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Post by blaird on Jun 6, 2016 16:34:32 GMT
1900 November 1, 1939 On PatrolU-100 Eisbar U-31 Hungrig Sägefisch U-73 Werewolf U-83 Schildkröte U-86 R'an U-75 Raschke RefitU-38 Parzival U-30 Rothalstaucher U-85 Seehexe U-41 Das Gespenest Good evening Gentleman, I won't take much of your time, as I know that, you have to prepare for tomorrow morning.Special Instructions:KpLt Koenig, Please see Fregattenkapitän Edel for your exact location for the mine laying operations. Historic NotesNOVEMBER 1939
Atlantic
29th - On patrol to the north of Scotland to support the attempted breakout of German battlecruiser's "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau" into the Atlantic, "U-35" was found east of the Shetland Islands and sunk by destroyers "Kashmir", "Kingston" and "Icarus".
Battle of the Atlantic - RAF Coastal Command continued to patrol for U-boats on passage into the Atlantic. Equal priority was now given to attacks, but the crews were not trained and lacked effective anti-submarine bombs. The first success was a joint action with the Royal Navy at the end of January 1940.
Monthly Loss Summary - 6 British, Allied and neutral ships of 18,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes; 1 armed merchant cruiser - 1 German U-boat.
Europe
13th - As U-boat and surface ship-laid mines continued to inflict heavy losses on merchant ships and warships alike, cruiser minelayer "Adventure" and accompanying destroyer "BLANCHE" were mined in the Thames Estuary. "Blanche" was a total loss. More serious casualties followed a week later.
21st - Recently completed light cruiser "Belfast" was badly damaged in the Firth of Forth on a magnetic mine laid by "U-21". With her back broken and machinery mountings shattered she was out of action for three years.
Magnetic Mines - German seaplanes also laid the first magnetic mines off the East Coast and dropped one on tidal flats at Shoeburyness in the Thames Estuary. It was defused on the 23rd November and recovered, a vital step in the battle against a weapon which was causing heavy losses and long shipping delays. In November alone, 27 ships of 121,000 tons were sunk and for a time the Thames Estuary was virtually closed to shipping.
Merchant Shipping War - The first HN/ON convoys sailed between the Firth of Forth and Norway in November covered by the Home Fleet. The convoys were discontinued in April 1940.
Monthly Loss Summary 43 British, Allied and neutral ships of 156,000 tons in UK waters.AssignmentsSpanish CoastNone British IslesU-31 Hungrig Sägefisch U-73 Werewolf U-83 Schildkröte U-86 R'an U-75 Raschke British Isles (M)U-100 Eisbar 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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falto
Komandant
Posts: 11
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Post by falto on Jun 6, 2016 17:44:51 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number U-31 Hungrig Sägefisch Successful Patrol – Yes Number of Freighters Sank 1 Number of Tankers Sank 1 Number of Capital Ships Sank 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed 19,000 Refit Time Standard Award Requests Iron Cross 2nd Class, U-Boat Badge None
November 9th During the second watch we spotted a tanker moving slowly off on our horizon. We stalked him silently until after the sun fell. At 2200 hours we surfaced in close range and gave the order to abbandon, before firing deck guns and torpedos at the tanker. With a rewarding explosion, the San Fernando broke in half. and the crew took to the life boats.
November 18th We came across the freighter Anselm with an escort. We flushed loosed tubes 1-4 but the eels in 1-3 all went wide. The fourth tube a G7e found its mark and blew a large hole into the bow of the Anselm, which slowly started to slip beneath the waves. Then in came the escort. But we managed to slip away into the night.
November 23rd We sailed back into Wilhelmshaven with 2 victory pennants snapping in the breeze.
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Post by jcook119 on Jun 7, 2016 5:39:00 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number U-73 Werwolf Successful Patrol – Yes Number of Freighters Sank 0 Number of Tankers Sank 1 Number of Capital Ships Sank 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed 10700 Refit Time 2 months Award Requests Iron Cross 1st Class, U-Boat Badge
November 2nd - Departed Wilhelmshaven this morning. Clear weather and calm seas.
November 8th - Arrived at the patrol area. The crew are in high spirits, and are ready to punch the Limeys in the nose again!
