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Post by blaird on Jul 24, 2016 3:14:43 GMT
Patrol Results are due no later than: July 29th at Midnight your time. If you would like to request a patrol for June 1940, Please have it requested no later than July 27th at Midnight your time. 1900 May 1, 1940 On PatrolU-75 Raschke U-83 Schildkröte U-74 Stachelrochen U-86 R'an U-41 Das Gespenest RefitU-49 Fallender Stern July 40 U-85 Seehexe July 40 U-38 Parzival June 40 U-73 Werewolf June 40 Late Presumed LostPlease feel free to shoot me a pm, and I will get you on the next patrol.U-100 Eisbar Good evening Gentleman, I won't take much of your time, as I know that, you have to prepare for tomorrow morning.Special Instructions:NoneHistoric NotesMAY 1940
Atlantic
Iceland - On the 10th as Germany attacked France and the Low Countries, British Royal Marines landed from two cruisers at Reykjavik, Iceland then part of the Danish Crown. More troops followed to set up air and sea bases that became vital to Britain's defence of the Atlantic supply routes and eventual defeat of the U-boat.
Battle of the Atlantic - U-boats started returning to the Western Approaches and as they did, one of the first ‘Flower’ class corvettes “Arabis” made a depth-charge attack in defence of a Gibraltar/UK convoy. With the closure of the Mediterranean to Allied shipping, the trade routes around Africa and the ports en route took on a new importance. Particularly vital was the West African base at Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Monthly Loss Summary 10 British, Allied and neutral ships of 55,000 tons from all causes.
Europe
Britain - Following a 10th May House of Commons debate on the Norwegian campaign, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned and Winston Churchill assumed leadership. His only real fear throughout the war was the U-boat threat
Western Front10th - Germany invaded Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg 13th - The Germans entered France at Sedan. After breaking through, German armour headed west for the Channel to trap the Allied armies now in Belgium and northern France. 20th - German tanks reached the English Channel near Abbeville, shortly turning right and advancing north on the ports of Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk. 26th May-4th June - Dunkirk Evacuation - Initial plans were to lift off 45,000 men of the British Expeditionary Force over a two-day period. In the next five days, a total of 195,000, both British and French were saved. Every phase of the operation was subject to heavy air, sea and land attack. 29th - Apart from those damaged, three Royal Navy destroyers were sunk in the English Channel off the Dunkirk beaches that day including “GRAFTON” torpedoed by submarine “U-62”
31st - German “U-13” was believed sunk by sloop “Weston” off the English East Coast fishing port of Lowestoft.
Air War - Minelaying continued along the south and east coasts of Britain as well as the waters of Holland, Belgium and northern France during the German Blitzkrieg.
Monthly Loss Summary 90 British, Allied and neutral ships of 231,000 tons from all causes. AssignmentsSpanish CoastNone British IslesU-75 Raschke U-41 Das Gespenest British Isles (M)None NorwayU-83 Schildkröte U-74 Stachelrochen U-86 R'an 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
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Post by crushedhat on Jul 25, 2016 23:18:26 GMT
26 May 1940, afternoon, Wilhelmshaven U-86 enters the harbor, a red pennant flying from her periscope. As she approaches the pier the men assembled on deck erupt into cheers.
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 (HMS Ark Royal)
Total Tonnage Destroyed: 22,000
Refit Time: 1 month, ready for patrol July 1940
Award Requests: Narvik Shield for entire crew Oak Leaves to Knight's Cross for KptLt Viktor Radel
Narrative:
U-86 left Wilhelmshaven on 2 May, transiting the North Sea to patrol the Norwegian Sea and coast. With the German occupation being contested by the British, I anticipated a rich hunting ground. Therefore it was disappointing when the seas proved empty day after day.
All that changed the night of 15 May when the lookouts spotted multiple silhouettes on the horizon. Approaching to investigate, it turned out to be the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal with a screen of DDs. With a prize like this I opted for a surface attack to give us the added accuracy of the UZO. I debated trying to slip inside the escort screen, choosing instead to be sure of an attack rather than risk losing the target for a minor gain in accuracy. I ordered all tubes readied, firing four eels from the bow then ordering the boat about to line up the stern. As events unfolded it proved unnecessary, all four forward eels hitting and exploding. Ark Royal took on a severe list and her escorts seemed more interested in saving the mortally crippled carrier than exacting revenge on us. Despite their efforts, the big ship rolled over and sank. With our aft already pointed at the target, U-86 slipped off into the night.
This proved to be our only opportunity this cruise. With supplies and fuel running low U-86 turned for home on the 21st, arriving in Wilhelmshaven on 26 May.
