ARCHiVE: The Adventures of "33lima"

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

17 July

21:05      Still no sighting. Further hydrophone check confirms convoy still ahead. Adjusted course accordingly and surfaced to complete interception.



21:25     Single ship spotted off starboard bow, on recriprocal course. Sloop type escort. 



              We seem undetected despite close range. Dived to periscope depth.



               Silent running. No reaction from escort.



              Hydrophones confirm that escort is a sweeper on the convoy's port side. Intention - conditions too bright for night surface attack, so dive to 80m, allow approaching convoy to run
              over us. If undetected, come to periscope depth and attack submerged from within convoy.

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

17 July

21:26        Freighters spotted in periscope, several columns, closest 3500-4000 metres. Intention - continue to close and if detected, make high-speed dash to get amongst the steamers.



21:27        Located and heavily depth-charged. Closed with convoy at highest speed submerged. Fired off all six tubes at nearest targets, then crash-dived to 140m.
                 Changed course, to silent running



21:35        Heard three definite torpedo hits. Depth charging continues, but inaccurate, no damage.



22:12        Evasive manoeuvres continue, mean course N, towards far side of convoy which zig-zags on mean course of WSW. Sinking sounds heard of two large ships.



23:35       Intention - disengage to N, then hook around convoy at long range on surface while reloading torpedoes for second attack.

[33lima]

CONTACT REPORT

19410717, 23:22
VON: U-105
AN: BdU
POS: ET37
TORPs: 16
HULL: 100%
FUEL: 83%

Relocated convoy, attacked submerged from ahead. Heavily depth-charged, no damage. Sunk two, 13000 BRT. Disengaged to reload. Pursuit continues.

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

18 July

01:30   Spotted escort and turned away.



           Escort fires starshell. Dived to periscope depth and broke contact.



05:45   Running on surface towards convoy location estimated by hydrophone checks. Conditions stormy, visibility poor.



09:50   Bridge watch spotted escort. Turned away to evade.



           Escort disappeared astern.



09:56   Plotted course to hook around escort and intercept convoy.[/img]

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

18 July

14:30      Weather still stormy but visibility much improved.



              Hydrophone check confirms large convoy ahead.





              At least two sweepers detected to rear of many freighters.



15:10      Alarm! Crash dive to avoid aircraft.





              Changed course once below. Bombs explode astern. No damage.

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

18 July

15:20     Surfaced, but attacked again by aircraft.



              Dived, again bombed, no damage.



15:40      Skies clear, surfaced again to continue pursuit.



15:45       Spotted escort on port beam, course away from convoy, likely directed onto us by aircraft.



                Before we can turn away, muzzle flashes from escort.



                Salvo falls short. Crash dive!

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

18 July         

15:50        Down to 150 metres to evade escorts.



                Hydrophones confirm convoy continues on course.



                However, several escorts are bearing down on us.





16:00          Several escorts are circling above us. Screws can clearly be heard without hydrophones.



               Repeated, very heavy depth charge attacks every few minutes. Dived to 180m, evasive manoeuvres, general direction NNE.

[33lima]

KTB, U-105
18 July

18:30      Heaviest depth-charging continued until 17:40. Battery life just over 50%.



              Escorts finally heard to steam off to W, back towards convoy. Continued NE at low revolutions until 18:25, then ordered periscope depth.



              Repeatedly checked hydrohones, surface and sky. Escort could be lurking with engines off. But all clear.



19:10    Surface. Ventilated boat and began recharging batteries.



19:50       Completed search for freighter earlier observed in distress and straggling behind convoy. No sign, possibly foundered.



20:05        Lost contact with convoy which is evidently crossing Atlantic to W and is very heavily defended including air cover.
                 Decision - return to patrol area, rather than use up remaining fuel while being dawn into a further pursuit in the opposite direction.

[33lima]

STATUS REPORT

19410719, 08:30
VON: U-105
AN: BdU
POS: ET2538
TORPs: 16
HULL: 100%
FUEL: 75%

Back on patrol in assigned area. Lost contact with westbound convoy after being forced and kept under by attacks from aircraft and repeated and sustained depth-charging by group of escorts. No damage. Weather and visibility fair.

