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Post by blaird on Aug 6, 2016 14:37:10 GMT
Patrol Results are due no later than: August 12th at Midnight your time. If you would like to request a patrol for April 1940, Please have it requested no later than August 9th at Midnight your time. 1900 July 27th, 1940 On PatrolU-49 Fallender Stern U-74 Stachelrochen U-85 Seehexe U-86 R'an RefitU-38 Parzival - September 1940 U-41 Das Gespenest September 1940 U-73 Werewolf - Waiting on June 1940 U-83 Schildkröte August 1940 Late Presumed LostPlease feel free to shoot me a pm, and I will get you on the next patrol.U-79 Rashke U-100 Eisbar U-102 Gelber Vogel Good evening Gentleman, I understand that there will be a party held in the honor of the brave crews. The Party in all of its wisdom has decided to honor our small group..Special Instructions:About halfway into the patrol, you will receive a radio transmission saying that you will be docking in La Rochelle France following your patrol. When you are returning port you will start rolling on the Bay of Biscay charts.AssignmentsSpanish CoastU-86 R'an British Isles (A)U-74 Stachelrochen AtlanticU-85 Seehexe British IslesU-49 Fallender Stern British Isles (M)NoneWest African CoastNoneNOTE 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 Aug 6, 2016 15:25:45 GMT
21 July 1940 U-86 enters La Rochelle harbor earlier than scheduled, one pennant flying from the periscope.
U-Boat Name and ID Number: U-86, Ra’n
Successful Patrol: Yes
Number of Freighters Sank: 1
Number of Tankers Sank: 0
Number of Capital Ships Sank: 0
Total Tonnage Destroyed: 11,000
Refit Time: 1 month, ready for patrol Sep 1940
Award Requests: crew promotion roll
Narrative:
U-86 left Wilhelmshaven late enough on the 3rd that we received word of the British attack on the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir before sailing. It is interesting how quickly allies become enemies.
We transited the North Sea to the English Channel and then onto the northern Spanish coast, arriving on station on the 10th, the same day the Luftwaffe began its reduction of the RAF in preparation for invading England.
The morning of the 11th, while patrolling between Bilbao and La Coruna, smoke was sighted on the horizon. Investigating, it turned out to be a convoy. Not wanting to risk losing such a valuable prize, I chose to attack immediately. Approaching to medium range submerged, U-86 was presented with four freighters ranging in size form 5,000 ton to 11,000 tons. I fired four torpedoes at the largest target, hoping to sink it outright and then trail the convoy for further kills. AS it turned out, two of the torpedoes missed and another was a dud. Still, at least one of the freighters was reduced in speed. A Tribal class DD dropped several wabos, to discourage further attack, and then left. Surfacing to pursue, we caught the damaged freighter, which had been abandoned by her mates and escort, shortly after nightfall. She was finished off by the deck gun.
The morning of the 14th, the same day the French bombed their former British allies at Gibraltar, Lt (Ing) Volke informed me that the gyro compass had stopped working and he could not fix it. Reluctantly I aborted the patrol and turned for home, entering our new base at La Rochelle on 21 July. To say the least, I am not happy at having my patrol cut short by lack of proper maintenance while U-86 is undergoing refit. Were the repair crews doing their job properly they should have detected that the gyro compass was approaching failure. Hopefully they’ll do a better job this time and U-86 will be ready to patrol again in September.
Respectfully submitted,
Kplt Viktor Radel, Kommandant U-86
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Post by crushedhat on Aug 6, 2016 15:28:04 GMT
Vignettes from U-86's 6th Patrol, July 1940
3 July 1940, late afternoon, Wilhelmshaven Harbor
“It’s ironic,” Lt (Ing) Jordan Volke comments to his commander, KptLt Viktor Radel. The two officers stand on the bridge of U-86 as she prepares to leave port on her sixth war patrol, this time to the Spanish coast.
“How’s that?” Viktor answer absently, his thoughts on his recent evening spent with Baroness Jutte von Rothenberg and her friend/rival, Carla Frey. With U-86 rebasing out of France at the end of this patrol, it will be some time, if ever, before Viktor sees either woman again.
“How quickly allies can become enemies.” Only a few weeks ago the British and French were fighting desperately side-by-side at Dunkirk. And now…the Tommies have attacked the French Fleet.”
“I imagine they didn’t want it to fall into our hands, Jordan.”
“But the Vichy government promised they wouldn’t turn it over to us,” Volke protests.
Viktor graces his usually pragmatic LI with a conspiratorial grin. “And you think the Fuhrer would stand for that? Let us hope that our allies, or at least our treaty partners, don’t do the same to us.” Both men fall into silence, thinking of the Russians and their current invasions of the Baltic States.
10 July 1940, off the Northern Spanish coast near Bilbao
“Herr Kaleun!” ObfhzS Peer Jolitz is out of breath. KptLt Viktor Radel makes a note to implement a regimen of calisthenics for the crew if a young man like his 2WO so quickly gets out of shape. Then Viktor sees the excitement in the young man’s eyes and realizes Jolitz’ breathlessness is due to the message he is holding. “The Luftwaffe has begun its bombing campaign against England. Soon the RAF will be destroyed and then the invasion can begin!”
