

UKönig

06-08-16, 08:20 PM

March 3rd, 1945

U-802 under the command of kapitanleutnant Johan konig was lost with all hands off the coast of Freetown, Africa, approximate grid reference ET59.

The news was supplied by the American task force that took credit for the kill. Apparently, u802 moved to engage a Casablanca class escort carrier and was ambushed by the USS die nazi slime and the USS punk ass bi*ch. A hail of depth charges came down, and U-802 never came up again.

*I have now started a new campaign from September 1939 aboard the type II U-5. And am trying to keep an actual pen and paper captain's log. See where this one takes me...

Leoz

06-08-16, 10:56 PM

My level of "bravery" in this game stops somewhere in 1943.

ivanov.ruslan

06-09-16, 12:28 AM

Ha, ha, I tried to play through 45, but I dont get ;)

Apparently I'm not fast enough

Rather, I am not sufficiently silent and slow:D

One of the difficult insurmountable barriers
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/220/SH3Img9-6-2016_105750_74LfbrYc5_sredna.bmp

Leoz

06-09-16, 05:56 PM

Spent hours in this forum trying to find out why my 1945 campaigns never make it to 1946.

:hmmm::O::hmm2::subsim:

Aquelarrefox

06-09-16, 08:10 PM

a hunter asw is palying with me for 8 hours in my little viib at 41, and it doesnt finish infront portugal after attack damaged ships after a convoy. boy, too much deep charges, im like photographer in das bout.

The fix for hunter sensor of gwx polish version works realy good, very complex of discover by hydro, but when they start to ping, you are under the rain.

ivanov.ruslan

06-10-16, 01:23 PM

Starting point Trondheim

The mission is to reach quadrant CF64

During the task, shortly after the Shetland Islands, is noted for purpose, an average trader and a erzatsfrahter
Attack from an underwater position, both torpedoes fell in goal
Ships severe headed to the bottom
During the rest of the campaign repeated attacks by airplanes and destroyers
After many serious sailing almost entirely with snorkel, we reached Quadrant
After 24 hours of duty, not to establish contact with anything, we decided to back
When we received a message large convoy moving towards the northeast at an average speed of about hundred kilometers from us
Forced motors, overtook the convoy during the night ,evolved storm, which plunged in just two ships
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/221/SH3Img9-6-2016_171231_154Gth3Vpx_sredna.bmp

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/222/c2e860c67457be0fc2497579d394a0ab_900x675ZzyWBSU.jp g

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/221/SH3Img9-6-2016_171714_265gpY886V_sredna.bmp

In the morning again we caught up with the convoy, which made large deviations from general course to the north and intensify speed
We moved almost entirely to snorkel in which achieves speeds of 12 kilometers, sufficient to keep constant contact with the convoy
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/221/SH3Img9-6-2016_173136_635wldgPrg_sredna.bmp

In the morning we were able to get closer on and fired three torpedoes at the convoy of a large distance, and three exploded on the ship continued on course

In this mission, we managed to sink only four ships, but our adrenaline was high then

Good hunting!

ivanov.ruslan

06-13-16, 01:17 PM

Coming "home" in Bergen
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/225/SH3Img13-6-2016_184658_381dOexFZT_sredna.bmp

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/225/SH3Img13-6-2016_184823_995u7O1DM8_sredna.bmp

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/225/SH3Img13-6-2016_185243_908uTKS5sb_sredna.bmp

After 24 hours duty in quadrant AF 75 without any contact, except with the Liberators, we decided to change position in the quadrant AM 11

When we entered the quadrant AM 23, received message of a large convoy moving cross rate against us, with average speed and direction north, northwest After an hour, two intercept the convoy, consisting only of tankers and a ship to transport ammunition.
The convoy was guarded by nine destroyers who had traveled round
The head of the convoy moved a lone large tanker after it immediately three destroyers covering a large security perimeter.
Naturally, we missed the tanker past us and headed to rapprochement with the pre-selected targets.
We had two attacks, the first two tankers in the second three tanker and natural munitions ship, which not surprisingly flew into the air and only sighed heavily and took the bottom.
Between the two attacks of course had a series of depth charges.
Shortly after the second attack, the weather deteriorated much and it was impossible to maintain periscope depth without being detected
Losers often contact with the convoy, then again we establish it, etc.

The result of two attacks - five tankers and ship carrying ammunition and several hits without serious consequences, two torpedoes missed

Leoz

06-13-16, 11:17 PM

Love that first "photo" !

Leoz

06-13-16, 11:37 PM

OK what is done is done.

Love my new GWX3.0 after a gazillion hours of stock SHIII

First patrol in a IXB in 1940. On the way up south of Iceland / West of Ireland.

Beautiful morning...just went submerged a few hours before; pick up a sound contact for a fast merchant.

Try and move to intercept but you know how it is with fast ships. Early in the war so I will take risks with aircraft.

Lost the contact with sound before surfacing.

Surfaced; did some educated guesses at flank speed (with battery recharge disengaged for top speed).

After an hour: spotted. Large tanker, range 6000 meters about 45 degrees to starboard and about 50 degrees port AOB. Moving fast. Initial speed predictions start at 16 knots and after a few more tries gets down to 13-14 knots estimated speed. Course about E.

I am going 18 knots.

Darn. Neutral...American flag.

OK, well good effort on the intercept. But I decide to turn it into a training event. I will just hit it with a few shots from the deck gun to let them know our displeasure.

GWX as you know has more realism with deck gun so it is close or nothing. No observed deck gun on the ship.

Eventually get within 300 meters at the fantail of the ship and close to its rear starboard quarter a bit closer.

Fire a few rounds into the engine room and a few into the rear housing.

That'll learn 'em.

Pull away with a starboard turn off to the west. Clean up; put away the toys, send a radio report, submerge with the scope up to continue observation. Sound says contact is now moving slow.

Setting on the dive some 10 minutes later and sound tells me the ship is going down. "Say again funkmeister!".

Ship is going down.

Darn. Now I have to work off 10,000 tons in this patrol just to break even.

I didn't think I hit it all that much. Maybe it was the few extra morale shots. Bringing the cook up to fire one; the youngest guy on the boat; the Bosun.

OK, a big mess, but not a career-ender. I'll will write it up to pass somehow.

Would have thought the merchants could have dealt with a half-wrecked engine room and a little fire on the poop deck.

Ooops.

.

Leoz

06-14-16, 07:10 PM

Going up north (AL, AM areas) as there are multiple radio reports of U-boat convoy hunting success.

On the way, at night, in medium seas, run into a ship formally known as the C2 after patrolling in north BE.

Mouse on plotting board lagging. Save, restart, same. Reduced video settings on 3rd try and got better results. Looking at the plot, now kind of not concentrating well because of the tech trouble. Bad plot.

Wing it.

Speed of ship hasn't been found accurately because of the plot work. Have to work to get into position for a night surface attack.

Since I am off on speed, I fire a spread of two type 1s from 1000 meters.

Both hit forward. Ship sinks in 20 minutes. 5000 tons.

Get up north to AL and run east for a day. Don't find anything until AM.

Daytime, submerged, sound contact, lots of ships.

Run southwest on the surface. 1100 am, pick up the lead escort at 5000 plus meters. Try and stay further back. Observe for a while, push around to the south west and come back north and view part of the main body to the north at 6000 plus meters. Intention is to trail for the day and attack on the surface at night. Even though flooding the boat some and going slow, big waves can elevate you up where you can be seen. Off in the distance, see a trailing escort start toward me and pick up speed. Put in radio contact report and crash-dive. Some water bombs but from a non-threatening distance. Disengage. Back on the surface in an hour and a half.

Have not re-acquired them.

Leoz

06-15-16, 05:29 PM

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1030&pictureid=8934

Update: dark morning surface attack on a new convoy in AM29. Approaching from the convoy's right side.

Launched 4x type IIs at a medium cargo @2000M AOB80s. 1 degree spread. Figured 1 may fail; 1 may miss. Wanted it done the first time. Turned around went out back the way I came. The usual slowness of type IIs.... then launched 2 stern type IIs at another medium cargo. Things happening too fast to calculate a proper solution...as I was moving away quick and the area was looking even more unfriendly. Guestimated 2500 meters being in the next column fired tube 5 aimed with dead-center lock. Unlocked and moved cross-hairs to forward hold; fire 6. Probably an AOB of 90s. Finally, still moving fast getting out of there...what seems like years later...3 hits on the first ship; explosion and sank quickly. 1 hit on the bow on the second one. Observed it slowing down before an escort pointed toward me; turn on search lights and fired flares.

Crash dive. Got away. Came back up 50 minutes later. Game gave me credit for sinking the second cargo ship.

2x medium cargo ships sunk for 10,000 tons. Now out of the hole for that tanker debacle some days back.

Saw a Nelson-class battleship further into the convoy when I came back to observe it. A deterrence. It was getting lighter. Convoy would be in shallow water for the next night attack. I had chicken for dinner.

Disengaged.

lolballz

06-16-16, 12:41 PM

w' GWX/SH3Commander...
U-9
Type IIB (historically), Type IIA (in-game)
First patrol, September 1, 1939...
rammed by German light merchant while leaving Kiel harbor
sunk with all hands
probably raised/recommissioned later ... x (

ivanov.ruslan

06-16-16, 12:58 PM

grab new ;)

My favorite time to meet the convoy at dawn
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/923/GBXAYA.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/921/JP26ve.png

Leoz

06-16-16, 11:41 PM

Like that last one a lot.

Leoz

06-21-16, 03:01 AM

Interesting. GWX isn't affraid to send a Type VII further away vs. the stock game.

St Nazaire VII boat started in 1940.

End a patrol toward the end of 1940 off of the AM area with almost 2 weeks of constant storms. :88)

Headed back home without much to show for the patrol except 4000-some tons before the storm.

Ran into a whale factory ship and an ore carrier which made the patrol numbers go good.

As mentioned at the start of this post.... Next patrol, started 1941 going down to Freetown. Got a 10,000-ton freight on the way down, got near the patrol area and messed up a night surface attack on a large convoy, no hits; an unhappy couple of escorts and a lot of water bombs. Like the night visability in GWX. Very cleaver.

Putting down marks on the map from radio reports of sinkings near my area of interest so as to draw up a patrol pattern.

A coupld of days, was careless and a destroyer caught me on the surface... lots of water bombs but it eventually lost interest.

OK, think I have all the glitches worked out of this patrol and hoping for some success....

...intel now shows a large convoy coming out of the Freetown area....

This will be lots of work. Taking a break...

anggono

06-21-16, 11:49 PM

May 1942, 14:00,
Type VIIb

I was attacking a large convoy 1200 kms SE of Iceland, convoy heading WNW at 8 knots. The weather was very poor, heavy overcast, wind speed 15m/s, moderate visibility.

