That makes alot of sense :03:

U 115 - First War Patrol (2nd leg) - New U-boat types are coming soon
 

Friday, 9 July 1943 - Southeast of Madagascar -

1012 - Incoming Radio Reports:

From O.K.W.:
a) Industrialist Otto Merker, has been appointed by Albert Speer as General Director of the Main Committee for Shipbuilding, of the Reich Ministry of Armaments and War Production (RMfRuK). As such, he is succeeding Rudolf Blohm.
Merker's main task is to organize the production of new submarines of the type submarine class XXI and XXIII for the Kriegsmarine. An unfinished finishing facility for the submarines is to be the Valentin submarine bunker. On 8 July, Merkers's plan is submitted to the Führer, whereas under Merker's leadership, the construction time for these submarines is to be reduced from the original 11.5 months to 2 months by introducing the sectional construction method.

From O.K.M.:
a) Italian Supply U-Boat Aquilla III (Comandante Cappellini), arrived at Sabang just off the northern tip of Sumatra island, occupied Dutch East Indies, at 1515 hours; her fuel tanks were nearly empty when she pulled into port.

B-Dienst Report:
a) While at Norfolk, Commander Joseph Dunn relieved Captain Short as commanding officer of Escort Carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9).

1025 - Morning Dawn.

1129 - Sunrise.

1200 - Qu.3419JB - Days Run: 189.3nm - ↗ 24h
Total: 11749.9nm (65tg 22h) - ↗ 11327.1nm (59tg 07h 05') - ↘ 422.8nm (6tg 14h 55')
Course 41°; 505cbm (3cbm in 24h); Battery 100%; 2xEtoFat; 8xBold.
ESE7/6, overcast, light haze, visibility ~3.5nm, ~1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 5d 12h)

2131 - Sundown.

U 115 - First War Patrol (2nd leg) - Operation Husky (Invasion of Sicily) is launched
 

Saturday, 10 July 1943 - Indian Ocean -

0111 - Incoming F.T.: From O.K.M.:
The Allies have launched Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, Italy, with an airborne assault before dawn; amphibious elements of Operation Husky landed to join the fight later in the day. All available German naval Forces are to proceed immediately to OP.-area south of Licata.

1015 - Morning Dawn.

1120 - Sunrise.

1200 - Qu.9595KR - Days Run: 188.6nm - ↗ 24h
Total: 11938.5nm (66tg 22h) - ↗ 11515.7nm (60tg 07h 05') - ↘ 422.8nm (6tg 14h 55')
Course 41°; 502cbm (3cbm in 24h); Battery 100%; 2xEtoFat; 8xBold.
ESE7/6, overcast, light haze, visibility ~3.5nm, ~1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 6d 12h)

1620 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Schlieman is in Qu.4278KS top center. - B.d.U. -

Cmdr.: The navigational position is given as 27°02'S, 60°56'O.

2131 - Sundown.

2312 - Incoming Radio Reports:

From O.K.W.:
a) Greek partisan fighters killed 2 officers and 16 soldiers of the 2nd Company of the Pioneer Battalion of German 104th Jäger Division near Lake Trichonida near the city of Agrinio in Greece.

From O.K.M.:
a) During Operation Husky, the British encountered little resistance at Syracuse, while the advance of the US troops was halted by our Herman Göring Division and the Italian Livorno and Napoli Dvisions. Out at sea, the hospital ship Tampala and LST-313 were sunk by a Luftwaffe attack. Picket ship USS Sentinel was sunk by a SC250 bomb delivered by a Fw 190 aircraft off Molla. Destroyer USS Maddox was also sunk after being attacked by dive bombers and sunk within two minutes. While the United States Navy covered the landings on Sicily with naval gun support throughout the offensive, using the proximity fuzed anti-aircraft shell for the first time in the European Theater, the US Navy will subsequently suffer severe accusations for failing to supply adequate air cover.

From B.d.U.:
a) U 198 (IXD2; Kpt.z.S. Werner Hartmann) sighted a darkened armed cruiser at anchor in KP 5351. Attack was forbidden because of territorial waters.
b) Italian Supply U-boat Aquilla III (Comandante Cappellini) departed Sabang, Sumatra, Dutch East Indies at 1935 hours, escorted by Italian sloop Eritrea.
c) U 607 (Oblt. Wolf Jeschonnek; ex Mengersen) and U 613 (KrvKpt. Helmut Köppe) sailed to carry out mining operations Kingston (Jamaica) and Jacksonville (Florida) respectively.

