Jaystew
04-28-13, 08:21 PM
My first patrols with SH3 commander GWX SH3 Contacts.
I can say the action is incredible in this sim and the feeling of being on the sub is intense. I didn't do too well, sunk in the first weeks of the war.
But here you go.
Shakedown Patrol 1 Extended Readiness Patrol _partial log_
Departure Kiel AO77 Aug 1 1939 ~0230 10kts
Destination Grid AM53
ETA AM53 @10kts ~8dys Aug 9
Wx winds&seas mild
Routing through Skagerrak then passing
thought Europaisches Nordmeer.
-Will perform the following trials at sea
-Damage control drills
-Depth control and procedures
-Emergency maneuver control procedures
-Shadowing practice
0424 AO74
0449 Merchant Shp spotted
1022 Sea Calm winds 030 low 2mps
1215 AO71
1245 Cargo Shp
1835 AO47
2024 Sunset Moonrise 3/4
0000 8/2/39 AO44
Spotted 2 ships with bright
lights while passing Frederikshavn
0244 Well lit merchant ship seen to
starboard
0445 Sunrise
1058 Entering AN Quadrant AN36
Reached Skagerrak trench,
depthfinding does not return sound.
Seas mild, making 9kts
winds 270 9mps
visibility excellent-no clouds
1125 ordered emergency crashdive drill
1131 Tested to depth 181m medium loud
creaking but only minor leaks
1147 Returned to Pdepth
1149 Allclear ordered to surface
1155 Battery charge init. 450-500amps
at 3/5 diesel
1255 Battery recharge reported complete
1625 Ordered damage control drill
1845 damage control drill complete
2318 AN35
1235 8/3/39 AN34
1540 AN31
0015 8/4/39 AN29
0805 8/5/39 Radio rpt Konigsberg boats
ordered to return and transfer
to 1st or 2nd Flotilla -relaying
0815 AN23
1750 Entered AF quadrant AF79
2055 AF78
2137 Sunset
2149 Moonrise
2155
2231 Radio contact with suspected
merchant strong signal, reporting
location about 15km south,
Ordered crew to initiate search,
increased to 3/5 -13kts
2310 Visual contact with small merchant
5000m+ maintained course to avoid
0010 8/6/1939
Dove to Pdepth. Reduced speed to
slow, attempted to make hydro
contact.
Contact persisted at range 5000m+
0014 Detected 2nd merchant contact 090
Very far. Proceeded on intercept
course and engaged submerged
torpedo drill.
0115 Completed drill returned to course
0205 All clear surfaced the boat, ran at
10kts for 1 hr, then recharged batt
0555 Entered AN Quadrant AN12
0840 Wx Water choppy, winds 8mps
waves low, visibility good.
1307 Merchant spotted 8000m+ opposite
direction of travel, maintained
watch. No radio contact. No hydro
contact.
1530 AN11
1930 Weather deterioriating, stormy wind
12mps waves cresting over bow 1-2m
visibility less than 5km.
0000 8/7/39 Lots of message traffic
indicating good surface traffic in
section AN13-AN15-AM36
0100 Entering AM sector AM34
0930 Entered AM33
0134 8/8/39 Entered AM35
0545 Sunrise Waters are calm increased
to 3/5 speed to take advantage.
-14kts
0842 Reached St. Kilda AM28
Water is flat as glass, making 15kts
1108 Entered AM02 Radio traffic indicated
AM51, AM52AM43
1506 AM53 Patrol Area Reached, redu to
slow for patrol -4kts
Initiated depth and maneuver
practice procedures.
1605 Attempted dive to depth 190m.
1629 Dive plane stuck in down position,
caused dive to 199m, boat impacted
sandy bottom at less than 2kts,
minimal damage, aborted exercise
1631 Ordered pdepth and hydro sweep.
1634 More difficulty with dive planes
not responding.
Ordered ballast blow, 2/5 speed
and return to surface.
1640 Surfaced. Commenced dive plane
inspection and repair, checked
hull for damage Chief Mechanic
indicates all clear.
2132 Sunset
0930 8/9/39 Weather heavy seas,
wind15mps from west, visibility poor
2000 AM61
2155 Decided to proceed through
Irische See and St George Kanal,
Will also require transit of
Strabe von Dover. Averaging
15-17kts, weather favorable
for good surface travel.
Substantial message traffic to the
south, areas, AM94-AM95-AM97-AM98
Bristol Kanal area
8/11 Dozens of ships in contact
via radio in area of BF24-BF25.
0601 Sunrise
0611 Tested Maximum speed in calm flat
water about 18kts.
0135 8/12/39 Message from Cherbourg Fr,
The French are out of wine and need
urgent resupply at Cherbourg.
0155 Storming bad, watch crew
ordered below deck.
0430 Storm cleared, watch crew back on
deck.
August 13th Proceeded into Kaiser Kanal.
Dock at Kiel for resupply and refit. Expected
port time 2-3 weeks.
MK1 178m
MK2 189m
MK3 183m
MK4 1000m
MK5 217
MK6 250m
MK7 361m
MK8 131
MK9 120
MK10 135
Patrol 2
Orders are to take up station AN14 near
Scapa Flow no later than Sept 4 1939.
Once on station report position to Bdu.
Maintain contact with Bdu per August
procedure.
Departure Kiel, Sept 1
Proceeding along usual Northern route-
Kieler Bucht-Kattegat-Skagerrak route.
Estimated arrival on station Sept 4 1939,
Average speed 13kts.
9/3 Bdu orders hostilities to commence
against Great Britain immediately.
1603 Estimate 12 hours from AN14 station
area.
1748 AC SPOTTED! Manned AA gun.
1749 AC made run dropped depth charge
engaged with guns! flank speed
1750 AC made second attack run, guns
dropped 2nd DC. missed no damage.
1755 Visual contact with AC lost, heading
West,
Weather stormy and intensifying.
1801 Watch crew back on deck.
2000 Sun occluded- Sun is setting.
2202 Entered AN41 making 15kts, estimate
5-6hrs to patrol area.
9/4 Message to all crew: This is now a shooting
war ACT ACCORDINGLY.
0448 Entered AN14. Reducing to 9kts
surface patrol, weather clearing,
seas still rolling but not as bad.
0505 Bdu has ordered U86 to patrol the
AN14 sector and surrounding areas,
to include AN11/12/13/15/16/21/26&41
To report into Bdu daily.
0559 AC Spotted! Gunner fired without
orders, did not hit AC. Dropped DC
on starboard side missed, returned
fire, continues to miss, AC made run
from aft, ran at flank speed and
made hard port turn into AC to
reduce target profile.
0604 AC only made one attack run, lost
visual contact with AC. Returned
watch crew to deck. Returned to
course, slowed to 9kts.
0608 Radio contact, indicates, British
Warship closing on our position.
Ordered p-depth for hydrophone
search.
0617 Ordered depth 25m, checked hydro
sweep again, negative.
0620 Ordered pdepth, periscope sweep
Sunrise, but no contacts found.
