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01-30-23, 03:09 AM
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#1 | |
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The Old Man
 Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
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4th Training Flotilla, Stettin and AGRU-Front
Quote:
+++++++ Saturday, 30 January 1943 - Stettin Conducting tactical exercises and training with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER). +++++++
Erich Raeder is officially relieved of his duty as the head of the German Navy. B.d.U. Admiral Karl Dönitz is promoted to Grand Admiral. Soviet troops reach the Red Square in central Stalingrad. Hermann Göring publicly notes that the defense and sacrifice at Stalingrad, will go down in history as a heroic tale. Our DAK defeats French troops and captures Faïd Pass, Tunisia. The following area are to be occupied after replenishing supplies from "Milkcow" U 459 (KrvKpt. Georg von Wilamowitz-Möllendorf): U 506 (Kptlt. Erich Würdemann) and U 509 (Oblt. Werner Witte) are to operate in grid GR with directions to proceed near to Cape Town for the time being, to intercept traffic routes. U 516 (Korvkpt. Gerhard Wiebe) is to operate with Port Elizabeth as center point. If the boats do not find traffic in the areas indicated, U 506 and 509 have freedom of movement to both sides. U 182 (IXD2; Kptlt. Asmus Nicolai Clausen) on its first operational trip, and also making for the southern tip of Africa, is to occupy the area Mozambique Channel between 20° and 31°S. Boats are reminded of circumspect, sparing use of torpedoes. U 459 has filled up the boats detailed for operations in Africa U 506, 509 and 516 in GG 54. Assembly point for U 160 (Kptlt. Georg Lassen) also detailed for this area is FU 44 on 4.2. U 117 (XB; Korvkpt. Hans-Werner Neumann) has supplied U 662 (KrvKpt. Wolfgang Hermann), U 333 (Oblt. Werner Schwaff; "Ali" Cremer in hospital) has handed over "Bolde" (decoy) to U 404 (Kptlt. Otto von Bülow). U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Torpedo Firing Training with the 25th Flotilla Danzig. +++++++ KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
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01-31-23, 04:16 AM
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#2 | |
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The Old Man
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,580
Downloads: 29
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4th Training Flotilla, Stettin and AGRU-Front
Quote:
+++++++ Sunday, 31 January 1943 - Stettin Conducting tactical exercises and training with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER). +++++++
B.d.U. Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz, is appointed as Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine (ObdM) - (Commander in Chief of the German Navy)! Out of food and ammunition, the southern half of the German 6.Armee in Stalingrad surrenders; The final radio message coming out of this pocket is made at 1945 hours, which closed with the Morse abbreviation "CL", short for "Clear (I am closing my station)". Shortly after, 110 German transport aircraft take off for the northern pocket with supplies; more than 90 of the aircraft find the illuminated triangular drop zone and released their loads. The British RAF Bomber Command uses the H2S radar system for the first time operationally. U 187 (Kptlt. Ralph Münnich) reported suspicious looking isolated vessels on a course of 50 in AK 8922. No contact. The boat is reminded in this connection that the presence of "Q-boats" in the open sea is unlikely. New position for U 439, 653 and 332 = BD 24, for U 265 = AK 02. Operations on convoys are intended with these boats. U 584 (Kptlt. Kurt Nölke) has broken off the ordered special duty (attack on convoy traffic in BF 2190; "Op. Lands End") owing to own strong noise interference. Instead, U 71 (Oblt. Hardo Rodler von Roithberg) with a relatively large amount of fuel - 44 cubic meters - is detailed for this task. U 376 (Kptlt. Friedrich-Karl Marks) lost the Warrant Quartermaster/3.W.O. (OStrm. Heinz Richter) overboard. After relief procured in Hellisoc (Bergen) passage continued. U 553 (KrvKpt. Karl Thurmann!) has been requested repeatedly since 28.1 to send position report without, however, an answer being received. The last W/T message dated 20.1 was from BE 6113. U-553 was last seen by U-465 (Kptlt. Heinz Wolf) south-west of Ireland in position 48.15N, 15.35W in the evening on 20 January 1943, and had reported troubles with its periscope the day before. Subsequently, the boat was ordered to join "Landsknecht" and disposed in a patrol line. When and how U 553 was lost is not known. Its loss must be presumed. U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Torpedo Firing Training with the 25th Flotilla Danzig. +++++++ KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
