The Diary of U389 (Warning Lots of photos)

[mia389]

This is an online diary of my SH5 experience. I will update this everytime I make any progress on my patrol. Thanks to TheDarkWraith for the journal application found in his UIs. My mods are on my signature link if anyone is wondering.

Patrol 1 La Rochelle

Thursday, March 20, 1941
09:05 Captain Herbert Werner reporting on U389. Departure time will be at 1500 Local.
11:21 Have met with all of my crew. 40% of them, this will be first patrol. Officers are all experienced.
13:38 Boat is ready for sailing. Last of food being put on now. Crew saying final farewells. Good crowd for our departure.
15:05 Set speed 4 knots. My first patrol is underway.
15:36 Set course 235 until 22:30L Speed 12knots
22:28 Changed course to 260 for 1 Day 22.8 hours. ETA next turn point March 22 21:18
22:31 Weather is good. Crew is relaxed and comfortable in new home. Plan on training maneuvers for next hour.
22:58 Performed daily trim dive.
23:25 Performed practice crash dive. Crew and boat did very well.
http://www15.picfront.org/picture/lV4c8fTwnIQ/thb/m20.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jPO)This picture was taken just before departure on 3/20/41
http://www15.picfront.org/picture/2knoOM9eW/thb/m20-1.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jPN)3/20/41 Leaving sub pen
http://www15.picfront.org/picture/OXpc7BL8m/thb/m20-2.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jPM)3/20/41 Leaving La Rochelle
http://www15.picfront.org/picture/0ShhA27T9L/thb/m20-4.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jPK)3/20/41 This picture is the navigators map and our course to our patrol zone.

Friday, March 21, 1941
07:02 Performed trim dive
07:46 Green horns are starting to get sick. let them up on deck for a bit. Beautiful morning - calm seas. Navigator shooting the sun
http://www13.picfront.org/picture/B0ZgEiWnm/thb/M3.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jPR)This was taken 3/21/41 en route to our first waypoint.

Saturday, March 22, 1941
09:21 Getting lots of reports of cook spreading Nazi politics. Sent XO to take care of it.
11:56 Performed trim dive
12:34 Seas are picking up. Think we are about to enter a storm.
14:41 Seas were getting rough dove to 80 meters for a couple of hours to give crew a rest. Heading back to surface
14:47 Surfacing the boat brought a surprise to calm seas.
14:47 Emil shooting sun for updated position
15:01 Even after going under we are only 30 mins behind our ETA at turn point. Unless Emil gave me a bad fix
18:24 Received Radio message that Dieters (Watch Officer) brother has died in the fighting on the East front.
21:47 New heading 180 for 50.6 hours. ETA at patrol zone is March 25th 00:26


Sunday, March 23, 1941
06:18 Beautiful morning. Visibility is good and seas are calm. Dieter is holding up good for the bad news he had received
07:00 Just performed morning trim dive. Upon surfacing we received radio message of U551 being sunk with all her crew. It was her first patrol
07:00 I went to school at Neustadt with the XO on U552. I hope I don't meet the same fate.
10:22 Crew has found a small mouse and named it Toby. Seems we have a mascot now.
18:01 Had a easy travel day on calm seas. Had a great meal tonight. Tomorrow we will have to throw some rotted food over
23:41 Ommat has found a cracked valve spring on port side diesel. Running on starboard side until he fixes it.
http://www12.picfront.org/picture/KZVGBHesh8n/thb/m5.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jQ2) 3/23/41 Coming up from trim dive.
http://www12.picfront.org/picture/ocYOEGNJ7/thb/m4.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jQ3) 3/23/41

Monday, March 24, 1941
01:25 Ommat has fixed Diesel engine.
07:01 Performed daily trim dive
08:36 We are entering the northern part of our patrol zone. Seas are clam but have lots of fog.
20:26 Emil is shooting the stars for location.
http://www12.picfront.org/picture/C2K6vStf/thb/m6.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jQ1) 3/24/41 Here you can see some of the fog.

Tuesday, March 25, 1941
01:11 New course 090. Heading East to find some tonnage! Tomorrow is going to be our day I feel
06:42 Great day for hunting. Calm and Clear.
07:09 Performed daily trim dive
14:19 Farther east we go the more the chance of enemy shipping. Im ready for my first one!
http://www12.picfront.org/picture/z1f3C5Gs29/thb/m7.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jQ0) 3/25/41 Watch crew looking for elephants
http://www12.picfront.org/picture/tHkfm9UeXl7/thb/m8.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jPZ) 3/25/41 Picture ofU389 taken from a JU88 that was patrolling for convoys.