0625 Ordered boat to surface. Return to
previous search, making 9kts.
0747 Smoke on horizon, ship barely
visible. 042
Ordered pdepth. Battlestations.
0749 Ordered Heading 330 target, bearing
020 appears to be zig-zag.
0757 Target appears to be British merchant
sub 500 tons bearing now 25deg
0758 Ordered Heading 000 Lowering scope
0804 Observing British Fishing trawler
via periscope.
0805 Ordered to surface, man deck gun.
0807 Engaging with deck gun,
maneuvering at full speed to engage
Sea state not favorable for gunnery
0815 Engaged trawler with about 10 shots.
At least 5 hits, sunk.
0816 Large tugboat 422tons sunk.
1201 Bdu Radio intercept: Take no hostile
action against passenger ships,
independent in convoy.
1348 Weather clearing overhead, winds,
9mps -NNE visibility hazy,
partly cloudy.
1644 Ordered Pdepth and hydrosweep.
AllStop. Hydrosweep negative.
1645 New course North spd 5kts
1825 Radio contact AN12 Suspected merch,
heading into intercept range,
New course 270 speed 4kts.
ETA to intercept 4hrs.
1950 Radio contact with suspect merch
re-estab -continuing on south course.
2101 Radio conact with 2nd sus merch
stronger signal believed to be closer,
coming from West on East course.
9/5/1939
0000 Radio contact again with sus-merch
Moving on WSW course rpt to be on
205 course inside sector AN14 along
incept vector. Increasing speed to
13kts to make intercept.
0338 Radio contact again, much stronger
Wx partly cloudy, half moon, dark
seas and choppy, winds 7mps but with
brisk gusts.
0340 Ordered Pdepth for hydro check.
0344 Hydro contact made with merchant
moving slow bearing 026. Surfaced,
Proceeding at flank intercept speed!
0402 Visual contact, moving into
position to identify.
0406 Too dark to positively identify
Manning deck and flak guns to engage
0408 Target emitted bright search light
Order to fire given. First hit
destroyed light
0411 Confirmed British merchant, large
fishing trawler, took 5 hits,
540tons sunk.
0414 Secured from Battlestations, ordered
New Course to AN15 area to commence
patrol for larger merchants. Will
investigate merchant traffic.
0417 Reported to Bdu
14 torpedos left, 2 ships sunk,
1000 total tons estimated sunk
Head to AN15, ship in good repair,
seas choppy, winds 9mps, conditions,
stable.
0430 Fire observed on horizon, in
direction of sunk trawler.
0519 Reply relayed from U71: BDU: Good
work, continue as ordered, report wx,
on station, GHxx!
0605 Sunrise
0832 Adjusted course to take us south.
Rpt from U71 indicates substantial
traffic though Scapa flow area,
optimum fuel conservation dictates,
better positioning closer to
center of channel.
0930 Weather worsening. Expecting storm.
1035 Heavy overcast, light rain, thunder,
visibility poor, winds, gusty mps=10
1205 Looking for deeper waters, arrived
at position near center of channel
in AN15, waters appear to be between
40-60meters.
1402 Located area where water depth is
100m in AN15.
Reported to Bdu Wx is terrible.
Winds West 15mps, pouring rains,
Will searching by hydro until storm
breaks.
1406 Ordered to 25m.
1415 No hydro contacts. Will maintain
search for next few hours.
1635 Faint Hydro contact, closing 027
Ordered to pdepth.
1638 Still storming, visibility with
Perisope poor, best range
possibly-1000m
1655 Lost sonar contact. Dived to 65m
to try to reacquire. Unable
1750 Continued to search via hydro.
1818 Hydro contact faint 135.
Turning to intercept. Hydro indc
vessel passing starboard stern close
1842 Surfaced but unable to locate.
Weather is atrocious and daylight
fading fast.
1902 Pdepth for new Hydro bearing.
1905 Contact faint at 270.
1906 New Heading 045 Full speed submerged
1911 Contact at 310
New heading 010
Full speed submerged
1944 Hydro contact steady at 020,
surfacing, proceeding full speed on
heading 025.
Watch crew on deck.
1946 Seas even worse, rolling waves, 6m
unbelievable swells. Unable to man
guns.
1955 Reduced speed to 5kts, crew to rest.
Called off hunt, light and seas too
difficult to prosecute.
2035 Radio contact with suspected merc,
reporting heavy seas, taking on
water.
2236 Complete darkness topside. Diving to
pdepth. Will ride out the storm
submerged.
9/6/39
0259 checked surface. Still storming.
0305 Hydro reporting faint warship
brg270.
0349 More faint warship contact.
0517 Checked surface, still storming,
Surfaced to exchange air inside boat
Will communicate Wx to Bdu.
Request orders on current location.
0525 Message rely from U79: Bdu:
Given political situ. all boats to
observe 1930 London Submariner
protocol article 22. Boats warned to
exercise extreme caution when app.
enemy ships.
0557 Bdu Radio Rpt: Continue in present
location, request update on torpedo
loadout, urgent.
0635 Relayed to U79: U86 14T AN15.
0649 Storm may be breaking.
0844 Storm worsening again
0924 Fog with heavy rain, storm visibiliy
terrible. Considering another day
under the water.
Decided to move into Scapa under
the weather.
1043 Reached channel. Decided to chance
port. Will move in on surface under
cover of perpetual storm. 12kts.
1057 Heavy swells, fog clearing some,
but rain continues to fall hard.
1137 Passing into the flow, swells
dropping. Rain continues to fall.
1142 Lighthouse beam visible. Less than
5km from shore.
1145 Message relay from U42 : Bdu:
Avoid attacks on French shipping.
Political situation unclear, defen
action only to be taken.
1154 Ordering battlestations.
Increasing speed to 15kts.
Full watch crew on topside.
1159 Attacked, shore battery possibly,
explosions heard, damage reported
1202 Heavy damage sustained to batteries
reading only 150amps. Stopped
1205 Forward batteries sustained some
cracking, repairs underway,
After battery system disconnected,
needs 30 min at least to repair.
1208 Several unknown contacts on hydro
Storm making detection difficult.
1224 Battery system repairs complete,
hull repair complete, flooding
stopped, no injuries reported.
Battery condition, loss of charge
currently reading 250amps.
Repairs should allow for full
recharge, but will have to be tested.
1304 Continuing to proceed into area of
Scapa. For attack. 2kts
1324 Destroyer closing.
1330 Destroyer depth charging.
1331 Damage sustained.
1333 Heavy flooding in forward compartments
1335 blowing balast to get off bottom
1334 briefly surfaced. Unable to control
depth, blowing again running on
surface, flank speed, checking
engines.
1338 Hearing depth charged in distance
ASDIC pinging constant.
1339 Sub rammed, heavy damage to bridge
Periscope destroyed.
1343 Critical flooding forward, DC on it.
1344 So much flooding in forward torp
room, causing boat to list forward,
bow is dragging on bottom.
1351 Destroyer passed by bow 500m barely
visible dropped DC.
1352 Blew balast again, flooding in con
in forward sections, running on surf.