I managed to sink 2 ships and damaged another. After firing the last torpedo I instructed my CE to rig for silent running, make depth 100 meters and change course to exit at end of convoy.

As the boat passed 30 meters I heard a nearby explosion which surprised me because there was no high-speed screw nearby or asdic ping. Then in the map I saw another new icon of ship sunk, apparently there was another U-boat attacking the same convoy, then another nearby explosion and another ship sunk.

10 minutes later 2 explosions and 2 ship sunk further away at the head of convoy, about 5 km from my position. This must be another U-boat because the distance is quite far.

In total, we managed to sink 6 ships. The wolfpack attack was a quite amazing experience. Never before I encountered other 2 boats attacking at the same time.

BTW, has anybody experienced being hit by a torpedo from another U-boat?

SH3 + GWX3Gold + SC

Leoz

06-22-16, 07:16 AM

Good telling of a good story. :Kaleun_Los:

jimislander

06-22-16, 10:40 AM

Currently bf-17 on the bottom heavy damage. Following radio report intercepted a small convoy, which turned out to be an ASW group :( Conning tower damaged, both scopes destroyed, deck and AA guns destroyed. Suspect heavy damage to hull due to the time taken for flood recovery. ASW's have moved off, soon as its dark will surface and head for home ASAP!

anggono

06-22-16, 11:50 PM

Interesting. GWX isn't affraid to send a Type VII further away vs. the stock game.

St Nazaire VII boat started in 1940.....

Indeed Leoz. On current patrol (mid 1942), I'm assigned patrol grid AJ38 out from Bergen in Type VIIb. So I have to utilize U-tanker stationed in North Atlantic to top up on fuel and torpedo.

Normally I'd transit at Ahead One Third or Ahead Standard at most, to conserve fuel.

:salute:

RoaldLarsen

06-27-16, 01:02 PM

I'm back to SH3 after several years' absence. I'm playing the Real U-Boat mod with Harbour Traffic and an extensive set of my own mods loaded with SH3 Commander. My current career is intended to test some refinements to my crew fatugue model and more realistic crew composition. I play Dead is Dead and 100% Realism, and my mods are designed for greater realism too.

CAREER: Norbert Nacht

On August 1, 1939, Lt. z. S. Norbert Nacht (Crew 34) was appointed to the command of U-21, a type II boat of Flotilla 1 "Weddigen", based in Kiel. After sea trials and a shakedown cruise to the coast of Norway off Bergen (AN24), U-21 was placed on active duty and Nacht was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See on August 29.

WAR PATROLS

First War Patrol, September 2-14, 1939

As part of the response to the Polish attack on the German radio station at Gleiwitz, U-21 was ordered to operate against Polish shipping south of the island of Bornholm in the western Baltic (patrol grids AO83-86). En route to the patrol area, U-21 received the radio message, broadcast to all u-boats, to begin operations against the British (but curiously, not against the French).

On September 5, a day after arriving in the assigned area, U-21 received a radio report of a Polish freighter steaming westward close to Bornholm. U-21 intercepted and carried out a submerged attack, sinking the target with a single torpedo fired from 500m away.

On the afternoon of September 12, U-21 detected a ship, and approached it on the surface, close enough to determine it was Polish. The close approach alerted the crew of the freighter, which began to zigzag. U-21 conducted a surface attack, firing a single torpedo. The torpedo seemed to hit the target, but failed to explode. U-21 manouvered for a second attack, which was successful from 450m (Shorter than 500m because the freighter was zigging towards the U-boat at the time. U-21 was in reverse to maintain a sufficient range.)

The next day, U-21's lookouts sighted a cargo ship approaching and U-21 dived, taking up a firing position perpendicular to the ship's course. Nacht was able to spot a Polish flag through the periscope, and sank the target with one torpedo from 500m.

During the patrol, U-21 detected, investigated and reported several Norwegian fishing vessels. There was no sign of Polish naval or air forces. Upon return to base in Kiel, Nacht was promoted to Kapitänleutnant and awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd class, in recognition of his accompishments during the patrol. The entry of Russia into the war made it clear that Poland was finished, so Nacht requested, and was granted, a transfer to 2nd Flotila "Saltzwedel" in Wilhelmshaven.

Second War Patrol, September 16 - October 16, 1939

Immediately upon his arrival at Wilhelmshaven, Nacht was ordered to take U-21 on a patrol off the southwest corner of Ireland (AM87). Given the limited fuel capacity of the type II boats, the only possible route involved a run through the English Channel. Fuel management would be very important, with surface cruising speeds restricted to 5 knots most of the time.

On September 18, while transiting the North Sea in grid AN82, U-21 received a radio report of a British freighter headed towards a port in the Netherlands. The enemy ship's reported location was only 25km WNW of U-21's position. Nacht was perfectly placed to intercept. However, heavy rain had reduced visibility to less than 400m, although the sea state was calm. Nacht decided on a submerged attack guided only by hydrophone bearings. Because he didn't know the target's ship type, he used a shallow setting and an impact trigger. The hydrophones quickly picked up the sounds of the approaching freighter, which seemed to be on course and on schedule. Target speed was calculated from the time it took the ship to get from its reported location to Nacht's position. When Nacht judged the target was 600m away, he fired a single torpedo. When the stopwatch reached the expected running time, nothing happened. Several more seconds passed, and Nacht decided he had missed. He ordered U-21 to surface and run parallel to the freighters's course, hoping to establish visual contact. As the crew was preparing to bring U-21 to the surface, an explosion was heard. The target had been running several hundred meters north of its presumed course, but the hydrophone bearings and correctly calculated speed had sufficed to bring the torpedo to its target. U-21 found a C2 cargo ship dead in the water, and finished it off with another torpedo below the stack.

Shortly afterward, the skies suddenly cleared and U-21 was attacked almost immediately by a British aircraft. U-21 dived and avoided the bombs.

Now it was time to pass through the Straits of Dover. Running on the surface at night, Nacht brought U-21 to a point 35km NE of a line running from Dover to Pas de Calais. He dove at dawn, and proceeded submerged at 2 knots for about 45 km, changing course to avoid warships detected by the hydrophones, and rigging for silent running whenever a patrolling warship got too close. U-21 surfaced unscathed and undetected the next night, and ran SW while recharging its batteries.

On September 21, while running submerged about 30km S of Beachy Head, hydrophones detected a freighter steaming westward along the coast. Since there were no current warship contacts, Nacht decided to turn northwards to interecept. The target was sunk with a single torpedo fired in a submerged attack from 500m off the target's course.

Six days later, U-21 detected and chased a British naval tug, about 135km SW of the Isles of Scilly, sinking it with a surface attack at dusk. The next day, Nacht thought they were far enough from land that air attack was unlikely, so he decided to run surfaced during daylight for the first time since passing the Sheldt Estuary. He was wrong. U-21 Was fortunate to be be missed by the two Britsh aircraft that detected him.

U-21 arrived at its designated patrol area of AM87 on October 1, having used nearly half its fuel. Nacht decided that he would need to plot a return course much closer to Cornwall if he was going to allocate any fuel for patrolling his target grid. The weather had deteriorated quite badly: high seas, driving rain and no visibility, so Nacht chose to patrol submerged most of the time. He was quickly rewarded with a hydrophone contact. Shortly after nightfall, U-21 found the target and surfaced quite close to it, but the visiblity was so poor that nobody could make out the target's flag, even though they got close enough to scrape paint. Trailing the target until morning light would take U-21 well out of its designated patrol area, and Nacht was unwilling to risk sinking a neutral ship, so he reported its position, course and speed, and returned to patrol. He found no more targets in the area until declining fuel forced him to turn homewards. The weather remained foul thoughout U-21's stay in AM87.

The day after U-21 left the patrol grid, the skies cleared enough to allow aircraft to fly, but seas were still high. The following day, U-21 was surpised to be attacked by multiple aircraft while running on the surface, still rigged for red. Apparently, the British aircraft had taken off before dawn. Although their bombs missed as U-21 crash dived, the aircraft were able to summon a nearby destroyer. U-21 detected the destroyer's approach on hydrophone and Nacht was able to employ a burst of speed and a change of course before the destroyer got too close. Another short burst of speed was applied while the destroyer was turned away from U-21. U-21 was able to avoid detection by the surface ship.

On October 7, U-21 was proceeding submerged in an easterly direction in BF2597 when the hydrophone operator reported a merchant approaching. After repeated hydrophone readings put the ship on a generally southwestward course, with no warship contacts, Nacht ordered U-21 to surface and run at speed on a southerly course to intercept. U-21's final torpedo claimed its victim in a surface attack in BF2832.

Later that week, hydrophones detected a naval task force coming out of Portsmouth and heading east, but U-21 was unable to report a course or speed. A few days later, right after successfully getting through the Straits of Dover, U-21 found and reported a convoy running up England's east coast.

U-21 returned safely to Wilhelmshaven on October 16, with the Engineering Officer reporting "out of diesel fuel" as they passed the island of Mellum at the entrance to the Jade Bight. KptLt. Nacht was awarded the Iron Cross, First class.

ATTACK STATISTICS

Torpedoes fired: 9
Torpedoes hitting target: 9
Topedoes exploding on target: 8
Ships sunk: 7

With 18,932 tons sunk, KptLt. Nacht stands third among Germany's submarine aces.

CREW

U-21 has a complement of 25 souls comprising:

1 x Kapitänleutnant - Boat's commander (equivalent to RN Lieutenant)
1 x Matrosengefreiter - Seaman Cook

Sea Division

1 x Leutnant zur See - Commander of Sea Division, and first watch officer (IWO)
1 x Obersteuermann - Senior Petty officer, Quartermaster, Navigator, and IIWO
1 x Bootsmann - Bosun and Third Watch Officer (IIIWO)
1 x Oberbootsmannsmaat - Senior Bosun's Mate
1 x Bootsmannsmaat - Bosun's Mate
6 x Matrosengefreiter - Ordinary Seamen

Engineering Division

1 x Leutnant zur See - commander of the Engineering Division (LI)
1 x Obersmaschinist - Senior Diesel Chief (DC)
1 x Maschinist - Electric Chief (EC)
2 x Maschinenmaat - Machinist's Mates (MM)
2 x Maschinenobergefreiter Stokers, 1st Class (MOG)
2 x Maschinengefreiter - Stokers, 2nd Class (MG)

Technical Staff

1 x Mechanikersmaat -Torpedo mechanic
1 x Funkmaat - Radio mate
1 x Funkgefreiter - Radio operator

Totals

3 x Officers (Offiziere)
4 x Senior Petty Officers (Unteroffiziere mit Portepee)
6 x Junior Petty officers (Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee)
12 x Sailors (Mannschaften)

WATCHES

The Ka'leun has set the following watches:

1st Sea Watch: IWO, Bootsmannsmaat, 2 x Matrosengefreiter
2nd Sea Watch: IIWO, Oberbootsmannsmaat, 2 x Matrosengefreiter
3rd Sea Watch: IIIWO, 2 x Matrosengefreiter

Starboard Engine Watch: 1 x DC, 1 x MM, 1 x MOG, 1 x MG
Port Engine Watch: 1 X EC, 1 x MM, 1 x MOG, 1 x MG

The captain, the LI, the technical staff, and the cook do not stand regular watches. They serve as needed. The Diesel and Electric chiefs, though nominally in charge of the two engine watches, tend to work most often when their respective mode of propulsion is in use.

