First war patrol U-77

[Markus Witt]

I just finished my first war patrol with U-77 using TWOS. This patrol took us from Kiel to St. Nazaire and lasted 5 weeks. During this patrol I kept a log in the style of the real KTB's and I plotted my progress on a grid map. This was all for immersion purposes as it slows the game down and you really need to make the correct decisions as you are invested in the career and don't want to ruin it. It's a bit of work to do but I can recommend it if you are looking for immersion.

The log and gridmap are way too big to post unfortunately but I will try to copy / paste the text from the log to this thread. I think it should still be readable.
I will also post some downsized pictures to complement the log.
During this patrol attacked just one convoy and did not encounter any other vessel in 5 weeks. So it was a rather dull patrol but somehow this actually added to the immersion. Too much action somewhat kills the immersion for me. If you really have to search for targets finally finding one is more rewarding.

Anyway I will post the text of the log next. Some may find it interesting for a quick read through.
And off course a big thank you to Vecko for making this fantastic mod!

[Markus Witt]

20-3-1941
15:00 Kiel Boat provisioned, fueled and loaded with torpedoes. Ready for departure.

21-3-1941 Departure Kiel and Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal passage
06:00 Kiel Departure from bunker.
06:30 Kiel Entering Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal.
08:45 K.-W.-Kanal Passing Rendsburg.
13:30 Brunsbüttel Exiting Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal.
13:36 Elbe estuary New course is 270°.
16:15 Cuxhaven Passing Cuxhaven lighthouse. New course is 310°.

22-3-1941 North Sea, southern part
00:00 Q AN9397 N 2 m/s, good, calm, clear sky, good vis.
06:00 Q AN9316
12:00 Q AN6361 N 2 m/s, good, calm, clear sky, good vis. Fuel=97%.
Since departure: ↑ 326 nM in 30 hrs.
12:00 New course is 320°.
18:00 Q AN3767 Lt. air, good, slight, part. clouded, lt. fog.
No traffic, nothing special.

23-3-1941 North Sea, west of Norway
00:00 Q AN3481
06:00 Q AN3177
12:00 Q AN2897 Lt. air, good, slight, part. clouded, lt. fog. Fuel=94%.
Day's run: ↑ 258 nM
Total run: ↑ 584 nM in 54 hrs.
12:15 Crash dive drill to A+40m and depth keeping exercises.
12:43 Surfaced.
13:02 Batteries recharged.
18:00 Q AN2824
20:00 Engines HF to reduce the time spend in the area around the Shetlands.
I want to avoid exposure time to patrol planes in this area.
No traffic, nothing special.

24-3-1941 North Sea, NE of the Shetland Islandss
00:00 Q AN2263 SW 15 m/s, good, moderate, part. clouded, lt. fog.
06:00 Q AF7952
12:00 Q AF7642 SW 15 m/s, good, moderate, part. clouded, lt. fog. Fuel=91%.
Day's run: ↑ 271 nM ↓ 2 nM
Total run: ↑ 855 nM ↓ 2 nM in 78 hrs.
12:00 New course is 300°.
18:00 Q AF7294 New course is 270°.
No traffic, nothing special.

25-3-1941 North Sea, NW of the Shetland Islands.
00:00 Q AF7272 SW 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis.
00:00 New course is 250°.
06:00 Q AF7431
06:00 New course is 240°.
12:00 Q AF7476 SW 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis. Fuel=87%.
Day's run: ↑ 303 nM
Total run: ↑ 1158 nM ↓ 2 nM in 102 hrs.
12:00 New course is 230°.
18:00 Q AE9968 NNE 7 m/s, good, slight, clear sky, good vis.
18:00 New course is 245°.

26-3-1941 Entering N-Atlantic, passing between Scotland and Faroer Il.
00:00 Q AM3232
00:00 Engines back to LF as distance to Shetlands airbase is large enough now.
06:00 Q AM3249
11:12 U-boat sighted.
11:45 Recognition signals exchanged. It's Thomsen off course!
12:00 Q AM3331 NNE 7 m/s, good, slight, clear sky, good vis. Fuel=84%.
Day's run: ↑ 278 nM
Total run: ↑ 1436 nM ↓ 2 nM in 126 hrs.
13:40 U-boat out of sight.
18:00 Q AM3349