Wednesday, March 26, 1941
04:01 All stop. Have reached a position in Gibraltar bay. Waiting here to engage shipping leaving or entering.
04:23 Dived for sonar check
06:42 Stayed at 30meters all night. Surfaced boat
06:44 Started search pattern.
07:13 WO Reports ship spotted!
07:18 WO was relieved from shift. Eyes were not working.
07:20 Crashed dive! Aircraft was spotted. Few 303 round hit deck as were submerging. Looked like Mosquito or Buefighter
08:50 Surfacing.
09:02 Aircraft spotted, Crashed dive. They know we are here now.
11:51 Surfaced boat. Continuing search pattern
12:02 Aircraft spotted, Crashed dive. Staying at 50 meters for rest of day.
21:34 Surfacing boat. Continuing search pattern
21:36 Emil is getting celestial fix. I fear we are getting close to strait.
http://www12.picfront.org/picture/rMVgTvRQ0vz/thb/m10.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jPX) Here is our map and our hunting grounds for the next week or so.
http://www9.picfront.org/picture/zIttlURrE/thb/looking.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jVf) As you can see we are using new camera. Picture of Carl looking for ships on 3/26/41
http://www9.picfront.org/picture/PY3IElvpK3b/thb/surfacing.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jVg) 3/26/41 Just surfaced from being forced under due to Aircraft.

Thursday, March 27, 1941
00:45 Radio Report Received! Enemy Task Force, Long 05 23W 36 07N Course 187 Speed 5knots
00:46 That report is Task Force leaving Gibraltar. I think they will go East. If the go West we will be waiting.
04:24 Toby has died.
07:02 Task Force sighted B079!
07:06 Heading 345, Ahead Flak,,, Pursuit is on!
07:18 I only see a single ship. Looks to be Merchant. I think my WO was jumpy after that contact report
07:18 Crew is arming deck gun. No I.D on nationality of ship yet.
07:27 Shes British!
07:30 Engaging with deck gun
07:48 Gave merchant crew some water and bread for their life boat. Will call in their position later.
07:51 First ship sunk, 4,000 tons est, Medium Composite Freighter.
07:52 Heading west at 15 knots.
08:11 Aircraft spotted! Crash dive, No need to report their position!
08:11 Staying submerged for next 3 hours.
http://www15.picfront.org/picture/dP3qEt1IV/thb/Pursuit.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jVi) 3/27/41 Turning to intercept merchant
http://www15.picfront.org/picture/nbbMGHHkt/thb/sink1.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jVh) 3/27/41 Merchant final breaths
http://www15.picfront.org/picture/F3FWKCQKl/thb/food.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jVj) 3/27/41 Was taken just after crew supplied merchantmen.

[TheDarkWraith]

cool idea :yeah:

[Trevally.]

Looking forward to the next report Mia389:up:

[THE_MASK]

Good read :yeah:

[mia389]

Thanks guys. Kind of fun making the game into a small story. Updated from Wednesday, March 26, 1941

[THE_MASK]

One thing i forgot to do on my patrol report is say what realism and realism mods i use .

[mia389]

Thursday, March 27, 1941 Continued (Long day:D)
15:06 Faint sound contact to east. Surfacing full speed ahead
15:09 Surfaced in small squall.
15:26 Aircraft spotted. Crashed dived. Cant believe they are flying in this weather.
15:28 Picking up a ship B353 on sonar. Also sounds to be a torpedo moving from B090 to 360.
15:31 Surfaced, Full speed, charging batteries. They are down to 50% from being submerged all morning.
15:40 Smoke on horizon! Bearing 356!
15:46 Visual on 6 ships. Looks like a task force formation.
15:49 AIRCRAFT CARRIER dead ahead. Coming strait at us.
15:49 Battle stations, Periscope Depth.
15:49 40% battery might give us problems in a bit..
15:50 Rig for Silent Running.
15:59 Battle ship right behind Fleet Carrier.
16:00 Going to try for 2 torpedo's for each Capital ship.
16:11 They will be passing very close. I'm guessing 800 meters. I misjudged my position a little.
16:19 Didn't get time for torpedo solution on Battle ship. All 4 went into Fleet Carrier. She is going to bottom.
16:21 Furious Fleet carrier sunk. 22,000 tons.
16:21 Taking U389 Deep. Already being pinged by escorts. Passing 97 meters.
16:22 Crap, They found us.
16:24 Depth charges above.... Going to be long night.
16:25 Benno has picked up another task force bearing the one we attacked. Another Carrier and Battleship.
16:25 Many escorts above. Crew is being baptized. It was worth it though.
16:27 Depth charges are getting closer. Going deeper. New depth 155 meters.
17:29 We found bottom at 152. All stop
19:58 The good thing is we are not using any battery. Bad thing is they are still up there. Seems they have moved farther south.
21:03 They are moving away now but picked up new warship closing from 270.
23:04 Surfacing boat. Sonar has huge convoy to our south!
23:10 Boat has surfaced. We can smell the smoke.
23:11 Whole horizon to south is full of smoke. New course 180 ahead flank!
23:12 Sent contact report
23:33 We are paralleling their course trying get ahead for intercept. We are only making 15 knots. No time fore recharging batteries. All tubes reloaded.
23:39 New course 090 for intercept!
23:41 Periscope depth
23:45 Fired 4 torpedo's at 4 different ships. Going to 140 meters, silent running.
23:48 2 Torpedoes hit 2 different ships. Other 2 missed intended target, but with the amount of ships in convoy they might hit others.
23:53 Hah! Torpedo Impact!
23:57 Depth charges above!
http://www14.picfront.org/picture/nVOhgCwcNvH/thb/TFComing.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jYk) Taken while approaching TF strait on.
http://www14.picfront.org/picture/bBsNeDqSXwV/thb/psview.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jYm) Here I am at periscope depth waiting for them to come.
http://www14.picfront.org/picture/DInMpPXN/thb/VFBS.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jYl) This was taken from a crew member on the Battle ship moments before the carrier was struck with a torpedo
http://www14.picfront.org/picture/HmzW6eJhhtz/thb/DeadVFBS.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jYp) View from Battleship after Carrier was hit.
http://www14.picfront.org/picture/1WREquvGY/thb/escortview.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jYn) View from escort of carrier sinking.
http://www14.picfront.org/picture/XKaW3z68i/thb/escortdcveiw.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jYo) Taken from escort. See the DC exploding?
http://www14.picfront.org/picture/miCJVB4x/thb/ariel.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jYq) Taken from an aircraft that was flying overhead. Escorts DCing U389.

