[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Sunday, 26 April 1942 - Lesser Antilles -

- Third week at sea completed -

0141 - On new course 153°.

0727 - Qu.3755ED - On new course 180°.

0810 - Morning Dawn.

0846 - Qu.3785ED - A Colombian Colonial Freighter of 2540ts, bearing 22°, on course 350°, 5kn, E=5500.

0850 - Running to, on course 270°.

0855 - At E=3000, own speed 1kn. "Manning Deck Gun!".

0900 - At E=2200, firing a star shell over the steamer.
Steamer answers by firing with her stern deck gun and sending "SSS".

"Weapons Free!". With her third round, the steamer scores a near hit on the port side in the area of the diesel engines. The port diesel engine is knocked off-line for about 1 minute. After this, the steamer deck gun stops firing for the most part of the engagement but resumes again later on.

The final hit scored on the steamer, causes the stern deck gun ammunition to explode, setting the entire ship on fire. After 19 shots and 13 hits (Remaining 26SpG/28LkG), the steamer breaks in-two in a huge explosion and both halfs sinking in flames of fire. The flames linger on the ocean surface for about 3 min. after the steamer has sunk.

0908 - The port diesel is back online. Running to the sinking position - nothing found!

0910 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged since 23 April, 1300h.

0920 - Running off on southerly heading, 325RPM/11.5kn.

0939 - Qu.3785ED - "ALARM!". 2-3 pair of Catalina's approaching from 140°true, are already fairly close. Machine Gun fire. During the diving process several well placed bombs. Water entry in the Control Room, the Main Bilge Pump and the F.T.-Equipment are damaged.

0943 - Restored trim at A-Meter. The Water Entry in the Control Room is repaired.

0948 - The Main Bilge Pump is repaired. The whole time more bombs are dropped at and around our diving position.

1001 - The F.T.-Equipment is repaired.

1003 - Commencing Trial Dive acc. B.d.U.-Standing Order 507.

1009 - At A+35, the Pressure Hull is cracking. Blowing tanks (0.5 Atü) and setting for Reception Depth.

1018 - Restoring trim at T=50.

1020 - Commencing of Torpedo Maintenance.

Cmdr.: I decide to do the required torpedo maintenace now, as it also serves as somewhat of a distraction for the crew.

1113 - O₂ = 20%.

1150 - Stern tubes serviced.

1200 - Qu.3788ED - Days Run: 197.4sm - ↗ 178.2sm (17h 19') - ↘ 19.2sm (6h 41').
181cbm (5cbm/24h). Battery 9500Ah. 15+2 Torpedoes. 10.5cm: 26xSpG, 28xLkG. On course 178°. T=50.

- to be continued -

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

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- continued from 26 April, 1200h -

1300 - Servicing of the bow tubes until 1600h.

1453 - O₂ = 19%.

1606 - At Reception Depth. Receiving and Sending of F.T. messages seems still to be not possible.

1609 - Surfaced after 4h 09' and 12.2sm since Etmal, and 6h 30' and 19.0sm in total.
Weather: SSW1/1, clear, light haze, good visibility, >1000mb.

1613 - Boat ventilated and damages to Conning Tower repaired.

1636 - Flak2 repaired.

1642 - Qu.6128ED - "ALARM!". Direct approach of a pair of single engine fighters from 215°true, E=6000.
Due to the Repair Crew being on top, it takes longer to dive. During the diving process Machine Gun fire and 4 bombs - no damages.

1644 - At A-20, no further bombs.

1702 - Qu.6128ED - Surfaced after 20min and 1.1sm.

1703 - Right after surfacing, again "ALARM!", from a Catalina, direct approach from 175°true, E=7000.

Since the tanks haven't been fully blown yet, the diving process is faster than usual.

1704 - At A-20, about 3 bombs, followed by another 2. In further course, about 22-24 bombs are dropped at and around our diving position.

Cmdr.: Clearly, the enemy has organized a hunt for us, however, we have still have not encountered any ASW vessels, yet.

1723 - Surfaced after 20min.and 1.0sm.
Weather and Sea unchanged since 1609h.

1731 - Flak1 repaired.

1735 - Damaged to the Upper Deck are repaired.

The Radio Antenna is destroyed! Boat is not able to receive or send F.T.-Messages!

1802 - 2xH.F.

1835 - Qu.6155ED - On new course 180°.
Compressed Air Supply filled. Battery 8500Ah.

Cmdr.: The boat is only partially able to dive - max. depth is A+20. We are also unable to send or receive any F.T.-Messages. But still, we were very lucky and count our blessings, as our fate could have been of a much different nature. After deliberation with the Officers onboard, I decide to continue the war patrol.

1840 - Charging Batteries (8500Ah).
Port-Diesel, Propulsion 396RPM/11kn; Stbd.-Diesel, Charging 496RPM.

2007 - Batteries charges => 1h 27min. for 1500Ah.
2xH.F.-Ahead/14kn.

2110 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged since 1600h.

2200 - Diving for submerged cruise at A-20.

2207 - A-20; 135rpm/3kn, Silent Running.

Cmdr.: Our last outgoing F.T. was sent yesterday, and the one prior to that, the day before yesterday. B.d.U.will anticipate our next report by latest tomorrow. From our inability to send F.T.s and from intercepted enemy F.T.s, B.d.U. will conclude that we might have been sunk and will start sending position and status requests for the next 3 days. The only way for us to give indications to B.d.U., that we are still operational, is by further sinkings over the next few days, until we reach the supply ship again.

Boat operating acc. Op.-Order as per F.T.0907/23.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.