|
|
SUBSIM: The Web's #1 resource for all submarine & naval simulations since 1997
|
SUBSIM: The Web's #1 resource for all submarine & naval simulations since 1997 |
|
|||||||||
 |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
|
03-05-23, 03:14 AM
|
#1 | |
|
The Old Man
 Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,580
Downloads: 29
Uploads: 0
|
Kiel Kriegsmarinewerft
Quote:
+++++++ Friday, 5 March 1943 - Kiel 1506 - Arrival at Kiel Kriegsmarinewerft - Degausing (The unfinished) Aircraft Carrier Graf Zeppelin and Heavy Cruiser Gneisenau (historically, was in Gotenhafen at the time) are in Kiel. +++++++
B.d.U. HQ moves from Paris to Berlin, Hotel am Steinplatz (until 12/43). British bombers attack the Krupp works at Essen, Germany; This is the Allies' first attack on this industrial region, which started what the Allies called the Battle of the Ruhr. This attack also sees the first successful use of "Oboe", an aerial blind bombing targeting system. Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier USS Bogue departs Argentia, Newfoundland, bound for mid-Atlantic rendezvous with eastbound Convoy HX.228. Tirpitz completes post-refitting trials in Drontheim. U 333 (Oblt. Werner Schwaff; in deputize for "Ali" Cremer in hospital) was attacked by enemy aircraft at night without previous radar in BF 5897. Slight damage. Aircraft was shot down in flames. U 445 (Oblt. Heinz-Konrad Fenn) sighted outward bound convoy at 1215 in CG 9577. Contact was lost after hydrophone activity accompanied by bombs and depth charges lasting 12 hours. Very heavy air and surface reconnaissance in the area off Gibraltar. Our own aircraft sighted Gibraltar convoy at 1830 in CG 4611, course 60°, speed 7.5 knots. U 183 (Korvkpt. Heinrich Schäfer) reported Swedish steamer showing lights on a course of 70° in DM 7527. In spite of clear orders the boat requested permission to attack. It was accordingly corrected. The ship was later confirmed to be an Argentinean vessel. Situation Cape Town: U 509 (Kptlt. Werner Witte) confirmed westbound traffic during the day and on moonlit nights in GR 6720. Slight possibilities for action, owing to air and land observation. Triple and single miss on steamers of 7,000 and 2,000 GRT. Subsequent passage to KY 4350. U 516 (KrvKpt. Gerhard Wiebe): Nothing sighted in KZ 43 and 19 or from KZ 1781 to 1591 during a stay of several days. A modern passenger steamer, protected by corvettes, course 240° was sunk in KZ 1791 at 27.2. Size 10,000 GRT. Aerial activity up to 100 sea miles from land. Pieces of wreckage were rammed during patrol in KZ 1690 and KZ 2470. Withdrawn at the moment owing to oil tracks. As more boats are to operate simultaneously in the area off the American coast, U 172 (Kptlt. Carl Emmermann), U 515 (Kptlt. Werner Henke) and U 513 (KrvKpt. Rolf Rüggeberg) already in CD are to be retained and distributed in the following order to the temporary ops. area CD 20, CD 30 and CD 40. As soon as the boats, also intended for this, arrive further movement is to take place. U 130 (KrvKpt. Ernst Kals) and U 159 (Kptlt. Helmut Friedrich Witte) are to make for CA 50 also U 106 (Kptlt. Hermann Rasch; ex Oesten) is to replenish supplies from "Milkcow" U 461 (Kptlt. Wolf-Harro Stiebler). 6 boats, therefore, are disposed for this operation. U 521 (Kptlt. Klaus Heinrich Bargsten) is also to take on supplies from U 461 and proceed to the east to reinforce the Group "Tümmler". U 461 has given U 106, 180 cubic meters of fuel and U 521, 102 cubic meters. The tanker is empty and is on the return passage. U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) undergoes Final Repairs at Blohm & Voss shipyard Hamburg. +++++++ KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
__________________
KSDII-Ace/GWX 3.0 Gold/CCoM 10.0 + h.sie-patch; Windows 7 (64-bit); NVIDIA GeForce GTX650 (310.90) |
|
|
|
|
03-06-23, 02:57 AM
|
#2 | |
|
The Old Man
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,580
Downloads: 29
Uploads: 0
|
Kiel Kriegsmarinewerft
Quote:
