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Threadfin · 10-13-06, 01:42 PM

Jan 15
0440 U-49 attacks lone J class DD and sinks it with single fish fired from tube two, range 750 meters.

Jan 16
0119 Contact with C class DD. Normal approach course. With two torpedos remaining, Gotz requests we fire a spread, to check the accuracy of our angle solver and deflection of the TDC. It had not occurred to me that we have yet, in two patrols, to fire any salvos with any deflection. Permission was granted and a two-shot G7a spread was fired from tubes one and three with a deflection of 5 degrees. It was unlikely this would cause both fish to hit, but virtually assured one or the other, would. It was tube one's fish that hit, right on the aim point and the DD blew up, took a severe down angle and dissapeared beneath the sea. Now having expended all torpedos, U-49 surfaced for our return to Kiel.

Jan 17
Made patrol report. Recieved reciept with no further instructions.

Jan 19
1730 U-49 ties up at Kiel after 55 days at sea.

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Patrol 3, March 9 - April 18, 1940
U-49 Type VIIB
Kiel, Germany

Refit carried out in Kiel. No personel changes, nor additions or installations to U-49. Gotz and Carl awarded Ritterkreuz for the performance of their torpedos in sinking three enemy capital ships on U-49s first two patrols. I recieved Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse and Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse, along with promotion to Oberleutnant. Several petty officers advanced one rating prior to departure.

U-49 was, in all respects, provisioned as detailed in report for patrol 1, except:

When making way down gangway on morning of departure I noticed U-49s conning tower adorned with artwork which certainly had not been there on final inspection day before. As I stepped onto the boat I looked at Karl, then back at the tower to the four aces painted there. Karl met my eyes and grinned "The crew says they are for the four enemy capital ships sunk by U-49." I thought for a moment, then noticed Karl's widening smile. The Captain had the message.

Mar 9
1615 U-49 sets sail from Kiel

1718 Made rendezvous with escort, Zerstörer Z2 Georg Thiele.

Mar 10
0700 Sent Georg Thiele our "Well done" and recieved her "Godspeed" in return.

Mar 11
Enroute Orkneys in North Sea. Patrol routine will be surfaced with sounds sweeps every 30 minutes, except in limited visibility conditions and in areas covered by air patrols. In such conditions a routine submerged patrol will be observed.

Mar 13
Barometer dropping, winds picking up and dark clouds on horizon.

Mar 15
Storm closes in. Thick fog, heavy rain, wind and sea state.

Mar 20
Northwest Scapa Flow. Light screws picked up on hydrophones at various times and bearings. None determined to be warship, so avoided. Weather still heavy.

Mar 25 Weather unchanged. Will attempt dawn periscope search of anchorage at Scapa Flow if and when weather cooperates.

Mar 30
Weather broke to clear skies, light fog and light breeze.

1800 Karl's crew spots smoke on horizon. Close submerged for look. Contact is V&W DD with sharp angle. Normal approach course for beam torpedo attack. Single G7a, set shallow at 44 kt speed impacts destroyer between stacks, causing DD to explode, burn and sink in less than two minutes.

Mar 31
Closing Scapa for daylight recon of western entrance screens for possible dawn attack in Scapa Flow. Recon again shows disposition of screens identical to previous visits in October and January.

2300 U-49 enters western passage. Our timing was not as good as previous visits. Were forced down by approaching Hunt, but were able to slip past.

April 1

0330 Surface east of coastal battery.

0535 Recharge secured, U-49 dives to close anchorage for first light look around.

0610 Large ship visible some distance west of location where Ramillies was anchored on Oct 13. Continue to close for closer look, rigged for silent running. Fritz reports minimum 4 distinct DD screws in harbor. None are in sight through scope.

