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Threadfin · 10-13-06, 01:44 PM

Patrol 4, June 7 - August 7, 1940
Kiel, Germany
U-49 Type VIIB

Refit carried out in Kiel. No personel transfers. New installations, supercharger and MAK 800 battery type.

Aside from new installations, U-49 was, in every respect, provisioned as detailed in previous reports.

Jun 7
0700 U-49 sets sail from Kiel. Patrol routine as described in previous reports, with provision for submerged patrol when within 400 km of enemy territory as precaution against air attack and radar equipped patrols.

1020 Made rendezvous with escort, Z1 Leberecht Maas.

1105 As arranged with Captain of Leberecht Maas prior to departure, U-49 dives with both scopes raised to PD.

1107 Recieved string of 6 indoctrinational depth charges. They were tooth shakers, but of course not close enough to damage our boat. U-49 has not been subjected to depth charging yet in the war, and I wanted to be sure those who had heard them before would remember, and those who hadn't, would not soon forget.

Jun 8
0100 Sent Leberecht Maas our "Well Done" by signal light and recieved her "Godspeed" in return.

Jun 10
Enroute Orkneys through North Sea. Weather now stormy, heavy fog, rain, wind and sea state.

Jun 13
West of Scapa Flow enroute area west of Irish Channel. Discussions with other Captains during refit have revealed increasing strength of convoy escort. Will attempt interception to learn more of convoys, escorts, their makeup, actions and disposition. Weather still heavy.

Jun15
Weather unchanged. West of Irish Channel in grid AM02.

Jun17
Weather broke to clear skies. Winds and sea state remain unchanged.

Jun 18
0645 Recieved radio message indicating position, course and speed of enemy convoy. Position shows they had snuck past last night. Relative positions prove chase not prudent, as it would put U-49 close to enemy coast, and in shallow water.

1135 Lookouts spot smoke coming over horizon. Close surfaced for better look.

1146 Contact is C Class DD with sharp angle. Pulled plug for submerged attack.

1200 Single G7a fired on 075 port track, range 900 at fast moving DD. Clocked speed as 24 kts. Torpedo impacts DD aft of stacks, she was ablaze at once and sank quickly with a moderate down angle.

Jun 20
0101 Made contact with certain convoy during routine hydrophone sweep. Fritz reports many merchant screws with at least one ship's warscrews mixed in. Definitely a convoy with escort. Plot course and conn boat for intercept.

0320 Convoy in sight. Many ships, 20+. Lead escort is DD. Close to identify and possible attack.

0346 Convoy consists of 6 colums of 3 or 4 ships each, with V&W destroyer at van.

Single G7a fired on 080 starboard track at lead escort making 9 kts when leading stack touched the wire. No evidence through reaction that torpedo was sighted, and impact amidship. DD continued on, slowing, then took slight down angle and slipped below the sea.

0415 Convoy, now zigging mildly, but still on base course. Convoy consists of 3 tankers, one ocean liner, and remainder of small, medium and large freighters. As ocean liners are now viable targets for J-boats, close to identify and set up possible attack.

0423 Liner indentified as American, flying Stars and Stripes. Her sailing in convoy should negate her neutrality, but the orders restricting this target are clear. Dove to avoid getting run over by convoy.

0440 Continued dive to test valves and watertight intergrity as this is first time we have been in deep water with good weather.

0450 U-49 reached 160 meters with no apparent problems. Order surface to report now-unescorted convoy for possible attack by other boats or Luftwaffe.

0509 Made contact report. Enroute Loch Ewe.

Jun 22
2100 Closing Loch Ewe for recon of port screen for possible attack inside anchorage and harbor. As on previous visits, several DD, corvettes and PT boats guarding approach.

2130 Hunt DD getting too close for comfort, and at

2135 Single G7a fired on 080 port track from tube one range 900. No detonation either on ship, or end run. Likely dud.

2137 Single G7a fired on 090 starboard track, range 650 meters from stern tube impacts DD just aft of bridge. DD takes severe down angle and goes under without appearing to lose speed.

2200 Remaining area patrols have closed scene. They have congregated at exact spot from which we fired at Hunt. How they were able to determine this position is unknown, and this is the subject of most conversation in the wardroom for the rest of the day. U-49 withdraws to west for renew and recharge.

