August 1944

[unterseemann]

Bergen, Headquarters of the 11st flotilla

Here are the last results kapitan:
-1943 24 merchants sunk for 149513 tons time at sea 212 days: 790 tons sunk by day
-1944 7 merchants sunk for 55557 tons time at sea 115 days: 500 tons sunk by day

In the same time more and more uboots never come back...

"Gentlemen we are slowly losing this war... Our only hope is the new elektroboot. The first one is here in Bergen and ready for trials. Leutnant zur see Berthold Rahn will commission U-3013. A lot of experience as Rosing's 1st WO and as captain of U995. This guy is also young, ambitious and his crew would follow him wherever he goes... Is that ok for everyone here??"

First patrol report:
U-3013, type XXI, 08/01/44 to 08/04/44

Propulsion:
diesel: OK , max speed surfaced 16kn, autonomy >15000km
schnorkel: Ok, max speed 16kn but vibrations, disappear at 14kn
electric: Ok , max speed 17kn...autonomy 52 min ( battery 100% to 50%)
8kn autonomy 7h ( battery 100% to 50%) 5kn autonomy >24h

Detection devices:
sonar, hydrophons, radar ok
periscops ok, uzo ok

Others electronical devices:
radio, antennas: work properly

Emergency manoeuvers:
crash dive: 25 to 28 sec (periscop depth). 50m depth: 50 to 55 sec
blow ballast: 100m to surface: 1min
decoys deployed ok
260m depth reached without problems

Torpedo
great firepower: 6 tubes- 23 torpilles
torpedo tubes' doors opened at -49m. Successful launch of two torpedoes
excellent torpedo reloading system: 2 min

Bad points:
-Slow rate of turn, 90° turn at 8kn: 2min, 90° turn at 4kn: 4min
-Crew:64 on board, need skilled men for efficiency. Got a lot of rookies for this patrol

Good points:
-No major problems detected
-Amazing speed characteristics
-Superior technologies
-Great firepower
-Good living space for crew

To be continued...

(After dealing with GWX in 1943 and 1944 in my tiny VIIC, i feel like a new secret type of boat..)