27-3-1941 North-Atlantic, NW of Scotland.
00:00 Q AM2632 E 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis.
06:00 Q AM2649
06:09 Contact report received. Convoy in Q AM5154, course ENE, speed 13 knots.
Convoy is approximately 185 nM SSW from our position. We can intercept
it in 8 hours when travelling at AK. This will take us into
enemy territory, heavily patrolled by ASW ships and in range of
airplanes. However, if we can intercept this convoy, we can attack it
during the early hours of darkness and leave the area during the night.
Decision:
Despite the potential dangers I decide to try to intercept this convoy.
So far no airplanes have been spotted and we must be aggressive!
06:15 Q AM2649 Heading for intercept point, course is 170°. Engines at AK.
08:35 U-boat sighted, identified as friendly.
We have no time to contact it, we continue towards intercept point.
09:00 U-boat out of sight.
12:00 Q AM0224 E 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis. Fuel=80%.
Day's run: ↑ 293 nM
Total run: ↑ 1729 nM ↓ 2 nM in 150 hrs.
14:15 Q AM0284 Reached intercept point, no sign of convoy, we dive to listen for HE.
14:22 Surfaced, no sound of convoy was detected on the hydrophone.
Suspect convoy was travelling closer to E than ENE.
New course is 120°, engines at AK.
16:00 Q AM5223 Reached new intercept point, no sign of convoy, we dive to listen for HE.
16:10 Surfaced, again no sound of convoy was detected on the hydrophone.
I suspect that the convoy was travelling closer to E than ENE or it
changed course during the chase. By now it is probably ahead of us.
With a convoy speed of 13 knots we have little hope to catch it now.
Decision:
Chasing after this convoy any further is considered futile.
We have no clear idea where it is and coninueing after it wil take us
deeper into enemy territory.
We will abandon the chase and proceed to our patrol area.
16:10 New course is 250°.
18:00 Q AM5251 Calculated position 13 nM south of DR.
18:51 Patrol report sent.

28-3-1941 North-Atlantic, NW of Ireland.
00:00 Q AM5192 ESE 5 m/s, good, slight, part. clouded, good vis.
06:00 Q AM5410
12:00 Q AM4655 ESE 5 m/s, good, slight, part. clouded, good vis. Fuel=76%.
Day's run: ↑ 285 nM
Total run: ↑ 2014 nM ↓ 2 nM in 174 hrs.
18:00 Q AM4674 ENE 7 m/s, good, slight, clear sky, lt. fog.
No traffic, nothing special.

29-3-1941 North-Atlantic, W of Ireland.
00:00 Q AM4827 ENE 7 m/s, good, slight, clear sky, lt. fog.
06:00 Q AM4764
08:09 Crash dive drill to A+40m and depth keeping exercises.
08:52 Surfaced.
09:31 Batteries recharged.
12:00 Q AM4776 ENE 7 m/s, good, slight, clear sky, lt. fog. Fuel=74%.
Day's run: ↑ 236 nM ↓ 1.5 nM
Total run: ↑ 2250 nM ↓ 3.5 nM in 198 hrs.
17:09 Patrol report sent.
18:00 Q AL9352
No traffic, nothing special.

30-3-1941 North-Atlantic.
00:00 Q AL9293
06:00 Q AL9513
12:00 Q AL9464 N 13 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis. Fuel=72%.
Day's run: ↑ 267 nM
Total run: ↑ 2517 nM ↓ 3.5 nM in 222 hrs.
18:00 Q AL9472
No traffic, nothing special.

31-3-1941 North-Atlantic.
00:00 Q AL8823
06:00 Q AL8769
08:55 Crash dive drill to A+20m and depth keeping exercises.
09:29 Surfaced
09:52 Batteries recharged.
12:00 Q BE1221 N 13 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis. Fuel=70%.
Day's run: ↑ 256 nM ↓ 1.5 nM
Total run: ↑ 2773 nM ↓ 5 nM in 246 hrs.
18:00 Q BE1138
22:27 Contact report received.
Enemy task force 130 nM E from our position moving ENE at 16 knots.
Task force is behind us and moving away. We have no chance to overtake it.

1-4-1941 North-Atlantic.
00:00 Q BE1148
00:00 BdU kommandant message 0000/1/4/41 received:
"All U-boats, new base transfers are ready. Stand-by for further orders."
06:00 Q BD3388 BdU kommandant message 0500/1/4/41 received:
"All U-boats involved in operation Mare Nostrum.
Your base has changed to La Spezia."
12:00 Q BD3563 WNW 9 m/s, good, slight, clear sky, lt. fog. Fuel=67%.
Day's run: ↑ 248 nM
Total run: ↑ 3021 nM ↓ 5 nM in 270 hrs.
18:00 Q BD3576
No traffic, nothing special.

