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Post by crushedhat on Sept 24, 2022 19:46:55 GMT
September 1942 Patrol Status
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’).
Sep Events: 5th, Allies win Battle of Milne Bay 15th, USS Wasp sunk by Japanese submarine off Guadalcanal
New Weapons: While we will switch from “The Hunters’ rules to ‘The Hunted’ rules with patrols beginning July 1943, some systems become available before then. Here are the projected systems/timelines (rules references are to ‘The Hunted’): BOLD Decoys(Rule 9.6.7) – Now Available FAT pattern running torpedoes (Rule 9.2.4) – December 1942 Falke homing torpedoes(Rule 9.2.5) – March 1943 Deck Gun removal (Rule 10.11.8) - beginning June 1943 Zaunkonig homing torpedoes(Rule 9.2.5) – August 1943 Balkon-Gerat improved hydrophones(Rule 10.11.9) – starting January 1944 Schnorchel (Rule 10.11.10) – beginning February 1944 Alberich anti-sonar coating (Rule 9.6.8) – available starting June 1944
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 Refit 50 VIIB KKpt Joachim Helmert crushedhat Sep Atlantic (W) 66 IXC KKpt Vinzenz von Meyer silentwolf Jul-Sep British Isles 97 VIIC ObLt Otto Waldner silentwolf Refit 98 VIIC ObLt Patrick Pedersen ChefEd Sep Atlantic (W) 116 XB KptLt Lars Kunst ChefEd Sep-Oct Atlantic 504 IXC FKpt Wilhelm Schultze ChefEd Aug-Sep Atlantic (M) is a mining mission. (A) is agent insertion mission. (W) is a Wolfpack patrol. *Running late, but expected to report in.
Lost Boats: U-39, did not return from Dec 39- Jan 40 patrol (British Isles (M)) U-41, replaced with U-504 after Dec 41-Jan 42 patrol U-45, did not return from May 40 patrol (British Isles (M)) U-46, sunk on Jun 42 patrol (Atlantic) 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 42 due no later than Midnight, 1 Oct 2022 your time.
Reminder: If you have a two-month patrol, unless completing it early, submit your Patrol Report when the second month is due.
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Post by ChefEd on Sept 25, 2022 3:28:05 GMT
Aug - Sep 1942 Patrol
Atlantic
U-504 Type IXC
Geißel des Meeres (Scourge of the Seas) Kommandant: Fregattenkapitän, Wilhelm Schultze Erster Wachoffizier (1WO): Leutnent zur See, Alfred Schacht, Experte Zweiter Wachoffizier (2WO): Leutnent zur See, Simon Hut Leitender Ingenieur: Obermaat, Herbert Valentiner Doktor: Maat, Walter Gercke, Experte
Patrol Month(s): AUG - SEP 1942 Patrol Location: Atlantic Patrol # for this Kommandant: 10 Successful Patrol: No Number of freighters sunk: 1 / 19 Number of Tankers sunk: 0 / 8 Number of Capital Ships sunk: 0 / 3 Tonnage sunk: 8,400 / 288,900 Refit Time: 0 Month(s) Award Requests: None
Depart St Nazaire – 28 AUG 1942
28 JUL through 17 AUG No Enemy Encountered
18 AUG 0050 Hours Sighted convoy with two small freighters, SS Gro (4,000T), SS Sliedrecht (5,000T), and two large freighters, SS Santa Rita (8,400T), Ville d’ Liege (7,500T), with escort. The U-504 made a surface attack from medium range, firing two torpedoes at the Santa Rita and Ville d’ Liege each. One miss and a hit and detonation against the Santa Rita, and two misses against the Ville d’ Liege. The U-504 turned and fired both stern torpedoes at the Santa Rita, with one miss and another hit with detonation. The U-504 were detected by the elite escort, suffering damage to the 2cm flak, and electric motor #2, as well as damage to the hull. She went deep to try to elude the escort, successfully evading the attack.
Back at periscope depth the wounded freighter was sighted, but still with escort.
2235 Hours Finally in position for a good shot, surfacing at close range. Fired two torpedoes at the wounded Santa Rita, both hitting and detonating, and sinking the freighter. The U-504 was once again detected by the escort, suffering critical damage from the escort's attack: sinking the submarine, with all hands lost.
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Post by ChefEd on Sept 25, 2022 14:34:29 GMT
SEP 1942 Patrol Atlantic (W)
U-98 Type VIIC
Patrol # for this Kommandant: 7 Successful Patrol: Yes Number of freighters sunk: 2 / 11 Number of Tankers sunk: 0 / 3 Number of Capital Ships sunk: 0 / 0 Tonnage sunk: 12,500 / 111,400 Refit Time: Two (2) Month(s) Award Requests: Ritterkreuz, for sinking over 100,000 tonnes of shipping
“der Sturm” (The Tempest) Kommandant: Oberleutnent zur See, Patrick Pedersen Erster Wachoffizier (1WO): Leutnent zur See, Sander Neurath Zweiter Wachoffizier (2WO): Leutnent zur See, Fredrik Grossmann, Experte Leitender Ingenieur: Maat, Egbert Leitner Doktor: Oberstabsgefreiter, Veit Gerlach, Experte
1 SEP 1942 - Departed St Nazaire
1 SEP through 11 SEP No Enemy Encountered
12 SEP 1320 Hours Despite being part of a Wolfpack, the enemy escorts still managed to single us out.
Spotted convoy with a small freighter, SS Scania (2,000T), two large freighters, SS Titan (9,000T), SS Santore (7,100T), and a tanker, Moerdrecht (7,500T), with elite escort. We fired two G7es against the tanker from medium range, both missed. We dove deep, successfully eluding the escorts. The dive turned out to be unnecessary, as the escorts didn’t come close in their search.