Jun 23
0150 U-49 has entered main inlet by passing through gap in screen, which may have been partially our doing. Submerged to avoid detection by inlet V&W patrol. At this latitude and time of year the nights never become truely dark. Due to this U-49 will attempt to make attack before dawn, as light will be sufficient for proper look around harbor throughout the night.

0202 At exit to inlet as it opens into Loch Ewe, a warship that looks in all respects as DD is moored. 180 AoB prevents identification. Continue to close for better look.

0215 Contact has airplane on deck. She is not a DD but a cruiser. U-49 positioning for beam shot.

0226 Two-shot G7a salvo fired at front turrets from 090 port track at stationary Fiji class CL. With three tubes still loaded, reload can wait, maintain silent running and make for exit.

0227 Impact on aimpoint by both fish causes cruiser to catch fire and repeated explosions are observed from bow to stern.

She is certainly finished. Continue to make for exit. V&W showing zero angle. Getting by will prove a challenge and there is nowhere to evade either vertically or horizontally.

0229 Just as we are about to be forced to attack the V&W as she still closes with a zero angle, a quick sweep on the scope to assess the situation shows what appears to be the enemy depth charging their port. Through the high power scope I can see spouts of water, exactly as those that might come from a depth charge. I can see boats that must be dropping them. However, these are PT boats, and I know of none that carry DCs. Is this a new innovation for the British? As these thoughts and the closing V&W swirl around in my head, I can see tracer fire climbing into the sky. Sweep the scope up and see several twin engine bombers, what appear to be Junkers-88s. Those were not DCs, but the Luftwaffe, who attacked almost to the instant when the Fiji blew up. Perhaps the enemy will assume the cruiser was a target of the bombers now overhead. Perhaps they will not suspect a submarine and we can use this to our advantage. It's true! The V&W sails right on by and does not use echo ranging or a zigging search pattern. At least one of the attacking planes is shot down, and another flys off to the east, trailing smoke and fire. U-49 makes for exit.

01723 U-49 surfaces well west of Loch Ewe. On the way out of the inlet, the V&W returned, and was echo ranging which caused for some tense moments. But our 180 angle likely prevented returns and the rate of echo did not increase at any time during U-49s exit.

Jun 25
U-49 patrolling area where convoy was encountered several days previous.

1546 Storm appears suddenly. Heavy fog, wind, rain and sea state. U-49 turns south for seas less patrolled. This fog, and the enemy's increasingly effective use of radar, cause us to wait out the storm before resuming any more attacks. We have no way to detect these ships when surfaced aside from sight, and by then it would be too late, as visbility is less than 400 meters.

Jun 29
Recieved radio message that u-boat base in Bordeaux now open for business.

Jul 1
Well west in BE grid. Weather unchanged. Avoid or evade until weather breaks.

Jul 5
Weather unchanged. Routine unchanged. Riding out storm submerged except for recharge, with comfort of crew, increased range of search by hydrophone, and precaution against collisions and radar equipped warships dictating our actions.

Jul 6
Weather breaks to a beautiful day.

0410 With never-dark conditions it is apparent the enemy can keep his air forces up around the clock. The storm that has just cleared lasted two weeks, and I'm sure the enemy is glad to be flying again. Increasing contacts with Hurricanes carrying single bomb on centerline.

0502 Alarm! Soon after surfacing from a sound sweep U-49 is attacked by Hurricanes. Flakgun had been manned and enemy taken under fire. Both planes released their bombs. One bomb landed uncomfortably close aboard port. No damage to either side and we sought safety in the deep Atlantic.

0610 Back at PD. Hydrophone contact with DD. Closing on a constant bearing. Up scope and sweep to see smoke from what becomes an old four-pipe flushdecker.

0629 Slow moving four-piper fired on with single G7a from bow tube on 080 starboard track, range 1000. At the exact moment of expected impact, Fritz reports sound of dud impact. DD immediately makes steam for all she's worth and comes right at us. U-49 had been turning for stern shot if necessary since firing first shot.

0631 Tube five fired at fast moving and wildly zigging DD. Her erratic course made targeting difficult, and a mag pistol with underkeel depth setting was used as a result. After 30 seconds, DD was almost on us, and with no detonation we were sure we had missed. Deep submergence ordered along with right full rudder to begin corkscrew and U-49 started down.

