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Old 05-16-22, 04:47 AM   #6281
Kapitän
The Old Man
 
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Location: Frankfurt, Germany
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Default U 113 (IXC) - 4th War Patrol - Another convoy sighted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kapitän View Post
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

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Friday, 15 May 1942 - West of Portugal -

0315 - Qu.3955CF - Morning Dawn. On new course 33°.

0353 - Qu.3953CF - "ALARM!". Crash-Diving from what appears to be a twin-engine airplane, is on southerly heading bearing 190°true, then at a distance o 3000m turns around and approaches the boat. At T=20, 2 bombs at the diving position. At A-10, no damages. Boat remains submerged for trial dive.

0408 - Boat is safe and secure at A+20.

0412 - Sunrise.

0428 - Surfaced after 35min. and 1.8sm.
Weather and Sea unchanged. Battery 9700Ah. 2xH.F./14kn.

0619 - Qu.3931CF - "ALARM!". Crash-Diving from what appears to be a single-engine airplane with U.S.A. markings, bearing 000°true, on a southerly heading, E=6000.

0621 - At T=10, no bombs

0639 - Surfaced after 20min. and 1.1sm.
Weather and Sea unchanged. Battery 9600Ah.

Right after surfacing the boat, flyover by a single Hurricane on a southerly heading, drops a single bomb, that falls wide to stbd. Must have been just as surprised as we were.

Manning Flak guns, the forward gun jams, shooting 6 rounds with the rear gun. The Hurricanes flys off on a northerly heading, boat remains surfaced.

0646 - 2xH.F./14kn.

0807 - Qu.3693CF - Boat is attacked by a pair of U.S.A. TBF Avenger Torpedo Bombers. Were at first on a southerly heading and then turned towards the boat from 270°true.

Manning Flak guns and scoring hits on the first bomber, catches fire. The second bomber drops 4 bombs to Stbd. and flys off on a northerly heading. No damages.

The already burning bomber, again approaches the boat and is hit by Flak fire in the stbd. wing, and crashes into the sea behind the boat. 222 shots fired, 7772 remaining.

Turning boat around and fishing one pilot out of the water.
Running off at high speed on northeasterly heading.

Supplying and questioning the U.S.A. Pilot and taking him prisoner under deck.

Cmdr.: From questioning the prisoner pilot, it has become clear, that the enemy is operating with English and U.S.A. Escort Carriers in the area. The Grumman TBF Avenger we shot down, belongs to USS Long Island (CVE 1). The British Escort Carrier operating in the area, is possibly, HMS Avenger (D 14).

0909 - Qu.3666CF - Boat is attacked by a pair of Hurricanes. Attack takes place analog to the attack at 0807h, dropping 1 bomb each to Stbd. - no damages. 101 shots fired, 7671 remaining.

1012 - Qu.1417CG - "ALARM!". Crash-Diving from two pair of Hurricanes, bearing 330° and 000°true, on a southerly heading, one pair crossing our bows and and one pair crossing our stern.

1014 - At A-10, no bombs.

1027 - Surfaced after 15min. and 0.9sm.
Weather and Sea unchanged. Battery 9500Ah.

1054 - Qu.1418CG - "ALARM!". Crash-Diving from two pair of Hurricanes, bearing 330° and 320°true, on a southerly heading, E=7000.

1109 - Surfaced after 15min. and 0.9sm.
Weather and Sea unchanged. Battery 9400Ah.

1116 - Qu.1415CG - Boat is attacked by a pair of Hurricanes. Were at first bearing 000°true on a southerly heading and at E=4500, then turned towards the boat. One bomb falls to port and another falls to stbd. - no damages.

Manning Flak guns and scoring hits on one of the attackers, which catches fire. Both fly off on a northerly heading. Boat remains surfaced. 131 shots fired, 7540 remaining.

1200 - Qu.1412CG - Days Run: 285.4sm - 280.7sm (22h 40') - 4.7sm (1h 20').
126cbm (8cbm/24h). Battery 9400Ah. 10.5cm: 28xLkG. 2xM.G.-2cm-C/30: 7540xPbG On course 33°. W1/1, partly cloudy, light haze, visibility 5.5sm, >1000mb.

1230 - Crossed 15° West. Switching to Irleland Circuit just in case. The radio crew is still trying to repair the F.T.-System.

1341 - Qu.1181CG - A single Hurricane or Martlet in 300°true on course SSE, turns toward the boat. A.K., one bomb falls wide to stbd. Manning Flak guns, forward gun jams again. 61 shots fired, 7479 remaining. Airplane flies off on course NNW.

1427 - Qu.1155CG - Boat is attacked by a pair of U.S.A. TBF Avenger. Approach from 300°true, E=7000. Diesels make 18kn at A.K., turning a full circle to stbd. during the attack. Manning Flak guns. The first attacker is shot down - no survivors found.

The second Avenger makes a total of 7 attack runs. At the last one, dropping 2 bombs wide to Stbd. - no damages. Boat is taking some damage to the upper deck from strafing fire.

1438 - Remaining airplane flies off on course NNW. 524 shots fired, 6955 remaining.

1445 - Running off at 2xH.F., on course 68°.

1610 - Qu.1161CG - Boat is attacked by a pair of Hurricanes or Martlets, approaching from angle to bow 0°. They first were on course SSE and then turned towards the boat. Each airplane dropped 1 bomb wide to port - no damages.

One airplane is taking hits from the Flak, catches fire, both airplanes fly off on course NNW.

1645 - Sundown. W1/1, partly cloudy, light haze, visibility 4.8sm, >1000mb.
Damages to upper deck repaired.

1652 - Qu.1138CG - Boat is attacked by a Fairey Fulmar. Attack takes place analog to the attack at 1610h. Our flak guns, also set this airplane ablaze, which flys off on course NNW. 304 shots fired in last two attacks, 6651 remaining.

1700 - Diving for submerged cruise at T=19. 135rpm/3kn.

1845 - O = 20%.

2100 - Silent Running.

2254 - O = 19%.

Boat continuing return voyage.

RST
Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

++++++

Saturday, 16 May 1942 - West of Cape Finisterre -

0354 - Sunrise.

0414 - O = 18%.

0600 - Secured from Silent Running.

0700 - Commenced trial dive. 135rpm/3kn.

0715 - Boat is safe and secure at A+20. Setting for T=20.

0730 - Surfaced after 14h 30min. and 42.3sm.
Weather and Sea unchanged since Sundown, visibility is 8.6sm.

0735 - Boat ventilated. Charging batteries (6700Ah): Port-Diesel, Propulsion 396RPM/11kn; Stbd.-Diesel, Charging 496RPM.

0937 - Qu.9896BE - Smoke Plume bearing 325°, E=14000.
Appears to be an OS-Series convoy, postioned in Qu.9893BE, on course 190°, 7kn. 9 steamers and 4 escorts.

Secured from battery charging at 9300Ah, and evaded convoy on surface, acc. to B.d.U.-Order as per F.T. 1236/20/4, not to engage Gibraltar convoys in Qu.BE.

Cmdr.: The convoy is escorted by two Corvettes and two Patrol Boats. The steamers are also zig-zagging intermittently, which is very likely due to the Uboat warning given by the enemy airplanes.
(handwritten note: Later we learn, that the convoy was a detached section of convoy OS.28, heading for Gibraltar)

1200 - Qu.9973BE - Days Run: 172.0sm - 129.7sm (9h 30') - 42.3sm (14h 30').
120cbm (6cbm/24h). Battery 9300Ah. 10.5cm: 28xLkG. 2xM.G.-2cm-C/30: 6651xPbG On course 33°. SE1/1, partly cloudy, visibility 8.6sm, >1000mb.

1355 - Qu.9955BE - On new course 59°.

1430 - Fuel 120cbm (50%).

1630 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged since 0730h.

1700 - Diving for submerged cruise at T=19, 135rpm/3kn.

1854 - O = 20%.

2100 - Silent Running.

2135 - On new course 53°.

2305 - O = 19%.

Boat continuing return voyage.

RST
Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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