U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Ship Yard Maintenance & Crew Leave Period
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++++++ Tuesday, 17 March 1942 - Lorient Britain introduces rationing of fuels and electricity. Hugh Dalton MP, President of the Board of Trade, announces a 25% cut in the British clothes ration. The first 3 American Kittyhawk squadrons begin operations in Australia. Douglas MacArthur arrives in Australia. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Ship Yard Maintenance & Crew Leave Period
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Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ... ++++++ Wednesday, 18 March 1942 - Lorient The first A4 rocket explodes on Test Stand VII at Peenemünde, Germany, during a combustion chamber test. Louis Mountbatten is appointed as the British Chief of Combined Operations. Douglas MacArthur officially accepts the position of the Supreme Commander of Southwest Pacific Area, while still aboard a train traveling for Melbourne, Australia. US President Franklin Roosevelt signs an Executive Order for the establishment of the War Relocation Authority, which will lead to the internment of Japanese-Americans during WW2. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Ship Yard Maintenance & Crew Leave Period
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Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ... ++++++ Thursday, 19 March 1942 - Lorient German Armeegruppe Nord cuts off General Vlasov's Soviet 2nd Shock Army in a salient on the Volkhov River near Novgorod, 50 miles southeast of Leningrad, Russia. Operations Munich and Bamberg are launched against Soviet partisans, though a tactical success, they will turn out to be counter-productive, encouraging more civilians to join the partisans. British censorship on caricatures, obituaries, and football scores, lead to widespread complaint; Home Secretary Morrison threatens Daily Mirror with shut down order, unless the newspaper obeys the censorship laws. Japanese troops capture Pyu, Burma, and Japanese bombers attack Port Moresby, Australian Papua. At Bataan Peninsula at Luzon, Philippine Islands, US and Filipino troops are put on quarter rations (1000 calories), as the food supplies dwindle. The supply of quinine, a medicine for malaria, has also depleted. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Ship Yard Maintenance & Crew Leave Period
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Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ... ++++++ Friday, 20 March 1942 - Lorient German armed merchant cruiser Michel departs La Pallice, for the South Atlantic. Soviet Army's Kerch offensive in Russia is defeated with heavy losses. To the west, the German counter attack at Sevastopol fails, resulting in the loss of the 22nd Division. Major General Brian Horrocks assumes command of the British 9th Armoured Division in place of Major General Brocas Burrows who has been moved to command of the 11th Armoured Division. Allies in Libya attack Benghazi and Derna, diverting attention from an important convoy for Malta. Douglas MacArthur gives the "I came through and I shall return" speech at Terowie, South Australia, while transferring trains. The US Navy sets up a new radio intelligence station at Melbourne, Australia; many of the staff members of this new station were recently evacuated from station CAST at Corregidor, Philippine Islands. The United States and New Zealand complete discussions which concluded that the US would be responsible for defending the Samoan islands. |
U-45 type VIIB
Kptlt. Kurt Huter, KC(OL/SW)
7 patrols 01AUG39-12NOV40 34 merchant vessels sunk 5 warships sunk 2 aux cruisers, HMS Derbyshire, Mooltan 2 cruisers, HMS Sheffield, Bonaventure 1 battleship, HMS Ramillies Total tonnage 269,748 Oblt. Paul Lieb 1 patrol(at sea during patrol 2) 01DEC40- 6 merchant vessels sunk Current tonnage 36,692 |