0633 First of string of 6 depth charges shook U-49 and caused minor damage to the upper decking. Continue to dive to 150 meters.

0636 Second string of DCs. These were not as close. End-run detonation of 0631 torpedo.

0639 Third string of DCs further away.

0642 Fourth and last string. U-49 escapes to the southwest.

Jul 6

2056 Contact on hydrophone with fast closing DD screw on constant bearing. Normal approach course for beam attack. Speed determined to be 24 knots. Tribal DD was moving so quickly she was by before I was prepared, and the single G7a was fired from 600 meters on a 105 track, and already the gyros read 020. The short range should ensure a square enough impact provided we had her AoB, speed and range correct.

After run of 26 seconds impact below front turret. Shot almost missed because by the time the shot was taken the AoB had increased far beyond the 77 we had set for the when the shot was intended to be taken. No measures were undertaken to reset the AoB as should have been done, and we are lucky this torpedo hit and detonated. Tribal destroyers are very capable, and we do not wish to give them a second chance if we can prevent it. If this torpedo had missed, it would certainly have been preventable, and I would be the only one to blame for the error.

Tribal DD immediately started to slow and take a down angle as her foreward compartments flooded. The flooding soon overcame her bouyancy, and she stood on her bow before slipping below the sea.

Jul 9
Weather closes in. Heavy rain, fog, wind and sea state.

Jul 13 Weather unchanged. Routine submerged patrol . Recieved radio message that u-boat base in Lorient is now open for business.

Jul 17
Weather unchanged. Routine submegred patrol. Screws heard since storm began. Boat conned to avoid.

Jul 22
Weather unchanged.

Jul 27
Weather unchanged.

Jul 31
Damn the cursed weather!

Aug 2
Weather unchanged. This storm has raged for 3 weeks. Fuel is now a concern. Will attempt to extend patrol as long as possible to expend remaining ordnance. Biscay bases give option to put in there. Supercharger has apparently caused minimum two-week reduction in endurance while gaining 1-2 knots at all engine speeds.

0610 While surfaced in fog and rain recharging batteries, U-49 is attacked by sudden gunfire from charging corvette. U-49 is struck 3 times by glancing gunfire before able to submerge. Siggi goes forward and comes back to report damage relatively minor. We've sprung a few leaks, and it is certain the hull has taken damage. Leveled off at 70 meters to not put too much strain on hull until damage can be properly assesed.

0612 First of 3 strings of innaccurate DCs fall astern.

0630 U-49 clear of corvette screws.

Aug 4
Weather breaks to the finest day any on board can recall. Damage from corvette determined to be minor. The sharp angle we presented while under fire caused the rounds thats struck us to hit at such an angle they did not penetrate, or HE ammunition was used, preventing penetration of our pressure hull. In any case, will limit depth to maximum 100 meters to be certain until she can be inspected at base.

0655 U-49 attacks and sinks V&W class DD with two shot spread, range 1000. Spread was fired as insurance against dud.

Aug 5
1259 Radio report of lone, fast enemy ship heading NE through BF grid toward Bristol channel. This is just southeast of U-49. Plot course and go to ahead flank to see if we can close for attack before she gets by.

1350 Barely visible through the mist is a huge, two stack transport. Due to the separation on her stacks, we believe she is already abreast. Speed clocks at 21 kts. At ahead flank, U-49 is barely holding 18 knots, so the shot had to happen now if we were to take it. Her flag was not visible at this distance, but certainly this ship was the subject of the 1259 report, and was classified in that report as enemy.

1351 With 5 foreward, and one after torpedo remaining, and not enough fuel for more than 4 days, all foreward tubes were quickly prepared for a four-shot G7a spread, 30 knot speed with 5 degrees deflection. Some quick calculation invloving the current range, bearing and AoB meant that these torpedos, if they were to have any chance of hitting her, would have to travel a very long way indeed, likely in excess of 10,000 meters if our current range info of 7400 meters were accurate. G7a's with 44 or 40 knot setting cannot travel in excess of 10,000 meters before they end-run detonate, so that left only the 30 knot speed. With the target's speed of 21 kts, that would mean an overtake of only 9 kts. It would be quite some time before we knew if we had hit her, and certainly this point, if the highly unlikely interception occurred, would be out of our visual range. We would dive immediately upon firing, as aircraft had been sighted almost continuously since weather broke yesterday.

