GWX 2.0 Action Reports

[Brag]

Well done, Mates!

[KeptinCranky]

This is patrol 3 for U37,
patrol 2 doesn't really count because it involved testing something in GWX and therefore involved a lot of weird routes and such, did sail my boat from the Gulf of Guinee to Canada and on to Wilhelmshaven but that wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for testing.

08 Jan 1940
2256
Feindfahrt 3

U-37, 2. U-Flottille
Ausgelaufen: Januar 8, 1940, 22:56
Von: Wilhelmshaven
Befehle: In Planquadrat AM77 patrouillieren

13 Jan 1940
0054 AN 14 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Idaho Falls (Großes Frachtschiff), 11190 BRT
0646 AN 14 Schiff versenkt! M/V Langleebrook (Mittelgroßer Frachter), 5315 BRT
0657 AN 14 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Fisher's Hill (Erzfrachter), 6922 BRT
1453 AN 13 Flugzeug abgeschossen! Anson
2204 AN 13 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Rafaela (Großes Frachtschiff), 11518 BRT
17 Jan 1940
1534 AM 54 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Speaker (Großes Frachtschiff), 11519 BRT
20 Jan 1940
2124 AM 78 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Telnes (Erzfrachter), 7975 BRT
2151 AM 78 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Erik Boye (Trampdampfer), 1728 BRT
2154 AM 78 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Benjamin Brewster (Mittelgroßer Frachtdampfer), 4703 BRT
21 Jan 1940
0745 AM 78 Schiff versenkt! HMS Hart (Black-Swan Klasse), 1250 BRT
0759 AM 78 Schiff versenkt! M/V Magician (Mittelgroßer Frachter), 4529 BRT
0838 AM 78 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Empire Heritage (Kleiner Frachter), 2213 BRT
1302 AM 75 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Sea Falcon (Trampdampfer), 1727 BRT
1302 AM 75 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Mormacyork (Mittelgroßer Frachtdampfer), 4702 BRT
1302 AM 75 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Lenoir (Küstenfrachter), 1869 BRT
1321 AM 75 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Bryce Canyon (Passagier und Frachtschiff), 2223 BRT
26 Jan 1940
0509 AM 34 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Nyholt (Passagier und Frachtschiff), 2215 BRT
1508 AN 13 Schiff versenkt! S.S. Irénée Du Pont (Mittelgroßer Frachtdampfer), 4704 BRT
27 Jan 1940
0214 AN 14 Schiff versenkt! M/V Peridot (Trawler), 98 BRT
30 Jan 1940
0100 Zuruckkehr im Wilhelmshaven

Ergebnisse
Verluste: 0
Versenkte Schiffe: 18
Zerstörte Flugzeuge: 1
Versenkte Tonnage: 86400 Tonnen

I'd say i put a serious dent in british shipping that month, and also took out more than half of an inbound convoy

[Gezoes]

Date and Time
Grid
Occurrences
02 Sep 1939 0844 Patrol 1
U-45, U-Flotilla Saltzwedel
Left at: September 2, 1939, 08:44
From: Wilhelmshaven
Mission Orders: Patrol grid BE31

03 Sep 1939
1833 AN 82 Ship sunk! S.S. Telnes (Small Merchant), 2384 tons
08 Sep 1939
1939 BF 31 Ship sunk! S.S. Memnon (Ore Carrier), 8418 tons
16 Sep 1939
1837 BF 18 Ship sunk! S.S. Borgland (Granville-type Freighter), 4704 tons
1914 BF 18 Ship sunk! M/V Madras City (Medium Cargo), 4595 tons
19 Sep 1939
0536 BE 36 Ship sunk! S.S. Michalios (Tramp Steamer), 2096 tons
15 Oct 1939
0206 AN 55 Ship sunk! M/V Dordrecht (Medium Cargo), 4011 tons
0648 AN 55 Ship sunk! S.S. J.B. White (Granville-type Freighter), 4705 tons
0941 AN 55 Ship sunk! M/V Helen Barbara (Tugboat), 1122 tons
1522 AN 55 Ship sunk! M/V Empire Arthur (Motor Vessel), 111 tons
1724 AN 55 Ship sunk! M/V Thalia (Motor Vessel), 112 tons
18 Oct 1939
0422 AN 56 Ship sunk! S.S. Empire Caribou (Coastal Freighter), 1868 tons

22 Oct 1939 1647 Patrol results

Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 11
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 34126 tons

