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Post by crushedhat on Jul 9, 2022 18:41:39 GMT
September 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’).
September Events: 4th, US begins escorting convoys across North Atlantic 4th, USS Greer fires upon German U-Boat 5th, Germany occupies Estonia 7th, Berlin bombed 8th, beginning of Siege of Leningrad
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 Sep Atlantic 37 IXA KKpt Siegmund von Margur siegmund Refit 41 IXA KKpt Wilhelm Schultze ChefEd Refit 46 VIIB KptLt Willi Gering Donitz Refit 50 VIIB KKpt Joachim Helmert crushedhat Sep Atlantic 66 IXC ObLt Vincenz von Meyer silentwolf Refit 97 VIIC ObLt Otto Waldner silentwolf Sep Atlantic 98 VIIC ObLt Patrick Pedersen ChefEd Refit (M) is a mining mission. (A) is agent insertion mission.
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 Sep 41 due no later than Midnight, 16 Jul 2022 your time.
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Post by crushedhat on Jul 14, 2022 5:35:53 GMT
U-50 enters the harbor at St. Nazaire, four pennants flying from the periscope, and obvious gaps among the men mustered on deck.
Patrol Report U-Boat #: U-50 Patrol Month(s): Sep 41 Patrol Location: Atlantic Patrol # for this Kommandant: 12 Successful Patrol (Y/N): Y Number of freighters sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 4/14 Number of Tankers sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 0/6 Number of Capital Ships sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 1/1 Tonnage sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 23,300/173,300 Refit Time: 1 month, ready Nov 1941 Award Requests: WB in Black for KKpt Joachim Helmert, 2nd award WB in Black for ObFzS Wilhelm Stieg WB in Gold for Lookouts and Flak Gun crew
Crew Improvement roll ZNCX00wI1-6 Doctor Experte
Narrative:
3 Sep 1941, U-Boat pens, St. Nazaire KKpt Joachim Helmert can see Remi Latalle on he pier, despite the crowd. He is aware of the effort it requires on her part to be there, given what is happening regarding the Jews in France. Wishing to acknowledge eher while at the same tiome not wanting to appear ‘soft’ in front of his crew, Joachim waits until he catches Remi’s eye. He then nods. Remi smiles bravely and nods back.
1WO Waldo Forst’s, “All sett Kapitan,” calls Joachim’s attention back to the task at hand.
“Very well, Number One, Let’s put to sea,” Joachim replies. Forst starts issuing orders to get U-50 underway.
3 Sep 1941, Bay of Biscay The French coast has barely fallen behind when Funkobermaaat Klaus Kampfe climbs up through the hatch in the conning tower deck. KKpt Joachim Helmert notes that his radio chief does not wear a happy expression. The reason is clear once Joachim reads the paper Klaus hands him.
“Good news, Herr Kaleun?” ObFzS Wilhelm Stieg, the young 2WO asks expectantly, failing to notice the older men’s expressions.
“We have been ordered to weather reporting duty,” Joachim says flatly. Taking the paper with their assigned weather station coordinates, Joachim heads below, passing the word for the 1WO to report to the plotting table.
13 Sep 1941, night, Atlantic A week has passed since completing their weather reporting duty when U-50 receives word of a nearby enemy convoy. An intercept course is plotted and now, KKpt Joachim Helmert, looking through the periscope, studies the nearest column. “We will put two eels each into the two larger freighters,” Joachim comments. “If we don’t sink the outright, hopefully we’ll damage one and be able to pick it off later. Ready?” The last is directed at 1WO, LtzS Waldo Forst, at the plotting table as he awaits the data from Joachim to set the torpedoes.
A few minutes later the crew feel U-50 buck as four steam torpedoes begin their race to their targets. It is almost another full minute before a muffled explosion indicates a hit. But, it appears to be the only one of the four. Joachim looks to Funkobergefreiter Freidrich Radener at the hydrophone. Freidrich holds up finger, indicating one other eel hit but was a dud.
“Evasive action?” Waldo prompts his Kommandant.
“Straight in,” Joachim replies. The tactic works as the escrots begin sweeping an ever expanding circle beyond the convoy.
Later that night The injured freighter has fallen behind the convoy, but is not alone, a Flower class corvette in company. Looking up form the periscope, KKpt Joachim Helmert turns to LtzS Waldo Forst, his 1WO and says, “Would you like to do the honors?” Forst eagerly tkes over at the periscope while 2WO ObFzS Wilhelm Stieg replaces him at the plotting board.
“Ready one and two,” Waldo says as he studies the target.
Beside Waldo, and speaking low so only his 1WO will hear, Joachim advises, “Remember how well our eels are performing. I’d hate to see this one get away.”
Accepting his Kommandant’s advice, Waldo adds, “Three and four as well.” It turns out to be a wise move as only one of the four torpedoes has any effect, though it is enough to send the wounded freighter to the bottom. The escort focuses on rescuing the freighter’s crew as U-50 slips away.