1352 With virtually no chance of success, a four shot G7a spread with 5 degrees deflection from 7400 meters, AoB 90, 30 knot speed, depth 8 was fired at this ship estimated to be 40,000 tons.

Almost at the instant the last torpedo was fired U-49 attacked by Hurricanes out of the sun. First bomb missed, but the second landed close enough to cover the bridge with water and knock some hull plates loose. Damage assesed as moderate and we dove as planned, but with with a bit more urgency than I would have liked.

1452 Ten minutes after firing the torpedos an impact is heard through the hydrophones. Fritz is grinning ear to ear. She is slowing. U-49 closes area liner expected to be if she has slowed drastically or come to a stop.

1501 Screws have stopped. She's dead in the water or sinking. Continue to close scene on last sound bearing.

1505 Liner in sight, smoking near rear stack, with small fire visible, but other wise appearing high and level. Single remaining foreward G7a fired on 090 port track, range 2100. Impact below front stack. Ship apparently unaffected, assumes no noticable angle or list. Swing for remaining stern fish.

1508 Final torpedo fired on 090 port track, range 2300 at back stack. Impact and ship aparently unaffected, assumes no noticable angle or list.

1630 U-49 lays to, submerged, watching liner. She does not appear to be sinking. Many aircraft overhead. When first warscrews heard closing the scene, U-49, out of torpedos, turns and sets course for Lorient. I believe a mistake was made in regards to the final firing. Evidence showed that the first spread's impact likely hit in region of back stack, as the fire and smoke were visible in that area. Second torpedo aimpoint of front stack is logical, to spread the flooding, and potentially explode fuel bunker. However, firing the third and final torpedo again at the back stack, while likely adding significantly to the damage, probably did not contribute to the flooding, having hit the same space as the first torpedo.

Aug 7
0638 U-49 ties up at Lorient after 62 days at sea.