November 13th - The first leg of our patrol has been quiet, no enemy contact.
November 15th - Around midday we sighted multiple ships to our starboard quarter. Moving in closer at periscope depth, we could not believe our eyes. A British carrier, surrounded by her escorts. While it was risky to attack such a well guarded prize during the daylight, I decided to seize the moment! We approached as close as we dared, within medium range of our torpedoes, and fired a full forward spread. Three of the eels appear to have hit the target, but only one exploded. The damage must have been minor, as the ship barely seemed to react. As expected, the explosion stirred up the escorts like a nest of hornets, and we very soon found ourselves under a barrage of depth charges. We began taking on water, and suffered damage to the diesel engines. Another round of explosions damaged our forward tube doors. Fearing further damage, I ordered a deep dive to make our escape. The hull groaned under the pressure, but we were able to get away. Surfacing after sunset, our engineer was able to get the diesel engines running again and the forward tube door fixed. He is quite talented. We took stock of the situation, and decided to shadow the carrier group for another opportunity to strike.
November 16th - We caught up to the carrier group this afternoon, and waited until nightfall to try another attack. Making a surface attack from medium range, I was confident we would claim our prize. Imagine my shock to see all 4 torpedoes pass in front of the carrier's bow! Our UZO computation device must have been damaged during yesterday's escape, I will have to see it is re-calibrated during our next refit. We quickly dove as the escorts came at us, and suffered more depth charges. One of the explosions caused a significant amount of flooding. Ordering another deep dive, we made our escape. The Ark Royal would live to fight another day, but so would the Werwolf. After surfacing we discovered that the flak gun had also been damaged, but the LI was able to repair it quickly.
November 18th - Just before noon we caught sight of a large tanker ship, escorted by a pair of destroyers. I decided to shadow the vessels until nightfall, to give us a safer attack run at the target. Unfortunately we lost contact during a short squall and had to return to our patrol route.
November 23rd - Around 2 PM we spotted a lone tanker on the horizon. Determined not to return to port with no pennants, we made a surface attack run. Attempting to account for the UZO error, I called the coordinates with less lead. Firing the last spread of our forward torpedoes, I was pleased to see 3 explosions tear the tanker apart. At least we would not be going home empty-handed.
November 29th - Docked at port in Wilhelmshaven. The hull damage we received in our battles with the carrier group will keep us in port for an additional month. At least we will have plenty of time to re-calibrate and test the UZO!
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Post by silentwolf on Jun 7, 2016 13:34:54 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number: Schildkröte U-83 Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters Sank: 2 Number of Tankers Sank: Number of Capital Ships Sank: Total Tonnage Destroyed: 10700 Refit Time: Standard Award Requests: KptLt Wolfgang Ackerman Iron Cross 1st class, U-Boat War Badge
Patrol Assignment: British Isles
November 1st 21.00 - Departed Wilhelmshaven
November 11th 12.50 - Attacked unescorted LF78 Port Nicholson 8400t at close range with the deck gun. After giving her crew ample time to abandon the heavily damaged ship, we sent 2 G7a her way to finish her off.
Reloaded tubes 3 and 4 with electric torpedoes and continued the patrol.
November 14th 16.40 - Attacked unescorted SF98 Sea Venture with the deck gun. After taking out her radio and ensuring that her crew had abandoned, fired 2 G7e and sent her under.
November 22nd - The final week of the patrol has been uneventful. I run drills daily to keep the men sharp.
November 25th - Returned to base with 2 pennants proudly on display.
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Post by crushedhat on Jun 7, 2016 15:07:30 GMT
U-86 enters Wilhelmshaven harbor with her crew turned out as smartly as the situation allows despite only one victory pennant flying form her periscope. that one pennant represents to the British the loss of the battleship, HMS Royal Oak. (OOC - I thought this was going to be a real loss of a patrol, rolling nothing but 7s on the encounter table and then, in my last on station patrol box, snake eyes!)
U-Boat Name and ID Number: U-86, Ra’n Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters Sank: 0 Number of Tankers Sank: 0 Number of Capital Ships Sank: 1 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 29,100 Refit Time: 1 month, ready for patrol Jan 1940 Award Requests: Iron Cross 1st Class for KptLt Viktor Radel, U-Boat Combat Badge for crew
U-86 left Wilhelmshaven on 1 Nov with high hopes of repeating our first war patrol. Little did we know that this cruise would be a test of our morale and resolve.