0615 Ship appears to be large, 10,000 ton freighter or transport.

0618 At least seven small caliber (3-5 inch) gun emplacements visible on decks. Likely she is auxilliary cruiser, armed merchant raider or convoy escort. Certainly she has a military purpose, perhaps a Q-ship. Her north-south orientation suggests a zero angle shot as done on Nelson in Loch Ewe Dec 7. To attempt beam shot would put U-49 much closer to shoreline, confining evasion to one direction should it become necessary. Continue to close for bow shot.

0640 Roughly 2000 meters to east of this ship another major ship is visible through scope. Close to investigate.

0651 Second ship identified as fleet carrier moored east-west presenting beam to our position. Decide to attack this ship first, then auxilliary if enemy and time permit.

0700 In growing light, details confirm earlier identifications. Carrier identified as HMS Indefatigable, second ship looks in all respects as freighter or transport, but presence of guns betray her true role.

0712 U-49 in position on starboard beam of carrier. Prepared three-shot salvo, with considerations similar to previous when attacking stationary ship. Torpedo speed 44 kts, depth 5 meters, zero deflection with aimpoint 1/3 of distance from bow to stern. Fourth torpedo retained for defense, or for auxilliary should she get underway.

Patrols, though increased in strength since last visit, are surprisingly not covering the water where these valuable ships are moored. Evidently the western passage is not thought to navigable by submarine, and the disposition of these forces seem to be focused on southern or eastern passages. In any event, we should be able to get a good run back toward the exit before patrols can close scene.

0714 Carrier underway, but too late. All three torpedos impact near her stern. The first two detonations have little apparent effect, but when the third strikes she explodes, with flames visible from bridge to stern. She starts to capsize to starboard, but the roll is caught as she grounds in the shallow water. Begin reload and make for exit. Will deal with auxilliary on way.

0820 Reload completed. Auxilliary has not moved, and patrols have closed general area of firing on previous attack. While they are occupied near the burning carrier, U-49 postions for starboard beam attack on auxilliary cruiser.

0838 Two-shot G7a salvo, 44 kt speed, 5 meter depth, zero deflection, aimed midway between foremast and bridge. In final moments of run, ship gets underway but she does not gather speed quickly. First torpedo strikes forward of bridge, second below the stack. Ship ablaze at once and U-49 turns 180 for exit.

0901 Two DD have closed scene of latest sinking. Both lay to, perhaps assisting survivors. Setup to closest DD is too good to pass up and at

0904 Single G7a shallow runner fired from stern tube at stationary DD directly astern, range 3800 meters. DD spots track and makes steam. Torpedo assumed to miss astern.

1510 U-49 exits western passage to Scapa Flow. Guarding the exit is another of our Hunts, likely the one that forced us down on the way in. Obtain fring position for 080 starboard track range 700 meters. Again, midway through run DD executes sharp turn to port and torpedo assumed to deflect and not detonate due to insuficient angle at impact. Detonation at depth 16 seconds later suggests this theory is correct. DD swings lazily to the right and does not start echo ranging. As she crosses astern, tube five is fired and DD continues on course making 12 kts. She was a dead duck on this shot and it is unknown whether torpedo missed or failed to detonate. Lack of end-run detonation suggests dud.

DD continues on in straight line seemingly oblivious to the torpedos that just clanged off her hull. Commence reload of tube five and continue to egress west. If this DD is willing to let matters stand, then so are we.

1623 Our Hunt is back. Her course is dead on. Prepare tubes forward and aft. We plan to hit her before she can hit us. Though she still seems oblivious, torpedo fired from after tube on 080 starboard track from 400 meters. This torpedo also fails to detonate. Siggi suggests, and I agree, to get the hell out of here and call it a draw.

April 2
Enroute north of Orkneys to north sea. Intend to patrol Hartlepool Hole to expend remaining torpedos then home.

April 3
1734 Soon after surfacing from routine sound sweep, U-49 is attacked by 2 British Hurricanes. Flak gun is manned by Hartmann, who shoots one into the sea. By time second Hurricane had come around for bomb run U-49 was at 50 meters, and the explosion came well astern.