+++++++ U 115 - KTB - First War Patrol (17th war patrol overall) Saturday, 6 March 1943 - Kiel Kriegsmarinewerft Final Adjustments and Pre-War Patrol Preparation: - Loading of Fuel: 441t => 510cbm (at 865kg/m³) - 95 on gauge => 100%. - Trimming trials in Kiel harbor. Daily Op.-Briefing: A) 1) The systematic evaluation of the English U-boat situation for the month of January and the beginning of February is reassuring, in view of the strong suspicion that the enemy had broken down our codes or otherwise obtained exceptional knowledge of our operations. (compare the English estimates of U-boat positions, confirmation of the facts accessible to the English, wireless bearings, sightings, U -boat attacks, a/s radar, also information obtained after the return of a number of U-boats.) Except in the case of 2 - 3 unexplained incidents, English information from the facts accessible to him of U-boat positions, and plots of the boats, can throughout be traced to an explainable combination of facts. The most important revelation - confirmed almost without a doubt - was, that the enemy was able, with the help of a/c radar, to intercept U-boat dispositions with great accuracy - adequate for the successful evasive action of his convoys. As always, our countermeasures limp several weeks behind this kind of new enemy practice because: a) His evasive measures are obvious, only after constant use, partly after receipt of English wireless messages (Special Radio Intelligence messages) not solved for weeks afterwards. b) Reports of confirmed wireless location of U-boat dispositions, are rarely received by W/T, their use is not apparent until the operational survey and Commander's oral report. c) The technical possibilities of "ASV" location (simultaneous confirmation of several targets at long range and thereby the simultaneous interception of several boats in one disposition) was still unknown. A) 2) The fact perfectly corroborated by the increasing appearance of the additional word "radio located" in English U-boat situation (reports) of confirmation of U-boat dispositions by a/c radio location, meant an uncomfortable complication of the method used up to now, of intercepting convoys by patrol lines. As, in many cases, the inadequate number of U-boats in the patrol channels cannot be dispensed with. a) The boats are ordered to submerge for about 30 minutes on confirmation of a/c radar. (Stipulation for the effective execution of this measure is the presence of a constantly used Fu.M.B. in good working order. The Fu.M.B. aerials at present in use in the ops. areas are however not practicable in all weather conditions. An alteration will not be made until the beginning of March, the time of the equipping of boats with fixed Fu.M.B. cable and round dipole.) b) Avoid all unnecessary waiting in patrol lines before the presumed convoy passage time. (Disposition of the groups: "Neptun", "Ritter", "Burggraf", "Neuland"). These groups were to proceed on a westerly to southwesterly course on the convoy routes as far as the area of Newfoundland Bank "Harken". The passage speed was for the most part very small in the bad weather conditions generally prevailing; the disposition could almost be considered stationary in view of the long range of the "ASV" apparatus and the high speed and radius of action of English a/c. Up to now no better method has been tried. All other dispositions, i.e. the indiscriminate, unsystematic spreading out of boats in a certain area, ("castor sugar") have the disadvantage of too large spaces between the individual boats. After the non-interception of a convoy by such a disposition there is always the riddle what's to be done. The required certainty is lacking in a clear lineal disposition in any case up to a certain point (adverse weather conditions, periods of fog excepted), that the convoy has not sailed through the disposition area, that then, an alteration of the area and method is necessary. U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) undergoes Final Repairs at Blohm & Voss shipyard Hamburg. KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
__________________
KSDII-Ace/GWX 3.0 Gold/CCoM 10.0 + h.sie-patch; Windows 7 (64-bit); NVIDIA GeForce GTX650 (310.90) |
|
|
|
|
|
03-07-23, 02:57 AM
|
#3 | |
|
The Old Man
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,580
Downloads: 29
Uploads: 0
|
Kiel Kriegsmarinewerft
Quote:
