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Post by crushedhat on Aug 12, 2022 2:21:16 GMT
February 1942 Patrol Status
Note: Since there are no outstanding patrols, I am posting the February 1942 patrols early.
NOTE: The 15th Flotilla is currently based out of St. Nazaire, France. 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’).
February Events: 15th, Japanese capture Singapore 19th, Executive Order 9066: internment of Japanese Americans 20th, Japanese invade Bali & Timor, Java 22nd, MacArthur ordered to evacuate Bataan 27th, Battle of Java Sea
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 KptLt Peter von Agstein Nenva Refit 37 IXA FKpt Siegmund von Margur siegmund Feb-Mar British Isles 46 VIIB KKpt Willi Gering Donitz Refit 50 VIIB KKpt Joachim Helmert crushedhat Feb British Isles 66 IXC KptLt Vinzenz von Meyer silentwolf Feb-Mar Atlantic 97 VIIC ObLt Otto Waldner silentwolf Refit 98 VIIC ObLt Patrick Pedersen ChefEd Refit 504 IXC FKpt Wilhelm Schultze 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-41, Kommandant upgraded to U-504 after Dec 41-Jan 42 patrol 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 Feb 42 due no later than Midnight, 20 Aug 2022 your time.
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Post by crushedhat on Aug 18, 2022 22:21:42 GMT
U-50 enters the harbor at St. Nazaire, three pennants flying from the periscope.
Patrol Report U-Boat #: U-50 Patrol Month(s): Feb 42 Patrol Location: British Isles Patrol # for this Kommandant: 14 Successful Patrol (Y/N): Y Number of freighters sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 3/19 Number of Tankers sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 0/7 Number of Capital Ships sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 0/1 Tonnage sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 13,800/225,500 Refit Time: 1 month standard + 2 month for 1 Hull damage = 2 months, Next Patrol May 42
Award Requests: Swords to KC for sinking 75,000 tons of shipping since receiving the Oak Leaves
Narrative:
3 Feb 1942, U-boat pens, St. Nazaire Even though she is not among those on the dock to see U-50 off, Remi Latalle is on the mind of KKpt Joachim Helmert. He is growing increasingly concerned for her safety. Both form his own government, and from the resentment of her countrymen. While he can keep her safe enough when he is around, Joachim worries what might happen while he is at sea. And what will surely happen to Remi if he fails to retune. Competing with that concern is the fact that the Amis are not officially in the war against Germany, though their proclaimed neutrality seemed to make little enough difference as of late. Joachim takes some small comfort in the thought that the Japanese are keeping the Americans busy. Hopefully too busy to be very active in the Atlantic.
“I said, Shall we cast off, Herr Kaleun?”
It is clear from his 1WO’s intonation and demeanor that he is repeating the question, Joachim too caught up in his thoughts to notice before. “Not a good frame of mind to be going on patrol,” Joachim chides himself. To ObLtzS Waldo Forst, Joachim responds, “Yes, Number One. Take her out.”
As U-50 pulls away from the pier, Joachim casts a last, longing glance back to St. Nazaire and up the harbor road into town where he shares an apartment with Remi. “Best be focused on the mission at hand if I want to return,” Joachim reminds himself.
7 Feb 1942, WSW of the Orkney Islands, day “It’s not a very big ship,” ObLtzS Waldo Forst offers his opinion on the ship within the periscope view.
KKpt Joachim Helmert suppresses an amused grin at how his 1WO has become more cautious since first coming aboard U-50 a year ago. “I guess almost getting killed can do that,” Joachim reflects on his own experience. “And you?” Helmert asks his 2WO, ObFzS Wilhelm Stieg.
“We are loaded primarily with steam torpedoes, unless you want to fire the lone aft tube,” Wilhelm replies.
“Yes,” Joachim agrees. “The steam eels have better range, but have a tendency to show where they’ve come from, especially in the daylight. So,” he addresses his tow junior officers. “Do we shadow her, waiting until nightfall, or fire the two electrics we have forward? If only the freighter weren’t under escort all three officers are thinking. Especially given the Tommies’ growing proficiency at ASW.
