[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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- continued from 3 Feb. 1325h -

1335 - Boat operating on ship contact report 1330/3 in Qu.1773BF, on course ENE, speed 7-9kn.

1400 - Qu.1758BF - Smoke Plume bearing 10°. Ship is identified as a Large Motor Merchant, on course 70°, speed 8kn.

1420 - At E=3000, "Weapons Free!". After scoring hits with the last 10 SpG and 1 LkG of the 10.5cm gun, the steamer continues. Manned the 3.7cm-Flak. After 4 ZlG rounds and 14 PbG rounds, the steamer return fire with a gun mounted on the forecastle.

1428 - "ALARM!". Boat continues to sink and can only be brought back from T=30 to S-Tiefe with E-Motors running at 185RPM.

1435 - S-Tiefe. Now, the steamer is identified as a Parcel-Merchant of 3019ts.

1455 - Surfaced. Approaching the steamer at angle 180°, as the deck gun is mounted on the forecastle. The boat has to approach with enough of an angle, to be able to bring the 3.7cm-Flak to bear.

1512 - "Weapons Free!" at 1000m. The steamer is returning fire, with what appears to be another deck gun mounted on the after section of the ship. As before, the shots fall way short.

1517 - Boat has to dive again from armed steamer. Running off on general course, T=20.

1548 - Surfaced. As there seems to be no possibility to sink the armed steamer with the 3.7cm-Flak, running off on general course.

1636 - Sundown.

1901 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
U 107 (Hessler, son-in-law of B.d.U.) reporting convoy OB-279 in Qu.AL0264. U 123, 52, 103 and 96, are ordered to operate on this convoy.

1934 - Incoming F.T.1930/3: From B.d.U.:
Inbound ship in Qu.4136BF, on course NE, speed 7-9kn and Outbound convoy in Qu.4163BF, on course SW, speed 5kn.

2353 - Qu.4255BF - Boat continues on return voyage.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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KTB - U 112

Tuesday, 4 February 1941 - Bay of Biscay

During the night, U 43 (Lüth) in Lorient, has been flooded for some unidentified reason in the Diesel and Electric Engine compartments and will not be operational for the next 3 months.

0033 - Incoming F.T.: From U-107:

Sunk from convoy OB-279, 1 steamer 4683ts and from convoy OB-280, 1 ship 5051ts. - Hessler -

0600 - Morning Dawn - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:

Will be at point Luci-2 on 5.2., 0600h - RST -

0654 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:

RST: Escort will be point Luci-2, 5.2., 0600h.

0735 - Sunrise.

1200 - Qu.5178BF - Days Run: 309.9sm - ↗306.7sm (23h 02') - ↘3.2sm (58')

61.6cbm (11cbm/24h). 8900Ah. Weather unchanged since 1.2., 2208h.

1330 - Point Lore, on approach path Herz.

1515 - Qu.5186BF - "ALARM!", from 3 fighter airplanes approaching from 320°true, E=5000, water depth is 170m!

Cmdr.: "The airplanes are flying at first on course SW and turn towards the boat very late, strafing the boat with on-board weapons, flying over the boat from stern to bow - slight damage on the forward upper deck. The M.G.-2cm-C/30 fires at the airplanes as they fly off on course east. During the diving process, at T=20, bombs behind the boat. On A-20, no damages."

1535 - Surfaced.

1623 - Sundown.

1801 - Norddeich Radio reporting on attacks of the channel harbors by the RAF.

2115 - Fly-over by airplane in complete darkness, direct approach!

Boat continues return voyage on approach path Herz.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.