+++++++ U 115 - KTB - First War Patrol (17th war patrol overall) Sunday, 7 March 1943 - Kiel Kriegsmarinewerft Final Adjustments and Pre-War Patrol Preparation: - Testing of Navigational and Radio Equipment. - Loading of Provisions, Ammunitions and Torpedoes: Ari and A/A ammunition: - 10,5cm-SK-C/32: 150 x SpG; 80 x PbG; 20 x LkG - 3.7cm-SK-C/30: 2550 x PbG - Twin-M.G.-2cm-C/30: 5280 x SpG (2 x 2640); 2720 x PbG (2 x 1360) Torpedoes: - Tubes I-IV & VI: T-3 (G7e), Pi-2/Pi39H (MZ/AZ) - Tube V: T-4 "Falke" Pi-2/Pi39H (MZ/AZ) - Bow above floor plates: 2 x T-3 (G7e), Pi-2/Pi39H (MZ/AZ) - Bow under floor plates: 4 x T-1/G7a FAT (AtoFat), Pi-1/G7H/K-a (AZ only) - Aft under floor plate: 3 x T-1/G7a FAT (AtoFat), Pi-1/G7H/K-a (AZ only) - Upper deck containers: 10 (8 fwd, 2 aft) x T-1/G7a (Ato), Pi-1/G7H/K-a (AZ only) Daily Op.-Briefing: B) 1) Warfare against the African supplies from North America in the area north and south of the Azores has led to failure. Neither a U.G.S. or G.U.S. convoy has been intercepted by means of a patrol or reconnaissance channels ("Rochen, Robbe"). The enemy's possibility of taking evasive action north or south of the Great Circle are very great - owing to the great length of the entire route without any significant extension of the convoy route. B) 2) The tricky situation of the forces defending the bridgehead Tunis, forces action against African supply lines. As, for one thing, the attacking of the convoys in the area of the Gibraltar lines is unpropitious owing to strong defence, for another, as described in 1), the interception of convoys halfway is pointless in view of the size of the area, the following is the remaining possibility: Deployment of U-boats off the North American departure ports. Interception here and pursuit to open sea. It must be ascertained in this connection: a) The aerial defences off the coast is apparently very strong, disposition must therefore be stationary. b) Facts of ports of departure and times of leaving are unpredictable therefore a certain number of boats are necessary c) Defences, taken as a whole, mean a withdrawal to outside the coastal area during the full moon period. Consideration of these facts leads to the demand for an adequate number of boats, some of which would act as reconnaissance units stationed directly in front of the harbor, the others further out to act as "pick-up" groups able to operate on the reconnaissance groups reports. Owing to the length of the approach route, only a small percentage of U-boats (at the moment type IXc) come into the question. The following boats originally intended for deployment in the Cape Town area were distributed for this: U 172, U 515, U 513, also U 167, U 130, U 106, U 159. U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) undergoes Final Repairs at Blohm & Voss shipyard Hamburg. KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
__________________
KSDII-Ace/GWX 3.0 Gold/CCoM 10.0 + h.sie-patch; Windows 7 (64-bit); NVIDIA GeForce GTX650 (310.90) |
|
|
|
|
|
03-08-23, 03:28 AM
|
#4 | |
|
The Old Man
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,580
Downloads: 29
Uploads: 0
|
Kiel Kriegsmarinewerft
Quote:
+++++++ U 115 - KTB - First War Patrol (17th war patrol overall) Monday, 8 March 1943 - Kiel Kriegsmarinewerft Final Adjustments and Pre-War Patrol Preparation: - Testing of Short Range Radar FMG 41G (gU) FuMO 29 Seetakt equipment. - Loading of Provisions, Ammunitions and Torpedoes: Ari and A/A ammunition: - 10,5cm-SK-C/32: 150 x SpG; 80 x PbG; 20 x LkG - 3.7cm-SK-C/30: 2550 x PbG - Twin-M.G.-2cm-C/30: 5280 x SpG (2 x 2640); 2720 x PbG (2 x 1360) Torpedoes: - Tubes I-IV & VI: T-3 (G7e), Pi-2/Pi39H (MZ/AZ) - Tube V: T-4 "Falke" Pi-2/Pi39H (MZ/AZ) - Bow above floor plates: 2 x T-3 (G7e), Pi-2/Pi39H (MZ/AZ) - Bow under floor plates: 4 x T-1/G7a FAT (AtoFat), Pi-1/G7H/K-a (AZ only) - Aft under floor plates: 3 x T-1/G7a FAT (AtoFat), Pi-1/G7H/K-a (AZ only) - Upper deck containers: 10 (8 fwd, 2 aft) x T-1/G7a (Ato), Pi-1/G7H/K-a (AZ only) Daily Op.