While he has grown cautious, Forst isn’t completely cowed. “If we try to follow, we may lose her. A bird in the hand…”
“Very Well,” Joachim agrees. A moment later, U-50 becomes a madhouse of activity.
That Evening The two electric eels, failing to find their target, U-50 was left with not choice but to follow. Now, with darkness to hide their tracks, The men in the forward torpedo room are preparing four steam torpedoes as U-50 takes another shot at the small freighter and her escort.
The effort proves more successful with several explosions, one particularly loud, signaling the end of the 2,500 ton motor merchant. There is little time for celebration as Funkobergefreiter Friedrich Radener announces, “High speed screws, approaching!”
“Hard right rudder!” KKpt Joachim Helmert orders as he, and the rest of U-50’s crew, brace for depth charges. Luckily the maneuver works and the wabos fall wide of U-50. Still, the British Corvette comes around of another pass, convincing Joachim to order the Boat deep.
The hull complains, but apparently the move placed U-50 under a thermocline and the Corvette loses contact.
15 Feb 1942, Irish Sea, day “The fool,” KKpt Joachim Helmert expresses his opinion of the captain who is placing not only his ship, but the lives of his crew at stake by venturing out from Liverpool without an escort. “Let us help him see the error of his ways,” Joachim smiles to the men assembled on U-50’s bridge. They all smile back in agreement.
A short while later, 2WO ObFzs Wilhelm Stieg is directing the crew of the 8cm deck gun as they take the 8,200 ton freighter under fire. The results are not encouraging and Joachim gives his 1WO, ObLtzS Waldo Forst a chance with the stern tube. While more successful than the gun crew, the single eel is insufficient to sink the freighter.
Mindful of the danger of aircraft or a nearby destroyer responding to the crippled ship’s distress call, Joachim nonetheless decides to spend more time in the hopes of finishing her off. Apparently embarrassed by their earlier performance, and competing with Forst, Stieg inspires his gunners to do much better and the freighter starts to settle in the water even as her captain tries to turn back to port.
18 Feb 1942, St. George’s Channel, night Another lone freighter, albeit smaller at 3,100 tons, foolishly sails on her own. Once more KKpt Joachim Helmert moves in close and places the target under fire. Inspired to redeem themselves, ObFzS Wilhelm Stieg and the crew of the 8cm deck gun make short work of the hapless freighter.
22 Feb 1942, Due West Isles of Scilly, day Looking through the periscope, KKpt Joachim Helmert watches a large convoy pass by. With only steam torpedoes remaining forward, he decides against a daytime attack. “Do you have enough data to plot their likely course?” he asks his 1WO, ObLtzS Waldo Forst.
“Yes, Herr Kaleun,” Forst answers.
Joachim lowers the periscope as he says, “Plot a course to intercept just after nightfall.
That evening “Sometimes luck isn’t with you,” Joachim seeks to ease Waldo’s disappointment at finding nothing but empty sea upon arriving at the plotted intercept. Clapping his 1WO on the shoulder, Joachim offers, “Come, let’s have a cup of hot cocoa.”
28 Feb 1942, Bay of Biscay, day “ALARM!” the lookout shouts, pointing to a tiny pinprick in the distant sky. Not waiting to confirm it is an enemy aircraft, ObltzS Waldo Forst orders everyone below as U-50 undertakes a crash dive. Though he hasn’t the opportunity to confirm it, Forst’s actions prove correct as, shortly thereafter, a RN Sunderland flies over the exact spot U-50 had been occupying.
Early that evening, harbor, St. Nazaire Not wishing to be among the crowd on the pier, Remi Latalle watches from further back, near where the harbor transition into the city itself. She uses the binoculars Joachim left with her, not able to hold them quite steady as her hands tremble in anticipation, to scan the U-Boat coming in. She can see the three pennants flying from the periscope. When she catches sight of the ‘50’ painted on the conning tower her heart begins racing. Then, bringing the bridge into focus, she calms down when she recognizes Joachim, and can see his appears unhurt. Lowering the binos, Remi turns toward the apartment she shares with Joachim, her mind planning his welcome home dinner.
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