[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, 18 December 1942 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft

Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.; Freg.Kpt.d.R. Ernst HASSHAGEN) and 22nd U-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Wilhelm Ambrosius):

Dry-Run Exercises with Machinery/Mechanics; Weapons; Torpedoes.

Conducting Torpedo Trials at the T.E.K. Gotenhafen.*

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Axis and Allied forces engage in brief but fierce combat at Nofilia, Libya.

U 432 (Kptlt. Heinz-Otto Schultze) situation report: No shipping in DJ 20 Roadstead and harbor of Casablanca, Mehdia and Fedala empty. No signs of landing of troops or material. Busy neutral traffic between CG 9591 and DJ 1630. Sunk: steam trawler (500 GRT). Boat requested a freehand to the W.

Convoy No. 71:
At 1326 U 441 (Kptlt. Klaus Hartmann), which was on its outward journey, reported a convoy of 6 - 10 steamers in BE 5613, southerly course. Boats in CF, CG and BE were ordered to stalk it. But as no further shadower reports were received by 2000, the boats of Group "Westwall" which were in CF and U 514 - 125 - 563 - 766, were told to continue to operate, but the boats that are en route for AL to form a patrol strip there, continued to that area. The operation was continued with 10 boats. At 2200 U 441 reported that he had been forced to submerge from 1400 until dark. No contact existed. U 432 was directed to follow up from DJ 20, and therefore set course for CG 47.

U 563 (Kptlt. Götz von Hartmann) sank a single ship "Cape St. Andrew" class (5,094 GRT) in BE 8691, course 20°. Subsequently submerged because of destroyer. Several unaccountable misses at different depths. Probably "Pi 39" pistol duds.

U 176 (Kptlt. Reiner Dierksen) was bombed by a Consolidated when it surfaced in FJ 3632. Boat was temporarily unable to dive because of empty batteries, and moved away from land at full speed. Boat would soon be ready again for operations outside coastal waters. Moderate seas in area and land-based plane reconnaissance to 150 miles from the mainland.

U 183 (Korvkpt. Heinrich Schäfer) took over fuel from "Milkcow" U 463 (KrvKpt. Leo Wolfbauer) and continued homeward journey. U 463 proceeded to CF 5121 to hand over radar intercept cable.

Italian's minister of press and propaganda, Galeazzo Ciano, arrives at the Wolfschanze in East Prussia.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Torpedo Trials at the T.E.K. Gotenhafen.*

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

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

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Saturday, 19 December 1942 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft

Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.; Freg.Kpt.d.R. Ernst HASSHAGEN) and 22nd U-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Wilhelm Ambrosius):

Dry-Run Exercises with Machinery/Mechanics; Weapons; Torpedoes.

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Erich von Manstein's units aiming to relieve the 6th Army, reached a point 30 miles south of Stalingrad, which will turn out to be the extent of their advance.

Captured French sloops La Batailleuse and Commandant Rivière depart Bizerte, Tunisia with an Italian crew for La Spezia.

Flower Corvette HMS Snapdragon (K 10) is bombed and sunk by our Luftwaffe northwest of Benghazi, Libya.

Convoy No. 71:
About 2000 U 106 (Kptlt. Hermann Rasch; ex Oesten) heard rapid screw noises in CF 3619, in a direction of 340°. Boat followed up, but did not establish contact. If convoy was traveling at 10.5 knots, it might be the one that was reported on 19.12. by U 441 (Kptlt. Klaus Hartmann). But as this speed was unlikely in bad weather, the position could not be used as a basis for a directed operation. The boats continued to search.

U 182 (IXD2; Kptlt. Nicolai Clausen) was proceeding to the S. outside the enemy air patrol area via CF 40, EJ 40, FM 20. Operations in Capetown area were intended.

U 175 (Kptlt. Heinrich Bruns) reported when asked that he had encountered no shipping since 16.12. in squares EJ 6560, 6950, 9670, 9690, 6990 and 6530. He intended to operate closer to the coast when the moon is waning. As the squares named were some 200 miles W. of Dakar, the boat was instructed to search nearer in-shore at once. Boat had not operated as ordered.

Of the Natal boats, U 126 (Kptlt. Ernst Bauer) and U 174 (Fregkpt. Ulrich Thilo) had to turn back because of lack of fuel. 5 boats remained in the area, but 2 had little fuel and another had been damaged.

U 221 (Oblt. Hans-Hartwig Trojer) refueled U 758 (Kptlt. Helmut Manseck). Both boats continued on homeward journey.

POWs Chief Petty Officers Wally Hammond and Don Lister, having previously escaped from the Oflag IV-C at Colditz Castle, Germany, successfully cross the border into Switzerland.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) breaks off Torpedo Trials at the T.E.K. Gotenhafen, due to high congestion of boats.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115