-Briefing: 2) The reports from U 333 (Oblt. Werner Schwaff; in deputize for "Ali" Cremer, in hospital) of 5.3 and U 156 (KrvKpt. Werner Hartenstein) of 6.3 confirm the conjecture of several weeks that the enemy was using new methods of locating which could not be picked up by Fu.M.B. equipment. Reports from both boats at sea and from Commander's upon return from patrol revealed occasionally at first, then more often, that they had been attacked by a/c at night (mostly in the Biscay and Trinidad areas) without previous appearance of an a/c searchlight in the vicinity, or radar activity being confirmed. The following new methods of locating appear possible according to observations and deliberations. 2) A) The enemy is working with either very high or very low, and therefore scarcely a completely inaudible frequency impulse. This possibility is strengthened by the observations of U 214 (VIID; Kptlt. Günther Reeder) from the Caribbean Sea. The P.O. Telegraphist Bruster, on confirming scarcely audible impulse frequencies, installed the magic eye of the wireless receiver Ela 10.12 in the Metox receiver in order to make visible the inaudible impulse frequencies. In this way apparently, a location was once confirmed. Magic eyes are to be installed in the receivers of all outward bound boats, after P.O. Tel. Bruster's report to the S.O. Naval Signals and Communications Equipment Command. Apart from this, on 6.3 a number of oscillographs were sent by courier to the western area to be added to the Metox receiver in order to ascertain as soon as possible whether the enemy is in fact, working with inaudible impulse frequencies. Boats at sea have received instructions to send observations if necessary. 2) B) The enemy is working on carrier frequencies outside the frequency range of the present Fu.M.B. receivers. The shooting down, over Holland of an enemy a/c apparently carrying an apparatus with a frequency of 5.7 centimeters is the only indication at present of this possibility. It is possible that the enemy is attempting to escape from the frequency range of our Fu.M.B. which indicates the knowledge of this and the introduction of countermeasures. 2) C) The enemy uses his search and locating apparatus for a very short space of time (2 to 3 secs). This method is a development and perfecting of the economical use of locating already observed. It would be very difficulty and almost only occasionally possible for an Fu.M.B. observer to confirm a location with the Fu.M.B. equipment at present in use. Theoretically it appears desirable to counter all these three possibilities in the following way: Use of an aperiodic, untuned receiver with optical sight indicator, in which every location will be immediately seen, whether carrier or impulse frequency. It remains to be seen whether this possibility is technically practicable. Further information in this connection is to be requested directly from the appropriate departments. U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) undergoes Final Repairs at Blohm & Voss shipyard Hamburg. KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
__________________
KSDII-Ace/GWX 3.0 Gold/CCoM 10.0 + h.sie-patch; Windows 7 (64-bit); NVIDIA GeForce GTX650 (310.90) |
|
|
|
|
|
03-09-23, 02:09 AM
|
#5 | |
|
The Old Man
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,580
Downloads: 29
Uploads: 0
|
Kiel Kriegsmarinewerft
Quote:
+++++++ U 115 - KTB - First War Patrol (17th war patrol overall) Tuesday, 9 March 1943 - Kiel Kriegsmarinewerft Final Adjustments and Pre-War Patrol Preparation: - Installation and testing of the Magic Eye (of the Wireless Receiver Ela 10.12) in the FuMB-1/Metox600A. - Loading of Provisions, Ammunitions and Torpedoes: Ari and A/A ammunition: - 10,5cm-SK-C/32: 150 x SpG; 80 x PbG; 20 x LkG - 3.7cm-SK-C/30: 2550 x PbG - Twin-M.G.-2cm-C/30: 5280 x SpG (2 x 2640); 2720 x PbG (2 x 1360) Torpedoes: - Tubes I-IV & VI: T-3 (G7e), Pi-2/Pi39H (MZ/AZ) - Tube V: T-4 "Falke" Pi-2/Pi39H (MZ/AZ) - Bow above floor plates: 2 x T-3 (G7e), Pi-2/Pi39H (MZ/AZ) - Bow under floor plates: 4 x T-1/G7a FAT (AtoFat), Pi-1/G7H/K-a (AZ only) - Aft under floor plates: 3 x T-1/G7a FAT (AtoFat), Pi-1/G7H/K-a (AZ only) - Upper deck containers: 10 (8 fwd, 2 aft) x T-1/G7a (Ato), Pi-1/G7H/K-a (AZ only) Daily Op.-Briefing: The Naval C.-in-C. decided on 20.2.43, that after the transference of the boats U 377, 592, 403, 405, 209, 376 and 334 from the North Sea to the Atlantic - the amount of North Sea boats will be supplemented from the boats from home - U 644, 467, 639, 711, 269, 339, 304, 636, 646 - 23 boats. RSTErwin Rommel departed North Africa on account of health reasons. U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) undergoes Final Repairs at Blohm & Voss shipyard Hamburg. KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
