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Post by crushedhat on Feb 13, 2022 18:26:40 GMT
November 1939 Patrol Status
Nov Events: 8th, Hitler avoids assassination attempt 30th, Soviet Union attacks Finland
U-Boat Status for month (Type IX patrols are two months long, Reports due the end of the second month) U# Type Rank Kommandant Player Patrol Assignment 37 IXA KptLt Siegmund von Margur Siegmund Refit 39 IXA KptLt Luka Borchars Arianus Refit 45 VIIB KptLt Georg Horst Andy Nov British Isles 46 VIIB KptLt Willi Gering Donitz Nov British Isles 48 VIIB KptLt Til Werthner silentwolf Refit 40 VIIB KptLt Joachim Helmert crushedhat Nov British Isles
Required information for end of Patrol Report: U-Boat # Patrol Month(s) Patrol Location Patrol # for this Kommandant Successful Patrol (Y/N) Number of freighters sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant) Number of Tankers sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant) Number of Capital Ships sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant) Tonnage sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant) Refit Time Award Requests
Optional information for End of Patrol Report: Patrol narrative
End of Patrol Reports for Nov 39 due no later than Midnight, 19 February 2022 your time.
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Post by Donitz on Feb 17, 2022 20:47:56 GMT
November 1939 – Patrol Report U-Boat 46 Patrol Month(s) November 1939 Patrol # for this Kommandant Patrol 2 Successful Patrol Y Number of freighters sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant) – 1/2 Number of Tankers sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant) - 0/0 Number of Capital Ships sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant) – 0/0 Tonnage sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant) 5,500/9,700 Refit Time - One Month Award Requests – Iron Cross 1st Class & U-boat War Badge
Spirits were high since the war was going well and I have been awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class. Whilst we were undergoing our refit Poland fell and victories keep coming.
The transit to the west of the British Isles was uneventful and we began searching our patrol area. Days go by with no contacts and no action. I run a couple of drills to keep the crew occupied.
Eventually in the early morning so 70 miles off the Isles of Scilly we hear a contact and plot an intercept course. As we approach it is obviously a single ship with no escort. I check the periscope and identify a large British Steam Freighter. It is the Kennebec at 5,500 tons.
We decide to surface and close. This is all the warning they will get. We see frantic scrambling for life boats as we ready the deck gun and load the tubes. 2 salvos from the deck gun rip the Kennebec apart and she starts to sink. We secure the torpedoes and clear the deck as we prepare to submerge and continue with our patrol.
We were fortunate to find the Kennebec because no other contacts were made during our mission and running low on fuel we set course for port in Germany.
We arrive back at port without incident and chalk up another successful patrol.
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Post by crushedhat on Feb 18, 2022 5:41:01 GMT
U-50 enters the harbor at Wilhelmshaven, 4 pennants flying form the periscope.
Patrol Report U-Boat #: U-50 Patrol Month(s): Nov 39 Patrol Location: British Isles Patrol # for this Kommandant: 2 Successful Patrol (Y/N): Y Number of freighters sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 3/4 Number of Tankers sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 1/2 Number of Capital Ships sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 0/0 Tonnage sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 33,100/51,600 Refit Time: 1 month, ready Jan 1940 Award Requests: Iron Cross 1st Class
Narrative:
3 Nov 1939, Wilhelmshaven KptLt Joachim Helmert turns his collar up against the cold wind driving the snow across the harbor. Nodding to his 1WO, LtzS Rudolph Mann, Joachim begins the process of U-50 slipping her moorings and setting out on her second combat patrol. On the pier a crowd has gathered despite the inclement weather; wives and sweethearts there to see their brave warriors off to fight the Fatherland’s enemies. No doubt, Rudolph’s wife is among them, as is 2WO, ObFzS Wilhelm Stieg’s girlfriend. Joachim simply shakes his head at the naivete of those who think this will be a quick and painless war.
6 Nov 1939, Night, off the Atlantic coast of Ireland KptLt Joachim Helmert reluctantly removes his gloves, it being difficult to work the UZO with them on. The near column of the convoy is silhouetted against the other ships making their way toward England. He selects two stream merchants, each around 7,500 tons. Taking the readings, he passes the information on to 2WO Stieg, who in turn passes them to 1WO Mann in the control room below. The information is checked, then passed to the forward torpedo room where four deadly eels lie in wait in the tubes. Satisfied that all is ready, Joachim gives the muffled command, “Los!” and U-50 lurches as the four torpedoes begin their deadly race.
Several explosions light up the night sky, one of the freighters disappearing in a blinding flash while the other starts to slow. With a Flower class corvette nearby, there is no time to contemplate the fate of the stricken ships’ crews. “Alarm!” The shout sends men tumbling below even as U-50’s bow dips into the choppy sea. Men wait tensely, bracing themselves at the sound of the first wabos hitting the water. Luckily for them, the crew of the escort are inexperienced and the depth charges explode harmlessly clear. The Tommies quickly give up the search and U-50 is soon in pursuit of the damaged freighter.
