Quote:
Originally Posted by Kapitän
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Friday, 30 October 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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U 161 was sighted by aircraft in FH 9141 and forced to submerge. In doing so heard convoy on course 290°, speed 8 knots. 2 spread which missed at steamer in FH 5826, course 325°. Phosphorescence gave boat away during attack, and it received flares and depth charges. U 518 has sighted nothing off N. exit of Belle Isle Straits up to date.
In reply to question U 402 reported amount of fog in past 6 days as 25%.
U 128 and 552 given freedom of action in waters off Freetown.
U 177 and U 181 - 2 IXD2 boats fresh from home given freedom of action in area off Capetown and eastwards to 17° 30' E.
U 753 completed refuel from U 463.
In answer to question regarding operational readiness and possible operation off Dakar, U 500 reported full mechanical readiness, but provision for only 2 - 3 weeks.
U 87 no longer serviceable and on return voyage.
U 156 has small inaccessible leak in pressure hull in region of battery room. Boat only able to dive to shallow depth. On return passage.
Axis forces at El Alamein, Egypt, are now down to about 320 operational tanks with little fuel, while the Allies have about 800 tanks. After sun down, Montgomery launches a diversionary attack at the Point 29 region to pin down Axis forces before he is ready to launch his main offensive elsewhere.
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, 31 October 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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Convoy No. 63:
On morning of 31 Oct.,
Convoy "Maßmann" lay in CF 96 with NNE course and speed 7 knots. Convoy appeared to pass Gibraltar and continued northwards. With wind dropping from west and sea strength 3 - 4 contact was maintained by
U 604 (Kptlt. Höltring) and U 509 Kptlt. Witte). By the afternoon six boats of the group had come up to the convoy. In the morning U 509 and U 604 had reported that all that remained of convoy was 4 - 5 ships. In the afternoon U 604 reported there were certainly 12. It therefore looked as though two groups had joined up in the afternoon while up to date very little had been reported about escort, and also no air patrol seemed to be present,
suddenly from 1800 onwards all boats were driven off by heavy air activity and large destroyer escort. A number of boats reported aircraft contacts.
As rest of convoy route lay more and more within range of enemy air support, operation was broken off at daylight on 1 Nov. in CF 69.
In a tough four day battle with convoy under favorable weather conditions and not too strong an escort, 7 boats out of strong groups of 10 attacked successfully and
sank a total of 18 ships together 133,131 GRT without a single loss.
U 412 (Kptlt. Walther Jahrmärker) and U 627 (Kptlt. Robert Kindelbacher) were both detailed to operate on Convoy no. 63, but neither made contact. After close of operation no reports were received in spite of many calls. It is possible that U 412 was destroyed by English aircraft on the outward journey, since it had not reported since sailing. Radio intercept report concerning aircraft attack received. On 27 Oct., U 627 reported convoy in AL 2559 at 0325 on easterly course and gave chase after which no further report was received.
Loss of both must be reckoned with.
Friendly aircraft sighted 2 aircraft carriers at 1115 with 1 cruiser and 3 destroyers on course 180°.
U 519 (Kptlt. Günther Eppen) completed secondary duty 1 (Met
Buoy Rockall).
U D 5 (ex Dutch submarine O 27; KptzS. Bruno Mahn) completed refueling from
"Milkcow" U 462 (Oblt. Bruno Vowe).
Heavy Crusier HMS Cumberland (County-class) sail from Scapa Flow in Scotland, with HMS Norfolk and screen of 5 destroyers. She is nominated for
support of planned allied landings in North Africa.
Our 21st Panzer Division launch four successive strikes against Australian troops at Point 29 in Egypt, causing heavy casualties on both sides.
As The Führer is confident that
Stalingrad will soon be under our control, he departs the Wehrwolf headquarters near of Vinnytsia, Ukraine and moves to the Wolfsschanze headquarters in Rastenburg, Germany (modern day Ketrzyn, Poland).
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115