What if 2 ?

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

April - July 1940:

On the research front the improved naval Stuka dive bomber is ready for testing again. Problems with reduced power have been solved and a go ahead for production is approved. Professor Walters continues his design work on the new "Electro " boat. Final design drawings should be ready by end of Aug. Research on the magnetic pistol problems of the German torpedoes continues, some progress being made but no final solution is ready yet.

For the surface fleet the Battleship Turpitz is completed on July 2nd, sea trials to start by the end of the month. Air craft carrier is ahead of schedule and should be completed by Mid Aug. Bismark's sea trails completed mid July and is ready for combat operations. German E-boats continue to conduct hit and run raids and laying mines near British ports. New magnetic mine has had good success sinking and damaging many merchant and war ships. The best result so far is the sinking of the HMS Royal Oak in June. The ship hit a mine and was severely crippled. One day later she was finished off by Commander Perin in U-47.
On the U-boat front another 31 boats completed by July, with a loss of 7 u-boats. 2 Boats severely damaged and out of action for next 4 months. New type VII-C and IX-C classes introduced and put into service. replacing the older B versions.
3 additional C2 raider ships are completed with British speaking crews and put to sea. One C2 raider in June was able to join a inbound convoy OB-21. Position signaled to German Naval command and a wolf pack of 8 sub await in Ambush. 1 day later the subs attack sinking 2 out of 3 destroyers on the first pass of torpedoes. The Wolf pack hounds the convoy for a additional 2 days before reinforcement destroyers can reach the area. The C2 raider reduces speed night of the 2nd day and slips away. The wolf pack breaks off the convoy due to lack of ammo and heads for base. The reinforcement destroyers find the remains of the convoy later that day. 23 out of 32 ships sunk with 2 out of 3 destroyers sunk. 5 of the remaining ships damaged but able to make it to port. OB-21 worst convoy disaster to date. More bad new for the allies. On June 27th the battles ship HMS Bartham is sunk along with a light cruiser. U-boat attacked by destroyer escorts but it's unclear if u-boat was sunk.

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

July 1940

England

De-gaussing stations helped in by de-gaussing the ships sent to pick up the B.E.F and a section of the French Army not a single ship was lost to a German Mine the evacuation was a success due to the Luftwaffe failed to destroy the trapped B.E.F and Hitlers three day halt order placed on his tank units around Dunkirk.

Churchill now knows France has fallen and The Battle for Britain will soon start he also sees a report on the unguarded convoys at the time of Operation Dynamo the lose rate could have been worst the report ends on a good note Mine sweepers have successfully cleared the ports of German mines with the Double L Sweep the threat of German mines is over

Germany

Hitler celebrates his victory in the west and feels no army can beat his it is at this point Hitler cuts back long term scientific research this decision will latter on cost Germany of new weapons which enter service far to late like the Type XXI U-Boat.

August - December 1940

In early August a British S Class Sub has successfully sunk a German Destroyer just out side the port of Wilhelmshaven Hitler is shocked and demands a meeting with Admiral Reader and states I put you in charge of protecting our sea lanes and this happens what measures have you introduced ?

Meanwhile in England Churchill must deal with another situation The French Fleet in southern France but his meeting is interrupted Two French Ships have defected to the British port of Gibraltar the Battle Cruiser Stasbourg and the Battle Ship Richeliel this is good news to Churchill but the decision is taken to destroy the others as they could fall in to the hands of the German Navy the operation was a success now Churchill must knock out another bigger threat that of the Italian Navy and plans are put in motion.

The Battle of Britain has been costly on both sides but the Luftwaffe keep coming the Battle reaches a critical situation the R.A.F has only three weeks left before being defeated but in a surprise move by Hitler is orders London to be bombed this has given the R.A.F a stay of execution and before the end of the year the Luftwaffe suffers its first major lost and by December Hitler pros-pones Operation Sealion in defiantly as Hitlers attention are else where now and issues the order Oust-Bound-Oust (Eastern Build Up) Hitler plans to attack Russia next spring.

