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Threadfin · 10-13-06, 01:48 PM

Patrol 9 February 14 - March 6, 1942
29th Flotilla, La Spezia, Italy

Intelligence was recieved at 29th Flotilla HQ informing that the British were intending to transport Spitfire fighter aircraft on two carriers, HMS Eagle and HMS Argus that would sail within range of Malta and launch the Spitfires, to reinforce the defending squadrons. In response, u-boats were to form a ring around the island and attempt to intercept this force.

U-94 refit included installation of FuMO29 radar, that should help with finding targets in bad weather. With a sweep of only +/- 10 degrees, it would provide little if any defensive benefit. AFA33 MAL 800 battery type installed, to provide additional submerged range and endurance, while retaining the shorter recharge times of the type AFA 27.

A second flak platform was installed on lower aft deck, with 20mm Zwilling mount. Just days before sailing a new torpedo type was delivered to La Spezia, type IV Falke, acoustic homing. Limited to a very slow speed of 20 knots, they will lock onto sounds of a target's screws and machinery and home in on the source of the sound. All three after slots would hold the acoustics, and foreward tube two took the fourth one allocated to U-94. All remaining tubes and slots were loaded with G7e.

Feb 14
U-94 sets sail from La Spezia. U-94 has been assigned a station to northwest of Malta in hopes of interdicting carriers or other enemy capital ships.

Feb 18
U-94 on station, conducting submerged patrol to reduce possiblity of detection.

Feb 19
U-94 closes port at Valetta for recon. Port screened by several Hunt and V&W class DD, plus two corvettes. Several cargo ships and a tanker in port. Very deep water to north of port, but rate of incline sharp approaching. While performing daytime periscope of port facilities, U-94 forced to lay to, or get run over by large, 9,000 ton British freighter. While viewing this ship through low power scope, it suddenly broke in two and flames shot up all along her lenght. Tilted the scope up to see two Ju-87 Stukas, with yellow cowls, leveling off after a very efficient attack.

2356 After watching a fast moving Hunt DD patrol a set course for several hours, U-94 moved in to 500 meters off base, and when DD crossed at 24 knots, fired G7e, which struck near forward turret, causing DD to sink quickly. With other local patrols sure to investigate, U-94 surfaced and cleared to northwest for recharge, and to load exeternal.

Feb 21
U-94 on station NW of Malta. Very few contacts here. A handful of merchants in past 48 hours, no sign of warships. Occasional air patrol, but we are submerged in daylight. They could be German, but we will take no chances.

Feb 24
Clear weather deteriorates to heavy storm overnight. 400m vis dictates submerged patrol except for recharge. When recharging, will set course on circles to use radar to see into the fog.

Feb 27
2103 Grid CN34 U-94 on station NW of Malta. Weather still heavy. Hydrophone picks up sounds of warscrews, closing from NW. The lane here is only 80 km wide, so they will have to come our way.

2132 Warscrews ahead, range unkown. We cannot surface to use our radar without having the enemy do the same. Several heavy screws in with DD screws. No chance of obtaining visual in poor weather. Assume best range is 4000+, and a two-shot G7e salvo is fired on sound bearings, with a 5 degree spread. These torpedos miss and enemy screws finally lost toward Valletta.

Mar 1
Weather breaks to clear and calm conditions. Intend to return to Valletta to see if any of the force that got by on the 27th are there, and to look for a target to try out the new torpedos. No major enemy ships in or around ports, but port screens provide opportunity to fire Falke in tube five.

The outer Hunt DDs are moving fast, 20+kts. That makes them a poor choice for Falke, since the torpedo could not catch up. When the torpedo, if it were on a normal intercept course, detects sound, it begins a 'turn-to', and before it can turn back, a fast moving ship is by, with no chance for the slow torpedo to overtake. Therefore we must limit our targets with this type of fish to those making 15kts or less, or to targets that are faster, but zigging, resulting in a slower base course speed.