B-Dienst Report:
a) The minesweeper USS Agent was transferred to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease act.

U 115 - First War Patrol (2nd leg) - Flak-Uboat experiment is abandoned again
 

Sunday, 11 July 1943 - ESE of Madagascar -

1015 - Morning Dawn.

1109 - Sunrise.

1200 - Qu.4717KR - Days Run: 188.1nm - ↗ 24h
Total: 12126.6nm (67tg 22h) - ↗ 11703.8nm (61tg 07h 05') - ↘ 422.8nm (6tg 14h 55').
Course 41°; 499cbm (3cbm in 24h); Battery 100%; 2xEtoFat; 8xBold.
ESE7/6, overcast, light haze, visibility ~3.5nm, ~1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 7d 12h).

1636 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Schlieman is in Qu.4278KS top center. - B.d.U. -

Cmdr.: Repeat of B.d.U. F.T.1620/10/7. Hopefully, Schliemann has the necessary spare parts for repair of the compressor.

1911 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Flak U-boat U 441 (Kptlt. Götz von Hartmann) was strafed by three British Beaufighters from 248 Sqdn RAF in the Bay of Biscay, in Qu.4894BF. Ten men dead and 13 wounded, including all officers except the ship's doctor. Dr.Paul Pfaffinger took over command from Kplt.von Hartmann, treated the wounded and will bring the boat back to Brest. Air escort and surface escort will be arranged. Dr.Pfaffinger will be awarded the German Cross in Gold. This action will lead to the abandonment of the flak boat experiment, and all the boats involved will be returned to their original armament configuration.

2134 - Sundown.

2312 - Incoming Radio Reports:

From O.K.W.:
a) At the Battle of Kursk, our 4th Panzer Armee and Battle Group Kempf, captured the strategic important town of Prokhorovka.
b) During Operation Husky, HMS Howe bombarded Trapani and Favignana, Sicily. The British 8th Army captured Syracuse, Sicily, and its useful harbour. Also on Sicily, General Paul Conrath's Hermann Göring Panzer Division overran the American outposts at Ponte Dirillo and were only prevented from breaking through the Allied lines by an attack by James Gavin's paratroopers from the rear. Elsewhere, Conrath personally led a column which assaulted the weakly held Piano Lupo, to get within 2,000 yards of the beach before being stopped by the defenders. Omar Bradley arrived at Sicily, Italy while recovering from a recent hemorrhoidectomy.
c) A German officer was killed in Greece when a partisan fighter threw a grenade into the officer's vehicle.

From B.d.U.:
a) U 198 (IXD2; Kpt.z.S. Werner Hartmann) was unsuccessfully bombed in KP 3783.
b) U 566, 230, 607, 613 and 373 have been given course instructions for carrying out their mine laying operations. Except for U 373, it is intended to refuel these boats as far as possible on their return passage or after they have carried out their operations.
c) U 628 (Kptlt. Heinrich Hasenschar) has not reported since she left Brest on 1.7. She must be presumed lost. Nothing is known of the cause of her loss, but it was probably due to a/c or A/S groups in Biscay.

2355 - Qu.4278KS - Charlotte Schliemann in sight, E=6000 (nor radar detection). Giving Recognition Signal, confirmed.

Supply cannot be done during darkness, circling Schliemann until morning, at distance of 5000m. Switching off radar.

U 115 - First War Patrol (2nd leg) - Supply from Charlotte Schliemann
 

Monday, 12 July 1943 - Indian Ocean -

1000 - Morning Dawn.

Decision to attempt supplying at the Leeward side of Supply Ship. Fuel hose connection done by crane. Supplying of provisions by rope connection.

Messages transferred by Supply Ship (see Annex II to KTB).

1108 - Sunrise.