17 Sep 1941, night, Atlantic Once more KKpt Joachim Helmert has a convoy in his sights. This time, he chooses to concentrate on two steam merchants of around 4,700 tons each. The last two steam torpedoes are fired at one, while the other receives the two electric eels in the bow. Both ships are hit, the initial explosion followed by secondary detonations.
“Straight in?” 1WO Waldo Forst asks his Kommandant, recalling Joachim’s previous tactics to throw the escorts off U-50’s track.
“Hard right rudder,” Joachim commands, telling his 1WO, “Never become wedded to maneuver.”
Later that night Reacquiring the convoy, Joachim once more turns over the periscope to his 1WO, LtzS Waldo Forst. “There is a very large freighter,” Waldo says excitedly. “In excess of 11,000 tons”
“We have only one shot,” Joachim reminds Waldo. “The stern tube. And, even if we wound her, we’ll have only one eel after that.”
Thinking about situation, Waldo decides on a more modest target, but one more likely to be sunk by a single torpedo. Joachim nods his approval of the decision. As it turns out, while the target is damaged, it is not sunk.
Once more, U-50 it seems is charmed as the escorts fail to locate her.
Shortly before dawn “Still under escort,” 1WO LtzS Waldo Forst practically curses as he studies the ship they damaged earlier.
“Our last eel,” KKpt Joachim Helmert reminds Waldo. “Best make it count.”
Waldo takes multiple bearings before final giving the order to fire. Sweat begins to bead on his forehead as the hand sweeps round the face of the stopwatch. Then a loud explosion is heard, followed by additional ones that confirm the target vessel’s career is over.
U-50’s stern facing the enemy, Joachim decides it is as good a heading as any for their escape. His decision proves to be correct.
22 Sep 1941, day, Atlantic KKpt Joachim Helmert watches through the periscope as a large convoy passes by. His frustration over having no more torpedoes is shared by every member of U-50’s crew. Still, 1WO LtzS Waldo Forst dutifully plots the convoy’s path as though they were going to intercept. Once the convoy has passed from sight, U-50 surfaces and passes that data on to BdU, in case there may be another Boat in the area that take advantage of the information.
27 Sep 1941, daybreak, Atlantic As U-50 turns for home the lookout shouts, “AIRPLANE1” pointing to a Beaufort coming in low across the sea, the enemy fighter’s appearance covered by his use of the rising sun reflecting off the water.
Almost as soon as the alarm is sounded the Beaufort’s canons begin flashing. .303 inch projectiles erupt around U-50’s conning tower like someone had kicked a wasp nest. Both lookouts die instantly, as well as several of the men manning the 2.2cm Flak gun. The only thing saving KKpt Joachim Helmert and his 2WO, ObFzS Wilhelm Stieg form suffering the same fate is the fact that they are partially covered by the metal faring of the bridge, and the light caliber of the enemy guns. Still, both men are wounded.
While the enemy fighter shadows U-50, there are no other attackers close enough by to join in the fray. Eventually, the fighter must break off, lacking the stamina of the U-Boat.
30 Sep 1941, harbor, St. Nazaire For the second time in a row, U-50 enters the harbor at St. Nazaire with open space among the crew gathered on her deck. The loss of shipmates dampens the impact of the four pennant flying from the periscope. Also for the second time, Remi Latalle, among the crowd gathered on the pier to welcome U-50 home, feels her heart skip a beat as she sees that Joachim is injured.
1-6
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Nenva
New Recruit
Posts: 11
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Post by Nenva on Jul 16, 2022 16:44:08 GMT
U-Boat: U-30 "Poseidon" Type VII-A
Patrol Month(s): September 1941
Patrol Location: Atlantic
Patrol: 3 for KMDT ObLt Peter von Agstein
Successful Patrol: (Yes)
Number of freighters sunk: 1/4
Number of Tankers sunk: 1/4
Number of Capital Ships sunk: 1/1
Tonnage sunk: 43,900/81,200 Refit Time: 2 months (3 hull damage +1 months, 2 systems, +0 month), ready December 1941
Award Requests: Knight’s Cross (HMS Barham sinking)
Crew Promotion: jzWZjkvP1-6 Crew from Trained to Veteran status.
Optional information for End of Patrol Report: Patrol narrative
Commander von Agstein, after four months without being able to go to sea, was anxious as the U-30 “Poseidon” left the port of St Nazaire. After the previous complicated patrol, their new destination, the Atlantic Ocean, in the late summer, could be a good hunting place.
During the first ten days the whole sea was calm, both meteorologically and militarily. Finally, halfway through the patrol time, the first officer spotted a cloud to the northwest in the evening. It turned out to be an Allied convoy, which von Agstein quickly set out to intercept. As first two targets, two oil tankers, the Frederick S.Fales (10,000 tons) and the Beduin (8,100 tons), two torpedoes each. Of the four, both from the Frederick missed (one dude), while the other two hit and sank the Beduin.
After quickly submerging, the submarine went unnoticed, and was able to attempt to make contact again. A Large Freighter (Baltasar) and a Small Freighter (Weensdracht) were next targeted, but only the smaller one could be sunk, damaging Baltazar. The escort detected U-30, and for several harrowing hours it was damaging the submarine, although they were able to escape exceeding the maximum depth. Most of the damage was repaired, but with the dive plans messed up, the submarine had difficulty submerging.