The 15th happened east near Hartlepool, a recommended stalking sector. But watch them fast ones... very hard to hit too. I was lucky to not lose any deck crew there... but what can one say. After roughly a month ones fingers get itchy

[stew278]

Type VIIB
73% realisim (unlimited fuel, externals, map contact updates)
Using OLC GUI


Occurrences
01 Sep 1939
2109 Patrol 1
U-48, U-Flotilla Saltzwedel
Left at: September 1, 1939, 21:09
From: Wilhelmshaven
Mission Orders: Patrol grid AM19
02 Sep 1939
1402 AN 35 Ship sunk! S.S. Elusa (Small Freighter), 1758 tons
04 Sep 1939
1738 AN 14 Ship sunk! S.S. St Simon (Passenger/Cargo), 1984 tons
05 Sep 1939
0716 AN 13 Ship sunk! S.S. Missionary Ridge (Large Merchant), 10552 tons
1314 AN 15 Ship sunk! M/V Tuna (Small Coal Tender), 319 tons
1445 AM 36 Ship sunk! S.S. Empire Sky (Small Merchant), 2423 tons
09 Sep 1939
1326 AM 52 Ship sunk! S.S. Anglo-Peruvian (Tramp Steamer), 1718 tons
10 Sep 1939
0038 AM 53 Ship sunk! S.S. Kota Tjandi (Passenger/Cargo), 2253 tons
11 Sep 1939
2353 AN 15 Ship sunk! M/V Topaze (Large Trawler), 547 tons
12 Sep 1939
0100 AN 15 Ship sunk! S.S. Copahee (Granville-type Freighter), 4702 tons
0810 AM 34 Ship sunk! HMS Hood (HMS Hood), 48360 tons
1148 AM 34 Ship sunk! HMS Repulse (Renown class), 48360 tons
14 Sep 1939
0008 AN 21 Ship sunk! HMS Kimberley (J&K classes), 1690 tons
0331 AN 21 Ship sunk! T class, 1222 tons
0331 AN 21 Ship sunk! HMS Cossack (Tribal class), 1850 tons
2100 AN 14 Ship sunk! Beatrice Beck (Schooner), 17 tons
15 Sep 1939
1428 AN 14 Ship sunk! M/V Filleigh (Medium Cargo), 3951 tons
16 Sep 1939
0052 AN 13 Ship sunk! S.S. Canford Chine (Coastal Freighter), 1869 tons
0055 Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 17
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 133575 tons

Never actually got to my patrol grid (oops)

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

CAPTAIN'S LOG

Date and Time
Grid
Occurrences
02 Sep 19390919Patrol 1
U-52, U-Flotilla Wegener
Left at: September 2, 1939, 09:19
From: Kiel
Mission Orders: Patrol grid AM2404 Sep 19391710AN 58Ship sunk! S.S. Gypsum Empress (Granville-type Freighter), 4702 tons06 Sep 19390344AN 1Ship sunk! S.S. Evans Creek (Large Merchant), 8723 tons07 Sep 19391130AN 14Ship sunk! Notre Dame du Châtelet (Schooner), 17 tons1428AN 14Ship sunk! M/V Surprise (Coastal Tanker), 1114 tons11 Sep 19390633Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 4
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 14556 tons

CAPTAIN'S LOG

Date and Time
Grid
Occurrences
25 Sep 19390453Patrol 2
U-52, U-Flotilla Wegener
Left at: September 25, 1939, 04:53
From: Kiel
Mission Orders: Patrol grid AM1826 Sep 19391455AN 55Ship sunk! M/V Empire Oak (Tugboat), 1121 tons1655AN 55Ship sunk! S.S. King Robert (Coastal Freighter), 1868 tons2116AN 55Ship sunk! M/V Brora (Small Trawler), 99 tons27 Sep 19390825AN 47Ship sunk! S.S. Chastine Mærsk (Granville-type Freighter), 4702 tons2206AN 16Ship sunk! S.S. Empire Mersey (Small Merchant), 1953 tons30 Sep 19391201Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 5
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 9743 tons