__________________
KSDII-Ace/GWX 3.0 Gold/CCoM 10.0 + h.sie-patch; Windows 7 (64-bit); NVIDIA GeForce GTX650 (310.90) |
|
|
|
|
|
03-10-23, 02:46 AM
|
#6 | |
|
The Old Man
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,580
Downloads: 29
Uploads: 0
|
Kiel Kriegsmarinewerft
Quote:
+++++++ U 115 - KTB - First War Patrol (17th war patrol overall) Wednesday, 10 March 1943 - Kiel Kriegsmarinewerft Pre-War Patrol Preparation: - Completed loading of Provisions, Ammunitions and Torpedoes: Ari and A/A ammunition: - 10,5cm-SK-C/32: 150 x SpG; 80 x PbG; 20 x LkG - 3.7cm-SK-C/30: 2550 x PbG - Twin-M.G.-2cm-C/30: 5280 x SpG (2 x 2640); 2720 x PbG (2 x 1360) Torpedoes: - Tubes I-IV & VI: T-3 (G7e), Pi-2/Pi39H (MZ/AZ) - Tube V: T-4 "Falke" Pi-2/Pi39H (MZ/AZ) - Bow above floor plates: 2 x T-3 (G7e), Pi-2/Pi39H (MZ/AZ) - Bow under floor plates: 4 x T-1/G7a FAT (AtoFat), Pi-1/G7H/K-a (AZ only) - Aft under floor plates: 3 x T-1/G7a FAT (AtoFat), Pi-1/G7H/K-a (AZ only) - Upper deck containers: 10 (8 fwd, 2 aft) x T-1/G7a (Ato), Pi-1/G7H/K-a (AZ only) - Final Adjustments and Repairs. Basin Trials. Pre-War Patrol Briefing and new B.d.U.-Standing Orders: 1) Since 11.42, Deckgun also as Flak 2) Since End1942, A/C with Rockets RP-3 3) As of 8 Jan.1943, B.d.U.-Standing Order No. 307: Inspection/Replacement of Pistol G7H after Wabo Attack. 4) As of 8 Jan.1943, B.d.U.-Standing Order No. 308: Closing of Torpedo Tubes during Deep Dive. 5) As of 30 Jan.1943, B.d.U.-Standing Order No. 510: Test Run of Main Diesels at AK for 30min., every 4 days. 6) As of March 1943: A) Forward Projectile "Hedgehog": Range/Distance 230-260m; Effective Range/Radius 30m; Sinking Speed 13m/s. B) Mark24 Mine "Fido" (Homing) Torpedo: Depth 15-45m; Speed 12 kn for 10 min; Range 3700m. Axis forces in Tunisia fall back to the Mareth Line. U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) undergoes Final Repairs at Blohm & Voss shipyard Hamburg. RSTKorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
__________________
KSDII-Ace/GWX 3.0 Gold/CCoM 10.0 + h.sie-patch; Windows 7 (64-bit); NVIDIA GeForce GTX650 (310.90) |
|
|
|
|
|
03-11-23, 04:19 AM
|
#7 | |
|
The Old Man
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,580
Downloads: 29
Uploads: 0
|
Leaving Kiel for the 1st War Patrol with U 115
Quote:
+++++++ U 115 - KTB - First War Patrol (17th war patrol overall) Thursday, 11 March 1943 - Kiel Taking on of fresh food and water supply. Received transit and Op.-Orders: - Proceed to Kristiansand under escort for fuel and lubrication oil, and fresh water supply. - Further Op.-Orders will be given during transit. - Tirpitz and Scharnhorst will sail today from Drontheim, escorted by Torpedo Boats Jaguar and Greif, to our Navy base in Bogen Bay, Norway. Pre-War Patrol Preparation completed (sailed without Focke Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze). Cmdr.: The day we all have been waiting for has finally come: 5 months after commissioning of our new boat, we get to give proof of what we have learned in the many weeks of rigorous training and exercises, testing - and often times exceeding - the limits of our boat and us. May good luck and fortune be with us and accompany us until after a glorious journey, we are allowed to enter the safe haven again. 1510 - N3/2, clear, visibility 7sm, >1000mb - Casting off Tirpitz Mole. Departed Kiel for escort meeting point. 1530 - Taking on of escort (Class 34 Destroyer). 1541 - Cleared barrage Friedrichsort. 1550 - Transit in convoy (with U-191; IXC/40; Kptlt. Helmut Fiehn) for Kristiansand. Entering transit path, which is patrolled by a Class 36 Destroyer, and a Dornier Do-24 and a Arado AR196. Today, Feldmarschall Erwin Rommel received Diamonds to his Knight's Cross. RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115
__________________
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; 03-11-23 at 04:35 AM. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hybrid Mode
