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View Full Version : U-45 "Der Wein" First Patrol


ECV56_PolTen
10-10-06, 10:18 AM
U-Boat Type VIIB U-45 "Der Wein"
First of all, let me say that I am completely new in submarine warfare; to be honest, I never thought that a sub sim will get my interest in this way; I guess I owe that to Redwine, a fellow member of the ECV 56 and regular member here.
So, to make a story short, I installed SH3 1.4b and added the War Ace campaign 1.92 Graphics Improved + U-Boat War Ace 2.7.
Right now I am by no means playing at 100% realism :oops: (I think I don't even reach a modest 30%), since I don't think I will survive even my first patrol being such a noob, but I will add more realism from time to time as I get more readings and more hours in this sim.
I have completed three patrols, being this the report of the first one. I plan to translate the other two from spanish, and any future one.
September 1, 1939.
Orders are given, The submarine flotilles must patrol the Atlantic in defense of the Fatherland.
For the moment, we should only attack if the enemy fires first, or polish ships freely.
I order to prepare the Der Wein with 4 electric torpedos, loading two in tubes 1 and 3, and two in reserves, the other 10 are common steam torpedos; I also ask to change the standard KDB hydrophone for a new GHG.
My first patrol zone will be AN35.
September 2, 1939.
Next day, at 21:52 we sail from Wilhelmshaven with clear skies and a 5 m/s wind.
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/7885/shot1158624771no7.th.jpg (http://img158.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158624771no7.jpg) http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/162/shot1158624840fx8.th.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158624840fx8.jpg)
A type 34 escorts us for safety measures.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/3512/shot1158625064sr1.th.jpg (http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158625064sr1.jpg)
September 3, 1939.
02:30 I order ahead slow and go to periscope depth to test the hydrophone (I later learn that going deeper have better results).
03:38 The SO hear some contacts, but being in german controlled waters we don't change course since they surely are friendlies.
07:00 We surface to recharge and ventilate the ship. Weather remains the same as when we set sail.
12:58 Rado message from the OKM (Oberkommando Der Kriegsmarine); we are ordered to commence hostilities against the british, attacking merchant ships, or warships if they fire first.
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8079/shot1158630200ke0.th.jpg (http://img244.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158630200ke0.jpg)
14:01 Another radio message ordering to attack troop transport ships or escorted ships.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6172/shot1158630391id9.th.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158630391id9.jpg)
14:04 Periscope depth.
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8346/shot1158630463cb7.th.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158630463cb7.jpg)
15:01 New orders, open hostilities against the british, now we can fire first.
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/5213/shot1158630513cu4.th.jpg (http://img224.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158630513cu4.jpg)
17:53 France declares war, we are only allowed to attack in self defense.
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3047/shot1158630578xn8.th.jpg (http://img228.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158630578xn8.jpg)
20:27 I order ahead 1/3.
September 4, 1939.
03:05 Batteries down to 25%, I surface and go ahead full.
06:50 We reach An35, slow down to standard and establish a patrol zone.
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/369/shot1158631046bf0.th.jpg (http://img177.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158631046bf0.jpg)
12:01 Radio message, we are not allowed to attack passenger liners.
17:15 We spot a friendly ship, I think this is going to be a boring patrol.
18:21 Contact report, a small convoy in AO73, we are far and the 24 hour patrol is not finished.

ECV56_PolTen
10-10-06, 10:19 AM
September 5, 1939.
04:28 The convoy seems to reach AO76.
06:32 The sub is rocking left and right, I climb to the bridge and find a 15 m/s wind; that worries me since the deck gun and the flak are useless.
07:43 We finish our patrol, I spped up to Full trying to intercept the convoy. We later found one escorted by a small destructor. We submerge and I try to get us closer.
I fire to a small cargo and the escort; I miserably fail both :-(
12:07 A fishing boat sinks without being shot; I guess she couldnīt stand the weather.
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6393/shot1158793067id3.th.jpg (http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158793067id3.jpg)
After a couple of hours, being unable to catch the onvoy, and failing two more torpedos (#$%&!!!), I angrilly order a course to home. In our way back we find a Norwegian cargo.
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/651/shot1158793507qg7.th.jpg (http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158793507qg7.jpg)
20:00 Speed up, I want to reach home as soon as possible.
September 6, 1939.
09:00 At home, we get no reprimands nor congratulations. It was a fruitless patrol.
http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/2996/shot1158794093el9.th.jpg (http://img45.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158794093el9.jpg) http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/3632/shot1158794330gy8.th.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158794330gy8.jpg) http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/7656/shot1158794350qs0.th.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot1158794350qs0.jpg)

gord96
10-10-06, 10:24 AM
cool post. if i may ask what is War Ace campaign 1.92?

ECV56_PolTen
10-10-06, 10:31 AM
It is a mod made by HanSolo, that cn be downloaded from http://mpgtext.net/u-boot/
I installed this by recommendation, but after reading many posts here, I think I will switch to grey Wolves or NYGM when I finish my campaign

kylania
10-10-06, 10:56 AM
Hurrah for newbies taking pictures and posting reports!!

Welcome to SH3!!

Jimbuna
10-10-06, 11:09 AM
Welcome aboard ECV56_PolTen :arrgh!: