[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Friday, 27 February 1942 - South of Ìle de Groix -

0005 - German tanker escorted by a destroyer bearing 270°, at medium speed on easterly course, E=5000.

0016 - F.T. from B.d.U.: To U 155 (IXC):
Piening: Allotted attack area off coast north of Cape Hatteras. - B.d.U. -

0017 - F.T. from B.d.U.: To U 162 (IXC) and U 158 (IXC):
Wattenberg and Rostin: Allotted attack area off coast south of Cape Hatteras. - B.d.U. -

0046 - Incoming F.T.: From U 558:
On protracted return trip from CC 29 via BC 35. Still 55cbm. - Krech -

0058 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
To all boats: ACHTUNG! Three-masted sailing ship, that has already appeared several times in BE, has camouflage and powerful A/A armament. As reported by rescued air crew, apparently is a aircraft and submarine decoy. - B.d.U. -

0105 - On new course 002°. Wind and Sea subsiding.

0120 - VIIC boat 500m to our stbd. beam, on opposite course.

0135 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
On Point Luci-2. - RST -

0210 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Enter port without escort at Sunrise. - B.d.U. -

0400 - Early Morning Dawn. SW4/3, clear, light haze, good visibility, >1000mb.

0530 - Sunrise. Wind and Sea unchanged since 0400h.
Entering Lorient. Additional Flak Batteries have been installed. 2 Fighter planes are patroling the area north of Ìle de Groix.

0635 - All available hands on deck for greeting in the harbour. Making fast. Mooring boat at Isère.

Lorient - Qu.6157BF - Days Run: 107.5sm - (↗ 18h 35') - since Etmal.
54.0cbm (2.4cbm/18h 35'). Battery 10000Ah. O₂-Supply 95%. 2 internal Ato. 136x10.5cm-SpG. 7676xM.G.-2cm-C/30-PbG. SW4/3, clear, light haze, good visibility, >1000mb.

Clearing out of boat:
54cbm; 2 internal Ato;
10.5cm: 136xSpG+30xLkG; M.G.-C/30-2cm: 7676PbG.
Discharging of batteries (10000Ah).
Placing boat in dry dock for Shipyard Overhaul.
Routine work by the crew throughout.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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Saturday, 28 February 1942 - Lorient

The totals of this 3rd war patrol with U 113 and 15th war patrol overall are:

Traveled surfaced: 9840.7sm - 57 days, 0h, 58min.
Traveled submerged: 814.3sm - 15 days, 16h, 22min.
Traveled total: 10655.0sm - 72 days, 17h, 20min.

Total of 8 merchants for 30757ts and 2 tankers for 21689ts (Total of 52446ts) sunk and 1 airplane "Beaufort" shot down.

All sunk ships were independently travelling acc. Op.-Order "Paukenschlag".

Torpedo hits: 14 (7 Eto and 7 Ato).
Torpedo misses: None.
Torpedo failures:
- 1 Ato was a dud.
- 2 Eto ignited prematuraly.
- 2 Ato and 1 Eto understeered.
Note: All torpedoes with Pi-G7H.

Crash Dives: 15 from airplanes:
- 5 Bay of Biscay during outbound transit;
- 9 North of Bermuda
- 1 U.S.A. East Coast

Depth Charges: 15 (all from airplanes) - some damage.

Pressure hull: 99.50% (Accumulated: 0.50%)

Honour points: 2508.43 (Accumulated: 28075.31)

B.d.U. Assessment

This was the third war patrol of this boat and crew, and was performed under special Op.-Orders "Paukenschlag".
The outbound cruise was hampered by bad weather and and strong enemy air patrols north of Bermuda, which caused the outbound voyage to take longer than anticipated. The return voyage went according to plan, with no enemy airplanes encountered during transit and in the Bay of Biscay.
The weather improved just long enough, for the external torpedoes to be loaded under deck, and enabling the boat to finish the patrol with the most ships sunk and the second highest tonnage of the first wave of 6 Paukenschlag boats, as well as 1 enemy airplane shot down.
It is with great honor and respect, that the Commander is being awarded after the Oak Leaves, with Crossed Swords to the Knights Cross!

Karl Dönitz

Vizeadmiral & B.d.U.