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Post by crushedhat on Jul 2, 2022 17:01:27 GMT
August 1941 Patrol Status
NOTE: With the fall of France, BdU will be moving operations into French ports. The 15th Flotilla will be based out of St. Nazaire. Any Boats currently in Wilhelmshaven, as well as any new Boats entering the game, will begin their patrol in Wilhelmshaven but end their patrol in St. Nazaire (Last patrol box will be ‘Bay of Biscay’). Once a Boat is in St. Nazaire, future patrols will begin and end there (First and last patrol box will be ‘Bay of Biscay’).
August Events: 1st, last day of second mass roundup of Jews in occupied France
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 30 VIIA ObLt Peter von Agstein Nenva Refit 37 IXA KKpt Siegmund von Margur siegmund Jun-Jul* Atlantic 41 IXA KKpt Wilhelm Schultze ChefEd Jul-Aug Atlantic 46 VIIB KptLt Willi Gering Donitz Aug Atlantic 50 VIIB KKpt Joachim Helmert crushedhat Refit 66 IXC ObLt Vincenz von Meyer silentwolf Refit 97 VIIC ObLt Otto Wladner silentwolf Refit 98 VIIC ObLt Patrick Pedersen ChefEd Refit (M) is a mining mission. (A) is agent insertion mission. *Running late but expected to report in
Lost Boats: U-39, did not return from Dec 39- Jan 40 patrol (British Isles (M)) U-45, did not return from May 40 patrol (British Isles (M)) U-48 sunk on Jan 41 patrol (Atlantic) U-99 did not return from Feb 41 patrol (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 Aug 41 due no later than Midnight, 9 Jul 2022 your time.
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Post by ChefEd on Jul 2, 2022 17:40:31 GMT
U-41 Type IXA
Geißel des Meeres (Scourge of the Seas) Kommandant: Korvettenkapitän, Wilhelm Schultze Erster Wachoffizier (1WO): Leutnent zur See, Alfred Schacht, Experte Zweiter Wachoffizier (2WO): Leutnent zur See, Albrecht Klausen Leitender Ingenieur: Obermaat, Herbert Valentiner Doktor: Maat, Walter Gercke, Experte
Patrol Month(s): Jul/Aug 1941 Patrol Location: Atlantic Patrol # for this Kommandant: 7 Successful Patrol: Yes Number of freighters sunk: 0 / 12 Number of Tankers sunk: 1 / 5 Number of Capital Ships sunk: 1 / 3 Tonnage sunk: 38,100 / 200,500 Refit Time: 3 Months Award Requests: Yes. KCO, for sinking BB HMS Malaya[Or, sinking 78,500T since last award]. Promotion to Fregattenkapitän (DR4 -1)[Eligible Oct 41, during refit]
3 JUL 1941 After two months in port, it was good to get to sea, again. I spent too many hours writing reports and reprimanding my crew. A sailor with too much time on their hands tends to find outlets that are less than civil.
We departed St Nazaire at 2300. The skies were clear, and filling with stars, following the setting of the sun. We made our heading south by southwest, before changing course west, to avoid enemy patrols.
We were clear of enemy aircraft patrol areas by dawn of 5 JUL. We maintained a roughly due west heading for the next three days, arriving on station the morning of 8 JUL.
9 JUL 1941 Shortly after dawn, we spotted a convoy, with a tanker and three small freighters in range. An enemy escort corvette was herding them. Ignoring the three freighters, I concentrated my efforts on the tanker, SS Athelcrest, 6,800 tons. We made a submerged approach to medium range and fired two electrics. The first missed with the second scoring a direct hit but failed to detonate, “Scheisse!” We were detected by the enemy corvette, suffering some damage to the hull and the deck gun. We were able to escape the escort and maintain contact with the convoy.
Shortly after dusk, we slid into close range, undetected, firing again at the Athelcrest, with two G7a’s. Both torpedoes detonated, slowing her. She was barely making headway and began to list. We were again located by the enemy corvette but were able to slip away without further damage.
We were able to relocate the Athelcrest, alone, without escort. We surfaced shortly after dawn to close range. It is then we discovered the deck gun was damaged. We fired two G7a’s at point blank range, missing with the first torpedo, but getting a square hit with the second, sending the tanker to the bottom.
We moved off to effect repairs on the deck gun, with no success.
The next two weeks were the definition of monotonous. No enemy shipping in sight. Surfacing at night to recharge and refresh. Submerging during the day to avoid detection. Day in. Day out.
23 JUL 1941 Sunset was just after 1900, with a waning crescent moon. Barely enough light to see the face of the man standing next to you. Even with the waning moon, the cloudless sky allowed the starlight to clearly define the horizon.
2230, “Ship off the port bow!” “Albrecht, battle stations, bring us to periscope depth.” “Yes, sir.” The tower cleared, and I closed the hatch behind me. We set an intercept course to close in with the unknown ship, to identify her.
“Gentlemen, we have our prize.” Silhouetted against the starry horizon was the BB HMS Malaya, 31,300 tons, with escort. “She will be a tough nut to crack. Herr Schact, bring us in close.”
