Quote:
Originally Posted by Kapitän
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 |
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Friday,
1 January 1943 - 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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The 1st Panzer Division withdraws from the Terek area in southern Russia, to prevent encirclement by the Soviet Salsk-Rostov and Mozdok-Stavropol Offensive Operations.
U 164 (Korvkpt. Otto Fechner) reported: Sank Swedish vessel "Brageland" (2,608 tons) in conformity with prize regulations course 320° (in FB 3815).
U 438 (Kptlt. Rudolf Franzius) is returning after intake of water in air supply trunk when making a trial dive at A plus 40.According to their fuel reserves homeward bound boats were instructed to stalk the convoy sighted by FW 200 at 1500 in BE 5942, course 240°, speed 8 knots. If these boats made contact, it was intended that battle-worthy boats lying farther off should be guided in. Correction of position showed that the enemy was in BE 9218 at 1625.
Thus it was very probably a Gibraltar convoy, and so the presence of cruisers was to be expected. As no operationally ready submarines were available for this area, the operation was broken off.
U 628 (Oblt. Heinrich Hasenschar) refueled from U 117 (XB; Korvkpt. Hans-Werner Neumann) in BD 9489. U 117 will supply U 524, 591, 435, 336, 225, 615 according to plan."Rhakotis" (Blockade-runner from Japan to Europe) was in action with an English destroyer in BF 7157 and scuttled herself at 1700, her escort submarines were then detailed to search for survivors.
The case of "Rhakotis" has again showed that submarines are unable to protect blockade runners or carry out reconnaissance for them. Attention is again drawn to repeated situation reports on this subject. The misleading character of remote reconnaissance is shown by the fact that U 410 (KrvKpt. Kurt Sturm) thought she was 40 miles off the vessel she was protecting and when she unintentionally came up with "Rhakotis", reported her as an enemy merchant ship.
U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts exercises with the AGRU-Front Hela.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115