2-4-1941 North-Atlantic, arriving at patrol area.
00:00 Q BD3723
06:00 Q BD2969
12:00 Q BD5313 WNW 9 m/s, good, slight, clear sky, lt. fog. Fuel=65%.
Day's run: ↑ 265 nM
Total run: ↑ 3286 nM ↓ 5 nM in 294 hrs.
18:00 Q BD5268 Reached patrol area.
18:42 BdU kommandant message 0810/24/3/41 received:
"Patrol BD8255, radius 300 KM for 48 hrs."
20:00 BD5532 N 11 m/s, dense fog, moderate, overcast sky, poor vis.
Diving to A-50m to listen for contacts during the night and to give the
crew a chance to rest. We can hear more below than see above.
No traffic, nothing special.

3-4-1941 North-Atlantic, patrol area.
00:00 Q BD5535 Continuing submerged.
05:42 Surfaced to air the boat and recharge the batteries.
We are still in dense fog with poor visibility.
Proceeding with engines at HF.
06:00 Q BD5562 ESE 11 m/s, dense fog, moderate, overcast sky, poor vis.
07:43 Batteries recharged.
12:00 Q BD5861 ESE 11 m/s, dense fog, moderate, overcast sky, poor vis. Fuel=64%.
Day's run: ↑ 152 nM ↓ 15 nM
Total run: ↑ 3438 nM ↓ 20 nM in 318 hrs.
Engines at LF. We have to wait for the weather to improve.
18:00 Q BD8226 No change in weather. We dive again to A-50m to listen for contacts.
No traffic, nothing special.

4-4-1941 North-Atlantic, patrol area.
00:00 Q BD8229 Continuing submerged.
05:45 Surfaced to air the boat and recharge the batteries.
We are still in dense fog with poor visibility.
Proceeding with engines at LF.
06:00 Q BD8256
07:08 Batteries recharged.
12:00 Q BD8525 ESE 11 m/s, dense fog, moderate, overcast sky, poor vis. Fuel=63%.
Day's run: ↑ 85 nM ↓ 17 nM
Total run: ↑ 3523 nM ↓ 37 nM in 342 hrs.
13:01 Patrol report sent.
18:00 Q BD8581 WSW 15 m/s, good, rough, part. clouded, lt. fog.
Fog has cleared, first chance to take a fix in 48 hours.
Calculated position is 15 nM NNW from DR.
18:37 BdU kommandant message 0600/26/3/41 received:
"Reposition to BD2455, radius 300 KM for 48 hrs."
18:40 Q BD8581 Proceeding to new patrol area with engines at HF. New course is 340°.
No traffic, nothing special.

5-4-1941 North-Atlantic, patrol area.
00:00 Q BD8278
06:00 Q BD5799
10:00 BdU kommandant message 0500/5/4/41 received:
"All U-boats involved in operation Western Approaches.
Your base has changed to St. Nazaire."
News is met with enthousiasm from the crew.
12:00 Q BD5494 WSW 15 m/s, good, moderate, part. clouded, lt. fog. Fuel=61%.
Day's run: ↑ 220 nM
Total run: ↑ 3743 nM ↓ 37 nM in 366 hrs.
18:00 Q BD5197 SSW 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis.
18:00 Changed course to 350°.
20:57 Patrol report sent.
22:20 Diving to A-50m during darkness to listen for HE.
No traffic, nothing special.

6-4-1941 North-Atlantic, patrol area.
00:00 Q BD5161 Continuing submerged.
05:44 Surfaced to air the boat and recharge the batteries.
06:00 Q BD5131
06:39 Batteries recharged.
11:57 Patrol report sent.
12:00 Q BD2753 SSW 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis. Fuel=60%.
Day's run: ↑ 135 nM ↓ 10 nM
Total run: ↑ 3878 nM ↓ 47 nM in 390 hrs.
12:41 Message from BdU: "Be more aggresive!"
Ja, ja. More aggresive against what!?
Not a single contact in more than two weeks!
18:00 Q BD2459
22:14 Diving to A-50m during darkness to listen for HE.
No traffic, nothing special.

7-4-1941 North-Atlantic, patrol area.
00:00 Q BD2422 Continuing submerged.
05:44 Surfaced to air the boat and recharge the batteries.
06:00 Q BD2185 S 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis.
06:41 Batteries recharged.
12:00 Q BD2119 S 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis. Fuel=59%.
Day's run: ↑ 118 nM ↓ 10 nM
Total run: ↑ 3996 nM ↓ 57 nM in 414 hrs.
15:15 BdU kommandant message 0600/28/3/41 received:
"Reposition to BD9955, radius 300 KM for 48 hrs."
15:30 Q AK8884 New course is 130°, engines at half ahead.
18:00 Q BD2126
No traffic, nothing special.