2 Petty officers Willy Pohls,
Fritz Schifer, injured in action.
Being treated by medic in stern.
1356 Engines escaped major damage making
15kts heading West. Will run on
surface then charge battery after an
hour or two pending conditions.
Weather continues to provide cover.
1408 U73 Reports: U86 order to abandon
ship given. Under attack by
destroyer, disabled, and sinking.
Final message was radio intercept from U73 of the U86's peril. Terrible outcome but not bad for first patrol.
Lessons I learned as commander of U86 this generation...
Better to not engage aircraft with single flak gun, just doesn't feel effective, no hits scored on multiple passes. Although maybe I should let the gunner do the shooting.
Moving into Scapa flow even under storm is not a good idea. The destroyers are still looking for you and there is nowhere to go nowhere to hide. The value of targets isn't that high in September 1939, and with the storm as it was, it was impossible to see them anyway. I was defiantly close enough for a medium range torpedo shot but without the ability to sight anything doesn't matter.
Will post more Adventures of Kaptain Buckholtz as the next generation of Kaptain lives it.
Special thanks to all GWX devs, and the community dev at large, have done a terriffic service to the sim community and subsim community.
---------------
Sept 1. 1939
Kaptain A.Buckholtz
Proceed with U86 VIIB to Helgoland for final orders/provisions then to patrol station AN71.
Departure: Kiel 9/1/39 Or as soon as possible.
Arrival on Station: No later than 9/5/39.
Report position to BdU upon arrival, and per Aug procedure after arrival.
---------------
U86 Patrol Log I
---------------
--------Sept 1 1939
2055 Departure from Kiel. Underway at 7kts, will navigate Kiel Kanal to
Hegoland and advise on status to BdU.
Estimate arrival at Helgoland 9/2 -1600.
2105 Heavy surface traffic for nighttime operations in Kiel, maintaining slow
speed until clear of port will increase speed for Kanal journey.
2327 Increased to 10kts. Traffic is clearing.
--------Sept 2
0035 Passing Rendsburg port. Maintaining speed.
0415 First light
0506 Brunsbuttel visible in distance.
0531 Cleared Kanal entered channel proceeding to Deutsche Buct.
0542 Sunrise.
0725 Entered Deutche Bucht, waters calm, winds 4mps, visibility excellent.
Making 11kts. Estimate arrival Helgoland 6 hours.
1259 Radio position report
---AN95 1hr from Helgoland. Req permission to dock and take on provisions.
1320 Helgoland sighted.
1342 Sighted tanker, merchant and several patrol boats.
1345 Message Bdu
---Permission to dock Helgoland denied. Proceed to ordered patrol area
with haste. Take up station and contact BdU for further instruction.
Unless necessary or contact is made with enemy maintain radio silence
until reaching station. -Bdu
Proceeded to AN71, making 12kts. Estimate arrival with current sea
conditions Sept 4, 0600.
2044 Reached AN69
2331 Reached AN83
--------Sept 3
0212 Radio Message OKM ---Uboats ordered to commence hostilities with GB
forthwith, in accordance with Prize Regulations. Attacks to be aimed at
ships which by this protocol may be sunk without warning.
0215 Informed crew of order.
0515 Entered AN82
0601 Sunrise Wx Clear with moderate haze, winds 5mps, north seas, small swells.
1245 Entered AN84. Closing in on patrol station. ETA now 13hours.
1402 OKM sent another radio message Kaptain eyes only.
1415 Wx winds 6mps northeast, baro pressure dropping. Seas choppy.
1604 Radio Intercept FdU---Hostilities are to be commenced against Great
Britain immediately. Do not wait to be attacked.
1754 Radio Intercept FDU---France considers herself at war with Germany as of
1700. Uboats take only defensive action against French ships. Take no
action against French merchant ships except in self-defense-FdU.
U-55 reporting depthcharged by airplane. Minor damage in AN55.
1935 Sunset.
2034 Ship spotted! 273 about 5000m Moving on surface at flank speed to
intercept.
Seas are choppy but permit deckgun engagement.
Target appears to be Cargoship, probably British, on steady course.
Position Fix AN84 180km from Dover 125km from Dunkirchen.
2046 Loading Deckgun. Approximate target heading 050. Taking it along British
coast.
2053 1500m to target, unable to identify positively-too dark. Order to fire
warning shot and attempt to make radio contact. Fireds 3 shot, third
definetly hit target. Target burning.
2055 Radio contact report made.
Reduced speed to make targeting easier.
2102 Moonrise, mutiple deck gun hits, fires burning, ship continues on course
but is slowing.
2115 Ship is dead in the water, burning. Deckgun fire has ceased. Circling sub
for followup hits.
2139 Ship tipped to Starboard and sank. Large Merchant Estimate 11000 tons.
--------Sept 4 1939
0100 Entered AN79
0430 Reported position to BdU.
0451 Smoke on horizon.
0454 Ordered all stop to observe ship.
0501 Second ship spotted, both ships very low in water, appear to be patrol
type ships, ordered p-depth. First ship brg110 second ship 094. est range
3500m+
0506 Hydrophone reports 3 distinct contacts, medium medium-high propeller
turns, suspected pt boat possible destroyer. Maintaining course slow
speed ahead submerged. Third contact brg 125. Depth under keel in this
area only ~25m.
Proceeded to check Periscope every 15 min for next hour until sunrise.
Hydro reporting contacts passing to behind us far.
0600 No Visual periscope contact, hydro has one very faint contact brg 160.
0613 Sunrise, Surface boat. Running battery charge, at 10kts.
0730 Sent update to BdU.
---To Bdu, U86, AN79 14Torpedos 1 ship sunk, 11000 tons est. Contact with
several patrol craft, possible destroyer. Continuing on station, boat ok.
Wx Seas mild, wind 3mps south, slight haze, clear, visibility good.
0755 Radio Reply ---BdU: Good report, continue as ordered, good hunting -BdU.
1204 Radio Message ---FdU: By order of Der Fuhrer: No hostile action to be
taken against passenger ships sailing independently or in convoy.
1251 Seasgulls spotted alongside ship. Approx position 20km from southend.
Still running topside, will submerge as soon as portlights spotted.
1301 Landsighted, hazy conditions make it difficult to see features.
Submerging to pdepth.
1305 Hydro rpts 2 sound contacts. 340-010.
1310 Periscope check, no contacts. Continue in 2kts submerged.
1405 Port lighthouses between 020-040 sonar contacts, negative visual.
Hydro has 2 confirmed contacts possibly 3rd. 320-345-010. Increased to 3kts.
1424 Periscope check again nothing.
1443 P check, spotted pillbox 060.
1510 Check Pillboxes 90-80-70 closest brg 90, smoke on horizon at 030.
Made course adjustment to take us closer to port, maintained 3kts.
Battery 450amps, CO2 1.2%
1527 P check again, can clearly make out port now, have single cargo type
ship 030, range possibly 6000-7000m. According to our chart of Southbend
believe ship may be behind wave wall. Continuing in for better look.
