[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

+++++++

Saturday, 2 January 1943 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft

Concluded 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).

Transferred to the 4th Training Flotilla, Stettin (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER) and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER).

+++++++

He 111 aircraft stationed at Morozovskaya Airfield, Rostov Oblast, Russia, are evacuated. Since the aircraft can not take all the equipment and supplies with them, commanding officer of KG 55 Oberstleutnant Ernst Kühl remains behind with a small staff in the hopes that the ground troops will be able to blunt the Soviet offensive, so that the aircraft can return.

The Romanian "Conducător of the Nation", Prime Minister Ion Antonescu, meets with The Führer to discuss the ensuing disaster in Stalingrad.

U 620 (Oblt. Heinz Stein) 27.12 definitely established "Q" ship working with patrol vessels in CF 8325. Double miss fired.

U 124 (Kptlt. Johann Mohr): No shipping on any steamer routes. Regular day reconnaissance up to 400 miles from Trinidad, no location. Bombs.

Former reconnaissance tasking by Group "DELPHIN" of the supposed east-west shipping route south of the Azores in CD 90, has been broken off, as no success was scored.
Group including "Milkcow" U 463 (KrvKpt. Leo Wolfbauer) has been instructed to cruise to the south at the same distance apart between longitude 35° West and 42° West. After being refueled later, the Group is to operate off Natal.

As U 109 (Kptlt. Heinrich Bleichrodt) is returning, U 105 (Kptlt. Jürgen Nissen) is going to occupy her sector. (N.N.E. of Trinidad).

Air reconnaissance for survivors of "RHAKOTIS".

Attack is sanctioned for the whole of route "Anton" north of 5° South.

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 ...

+++++++

Sunday, 3 January 1943 - Stettin

Arrived at the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER).

+++++++

Soviet troops capture Mozdok, in the northern Caucasus region.

Lieutenant R. T. G. Greenland RNVR and Leading Signalman A. Ferrier, penetrate Palermo harbour in Sicily, on a Chariot human torpedo and sink the Italian light cruiser Ulpio Traiano.

USAAF heavy bombers attack the docks and U-Boat pens at Saint-Nazaire, starting several fires.

U 507 (KrvKpt. Harro Schacht) reported that she had sunk "Baron Dechmont" (3,675 GRT) in FB 9141 course 1200, speed 9 knots. Captain taken on board.

U 105 (Kptlt. Jürgen Nissen) in sector ordered since 28.12. Nothing seen except patrols in ED 9836 and destroyer in 9658, 550, moderate air patrolling by day, nothing seen at night, no location.

U 176 (Kptlt. Reiner Dierksen) from FK 23 to 49 and ER 97 to 63 and ES 40 nothing seen excepting land-based plane once in FK 54 and 23.12. 13 of 20 cells in the after-battery compartment faulty, operationally ready.

U 175 (Kptlt. Heinrich Bruns) found dogged air patrolling off Freetown. Bombs, searchlights. Kept under water 32 hours by location. Systematic air operation tried to starve boat out. Operations close inshore brought little success. Moved away because of high battery temperature and faulty Junkers compressor.

Group "FALKE":
U 706 (Kptlt. Alexander von Zitzewitz) chased independent on course 230° speed 13 knots for 5 hours. Despite highest possible speed boat lost contact. Returned to station.
U 333 (Oblt. Werner Schwaff; "Ali" Cremer in hospital) reported 1427 chasing passenger steamer SW speed 13 knots. 1945 recognized as English hospital ship. Boat returned to station (Probably the same vessel as one sighted by U 706).

U 618 (Oblt. Kurt Baberg) reported lighted freighter without any neutrality markings proceeding from CG 5839 to 5559 going north. Boat was ordered to leave ship alone.

U 225 (Oblt. Wolfgang Leimkühler) and U 615 (Kptlt. Ralph Kapitzky) carried out replenishment, on return voyage.

U 406 (Kptlt. Horst Dieterichs) took over a sick man from U 123 (Oblt. Horst von Schroeter; ex Hardegen) and gave fuel to U 455 (Oblt. Hans-Martin Scheibe), on return voyage.

U 163 (Korvkpt. Kurt-Eduard Engelmann) took over a sick man from U 96 (Oblt. Hans-Jürgen Hellriegel; ex Lehmann-Willenbrock) and radar interceptor escort from U 409 (Oblt. Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann).

U 659 (Kptlt. Hans Stock) and U 621 (Oblt. Max Kruschka) broke off search for "Rhakotis".

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts exercises with the AGRU-Front Hela.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115