“Yes, Peer.” Viktor tries to keep the condescension out of his voice lest he dash Jolitz enthusiasm, enthusiasm he will need when U-86 engages the enemy. “That leaves us little enough time to do our part. Let’s see if we can’t find something of our own to attack?”
“Aye, Herr Kaleun!” Jolitz salutes and goes to spread the good word throughout the boat.
11 July 1940, late morning, submerged off the Northern Spanish coast somewhere between Bilbao and La Coruna
“Mark!” KptLt Viktor Radel announces as, bent over the handles of the periscope, he fixes the crosshairs on the largest of the four freighters making up the starboard column of the convoy. One of the escorting Tribal class DDs momentarily cuts off his view of the target as it hurries past, shepherding the merchantmen like a sheepdog working a flock. Directing his comment at his 1WO, LtzS Leon Schmidt, Viktor says, “She’s a big one, at least ten, eleven-thousand tons. Use all four bow tubes.”
A moment later Viktor hears, “Solution.” Taking one last check he then orders, “FIRE ONE! FIRE TWO! FIRE THREE! FIRE FOUR!” Watching through the periscope Viktor can see the tracks of the four eels. He curses quietly as a sudden zig in the convoy’s course takes the large freighter clear of the path of two of the torpedoes. Fortunately the other two hit. Viktor curses again as one, an apparent dud, jumps out of the water upon hitting the target. The other, though, produces a very satisfying explosion.
“Down scope! Dive!” Viktor orders as the flanking DD turns toward U-86. “Sound, anything?” Viktor turns to Funkobergefreiter Friedrich Radener at the hydrophone for the confirming sounds of a ship in its death throes. Viktor’s hopes fade as Radener shakes his head. “We’ll have to go after him once the wabos end.”
14 July 1940, off the Portuguese coast near Porto
Spirits are high among the men of U-86. First was the news that the first stage of the final battle, the invasion of England, was underway. Then they had caught up to their damaged freighter and, finding her unescorted, finished her off with the deck gun. Now they were hearing how the French were bombing their former allies, the British, on Gibraltar.
“The end is near when the enemy starts fighting among themselves, eh Herr Kaleun?” Obermachinist Hanz Schultz, U-86’s diesel chief comments upon seeing their commander, KptLt Viktor Radel enter the galley.
“So I’ve heard, Schultz.” Viktor joins in, allowing himself a rare optimistic smile.
The jovial mood takes a sudden turn in the opposite direction when U-86’s LI, Lt (Ing) Jordan Volke makes his presence known. Volke’s expression is anything but cheerful. Directing his words to Viktor, Jordan addresses his friend more formally in front of the men. “A word, Herr Kaleun?”
The only place they can speak alone, the two men make Viktor’s normally cramped quarters seem claustrophobic. “Well?” Viktor asks, sensing by Volke’s demeanor that whatever it is it isn’t good.
“Viktor, the gyro compass isn’t working and I can’t fix it.” Volke speaks like a man admitting defeat. “We’ll have to abort.”
Volke jumps as Viktor curses and slams his fist against the hull. Struggling to bring himself under control, Viktor says, “But we’ve half the patrol to complete, and almost a full load of eels!”
“Things are as they are, Viktor. And I’d have Sanitatsmaat Toll take a look at that hand.” Jordan indicates the appendage Viktor now cradles in his good hand. “Make sure nothing is broken.”
“Yes. Yes.” Viktor dismisses his friend and LI. He is not near as worried about his hand being broken as he is the crews’ spirit once they learn their opportunity for victory is being denied them.
21 July 1940, early morning, harbor at La Rochelle, France
There is no band or welcoming committee to greet U-86 as she ties up to the pier at her new home. Whether their absence is due to the U-Boat base still being established or BDU’s disappointment over U-86’s shortened patrol is unclear. Either way, KptLt Viktor Radel knows he is unhappy with the maintenance performed during U-86’s last refit and determined this time it will be much better. Fortunately for him, but not the maintenance crew, neither Jutte nor Carla is here in France to distract him. Viktor will be able to devote all his time to watching over the maintenance crew’s shoulders.