Friday, March 28, 1941
00:04 Enemy is pinging us!
00:19 Benno has picked up another Task Force above us. Thats 3 Carriers we have had in the last 4 hours! At least they have one less!
01:51 SV Medium Freighter finally surcame to the sea! 4000 tons. Other 2 ships must of moved on.
03:08 Battery down to 25%
05:00 Secure from silent running and battle stations... Finally slipped away.
05:01 No sound on sonar, Surfacing boat
05:01 Battery down to 6%.
05:01 Blowing ballast to get to surface to start recharging. We only have cover of darkness for another hour.
05:01 I am sure they will send planes first day light.
05:02 Engine compartment has damage. Crew is fixing compressor, Aft battery and both diesels.
05:04 Boat has surfaced.
05:04 Heading 270 at 12 knots... Recharge batteries!
05:04 My plan is to head west and put the strait behind us. I have a bad feeling about planes come day light.
05:06 Smoke on horizon behind us! Probably the escorts that were attacking us.
06:20 ALARM!!!! Aircraft spotted!
06:20 Sun coming up and with it airplanes!
06:45 Surface boat.
06:47 Recharge batteries
06:50 Detecting radar signals!
06:51 Weather is in our favor. Rain and heavy clouds.
06:52 Aircraft found us.. Staying up to recharge. Engaging with Flak gun!
06:57 Aircraft has been destroyed! He dropped bomb on us and did heavy damage.
06:58 Damage report: Medium Flooding. Fore Battery out.
07:04 Flooding has turned to Heavy... If we do not get it under control soon we will have to abandon ship!
07:22 Flooding is under control!
07:42 Still pumping out water from radio room.
08:11 ALARM!!! Aircraft spotted!
08:43 Surface Boat.. Recharge batteries
08:54 ALARM!!! Aircraft spotted!
08:55 All water has been pumped out from boat. Staying submerged rest of day.
13:06 Battery down to 10%. Going to surface and recharge. Heading 240
13:08 Boat has surfaced. Set speed 12 knots. Recharge batteries. Course 240. Get celestial fix.
13:11 ALARM!!! Aircraft spotted!
13:11 New depth 90 meters. All stop.
13:12 Time to get some much needed rest. Come night time we will recharge batteries.
21:27 Surface the boat.
21:30 Boat has surfaced. Send patrol report. Get celestial fix. Speed 12 knots
21:30 Recharge the batteries.
21:30 Battery 10% Fuel 70%
21:59 Emil has giving me our updated position. We will not travel on our heading for 3 days and 7 hours.
22:00 ETA at new hunting grounds is April 1rst. 5:20 AM

http://www11.picfront.org/picture/ZfCqcem9S/thb/merchantconvy.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jYr) This was taken from a merchant in the convoy before attack happened.
http://www11.picfront.org/picture/ZiicIRMe/thb/merchangfire.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jYs) Taken from an escort of one of the ships U389 hit.
http://www11.picfront.org/picture/5t3Up4kbGFU/thb/Aircraftattack.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jYw) Taken from me hiding behind conning tower while being attacked by aircraft. This was after his bomb had hit us.
http://www11.picfront.org/picture/gL9306i5g/thb/Fllooding3.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jYv) My crew doing their job while chaos is around them. I was taking pictures :haha:
http://www11.picfront.org/picture/uDPco4Nf6/thb/flooding.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jYu) Picture of flooding in control room.
http://www11.picfront.org/picture/AOPrFHev/thb/flooding2.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8jYt) Picture of more flooding.
http://www10.picfront.org/picture/24hv6IPZNh/thb/map.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8k2S) Plotting map of our new hunting grounds.