The crew of a Type II is too small to consistently run compartments at top efficiency, but the torpedo mechanic can often help out with the motors and batteries, while the cook and radio staff can serve as supplementary lookouts.

Leoz

07-02-16, 10:14 PM

A few days after hostilities have been declared. September 1939. Heavy seas, early morning. Detect, track and try to attack a large merchant. Not good for a periscope attack. Create a solution. 6 knots? OK, maybe... Surface quickly as close as possible (700 meters), one G7a torpedo, hit in the forward hold, right in front of the bridge; port side. Took 25 minutes to flounder and sink. About 6000 tons. Weather getting worse.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1030&pictureid=9027

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1030&pictureid=9028

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1030&pictureid=9029

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1030&pictureid=9030

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1030&pictureid=9031

KaleutKiwi

07-03-16, 02:18 AM

too long to message but my patrol can be followed from post #129

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=226420&page=9

ivanov.ruslan

07-03-16, 08:33 AM

KaleutKiwi:
The captain doing his fair share of keeping watch!
http://i64.tinypic.com/2wmmdg3.jpg

Hi, Kptl Kiwi and other skippers,congratulations on the successful hunt

This captain of a mod and if so by whom :cool:

Thanks!

Leoz

07-04-16, 07:17 AM

Looks kinda like Lemp. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz-Julius_Lemp

ivanov.ruslan

07-04-16, 08:29 AM

Yeah,unfortunately not a mod;)

renthehen

07-08-16, 07:54 AM

Just started a new campaign after a break of over a year from playing! Cant believe I ever stopped, too much fun was had last night... :D

First Patrol (Incomplete)
Captain Rostek of U49 set sail on 2nd September 1939 (Thanks S3C) just as war has been declared by Great Britain. Tasked with AM18 as a patrol grid, Rostek and crew head out from Wilhelmshaven and cross the North Sea heading towards Aberdeen. Numerous reports come in over the radio but mainly quiet for U49 until 5th September when a contact via hydrophone is established. Excited, Captain Rostek and crew attempt to cut off the contact to score their first sinking of the war. After a 3 hour search the contact comes into view, a small coal tender. Disappointed, crew morale drops slightly.
The next day, the watch crew spot numerous British planes in good time allowing evasive action to be taken easily. During one dive, the hydrophone picks up another merchant vessel moving right towards us. The luck of it raises morale on U49 and cheers ring around the boat. U49 dives to periscope depth and lies in wait for a couple of hours until the ship comes into view. Luck indeed, a 10+ton large merchant 13km off in the distance. As the ship moves closer the flag is confirmed as British and an attack is readied and inevitable. The crew hurry into positions and wait, excited and apprehensive for the coming action. Firing 2 fish, 1 impact and 1 mag, the crews hopes are high. No one on board however expected such a great first torp of the war, landing perfectly and somehow managing to split the large merchant clean in two. The second fish hit also, though made little difference as the ship was already a goner from the first impact. Crew delighted, U49 sneak off in search of their next target - confident now and action ready. :salute:

ivanov.ruslan

07-08-16, 04:15 PM

At the night we intercepted a convoy,grid AM 15

In the first attack in the path of the torpedo stood a heavy tanker
There was a loud bang and the horizon lit up by the flames, which were even remotely scary
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/246/Bez-ime-1702pn0N.png

Delegation welcoming us
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/246/SH3Img8-7-2016_222024_139hXOk4uB_sredna.bmp

After being plucked by our hosts, the hunt continues
Loaded torpedoes and forced diesels
In the morning, in the eye of the periscope we saw the whole convoy,
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/246/SH3Img8-7-2016_223717_101OUK5RwP_sredna.bmp

which fortunately had only juicy tankers
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/246/SH3Img8-7-2016_223720_1059ayxYiU_sredna.bmp

During the attack, which sent the bottom three tankers were intercepted by the destroyers who bombarded us
with hedgehogs and depth charges
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/246/SH3Img8-7-2016_225558_6228aKuHuh_sredna.bmp

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/246/SH3Img8-7-2016_225647_8006IPboFU_sredna.bmp

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/246/SH3Img8-7-2016_2301_988NgoQLq_sredna.bmp

During one of the attacks, in which nearly sent us to the bottom,
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/246/SH3Img8-7-2016_23653_423OblW8Sf_sredna.bmp

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/246/SH3Img8-7-2016_23655_125AQjy40t_sredna.bmp

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/246/SH3Img8-7-2016_23658_7mI0TI48_sredna.bmp

made a sharp turn to the right in full swing in which the destroyer caught in a good shooting position with bow torpedo aparat
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/246/SH3Img8-7-2016_23858_2414ydGkRL_sredna.bmp

lederhosen

07-10-16, 08:06 AM

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/J5_lederhosen/Heinz%20Stein%20Lone%20Wolf/patrol3%20end/1_zpsepxocchm.png

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/J5_lederhosen/Heinz%20Stein%20Lone%20Wolf/patrol3%20end/2_zpsajara12h.png

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/J5_lederhosen/Heinz%20Stein%20Lone%20Wolf/patrol3%20end/3_zpsayvaakrj.png

Bigfish6156

07-10-16, 11:45 AM

Bruno Hessler: "New course 138 degrees."

CE: "Jawohl, Herr Kaleun! Are we ending our mission early?"

Bruno Hessler: "Of course chief. Have you not noticed SH5 is rubbish?"

CE: "Jawohl, Herr Kaleun!"

Bruno Hessler: "I can't target the Tommies properly in this version. My Watch Officer is too much wrapped up in his family."

CE: "Jawohl, Herr Kaleun!"

Bruno Hessler: "When we dock at Kiel re-install SHIII."

CE: "Jawohl, Herr Kaleun!"

Bruno Hessler: "Stop the shouting!"

CE: "I'm sorry Herr Kaleun I don't have that MOD installed."

Bruno Hessler: "And wear a decent uniform!"

CE: "I don't have either, Herr Kaleun."

Bruno Hessler: "Never mind."

Aktungbby

07-10-16, 02:12 PM

Bigfish6156!:Kaleun_Salute:

ivanov.ruslan

07-10-16, 02:34 PM

Bigfish6156:
CE: "I'm sorry Herr Kaleun I don't have that MOD installed."

Heh :har:

ivanov.ruslan

07-14-16, 04:00 PM

Geleizug angrif!
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/248/SH3Img11-7-2016_215219_9528aKuHuh_sredna.bmp

Hi-speed sqrews
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/248/SH3Img14-7-2016_23207_5293CaCFZO_sredna.bmp

Enemy radar signal detected
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/248/SH3Img14-7-2016_232431_2276BMMJUM_sredna.bmp

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/248/SH3Img14-7-2016_232434_753DLCZUO8_sredna.bmp

Nearby ship audiblle in hidrophones
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/248/SH3Img14-7-2016_232723_611fj3IOWa_sredna.bmp

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/248/SH3Img14-7-2016_23276_789p2fyuQ8_sredna.bmp

BarracudaUAK

07-21-16, 06:57 PM

Currently mid Dec. 1943, trailing a large, heavily escorted convoy south of iceland in a 9D2.

They show no signs that they have detected us.

We shall see.

Barracuda

Obltn Strand

07-23-16, 10:32 AM

It's time for at least one more career...

After two uneventful reconnaissance and screening patrols off Norway it is time for some real action. Old duck U-6 will return to Baltic sea as training boat. Strand will take command of new advanced duck U-139...

U-139, 1st Flotilla
Left at: 22.11.1940, 22:18
From: Kiel
Mission orders: Patrol grid BF15

26.11.1940

11:23 Aircraft. Crashdive. AN4198
11:49 Surfaced.
12:26 Aircraft. Crashdive.
16:51 Surfaced. Will continue transit through Fair Isle Pass submerged
submerged during daylight.

28.11.1940
08:34 Ship sighted. Two destroyers on NE course. Avoided contact. AN1329
10:15 Ship sighted. Most likely the same two destroyers sighted
earlier. Now heading S. Changed course to avoid contact.
AN1327
14:00 Aircraft. Crashdive. AN1318
16:58 Surfaced.

29.11.1940
15:12 Aircraft. Crashdive. AN3531
17:01 Surfaced.
22:13 Ship sighted. Three destroyers on NNE course. Changed course
to avoid contact. AN3551

01.12.1940
17:12 Ship sighted. Freighter on ENE course. Has one cannon mounted
on aft deck and no navigation lights. AM5445
17:49 Fired tube II
G7e, Range 1300, AoB green 90, Speed 4 kts, Depth 5m.
Definite dud or ran under the target.
17:52 Fired tube I
G7a, Range 900, AoB green 90, Speed 4 kts, Depth 5m.
Exploded below bridge after 49 seconds.
18:07 Sunk rapidly bow first. Estimated as 4000ton freighter.

03.12.1940
19:30 Arrived patrol area. Sent status report and informed BdU of my
arrival.

06.12.1940
06:00 Diesel fuel reserve down to half.

08.12.1940
12:52 Ship sighted. Destroyer on erratic course. Dived to avoid
contact. BF1584
12:56 Multiple hydrophone contacts. A convoy. Not an ideal situation.
daylight and low visibility. At least it is cruising towards me. Will
attempt a submerged attack and then assess possibility to
shadow. Estimated course S, speed 5 kts.
13:47 Fired tubes I and II.
G7e, Range 1300, AoB red 90, Speed 5kts, Depth 5m.
First was an erratic runner, second hit midships.
13:51 Fired tube III.
G7a, Range 1400, AoB red 80, Speed 5kts, Depth 5m.
Miss or dud. Did not observe after launch.
15:33 Damaged freighter has fallen behind the convoy and is protected
by one escort. This prevents me from effectively shadowing as
weather keeps deteriorating. Will stay submerged untill dusk and
then start return trip.

10.12.1940
17:50 Docked at Lorient.

Captain Coward

07-24-16, 08:27 PM

Follow Up to "Dispatch From The Front"

Original Post Here:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=227002

Finally (!) the fog has lifted and I am able to get back to my patrol #12. I tried many attempts at attacking in the horrid weather only to waste three torpedoes (too close, not enough time to arm). I would carefully plot the enemies course and draw markings on my map as to be able to fire just when I was able to see them pop out of the fog. I gave up on numerous attempts. I hope Admiral Donitz doesn't find out how many ships I had to pass up on (tankers, C3s, etc.) or most likely he will take away my command, hand me a rifle and ship me off to Stalingrad.

