[Wrratt]

 (In my best pirate imitation)<I>Ahoy, avast ye maties, err, afore aye spins sum’ mor’ o’ this ‘ere yarn, Aye shuts off th’ game las’ nite ‘round 22:00,af’er th’ smokin’ lamp waza put out. Ana hada gud nites slumbers. Aftar werk taday aye beguns a sailin’ aroun’ 14:00 onna 6th day o’ June 2006. Th’ game date is th’ 4th o’ June 1940, game time 00:52</I>
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 <B>rollende Wellen und dunkler Himmel</B>
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 KTB Log 4th of June 1940 00:52 we are sailing on the surface ahead one third. The sky is gray with clouds and thunder can be heard off in the distance. The fog is still fairly thick and I will have to stand watch while August Meyer has some much-needed rest.
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 (Hail, is the larger font size easier to read?)
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 KTB Log 4th 1940 01:08 CE reports 50 percent diesel fuel remaining,
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 KTB Log 4th 1940 01:09 The CE Heintz has assured me that we have used the first half of our fuel load very efficiently, he said Gottfried has been getting each kilometers worth from each liter of diesel.
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 KTB Log 4th 1940 03:00 August reports for duty, and I am relieved of watch for awhile. I am soaked and want to change my trousers and sweater.
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 KTB Log 4th 1940 03:11 OKA and Bdu has sent out the morning broadcast to all schiffes at sea. Admiral Wilhelm Mraschall is commanding operation Juno and is heading towards Norway. Be ready to provide assistance if in the area.
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 <B> Bdu also advises to be aware the HMS Ark Royal is near Hartstad Norway providing cover for the evacuation of allied troops.
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 Bdu reports HMS Resolution has left the Scapa Flow and is believed to be sailing towards the Mediterranean
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 Bdu issues an advisory, six steam ships heading from Harstad with evacuated troops from Norway, to Scapa, being escorted by the HMS Vindictive</B>.
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 KTB Log 4th 1940 04:00 Karl has been listening to some British ships, it sounds as if the Dunkirk evacuation is complete. The last ship to leave is the DD HMS Shikari, it left at 03:30.
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 Approximately 340,000 troops have been rescued, the rescue fleet was comprised of over 800 civilian craft and 222 Royal Navy ships/boats.
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 The RAF lost 106 aircraft and our Luftwaffe lost 150 airplanes.
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 (personal notes) Germany is going to rue the day when we allowed the brits to escape from France. No matter how many land and air battles we win, none will ever relieve the burden of this debacle.
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 KTB Log 4th 1940 07:00 NA reports depth under keel is 55 meters, U-49 is in Grid BF 26 approximately 25 km NNE from the channel island Guemsey.
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 KTB Log 4th 1940 07:02 The sky is still thick with gray clouds. Weather is precipitation none, clouds overcast, fog medium, and wind 15 mps. The watch was tough this morning, the boot was pitching and rolling in the waves. We had a good dunking from time to time, but fortunately we did not have any waves break over the bridge.
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 KTB Log 4th 1940 09:52 Karl has tuned in the German news and they have announced that the Wehrmacht’s 4th Army has entered Dunkirk at 09:30, to no resistance and has captured the rear guard(about 40,000) and 800 civilians. Von Kluge rode into the town centre and Dunkirk has fallen.
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 (Personal notes) no one cheered and no one laughed and smiled as we heard the news. From young seaman to Onkel Willie, we all know the Englanders resolve will be renewed with the “miracle of Dunkirk” having saved the backbone of the British forces, to fight another day.
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 KTB Log 4th 1940 10:17 U-49 will continue on our course and I will hit my bunk. This sad news makes me tired.
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 Keep your decks awash and your optics clean. <Wrratt (<I>brisk salute</I>)
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[Wrratt]

