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Post by blaird on Jun 3, 2016 16:10:26 GMT
1900 September 1, 1939 On PatrolU-100 Eisbar U-28 Parzival U-30 Rothalstaucher U-31 Hungrig Sägefisch U-41 Das Gespenest U-75 Rashke U-73 Werewolf U-83 Schildkröte U-85 Seehexe U-86 R'an RefitNone Good evening Gentleman, I won't take much of your time, as I know that, you have to prepare for tomorrow morning.
Special Instructions: None
Historic Notes 1939
SEPTEMBER 1939
Strategic and Maritime Situation
Germany (now including Austria and Czechoslovakia) was restricted to a short North Sea and Baltic coastline. Its exits to the Atlantic passed through the Allied controlled English Channel and North Sea. However, Britain's survival depended on the Atlantic trade routes; Germany's did not. Areas under direct Allied control included Canada and Newfoundland, Bermuda, many of the West Indies, British and French Guiana, islands in the Central and South Atlantic, much of the Atlantic seaboard of Africa, and Gibraltar. Also the waters of Britain and France. The one major defensive gap for the Allies was the lack of bases in Eire to cover the Western Approaches further out into the Atlantic. Britain and her Allies introduced convoys without delay having learned well many of the lessons of World War 1.
The Maritime Belligerents
These were based on the assumption Britain and France were actively allied against the European Axis powers of Germany and Italy. The Royal Navy would be responsible for the North Sea and most of the Atlantic, although the French would contribute some forces. In the Mediterranean, defence would be shared between both Navies.
The U-boat Threat and the Allied Responses
OBJECTIVE 1 - Defence of trade routes, and convoy organisation and escort, especially to and from Britain. - Until May 1940 the main threat was from U-Boats operating in the North Sea and South Western Approaches. For a few months two pocket battleships posed a danger in the broader reaches of the Atlantic. - The first overseas convoys left Britain via the South Western Approaches. From the Thames they sailed through the English Channel (OA) and from Liverpool through the Irish Sea (OB). Later in September convoys left Freetown, Sierra Leone (SL), Halifax, Nova Scotia (HX) and Gibraltar (HG) for the UK. - In the North Atlantic anti-submarine escorts were provided from Britain out to 200 miles west of Ireland (15W) and to the middle of the Bay of Biscay. U-boats soon operated beyond these limits. British and Allied convoys were also covered for a few hundred miles from Halifax by Canadian warships. The same degree of protection was given to ships sailing from other overseas assembly ports. - Cruisers and (shortly) armed merchant cruisers sometimes take over as ocean escorts. Particularly fast or slow ships from British, Canadian and other assembly ports sailed independently, as did many hundreds of vessels scattered across the rest of the oceans. Almost throughout the war it was the independently-routed ships and the convoy stragglers that suffered most from the mainly German warships, raiders, aircraft and above all submarines that sought to break the Allied supply lines. OBJECTIVE 2 - Detection and destruction of surface raiders and U-boats. - Patrols were carried out by RAF Coastal Command in the North Sea, and by Home Fleet submarines off southwest Norway and the German North Sea bases. RAF Bomber Command prepared to attack German warships in their bases. - Fleet aircraft carriers were employed on anti-U-boat sweeps in the Western Approaches. OBJECTIVE 3 - British Naval blockade of Germany - The British Northern Patrol of old cruisers, followed later by armed merchant cruisers had the unenviable task of covering the area between the Shetlands and Iceland. They suffered heavily at the hands of the U-boats. - Closer to Germany the first mines were laid by Royal Navy destroyers in the approaches to Germany's North Sea bases. These claimed a few U-boats. OBJECTIVE 4 - Defence of British coasts. - Right through until May 1940 U-boats operated around the coasts of Britain and in the North Sea. Scotland's Moray Firth was often a focus for their activities. They attacked with both torpedoes and magnetic mines. Mines were also laid by surface ships and