View Full Version : Wolves of Fatherland [Steel Wolves AAR]
Steel Wolves: The German Submarine Campaign Against Allied Shipping 1939-43
http://www.cityofart.net/bship/u-boat_surfacing.jpg
ALARM!
Indeed. More After Action Reports. This time with a slightly different approach, though. Most of you are probably unfamiliar with a board game called Steel Wolves: The German Submarine Campaign Against Allied Shipping 1939-43, which this AAR is about, so here is a short description:
Steel Wolves is a solitaire simulation of the German submarine war against British and Allied shipping, the follow-on title to the award winning Silent War. Volume I covers the period from the start of the War in 1939 to the early months of 1943. You serve as BdU, Befehlshaber der U-Boote; the Supreme Commander of Uboats, Kriegsmarine. Your mission is to deploy your forces with maximum effect to destroy British and Allied shipping, while limiting your own submarine losses.
Featured scenarios cover actions ranging from famous short single sub patrols, through short campaigns, ending with the full campaign covering 1939 to 1943. The game map breaks the Atlantic, Mediterranean, South Atlantic, and Western Indian Oceans into historical Operations Areas through which subs patrol in search of shipping.
Special rules feature historical events such as the invasion of Norway and Torch; b-dienst, ULTRA, and the intelligence war; torpedo improvements, German wolfpack tactics, Super-Skippers, large vs. small U-boat philosophy, appeals to Berlin for resources, and many others. Every German sub deployed between 1939 and 1943 (as well as some what-if classes) is represented with its very own counter, each meticulously and accurately drawn and shown from their side in full-color. Players familiar with Silent War will find Steel Wolves takes the system to new depths, while those trying it for the first time will be able to quickly get into action!
And yes: this board game is indeed designed particularly for forever alone people :O:.
I'm playing the full campaign which starts in September 1939 and lasts until the end of April 1943. The game will be played one week at a time so game length is 176 turns. Most likely it will take months to complete. I will not post any pictures from the game itself as it would require me to take photos, upload them to my computer and further on to photobucket and eventually here. That would take too much extra time considering that I have a job and the game itself eats quite a bit of my time as well (especially because I will take notes and keep track of various things for the AAR). Plus, I doubt no one would gain anything from looking pictures like this:
http://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic890538_md.jpg
I will add historical photos to spice it (hopefully) up a bit. At first I will make weekly updates and see how that'll work. I might move on to monthly updates if weekly updates are too tedious (which they will be) or otherwise impractical. I'm not completely sure how should I write this AAR so please feel free to comment the style and make suggestions on how to improve it. Also comment if you want more detailed updates or the other way around.
First weekly update pending tonight or tomorrow.
Tedious number crunching begins...
E: Urgh, can't change the topic's title :(.
There will be grammatical errors often and reguluarly.
Hottentot
08-20-12, 12:09 PM
A fascinating idea, even without pictures. Keeping an eye out for this. :yep:
September 1939 - Week 1
http://cdn.dipity.com/uploads/events/90a05fd510565e5123b25911790e29d7_1M.png
On 1st September 1939, the first fires of World War II ignites when Germany invades Poland, overrunning the poorly equipped polish troops in every sector. Three days later Britain and France declares war on Germany. The Battle of the Atlantic begins.
33 U-boats are already on patrol, ready to commence the tonnage war. Small type II U-boats are stationed in the Baltic Sea and North Sea focusing on coastal shipping while larger Type VII U-boats patrol west of France and the British Isles. Four type IXA U-boats operate near Gibraltar.
Morocco (4 operational U-boats)
U-37 (IXA) intercepts a 6-ton greek merchant ship and finds contraband cargo while inspecting the ship. After the crew is moved to lifeboats, U-37 sank the ship with her deck gun. A few days later she sinks a 5-ton british merchant ship making it the first allied sunk ship in the battle of the Atlantic. A few days later she approaches a french merchant on surface intending to save precious torpedoes and sink it with deck gun. Suddenly the merchant opens fire, forcing U-37 under water. She repositions and fires two torpedoes which only bumps off the hull and the merchant gets away. Luckily the merchant didn't score any hits.
U-39 (IXA) encounters a british 14-ton merchant but fails to position herself to an attack. Later that week U-39 finds a british 5-ton merchant and manages to sink it.
U-40 (IXA) sank a finnish 3-ton merchant carrying contraband cargo. She was running out of food but luckily got supplies from the supply ship Corrientes stationed in Canary Islands granting the U-40 a few moments more at sea.