10-13-06, 01:44 PM	#6
Threadfin Ace of the Deep Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,163 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Patrol 4, June 7 - August 7, 1940 Kiel, Germany U-49 Type VIIB Refit carried out in Kiel. No personel transfers. New installations, supercharger and MAK 800 battery type. Aside from new installations, U-49 was, in every respect, provisioned as detailed in previous reports. Jun 7 0700 U-49 sets sail from Kiel. Patrol routine as described in previous reports, with provision for submerged patrol when within 400 km of enemy territory as precaution against air attack and radar equipped patrols. 1020 Made rendezvous with escort, Z1 Leberecht Maas. 1105 As arranged with Captain of Leberecht Maas prior to departure, U-49 dives with both scopes raised to PD. 1107 Recieved string of 6 indoctrinational depth charges. They were tooth shakers, but of course not close enough to damage our boat. U-49 has not been subjected to depth charging yet in the war, and I wanted to be sure those who had heard them before would remember, and those who hadn't, would not soon forget. Jun 8 0100 Sent Leberecht Maas our "Well Done" by signal light and recieved her "Godspeed" in return. Jun 10 Enroute Orkneys through North Sea. Weather now stormy, heavy fog, rain, wind and sea state. Jun 13 West of Scapa Flow enroute area west of Irish Channel. Discussions with other Captains during refit have revealed increasing strength of convoy escort. Will attempt interception to learn more of convoys, escorts, their makeup, actions and disposition. Weather still heavy. Jun15 Weather unchanged. West of Irish Channel in grid AM02. Jun17 Weather broke to clear skies. Winds and sea state remain unchanged. Jun 18 0645 Recieved radio message indicating position, course and speed of enemy convoy. Position shows they had snuck past last night. Relative positions prove chase not prudent, as it would put U-49 close to enemy coast, and in shallow water. 1135 Lookouts spot smoke coming over horizon. Close surfaced for better look. 1146 Contact is C Class DD with sharp angle. Pulled plug for submerged attack. 1200 Single G7a fired on 075 port track, range 900 at fast moving DD. Clocked speed as 24 kts. Torpedo impacts DD aft of stacks, she was ablaze at once and sank quickly with a moderate down angle. Jun 20 0101 Made contact with certain convoy during routine hydrophone sweep. Fritz reports many merchant screws with at least one ship's warscrews mixed in. Definitely a convoy with escort. Plot course and conn boat for intercept. 0320 Convoy in sight. Many ships, 20+. Lead escort is DD. Close to identify and possible attack. 0346 Convoy consists of 6 colums of 3 or 4 ships each, with V&W destroyer at van. Single G7a fired on 080 starboard track at lead escort making 9 kts when leading stack touched the wire. No evidence through reaction that torpedo was sighted, and impact amidship. DD continued on, slowing, then took slight down angle and slipped below the sea. 0415 Convoy, now zigging mildly, but still on base course. Convoy consists of 3 tankers, one ocean liner, and remainder of small, medium and large freighters. As ocean liners are now viable targets for J-boats, close to identify and set up possible attack. 0423 Liner indentified as American, flying Stars and Stripes. Her sailing in convoy should negate her neutrality, but the orders restricting this target are clear. Dove to avoid getting run over by convoy. 0440 Continued dive to test valves and watertight intergrity as this is first time we have been in deep water with good weather. 0450 U-49 reached 160 meters with no apparent problems. Order surface to report now-unescorted convoy for possible attack by other boats or Luftwaffe. 0509 Made contact report. Enroute Loch Ewe. Jun 22 2100 Closing Loch Ewe for recon of port screen for possible attack inside anchorage and harbor. As on previous visits, several DD, corvettes and PT boats guarding approach. 2130 Hunt DD getting too close for comfort, and at 2135 Single G7a fired on 080 port track from tube one range 900. No detonation either on ship, or end run. Likely dud. 2137 Single G7a fired on 090 starboard track, range 650 meters from stern tube impacts DD just aft of bridge. DD takes severe down angle and goes under without appearing to lose speed. 2200 Remaining area patrols have closed scene. They have congregated at exact spot from which we fired at Hunt. How they were able to determine this position is unknown, and this is the subject of most conversation in the wardroom for the rest of the day. U-49 withdraws to west for renew and recharge. Jun 23 0150 U-49 has entered main inlet by passing through gap in screen, which may have been partially our doing. Submerged to avoid detection by inlet V&W patrol. At this latitude and time of year the nights never become truely dark. Due to this U-49 will attempt to make attack before dawn, as light will be sufficient for proper look around harbor throughout the night. 0202 At exit to inlet as it opens into Loch Ewe, a warship that looks in all respects as DD is moored. 180 AoB prevents identification. Continue to close for better look. 0215 Contact has airplane on deck. She is not a DD but a cruiser. U-49 positioning for beam shot. 0226 Two-shot G7a salvo fired at front turrets from 090 port track at stationary Fiji class CL. With three tubes still loaded, reload can wait, maintain silent running and make for exit. 0227 Impact on aimpoint by both fish causes cruiser to catch fire and repeated explosions are observed from bow to stern. She is certainly finished. Continue to make for exit. V&W showing zero angle. Getting by will prove a challenge and there is nowhere to evade either vertically or horizontally. 