8-4-1941 North-Atlantic, patrol area.
00:00 Q BD2271
06:00 Q BD2555
12:00 Q BD2917 S 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis. Fuel=57%.
Day's run: ↑ 248 nM
Total run: ↑ 4244 nM ↓ 57 nM in 438 hrs.
18:00 Q BD5323
No traffic, nothing special.

9-4-1941 North-Atlantic, patrol area.
00:00 Q BD6171 N 15 m/s, good, slight, clear sky, good vis.
06:00 Q BD6453
08:24 Status report sent.
12:00 Q BD6817 NE 15 m/s, good, slight, clear sky, good vis. Fuel=54%.
Day's run: ↑ 257 nM
Total run: ↑ 4501 nM ↓ 57 nM in 462 hrs.
18:00 Q BD6886 New course is 150°.
21:59 Diving to A-50m during darkness to listen for HE.
No traffic, nothing special.

10-4-1941 North-Atlantic, patrol area.
00:00 Q BD9265 Continuing submerged.
05:45 Surfaced.
06:00 Q BD9293
06:45 Batteries recharged.
12:00 Q BD9642 NE 15 m/s, good, slight, clear sky, good vis. Fuel=53%.
Day's run: ↑ 155 nM ↓ 11 nM
Total run: ↑ 4656 nM ↓ 68 nM in 486 hrs.
15:28 Status report sent.
18:00 Q BD9687
22:05 Diving to A-50m during darkness to listen for HE.
No traffic, nothing special.

11-4-1941 North-Atlantic, patrol area.
00:00 Q BD9956 Continuing submerged.
05:44 Surfaced.
06:00 Q BD9959 NW 15 m/s, lt. Rain & dens fog, moderate, overcast sky, poor vis.
06:40 Batteries recharged.
12:00 Q CE3327 W 15 m/s, rain & dense fog, moderate, overcast sky, poor vis. Fuel=52%.
Day's run: ↑ 116 nM ↓ 10 nM
Total run: ↑ 4772 nM ↓ 78 nM in 510 hrs.
12:00 New course is 020°, engines at HF.
18:00 Q BE7714
18:50 BdU kommandant message 0600/30/3/41 received: "Good job. Task
accomplished. Act on your own and return to base when low on provisions."
We have been on patrol for 3 weeks and not a single ship has been sighted
and not a single contact has been reported in our patrol sector.
My intention is to relocate north towards the main convoy routes.
No traffic, nothing special.

12-4-1941 North-Atlantic.
00:00 Q BE7413 New course is 000°.
06:00 Q BE7113 W 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis.
12:00 Q BE4479 W 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, lt. fog. Fuel=50%.
Day's run: ↑ 259 nM
Total run: ↑ 5031 nM ↓ 78 nM in 534 hrs.
18:00 Q BE4181
No traffic, nothing special.

13-4-1941 North-Atlantic.
00:00 Q BE1749
06:00 Q BE1446 NNE 9 m/s, good, moderate, part. clouded, good vis.
12:00 Q BE1143 NNE 9 m/s, good, moderate, part. clouded, good vis. Fuel=48%.
Day's run: ↑ 265 nM
Total run: ↑ 5296 nM ↓ 78 nM in 558 hrs.
17:13 Status report sent.
18:00 Q AL7819
No traffic, nothing special.