Southwest Approaches (7 operational U-boats)
U-52 (VIIB) comes across with four ships during the week. Sinking three of them. A greek 6t (contraband cargo found and sank with deck gun. Busy little bees those greeks...), a french 6t and a british 7t. She also engages a belgian 8-ton merchant. One of the two torpedoes hit and damages the ship. Unfortunately the belgian manages to creep away in the dead of night.
Herbert Schultze's U-48 (VIIB) gets to see a glorious sight: aircraft carrier Courageous. Schultze sneaks close, undetected, and fires a salvo of four torpedoes. Two massive explosions rips through the silence and for a minute Schultze thinks he got her. However, the carrier survives the blast and crawls away listing heavily.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/HMS_Courageous_sinking.jpg
Damaged Courageous
Prien's U-47 (VIIB) is one of the most successful U-boats of the week sinking three ships for 16 tons. Only U-boat to top Prien is U-46 (VIIB) which sank 6 ships for 21 tons and U-30 (VIIA) which sank 3 ships for 21 tons.
U-38 (IXA), U-34 (VIIA), and U-33 (VIIA) were having a lot of problems with torpedos not exploding on impact. Combined together they only sink three ships for 9 tons.
Western Approaches (5 operational U-boats)
Considering that only five type VII U-boats patrol the area, they are the most successful U-boats of the week.
U-30 (VIIA) fired a torpedo at british 5 ton merchant ship but once again, the torpedo is a dud. Reports of malfunctional torpedoes are starting to pile up. Two days later she spots a lone belgian (8t) merchant ship. Two torpedoes are fired and the lone belgian vanishes with a tremendous explosion. It turns out that it was an ammunition ship. Luckily U-30 had kept her distance and was not damaged in the explosion.
U-29 (VIIA) is the only U-boat in Western Approaches which didn't sink anything and that's mainly due to malfunctional torpedoes. Otherwise at least two ships would have been subsided in the murky sea.
U-27 (VIIA) finds a british 18t armed merchant and a 11t merchant ship. Both of the ships are hit but U-27's crew is not rewarded with sounds of explosions and breaking hull. The reason is too obvious.
North Sea (10 operational U-boats)
Most of the type II U-boats are ordered to concentrate on coastal shipping on which they were not that successful. Only nine ships for 8 tons are sunk.
U-36 (VIIA) gets a glimpse of troop transport Aquitania. Unfortunately the ship is too far away to be attacked. Earlier that week U-36 tested her malfunctinal torpedoes against a french merchant. Apparently the unfair frenchmen managed to direct an aircraft to U-boat's position. U-36 dived too late and took damage from depth charges.
http://www.vintagewings.ca/Portals/0/Vintage_Stories/News%20Stories%20D/First%20Love/FirstLove55.jpg
British aircraft depth charging U-36
North Sea proves to be deadly for U-boats. 4 of 10 U-boats damaged, forcing them to return to base. Damaged U-boats include Otto Kretschmer's U-26 which was attacked by british aircraft after being spotted while trying to engage britis troop transport Britannic.
U-21 (IIB) and U-15 (IIB) sank most the ships in the North Sea during the week: 6 ships for 6 tons.
Baltic Sea (4 operational U-boats)
Four type IIB U-boats concentrated on coastal shipping, sinking 5 ships for 5 tons. U-18's (IIB) activities were greatly hindered because of mechanical troubles. Chief engineer worked hard and eventually fixed the problems allowing U-18 to continue patrolling.
U-boats returning to port at the end of the week:
Baltic Sea: U-57, U-22 and U-17
North Sea: U-9, U-12, U-58, U-56 (damaged), U-36 (damaged), U-23 (damaged), U-21 (damaged)
Western Approaches: U-29, U-30, U-45
SW Approaches: U-26, U-33, U-52
Too many U-boats returning to port for my liking. That leaves me with 17 operational boats for the second week. Fortunately 8 U-boats left the port this week. Three type II boat were sent to Baltic Sea, 4 type II boats were sent to North Sea and one bigger, type VII, U-boat moved to Western Approaches. However, that's 8 U-boats to fill the gap left behind by 17 departing boats. I might get two U-boats sent to sea next week but that's about it. It'll be at least two weeks before I get more U-boats sent out to sea.
Week's result is 45 ships sunk for 150 tonnages. Not bad.
