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Paul Riley · 07-21-11, 11:14 AM

War diary of U-23 , Type IIA

2nd war patrol
Patrol orders - patrol grid AN87 for 24 hrs

10th Oct 1939

We left Kiel at 1353 hrs.
After reaching our assigned grid in AN87 and patrolling for 24hrs I decided to return to one of our favourite hunting grounds in AN16.I have no idea why HQ sent us to AN87,the Norwegians are neutral!.No sooner had we arrived there we were flooded with multiple sound contacts,including a small task force patrolling off the east coast of Britain.We also recieved a lot of incoming reports coming from Fastnet including convoy OB17.I had heard of Fastnet being spoken about by other captains back at Kiel but had no idea where it was,my navigator assures me it is just SW of Ireland.We will have to check this area out sometime,it sounds like it sees a lot of action in that area.

13th October
Day 3
We recieved sad news of U-42 lost due to a sustained attack by British warships,45 were lost with 20 survivors,only damaging 1 ship for 4.803 GRT.At 1731 hrs we recieved another radio report of convoy BE 3366 sighted by Luftwaffe reconaissance,inbound with a moderate escort.

16th Oct
Day 6
We recieved the glorious news of the Royal Oak being sunk and HMS Repulse was also damaged in AN 5633

18th Oct
Day 8
1032 hrs We sighted a lone coastal vessel travelling on course 164 at 9kts.I decided to break off from an attack due to the small tonnage of the vessel deciding instead to conserve our 5 torpedoes for larger tonnage.
1215 hrs
Second sound contact recieved
1219 hrs
visual contact on target,identified as a British Granville,travelling on course 336 at approx 4 kts.I set up for a submerged attack at 1000m using an impact tip at depth 4m.
1343 hrs
I decided to use a spread of two aimed at the foremast and funnel.Both were successful hits drifting slightly aft of intended spot as the target began to zig zag.
1358 hrs
Vessel sank on even keel for 4.513 GRT

20th Oct
Day 10
1034 hrs
We picked up a further sound contact and proceeded to intercept
1049 hrs
Visual contact on target,identified as a British tramp steamer travelling on course 146 at 4 kts.Proceeded to get well ahead of target for around 2 hrs and set up for a further submerged attack at approx 1000m.
ETA - 1250 hrs
1300 hrs
Target arrived on time.Fired 1 aimed at foremast.Torpedo hit drifting slightly aft below the funnel.
1338 hrs
Target still afloat listing heavily towards the stern.Prepared a second torpedo aimed slighty aft of impact site,torpedo hit the stern section.
Target finally sank stern first for 1.634 GRT
1454 hrs
Ship spotted,identified as a British passenger/cargo vessel,travelling 238 at approx 5 kts.Broke off from an attack due to current restrictions enforced regarding the sinking of any vessel carrying passengers,although there may have been vital war supplies onboard.

21st Oct
Day 11
0935 hrs
Sound contact,proceeded to intercept.After over an hour chasing the contact at high speed no visual sighting was made,vessel must have been very fast moving.

22nd Oct
Day 12
0811 hrs
We recieved a warship sound contact in the area,with more than one screw heard.I rose to periscope depth and observed 4 faint shadows on the horizon heading North,a small British task force on patrol.Returned to 25m and ordered silent operations until the threat had passed.
1012 hrs
Merchant sound contact,proceeded to intercept.
1023 hrs
Visual contact on vessel,identified as a British medium cargo,travelling on course 238 at 5 kts.Proceeded ahead and set up for a submerged attack at 500m.I needed to be extra certain of a hit and decided to move in closer than usual.As this was our last torpedo I decided to go ahead with a magnetic tip set for a depth of 10m.
1144 hrs
Fired 1 aimed directly at the funnel.Torpedo struck perfectly hitting directly beneath the funnel.Target appears to have been unaffected by the impact and proceeded on its course zig zagging wildly.
I decided to surface and put distance beteen us and shadow the target for 6hrs,or until nightfall,radioing in the ship's position every hour.
1800 hrs
Target carried on its journey forcing us to break off and set course for Kiel.We should arrive in no more than 5 days at 10 kts.
Request must be put in to transfer us into a larger VII

27th Oct
Day 16
0638 hrs
Arrived back at Kiel
17 days at sea

Patrol results
2 sunk for 6.147 GRT , 1 damaged
All torpedoes expended
Hit ratio - 100
Front Clasp medal awarded