 blauer Himmel? wo sind Sie?
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 Gute tag mein komardes,
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 Log 4th of June 1940 11:40 The SO has awoken me to inform me about a warship contact moving fast moving away bearing 271.I go topside all is calm and the watch and crew is rotated. I returned to my bunk and went back to sleep.
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 Log 4th of June 1940 16:07 I awake from a good few hours sleep, and make my way to the head, then to the galley for some juice, and go topside to see what there is to see.
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 Log 4th of June 1940 17:20 all is calm, the sky is still overcast, and there still is lighting and thunder, the wind speed is 15mps.
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 Log 4th of June 1940 18:00 U-49 is heading SSW and we are approximately 95 degrees and 70km from the island Guemsey, Grid BF25, depth under keel, 90 meters.
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 (personal notes) Otto was expressing his concerns for his older brother, Herman. It seems Herman is attached to the 6th Armee and has been seeing a great deal of combat, since the 10th of May. Otto told me his brother drives a armored panzerwagen SdKfz251, its fast and usually travels in a groups of two or three, along with several BMW motor cycles, and perhaps some light tanks for cover.
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 <B>I wonder what it would be like to be part of an advance scout team, the eyes and ears, for our division. We get our orders and we head out, the roads we travel are mostly lined with the shattered remnants of stores and homes. Most have had the roofs burned off or caved in from the Luftwaffe and its earlier air raids, the windows are shattered. They look ghostly, as some still have gray smoke drifting up from their skeletal remains.
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 We have to keep a careful watch for any snipers or traps. The retreating Englanders and French forces have removed all the signposts. It does not hinder us at all, we have very gute maps. The road is passable, there is some rubble scattered about, a burned tram, a twisted frame of a bicycle, a few carcasses of dead dogs and horses, a few dead people, the air stinks with the mixing of the smoke and the heavy smell of death. Our road to victory is paved with gory.
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 We do not see many civilians and the ones we do see, once they see us, they run and hide. We do not engage the civilians. We sometimes have targets of opportunity that we are allowed to act upon. Such as what happened four days ago.</B>
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 <I> Our group was scouting the roads leading towards Dunkerque, when we came upon a British blocking force, they fired at us and we withdrew behind a ridge.
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 Gus “Grim” Deitch, is our sniper and he and I stealthily made our way to the top of the ridge, sticking a few pieces of tall grass into the webbing on our helmets, as we advanced. Upon reaching the top of the ridge, we could see their captain, prancing along the line as if he was in some sort of fantastic battle. He waved his arms and pointed his swagger stick at imaginary Hun, yelling for his troops to fire. The troopers where half-heartedly responding to his commands.
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 Gus and I lay flat on the ground, and crawled to get behind a few small shrubs, and a fallen old tree. I acted as spotter, we were in a fine position for the hunt I looked the line over and checked for any over watch to it’s rear. I scanned for the captain and could see he was standing still. The captain had paused to survey his situation, he never looked our way. I gave Gus the all clear to fire.
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 Gus had been tracking the captain, his cross-hair was right on the side of the captain’s head, “Grim” gently eased back the trigger <B>Crack</B>!
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 I am watching with my binoculars as the bullet strikes the captain’s head. There is sort of a blur of blood and brains. He stood for a few seconds or so it seemed and then he dropped right where he stood.
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 Bloody Brits cheered! Gus and I laughed as we made our way back to our panzerwagen! I guess he was not very popular.</I>
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 <B> Our mission today is to scout in front of our main columns several kilometers and then fan out and see what obstacles our panzers might encounter as we advance towards the Somme. The 5th day of May 1940 we will start operation “Red”(Rot), we will fight our way towards the Somme, cross it in mass and sweep onwards to Paris. So today our roll as scouts is vital.
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 We have made visual contact with two detachments of French soldiers and three light tanks, we do not see any artillery, and we do not see any movement towards us from the soldiers, they are hunkered down about 5km NNW, of Amiens at the edge of near by farm.
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 We mark our maps and pull way undetected. This group will have a nice surprise when our panzers over run them.
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 Our scout group reforms at the crossroads and we head back to the command and hand over the intelligence we have gathered. Soon updated attack plans will be ready and the battle towards Paris will begin!</B>
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 Log 4th of June 1940 19:20 all is calm but the weather remains unchanged so the boot is pitching and rolling. We will dive to 12 meters and cruise on the cells for awhile, at ahead standard.
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 Log 4th of June 1940 21:17 U-49 is parallel with Guemsey, we are due west approximately 215km, depth under keel is 77 meters. Sky is gray, no rain, and wind 15mps 136 degrees.
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 Log 4th of June 1940 22:11 CE Heintz reports that battery is down to 50%, that was a fair cruise on the batteries.
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 Log 4th of June 1940 22:12 We surface and begin to recharge the cells. Weather unchanged, wind 15mps, rain none, cloud cover heavy, fog medium, donner and blitzen all around the boot, but off in the distance. I will stand watch myself for awhile.
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 Log 4th of June 1940 23:56 Today has been uneventful, and the monotony of the weathers is more fitting for winter then late spring.
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 (Personal notes) I think I will have Karl play some music softly, perhaps some Paul Robeson, perhaps the <B>Joe Hill</B> song…In a deep bass voice Paul’s voice fills our boot and refills my spirit,<I> I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night alive as you or me…</I> I love this song! I want the crew to learn it well enough to sing.
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 Then we will listen to the “Peat-Bog Soldiers!” aka the German song “Moorsoldaten” by Paul Robeson (seek it out its great song, IMHO)
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 Gute stalking, <Wrratt (<I>brisk salute</I>)
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 Ahoy, I shut the game down afore work, it is basically summer where I live and it is getting to hot during the day to leave the box running with out me being able to skipper the boot. I let the game run last night as I slept and was awoken only once for a sound contact. The sounds of the waves at night give a “cooling” effect to the hot summer nights. Thanks for taking time to check up on U-49. <Wrratt

[hoover2701]

Ahoi!

Good to hear U-49 is still out there! May I suggest Edith Piaf for rainy days? French chansons really fit the grey days best!

[Wrratt]

