Who else is holding up the honour of the U-Boats?

[U-46 Commander]

U-46 of the specialist squad of the 2nd flotilla. Boat type IXB U-cruiser. Finished 7th patrol where we sneaked in nearby the british naval base #20 and sunk 11 T3 tankers and 2 C-2 cargos. total tonnage-141136 tons

[danurve]

Lieutenant Sr. Günter Schorsch and U-139 surrendered to the Allies on 07MAR44. Günter Schorsch was sent to a POW camp in Scotland where he spent the rest of the war.

17 patrols from 09OCT42 30th/33rd Flotilla. Type IID
49 Merchants 8 warships sunk.

On the last patrol a small Russian convoy South of Feodosia escorted by 6 escorts lost a Troopship, and two escorts. 4 remaining escorts found U-139 in 35m water already had taken sever damage and flooding. Unable to escape and evade, the event dismissed the possibility of obtaining a XXI in the 10th flotilla.

[Lzs von swe]

Nov 16, -40. Vigo.
U-55, VIIb, 7´th Flot.

Docked at Bessel with heavy damage to the boat.
Helmuth, our WO is dead.
Some 50% of the batteries are destroyed. The pressure hull leaks at pd.
Etc.

Stumbled across an already zig zagging convoy in CG71 at 2300. Some 25 ships, only one escort was heard. Due to poor visibility we attacked surfaced only to find many of the ships to be armed
Well, we sunk 2 ships and then slipped away in the darkness with heavy damage.
This boat is a write of, we will get a new type VIIc at return to St Naz.
That will be boat nr three:hmm:

Wolff, U-55.

[RoaldLarsen]

Oblt. Quirin Quast, commanding the Type VIIC U-212 of the 11th Flotilla has just returned to base in Bergen on March 11, 1943 after having completed an 18 day patrol. U-212 claims 25kT sunk on this, its 4th war patrol, but Oblt. Quast considers the patrol a mixed success.

Quast managed to penetrate two convoys and sink ships in each, but he also needed 4 torpedoes to finish off a 7kT cargo ship that was dead in the water, and twice missed a badly damaged Flower class corvette. Quast blames a combination of bad weather and lack of proper crew training, but says he must accept some blame for bad judgement too. Perhaps he has too high expectations for himself. On his previous patrol he bagged 40kT of merchant shipping and the Somers Class destroyer USS Balch.

U-212 left Bergen on February 21 under fair skies and a quickening breeze with orders to join Gruppe Wotan operating in AM1 and AM4 against eastbound convoys approaching the north end of the Irish Sea. Before Quast had reached his designated patrol area of AM41, another boat operating further west reported a large convoy heading ESE at 9kts in AL3768. Quast was in a perfect postion to intercept, except that the interception would occur at midday. By this point the weather had deteriorated into a full gale and there was dense cloud cover. Quast decided to make an immediate attack, since the high seas would hide his periscope and torpedo tracks. Submerging his boat just south of the convoy's track, he penetrated between the lead and starboard escorts and came to periscope depth inside the convoy, between the second and third columns. The high seas made it difficult to see the whole convoy, and very difficult to estimate ranges with the stadimeter. Quast selected two 7kT merchants as targets. He fired one salvo of two type IIIs and then a Salvo of type Is. After firing he followed 11th Flotilla doctrine by immediately turning to match course with the convoy and diving. Two detonations were heard, followed much later by another and by the sound of a ship breaking up. At least two escorts began a search for the attacker, but Quast carefully avoided them.

While Quast was tracking the escorts' movements on the hydrophones, he detected that one merchant was moving much slower than the convoy. By the time the destroyers had given up the search, the merchant was dead in the water. It was one of the large merchants Quast had targetted. Quast moved in for a shot with the stern tube, thinking this would be an easy kill, but the shot went under the target when a large wave lifted the stricken ship. Sweating mechanics and seamen began reloading the empty tubes. and U-212 took another shot. It bounced off without detonating. A third shot struck home, but the target refused to sink. A fourth shot was required to finish it off.