November 12th 1940 location south coast of Italy place Traranto the British and the Free French Navy (the two ships that defected) have attacked from H.M.S Illustrious and H.M.S Eagle a combined air and sea attack under the command of Admiral Cunningham the operation was a massive success three Italian Battle Ships sunk Vittoria Veneto, Cairo Duilio and the Conte Di Cavour the other three have suffered major damage and are scrapped off they can not be repaired this action has given the British Navy control of the Mediterranean.

England

Churchill is pleased by controlling the Med and winning the Battle of Britain but there is still the U-Boat threat to deal with laying on his desk is a Navy report confirming the German Navy has indeed been converting some ships to heavy attack gunships conducting hit and run and spying on the in coming convoys as one such ship was caught out by two British Destroyers one destroyer suffered moderate damage the other light in the engagement which sent the first of these ships to the bottom.

Richard

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Aug. - Dec. 1940:

On the Surface fleet front, Air craft carrier "Fredrick the Great" is launched Aug. 29th, sea trials to begin mid September. Turpits sea trials completed Oct. 1st and is now combat ready. 2nd carrier still under construction. To be completed early in 1941. In Sept. a C2 raider is discovered by 2 British destroyers attacking a British merchant. C2 was sunk with no survivors. Admiral Readar sends out orders that remaining C2 raiders to attack shipping at night only for now on. Sub detection is increased around German ports since the sinking at Wilhelmshaven and the severe tongue lashing Hitler gave Readar.
On the Uboat front Merchant sinking have started to increase once again since the problems with the torpedoes have now been fixed. Sub base at La Speiza Italy is completed 10 VII-B and 5 II-A boats are shipped by rail to the new base . Subs main job is to curb the advantage the allies enjoy in the med. Warships and Merchants are equal targets. U-boats put to sea in Nov. 22 U-boats are built during the time period with 11 u-boat losses. New improved batteries slated for the new Electro boat are made available on a limited basis to IX boats and VII-B boats in the Med.
On the research front a solution is found for the Magnetic pistols and depth keeping devices on torpedoes. resigned parts are tested and work as expected. redesigned torpedoes are installed in u-boats starting in Sept. Torpedoes enjoy a 85% success rate of not being duds or detonating prematurely.
Final designs for the new XXI "Electro boat" reach Dornitz's desk in Sept. The new boat is streamlined goes 17 knots for 1.75 hours at full speed and travels 16 knots on the surface. It holds 23 torpedoes and has a insulated hull to reduce sound. Walter has also designed a snorkel to be fitted on the XXIII coastal boat and can be fitted on the XXI boat as well. Building plan call for dry dock time of 12-14 months. Dornitz states that is unacceptable. 5 days later the idea of a assembly line style of building is introduced where sections of the boat is made separate and the sub-assemblies assembled in the dry dock. this cuts time in the dry dock down to 4-5 months. Dornitz approves and meets with Hitler.
Hitler is luke warm to the idea, with German victories continuing he see's no need to continue with research. Dornitz counters that the allies will not give in and will develop counter measures to defeat the u-boats as they stand now. "we must stay a step ahead" states Dornitz. Hitler finally agrees but building is on a limited basis, with the ability to increase later if needed. 2 sub shipyards in Hamburg are converted to Electro boat yards. First Electro boat is ready for assembly in early Dec. Professor Walter's Snorkel is test fitted on a VII-B in the med to test the device under combat conditions in early Dec.

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

January - June 1941

January

Germany

Hitler decrease that no capital ship is to take on the Royal Navy they are to safe guard Germany's sea lanes and only to conduct hit and run missions against a weaker force

Hitler has seen a report Italy has made a mess in North Africa and decides to send a German force to North Africa to bail out the Italians.

England

A quite month steady stream of ships make it to England more by luck and bad weather in the Atlantic sea.