I've read quite a few posts on attacking in lousy weather so I guess I know I"m not alone in the frustration. But that's all in the past and it's time to get back to the business of halting the flow of goods to the British. What will Churchill do without his expensive cigars and liquor!

Unusual Note: As I was diving one of my torpedoes went off without me firing it. This is the second time this has happened to me. I'm not sure what I did wrong. Time to STF!

Captain Coward

wschaub

07-25-16, 02:39 PM

I'm not really playing with all the hardcore settings most people are playing with in here however yesterday while playing my campaign (GWX 3.0 gold) with the type IXB I'm in mid 1941 and my patrol grid is in the neighborhood of the Gibraltar strait.

I decide to do some hunting there and I've exhausted most of my fish so I head back to Lorient I notice on the map there's a small ship in a nearby harbor I can dock with to refuel and since I've never tried it before I sneak into the harbor and come up right along side of it (in the ship cam we really are parked side by side almost against each other) at periscope depth.

I decide to stay like that until night fall so I time compress and all of a sudden the max compression goes down and the ship comes under attack by bombers while I'm just feet away from it underwater. I order back emergency and slowly back out while all hell breaks lose above in extremely shallow water.

Somehow I manage to escape with only minor damage, sneak back out. and head for home.

Most intense thing that I've been through so far in this game.

Jimbuna

07-25-16, 02:43 PM

Welcome to SubSim wschaub :salute:

ivanov.ruslan

07-25-16, 02:46 PM

Sinking all alive !:salute:
It's not so important what kind of mod, it is important for you to like

ivanov.ruslan

07-27-16, 01:48 PM

Friendly meeting in ocean

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/253/SH3Img27-7-2016_212150_950KxV9xAy_sredna.bmp

ivanov.ruslan

07-28-16, 01:16 AM

Welcome a board :salute:

Aktungbby

07-28-16, 01:26 AM

dia10!:Kaleun_Salute:

Benzin1973

07-28-16, 11:28 PM

According to my steam library, i have played SH3 for 332 hours. And since i had very few in-game hours i have been looking to sink the Nelson Battleship. Why? I dunno, but for some reason i have allways wanted his bones! :arrgh!:
But after several careers, in vanilla, GWX, and LSH3 (none of them finished to the end), i have never found it.

Then a few days ago, "inteligence reports" told me i could only find it from Nov. 1939 to very early 1940 (Jan). So i started a new career in 1939, 1st flotilla, using Vanilla sh3 + an enhancement mod i made called "Enhanced Vanilla" (it doesnt touch campaing files, just adds some elements from GWX, LSH, and some fixes of my own).

1st patrol, on my TypeII i nailed a couple of small merchants, nothing fancy. Its only september, so i dont expect to find it yet.

2nd patrol, intel reports of a battleship on scapa flow, Not November yet, but still a Battleship is allways a juicy target. I dont know how wise it is to try to infiltrate Scapa flow on a TypeIIA, but its still early war, so i go there, and find the HMS Revenge. 3 eels (all my tubes!) on her port, and down she goes. (Sorry, i did take some pics, but i must have deleted them by mistake :stare:). I got detected on the way out, deptcharged, escaped by a hair.

3rd patrol, November 10. By now i have been given an iron cross (for sinking the revenge), and the TypeVIIB is now available, plus i got the renow to get it so i do. After leaving port, my intel tells me of Battleships reported on Loch Ewe (AM38), report is:
Suspected in Loch Ewe:
- Battleship 'Royal Sovereign'
- Battleship 'Nelson' :o:woot::rock::rotfl2:

Needless to say, i hauled butt to that location. Oh boy it was a nightmare to infiltrate. I did time my arrival to be @ about 1900hrs, but i only managed to get inside the port after 0300hrs and after a couple of close calls! It was crawling with destroyers and patrol boats.
But oh boy was it worth it...

https://s26.postimg.org/azd0mlvd5/onsight.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/a9u8a8uth/)subir foto (https://postimage.org/index.php?lang=spanish)

He was in a position where i had to "circle" arround it to get it at a good angle, wich took aditional time. The other battleship BTW was inside the dock, nearly impossible to attack it unless firing directly at its keel @ an AOB of about 5º (eels will most likely bounce off) so i dint even try.

So i decided to send all my forward eels to the Nelson, slow speed, impact pistons, distributed to hit it in diferent places mostly on its mid and rear portside.
And off they go!
Its not looking good for the Nelson!
https://s26.postimg.org/icselkfex/eelsontheway.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/o0ypcgjr9/)hosting imagenes (https://postimage.org/index.php?lang=spanish)

As the eels start they journey i start my escape. Silent mode, 3knots (noone nearby), all the long way back to the entrance.
Then...
Boom! "torpedo impact!", Boom! "torpedo impact!", Boom! "torpedo impact!", Boom! "torpedo impact!"

HAH! i bet he is on its way to the (Shallow) bottom by now!
I go to periscope depth (was @ 14m) and take a quick peek thru the periscope. He is smoldering, smoke coming out but I dont see it sinking yet. :o
What i do see, is a destroyer "staring" at me as he approaches. He has seen me. :o

Several minutes and a multitude of manouvers and close calls later, i manage to avoid them. I go further away from the nearest destroyer and take another peak. Nelson is still not sinking!
Not only im i not in a position for a frontal attack (im on my way out, facing the opposite direction fo the nelson), but my forward tubes are not loaded either. I couldnt order loading due to silent mode. :nope:
But i do have my aft tube loaded! and i only need to turn about 15º to get him on my 180.
Range is now about 4.5km, excellent! Fire 5!
As i continue my exit, event cam pops up, the eel is about to hit. Then the crappiest of toughts comes to my mind "oh boy, i hope its not a dud!"...
Do i need to say what happened next? :/\\!!

I will sink this thing, even if i die trying!!!

And besides, no one notices and/or cares about the dud eel.
All Stop, Secure from silent mode, crew, get your behinds to the aft torpedo room and load 5, NOW!
About 12min. later.... Fire 5!
I do continue my exit, hoping i dont get two duds in a row, some time later Boom!...
Now thats better!
https://s26.postimg.org/6oycr0qa1/goingdown.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/fjz71jf2d/)hosting imagenes (https://postimage.org/index.php?lang=spanish)

After cheering along with my crew i continued my exit, and noticed two of the destroyers patroling the area had rammed into the shore!!?? the weather was good, i dont know what happened, but oh well ill take it!

After leaving Loch Ewe i still proceeded to my designated patrol area, and managed to sink a C2, then i finally returned to port to be given an iron cross (1st class this time), promotions for my crew, and quite a bit of renow. :rock:

While this wasnt my most "profitable" patrol in regards to tonnage (that was one i reported here a few pages back, when i sank a carrier, +100,000 tons total), i think this was my most... "intense" and rewarding one of all the time ibe played SH3.
Thank you HMS Nelson for the great time!

ivanov.ruslan

07-29-16, 12:47 AM

Awesome patrol, cheers :cool:

ivanov.ruslan

07-29-16, 02:09 PM

My 1WO thinks that I've never seen a plane, and instead commanded "Alaarm", tells me that he saw the plane :D
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/253/SH3Img29-7-2016_214658_818BOFQZa3_sredna.bmp

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/253/SH3Img29-7-2016_214659_938y7p28uW_sredna.bmp

Well we passed only with repair of diesel and ballast tanks .....:o
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/253/SH3Img29-7-2016_21474_118fj3IOWg_sredna.bmp

ivanov.ruslan

07-29-16, 04:14 PM

https://www.nariba.com/forum/images/smilies/017.gifObviously aircraftcareer is nearby

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/253/SH3Img30-7-2016_0625_30bekNBYC_sredna.bmp

Benzin1973

07-29-16, 09:57 PM

Awesome patrol, cheers :cool:Thanks Ivanov! Yours are very cool as well! :up:

Edit:
I forgot to ask...
Your pictures look very nice! What enviroment/visual mods are you using?

ivanov.ruslan

07-30-16, 12:09 AM

I use:
GWX 3.0
EnvSimAct_10
Foam 512x512
Racerboy_SH4_Effects_for_SH3_2_03
Fahnenbohn's Environment Mod - on the top

ivanov.ruslan

07-31-16, 03:32 PM

During a patrol in quadrant AN 41, east of Scapa Flow, while we were in an underwater position, acoustics report on the peleng, the target is moving fast
I raised the periscope and noticed task force group moving fast
The formation consisted of five destroyers
One of them seemed to me a little lonely, I could not resist and drove him a torpedo Yes,but to others contracted sharply left and headed toward me
The next few hours were straight nightmarish - the water boiled, straight me with hedgehogs and waserbombs
The depth was about 140 meters, I was able to maneuver
There was a battle of life and death
When the situation became intolerable, I decided to went on the attack

Emergence to periscope depth full swing, maneuvering between blasts ....
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/254/SH3Img30-7-2016_234249_813OFeZmjx_sredna.bmp

Finally, it was just me and him .... Who who
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/254/SH3Img30-7-2016_23451_479jI71NOu_sredna.bmp

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/254/SH3Img30-7-2016_234856_139sTSb2DB_sredna.bmp

Benzin1973

08-01-16, 10:33 PM

I use:
GWX 3.0
EnvSimAct_10
Foam 512x512
Racerboy_SH4_Effects_for_SH3_2_03
Fahnenbohn's Environment Mod - on the topThanks Ivanov.
I just installed EnvSimAct, weather is much more realistic now!
But i couldnt find anything on Foam512x512, what is it?

ivanov.ruslan

08-01-16, 11:31 PM

Look here http://www.subsim.com/radioroom//showthread.php?t=149689&page=4
,post 51

Captain Coward

08-03-16, 04:14 PM

My latest patrol went well (my best so far) in the AM41 section (Dec. 1940/Jan. 1941). 18 ships including a destroyer for a total of 58,489 tons. I even sank a fishing boat (deck gun) to deny Churchill his Fish & Chips. I should've had 19 but my last torpedo couldn't sink a C3. I was out of ammo for my deck gun except the Star Shells. I used everyone of them to try to set it ablaze but in the end I just blew stuff up on the deck.

I wonder when these merchants start shooting back? I may have to find out the hard way...yikes!

Captain Coward

ivanov.ruslan

08-03-16, 04:20 PM

Try it in 43 th and 44 th, 45 th will not comment :D

Welcome a board :salute:

Captain Coward

08-06-16, 07:11 PM

Just finished the fastest mission I think I'll ever have:

February 5th to the 17th 1941, section BE22. I used up all but one torpedo on the way there thanks to a convoy I stumbled upon. Nine ships totaling 45,711 tons. Would have been more but the weather prevented me from using the deck gun and of course I had an electric torpedo malfunction. Sheesh.