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April 29, 1940 0458 Storm still raging. Sea conditions are horrible. Most of the crew has been suffering from seasickness. We have to dive quite often. This is slowing us down but we risked capsizing at least twice. Cannot go on forever. 1755 Storm relented a bit. Wind dropped to 9 knots and sea condition are somewhat better. Once in a while the Sun shines on us. Much better. April 30, 1940 1122 Stormy weather once again. We are not very lucky. May 1, 1940 0642 It's raining so hard it's difficult to breath. I cannot see anything. A whole fleet of carriers could pass few feet ahead of us and we will not see them. 1501 I believe this storm is over...or I hope so. Wind still blowing but no more rain, clouds are thinning. Waves are still an issue though. 1934 No wind nor waves. Sea is silk smooth...but empty. Waves managed to do some small damage to both guns. Crew already working on them. We are going to reach our patrol area later than I planned but sea conditions wouldn't allow anything more. Will try to gain back some time from now on. May 2, 1940 0702 Ship spotted! NW of us...she is coming our way... 0719 Some kind of small merchant...possibly a Tramp Steamer. Her course is 152, speed 8 knots. Deck gun will be our main option here. 0731 A Tramp Steamer indeed...but one of ours! We will keep out of sight and resume our plotted course. 1902 We should reach our patrol area by tomorrow, most likely in the afternoon. No contact to report. May 3, 1940 AF58 1422 We got here at last. Will patrol this area for 24 hours. Weather is gloomy but sea state is not bad. Wind 8 m/s. Visibility quite poor. |
May 4, 1940 AF58
1612 Patrol complete. No contacts. Sea 5 Wind 6, poor visibility. 1812 BdU extended our patrol time in the area. U48 will spend the next 24 hours here. Hope to find something to hunt. May 5, 1940 AF58 2003 Patrol completed once again. No contacts. Weather is changing for the worst, thunders are rumbling above us and once in a while a lightnining strikes the waves. Visibility quite poor. 2255 Seem like our radio is not working properly. We are not even sure if our radio messages are being sent. Will dive to perform a proper check, waves are getting in the way. May 6, 1940 AF58 0202 Crew still working on the radio but there seem to be nothing wrong so far, yet even VLF circuit is silent. Still no contact to report.. 0933 U48 is on the surface again. Radio is now working fine but we don't know why. Perhaps it's related to weather conditions? There are no more lightnings now...Anyway, we will now patrol along the coast toward area AF38. Perhaps we will find targets there... May 7, 1940 AF38 0612 Nothing but rain and fog. Sea 3 wind 2. Visibility very poor. I believe sonar is the only chance to find anything. May 8, 1940 AF38 1052 U48 is now leaving this area and heading back toward AF58. Clouds seem to be thinning and there is more light. No more rain. I hope it improves enough to take a midday latitude to get a proper navigation fix. 1402 Weather grew worse and we could not get the latitude. Light drizzle is soaking us. No wind. Poor visibility. |
May 9, 1940 AF58
1502 The Sun, at last! Difference between dead reckoning and actual position 12 km. Wind 5 sea 5. May 10, 1940 AF58 0202 Sound contact! At last! WSW of us, possibly on a ESE course, quite faint. Let's move to intercept. 0300 Heavy clouds on the horizon. Not another storm! We did not manage to spot our quarry so far. Will dive to sweep the area with sonar. 0334 Storm is upon us. Heavy rain visible straight ahead. Our quarry just vanished right under that mess. It's some kind of small coastal vessel, likely a small trawler or a fishing boat. Not worth it. We are not lucky. 0358 Waves grew quickly and visibility...disappeared. We will dive to check our surroundings with sonar. May 11, 1940 AF58 0644 Still nothing to report but bad weather. Will now slowly make our way toward Bergen area. 1145 Engine room reports clutch growing hot. Diving to check. 1434 Cooling sistem water filter plugged by sand and vegetal debris. We will stay submerged and check them all. 1720 All filters checked and cleaned. On the surface now. Everything seems to be working properly now. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Ship Yard Maintenance & Crew Leave Period