Scientist's have made a break through on U-Boat detection final tests under way and fitting of the new detection devices to start next month. With the success of the battle of Britain more construction work can now go ahead on the Sunderland Search and Destroy Planes and some good news from Bletchley Park Naval section the U-Boat code is now being broken one day in three work goes on to improve on this. Churchill meets with his staff a French spy net work has sent a report all the ports in the bay of Biscay U-Boat bases are becoming operational Churchill reads a report of a bomber operation over the port of Breast and the sees the re-con pictures taken the next day moderate damage inflicted but the U-Boat pens no damage Churchill comments "we need bigger bombs to take down these pens" one of Churchill's advisers points out "thats no problem the problem is we haven't got a bigger plane to deliver the bomb" the meeting is interrupted two photo's are handed to Churchill "good lord" Churchill remarks and hands the pictures around the pictures are of a German Aircraft Carrier ready for what looked like operations.

The British Navy
H.M.S Hood has had a full make over and is ready for duties now they got rid of all the wooden decking for a all metal one. H.M.S Belfast repaired but is undergoing a upgrade hopefully ready by summer 1943. S Class subs have sunk two German Merchant Ships in the North Sea or so a German Destroyer unfortunately S Class sub Starfish lost in this engagement.

February

Rommel lands in North Africa with his forces meanwhile in the Atlantic the long waited threat from the air has arrived small inbound convoy hit by Fock-Wulf FW 200 Condor planes three ships sunk another two badly damaged. Back in England destroyers and Corvette Ships fitted with the new detection device and Coastal Command now set up ready for action.

March

Hitler meets with Donitzs and orders full U-Boat warfare in the Med Donitzs replies "we can not get in to the Med it's to well guarded" Hitler replies "rubbish follow my orders" latter that month Donitzs reluctantly sends four U-Boats they fail to break through two are sunk one escapes with damage and the other is ordered to return home much to the joy of the captain of that U-Boat Donitzs sends his report to Hitler in April his report is forgotten as events have moved on.

England

21 merchant ships lost that month from air attacks and U-Boats a bad month "something must be done to stop these losses" as Churchill remarks.

April / May

Another mess by the Italians in the Balkans once a gain Hitler bails them out this is a costly mistake and will cost Hitler deeply his time table for Russia has been put back even so the German Army takes the Balkans and in May Crete. Meanwhile back in England
Bletchley Park has been cracking the Luftwaffe codes with out much problem due to the Enigma operators being sloppy all details are Knowned about the German plan Operation Mercury the invasion of Create. Churchill must make a hard decision.

The Atlantic

In April Germany lost one more C3 Raider in the channel or so a type II U-Boat they may have been on spying operations two type VII 'S lost while attacking large convoy five ships lost as well in that engagement the following month another C3 Raider intercepted and destroyed a large convoy spotted but all flying neutral flags another convoy spotted 72 miles south of this one before it reaches safe waters 11 ships would be lost.

The English Coast

Late May two U-Boats intercepted and sunk at night thanks to the new 271 Radar picking up on U-Boat transmissions and three more damaged from air attacks back at U-Boat command Donitzs holds a meeting for early June.

June

England

Bletchley Park Naval section a strange word has started to crop up in intercepted reports WOLF PACK or WOLF PACKS at this stage the meaning is not known however three days latter a out bound convoy heading to the U.S.A is about to find out the meaning of the word WOLF PACK.

East Prussia

Hitler is in his new H.Q The Wolfs Layer to over see his greatest campaign to date in the early hours of June 22nd 1941 Three million German Troops in Three Army Groups pour over the border in to Russia this action has open up another area for the German Navy the ice cold seas of The Arctic Sea.