Hunting down these convoys has been an interesting & frustrating endeavor, more on that later. Also my first time taking damage from depth charges (minor), something tells me I will need to get used to it.

Off to Section BE91, departing on St. Patricks Day with my trusty U-52!

Captain Coward

Note: I just realized I can put an emblem on the conning tower. Went with the Lachen Sawfish. I'll have to Google to figure out the meaning.

RoaldLarsen

08-11-16, 10:55 AM

I have returned to SH3 after a seven year absence. After a few weeks of making realism tweaks with SH3 Commander, I have begun careers in each of the three start-of-war flotillas available in-game.

The first of these careers is Kapitänleutnant Alfred Ahrens, whose first war patrol was significant.

Alfred Ahrens was born in Heilbronn on 1910/02/04. He joined the Reichsmarine as an officer candidate in 1928 and was made a Leutnant zur See in 1932, serving on the light cruiser Leipzig. Ahrens was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See and transferred to the new u-boat force in 1935. He served as IWO under KptLt. Heinrich Liebe on U-2, a type II A boat. In late 1937 Ahrens was promoted to Kapitänleutnant and took over command from KptLt. Hans Cohausz of U-15, a type II B.

On the 22nd day of August, 1939, Ahrens was ordered to take U-15 to sea and patrol grid square AN44 off the east coast of Scotland, about halfway between the Royal Navy bases at Scapa Flow and the Firth of Forth. He was to report any naval movements and merchant traffic. Ahrens was also secretly warned that there was a risk of an outbreak of war with England at or after the beginning of September. In the event of war, he was to sink any Britsh merchant shipping he encountered, but to do so in accordance with the Prize Rules of 1936. He was told to avoid detection, especially once he left the Skagerrak.

U-15 left the Skagerrak on August 25. The next day, Ahrens had to alter course to avoid being seen by a ship that had been sighted by one of the other u-boats that put to sea at about the same time. On the day after that, U-15 altered course to avoid a ship detected by U-15's own lookouts.

At 19:40 on August 28, U-15 arrived at the NW corner of its designated patrol grid square. U-15 patrolled AN44 without seeing any ships from August 28 to September 2. The crew heard the news of the German invasion of Poland on September 1. At 08:53 on September 3, while submerged on a southerly course in AN4417, U-15's hydrophone operator heard faint sounds of distant propellers. Ahrens ordered the boat to be surfaced and set a course to intecept for a visual appraisal of the contact. At 9:07, shortly after U-15 had sighted the contact - a 2,800 ton British coastal merchant - U-15 was surprised by a British aircraft, and even more surprised when the aircraft dropped a bomb near them, causing minor damage, including disabling the wireless equipment. U-15 dived but maintained a course towards the ship. Ahrens assumed that the attack on his boat meant that war had begun, but that he had missed notification while he was submerged. He further surmised that the ship had summoned the aircraft, and was therefore itself a legitimate target.

At 09:30, Ahrens surfaced and took U-15 on a long loop to get ahead of the ship, to the port side of its course. He then submerged with U-15 pointed perpendicular to the ship's course. At 11:15 Ahrens fired one T I torpedo at fast speed, depth 8m with magnetic fusing, from a range of 500m. The torpedo detonated under the target's keel, breaking the ship's back. Thus Ahrens claimed the first sinking of the war. Coincidentally, the attack came just as Neville Chamberlain was giving his speech declaring that Britain was at war with Germany. Shortly after the attack, the Funkmaat was able to repair the wireless, in time to receive Doenitz's message to commence operations against British shipping. The receipt of this message, about 3.5 hours after they sank their target, caused much consternation among U-15's crew.

Fourteen minutes after the sinking, U-15's lookouts spotted two approaching aircraft. U-15 dived and was apparently not detected. U-15 remained on patrol in AN44 for another 15 hours until, running low on fuel, Ahrens decided to return to base. At 05:07 on September 4, while leaving AN4445, U-15 was attacked by three British aircraft and crash-dived. Three explosions were heard, but no damage was done.

U-15 completed its first war patrol by docking in Kiel's sub pen 12 at 10:30 on September 12. When it was confirmed that Ahrens' attack on the British ship had taken place 15 minutes after the British war ultimatum had expired, he was commended for his initiative, rather than being disciplined for creating a potential international incident. Ahrens was Gemany's official leading submarine ace for just two days, until September 5, when Herbert Schultze sank the 4,853 ton Royal Scepter. (Julius Lemp's sinking of the Athenia on September 3 was not officially acknowledged.)

U-15 was in port for 10 days, being checked for damage and reprovisioned. Ahrens' second patrol was in grid square AN16, which includes Scapa Flow, but Ahrens stayed clear of the naval base and its patrolling destroyers. On the way to its patrol area, U-15 stopped and inspected a ship off the Norwegian coast near Bergen that seemed to be headed towards Scotland, but it proved to be a Norwegian coastal merchant trying to put some distance between itself and the lee shore. U-15 patrolled AN16 for three days, On the evening of the second day, a British coastal merchant was detected by hydrophone. As Ahrens was guiding U-15 closer to the target, a British destroyer was sighted on an intersecting course. U-15 dove and successfully evaded the warship, then resurfaced and sank the merchant with a single torpedo. U-15 returned to Kiel on October 8 with dry diesel tanks, after sixteen days at sea.

Before leaving on it's third war patrol, U-15's crew members were awarded the u-boat war badge.

U-15's third war patrol assignment was to AN34, SW of the southern tip of Norway. U-15 detected and sank two British cargo ships of about 4930 tons each, and intercepted a Norwegian fishing vessel. Having expended all its torpedoes, U-15 returned to Kiel after only 9 days at sea.

Upon his return to Kiel, Ahrens was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class, was promoted to Korvettenkapitän, and given command of the 5th Flotilla. When that Flotilla was disbanded in 1940, Ahrens was made commander of the First Division at the Murwik Naval Academy.

KptLt A. Ahrens War Patrol Summary:
Number of war patrols: 3
Days at sea: 46
Torpedos fired: 7
Torpedos detonating on target: 7
Ships sunk: 4
Tonnage sunk: 14,978

ivanov.ruslan

08-16-16, 05:18 AM

During a storm condition, watchcrew spoted large transport, moving at high speed,backboard We went to his rapprochement and we stuck a torpedo After the blast, dropped his speed and finally completely stopped
Our weapon officer finished him off with the second torpedo
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/260/SH3Img16-8-2016_85219_7993eZX0TW_sredna.bmp

Emitting clouds of steam, he went to the bottom
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/260/SH3Img16-8-2016_85313_11q5yFD1_sredna.bmp

Weather clears
And with good weather slowly emerges from the horizon silhouette of convoy
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/260/SH3Img4-8-2016_214045_948nPxIxAc_sredna.bmp

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/260/SH3Img4-8-2016_214044_958H2CDnyw_sredna.bmp

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/260/SH3Img4-8-2016_214546_461wLGUbue_sredna.bmp

Good hunt !

ivanov.ruslan

08-18-16, 03:39 PM

https://www.nariba.com/forum/images/smilies/017.gifI didnt understand whether this convoys are two or one seen twice
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/261/SH3Img18-8-2016_233148_975USXtbz8_sredna.bmp

Hmm, we'll see this job
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/261/SH3Img18-8-2016_234139_692hxPGcCI_sredna.bmp

Captain Coward

08-21-16, 02:18 PM

July of 1941 and those sons of b*tches (a coastal merchant) shot back at me while making a surface run with my deck gun. First time I've been shot at. I started to dive from 500 meters away but I got pissed and decided to have my gunners take out their gun instead. Luckily they were bad shots and went to the bottom! I was overjoyed watching them sink to a watery grave.

Captain Coward

nohey

08-31-16, 11:18 PM

My first post here, hello fellow Captains.

Small report from U-101, 29th Flotilla September 12th, 1941.

Left La Spezia for the Mediterranean Sea on the morning of the 5th of September at approx 07:30. We made our way down the eastern coasts of Corsica and Sardinia before making open sea. Very little to report.

7th of September, 1941: Came in contact and quickly sunk a 4878 tonne merchant ship by day with deck gun before turning east-south-east for our petrol sector: CH94.

8th of September, 1941: Came into contact with another merchant ship of undisclosed tonnage at 9:30am - watched the Luftwaffe bomb the ship with several Junkers via periscope before we could sink it ourselves.

9th of September, 1941: Heavy rain and extremely bad weather. Bridge watch caught site of a coal vessel between 4-5000 tonnes doing between 8 and 12 knots at 1:45am. We were unable to catch and stopped pursuit after losing sight.

10th of September, 1941: U-101 navigated the north coast of North Africa with few encounters. Detected via hydrophones suspected warships as we made for the straight of Gibraltar at a depth of 40m. No visuals. We used the bad weather to slip into the straight of Gibraltar and into the bay of Gibraltar undetected.

11th of September, 1941: Between 12am and 4am U-101 successfully destroyed two anchored T2 and T3 Tanker vessels in the harbour of Gibraltar. T2 8654 tonnage, T3 18459 tonnage. 4 T1 eels and deck guns were used. Royal Navy dispatched several unidentified warships but U-101 successfully evaded them and slipped out of the bay. Minor damage due to miscalculation of depth.

12th of September, 1941: No encounters as we made our way north-west towards Palma - repairs ongoing. Aft tube eels all that is left of torp compliment - deck gun ammunition moderate. Probable deck gun attacks on return to La Spezia.

End of report.

ivanov.ruslan

09-01-16, 12:14 AM

Welcome a board !:salute:

nohey

09-01-16, 06:54 PM

Thanks Ivan =)

Aktungbby

09-01-16, 09:00 PM

nohey!:Kaleun_Salute:

Jimbuna

09-02-16, 06:50 AM

Welcome to SubSim nohey :sunny:

max-peck

09-02-16, 09:42 AM

My first post here, hello fellow Captains.

Welcome aboard skipper - sink 'em all :up:

nohey

09-02-16, 11:36 AM

Thanks for the lovely welcome, guys. Just finished my first petrol, barely making it home under allied aircraft strafing. Pretty intense.

Captain Coward

09-03-16, 06:59 PM

No war stories here, just a boring patrol in the CF region hoping to stumble upon a convoy.

Thank goodness for Marlene Dietrich! Wonderful music to listen to while on patrol.

A big "thank you" to the person who put the download together here.

nohey

09-04-16, 02:36 AM

https://s17.postimg.org/ihmm0ywzz/Sh3_Seq001_000158.jpg

Refuelling and rearming at the U-Motoschiff 'Thalia' in Cadiz. Several hospital boats in port but an honourable captain abides by the naval code. Setting sail for the gauntlet of the Gibraltar Straight once more.

The Black Wolf.

Obltn Strand

09-24-16, 05:46 AM

Patrol 4
U-139, 1st Flotilla
Left at: January 4, 1941, 06:35
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid AM39

09.01.1941
10:00 Arrived patrol area and sent report to BdU. AM3977

10.01.1941
12:08 Aircraft. Crashdive. AM3977
16:38 Surfaced.