Quast ordered the boat to surface, in order to recharge batteries, load the two torpedos in external storage and begin a pursuit of the convoy. More than three hours had elapsed since the attack, so the convoy was more than 50km to the east. As night was falling, U-212 regained visual contact with the convoy and began to move around it to the south.

Just as Quast was begining an attack approach on the surface, the lead destroyer began an attack run of its own on U-212. At that distance, it must have been a radar detection. Quast had just enough time to fire a type I FAT before crash diving and evading. The torpedo missed, but so did the attacking destroyer. By the time the escort gave up the hunt it was too close to dawn to overtake the convoy again, so only an approach from the rear could be attempted. The rear guard turned out to be a badly damaged Flower class corvette, though whether the damage was caused by the intense storm or the last of the three detonations in the first attack, Quast could not tell. The corvette was unable to keep up with the convoy, but when Quast tried to pass it, a destroyer escort came roaring back, so the corvette must have had working detection gear.

Quast decided that his only chance of breaking into the convoy would be to take out the corvette first, so he lined up a submerged attack run and fired a torpedo at what he thought was 600m range. The shot missed. By changing postion Quast determined that the range had been closer to 900m, and that the corvette was moving faster than previously estimated. He took another shot and missed with that too. The heavy seas were making accurate targetting of small targets impossible.

With only three fish remaining, Quast decided to give up the attack for the day and manouver for an attack the following evening. He moved out of the corvette's detection range and then surfaced, only to be attacked almost immediately by a radar-equipped aircraft. Quast was amazed that it could fly in such weather. Quast waited until the plane had left the area and checked that no surface ships were audible on the hydrophones. Then he surfaced for another attempt to pass the convoy. But shortly thereafter, another boat in the gruppe reported that a British hunter-killer group was barrelling down the convoy's path towards Quast. He broke off the pursuit and evaded southwards towards his designated patrol grid.

U-212 spent four days in its patrol area without detecting any ships, but was repeatedly subjected to aircraft attack when surfaced to recharge batteries. On the fifth day another boat reported a large convoy approaching the north end of the Rockall Bank. Quast brought U-212 to another perfect attack position in AM1856. This time he penetrated the port side, lined up a troop ship and sank it with his two remaining forward torpedoes. After an uneventful evasion, U-212 made tracks for home.

U-212 was subject to air attack nine times on this patrol. Three times were while transiting to the patrol area, once was while pursuing a convoy after an initial attack, four times were while on patrol, and the final time was while moving to intercept the second convoy. In all but the two pursuit cases, the U-boat was surfaced to charge its batteries. The growing reach of allied air power is becoming quite dangerous. If only there was some way to recharge batteries without having to surface. Quast credits some of his lucky escapes to always running at full speed while recharging.

U-212 is equipped with Alberich, KDB hydrophones, FuMB-1, AFA 33 MAL 800 batteries, and a Bold dispenser, but has no radar or sound-ranging equipment. It mounts an 8.8cm deck gun, a 3.7cm and two 2cm flak guns. It is currently getting a MAN supercharger installed.

The current shortage of trained crew means that U-212 is operating with one fewer senior officer than is usual on a type VII boat. The LI is Oblt. Hugo-Heinz Matthews. Twice-decorated Oblt. Herbert Nazheim is the 1WO. Nazheim had 6 patrols in another boat before joining U-212 as part of its commissioning crew. Nazheim is fully qualified to take command of his own boat, but does not wish to leave U-212 until Quast has had time to train a proper replacement. Right now, U-212 does not even have a qualified 2WO. The job is being shared by Oberfaehnrichs Heinze Kumpfe and Herbert Deckert. Quast believes Kumpfe has proven himself, and he will likely be promoted to Leutnant before the next patrol. A third Oberfaehnrich, Carl-Heinz Gartner, is assisting the LI and acting as Navigator. The third sea watch is led by Oberbootsmann H-H Fink. Other key crew members are Oberfunkmann Heinrich Schreiber and Funkmaat Gunter Luda. August Stania is the chief diesel mechanic and the electrical motor team is lead by Hans-Gunter Unbehau. The shortage of trained crews means four of the other petty officers have no trade qualifications.