14-4-1941 North-Atlantic.
00:00 Q AL7516
03:00 Q AL7281 Contact report received. Large convoy in PQ AL5783, course ESE, speed 7 kts.
Convoy is appr. 135 nM ENE from our position. We can intercept it in 12 hrs.
03:05 New course is 080°, engines at AK.
06:00 Q AL7265
06:12 New course is 070°.
12:00 Q AL5798 SW 10 m/s, good, moderate, part. clouded, good vis. Fuel=42%.
Day's run: ↑ 316 nM
Total run: ↑ 5612 nM ↓ 78 nM in 582 hrs.
12:00 New course is 085°.
14:00 New course is 090°.
14:38 Convoy sighted. We're behind it. Estimated course 100°, speed 7 knots.
I observe the convoy for a while at long distance. It's a large convoy
with a strong escort. I cannot make out details of individual ships in the
convoy as the distance is too great and I can't get close during daylight.
I begin to manouevre around the convoy to get ahead for a night attack.
15:00 New course is 060°. After a while the convoy disapears from view.
16:00 New course is 100°, engines ahead HF.
After a while the convoy comes back into view. This time we approach
too closely and are spotted by one of the escorts and we are forced to dive.
17:26 Crash dive.
17:27 Bold decoy deployed.
Luckily escorts are unable to locate our position. Once we hear
the pinging of an ASDIC but no depth charges were deployed.
17:59 Back to periscope depth. I can see three escorts behind us at medium range.
The convoy has now disapeared from view.
18:30 The three escorts are still searching, now at long range.
19:00 Q AL5885 Escorts have disapeared and we surface again.
New course is 090°, AK.
19:22 Visual contact. Possibly the escorts that searched for us,
convoy should be further away.
19:36 New course is 030°, AK. We will manouevre to get ahead of the convoy.
20:00 Q AL5883 New course is 090°.
21:00 Q AL5892 New course is 130°.
22:55 Visual contact with convoy. We are now directly ahead.
23:00 Q AL9114 New course is 190°. I will cross ahead of the convoy to verify it's course.
As I cross directly in front of one column, the relative bearing is 89.5°.
Convoy course is indeed 100°.
23:18 I cross the path of the outside escort and change course to 145°.
The plan is to position myself outside the escort screen and attack
the convoy at long range from it's SB side.
23:51 Based on my course and speed and the convoy course I should be about
7000m. outside the escort screen now and change course to 280°, directly
opposite of the convoy course. I will use the 90° angle attack method with
torpedos setat slow speed to allow more time to escape. We are the only
U-boot in position and the escort screen is considered too strong for an
attack at close range. Calculated deflection is 13°. When relative bearing
is about 75°, I will change course 90° into the convoy for my attack run.

15-4-1941 North-Atlantic.
00:15 Q AL9117 Changed course to 010°. Anlauf begint!
00:20 Flooding tubes 1 to 4.
00:21 Fire G7a from tube 1 at tanker estimated 10000t.
00:23 Fire G7a from tube 2 at cargo ship estimated 7000t.
00:25 Fire G7a from tube 3 at cargo ship estimated 7000t.
00:27 Fire G7a from tube 4 at tanker estimated 10000t.
Shooting data:
gyro angle 000°, deflection 13° PS, slow speed, depth 3m, range 7500-10000m.
00:27 Q AL9114 New course is 180°, engines at AK to clear the area.
00:31 Two torpedo impacts in quick succesion.
00:35 Torpedo impact.
00:37 Torpedo impact.
Time between first 2 torpedo impacts and last 2 suggest perhaps other
vessels than those aimed at were hit. Distance to the convoy is too large
to observe which vessels were hit. During our retreat we observe escorts
searching near the convoy, far behind us. We escape easily.
Plan is to get ahead of the convoy again, reload the tubes and attack again.
The night is still young and we should be able to attack again before dawn.
01:00 Q AL9141 New course is 100°.
Convoy is out of sight and we will manoeuvre ahead of the convoy.
03:00 Q AL9154 We are far enough ahead of the convoy.
We will submerge to reload the tubes and listen for HE.
03:04 Diving to A-50m, new course is 000°.
03:28 Hydrophone contact with the convoy.
03:33 Tube 1 ready.
03:59 Tube 2 ready.
04:25 Tube 3 ready.
04:51 Tube 4 ready.
Reloading took longer than expected. Inexperience of crew shows.
04:53 Surfaced, course is still 000°. This heading should take us to the convoy.
05:10 Q AL9127 Escorts sighted. Suspect these to be escorts ahead of the convoy.
05:11 Changed course to 270°. After a while the convoy comes into view and
we observe it to establish if course and speed are still the same.
05:20 Batteries recharged.
05:46 Side escort is a bit too close to my liking and I change course to 180°
to increase the distance and present a smaller profile to the escort.
06:01 New course is 100°. Forward rows are now ahead of us.
We adjust speed to 7 knots and take a bearing on a nearby freighter.
Bearing remains constant, indicating a convoy speed of 7 knots. As we
overtake the forward rows, we observe ships in these row roughly in line.
This together with the position of the convoy indicates the convoy
course is still 100°. The plan is to repeat the first attack.
It worked the first time, we'll do it again!
06:26 Changed course to 010°. Anlauf begint!
06:27 Flooding tubes 1 to 4.
06:29 Fire G7a from tube 1 at cargo ship estimated 7000t.
06:30 Fire G7a from tube 2 at cargo ship estimated 7000t.
06:31 Fire G7a from tube 3 at cargo ship estimated 7000t.
06:32 Fire G7a from tube 4 at tanker estimated 10000t.
Shooting data:
gyro angle 000°, deflection 13° PS, slow speed, depth 3m, range 8000-11000m.
06:32 New course is 180°, engines at AK to clear the area.
06:39 Q AL9124 Three torpedo impacts in quick succesion. Other torpedo missed.
Again the distance to the convoy is too large to observe which vessels
were hit. Similar to the first attackwe escape easily with the escorts
searching far behind us.
Decision:
We will let the convoy go. We only have 2 internal G7e torpedos left
for the forward tubes. This means any further attack will be with a
maximum of 3 torpedos and from close range. Considering the strong escort
and in combination with a tired crew makes further attackstoo dangerous.
07:00 Q AL9154 New course is 270°, still at AK to clear the area before daylight.
09:27 Crash dive for airplane and changed course to 180°. Airplane has spotted
us and attacks. Aircraft only strafes us, no depth charges. Aircraft type
not identified as we immidiately dived. We are far away from land,
perhaps it's a land based longe range airplane looking for us after the
convoy attacks. This seems unlikely as we are far from land.
Location of the attach suggests the plane was ship based. Perhaps part
of the convoy or else a task force must be in the vicinnity.
We stay below for a while and use the opportunity to reload tubes 1 & 2
with the final two forward spares. No HE while submerged.
10:57 PD, no airplanes observed through OP.
11:00 Surfaced, course is 270°. AK to put distance between us and the attack
position. We want to avoid any further attacks from the air.
The strafing caused minor damage to OP, hydrophone and hull.
No injuries to crew and damage can be repaired. Boat is fully functional.
12:00 Q AL9144 SSE 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, lt. fog. Fuel=37%.
Day's run: ↑ 248 nM ↓ 10 nM
Total run: ↑ 5860 nM ↓ 88 nM in 606 hrs.
15:00 Engines at LF. No further airplanes spotted.
We put enough distance between us and the attack area.
18:00 Q AL8248 New course is 000°.