 <B>Tragödie und Sieg!</B>
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 03:02 Bdu send out a report that the fleet carrier <B>Ark Royal</b>, radio transmissions from Ark Royal to HMS Vallant, <B>Ark Royal</B> in grid area AF. Along with HMS Glorious, although not together.
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 SKL informs Bdu that Dunkirk harbor is secured, but to damaged and littered with sunken ships for use.
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 FdT soldiers are already heading to Boulogne. The Harbor should be open in the next 24 hours S-boots will be able to navigate the mine laden waters first.
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 Bdu general warning to all U-boots, the HMS Rodney will be test firing her guns west of the Pentland firth, stay clear of the area.
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 SkL Bristish are still not aware of the <B>Admiral Marschall</B> Task force.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 04:00 phase two of the battle for France has begun.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 07:00 we have been monitoring the enemies radio waves, the Englanders sound like they are preparing for us to invade. The government has taken control of everything, all business and employment, prices, all aspects of property ownership.
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 Some of the civilians are making arrangements to have their children sent to the safety of Canada and Amerika..
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 Churchill made a big speech last night, he said that the brits will fight us in the air, on the sea, and even at the landing beaches, that the Englanders do not plan on surrendering.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 10:04 U-49 is actively patrolling south eastern section of Grid BF 24 depth under keel 114 meters. Weather overcast, with light fog, wind 15mps.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 SO reports at 12:01 warship, moving fast, moving away, bearing 304. We plot an eastern tack and put the warship to our aft, and the crew farts in its general direction.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 12:07 SO reports merchant closing slowly at 010 long range. We all stop and listen to what angle the merchant is sailing, in relation to our bow.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 12:32 SO and the NA and myself have determined she is sailing SSE to our location.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 12:32 I order Battle stations, all hands have been ready for the past hour.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 12:37 We surface and plot our estimated interception course. 17km separate us.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 12:41 I go up on the bridge and take Jurgen with me and I have him bring his harmonica. He will play a few tunes as we sail to our first hunt in several days. My spirits are very gute and I am looking forward to a hunt. The lighting and donner are an excellent backdrop for the carnage to come. Jurgin is playing some old tyme sea tunes (Blo’ das man Down. Spanish Ladies, Away Rio).
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 (Personal notes) next time at the barracks I will have to see if any recruits can play the fife, banjo or a concertina, that way we could have some live music and tunes while sailing. I think it would be good for morale. And I know Jugen would like to have some accompaniment while playing.
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 I feel like a New England whaler, the music has me calm , I have never had my nerves so settled as they are now. The whole watch is in unison with those below deck. This early stage of the hunt is usually the start of the tension. But Jurgen’s tunes have us relaxed and going about our duties with clockwork precision and steadfast determination.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 13:38 U-49 dives to 12 meters for a sound check. The ship is still on a course to cross our bow. We surface and resume our positioning for an ambush.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 13:40 we are less then 1000meters from her course she is still down range, closing slowly. I am attempting to id the ship. It is really pitching in the high seas.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 13:48 we have a C-2 cargo of unknown origin,( we must not fire if amerikana flag is sited).
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 13:49 the WO ideas the C-2 and gives me his estimated bearing and speed.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 13:51 We dive to 12 meters ahead slow. I push up the attack scope and begin to plot the final approach. Plan is to fire at her 180, 525 meters out, two aals, impact, 5 meters deep, fast.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 13:53 TDC is set and I check her approach, she is rolling and waves are obscuring my scope.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 13:54 All stop and open tubes one and two. The ship is large and I can clearly see the British flag, acting as a death beacon for the ship.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 13:56 Our game is at it appointed hour, and I order tube one fired, tube two fired!
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 13:56 I have targeted amidships, just in front of the bridge, we fired at 528 meters, 180,5M,F,I.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 I can see the ship very gute, and at 13:56 WE reports impact, the ships bell has tolled. She split apart with the first aal, she must have been transporting ammunition. The explosion was huge, I saw cargo go sailing into the sea, but I saw no hands leave the C2, down with all hands. The second aal struck the stern section as it went bow up. Seconds later all remnants of the ship were gone.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 13:56 NA reports enemy unit destroyed. The forward torpedo room is reloading tubes one and two. Great work by the crew with no officer to over see them (Arend would have done that).
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 14:00 we surface and have plotted a patrol course due west, depth under keel 90 meters, ahead slow.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 14:02 we send our patrol report, Karl is encoding it so the Brits can not figure out our location, in case they intercept the radio transmission. U-49, ship sunk C2 cargo 6445 tons, Grid BF 24, 6 aals, remaining four stern, two aft. Fuel 45% remaining.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 14:09 the tubes are ready for our next hunt, and the crew is told to get some mess. Willie has made potato soup and sausage, with strawberry jam and biscuits for desert.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 14:32 the crew is rotated and then everyone will have had mess. The morale is very gute, and we are enjoying some good fellowship, and tales of our hunt are being told. I always get a kick out of how the torpedo crew “see’s” the battle. They say that they know as soon as the aals swim, if it will be a hit, or a miss. They told me our boot tells them, the ‘woosh’ of a hit will be strong and forceful, but the times we miss the ‘woosh’ is weaker and less confident. (It makes me want to do a compression test, I wonder if the gauge is off or if there is an air leak in the compression lines, I will have the CE double check all lines, fitting,valves)
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 15:56 SO reports warship closing fast bearing, 229. We dive to 12 meters and the SO tracks the warship.
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 KTB Log 5th of May 1940 16:08 he is traveling WSW nearly parallel to our current course. U-49 adjusts our heading NNW away from the unknown warship. Ahead 1/3rd, and we resume patrolling.
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 Keep yer boat afloat, and watch out for the bees! They sunk a good crew yesterday!( all hand salute from U-49’s skipper and crew)<b>CCIP</B>,s crew and boot, lost with all hands.
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 Hail and Victory <Wrratt
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 Ahoy today the 8th of June 1940 a fantastic sea battle is raging between Admiral Marschalls task force and the fleet carrier HMS Glorious and her escorts. But it is to complicated for me to tell, but yesterday in the <B>General Topic</B> section of the forum I posted a topic<B> Operation Juno_ Scharnhorst</B>. There is a link there that is great, it tells the whole tale with, back ground info, maps, times, photos, it really was a hell of a battle. The action is intense and the battle has the “record” for the longest shot fired and a hit scored! Plus how great to have our own Admiral Marschall in his flagship directing and participating in the engagement.
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 The brits make several mistakes, first dividing HMS Glorious escorts, (the captain just had to rush back to England for his foolish court marshal hearings that he was bringing against two of his officers). The second is not being prepared while at war, lack luster watch, and poor ship ID. The Germans task force is racing towards HMS Glorious at 25+ knots!
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 Here is the link, if the html, does not work, cut and paste. http://www.scharnhorst-class.dk/scharnhorst/history/scharnjuno.html …..ps this web site is very gute, it gives both sides to this story.
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[Wrratt]