Top U-boats (sunk over 15000 tons):
U-46 (VIIB): 6 ships, 21000 tons
U-30 (VIIA): 3 ships, 21000 tons
U-52 (VIIB): 3 ships, 19000 tons
U-47 Prien (VIIB): 3 ships, 16000 tons
U-45 (VIIB): 4 ships, 15000 tons
September 1939 - Week 2
http://www.shipwrecksofegypt.com/images/pq18underattack.jpg
OKW (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht) needed an escort for ten german merchants leaving Spain to Germany. As there are no surface ships availabe, BdU (Befehlshaber der U-Boote) assigns escort mission to U-34 which is operating near Spain. Idiotic to waste precious U-boats to escort missions. There are already too few U-boats at the sea.
Morocco (4 operational U-boats)
U-40 (IXA) finds a lightly escorted convoy outbound to Gibraltar. After figuring out convoy's course and speed she moves ahead of the convoy and waits. Two torpedoes sink british 5t merchant while the torpedoes fired at british 10t merchant appears to be malfunctional.
SW Approaches (5 operational U-boats)
Günther Prien's U-47 succeeds to penetrate an escort screen of a convoy homebound from Gibraltar. From the centre Prien targets a british 7t merchant and a 9t oil tanker. Tanker explodes into a fire ball while the torpedoes fired at the other ship seem to be once again duds. Escorts are unable to find U-47 after the attack.
U-48 (Schultze) intercepts a convoy sailing toward UK from Freetown and sinks two ships worth of 14t.
Western Approaches (3 operational U-boats)
U-31 (VIIA) sinks 3 ships worth 16t. U-31's successes remain as the only ones in Western Approaches.
Around a hundred nautical miles north west from Ireland U-28 (VIIA) gets surprised by E&F class destroyer. Oil slick marks the grave of 44 men only briefly. U-28 is the first U-boat casualty in the Battle of the Atlantic.
http://www.ussliddle.org/pictures/DepthCharge.jpg
Final moments of U-28
Baltic Sea (4 operational U-boats)
Type II U-boats focuses on coastal shipping. Only 3 ships for 3t are sunk. All four U-boats are returning to base.
North Sea (7 operational U-boats)
Only 3 ships worth 3t are sunk this week. On the plus side no U-boats were damaged.
* * *
RTB
(When U-boat is forced to RTB it starts to move towards base next turn so the U-boats that I listed as RTB in the first week returned to port this week)
(I seem to have very peculiar notes regarding U-boats turning back home and U-boats arriving at home. So there might be a mistake or two in the numbers)
13 U-boats are turning back home - including Prien and Schultze - leaving me with only 8 operational U-boats for the next week. Not good.
17 U-boats arrived to base. U-36 and Kretschmer's U-24 suffered moderate or light damage and are needing dry docking. U-21's and U-56's damage is only superficial and they should be ready for sea in few weeks.
22 ships for 90 tons sunk this week.
Top U-boats (sunk over 15000 tons):
U-47 (VIIB) Prien 4 ships, 25,000 tons
U-46 (VIIB) 7 ships, 22,000 tons
U-30 (VIIA) 3 ships, 21,000 tons
U-52 (VIIB) 3 ships, 19,000 tons
U-31 (VIIA) 2 ships, 16,000 tons
U-45 (VIIB) 4 ships, 15,000 tons
From now on I will make monthly updates. Weekly updates are a bit tedious and there would be 176 of them which is a bit too much. I try to tell you only the highlights and information worth telling. Now I have taken notes of every single ship my U-boats have encountered and that's irrelevant extra work. In the end this game is about the big picture and I see no point listing every single ship the U-boats sink.
September 1939 - Week 3 and 4
http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/assets/0902/0000/0047/img274_medium_medium_mid.jpg
Week 3
OKW wants another U-boat to escort ships from Spain to Germany. Escort mission is assigned to U-46 (VIIB) which was the only U-boat in SW Approaches. Ridiculous.
U-32 and U-35 are ready to be sent to sea in a week or two.
Morocco (2 operational U-boats)
U-37 (IXA) encounters a Task Force outbound to Gibraltar. However, due to heavy presence of escorts she is unable to engage the task force.
U-39 (IXA) spots a British troop ship Aquitania but the ship soon disappears in to the horizon. U-39 has some trouble with torpedoes. Two different attack runs on Greek merchant and both times the torpedoes fail to carry their purpose.