16-4-1941 North-Atlantic.
00:00 Q AL5845 W 15 m/s, good, slight, part. clouded, lt. fog.
06:00 Q AL5517
06:01 Dived to depth A-50m to listen for nearby contacts.
Plan is to move the forward external torpedo inside at dawn.
07:59 AL5514 Surfaced.
08:04 Manned the flak gun.
08:06 Start transferring the forward external torpedo.
12:00 Q AL5518 SSE 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, lt. fog. Fuel=35%.
Day's run: ↑ 242 nM ↓ 3 nM
Total run: ↑ 6108 nM ↓ 91 nM in 630 hrs.
12:06 Torpedo transfer completed.
12:12 Flak gun secured.
18:00 AL5561 Calm, good, slight, part. clouded, good vis.
No traffic, nothing special.

17-4-1941 North-Atlantic.
00:00 Q AL6441
New course is 080°.
01:24 Contact report received: Large convoy in PQ AL5853, course W, speed 6 kts.
Convoy is appr. 75 nM SW from our position.
Decision:
We will not pursue this convoy. We cannot overtake it before daybreak.
Taking into consideration the available fuel, provisions and torpedo's our
posibilities to attack this convoy are limited.
06:00 Q AL6426 Diving to depth A-50 to listen for contacts and load spare torpedo forward.
07:29 Start loading G7a torpedo in tube III.
07:55 Tube III ready.
07:59 Surfaced.
08:00 New course is 085°.
12:00 Q AL6199 Calm, good, slight, part. clouded, good vis. Fuel=34%.
Day's run: ↑ 171 nM ↓ 3 nM
Total run: ↑ 6279 nM ↓ 94 nM in 654 hrs.
18:00 Q AL6276

18-4-1941 North-Atlantic.
00:00 Q AL6283 WNW 7 m/s, heavy rain & fog, moderate, overcast sky, fog, mod. vis.
06:00 Q AL6347
New course is 090°.
12:00 Q AL6358 NW 7 m/s, heavy rain & fog, moderate, overcast, fog, mod. vis. Fuel=33%.
Day's run: ↑ 162 nM
Total run: ↑ 6441 nM ↓ 94 nM in 678 hrs.
18:00 Q AM4147 NW 15 m/s, good, rough, clear sky, good visi.
No traffic, nothing special.

19-4-1941 North-Atlantic.
00:00 Q AM4155
New course is 050°.
06:00 Q AM4137 Dived to depth A-50m to listen for nearby contacts.
07:57 Q AM4138 Surfaced the boat.
12:00 Q AM1989 NW 15 m/s, good, rough, clear sky, good visi. Fuel=32%.
Day's run: ↑ 158 nM ↓ 4nM
Total run: ↑ 6599 nM ↓ 98 nM in 702 hrs.
New course is 060°.
18:00 Q AM1969 New course is 050°.
No traffic, nothing special.