[AndyW]

@RoaldLarsen
Excellent AAR

Sort of proves the old rule that the first attack on a convoy is the most promising one.

Cheers,

[nikbear]

Brilliant report RoaldLarsen,Great detail and useful to bootkeep up the good work

[RoaldLarsen]

U-266, under Oblt. Ulrich Uhlig, set out to sea from its 7th Flotilla base at St. Nazaire, France, on February 1, 1943, headed for its first war patrol. The skies were clear and a light, cool breeze blew in from the north. U-266's objective was sector AM77, 600km west of the southern tip of Ireland.

Uhlig was not feeling very confident about this trip. Just days before they were due to sail, Lt. Friedrich Andrae, his 1WO, was assassinated by the French Resistance. BdU had scrambled to find a replacement. Hugo Rahn was a newly minted Leutnant z. S. who bore a striking resemblance to the LI, Oblt. Richard Rehbein. In the last minute confusion, BdU had somehow mixed up some paperwork. Rahn was listed as having qualified as a Machinist, while Rehbein was sent a certificate of qualification in Flak! The Flotilla Commander would clear that up after U-266 returned to base. In the meantime, Uhlig would have to break in a new 1WO who had barely had time to learn his fellow-officers' names. Uhlig couldn't help wondering if his 2WO, Lt. Hans-Gunther Elfeld, resented the newcomer being placed over him, but Elfeld's facial expression remained unchanged.

U-266 had a green crew. Among the officers and senior petty officers, only Oberfunkmann Hannes Klose had any front boat experience. Ten of the petty officers had no trade qualification at all. The lower ranks did have a slightly greater sprinkling of service experience. Three had even won EK2's in previous boats, but two of these were cantankerous grease monkeys who had never risen above the rank of Maschinengefreiter. Uhlig had only been given time for two brief shakedown cruises before U-266 was designated a front boat.

Uhlig was also unhappy about the state of U-266's equipment. U-266 had no anti-sonar coating, no radar and no sound ranging equipment. The only advanced torpedoes he carried were a single FaT I in tube 3 and a FaT III in forward reserve. Uhlig had tried to obtain more FaTs from the Quartermaster. "Those are reserved for our more experienced Kaleuns", he was told. At least he had managed to get a few more regular type IIIs.

Given the sorry state of U-266, Uhlig decided to approach his patrol area from the south, rather than take the direct route from St. Nazaire. He set a course south-southwest from St. Nazaire until he was most of the way to the Spanish coast, and then headed west until he was due south of AM77. This way he could at least avoid most of the increasingly dangerous British air patrols over the Bay of Biscay. Taking this route, Uhlig felt sure he would be able to safely stay on the surface until he neared his patrol area. As it turned out, he was right. Despite the clear weather, no aircraft were sighted, and more importantly, no aircraft sighted U-266.

On February 4th, shortly before 15:00, Uhlig was reflecting that this would probably be the last day had could remain surfaced, when a radio report was received that a lone merchant had been sighted just 30km NE of U-266's position. "Now we shall see what this boat and crew are capable of", Uhlig thought. "Ahead flank, steer 053!", he ordered. At 16:20, 40 minutes before the anticipated interception, Uhlig himself went up the conning tower hatch and grabbed the UZO. Right away he spotted a smudge of smoke on the horizon "That's why you didn't make 1WO" he thought, eyeing Elfeld, who was watch officer on duty, followed by "If he wants to detect the enemy early, the Kapitaen has to do it himself", but aloud he said, "Battle stations for gunnery attack!" With calm seas, U-266 would never be a more stable gun platform.

Lt. Rahn took his place on deck and began calling out the ranges in a loud, confident voice. "Sounds like he knows what he's doing", thought Uhlig. "Target's apparent speed is 7 knots", said Rahn, "I recommend we commence firing at 3000 metres". "See to it", replied Uhlig. He knew that engaging from a distance and keeping his boat pointing at the target reduced the chance of being hit in a gun duel. He was pleased to see that his new 1WO was also aware of this. "Load HE and aim for the bridge", ordered Rahn. A few moments later the order was given to commence firing. Uhlig winced as the first shot fell far short. "We still leave a lot to be desired", he thought. But the gun crew was to prove him wrong.