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KSDII-Ace/GWX 3.0 Gold/CCoM 10.0 + h.sie-patch; Windows 7 (64-bit); NVIDIA GeForce GTX650 (310.90) Last edited by Kapitän; 01-31-23 at 04:24 AM. |
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02-01-23, 03:08 AM
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#3 | |
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The Old Man
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,580
Downloads: 29
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4th Training Flotilla, Stettin and AGRU-Front
Quote:
+++++++ Monday, 1 February 1943 - Stettin Conducting tactical exercises and training with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER). +++++++
Japanese troops begin to be evacuated from Guadalcanal by destroyers. Trapped in the ruins of a department store in Stalingrad, Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus surrenders the southern pocket along with 14 of his generals; Paulus becomes the first German field marshal to surrender to an enemy force. Fighting continues in the northern pocket, however, and 85 of the 108 transport aircraft dispatched to airdrop supplies to the northern pocket are able to do so. Meanwhile, our troops fall back from Demyansk, Russia. The Führer's special train "Amerika" is renamed "Brandenburg". U 175 (Kptlt. Heinrich Bruns) heavily depth-charged by aircraft in EJ 9677 on 30.1. Heavy loss of fuel, ability to dive restricted. Early refuelling from U 118 (XB; Korvkpt. Werner Czygan) planned. U 377 (Kptlt. Otto Köhler) is on her way to Peterhead and reports constant unmistakable radar location transmission from shore (AN 1616). She is moving away to the East. Boat has been informed that she is unlikely to be picked up by shore radar at such long range. U 584 (Kptlt. Kurt Nölke) reported that she was still fit for operations and was allocated square AL 84 as temporary attack area. Convoy No. 4 (HX.224): At 1231/1/2 U 456 (Kptlt. Max-Martin Teichert) reported a convoy on a N. course in AK 9117. The former "Landsknecht" boats proceeding W. should already have been a long way astern of the convoy and all "Landsknecht" boats were therefore ordered to report by short signal if they were operating against convoy Teichert. 3 boats reported and of these only U 614 was detailed. The 2 others were hopelessly far astern and will join Group "Pfeil", which is being disposed along the course of this convoy, as it is believed that this is the HX and that the SC convoy may be astern of the HX on the same route. Besides U 615, U 632 and U 257 were also detailed against the convoy. U 456 shadowed constantly until morning. The convoy was steering a main course of 10 to 15° and was making about 8 knots. At 0344 U 456 reported that she has sunk an 8,000 GRT freighter. The convoy was in AK 6271 at 0200/2 and the operation continues. According to agent's and Radio Intelligence reports, a convoy passed Group "Rochen" on 31.1 and another one on 1.2 on N. and S. courses respectively. Boats have once more been reminded to keep a sharp lookout. U 518 (Kptlt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Wissmann) is to be detailed against the Brazilian coastal traffic. New approach point is FJ 30. Cruiser Köln departs Germany for the Baltic Sea. U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) commences Tactical Exercises in the Baltic Sea. +++++++ KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
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KSDII-Ace/GWX 3.0 Gold/CCoM 10.0 + h.sie-patch; Windows 7 (64-bit); NVIDIA GeForce GTX650 (310.90) |
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02-02-23, 03:27 AM
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#4 | |
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The Old Man
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,580
Downloads: 29
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4th Training Flotilla, Stettin and AGRU-Front
Quote:
+++++++ Tuesday, 2 February 1943 - Stettin Conducting tactical exercises and training together with U 648 (Stahl)*, with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER). - The construction of Graf Zeppelin is stopped in Stettin. - +++++++