1540 Patrol craft closing ordered all stop.
1542 Patrol craft making DC run keel of patrol craft collided with conning
tower, indeterminate damage, scraping sounds hear. DCs deployed.
Rigging for silent run, maintaining course moving 1kt, depth 25m.
1544 2nd DC pass, increasing speed to run during DC passes.
1548 3rd DC pass, about 100m behind, ran full ahead during drops came to
pdepth.
1551 4th DC pass closer from bow to stern, portside. Depth 15m
1552 Rudder right full, 2nd vessel on move, probably not patrol craft.
1554 5th Dc pass behind 50m+ left to right
1555 Very large steamer 015 Reading torpedo shot
1556 Sonar reports pt type closing from 129. Long range.
1557 6th DC run 75m to starboard.
1600 7th DC run 25m to aft.
1602 Fired torpedo at troop transport, 18 seconds into run contacted with
patrol vessel that was circling. Patrol vessel sustained heavy damage.
Heavy list observed by periscope.
1605 Heavy smoke, explosions from patrol vessel, brg 320 aft is listing out of
the water, no prop action.
1609 Impact, heavy smoke from troop transport.
1611 Fired 2nd torpedo at troop transport.
1613 Secured from silent running, Reloading Tubes 1+2+3.
1614 Torpedo fired at troop transport missed forward. Re targeting.
1630 Pt boat continues to circle, moving into closer range of port.
1631 Tube 1 reloaded.
1633 Fired Tube 4 at troop transport.
1634 Another patrol vessel spotted. ASDIC pings, unsure of where these are
coming from.
1636 Mined subnet near port entrance visible on periscope underwater.
Torpedo impact on troop transport!
1639 Single stack patrol vessle closing 040.
1644 DC charge run close! no damage
1645 Fired tube 5 at troop transport.
1646 2nd DC run from single stack patrol ship. Also close.
Tube 2 reports ready, torpeod impact on troop transport.
1650 3rd Warship on hydro.
1651 Rammed by single stack patroller. 2nd patrol ship circling close.
1655 Ordered silent running, torpedo reloading stopped, slowed to 1kt
Another DC run made by single stack, going to try and shake the patrol
moving back out of the port.
1659 More DC dropped 50m back.
1702 DC dropped to starboard bow maybe 100m
1709 More DC dropped aft 250m. Second series dropped in succession.
1712 Secure from silent running, continue to reload torpedos.
1715 DCs starbord 200m. Increasing to Flank, running at flank for a few min.
To determine if they have passive sonar.
1717 DC forward.
1724 Passed over but no DC. Moving at 2kts, to position outside port gun range.
1730 All torpedo tubes reloaded, crew ordered to stand down torpedo attack,
prepare for damage control, possible surface action.
1733 Battery 400amps, CO2 1.5%
1737 Mines at MK8/9. Depth in water indicates submarine mines.
Ordered all stop, p-depth, surface visual search, no
vessels topside. Will wait 15 min then surface and run flank speed out of
area. Position in port almost exact to entry but were not located on
entry.
1741 Patrol craft at 210, Pillbox at 270. Will wait until patrol boat is behind
listing single stack patrol ship hit before then will man guns, and make a
run out of the mine barrier. Then p-depth. Cannot locate 2nd or 3rd patrol
ship, on periscope or hydro.
1749 Surfaced, engaged by pt boat, returned fire, scored deck gun hit on pt
boat. Destroyer in port previously stationary, opened up and fired on U86.
Sustained a direct hit to conning tower, minor damage to conning tower,
from earlier ramming by patrol boat.
3 injuries from Mg fire on PT boat.
Karl Moog
Armin Hunn
Horst Bucheister
1755 Periscope search, visual on fire and smoke in distance by port. Suspect is
PT boat, destroyer does not appear to be on the move.
Decided to exit area, return to station area. Will contact BdU tonight
after dark request return to Helgoland to offload injured crew and
resupply and inspect damage.
1758 Underwater search appears to be free of mines, no ships pursing U86.
Proceeding at 3kts until dark.
Light damage reported, engine room, battery repairs underway. Still
reading 350+amps.
1933 Surfaced. Radioed BdU.
--- To BdU, U86 AN79 request immediate return to Helgoland, have 3 wounded
crew, damage to U86 due to surface action at port of Southbend GB,
substantial, conning tower and pressure hull damage. Extent not fully
known. xx Two ships sunk, estimated tonnage 38000 troop transport and
large merchant. xx Two ships severely damaged, single stack patrol escort,
observed heavy list and bow submergence, stern out of water, prop
disabled. PT boat also hit with U86 deck gun in surface action. Two cargo
ships and one destroyer remain in port, unable to prosecute further
engagement. One further note, entrance to port is mined. Advise extreme
caution on further transit to port.-U86.
1942 Another single stack patrol boat spotted. Dived to Pdepth.
2109 Surfaced. Continued recharge, repeated message to BdU.
2200 Moonrise.
2222 Radio Message BdU---U86 ordered to return to Helgoland to offload injured
crew and inspect damage. Rearm and resupply to return to station area if
damage limited. Continue repair at sea, reply with ETA to Helgoland.-BdU
2225 Ordered full ahead, standard propulsion without battery charge. Reading
375amps. Intend to distance from this area as much as possible tonight.
2300 Radio to BdU---U86 returning to Helgoland, estimate arrival Sept 6th 0300-
0600. Making 13-14kts.
--------Sept 5th 1939
0342 Spotted Merchant ship 342 Range 2500m. Saw faint cigarette light then
shadow.
0346 Ordered to man deckgun.
0347 Appears to be Merchant freighter. Water surface calm but night is very
dark. Engaged with deckgun fired about 20 shots. Finally series of
explosions.
0401 Ship sank. Granville type freighter estimated 4700 tons.
0415 Making 15kts.
0815 Water very calm, flat as glass, no winds, Chief Engineer reports
substantial damage to conning tower and pressure hull, we have several
nagging leaks in the bow torpedo room that can't be reached to patch
from inside sub.
1026 Horst has died.
2027 Ship spotted 278 Moving to intercept. Netherlands flag. Neutral ship,
appears to be a single stack cargo freighter.
2038 Return to course.
--------Sept 6
0100 Entered AN95
0533 Radio Message FdU---Given political situation boats are still ordered
to observe the 1930 London Submarine protocol article 22. Boats, warned
to observe extreme caution approaching enemy ships.
0645 Helgoland visible. Radioed to expect to take on 2 injured 1 dead crew.
The damage to U86 was much more substantial than first thought and required several weeks of overhaul, however, facilities were all backlogged by the demand
for repair services and U86 had to wait from September until end of October for dock space, another month further was spent waiting for a new starboard engine which had to come all the way from Berlin.
The two other crew who were injured, also died of those injuries.
The next patrol of U86 would see the boat overloaded with sailors and petty officers, due to lack of operational boats and the renown of Kaptain A.Buckholtz III.
There were 2 Iron Cross 2nd Class and 1 Iron Class First class Awarded along with 25 Uboat war badges. The crew wore these proud.