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Post by keyboy on Aug 9, 2016 12:55:09 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number U-74 Stachelrochen KptLt – Volkhard Schreiber Patrol Assignment British Isles – Deliver Abwehr Agent Successful Patrol Yes Number of Freighters Sank 2 Number of Tankers Sank 0 Number of Capital Ships Sank 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed 17,900 Ships Damaged None Ships Destroyed Norwegian Motor Merchant 6,800t Moldanger , British Steam Passenger Ship 11,100t City of BenaresRefit Time Standard Award Requests crew experience roll after 3rd successful patrol Crew Names:KptLt Volkhard Schreiber 1WO Goetzpeter Staufenbiel 2WO Adam Luedtke LI (Eng) Reinhold Kraft Doctor Herrmann Rieger U-74 (Stachelrochen) enters La Rochelle on 30th July with two victory pennants flying from her conning tower.On the 3rd July 1940, U-74 and its crew set out for the British Isles. As far as the rest of the crew were concerned, this was a normal patrol even though we had an extra hand for the wireless room. Only Staufenbiel and I knew that this extra hand was in fact an Abwehr I-I agent. The passage to our secret destination was uneventful, apart from one excellent crash dive exercise on the 7th. U-74 arrived at the designated grid reference on the evening of the 8th. During the early hours of the 9th with the majority of the crew asleep, due to the gentle breeze blowing off of the Atlantic and through the ship. Staufenbiel and Herr Schmidt made their way by boat to Rossaveel, where the agent met with his contact. Staufenbiel returned two hours later with some cargo onboard. When questioned, he just said “It is to be kept in your quarters Herr Kapitain”. I frowned, but couldn’t catch the eye of Staufenbiel and as I was feeling too tired to question any further, I took my leave as the next watch were awoken. On the morning of the 11th we received radio transmission that we were to dock at La Rochelle. This was great news to the crew, as they would get to experience the ladies of this great Port. The watch commander spotted a light on the horizon on the evening of the 18th and the U-74 approached the large motor merchant (6,800tons) submerged. Once I was sure it was unescorted, I gave the order to get in close, surface and prepare the deck gun. We got to close range and the gunners hit with the deck gun and soon the crew of the merchant ship were trying to put a fire out. Their cargo had spilt into the sea and caught fire which caused problems for the escaping crew. I fired our first electric eel from the aft, which hit with great accuracy but was a dud. I came about and fired two G7a’s. Both torpedoes hit and whilst one of them sank towards the sea bed, the other completed the coup de grace, which hit on the port side aft, near the hatch. The explosion killed several men, who were lowering a lifeboat just over the point where the torpedo hit. The last of the crew left the ship by jumping overboard and swimming to a raft. I gave the signal to surface and save any crew from the ignited oil and what looked like animal hides. I questioned the survivors and it was then that I learned that we had sunk the Moldanger. The officers distributed the surviving crew between a gig, a motor lifeboat and three rafts, before we finally left the area. On the morning of the 24th we sighted a large passenger ship, which was later identified at the City of Benares. We got to close range and the gunners hit with the deck gun and once again the crew of the merchant ship were trying to put a fire out. This time I unloaded a full frontal salvo at the large ship. Three of the G7a’s hit and this time there were no duds. The three eels hit with just a few seconds between each explosion and the back of the large passenger ship was broken and the Stachelrochen slipped away as the crew of the City of Benares made for lifeboats and rafts. With fuel getting low and time running out, I decided to head for home. The passage through the Bay of Biscay on our way to La Rochelle was uneventful, other than the crew’s repeated questions about the missing radio operator. All I wanted to know was what were in the crates. After shore leave and re-supply, U-74 will be ready to resume patrol in September.
KptLt Volkhard Schreiber
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Post by blaird on Aug 25, 2016 21:30:43 GMT
U-Boat Name and ID Number U-85 Seehexe Successful Patrol – Yes Number of Freighters Sank: 2 Number of Tankers Sank: 1 Number of Capital Ships Sank 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed 18,500 Refit Time Standard 3 Months Award Requests
July 1st We departed La Rochelle under the cover of darkness following the ceremony at the Baron's estate.
July 5th We spotted a British fighter plane that dove on us, we were lucky and managed to escape.
July 9th Nothing to Report
July 12th We spotted a convoy in the Atlantic Shipping lanes, we made it to medium ranged and loosed all of our forward and our lone aft tubes. All but one eel ran true, and there were no duds in the mix. Three ships made their way to the bottom of the sea. But as our foolish torpedo officer loaded only steam torpedoes the tell tale bubbles led a path right back to us and we were hammered hard by the depth charges. KpLt Dilz was wounded, and is currently being treated which is why I am presenting you our report. We also took hull damage, lost both our deck gun and our flak gun, Engine 1 was damaged but we got it running again, engine 2 however had to be written off. Our fuel tanks were so badly damaged that they will need to be replaced. We also had a few crewmembers killed when the boat took on water, they were sleeping in the flooded compartment.
With only one diesel engine we were forced to abort the patrol, and return to La Rochelle.
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Post by keyboy on Sept 7, 2016 10:12:50 GMT
August 1, 1940, Gentleman, from my quick glances at the reports you did well this month, sinking 47,400 tons of shipping, and 6 hulls. The first round tonight is on me, while the second round will be on the crew of the R'an. AwardsKnight's CrossNone Iron Cross 2nd ClassNone Iron Cross 1st Class None U-Boat War Badge To the Crews of: None Promotions U-74 Stachelrochen keyboy Crew skill increases a level U-86 R'an crushedhat Doctor "Experte" (All crew injury recovery rolls receive favorable -1 Modifier)
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