1120 - F.T. from U 506:
7 depth charges from Liberator. A/C was not detected by FuMB. Sinking. - Würdemann -

1200 - Qu.4278KS - Days Run: 157.7nm - ↗ 24h
Total: 12284.3nm (68tg 22h) - ↗ 11861.5nm (62tg 07h 05') - ↘ 422.8nm (6tg 14h 55')
496.5cbm (2.5cbm in 24h); Battery 100%; 2xEtoFat; 8xBold.
ESE7/6, overcast, light haze, visibility ~3.5nm, ~1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 1w 1d 12h).

1220 - Provisioning completed. Leaving Supply Ship and running off on course 20°, 235RPM. (for details of Supply refer to Annex I to KTB).

1518 - F.T. from U 409:
Attacked by destroyer. 11 dead and 37 survivors. Giving up boat. - Massmann -

1652 - F.T. from B.d.U.:
RST: After supply, Schliemann will proceed to ESE, 5kn. - B.d.U. -

2313 - Incoming Radio Reports:

From O.K.W.:
a) British 8th Army captured Augusta, Sicily, and its harbour. HMS King George V bombarded Trapani, Sicily.
b) Soviet forces launched a massive offensive along their Bryansk, Central, and West Fronts in Russia, toward Bryansk, Kursk, and Orel. Prokhorovka became the site of what will be hailed as the largest armor battle in history.
c) The National Committee for a Free Germany was formed in Krasnograd, Ukraine, made up of a number of captured German officers as well as exiled German communists. This group calls for an uprising against The Führer and an end to the fighting between Germany and the Soviet Union.

From O.K.M.:
a) Italian Supply U-boat Aquilla III (Comandante Cappellini) arrived at Singapore at 1029 hours and unloaded her cargo for Japan. She began to receive some repairs for damage incurred during the journey from Europe to the Dutch East Indies.

From B.d.U.:
a) U 359 and U 466 have supplied from "Milkcow" U 487 (Oblt.d.R. Helmut Metz). The tanker is proceeding to DG 77 to refuel U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl), U 527 and all Far Eastern boats.
b) U 709 (Oblt. Karl-Otto Weber) reported from BD 8452 that there had been a heavy explosion in the forward battery. She had 3 men seriously wounded and requested immediate medical assistance. U 566 (Kptlt. Hans Hornkohl) was ordered to give assistance.

B-Dienst Report:
a) Escort Carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9) and her escorts departed Norfolk, Virginia on a Hunter-Killer mission along the convoy routes to Africa.
b) USAAF 59th Bombardment Squadron, operating B-18 Bolo bombers, arrived at Edinburgh Field in Trinidad.

U 115 - First War Patrol (2nd leg) - Supply from Charlotte Schliemann
 

Monday, 12 July 1943 - Indian Ocean -


S u p p l y :

1.) Meeting was good (including Recognition Signal exchange).
2.) Fuel oil transfer according to plan and smoothly (13.5 cbm taken on in 30').
3.) Provisions transfer considerably complicated because in addition to inflatable boat as cargo boat only 1 small boat from the supplier as towing boat (Launch of the motorboat and torpedo loading not tried because of the poor sea state). Doctors visit not required. Exchange of navigational fix.
4.) Signal personnel at tanker at a strength of 1:1 was sufficient but is not enough for group supply.
5.) Beyond fuel and provisions the supplier was not fitted out for supply (hardly any spare parts etc., i.e., Repair of compressor not possible).
6.) The kindness of the supply ship Captain to the last crew member was exemplary.
7.) Supply was great for morale of own boat and for the raider crew.
8.) Weather and Sea conditions throughout were consistently poor with high winds, overcast and swell.

U 115 - First War Patrol (2nd leg) - Supply from Charlotte Schliemann
 

Monday, 12 July 1943 - Indian Ocean -



A. North Atlantic:

1) When on May 24th convoy operation "Donau" failed and all the boats still well off for fuel (U 569, 641, 228, 603, 636, 666, 211, 608, 221, 951, 232, 435, 642, 217 and 92) were ordered to proceed to the central Atlantic, it was intended that the remaining boats in the N. Atlantic should occupy varying attack areas and deceive the enemy as to the number of boats actually in the area by heavy dummy radio traffic. Altogether 13 boats remained in the Northern operations area and during the first few weeks is was actually possible to keep the enemy in the dark as to the number of boats there, as English U-boat situation reports have shown. He continued to believe that there were 2 or 3 large groups of U-boats.