aircraft. - British East Coast convoys (FN/FS) commenced between the Thames Estuary and the Firth of Forth in Scotland. - Defensive mine laying began with an anti-U-boat barrier in the English Channel across the Straits of Dover, followed by an East Coast barrier to protect coastal convoy routes. These soon gained results OBJECTIVE 5 - Escort British, Dominion and Allied troops to France and between Britain, the Dominions and other areas under Allied control. - An immediate start was made transporting the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to France. By the end of 1939 the first Canadian troops had arrived in Britain, and by early 1940 Australian, Indian and New Zealand forces were on their way to Egypt and the Middle East. Troop convoys were always heavily escorted, and the Dominion Navies played an important part in protecting the men as they left their home shores. Australian and New Zealand cruisers were particularly active in the Indian Ocean. Their main role was defence against German surface warships, but also the few U-boats initially at sea Major Warship Strengths Navies Royal Navy
French Navy
German Navy
Warship types Home waters (a)
Atlantic (b)
Atlantic and Channel
European waters
Atlantic station Battleships 9
-
2
3
2(c)
Carriers 4
-
1
-
-
Cruisers 21
14
3
7
-
Destroyers 82
13
20
22
-
Submarines 21
4
-
41(d)
16
Totals
137
31
26
73
18
plus escorts
-
-
plus torpedo boats
-
Notes:
- Royal Navy was a mix of World War 1, modernised and recently completed ships. The French warships allocated to the Atlantic and the German were mainly modern.
(a) Home Fleet commanded by Adm Sir Charles Forbes with 7 capital ships, 2 carriers and 16 cruisers based at Scapa Flow and Rosyth; Channel Force with 2 battleships, 2 carriers and 3 cruisers; Humber Force with 2 cruisers; and various destroyer flotillas.
(b) North Atlantic Command based at Gibraltar with 2 cruisers and 9 destroyers; America and West Indies Command at Bermuda with 4 cruisers; and South Atlantic at Freetown with 8 cruisers and 4 destroyers.
(c) Pocket battleships "Admiral Graf Spee" in the South and "Deutschland" in the North Atlantic.
(d) included U-boats on patrol in the North Sea and British coastal waters.AssignmentsSpanish CoastNone British IslesU-100 Eisbar U-28 Parzival U-30 Rothalstaucher U-31 Hungrig Sägefisch U-41 Das Gespenest U-73 Werewolf U-75 Rashke U-83 Schildkröte U-85 Seehexe U-86 R'an British Isles (M)None West African CoastNone AtlanticNone NOTE SO THAT WE DO NOT LOSE U-BOAT'S TO THE MEDITERRANEAN, I AM RE-ROLLING ANY MEDITERRANEAN RESULTS!Important InformationU-Boat Name and ID Number Successful Patrol – Number of Freighters Sank Number of Tankers Sank Number of Capital Ships Sank Total Tonnage Destroyed Refit Time Standard Award Requests[/i]
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Post by blaird on Jun 3, 2016 16:42:15 GMT
September 28th The Seehexe sails into port, with 2 victory pennants soaring from the conning tower.
U-Boat Name and ID Number U-85 Seehexe Successful Patrol – Yes Number of Freighters Sank 0 Number of Tankers Sank 2 Number of Capital Ships Sank 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed 17,500 Refit Time 2 Months Award Requests KpLt Hubertus Dilz - Iron Cross 2nd Class
September 20th We've had a very long patrol, chasing down many false sightings but with nothing to show for our efforts. On September 20th, we encountered a convoy. We flushed tubes 1-4 turned and fired our aft torpedo. We got lucky and all five torpedos hit. We were unlucky in the fact that 3 of them were duds. However, we were still rewarded by watching the Scott. Standard and the A.F. Corwin break apart and slip beneath the waves. Then the escort came in after us. Their escort found us time and time again, and the Seehexe took a beating. We took multiple Hull hits, and started filling with water. Our radio, flak gun, aft torpedo doors, both electric engines, and diesel 1 were damaged. We chose not to pursue the 2 remaining tankers to give our repair crews a chance to work. Pacher and his repair crews got all three damaged engines, and the radio fixed. But he reported that our flak gun was knocked loose and is somewhere at the bottom of the ocean, and our Aft Torpedo Doors are jamed shut from the damage they took.
