Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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U 115
- KTB -
First War Patrol
(17th war patrol overall)
Friday,
25 June 1943 - West of the Cape of Good Hope -
- continued from 25 June, 1209 -
1215 -
Incoming Radio Reports:
From O.K.W.:
a) On 24 June, RAF bombers attacked Elberfeld in the Ruhr region.
b) Commanding officer of the 4th Group of the Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 wing, Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein flew the Bf 110 nightfighter for the first time, discovered technical issues, and returned to flying his usual Ju 88 aircraft, in which he shot down four British Lancaster bombers. His victories now stand at 35.
From B.d.U.:
a) To all boats: Status report about development of new boat type XXI and Walter boats.
b) As a result of the last traffic report the Cape Town boats at present refueling from the tanker "Schliemann" are ordered on 23 June to take up position in the following operational areas: U 178: western half, U 196: eastern half of KE. Center point : narrows of Mozambique channel. U 198: northern half, U 197 southern half of area off Durban, depth 800 sea miles. U 177: area round KQ 92, depth 400 sea miles. (S. of Madagascar), U 181: area round KG 83, depth 400 sea miles (Mauritius Islands).
U 115: Continue to supply point acc. Op.-Orders. All boats will be informed of the presumed traffic situation in their areas.
1323 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged in 38.5h.
1827 - Qu.8315GR top center left - Magic Eye Detection. Shortly after, a Catalina in 297°true, E=9000, is positioned in Qu.8311GR bottom left, on course SSW and turns toward the boat in 275°true and E=9000.
1829 - "ALARM!". At T=55, 2 bombs and at A-Meter 1 more. No damages. Suspect that the A/C was not fitted with radar, but sighted the boats keel water.
1842 - Setting for Reception Depth.
1851 - T=20. Battery 97.0%, Compressed Air Supply 285Atü, CO₂ 1.1%.
1859 - Surfaced from S-Tiefe after 30min. and 1.6nm. - Weather and Sea unchanged.
1902 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled. 2x1/3-Ahead, 285RPM, 10kn.
2002 - Qu.8319GR top center left - FuMB-Detection in 28°true, E=13000. Giving order to dive.
2003 - Right during the watch change, airplane (is a Wellington) in 28°true, E=9000, direct approach out of the sun. "ALARM!". During the diving process no bombs.
2005 - 1 Wabo and 3 more until 2010 - no damages.
2017 - Setting for Reception Depth.
2026 - T=20. Battery 97.0%, Compressed Air Supply 290Atü, CO₂ 1.1%.
2032 - Surfaced from S-Tiefe after 30min. and 1.5nm. - Weather and Sea unchanged.
2036 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled. 2x1/3-Ahead, 285RPM, 10kn and at 2041 - 2xH.F.
2050 - Qu.8319GR bottom right - Airplane in 005°true, E=5300, direct approach out of the sun, it's a Hudson or Ventura (No FuMB/Magic Eye Detection). Evading with A.K. hard to port. 1 bomb is dropped wide to port - no damages. Airplane flies off on course SSW, boat going back to general course.
2057 - Qu.8319GR bottom right - Airplane in 255°true, E=6700, direct approach, it's a Wellington (No FuMB/Magic Eye Detection). Evading with A.K. hard to stbd., machine-gun fire.
2058 - After the fly-over, "ALARM!". Airplane turns around at E=3400. At T=40, 2 Wabos behind the boat - no damages.
2101 - At A-Meter another 2 Wabos - no damages. Boat going back to general course.
2112 - Setting for Reception Depth.
2121 - T=20. Battery 94.0%, Compressed Air Supply 285Atü, CO₂ 1.1%.
2128 - Surfaced from S-Tiefe after 30min. and 1.6nm. - Weather and Sea unchanged.
2132 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled. 2x1/3-Ahead, 285RPM, 10kn.
2133 - Qu.8351GR top left - Airplane in 21°true, E=8100, direct approach, it's a Sunderland (No FuMB/Magic Eye Detection).
2134 - "ALARM!". At T=35, 1 Wabo wide to Stbd. - no damages.
2138 - At A-Meter, 2 Wabos and again at 2139, 3 Wabos, and another 2 Wabos at 2141 - no damages.
2215 - At A-20. Setting for Reception Depth.
2222 - T=20. Battery 91.4%, Compressed Air Supply 270Atü, CO₂ 1.2%.
2228 - S-Tiefe. A Sunderland can be seen in 250°true, E=9800, on course 24°, is out of sight in 336°true, E=9700 (position is in Qu.8327GR bottom left).
2234 - Surfaced after 1h and 2.9nm. - Weather and Sea unchanged.
2235 - Boat ventilated.
2244 - Compressed Air Supply filled. 2x1/3-Ahead, 285RPM, 10kn, and at 2250, 2xH.F.
2302 - Qu.8351GR bottom right - FuMB-Detection in 215°true, E=14500. Giving the order to dive. Before closing the Conning Tower Hatch, can see a approaching in 215°true, E=8300.
At T=25, 1 Wabo behind the boat and at T=45, 1 more Wabo - no damages.
At A-10, 6 Wabos - no damges. Boat sinks to A+20 and can only be brought back up to A-Meter with 135rpm.
2307 - Sundown.
2333 - Back to Reception Depth. Battery 90%, Compressed Air Supply 290Atü, CO₂ 1.1%.
2341 - S-Tiefe. A airplane can be seen in 175°true, crosses the bow of the boat at short distance on course NNE.
2347 - Surfaced after 45' and 2.2nm. - Weather and Sea unchanged.
2350 - Boat ventilated and Compressed Air Supply filled. 2x1/3-Ahead, 285RPM, 10kn, and at 2255, 2xH.F.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115