20-4-1941 North-Atlantic, Rockal bank
00:00 Q AM0116 WNW 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis.
New course is 030°.
06:00 Q AM1854 S 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis.
New course is 150°.
06:02 Dived to depth A-50m to listen for nearby contacts.
07:59 Q AM1854 Surfaced the boat.
12:00 Q AM1885 S 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis. Fuel=31%.
Day's run: ↑ 157 nM ↓ 3nM
Total run: ↑ 6756 nM ↓ 101 nM in 726 hrs.
New course is 170°.
18:00 ENE 15 m/s, heavy rain & fog, moderate, overcast sky, mod. vis.
18:04 Status report send.
No traffic, nothing special.

21-4-1941 North-Atlantic, NW of Ireland
00:00 Q AM0116
Dived to depth A-50m to listen for contacts during the night.
00:30 Hydrophone contact long range bearing 320° moving to 310°.
Target estimated to travel E to NE. Plotting intercept course.
00:40 Surfaced, engines at AK and course 090° to intercept the target vessel.
01:39 To periscope depth to listen. Target bearing 019° moving away at long range.
Resumed pursuit at AK now at course 080°.
02:39 To periscope depth to listen. Target now at bearing 121° closing
at long range. I overestimated the speed of the vessel and went past it.
Surfaced the boat again and changed course to 180°.
03:00 Ship sighted at medium range, estimated about 5000m away. Vessel is a
passenger ship sailing with navigation lights on and has red cross
markings. We go to perscope depth to avoid being seen. Vessel passes
ahead of us at close range and we perform a simulated underwater attack.
03:19 We let the vessel go and go to depth A-50m for the night to listen for HE.
05:59 Surfaced, engines HF continuing at course 180°.
06:00 Q AM4364
06:50 Bateries recharged.
12:00 Q AM4667 ENE 15 m/s, heavy rain & fog, moderate, overcast sky, mod. vis. Fuel=29%.
Day's run: ↑ 190 nM ↓ 7nM
Total run: ↑ 6946 nM ↓ 108 nM in 750 hrs.
Weather remains poor. Provisions are low and the crew is tired.
We will head for St. Nazaire.
18:00 Q AM4991 Calm, good, moderate, part. clouded, good vis.
22:38 Contact report received: Enemy taskforce about 210 nM away NE of us.
It is moving away from us ENE at 18 knots so we have no change to get close.

22-4-1941 North-Atlantic, W of Ireland
00:00 Q AM7394 New course is 170°.
06:00 Q AM7695
07:44 Q AM 7935 Contact report received: Enemy task force in PQ AM7935.
TF is about 195 nM WNW of us travelling ENE at 17 knots, almost directly
towards us. If information is accurate and the TF stays on the same course
we could intercept it. Intercept course plotted, we can reach the intercept
point in 5 1/2 hours.
07:51 New course is 263°, engines at AK.
12:00 Q AM7917 Calm, good, moderate, part. clouded, good vis. Fuel=25%.
Day's run: ↑ 282 nM
Total run: ↑ 7228 nM ↓ 108 nM in 774 hrs.
New course is 260°.
12:45 Q AM7863 To periscope depth.
We are approximately 25 nM ahead of the TF and dive to listen for HE.
If the TF is not exactly on it's reported course we have to calculate a new
intercept point. Because of the high speed of the TF we will only get one
chance to reposition.
We dive well ahead of the TF to ensure the earliest possible detection.
13:18 Contact report received: Small convoy in PQ BF1193, course WNW, speed 7 kts.
Convoy is about 210 nM ESE from us heading almost directly towards us.
We could intercept this convoy in about 8 1/2 hours.
Decision:
For the moment we will continue after the TF which is a potentially more
valuable target. We should have detected the TF by now but so far no HE.
We will continue listening till 14:00. If we have not detected the TF by
then further pursuit is hopeless. If so then we will concentrate on the
small convoy.
13:59 Surfaced. No sign of the Task Force so we will go after the convoy instead.
New course is 112°, engines at AK.
18:00 Q AM7986
20:31 Status report send.
22:04 Contact report received: Small convoy in PQ BF1193, course ENE, speed 7 kts.
Convoy is about 205 nM NNW from us heading away. A lot of activity
all of a sudden! We will continue with our pursuit of the first convoy.
23:48 We are close to the calculated intercept point and no sign of the convoy.
We go to PD to listen for HE.
23:59 Surfaced the boat. No sign of the convoy. It must have been on either a
more easterly or northerly course than reported. If it travelled
a more easterly course than reported we still should have detected it.
It might have changed course to the north following the Irish coast.
In that case it would be out of hydrophone range.
We calculate a new intercept course based on a course change to the north.
New course is 030°, engines at AK.

