Quote:
Originally Posted by Kapitän
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Tuesday, 29 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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U 124 (Kptlt. Johann Mohr) tanker convoy last position ED 9694 at 0800 29.12., course 70°, 11 knots. Misses fired, contact lost when forced by plane to submerge. No air or sea patrol in Tabaca (Tobago). Freighter entering port sunk in ED 9964 (4,000 GRT).
Convoy No. 72 (ONS.154):
Contact was maintained by Group "Spitz". Convoy was reported as 10 steamers in double line abreast. U 260 (Kptlt. Hubertus Purkhold) was detected during a day attack. U 455 (Kptlt. Hans-Martin Scheibe) fired a double miss. U 591 (Kptlt. Hans-Jürgen Zetzsche) was forced to move away. Last report at 1830. Contact was lost through bad visibility.
During the night flares were reported several times. Probably the flares were dropped by escort planes at some distance in order to mislead the submarines. U 225 (Oblt. Wolfgang Leimkühler) reported miss fire at "Q-ship" with plane on board. U 615 (Kptlt. Ralph Kapitzky) fired 5 single shots at the same ship with no effect, torpedo nets presumed. Ship employed plane and worked at night with a shallow M.T.B.
U 86 (Kptlt. Walter Schug) was ordered to make a protracted return via BD 98 (Position of sinkings by Group "Spitz").
The loss of U 357 (Kptlt. Adolf Kellner; last attacking homeward bound convoy in AM) and of U 356 (Oblt. Günther Ruppelt; last attacking Convoy No. 72, Group "Spitz") must be assumed. Boats have not replied to repeated call-ups.
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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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