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Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ... ++++++ Saturday, 21 March 1942 - Lorient Germany introduces harsh laws against unnecessary rail travel. The United Kingdom discusses plans for Indian independence after the war. Italian submarines Onice and Platino spot British convoy MW10, which had departed from Alexandria, Egypt, off the Libyan coast. A force consisting of battleship Littorio, 3 cruisers, and 10 destroyers depart from Taranto on mainland Italy and Messina on the island of Sicily to intercept; British submarine P36 spots this Italian response. US Army General MacArthur arrives at Kooringa, Australia by train and discoveres there would be no army waiting for him to reinforce the Philippine Islands. Sunday, 22 March 1942 - Lorient German Abwehr agent Paul Thümmel is arrested by the SS on recent findings that he was actually a British agent; Wilhelm Canaris requests Thümmel's release, claiming that he is actually a double agent working for him. German troops outside the Demyansk Pocket attack Soviet 11th Army and 1st Shock Army at Staraya Russa, Russia, supporting the breakout attempt from the pocket launched on the previous day. Italian battleship Littorio, 3 cruisers, and 10 destroyers successfully intercept Allied convoy MW10 in the Gulf of Sirte between Libya and Malta at 1430 hours, but they are fended off by the smaller British escort force of 4 cruisers and 17 destroyers. As the Second Battle of Sirte ends at 1900 hours, 3 British cruisers and 6 destroyers were damaged (39 killed), while the Italian battleship Littorio is also damaged. After the two forces disengage, Italian destroyers Lanciere and Scirocco are sunk by a storm, killing 201 and 189, respectively. Monday, 23 March 1942 - Lorient Hitler orders a build up of defenses in coastal areas. German aircraft sink British transport Clan Campbell and damaged transport Breconshire of Allied convoy MW10. The remaining two transports, Pampas and Talabot, reach Malta by the end of the day. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Ship Yard Maintenance & Crew Leave Period
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Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ... ++++++ Tuesday, 24 March 1942 - Lorient The British House of Commons begins a two-day debate on the conduct of the war in Germany; bombing of German cities is to be a focal point. 18 RAF Boston light bombers attack targets in northern France, targeting power stations, rail marshaling yards, and other targets of military importance. German bombers attack Malta, damaging British destroyer HMS Legion with near misses. Japanese Navy aircraft begin daily bombings of Corregidor in the Philippine Islands. Admiral Chester Nimitz is appointed the Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Theater. Wednesday, 25 March 1942 - Lorient 254 RAF Bomber Command aircraft (192 Wellington, 26 Stirling, 20 Manchester, 9 Hampden, and 7 Lancaster aircraft) attack Krupp iron works and factories at Essen, Germany; 5 civilians are killed, 11 are wounded. The British lose 5 Manchester, 3 Wellington, and 1 Hampden aircraft. The main Japanese offensive against Taungoo, Burma begins at 0800 hours, striking northern, western, and southern sides of the city nearly simultaneously. Fierce house-to-house fighting will continue through the night. Thursday, 26 March 1942 - Lorient 3 British destroyers and 16 smaller vessels depart Falmouth, England, United Kingdom with commandos aboard at 1400 hours for the drydock at Saint-Nazaire, France. French politician Pierre Laval warns Chief of State Philippe Pétain that it is important to cooperate with the Germans to avoid Berlin from appointing a Nazi Party Gauleiter for Vichy France. Winston Churchill tells politicians of the rival Conservative Party 'It now seems very likely that we and our allies cannot lose this war, except through our own fault'. British bombers (104 Wellington and 11 Stirling) attack Essen, Germany, destroying two homes and killing six civilians; 11 bombers are lost in this attack. During this night and into the first hours of the next day, Major Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld of the Night Fighter Wing, shoots down four British bombers in his Me110, increasing his victories to 21. British destroyer HMS Legion (G 74), already damaged from an air raid two days prior, is hit again and brakes in two at her moorings at Valetta Grand Harbour, Malta; both halves of the ship are re-floated but declared a loss and are towed out of the harbour to deep water and scuttled; 11 are killed in this attack. The 5,415-ton British motor vessel Pampas is hit by multiple bombs in the air raid and sinks at her moorings. The empty freighter Talabot is sunk as well. British submarine HMS P39 sitting alongside a jetty in Grand Harbour when German aircraft launch the attack; the submarine is seriously damaged and while she does not sink, due to the efforts of the crew, it is decided that she is too badly damaged to be worth repairing; she is towed to Kalkara and beached. Admiral Sir James Somerville, who had commanded the force that had sunk the Bismark in the previous year, takes commanded of the British Eastern Fleet, hoisting his flag in the battleship HMS Warspite at Trincomalee, Ceylon. Japanese aircraft bomb Corregidor, Philippine Islands, knocking out power for freezers containing 24,000 pounds of carabao meat. |