23-4-1941 North-Atlantic, SW of Ireland
00:00 Q BF1155 SSE 15 m/s, fog, moderate, clear sky, mod. vis.
01:54 We have reached the new intercept point but no sign of the convoy.
We go to PD to listen. No HE, the convoy has eluded us and further pursuit
is hopeless. We can only guess where it is now.
01:59 Q BF1131 Surfaced. New course is 170°, engines at VF to clear the area.
I do not want to be detected in this area and risk being hunted down.
We have enough time to vacate the area under the cover of darkness.
02:34 Batteries recharged.
06:00 Q BF1435 New course is 160°.
12:00 Q BF1848 SSE 15 m/s, fog, moderate, clear sky, mod. Vis. Fuel=17%.
Day's run: ↑ 301 nM ↓ 3 nM
Total run: ↑ 7529 nM ↓ 111 nM in 798 hrs.
New course is 110°. We head towards St. Nazaire.
12:13 Enigines back to LF.
18:00 Q BF4236 NNE 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis.
No traffic, nothing special.

24-4-1941 North-Atlantic, Bay of Biscay
00:00 Q BF4356
00:15 Engines at HF.
06:00 Q BF5179
12:00 Q BF5436 NNE 15 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis. Fuel=14%.
Day's run: ↑ 283 nM
Total run: ↑ 7812 nM ↓ 111 nM in 822 hrs.
15:04 Status report send.
18:00 Q BF5553 New course is 100°.
No traffic, nothing special.

25-4-1941 Bay of Biscay, arrival St. Nazaire
00:00 Q BF6446 SW 10 m/s, good, moderate, clear sky, good vis.
New course is 090°.
06:00 Q BF6456 New course is 060°. Engines at SL to arrive on schedule.
10:00 Point 2 Rendez vous with escort.
12:04 St. Nazaire Entering port of St. Nazaire behind mine escort.
12:18 St. Nazaire Entering submarine pen no. 1.
12:22 St. Nazaire Vessel docked.
12:25 St. Nazaire Reception by Flottillen Chef and Divisionsgeneral.

Remaining distance: ↑ 233 nM in 24 hrs. 22 min.

Summary:
Duration of patrol: 35 days, 6 hours and 22 min.
Distance covered: 8045 nM surfaced
111 nM submerged
Consumption: Remaining fuel 12%

A total of 8 torpedoes were fired, of these 7 hit and 1 missed.
All torpedoes were fired against the same convoy in a night attach 15/04.
Vessels sunk were: 58000 GRT
tanker estimated 10000t
steamer estimated 7000t
steamer estimated 7000t
tanker estimated 10000t
steamer estimated 7000t
steamer estimated 7000t
tanker estimated 10000t

Commentary of the Befehlshabers der Unterseeboote:

1.) Overall a successful first patrol with a new boat. Good performance in
night attack on the convoy. However, when holding contact the kommandant
will have to be tougher. Be tenacious and do not give up success
opportunities so quickly.
2.) Not pursuing the reported convoy on 17 April is unacceptable.
In this aspect he has not done everything he could do.
3.) Reported successes are exagerated and overly optimistic. Attacks were
carried out from great distance making sinking confimation difficult.

Accredited successes: tanker 11337t
steamer 10554t
steamer 7174
steamer 7179
steamer 8229
TOTAL 44473

[Markus Witt]

Here are some pictures. Some sample pages of the actual log, a downsized picture of the grid map with the route of U-77 and the attack plot of the convoy action of 15 April.

[Markus Witt]

U-77 in the U-boot pen in Kiel before departure.

[rmax]

Nice! Did you Alt-tab between the application to write the reports?

Did you get a medal?

Interesting that you fired on the convoy at such long range. I normally creep in to get as close as possible (although I'm in Oct 1939 so not against convoys yet).

[Markus Witt]

I basically play from noon to noon, sometimes 2 days in a row. Each day I plot my position every 6 hours ( every 4 hours would be more accurate, but 6 to simplify things). Using the grid tool I note the exact grid square and then update the log in the game with these positions.

Each time I start my save I first plot the last noon position in the chart (I have all position markings disabled in game). After that every six hours a new position (or every course change). I then connect these position with lines which gives me my route travelled.

The next day at noon (or 2 days later) after plotting the noon position I save the game and the log and copy/paste the map with my route. I then alt-tab out of the game and paste the image to paint and save it. After that I do the same with the log pages.

After exiting the game I can then open the map file and convert the route to my own grid map. (this only takes a few minutes again. I open the grid map in paint and update the route just by eyeballing it looking at the grids). Using the log copies I then update my log which I keep in an Excel file.