CAPTAIN'S LOG

Date and Time
Grid
Occurrences
11 Oct 19391059Patrol 3
U-52, U-Flotilla Wegener
Left at: October 11, 1939, 10:59
From: Kiel
Mission Orders: Patrol grid AM5213 Oct 19390100AN 59Ship sunk! M/V Jura (Large Trawler), 547 tons0300AN 59Ship sunk! M/V Shun An (Coastal Tanker), 1138 tons0356AN 58Ship sunk! S.S. Pillory (Coastal Freighter), 1869 tons1219AN 54Ship sunk! S.S. Empire Moose (Passenger/Cargo), 2573 tons14 Oct 19390308AN 44Ship sunk! M/V Ontario (Small Coal Tender), 305 tons1127AN 14Ship sunk! M/V Solitaire (Tugboat), 1129 tons2234AN 11Ship sunk! S.S. Alcoa Rambler (Large Merchant), 10979 tons15 Oct 19390058AN 11Ship sunk! M/V Cecil (Small Coal Tender), 306 tons17 Oct 19392019Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 8
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 18846 tons

CAPTAIN'S LOG

Date and Time
Grid
Occurrences
22 Oct 19390610Patrol 4
U-52, U-Flotilla Wegener
Left at: October 22, 1939, 06:10
From: Kiel
Mission Orders: Patrol grid AM7923 Oct 19390524AN 73Ship sunk! S.S. Takii Eddin (Coastal Freighter), 1868 tons1008AN 59Ship sunk! M/V Park City (Tugboat), 1128 tons1258AN 58Ship sunk! S.S. Kernstown (Small Merchant), 2429 tons1926AN 55Ship sunk! HMS Man o' War (ASW Trawler), 1100 tons24 Oct 19391411AN 44Ship sunk! M/V Generaal Van Der Heijden (Coastal Tanker), 1287 tons2331AN 14Ship sunk! M/V Lillian E. Kerr (Small Coal Tender), 319 tons25 Oct 19390554AN 14Ship sunk! M/V Colsay (Fishing Boat), 83 tons1816AM 34Ship sunk! S.S. Selvistan (Tramp Steamer), 1970 tons29 Oct 19390712Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 8
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 10184 tons

CAPTAIN'S LOG

Date and Time
Grid
Occurrences
06 Nov 19391357Patrol 5
U-52, U-Flotilla Wegener
Left at: November 6, 1939, 13:57
From: Kiel
Mission Orders: Patrol grid BF1907 Nov 19390800AN 67Ship sunk! S.S. Empire Attendant (Small Freighter), 2102 tons1920AN 73Ship sunk! S.S. Ioannis Fafalios (Granville-type Freighter), 4702 tons2254AN 58Ship sunk! S.S. Tanda (Small Merchant), 1962 tons08 Nov 19390213AN 58Ship sunk! S.S. Cairnesk (Passenger/Cargo), 2121 tons2328AN 44Ship sunk! M/V Algorab (Medium Cargo), 4322 tons18 Nov 19390829Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 5
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 15209 tons

CAPTAIN'S LOG

Date and Time
Grid
Occurrences
20 Dec 19391434Patrol 6
U-52, U-Flotilla Wegener
Left at: December 20, 1939, 14:34
From: Belchen Supply Ship24 Dec 19390930AN 14Ship sunk! S.S. Hilda (Large Merchant), 10357 tons1122Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 1
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 10357 tons

CAPTAIN'S LOG

Date and Time
Grid
Occurrences
08 Jan 19400235Patrol 7
U-52, 7th/13th Flotilla
Left at: January 8, 1940, 02:35
From: Kiel
Mission Orders: Patrol grid AM4109 Jan 19400658AN 73Ship sunk! S.S. Hammerfest (Granville-type Freighter), 4703 tons1649AN 58Ship sunk! S.S. Atheltemplar (Small Freighter), 2202 tons2027AN 58Ship sunk! S.S. Lars Magnus Trozelli (Passenger/Cargo), 2415 tons11 Jan 19401804AN 13Ship sunk! S.S. Moira (Large Merchant), 10526 tons14 Jan 19402254Patrol results
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 4
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 19846 tons

Due note that 90% of these sinking happen almost in the same grids

[Checkmate King 2]

While cruising in our 2nd cruise in the U-53 VIIB towards our patrol grid BE31, I decided to take a gamble to check out a "certain port" in England that has been known by the BdU to have a "certain" capital ship docked there in late summer, early fall, in 1939. While attempting to sneak into the harbor, around 07:30, we were able to avoid the 2-3 boats patrolling the main entrance to the south by hugging the shoreline at periscope depth. I picked out a nice spot to wait until dusk, before I made any attempt to raise my scope to see if any ships were in port.