The eastern port screen is a corvette making 12 kts, and after plotting his route for one hour, U-94 moves into position and at

2103 Falke fired from tube five on a 095 starboard track, range 1200 with underkeel mag pistol. The shot is held until after abeam to ensure it approaches from abaft, or the end making all the noise. These torpedos have a range of 7500m, so have plenty of legs to chase if it misses on the first pass. Assume that is what happens and after a run of 4 minutes the torpedo detonates below the corvette's stern, the DC racks explode and the after end catches fire. She sank one minute later, with U-94 already breaking the surface to clear expected investigation.

Mar 2
U-94 on station NW of Malta. Though our area is a good bottleneck, we are concerned we may be missing ships sailing to the south of Malta, so plot course to west, to be in position for any traffic entering or leaving the eastern Med.

Mar 4
Grid CN22 Hydropone contact of multiple warscrews closing from west. After short run at flank, plug is pulled for bearing checks that show us in position.

1927 Heavy screws mixed with DD screws. Certain task force.

1938 Task force in view. Two battleships with lead, trail and flank escort. U-94 3500 meters off base course, so move ahead standard to close range. Intend to shoot from inside port sceen. But reaching this position, and quietly, would be tight.

1940 Battleships are leading Royal Soveriegn and trailing King George. KG weaving a bit seemingly forced out of position by DD ahead. Intend target KG BB. TF speed determined to be 21 knots. Therefore, Falke in tubes two and five would be retained for defense, and a three-shot G7e spread is prepared, 4 meters depth, with zero degree deflection. The speed of the target will spread the impacts over a hundred meters if they all hit.

1947 Salvo fired at KG BB from range of 2100 meters, on a 060 port track. We made it inside the port screen by 500 meters. Immediately turned right 90 degrees to bring stern tube Falke to bear on any DD that gets too close. After run of two minutes and eleven seconds, all three torpedos impact target BB from bridge to after turret. No explosions or fires, but BB takes heavy list to port.

2000 BB still underway with heavy list. DDs milling around looking for us. At PD, conn to avoid. We hope to outwait the escort, then conduct end-around on BB, now estimated to be making 11 knots still on original base course. U-94 shadows BB, losing ground at 4 knots, while completing reload.

2032 Have lost sight of task force, and DD screws determined to be drawing ahead of BB. Surface, all ahead full. Batteries are down 1/4, so will use one engine to recharge, and U-94 is off on end around at 15 knots.

2115 BB in sight, we are on course to pass her on her port side by 5500 meters. Will then run upcourse by 20 km, to make beam periscope attack.

2118 Lookouts spot DD coming from general direction of BB, with zero angle. Plug is pulled as it seems certain they have us on radar. DD continues to come on, but after we submerged, DD began zig search.

2119 DD echo ranging and closing.

2120 Falke with underkeel mag pistol fired at closing V&W destroyer. Depth in this spot is only 73 meters. Of all the places in the Mediterranean to be caught.

2121 As DD passes close aboard to starboard, pinging and with searchlight on, the torpedo detonates and destroyer sinks. Good torpedos. Exact depth reading of 73 meters obtained by bouncing U-94 off the bottom. Minor leaks are fixed and at

2122 U-94 on surface at 15 kts to continue end around. We've lost 2000 meters to the BB while the DD forced us down. Commence reload on tube 2.

2142 In circumstances identical to previous aside from grounding, U-94 maneuvers to fire stern tube acoustic at closing, pinging, zigging Hunt class D. Again, DD gets very close before torpedo detonated under stern.

Identical circumstances occur at

2248, but with Hunt III
2306 but with C class who had been filling the sky with starshells, and G7e fired when DD presented zero angle. Down the throat underkeel mag
2344 but with American Clemson class DD. First shot missed zigging DD, and at minimum range, and maximum gyro, a desperation G7e ran under her after turret and sent her to the bottom. If this torpedo had missed we would have been in deep ****. First American ship sunk by U-94.

