[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

Started a new career in August 2019, to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years ago ...

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KTB - U 112

Monday, 20 January 1941 - Bay of Biscay

0200 - Qu.4255BF

0609 - Qu.1877BF - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Transfer message 10°West. A lot of enemy air cover in Qu.51 and Qu.43BF. On 19.1., 0730h, attack from a pair of Whitley bombers, no damages. 162cbm. N2/2, clear, good visibility. - RST -

0635 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Message received. Next status and weather report in 24h.

0700 - Morning Dawn. NNW2/2, overcast, light haze, visibility 4-5sm, ~1000mb.

0827 - Sunrise. Wind and Sea increasing, shifting to NW.

1030 - Qu.1755BF - NW7/6, overcast, light haze, visibility 4-5sm, ~1000mb.
Have to reduce speed to 1/3, 7-8kn due to heavy swell.

1200 - Qu.1751BF - Days Run: 286.7sm - ↗278.8sm (21h 30') - ↘7.9sm (2h 30')
160.1cbm (9.1cbm/24h). 10000Ah. Weather unchanged since 1030h.

1401 - Incoming F.T. from Cappelini:
In the area of Azores/Canary Islands, sunk 2 steamers of 14051ts in Artillery battle. - K.Kpt. Todaro -

- to be continued -

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- continued from 20 Jan., 1401h -

1627 - Qu.1711BF - "Surface Vessel!". Inbound empty Standard Tanker of 8054ts and a M12-Merchant of 5143ts in keel line, bearing 28°, E=8000, on course 70°, speed 5kn. The merchant in the back has loaded 2 military trucks and a deck gun mounted on the aft section, and has "American Export Line" written on the side. Both vessels are English.

Going on parallel course. During the process of overtaking the ships, the bridge is continuously washed over by the heavy swell.

1716 - Sundown - Boat moving to the Luv-Side, E=7500.

1730 - Reached position bearing 0°. New course 250°, 1/3-Ahead.

1745 - Qu.1478BF - Dived for submerged attack. Own course 157°, own speed 3kn. All torpedoes are G7e, K-b/G7H (contact pistol), Vt30. "Battle Stations!"

1801: Norddeich Radio report about "Admiral Scheer" having seized 3 British ships with about 19000ts in the South Atlantic.

1809 - Shot with Tube I; Running depth 4m.
Target ship: The empty tanker in front.
Target distance 900m; Target angle Red90°; Target speed 5kn; Firing angle 10°.
Torpedo is a failure, understeers!

1811 - Shot with Tube II; Running depth 4m.
Target ship: The empty tanker in front.
Target distance 600m; Target angle Red90°; Target speed 5kn; Firing angle 350°.
Torpedo is a hit amidships after 42 Sec.!
A fire breaking out on the tanker and continues on zig-zagging around its general course of 70°.

1816 - Shot with Tube III; Running depth 6m.
Target ship: The steamer in back.
Target distance 500m; Target angle Red90°; Target speed 5kn; Firing angle 356°.
Torpedo is a hit in the forecastle after 31 Sec.!

At 1818h life boats are veered and at 1821h the steamer sinks by the bow.

1843 - Retreated to T=50 for torpedo reloading.

- to be continued -