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May 12, 1940 AF58 0022 Sound contact! True bearing 253°, very faint and moving away. Let's take a closer look. 0204 Contact lost. Storm prevented us to spot anything. Perhaps she changed course? Let's try sniffing around... 0412 New sound contact NW of our current position. Very weak, possibly on a western course. U48 resumes the hunt. 0558 Dived again. Target sounds much closer now. This storm is really hampering our efforts. Forces us to dive often to use sonar to keep track of our target. Let's move. 0703 Seems like we managed to catch up to our quarry, or at least we are very close. Heavy rain is making it impossible to spot anything through our periscope, but we should be almost level with our target. I think our best chance is to dash ahead, dive again and close is using sonar. 0739 Plan worked out just fine. We managed to get ahead of her and she is coming straight for us. Now comes the tricky part: spotting her through this mess... 0744 Lights in the mist! Is it a neutral? She is slowly becoming more than a ghost...masts and cranes...funnel slightly astern...medium cargo? Yes, Swedish medium cargo. Spent hours hunting her and she turns out to be a neutral ship. Let's break contact before I do something stupid and sink her. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Pre-War Patrol Preparations
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Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ... ++++++ KTB - U 113 4th War Patrol Friday, 27 March 1942 - 2nd U.-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Heinz Fischer, 08.41 - 01.43) - Lorient (Qu.6157BF) Taking boat out of dry dock and putting on charging station. During the shipyard time, the Sonar Decoy BOLD-1 or “Submarine Bubble Target” (SBT), was installed (250 Honor Points and 1 day). Crew changes and Training during the shipyard time: The XO, Ob.Ltnt.z.S. Rainer SCHEUFLER, received additional Deck Gun Training and the II.W.O., Ltnt.z.S. Jakob APPELT, received additional Torpedo Training. The No.3, Coxswain Karl-Heinz ISDEPSKI, was transferred to another boat, and was replaced by the newly assigned Coxswain Werner KIRCHHOFF. The German naval staff is requesting the Japanese to conduct raids against Allied shipping in the Indian Ocean. Colonel/Dr. Ing. h. c. Walter Dornberger of the V1/V2 Weapons Testing Program, proposes production plans and the building of a rocket launching site somewhere on the coast of the English Channel. Major General Sir Vernon Kell passes away. Until sacked by Winston Churchill in 1940, Kell had been the head of the British Secret Service (MI5) for thirty years. British aircraft carriers HMS Argus and HMS Eagle depart Gibraltar with battleship HMS Malaya and other warships in escort to deliver 16 Spitfire fighters to Malta. 1400 - Inbound St.Nazaire U 593 (Kelbing) reports 3 English destroyers and 10 MTBs in BF 5468 on westerly course at 0720. It is probable that this formation was returning from a mine-laying expedition off the French-Biscay coast. Six destroyers are ordered from St.Nazaire to sea on a search mission. Commencing pre-war patrol preparation. RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Raid on Saint Nazaire !!!
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++++++ KTB - U 113 4th War Patrol Saturday, 28 March 1942 - 2nd U.-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Heinz Fischer, 08.41 - 01.43) - Lorient (Qu.6157BF) Taking on of Fuel Oil (240cbm) and Lubricating Oil. 0250 - St. Nazaire reports by telephone landing operations by 20 enemy cruisers and destroyers. 0254 - St. Nazaire lay under heavy gun fire, under impression enemy was about to carry out still larger operations with heavy units. 0331 - B.d.U.