13.01.1941
06:59 Ship sighted. High swells and poor visibility prevents any meaningful action. AM5345
13:21 Hydrophone contact. Slow screws. Weather has improved. Intercepting.
13:36 Two warships appearded on intercept course. Dived deep and commenced silent running. Weather improved and apparently ASW measures with it. Opportunity lost.

14.01.1941
02:23 Ship sighted. Two destroyers on SW course. Avoided contact. AM5337
13.07 Hydrophone contact. Slow screws. Intercepting. Coal fired tanker on SE course. Commenced submerged attack.
13:58 Fired tube I.
G7a. Range 800m, Speed 9 kts, AoB green 90, Depth 5m. Definite dud.
Cannot prees for another attack due to proximity of british coast.

15.01.1941
08:01 Aircraft. Crashdive. AM3985

16.01.1941
00:10 /From BdU: Enenmy convoy at grid AM6574, course NW, speed 6 kts/
Will proceed to North Channel and informed BdU.
11:44 Smoke on horizon. AM6177
14:42 Detected by escorts.
14:44 Aircraft. Crashdive. Two distant depth charges. AM6188
16:11 Evaded the escorts succesfully. No depth charges or asdic. Convoy still audible on hydrophone. Will continue attack.
17:12 Regained contact. Now I can attack in cover of the darkness.
17:53 Fired tube III at small freighter.
G7a. Range 1000, AoB green 80, Speed 5 kts, depth 5m
Hit amidships.
17:55 Fired tubes I and II at large freighter.
G7e. Range 1200, AoB green 80, Speed 5 kts, Depth 5m.
Two hits both sides of the brigde. Second right under smokestack.
17:57 Detected by escorts. Crashdive.
18:57 Determined but not very skilled attack by escorts. Some twenty not so well aimed depth charger were dropped.
19:26 Surfaced almost under a corvettte. One burning ship in distant horizon. AM6413
19:52 Skillfully evaded the corvette but lost the burning ship. Attempting to regain contact.
19:52 /To BdU: Sunk one small freighter, damaged one larger. One T, ample F/
20:17 /From BdU: Good work. Move to grid AM89/

17.01.1941
05:16 Ship sighted. Two destroyers on W course. Changed course to avoid contact.
09:29 Hydrophone contact. Slow screws. Intercepting.
09:46 Several warships in vicinity. Clearly audible by hydrophone.
10:53 Freighter changed course and thus spoiled my attackplan. Cannot pursue, warships still in vicinity.
17:08 Ship sighted. Two destroyers on ESE course. Changed course to avoid contact. AM5346

18.01.1941
09:00 Insufficient fuel and provisions to continue patrol. Started return trip to Lorient and informed BdU.

23.01.1941
10:15 Docked at Lorient.

ivanov.ruslan

09-29-16, 12:29 PM

In the early evening we had a meeting with neutrals who called the radio aircraft and a Tribal destroyer, who became our sacrifice
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/283/SH3Img_29-9-2016_20A5JUEiv.png

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/283/SH3Img_29-9-2016_201wldgPrg.png

From now on we will sink all !

Obltn Strand

09-29-16, 02:21 PM

Patrol 5

U-139, 1st Flotilla
Left at: February 11, 1941, 07:39
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid AM32

12.02.1941
16:05 Aircraft. Crashdive. BF1963
18:07 Surfaced.

13.02.1941
17:34 Ship sighted. Three destroyers on SSE course. Avoided contact. BF1198

16.02.1941
02:16 Ship sighted. Two destroyers on SE course. Avoided contact. AM2993
10:45 Ship sighted. Two destroyers on SE course. Crashdive to avoid contact. AM2963
12:00 Surfaced.

17.02.1941
11:20 Aircraft. Crashdive. AM3355
17:58 Surfaced.
23:50 Arrived patrol area and informed BdU of it. AM3277

18.02.1941
16:00 Ship sighted. Two destroyers on SE course. Dived to avoid contact. AM3263
17:26 Surfaced.

19.02.1941
08:40 Aircraft. Crashdive. AM3287
09:43 Surfaced.
13:54 Ship sighted. Two destroyers on WNW course. Boat is in good position to conduct submerged attack. AM 3289. Unfortunately they turned away. Opportunity lost. Will stay submerged till sundown.
17:52 Surfaced.

21.02.1941
08:30 Aircraft. Crashdive. AM3466
09:12 Surfaced.
13:16 Aircraft. Crashdive. AN1141
17:47 Surfaced.

22.02.1941
16:33 Aircraft. Crashdive. AM3287
17:34 Surfaced.

23.02.1941
15:00 Started return trip. AM3296

02.03.1941
10:45 Docked at Kiel.

I hate these kind of patrols but it's off to commission new boat U-452...

ivanov.ruslan

09-29-16, 03:39 PM

Two to zero for our team
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/283/SH3Img_29-9-2016_232xOwb23K_sredna.png

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/283/SH3Img_29-9-2016_231h3F1a5G.png

But at what cost
http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/283/SH3Img_29-9-2016_23GgLaSzS.png

ivanov.ruslan

10-12-16, 02:21 PM

After the report of the Nibelungs noticed ziel - 2 submarines
I shot a torpedo at each, exploded one, but the other immediately after the explosion took zigzags and came....

http://www.img-share.eu/f/images/293/SH3Img_12-10-2016_21qbbeLeG.png

SnipersHunter

10-12-16, 04:28 PM

After the report of the Nibelungs noticed ziel - 2 submarines
I shot a torpedo at each, exploded one, but the other immediately after the explosion took zigzags and came....

Looks good, could you please post your modlist for me :subsim:?

ivanov.ruslan

10-13-16, 01:55 AM

Yes ,why not ;)

Kendras

10-13-16, 04:28 PM

Patrolling on Wise's U-Boot !

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1035&pictureid=9223

:up:

Convoy Assassin

10-21-16, 02:03 AM

Hi all.
I am stuck & would really appreciate any tips/advice please.

I am trying to complete this section and despite sinking over 250,000 tonnes of shipping(200,000 with tanks on the deck),empty deck cargo and tankers,plus Battleships,carriers,cruisers & some destroyers,the status bar will not fill up nor can I seem to complete this section.

Where am I going wrong?
Can anybody please help,................before I scuttle my sub.
Thanks in advance

KingOfNothing22

10-22-16, 09:42 AM

SUMMARY:

Days at sea: 20
Ships sunk: 7
Estimated tonnage sunk: 54,100GRT
SH3 Commander tonnage: 54,117GRT
Damage to boat: None
Losses to crew: None
Boat putting into shipyard for
overhaul work.

KRIEGSTAGEBUCH (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx_rE4PPKvSCS25aQW1qd2VZN1k/view?usp=sharing)

ROUTE:

https://s20.postimg.org/n3eqqbn31/P1_Route.png

SHIPS SUNK:

https://s20.postimg.org/niq0jc90d/U_77_P1_Ships_Sunk.png

Silent_Kebab

10-22-16, 04:17 PM

Tuesday, April 23 1940

I am just resting with my crew in Kiel .This is last patrol report :

U-1, 7th Flotilla
Left at: April 18, 1940, 13:57|From: Kiel|Mission Orders: Patrol grid AN55

Ship sunk!|Grid AN 35|SS Kilissi (Small Merchant), 2411 tons. Cargo: Timber. Crew: 52. Crew lost: 9

Ship sunk!|Grid AN 81|SS Krasnoe Znamya (Coastal Merchant), 1992 tons. Cargo: Iron Ore. Crew: 22. Crew lost: 18

Carear Totals:
3 Merchant sunk
2 Destroyer sunk
1 Aircraft destroyed
1 Crewman Lost

Kendras

10-23-16, 12:16 PM

ivanov.ruslan

10-23-16, 01:38 PM

He,he nice shot, Kendras :03:

Btw, there have been such cases during the world wars

ivanov.ruslan

11-24-16, 02:16 PM

Lol,i decided to do mission in 1943 because 1944 I saw a little hard, especially along US East coast.....:03:
It proved what :doh:
http://www.prikachi.com/images/108/8967108o.jpg

arbter5

01-13-17, 09:19 PM

U-56 (TypeVIIB) "The Sea Dragon"
Kapitänleutnant Wolfhard Röthke
Patrol 28 (grid AN52)
May 30,1943

Distress call received from U-563 at 22:02 May 30, 1943 plotted corse to render aid. After hours of searching we where unable to find U-563.
After several encounters with British aircraft decided to call of search.

(June 5, 1943)
22:00 made hydrophone contact with 2 merchants moving slow NNE in AM57.
Heavy storm, moderate waves, visibility poor.
Made contact just inside AM54 at 00:37.
Identified large merchant leading a medium cargo.
Fired one torpedo at each, 2 hits. Large merchant dead in water, minimal damage to medium cargo.
Pursued 6.5 km NE fired three remaining loaded torpedoes two misses, one premature detonation.
Reloaded tubes eins and zwei.
Fired tube eins, premature detonation.
Fired tube zwei, hit mid ship.
Both ships sunk.
Unable to find life boats in weather, returned to corse.

(June 6, 1943)
Radio contact with large convoy at 06:19 in AM54 heading WSW at 13 KTS.

Caught right in convoys path. Rigged for silent running but discovered by leading escort.
Escort dropped depth charges.
Failed to do any damage. Fired aft tube at escort as he maneuvered behind us. Torpedo failed to connect.
Fired tubes eins and zwei at troop transport. Fired tube drei at lead escort.
All three hit escort sunk at 07:43.
Dove slowly to 100m and set corse 000.
Herd the large transport sunk at 08:09.
Remaining escorts failed to discover us after initial attack.

Surfaced at 10:28.
Four T I torpedoes remaining.
Returning to corse.

(June 7, 1943)
Spotted Catalina boat plane at 03:37.
Engaged at 03:41, minor damage to the bow on first pass, shot her down at 03:44 on her third pass.
Zero parachutes spotted.
Altered corse and dove.

Attacked passing B17 at 09:11. Shot her down at 09:13.
Beaufighter caught us off guard, hit us with rockets.
Heavy damaged sustained, flooding in forward compartments.
Dove to avoid further damage.
Flooding under control, will be stoped shortly.
Altered corse to try and shake further air attack.

Stumbled under a large convoy and small task force at 15:42.
Depth charged by multiple destroyers.
Believed to be up to 10 up there.
No damaged sustained.
Finally surfaced at 19:10.
Forced under again by aircraft at 19:21.
Discovered by task force again.
Depth charged multiple times.
No damage sustained.
Lost sound contact at 21:03

Picked up merchants on hydrophone at 23:30 heading our way.

(June 8, 1943)
Made visual contact at 00:35.
Hit small merchant with aft tube.
Engaged costal freighter with deck gun.
Hit volatile cargo, ship exploded, no survivors.
Provided provisions to life boats of the merchant.