 Oh mein Gott it is hot.
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 KTB Log 5th of June 1940 18:39 we dive to 25 meters, and I order the CE to all stop. I order the SO normal sweep, and I turn in for a few hours sleep.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 01:49 I awaken and order the boot to be surfaced, ahead slow, we will turn and head due south.U-49 has reach the farthest west we can sail and still have 25% fuel remaining for the return sail to Wilhelmshaven.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 02:03 Bdu report highlights for today.
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 Radio interception indicate that the British ships, <B>Vindictive, Ark Royal, Glorious, Valiant, Acasta, Southampton, Deveonshire</B>, all near Norway. Covering for the Allied withdrawal from Norway.
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 <B>U-47</B> has reported to have picked up at sea three Luftwaffe pilots from the Shetland bombing raid, they were from a Do-18 shot down, two day before…Three cheers for Prein!
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 But a tragic outcome for boot <B>U-13</B>. No reports from U-13 for several days. Bdu feels all indications it was sunk. (Was sunk 31 May 1940).
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 U-49 is at an all stop and we have 13 minutes of silence for our fallen brothers of U-13
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 02:27 SO reports warship, moving fast, moving away, bearing 029, long range. We will maintain our present heading in Grid BF24, ahead slow, we are actively patrolling (diving every 30 min. for a sound check).
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 06:02 U-49 is 12 meters deep, I am manning the hydrophone while otto goes to the head. I hear a sound at our 180, we are at an all stop, I order ahead full and we turn the bow to the sound.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 06:03 All stop, I can hear something that could indicate a convoy or military task force,(although none have been reported in our area) the sounds are wide spread, and very indistinct, very faint.
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 We surface ahead full and we will see if U-49 can close the gap.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 06:24 SO reports warship moving fast, moving away, bearing 349. We dive to 12 meters so I can have a listen to see if this is what I heard, at 06:02
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 06:27 I can hear the warship, but I also hear indistinct sounds at 349 through 011
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 06:27 U-49 surfaces and ahead flank for 10 minutes and we will dive again for a sound check.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 06:41 U-49 does not seem to be able to power through the high sea. we are no closer. We have marked the navigation chart 15km out in front of our boot, and will stop there, if we can hear merchants we will continue, if not we will go ahead 1/3rd.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 06:46 Jackpot, SO reports merchants bearing 349, 346, 348, 349, 345, 349, 349, 345, 349, 349
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 06:49 ahead flank we plot a course to sail at straight line towards the convoy. Then see what the warship coverage pattern is the mark the targets on our chart and plot their probable course. Then flank them and it will be time for a hunt. This is our second found convoy!
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 06:55 we are making 16-17 knots we should catch up easily, the merchants were reported to be sailing slow.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 07:03 SO reports merchant bearing 345 moving away. We alter our course
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 07:08 we the convoy is heading WSW and we easily track parallel to it’s course. We see smoke from several ships 3.8k out. We will easily over take the ships and we will set up for an ambush.
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 I see what looks like tankers in the second row, we can see a line of three ships then a second, and the SO can hear a warship at the front and one off to the far side, could be only two escorts.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 07:23 the fog and the heavy sea has made the ships hard to see, we have past the pack and they are fading fast.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 08:18 We are in our ambush point, we can see a DD tribal about 625 meters to starboard, 110
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 08:38 the DD has past.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 08:48 We have targeted the 2nd tanker, we will fire all four of our stern aals. The TDC data has been processed by watching the leading ship in the convoy. Distance 475, speed 4 knots, angle 180 to the targets course.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 08:50 Tubes one through four are opened.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 08:52 I give the order to fire all four tubes.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 08:52 WE reports three impacts, one miss.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 08:52 NA reports Enemy unit sunk, tanker T2 10867 tons.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 09:13 we report the convoy siting, heading 241, 4knots, 12, merchants, 2 warships.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 09:16 we will cruise submerged for a while. Our hunt was fine this morning. The crew has done Arend’s memory proud.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 09:13 we send our status report, U-49 Grid BF 24. Two aal, left, aft. 3 tankers sunk, 2 cargo, total tonnage, 45502
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 U-49 is plotting a return course we are approximately 1700 km from Wilhelmshaven.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 12:00 It is getting too hot already not to be wearing our summer uniforms.(not really it is still overcast and 15 mps wind).
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 12:01 I give the order for all maates to wear the white shirts, with the blue collar with 3 stripes, scarves optional, hats and cap optional, unless on watch.
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 All seamen will wear the Arbeitbluse with Kleiner Dienstanzug, hat and caps are optional. But all on watch must have a cap or hat on.
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 Officers and maates, Jackets are optional, but Officer of the Watch will wear his Jacke.
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 Exceptions are crew in engine room and torpedo room, repair and maintenance crew, they shall continue as before.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 13:00 I will hold inspection. The crew is told to be ready by 13:15
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 13:15 I step into the command room and the first maate shouts, “<B>Attention</B>”! The crew quickly responds.
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 (personal notes) I walk in my full dress uniform, I am even wearing my shoulder straps and epaulettes. All eyes are not looking front, and I yell “All eyes front” and I yell to Karl to play Die Fahne Hoch.
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 I walk sternly as a can, my shoe heals clicking on the metal deck, as I closely inspect the crew.
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 The crew is unsure of why the sudden nazi zeal on the boot. I am trying to look angry and stern.
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 I give them my best Hitler imitation, “<B>Mein Komrades, MY DOG HAS NO NOSE"!</B>
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 Jurgen shouted back, “<B>How does he smell?</B>”
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 “<B>Awful!</B>” I yell back.
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 Things are back to normal and I shout to Karl to play some Maurice Chevalier songs.
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 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 14:30 The crew looks in excellent fighting trim. The crew’s hair has grown back and they look sharp in the clean uniforms. We no longer look like a ship of convicts. We look like a crew on a mission, it could be that we sunk our fifth ship of this patrol yesterday, or it could be the clean cloths. But something has made the crew walk a little brisker, have a sharper glint in their eyes, a renewed sense of purpose and determination.
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 General shape of the quarters is gute. Later today the repair and maintenance crew will inspect all electric components,(wiring, fuses, fuse panels, switches, generators, pumps, cells), check all torch cells.