Later that night “Damn!” KptLt Helmert mutters under his breath as the view through the binoculars shows the injured ship is still under escort. “With luck, it will be the same newbies as before,” 1WO Mann offers hopefully.
“In either case, we finish the job,” Joachim states, calling for the UZO to be brought up and put in place. The crew of U-50 repeats their deadly dance form earlier in the evening, though this time all four eels are focused on the same target. 1WO Mann and 2WO Stieg question the wisdom of firing four torpedoes at a lone target. However, the two duds and one miss show the value in their Kaluen’s choice. While only one of the four torpedoes hits, it proves enough to finish off the unfortunate merchantman.
Once more under the water, the crew relaxes as Funkobergefreiter Friedrich Radener smiles and says, “The Tommy escort is going the wrong way.”
8 Nov 1939, Night, off the Atlantic coast of Ireland “Smoke! Two columns!” Machinentmaat Adolph Meier points out toward the open Atlantic.
Leaning over the speaking tube, 1WO Rudolph Mann calls down, “Kapitan to the bridge.”
As Kpt Lt Joachim Helmert appears beside him, Mann hands over his binos and points in the direction earlier indicated by Meier. “Two ships,” Joachim whispers, though his voice is less than enthusiastic. The reason soon becomes clear as he announces, “A Steamer, and an escort.”
“Do we attack?” Asks Mann, regretting the question as soon as it is spoken.
“Is that not why we are here?” replies his Kommandant. Handing the binos back to his second in command, Helmert instructs Mann, “Take the necessary readings and plot an interception course.”
Later that night The target proves to be a motor freighter of 4,200 tons, under escort by a G Class destroyer. Helmert peers through the UZO, having decided to take advantage of the night and conduct a surface attack, abeit form medium range; no need to be reckless he reflects. Although there are only four torpedoes remaining in the bow, two steam and two electric, neither Mann nor Stieg questions their Kommandant’s decision to fire all four this time.
Multiple explosions rend the night and the stricken freighter begins sinking quickly. Mimicking her prey, U-50 likewise slips under the waves. Whether due to inexperience, confusion over the sudden violence, or an effort to save as many of the merchantman’s crew as possible, the DD does not molest U-50.
14 Nov, Midday, the Celtic Sea “Either his is very brave, or very foolish,” 1WO Rudolph Mann says to his Kommandant, KptLt Joachim Helmert, regarding the lone tanker now plainly in view after a morning’s chase. It proves to be U-50’s biggest catch of the patrol, nearly double the size of anything else at 13,900 tons.
“The same may be said of us, Number One,’ is Joachim’s grim reply, reflecting on the risks they are taking running on the surface in daylight so near an enemy shore.
“True, Herr Kaluen,” Mann grins. “But which will prove to be the case for us? And for him?” Mann indicates the lone ship.
“Which indeed,” Helmert grins back. “Gun stations!” he shouts, sending men scrambling to remove the waterproof tarpaulin form the 8cm deck gun. “Let us have the aft torpedo tube ready, just in case,” Joachim tells Mann. To the lookouts Helmert says, “I know the show will prove tempting, but keep your eyes focused for possible interlopers.”
While no one comes to the aid of the lone freighter, it does take multiple rounds from the 8cm as well as one of the after torpedoes to send her to the bottom (required an Additional Round to sink it).
With only one stern torpedo left, but still at least half the ammo for the 8cm, KptLt Helmert decides to continue the partol, heading for the Channel Islands. However, no more targets present themselves and, supplies running low, he turns U-50 for home on the 22nd.
24 Nov 1939, Wilhelmshaven With four pennants flying form the periscope and now injuries of damage to the Boat, it is a jubilant U-50 that enters the harbor at Wilhelmshaven. KPtLt Joachim Helmert is about to shake his head at the crowd on the pier cheering their return when his friend, Lt(Ing) Karl Ludlow cautions, “Let them enjoy it while they may.” He two men exchange knowing looks.
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andy
Komandant
Posts: 52
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Post by andy on Feb 19, 2022 20:48:51 GMT
U-Boat: U-45. Patrol Month: November 1939. Patrol Location: British Isles. Patrol 2 for this Kommandant Successful Patrol (Y/N) No Number of freighters sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 0/0 Number of Tankers sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant):0/0 Number of Capital Ships sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant):0/0 Tonnage sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 0/0t Refit Time: 1 month available January 1940. Award Requests: I dare not ask!
Report: Nada, not a thing again for my second patrol to the British Isles. This is not completely true; we did spot a ship and escort at some distance from us towards the North West of Scotland. This was a daylight sighting and we tried to follow and get a more favourable advantage by waiting for the cover of night. A foolish mistake because we soon found that we had lost contact and were unable to re-establish a contact thereafter.
A most depressing prospect and result for our patrol with nothing at all to show for our endeavours.
Horst
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