It is plain, that every time we surface to excute end around, we are detected by BB radar, and task force escorts are dispatched one at a time to investigate. They pick us up on radar. Each time we have surfaced, only the BB screws are in range, or 20 km. But within 10 or 15 minutes a DD is seen at zero angle with a bone in her teeth. The task force had six escorts, we've sent 5 of them to the bottom, and have one torpedo remaining. Surface and on the run. If possible, we hope to avoid the DD should it come back, and fire this fish at the ailing battleship.

In an effort to avoid similar circumstances to last encounters, U-94 swing further north. We have the BB's course plotted, and now in grid CN23, there little place for her to turn. Our 20 km buffer allows us to get ahead of where her last known speed would carry her, and we turn right to close base course.

Mar 5
0315 BB not in sight or on hydrophones. As U-94 continues to close base course at 20 knots, lookouts spot a DD showing a broad angle. Looks like we spotted him first this time. Plug is pulled to continue on closing base course, and let DD go by. Rigged for silent at 4 kts. DD does not detect us and continues on last known TF course.

0322 BB now closing. Showing very heavy port list, portside decks awash with each roll to that side. Speed has fallen to six knots, which explains why she wasn't there as expected when first closing base course. All the better, we've had plenty of time to position and get her speed, and at

0327 Final torpedo fired at foreward turrets on 090 port track from 500 meters. The ship looked huge in the scope, and I had to switch to low power to use the stadimeter for final range. After a run of 31 seconds, impact below bridge (she was likely making 7 knots). BB immediately capsized to port, rolling over completely and sinking evenly in 35 seconds.

U-94 surfaces, and rolls for the barn at 20 knots, with flak gunners posted.

Mar 6
0822 U-94 ties up at La Spezia, after just 21 days at sea.

Everything good in ths patrol happened in pitch dark, except for the Stuka attack, and that stunned me a bit. Just got one shot of a Stuka in the edge of the scope.. So there's not much that can be seen in the screenies I took. But anyway, here's the final shot that rolled HMS Anson over.

I used gamma to brighten it up a little, but it makes it looked washed out and I don't like that

The attack and chase of HMS Anson lasted over 7 hours from sighting to sinking and covered 130 km of Mediterranean sea.