We arrived off the northern coast of Scotland the morning of 8 Nov to find the seas empty of targets. By the 11th we began to cruise in a counterclockwise direction around the British homeland. Our high hopes faded as day after day revealed nothing but empty seas and skies devoid of masts or smoke.
Growing anxious for a kill, I brought U-86 ever closer to the English shore as we continued our circumnavigation of the British Isles until, by the night of the 17th U-86 was just of the Thames estuary. Suddenly our state of ennui was replaced by heart racing excitement as the lookouts reported multiple smoke columns. The crew were called to quarters and shortly afterward the bulk of a large ship appeared, accompanied by many escorts.
Using the night glass, I was able to make out the large ship’s silhouette and checking the recognition books identified it as the battleship HMS Royal Oak. As our supplies, and patrol, would soon run out, I choose to maximize the likelihood of success and elected a surface attack with both bow and stern tubes from medium range. While the lookouts kept a watchful eye on the destroyers, frigates, and sloops milling about, I obtained final firing data from the UZO. AS soon as the first four eels were on their way I bought the stern tube into play and fired it as well. There were two explosions from the initial salvo, followed shortly by one from the stern tube. Surprisingly, the escorts were unable to locate us and U-86 remained on the surface to better assess the results of our fire.
While clearly crippled, Royal Oak was not yet out. Reloading all tubes, I proceeded to follow the injured battleship as she struggled toward the Thames and safety. While the escorts seemed as ineffectual as KptLt Bornhof reported in his encounter with Barham, I did not wish to press my luck, any more than I had already, and so ordered the boat submerged for our second attack. Once the tubes were reloaded, I brought U-86 to within medium range and unleashed another salvo of four torpedoes. Two missed and Funkobergefreiter Radener reported that another sounded like a dud. But the fourth eel ran true and proved to be the coup-de-grace, a series of secondary explosions tearing through Royal Oak before she slowly settled by the bow. Once more, the Tommy escorts were unable to locate us.
After our encounter with Royal Oak I decided to take U-86 further off the coast lest our luck rub off on one of the searching escorts. No other targets presented themselves, though our one victory was enough to restore the crew’s confidence and spirits.
The trip back to Wilhelmshaven was uneventful, with U-86 tying up to the pier on the afternoon of the 25th.
Respectfully submitted, Kplt Viktor Radel, Kommandant U-86
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Post by crushedhat on Jun 7, 2016 15:09:57 GMT
Vignettes from U-86's 2nd War Patrol
4 November 1940, North Sea ObfzS Peer Jolitz having the watch, U-86’s other officers are gathered in the tiny wardroom. 1WO, LtzS Leon Schmidt looks up from his cup of hot cocoa. “The British and the French have a much larger fleet than we do,” he says glumly, wondering when he will again see his fiance.
“Yes,” agrees Lt Jordan Volke, the LI. “But, we are not engaging them in a battle of control of the sea. Look to history. The Americans fought two wars with England. The second was primarily a sea war, but they could not hope to compete with the Royal Navy. Instead, they attacked England at her weakest point, trade. Sink enough ships and insurance rates rise. If insurance rates rise too high, the merchants in London put the pressure on Parliament to end the war. The Americans knew that. And so do we. That’s our job, raise the insurance rates to unacceptable levels until the British sue for peace.” Volke glances slyly at his Kapitan and friend as Leon’s face brightens.
On cue, KptLt Viktor Radel asks, “And how long did it take for this to happen?
Leon’s hopes fade as Jordan admits, “Four years.”
“Cheer up, Schmidt. You have the pleasure of our company until then.” Radel claps his 1WO on the shoulder. “Now, shouldn’t you be relieving young Jolitz?”
16 November 1940, Off the southern coast of England “You’ll both forfeit one day’s pay,” KptLt Viktor Radel says as sternly as he can to the two men standing sheepishly before him. “And don’t let it happen again. If you want to fight, then fight the Tommies, not each other. Dismissed.”
The two sailors, each showing signs of their recent scuffle, salute and quickly extricate themselves from the wrath of their Kapitan.