September 27th As we entered the Jade Bay, a storm hit and we were forced to ride it out before making our way into port.
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Post by haplo02 on Jun 3, 2016 17:53:32 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number U-30 Rothalstaucher Successful Patrol – Yes Number of Freighters Sank 0 Number of Tankers Sank 2 Number of Capital Ships Sank 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed 14,200 Refit Time Standard Award Requests Iron Cross 2nd Class
September 5th We encountered the tanker Congonian. After a long encounter, we had fired off 4 torpedoes and all of our deck ammo, but the Congonian went under.
October 10th We came across the BB Malaya we fired off all of our forward torpedoes turned and fired both aft torpedoes. of the six torpedoes 3 hit, of the three 2 were good, but the Malaya barely even seemed to notice the damage. Then the depth charges started. Our periscope took a hit, we started taking on water, and our fuel tanks were hit. Once we were able to get away, we manged to get the periscope fixed, but our fuel tanks were inoperabley damaged. We were forced to abort.
October 15th We encountered the tanker Invershannon, we let lose with tubes 3 and 4, and one hit, and it was a good hit. The crew quickly abandoned ship as it broke in half.
October 18th We made it back into port safe and sound, should be back out in December.
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Post by wizalou on Jun 3, 2016 19:01:37 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number: U75 Raschke Successful Patrol –Yes Number of Freighters Sank: 1 Number of Tankers Sank Number of Capital Ships Sank: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 4400 Refit Time Standard: Award Requests: Iron Cross 2nd class.
Bancrest 4400 sank.
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falto
Komandant
Posts: 11
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Post by falto on Jun 3, 2016 19:34:29 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number U-31 Hungrig Sägefisch Successful Patrol – No Number of Freighters Sank 0 Number of Tankers Sank 0 Number of Capital Ships Sank 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed 0 Refit Time Standard Award Requests None
September 7th 1st Watch We spotted the Empire Wave a 7500 ton Large Freighter. we fired tubes 3 and 4 which had G7e torpedoes, both of which missed. We evaded the escort, and lost them somewhere as the day progressed.
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Post by silentwolf on Jun 4, 2016 2:24:25 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number: Schildkröte U-83 Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters Sank: 1 Number of Tankers Sank: Number of Capital Ships Sank: Total Tonnage Destroyed: 5000 Refit Time: Standard Award Requests: KptLt Wolfgang Ackerman Iron Cross 2nd class
Patrol Assignment: British Isles
September 5th 05.00 - Set a course to operations area
September 18th 14.20 - Lookouts spot a small convoy on the horizon. Submerged and waited until nightfall to engage
September 18th 22.00 - Moved into close range and surfaced. Fired upon SF66 Carabulle and destroyed her almost instantly, a massive explosion broke her back and she slipped below the waves before the second eel could hit.
Quickly submerged and remained undetected. Unfortunately, we lost contact with the convoy and the rest of the patrol was uneventful.
September 27th - returned to port
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Post by silentwolf on Jun 4, 2016 17:25:30 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number: Das Gespenst U-41 Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters Sank: 1 Number of Tankers Sank: Number of Capital Ships Sank: Total Tonnage Destroyed: 5000 Refit Time: 2 months Award Requests: KptLt Horst Beckmann Iron Cross 2nd class
Patrol Assignment: British Isles
September 4th 07.00 - sailed from Wilhelmshaven
September 18th 07.30 - just after dawn, Lookouts spot escorted SF55 Lehigh. Submerged then launched 2 G7a from aft at midrange. Immediately lowered the periscope and took the boat deep.
September 18th 07.50 - One explosion is heard far off of our stern.
We wait for a while, several meters below test depth, before coming to pericope depth.
September 18th 17.30 - observed the crippled freighter still under escort. We will surface after dark and finish her off.
September 18th 20.00 - After sunset, surfaced and fired 2 G7e from medium range. Torpedoes did not track properly and both missed their target.
This time the escort briefly detected us. Depth charges were dropped but evasive maneuvers were effective and we recieved no damage.