Western Approaches (1 operational U-boat)
Wolfgang Lüth outperforms every U-boat thus far by sinking 4 ships worth of 29 tons with his type VIIA U-27. Early in the week U-27 also came across with British troop transport Britannic. Torpedoes hit but were not sufficient to sink the ship. Lüth had to watch the Britannic limb away listing heavily. He shouldn't be too disappointed though as his U-27 is so far the most successful U-boat. Unfortunately he had to turn home after being attacked by British aircraft.
http://www.elpais.com/recorte/20050821elpdmgrep_7/XXLCO/Ies/Wolfgang_Luth_regreso_patrulla.jpg
Wolfgang Lüth (on the right)
North Sea (5 operational U-boats)
Type II U-boats fare surprisingly well after ordered by BdU to leave the coastal shipping alone and focus on bigger ships in hope of compensating the absence of bigger U-boats in other sea zones. U-10 sinks two British medium merchants worth 9 tons and U-19 sinks a Danish ammunition ship. Overall 4 ships are sunk for 15 tons.
8 U-boats have to start heading back to base. Luckily U-41 manages to resupply from Corrientes.
10 U-boats return to base. U-53 is the only U-boat needing repair.
BdU ordered U-boats from SW approaches to return to base through English channel so they could get back to base sooner and thus be refitted quicker and sent back to sea to fill the tremendous gaps left by departed U-boats. U-34 and Schultze's U-48 sneaks through the channel unharmed. Two days later two U-boats are lost in the channel at the same day never to be heard of again. Devastating is that a promising captain's, Günther Prien's, U-47 is one of the lost U-boats. U-52 is the other lost boat. Losing two type VII ocean-faring U-boats this early when there are limited amount of them is a bad.
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ_JeZjiHxykclX0zCkAzBsqfQj2sChh cFPNgZVSULn3w_z7bmz&t=1
Günther Prien
After losing contact with these two U-boats the rest of the U-boats returning to base are ordered to go around British Isles.
Week's result: 8 ships, 44 tons.
Week 4
U-41, which successfully supplied from Corrientes, is the only operational U-boat at sea. She rans into a convoy outbound to Gibraltar and sinks a British 4-ton merchant. At the end of the week she too returns home.
9 U-boats arrive to base. U-10 and Lüth's U-27 are needing quite a bit of repairing. They will probably ready for sea in two months or so.
4 U-boats are ready for sea. Three type II U-boats are sent to North Sea and one type VIIA is sent to Western Approaches. These four U-boats are currently the only ones (save the U-boats which are returning to base) at sea.
In September 1939, German U-boats sunk 84 ships, totalling 288,000 GRT for 3 U-boats lost. Overall quite a good result even though the last two weeks were quite bad.
The coming weeks doesn't look so bright. 10 U-boats are withdrawing the next week for extended overhaul and I get only two new U-boats, including Schütze's U-25. It will take at least two weeks (if luck is on my side) before I get the number of U-boats at sea at least close to what they were in the start of the war.
Top U-boats (sunk more than 15,000 tonnages):
U-27 (VIIA) Lüth: 5 ships, 32,000 tonnages
U-47 (VIIB) Prien: 4 ships, 25,000 tonnages
U-46 (VIIB): 7 ships, 22,000 tonnages
U-30 (VIIA): 3 ships, 21,000 tonnages
U-52 (VIIB): 3 ships, 19,000 tonnages
U-31 (VIIA): 3 ships, 16,000 tonnages
U-45 (VIIB): 4 ships, 15,000 tonnages
U-41 (IXA): 4 ships, 15,000 tonnages
Right, it would seem I've made mistakes. I track sunk ships and tonnages on two different places and they don't match. I've to figure out which one is wrong and adjust the numbers accordingly. This will delay the next udpate. And as I've moved to monthly updates I will not update as frequently. Also, I'll update irregularly regularly, depending on how often I'm able to play.
Ouch, I can imagine trying to figure out the error on something with this scale. :doh:
Ouch, I can imagine trying to figure out the error on something with this scale. :doh:
Yes, it's quite... Obnoxious. I hate to think that because of an error the numbers are wrong. Although, luckily, in this case the numbers can't be inaccurate enough to affect the outcome of the war (or the victory points gained this month) even slightly so the possible error is only superficial. Still, it's annoying that the numbers might be a bit off and it's quite annoying to try and figure out where I went wrong. I have took a note of every single ship I've sunk so I should be able to calculate the numbers right. I just hope that there are no errors in my notes...