Richard

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Dec.1940-Jan 1941:

On the surface fleet front, Fredrick the Great is finished with sea trials and Naval version planes are brought on board for flight ops shakedown. ME109 are fitted with a torpedo rack so they can double as a torpedo plane. During flight ops problems arise with the torpedoes, detonators are too sensitive and are set off if dropped higher than 15 meters. Also intermittent problems with depth meter causing the torpedoes to run too deep. Admiral Readar orders the torpedo factory at Hamburg to look into the problem. Until a fix is found ME109's are to be used as fighters only.
Task force 100 code name "Trident" is formed around the New carrier and the Battleship Turpitz, the force includes 2 Pocket battleships, 2 light cruisers, 6 screening destroyers and 2 IX-C subs. A final shake down cruise for the task force is done mid Jan. to iron out communications and logistics within the group. By the end of Jan the Task force is combat ready.

On the sub front another 5 U-boats are built with 3 loses reported. Several subs report being attacked by aircraft double the range they were previously attacked before. The new plane patrol arch now reaches Brest and Lorient. Subs are warned of the new threat and that other aircraft patrol area should now be larger as well. Sub commanders are ordered to take appropriate measures to reduce attack from the air.

On the research front the first "Electro"boat is assembled. Problems arise with tolerances not being met and problems with sub sub assemblies not fitting together as sub specs. call for. Professor Walters visits each manufacturing facility to determine the problem and to find a quick solution. Electro boat building is put on a temporary hold. In the Med. testing of the new snorkel is going very well. The VIIB boat the snorkel was fitted on is able to charge it's new style batteries in a 3 hour time frame running at standard speed. Snorkel also helped the sub to catch and sink a coastal merchant in clear weather that they normally would of had no chance at, because of weather conditions and reduced submerged speed on electric power. Testing continues.

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

Opps looks like you were doing your one about the same time but it looks ok not to much of a misalignment do carry on as I have taken it up to June 1941 I will wait for you before next re-ponce looking forward to your reply

Richard

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Feb. - June 1941:

On the surface fleet front, Hitler orders that no capital ship engage the Royal navy in classic sea battle. Hit & Run raids are approved only. Task force Trident is ordered into the North sea area to conduct hit and run & commence raiding. In Mid March while on a long range patrol a ME109 from the Fredrick spots a small action group 150 KM from the task force. Position is signaled back to the task force and the commander decides to launch a air strike against the group. 42 aircraft attack the group 3 hours later, 2 light cruisers and 1 destroyer are sunk with 2 other destroyers damaged. 3 aircraft are lost in the engagement. Later that day a u-boat that was sent into the area makes contact with 1 of the stricken destroyers and sinks it. Only 3 destroyers from the group make it back to port. Churchill is shocked at the news and orders the British fleet to track down and destroy the task force. Task force Trident retreats back to German sea lanes once again. In April 2 C2 raiders are lost, one lost by possible friendly fire, the other once again discovered attacking a merchant. All hands lost on both ships. In May a C2 makes contact with 2 inbound convoys from the US about 60KM apart, info is signaled back to German naval command and Wolf packs are dispatched to the areas.

On the sub front, 46 u-boats are launched during the period, with 16 losses. Merchant sinking's have hit a all time high with a average of 25 ships sunk a month. Wolf packs creating heavy damage to inbound & out going convoys. In the Med u-boat operations are having mixed results. Hitlers orders more u-boats into the area. Dornitz orders 4 uboats to try to get through the straights, 2 are sunk, 1 damaged, the other ordered to stay in the Atlantic. Dornitz orders that more u-boats to go by rail to La Speiza, and for construction to start at the base as well. In late May 3 u-boats are attacked at night by aircraft 2 sunk , 1 escapes and radios info back to head quarters. 2 days later another 3 u-boat are attacked at night and all damaged. Dornitz calls a meeting in early June to address this new threat. In early May U-72 tracks and sinks the air craft carrier Ark Royal, 1 light cruiser was moderately damaged during the attack. The position was radioed by a 2nd U-boat standing off at a safe distance, later that day a group of Fock-Wulf Condor planes bomb the damaged cruiser and send it to the bottom along with it's escort Destroyer. Again Churchill is fuming at the latest grim news on the Atlantic front.