I ordered the boat deep again. The hull creaked loudly but the escort lost our position.
September 19th 03.00 - fired 2 G7a from forward tubes 2 and 3 ,submerged at medium range to finally sink the Lehigh.
I took the boat deep once more and the escort was not able to locate us.
October 8th 17.00 - Lookouts spot an enemy aircraft. We successfully crash dive and avoid detection.
October 12th - returned to port with 1 victory pennant soaring. We took some hull damage from the deep dives, however the boat should be ready for a 2nd patrol in January.
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Post by crushedhat on Jun 4, 2016 19:55:27 GMT
U-86 Sep 1939
U-Boat Name and ID Number: U-86, Ra’n Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters Sank: 3 Number of Tankers Sank: 0 Number of Capital Ships Sank: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 15,100 Refit Time: 1 month, ready for patrol Nov 1939 Award Requests: Iron Cross 2nd Class for KptLt Viktor Radel
Narrative:
U-86 left Wilhelmshaven on 2 Sep 1939 and proceeded to our assigned patrol area off the British Isles. Enroute received notification that state of war now existed along with instructions to observe Prize Rules. Arrived at assigned patrol area on 9 September.
As dawn broke on the 14th, the lookouts reported smoke on the horizon. Investigated and found unescorted merchantman, estimated to be 2,100 tons. As per Prize Rules, ordered the merchant’s crew to take to the lifeboats before commencing fire with deck gun. As we began firing, the merchant began transmitting a distress call and location. I immediately ordered firing two torpedoes, one of which hit, and continued firing with the deck gun until the target was sinking. Then, in light of the enemy’s signals, submerged and withdrew.
The afternoon of the 20th encountered another unescorted freighter, estimated at 8,200 tons displacement, after order her crew to the boats took it under fire. The gun crew’s performance was as much better this time, scoring multiple hits on the target, which again began transmitting as on the 14th and so I ordered firing four torpedoes to assure the target’s destruction and our withdrawal before enemy escorts or aircraft could arrive.
No more targets presented themselves during this patrol and, with food and fuel running low I ordered U-86 to turn for home on 21 Sep. A day out from Wilhelmshaven and we received a communique informing us of the location of a nearby unescorted merchantman. Proceeding at maximum speed, we came upon a 4,800 ton freighter. Once more I followed the Prize Rules instructions and ordered the freighter’s crew to take to the lifeboats, and once more they violated the rules and began transmitting our location. A combination of gunfire and torpedoes sent the freighter to the bottom of the North Sea. Based upon the three encounters of this patrol, I strongly urge BDU to reconsider enforcing adherence to the Prize Rules.
Respectfully submitted, Kplt Viktor Radel, Kommandant U-86
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Post by crushedhat on Jun 4, 2016 19:57:24 GMT
Vignettes from U-86's 1st War Patrol, Sep 1939
3 Sep 1939, North Atlantic “Herr Kaleun.” ObfzS Peer Jolitz holds several papers out to his commander, KptLt Viktor Radel. Radel can see that the young 2WO’s hand is shaking.
Taking the papers, a predatory smile forms on Radel’s face. Looking up, He informs his 2WO, “See. I told you war was coming. Make sure everyone, especially the lookouts, knows. The Fuhrer is reclaiming Silesia. Alsace will be next,” Radel predicts with confidence.
“And the second communique, Herr Kaleun?” Jolitz reminds his Kapitan that there are other messages as well.
Viktor’s smile is replaced by barely controlled anger as he reads the second decoded message. “Are they crazy?” he explodes.
“Sir?” Peer takes a reflexive step back.
Fighting to control himself and prevent another outburst in front of his subordinate, Radel explains, “We are to observe the Prize Rules. They expect us to hail every target and give the crew time to abandon ship before sinking it. And they expect the Tommies to comply and not fight back or radio our locations. The BDU is several wars behind.” Then, realizing it is not good to model questioning your superiors, Radel sighs and adds, “See that these orders are followed.”