Saturday, March 29, 1941
05:05 ALARM!!! Aircraft spotted!
05:05 Batteries have been recharged to 98%.
06:05 Surface the boat.
06:20 ALARM!!! Aircraft spotted!
06:20 Set depth 50 meters.
07:14 Surface the boat.
10:52 Getting radio messages of other uboats having the same success we are having.
13:06 Reported position to BDU. Finally an afternoon without any aircraft.
14:09 ALARM!!! Aircraft spotted!
14:11 Torpedo in the water.
14:11 Must of been torpedo plane.
14:11 Fishy how one after I send a position report to BDU we have an aircraft on us.
14:11 Torpedo pasted above us.
14:56 Surface the boat.
19:16 Have had rough seas all day.

[ETsd4]

Exciting captains log.
Good idea with photos in sepia colour.

[Rongel]

Thanks for the patrol log! Always nice to read these, when it's not possible to actually play the game myself.

I could really feel the desperation in the last entry! I hope you will make it back home :D

[mia389]

My boat is beat up and have a choice to make. Keep in the fight or head for home. For now I just need to get out of the area I'm in lol. That airplane almost made me lose my boat. I had 60% flooding in one compartment.

06:52 Aircraft found us.. Staying up to recharge. Engaging with Flak gun!That was a bad idea. I wont make that mistake again.

The photos I am using Virtual Photographer plugin and it has lots of Old B/W effects. The one I am using is called WW2. At night I have to turn the exposure compensator up to see the photos.

[mia389]

Updated from Friday, March 28, 1941 8:55

[TheDarkWraith]

Updated from Friday, March 28, 1941 8:55

Did you actually see the torpedo bomber and torpedo in the water? Did the torpdo bomber attack from high altitude or was it skimming the water when it was doing it's attack run?

[mia389]

He dove in from high then dropped torpedo while being right above water. He was pretty accurate too, but I was at 40 meters. It was pretty cool. At first I thought he was going to strafe the water then I seen him release a torpedo! Was in external view of course.

Yes seen torpedo and bomber.

[TheDarkWraith]

He dove in from high then dropped torpedo while being right above water. He was pretty accurate too, but I was at 40 meters. It was pretty cool. At first I thought he was going to strafe the water then I seen him release a torpedo! Was in external view of course.

Yes seen torpedo and bomber.

Cool :yeah: That's IRAI doing what it does best :up:

[mia389]

These next few days are travel days.
Sunday, March 30, 1941
04:27 New speed 8 knots.
04:27 Seas still heavy. Getting some distant from strait now.
07:14 Performed daily trim dive.
09:44 Received message from BDU that Joesph wife has had a girl.
10:03 Have 2 torpedoes left in forward compartment and one in external. Aft torpedo still has 3. Seas to rough to load from external.
14:52 Seas have calmed down enough to load external torpedo. Crew is doing so now.
15:53 Tube 3 has been loaded.
15:59 New ETA after speed change is April 2nd at 7:48AM
http://www8.picfront.org/picture/VukkvO5sk/thb/clear.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8k3y) Taken shortly before we starting to unload external torpedo.

Monday, March 31, 1941
06:45 Performed daily trim dive.
07:03 Emil is getting celestial fix.
07:51 Sent position report to BDU.
15:50 Let crew up on deck. Weather is good.
22:12 Biscay cross has been broken. Josef is trying to fix it.


Tuesday, April 01, 1941
02:36 Biscay cross has been repaired.
06:21 Performed daily trim dive.
08:01 Wili has broken his finger.
11:08 Weather: Partly cloudy, Seas are medium, Wind 6m/s
14:37 Emil getting Celestial fix.
15:44 Crew is ready to see some more action. I guess a few days of travel bores them.


Wednesday, April 02, 1941
07:18 Performed daily trim dive.
07:19 Emil getting celestial fix.
08:32 We are now entering our patrol area. Starting search pattern.


Thursday, April 03, 1941
01:12 Emil getting position.
07:14 Performed daily trim dive.
07:20 New course 022. Start new search pattern.
07:20 Going to start heading north. We are down to 50% fuel. About 3200km away from home.
08:30 Weather turned bad. Heavy rain and seas.
08:49 MAN OVERBOARD!!!
08:49 All stop.
08:50 Back full.
08:50 Back emergency
08:50 All stop
08:59 Dieter was washed overboard. Crew did job recovering him. He is fine.
08:59 Continue search patter. Speed 12 knots.
17:05 Seas are still very heavy.. Going to 40 meters to give crew a break.
17:05 Depth 50 meter. Speed 5 knots.
http://www8.picfront.org/picture/qeZZXKa5/thb/storm.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8k3w) Picture of the seas in the storm.