The last of the Sixth Army surrender in Stalingrad. A reconnaissance aircraft is dispatched to fly over Stalingrad, confirming that all fighting has ceased. U 514 (Kptlt. Hans Jürgen Auffermann) was off Ponte Delgada and sighted a tanker with destroyers in territorial waters, outward bound on an E. course. She could not give chase owing to damage to a flange which was causing a leak. U 404 (Kptlt. Otto von Bülow) situation: 1 steamer, 2 small craft on a S.E. course heard in hydrophones P.M. 2.1 in BF 2432. Did not manage to attack. No convoy seen. After simultaneous location by 8 shore stations, 3 aircraft searched with searchlights. Radar range as far as BF 2425. Return passage, as forward hydroplane out of action due to striking a rock. Convoy No. 4 (HX.224): In heavy weather. W 8, sea 7 and variable visibility the boats continued to operate against the convoy which was in AK 6271 at 0800/2/2. The convoy was making nearly 9 knots, which confirms that it is the HX. It maintained its NNE course on the 2nd, and then changed to an E. course during the night and made for the direction of the North Channel. The convoy was shadowed continuously by U 456 (Kptlt. Max-Martin Teichert), except for short intervals. A.M. on the 2nd U 632 made contact and remained in the vicinity of the convoy until A.M. on the 3rd. She then had to break off owing to lack of fuel. U 257 also reported that she was starting on her return passage. She was informed of the possibility of refueling. U 265, coming from home, was detailed against the convoy. 4 boats are therefore still operating: U 456, 265, 614 and 257. U 456 reported sinking a 7,000 GRT tanker. The convoy was in AL 0189 at 0700/3/2. Convoy No. 5 (SG.19): At 1408/2/2 U 223( Oblt. Karl-Jürgen Wächter), the most northerly boat of Group "Haudegen", sighted a convoy, course 10°. A further 9 boats, the northern half of Group "Haudegen", were detailed to operate against it and U 223 was ordered to report strength of the convoy, as it may be a Greenland convoy. She reported 5 steamers, which fact made it clear that it was the suspected Greenland convoy. Only 5 boats were therefore operated against it: U 223, 358, 707, 268 and 186. U 223 shadowed until AM 3/2 and was then driven off by escort vessels. U 358 was also shadowing. At 0600/3 U 223 reported that she had fired 5 single shots at 0452, scored 3 hits and sunk a 6-7,000 GRT ship for certain. The convoy was in AA 3852 at 0500/3 and the operation continues. The German Consul has reported that a convoy on a N. course was sighted in the area of Group "Rochen" off Santa Cruz and the following new attack areas have therefore been ordered: U 218 : DH 9445, U 66 : DH 9548, depth 30 miles. U 43 : DH 9684, U 521 : DH 9672, U 108 : DH 9644, depth 15 miles. The special operation (off Peterhead) ordered for U 377 (Kptlt. Otto Köhler) has been transferred to U 376 (Kptlt. Friedrich-Karl Marks). The boat has been informed by radio. U 377 is proceeding to the Atlantic. The following have refueled: U 125 (Kptlt. Ulrich Folkers) from U 504 (Kptlt. Wilhelm Luis), U 266 (Kptlt. Ralf von Jessen) from U 466 (Oblt. Gerhard Thäter). U 118 (XB; Korvkpt. Werner Czygan) reported the Straits of Gibraltar fouled as ordered on 2.2. Ettore Bastico stepped down as the Governor-General of Italian Libya, succeeded by Giovanni Messe. U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Tactical Exercises in the Baltic Sea, together with U 115 (RST)*. +++++++ KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
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KSDII-Ace/GWX 3.0 Gold/CCoM 10.0 + h.sie-patch; Windows 7 (64-bit); NVIDIA GeForce GTX650 (310.90) |
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02-03-23, 03:57 AM
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#5 | |
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The Old Man
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,580
Downloads: 29
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4th Training Flotilla, Stettin and AGRU-Front
Quote:
+++++++ Wednesday, 3 February 1943 - Stettin Conducting tactical exercises and training together with U 648 (Stahl)*, with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER). +++++++
