Operation Drumbeat
 

Ive just started my 24th patrol. Its Boxing day 1941 and Im en route to grid CA64 340km SE of New York. Im in U-123 a TypeIXB. Wish me luck. I will keep you all updated.

Jan 10 1942 grid CB94. Nothing to report so far. Weather has been ok. Im worried about fuel but the navigator assures me we will get back.

Should you make into New York Harbor give my regards to Broadway. :shucks:

Jan 13 1942 grid CA64. Ive reached the assigned grid. Still no contacts?

Jan 14 1942 1600 grid CA64. Aircraft sighted. Crash dived to evade.

Jan 14 1942 2114 grid CA64. Surfaced to resume patrol.

Jan 15 1942 0148 grid CA56. Have left CA64 and I have set course for CA52 to carry out another 24 hour patrol. Still no ships encountered. (I sincerely hope this thread gets some action).

Jan 16 1942 0103 grid CA52. Contact report received of a lone merchant travelling fast in a southerly direction through grid CA52. Plotted intetcept course.

Jan 16 1942 0435 grid CA52. Small Tanker sighted. Engaged submerged with 2 torpedoes scoring 2 hits. She sank for 2051GRT. The first one snapped the hull into two!

Jan 16 1942 0939 grid CA28 Ive decided to extend the patrol into the mouth of the Hudson River expecting more contacts. Fuels still ok by about 5000km.

Jan 16 1942 1320 grid CA51. We are in sight of the coast. I intend to sail south along the coast as far as CA54 and then set course for Lorient. No contacts in the mouth of the Hudson.

Jan 16 1942 1805 grid CA51. Coastal Tanker sighted and sank using deck gun for 1240GRT.

Jan 16 1942 1811 grid CA51 2 Great Lakes Freighters sighted. Engaged both with deck gun and sank for 1788GRT and 1789GRT respectively.

Jan 17 1942 0400 grid CA54. Ive decided to extend our southward journey to CA81, 150km West of Norfolk.

Jan 17 1942 1451 grid CA81. Set course for Lorient. If we hit a storm going back we will be running on fumes. It has been a poor patrol so far. We are going to follow the England - Halifax convoy route back for some of the way. We may catch a convoy.

Jan 18 1942 1527 grid CA94 Small Freighter sighted and sank for 2228GRT with deck gun.

...YOU HAVE TO READ THIS - if you already haven't.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Operation-Dr...of+germany%27s

happy times:salute:

I will thanku. My patrol just got interesting. I apologize if its been a little boring.

Jan 19 1942 0116 grid CA95 2 Armed Ore Carriers sighted sailing south east line astern. I spent the next three hours trying to overhaul them. I got into a perfect position undetected and fired 2 torpedoes submerged at each sinking them for 8084GRT and 8085GRT respectively. A 5th torpedo was needed for the rearmost one to finish her. The torpedoes were set for 7m with mag pistols. The draft of an Ore Carrier is 6.6m. (I love under the keel shots).

Two ore carriers-very tasty!:salute:

To flag4 that book is very good. Its more like a novel than history book. I didn't realise I was emulating Reinhard Hardegan, I just thought I have a type IXB and the dates are about right, why not have a pop at the Americans. He really was an extremely good commander and a good seaman. Once again thankyou for the recommendation. Thce mission continues...