Friday, April 04, 1941
01:15 Surface the boat.
01:16 Speed 12 knots, Recharge batteries.
07:18 Performed daily trim dive.
07:18 Still in this storm.
12:56 Emil is getting our position.
21:07 Starting to think there is no convoys on this route.
http://www8.picfront.org/picture/97QGo2Lu5u3/thb/pos.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8k3x)Picture of our navigation map.We are patrolling north along the convoy route.

[ETsd4]

The photos I am using Virtual Photographer plugin and it has lots of Old B/W effects. The one I am using is called WW2.
So you need Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop elements.

3/25/41, in the afternoon, watch crew of U-389 in the Biscaya.
http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww143/snDf1/test.jpg

Used this conversion-tool: http://labs.wanokoto.jp/olds

[mia389]

That looks great! Maybe I will start using that. I use IrfanView with the virtual photographer plugin. I am all for "free" lol

[mia389]

Finally got some ingame time and finished my first patrol with U389.

Saturday, April 05, 1941
07:03 Performed daily trim dive.
07:23 Maybe today we will find some ships to sink.
07:23 Emil is getting celestial fix.
16:13 At least the airplanes are not coming way out here. Neither are the ships though.
23:56 Fuel is getting low. Will not hunt this route anymore. We are returning to base.
23:58 New course 72.


Sunday, April 06, 1941
00:03 New speed 13 knots.
00:06 ETA St. Nazaire 4/10/41 7:30am
07:27 Performed daily trim dive.
09:18 Sent radio message of our return.
14:25 Traveled submerged last two hours. Surfaced boat at 14:25
16:51 All stop.
16:51 Letting Olaf do some fishing for 1 hour. Be nice to have some decent food.
17:34 Olaf actually caught some fish. Guess we are eating good tonight. Crew is now jumping and cleaning themselves.
17:51 Set speed 12 knots.
17:51 We are now one hour behind eta of 7:30 4-10-41
20:11 Josef has gotten ill from the fish. I thought it was good.


Monday, April 07, 1941
06:33 Performed daily trim dive.
11:17 Gyro compass has broken. Joesef is trying to fix it. Its in a million small pieces.
14:19 Fuel down to 25%
17:19 Josef and Willi managed to fix gyro compass. Emil is now getting new celestial fix.
17:57 Still 1400km away from home.


Tuesday, April 08, 1941
06:44 Performed daily trim dive.
07:50 Heavy seas have increased our fuel burn a bit. We will be very close on fuel.
18:32 965km away from home. I cant wait for a shower and 24 hours of sleep.
18:34 Set speed 12 knots.
18:34 We are just above the NW tip of Spain.
23:40 Smoke on the Horizon! B353.
23:40 New course 062!
23:41 2 ships!
23:41 New course 049. Shut dam radio off! Man Battle stations!
23:41 Ahead Flank!
23:42 New course 026! They are fast movers!
23:45 Set speed 12 knots. Course 071. They are friendly escorts..


Wednesday, April 09, 1941
05:42 Watch crew broke our Biscay cross again. This time we wont fix it. We are only a day away from home.
06:49 Performed daily trim dive.
10:40 Emil is getting our position via a celestial fix.
20:35 Set speed 14 knots.
20:52 Emil updating me with our position.
21:17 New course 065
21:18 We should be in our sub pen by 1130 tomorrow!


Thursday, April 10, 1941
05:49 Ship spotted B042! Sure its friendly.
06:40 Fog has set in. We must be getting close land. This will make our approach much harder to harbor.
08:13 Having Emil get a fix. We are only a couple of hours out.
08:27 Tide has brought us in faster. We are ahead of our last ETA. We are only 1 hour and 24 minutes out.
09:32 We are very close now. Can hear seagulls but see no land yet. This fog is thick!
09:34 Found a buoy on starboard side! Finally
09:38 Second buoy spotted starboard side. Merchant close B020
09:40 Set speed 6 knots.
09:45 New course 035. This will put us west of wharf entrance. We will then head east to entrance. That the plan anyway.
09:48 Another buoy spotted.
09:55 Land spotted B360
09:59 Light house spotted! We made it!
10:18 Parked in sub pen at St. Nazaire. Patrol 1 complete.
10:19 4 ships sunk for 41,000 Tons. 1 Airplane destroyed.
http://www4.picfront.org/picture/Ok3aEjcCle/thb/enter.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8kqe) This was taken about when entering the bay. Could see nothing buy seagulls.

http://www4.picfront.org/picture/Rom7RVo5/thb/ship.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8kq9) Picture of a merchant appearing out of the fog.

http://www4.picfront.org/picture/AxRYuQJzdk/thb/lighthouse.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8kqb) I kept this picture in real color so you could see what I was seeing when I found the light from light house. I was looking all over for it and sure enough it appeared strait ahead. I was expecting it to be off right a bit more. Love real navigation!

http://www4.picfront.org/picture/Xv4zvDcP/thb/warf.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8kq8) This was taken shortly after picture above. Wharf is coming into view now.

http://www4.picfront.org/picture/aOPUEkHFIt/thb/dock.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8kqf) Picture taken from the docks while U389 was entering.

http://www4.picfront.org/picture/x9jejWOMh6/thb/pen.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8kqa) U389 coming into a full sub pen.

http://www4.picfront.org/picture/5s3BJ6RDrhb/thb/home.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8kqc) Finally home after 21 days at sea.