2215 Hours Most escorts seemed distracted elsewhere.
Back at periscope depth the convoy was still in site and in range. Three small freighters, SS Thirlby (4,900T), SS Ogontz (5,000T), SS Leonidas M. (4,600T), and one large freighter, SS Empire Tide (7,500T), were spotted, with elite escort. We surfaced at close range and fired two G7as at the Empire Tide, and two G7es at the Ogontz. The second torpedo missed the Ogontz astern, the other three all detonated. Both ships were sunk. The price of success was detection by the enemy escorts: minor flooding, diesel #2 out, and electric #2 out. The escorts failed to find us on their second pass.
We moved off to assess the damage and try to effect repairs. The diesel engine was repaired, as well as the electric motor.
15 SEP through 20 SEP No Enemy Encountered
21 SEP Spotted enemy aircraft and crashed dived to avoid detection and attack.
22 SEP through 28 SEP No Enemy Encountered
29 SEP 1942 Arrived St Nazaire Two months for repairs and refit.
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Post by silentwolf on Sept 25, 2022 19:39:15 GMT
U-66 Patrol 4 for Kommandant KptLt Vinzenz von Meyer Patrol Assignment: British Isles Successful Patrol: Yes Freighters sunk: 9/15 Tankers sunk: 1/5 Capital Ships sunk: 0/1 Tonnage sunk: 44,200/168,300 Refit Time: 2 months, ready December 1942
Awards Requested: NA
"I had heard that the Americans had not yet adapted the convoy system and that many lucrative targets were in the North American waters....
Initially, I was disappointed when my request to sail those waters was denied, and I was given the assignment of patrolling the British Isles.
Soon, my outlook would change, for on this patrol, it would seem that the British had abandoned their convoy system.
Many targets would present themselves, most of them unescorted.
The first was 4500 ton freighter "Pontypridd".
She was intercepted soon after we were on station.
We moved in close and took her down with the deck gun and two eels.
She went down rapidly, aft first.....
The next encounter would be with 3100 ton freighter "Ontario".
We moved in to close range and sunk her with the deck gun.
Flames from the burning vessel shone brightly, illuminating the area temporarily, but disappeared as the freighter went under.
The next encounter would be a week later.
It was another night attack on an unescorted vessel.
Two eels, fired from aft, hit and inflicted an incredible amount of damage upon 2400 ton "Torny".
The bow of the relatively small freighter rose full vertical into the air, then she quickly sank.
Approximately one week later, another unescorted freighter was intercepted.
A close range surface attack with four torpedos would sink 5400t "Athenic".
All 4 eels hit and detonated. The freighter's bow was blown wide open. She took on water fast and then slipped below the oil slicked sea.
At this point fuel was getting low and so was the quality of our provisions.
The patrol had been a success thus far. With the wide variety of unescorted targets available, I felt it necessary to remain on patrol..
I decided to request a resupply at sea. I was quite fortunate, as it was granted......
The boat was refueled and we received food and supplies, including some delicious freshly baked bread. It was a delight indeed, but the most precious items to be received were 3 G7a torpedos....
3 nights later, we sank 2700 ton "Tweed" with the deck gun. This unescorted vessel went down slowly, bow first.
Later that week, we encountered yet another unescorted freighter...
It was about one hour after sunrise when we attacked 4900 ton "Rio Tercero" with the deck gun.
This freighter was obviously carrying explosive cargo as she was completely blown out of the water with just a few shell hits!
The plethora of unescorted targets continued to present themselves...
Only a few days later, we would encounter the first and only tanker of the patrol, 5700 ton "Daghestan".
We hit her with 2 G7as from aft.. Both hit and destroyed the target....
Days later and at night, we would encounter another freighter, but this one was under escort.
It seemed that Tommie had finally wised up.....
I remained submerged and followed the target for a while. She was eventually identified as 6800 ton "Moldanger".
I made a submerged attack from medium range with a four torpedos.
One explosion damaged the target, but it was not enough to sink her....
Now it was her escort's turn to counter attack....
I lowered the periscope, released a BOLD and took the boat deep.
The escorts were green...they steamed right over our position without dropping a single wabo!
I waited a little while and then came back to periscope depth. I expected to see the escort rendering aid to the damaged freighter, but to my surprise, I saw that the she was now unescorted!