Respectfully submitted,
Kplt Viktor Radel, Kommandant U-86
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Post by crushedhat on Jul 25, 2016 23:21:53 GMT
Vignettes from U-86 5th War Patrol, May 1940
2 May 1940, early morning, U-Boat pier Wilhelmshaven
As U-86 prepares to depart on her fifth war patrol KptLt Viktor Radel has mixed feelings. He is excited by the prospect of action, U-86 being assigned to patrol along the Norwegian coast as Germany and Britian fight for control of the Scandinavian peninsula. On the other hand, he sees no sign of Jutte among the throng seeing U-86 off.
“Herr Kaleun.” Obersteuersmann Heinz Zastrow hands his kapitan a note, turning and heading below with the charts before Viktor can ask who gave it to him.
Opening the note, Viktor’s rising elation hits a downdraft. It is not from Jutte, but from Carla Frey. Not bothering to read it now, Viktor jams it into his pocket. “Ahead port, starboard back,” Viktor issues instructions down the speaking tube to the engines as the last of the mooring lines are taken in. U-86 swings away from the pier.
10 May 1940, night, Norwegian Sea
LtzS Leon Schmidt has the watch, leaving KptLt Vikotr Radel free to relax on the after portion of the bridge with his LI and friend, Lt (Ing) Jordan Volke. Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of an excited ObfhzS Peer Jolitz.
“Germany has invaded the Low Countries!” Though barely speaking above a whisper Jolitz’ excitement makes him feel like he is shouting. He unconsciously looks about to see if he has alerted any nearby enemies.
Sensing his 2WO’s reaction, Viktor suppresses an amused chuckle, there being no enemy in sight, much less hearing. Volke is less amused, though his ire is not directed at the young man, but rather the news. “How many wars does the Fuhrer wish to fight at one time?”
Though he can see neither man’s face, Jordan can well imagine both his kapitan and Jolitz are registering surprise that he dare question Hitler’s wisdom. Before either of the other men can speak, Volke reminds them, “No war has ever been as short as those who started it expected. First Poland, now Norway, maybe we should finish one war before starting the next.
“Poland was over in weeks,” Jolitz reminds the pessimistic LI.
“Let’s hope Norway lasts long enough for us to sink a ship or two,” Viktor adds. “then we can patrol the Waddenzee.”
“Or even the Markermeer,” Peer chimes in.
15 May 1940, night, Norwegian Sea off Alesund
KptLt Viktor Radel peers through the night glasses at the silhouettes illuminated against the northern lights. “It’s a carrier, with escorts.”
‘I count four…five destroyers. Tribal Class,” LtzS Leon Schmidt says, standing beside Viktor. “They’re newer models,” he cautions.
“Don’t worry, Leon,” Viktor reassures his 1WO. “We’ll fire from outside the screen. I want to be sure of getting a shot. Pass the word, prepare for night surface torpedo attack. Bow and stern tubes. Get the UZO.” The last is directed at Schmidt.
Shortly afterward Viktor is leaning over, looking through the UZO as the information is passed to the torpedo crew below. Those around him on U-86’s bridge watch the escorts for any sign of detection.
Tense moments pass and then the word comes back up, “Solution.”
Calling down the hatch to the man at the helm Viktor says, “Be ready to come about 180 once the eels are on the way, Borchers.” Turning to the speaking tube to the control room he commands, “Fire 1. Fire 2. Fire 3. Fire 4.” Viktor whispers, less his voice carry and warn the distant enemy. Turning to the hatch he calls, “Come about.”
As U-86 slowly spins around the relative stillness is shattered by an explosion. The way those on her bridge jump is a testament to their tension and concentration. Three more explosions follow. They are accompanied by muted exclamations.
The carrier takes on a list as secondary explosions rip through her. The list becomes severe enough that aircraft start sliding off the flight deck and fall into the dark water below. The escorts, whistle trilling, race about trying in vain to aide the mortally wounded ship.
16 May 1940, off the Norwegian coast
Referring to their conversation a week earlier, as well as his previous assertions, a triumphant OfnzS Peer Jolitz reminds Lt (Ing) Jordan Volke, “The Dutch fell in less than a week. The British and the French are on the run. Who’s next?”
“Who indeed?” Volke replies. Dumping his coffee in the sink, Jordan turns his back on Jolitz and heads to his berth, convinced this war will not end anytime soon.
26 May 1940, afternoon, Wilhelmshaven Harbor
U-86 enters the harbor at Wilhelmshaven, the red pennant representing HMS Ark Royal flying from her periscope. KptLt Viktor Radel scans the crowded pier with his binoculars. His sweep stops when he catches sight of a certain blond. He recalls Carla’s note as he sees her standing beside Jutte.