Dec5 1939 U86 left port again.
I can say the action is incredible in this sim and the feeling of being on the sub is intense. I didn't do too well, sunk in the first weeks of the war.
But here you go.
Shakedown Patrol 1 Extended Readiness Patrol _partial log_
Departure Kiel AO77 Aug 1 1939 ~0230 10kts
Destination Grid AM53
ETA AM53 @10kts ~8dys Aug 9
Wx winds&seas mild
Routing through Skagerrak then passing
thought Europaisches Nordmeer.
-Will perform the following trials at sea
-Damage control drills
-Depth control and procedures
-Emergency maneuver control procedures
-Shadowing practice
0424 AO74
0449 Merchant Shp spotted
1022 Sea Calm winds 030 low 2mps
1215 AO71
1245 Cargo Shp
1835 AO47
2024 Sunset Moonrise 3/4
0000 8/2/39 AO44
Spotted 2 ships with bright
lights while passing Frederikshavn
0244 Well lit merchant ship seen to
starboard
0445 Sunrise
1058 Entering AN Quadrant AN36
Reached Skagerrak trench,
depthfinding does not return sound.
Seas mild, making 9kts
winds 270 9mps
visibility excellent-no clouds
1125 ordered emergency crashdive drill
1131 Tested to depth 181m medium loud
creaking but only minor leaks
1147 Returned to Pdepth
1149 Allclear ordered to surface
1155 Battery charge init. 450-500amps
at 3/5 diesel
1255 Battery recharge reported complete
1625 Ordered damage control drill
1845 damage control drill complete
2318 AN35
1235 8/3/39 AN34
1540 AN31
0015 8/4/39 AN29
0805 8/5/39 Radio rpt Konigsberg boats
ordered to return and transfer
to 1st or 2nd Flotilla -relaying
0815 AN23
1750 Entered AF quadrant AF79
2055 AF78
2137 Sunset
2149 Moonrise
2155
2231 Radio contact with suspected
merchant strong signal, reporting
location about 15km south,
Ordered crew to initiate search,
increased to 3/5 -13kts
2310 Visual contact with small merchant
5000m+ maintained course to avoid
0010 8/6/1939
Dove to Pdepth. Reduced speed to
slow, attempted to make hydro
contact.
Contact persisted at range 5000m+
0014 Detected 2nd merchant contact 090
Very far. Proceeded on intercept
course and engaged submerged
torpedo drill.
0115 Completed drill returned to course
0205 All clear surfaced the boat, ran at
10kts for 1 hr, then recharged batt
0555 Entered AN Quadrant AN12
0840 Wx Water choppy, winds 8mps
waves low, visibility good.
1307 Merchant spotted 8000m+ opposite
direction of travel, maintained
watch. No radio contact. No hydro
contact.
1530 AN11
1930 Weather deterioriating, stormy wind
12mps waves cresting over bow 1-2m
visibility less than 5km.
0000 8/7/39 Lots of message traffic
indicating good surface traffic in
section AN13-AN15-AM36
0100 Entering AM sector AM34
0930 Entered AM33
0134 8/8/39 Entered AM35
0545 Sunrise Waters are calm increased
to 3/5 speed to take advantage.
-14kts
0842 Reached St. Kilda AM28
Water is flat as glass, making 15kts
1108 Entered AM02 Radio traffic indicated
AM51, AM52AM43
1506 AM53 Patrol Area Reached, redu to
slow for patrol -4kts
Initiated depth and maneuver
practice procedures.
1605 Attempted dive to depth 190m.
1629 Dive plane stuck in down position,
caused dive to 199m, boat impacted
sandy bottom at less than 2kts,
minimal damage, aborted exercise
1631 Ordered pdepth and hydro sweep.
1634 More difficulty with dive planes
not responding.
Ordered ballast blow, 2/5 speed
and return to surface.
1640 Surfaced. Commenced dive plane
inspection and repair, checked
hull for damage Chief Mechanic
indicates all clear.
2132 Sunset
0930 8/9/39 Weather heavy seas,
wind15mps from west, visibility poor
2000 AM61
2155 Decided to proceed through
Irische See and St George Kanal,
Will also require transit of
Strabe von Dover. Averaging
15-17kts, weather favorable
for good surface travel.
Substantial message traffic to the
south, areas, AM94-AM95-AM97-AM98
Bristol Kanal area
8/11 Dozens of ships in contact
via radio in area of BF24-BF25.
0601 Sunrise
0611 Tested Maximum speed in calm flat
water about 18kts.
0135 8/12/39 Message from Cherbourg Fr,
The French are out of wine and need
urgent resupply at Cherbourg.
0155 Storming bad, watch crew
ordered below deck.
0430 Storm cleared, watch crew back on
deck.
August 13th Proceeded into Kaiser Kanal.
Dock at Kiel for resupply and refit. Expected
port time 2-3 weeks.
MK1 178m
MK2 189m
MK3 183m
MK4 1000m
MK5 217
MK6 250m
MK7 361m
MK8 131
MK9 120
MK10 135
Patrol 2
Orders are to take up station AN14 near
Scapa Flow no later than Sept 4 1939.
Once on station report position to Bdu.
Maintain contact with Bdu per August
procedure.
Departure Kiel, Sept 1
Proceeding along usual Northern route-
Kieler Bucht-Kattegat-Skagerrak route.
Estimated arrival on station Sept 4 1939,
Average speed 13kts.
9/3 Bdu orders hostilities to commence
against Great Britain immediately.
1603 Estimate 12 hours from AN14 station
area.
1748 AC SPOTTED! Manned AA gun.
1749 AC made run dropped depth charge
engaged with guns! flank speed
1750 AC made second attack run, guns
dropped 2nd DC. missed no damage.
1755 Visual contact with AC lost, heading
West,
Weather stormy and intensifying.
1801 Watch crew back on deck.
2000 Sun occluded- Sun is setting.
2202 Entered AN41 making 15kts, estimate
5-6hrs to patrol area.
9/4 Message to all crew: This is now a shooting
war ACT ACCORDINGLY.
0448 Entered AN14. Reducing to 9kts
surface patrol, weather clearing,
seas still rolling but not as bad.
0505 Bdu has ordered U86 to patrol the
AN14 sector and surrounding areas,
to include AN11/12/13/15/16/21/26&41
To report into Bdu daily.
0559 AC Spotted! Gunner fired without
orders, did not hit AC. Dropped DC
on starboard side missed, returned
fire, continues to miss, AC made run
from aft, ran at flank speed and
made hard port turn into AC to
reduce target profile.
0604 AC only made one attack run, lost
visual contact with AC. Returned
watch crew to deck. Returned to
course, slowed to 9kts.
0608 Radio contact, indicates, British
Warship closing on our position.
Ordered p-depth for hydrophone
search.
0617 Ordered depth 25m, checked hydro
sweep again, negative.
0620 Ordered pdepth, periscope sweep
Sunrise, but no contacts found.
0625 Ordered boat to surface. Return to
previous search, making 9kts.