-F.T. to all boats east of 29° West: Make for St. Nazaire with all speed, enemy landing in progress. B.d.U. Orders addressed for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th and 10th submarine flotillas: Proceed according to instructions given in B.d.U.'s Most Secret 1035 of 14 March 1942: Flotillas state readiness. Boats ready for departure to put to sea immediately for battle in coastal waters; take measures to prevent boats falling into enemy hands, if necessary sink them. Remove secret document or arrange for their destruction as the case may be. 7th Submarine Flotilla reports soldiers of the 7th and 10th Submarine Flotillas on way from La Baule to La Rochebernard with all secret documents belonging to all boats in the flotilla. Town in enemy hands. Fighting in the harbor. A destroyer has been rammed into the lock gate of the Normandie-Drydock. Is ordered to get through to the submarine pens and organize a defense. 0930 - After U 109, 130, 654, 85 and 582 immediately received orders to continue westward passage, this order is extended to all outward bound boats, after conference with Group West. From reports received in due course, it becomes apparent it is only a raid carried out by light forces and is codenamed Operation "Chariot". Our own air reconnaissance was due to fly at dawn. Only single light units were sighted. So far as can be assessed, no damage was done to the working of the 7th and 10th submarine flotillas. No losses, no boats damaged. Details of areas endangered by mines, are captured from the destroyer rammed into the Normandie-Drydock. 1200 - The destroyer rammed and scuttled in the Normandie-Drydock lock gate explodes, while a party of 40 senior German officers and civilians are on a tour of the destroyer (Campbeltown), and are all killed. In total, the explosion kills about 360 men. The explosion will put the only dry dock big enough to hold KM Tirpitz, out of commission for the remainder of the war. Tragically, it must have been this very task force, that U-Kelbing reported yesterday. Of the 612 men of the Royal Navy and commandos who took part in the raid, only 228 men will return to England. Five commandos will escape via neutral Spain and Gibraltar with the help of French citizens and will take a ship to England; 169 men are killed (105 RN and 64 commandos) and another 215 become prisoners of war (106 RN and 109 commandos). They are first taken to La Baule and then sent to Stalag 133 at Rennes. The fallen British raiders are buried at the La Baule-Escoublac cemetery, with military honours. This attack on St. Nazaire underlines the necessity of removing the B.d.U. control station to a less dangerous position. Certainly, the control station has been safeguarded in the same way as a base for some time, with barbed wire, light weapons and attached (local defense) company, but in spite of this, it would not have been equal to a raid carried out with similar strength as that on St. Nazaire. The removal to Paris will be hastened accordingly. Continuing pre-war patrol preparation. RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Continuing Pre-War Patrol Preparations
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++++++ KTB - U 113 4th War Patrol Sunday, 29 March 1942 - 2nd U.-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Heinz Fischer, 08.41 - 01.43) - Lorient (Qu.6157BF) - Palm Sunday - Trimming trials and test cruise at Lorient roadstead. Boats receive details of areas endangered by mines, according to captured material taken from the English destroyer (HMS Campbeltown) in St. Nazaire, before exploding in the Normandie-Drydock: Area 1: Between 47° N - 5° 30' W, Qu.BF5463 47° 30' N - 5° 30' W, Qu.BF5196 47° 40' N - 7° 20' W, Qu.BF4392 48° 20' N - 7° 20' W, Qu.BF1998 Area 2: Between 48° N - 9° W, Qu.BF4229 49° N - 10° W, Qu.BF1736 In the Artic Ocean, our destroyer Z26 sinks Panamanian ship Bateau of Allied convoy PQ-13 in the Barents Sea shortly after 0000 hours. At 0943 hours, British cruiser HMS Trinidad spots Z26 along with Z24 and Z25, hitting Z26 with gunfire; at 1024 hours, HMS Trinidad is hit by a own torpedo that she fired and circled around, killing 31. At 1032 hours, British destroyer HMS Eclipse continues the attack, hitting Z26 with 6 more shells; at 1120 hours, Z24 and Z25 coordinate an attack on HMS Eclipse, hitting her with two shells, killing 23. Shortly after, Z26 sinks from the heavy damage. 243 of those aboard Z26 are killed, 96 survived; 88 of the survivors are picked up by Z24 and Z25, while German submarine U-376 picks up the remaining 8. HMS Trinidad is given temporary repairs in Murmansk, Russia and will sail for home on 13 May 1942. Back home, between 2318 hours on the previous day until about 0300 hours on this day, 234 RAF bombers attack Lübeck, Germany, killing 320, injuring 784, and destroying 30% of the city. The Lübeck Cathedral, among other buildings, are destroyed in the city's historical center. The new "GEE" navigation systems are used by the British bombers on this attack. 12 bombers are shot down by our anti-aircraft defenses, and a GEE system is captured by us. Continuing pre-war patrol preparation. RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Aftermath of the Raid on Saint Nazaire