 KTB Log 6th of June 1940 16:00 all hands have done an outstanding days work. The hunt only claimed one ship but it was a clean kill. I will turn in for some needed sleep.
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 Gute sailing, <Wrratt

[Wrratt]

 <B>Fish On!</B>.
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 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 02:17 Bdu send out an update.
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 <B>All ships and boots are warned to stay away from western entrance to Dover is now heavily laden with mines.</B>

 Norway: there is much intercepted radio transmissions from the RN, there is no indication they know about <B>Admiral Marschalls</B> task force.

 Norway: British convoys leaving Harstad, the<B> Royal Ulster, Ulster Monarch, Ulster Prince, Arandora Star, Coventry, Ordmonde, Oronsay</B>, , all carrying troops being evacuated from Norway, being escorted by the DDs,<B> Farne, Beagle, Delight, Firedrake, and Havlock and the cruiser, Southhampton</B>.

 Also reported is a tanker convoy, <B>Oligarh, Harmattan, Blackheath, Theseus,Cromarty Firth, Cotswold, Arcity and the Conch,</B> along with 10 trawlers and three DDs the<B> Stork, Arrow, and the Veteran.</B>

 <B>U-46</B> has sent in a patrol report they have hit an auxiliary cruiser and took 30 hours to sink.

 <B>U-48</B> reports to have sunk two steamers, off the coast of Ireland.

 <b>U-37</B> sailing for base.

 <b>U-8</b> has arrived at base.

 <b>U-38 and U-58</b> sailing towards patrol grids.

 <B> U-29, 32, 43, 46, 47, 48, 56, 58 </B> all actively patrolling.

 <B>U-43 and U-46</b> given new orders to shift patrols to waters near Spain

 <B>All ships and boots are ordered to increase our surveillance of all shipping traffic as we exit the northern side of Der Kanal. Record and report all ships spotted</B>
 .

 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 04:07 U-49 is making its way ENE through the channel we are in Grid BF 25.

 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 06:00 August “Gus” Meyer has reported to sick call, he was sharpening a fishhook and he has pierced his finger and the hook is stuck. Luckily it passed through and Willie will cut the barb off and pull the fishhook out.

 (personal notes)August said he was getting ready in case the weather clears enough for us to get in some fishing. He said that we are in gute fishing grounds, that the steep drop off and shelves are bound to have game.

 I sure would like some fresh fish for dinner, I wonder if we could catch a few sea bass or some blue fish?

 I tell Gus to go get his fishing pole and tackle, we will see what the weather is like topside.

 (personal notes) <B>Fishing fever</B> has gripped the boot. Gus has caught a 27-pound sea bass, on a hook and some beacon rind. Now most of the hands are rigging a pole that we will attach to the aft rails. The pole will jute out and the crew will tie several lines (no hooks) and will tie white strips of cloth that will float and create “action” on the surface about 300 meters behind as we troll at about 2knots.

 August will then troll below the “action” with his line and hook. Two other crewmen are fastening lines and hooks onto a makeshift fishing poles. They will have to reel in by hand and glove, Gus can reel in using his tackle and reel.

 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 07:01 We are sailing slow to conserve fuel. Several of the crew are topside for fresh air. There has been an emergency, our food supply has to be supplemented immediately. We are going to have to catch some fish.

 (Personal notes) I want to get back up on the deck. We have caught seven more fish. Gus has been sharing his fishing pole and all hands want to have a go at trying their luck. Onkel Willie has made a gaff out of a prong that he uses for cooking. He looks like the old salt of the sea, as he swings his gaff and hauls up a wriggling fish.. Everyone cheers with delight as each fish is caught and they yelled with anguish when a fish slipped off the deck and back into the sea.

 The sky is still very gray and that should keep the bees away, we will troll for an hour and I will go back topside to help with the watch. With 12-15 crew on deck it would be a vexing situation if we should have to dive quickly.

 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 08:11 We have resumed sailing at ahead standard.

 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 08:11 U-49’s crew and myself have taken great risk to procure a fresh food supply we caught 15 sea bass, 8 blue fish, 1 mackerel But we have ruined our fresh uniforms, so we are back to wearing whatever the crew has handy.

 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 12:25 SO reports warship, closing fast 075, long range. We alter U-49.s course 10 degrees and continue sailing ahead full.

 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 12:47 I order the NA the resume our plotted course.

 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 14:25 SO reports WS, MF, Closing, 128 degrees, LR. We continue on our course and I will go topside to do watch duty myself.

 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 15:45 Sailing ENE U-49 is in the western most edge of Grid BF 35. WO reports ship spotted, medium range, 228 degrees. An Amerkana passenger liner has been sited and we send in a reported of its heading and time we sighted it

 (Personal notes) I did not even notice it, it was close about 1,500 meters, and it is big! A passenger liner is leisurely sailing by as if on holiday. I order all stop and we watched an Amerikana ship pass by. It’s closest point was 823 meters. It was our first sighting of a <B>Stars and Bars</B>. I imagine it was a boat of evacuees from Europe heading to the safety of the states. Hitler told us no shooting any Amerikana ships would be tolerated, and I do not want any Gestapo paying me a visit when we dock., so we will just observe the ship.

 Some of the crew requested to come topside to see the ship, and permission was granted and we rotated the crew and had a few extra hands on the bridge. The crew is anxious to see their first Amerkana ship. I am hoping it will be the first and the last.


 I did not like how slow the captain was sailing by, he should have had his boilers raging and doing 30 knots, and instead he is sailing as if he is trolling for fish.

 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 16:00 U-49 resumes sailing ahead full on our plotted course.

 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 17:00 We dive to 2o meters depth under keel 35 meters Grid BF35.

 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 17:03 Onkel Willie has prepared our emergency rations.

 (Personal notes0 U-49 is having a modest fish fry, Willie and a few seaman have been cleaning and preparing our fantastic catch. Willie has fried the fish rolled in corn meal and spices, and the boot is filled with the wonderful smell of frying fish.