2) It was intended to keep the number of U-boats remaining in the operations AK and AJ, at approximately the same level by relieving them by boats sailing from home ports. Within a short time however, several boats had to return owing to fuel consumption and damage and 2, U 202 and 304, were lost. The number of boats coming from home ports was not sufficient, especially as 4 Atlantic boats in Bergen were made available to F.O. U/B Norway, for operations in Northern Waters.
Of the 16 boats which left home ports or Norway up to 12.5. (i.e. U 467, 667, 450, 535, 341, 170, 669, 271, 308, 449, 536, 417, 388, 194, 200 and 420);
a) 5 were lost in the Iceland Passage: (U 467, 308, 417, 200, 194).
b) 2 were lost after 2 days in the operations area: (U 334, 338).
c) 2 were damaged in the Iceland Passage and returned to W. France: (U 450, 449).
d) 3 boats, type IXc were ordered to CE 70 to deliver their fuel, owing to the strained tanker situation (U 535, 536, 170).

3) After it became known that U 194 and U 200 had been lost, the sailing of all boats without quadruple Flak from home ports was cancelled. This meant a postponement of approximately 4 weeks for all sailing dates. 4 boats on their way to the Atlantic: (U 387, 277, 713 and 307) were diverted and made available to F.O. U/B Norway for his mining operation.

4) These facts have led to the N. Atlantic being at present practically devoid of U-boats. There is one boat U 667 still in the Northern operations area. It is presumed that the enemy is no longer deceived to the actual state of affairs (there is no information on this, as no English U-boat situation reports have been received because of change in Radio procedure ("Frankfurt"). As far as can be gathered from the press, the enemy believes that, by using more auxiliary carriers, he has succeeded in chasing the U-boats off the North Atlantic convoy routes. At present, chances of attacking are so slight owing to the strength of the escort forces and chances of finding the convoys so remote with so few U-boats, that there is little purpose in sending boats from Western France to fill this gap in the Northern operations area. In practice boats would have to operate in the North Atlantic with very small prospects of success.

5) The plan to resume convoy operations in the North Atlantic, at the end of July with stronger forces, has been abandoned, as by that time neither the Zaunkönig nor the improved Radar interception gear necessary to prevent surprise attacks by aircraft will be available. If it is possible to equip boats leaving W. France by the middle of August with Zaunkönig and the Radar interception gear, action against convoys on the England - America route will be resumed during the new moon period at the end of August.

U 115 - First War Patrol (2nd leg) - Supply from Charlotte Schliemann
 

Monday, 12 July 1943 - Indian Ocean -



B. Central Atlantic:

Convoy operations planned with the U-boats sent to the Central Atlantic have failed. Boats forming Group "Trutz" were operated against 2 E.-bound and one W.-bound convoy. Except for the sightings and attacks by carrier-borne aircraft reported by "Trutz" boats on 4.6., these boats did not have any further contact with the enemy between 1.6. and 29.6. It is believed that the first convoy expected during the period 4-6.6. evaded the "Trutz" line to the south. The second, E.-bound convoy, which was the same as that attacked by U 572 on 22 June in DH 4133, also passed Group "Trutz's" patrol line far to the south. Nothing is known of the route followed by the third, W.-bound convoy.

It is believed that in each case the patrol line was located by high-flying carrier-borne aircraft and then skirted. (See War Diary of 2.7.) This is confirmed by Lieut(s.g.) Krech, the experienced Commanding Officer of U 558. The sea area in which the U.S.A. - Gibraltar convoy route lies permits the convoys to make extensive evading movements without greatly prolonging their passage and there therefore seems no purpose in sending another group to the Central Atlantic to intercept U.S.A. - Gibraltar convoys while boats cannot detect enemy Radar transmissions from aircraft. Apart from the uncertainty of finding the convoys, constant high pressure weather conditions and the presence of enemy aircraft carriers with the convoy make conditions of operations so difficult for the U-boats, that they are not likely to meet with success.

The diversion of Group "Trutz" into Groups "Geier 1-3" on return passage did not lead to any success.