Viktor’s thoughts are interrupted by the activity of the crew as they come up from below to form themselves into orderly lines on the deck. To his surprise a small group detach themselves and approach the bridge. Oberbootsmann Jurgen Leeb, the Bosun, steps forward. “Herr Kaleun, The men made this for you.” He holds out a reasonable facsimile of a Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves. As Viktor accepts the crew-made award Leeb and the others come to attention and salute. Viktor returns their salute, forgoing his usual Party salute in preference for traditional naval one used by the crew. The deck erupts into cheers.
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Post by silentwolf on Jul 26, 2016 4:05:03 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number: Schildkröte U-83 Patrol Assignment: Norway Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters Sank: 1 Number of Tankers Sank: 0 Number of Capital Ships Sank: 1 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 29200 Refit Time: 2 months, ready for patrol August 1940 Award Requests: KptLt Wolfgang Ackerman - Knight's Cross , Narvik Shield ________________________________________________________________
May 1st, 1940 - Just after dawn, Schildkröte sails from Wilhelmshaven for her 5th war patrol.
May 12th, 0050 hours - Under cover of darkness, Ackerman fires 2 G7a from the surface and at medium range to destroy escorted LF12 Clan Chisholm 7200t.
U-83 dives and remains undetected.
Forward tubes 2 and 3 are reloaded with G7a steam powered torpedoes.
May 15th, 1100 hours - Submerged and at medium range, Ackerman fires 4 torpedoes at CS01 CV Ark Royal 22000t and heavily damages the British carrier.
U-83 dives severel meters below test depth.
Schildkröte remains undetected.
KptLt Ackerman carefully waits until nightfall to engage the heavily damaged capital ship.
At approximately 2100 hours,submerged and at medium range, Ackerman fires 2 more G7a and sinks the Ark Royal.
Once again Schildkröte dives below test depth and eludes the enemy escort.
The forward tubes are reloaded with G7e electric powered torpedoes.
May 21st - Schildkröte sails for Wilhelmshaven.
May 29th - U-83 cruises into port with 2 victory pennants soaring.
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Post by keyboy on Jul 28, 2016 14:05:31 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number U-74 Stachelrochen KptLt – Volkhard Schreiber Patrol Assignment Norway Successful Patrol Yes Number of Freighters Sank 0 Number of Tankers Sank 0 Number of Capital Ships Sank 1 Total Tonnage Destroyed 31,300 Ships Damaged None Ships Destroyed Battleship 31300t, HMS Malaya Refit Time Standard
Award Requests: KptLt Volkhard Schreiber - Iron Cross 1st Class and Knights Cross. Narvik Shield and U-Boat Warfare Badge for whole crew.
Crew Names: KptLt Volkhard Schreiber 1WO Goetzpeter Staufenbiel 2WO Adam Luedtke LI (Eng) Reinhold Kraft Doctor Herrmann Rieger
U-74 (Stachelrochen) enters Wilhelmshaven on 30th May with one victory pennant flying from her conning tower.
On the 3rd May 1940, U-74 and its crew set out for Norway.
U-83 left on Monday and U-86 slipped out the following day. I settled for us leaving on Wednesday, especially after hearing the news that on Sunday 30th April 1940, the conquest of Norway had been completed and that the British servicemen had been captured. The crew felt that they would have the opportunity to be part of a real conflict and just wondered if they had missed all the action.
On the morning of the 7th, we arrived at our patrol point (AN87) after having a quiet time in transit to our patrol area and made preparations for possible combat.
That afternoon Staufenbiel spotted smoke on the horizon and when he started counting aloud the number of escorts and other ships, the crew got exited and I too had a strange tingle move throughout my body. Then we heard the following words from his lips “Hold on, what’s that, a massive trunked stack, a tall foremast and a different shaped mainmast, I think it is a battleship Sir.” Luedtke identified it as the HMS Malaya. Without the cover of night, we would make a submerged attack and hope we could do enough damage to slow her down and get a night attack opportunity.
I fired the four eels in the bow tubes from medium range and remained at periscope depth. Three hit, but two proved to be a dud. The explosion caused the battleship to slow and looked to be taking on water. We only just avoided detection and although I was ready to initiate evasive manoeuvres, they were not needed at this time. We kept pace with the Battleship and after reloading the tubes, we waited carefully until nightfall to engage the HMS Malaya once again.
After all instructions are followed by the men and our boat reaches the surface, I looked through the UZO and passed the information to the torpedo crew below, Whilst the observers on the bridge watched for any escorts that may have detected us.
The observers reported all clear and then Staufenbiel shouted up “solution Herr Kapitain.” After giving the signal to fire all four bow torpedoes, the observers and I vacated the bridge and the Stachelrochen began to dive below the waves.
Luedtke tracked the eels, as we began to come about and show our aft, just in case we needed to fire a G7e.