14 Sep 1939, midmorning, the Irish Sea What started out in the morning as a lone smoke column is now a small freighter hove to a short distance from U-86. The crew stands ready at the deck gun, 2WO Peer Jolitz watching U-86’s bridge for the order to fire. KptLt Viktor Radel’s attention is on the freighter, more specifically the men lowering themselves in her lifeboat. Once the small craft pushes off from the doomed ship Radel nods to Jolitz and the 88mm barks. It is clear the gun crew needs more practice, their shots falling everywhere but on the intended target. Radel fumes.
“She’s transmiting!” The cry floats up through the coning tower hatch from the radio room below where Funkobermaat Joachim Ziegler is monitoring the air waves.
“Damn Prize Rules!” Radel mutters under his breath. Turning to his 1WO, LtzS Leon Schmidt, he orders, “Put a pair of eels into her.”
The torpedomen impress their Kapitan little more than the gun crew, one of the two torpedoes completely missing the stationary target. Glancing quickly above to make sure there are no aircraft in sight, Radel extends the gun crew’s practice session as they eventually finish the freighter off.
The officers and crew of U-86 do not have a pleasant next few days, gun and torpedo drills dominating their waking hours.
20 Sep 1939, early afternoon, Atlantic Ocean of the English coast The previous days’ gun drills pay off as round after round of 88mm slam into the large freighter wallowing in the deep Atlantic swell. ObfzS Peer Jolitz relaxes as he senses his commander’s approval over their improved performance.
“She’s transmiting!” Funkobermaat Joachim Ziegler’s voice calls up from below. KptLt Viktor Radel turns to his 1WO.
“Tubes 1 through 4 ready, Herr Kaluen!” LtzS Leon Schimdt cannot suppress a smile, bound not to be upstaged by his junior partner on the deck gun. At a nod from Radel Schmidt leans into the speaking tube and orders, “Fire!”
U-86 lurches as in succession, four eels began their short race to the target. Leon’s smile fades as the bubble trails of the steam driven torpedoes clearly show three will miss their intended target. Fortunately for Schmidt, the fourth eel runs true, followed by an explosion that has the freighter slipping under by her stern. Radel says nothing.
25 Sep 1939, midday, North Atlantic Reading the decoded message, Kptlt Viktor Radel’s lips curl into a smile. “The gods are looking out for us,” he tells ObfzS Peer Jolitz, his 2nd watch and communications officer. “Aerial reconnaisance has located a target to provide us with a proper homecoming. Set course for 3-3-5,” he calls into the speaking tube. “All ahead full! Battle Stations!”
27 Sep 1939, late afternoon, Wilhelmshaven harbor U-86 enter the harbor at Wilhelmshaven flying three victory pennants from her periscope. Looking about, KptLt Viktor Radel can see that some of the other boats of the 15th have already returned. He wonders how they did. Glancing up over his shoulder at the three pennants fluttering in the breeze, he decides that U-86’s crew have earned their coming leave. But before he can make his own plans, Radel must see to the necessary reports.
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Post by jcook119 on Jun 5, 2016 5:26:28 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number: Werwolf U-73 Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters Sank: 2 Number of Tankers Sank: 0 Number of Capital Ships Sank: 1 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 41300 Refit Time: 1 month Award Requests: KptLt Werner Bornhof Iron Cross 2nd class
U-73 sat sail from Wilhelmshaven on the morning of September 3rd. Arrived in patrol area mid-afternoon September 9th.
Evening September 9th: spotted a lone freighter, Jose de Larrinaga, just before sundown. Once under the cover of darkness, we made a close surface attack with torpedoes and deck gun fire. Both torps appeared to hit, but only one exploded, crippling the target. A barrage of shells from our gun finished the job, and the Larrinaga slipped beneath the waves. I am satisfied with the crew's performance.
Evening September 13th: another single ship crossed our path tonight, this time a small freighter designated HMS Stonepool. We commenced a close range surface attack, leading with our gun crew opening fire. With deadly precision, our shells rained down on the Stonepool, and we knew she had made her last voyage. I must commend the gunners for their excellent shooting tonight.