I found an error in my notes. I hope it's THE error and the numbers match now. Anyway, the numbers won't affect the game in any way as the number's wouldn't be that off, if they are off at all anymore.
October 1939
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/album/watermark.php?file=9412
U-boats docked at Wilhelmshaven.
Week 1
U-32 (VIIA), currently the only U-boat in the Western Approaches was loaded with mines before leaving the base and headed for the coast of Ireland to lay mines, after the mission was complete she was ordered back to base for complete overhaul. Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) ordered two minelaying missions and U-32 was one of the assigned U-boats. The other assigned U-boat was U-58 (IIC), operating in the North Sea, and was ordered to lay mines on the route of the coastal merchant ships along the English coast. Both completed their missions without an incident and unspotted. U-58 continues to patrol in the North Sea.
Two new much needed bigger U-boats arrived this month: kapitänleutnant Victor Schütze's type IA U-25 and type IXA U-42. Not much but considering the tremendous lack of patrolling U-boats at the sea, every boat counts.
6 Type II and 2 type VII U-boats were ordered to withdraw for complete overhaul, which reduces even more the already dwindling U-boats. I'm not expecting much from this month.
Only 3 U-boats left the base this week.
North Sea
U-12 (IIB) and U-12 (IIB) are the only U-boats I have currently patrolling as U-32 and U-58 are busy laying mines. The situation is terrible...
The most successful type II, U-22, continues to be successful. She sinks 5 ships worth 24,000 tons which are the only victories this week (except for a French torpedo boat, La Melpomène, which was apparently sunk after hitting one of the mines U-58 laid). Surprisingly good result however for such a small U-boat.
U-12 (IIB) intercepted a large convoy homebound from Norway but vigilant escorts pinpointed her before having a chance to attack. U-12 was lightly damaged after the following depth charge attack but managed to escape.
Three U-boats arrived to Germany during the week: U-37 (IXA), U-39 (IXA) and U-32 (VIIA). All of them precious bigger U-boats.
Week's result is 6 ships sunk, total tonnage 25,000 GRT. The start of the month is grim.
Week 2
Western Approaches (1 operational U-boat)
U-42's (IXA) victories are outstanding. Her week doesn't start promisingly as a torpedo ran in a circle back towards her but fortunately missed the U-boat. At the end of the week U-42 sinks 6 ships worth 26,000 tons.
http://www.navypedia.org/ships/germany/ger_ss33.gif
U-42
North Sea (4 operational U-boats)
4 patrolling type II U-boats goes through a rough time. Three of them are having problems with malfunctional torpedoes, reducing greatly the amount of tonnages sunk this week. Also U-24 and U-58 are both damaged in attack runs by British warships. Due to the lack patrolling U-boats OKM ordered the U-boats to repair the damage at sea as best they can and continue patrolling the designated areas, at least until more U-boats are ready to head out to sea.
http://mywarhistory.com/uploads/myWarPictures/660-Sinking-of-a-U-Boat-by-depth-charges-.jpg
Attack run
6 U-boats headed out to sea this week. 5 of them are type II boats and are bound to North Sea. One boat, U-7, is ordered to mine English Coast and return home after the mission. U-34 (VIIA) headed for Western Approaches but after her last radio transmission northwest from the English Coast, was never to be heard of again. U-34 is the first U-boat casualty in October.
U-12 (IIB) and U-41 (IXA) returned to base.
Week's result: 11 ships sunk totaling 38,000 tonnages.
Week 3
OKM ordered a U-boat take Abwehr agents to Ireland but BdU refused to carry out the mission due to the lack of patrolling U-boats, deteriorating the OKM's attitude towards BdU.
9 U-boats are patrolling the Atlantic. At least we manage to send more U-boats to the sea than they return.
Western Approaches (1 operational U-boat)
U-42 (IXA) sinks only 1 ship, british 5t ammunition ship, during the week and expenses her last torpedoes forcing her to already return to base.
North Sea (8 operational U-boats)
Bad week for type II U-boats.
Sinking of a Belgian 8t ammunition ship lures in a warship which, after 6 hour hunt, damages U-56 (IIC). U-18 (IIB) is as well damaged after surprised by a British destroyer. U-19 (IIB) on the other hand was forced to return to base after starting to have problems with the battery. Also Three other U-boats started their journey back to base. U-56 and U-22, the titan, were the only U-boats to score successes, however scarce.