Once they are alone, at least as much as the confines of a U-Boat allow, Viktor turns to his LI and friend, Lt (Ing) Jordan Volke. “That’s the third fight this week,” he states, struggling not to give vent to his own growing frustration. “We had better find a target soon or we’ll win the war for the Tommies by tearing ourselves apart!”
17 November 1940, night, off the Thames estuary “It’s the Royal Oak right enough,” KptLt Viktor Radel informs his 1WO, LtzS Leon Schmidt as he closes the recognition book. A predatory smile forms on Viktor’s lips.
“Shall we dive, Herr Kaleun?” Schmidt asks in anticipation of attacking the lucrative target despite is rin of escorts.
Schmidt gulps nervously when Radel replies, “No. An opportunity like this doesn’t come along every day; he recalls Werner Bornhof’s words about seizing the moment after the toast to the latter’s sinking of the Barham. We will make a surface attack with both ends of the boat. Quarters, but quietly.”
A few minutes later Radel and Schmidt are on U-86’s bridge, the former bent over and taking readings with the UZO while above them lookouts keep a keen eye out for any sign they have been detected by the accompanying frigates and destroyers.
Satisfied with his numbers, Radel provides Schmidt some measure of relief when he announces, I don’t think we should risk taking her in any closer. Ready tubes one through five.” A moment later u_86’s Kapitan commands, “Fire, one through four.” Not waiting to see how the eels are running, Radel order the boat to turn about and then, with her stern pointing at the large battleship, “Fire five.”
Schmidt quickly offers, “Dive, Herr Kaleun?”
Almost simultaneously the first of the torpedoes explodes, shattering the night’s silence and darkness. As another explosion sends fire up the side of Royal Oak Radel asks the lookouts, “Have they spotted us?”
“No, Herr Kaleun,” comes the response.
“Let us stay on the surface awhile and witness the fruits of our labor,” Viktor tells his 1WO, the earlier disappointment of the patrol going up in the cleansing fire before them.
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Post by wizalou on Jun 9, 2016 20:20:42 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number U-75 Raschke
Successful Patrol – yes Number of Freighters Sank 2
Number of Tankers Sank 0
Number of Capital Ships Sank 0
Total Tonnage Destroyed : 7600 Refit Time Standard Award Requests: iron cross 1st class and U-boat badge.
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Post by aldinsn on Jun 13, 2016 16:14:23 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number: U-100 Eisbar Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters Sank: 1 Number of Tankers Sank: 1 Number of Capital Ships Sank: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 18,000 Refit Time: 1 month, ready for patrol Jan 1940 Award Requests:
We set off from dock with one mission in mine the coastline in the channel.
Our initial journey was quiet and we successfully completed the mining operation and disappeared into the night.
After that things started to get interesting. First we spotted a 4 ship convoy off the coast of Brighton. 2 tankers and 2 small freighters, 4 shots of the deckgun and 4 torpedos later the New Sevilla was sinking to the bottom of the English channel, but the Viscount lived to fight another day as dud torpedos did no damage at all. The other ships escaped are attacks and we left them to spread the word of the now infamous U-100!
Two days later we fell upon the Olinda, 2 volleys from the deck gun and we had claimed our next victim.
The rest of the trip was quiet, but 3 successful targets complete the men are ready for some down time in the motherlands.
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Post by blaird on Jun 15, 2016 15:02:05 GMT
December 2nd 1940Gentleman, From my quick glances at the reports you did well this month, sinking 95,100 tons of shipping, and 9 hulls including one Battleship, and the successful mining of the Coastline in the English Channel. The first round tonight is on, while the second round will be on the crew of the Rashke, meanwhile the third round for KptLt Viktor Radel will be on me, for his receiving the Knights Cross. AwardsKnight's CrossKpLt Viktor Radel Iron Cross 2nd ClassKpLt Ralf Pergande Iron Cross 1st ClassKpLt Werner Bornhof KpLt Wolfgang Ackerman KpLt Viktor Radel KpLt Eduard Liss KpLt Guenther Koenig U-Boat War BadgeTo the Crews of: U-100 Eisbar U-31 Hungrig Sägefisch U-73 Werewolf U-83 Schildkröte U-86 R'an U-75 Raschke PromotionsNone
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