Two days later, the “Poseidon” sighted, in the dead of night, a Queen Elizabeth-class battleship, HMS Barham. There were 2 electric torpedoes left and the one from the forward tube. The submarine quickly approached the battleship undetected, firing all three torpedoes in a risky Night Surface Attack. All the torpedoes hit, and the submarine proceeded to escape, which it miraculously managed to do without being spotted in the confusion.
With a big victory, the U-30 returned home, after reporting having hunted the battleship.1-6
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Post by silentwolf on Jul 17, 2022 15:15:46 GMT
U-97 Patrol 4 for Kommandant OltzS Otto Waldner Patrol Assignment: Atlantic Successful Patrol: Yes Freighters sunk: 3/7 Tankers sunk: 1/1 Capital Ships sunk: 0/0 Tonnage sunk: 21,400/43,500 Refit Time: 2 months (ready December 1941)
1.9.41
U-97 cast off at 07.00
Crewmen with clean uniforms and freshly shaven faces crowd the deck, smiling and waving goodbye to the crowd that has gathered to see them off.
7.9.41
01.00 hours
Lookouts spot the silhouette of what appears to be an unescorted vessel on the horizon.
"Let's find out who she is....make turns for zero-four-zero, full speed ....."
Soon after, the vessel is identified as 4800 ton freighter, "Royal Sceptre".
Waldner closes distance and then orders an attack with the deck gun......
The darkness of night is broken with muzzle flash as the gunnery crew fires a volley of shells towards their target.
Several hits are scored, damaging the unescorted freighter.
Waldner then attacks with a G7a, from aft. This lone torpedo hits and sends "Royal Sceptre" to the bottom.
10.9.41 Mid Day
A convoy is intercepted.
Waldner attacks a Tanker with another aft shot. This time a G7e electric torpedo is used.
The torpedo fails to hit but U-97 remains undected.
Walder attempts to follow the convoy, but unfortunately, contact is lost.....
13.9.41 Late Morning
The convoy is intercepted again. Waldner decides to follow and attack after sunset.
However, an attack is not made that evening, as once again, contact is lost.....
16.9.41 Late Afternoon
The convoy is intercepted yet again. Waldner is faced with a difficult decision - His instincts tell him to wait until night to attack, but he is running low on fuel and this may be his last chance....
Waldner decides to wait.....
U-97 maintains contact and quietly stalks her prey through the day and into the evening hours.....
Now, under cover of darkness, Waldner moves to medium range and makes a submerged attack.
He targets two freighters - 2600t "Bengore Head" and 4000t "Aviemore" with two eels each....
Soon after launching the torpedos, three loud explosions are heard.
Both freighters are sunk in the attack.
U-97 remains undected.......
The forward tubes are reloaded and U-97 is positioned for another submerged attack against the convoy.
This time, Waldner focuses on the largest target available, a 10000t tanker, "Regent Tiger".
"Let's give her all we've got! 1 - 4 , Los!"
Four G7a's steam towards their target....
"Periscope down! Close torpedo doors! Take her deep chief, Tommie is not going to be happy about this...."
U-97 slowly decends into the depths while her crew anxiously await the outcome of the attack.....
The hull of U-97 creaks as she begins to reach test depth....
"Explosions!", the hydrophone operator reports, "I can hear her bulkheads breaking up...she's going down!" .
U-97 continues her decent. Her hull takes some damage from the maneuver, but she is undected and receives no counter attack....
Some time later, Waldner brings his boat to periscope depth and attempts to locate the convoy. Contact has been lost....
Waldner address the crew,
"Well boys, that's it... Time to go home..."
The crew let out a victorius cheer.
Waldner continues, "Make turns for Saint Nazaire. Load forward tubes with the last 4 G7es, maybe we'll get lucky on the way in. Half a bottle of beer for every man on board and we'll surface soon to take a smoke break. Congratulations men, you've earned it!"
The crew let out another cheer...
19.9.41 Dawn
U-97 has been running on the surface throughout the evening for a battery recharge.
Waldner is about to give the order to prepare to dive when a Sunderland appears in the Eastern sky and quickly moves in to strafe his boat.
Waldner briefly ducks to avoid being hit the countless tracers that whizz by the conning tower....
Waldner quickly gets back on his feet, just in time to see the enemy aircraft going down in flames. The Sunderland violently collides with the ocean only 20 meters from U-97's starboard bow.....
"Damage report!", Waldner shouts.....
The 1WO soon reports,
"Several Dead, including 2W0 Blatt. Krenkel is seriously injured, I don't know if he will make it....Minor hull damage, dive planes are not responding and we've taken on some water, Herr Kommandant..."
21.9.41 Mid Day
U-97 sails into port with 4 pennants on display. Her crew stand on the deck as they approach the dock.
Their appearance is quite different from just 3 weeks ago.
Dark circles are under the eyes of many of the unshaven faces that disembark U-97......
(Medic Casper Krenkel makes a miraculous recovery. He will rejoin the crew in 1 month)
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