[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

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

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Saturday, 6 February 1943 - Stettin

Conducting tactical exercises and training together with U 648 (Stahl)*, with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER).

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Brazil, already at war with Germany and Italy, now declares war upon Japan.

The Führer meets with Erich von Manstein at Rastenberg, East Prussia, Germany. The Field Marshal had been flown 900 miles from Donetsk, Ukraine to the Führer's Wolfsschanze headquarters in Hitler's personal Focke-Wulf Fw200 V3 "Immelmann III". At the four hour conference, only five days after the surrender at Stalingrad, the Army Group South commander persuades The Führer to allow him to retreat to the River Mius.

U 71 (Oblt. Hardo Rodler von Roithberg) fired a triple fan at an independent corvette, course 180 degrees in BE 5963. Corvette evaded the fan, contact lost. Expected convoy not found.

There is strong air activity with Radar at present in Group "Haudegen" 's area. U 414 (Oblt. Walther Huth) is returning owing to considerable bomb damage. U 403 (Kptlt. Heinz-Ehlert Clausen) was also bombed and pursued by a searching group.

Convoy No. 6 (SC.118):
Weather conditions were calm, visibility, good again on the 6th. At 1146 U 609 (Kptlt. Klaus Rudloff) reported the convoy in AK 6488. The boat shadowed until 1445, lost contact for a time and found the convoy again towards 1900. Three other boats then came up to the convoy before dark, U 438, U 262 and U 456. U 262 (Oblt. Rudolf Heinz Franke) acted as shadower for the night. At 0230 U 402 (Kptlt. Freiherr Siegfried von Forstner) also made contact.
The convoy was steering a main course of 70 and making a bare 8 knots. Conditions were easy again for the anti-submarine forces. Several boats were driven off by destroyers. U 262 and U 267 were damaged by depth charges and had to move off for repairs. But the particularly strong air escort was far more unpleasant for the boats. 11 boats reported aircraft. 4 were bombed and U 465 (Kptlt. Heinz Wolf) had to move off owing to considerable damage.
U 454, U 438 and U 135 were driven off when starting to attack and afterwards did not manage to fire again.

The following successes were reported:
U 266( Kptlt. Ralf von Jessen): straggler Polyktor, 4,077 GRT sunk
U 402 (Kptlt. Freiherr Siegfried von Forstner): 2 large tankers and 4 freighters totaling: 45,000 GRT sunk
U 262 (Oblt. Rudolf Heinz Franke): 1 large tanker of 9,000 GRT sunk and a freighter of 6,000 GRT sunk
U 614 (Kptlt. Wolfgang Sträter): 1 large tanker, estimated 8,000 GRT sunk

Operation against the convoy is continuing. It was in AL 4416 at 0700/7.
Of the boats detailed only 11 are left fit to operate against the convoy, U 454, 613, 402, 135, 614, 438, 608, 624, 456, 609 and 89. Several of these have only few torpedoes left.
6 boats have started their return passage or are proceeding to supply: U 262, 266, 752, 413, 594 and 704. 2 boats, U 465 and 267 have moved away because of damage. U 187 (Kptlt. Ralph Münnich) has not reported since she made her first report of the convoy. U 265 (Oblt. Leonhard Auffhammer), which was previously operating against the "Teichert" convoy, has also not reported again and did not reach this convoy.

U 265 (Oblt. Leonhard Auffhammer), on her first patrol, last made a short weather report on 2.2 from AL 26. As she was in a favorable position she was ordered to operate against Convoy No. 4. On her way there she was attacked by an aircraft, probably in AL 29. She has not replied to several orders to report her position. Her loss must be presumed.

Changes in closing of Route A. Attack on independently-routed ships is forbidden: between 5° S and 10° N up to 10.2. From 10° N to 35° N from 7 - 23.2. From 35° N, up to the north and east from 19.2 until further notice. Present conditions do not justify allowing all independent ships in Route A to pass unhindered and boas have therefore been ordered to stick to any ships which from its type and course is probably enemy, to report and to wait for permission to attack.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Tactical Exercises in the Baltic Sea, together with U 115 (RST)*.

