Quote:
Originally Posted by Kapitän
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Wednesday, 30 December 1942 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft
Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.; Freg.Kpt.d.R. Ernst HASSHAGEN) and 22nd U-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Wilhelm Ambrosius):
Dry-Run Exercises with Machinery/Mechanics; Weapons; Torpedoes.
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Allied convoy RA-51 departs Kola Inlet near Murmansk, Russia. To the west, U-354 (Kptlt. Karl-Heinz Herbschleb) detects Allied convoy JW-51B; Admiral Erich Raeder orders Lützow, Admiral Hipper, and six destroyers to sortie from Altafjord, Norway to intercept.
Convoy No. 72 (ONS.154):
At 1229 U 455 (Kptlt. Hans-Martin Scheibe) sighted the convoy in CE 1211. At 1850 boat reported it in BD 7956 and finally at 2100 in BD 7943. Contact was then lost for good. The other boats did not pick it up, as they were operating on the more southerly course of the convoy. At 0510 U 455 reported from BD 7878 a wide range hydrophone bearing in 230°. Follow up had no results. The hunt continued.
U 435 (Kptlt. Siegfried Strelow) sank the "Q" ship in CE 3178. It had already been unsuccessfully attacked by U 225 (Oblt. Wolfgang Leimkühler) and U 615 (Kptlt. Ralph Kapitzky) and was probably the "rescue ship" of the convoy. It was somewhat of the "Waldemar Kophamel" class, carrying a seaplane, strong armament and depth charge throwers.
Some 300 to 400 survivors (probably from steamers in the convoy that had been sunk) were drifting on overloaded rafts and in the water. On account of the worsening weather conditions it must be assumed that a great many were lost.
U 217 (VIID; Kptlt. Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke) Radar interception gear faulty, boat received the requested operational area EO 30 - 90.
U 109 (Kptlt. Heinrich Bleichrodt) Commander no longer fully fit for duty. Was ordered to continue operation. If necessary to hand over the command to the 1st Watch Keeping Officer (Oblt. Joachim Schramm).
U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts exercises with the AGRU-Front Hela.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115 |
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Thursday,
31 December 1942 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft
Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.; Freg.Kpt.d.R. Ernst HASSHAGEN) and 22nd U-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Wilhelm Ambrosius):
Dry-Run Exercises with Machinery/Mechanics; Weapons; Torpedoes.
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Battle of the Barents Sea takes place between the British Royal Navy and the KM. Royal Navy destroyers drive off Lützow, Admiral Hipper and six destroyers from attacking convoy JW-51B, loosing destroyer HMS Achates and minesweeper HMS Bramble, while we loose destroyer Z16 Friedrich Eckoldt. The Führer is furious, ordering the scrapping of the KM battle fleet, saying his battleships are useless "as much as scrap iron". Großadmiral Admiral Raeder resignes.
Convoy No. 72 (ONS.154):
Contact was not reestablished during the day. As only 5 boats still had sufficient fuel to continue operating the convoy hunt was broken off at dusk. Intended schedule: U 117 (XB; Korvkpt. Hans-Werner Neumann) is to refuel the 5 boats with the most fuel in the sea area reached. Later they are to operate in AJ with 3 boats en route to the area from Western France in order to pick up an "SC" convoy.
U 175 (Kptlt. Heinrich Bruns) reported situation in ET 3710 - 40. Single ship sighted in 3715, 90°. When attack was made on a single destroyer boat was followed for 7 hours with hydrophones and Asdic. No depth charges dropped.
U 217 (VIID; Kptlt. Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke) has been allocated operational area EO 10 - 60 as requested, because of Radar interception gear breakdown. U 214 (VIID; Kptlt. Günther Reeder) has taken over "Reichenbach's" task, i.e. a sortie to Aruba.
Air reconnaissance for homeward bound blockade runner "Rhakotis".
U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts exercises with the AGRU-Front Hela.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115