10-13-06, 01:48 PM	#11
Threadfin Ace of the Deep Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,163 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Patrol 9 February 14 - March 6, 1942 29th Flotilla, La Spezia, Italy Intelligence was recieved at 29th Flotilla HQ informing that the British were intending to transport Spitfire fighter aircraft on two carriers, HMS Eagle and HMS Argus that would sail within range of Malta and launch the Spitfires, to reinforce the defending squadrons. In response, u-boats were to form a ring around the island and attempt to intercept this force. U-94 refit included installation of FuMO29 radar, that should help with finding targets in bad weather. With a sweep of only +/- 10 degrees, it would provide little if any defensive benefit. AFA33 MAL 800 battery type installed, to provide additional submerged range and endurance, while retaining the shorter recharge times of the type AFA 27. A second flak platform was installed on lower aft deck, with 20mm Zwilling mount. Just days before sailing a new torpedo type was delivered to La Spezia, type IV Falke, acoustic homing. Limited to a very slow speed of 20 knots, they will lock onto sounds of a target's screws and machinery and home in on the source of the sound. All three after slots would hold the acoustics, and foreward tube two took the fourth one allocated to U-94. All remaining tubes and slots were loaded with G7e. Feb 14 U-94 sets sail from La Spezia. U-94 has been assigned a station to northwest of Malta in hopes of interdicting carriers or other enemy capital ships. Feb 18 U-94 on station, conducting submerged patrol to reduce possiblity of detection. Feb 19 U-94 closes port at Valetta for recon. Port screened by several Hunt and V&W class DD, plus two corvettes. Several cargo ships and a tanker in port. Very deep water to north of port, but rate of incline sharp approaching. While performing daytime periscope of port facilities, U-94 forced to lay to, or get run over by large, 9,000 ton British freighter. While viewing this ship through low power scope, it suddenly broke in two and flames shot up all along her lenght. Tilted the scope up to see two Ju-87 Stukas, with yellow cowls, leveling off after a very efficient attack. 2356 After watching a fast moving Hunt DD patrol a set course for several hours, U-94 moved in to 500 meters off base, and when DD crossed at 24 knots, fired G7e, which struck near forward turret, causing DD to sink quickly. With other local patrols sure to investigate, U-94 surfaced and cleared to northwest for recharge, and to load exeternal. Feb 21 U-94 on station NW of Malta. Very few contacts here. A handful of merchants in past 48 hours, no sign of warships. Occasional air patrol, but we are submerged in daylight. They could be German, but we will take no chances. Feb 24 Clear weather deteriorates to heavy storm overnight. 400m vis dictates submerged patrol except for recharge. When recharging, will set course on circles to use radar to see into the fog. Feb 27 2103 Grid CN34 U-94 on station NW of Malta. Weather still heavy. Hydrophone picks up sounds of warscrews, closing from NW. The lane here is only 80 km wide, so they will have to come our way. 2132 Warscrews ahead, range unkown. We cannot surface to use our radar without having the enemy do the same. Several heavy screws in with DD screws. No chance of obtaining visual in poor weather. Assume best range is 4000+, and a two-shot G7e salvo is fired on sound bearings, with a 5 degree spread. These torpedos miss and enemy screws finally lost toward Valletta. Mar 1 Weather breaks to clear and calm conditions. Intend to return to Valletta to see if any of the force that got by on the 27th are there, and to look for a target to try out the new torpedos. No major enemy ships in or around ports, but port screens provide opportunity to fire Falke in tube five. The outer Hunt DDs are moving fast, 20+kts. That makes them a poor choice for Falke, since the torpedo could not catch up. When the torpedo, if it were on a normal intercept course, detects sound, it begins a 'turn-to', and before it can turn back, a fast moving ship is by, with no chance for the slow torpedo to overtake. Therefore we must limit our targets with this type of fish to those making 15kts or less, or to targets that are faster, but zigging, resulting in a slower base course speed. The eastern port screen is a corvette making 12 kts, and after plotting his route for one hour, U-94 moves into position and at 2103 Falke fired from tube five on a 095 starboard track, range 1200 with underkeel mag pistol. The shot is held until after abeam to ensure it approaches from abaft, or the end making all the noise. These torpedos have a range of 7500m, so have plenty of legs to chase if it misses on the first pass. Assume that is what happens and after a run of 4 minutes the torpedo detonates below the corvette's stern, the DC racks explode and the after end catches fire. She sank one minute later, with U-94 already breaking the surface to clear expected investigation. Mar 2 U-94 on station NW of Malta. Though our area is a good bottleneck, we are concerned we may be missing ships sailing to the south of Malta, so plot course to west, to be in position for any traffic entering or leaving the eastern Med. Mar 4 Grid CN22 Hydropone contact of multiple warscrews closing from west. After short run at flank, plug is pulled for bearing checks that show us in position. 1927 Heavy screws mixed with DD screws. Certain task force. 1938 Task force in view. Two battleships with lead, trail and flank escort. U-94 3500 meters off base course, so move ahead standard to close range. Intend to shoot from inside port sceen. But reaching this position, and quietly, would be tight. 