[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Saturday, 19 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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Erich von Manstein's units aiming to relieve the 6th Army, reached a point 30 miles south of Stalingrad, which will turn out to be the extent of their advance.

Captured French sloops La Batailleuse and Commandant Rivière depart Bizerte, Tunisia with an Italian crew for La Spezia.

Flower Corvette HMS Snapdragon (K 10) is bombed and sunk by our Luftwaffe northwest of Benghazi, Libya.

Convoy No. 71:
About 2000 U 106 (Kptlt. Hermann Rasch; ex Oesten) heard rapid screw noises in CF 3619, in a direction of 340°. Boat followed up, but did not establish contact. If convoy was traveling at 10.5 knots, it might be the one that was reported on 19.12. by U 441 (Kptlt. Klaus Hartmann). But as this speed was unlikely in bad weather, the position could not be used as a basis for a directed operation. The boats continued to search.

U 182 (IXD2; Kptlt. Nicolai Clausen) was proceeding to the S. outside the enemy air patrol area via CF 40, EJ 40, FM 20. Operations in Capetown area were intended.

U 175 (Kptlt. Heinrich Bruns) reported when asked that he had encountered no shipping since 16.12. in squares EJ 6560, 6950, 9670, 9690, 6990 and 6530. He intended to operate closer to the coast when the moon is waning. As the squares named were some 200 miles W. of Dakar, the boat was instructed to search nearer in-shore at once. Boat had not operated as ordered.

Of the Natal boats, U 126 (Kptlt. Ernst Bauer) and U 174 (Fregkpt. Ulrich Thilo) had to turn back because of lack of fuel. 5 boats remained in the area, but 2 had little fuel and another had been damaged.

U 221 (Oblt. Hans-Hartwig Trojer) refueled U 758 (Kptlt. Helmut Manseck). Both boats continued on homeward journey.

POWs Chief Petty Officers Wally Hammond and Don Lister, having previously escaped from the Oflag IV-C at Colditz Castle, Germany, successfully cross the border into Switzerland.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) breaks off Torpedo Trials at the T.E.K. Gotenhafen, due to high congestion of boats.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

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

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Sunday, 20 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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The RAF uses "Oboe", an aid to the bombing radar, operationally for the first time.

All of the USAAF 59th Fighter Squadron's P-40F fighters are transferred to a French squadron in North Africa.

U 618 (Oblt. Kurt Baberg) had again made a sortie to Casablanca. No shipping, situation unaltered. Boat was allotted CG 47 as new area. It was intended that he should work with Group "Westwall".

U 91 (Kptlt. Heinz Walkerling) took over fuel from U 155 (Kptlt. Adolf Cornelius Piening) and radar interception cable from "Milkcow" U 463 (KrvKpt. Leo Wolfbauer) and is now continuing his homeward journey.

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

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115