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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

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

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Sunday, 7 February 1943 - Stettin

Conducting tactical exercises and training together with U 648 (Stahl)*, with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER).

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The Japanese Army completes Operation Ke, the evacuation of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, as the final 1,796 soldiers are evacuated by 18 ships.

U 628 (Oblt. Heinrich Hasenschar) sighted the hospital ship "New Foundland" in BE 6588, course S., 13 knots. Boat continued on her outward passage.

U 511 (Oblt. Fritz Schneewind) reported 2 escort vessels on a main course of 1200 in CG 4826. U 202 (Oblt. Günter Poser) also sighted a corvette, 95°, in DH 3146.

U 183 (Korvkpt. Heinrich Schäfer) heard weak sounds bearing 60° from BE 6712. Noise at first approached, then hydrophone bearing lost. Constant air patrol.

Convoy No. 6 (SC.118):
Weather in the convoy area on the 7th was reported as WSW 4 - 5, good visibility deteriorating at times owing to showers. According to boats' reports the convoy was making 7.5 knots, and changing course more and more to the E. in the direction of the North Channel. Contact with the convoy was not regained until 1544 in AL 4273 by U 456 (Kptlt. Max-Martin Teichert). She lost contact an hour later and U 402 (Kptlt. Freiherr Siegfried von Forstner) found the convoy again at 1730. She too lost contact at 1900 shortly before dark. U 456 and U 402 both regained contact at 2310 and 0215 respectively. The convoy was held until 0700, when it was reported in AL 5221. Besides these 2 boats only U 608 (Kptlt. Rolf Struckmeier) came up to the convoy. U 456 was picked up by the escort twice before attacking and did not manage to fire.
U 402 reported an 8,000 GRT freighter sunk with her last electric torpedo.
U 605 (Kptlt. Herbert-Viktor Schütze) reported a 12,000 GRT tanker sunk.
The enemy's air escort did not appear until towards evening on the 7th, whereas on the previous day there had been far more aircraft with the convoy. Although the boats must be exhausted after 4 days, the operation is being continued as 8 boats still have torpedoes left and U 402 can still give valuable service as shadower. U 456 has broken off owing to lack of fuel, and U 438 owing to damage, apparently not due to enemy action. U 454, 613, 402, 135, 614, 608, 624, 609, and 89 are still operating.
U 465 (Kptlt. Heinz Wolf) and U 262 (Oblt. Rudolf Heinz Franke) had to break off pursuit of the convoy owing to damage and return. As both have fuel to spare they have been ordered to rendezvous with U 413, U 266 and U 594 in AK 9442.
Several SSS and torpedo reports from an unidentified position. Probably from this convoy.

Convoy No. 7 (GIB.2):
U 218 (VIID; Oblt. Richard Becker) sighted a small convoy in DH 9473 at 0820, consisting of about 3 steamers and 3 escort vessels, course N, speed 10 knots. The first report of this was not received by control until 1230. The convoy was then on a NE course.
Group "Rochen" and 5 boats of Group "Delphin", which are well off for fuel (U 87 - 202 - 264 - 558 - 258) were ordered to operate against the reported enemy. The 5 "Delphin" boats could arrive by 8.2. Owing to strong air patrol U 218 was constantly forced to dive and lost contact at 1523 in DH 9188 main course 45°, speed 8 knots. The following were identified 2 freighters, 1 tanker, 1 destroyer and 2 corvettes. The boats then continued to search independently along an enemy course of 45 - 55°. At 2130 U 66 (Kptlt. Friedrich Markworth) located the convoy in DH 9244. Towards 0200 U 43 (Oblt. Hans-Joachim Schwantke) took over a shadower and shadowed until morning. Convoy's last position at 0643 was DH 6885. No successes were scored. The operation is continuing.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Tactical Exercises in the Baltic Sea, together with U 115 (RST)*.

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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115