[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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- continued from 29 April, 0545h -

0650 - Qu.9855ED - On new course 45°.

0741 - Qu.9853ED - Morning Dawn.
Two coastal freighters in keel line, bearing 309°, on course SW, E=3000. In front a Panamanian of 1050ts and in back an Englishman of 1120ts.

0742 - Turning toward the steamers on course 270°. Speed 1kn. "Manning Deck Gun!".

0745 - Speed 1kn. "Battle Stations!".

0747 - E=2400. "Weapons Free!". Firing at the front Panamanian steamer and incinerating the middle upper deck cargo with the second shot and hit.

0748 - After 3 shots at the Panamanian steamer, the Englishmen in back is firing with a deck gun, which is mounted amidhsips. Boat has to re-direct its fire onto the English steamer.

Boat scores a direct hit after for shots and hits on the enemy deck gun, the steamer has fired 3 shots in total, which were either too short or way over the boat.

0749 - After 3 more shots, the boat is out of ammunition. Both steamers are burning, but continue on. "Secure Weapons!".

0750 - Turning boat hard to port and running off at high speed, on an easterly heading.

0805 - On new course 40°. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

0834 - Sunrise. Weather and Sea unchanged since 0545h, visibility ~4.6sm.

0913 - Qu.9835ED - "ALARM!". Crash-diving from at least 4 pair of Catalinas, direct approach from 180°true, E=8500.
At T=25 the first well-placed bombs, very strong concussions.

0915 - Regained trim at A-Meter, Small-Ahead. In due course, several more bombs at and around our diving position.

0923 - Boat remains submerged at A-20, 135rpm/3kn.

0932 - Sound contact with warship bearing 143°, medium speed on course north, E=20000, seems to be heading straight for our diving position.

1000 - At S-Tiefe, the distance to the ASW sound contact is now about 10000m. The I.W.O. is scanning the skies for A/C with the B-Sehrohr.

1002 - In the A-Sehrohr, a destroyer is emerging through the haze, bearing 160°, E=8500, medium speed, course north.

1010 - At E=6200, Silent Running. The periscopes are sticking about 1m out of the water.

1012 - At E=6000, the destroyer is positivly identified as a Clemson type Destroyer, is sniffing around for us at the diving position.

1033 - The Destroyer is running off on course south. Secured from Silent Running. Boat is staying submerged, setting for A-20.

Cmdr.: It is quite surprising to me, that the destroyer approached our position only at medium speed. However, since she did, we were able to gain the necessary safe distance without straining the batteries too much.

1104 - O₂ = 20%.

1200 - Qu.9833ED - Days Run: 158.8sm - ↗ 129.1sm (14h) - ↘ 29.7sm (10h).
168cbm (5cbm/24h). Battery 9300Ah. 2 external Ato. 10.5cm: 28xLkG. On course 40°. T=60. O₂ = 20%.

1230 - Surfaced after 30min. and 1.5sm since Etmal, and 3h 17min. and 9.7sm in total. Weather and Sea unchanged since 0545h. Flak and Forward Upper Deck took some damage at the last A/C attack.

1233 - Compressed Air Supply filled and Flak repaired.

1234 - Boat ventilated and Forward Upper Deck repaired. 1/3-Ahead.

1240 - On new course 45°. 2xH.F.-Ahead.

1535 - Qu.9655ED -

1556 - Qu.9653ED - "ALARM!". Crash-diving from at least 3 pair of Catalinas, direct approach from 225°true, E=6500.
At T=40 the first bombs, medium concussions.

1557 - At A-Meter and in due course, min. of 48 bombs are dropped at and around our diving position.

1615 - Boat remains submerged at A-20, 135rpm/3kn.

Cmdr.: Clearly, the enemy has organized a concerted hunt for us.

1744 - O₂ = 20%.

1911 - Surfaced after 3h 15min. and 9.7sm.
Weather and Sea unchanged since 0545h.

1915 - Boat ventilated. Charging batteries: Port-Diesel, Propulsion, 396RPM/11kn; Stbd.-Diesel, Charging, 496RPM.

2032 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged since 0545h.

2040 - Batteries charged => 1h 25min. for 1500Ah.

2100 - Diving for submerged cruise.

2108 - A-20, 135rpm/3kn, Silent Running.

2324 - O₂ = 20%.

Boat heading toward supply ship.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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Thursday, 30 April 1942 - Southwest of Barbados -

0444 - O₂ = 19%.

0600 - Secured from Silent Running.

0751 - T=20.

0753 - S-Tiefe. Morning Dawn. Weather and Sea seem to be unchanged.

0800 - Surfaced after 11h and 32.1sm.
NNW1/1, clear light haze, good visibility, >1000mb.

0805 - Boat ventilated. Batteries 7900Ah. 1/3-Ahead.

0810 - 2xH.F.-Ahead.

0818 - Sunrise.

0925 - Qu.7155EE - On new course 63°.

Testing Diesel Engines:
2xHalf-Ahead: 12.5kn; Full-Ahead: 14kn; A.K.: 16kn.

Cmdr.: In the upper speed settings, we seem to be about 1-2kn short.

1200 - Qu.7139EE - Days Run: 159.0sm - ↗ 115.7sm (9h 15') - ↘ 43.3sm (14h 45').
165cbm (3cbm/24h). Battery 7900Ah. 2 external Ato. 10.5cm: 28xLkG. On course 63°. Weather and Sea unchanged since 0800h.

5sm south of Barbados, southern tip is visible in the haze. Water depth is 210m. Taking navigational land fix.

1955 - Qu.4955EE -

2020 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged since 0800h.

2045 - Diving for submerged cruise.

2100 - A-20, 135rpm/3kn, Silent Running.

2314 - O₂ = 20%.

Boat heading toward supply ship.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.