Attacked and shot down Wellington at 07:30
Plane went into a spiral, crew unable to bale out.
Attacked by Beaufighter, busy loading external reserves forced to fight.
Berthold Ketter was wounded on strafing run.
Shot down at 08:37.
Heavy damage sustained to command room and bridge.
Flooding stoped during attack.
Berthold Ketter's wounds where treated immediately and is expected to make a full recovery.
All external reserves loaded.

(June 12, 1943)
Arrived at AN52 at 12:58.
Beginning patrol.

(June 13, 1943)
Found destroyer task force at 12:29.
Four ships spotted.
Heard a fifth at 12:41.
Unable to maneuver into optimal firing position, breaking away.

Completed objective, returning to port.

(June 16, 1943)
06:53 Entering English Chanel.
Plan on sailing close to French coast to try and minimize hostile contacts.

(June 17, 1943)
09:17 Passing Cherbourg.
No Hostile contacts so far, plan seems to be working.

Bombed by aircraft at 17:28, minor flooding in aft tube.
Flooding stoped at 17:29.
Remaining submerged till nightfall.
22:16 No hydrophone contacts, resurfacing and resuming corse.

(June 18, 1943)
23:13 Passing Brest.
Hope to be back in Lorient in 14 hours.

(June 19, 1943)
Pulling into Lorient at 17:10.

{Tonnage Report}

(5 Merchants sunk)
Large Merchant
Medium Cargo
Ceramic-Type Ocean Liner
Small Merchant
Costal Freighter

(1 Warship sunk)
S&T Class

(4 Aircraft downed)
Catalina
Fortress
Wellington
Beaufighter

(Total Tonnage)
33424 Tons

{Damage and Casualty Report}

Berthold Ketter- lightly wounded during second Beaufighter attack, was able to provide sufficient medical attention.

Heavy damage to ships hull due to direct rocket hits.
Minimum damage from other sources.
Will be in port till at least September.

rudeltaktik

01-14-17, 09:36 AM

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1035&pictureid=9252

I'm under the cargo ... and now surrounded by several destroyers ... What can I do ???

:k_confused:

They are faster than me, I can imagine what is going to happen if I try to escape :
:gulp:

You're literally "boxed in". They'll keep you painted and wait for the merchant to sink on top of you.

If merchant is "dead" in water, wait them out. The AI is not smart enough to depth-charge alongside the "dead" merchant. But you're not out-running THAT hunting party.

How deep you have below keel?

Kendras

01-14-17, 10:24 AM

How deep you have below keel?

IIRC, I was 60 meters deep, and the sea depth was 100. I couldn't avoid their active sonars ..... :wah:

rudeltaktik

01-14-17, 12:07 PM

IIRC, I was 60 meters deep, and the sea depth was 100. I couldn't avoid their active sonars ..... :wah:

I was gonna say to rig for silent run & dive below 130m. Hopefully find thermal layer but at that shallow depth maybe waiting it out before your "clean" air runs out might be close. You may have no other choice but to wait them out.

Kinda like waiting out a hail storm under an overpass. Run out too soon, and you're gonna get pelted!

Viel Glück.:Kaleun_Salute:

Aktungbby

01-14-17, 01:13 PM

I'm under the cargo ... and now surrounded by several destroyers ... What can I do ???

:k_confused:

They are faster than me,< (use I) Please: this is an official report:O: I can imagine what is going to happen if I try to escape :
:gulp:
:Kaleun_Salute: ATTN: U will never B forgetten Kaleun! and have already been promoted posthumously to KorvettenKapitän...As is küstomary The fatherland thanks U! -DOENITZ :dead:https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ea/69/49/ea694980372618fad62dd08a0bf6ecd1.jpg

Kendras

01-14-17, 03:30 PM

gggffgfgfgf

arbter5

01-14-17, 09:03 PM

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1035&pictureid=9252

I'm under the cargo ... and now surrounded by several destroyers ... What can I do ???

:k_confused:

They are faster than me, I can imagine what is going to happen if I try to escape :
:gulp:

If it's not too late, and they can't depth charge you under there. Could you try an float just under the keel of the merchant (if it's not sinking yet) and hopefully get some topedos off at the destroyers, it would be a long shot (especially sense you can't see them) but if waiting it out doesn't work this could be a last ditch effort.

BarracudaUAK

01-15-17, 12:10 AM

Now you've got them right where you want them!

In all seriousness, surviving this, even "winning" is possible.
Just have to remember, they must come to you. Not the other way around.

Patience...
Be calm, cool, and methodical.

Barracuda

Kendras

01-16-17, 06:18 AM

BarracudaUAK

01-30-17, 05:28 PM

No problem ! :|\\

Did you make it?

Barracuda

Kendras

01-31-17, 06:39 AM

Did you make it?

Barracuda

No, for the good reason that I already surrendered ... :shifty:

But the scuttling of my U-Boot has been made by a calm, cool, and methodical crew. :yep: The Enigma machine didn't fall into the Allies' hands. :up:

Niume

01-31-17, 07:27 AM

I had simmiliar situation but The merchant ship sunk me guess how did it happened.
Hint I was underwater

Kendras

01-31-17, 07:33 AM

I had simmiliar situation but The merchant ship sunk me guess how did it happened.
Hint I was underwater

This ?

http://www.part.lt/img/17acc53ac2f211ab2bd86d8d37e1bb9c544.bmp (http://www.part.lt/perziura/17acc53ac2f211ab2bd86d8d37e1bb9c544.bmp)

http://www.part.lt/img/4827240ce682641c5c5a616a36504659138.bmp (http://www.part.lt/perziura/4827240ce682641c5c5a616a36504659138.bmp)

http://www.part.lt/img/c20d7dbd4bc083a994a9e4f8ee552c8e370.bmp (http://www.part.lt/perziura/c20d7dbd4bc083a994a9e4f8ee552c8e370.bmp)

:har:

Leoz

02-10-17, 09:03 PM

October 1940, off of the west of Ireland.

Letting the crew take turns viewing our latest sinking.

Timing told me it was going 11 knots. Refused to believe it for some reason. Set 1 torpedo for 10 knot assumed target speed. Hit near the aft end.

Of course needed another for a coup de grâce.

(link to image imgur.com)

http://imgur.com/a/HGdnR

Obltn Strand

02-26-17, 09:31 AM

U-452 has completed her sea trials at baltic and is ready for front line operations...

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=2146&stc=1&d=1488119434

Kendras

02-26-17, 12:59 PM

NYGM Tonnage War V2.5 – Stand Alone Version
NYGM3_New
NYGM3_6F
Merchant_Fleet_Mod_3.2
MFM-Interim-Beta_NYGM
NYGM Tonnage War Minefield Mod
NYGM 3.6F zigzag
LGN1 Airbase
Supplement to V16B1 (JSGME)
More wounded & less dead crew v2 - for V16B1 (JSGME)
Stiebler4C_Addon_for_V16B1
Hitman_GUI_NYGM3_6A

Type VII C fuel increase as needed (Basically GWX fuel for NYGM for those long journeys to Americas...)

SH3 Commander:
WB's SH3 Cmdr Mod v0.7
WB's Modified Mid-Patrol Radio Orders
WB's Warning Orders
WB's Patrol Orders - 4.1941-1.1942 North

U-452 has completed her sea trials at baltic and is ready for front line operations...

A very interesting list of mods. Let us know how it is with your campaign !

Good luck !

:salute:

Niume

02-26-17, 01:03 PM

U-452 has completed her sea trials at baltic and is ready for front line operations...

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=2146&stc=1&d=1488119434

Good luck

German submarine U-452 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out one patrol. She sank no ships.

She was sunk by a British aircraft and a British warship southeast of Iceland, in August 1941.

Obltn Strand

02-26-17, 02:29 PM

A very interesting list of mods. Let us know how it is with your campaign !

Good luck !

I will...
Good luck

German submarine U-452 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out one patrol. She sank no ships.

She was sunk by a British aircraft and a British warship southeast of Iceland, in August 1941.I always look a boat from uboat.net that was lost during it's first patrols. Old habit from my GWX times. Never liked when my boat got or sent messages...

Obltn Strand

02-27-17, 09:06 AM

Patrol 6
U-452, 1st Flotilla
Left at: August 19, 1941, 13:45
From: Kiel
Mission Orders: Patrol grid AM19

23.8.1941
21:04 Ship sighted. Destroyer on NW course. Changed course to avoid contact. AF7878

28.8.1941
04:00 Arrived patrol area and informed BdU.

06.9.1941
03:02 Ship sighted. A lone darkened merchant on WNW course. AM1967
Although target appears unarmed I will conduct a torpedo attack.
04:11 Fired tube I. G7e
Range 1000, Speed 5, AoB red 80, Depth 5
Hit under smokestack almost excatly as calculated. Followed by huge explosion and ship sunk within minutes. Very few survivors. Questioned and helped them as much as I could. According to them ship was 5000 ton SS Titan carrying copper ore.
05:06 Radio message from BdU: /Move to grid AL24/
12:55 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL3896
13:22 Surfaced.
17:58 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL3859
21:50 Surfaced

07.9.1941
07:20 Diesel fuel reserve down to half.
20:00 Arrived patrol area and informed BdU.
21:35 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL2498

08.9.1941
07:09 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL2479
11:07 Surfaced.

10.9.1941
01:09 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL2444
01:31 Surfaced.
01:40 Aircraft. Crashdive.
02:07 Surfaced
02:12 Aircraft. Crashdive.
04:05 Surfaced
18:22 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL2438
23:02 Surfaced.

12.9.1941
08:35 Aircraft. Crashdive. AL2499
21:50 Surfaced
22:02 Radio Message to BdU: /Heavy air patrols day and night. Effective patrol difficult/
22:13 Radio message from BdU: /Move to grid AL37 and await for further orders/

13.9.1941
06:00 Arrived patrol area and informed BdU.

20.9.1941
14:30 Started return trip.

24.9.1941
09:21 Ship sighted. Three destroyers on NE course. BF1981
09:45 Fired tubes I through III. G7e
Range 1800, Speed 27, AoB red 90, Depth 3
All three missed.

25.9.1941
12:03 Docked at Brest.

"This patrol was a fight against boredom and elements."

Leoz

03-03-17, 08:18 PM

Just finished up (I think I will retire him) a good 7 patrol career 26 ships and 190k tons sunk 1940-41 with a VIIC.

