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Post by silentwolf on Oct 7, 2023 21:31:09 GMT
1 October 1940
Our flotilla is currently based out of La Rochelle. We have destroyed 356,800 tons of enemy shipping.
We are focusing on the waters surrounding the British Isles.
NOTE: Our flotilla is based out of La Rochelle. Any new Boats entering the game will begin their patrol in Wilhelmshaven but end their patrol in La Rochelle (Last patrol box will be ‘Bay of Biscay’). Once a Boat is in La Rochelle, future patrols will begin and end there (First and last patrol box will be ‘Bay of Biscay’).
God speed and good hunting!
Patrol Assignments:
U-45 (VIIB) KKpt Shroeder - British Isles
U-46 (VIIB) KKpt Hess - British Isles
At Sea:
Active U-Boat Status:
U-28 (VIIA) KKpt Bonhoeffer - Refit, ready Dec 1940
U-39 (IXA) KKpt Borchers - Refit, ready Nov 1940
U-45 (VIIB) KKpt Shroeder - On Patrol
U-46 (VIIB) KKpt Hess - On Patrol
Lost U-boats:
U-37 (IXA) KptLt List - Sunk, Nov 1939
U-38 (IXA) KptLt von Margur - Presumed lost, did not return from Apr-May 1940 patrol
U-52 (VIIB) KptLt Engel - Presumed lost, did not return from May 1940 patrol
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
* Boats overdue for 2 consecutive months will be presumed lost.
End of Patrol Reports for October 1940 due no later than Midnight, October 14th.
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Post by crushedhat on Oct 10, 2023 4:36:58 GMT
25 Oct Aug 1940, La Rochelle, U-45 enters port early, with one pennant flying from the periscope, and obvious damage to the hull.
U-Boat #: U-45 Patrol Month(s): Oct 40 Patrol Location: British Isles Patrol # for this Kommandant: 7 Successful Patrol (Y/N): Y Number of freighters sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 1/9 Number of Tankers sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 0/1 Number of Capital Ships sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 0/0 Tonnage sunk (This Patrol/Cumulative for this Kommandant): 3,300/53,400 Refit Time: 1 Month standard + 1 Month for Hull x1 damage, ready Jan 1941 Award Requests: None
Narrative:
1 Oct 1940, La Rochelle, France With Marta and the children back in Germany, newly promoted KKpt Albert Shroeder had no reason to pay attention to the onlookers gathered on the pier to see U-45 off on her seventh combat patrol. Still, he couldn’t help but notice the collection of young woman gathered there, newly made ‘friends’ of his crew. “Maybe when we return,’ crosses Shroeder’s mind before LtzS Rudolph Hintzmann’s, “Your orders?” intrudes on Albert’s thoughts.
“Take her out, Number One,” Shroeder instructs his 1WO.
2 Oct 1940, Bay of Biscay The lookout’s cry of “ALARM!” sends men scrambling below as U-45 seeks to avoid being detected by a distant patrol aircraft. Fortunetely for the men of U-45, the eyesight of the patrol plane’s crew isn’t as sharp as their own. Either that, or the Tommies aren’t as attentive.
12 October 1940, Off the Atlantic Scottish Coast, night KKpt Albert Shroeder orders the 8cm deck gun crew to their stations as U-45 closes on the unsuspecting freighter. ObFnzS Klaus Lister and his men move quickly but silently to bring the gun into action. Perhaps this close to home her master felt there was nothing to fear. The bark of the 8cm and resultant crash of its shell into the freighter’s side prove otherwise. In short order the 3,300 ton motor merchant is mortally wounded. Her crew abandons ship as U-45 slips away into the dark night.
17 Oct 1940, North Sea off the English coast, night LtzS Rudolph Hintzmann subconsciously licks his lips as he looks through the UZO at the 8,000 ton tanker. While she is escorted, the Flower class corvette escorting her seems unaware of the nearby danger. Once Hintzmann has confirmed KKpt Albert Shroeder’s calculations the order is given and four deadly torpedoes leap from their tubes to begin their deadly race. While three of the four eels hit, one is a dud, denying U-45 the kill.
Now aware of the hunter’s presence, the role is roles are reversed as the Corvette tuns to where U-45 is slipping beneath the waves. The U-Boat’s dive isn’t fast enough and several wabos denote close alongside. KKpt Shroeder orders the boat deeper. Though the hull complains, and springs a few minor leaks, the ploy proves successful, the escort and its wounded charge moving on.
Upon surfacing, LI Max Gotha reports that while he can bring the damaged deck gun back into operation, the same cannot be said for the leak in the fuel bunker. With U-45 leaving an oily slick, KKpt Shroeder wonders how the Corvette lost them. Still, the ongoing loss of fuel leaves him no choice but to abandon pursuit of the damaged tanker and make for La Rochelle before the fuel is gone. It is a bitter pill for the men of U-45 to swallow.
25 Oct 1940, La Rochelle U-45 returns early, with one pennant flying from the periscope and obvious damage to the hull. The men’s disappointment over ‘the one that got away,’ is eased by the reception committee on the pier to greet them. KKpt Albert Shroeder. Taking in the young woman on the dock, decides that maybe he too, will seek solace there.
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Post by silentwolf on Oct 13, 2023 16:33:40 GMT
U-46
Patrol 6 for Kommandant KKpt Niko Hess Patrol Assignment: British Isles Successful Patrol: Yes Freighters sunk: 1/7 Tankers sunk: 1/3 Capital Ships sunk: 0/1 Tonnage sunk: 13,000/92,000 Awards Requested: None
Refit Time: 2 months, ready January 1941
Crew Advances to VETERAN status
"We sailed on October 1st. After successfully navigating through the Bay of Biscay, I received an encoded message instructing that my boat was to perform weather reporting duties.
The next few days would consist of various tasks that included barometer readings, water/air temperature recording and notation of the sea state....
This operation provided vital intelligence for the fatherland, but was still frustrating to perform, as my crew was eager to score another kill....
On the evening of the 12th, we torpedoed and sank a 5000 ton freighter and then evaded her escort without incident....
On the 15th, an escorted tanker was encountered. .. I carefully shadowed the target and waited until nightfall before making a successful attack. Once again, we slipped away unscathed, avoiding a counter attack...
On the 18th, a convoy was encountered. I was running low on torpedos and decided to focus solely on the largest freighter within attack range.
Four torpedoes were fired, but only one hit was scored and it was a dud!
This alerted the escorts to our presence, and we were soon under attack.
In a brief fit of rage, I smashed a lucky charm that I had been carrying in my pocket....
I quickly regained composure. Luck would not see me out of this situation, I was in control of my own destiny, and the fate of my men...
When the sonar operator reported incoming wasserbomben, I quickly ordered evasive moves. This was effective, but the boat still suffered minor flooding, which was easily stopped by my diligent crew.
I took the boat deep, below test depth...
We braced for a second round of wabos...
Again, I ordered evasive maneuvers, which were effective. We suffered no damage in the second attack...
I took the boat deeper still, damaging the pressure hull....
Finally, we had eluded the escort....
The return voyage to La Rochelle was uneventful....
We sailed in to port on the 24th with 2 victory pennants on display..."
- KKpt Niko Hess, KMDT U-46
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