While getting very close to my "waiting area", I received a report that we were receiving damage. Son-of-a-gun!!!; We ran into a submarine net!!! I immediately stopped the boat and sent the damage control party into action. After fixing the minor damage I received, I tried to reverse out of the net. It was no use. We were stuck!!!!!

While trying an emergency reverse, our stern starting to raise, since the bow was hooked to the net. I stopped all engines before the stern broke the surface. Next, I lowered the depth of the boat to as close as I could get to the harbor floor without hitting bottom. I then tried an emergency reverse again and I started to receive more bow damage. I had the repair crew fixing what they could. The noise from trying to get out of the net was getting louder and louder!!!! The boat started to move!!! Finally, we were free from the net but what about the patrol boats? .....Had they heard us?

Nothing!!!! The enemy still does not know we are here!!!! Boy, were we lucky!!!

Was I invincible or foolish? Only time would tell!!!

Since we had not been detected yet, I decided to run parallel to the net and try to find an opening. Lucky for us, we found the end of it less than 100 feet to the west. I continued to press on. We preceded north until we were close to one of the sea walls. I decided to raise my scope, for a quick 360 degree look, to see what was around, and then lowered it. The harbor looks almost deserted!!!! There were 1-2 small ships!!! Where are the big ones!!! I decided to do another quick look. While, scanning the harbor, I saw the same small ships I had seen the first time.........but wait what was that!!!! I spotted the mast and superstructure of a capital ship barely visible due to a dock structure blocking it. I dropped the scope and went in closer for a better look.

There she is!!!!! The HMS Hood still moored in her berth!!!!

I was able to position my U-boat so I could get a bow shot and still have the proper distance for the torpedoes to run. We fired 4 eels and registered 3 hits all in the same location. The Hood started to sink right away. With her resting on the bottom of the harbor sea floor, at her berth, the sea water didn't even touch her decks. After seeing her radar still rotating , I attempted fire another torpedo however, it just bounced off the hull. I decided I was really pushing my luck; time to get out of here!!!
We were successful in exiting the harbor, the same way we came in. Lucky for us, I had remembered to mark the location of the submarine net and its opening on the map and proceeded to exit the area.

About 20 -30 minutes after clearing the nets, I decided to raise the scope to see what the patrol boats were doing. Panic over took my face as I saw an ASW trawler less then 300 feet away and closing right on top off me (hydrophones had picked up nothing). I yelled out for ahead flank, hard to port. The trawler came right over me and dropped 3-4 DC’s. Wham!!! Wham!!! Wham!!! Next, I receive the dreaded news, “Sir we are taking on damage!” I did a quick check on the damage screen; all 4 bow tubes destroyed!!!!

For over an hour we tried to shake off repeated attacks from the trawler with a small PT type torpedo boat covering him. The trawler is slowly ripping my U-boat apart with numerous successful DC attacks in shallow water. Things are getting more and more critical my the minute as our carbon dioxide level is getting high. I need to do something. Do I attempt to surface and try to out run him or do I try to put an eel in him from aft; my single remaining working torpedo tube?

After raising the scope again, I saw that the trawler was all by himself. The PT type boat was not too far away however, I saw the PT boat must have gone to get his sister; there were two of them now heading back in my direction.

I quickly flooded the aft tube as I had gained a lock on the trawler. The seconds are going by as hours!!! I hold out on firing as long as I dare, while trying to put some distance between us. Finally, 425, 450, 460, 470, FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


It wasn’t long before we heard an explosion!!!! The trawler was hit!!!! Within a minute she started to sink stern first. Lucky for us…..the PT boats don’t know where we’re at!!! Maybe we’ll be able to sneak out of here!!!!!

We made it out of the area and back to port with no more excitement.

We were very lucky!!!! The dock workers will be very busy fixing the U-53; We arrived back at home port with our hull integrity at a 52.32% !

From getting untangled from a submarine net to penetrating an enemy harbor in daylight and sinking a big capital ship; It will be a patrol I"ll never forget!!!

[Brag]

Well done Checkmate!
I'm sure you'll appreciate deep water on your next patrol! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:


J.S. Balz writes:

23 February 1940
U-52
On my second combat patrol.
We have rounded Cape Sao Vicente with plenty of fuel left to return to Willi and sank several ships off the west Portuguese coast. I plan to spread panic, havock and terror in the Gulf of Cadiz where Tommy is yet to feel the wrath of the Kriegsmarine represented by yours truly. What value is Gibraltar to the Tommies when I plan to sink all their traffic?