Evening September 18th: our good fortune continues! Near sunset, we spotted a group of ships on the horizon. Slipping in closer, I could not mistake the sight of one of our enemy's battleships! The BB Barham and a small group of escorts. After scanning the horizon and analyzing the escort positioning, I realized that they were scattered out farther than was wise, and gave the order to attack once darkness would cover us. Firing a full spread of torpedoes from medium range, 3 explosions seemed to spell her doom. But the damage was lighter than expected, and we took Werwolf under as the surprised escorts started their frantic search. We easily slipped their net, and after they retreated we set to following our damaged prize.
Evening September 19th: It is clear to me that our adversaries are not as skilled as their propaganda has tried to convey. Once again we made an attack after sunset, firing another full spread of torpedoes from medium range. Only 2 of the 4 fish detonated on target, but that was enough to break her spine and send her to the bottom! Again, her escorts proved incompetent, allowing us a clean getaway. Surely der Furher himself is watching over us, and our enemies will crumble before our might!
Morning September 25th: The last leg of our patrol has been quiet, but the men are still filled with pride at our achievements. I hope that the other Kapitans have fared as well, if they have then victory cannot be far in the future. We will break the "Allies" before they have even begun to challenge us.
Morning October 1st: We have arrived home. Many pennants are fluttering in the wind, including the three flying from our mast. A handful of our sister boats have not yet returned. I pray for their safe return, and their success against the enemy.
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Post by andy254 on Jun 5, 2016 6:20:20 GMT
U-Boat ID & Name: U-38 - "Parzival" U-Boat Class: Type IX A
Kommandant - Karl Schneider (Kapitänleutnant)
Patrol Assignment - British Isles Successful Patrol - Yes Refit Time - Standard
Enemy Shipping Number of Freighters Sank - 1 Number of Tankers Sank - 0 Number of Capital Ships Sank - 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed - 5,000
Ships Damaged - None
Senior Crew Names Wachts Offizier 1: Walter Rieflin (Oberleutnant-zur-See) Wachts Offizier 2: Josef Lotze (Leutnant-zur-See) Leitender Ingenieur: Georg Henger (Oberleutnant-zur-See) Doktor: Bernhard Mahlstedt (Maat)
Ships Destroyed: "Rio Tercero" - 4,900 Steam Merchant (Grid AM 6810)
Award Requests Iron Cross, 2nd Class Karl Schneider (Kapitänleutnant)
Patrol Report
Sunday, September 3rd I had been given the command of the U-38 in mid-August. I had met the crew and got familiar with the power and capabilities of this ship. We were already at sea when the word came through. We were on a shakedown cruise near the Dutch Coast (AN69) when the message came through. Due to its importance, we requested confirmation which promptly came back. We were now officially at war with England and France and with orders from the BdU to engage in "unrestricted submarine warfare" with our enemy. To be honest, it was not unexpected. Tensions had been rising between those countries and Germany due to our country's territorial expansions. Our patrol orders took us around the British Isles. I admit I had hoped for a more exotic patrol due to our having a longer-range U-Boat than the usual Type VIIs. However, orders are orders. We were to head up the English eastern coast, around Scotland, down through the Irish Sea, around the southwest of England, along the south coast, through the English Channel and back to Wilhelmshaven. Monday, September 11th - 1530hrs The first week of our patrol had been uneventful. The weather around the eastern coast of England and Scotland had been dismal. It might explain why the British had that perverse habit of joking about it. We had circumnavigated Scotland and were in the Irish Sea. The waters were a bit calmer and visibility had improved. We were northwest of the Isle of Man when there was a signal on the hydrophones. It sounded like a solitary ship. It could have been a small coaster, maybe even a fishing trawler. Either way, this was something we did not want to miss out on. We plotted an intercept course. When one of the one of the watch confirmed a single smoke stack. From a medium range, it was identified as the "Rio Tercero" which was a steam merchant of approximately 5,000 tons. From its course, it appeared to be heading to the British port of Liverpool. We moved to close range. I opted for a surface attack and gave Lotze orders to bring out the deck gun crew. In these circumstances where we were facing an unarmed and unescorted foe, we were to hail the ship and informed them of our intent. I felt that "unrestricted submarine warfare" was overly polite but the BdU was more concerned with how much cargo went down than how many merchant seamen we had killed. There may have been hope that our merchant seamen received the same respect from British submarines and warships. I went up to the conning tower and hailed the ship using a megaphone. When there was no response, we sent the same message by signal lamp. Again, there was no response. I gave the order to fire. Two shots were fired. They both hit. It was then when the crew suddenly started deploying and manning the lifeboats and we noticed that the "Rio Tercero" was starting to sink. Our work was done. I gave the order to dive and set us on a course out of the area. It would not be long before escorts and other ships came to rescue them.
