[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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KTB - U 113

Tuesday, 16 December - 2nd U.-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Heinz Fischer, 08.41 - 01.43) - Lorient -

0900 - Received Op.-Orders:

1. Outbound transfer on Path "Kernleder" until Point "Kern" (200m-Line).

2. Deep Dive Trial on Point "Kern" to 2A-Meter.

3. After successful deep dive trial, first status report
when crossing 15°W and switching to Atlantic-Frequency. After that, keep radio silence!

4. Proceed acc. special orders under code word "Paukenschlag". Occupy Marqu.16DC for 24h and perform reconnaissance operations along the U.S.A. east coast. Tentative date for the concerted attack together with the other boats is 14 January 1942, however, commence attack only after code word has been given.

5. Atlantic crossing has to be done with most fuel economical speed.

6. Do not to attack anything on the outbound cruise unless an especially attractive target is located, such as a big warship, e.g., cruiser, carrier or battleship.

Cmdr.: But like B.d.U. likes to say, "We never let a 10,000 tonner pass us by." ...

1315 - N2/2, clear, visibility 8-9sm, >1000mb -
Casting off from bunker. Left for Third War Patrol with U 113 and Fifteenth War Patrol overall, and as the first "Paukenschlag" boat.

Taking on escort (Minesweeper "Rostock"), distance 300m.
Some burning ships in Lorient - probably ran aground during fog. A pair Me110 are patrolling the harbor and roadstead.

1340 - Port-Louis to our port beam and Kernével to our stbd. beam. An incoming swarm of Me109 fighters to our stbd. beam.

1410 - Point Luci-1 - Releasing escort. Incoming VIIC boat to our stbd. beam.

1415 - New course 180°.

1430 - New course 225°.
Linear distance to ordered patrol grid is 8500km/4590sm.
Testing of Diesel Engines:
- K.F., 205RPM, 7kn, Max. Distance: ~15,660sm;
- 235RPM, 8kn, Max. Distance: ~17,260sm => most fuel economical speed!
- 250RPM, 9kn, Max. Distance: ~13,900sm;
- 1/3-Ahead, 285RPM, 10kn; Max. Distance: ~11,125sm;
- 2xH.F., 14kn;
- G.F., 16.5kn;
- A.K., 17.5kn.

1505 - New course 270°. On Path "Kernleder".

1622 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since Lorient.

1636 - Qu.6178BF - A single Fw200 Condor in 150°true, E=12000, on heading ENE and a own Uboat bearing 60°, E=12000 on southern heading.

1755 - Qu.5299BF - Passing own Fish Trawler bearing 28°, E=8000n on parallel course.

Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag".

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

+++++

KTB - U 113

Wednesday, 17 December 1941 - On Path "Kernleder" -

0600 - Point "Kern" - Diving for trial dive according B.d.U.-Standing Order 507, 135rpm, 3kn.

0632 - Boat is safe and secure at 2A-Meter. Setting Reception Depth.

0650 - T=20. Officers and Petty Officers conference in the Control Room. The Commander gives a briefing about the operational targets of this war cruise. Also, the crew needs to be on high alert while the boat is in Qu.BF40, due to expected heavy enemy air cover. The Petty/Officers are to inform the crew accordingly.

0656 - S-Tiefe. Early Morning Dawn.

0700 - Surfaced after 1h and 2.1sm.
Weather unchanged since Lorient. Battery 9900Ah.

0814 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since Lorient.

1125 - New course 256°. From now on, "All hands on 'Quivive'!".

1200 - Qu.4399BF - Days Run - since Lorient (22h 45'):
255.7sm - ↗ 253.6sm (21h 45') - ↘ 2.1sm (1h).
232.1cbm (7.9cbm/23h). On course 256°. Battery 9900Ah. 14 internal and 8 external eels. Weather unchanged since Lorient (24h).

1201 - Second position and status request for U 557 (VIIC, Kvtkpt. Paulssen) and third position request from B.d.U. to U 127 (IXC, Kvtkpt. Hansmann), boat is presumed lost.

(U 127, IXC, KvtKpt. Bruno Hansmann, was sunk on its first war patrol, while operating on convoy HG.76, on 15 December 1941 in the North Atlantic west of Gibraltar, in position 36.28N, 09.12W, by depth charges from the Australian destroyer HMAS Nestor. 51 dead, all hands lost.)

1248 - Qu.4399BF - ALARM! Twin engine airplane approaching from 30°true, E=7500. At T=50, 5-6 bombs, moderate concussions. At A-20, no damages.

1303 - At Reception Depth.

1308 - Surfaced after 20min. and 1.2sm.
Weather unchanged since Lorient. Battery 9700Ah.

1556 - Qu.4623BF - ALARM! Single engine airplane approaching from 25°true, E=9000. At A-20 no bombs.

1612 - At Reception Depth.

1616 - Surfaced after 20min. and 1.1sm.
Weather unchanged since Lorient. Battery 9600Ah.

1631 - Incoming F.T.: From U 131:
After heavy Wabo attack, unable to dive. Repelled aircraft attack by shooting down airplane. Being surrounded by destroyers, scuttling the boat. - Kvtkpt. Baumann -

1643 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since Lorient.

2222 - Qu.4615BF - ALARM! 2-3 twin engine airplanes attacking the boat. E=5000. Direct approach in complete darkness! 3-4 bombs about 100-150m astern. Machine Gun Fire. After the airplanes passing over, crash diving. During the diving process, 3-4 bombs at T=40 and at T=50, another 3 bombs.

2224 - At A-20, no damages!

2238 - Boat remains submerged at A-20, 105rpm, 2kn. No silent running.

Boat operating acc. to Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag".

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.