I surfaced the boat and moved in for a close range attack with two G7as. Both torpedos hit and exploded, breaking the freighter half.
I deployed a life raft loaded with some water and provisions in an act of pity towards the abandoned survivors. This would be all of the aid I would render. We then quickly moved away from the scene.......
Days later, we intercepted another freighter, also under escort....
3700 ton "Baron Dechmont" had no chance when she was hit with two G7es from the submerged attack....
Two incredible explosions were observed devastating the freighter, which seemed to have been transporting munitions.....
I released a BOLD, then quickly moved away from it, while descending, eventually below test depth...
The skipper of this escort vessel was a veteran and was not fooled by the decoy, he quickly moved towards my position...
The deep dive was our saving grace... We descended beneath the thermalcline and out of ASDICs range....
We slipped away undetected and continued on with the patrol....
The final target was encountered a few days later. Unescorted 5000 ton "Broompark" burned and then sank after being hit with four G7a torpedos....
It was finally time to go home...
We made it back to Saint Nazaire a week later. It was now mid September.
U-66 sailed into port with a whopping TEN victory pennants hanging from the periscope......"
- KKpt Vinzenz von Meyer, KMDT U-66
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Post by crushedhat on Sept 28, 2022 22:15:31 GMT
U-50 enters the harbor at St. Nazaire, Two pennants flying from the periscope.
Patrol Report U-Boat #: U-50 Patrol Month(s): Sep 42 Patrol Location: Atlantic (W) Patrol # for this Kommandant: 17 Successful Patrol (Y/N): Y Number of freighters sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 2/24 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): 9,500/348,500 Refit Time: 1 month standard, + 1 month for 3 Hull damage, Next Patrol Dec 42 Award Requests: None
1WO reassignment roll QKh1PhYU1-6 remains with U-50
Narrative:
1 Sep 1942, U-Boat pens, St. Nazaire KKpt Joachim Helmert reflexively starts to scan the crowd gathered on the pier to see U-50 off. Then, he catches himself, remembering that Remi Latalle will not be among them as he had just recently smuggled her out of occupied France. He tries to drive off his dark mood by telling himself, “At least one of us will be safe.” To his 1WO, ObLtzS Waldo Forst, Joachim says, “Take her out, Number One.”
With a broad grin, Forst replies, “Aye.” Then, sparing a quick look for his own special someone among the crowd, Waldo turns his attention to the task of extricating U-50 from her moorings.
Joachim imagines he can feel the Boat’s reluctance to leave. Knowing that things are in good hands, Joachim disappears into the bowels of the sub.
16 Sep 1942, Atlantic Ocean, night “A large convoy,” ObltzS Waldo Forst comments as he hands the night glasses over to KKpt Joachim Helmert.
Helmert scans the horizon, its dark skies not dark enough to hide the multitude of smoke columns that stand out against it. “Yes, Waldo. A Large convoy. Let us see if we cannot make it a little smaller, eh?” Waldo smiles, the feral grin of the hunter, as Joachim hands back the night glasses. “Keep it is sight,” Joachim advises his 1WO before going below to plot an intercept course, and inform the rest of the wolfpack.
While the convoy is large, the flank nearest U-50 present only modest targets, four small freighters. Joachim selects the largest of the two, weighing in at around 4700-4800 each, and orders all four bow torpedo tubes readied.
Just as Joachim is ready to give the order to fire the unmistakable sound of wabos exploding echoes through the Boat. Everyone looks nervously around, relieved it is not them, but feeling guilty that their safety is being bought at the expense of another boat in the wolfpack. Then Joachim orders, “Los!”
The four eels race toward their targets. One misses and Funkobergefreiter Frierich Radener holds up finger to indicate another is a dud. Loud explosions give proof to at least one eel hitting home.
Joachim raises the periscope for a quick look. One freighter is clearly finished, her back broken. The other is slowing down. Then, seeing an approaching destroyer with a bone in her teeth, he orders U-50 down and thew new BOLD decoy released. The tactic works as the escort fail to find U-50.
Later that night The injured freighter still Ahs her escort. Not wishing to take any chances, KKpt Joachim Helmert orders all four bow torpedo tubes readied. Then, he turns the periscope over to ObLtzS Waldo Forst. “Your kill,” Joachim tells his 1WO. Waldo eagerly takes Joachim’s place at the periscope.
Forst directs the attack with satisfying results. However, this time U-50 is not so lucky as regards the escort. Wabos explode around U-50, rocking the boat violently. In an effort to escape the destroyer, Joachim orders the Boat deeper; perhaps too deep as the sound of the hull compressing is unmistakable (OOC – Had to use the existing Hals und Beinbuch to reroll a Crushed Hull result), but U-50 holds together. Apparently the groaning of the hull along with the slick form a damaged fuel tank convinces the escort that the U-Boat is done for and it breaks off the attack.
26 Sept 1942, Harbor at St. Nazaire U-50 enters the harbor without her 2cm Flak gun and obvious damage to the hull, but all of the crew is lined up on deck and two pennants fly from the periscope. 1-6
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