On the research front problems with sub-assembly construction for the new Electro boats are identified and fixed. Electro-boat construction starts back in late March. First XXI boat is completed in late June. Sea trials to start next month. A additional 10 XXI boats are under construction at the 2 shipyards in Hamburg. Snorkel testing is wrapped up in the Med in late May. Outstanding success, all goals are reached and snorkel to go into full production, unit to be fitted on all new u-boats that are under construction. Snorkel will be fitted on existing boats as they become available. Meanwhile at the Torpedo factory in Hamburg R/D has started on a new guidance system code name FAT several versions and types are being researched and considered.

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

Late June 1941

British admiralty along with the naval section of Bletchley Park put a report together the meaning of WOLPACK is now known a concentration of U-Boats in a line conclusion a new German tactic is now in operation

July 1941

The British Navy has now reacted to the German surface fleet the north sea has been bottled up with two large groups well defended and waiting for the enemy to come out of port.

Richard

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

July 1941

The Med

The British and the Free French Navy under the command of Admiral Cunningham have struck again the port of La Spezia and been shelled from the sea and bombed from the air exploiting that Italy has no radar it has been around the clock attack the result after they break off La Spezia has suffered extreme major damage and is out of action for for over 6 months the surrounding area has also suffered and two Italian Cruisers have been sunk.

Three days later the port of Naples suffered heavy damage and is out of action for 1 month.

later that month the port of Toulon is or so attacked but with out price the Luftwaffe damage H.M.S Eagle and is forced to home for repair it will take three weeks to repair her and two Destroyers were lost and 19 planes lost the Luftwaffe lose 11 planes.

The North sea

Four days ago the Pocket Battleship Graff Spee sneaked out in to the Arctic sea attacked and destroyed 7 merchant ships three British heavy cruisers and the battleship Hood were dispatched to hunt her down two days latter contact is made they shadow her and set the trap the three heavy cruisers move in a naval engagement has started 41 minutes in to the battle the cruiser H.M.S Sussex has suffered heavy damage and is listing but the Graff Spee and been forced in to the direction of Hood she signals for U-Boat and air support three hours of on and off engagements no U-Boat can help and the weather is not much help for the Luftwaffe they can not find the Graff Spee but they did find the Sussex and finished her off on the deck of Graff Spee a watch man has spotted the Hood its to late the trap is sprung with in 46 minutes the Graff Spee has been sent to the bottom the two remaining British cruisers put back to port for repair the hood suffered light damage and was repaired at sea.

The Atlantic

Seven U-Boats were sunk that month at the cost of 17 merchant ships and another 12 badly damaged and just made it to port.

August 1941

The North Sea

Still no move by the German Navy

The Atlantic

Only 3 U-boats sunk for the price of 14 merchant ships and another 2 sunk by FW 200'S

England

To try and help merchant ships out they are now been fitted with 2cm or 3cm deck guns to slug it out with any U-Boat attacking on the surface.

The Med

Little activity by both sides

Berlin

Dr Goebbels declares we have won the war in Russia as another large pocket is sealed at Smolensk.


Richard

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

July - Sept. 1941:

On the research front, research continues on with the FAT torpedoes. Design delays on the new XXIII coastal boat has pushed production to start in early Oct. Dornitz wanted the original design reworked to allow room for more torpedoes than only 2. But the small size of the boat will not allow room. Dornitz approves a limited number to be built while a larger coastal version is designed that will hold more torpedoes. Sea Trials for the first new XXI boat began in July and lasted until mid Aug. XXI crews need a minimum of 9 months training to learn the new and complex systems the boat has to offer. Dornitz orders all IIA boats mothballed and the crews transferred to XXI boat training. The freed up personnel will allow the formation of 22 XXI crews.