 We are dinning in relative luxury, Willie turns out meals that not only please the taste buds and fill our bellies they also give us a sense home and well being. As we dine Karl has tuned the wireless and the boot is reverberating with jazzy music from France. The crew is enjoying their fish, it must taste better because we caught it ourselves. The crew’s moral is high, and there is a strong feeling of good fellowship on the boot.

 Ktb Log 7th of June 1940 23:33 U-49 is making gute progress as we make our way out of the channel, we are approximately 460km from exiting Der Kanal, and we have sailed approximately 530km since sinking the C2 in Grid BF24. All is well and we will keep on keeping on.


 <I>If Sally sells seashells by the seashore, and seduced seaman by the seashore. Would she be known as Sally the seashell sellin’ seashore whore?</I> <Wrratt (brisk salute)

[Wrratt]

<B>sinken Sie das Schiff. Gehen Sie dann schnell!</B>

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 03:07 Bdu daily update for today: Radio intercepts indicate that the HMS Repulse and the HMS Sussex and four DD and several auxiliary cruisers are in the Island area. The British still show no signs of knowing about Admiral Marschall’s task force.

 Schiffe 21 is told to rendezvous with the supply ship Recum.

 Schiffe 16 reports six British ships missing off the coast of west Africa during mining operations.

 Bdu reports convoy sited 7th of June 23:24 near Foreor, Norway heading 240

 Bdu repositions most U-boots at sea .

 <B>U-29 will patrol Grid BF 75 and BF 76
 U-46 Grid BF 95 and BF 96.
 U-48 BF77 and BF78.
 U-101 CG12 and CG13.
 U-32 and U-47 told to sail to the northern end of Der kanal.
 U-38 sailing towards the area north of the Shetlands.
 U-51 sailing in the middle of the Nord Sea.
 U-25,U-30,U-52,U-65 all patrolling southern area of the Nord sea.
 U-60 patrolling Nord sea.
 U-61 sailing towards the Nord sea</B>.

 <B>Oberkommando der Wehrmacht</B> stresses no U-boots or Schiffes are to fire upon any neutral ships, especially Amerkana ships. O.K.W informs us that Italy will be joining the war effort very soon.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 06:04

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 13:53 Grid BF 33 we have spotted an Amerkana liner heading WSW , sailing slowly. I had Karl send in the contact report. We dove to 12 meters ahead flank.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 14:27 we have pulled abeam with the liner and we will surface and give the tourists a bit of a show. I fancy that they have never seen a U-boot before.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 14: 32 We are 325 meters off her port side. The WO is in uniform and watch crew is in clean uniforms and I have put on my clean Jacket. We want to look like sailors and not a lot of scurvy sea dogs. I will guess this will be the talk of the voyage for the Amerikans and the Europeans who are sailing to Nord Amerika.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 14:37 the crew is given orders to briskly get to stations on the bridge when we surface. They are to stand watch as professional, no taunting or yelling towards the ship will be tolerated.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 14:38 The WO will not hail the ship to stop, we will sail along side it, then we will briskly clear the deck, and we shall disappear like an apparition back beneath the sanctuary waves.I am sure the captain will radio our position and heading, so we will not stay surfaced for long.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 14:39 Two crewmen are told to stand by in the conning tower in combat gear, weapons out of the racks and ammo, ready to be loaded if the need arises.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 14:40 CE Heintz, is told to surface U-49.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 14:41 The watch and myself took our positioned on the bridge, the port rail of the passenger liner was already being lined with people curious to see our excellent craft. The crew of the liner was very excited they were running about on deck like a Chinese fire drill. Some of the passengers also ran, but it was to the rails to have a look.. We sailed next to the liner named Maryland’s Pride. After two minutes sailing, I ordered the bridge cleared and we secured our hatch. CE took us to 12 meters and we turned 180 degrees and began to separate from the liner. I kept the scope down, I did not want the ship to know where we went once we submerged.

 (Personal notes) I saw some of the passengers quit clearly, I could see that there were many women and children on board. This must be another evacuee ship. They looked like my Onkel in New York said Amerikans look, just like us Germans except, he said there are whole thriving neighbor hoods of ever sort of ethnic group you could think of. Not always getting along so well, there is a great deal of racism, amongst some of the Amerikanas. He said some places dark skinned people are not allowed the same rights as white skinned people. That they hang blacks in what they call lynching style. It is basically the same hate philosophy as the Reich preaches one race superior and another inferior. I guess there is a great deal of hypocrisy it what a Government says it stands for and what their real aims are.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 14:07 U-49 is approximately 115km from exiting Der Kanal, The sky is still gray, winds 15mps, depth under keel 30 meters.


 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 19:05 we arrived at our gun battery at Calais.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 19:11 the weather has finally changed the wind is down to 6mps, although the sky is still gray, with intermittent lighting. Perhaps we can find a schiffe to use the deck gun on. Plus we still have the aft aals.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 19:32 U-49 is patrolling due north ,we have reduced our speed to ahead 1/3 for the rest of today, and we dive to 12 meters.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 21:36 SO warship, moving fast closing, bearing 222. I have Otto track the warship.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 21:56 SO reports that the ship is no longer closing, distance constant, we resume our normal scanning.

 Ktb Log 8th of June 1940 22:00 Karl has reported for duty 22:09 Bdu sends a second update this one is double encrypted. The news was brief and stated that Admiral Marschall has engaged several RN ships near Norway. His task force has sunk the <B>fleet carrier HMS Glorious, DD HMS Ardent, DD HMS Acasta</B> .

 (Personal Notes) This must have been a tremendous battle, I will have to wait till we return to port to learn more of the details. It is gute that he RN never got wind of our task force, the <B>Scharnhorst</B> and the <B>Gneisenau</B>, must have hit them hard and fast.