Now first trip with a new IXc, March 42, off the coast of the US.
Just off Spain in medium weather, ran into a small freighter. Periscope attack. Using a different method where I only count half a ships length to stopwatch speed. 1 G7e. Missed, was not going to follow up since it was not worth expending more and I had a long way to go. Otherwise I would have caught up later with it at night. Pressed on. Good weather appeared so got 1 G7a down from the overhead storage and put it below.
Great weather coming across, was able to maintain 11 knots most of the way with good fuel economy.
By luck ran into a light and medium tanker (US flag) and got them with the deck gun.
Off Norfolk (my patrol area), weather turned rainy. So tough it out and wait around until that goes away.
Surprised on the surface at night by some kind of small sub chaser or sloop. Very short range, start a dive, It was closing to ram at a good speed with lights on and gunfire. Took some damage from the gunfire. Gave a hard to port order right before impact.
The enemy ship sank right after ramming me.
Damage: flak guns aft destroyed. Attack scope destroyed. Some hull damage and various other damage that is repairable.
So, will have to sort things out. Probably submerge by day; patrol by night. Night scope was also damaged but repaired and back in action. Buy luck, no crew injured or killed.
Should be fun the rest of the patrol.

Leoz

03-04-17, 02:57 AM

Update from below:

Had a long stretch of bad weather off of the US coast big waves.

Saw an Ore freighter probably going 10 or so knots but could not setup for a good shot.

Some days later, went down south almost to Florida, Medium tanker running north...fast. Still heavy waves, Night surface attack, with all of the high seas and upset, couldn't figure out how fast it was going. Fired one assuming 13 knot target speed. Another 12. One of them hit just aft of the bow.
Never saw this before, the tanker executes 180 turn to port. I mimic to starboard to keep with it. Then it starts settling by the bow. Still has enough energy and executes another 180 degree turn to port back on its original course. Finishes the turn and settles heavy by the bow, its props out of the water. Stops, settles more and sinks. Now I know why they would shut down the engine when practical after being hit.

Moved further south and picked up a large tanker and a small freighter. What was turning into the day late and a dollar short cruise is picking up. Finally got some good weather to pull the rest of the forward overhead G7a's down below in storage. Haven't used anything from the stern yet.

I think after this, I will ask for a cruise down to South Africa.

Just finished up (I think I will retire him) a good 7 patrol career 26 ships and 190k tons sunk 1940-41 with a VIIC.

Now first trip with a new IXc, March 42, off the coast of the US.
Just off Spain in medium weather, ran into a small freighter. Periscope attack. Using a different method where I only count half a ships length to stopwatch speed. 1 G7e. Missed, was not going to follow up since it was not worth expending more and I had a long way to go. Otherwise I would have caught up later with it at night. Pressed on. Good weather appeared so got 1 G7a down from the overhead storage and put it below.
Great weather coming across, was able to maintain 11 knots most of the way with good fuel economy.
By luck ran into a light and medium tanker (US flag) and got them with the deck gun.
Off Norfolk (my patrol area), weather turned rainy. So tough it out and wait around until that goes away.
Surprised on the surface at night by some kind of small sub chaser or sloop. Very short range, start a dive, It was closing to ram at a good speed with lights on and gunfire. Took some damage from the gunfire. Gave a hard to port order right before impact.
The enemy ship sank right after ramming me.
Damage: flak guns aft destroyed. Attack scope destroyed. Some hull damage and various other damage that is repairable.
So, will have to sort things out. Probably submerge by day; patrol by night. Night scope was also damaged but repaired and back in action. Buy luck, no crew injured or killed.
Should be fun the rest of the patrol.

Leoz

03-06-17, 04:01 AM

Got back from the states with 38k tons. Prepped for new patrol.
Upgraded hydrophones
Bought sonar (only to be used to get some range and bearing help on periscope attacks where there are no escorts.)
And some BOLD decoys.
Maxed out the crew. Full boat with SH Commander.
Picked my patrol to be NW of South Africa and off we go...
IXC has good fuel economy .... remembering the game only understands a 2D map and not the curve of the earth.
Crash dived a few times on the way down after seeing a destroyer only.
Almost got to the patrol area, dark dark night. Small convoy. Destroyer leading a ten thousand ton freighter and some smaller ship.
Forgot it was 1942 and got a bit close to the escort on the surface. It must have had radar. Came right for me on a steady course. Crash dive.
After some hours, came back up and continued to my patrol area.
Rain. Will wait this out at a very low speed to burn less fuel.

Obltn Strand

03-06-17, 05:09 AM

Got transferred to 7th flotilla and it's off to Gibraltar...

Patrol 7
U-452, 7th Flotilla
Left at: November 06, 1941,
From: St. Nazaire
Mission Orders: Patrol grid CG87

11.11.1941
01:00 Arrived patrol area and informed BdU. CG8711

17.11.1941
10:17 Radio message from BdU: /Convoy at grid CG7565, course E, speed 7/
Long chase but will join the attack. Expected contact in 8 hours.
14:58 Ship sighted! A lone freighter on E course. CG8765
15:24 Ship seems unarmed and doesn't show any markings or flag. Will engage with gunfire.
15:38 Fired tube V G7e
Range 600, Speed 1, AoB green 90, Depth 3
A definite dud.
15:42 Contined with gunfire. Set up several fires and minor explosions. She began to settle with even keel. Aproximately 2000-3000 cargo ship. Didn't interrogate survivors because I have a convoy to catch.
19:03 Radio message to BdU: /Unable to make contact with convoy. Awaiting instructions/
20:04 Radio message from BdU: /Move to grid DH39 with best possible speed/

18.11.1941
16:00 Arrived patrol area and informed BdU. DH3921

19.11.1941
14:10 Aircraft. Crashdive. DH6333
15:10 Surface.

20.11.1941
10:22 Aircraft. Crashdive. DH3976
11:24 Surfaced.
14:25 Aircraft. Crashdive. DH3986
18:22 Surfaced.
19:30 Aircraft. Crashdive. DH3991
19:58 Surfaced.

21.11.1941
06:37 Aircraft. Crashdive. DH3973
18:43 Surfaced.

23.11.1941
11:46 Aircraft. Crashdive. DH3832

26.11.1941
13:48 Fuel reserves down to half.

29.11.1941
02:05 Took external aft torpedo on board.

02.12.1941
16:06 Radio message to BdU: /No contacts in two weeks. Heavy air patrols. One third fuel left./
16:22 Radio message from BdU: /Refuel from Thalia and wait for further orders.

03.12.1941
13:02 Radio message from BdU: /Convoy at grid CG8836, course SW, speed seven./
Despite a long 200km chase I will try to intercept.
18:02 No visual contact or hydrophone contact in precalculated rendezvouz point. Trying to search more eastwards. CG8885
20:12 No luck with eastbound search. Resumed course towards Thalia.

04.12.1941
06:26 Ship sighted! Steamer on ESE course. Unarmed but due to proximity of Gibraltar bases decided to attack with torpedoes. CG9484
08:13 Fired tubes I and II at 15 second intervals. G7e
Range 700, Speed 5, AoB red 90, Depth 5
First hit perfectly and second was either dud or went under the target.
Seems like engine room got hit as she came to full stop soon after hit.
08:34 Coup de grace from tube V. G7a
Torpedo directorate will hear of this. Definete dud. Surfaced and finished it with 20 well placed gunshots.
19:35 Ship sighted! Darkened motor ship on NW course. This one is armed.
19:57 Fired tubes III and IV. G7e
Range 800, Speed 4, AoB red 90, Depth 5
First hit more aft than calculated, second missed.
20:13 Destroyer appeard from fog bearing on our direction. Gave order to turn and simultaneously it opened fire. Flak and machine gun fire hit conning tower killing Leutnant Becker, Fännrich Kroch and Matrosengefreiter Korsch. Bootsmaat Schildauer and Matrosenobergefreiter Nowak sustained minor injuries. Ordered crashdive after wounded got inside the boat.
Managed to escape after one hour attack.
22:43 Radio message to BdU: /Three dead. Three cargo ships sunk. Boat damaged but can be repaired at sea. Request instructions/
23:29 Ship sighted! An old WWI destroyer on NW course. Changed course to avoid contact. Suddenly it turned towards us and opened fire from 2000m. Crashdive. CG9495

05.12.1941
01:46 After two hours managed to elude the destroyer. Intend to stay submerged as long as possible. First to lose any warships hunting us and second to treat wounded and repair the boat.

05.12.1941
17:48 Surfaced
18:38 Radio message from BdU: /Return to base. Refuel from Bessel in Vigo if needed./
19:59 Aircraft. Crashdive. CG9419
20:34 Surfaced.

10.12.1941
11:58 Docked at St.Nazaire

Leoz

03-08-17, 05:47 AM

Got down to South Africa.

Various weather made it difficult to take advantage of a fair few contacts.

Got a large freighter escorted by a destroyer. Daytime. Waves so big I didn't know there was a destroyer until picking it up on sound after submerging. Before diving got an estimated range, bearing and angle on the bow to put something on the chart when I got inside. Waves near the maximum of what could do a periscope attack. Fortunately the initial plot was in favour of not having to do too much work for the rest of the attack plot work. Estimated 6 knots. One G7e, hit just aft of the stack. Target was settling well, but since the destroyer was now closing; decided to fire a G7a at the freighter to finish it rather than risk leaving the scene with it damaged. Took care of that and the destroyer's response was tepid while I was able to get away deep.
When there is extended weather, the fuel economy gets worse. Cut short my stay near South Africa and headed back north. Got a small passenger freighter and small merchant (both day periscope attacks) south of Freetown. When encountering the small freighter it was close to being swamped having trouble making 3-4 knots in the heavy waves. Again, both were wave conditions close to making a periscope attack not possible. Odd to only be seeing masts and the occasional hull of the ship at 1800 meters.
Around Freetown was the go-no-go decision on fuel. Probably could have made it back home but stopped at the Canary Islands to top off on fuel. Near to being the last month this resource was available (August 1942). 71 days. Hate ending a patrol with so many torpedoes onboard.

Got back out with the goal of getting home and getting some score on the way. The boat needs a repair period. North of the Canary Islands then east of the Azores for awhile then home. Got a small freighter and small tanker traveling together. Brazilian flags. Checked. Were now on the enemy list. 1 miss each. 1 hit each.
Off the Azores now to see how this shakes out. After getting home, will ask for a south Caribbean patrol.

Got back from the states with 38k tons. Prepped for new patrol.
Upgraded hydrophones
Bought sonar (only to be used to get some range and bearing help on periscope attacks where there are no escorts.)
And some BOLD decoys.
Maxed out the crew. Full boat with SH Commander.
Picked my patrol to be NW of South Africa and off we go...
IXC has good fuel economy .... remembering the game only understands a 2D map and not the curve of the earth.
Crash dived a few times on the way down after seeing a destroyer only.
Almost got to the patrol area, dark dark night. Small convoy. Destroyer leading a ten thousand ton freighter and some smaller ship.
Forgot it was 1942 and got a bit close to the escort on the surface. It must have had radar. Came right for me on a steady course. Crash dive.
After some hours, came back up and continued to my patrol area.
Rain. Will wait this out at a very low speed to burn less fuel.