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++++++ KTB - U 113 4th War Patrol Monday, 30 March 1942 - 2nd U.-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Heinz Fischer, 08.41 - 01.43) - Lorient (Qu.6157BF) Testing of Navigational and Radio Equipment. 1000 - Paris takes over Op.-Control. Commanding Officer will arrive in Paris in the evening after visiting St. Nazaire. The transfer took place quickly and without a hitch, it could not even have been noticed by the boats at sea. B.d.U.'s control F.T. station remains in Kernevel. The delay in radio messages caused by teleprinter transmission runs at about 10 minutes, and will be reduced as soon as the order transmission system has been worked in. 1630 - St. Nazaire: The torpedoes from MTB 74, which were on a delayed fuse setting, explode at the old entrance into the basin. This is raising alarms among 7th and 10th Flotilla. As the Organisation Todt workers, that were assigned to clean up the debris and wreckage the day after the explosion of HMS Campelton, run away from the dock area, our guards, mistaking their khaki uniforms for British uniforms, open fire, killing some of them. It is also thought, that some commandos are still hiding in the town. During a street by street search, some townspeople are also killed. Continuing pre-war patrol preparation. RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Continuing Pre-War Patrol Preparations
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++++++ KTB - U 113 4th War Patrol Tuesday, 31 March 1942- 2nd U.-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Heinz Fischer, 08.41 - 01.43) - Lorient (Qu.6157BF) Taking on of Provisions, Ammunitions and Torpedoes. Ari and A/A ammunition: - SK-C/32, 10.5cm: 150 x SpG; 30 x LkG - 2 x M.G.-2cm-C/30: 8000 x PbG (1 x M.G.-2cm-C/30 instead of 1 x 3.7cm-SK-C/30U Taking on of torpedoes: - Tubes I-VI: G7e, K-b - Bow above floor plates: 2 x G7e, K-b - Bow under floor plates: 2x G7e, K-b & 2 x G7a, K-a - Aft under floor plate: 2 x G7a, K-a - Upper deck containers: 8 x G7a, K-a All with fuse Pi-G7H (only AZ / Pi-1 without MZ) ++++++ Unhappy with the progress of the interior ministry, Hitler reassigns the task of providing housing to those displaced by Allied bombing to propaganda chief Goebbels. Italian submarine Tazzoli arrives at Bordeaux, France. Surviving ships of Allied convoy PQ-13 begin to arrive at Murmansk, Russia, after several attacks by German destroyers, submarines, and aircraft. Ten Norwegian freighters and tankers, interned by the Swedish at Gothenburg, attempt to break out for Britain. Two of them, transport Lind and tanker B. P. Newton, will make the escape. Six of the remaining eight ships are sunk by mines, German aircraft, and German warships, while the final two are forced to return to Gothenburg. Continuing pre-war patrol preparation. RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
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0622 Rain is still with us. We are soaked to the bone. Visibility very poor. At least wind dropped to 7 m/s and waves are not so terrible. Crew morale is very low. Will keep going on the surface till midday. We will then dive, have lunch and the perform maintenance on our batteries. No contacts to report. May 14, 1940 AF78 1222 So the sun still exists...taken sun shot for navigational fix...38km off the mark, 224°T. Wind down to 2 m/s, very flat sea. We will stay on the surface for a while. I'll have each member of the crew spend some time in the Sun. Good for health and morale. Shall pay attention to our surrounding, though. We are now much closer to Scotland. 