April 8-9
U-49 in Hartlepool Hole 50 km off English coast. As on previous patrol, area is heavy merchant route, both north-south along coast, and east west from port to Norway and Denmark.

2041 U-49 attacks and sinks V&W DD with single G7a

0110 U-49 sinks V&W DD with single G7a. Close scene upon surfacing and recover life ring with "HMS Wanderer" in block lettering.

April 10
1200 U-49 closes coast in search of target. Water very shallow, 20 meters at most. Make contact with screws of apparent merchant. Smoke soon in view, close to look her over. Trawler observed to have gun on fore deck and flying ensign of Royal Navy. Single G7a fired on 080 starboard track from 500 meters with magnetic pistol. Short length makes her a difficult target. After run of 19 seconds torpedo detonates under her bow and she is virtually lifted out of the sea.

She crashes down onto her bow and keeps right on going as though nothing had happened. Since her only apparent weapons were the single gun foreward, we fell in line and prepared to battle surface astern and attack with 8.8cm gun.

1205 Just as the order was about to be given to surface, trawler is seen to capsize suddenly to port and sink.

April 12
Weather closes in with low visibility, overcast and high winds.

April 13
Patrolling eastern entrance to English channel in search of target for final two torpedos.

April 14
2300 Hyrdrophone contact of destroyer screws closing near Dover strait. V&W DD with sharp angle, normal approach for beam attack with both torpedos. As with final firing on previous patrol, a spread is used, this time 1 degree deflection in attempt to hit with both fish. 080 port track from 850 meters. First torpedo impacts below bridge, second below after turret. DD is seen to explode, catch fire and sink in short order within sight of city of Dover. Surface and set course for Kiel

April 15
Make patrol report and recieve no further instructions. Enroute Kiel.

April 18
0746 U-49 ties up at Kiel in driving rainstorm after 41 days at sea.