Of the 16 "Geier" boats there are at present 3 in the operations area W. of Spain. The remaining boats are returning to W. France owing to strong air activity and damage received on the England - Gibraltar convoy route.

In retrospect, it can be said that, when the North Atlantic U-boats still well off for fuel were sent to the sea area W. of the Azores, an attempt was made to achieve some success with these boats in some sea area outside the America - England convoy routes. From the start there were no illusions as to the difficulties of finding convoys in this area without reconnaissance by our own aircraft.

U 115 - First War Patrol (2nd leg) - Supply from Charlotte Schliemann
 

Monday, 12 July 1943 - Indian Ocean -



C. Southern Operations Area:

The operation of all available type VIIC and IXC boats, which could be supplied by U-tanker, in remote operations area in the Caribbean, and off the Brazilian and W. African coast, has begun to take effect during the last few days. On the way to their operational areas, these boats did not sink a single ship, a clear proof of the fact, that there are actually no independently-routed ships in the N. and Central Atlantic.

After a short period in their operational areas, the boats have so far scored the following successes:

In the Caribbean:
2 steamers from convoys
1 cargo sailing vessel by U 759 in EC

Off the N. coast of Brazil:
1 steamer by U 590
3 steamers from a convoy and one independent ship by U 510 in EP
5 steamers from a convoy by U 185 in FC

Off the E. coast of Brazil:
1 steamer by U 172 in FD 70

Off Rio:
4 steamers by U 513

Off Freetown:
1 ship by U 618 in ET 50

Off Lagos:
2 steamers by U 508 in EV 60.

It can be seen that in general, traffic is by convoy even in these areas and according to present experience, the escort is very poorly trained. The constant air activity is unpleasant, although is it by no means as strong or as dangerously effective. It remains to be seen how long the U-boat crews will be able to stand being submerged all day with few opportunities to surface in these operations areas, in the Equatorial zone, where the weather is particularly hot and damp at this time of year. Although the risks are much fewer than in the N. Atlantic, operation in those waters requires extreme endurance on the part of the crews. The length of time spent in the operational area will ordinarily be governed by the state of health of the technical personnel, who usually have to work in temperatures of 40 - 50 degrees celcius. On the whole, however, all Commanding Officers and crews like to go to these areas, in spite of the trials involved, because chances of success are so much greater than in the convoy operations on the England - American routes.

The first wave of boats which have arrived in these operational areas, will be relieved by a second and a third wave. Unfortunately, much depends on the tanker situation, which is at present bad (U 462 has returned to port, as she was forced to turn back on her way out through Biscay, owing to bombing attacks). Only small supplies of fuel and provisions can be provided fairly far N. in the Central Atlantic.

U 115 - First War Patrol (2nd leg) - Supply from Charlotte Schliemann
 

Monday, 12 July 1943 - Indian Ocean -



D. Situation in Biscay:

So far, 4 losses have occurred this month in Biscay, U 126 and U 535 on return passage and U 528 and U 514 on outward passage. It is fairly certain that the first two were the victims of an enemy air attack, but there is no clue as to the cause of loss of the other 2. It is strongly suspected that the enemy has laid a form of blockade around Biscay with part of the defence forces withdrawn from the N. Atlantic, convoys concentrating in BF 70, BE 90, BF 10 and BE 30. The following facts speak for this:
1) Increased sightings of A/S vessels of all kinds (destroyers, corvettes, trawlers) by U-boats.
2) Increased sightings of destroyers and cruisers by aircraft.
3) U 650's report of a long methodical D/C hunt heard in her hydrophones in BE 90. U 450 and U 119 were probably sunk at this time.
4) The unexplained disappearance of inward and outward-bound boats in Biscay.
5) A report from Naval Attache Madrid of the sighting of 3 destroyers and one other patrol vessel in the Cape Finisterre area and off El Ferrol.
6) Enemy press reports of the blockading of Biscay by naval forces.