There was a flash as the second shot scored a hit, followed immediately by another flash. "Target is returning fire!", Rahn reported calmly. "Slow to Ahead Standard" ordered Uhlig. He didn't want to get too close now that he knew the target was armed, but he needed to get close enough to give his gunners a chance to take out the merchant's deck gun. "Load AP and aim for the gun!" yelled Rahn down to the gun crew.

When the range had closed to about 1700m, there was a large explosion on the deck of the freighter and no more gunfire came from it. U-266's gun crew switched back to HE and began to shoot for the waterline.

Suddenly the freighter changed aspect and started to shoot again. "Perhaps he had a second gun forward, said Rahn. "Slow to one third", ordered Uhlig. This time the enemy gun was destroyed by the third shot. Firing was redirected to the waterline and a few shots later there was a large explosion on the freighter. "She's going down!" yelled the gun crew. "She must have been transporting ammunition", mused Rahn. "There's no way a target that size would normally sink after taking less than 35 hits."*

With its victory accomplished, U-266 turned towards its patrol area at high speed, and slipped beneath the waves to avoid the inevitable air patrol that would soon be flying over the floating wreckage of Uhlig's first victim.

To be continued...

----
*What can I say? I'm not using GWX's damage model.

[Weiss Pinguin]

Date: October 10th, 1939
To: BdU
From: U-1337

Currently north of Scapa flow, sailing west. Three ships sunk, all while submerged, tonnage unknown, estimate at least 7000 total. Torpedo stores are down to 3 reloads, all tubes loaded.


Intelligence esimates for last patrol: Approx. 41000 GRT

[kaleu]

U77 Type VIIC 16th patrol SEP 5,1941
Just departed Nazaire headed to EK75
African coast fertile hunting
Crew's performance has been superb
Allies, however, showing signs of improvement
Expecting tougher encounters

[Brag]

From BDU
To Reporting Kaleuns

Onward to victory!

[Patkins1983]

U-124 5th September 1941. Sitting in Nazaire contemplating a scapa raid.
Last patrol saw a 56k haul on a convoy going west out of Gibraltar. Got my second Southampton of the war with a eel to the bow. Went under as she plowed on.

U338 VIIC 7. Flotilla
Returned to St. Nazaire after 2. patrol.
24.apr.43 til 5.maj.43
30.apr.43 19.33 CG19: Alarm! Aircraft. Hull damage. RTB.
02.maj.43 08.13 CG21: Alarm! Aircraft.
04.maj.43 22.56 BF64: Alarm! Aircraft.
No surface contacts.
Patrol Tonnage: 0
Total Tonnage: 32.918 GRT

U338 VIIC 7. Flotilla St. Nazaire
Early return from Patrol 3.
02.jun.43 til 05.jun.43.

BF55
03.jun.43 22.24 Detecting Radar Signals.
A L A R M ! Aircraft.
Stb. Electric Motor destroyed.
Minor flooding E-motor and Aft Berthing.
41% Hull Integrity. Return To Base.

[Abd_von_Mumit]

On duty for papa Doenitz.

Kapitänleutnant Udo Linke (U-51, VIIB) sunk south of Rockal Banks on August 12 '40 after 10 patrols (200 days), 43 ships (40/3), 277585 tonns (221895/55690).

Oberleutnant z. S. Herbert Richter (U-47, VIIB) on his third patrol around [classified]. Previous patrols: 2 patrols (24 days), 10 ships (10/0), 54565 tonns (54565/0). Current: 45 days, 6 ships (5/1), 35389 tonns.

I'm going to go through whole the war. When one crew is lost, I start a new career on the month of the sinking. If I manage to go through, I'll think of some experimental theatres, like Black Sea, Med., monsooning.

[comet61]

U-371 (Type VIIC)
7th/13th Flotilla
St. Nazaire

May 25, 1941
On 12th patrol 150k south of Iceland. Ready to head east to take a southerly route off the Irish coast, then head for the BE area.

11 patrols-14 ships in the drink @ 81,000 tons. 2 destroyers on 10th patrol.