10-13-06, 01:42 PM	#4
Threadfin Ace of the Deep Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,163 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Jan 15 0440 U-49 attacks lone J class DD and sinks it with single fish fired from tube two, range 750 meters. Jan 16 0119 Contact with C class DD. Normal approach course. With two torpedos remaining, Gotz requests we fire a spread, to check the accuracy of our angle solver and deflection of the TDC. It had not occurred to me that we have yet, in two patrols, to fire any salvos with any deflection. Permission was granted and a two-shot G7a spread was fired from tubes one and three with a deflection of 5 degrees. It was unlikely this would cause both fish to hit, but virtually assured one or the other, would. It was tube one's fish that hit, right on the aim point and the DD blew up, took a severe down angle and dissapeared beneath the sea. Now having expended all torpedos, U-49 surfaced for our return to Kiel. Jan 17 Made patrol report. Recieved reciept with no further instructions. Jan 19 1730 U-49 ties up at Kiel after 55 days at sea. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patrol 3, March 9 - April 18, 1940 U-49 Type VIIB Kiel, Germany Refit carried out in Kiel. No personel changes, nor additions or installations to U-49. Gotz and Carl awarded Ritterkreuz for the performance of their torpedos in sinking three enemy capital ships on U-49s first two patrols. I recieved Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse and Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse, along with promotion to Oberleutnant. Several petty officers advanced one rating prior to departure. U-49 was, in all respects, provisioned as detailed in report for patrol 1, except: When making way down gangway on morning of departure I noticed U-49s conning tower adorned with artwork which certainly had not been there on final inspection day before. As I stepped onto the boat I looked at Karl, then back at the tower to the four aces painted there. Karl met my eyes and grinned "The crew says they are for the four enemy capital ships sunk by U-49." I thought for a moment, then noticed Karl's widening smile. The Captain had the message. Mar 9 1615 U-49 sets sail from Kiel 1718 Made rendezvous with escort, Zerstörer Z2 Georg Thiele. Mar 10 0700 Sent Georg Thiele our "Well done" and recieved her "Godspeed" in return. Mar 11 Enroute Orkneys in North Sea. Patrol routine will be surfaced with sounds sweeps every 30 minutes, except in limited visibility conditions and in areas covered by air patrols. In such conditions a routine submerged patrol will be observed. Mar 13 Barometer dropping, winds picking up and dark clouds on horizon. Mar 15 Storm closes in. Thick fog, heavy rain, wind and sea state. Mar 20 Northwest Scapa Flow. Light screws picked up on hydrophones at various times and bearings. None determined to be warship, so avoided. Weather still heavy. Mar 25 Weather unchanged. Will attempt dawn periscope search of anchorage at Scapa Flow if and when weather cooperates. Mar 30 Weather broke to clear skies, light fog and light breeze. 1800 Karl's crew spots smoke on horizon. Close submerged for look. Contact is V&W DD with sharp angle. Normal approach course for beam torpedo attack. Single G7a, set shallow at 44 kt speed impacts destroyer between stacks, causing DD to explode, burn and sink in less than two minutes. Mar 31 Closing Scapa for daylight recon of western entrance screens for possible dawn attack in Scapa Flow. Recon again shows disposition of screens identical to previous visits in October and January. 2300 U-49 enters western passage. Our timing was not as good as previous visits. Were forced down by approaching Hunt, but were able to slip past. April 1 0330 Surface east of coastal battery. 0535 Recharge secured, U-49 dives to close anchorage for first light look around. 0610 Large ship visible some distance west of location where Ramillies was anchored on Oct 13. Continue to close for closer look, rigged for silent running. Fritz reports minimum 4 distinct DD screws in harbor. None are in sight through scope. 0615 Ship appears to be large, 10,000 ton freighter or transport. 0618 At least seven small caliber (3-5 inch) gun emplacements visible on decks. Likely she is auxilliary cruiser, armed merchant raider or convoy escort. Certainly she has a military purpose, perhaps a Q-ship. Her north-south orientation suggests a zero angle shot as done on Nelson in Loch Ewe Dec 7. To attempt beam shot would put U-49 much closer to shoreline, confining evasion to one direction should it become necessary. Continue to close for bow shot. 0640 Roughly 2000 meters to east of this ship another major ship is visible through scope. Close to investigate. 0651 Second ship identified as fleet carrier moored east-west presenting beam to our position. Decide to attack this ship first, then auxilliary if enemy and time permit. 0700 In growing light, details confirm earlier identifications. Carrier identified as HMS Indefatigable, second ship looks in all respects as freighter or transport, but presence of guns betray her true role. 0712 U-49 in position on starboard beam of carrier. Prepared three-shot salvo, with considerations similar to previous when attacking stationary ship. Torpedo speed 44 kts, depth 5 meters, zero deflection with aimpoint 1/3 of distance from bow to stern. Fourth torpedo retained for defense, or for auxilliary should she get underway. Patrols, though increased in strength since last visit, are surprisingly not covering the water where these valuable ships are moored. Evidently the western passage is not thought to navigable by submarine, and the disposition of these forces seem to be focused on southern or eastern passages. In any event, we should be able to get a good run back toward the exit before patrols can close scene. 