[sublynx]

March 1942
Ob.Lt. z S. Erich Scheide
U-451 ("die Elster"), VIIC, 7.th Flotilla, St.Nazaire
New orders: Shadow/attack convoy
Location: Grid BF 41
Weather: 8m/s, clear, no rain, visibility 9 - 11 kilometers

Shadowing an outbound convoy of 5 - 6 escorts and 21 - 22 merchants. The convoy's course is 235, speed 8 knots. The convoy seems to have one escort in front, one in back, two on the left flank and at least one escort on the right flank. There are at least three 10 000 BRT ships on the convoy. The escorts haven't been leaving their guard sites. Either they don't have radar or they keep their posts even if they get a radar signal. The visibility is good, so we would have noticed if they had tried to chase us.

My two attacks at daytime at PD from the left flank were detected by the two flank guards and I had to evade. One depth charge attack shook the boat very violently but apparently there was no damage to the boat.

One daylight attack at PD from the front was successful. One 10 000 BRT grosses frachtschiff (AOB 90, 1100m), one 8990 BRT tanker (AOB 75, 1700m) and one kleiner frachter sunk. Only the first ship was a sure shot, the tanker I misidentied and the kleiner frachter was unlucky enough to hit an aft shot torpedo that missed it's intended target. Five G7e's and two G7a's left. Escaped amidst the convoy at A+70, making mostly 2 knots, mostly straight ahead and away from the convoy's body. It seems only one escort closed in to really try to hunt us. Avoiding the hunter we got 5 -6 pings from the rear guard, before turning slightly towards him. No DC's anywhere close.

Before spotting this convoy we hunted in grids BF 16, BF 24 and BF 19. These grids were patrolled by lone escorts and a group of 3 destroyers. No aircraft sightings. Managed to sunk a mittleres frachter by torpedoes and a trawler by FlaK guns.

In those grids it's better to leave sinking sites quickly, as the destroyers patrolling the area will come and try to find the attacker. Managed to evade at periscope depth, but had to be quick about it. Having two FlaK guns on our boat made the sinking of the trawler quicker but it is questionable if giving away the boat's presence and location for attacking such a small ship is worth it. The enemy will try to find you and might divert their shipping to a safer route.