During the day, the German OKW issues an announcement to inform the German public of the defeat at Stalingrad. The message, read over the radio, is preceded by a solemn drum roll and is followed by the 2nd movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's 5th symphony. 12 He 111 aircraft, with supplies on board, fly over the northern pocket of Stalingrad, before dawn. Of the 11 aircraft that reach the intended drop zone, only 3 drop some of their cargo, as they find no friendly activity. Convoy No. 4 (HX.224): The remaining 4 boats continued the operation in favorable, calm S.W. weather. The convoy was clearly making for the North Channel at 9 knots. U 456 (Kptlt. Max-Martin Teichert) and U 614 (Kptlt. Wolfgang Sträter) continued to shadow. Towards midnight contact was lost, after U 456 had last reported the convoy in AL 6133 at 2030. Contact was not regained. U 632 (Kptlt. Hans Karpf) reported at 1400 that she was chasing an independent tanker on an E. course, 12 knots, in AL 59. At 2200 she reported the tanker Cordelia, 8,190 GRT, sunk. U 257 (Kptlt. Heinz Rahe) reported that she was returning owing to lack of fuel. A.M. on the 4th operations against the convoy were broken off. There was no boat shadowing and U 456 reported that she was 30 miles astern. The remaining 3 boats were therefore directed against a NE-bound convoy picked up A.M. on 4/2 in BD 10. In conclusion: It is thanks to U 456's excellent shadowing from midday on the 1st until the 3rd that such a small group of boats were able to operate against the convoy over this long stretch. Of 5 boats, 3 made contact. Unfortunately only U 456 was able to fire. Altogether 2 tankers and a freighter, totaling 23,190 GRT were sunk. U 265 (Oblt. Leonhard Auffhammer) was probably lost in this operation. There is a report of an attack by an English aircraft with bombs on a U-boat N. of the convoy in position 56.35N, 22.49W, by depth charges from a British Fortress aircraft of 220 Sqn RAF/N (46 dead, all hands lost). Otherwise no losses or damage. Convoy No. 5 (SG.19): No further reports were received of the convoy, and it can be assumed that the boats have not been able to get their radio messages through owing to the well-known difficulties arising off Greenland. According to dead reckoning the convoy should reach a port on the SW coast of Greenland on the 3rd. Boats were therefore ordered to press on to the coast and, if conditions were favorable, to penetrate into the fjord. Operations control does not know if boats are even in contact. The convoy cannot be discussed further until reports have been received from Group "Nordsturm". Following U 404's (Kptlt. Otto von Bülow) report of 3.2, the special operation "Lands End" ordered for U 71 (Oblt. Hardo Rodler von Roithberg) has been broken off. U 71 will join Group "Hartherz" and will occupy U 107's position in the patrol line (BE 5933), making a day's run of 180 miles. U 107 will extend the patrol line to the E. as far as BE 6832. U 156 (KrvKpt. Werner Hartenstein) and U 510 (Korvkpt. Karl Neitzel) are proceeding to ED 90 via EG 30. Operation here must be attempted at all costs, as there has been no boat there for a fortnight and the area was always a good hunting ground so far. U 105 (Oblt. Jürgen Nissen) has supplied from U 504 (Kptlt. Wilhelm Luis). Boats have again been reminded of the closing of Route A in stages. The homeward bound ship is the tanker "Hohenfriedber" ex-"Herburg". Over lunch, Dwight Eisenhower informs George Patton, that Patton has been chosen to help plan the invasion of Sicily, Italy. U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Tactical Exercises in the Baltic Sea, together with U 115 (RST)*. +++++++ KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
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KSDII-Ace/GWX 3.0 Gold/CCoM 10.0 + h.sie-patch; Windows 7 (64-bit); NVIDIA GeForce GTX650 (310.90) Last edited by Kapitän; 02-03-23 at 05:11 AM. |
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02-04-23, 05:11 AM
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#6 | |
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The Old Man
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,580
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4th Training Flotilla, Stettin and AGRU-Front
Quote:
+++++++ Thursday, 4 February 1943 - Stettin Conducting tactical exercises and training together with U 648 (Stahl)*, with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER). +++++++