0747 Smoke on horizon, ship barely
visible. 042
Ordered pdepth. Battlestations.
0749 Ordered Heading 330 target, bearing
020 appears to be zig-zag.
0757 Target appears to be British merchant
sub 500 tons bearing now 25deg
0758 Ordered Heading 000 Lowering scope
0804 Observing British Fishing trawler
via periscope.
0805 Ordered to surface, man deck gun.
0807 Engaging with deck gun,
maneuvering at full speed to engage
Sea state not favorable for gunnery
0815 Engaged trawler with about 10 shots.
At least 5 hits, sunk.
0816 Large tugboat 422tons sunk.
1201 Bdu Radio intercept: Take no hostile
action against passenger ships,
independent in convoy.
1348 Weather clearing overhead, winds,
9mps -NNE visibility hazy,
partly cloudy.
1644 Ordered Pdepth and hydrosweep.
AllStop. Hydrosweep negative.
1645 New course North spd 5kts
1825 Radio contact AN12 Suspected merch,
heading into intercept range,
New course 270 speed 4kts.
ETA to intercept 4hrs.
1950 Radio contact with suspect merch
re-estab -continuing on south course.
2101 Radio conact with 2nd sus merch
stronger signal believed to be closer,
coming from West on East course.
9/5/1939
0000 Radio contact again with sus-merch
Moving on WSW course rpt to be on
205 course inside sector AN14 along
incept vector. Increasing speed to
13kts to make intercept.
0338 Radio contact again, much stronger
Wx partly cloudy, half moon, dark
seas and choppy, winds 7mps but with
brisk gusts.
0340 Ordered Pdepth for hydro check.
0344 Hydro contact made with merchant
moving slow bearing 026. Surfaced,
Proceeding at flank intercept speed!
0402 Visual contact, moving into
position to identify.
0406 Too dark to positively identify
Manning deck and flak guns to engage
0408 Target emitted bright search light
Order to fire given. First hit
destroyed light
0411 Confirmed British merchant, large
fishing trawler, took 5 hits,
540tons sunk.
0414 Secured from Battlestations, ordered
New Course to AN15 area to commence
patrol for larger merchants. Will
investigate merchant traffic.
0417 Reported to Bdu
14 torpedos left, 2 ships sunk,
1000 total tons estimated sunk
Head to AN15, ship in good repair,
seas choppy, winds 9mps, conditions,
stable.
0430 Fire observed on horizon, in
direction of sunk trawler.
0519 Reply relayed from U71: BDU: Good
work, continue as ordered, report wx,
on station, GHxx!
0605 Sunrise
0832 Adjusted course to take us south.
Rpt from U71 indicates substantial
traffic though Scapa flow area,
optimum fuel conservation dictates,
better positioning closer to
center of channel.
0930 Weather worsening. Expecting storm.
1035 Heavy overcast, light rain, thunder,
visibility poor, winds, gusty mps=10
1205 Looking for deeper waters, arrived
at position near center of channel
in AN15, waters appear to be between
40-60meters.
1402 Located area where water depth is
100m in AN15.
Reported to Bdu Wx is terrible.
Winds West 15mps, pouring rains,
Will searching by hydro until storm
breaks.
1406 Ordered to 25m.
1415 No hydro contacts. Will maintain
search for next few hours.
1635 Faint Hydro contact, closing 027
Ordered to pdepth.
1638 Still storming, visibility with
Perisope poor, best range
possibly-1000m
1655 Lost sonar contact. Dived to 65m
to try to reacquire. Unable
1750 Continued to search via hydro.
1818 Hydro contact faint 135.
Turning to intercept. Hydro indc
vessel passing starboard stern close
1842 Surfaced but unable to locate.
Weather is atrocious and daylight
fading fast.
1902 Pdepth for new Hydro bearing.
1905 Contact faint at 270.
1906 New Heading 045 Full speed submerged
1911 Contact at 310
New heading 010
Full speed submerged
1944 Hydro contact steady at 020,
surfacing, proceeding full speed on
heading 025.
Watch crew on deck.
1946 Seas even worse, rolling waves, 6m
unbelievable swells. Unable to man
guns.
1955 Reduced speed to 5kts, crew to rest.
Called off hunt, light and seas too
difficult to prosecute.
2035 Radio contact with suspected merc,
reporting heavy seas, taking on
water.
2236 Complete darkness topside. Diving to
pdepth. Will ride out the storm
submerged.
9/6/39
0259 checked surface. Still storming.
0305 Hydro reporting faint warship
brg270.
0349 More faint warship contact.
0517 Checked surface, still storming,
Surfaced to exchange air inside boat
Will communicate Wx to Bdu.
Request orders on current location.
0525 Message rely from U79: Bdu:
Given political situ. all boats to
observe 1930 London Submariner
protocol article 22. Boats warned to
exercise extreme caution when app.
enemy ships.
0557 Bdu Radio Rpt: Continue in present
location, request update on torpedo
loadout, urgent.
0635 Relayed to U79: U86 14T AN15.
0649 Storm may be breaking.
0844 Storm worsening again
0924 Fog with heavy rain, storm visibiliy
terrible. Considering another day
under the water.
Decided to move into Scapa under
the weather.
1043 Reached channel. Decided to chance
port. Will move in on surface under
cover of perpetual storm. 12kts.
1057 Heavy swells, fog clearing some,
but rain continues to fall hard.
1137 Passing into the flow, swells
dropping. Rain continues to fall.
1142 Lighthouse beam visible. Less than
5km from shore.
1145 Message relay from U42 : Bdu:
Avoid attacks on French shipping.
Political situation unclear, defen
action only to be taken.
1154 Ordering battlestations.
Increasing speed to 15kts.
Full watch crew on topside.
1159 Attacked, shore battery possibly,
explosions heard, damage reported
1202 Heavy damage sustained to batteries
reading only 150amps. Stopped
1205 Forward batteries sustained some
cracking, repairs underway,
After battery system disconnected,
needs 30 min at least to repair.
1208 Several unknown contacts on hydro
Storm making detection difficult.
1224 Battery system repairs complete,
hull repair complete, flooding
stopped, no injuries reported.
Battery condition, loss of charge
currently reading 250amps.
Repairs should allow for full
recharge, but will have to be tested.
1304 Continuing to proceed into area of
Scapa. For attack. 2kts
1324 Destroyer closing.
1330 Destroyer depth charging.
1331 Damage sustained.
1333 Heavy flooding in forward compartments
1335 blowing balast to get off bottom
1334 briefly surfaced. Unable to control
depth, blowing again running on
surface, flank speed, checking
engines.
1338 Hearing depth charged in distance
ASDIC pinging constant.
1339 Sub rammed, heavy damage to bridge
Periscope destroyed.
1343 Critical flooding forward, DC on it.
1344 So much flooding in forward torp
room, causing boat to list forward,
bow is dragging on bottom.
1351 Destroyer passed by bow 500m barely
visible dropped DC.
1352 Blew balast again, flooding in con
in forward sections, running on surf.