This organized blockade may develop into a really serious danger for U-boats. The activity of English A/S a/c already makes great demands on the battery capacity of the boats which are submerged all the time, so that sometimes the boats are forced to proceed on the surface to charge their batteries in spite of danger from enemy a/c and keep off the planes with their Flak armament. The presence of English naval forces, which, according to experience, can be brought up to the U-boats in a very short time by the a/c will mean a considerable increase in losses which are already numerous due to English a/c alone. Every effort must therefore be made,
1) To obtain an exact idea of the disposition of these light naval forces and their method of operation, so that the boats can be given routes which will evade the blockade or enable them to break through it at the most favorable points. This will have to be done by organized air reconnaissance and systematic evaluation of all Radio Intelligence reports and reports from U-boats themselves.
2) To attack and destroy anti-submarine forces reported with our own few naval forces (destroyers).
3) To combat these light anti-submarine vessels, which usually operate in two's or three's with the FW 200s available, suitably armed.

If we cannot succeed in driving the English forces off from Biscay, further losses will be inevitable. The danger is particularly serious for damaged U-boats returning. The situation with regard to combating the enemy anti-submarine aircraft by G.O.C. Atlantic Air Forces' heavy bomber formations, has not in the main changed. It must however be noted, that enemy air activity has abated considerably W. of 8° W., so that at least in this sector of Biscay, the U-boats are safer against surprise attacks. It is to be hoped, that the new ME 410s will reduce the superiority of the English Mosquitoes and Beaufighters to such an extent, that the Ju 88s operating further south will be able to carry out their sweeps with less than 8 aircraft at a time. If fewer aircraft can operate in one formation, more sorties can be flown and greater success achieved. It is probable however, that the enemy will counter the new aircraft by increasing the numbers of Mosquitoes and Beaufighters.

U 115 - First War Patrol (2nd leg) - Operation Citadelle is suspended
 

Tuesday, 13 July 1943 - Southeast of the Mascarene Islands -



1000 - Early Morning Dawn.

1101 - Sunrise.

1200 - Qu.1293KS - Days Run: 184.9nm - ↗ 24h
Total: 12469.2nm (69tg 22h) - ↗ 12046.4nm (63tg 07h 05') - ↘ 422.8nm (6tg 14h 55')
Course 20°; 507.5cbm (2.5cbm in 24h); Battery 100%; 2xEtoFat; 8xBold.
ESE7/6, overcast, light haze, visibility ~3.5nm, ~1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 1w 2d 12h)

1206 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Supply from Schliemann completed. Compressor still faulty. 2 EtoFat, 507cbm. Continue outbound voyage according Op.-Orders. ESE7/6, overcast, light haze, visibility ~3.5nm. - RST -

1439 - Incoming F.T.: From U 607:
Air attack. Casualties. Sinking. - Jeschonnek -

Cmdr.: U 607 was previously commanded by Kptlt. Ernst Mengersen (ex U 101).

1708 - Incoming F.T.: From Schliemann:
Positioned in Marqu.4661KS bottom right.

Cmdr.: Is 27° 27' S, 62°53' E.

2140 - Sundown.

2312 - Incoming Radio Reports:

From O.K.W.:
a) After our advances at Kursk were stopped, The Führer ordered Operation Citadelle to be suspended, and told Erich von Manstein that the forces to repel the Allied thrust through Italy and the Balkans would have to be found from the Eastern Front.
b) On Sicily, the Allies were able to take the cities of Augusta and Ragusa, as well as captured the Primosole Bridge over the Simeto River by the British 1st Airborne Division, despite our heavy resistance. Meanwhile, British Air Vice Marshal Harry Broadhurst, moved his Western Desert Air Force Headquarters to Pachino, Sicily, with three squadrons of Spitfire VC fighters under his command. Over the next week, our Luftwaffe operations will be reduced from 275-300 sorties per day to less than 150.
c) In the Gulf of Kula of New Georgia in the Salomon Islands, the Japanese sank the US Destroyer Gwin and heavily damaged 3 US Cruisers, while loosing only the Cruiser Jintsu.

From O.K.M.:
a) In Bremen, the Atlas Werke AG held its final General Meeting. Shortly after, Krupp will take over Atlas's operations and will rename the company Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH.

