[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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KTB - U 113

4th War Patrol

Saturday, 4 April 1942- 2nd U.-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Heinz Fischer, 08.41 - 01.43) - Lorient (Qu.6157BF)

Final Repairs and Adjustments. Basin Trials. Taking on of fresh food and water provisions.

Received Op.-Orders:

1. Outbound transfer in escort of Blockade Runner "Rostock", on Paths "Rosabella", "Cederland", "Tannennadel", to Point "Tanne" (200m-Line).

Be aware of areas endangered by enemy mines:
Area 1:
Between
47° N - 5° 30' W, Qu.BF5463
47° 30' N - 5° 30' W, Qu.BF5196
47° 40' N - 7° 20' W, Qu.BF4392
48° 20' N - 7° 20' W, Qu.BF1998
Area 2:
Between
48° N - 9° W, Qu.BF4229
49° N - 10° W, Qu.BF1736

2. Expect very strong enemy air cover in the Bay of Biscay, Qu.BF40! Plan for extended submerged cruises, during outbound and inbound transit through the Bay of Biscay.

3. Deep Dive Trial on Point "Tanne", according B.d.U.-Standing Order 507.

4. After successful deep dive trial, first status report
when crossing 15°W and switching to Atlantic-Frequency.

5. Expect the following neutral vessels on your outbound transit:
- On 6 April, in the morning, in QU.5430BF, an inbound armed spanish merchant escorted by a corvette.
- During night of 6 April to 7 April, in Qu.7230BF, an inbound spanish merchant.
- On 7 April, in the morning, in Qu.7270BF, an inbound armed portuguese merchant.

6. For Re-fueling and Re-supply are available:
- MV Theseus in Marq.DQ75.
- U 459 from 21 April until 12 June in Marqu.BC74 and from 12 June until 12 July in Marqu.BC75.

7. Occupy Marqu.ED23 for 24h and report back to B.d.U.
Linear distance to patrol grid is 4130sm or 7650km.

8. Standing War Order of B.d.U., No.302, dated 1 January 1942, Depth-setting of torpedoes (excerpts):
1) In general, torpedoes are to be set as shallow as possible, i.e.,
- G7e depth 2 to 3m
- G7a depth 3m,
- both according to state of weather and draught of target.
2) For fully laden targets of more than 6000ts, set deeper, up to draught minus 3 metres.
3) For warships from cruisers upwards, Depth-setting = draught minus 3 metres.
Recurring suspicion that torpedoes are not keeping their depth makes it essential to study carefully and carry out minutely the respective orders (Torpedo Crew's Instructions and TEK Memorandum Book):
1) Test the fire-control apparatus.
2) Fire without using the fire-control apparatus.
3) Make absolutely accurate firing-tables (including the most accurate estimate possible of the size of the target.
Send in F.T. report on unexplained misses that have occurred and the supposed nature of the failure, with the most important tables, as soon as the situation permits.

Pre-War Patrol Preparations completed.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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KTB - U 113

4th War Patrol

Sunday, 5 April 1942- 2nd U.-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Heinz Fischer, 08.41 - 01.43) - Lorient (Qu.6157BF)

- Easter Sunday -

0700 - N2/2, clear, visibility 8-9sm, >1000mb.
Casting off from bunker. Left for Fourth War Patrol with U 113 and Sixteenth War Patrol overall.

Taking on escort, distance 300m.
Some burning ships in Lorient - probably, ran aground during fog. A pair Me110 are patrolling the harbor and roadstead and a pair of Ju52 "Mausi", are searching the area north of Ìle de Groix for mines.

0800 - Point Luci-1. Releasing escort.
Met incoming U 564 (Suhren), entering Lorient for taken on on fuel and fresh water before its 5th war patrol (Florida Strait), and U 129 (Clausen), returning from its 4th war patrol (South America).

0812 - New course 180°.

Testing of Diesel Engines:
- K.F., 7kn;
- 1/3-Ahead, 10kn;
- 2xH.F., 14kn;
- G.F., 16.5kn;
- A.K., 17.5kn.

0818 - New course 257°. Two torpedo boats and fours minesweepers ar patrolling the area south of Ìle de Groix.
In due course, passed quite a few french fish trawlers and a Schooner on a southerly heading.

0920 - Distance to Blockade Runner is 400m, speed 9kn/275RPM (Range: 14150sm/26200km).

0945 - A German Destroyer on a southerly heading, is crossing our stern at a distance of 5000m.

1111 - A type VIIC boat on course ESE to our stbd. beam, E=2000.

1127 - Qu.6177BF - Two pair of Me109 in 150°true, E=12000. on course ENE.

1200 - Qu.6177BF - Days Run: 54.0sm/100km - (↗ 5h) - since Lorient.
239.0cbm (1cbm/5h). 14+8 torpedoes. Weather unchanged since Lorient.

1202 - Third Position and Status Request for U 702 (Kptlt.von Rabenau). Boat is presumed lost.

(U 702, VIIC, Kptlt.Wolf-Rüdiger von Rabenau, was sunk on 31 March 1942 - on the second day of its first war patrol - in the North Sea west of Denmark, in approx. position 56.34N, 06.16E, by a mine in the British field FD 37, laid by the French submarine "Rubis", on 21 March 1942; 44 dead, all hands lost)

- to be continued -