0229 Just as we are about to be forced to attack the V&W as she still closes with a zero angle, a quick sweep on the scope to assess the situation shows what appears to be the enemy depth charging their port. Through the high power scope I can see spouts of water, exactly as those that might come from a depth charge. I can see boats that must be dropping them. However, these are PT boats, and I know of none that carry DCs. Is this a new innovation for the British? As these thoughts and the closing V&W swirl around in my head, I can see tracer fire climbing into the sky. Sweep the scope up and see several twin engine bombers, what appear to be Junkers-88s. Those were not DCs, but the Luftwaffe, who attacked almost to the instant when the Fiji blew up. Perhaps the enemy will assume the cruiser was a target of the bombers now overhead. Perhaps they will not suspect a submarine and we can use this to our advantage. It's true! The V&W sails right on by and does not use echo ranging or a zigging search pattern. At least one of the attacking planes is shot down, and another flys off to the east, trailing smoke and fire. U-49 makes for exit. 01723 U-49 surfaces well west of Loch Ewe. On the way out of the inlet, the V&W returned, and was echo ranging which caused for some tense moments. But our 180 angle likely prevented returns and the rate of echo did not increase at any time during U-49s exit. Jun 25 U-49 patrolling area where convoy was encountered several days previous. 1546 Storm appears suddenly. Heavy fog, wind, rain and sea state. U-49 turns south for seas less patrolled. This fog, and the enemy's increasingly effective use of radar, cause us to wait out the storm before resuming any more attacks. We have no way to detect these ships when surfaced aside from sight, and by then it would be too late, as visbility is less than 400 meters. Jun 29 Recieved radio message that u-boat base in Bordeaux now open for business. Jul 1 Well west in BE grid. Weather unchanged. Avoid or evade until weather breaks. Jul 5 Weather unchanged. Routine unchanged. Riding out storm submerged except for recharge, with comfort of crew, increased range of search by hydrophone, and precaution against collisions and radar equipped warships dictating our actions. Jul 6 Weather breaks to a beautiful day. 0410 With never-dark conditions it is apparent the enemy can keep his air forces up around the clock. The storm that has just cleared lasted two weeks, and I'm sure the enemy is glad to be flying again. Increasing contacts with Hurricanes carrying single bomb on centerline. 0502 Alarm! Soon after surfacing from a sound sweep U-49 is attacked by Hurricanes. Flakgun had been manned and enemy taken under fire. Both planes released their bombs. One bomb landed uncomfortably close aboard port. No damage to either side and we sought safety in the deep Atlantic. 0610 Back at PD. Hydrophone contact with DD. Closing on a constant bearing. Up scope and sweep to see smoke from what becomes an old four-pipe flushdecker. 0629 Slow moving four-piper fired on with single G7a from bow tube on 080 starboard track, range 1000. At the exact moment of expected impact, Fritz reports sound of dud impact. DD immediately makes steam for all she's worth and comes right at us. U-49 had been turning for stern shot if necessary since firing first shot. 0631 Tube five fired at fast moving and wildly zigging DD. Her erratic course made targeting difficult, and a mag pistol with underkeel depth setting was used as a result. After 30 seconds, DD was almost on us, and with no detonation we were sure we had missed. Deep submergence ordered along with right full rudder to begin corkscrew and U-49 started down. 0633 First of string of 6 depth charges shook U-49 and caused minor damage to the upper decking. Continue to dive to 150 meters. 0636 Second string of DCs. These were not as close. End-run detonation of 0631 torpedo. 0639 Third string of DCs further away. 0642 Fourth and last string. U-49 escapes to the southwest. Jul 6 2056 Contact on hydrophone with fast closing DD screw on constant bearing. Normal approach course for beam attack. Speed determined to be 24 knots. Tribal DD was moving so quickly she was by before I was prepared, and the single G7a was fired from 600 meters on a 105 track, and already the gyros read 020. The short range should ensure a square enough impact provided we had her AoB, speed and range correct. After run of 26 seconds impact below front turret. Shot almost missed because by the time the shot was taken the AoB had increased far beyond the 77 we had set for the when the shot was intended to be taken. No measures were undertaken to reset the AoB as should have been done, and we are lucky this torpedo hit and detonated. Tribal destroyers are very capable, and we do not wish to give them a second chance if we can prevent it. If this torpedo had missed, it would certainly have been preventable, and I would be the only one to blame for the error. Tribal DD immediately started to slow and take a down angle as her foreward compartments flooded. The flooding soon overcame her bouyancy, and she stood on her bow before slipping below the sea. Jul 9 Weather closes in. Heavy rain, fog, wind and sea state. Jul 13 Weather unchanged. Routine submerged patrol . Recieved radio message that u-boat base in Lorient is now open for business. Jul 17 Weather unchanged. Routine submegred patrol. Screws heard since storm began. Boat conned to avoid. Jul 22 Weather unchanged. Jul 27 Weather unchanged. Jul 31 Damn the cursed weather! Aug 2 Weather unchanged. This storm has raged for 3 weeks. Fuel is now a concern. Will attempt to extend patrol as long as possible to expend remaining ordnance. Biscay bases give option to put in there. Supercharger has apparently caused minimum two-week reduction in endurance while gaining 1-2 knots at all engine speeds. 