[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

Saturday, 1 February 1941 - Rockall Bank
- Second week at sea completed -
- B.d.U. returns from vacation -

0013 - Reached enemy sea and air cover zone. Water depth is 82m.

0023 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Sunk on January 31 from convoy 1650/28/30:
At 1901h Standard Merchant 6549ts in 1795AM, at 2228h Standard Merchant 6548ts in 1874AM. All together 1 Eto and 1 Ato understeered and 1 Ato was a dud. 54 Wabos, 6-8 per attack run, to about 130m. Have 1 internal Ato and 93cbm. NW2/2, partly cloudy, light haze, visibility 8000, >1000mb. - RST -

0121 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Bravo! Be careful of enemy patrol vessels and ASW hunter groups!

0135 - About 3h after the last attack and search pattern, the Flower Corvette goes on a search pattern again, and 4 more times until 0630h.

0643 - Morning Dawn.

0715 - The Flower Corvette and the forward sweeper have returned from a search pattern.

Cmdr.: "I want to dive for a submerged attack with my last torpedo, before being surprised by enemy aircraft."

- to be continued -

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

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KTB - U 112

- continued from 1 Feb. 0715h -

0721 - Dived at a distance of 4000m. S-Tiefe. Silent Running. "Battle Stations!".

0747 - Qu.1894AM - Own course 175°; own speed 3kn ahead.
Shot with Tube IV, G7a, K-a/G7H (contact fuse); Running depth 4m; Vt44kn.
Target ship: Standard Merchant 6311ts, loaded with military aircraft on the upper deck.
Target course 88°; Target distance 1392m; Target angle red90°; Target speed 7kn; Firing angle 335°.

The torpedo is hit in the forecastle after 70sec.!

The merchant is burning and has a list to port but continues on. The stbd. aft escort - a L-Class Destroyer - is searching for us in the general area of our attack position but doesn't drop any Wabos.

0801 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Final work-up's and testing of new boats in Danzig closed, due to severe ice conditions in the Baltic Sea. Instead, ready boats are sent to the front for the duration of 1 patrol. B.d.U. returns from vacation.

0825 - Incoming F.T.0820/1: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst reports enemy convoy in Qu.0133AM, on course East, speed 6kn.

0838 - Sunrise.

0852 - After about 1h of ASW action, the L-Class Destroyer runs back to the convoy.

0900 - "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

0904 - Surfaced after 1h 43' and 5.2sm.
Shadowing convoy to check if torpedoed steamer will fall behind or sink. Visibility is 10000m.

0945 - Stbd. aft L-Class Destroyer on search pattern until 1105h, taking turns with the stbd. forward L-Class Destroyer.

1110 - Cmdr.: "As the torpedoed steamer is still running in formation of the convoy and seemingly has special escort from the stbd. destroyers, I break off the action and retreat to the south on high speed, in order to catch convoy 0820/1."

1200 - Qu.1899AM - Days Run: 230.0sm - ↗224.5sm (22h 11') - ↘5.5sm (1h 49')
90.4cbm (6.4cbm/24h). 9400Ah. Weather: NW2/2, partly cloudy, light haze, visibility 10000m, >1000mb.

- to be continued -