From B.d.U.:
a) U 709 (Oblt. Karl-Otto Weber) is starting on her return passage with one battery having completed repairs.
b) U 43 (IX; Oblt. Hans-Joachim Schwantke; ex Lüth) sailed today for mining operation.
c) U 177 (IXD2; KrvKpt. Robert Gysae) and U 181 (IXD2; KrvKpt. Wolfgang Lüth) will again operate off Capetown during the next new moon period. Until then they have freedom of action.
d) "Milkcow" U 462 (Oblt. Bruno Vowe) which was to have been the tanker for the Far Eastern boats, and was to have refueled them in about FD 20, is again out of action. The Far Eastern boats will therefore have to be supplied further N. than intended, (DG 7754). As the tanker U 487's (Oblt.d.R. Helmut Metz) stocks will not be sufficient an outward-bound operational boat (U 160; IXC; Oblt. Gerd von Pommer-Esche) will have to be used as reserve tanker. It will then be possible to let all Far Eastern boats, as well as U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl), have 40 cbm and the corresponding provisions and also to supply U 527 (Kptlt. Herbert Uhlig) for her return passage. After supplying on approximately 15 July, U 648 (Oblt.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) will steer for EO 20.

With this quantity of fuel the Far Eastern boats can reach Penang without difficulty, if for some reason the second supply cannot take place.

The IXC and VIIC boats at present on outward passage will have to occupy their attack areas without first refueling. For this reason the VIIC boats which have so far been replenished by the tanker are to operate in the Caribbean or off the Brazilian coast, so that the VIIC boats proceeding south without refueling can occupy the less remote sea area off Freetown. The boats should be able to arrive there with about 80 cbm. If the 3 next U-tankers to sail get through Biscay unscathed one of them will go to ER, so that the boats off Freetown can remain as long as possible in their operations area. They must start their return passage with about 20 cbm, and would thus have 60 cbm to use until then in their operational area.

The second U-tanker is to proceed as far west as possible to supply the Caribbean and American boats. Nothing has been decided yet for the last tanker to leave.

U 115 - First War Patrol (2nd leg) - Battle for Sicily continues
 

Wednesday, 14 July 1943 - Indian Ocean -

0955 - Early Morning Dawn.

1059 - Sunrise.

1200 - Qu.7173KS - Days Run: 186.0nm - ↗ 24h
Total: 12655.2nm (70tg 22h) - ↗ 12232.4nm (64tg 07h 05') - ↘ 422.8nm (6tg 14h 55')
Course 20°; 505.0cbm (2.5cbm in 24h); Battery 100%; 2xEtoFat; 8xBold.
ESE7/6, overcast, light haze, visibility ~3.5nm, ~1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 1w 3d 12h)

2149 - Sundown.

2313 - Incoming Radio Reports:

From O.K.W.:
a) The Soviet Voronezh Front joined in the offensive against our 4.Panzer Armee and Armeeabteilung Kempf south of Kursk.
b) Before dawn, Allied Northwest African Strategic Air Force Wellington bombers attacked Palermo and Messina in Sicily, while C-47 Skytrain transports dropped British airborne troops at the Simeto River at Primosole Bridge; The paratroopers of the British 1st Airborne Division attempted to establish a bridgehead, but they faced stiff opposition from our Paratroopers. During the day, British and American aircraft attacked Messina, Marsala, Enna, Palermo, Randazzo, Licata, and Lentini; in indirect support, American aircraft struck Naples on mainland Italy. Elsewhere in Sicily, US troops captured Niscemi and Biscari airfield while other British troops captured Vizzini.
c) USAAF Eighth Bomber Command, including the 306th Bomb Group flying from RAF Thurleigh, attacked three targets in France, with 111 B-17 bombers and 5 YB-40 bombers launched against aircraft factories at Villacoublay (3 B-17 bombers lost), 64 B-17 bombers launched against Glisy Airfield at Amiens (1 B-17 bomber lost), and 84 B-17 bombers launched against LeBourget Airfield at Paris (4 B-17 bombers lost).