 Ktb Log 9th of June 1940 00:04 U-49 is patrolling north in grid AN 79 all is well on the boot, and soon I will turn in for the night.

 May you have your boot under before the RN or the RAF, can pay you a visit. <Wrratt

[Wrratt]

 Global Warming in 1940?????

 Ahoy, today the 15th day of June 2006, the unseasonable heat wave here in New England has broken, the past week it has been 90-98 Fahrenheit, with very high humidity. I have not sailed U-49 since Sunday the 12th. The interior temperature of my house was 90 degrees Fahrenheit, much too hot to be running two computers. But today its back to 70 inside, so I have resumed sailing.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 00:31 Sonar Operator reports sound contact, warship, moving fast, closing, bearing 348, long range. I order the SO to follow the nearest contact.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 00:55 the warship is not on a menacing course, so we will soon surface.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 01:39 U-49 breaks to surface, and the days first watch is assembled. I told them to be extra vigilant of bees. I will watch for ships, but they must keep a sharp eye out for the pesky RAF.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 01:40 NA wants to gives me his weather update, I told him I don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. He told me anyway, rain none, fog light, wind 6mps direction 181.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 02:12 U-49 is in Grid AN 79, heading WNW, depth under keel, 25 meters. We will begin active patrolling, by diving twice an hour for sound checks.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 02:14 we are at 12 meters, and I am manning the hydrophone while Otto has breakfast.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 02:14 I hear a very fast screw at 300 degrees. I do not signal the crew yet, no need to get them nervous.


 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 02:20 the sound is growing louder and is steady at 300, so I have the NA alter our course 28 degrees NNE. I tell the crew a warship is about 10km west of us and we will attempt to put some distance between us. We surface ahead full.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 02:27 I am on watch and we can not see any smoke from the warship.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 02:50 we dive to 12 meters for a sound check. So reports warship, moving fast, moving away, 099. Gute, that must have been the warship that was closing.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 02:56 There are no other sound reports so we surface U-49, and alter our course and sail towards the NNW corner of Grid AN87. Estimated time of arrival one hour and twenty minutes.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 03:11 Karl our funker has received the Bdu update: Kpt.Lt. Oehm has brought U-37 back to base, they sunk 10 steamers approximately 43,000 tons. (U-49 will have to get one more ship, to be on par with the others who are out hunting.)
 U-28 has put out to sea from Trondheim Norway, will attempt to attack troop ships leaving Narvik.
 Ua, U-25, U-51, U-52, U-65 all told to sail to Shetland islands area to attack troop convoys heading from Narvik.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 05:08 WO spots a RAF plane closing at 249. I order the bridge cleared and I yell to Heintz through the speaking tube to get us under. I drop down the ladder into the conning tower and we secure the hatch.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 I order ahead 1/3 and we change course to due east.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 05:09 SO reports warship closing fast bearing 036. The crew is looking tense.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 05:10 I hear an explosion to our aft, probably the RAF dropping a DC. Dirty RAF’er, he must have radioed our position to the warship.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 05:19 We rig for silent running and cruise at ahead slow.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 05:24 The warship is about 1,200 meters 254 degrees , moving slowly, they are searching but in the wrong spot.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 05:36 The warship is moving slowly NNE the distance has grown to 3,600 meters. I feel we eluded the warship. I wonder if it was coincidence that the ship came near, or did the RAF actually radio our position?

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 06:00 sick call had Hilmar Chausz reporting for a very painful ear ache. Willie has made an ear candle and says he will use it on Hilmar and he should be relieved of his ear ache soon, he is fit for duty.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 06:36 we secure from silent run, and surface. The warship contact has faded and we resume patrolling. U-49 is heading due east in Grid AN84

 (Personal Notes) 9th of June 1940 07:11 I went down to the deck casing for a morning pipe of tobacco. It was exhilarating as the sea spray off the bow blew back towards me into a fine salty mist. I kept think about the Wehrmacht and I was wondering how the drive to Paris was going. The reports from the past two days have some of the crew with brothers fighting at the front worried. The fighting has been fierce as the French and remaining Englanders stubbornly attempt to hold their ground.

 Our soldiers should have crossed the Aisne River by now, and engaging the enemy. The next big river is the Seine. Will they cross in Ande, Courcelles, Portmont, , where will the weak link be? We can expect all the bridges to be blown, but what if they missed one? Perhaps that will ease the burden on the sappers. Of course our engineering corps is second to none. They will build bridges for our panzers and Wehrmacht, and the battle will grow ever closer to the capital.

 KTB Log 9th of June 1940 07:47 U-49 dives to 12 meters for a sound check, all is still, so we alter our course NNE.

 Happy Hunting and may the wind always be at your back and at no more then 6mps. <Wrratt

[albatross]

Excellent Wratt, I love reading these reports

"NA wants to gives me his weather update, I told him I don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"

[Duli]

I like your reports aswell.

[SGT_Rock]

" KTB Log 9th of June 1940 06:00 sick call had Hilmar Chausz reporting for a very painful ear ache. Willie has made an ear candle and says he will use it on Hilmar and he should be relieved of his ear ache soon, he is fit for duty. "

Hopi ear candle's....alternative medicine on the high seas. Your crew better make it through the war! Keep up the excellent reporting

[HEMISENT]

Ahoy Wrratt!
Excellent Keep up the good work. very much enjoy your
dedication to the log reports. Cannot say that I myself would have your patience but I'm impressed.

[Wrratt]

 <B>Rote Bedrängnis....or wieviele Fische in einer Blechdose</B>

 Ktb Log 9th of June 1940 15:46 U-49 surfaces. Oh, Fiddle sticks! The wind has picked up to 7mps. The sky is still gray, we must have slipped into the largest low pressure system in the past millennium. How could the sun not be able to break through the clouds? I guess everyone complains about the weather, but they never do anything about it.

