[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Wednesday, 8 April 1942 - West of Cape Finisterre -

0401 - Incoming F.T.: From U 252:
Operation "Dana" carried out. Have disembarked agent (Ib Riis) on Iceland. North coast of Iceland free of ice, ice boundary in AD 2911. Freighter 2000 BRT sunk in AE 4112. Continuing patrol. - Lerchen -

0455 - Morning Dawn.

0614 - Sunrise. SSE1/1, clear, light haze, good visibility, >1000mb.

0920 - Qu.1155CG - On new course 233°.

1002 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
To all boats: The italian ships Saturnia and Vulcania, are under an agreement with the English, Axis Powers and the International Red Cross, for the purpose of repatriation of Italian civilian colonist interned by the British in former Italian East African colonies, steaming to British Somaliland. In accordance with the agreement and Red Cross requirements both ships will be painted white, with red crosses on the sides and blue disks with white crosses on the funnel, and will be illuminated brightly at night. Saturina has departed Trieste on 4 April, and has joined Vulcania, on 6 April, south of Majorca. The ships cleared Gibraltar today and will travel to São Vicente, Cape Verde for refueling on 12 April. On route they will make a stop at Port Elizabeth, and are scheduled to reach to Berbera on 5 May. - B.d.U. -

1120 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Have crossed 15°W. Switching to Atlantic-Circuit. Passed neutral steamers as reported. On 7 April, at 0553h, in Qu.7278BF, Alarm from a single Catalina, approaching from 20°true, no bombs. Current position Qu.1173CG. 213cbm. 22 eels. NW1/1, clear, light haze, good visibility, >1000mb. Continuing outbound transit. - RST -

1200 - Qu.1175CG - Days Run: 270.3sm - (↗ 24h).
213cbm (6cbm/24h). Battery 10000Ah. 14+8 torpedoes. On course 233°. Weather and Sea unchanged since 1120h.

1221 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Message received. Continue acc. Op.-Order. - B.d.U. -

1610 - Incoming Ship Contact Report:
Current position Qu.3386CF, on course North, fast speed.

Boat is continuing outbound voyage, as ship is moving away.

1752 - Qu.3655CF - On new course 249°.

1905 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged since 1120h.

Continuing outbound transit acc. Op.-Orders.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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Thursday, 9 April 1942 - West of Portugal -

0510 - Morning Dawn.

0627 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged since 8 April, 1120h.

0822 - Qu.3755CF -

1200 - Qu.2993CF - Days Run: 271.3sm - (↗ 24h).
206cbm (7cbm/24h). Battery 10000Ah. 14+8 torpedoes. On course 249°. Weather and Sea unchanged since 1120h.

1802 - Norddeich Radio sending a lenghty radio report about the Battle of Suursaari, which was fought over the frozen Gulf of Finland on and around the islands of Gogland (Finnish: Suursaari) and Bolshoy Tyuters (Finnish: Suur-Tytärsaari): Determined to retake Gogland, the Finns concentrated a three battalion strong force to the nearby Haapasaaret Islands, which are roughly 20 km NNE of Gogland. Finnish forces were under command of Major General Aaro Pajari and consisted of the second battalion of the 6th Infantry Regiment, or II/JR 6, and the first battalion of the 27th Infantry Regiment, or I/JR 27, and the whole of the 2nd Coastal Battalion (RP 2) supported by the mortar and anti-tank gun companies of the 6th Infantry Regiment, 3rd company of the 23rd Engineer Battalion, 1st Battalion of the 19th Field Artillery Regiment (total of 12 guns), and two artillery batteries (total of 8 guns). The strength of the Soviet garrison was roughly 500 men but it lacked artillery, which meant that the garrison had to fight without support, while the Finns had artillery and air support.

Prior to the attack Finnish forces opened two roads over the ice to the island's vicinity. Assault troops rode in trucks as far as they could, then, in the pre-dawn hours of March 27, traveled the last five kilometers over the packed ice on skis. At 04:00 on 27 March 1942, Finnish artillery began bombarding known Soviet strongpoints on Gogland. Finnish forces successfully overcame most of the Soviet defenders and captured key locations on the island. Fatigue from the long march to the island, enemy resistance, and difficult terrain forced the Finns to halt their assault at 22:00, at which time the only remaining Soviet strongpoints were in the extreme southern and northern tips of the island. During the night some of the Soviet forces still on the island chose to flee over the ice. The Finns resumed clearing the island the next morning. In many cases, defending Soviet forces refused to surrender and put up very stiff resistance, forcing the Finns to use satchel charges on Soviet positions. The last remaining Soviet strongpoints were taken on the morning of 29 March. Small numbers of Soviet troops escaped over the ice towards Moshchny Island (Finnish: Lavansaari), though the fleeing men suffered losses from repeated strafing runs by Finnish Air Force fighters.

On March 30, 1942, with Gogland secured, the Finns sent a small patrol to investigate Bolshoy Tyuters. A strong Soviet garrison forced the patrol to depart. A stronger force was sent to capture the island on April 1, and by the time the company-sized force reached the island the Russians had abandoned it. On the following day the Russians returned, and despite Finnish resistance, managed to create strongpoints on the island. With German support, Finnish troops eventually managed drive off the remaining Soviets.

On April 8, 1942, after the German troops had transported artillery to the Bolshoy Tyuters, the Soviets launched another attack. The assault force was estimated to have been roughly 1,200 men strong, but the heavy German artillery on the island and lack of cover on the frozen Gulf of Finland caused heavy casualties among the Soviets. After the attack had been repulsed, the Finns left the island to Germany.

1919 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged since 8 April, 1120h.

2254 - Qu.5255CF - On new course 233°.

Continuing outbound transit acc. Op.-Orders.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.