[mia389]

Finally got some time in to start my next patrol. Boat was in dry docks for major repairs. We had over a month off :DL
Patrol 2

Thursday, May 22, 1941 6:22:00 AM
06:22 Captain Werner reporting on U389. U389 departure will be at 1300 hours.
06:23 Happy to see my boat has new Flak guns. Boat has been in dry docks and has had major overhaul done.
08:20 Seeing some new faces. BDU has taken a few of my men and replaced them with fresh green horns.
09:39 Boat is almost ready for patrol. Just getting last of food onboard.
10:35 Asked BDU if we can depart early. All crew is onboard and boat is ready
10:47 Permission was granted.
10:47 Set speed 8 knots! Patrol 2 is underway!
11:07 Set speed 12 knots
11:22 New course 270
11:31 Next turn tomorrow 1230
11:36 Told crew of our plans to hunt the west side of Great Britian
12:53 Good to back at sea!
22:33 Weather: Skys Clear, Seas Calm, Percipitiaon None
http://www11.picfront.org/picture/S2hS2D2ZI/thb/p21.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8lkS) Overhauled U389 and Crew

http://www11.picfront.org/picture/uzLoWh1Fn4v/thb/p22.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8lkR) Taken by Emils wife as we were leaving St. Nazaire.

http://www11.picfront.org/picture/WORoE6dX/thb/p23.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8lkQ) Final Good byes to land

http://www11.picfront.org/picture/Gl5b7AAFqQ/thb/p24.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8lkP) Plotted course and patrol area for our patrol

[Loganrocks7]

What mod gives you a crew? I was looking around for that for a while and couldn't ever find it.

[mia389]

Sorry that was not in my mod list. Added now as more crew. Can get link in my signature.

[Sartoris]

Nice diary, keep it up! :salute:

I was wondering, do you ever get any CTDs? They sometimes interrupt my patrols, so I was wondering if that ever happens to you.

[mia389]

Nice diary, keep it up! :salute:

I was wondering, do you ever get any CTDs? They sometimes interrupt my patrols, so I was wondering if that ever happens to you.

I did when I was using OHII Full. Now using Base and enviroment version I never get CTDs.

My pc
E8500 OC 3.7
4gb ddr3
Windows 7 64bit pro
Nvidia 560TI

[mobucks]

this is awesome man keep it up!

[Loganrocks7]

this reminds me a lot of the movie Das Boot and I'm sure everyone has seen that :P Nice work man, I enjoyed reading it. Hope there's more!

[Sartoris]

I did when I was using OHII Full. Now using Base and enviroment version I never get CTDs.

My pc
E8500 OC 3.7
4gb ddr3
Windows 7 64bit pro
Nvidia 560TI

Thanks. I have a very similar pc and I followed your advice on installing base + environment version, so I hope the CTDs won't happen this time.

[mia389]

Friday, May 23, 1941
00:20 Officer Roster for patrol: X.O Erich, Cheif Josef, Navigator Emil, W.O Dieter, M.O Willi, Sonarman Benno, Torpedoman Kurt, Gunner Matt, Cook Olat
00:30 Sent position report to BDU.
00:30 Wili my Motor Officer has reported diesel engines are in great shape. He is very confident about them.
02:18 Dieter has reported seas have turned to moderate.
07:12 Emil is getting our position.
07:50 Weather: Sky - Overcast, Fog - light, Precip - none, Seas - moderate
07:50 New Depth 30m
07:50 Performed daily trim dive.
07:53 Ahead 1/3
08:01 Surface boat.
08:34 Depth under keel
08:35 Chief Josef reports depth under keel is 536 meters
09:23 Crash Dive!!!
09:23 Set depth 130
09:25 Was a little slow. We will do more drills in the future.
09:46 Surface the boat.
09:48 Set speed 12 knots.
09:52 Recharge batteries
11:54 Crash Dive!!!
11:54 New course 300!
11:55 Set depth 50m. Course 270
11:56 New helmsman is doing good. Need work on our Crashs dives though.
12:02 Surface the boat.
12:04 Set speed 12 knots. Recharge batteries
12:05 Emil is getting our position. We should be close to turn point (N2)
12:21 Training maneuvers slowed us down. 7 hours from N2. ETA 1920
12:59 Crash Dive !!!
12:59 Set depth 60m
13:10 Much better! Surface the boat
13:13 Speed 12 knots, Recharge batteries.
15:09 Olat has made a great meal
15:16 Battery fully charged.
17:43 Dieter reports seas have turned to calm. Fog has vanished.
19:24 New course 320
19:25 618km to turn point 2 (N3)
19:26 ETA N3 Tomorrow (24th) at 2300
20:06 Crash Dive!!!
20:07 Make depth 80m
20:10 Ahead 1/3
20:20 Surface the boat.
20:23 Make speed 12knots. Recharge batteries.
21:08 Batteries fully recharged.
21:08 Crew has greatly improved with maneuvers. I think they are all back in to "sea"mode.
23:33 Emil is getting our position.

