ARCHiVE: The Adventures of "33lima"

[33lima]

STATUS REPORT

19410725, 06:30
VON: U-105
AN: BdU
POS: ET1992
TORPs: 5
HULL: ?%
FUEL: 65%

Status: Still shadowing large convoy, course W to WNW. Straggler torpedoed overnight, likely sinking. Repairing earlier depth charge damage to stbd diesel. Hull believed damaged, no leaks even at depth but unable to repair. Also unable to bring in last 5 eels due to persistent heavy weather. Pursuit continues till then or fuel, now 65%, is short.

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

25 July

10:15      Repairs to starboard diesel completed. Latest hydrophone check detects faint screw sounds to E. Altered course to keep these on our bows, then surfaced to continue pursuit.



11:00      Regular hydrophone checks indicate contact moving W. Altered course to NW.



              On basis of sinking sounds heard faintly after last night's attack, we are claiming the small steamer sunk.


             
              Surface conditions still too poor to take in external torpedoes of use deck guns, so we remain effectively unarmed.



13:35    Steamer spotted, almost directly ahead!

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

25 July

13:50     Altered course in pursuit. Steamer believed to be part of the convoy.



             Tracking target in UZO indicates speed, course and relative heading of steamer.



            Altered course to come up on convoy's port beam at limit of visibility.



            Intention - shadow convoy from port ahead until weather permits reloading with last 5 externally-stowed torpedoes. Then - attack!

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

25 July

16:05      Dived again after sighting another sweeper.



               Altered course to S until escort out of sight.



17:45       Back on surface, re-plotted course to shadow convoy.



18:50       Sighted sweeper again.



               This time, stayed on surface, increased speed and turned away.



               No reaction from escort, so resumed shadowing, slowly overhauling convoy on our starboard beam. Wind now dropped to 8 m/s from NE, so will begin taking in external reloads.

[33lima]

STATUS REPORT

19410726, 07:45
VON: U-105
AN: BdU
POS: ET1438
TORPs: 2
HULL: ?%
FUEL: 45%

Small steamer, another convoy straggler, sunk with torpedo and gunfire.

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

26 July 1941

05:30     Both stern tubes reloaded. Altered course to N towards hydrophone contact. Convoy still to NW, so likely to be stragglers.





06:05      Lookouts spotted stern of freighter, two points off the port bow.



               Altered course to hook around and intercept.



07:40      Fired on by freighter as we drew level.



              Alarm!



              Waited for freighter to stop zig-zagging then fired last two eels, stern shots, long range.



              One torpedo explodes well short. Target re-starts zig-zagging at once, causing second torpedo to miss.



              Ship appears to be same one torpedoed last night and if so is already damaged. Intention - surface and risk a long-range gunnery duel.

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

26 July

07:45      Surfaced and commenced deck gun action. Freighter returns fire.



              But in calm seas, we score repeated hits.



              Showered with shell splinters from a near miss, but no casualties or damage.



              Continue zig-zagging as we close. Our hits are causing secondary explosions on freighter.



              Enemy ceases fire and begins to sink.



              Freighter sinks after series of further severe secondary explosions. All torpedoes expended, fuel 45%. Plotting course for return to Lorient with small reserve of fuel in hand.

[33lima]

STATUS REPORT

19410804, 21:06
VON: U-105
AN: BdU
POS: BF9113
TORPs: 0
HULL: 100%?
FUEL: 20%

ETA home port in 12 hours, repeat 12 hours. Request escort and reservation at usual establishment for all hands.

[Viktor Schuetze]

19410804, 21:25 VON: FdU AN: U-105 UNDERSTOOD, YOUR TORPEDOES ARE EXPENDED. RETURN HOME SAFELY! STATUS ACKNOWLEDGED AND POSITION PLOTTED ON OPERATION SPINNENNETZ. DANKE! WE HAVE HAFENMEISTER ADVISED OF YOUR SOON ARRIVAL. OUR ESCORTS ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR YOUR U-BOOT. SCHUETZE

[33lima]

KTB, U-105

5 August

09:45        No sign of escort. However, several ships are burning either side of channel into harbour.



                Manned flak as a precaution.



10:05       Skies now clear so ordered crew back to cruising stations as we approached the final turns into our berth.



10:10        Reception committee in full swing on quayside!



                Came alongside, stopped engines and made fast.

     

                Personnel file submitted to Flottillenchef.







Sunk seven freighters, 32,345 BRT, plus one Black Swan class sloop, in 66 days at sea.

[Viktor Schuetze]

19410805, 10:21 VON: FdU AN: U-105 WELCOME BACK HOME, KOMMANDANT! GLAD TO SEE YOU AND YOUR CREW UNHARMED! UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE UNDER AN AIR ATTACK CONDUCTED BY THE RAF BRIEFLY BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL. TONIGHT, PLEASE JOIN ME FOR A MEAL AND DRINKS AT SCHEHERAZADE NIGHT CLUB. YOUR U-BOOT WILL UNDERGO INSPECTION FOR REPAIRS AND REFIT, AND THEN INTO DRYDOCK. DUE TO MINOR DAMAGE HAFENMEISTER EXPECTS A STAY OF 26 DAYS IN PORT*. IN THE MEANTIME, YOU ARE CLEARED TO SEND YOUR MEN ON LEAVE. REPORT BACK WHEN YOUR U-BOOT IS READY FOR ITS NEXT PATROL. SCHUETZE

OOC:
* This value be entered into S3C in order to calculate correct begin of next patrol.

[33lima]

Current mods in my main (Steam-fixed) install):



I think there's a waterstream fox for the GUC 2 (Type VII) mod, which I will add if I can find a working link.

[Viktor Schuetze]

Kommandant Schepke! DANKE! FOR YOUR FINANCIAL HELP. MORE LIKE THIS IS NEEDED TO KEEP UP THE WAR! YOUR USER-LEVEL ON DEFF HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO [--=|DEF|=-- Donator]. AND DESERVEDLY SO! HEIL DEF! Viktor Schuetze

[33lima]

Vielen Dank, Herr Grossadmiral, from all the officers, NCOs and ratings of U-105!

U-Boote fahren
Gar weit in's Meer hinaus.
U-Boote jagen
Torpedos aus den Rohren raus!

[33lima]

19410831, 03:00
VON: U-105
AN: BdU
POS: BF6158
TORPs: 22
HULL: 100%
FUEL: 100%

U-105 completed post-refit sea trials and ready to sail. Request orders.
Schepke