All four steam torpedoes hit, but the thud of the first two hitting the battleship and sinking towards the sea bed told us all we needed to know; duds. The third eel hit with a massive explosion and the Battleship started to list badly as the final eel hit and secondary explosions must have detonated one of the ammunition sections and the HMS Malaya started slipping beneath the waves.
We easily evaded detection and it looked like the escorts focussed on picking up survivors. With the scene of our greatest victory behind us, we escaped into the night and made our way back to the start of our patrol zone
We had just less than three weeks of chasing shadows and false radar sightings and thus we had no further action for the rest of the patrol and made it back to base on the 30th May.
After shore leave and re-supply, U-74 will be ready to resume patrol in July.
KptLt Volkhard Schreiber
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Post by silentwolf on Jul 30, 2016 0:36:32 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number: Das Gespenst U-41 Patrol Assignment: British Isles Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters Sank: 1 Number of Tankers Sank: 1 Number of Capital Ships Sank: Total Tonnage Destroyed: 10900 Refit Time: 2 months, ready for patrol September 1940 Award Requests: Crew Advancement
_________________________________________________________
May 2nd, 1940 - KptLt Horst Beckmann orders "Cast off bow and stern!" and Das Gespenst begins her 3rd war patrol.
May 19th, noon - After two weeks of rough seas, U-41 encounters unescorted SF16 Counsellor. Beckmann moves into close range before engaging the freighter with the 10.5 cm deck gun. Several rounds are fired but only a few hit their mark due to the rough sea conditions. The Counsellor is damaged slightly.
Beckmann fires 2 G7a from aft but both miss!
Lookouts spot an enemy destroyer on the horizon approaching fast!
Das Gespenst quickly dives and remains hidden below the surface, undetected by the destroyer.
U-41 carefully follows the damaged and now escorted Counsellor throughout the afternoon, raising the periscope occasionally to stalk her prey.
At dusk, Beckmann fires 2 G7a from forward tubes 1 and 3, submerged and from medium range.
1 torpedo hits, sending 5000t Counsellor to the bottom of the sea.
The veteran captain of the destroyer moves in fast and quickly detects Das Gespenst.
Severel depth charges are dropped.
Evasive maneuvers save U-41 from some of the blast but electric eninge #2 is damaged.
Beckmann sets a depth severel meters below test depth, slightly damaging the hull.
The destroyer detects and attacks Das Gespenst with a second volley of depth charges.
Again, evasive maneuvers are effective but U-41 receives a damaged fuel tank and deck gun from the onslaught.
Beckmann orders the boat to dive even deeper. The crew's tension grows as the U-Boat's hull creaks loudly.
The destroyer loses contact with Das Gespenst.
Tubes 1 and 3 are reloaded with G7a torpedoes.
The fuel tanks, electric engine #2 and the deck gun are repaired.
Das Gespenst continues the patrol.
May 22nd, late afternoon - U-41 attacks unescorted tanker T44 5900 British Premier with 4 G7a, surfaced and at close range.
3 eels miss.
1 eel hits but fails to detonate.
Beckmann, now getting frustrated, orders the gun crew to commence firing.
Several rounds hit and damage the tanker.
Das Gespenst's Lookouts search the horizon diligently for enemy aircraft and escorts while the helmsman maneuve the boat into position for a 2nd torpedo attack, this time from the aft tubes.
2 G7e are launched and successfully sink the British Premier.
Forward tubes 1-4 are reloaded with G7e electric powered torpedoes.
U-83 continues the patrol.
June 1st - KptLt Beckmann request a resupply at sea, but it is denied.
June 2nd - Das Gespenst sails for Wilhelmshaven.
June 12th - Das Gespenst sails into port with 2 victory pennants flapping in the wind.
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Post by keyboy on Aug 11, 2016 10:00:37 GMT
June 1, 1940, Gentleman, from my quick glances at the reports you did well this month, sinking 93,400 tons of shipping, and 6 hulls including one Battleship and two Carriers. The first round tonight is on me, while the second round will be on the crew of the Das Gespenst, the third round for KptLt Wolfgang Ackerman will be on me, for his receiving the Knights Cross. Meanwhile, the fourth round for KptLt Volkhard Schreiber will be on me, for his receiving the Knights Cross and the fifth round for KptLt Viktor Radel will be on me, for his receiving the oak leaves to his Knights Cross. AwardsKnight's Cross with Oak LeavesKptLt Viktor Radel Knight's CrossKptLt Wolfgang Ackerman KptLt Volkhard Schreiber Iron Cross 2nd ClassNone Iron Cross 1st Class KptLt Volkhard Schreiber U-Boat War Badge To the Crews of: U-74 Stachelrochen PromotionsU-41 Das Gespenst silentwolf Doctor "Experte" (All crew injury recovery rolls receive favorable -1 Modifier)
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