operational question

[Puster Bill]

Originally Posted by Gunnar

I think given that the U-boats involved at the start of Operation Drumbeat operated under sealed orders not to be opened until the boat was at sea with only basic radio transmissions of position and weather allowed, it is likely that targets of opportunity were to be ignored.

I think this is a rare case of strategic orders taking precedence over all other tactical considerations with no exceptions.

That's not ENTIRELY true; BdU sent this message to U-123 (Hardegen) while it was proceeding to the East Coast of the US for the first wave of Paukenschlag:

OFFICER. TO HARDEGEN U-123. ON 1 JANUARY EVENING IN SQUARE BC4335 GREEK SHIP DIMITRIOS INGLESSIS REQUESTED TUG ASSISTANCE OWING TO DAMAGED RUDDER. YOU MAY ATTACK IF NOT FARTHER THAN 150 MILES FROM POSITION GIVEN.



And here is the excerpt from the BdU KTB for January 1st, 1942:

4) U 123 is to make for Greek "Dimitros-Inglessis" in the event she is not more than 150 miles away. This ship requested aid from tugs on the evening of 1 January in area BU 4335, because of rudder damage.

The Dimitrios Inglessis was only 5,275 GRT.

In any event, the operational order for Paukenschlag contained this language:

You will not attack any enemy ships before that date unless Groner shows them at 10,000 GRT or unless specifically permitted or directed to do so by BdU.

Clearly, exceptions for high value targets were considered worth the risk. I would expect that if you ran into a convoy and decided to sink several tankers and large merchants, that all would be forgiven.

[FIREWALL]

I'm never going to pass up juicy targets no matter where I'm heading for.

Tonnage, Tonnage, Tonnage.

If you think about it. They were coming from the USA east coast.:p

[von hally]

yeah im with firewall

im pretty sure...from the books ive read...that after departing port...and outwith any specific patrol gids and extra orders...a u-boat captain was prett mutch expected to use his guile, initiative and determination to see his boat safely back to port.. i assume this meant targets passing through the crosshairs that are too good to give up must be attempted....tonnage is good wherever its sunk

[Frank0001]

Yes sir, a convoy should never be left in peace. After all, isn't the U-boat meant just for this purpose, to harass enemy shipping?

[Elmer Kosterman]

Originally Posted by Elmer Kosterman

I think I remember reading in Peillard's Schlacht im Atlantik that boats in Paukenschlag were to maintain radio silence on the way over but could attack extremely favorable targets of opportunity.

Page 231 relates Dönitz's intstructions to the five type IX captains of Paukenschlag that they could attack any warship from cruisers on up and merchant ships greater than 10,000 tonnes, but only if they sailed "in front of your tubes."

[klh]

I agree - attack if at all possible. Also from the U-boat Commander's Handbook (paragraph 1)...

The essence of submarine warfare is the offensive! For the commander of a submarine, therefore, the maxim: "He who wants to be victorious on the sea must always attack!" has special meaning.

As for when to return to base, I stay out until I'm out of torpedoes, out of fuel, out of food (if that was modeled), or seriously damaged. It's an embarrassment to return to base with fish in the tubes.