2 Petty officers Willy Pohls,
Fritz Schifer, injured in action.
Being treated by medic in stern.
1356 Engines escaped major damage making
15kts heading West. Will run on
surface then charge battery after an
hour or two pending conditions.
Weather continues to provide cover.
1408 U73 Reports: U86 order to abandon
ship given. Under attack by
destroyer, disabled, and sinking.
Final message was radio intercept from U73 of the U86's peril. Terrible outcome but not bad for first patrol.
Lessons I learned as commander of U86 this generation...
Better to not engage aircraft with single flak gun, just doesn't feel effective, no hits scored on multiple passes. Although maybe I should let the gunner do the shooting.
Moving into Scapa flow even under storm is not a good idea. The destroyers are still looking for you and there is nowhere to go nowhere to hide. The value of targets isn't that high in September 1939, and with the storm as it was, it was impossible to see them anyway. I was defiantly close enough for a medium range torpedo shot but without the ability to sight anything doesn't matter.
Will post more Adventures of Kaptain Buckholtz as the next generation of Kaptain lives it.
Special thanks to all GWX devs, and the community dev at large, have done a terriffic service to the sim community and subsim community.
---------------
Sept 1. 1939
Kaptain A.Buckholtz
Proceed with U86 VIIB to Helgoland for final orders/provisions then to patrol station AN71.
Departure: Kiel 9/1/39 Or as soon as possible.
Arrival on Station: No later than 9/5/39.
Report position to BdU upon arrival, and per Aug procedure after arrival.
---------------
U86 Patrol Log I
---------------
--------Sept 1 1939
2055 Departure from Kiel. Underway at 7kts, will navigate Kiel Kanal to
Hegoland and advise on status to BdU.
Estimate arrival at Helgoland 9/2 -1600.
2105 Heavy surface traffic for nighttime operations in Kiel, maintaining slow
speed until clear of port will increase speed for Kanal journey.
2327 Increased to 10kts. Traffic is clearing.
--------Sept 2
0035 Passing Rendsburg port. Maintaining speed.
0415 First light
0506 Brunsbuttel visible in distance.
0531 Cleared Kanal entered channel proceeding to Deutsche Buct.
0542 Sunrise.
0725 Entered Deutche Bucht, waters calm, winds 4mps, visibility excellent.
Making 11kts. Estimate arrival Helgoland 6 hours.
1259 Radio position report
---AN95 1hr from Helgoland. Req permission to dock and take on provisions.
1320 Helgoland sighted.
1342 Sighted tanker, merchant and several patrol boats.
1345 Message Bdu
---Permission to dock Helgoland denied. Proceed to ordered patrol area
with haste. Take up station and contact BdU for further instruction.
Unless necessary or contact is made with enemy maintain radio silence
until reaching station. -Bdu
Proceeded to AN71, making 12kts. Estimate arrival with current sea
conditions Sept 4, 0600.
2044 Reached AN69
2331 Reached AN83
--------Sept 3
0212 Radio Message OKM ---Uboats ordered to commence hostilities with GB
forthwith, in accordance with Prize Regulations. Attacks to be aimed at
ships which by this protocol may be sunk without warning.
0215 Informed crew of order.
0515 Entered AN82
0601 Sunrise Wx Clear with moderate haze, winds 5mps, north seas, small swells.
1245 Entered AN84. Closing in on patrol station. ETA now 13hours.
1402 OKM sent another radio message Kaptain eyes only.
1415 Wx winds 6mps northeast, baro pressure dropping. Seas choppy.
1604 Radio Intercept FdU---Hostilities are to be commenced against Great
Britain immediately. Do not wait to be attacked.
1754 Radio Intercept FDU---France considers herself at war with Germany as of
1700. Uboats take only defensive action against French ships. Take no
action against French merchant ships except in self-defense-FdU.
U-55 reporting depthcharged by airplane. Minor damage in AN55.
1935 Sunset.
2034 Ship spotted! 273 about 5000m Moving on surface at flank speed to
intercept.
Seas are choppy but permit deckgun engagement.
Target appears to be Cargoship, probably British, on steady course.
Position Fix AN84 180km from Dover 125km from Dunkirchen.
2046 Loading Deckgun. Approximate target heading 050. Taking it along British
coast.
2053 1500m to target, unable to identify positively-too dark. Order to fire
warning shot and attempt to make radio contact. Fireds 3 shot, third
definetly hit target. Target burning.
2055 Radio contact report made.
Reduced speed to make targeting easier.
2102 Moonrise, mutiple deck gun hits, fires burning, ship continues on course
but is slowing.
2115 Ship is dead in the water, burning. Deckgun fire has ceased. Circling sub
for followup hits.
2139 Ship tipped to Starboard and sank. Large Merchant Estimate 11000 tons.
--------Sept 4 1939
0100 Entered AN79
0430 Reported position to BdU.
0451 Smoke on horizon.
0454 Ordered all stop to observe ship.
0501 Second ship spotted, both ships very low in water, appear to be patrol
type ships, ordered p-depth. First ship brg110 second ship 094. est range
3500m+
0506 Hydrophone reports 3 distinct contacts, medium medium-high propeller
turns, suspected pt boat possible destroyer. Maintaining course slow
speed ahead submerged. Third contact brg 125. Depth under keel in this
area only ~25m.
Proceeded to check Periscope every 15 min for next hour until sunrise.
Hydro reporting contacts passing to behind us far.
0600 No Visual periscope contact, hydro has one very faint contact brg 160.
0613 Sunrise, Surface boat. Running battery charge, at 10kts.
0730 Sent update to BdU.
---To Bdu, U86, AN79 14Torpedos 1 ship sunk, 11000 tons est. Contact with
several patrol craft, possible destroyer. Continuing on station, boat ok.
Wx Seas mild, wind 3mps south, slight haze, clear, visibility good.
0755 Radio Reply ---BdU: Good report, continue as ordered, good hunting -BdU.
1204 Radio Message ---FdU: By order of Der Fuhrer: No hostile action to be
taken against passenger ships sailing independently or in convoy.
1251 Seasgulls spotted alongside ship. Approx position 20km from southend.
Still running topside, will submerge as soon as portlights spotted.
1301 Landsighted, hazy conditions make it difficult to see features.
Submerging to pdepth.
1305 Hydro rpts 2 sound contacts. 340-010.
1310 Periscope check, no contacts. Continue in 2kts submerged.
1405 Port lighthouses between 020-040 sonar contacts, negative visual.
Hydro has 2 confirmed contacts possibly 3rd. 320-345-010. Increased to 3kts.
1424 Periscope check again nothing.
1443 P check, spotted pillbox 060.
1510 Check Pillboxes 90-80-70 closest brg 90, smoke on horizon at 030.
Made course adjustment to take us closer to port, maintained 3kts.
Battery 450amps, CO2 1.2%
1527 P check again, can clearly make out port now, have single cargo type
ship 030, range possibly 6000-7000m. According to our chart of Southbend
believe ship may be behind wave wall. Continuing in for better look.