2204 Ship spotted! Bearing 204, long range. That looks like a destroyer...she is sailing away at a quick pace. She seems to be heading SE. Let's slow down and change course to NW. 2218 She is gone. 15 knots. She was in a hurry. I'm not complaining. Resuming plotted course, ahead one third. May 15, 1940 AF77 1022 Nothing to report but for the fact that we had more than 24 hours of good weather. Light breeze from SW, almost no clouds. Fuel is slightly more than 70%, provisions still good. 1838 We have a sound contact! Very faint, bearing 112, closing. Time to hunt! 1912 Aircraft spotted! Bearing 122, long range! Where?...there! Quite far away but closing...ahead flank! Dive! 1922 No attack came our way. I therefore assume they did not spot us. Meier affirms it had two engines but could not be sure about the model. Our quarry is still coming our way. Will surface in a while. 2012 Ship spotted straight ahead, small steamer sailing ENE, still quite far away. Visibility is good, we will dive in a short while and close in submerged. 2028 I believe her to be a Coastal freighter. Light gray hull and structure, black masts. Speed 8 knots. We are maneuvering to get into attack position. If she has no weapons we may use our deck gun. 2041 British flag, crates and boxes visible on her deck. Time to surface and engage her. All men ready! Surface the boat! 2045 She just blew up! After the first few hits she was already engulfed in flames and being rocked by secondary explosions. Suddenly stopped than she went Bang! There are survivors in the water but I'm not going any closer until she sinks. 2058 Hull still burning, small explosions keep bursting, debris flowing everywhere. I'm not staying here any longer. Time to flee the area. A succes, at last! Ship sunk! SS Aeneas (Coastal Freighter), 1869 tons. Cargo: Explosives. Crew: 31. Crew lost: 12 |
New career:
SHIII with Living Silent Hunter 2022, 84% realismus Just reached Wilhelmshafen after third patrol. Went into Scapa Flow (just as message told me) and sunk 74k tons on this patrol. No damage, no crew injured - just as everybody wants it. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Pre-War Patrol Preparations
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++++++ KTB - U 113 4th War Patrol Wednesday, 1 April 1942- 2nd U.-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Heinz Fischer, 08.41 - 01.43) - Lorient (Qu.6157BF) Taking on of Provisions, Ammunitions and Torpedoes. Ari and A/A ammunition: - SK-C/32, 10.5cm: 150 x SpG; 30 x LkG - 2 x M.G.-2cm-C/30: 8000 x PbG (1 x M.G.-2cm-C/30 instead of 1 x 3.7cm-SK-C/30U Taking on of torpedoes: - Tubes I-VI: G7e, K-b - Bow above floor plates: 2 x G7e, K-b - Bow under floor plates: 2x G7e, K-b & 2 x G7a, K-a - Aft under floor plate: 2 x G7a, K-a - Upper deck containers: 8 x G7a, K-a All with fuse Pi-G7H (only AZ / Pi-1 without MZ) ++++++ Luftwaffe Ace, Hans-Joachim Marseille, is promoted to the rank of Oberleutnant. Chief of the Department of Naval Operations at the Navy High Command, Kurt Fricke, is promoted to the rank of Admiral. General George Marshall and Major General Dwight Eisenhower, present to President Franklin Roosevelt, a plan for an immediate assault across the English Channel into Nazi-occupied France with ten divisions of British and Canadian troops; and for "Operation Bolero", which will see the immediate preparation of 30 divisions, of which six are to be armoured, and complimentary air-power for movement across the Atlantic Ocean within the period of a year. Continuing pre-war patrol preparation. RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Pre-War Patrol Preparations
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++++++ KTB - U 113 4th War Patrol Thursday, 2 April 1942- 2nd U.-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Heinz Fischer, 08.41 - 01.43) - Lorient (Qu.6157BF) Taking on of Provisions, Ammunitions and Torpedoes. Ari and A/A ammunition: - SK-C/32, 10.5cm: 150 x SpG; 30 x LkG - 2 x M.G.-2cm-C/30: 8000 x PbG (1 x M.G.-2cm-C/30 instead of 1 x 3.7cm-SK-C/30U) Taking on of torpedoes: - Tubes I-VI: G7e, K-b - Bow above floor plates: 2 x G7e, K-b - Bow under floor plates: 2x G7e, K-b & 2 x G7a, K-a - Aft under floor plate: 2 x G7a, K-a - Upper deck containers: 8 x G7a, K-a All with fuse Pi-G7H (only AZ / Pi-1 without MZ) ++++++ 40 British Wellington and 10 Stirling bombers attack the Ford factory at Poissy, northwest of Paris. German bombers attack Dover and Weymouth, England. Torpedo Boat "Seeadler" complets her escort duties for merchant raider "Michel", operating in the English Channel. Continuing pre-war patrol preparation. RST Kptlt.&Cmdr. |
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