Thursday, September 14th - 1920hrs Our patrol had taken us around the southwest tip of England. The hydrophones had picked up another ship. It was a fainter signal, which indicated a ship with smaller tonnage. Again, it looked to be unescorted. We intercepted its course just before dusk, but the weather on the surface had deteriorated, the waters were very choppy and visibility was poor. I still opted for using the deck gun. This time, which I would say was more down to choppy seas and bad luck than the inefficiency of the crew, both shots missed. We tried to follow and carry out a second attack. However, visibility was deteriorating both from the weather and night setting in. This lucky merchant vessel managed to give us the slip.
Tuesday, September 26th - Return to Wilhelmshaven There had been no other encounters on our patrol. As we entered the safety of German waters, escorted in by several "schnellboots", I played one of records on the gramophone and let the crew enjoy listening to some Wagner. I am sure that they appreciated it. We returned into port with our first victory pennant flying. Our morale was high and I'm sure that some of the crew would be bragging about "the one that got away". Like good fishermen, I am sure that their stories would be exaggerated so an unscathed 3,000 ton freighter would turn into a badly damaged HMS Hood and how it was down to bad luck that we didn't sink it.
Respectfully submitted
KptLt Karl Schneider Kommandant: U-38 "Parzival"
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Post by aldinsn on Jun 6, 2016 14:51:10 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number: Eisbar U-100 Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters Sank: 1 Number of Tankers Sank: 0 Number of Capital Ships Sank: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 5000. Pandias Refit Time: 1 month Award Requests: KptLt Guenther Koenig Iron Cross 2nd class
As we pulled out of port you can feel a mix of emotions in the air. The crew are excited, they are apprehensive but they know that are going out on patrol for the sake of the German people and to protect their families.
The emotions gave way on the 1st few days to feelings of a mundane lull before the storm. We just see more and more expanses of ocean as we slowly make our way to edge of England.
Then it breaks, first we hear the sound of our lookout shouting, then next minute the alarms are sounds and we are diving. English planes were spotted in the distance and we need to go out of sight so we can complete our mission. For a while we wait making sure we were not detected then proceed on our way.
Days pass and as yet another night hits we see our first catch. Its a small vessel the Pandias, we are slowly slide up closer to the ship. Before it knows whats hit it the deskguns have fired and 2 G7As are in the water homing in on the unaware ship.
As we submerge, the Pandias is sicking, 2 hits from the deckgun and 1 torpedo later, it is all over.
Thats the last we saw of action for this patrol, as the sub pulled back into dock the crew has a look of both relief and pride in taking it first kill for the Motherlands.
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Post by blaird on Jun 6, 2016 16:14:41 GMT
October 1, 1939, (November for the type IX Boats) Gentleman, From my quick glances at the reports you did well this month, sinking 112,500 tons of shipping, and 15 hulls including on Battleship. The first round tonight is on, while the second round will be on the crew of the Hungrig Sägefisch, meanwhile the third round for KptLt Werner Bornhof will be on me, for his receiving the Knights Cross. AwardsKnight's CrossKptLt Werner Bornhof Iron Cross 2nd ClassKpLt Hubertus Dilz KpLt Rupert Haus KpLt Eduard Liss KpLt Wolfgang Ackerman KpLt Horst Beckmann KpLt Viktor Radel KpLt Werner Bornhof KpLt Karl Schneider KpLt Guenther Koenig PromotionsNone
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