[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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KTB - U 112

Saturday, 18 January 1941 - Lorient

Received operational orders for fourth war patrol with U 112 and twelfth war patrol overall:
- Follow departure path "Kernleder" to escort point "Kern" and perform deep dive trial at 200m-Line to 2A-Meter at medium speed.
- Send transfer message at 10°West, from Qu.BF18.
- Send radio messages only when of military importance => The enemy seems to be able to get a bearing on our radio frequencies.
(Note: Today we know, that the British were able to decipher the German radio messages sent by ENIGMA at Bletchley Park, which enabled the convoys to evade the German Uboat positions.).
- The Northern areas are closed to Uboat operations due to German surface vessels operating there => Take up position in patrol line in the area of 60°N, west of Rockall, in Marqu.16AL.

1655 - Lorient - N2/2, clear, visibility 16000, >1000mb - Sun has already set.

Casting off. Put to sea for fourth war patrol with U 112 and twelfth war patrol overall. Up to point Luci-2 with escort. Two Me-110 are protecting the harbour.

1750 - Point Luci-2 - Releasing escort.

1800 - Testing Diesel Engines:
- K.F.: 7kn
- L.F.: 10kn
- H.F.: 14kn
- G.F.: 16.5kn
- A.K.: 17.5kn
All good.

2100 - Qu.6175BF bottom left - German VIIC Uboat to our stbd. beam, E=1500, on course south.

2134 - Qu.6177BF top left - Boat is being attacked with 2 bombs by twin-engine airplane approaching from northerly heading. Bombs fall short astern. Airplane flying off on course 20° true.

2142 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
At 2134h in 6177BF top left, was attacked by twin engine airplane with 2 bombs. Direct approach in complete darkness. No damages. Continue outward transit. - RST -

2214 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Message received. Continue outward transit acc. to Op.-Orders.

2400 - Qu.5297BF

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

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

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KTB - U 112

Sunday, 19 January 1941 - Bay of Biscay

0645 - Morning Dawn.

0727 - Boat is being attacked by a pair of Whitley's with 4 bombs each. Direct approach from 55° true, E=7000. The first 4 bombs fall ahead to port. Increasing speed to A.K. The second 4 bombs fall about 100m short astern to port. Boat is staying surfaced.

0807 - Sunrise.

0852 - Three twin-engine airplanes in 70° true, on course SSW, E=9000, flying off in 120° true on course NNE.

0947 - Diving for trial dive. Sound contact turbine bearing 95°, on course 70°, E=16000. At S-Tiefe nothing seen.

1012 - Trial dive at 2A-Meter. All is good.

1027 - Surfaced.

1200 - Qu.5174BF - Days Run since Lorient: 247.0sm - ↗244.6sm (18h 25') - ↘2.4sm (40')
169.1cbm. 9700Ah. Weather unchanged since Lorient.

1301 - F.T. from U 106:
Have sunk the MS Zealandic, 10578ts. - Oesten -

1631 - Qu.4388BF - Alarm! A pair of fighter planes in 50° true, on course SW, E=7000.
- 200sm from the British mainland -

1634 - At A-Meter no bombs. Boat remains submerged at T=20.

1709 - Sundown.

1911 - O₂ = 20%. Surfaced.

1920 - Boat ventilated. Charging batteries at 9000Ah: Stbd.-Diesel 500RPM - Charging; Port-Diesel 405RPM - Propulsion, 10kn.

2008 - Batteries charged: 48' for 1000Ah. 2xH.F., 405RPM, 14kn.

Continuing outbound transit.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.