Career total
3 sunk for 10.854 GRT , 1 damaged

Leutnant Z.S. Gerhard Hunstein

07-21-11, 11:14 AM	#3003
Paul Riley Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 2,679 Downloads: 165 Uploads: 0	U-23 completes 2nd war patrol War diary of U-23 , Type IIA 2nd war patrol Patrol orders - patrol grid AN87 for 24 hrs 10th Oct 1939 We left Kiel at 1353 hrs. After reaching our assigned grid in AN87 and patrolling for 24hrs I decided to return to one of our favourite hunting grounds in AN16.I have no idea why HQ sent us to AN87,the Norwegians are neutral!.No sooner had we arrived there we were flooded with multiple sound contacts,including a small task force patrolling off the east coast of Britain.We also recieved a lot of incoming reports coming from Fastnet including convoy OB17.I had heard of Fastnet being spoken about by other captains back at Kiel but had no idea where it was,my navigator assures me it is just SW of Ireland.We will have to check this area out sometime,it sounds like it sees a lot of action in that area. 13th October Day 3 We recieved sad news of U-42 lost due to a sustained attack by British warships,45 were lost with 20 survivors,only damaging 1 ship for 4.803 GRT.At 1731 hrs we recieved another radio report of convoy BE 3366 sighted by Luftwaffe reconaissance,inbound with a moderate escort. 16th Oct Day 6 We recieved the glorious news of the Royal Oak being sunk and HMS Repulse was also damaged in AN 5633 18th Oct Day 8 1032 hrs We sighted a lone coastal vessel travelling on course 164 at 9kts.I decided to break off from an attack due to the small tonnage of the vessel deciding instead to conserve our 5 torpedoes for larger tonnage. 1215 hrs Second sound contact recieved 1219 hrs visual contact on target,identified as a British Granville,travelling on course 336 at approx 4 kts.I set up for a submerged attack at 1000m using an impact tip at depth 4m. 1343 hrs I decided to use a spread of two aimed at the foremast and funnel.Both were successful hits drifting slightly aft of intended spot as the target began to zig zag. 1358 hrs Vessel sank on even keel for 4.513 GRT 20th Oct Day 10 1034 hrs We picked up a further sound contact and proceeded to intercept 1049 hrs Visual contact on target,identified as a British tramp steamer travelling on course 146 at 4 kts.Proceeded to get well ahead of target for around 2 hrs and set up for a further submerged attack at approx 1000m. ETA - 1250 hrs 1300 hrs Target arrived on time.Fired 1 aimed at foremast.Torpedo hit drifting slightly aft below the funnel. 1338 hrs Target still afloat listing heavily towards the stern.Prepared a second torpedo aimed slighty aft of impact site,torpedo hit the stern section. Target finally sank stern first for 1.634 GRT 1454 hrs Ship spotted,identified as a British passenger/cargo vessel,travelling 238 at approx 5 kts.Broke off from an attack due to current restrictions enforced regarding the sinking of any vessel carrying passengers,although there may have been vital war supplies onboard. 21st Oct Day 11 0935 hrs Sound contact,proceeded to intercept.After over an hour chasing the contact at high speed no visual sighting was made,vessel must have been very fast moving. 22nd Oct Day 12 0811 hrs We recieved a warship sound contact in the area,with more than one screw heard.I rose to periscope depth and observed 4 faint shadows on the horizon heading North,a small British task force on patrol.Returned to 25m and ordered silent operations until the threat had passed. 1012 hrs Merchant sound contact,proceeded to intercept. 1023 hrs Visual contact on vessel,identified as a British medium cargo,travelling on course 238 at 5 kts.Proceeded ahead and set up for a submerged attack at 500m.I needed to be extra certain of a hit and decided to move in closer than usual.As this was our last torpedo I decided to go ahead with a magnetic tip set for a depth of 10m. 1144 hrs Fired 1 aimed directly at the funnel.Torpedo struck perfectly hitting directly beneath the funnel.Target appears to have been unaffected by the impact and proceeded on its course zig zagging wildly. I decided to surface and put distance beteen us and shadow the target for 6hrs,or until nightfall,radioing in the ship's position every hour. 1800 hrs Target carried on its journey forcing us to break off and set course for Kiel.We should arrive in no more than 5 days at 10 kts. Request must be put in to transfer us into a larger VII 27th Oct Day 16 0638 hrs Arrived back at Kiel 17 days at sea Patrol results 2 sunk for 6.147 GRT , 1 damaged All torpedoes expended Hit ratio - 100 Front Clasp medal awarded Career total 3 sunk for 10.854 GRT , 1 damaged Leutnant Z.S. Gerhard Hunstein __________________ Played With: GWX3 + Commander 3.2 Realism: 85% Ironman Best Patrol: 10 merchants + HMS Nelson for 68.056 Tonnes Last edited by Paul Riley; 07-21-11 at 02:35 PM.