In Germany, three days of national mourning begin over the disaster at Stalingrad. All theatres, cinemas and night clubs are closed. Soviet naval infantry repels our attempt to land at Malaya Zemlya. Nearby, later today, Soviet troops land near Novorossiysk, in southern Russia. As elements of the British 8th Army enters Tunisia, Winston Churchill visits Tripoli, Libya, and inspected troops of the same. U 217 (Kptlt. Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke) sank the British "Rhexenor", 7,957 GRT, from Freetown to St. Johns, on 3.2 in DR 14. One officer taken on board (4th Mate C.W.G. Allen). U 414 (Oblt. Walther Huth) was attacked by seaplanes and slightly damaged on her way to Group "Haudegen" 's patrol line. From Group "Haudegen" 's patrol line U 753 (Korvkpt. Alfred Manhardt von Mannstein) reported a corvette and an aircraft in BE 5915, on a S. course and U 575 (Kptlt. Günther Heydemann) a single corvette in BE 5825 at 1630, course SW. Air reconnaissance reported a steamer in BE 6432 and another in BE 2955, both also on a S. course. Boats operated against these sightings without intercepting the expected convoy or scoring successes against the independently-routed ships. U 632 (Kptlt. Hans Karpf) reports, that according to statements by a prisoner (Chief Engineer I.C. Bingham; sole survivor of British Motor Tanker 'Cordelia'), that Convoy No. 4 is to be followed by another large convoy from Halifax, making 6 knots, on the same route. Destination North Channel. Traffic from Curacao via New York to Halifax is to follow the shortest route. Convoy No. 6 (SC.118): At 1108/4/2 U 187 (Kptlt. Ralph Münnich), of Group "Pfeil", sighted a large convoy on a NE course in broad formation in BD 1199. Operations Control was therefore right in disposing a group on the route of the HX convoy on the assumption that the SC convoy would follow the same course. As U 187 reported that the convoy was very large (61 ships), it was assumed that it was the one reported by Radio Intelligence Service which left New York on 24.1. U 632 (Kptlt. Hans Karpf), which sank a tanker from the preceding HX convoy, reported that an officer of this tanker had said that a large convoy was to follow. It is an important convoy, part of which, according to Radio Intelligence, is destined for Murmansk. As many boats as possible were therefore detailed against it. First of all, all boats of Group "Pfeil" and other boats in the vicinity. These were the following 13: U 187, 402, 262, 609, 454, 135, 413, 266, 594, 608, 267, 465, 98. Then also 5 boats from group "Haudegen", U 438, 624, 704, 613 and 752. Operations against the "Teichers" convoy (Convoy No. 4; HX.224) were broken off and the boats U 614 and U 456 were also sent to meet the convoy. Altogether 20 boats were therefore operating against this convoy. In the course of the afternoon U 402, U 608 and U 267 made contact, and U 609 during the night. U 608 and U 609 both reported flares over the convoy. From the beginning individual boats only shadowed for short periods at a time, as they were constantly driven off and depth-charged by escort forces. At 0736/5 U 262 reported the convoy in 8442. According to shadowers' reports the convoy was making about 7 knots. At first it steered 40 degrees along the route followed by its predecessor and in the course of the afternoon altered to 10° probably by way of evasive action. The fact that the boats were constantly driven off can only be explained by unfavorable weather. The escort forces probably had good Asdic results in the calm west weather conditions and therefore had the advantage over the U-boats (British Escort Group B2; Lt Cdr Proudfoot) consisting of the 3 destroyers Vimy, Vanesa and Beverly and the 3 British corvettes Campanula, Mignonette and Abelia, the Free French corvette Lobelia and the American Coast Guard Cutter Bibb. In the convoy is the rescue vessel Toward equipped with HF/DF. The group is later enforced by three American escorts, the destroyers Babbitt and Schenk and the cutter Ingham, coming from Iceland). After the boats best off for fuel have been detailed against Convoy No. 6, the remaining 10 boats of Group "Haudegen" have been ordered to occupy the following attack areas a economical cruising speed: U 69 : 1189, U 414 : 1444, U 403 : 1737, U 201 : 1548, U 525 : 1883, U 606 : 1598, U 607 : 4347, U 226 : 1982, U 383 : 4682, U 303 : 4399. All BC. As Group "Delphin" has found nothing in its present patrol line, the boats are being disposed in an angular formation to intercept traffic approaching from the N. and W. The large distances apart of about 35 miles, which are necessary for this, will have to be accepted. The new line runs in the same order from CG 4655 via CF 9264 to DH 2556. U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Tactical Exercises in the Baltic Sea, together with U 115 (RST)*. +++++++ KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
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KSDII-Ace/GWX 3.0 Gold/CCoM 10.0 + h.sie-patch; Windows 7 (64-bit); NVIDIA GeForce GTX650 (310.90) |
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02-05-23, 03:24 AM
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#7 | |
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The Old Man