0714 Carrier underway, but too late. All three torpedos impact near her stern. The first two detonations have little apparent effect, but when the third strikes she explodes, with flames visible from bridge to stern. She starts to capsize to starboard, but the roll is caught as she grounds in the shallow water. Begin reload and make for exit. Will deal with auxilliary on way. 0820 Reload completed. Auxilliary has not moved, and patrols have closed general area of firing on previous attack. While they are occupied near the burning carrier, U-49 postions for starboard beam attack on auxilliary cruiser. 0838 Two-shot G7a salvo, 44 kt speed, 5 meter depth, zero deflection, aimed midway between foremast and bridge. In final moments of run, ship gets underway but she does not gather speed quickly. First torpedo strikes forward of bridge, second below the stack. Ship ablaze at once and U-49 turns 180 for exit. 0901 Two DD have closed scene of latest sinking. Both lay to, perhaps assisting survivors. Setup to closest DD is too good to pass up and at 0904 Single G7a shallow runner fired from stern tube at stationary DD directly astern, range 3800 meters. DD spots track and makes steam. Torpedo assumed to miss astern. 1510 U-49 exits western passage to Scapa Flow. Guarding the exit is another of our Hunts, likely the one that forced us down on the way in. Obtain fring position for 080 starboard track range 700 meters. Again, midway through run DD executes sharp turn to port and torpedo assumed to deflect and not detonate due to insuficient angle at impact. Detonation at depth 16 seconds later suggests this theory is correct. DD swings lazily to the right and does not start echo ranging. As she crosses astern, tube five is fired and DD continues on course making 12 kts. She was a dead duck on this shot and it is unknown whether torpedo missed or failed to detonate. Lack of end-run detonation suggests dud. DD continues on in straight line seemingly oblivious to the torpedos that just clanged off her hull. Commence reload of tube five and continue to egress west. If this DD is willing to let matters stand, then so are we. 1623 Our Hunt is back. Her course is dead on. Prepare tubes forward and aft. We plan to hit her before she can hit us. Though she still seems oblivious, torpedo fired from after tube on 080 starboard track from 400 meters. This torpedo also fails to detonate. Siggi suggests, and I agree, to get the hell out of here and call it a draw. April 2 Enroute north of Orkneys to north sea. Intend to patrol Hartlepool Hole to expend remaining torpedos then home. April 3 1734 Soon after surfacing from routine sound sweep, U-49 is attacked by 2 British Hurricanes. Flak gun is manned by Hartmann, who shoots one into the sea. By time second Hurricane had come around for bomb run U-49 was at 50 meters, and the explosion came well astern. April 8-9 U-49 in Hartlepool Hole 50 km off English coast. As on previous patrol, area is heavy merchant route, both north-south along coast, and east west from port to Norway and Denmark. 2041 U-49 attacks and sinks V&W DD with single G7a 0110 U-49 sinks V&W DD with single G7a. Close scene upon surfacing and recover life ring with "HMS Wanderer" in block lettering. April 10 1200 U-49 closes coast in search of target. Water very shallow, 20 meters at most. Make contact with screws of apparent merchant. Smoke soon in view, close to look her over. Trawler observed to have gun on fore deck and flying ensign of Royal Navy. Single G7a fired on 080 starboard track from 500 meters with magnetic pistol. Short length makes her a difficult target. After run of 19 seconds torpedo detonates under her bow and she is virtually lifted out of the sea. She crashes down onto her bow and keeps right on going as though nothing had happened. Since her only apparent weapons were the single gun foreward, we fell in line and prepared to battle surface astern and attack with 8.8cm gun. 1205 Just as the order was about to be given to surface, trawler is seen to capsize suddenly to port and sink. April 12 Weather closes in with low visibility, overcast and high winds. April 13 Patrolling eastern entrance to English channel in search of target for final two torpedos. April 14 2300 Hyrdrophone contact of destroyer screws closing near Dover strait. V&W DD with sharp angle, normal approach for beam attack with both torpedos. As with final firing on previous patrol, a spread is used, this time 1 degree deflection in attempt to hit with both fish. 080 port track from 850 meters. First torpedo impacts below bridge, second below after turret. DD is seen to explode, catch fire and sink in short order within sight of city of Dover. Surface and set course for Kiel April 15 Make patrol report and recieve no further instructions. Enroute Kiel. April 18 0746 U-49 ties up at Kiel in driving rainstorm after 41 days at sea. __________________ What? Behind the rabbit? Last edited by Threadfin; 10-13-06 at 05:07 PM.