http://www9.picfront.org/picture/i97ZINFjZ/thb/231.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8ln8) Taken 5/23/41 after coming to surface from a crashdive.

http://www9.picfront.org/picture/efIcYVi0ESH/thb/232.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8ln7) Taken evening of 23rd. Shortly after Dieter reported calm seas.

[mobucks]

keep those boys sharp! :salute:

Could you for the future give us details on BDU orders given for each patrol?

[mia389]

keep those boys sharp! :salute:

Could you for the future give us details on BDU orders given for each patrol?

Sure, Current patrol I am heading to my patrol area in the circle I have plotted in the last photo above "May 22 photos". My navigation marks N2,N3 are also shown there. I am working on the British Supplies Objective.

We will be operating close to the mainland so I am a bit concerned about aircraft. Good thing I was fitted with 2 flak guns for this patrol. Aircraft from my first patrol almost put us to the bottom. Was the reason for our 6 week leave as well. Pesky aircraft make me nervous now.

[mia389]

Saturday, May 24, 1941
05:46 Emil is getting navigation fix.
07:17 New depth 30m
07:17 Performed daily trim dive.
07:21 Surface boat. Speed 12 knots
07:51 Dieter has food poisoning. Erich is taking up W.O duties.
09:33 Weather: Sky - Overcast, Fog - light, Precip - none, Seas - moderate
12:01 Received radio message from BDU that the Bismark has sunk the mighty HMS HOOD! This is a great vicotory for our navy.
12:01 Olat preparing special meal for the occasion.
12:02 Fog has turned to medium now.
14:43 Fog has lifted a bit now. Fog is light
14:44 Emil is getting updated fix
14:58 5 hours 40 mins until next turn. (N3) ETA 20:40
19:44 Sent position report to BDU
20:40 New course 360. We have reached turn point (N3)
20:41 17 hours45mins until reach patrol area. ETA 5/25 14:36
22:30 Getting messaged from BDU about Bismark owning the Atlantic. She is making history.



Sunday, May 25, 1941
00:12 Dieter is feeling better. Put him back up on watch. Erich is getting shut eye after pulling double duty.
00:13 Fog has lifted.
04:34 Wolfram has intercepted SOS from Dutch freighter.
07:19 New depth 30m.
07:27 Performed daily trim dive.
07:27 Surface the boat. Speed 12 knots
07:28 Weather: Sky - partly cloudy, Fog - none, Precip - none, Seas - moderate.
07:28 I have a good feeling about today.
08:18 Emil is getting celestial fix.
09:17 We have drifted off course. We are way more to the east than planned. Currents must of been much stronger than predicted.
09:17 We are 60km off course.
09:18 I think my helmsman has made a mistake.
09:19 New course 330
09:19 Will take us 2 hours 40 mins to get back on course.
11:24 New depth 30m for sonar check. Dieter swears he smells smoke.
11:26 All stop
11:27 Nothing on sonar. Surface the boat. Speed 12 knots
11:59 New course 360
14:36 We are getting close to our patrol area.
16:52 Have entered our patrol area. Starting patrol pattern.
18:44 Thought today we would have some action. Crew is ready for it. Maybe tomorrow.
19:51 Received message that Bismark has been damaged by torpedo.
20:55 Ahead Flank!
20:55 New course 221
20:55 We have received orders to proceed to BE29. The Bismark is in trouble.
20:56 We are 18 hours away at full speed.
20:56 ETA 14:48 tomorrow.

http://www13.picfront.org/picture/qMJdXzexNJz/thb/plot.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8lnI)

[mia389]

Monday, May 26, 1941
05:14 Willi reports diesels are holding up great.
08:36 Have received a report of a large enemy convoy within 200 kms of us.
08:36 We will continue to head to the Bismark.
15:15 We are still 14 hours away from Bismark. Earlier calculations were wrong.
15:15 We will get there at 0500 tomorrow
17:42 U556 has arrived and reports 1 Battleship and Aircraft carrier.
20:13 Emil is getting new position. U556 has eyes on enemy in BE 5332.
20:29 New course 199
20:31 New ETA 6:12



Tuesday, May 27, 1941
00:59 Bismark is now in BE6155
01:01 Received radio message that the Bismark has been sunk! This is a very sad day.
01:01 We are now to do search and rescue operations from B6277 to BE6192
01:01 We were a little to late. I can't help to think how much closer we would be if our helmsman kept us on course earlier in this patrol.
06:05 Have arrived at S&R area.
06:05 Speed 10 knots. Search pattern
18:55 Searched all day for survivors and found nothing. Am returning to hunting
19:00 New course 30
23:28 Crew morale is very low. Lets hope we find some elephants to sink. That always makes things better.

http://www4.picfront.org/picture/PJPNTZaweQo/thb/src.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8lqb) Taken the morning of 27th searching for survivors from the Bismark.