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,580
Downloads: 29
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4th Training Flotilla, Stettin and AGRU-Front
Quote:
+++++++ Friday, 5 February 1943 - Stettin Conducting tactical exercises and training together with U 648 (Stahl)*, with the 4th Training Flotilla (Freg.Kpt. Heinz FISCHER), Stettin and AGRU-Front, (Kvt.Kpt.-Ing. H. MÜLLER). +++++++
Benito Mussolini personally took over the Italian Foreign Ministry after firing his son-in-law Galeazzo Ciano. U 66 (Kptlt. Friedrich Markworth) sank a coastal steamer of 500 GRT by gunfire on 1.2 in DH 9665. So far only neutral shipping sighted. Medium enemy and neutral air activity. Machine gun C/38 proved satisfactory. U 590 (Kptlt. Heinrich Müller-Edzards) has been ordered to return, as both her Diesels were out of action owing to corrosion of 4 fuel pumps. After repairs 1 Diesel with 5 cylinders was serviceable again. The cause of corrosion cannot be discovered until tests have been made on the test bench. Convoy No. 6 (SC.118): Weather conditions A.M. on the 5th were reported as west 2-3, sea 2, visibility good. Wind freshened to W. 8. in the afternoon, heavy seas, snow and hail. Weather in the afternoon made it very difficult to find the convoy, and weather conditions were also largely responsible for the fact that the convoy was not attacked during the night 5/6. At 1025 U 609 (Kptlt. Klaus Rudloff) reported a steamer and a corvette in AK 8425. The same boat then found the convoy again at 1245 in 8193. She reported later that it consisted of 8 steamers, in wide formation. At 1423 she reported contact lost. As, according to 3 reports from this boat, the convoy was making 12 knots. Operations Control assumed that a small group of a few ships had succeeded in attracting the boats to itself while the large, slow section turned E.S. of this. U 609 reported only 8 ships and it was known from Radio Intelligence that the convoy was to proceed at 7.5 knots. At 2018 U 609 found the larger, slow section of the convoy in AK 8261, which had, as suspected, apparently turned E and was now going back to the convoy route proper. The boat reported 28 ships. She was seen while making an unsuccessful submerged attack. She shadowed until 0400. During the night she had contact only by hydrophone bearing. According to reports the convoy was making nearly 8 knots and steering 30 - 40°. Operations Control failed to understand why no other boats reached the convoy. It is true that various boats reported that they had been driven off by destroyers and depth-charged, but of the 16 boats which should have been in the vicinity, others should at least have sighted the convoy, especially as there was no air escort as yet. U 262 (Oblt. Rudolf Heinz Franke) reported that she had sunk a 12,000 - GRT tanker with 3 hits at 0655/5. U 413 (Kptlt. Gustav Poel) reported that she had sunk a straggling 5000 GRT steamer at 1707/5. The convoy was in AK 6488 at 1100/6 and the operation continues. After all boats of Group "Nordsturm" had reported their fuel a new disposition was ordered for Group "Haudegen". The following squares are to be occupied as attack areas: U 358 : AJ 58, U 186 : AJ 59, U 223 : AJ 83, U 707 : AJ 81, U 268 : AJ 95. From here the boats can operate as an attacking group against convoys which may be reported by "Haudegen" or against SW-bound convoys for another 2 days. U 518 (Kptlt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Wissmann) has been give freedom of action from Cape St. Roque south along the Brazilian coast to Bahia. She is free to enter territorial waters, but forbidden to penetrate into harbors or bombard them. "Milkcow" U 460 (Kptlt. Ebe Schnoor) has made her passage report and it is intended to supply U 706 (Kptlt. Alexander von Zitzewitz) and U 632 (Kptlt. Hans Karpf), from 7.2 in BD 6325. Subsequently boats of Group "Pfeil" which are short of fuel are to replenish in AK 89. "Milkcow" U 459 (KrvKpt. Georg von Wilamowitz-Möllendorf) has supplied U 160 (Kptlt. Georg Lassen), the last boat intended for the Africa operation, and is starting her return passage. U 96 (Oblt. Hans-Jürgen Hellriegel; ex Lehmann-Willenbrock) entered Kiel and will now be used as a training boat. U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Tactical Exercises in the Baltic Sea, together with U 115 (RST)*. +++++++ KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
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KSDII-Ace/GWX 3.0 Gold/CCoM 10.0 + h.sie-patch; Windows 7 (64-bit); NVIDIA GeForce GTX650 (310.90) |
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