We started with a perfect Balz shot and sent a large 10,000 ton freighter to the bottom in minutes. It was a satisfying hoochie woochie boom boom.

Oblt. z. S. Johan Sebastian Balz

[Ivan Putski]

9 Sep. 1940

U-55, the double nickel boat, out of St. Nazaire spotted a Granville type freighter off the SouthWest coast of Ireland, she was of British registry, we attacked her on the surface with our deck gun. We ravaged her waterline, then worked her superstructure over, she went down in magnificent fashion with huge explosions on deck, 4706 GRT. that won`t reach England.

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

Brag, since when do you use my character on ur sig ?

thats Mohr (eating) on watch duty

[Pascale]

I see some impressive action reports but I'm a little surprised to see neutral shipping being sunk. Okay, the Prize Ordinance Regulations are complicated but U-Boat warfare shouldn't be unrestricted, or am I one of the few who cares? But then again, its just a game...

(If you happen to have it, note a short remark in "Handbuch für U-Bootskommandanten" from 1942, point 303/p. 78, that steamers should be inspected for neutrality marks. Not even at this stage of the war can we, at least in theory, talk about unrestricted naval warfare.)

[KeptinCranky]

Pascale, I for one take great care not to deliberately sink neutrals, the only time this occurs is when they're in an enemy convoy, where they don't belong, and even then I don't target them specifically, on the contrary, sometimes they just zig when they should have zagged

In that case, oh well, c'est la guerre

[Pascale]

Originally Posted by KeptinCranky

Pascale, I for one take great care not to deliberately sink neutrals, the only time this occurs is when they're in an enemy convoy, where they don't belong, and even then I don't target them specifically, on the contrary, sometimes they just zig when they should have zagged

In that case, oh well, c'est la guerre

KeptinCranky, Alles gut!

[K-9]

Left the Greenland Milchcow Dont have enough fuel to reach Norway intime for the invasions so we headed to the Norway whaleing station NE of Iceland to see what havock we could pull off.

April 29 Reached Whaleing station surfaced and bombarded the station and sunk a large trawler at dock. Heading to Narik to refuel.

[stew278]

U-31

Patrol 2 Oct 10-27, 1939

Oct 13 Repeatedly attacked by Swordfish bombers in grids AM34-AM36. Might be a carrier nearby, unable to locate. Shot down 8 planes, 1 flak gunner killed, flak ammo exhausted, minimal damage to boat

Oct 15 Recieved report of large convoy in BE91, moving north at medium speed; too far away to intercept. Encounterd and sunk a costal freighter on 19th in BE91.

Oct 22, Encountered large convoy in BE3738 moving WNW at med speed, light escort. Unable to identify most ships due to storms and horrible visiblity (<1000m). Sunk ammunition ship and whale factory ship. Scored 1 hit on a medium cargo but it escaped. Accidentally torpedoed a Norwegian small merchant, luckily she stayed afloat (didn't see the flag until closing to 400m to finish her off).




Patrol 3 19 Nov-16 Dec, 1939

Nov 25 Large convoy AM5219 changing course from NNE to ESE. Mostly small and medium cargo ships, 3-4 escorts. Sunk 2 ore carriers.

Nov 26 AM4681 encountered task force containing HMS Hood + 5-6 destroyers, heading NNW fast. Fired 4 torpedos at keel depth towards Hood from 800m. 3 hits, Hood sunk after a few min. Dove to 120m and escaped without damage

Dec 2 BF1864 large convoy, mostly med+small cargo ships, a few intermediate tankers, some neutrals. Moving WNW slow. Sunk medium cargo ship.

[Pascale]

U-Flotilla Weddigen. U-8 (Type IIA). (Realism: 94 per cent.)

1939

1st patrol
Left Kiel on 1 September to patrol AN81. Saw a lot of shipping but didn't find a single enemy ship to sink. Low on fuel and returned to Kiel on the 20th.

2nd patrol
Left Kiel on 12 October to patrol AN81 again. Sank one merchant (4397 tons) and returned to Kiel on the 30th.

3rd patrol
Left Kiel on 21 November to patrol AN26. Sank two cargos (5129 tons). Torpedo hit on a third cargo but failed to sink it. Also lost a torpedo because it exploded prematurely. Very low on fuel and tired crew. To Wilhelmshaven for a refill on 14 December.

4th patrol
Mission: return to Kiel. I was supposed to leave Wilhelmshaven on 28 December; but starting location turned out to be Kiel! So I anchored immediately (and was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz for my trouble). BUG!