[mia389]

Wednesday, May 28, 1941
04:59 We are already down to 2/3 of our fuel. Trying to help the Bismark sucked up alot of our fuel.
05:06 Weather: Skys - clear, Fog - medium, Precip- none, Seas - moderate
07:38 Performed daily trim dive.
11:22 My men are eager to get back at the British. So am I
11:23 Fog is pretty think.
11:23 Dieter smells smoke.
11:23 New depth 40m
11:24 Speed 5 knots
11:25 All Stop
11:25 Contact! Warship! B046 Long Range
11:27 Sounds like a single destroyer. Fog is to think to try to engage a destroyer.
11:27 Surface the boat
11:28 Ahead full
11:29 Speed 11 knots
12:50 Make depth 30m
12:52 All Stop
12:52 Surface the boat. No sound contact
12:53 About half way to our patrol area.
12:53 Speed 11 knots
12:53 Hope this fog lifts soon



Thursday, May 29, 1941
00:09 Emil is getting our position.
00:39 Navigator: Calculated position is N 52° 45' W 13° 21'
07:09 Clouds Clear, Precipitations None, Fog None. Wind Speed 12 meters per second, direction 317.
07:09 Fog has finally lifted. Seas have picked up even more though.
11:51 Performed daily trim dive.
16:42 We have entered our patrol area once again. Lets hope not to go on a wild goose chase this time.
16:42 Speed 9 knots.
16:47 Start patrol pattern.
20:39 Sound Contact! Merchant B340 moving fast!
20:39 Surface the boat. Make heading 340. Ahead Flank!
20:39 Finally, The hunt is on!
21:15 Make depth 40
21:16 All stop
21:17 New course 090. Shes a fast mover!
21:17 Ahead Flank, Surface the boat
21:39 New Depth 30m
21:39 Sound contact was faint. I am hoping we have gained ground on her.
21:40 All Stop!
21:42 Surface the boat. Ahead Flank!
21:42 Shes out running us. What kind of merchant is this.
22:13 New depth 30m
22:14 All Stop.
22:14 No sound contact.........
22:14 Surface the boat. Continue patrol pattern.
22:15 Dammit!!!!
22:15 Emil is getting fix.
22:16 Clouds Clear, Precipitations None, Fog None. Wind Speed 12 meters per second, direction 270.
22:16 Speed 9 knots.
22:27 Navigator: Calculated position is N 56° 5' W 11° 38'

[mia389]

Talk about a frustrating patrol so far. My men and I really need a convoy :ping:

Friday, May 30, 1941
06:30 Clouds Partial, Precipitations None, Fog None. Wind Speed 5 meters per second, direction 85.
07:43 Performed Daily trim dive.
07:43 Emil is getting our fix.
07:55 Navigator: Calculated position is Lat: 56° 32' N Long: 11° 6' W
14:56 Have entered a squall.
22:01 Sound Contact! B314 Long range, moving away!
22:01 Shes a Merchant! Finally we might get some tonnage.
22:02 New course 035! Ahead Flank! Surface the boat!
22:40 Set Depth 30m
22:40 All Stop
22:43 We passed it..
22:43 Mark Time, B200
22:54 Mark Time, B204
23:07 Mark Time, B208
23:07 Surface the Boat. Ahead Flank
23:07 Make course 215
23:14 Mark Time
23:16 Surface the boat, Ahead Flank
23:17 After getting 4 bearings we have learned we are about 10km away. Shes moving away 9 knots on a course of 215. We are now moving to intercept.
23:58 Dieter has spotted a ship!


Saturday, May 31, 1941
00:03 Man Battle Stations!
00:13 You have got to be kidding me!!. Its a damn hospital ship!
00:14 New speed 9 knots. Make net heading 085.

http://www3.picfront.org/picture/lhAb0i1HBf/thb/4b.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8lSl) Picture taken of the 4 bearing plot.

http://www3.picfront.org/picture/1QOraRiR/thb/chase.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8lSk) Taken from bridge at full speed intercepting merchant.

http://www3.picfront.org/picture/shgVhxhkj/thb/hos.jpg (http://www.picfront.org/d/8lSj) Picture of the hospital ship taken from UZO.