Tell us what you're up to in current campaign (lets get this one going lol)

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

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Monday, 9 November 1942 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft

Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.; Freg.Kpt.d.R. Ernst HASSHAGEN) and 22nd U-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Wilhelm Ambrosius):

Dry-Run Exercises with Machinery/Mechanics; Weapons; Torpedoes.

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Vichy French government brakes off diplomatic relations with the United States.

The Führer informes Italy, via Galeazzo Ciano, that he intends to occupy Vichy France soon.

German Luftwaffe combat aircraft consisting of 27 Bf 109G fighters from 1/JG53 and 24 Ju 87D Stuka dive bombers of II.StG 3 are transferred to Tunisia from Sicily, Italy. The Tunis airfields are found to be in good condition with concrete runways and revetments. Once a ground organisation has been created, relays of Ju 52/3m aircraft will commence the movement of ground troops into the region. On the front lines, Axis troops under Walter Nehring attack Vichy French positions as Vichy French forces in North Africa are apparently switching sides to aide the Allies.

American troops continue to attack the French fort of Kasbah, French Morocco. Meanwhile, in French Algeria, the French garrison at Oran surrenderes in the face of overwhelming British naval power and American airborne attack in its rear. French Admiral Darlan signes an armistice with American General Dwight Eisenhower, but fighting will continue for two more days.

Allied troops capture Sidi Barrani, Egypt.
Lieutenant General Kenneth Anderson is named the commanding officer of the British First Army in North Africa.

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U 407, 596 and 617 have passed through the Straits of Gibraltar and are now under the jurisdiction of the Mediterranean U-boat command.
The boats operating in the Gibraltar and Morocco areas have received the following radio message:
1) The Führer sends to boats in the Mediterranean "I expect a completely victorious operation."
2) I expect the same from boats off Morocco and Gibraltar. We must relentlessly carry out the Führer's will with our tested brutal methods of attack. The sinking of transports will have great significance for the American attack and the French defence.

Commander-in-Chief.

U 155 - 515 - 103 - 108 - 411 - 572 - 173 and 130 make up Group "Schlagtot" and are making for DJ 25 at highest possible continuous speed. U 572, as the first boat, is operating against transports in DJ 2524.

U 704 (Kptlt. Horst Wilhelm Kessler) fired a 4 torpedo spread at a ship presumed to be "Queen Elizabeth" class at 1300 in AK 6553. One hit for certain - sharp detonation heard. After 15 minutes the ship made off on a course 250°. Pursuit impossible because of high seas. She is believed to be a battleship.

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Enemy supply movements are to be anticipated on a great scale in the Western Mediterranean. B.d.U. therefore considers it imperative that Mediterranean boats, as far as possible, be equipped with type G 7a F.A.T. torpedoes.

Report of German Naval Command, Torpedo Station:
1) B.d.U. considers use of G 7a F.A.T. on boats in the mediterranean as pressing and important due to heavy protection of warships and transport groups. In many cases the firing possibilities are limited to excessive ranges.
2) Use of F.A.T. torpedoes has promise in the case of groups of ships at long range. (Supply convoys and gatherings of ships in the roads off landing areas).
3) The question of F.A.T. used with G 7a being practical only on night operations is answered by the mixed charges of G 7a and G 7e which is favorable for both day and night operations.
4) According to establishment of possibilities at hand, B.d.U. sets forth the following:
4.a) Immediate designation of 24 F.A.T. torpedoes lying ready in Kiel. 6 for Pola and 18 for Spezia.
4.b) To send out working groups from Kiel to adapt the tubes of the following boats: U 375 Pola 17 November, U 562 Spezia 22 November, U 453 Spezia 28 November, U 83 Spezia 29 November. Adaptation of 2 tubes on each boat considered enough, in case no more work can be done because of time.
4.c) To send out instruction groups from the torpedo testing stations to Italy for the purpose of instructions the Commandant regarding use of F.A.T.
5) Boats will carry 6 G 7a F.A.T. type torpedo the rest G 7e with 39 pistol. Daytime for bow tubes: 3 G 7e, 1 G 7a F.A.T. Nighttime for bow tubes 2 G 7a F.A.T. and 2 G 7e with 39 pistol. Different loadings are indeed decided by the situation.
6) Use of F.A.T. for Western boats is not foreseen because of the former mode of action.
7) Details of all action in the area must be cleared with Officer Commanding U-boats Italy.

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German Abwehr spy, Werner Janowsky, lands from a submarine on the Gaspé peninsula in Quebec, Canada. Janowsky, a thirty-eight-year-old former French Foreign Legionaire has a wife living in Canada and knows the country well. He is swiftly apprehended by the Canadian police after arousing suspicion by trying to pay a New Carlisle hotel bill with time-expired Canadian currency. Janowsky will survive the war in British captivity.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

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Tuesday, 10 November 1942 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft

Work-up's and Trials with the U.A.K. (Kpt.z.S.R. BRÄUTIGAM), the 2nd Training Division (U.L.D.; Freg.Kpt.d.R. Ernst HASSHAGEN) and 22nd U-Flotilla (Korvkpt. Wilhelm Ambrosius):

Dry-Run Exercises with Machinery/Mechanics; Weapons; Torpedoes.

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As Pierre Laval visits The Führer in Germany, The Führer tells the French Prime Minister that Germany intends on moving its forces into Vichy France and Tunisia; The Führer did not share the timetable and gave no indication that it was to happen soon. Laval did not protest. At 2030 hours, The Führer gives the order to launch the occupation on the following day.

Allied forces in French Algeria push into Tunisia. In response, Axis transport aircraft are being prepared to bring in reinforcements.

U 259 (Kptlt. Klaus Köpke) has passed through the Straits of Gibraltar and is therefore under jurisdiction of U-boat Commander of the Mediterranean.

North Africa attack areas: U 130 - 173 - 108 and 509 have sector off Fedala and Casablanca, U 103 off Safi. Attacks ordered on all types of transports and warships and in still water complete action.

As compensation for boats drawn from the mid-Atlantic areas for the N. African operation, 2 boats were turned back from their homeward cruise to take positions in EH 60 and EJ 70. These two boats are U 332 and U 552 whose cruises can be extended since they have recently been refueled (boats have already been at sea 69 and 64 days).

U 66 (Kptlt. Friedrich Markworth) was bombed in BF 4998 by an English airplane on her outward bound voyage. She was unable to dive and returned to Lorient by "Kernleder" route. The plane followed the boat until about 0300 hours. Escort Division sent 3 trawlers and 2 JU 88 which picked up U 66 at Point Kern and convoyed her home. By morning she was again seaworthy.

U 608 Kptlt. Rolf Struckmeier) completed her mining operation according to orders (New York).

The blockade runner "Spichern" was in BF 7642 at 0200 hours and sailed for El Ferrol at a speed of 6 knots. The ship was heavily bombed by an English plane. Boats nearby were ordered to spread out to pick up any of the crew who might have gone overboard.

The temporary attack permission on "Anton" route between 30° N., and 10° S. was lifted by degrees: Restrictions from 11 November at 0000 to 20° N. From 13 November at 0000 restrictions to 10° N. and from 14 November attack is forbidden on "Anton" route. Captains are required to obey these orders to the letter.

RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115