We were able to move in to close range, undetected, before firing a four-torpedo spread. The second torpedo missed, but the other three hit. We heard only two detonations. The enemy escort found us, damaging the dive planes and the #1 electric motor. We were able to elude the escort’s subsequent attacks.
We made our heading to parallel and then intercept the battleship's course, based upon her last heading. We came back to periscope depth around 0400. Luck was with us. The Malaya was visible, and in position for another strike. The risk was worth it, so we moved back to close range, still undetected, and fired four torpedoes at the battleship. We had a repeat of the last spread, with a miss, a dud, and two detonations. This time, however, we hit something vital, and the Malaya began to sink. The escort was too busy trying to locate survivors and did not pursue us.
We moved off to effect repairs. Electric motor irreparable, dive planes irreparable.
7 AUG 1941 The seas were quiet for the next two weeks. How we would miss that boredom the next three weeks.
We spent the next 20 days riding out a series of Atlantic storms, squalls, and high seas.
27 AUG 1941 It was finally time to return to port. The next week was quiet and uneventful.
1 SEP 1941 – Arrived St Nazaire It was good to be home, in one relative piece, without casualties.
Once again, my Erster Wachoffizier, Leutnent zur See Alfred Schacht, has been passed over for a boat of his own. As much as I would hate to lose his skills and leadership abilities, he is well deserving of a boat of his own.
I was informed that the damaged sustained to the hull, as well as the damaged systems would keep us in port for three months, being ready sometime in late November. My officers and I will need to be especially creative to keep the crew occupied, and out of trouble.
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Post by Donitz on Jul 7, 2022 16:47:39 GMT
August 1941 – Patrol Report – Atlantic
U-Boat 46
Patrol Month(s) August 1941
Patrol # for this Kommandant Patrol 10
Successful Patrol Yes
Number of freighters sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant) – 1/12
Number of Tankers sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant) - 1/1
Number of Capital Ships sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant) – 0/0
Tonnage sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant) 21,000/71,100
Refit Time – 1 month
Award Requests – None
The journey to our hunting grounds was uneventful but as soon as we arrived, we came across a convoy. It was noon so we followed the convoy waiting for darkness. I ordered us to take up a firing position at medium range and we could see 1 tanker and 3 small freighters. We targeted 3 steam torpedoes at the tanker Malaya II 8,700t and 1 torpedo at Rio Tercero 4,900t
The eel aimed at the Rio Tercero missed its target but two of the three aimed at Malaya II hit, the second one with devastating effect. There was no doubt the Malaya II was going down but the destroyer escort was quickly closing in on our position and depth charges were in the water. They had obviously set the charges to detonate poorly and they exploded above us. Still the pressure wave caused some flooding and a seaman in the engine room broke a couple of fingers. We quickly stopped the flooding and were relieved to hear the destroyer moving away from us having lost contact. Whilst evading the escort we lost contact with the convoy.
Several days later we are directed to another convoy by HQ. We find and intercept the convoy late in the day and decide again to wait for darkness. A medium range with 4 steam torpedoes loaded we are in a firing solution for 4 large freighters. I decide to target all eels on the Sultan Star 12,300t. Stop watches running we get reports of a hit but no explosion followed by another hit but no damage. These faulty torpedoes are not helping the war effort. Several seconds later we have a report of a massive explosion followed by another large explosion and the Sultan Star is heading to the bottom of the sea. An escort heads straight to us and drops its depth charges. They are a little of target and we have no noticeable damage. The escort turns for a second run at us and this time is a little closer with it’s attack but appears to then lose our position. We check for damage and one of our diesel engines isn’t working. Markus Rabbe works his magic and gets it working again.
We follow the convoy through the night and manoeuvre into an attack position at medium range. I target 2 steam torps at the SS Browning 5,300t and two Electric torpedoes at the Baron Dechmont 3,700t. A minor explosion rocks the SS Browning and another small explosion hits Baron Dechmomt.
An escort heads in our general direction but can’t seem to pinpoint our location. We follow the Baron Dechmont which is still under escort. Having no torpedoes left for our front tubes I order a steam torpedo to be loaded in the aft tube. We fire but the Dechmont is moving a little eratically and we miss our target. The escort is aware of our attack and closes sending depth charges into the water. Explosions cause a little flooding which we repair but no other damage. On it’s second pass we again take some damage, this time the other diesel engine is damaged.
The escort makes a 3rd run and again a little off target only minor flooding occurs which we quickly stop. The escort then returns to the convoy and Markus Rabbe once again repairs the diesel engine.
We again follow Baron Dechmont and load our final Electric eel into the aft tube. The sea swell has increased and our attack misses. The escort is right on to us this time and explosions are all around us. No obvious damage is reported and the escort appears to lose interest.
We withdraw and surface and find our flak gun is damaged and our radio isn’t working. This time Markus Rabbe can’t repair the damage.
With no radio and no torpedoes we decide to return home and the journey back to base is uneventful. We return with 2 pennants flying from our mast and our most successful patrol
[9 successful patrol – Crew Advancement (4) 2WO – expert (already is so ignore)]
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