1540 Patrol craft closing ordered all stop.
1542 Patrol craft making DC run keel of patrol craft collided with conning
tower, indeterminate damage, scraping sounds hear. DCs deployed.
Rigging for silent run, maintaining course moving 1kt, depth 25m.
1544 2nd DC pass, increasing speed to run during DC passes.
1548 3rd DC pass, about 100m behind, ran full ahead during drops came to
pdepth.
1551 4th DC pass closer from bow to stern, portside. Depth 15m
1552 Rudder right full, 2nd vessel on move, probably not patrol craft.
1554 5th Dc pass behind 50m+ left to right
1555 Very large steamer 015 Reading torpedo shot
1556 Sonar reports pt type closing from 129. Long range.
1557 6th DC run 75m to starboard.
1600 7th DC run 25m to aft.
1602 Fired torpedo at troop transport, 18 seconds into run contacted with
patrol vessel that was circling. Patrol vessel sustained heavy damage.
Heavy list observed by periscope.
1605 Heavy smoke, explosions from patrol vessel, brg 320 aft is listing out of
the water, no prop action.
1609 Impact, heavy smoke from troop transport.
1611 Fired 2nd torpedo at troop transport.
1613 Secured from silent running, Reloading Tubes 1+2+3.
1614 Torpedo fired at troop transport missed forward. Re targeting.
1630 Pt boat continues to circle, moving into closer range of port.
1631 Tube 1 reloaded.
1633 Fired Tube 4 at troop transport.
1634 Another patrol vessel spotted. ASDIC pings, unsure of where these are
coming from.
1636 Mined subnet near port entrance visible on periscope underwater.
Torpedo impact on troop transport!
1639 Single stack patrol vessle closing 040.
1644 DC charge run close! no damage
1645 Fired tube 5 at troop transport.
1646 2nd DC run from single stack patrol ship. Also close.
Tube 2 reports ready, torpeod impact on troop transport.
1650 3rd Warship on hydro.
1651 Rammed by single stack patroller. 2nd patrol ship circling close.
1655 Ordered silent running, torpedo reloading stopped, slowed to 1kt
Another DC run made by single stack, going to try and shake the patrol
moving back out of the port.
1659 More DC dropped 50m back.
1702 DC dropped to starboard bow maybe 100m
1709 More DC dropped aft 250m. Second series dropped in succession.
1712 Secure from silent running, continue to reload torpedos.
1715 DCs starbord 200m. Increasing to Flank, running at flank for a few min.
To determine if they have passive sonar.
1717 DC forward.
1724 Passed over but no DC. Moving at 2kts, to position outside port gun range.
1730 All torpedo tubes reloaded, crew ordered to stand down torpedo attack,
prepare for damage control, possible surface action.
1733 Battery 400amps, CO2 1.5%
1737 Mines at MK8/9. Depth in water indicates submarine mines.
Ordered all stop, p-depth, surface visual search, no
vessels topside. Will wait 15 min then surface and run flank speed out of
area. Position in port almost exact to entry but were not located on
entry.
1741 Patrol craft at 210, Pillbox at 270. Will wait until patrol boat is behind
listing single stack patrol ship hit before then will man guns, and make a
run out of the mine barrier. Then p-depth. Cannot locate 2nd or 3rd patrol
ship, on periscope or hydro.
1749 Surfaced, engaged by pt boat, returned fire, scored deck gun hit on pt
boat. Destroyer in port previously stationary, opened up and fired on U86.
Sustained a direct hit to conning tower, minor damage to conning tower,
from earlier ramming by patrol boat.
3 injuries from Mg fire on PT boat.
Karl Moog
Armin Hunn
Horst Bucheister
1755 Periscope search, visual on fire and smoke in distance by port. Suspect is
PT boat, destroyer does not appear to be on the move.
Decided to exit area, return to station area. Will contact BdU tonight
after dark request return to Helgoland to offload injured crew and
resupply and inspect damage.
1758 Underwater search appears to be free of mines, no ships pursing U86.
Proceeding at 3kts until dark.
Light damage reported, engine room, battery repairs underway. Still
reading 350+amps.
1933 Surfaced. Radioed BdU.
--- To BdU, U86 AN79 request immediate return to Helgoland, have 3 wounded
crew, damage to U86 due to surface action at port of Southbend GB,
substantial, conning tower and pressure hull damage. Extent not fully
known. xx Two ships sunk, estimated tonnage 38000 troop transport and
large merchant. xx Two ships severely damaged, single stack patrol escort,
observed heavy list and bow submergence, stern out of water, prop
disabled. PT boat also hit with U86 deck gun in surface action. Two cargo
ships and one destroyer remain in port, unable to prosecute further
engagement. One further note, entrance to port is mined. Advise extreme
caution on further transit to port.-U86.
1942 Another single stack patrol boat spotted. Dived to Pdepth.
2109 Surfaced. Continued recharge, repeated message to BdU.
2200 Moonrise.
2222 Radio Message BdU---U86 ordered to return to Helgoland to offload injured
crew and inspect damage. Rearm and resupply to return to station area if
damage limited. Continue repair at sea, reply with ETA to Helgoland.-BdU
2225 Ordered full ahead, standard propulsion without battery charge. Reading
375amps. Intend to distance from this area as much as possible tonight.
2300 Radio to BdU---U86 returning to Helgoland, estimate arrival Sept 6th 0300-
0600. Making 13-14kts.
--------Sept 5th 1939
0342 Spotted Merchant ship 342 Range 2500m. Saw faint cigarette light then
shadow.
0346 Ordered to man deckgun.
0347 Appears to be Merchant freighter. Water surface calm but night is very
dark. Engaged with deckgun fired about 20 shots. Finally series of
explosions.
0401 Ship sank. Granville type freighter estimated 4700 tons.
0415 Making 15kts.
0815 Water very calm, flat as glass, no winds, Chief Engineer reports
substantial damage to conning tower and pressure hull, we have several
nagging leaks in the bow torpedo room that can't be reached to patch
from inside sub.
1026 Horst has died.
2027 Ship spotted 278 Moving to intercept. Netherlands flag. Neutral ship,
appears to be a single stack cargo freighter.
2038 Return to course.
--------Sept 6
0100 Entered AN95
0533 Radio Message FdU---Given political situation boats are still ordered
to observe the 1930 London Submarine protocol article 22. Boats, warned
to observe extreme caution approaching enemy ships.
0645 Helgoland visible. Radioed to expect to take on 2 injured 1 dead crew.
The damage to U86 was much more substantial than first thought and required several weeks of overhaul, however, facilities were all backlogged by the demand
for repair services and U86 had to wait from September until end of October for dock space, another month further was spent waiting for a new starboard engine which had to come all the way from Berlin.
The two other crew who were injured, also died of those injuries.
The next patrol of U86 would see the boat overloaded with sailors and petty officers, due to lack of operational boats and the renown of Kaptain A.Buckholtz III.
There were 2 Iron Cross 2nd Class and 1 Iron Class First class Awarded along with 25 Uboat war badges. The crew wore these proud.
Dec5 1939 U86 left port again.