From B.d.U.:
a) U 181 (IXD2; KrvKpt. Wolfgang Lüth) situation: On 1 July, 3 medium-sized ships in Port Louis (Mauritius). 1 3-funnelled cruiser and 2 ships left on 2 July. Of these, S.S. "Hoihow" 2,798 GRT, sunk in KG 5937. Aircraft and destroyer off Port Louis on 3 July, Radar at night, believed to be from destroyers. Signal strength 5 at 25 miles, continuous note, no attack. Outward-bound cruiser, course 310°, sighted at midday. Fired under a 1,000-tonner in KF 36 in heavy seas. Flying boats in KF 3752.
b) U 445 (Oblt. Heinz-Konrad Fenn), proceeding in company with U 613 (KrvKpt. Helmut Köppe) and U 607 (Oblt. Wolf Jeschonnek; ex Mengersen), lost them both on 13 July in BF 73 after an air attack. In the Commanding Officer's opinion, U 607 dived too soon and was bombed, but she could afterwards be heard in the hydrophones. So far, only U 613 has given her position. Strong air activity in BF 73.

U 115 - First War Patrol (2nd leg) - Off Rodrigues/Mauritius
 

Thursday, 15 July 1943 - Southern Coast of Rodrigues (Mauritius) -

0343 - Qu.4496KH -

0414 - Water Depth 210m.

0419 - Water Depth 140m.

0424 - Water Depth 70m.

0427 - 20m-Line - Flat Island, Pierrot Island, Gombrani Island.

0439 - Qu.4493KH - Hermitage Island, Port Sud-Est (Rodrigues/Mauritius) - Water Depth 70m - On course 90°. Taking navigational fix from land sighting, 6100m off Pointe Raffin, Port Sud-Est (Rodrigues/Mauritius).

0514 - Qu.4571KH - Water Depth 50m - On course 45°.

0522 - 20m-Line.

0628 - Qu.4548KH - Water Depth 67m - Last navigational fix from land sighting, 10000m east of Trou d'argent (Rodrigues/Mauritius).

0741 - Qu.4546KH - Course 60°.

0955 - Early Morning Dawn.

1058 - Sunrise.

1200 - Qu.4534KH - Days Run: 185.6nm - ↗ 24h
Total: 12840.8nm (71tg 22h) - ↗ 12418.0nm (65tg 07h 05') - ↘ 422.8nm (6tg 14h 55')
Course 60°; 502.5cbm (2.5cbm in 24h); Battery 100%; 2xEtoFat; 8xBold.
ESE7/6, overcast, light haze, visibility ~3.5nm, ~1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 1w 4d 12h)

1922 - Incoming Radio Reports:

From O.K.W.:
a) Erwin Rommel is made the commander of Heeresgruppe B, while the Soviet Central Front begins an offensive toward Orel.

From B.d.U.:
a) U 181 (IXD2; KrvKpt. Wolfgang Lüth) sank "Empire Lake" 2,852 GRT in KF 9169 on passage from Durban to Aden.
b) U 667 (Kptlt. Heinrich-Andreas Schroeteler) is returning because of fuel. There is thus, no boat in the N. Atlantic at present.
c) U 506 (Kptlt. Erich Würdemann) has not reported since she left Lorient on 6 July. She must be presumed lost. There is no information as to whether her loss was caused by aircraft or naval forces.

Cmdr.: It was established, that "Monsun"-Boat U-Würdemann was sunk at 1550hrs on 12 July 1943 in the North Atlantic west of Vigo, Spain, in position 42.30N, 16.30W, by 7 depth charges from a US Liberator aircraft (1st A/S Sqn USAAF/C). The boat was located by SC137 10cm radar, which the crew of U 506 could not detect. About 15 men were seen in the water after the boat broke in two. The attacking pilot dropped a liferaft and a smoke flare to assist the survivors. 6 men were picked up from the sea by the British destroyer H.M.S. "Hurricane" on 15 July, 3 days after the sinking. 48 dead and 6 survivors.

From B-Dienst:
a) The enemy airforce reported that during the Battle of Sicily, it has sunk U 375 (Kptlt. Jürgen Könenkamp; missing on the south coast of Sicily, since 12 July), U 409 (Oblt. Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann; sunk by British Destroyer off Algiers, on 12 July) and U 561 (Oblt. Fritz Henning; sunk by British Torpedo Boat, on 12 July in the Strait of Messina). Additionally, 6 more Italian Uboats were supposably sunk, as well as, the Italian Platino 2 (25) class U-boat "Bronzo" (BZ; T.V. Antonio Gherardi) captured by British minesweepers off Syracuse, Sicily, on 12 July. U-Bronzo will later be commissioned by the Royal Navy as HMS P 714.

2153 - Sundown.