1940 Battleships are leading Royal Soveriegn and trailing King George. KG weaving a bit seemingly forced out of position by DD ahead. Intend target KG BB. TF speed determined to be 21 knots. Therefore, Falke in tubes two and five would be retained for defense, and a three-shot G7e spread is prepared, 4 meters depth, with zero degree deflection. The speed of the target will spread the impacts over a hundred meters if they all hit. 1947 Salvo fired at KG BB from range of 2100 meters, on a 060 port track. We made it inside the port screen by 500 meters. Immediately turned right 90 degrees to bring stern tube Falke to bear on any DD that gets too close. After run of two minutes and eleven seconds, all three torpedos impact target BB from bridge to after turret. No explosions or fires, but BB takes heavy list to port. 2000 BB still underway with heavy list. DDs milling around looking for us. At PD, conn to avoid. We hope to outwait the escort, then conduct end-around on BB, now estimated to be making 11 knots still on original base course. U-94 shadows BB, losing ground at 4 knots, while completing reload. 2032 Have lost sight of task force, and DD screws determined to be drawing ahead of BB. Surface, all ahead full. Batteries are down 1/4, so will use one engine to recharge, and U-94 is off on end around at 15 knots. 2115 BB in sight, we are on course to pass her on her port side by 5500 meters. Will then run upcourse by 20 km, to make beam periscope attack. 2118 Lookouts spot DD coming from general direction of BB, with zero angle. Plug is pulled as it seems certain they have us on radar. DD continues to come on, but after we submerged, DD began zig search. 2119 DD echo ranging and closing. 2120 Falke with underkeel mag pistol fired at closing V&W destroyer. Depth in this spot is only 73 meters. Of all the places in the Mediterranean to be caught. 2121 As DD passes close aboard to starboard, pinging and with searchlight on, the torpedo detonates and destroyer sinks. Good torpedos. Exact depth reading of 73 meters obtained by bouncing U-94 off the bottom. Minor leaks are fixed and at 2122 U-94 on surface at 15 kts to continue end around. We've lost 2000 meters to the BB while the DD forced us down. Commence reload on tube 2. 2142 In circumstances identical to previous aside from grounding, U-94 maneuvers to fire stern tube acoustic at closing, pinging, zigging Hunt class D. Again, DD gets very close before torpedo detonated under stern. Identical circumstances occur at 2248, but with Hunt III 2306 but with C class who had been filling the sky with starshells, and G7e fired when DD presented zero angle. Down the throat underkeel mag 2344 but with American Clemson class DD. First shot missed zigging DD, and at minimum range, and maximum gyro, a desperation G7e ran under her after turret and sent her to the bottom. If this torpedo had missed we would have been in deep ***. First American ship sunk by U-94. It is plain, that every time we surface to excute end around, we are detected by BB radar, and task force escorts are dispatched one at a time to investigate. They pick us up on radar. Each time we have surfaced, only the BB screws are in range, or 20 km. But within 10 or 15 minutes a DD is seen at zero angle with a bone in her teeth. The task force had six escorts, we've sent 5 of them to the bottom, and have one torpedo remaining. Surface and on the run. If possible, we hope to avoid the DD should it come back, and fire this fish at the ailing battleship. In an effort to avoid similar circumstances to last encounters, U-94 swing further north. We have the BB's course plotted, and now in grid CN23, there little place for her to turn. Our 20 km buffer allows us to get ahead of where her last known speed would carry her, and we turn right to close base course. Mar 5 0315 BB not in sight or on hydrophones. As U-94 continues to close base course at 20 knots, lookouts spot a DD showing a broad angle. Looks like we spotted him first this time. Plug is pulled to continue on closing base course, and let DD go by. Rigged for silent at 4 kts. DD does not detect us and continues on last known TF course. 0322 BB now closing. Showing very heavy port list, portside decks awash with each roll to that side. Speed has fallen to six knots, which explains why she wasn't there as expected when first closing base course. All the better, we've had plenty of time to position and get her speed, and at 0327 Final torpedo fired at foreward turrets on 090 port track from 500 meters. The ship looked huge in the scope, and I had to switch to low power to use the stadimeter for final range. After a run of 31 seconds, impact below bridge (she was likely making 7 knots). BB immediately capsized to port, rolling over completely and sinking evenly in 35 seconds. U-94 surfaces, and rolls for the barn at 20 knots, with flak gunners posted. Mar 6 0822 U-94 ties up at La Spezia, after just 21 days at sea. Everything good in ths patrol happened in pitch dark, except for the Stuka attack, and that stunned me a bit. Just got one shot of a Stuka in the edge of the scope.. So there's not much that can be seen in the screenies I took. But anyway, here's the final shot that rolled HMS Anson over. I used gamma to brighten it up a little, but it makes it looked washed out and I don't like that The attack and chase of HMS Anson lasted over 7 hours from sighting to sinking and covered 130 km of Mediterranean sea. __________________ What? Behind the rabbit?* Last edited by Threadfin; 10-13-06 at 07:04 PM.