Fourth war patrol U-201

Markus Witt · 02-21-22, 11:43 AM

After attacking the convoy, U-201 is forced to crash-dive by the escorts.

Page 15

Attack against the destroyer.

Convoy attack

Markus Witt · 02-21-22, 02:14 PM

After surviving a depth charge attack and with just the stern tube available, Alexander Witt decides to attack the convoy again right away. Is this the correct decision?

Firing report 9 front

Firing report 9 back

Firing report 10 front

Firing report 10 back

Markus Witt · 02-22-22, 04:48 AM

U-201 approaches the convoy to attack again.

Page 16

Attack plot

Route chart of the convoy engagement

Markus Witt · 02-22-22, 09:44 AM

U-201 narrowly survives two counter attacks by the convoy escorts and is retreating with a bloody nose. Commander Witt pushed his luck too far and is lucky to escape.
Attacking the convoy a second time, shortly after the first attack, with just one tube available was a questionable decision. The escorts must still have been on high alert
after the first attack and U-201 approached the convoy too soon and too close. U-201 is moving away from the convoy and is proceeding to her patrol area while
assessing the extent of the damage sustained.

Page 17

Page 18

Approach plot neutral liner

Photo of the liner taken with the Zeiss-Ikon Contax III camera though the AP

Complete route chart of all the convoy operations

Markus Witt · 02-22-22, 01:46 PM

U-201 has intercepted a fast liner but it turns out to be neutral and she has to let her go.

Page 19

Page 20

Page 21

U-201 approaches St. Nazaire closely behind her escort.

U-201 enters port alongside various small craft who have come out to meet her. Six pennant are raised from her periscope.

U-201 safely back in port, moored in the Penhoët Basin. Six pennants, representing 52000 tons, fly proudly from her periscope and a new emblem is displayed on her conning tower. The previous emblem had weathered away and had been painted over after repairs to the conning tower after the last patrol. On the way back to port the crew paints a new emblem on the conning tower. It is a porcupine to celebrate the successful convoy operations off Porcupine Bank and inspired by the poetic message send by the commander after the attacks.

kapuhy · 02-22-22, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markus Witt

U-201 safely back in port, moored in the Penhoët Basin.

Got me worried there with that "never reached its destination" intro in first post. Hitchcock grade suspense

Markus Witt · 02-22-22, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kapuhy

Got me worried there with that "never reached its destination" intro in first post. Hitchcock grade suspense

A bit of a cheap trick, but technichally I didn't lie.

Markus Witt · 02-22-22, 01:59 PM

The poet-warrior Alexander Witt has safely returned to St. Nazaire. As he stands on the quay side he looks at his crew and they are all smiling as they receive flowers and congratulations, happy to be back in port after a successful patrol. But Witt himself is not smiling. He knows he made some questionable decisions that could have been fatal. During the last convoy attack he became too fixated to get rid of the last torpedo. It was reckless to approach the convoy escorts closely so soon after the first attack. Especially with an exhausted crew and just one tube ready. He should have let the convoy go.
He knows he cannot afford to make these mistakes again, next time he might not be so lucky.

Cover page completed

Patrol summary

BdU remarks

Route chart entire patrol with noon positions

02-21-22, 11:43 AM	#1
Markus Witt Navy Dude Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: AN8563 Posts: 171 Downloads: 312 Uploads: 0	After attacking the convoy, U-201 is forced to crash-dive by the escorts. Page 15 Attack against the destroyer. Convoy attack Last edited by Markus Witt; 02-22-22 at 05:52 AM.

02-22-22, 04:48 AM	#3
Markus Witt Navy Dude Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: AN8563 Posts: 171 Downloads: 312 Uploads: 0	U-201 approaches the convoy to attack again. Page 16 Attack plot Route chart of the convoy engagement Last edited by Markus Witt; 02-22-22 at 05:15 AM.

02-22-22, 09:44 AM	#4
Markus Witt Navy Dude Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: AN8563 Posts: 171 Downloads: 312 Uploads: 0	U-201 narrowly survives two counter attacks by the convoy escorts and is retreating with a bloody nose. Commander Witt pushed his luck too far and is lucky to escape. Attacking the convoy a second time, shortly after the first attack, with just one tube available was a questionable decision. The escorts must still have been on high alert after the first attack and U-201 approached the convoy too soon and too close. U-201 is moving away from the convoy and is proceeding to her patrol area while assessing the extent of the damage sustained. Page 17 Page 18 Approach plot neutral liner Photo of the liner taken with the Zeiss-Ikon Contax III camera though the AP Complete route chart of all the convoy operations Last edited by Markus Witt; 02-22-22 at 10:07 AM.

02-21-22, 02:14 PM	#2
Markus Witt Navy Dude Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: AN8563 Posts: 171 Downloads: 312 Uploads: 0	After surviving a depth charge attack and with just the stern tube available, Alexander Witt decides to attack the convoy again right away. Is this the correct decision? Firing report 9 front Firing report 9 back Firing report 10 front Firing report 10 back

02-22-22, 01:46 PM	#5
Markus Witt Navy Dude Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: AN8563 Posts: 171 Downloads: 312 Uploads: 0	U-201 has intercepted a fast liner but it turns out to be neutral and she has to let her go. Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 U-201 approaches St. Nazaire closely behind her escort. U-201 enters port alongside various small craft who have come out to meet her. Six pennant are raised from her periscope. U-201 safely back in port, moored in the Penhoët Basin. Six pennants, representing 52000 tons, fly proudly from her periscope and a new emblem is displayed on her conning tower. The previous emblem had weathered away and had been painted over after repairs to the conning tower after the last patrol. On the way back to port the crew paints a new emblem on the conning tower. It is a porcupine to celebrate the successful convoy operations off Porcupine Bank and inspired by the poetic message send by the commander after the attacks.

02-22-22, 01:59 PM	#8
Markus Witt Navy Dude Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: AN8563 Posts: 171 Downloads: 312 Uploads: 0	The poet-warrior Alexander Witt has safely returned to St. Nazaire. As he stands on the quay side he looks at his crew and they are all smiling as they receive flowers and congratulations, happy to be back in port after a successful patrol. But Witt himself is not smiling. He knows he made some questionable decisions that could have been fatal. During the last convoy attack he became too fixated to get rid of the last torpedo. It was reckless to approach the convoy escorts closely so soon after the first attack. Especially with an exhausted crew and just one tube ready. He should have let the convoy go. He knows he cannot afford to make these mistakes again, next time he might not be so lucky. Cover page completed Patrol summary BdU remarks Route chart entire patrol with noon positions