 Ktb Log 9th of June 1940 16:00 all has been calm today. Fuel load is still slightly above 25%.

 Ktb Log 9th of June 1940 19:34 U-49 has plotted a course NNE through Grid AN84.

 Ktb Log 9th of June 1940 19:40 The news from France is wonderful, the Wehrmacht is on the march! We have begun to cross the Seine river, this will drive the French and the British towards the remaining harbors.

 Ktb Log 9th of June 1940 20:14 Bdu sends an encrypted radio message. Italy will declare war on France and Britain, effective at midnight.

 (personal note) With a friend like Mussolini, who need enemies? Mussolini and the Italians are committing genocide against the Ethiopians! Hallie Salise has been disposed, and the Italians are wreaking havoc in Africa.

 Ktb Log 9th of June 1940 23:09 U-49 has just entered Grid AN 81 heading north, ahead 1/3rd . All is calm, although Karl has been picking up a great deal of Kriegsmarine chatter.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 00:11 WO called down to wake me. They have seen a red star shell about 6-7,000 meters to our starboard side about 144 degrees.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 00:12 I am dressing and will rush topside to investigate the possible distress signal. We will alter our course towards the possible distress signal, ahead slow.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 01:11 according to the WO the red distress signal I just witnessed was one hour after the first sighting. Nearly straight in front of us at approximately 007 degrees, approximately 4-5000. A red star shell was fired from a flare pistol.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 01:12 we have readied the arms from the conning tower, I have loaded my luger, and we are preparing to investigate the sighting.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 01:12 WO has called down he sees three German life rafts, they seem tethered together, at about 5,200 meters.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 01:13 I have the Heintz turn towards the boats at standard speed.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 01:15 I order the armed marines on deck and I get my aldis lamp.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 01:17 The WO has shown me where to look and I can see the life boats. They are German and we have hailed them.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 01:18 Their CO responded, that they are from T-21, sunk two days ago.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 01:18 I have Karl radio Bdu of our contact with the crew of T-21.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 01:19 I will go back topside, and help with the maneuvering up to the boats.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 Karl has informed me Bdu wants U-49 to return with the crew from T-21.
 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 01:32 We have the three lifeboats secured and we are giving water to their crew. Their CO is here with me and we are discussing our options. My only concern is the discipline of his men, not one of them has ever been in a U-boot, and we can not stay on the surface the whole trip back to Wilhelmshaven.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 01:34 The CO says he has 22 crew and two officers and himself. 25 more people on our boot.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 01:35 I order five of my crew to begin clearing out and stores in the forward and aft torpedo rooms. We will have to jettison some crates. Willie and Heintz will have to figure out how to trim the boot. I will have to rely on their expertise trim and ballast with so many people on board.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 02:06 the CO is explaining the situation to his crew, and I will do likewise.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 02:11 Willie has moved his stores around and wants me to put the three officers on the deck near the radio room area. 14 in the forward torpedo room and 8 in the aft. I told Willie I want the officers and CO in with his men, we will pick 3 of his crew that look like the fittest sailors and they can work with my crew. We cannot afford any trouble from his crew when we dive, that is why his crew must remain in contact with their officers. I will intermingle my crew to help ease the tension of the first dive, Jurgen, will be with the crew forward. He can distract them with his lurid tales from France. Onkel Willie will have to work very hard feeding us all.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 02:14 The CO has transferred his war log and other ships papers to my boot.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 02:17 the parade has begun, I was standing on the bridge as the officers came on board, they looked tired but very glad to be on board. Their CO was below decks getting them to their proper places. Next came the seamen a gute fit group considering the conditions. I gave each of them reassurance and a very hearty greeting.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 02:29 all are on board and the CO has returned to the bridge, we discussed what to do with his boats, I can not fire my deck gun in 7mps wind, and we have no explosives onboard, so we can scuttle them. We cast them adrift, and we went below to survey the situation.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 02:30 we are now plotting a return course to Wilhelmshaven. NA will give me his calculations soon.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 02:37 I have explained to the CO and his officers that we must do a planned dive soon, instead of an RAF or warship forced dive. They will get their men ready and will report back to me.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 02:38 I have to check with Willie about the trim of the boot. I will have to check with Heintz about Co2 and how long we can safely dive.

 Ktb Log 10th of June 1940 02:48 NA reports estimated time to Wilhelshaven is 26-30 hours at ahead flank. We can not run the whole 680 to 700 km at ahead flank, we cannot afford to have an engine failure now.

 Have a great hunt, and may all your aals hit their mark! <Wrratt


 Hail “<B>albatross</B>”, Who would guess Bob D would use a Germans U-boot reference ; p

 Thanks “<B>Duli</B> I am glad you have been enjoying the Ktb log, and taking the time to read it. Some times I go on and on, and the posts become rather long. But sometimes it takes a little more detail, other times I seem to get to the point much sooner, but like I said thanks for checking on U-49.

 Ahoy, “<B>Sgt_Rock</B>”, yes Onkel Willie is a wealth of old time medicine knowledge. His cold remedy is one I use myself, but I have not tried ear candles.

 <B>Citizen Hemisent</B> I send you greetings from <B>censored</B> it is <B>censored</B> <B>censored</B> <B>censored</B> today. I <B>censored</B> <B>censored</B> you all the <B>censored</B> in the <B>censored</B> . Good luck and God <B>censored</B> them all to <B>censored</B> !. <B>censored</B> courtesy of the <B><I>Ministry of Truth</I></B>

 Ahoy the idea for the crew rescue is based on the real life rescue of T-25 by U-505 on 29th of December 1943, they saw a distress signal and found 28 men and a CO in seven lifeboats.

[Schnellboot]

Been following these reports for a while now that when my Radio Operator intercepted a status report from U-49 to BdU, I immediately thought of Wrratts boat

[Oombongo]