[33lima]

CONTACT REPORT

19410724, 10:37
VON: U-105
AN: BdU
POS: ET2950
TORPs: 16
HULL: 100%
FUEL: 70%

British convoy, 20-30 freighters escorted by five small escorts, course WNW. Shelled, depth-charged and forced down. No damage. Visual contact lost but pursuing on surface from bearings taken during hydrophone checks. Enemy aircraft also active, two attacks since reaching patrol area again.

[Viktor Schuetze]

19410724, 10:45
VON: FdU
AN: U-105

AVOID DETECTION! LATEST SECRET SERVICE INFORMATION INDICATES THE TOMMIES USE RADAR, A NEW TECHNOLOGY.

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GOOD LUCK!
FdU HEINZ FISCHER / VIKTOR SCHUETZE

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

24 July

11:50     Ship spotted directly ahead.



             Looks like a freighter, possibly a straggler form the convoy.



11:55     Ship suddenly turns broadside and starts shooting! Alarm!



11:56      Brought ship to periscope depth. Strength and aggressiveness of escorts indicates convoy attack will require escorts to be reduced in number. Prepared to attack corvette closing fine
              off starboard bow, angle zero.



12:05      One torpedo fired at corvette at 700m, second at sloop closing off port bow at 1,200m. Then crash dive to 145m. One hit and sounds of sinking heard!



              Turned hard-a-port as boat goes down. Depth-charging begins!

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

24 July

14:00     Only one eel left for bow tubes. Pulled off to N of convoy's estimated westerly track to take in external reloads during daylight, while sea state is relatively calm.



              Cloud cover and deteriorating weather screen us from aircraft and all four bow tubes are reloaded before the winds pick up again. Increased speed and resumed pursuit.

21:40     Hydrohone check detects convoy around bearing 349. Intention - draw ahead of convoy on surface, then turn to port to intercept.



22:45     Latest hydrophone check puts convoy dead ahead. Intention - risk closing on surface and decide on submerged or night surface attack when range and course
             of convoy confirmed visually.



22:17     Watch officer reports freighters ahead, off port bow. They are lost to sight again almost immediately.



22:25     Just as ships appear in an arc ahead, we are illuminated by searchlight off port bow, from close range. Other searchlights quickly are turned on.



             Alarm!



22:30     Checked dive at periscope depth and fired all four bow tubes at two freighters. Then crash dived to 130m.



             Depth charged on way down. Starboard diesel and possibly hull damaged. Turned S, silent running. Hydrophones confirm convoy continues to west.



           No sound of torpedo hits detected, but sinking noises of two ships heard distinctly. May be foundering in the gale.



25 July

00:40    Evaded further attacks to N, then turned to parallel convoy's general westerly track. Intention - surface when safe, take in remaining external reloads when weather permits,
             then attempt to regain close contact with convoy.

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

25 July

03:05     Lookouts report single freighter to port.



              Appears to be a straggler from convoy. Down by bows but still under way.

03:15     Fired one eel from stern tubes. Miss.



            Crossed to other side of target for second stern shot.



            Freighter attempts to ram so dived to periscope depth. Second torpedo appears to be a hit.



            Freighter does not sink. Sea state too rough to load stern tube with last internal torpedo.



            Turned onto parallel course before submerging for reload.

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

25 July

03:40     Surfaced again after reloading and relocated straggling freighter.



              Meanwhile, continuing repairs to damaged starboard diesel.

03:45     No reaction from freighter's stern gun so pulled along her starboard side before turning away for a close-range stern shot with last available eel.



              Hit! Freighter on fire amidships but turns on searchlights.



              Stern gun suddenly trains onto us. Alarm! Freighter starts shooting!



              Boat very slow to leave surface in the heavy swell. Shelled but not hit.



03:50     Recovered boat to periscope depth. Freighter's bows frequently dip into the waves.



              But she remains afloat.



04:00      Hydrophones detect escort approaching rapidly. Dived to 140m and went to silent running, course N.

06:05      To periscope depth. All clear. Intention - shadow convoy westwards until weather permits last five external torpedoes to be brought into the boat.