6 U-boats headed out to sea this week. Three of the bigger boats were ordered to patrol west from British Isles while the three smaller type II U-boats were ordered to fill the gaps left behind by returning boats in the North Sea. One of the IIB-class boats heading to North Sea was Kretschmer's U-23.
U-7 returned to base.
Week's result: 3 ships for 18,000 tonnages sunk. Quite terrible result considering that I had more U-boats at the sea this week than in the first two weeks. North Sea proves to be dreadful for my U-boats.
Week 4
Western Approaches (3 operational U-boats)
U-40 (IXA) attacks a large convoy heading from Halifax to UK. She manages to penetrate the escort screen and start the attack from the center, aiming at two merchants in the center column. All four torpedoes find their targets and a british 5t merchant as well as dutch 8t ammunition ship sink rapidly. U-40 crept away unnoticed.
http://www.leander-project.homecall.co.uk/Leander/gal_air_recon_convoy.jpg
Convoy HX
U-29 (VIIA) sinks 4 lone merchants during the week worth of 22,000 tons. However, she is damaged after attacking a british 5t merchant from too close. The ship was revealed to be an ammunition ship and the U-29 was damaged in the explosion.
U-45 (VIIB) finds a convoy as well but is forced below too soon due to a diligent slooper, Shrh. Only one 2t merchant is sunk.
North Sea (7 operational U-boats)
Oh, the dreadful North Sea... Five ships are sunk during the week worth 25,000 tonnages. Not the greatest result but still satisfying considering the size of the type II's. Bad news are that malfunctional torpedoes continues to drop the amount of tonnages sunk for type II U-boats. And the british warships continue to drop the amount of my U-boats. Kretschmer's U-23 is damaged after an attack by a destroyer. Luckily the damage didn't force him to turn home. OKM's decision to keep damaged U-boats at the sea prove to be painful. Already damaged U-18 was attacked again but this time however, the hull couldn't withstand the damage and she descended in the bottom of the sea. Worst news was the fate of the 'Titan' U-22. At the start of the week she sank two ships worth 15t, making her the most successful U-boat yet and that's quite a feat from a type II U-boat. However, she was sunk in aggressive attack by a British destroyer. All hands lost. The North Sea is dreadful indeed.
3 U-boats were readied for sea. 2 type II boats headed to North Sea and type IA boat to Western Approaches.
5 U-boats returned to base. 2 of them damaged type II boats from the North Sea, fortunately the damage was revealed to be only superficial or light.
Week's result: 12 ships, 62,000 GRT tonnages.
October's result is 32 ships sunk, total tonnage 143 GRT. While the total amount of ships and tonnages sunk in these two months is 108 ships, 431,000 tonnages. Six U-boats have been lost in total, 3 this month.
Top U-boats (sunk over 20,000 tonnages):
U-22 (IIB), 44,000 tonnages KIA
U-27 (VIIA) Lüth, 32,000 tonnages
U-42 (IXA), 31,000 tonnages
U-47 (VIIB) Prien, 25,000 tonnages KIA
U-46 (VIIB), 22,000 tonnages
U-29 (VIIA), 22,000 tonnages
U-40 (IXA), 21,000 tonnages
U-30 (VIIA), 21,000 tonnages
November brings four new U-boats while three U-boats withdraw for complete overhaul. Two type II boats one type VII and a type IXA boat. Withdrawing U-boats are U-7, U-12 and U-24.
21 U-boats sit at the docks currently. Way too many. Hopefully they can be sent to sea faster than in October. Fortunately around half of them are almost ready for patrol. One of the worrying things is the situation in the North Sea. It's getting surprisingly dangerous and U-boats are being sunk and damaged at increasing speed. I have to consider sending some of the type II boats to Baltic Sea to hunt coastal shipping, even though there will be less prey. But Baltic would be a tad safer. Also sending boats to Baltic, and thus reducing the amount of boats in the North Sea, would (hopefully) mean less casualties. And less casualties at this point, considering that the next time I get new U-boats is in January and even then only three new boats, would be very, very good.
Also BdU is working hard to convince OKM to invest in correcting torpedo failures. However, persuasion hasn't been successful yet. But I'm certain that after they will realize the U-boat's potential impact on the war, they will soon come around...
[Author's note: when I write 3t, or 5t or something similar, it's in thousands so for example in that case 3,000 tons and 5,000 tons.]
vBulletin® v3.8.11, Copyright ©2000-2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.