0610 While surfaced in fog and rain recharging batteries, U-49 is attacked by sudden gunfire from charging corvette. U-49 is struck 3 times by glancing gunfire before able to submerge. Siggi goes forward and comes back to report damage relatively minor. We've sprung a few leaks, and it is certain the hull has taken damage. Leveled off at 70 meters to not put too much strain on hull until damage can be properly assesed. 0612 First of 3 strings of innaccurate DCs fall astern. 0630 U-49 clear of corvette screws. Aug 4 Weather breaks to the finest day any on board can recall. Damage from corvette determined to be minor. The sharp angle we presented while under fire caused the rounds thats struck us to hit at such an angle they did not penetrate, or HE ammunition was used, preventing penetration of our pressure hull. In any case, will limit depth to maximum 100 meters to be certain until she can be inspected at base. 0655 U-49 attacks and sinks V&W class DD with two shot spread, range 1000. Spread was fired as insurance against dud. Aug 5 1259 Radio report of lone, fast enemy ship heading NE through BF grid toward Bristol channel. This is just southeast of U-49. Plot course and go to ahead flank to see if we can close for attack before she gets by. 1350 Barely visible through the mist is a huge, two stack transport. Due to the separation on her stacks, we believe she is already abreast. Speed clocks at 21 kts. At ahead flank, U-49 is barely holding 18 knots, so the shot had to happen now if we were to take it. Her flag was not visible at this distance, but certainly this ship was the subject of the 1259 report, and was classified in that report as enemy. 1351 With 5 foreward, and one after torpedo remaining, and not enough fuel for more than 4 days, all foreward tubes were quickly prepared for a four-shot G7a spread, 30 knot speed with 5 degrees deflection. Some quick calculation invloving the current range, bearing and AoB meant that these torpedos, if they were to have any chance of hitting her, would have to travel a very long way indeed, likely in excess of 10,000 meters if our current range info of 7400 meters were accurate. G7a's with 44 or 40 knot setting cannot travel in excess of 10,000 meters before they end-run detonate, so that left only the 30 knot speed. With the target's speed of 21 kts, that would mean an overtake of only 9 kts. It would be quite some time before we knew if we had hit her, and certainly this point, if the highly unlikely interception occurred, would be out of our visual range. We would dive immediately upon firing, as aircraft had been sighted almost continuously since weather broke yesterday. 1352 With virtually no chance of success, a four shot G7a spread with 5 degrees deflection from 7400 meters, AoB 90, 30 knot speed, depth 8 was fired at this ship estimated to be 40,000 tons. Almost at the instant the last torpedo was fired U-49 attacked by Hurricanes out of the sun. First bomb missed, but the second landed close enough to cover the bridge with water and knock some hull plates loose. Damage assesed as moderate and we dove as planned, but with with a bit more urgency than I would have liked. 1452 Ten minutes after firing the torpedos an impact is heard through the hydrophones. Fritz is grinning ear to ear. She is slowing. U-49 closes area liner expected to be if she has slowed drastically or come to a stop. 1501 Screws have stopped. She's dead in the water or sinking. Continue to close scene on last sound bearing. 1505 Liner in sight, smoking near rear stack, with small fire visible, but other wise appearing high and level. Single remaining foreward G7a fired on 090 port track, range 2100. Impact below front stack. Ship apparently unaffected, assumes no noticable angle or list. Swing for remaining stern fish. 1508 Final torpedo fired on 090 port track, range 2300 at back stack. Impact and ship aparently unaffected, assumes no noticable angle or list. 1630 U-49 lays to, submerged, watching liner. She does not appear to be sinking. Many aircraft overhead. When first warscrews heard closing the scene, U-49, out of torpedos, turns and sets course for Lorient. I believe a mistake was made in regards to the final firing. Evidence showed that the first spread's impact likely hit in region of back stack, as the fire and smoke were visible in that area. Second torpedo aimpoint of front stack is logical, to spread the flooding, and potentially explode fuel bunker. However, firing the third and final torpedo again at the back stack, while likely adding significantly to the damage, probably did not contribute to the flooding, having hit the same space as the first torpedo. Aug 7 0638 U-49 ties up at Lorient after 62 days at sea. __________________ What? Behind the rabbit?