Quote:
Originally Posted by Kapitän
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
+++++++
Sunday, 17 January 1943 - Stettin
Conducting tactical exercises and training with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER).
+++++++
U 66 (Kptlt. Friedrich Markworth) sighted 2 heavy cruisers and 4 destroyers on a course of 65° in DH 7297, speed 20 knots. Contact lost short time afterwards.
U 105 (Oblt. Jürgen Nissen) Situation: Nothing sighted for 8 days, apart from a destroyer, in area of Tobago Passage. Regular traffic to Port of Spain is therefore unlikely through this way. Boat sank a freighter in ED 5956. Night aerial activity experienced once without radar in ED 8653. Otherwise nothing confirmed. Return passage owing to fuel situation.
Current Operations:
As it is presumed that the boats belonging to Group "Falke" and "Habicht" are W. of the expected convoys, both groups proceeded on an easterly course with a speed of 6 knots at 1300.
U 414 (Oblt. Walther Huth) and U 631 (Oblt. Jürgen Krüger) were attacked several times in the course of the afternoon by enemy wheeled aircraft and search groups. As up to dusk the convoy had not been found, both groups turned on a course of 270° with speed of 6 knots at 1900. In this way the convoy was to be prevented from passing through unperceived by night.
At 2136 U 268 (Oblt. Ernst Heydemann) reported (T.O.O. 1600) a large convoy on a northwesterly course in AD 8947. Boat attacked and sank large tanker. Subsequently forced to submerge for 6 hours by aircraft and destroyers. According to boats estimate this was connected with a HX convoy. As U 268 was about 55 miles astern and contact was lost - also as Group "Falke" could not have reached the convoy until the next day in an area of heavy enemy air protection it was not detailed for action. Instead the boats U 614 (Kptlt. Wolfgang Sträter) and U 456 (Kptlt. Max-Martin Teichert) coming from the east and in approximately AE 70 were assigned for this task. "Falke" and "Habicht" also U 268 proceeded further to the W. and on 18.1 at dawn return back from reached AD 8735 to AK 1262 also AK 1371 to AL 2129 to 90° at a speed of 6 knots.
U 632 (Kptlt. Hans Karpf) fired 2 misses at an escort vessel in AD 8974. U 631 (Oblt. Jürgen Krüger) sighted unidentified craft on westerly course in AK 3267. No further contact with the enemy. Whether this refers to an escort craft has not been ascertained.
U 706 (Kptlt. Alexander von Zitzewitz) has taken on supplies from U 117 (XB; Korvkpt. Hans-Werner Neumann) and occupies BC 2318, depth 40 seamiles as action area. Further supplying from U 117 was not possible up to now owing to bad weather conditions. U 260 (Kptlt. Hubertus Purkhold) and U 440 (Kptlt. Hans Geissler) still expect replenishment of supplies. Latter received ordered to return owing to the small amount on the tanker.
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 ...
+++++++
Monday,
18 January 1943 - Stettin
Conducting tactical exercises and training with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER).
+++++++
Operation Spark, which commenced 6 days earlier, successfully openes a corridor into Leningrad. The Soviet government announces the end of the siege, although that state will still continue until 27 Jan 1943.
The Soviets capture Cherkessk in the Caucasus region.
Late in the day, three He 111 transport aircraft of unit III./KG 55 attempt to land at the small Gumrak Airfield at Stalingrad. The first lands but will not be able to takeoff again, the second makes ten failed attempts at lining up with the wreck-strewn short runway but ultimately pushes its cargo of 20 sacks of bread out of the bomb bay doors without landing, and the third follows suit.
British submarine Thunderbolt departed Malta for Tripoli, Libya, with two Chariot manned torpedoes. The two Chariot teams discover the harbor to be empty of ships and become stuck far behind enemy lines. One team is captured and the other escapes and eventually finds the advancing British 8th Army.
From 1030 groups "Falke" and Habicht" approached the convoy at 1030 at a speed of 4 knots in bad weather conditions and remained in position line reached at 1400 as patrol lines. U 594 (Oblt. Friedrich Mumm) and U 226 (Kptlt. Rolf Borchers) were attacked in the afternoon by "Consolidated" and wheeled aircraft.
At sunset both groups again proceeded at a speed of 6 knots to the W. and slow up at 1130 in patrol lines from AD 7926 to AK 6142 also AK 6181 to AK 9317. If the convoy has not yet passed the lines, a one to one and a half days postponement must have taken place. It is intended to remain in patrol lines during the day and if the convoy is then not intercepted to be redisposed in another area.
U 614 (Kptlt. Wolfgang Sträter) and U 456 (Kptlt. Max-Martin Teichert) who were both detailed to operate on the HX convoy broke off operations at dawn and steered a course for AL 94 at economical cruising speed.
Group "Delphin" proceeded on a course of 285°, with a speed of 6 knots at 1100 and remained as patrol from CE 7162 to DF 3669 at 2030. Passage further to the W. is not intended. The passing of the convoy can still be expected.
In order to intercept another convoy expected on 20.1 and yet another on 21.1., Group "Jaguar" is to take up the following patrol lines from AJ 7915 to BC 2135. Order: U 337 - 413 - 598 - 594 - 96 - 266 - 123 - 706 and 622.
US government bannes the sale of sliced bread by commercial bakers; they must sell their bread in entire loaves in order to save wrapping material. The ban will be lifted on 8 Mar 1943 after officials realized the ban was ineffective.
U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts exercises with the AGRU-Front Hela.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115