Quote:
Originally Posted by Kapitän
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Tuesday, 19 January 1943 - Stettin
Conducting tactical exercises and training with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER).
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Aircraft Carrier USS Ranger (CV-4) launched 72 USAAF P-40F fighters off Casablanca, French Morocco, to reinforce Allied forces fighting in North Africa. Ranger began withdrawing toward Norfolk, Virginia almost immediately.
As the expected convoy was not found during the day, its appearance must no longer be anticipated. The groups "Falke" and Habicht" will be relieved of their duties and each redistributed according to their fuel supply. The boats form the group "Haudegen". Boats with less fuel will be disposed in reconnaissance lines from AL 4447 to BE 2136.
Southwestward bound convoy is expected on 24.1. Boats arriving early in position are to submerge during the day in order to avoid interception by English air reconnaissance.
According to a Radio Intelligence report received a north bound convoy close to the Newfoundland coast is expected sooner than was first presumed. Group "Jaguar", therefore received orders to take up position in new reconnaissance lines from AJ 7561 to AJ 8827 at 0000 on 20.1. From 1200 on 20.1. to proceed at a speed of 4 knots on a reconnaissance line, course 200°. The strip from AJ 7565 to AJ 8818 is to be narrowed owing to the temporary breakdown of U 96 (Oblt. Hans-Jürgen Hellriegel; ex Lehmann-Willenbrock) .
U 43, 521, 218 and 518 proceed at economical cruising speed to DU 72. U 66 is to occupy grid DU 72 and 73 as temporary operations area after execution of the special duties. According to agents reports there is strong north-south traffic in this area. For this reason the boats are not taking up the intended reconnaissance channels to the S.
U 109 (Kptlt. Heinrich 'Ajax' Bleichrodt) has taken the Warrant Quartermaster from U 558 (Kptlt. Günther Krech) on board and continues the return passage.
U 507 (Korvkpt. Harro Schacht) reported convoy in FB 5643 on 13.1. It received orders to attack. In spite of repeated requests boat has not reported since then. It must be presumed to have been sunk by the convoy escort, and considered lost (along with Master Donald MacCallum of the Baron Dechmont, sunk on 3 Jan., and taken prisoner).
U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts exercises with the AGRU-Front Hela.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115 |
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Wednesday,
20 January 1943 - Stettin
Conducting tactical exercises and training with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER).
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Luftwaffe fighter-bombers launch surprise daylight attacks on London. The British claim that the Luftwaffe has to abandon the attacks, after five Fw 190 aircraft are lost within half an hour, to the RAF Manston based Typhoon fighters of the No. 609 Squadron.
Captured French submarines "Requin" and "Espadon" depart Bizerte, Tunisia, with an Italian crew.
U 176 (Kptlt. Reiner Dierksen) searched from 9 - 12.1 in the lower half of ER 80 with long legs on the Equator to the E. and also on the way to FD 25.
U 177 (IXD2; KrvKpt. Robert Gysae) sighted unidentified U-boat in BF 7692. According to dead reckoning not one of ours.
Group "Jaguar" remains in the position reached at 2100 from AJ 7822 to AJ 8796 (Patrol channel).
U 87 (Kptlt. Joachim Berger) and U 202 (Oblt. Günter Poser) are to join Group "Delphin" to extend their patrol channels, and occupy the positions DF 3933 and DF 3969.
U 454 (Kptlt. Burckhard Hackländer) joins Group "Landsknecht" and occupies position BE 2244, which must be reached by 0800 on 24.1.
U 553 (KrvKpt. Karl Thurmann) handed over a Nautical Year Book to U 465 (Kptlt. Heinz Wolf).
General:
1. The following operations in the North Atlantic have not been successful:
31.12.1942 - Convoy ON - Group "Falke" - 13 boats
8.1.1943 - Convoy ONS - Group "Falke" - 14 boats
12/13.1.1943 - Convoy HX, SC - Group "Jaguar" - 6 boats
16.1.1943 - Convoy ONS - Group Falke-Habicht" - 27 boats
Altogether only one convoy (HX) was intercepted for a short period on 17.1.1943 and an operation was not possible.
2. The non-interception of the last ONS is a further confirmation of the conjecture that the English have begun to spread out their convoys and possibly deflected their routes considerably to the N. This evasive movement can at the most only be out-maneuvered by a long disposition in the area S.E. of Cape Farewell. It is possible here to fight to the S.W. and N.E. with some chance of success and to bring pressure to bear on ON, ONS, HX and SC convoys.
3. The next operations possible are on HX, SC (convoys) on 20/21.1 and ON (convoy) on 24.1. It is possible to operate on all these convoys with the number of boats now available. It is not, however, possible to reinforce the group "Jaguar" (North of Newfoundland Bank) within the time limit. The group will be entirely disposed to the W., according to the information obtained by the decyphering section on the positions of the lost HX convoy.
U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts exercises with the AGRU-Front Hela.
RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115