U-45 "Der Wein" Eighth Patrol

[ECV56_PolTen]

U-Boat Type VIIB U-45 "Der Wein"
It's been a while since my last patrol; real life interferes with the virtual Kaleun
To make things more interesting, I changed the realism settings and activated the NO MAP CONTACT UPDATE option, getting a realism level of 68%. With this option, whenever I spot a ship I won't have his position drawn on the map, and in case of hearing it with the hydrophone I won't have the black line guiding me to it; it would be a challenge for me since I am very used to that information.

April 5th, 1940.
Before going to the BdU to get my new orders I ask my chief engineer it there is something we could do to have a better performance for our sub. He comments that a new set of AFA 27 MAK 80F batteries have arrived to Wilhelmshaven, with a lower recharge time than the standard MAK 70; I ask him how long it would take to install them on the Der Wein, and answers "three days". I give him the go ahead and he departs to do the necesary paperwork.

April 8th, 1940.
New orders have arrived; again, a useless patrol zone, AF73, I don't know why they keep sending me to these places with almost no enemy transit, unless they are expecting some attack from Norway



April 20th, 1940.
Our date of departure; the time, 02:43 AM... somebody at the BdU really hates me. I order to start the diesels that roar evenly. We advance at 1/3, with the watch at the conning tower looking sharply to avoid some sleepy fishing boat; I don't want a ramming incident.



(Somebody tell the bearded one to look FORWARD)
03:08 I ask the radio officer to get the intel information using coded communications, and I climb to the tower to find a clear night and a beautiful moon at our back.



Some minutes later, the radio officer brings me the intel, as usual, in English... we are Germans, you moron!. We beat him with some boots and wet newspapers for the next 20 minutes.

Intel report (just the first part).
Patrol 8
U-45, 2nd Flotilla
Left at: April 20, 1940, 02:43
From: Wilhelmshaven
Mission Orders: Patrol grid AF73

---Mission---

Primary Patrol Area: Norway Sea

You have order to patrol sector Quadrant AM and distract any destroyers operating in that area from our surface vessels.

---Standing Operational Orders for all U-Boats---

All ships in USA zone, not exhibiting illuminated nationality markings to be regarded as hostile. Freedom of attack permitted against liners showing no neutral markings, & against those darkened (except for navigation lights).

U-boat commanders to open the sealed envelopes for Op. Hartmut (Invasion of Norway), & disregard previous assignments. This operation ceases on 25 May. Any Commander on patrol during this period, must open their orders & proceed accordingly.

I take special attention on the Op. Hartmut (Invasion of Norway) part; that must be why they keep sending me to those lousy areas.
We continue our journey.



04:30 Just as the previous patrol, we meet a pair of Hipper Heavy Cruisers; just beautiful.



Day goes on without further events.