[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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KTB - U 112

Tuesday, 3 September 1940 - Rockall Bank

0530 - Qu.1937AM - "Battle Stations!"

0539 - Changing course to 175°, commencing attack run. Target ships are a Standard Tanker in Pos.1 of the middle column and HMS Furious in Pos.2 behind the tanker.

(Note: This convoy has pretty much the same composition as the one before, also, with HMS Ark Royal in it. Naming the aircraft carrier HMS Furious, is merely my attempt to simulate a different aircraft carrier running in the convoy.).

0550 - Tubes I & II, G7a, K-a/Contact Fuse, running depth 4.5m, Vt30, on the Standard Tanker, Shooter: Ltnt.z.S. & I.W.O. Emmo MARBACH.

Both torpedoes are misses, as the convoy begins zig-zagging. Either, the torpedo wakes or the boat itself must have been sighted, even though, no star shells are fired.

0551 - Tubes III & IV, G7a, K-a/Contact Fuse, running depth 4.5m, Vt44, on HMS Furious, Shooter: Ltnt.z.S. & I.W.O. Emmo MARBACH.

Both are hits in the forecastle. HMS Furious explodes and sinks immediately. Must have hit the forward magazine.

Cmdr.: "I'm altering course to 50° and running off at high speed. Approximate distance to the nearest ship is 1000m. The forward sweeper - a V&W destroyer - detects the boat and opens fire with its deck guns but the shells are way off. Showing the destroyer our stern and going to flank speed. The destroyer is gaining on us fast."

0556 - At a distance of 1000m, "ALARM!". - Crash diving to A+70. Wabos (Depth Charges) above the boat and astern during further course.

0642 - Surfaced the boat after 46min. and 2.3sm. The destroyer is still searching for us in the distance and dropping Wabos. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!"

- to be continued -

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

- continued from 3 Sept., 0642h -

0700 - After about 1h of ASW action, the destroyer runs back to the convoy.

0715 - About 1.5h after the first attack, the convoy stops zig-zagging.

0745 - Qu.1938AM - Boat in position for a surface attack with the stern tubes, off the port beam of the convoy, course 355°, 50rpm ahead. "Battle Stations!".

0801 - Tubes V & VI, G7a, K-a/Contact Fuse, running depth 5m, Vt44, on a large tanker in Pos.3 of the middle column, Shooter: Ltnt.z.S. & I.W.O. Emmo MARBACH.

Both torpedoes are hits. The tanker breaks in two, explodes and sinks immediately in a horrific fireball.

Running off, first on a northerly course and then changing to 85°. The convoy is zig-zagging but the escorts make no attempt for a ASW search. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

- to be continued -