On the U-Boat front 26 u-boats are completed with 14 sunk during the period. Merchant sinking's have decreased to 18-20 ships a month due mainly to the new Allied radar/radio detection threat. Dornitz's meeting in June went well. German radar and radio experts are at work on the threat , to come up with a effective counter measure. Until a solution is found all u-boats are ordered to reduce surface time in air patrol areas and to dive after sending radio traffic. The new snorkel should help with the current problem but it will be a year or more before all u-boats can be fitted with the new device.

On the surface fleet front, the loss of the Graff Spee in July has Admiral Readar angry and a bit worried. Two large British action groups are patrolling the North sea area waiting for the Germans to venture out of their sea lanes. But for now Readar will play a waiting game to see how patient and vigilant the British will be in patrolling the North sea area. The C2 Raiders continue to send intel on the action groups movements. More bad news the 2nd air craft carrier that was scheduled to launch in late Aug. was sabotaged by a allied commando raider force. The commando's were able to board the ship and set 4 charges before being discovered. Two charges were disarmed but the other two exploded causing massive flooding to the stern section of the ship. All commandos were caught and shot the next day. Repairs will take 3-4 months to complete. The new launch date is a Nov.-Dec. time frame.

In the Med Allied warships and aircraft have shelled and Bombed La Spezia and two other Italian ports. La Spezia suffered heavy damage and is 90% out of action for the next 6 months. U-boats can still resupply but only 1 at a time. Only 1 sub pen survived the attacks. More bad news 10 additional type VIIB u-boats traveling by rail were attacked by aircraft 65 KM from La Spezia. Only 4 U-boats survived the attack. The situation is grim in the Med. the surface fleet is nonexistent and there are only 11 operational u-boats. Plus with La Spezia severely damaged, The Allies have the upper hand in the Med. The Italians have been little to no help to Admiral Readar and Dornitz. Both Admirals order the remaining forces to do what they can.

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Late Sept. 1941:

Breaking News.......... Large British task force attacked in North sea area.......
On Sept. 26th a C2 raider radios the position of one of the British task forces patrolling the North sea area. The info is relayed to the Luftwaffe that determines the task force is in range of the Fock-Wulf Condor planes. A attack force of 40 planes with long range fighter escort is sent to attack the British ships. Late in the day the plane make contact and attack. The WWI era Carrier Argus is moderately damaged along with 1 Heavy cruiser. One destroyer is sunk during the attack. Carrier , cruiser and 4 other support ships head to port for repairs. Task force is now reduced to a Medium action group. 2 Condors are lost in the engagement.

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

October 1941

Russia

On the central front Operation Typhoon is under way the capture of Moscow

North Africa

No side gets the upper hand as it swings forward and back wards

U.S.A

Any U-Boat caught in American waters will be sunk on site Americans are advised to leave all Axis controlled areas this is in re-ponce to the sinking of the passenger liner S.S. Athenia in U.S waters by a long range U-Boat attacking a small convoy outbound.

On return to home base the Captain is dismissed from front line action and is lucky to get a desk job Hitler warns the next Captain who commits a hostile act against a neutral country will be demoted and shot.

The Atlantic

H.M.S Aubretia has spotted and engaged U-110 off the coast of Iceland and starts dept charge attack she is soon joined by H.M.S Bulldog and HMS Broadway U-110 is forced to the surface and surrenders and the captain has made a critical error the British capturer intact the Enigma Machine but more important the code book for the month of October and the positions of all Wolf Pacts and C3 Raiders for that month and for the rest of the month not a single ship is lost.

In the course of that Month all remaining C3 Raiders are hunted down and sunk.

The North Sea

After the minor defeat 12 S Class subs now patrol the north sea and air cover has been stepped up as well sea conditions are bad as the weather turns to winter

November 1941

The north sea

On a rare clear day the Luftwaffe attack again but this time they fail with the help from Bletchley Park Naval section and air section 14 fw 200's are shot down for the price of 3 Hurricanes the north sea is in a stand off situation for the remainder of 1941

England

The aerial dept charged has been improved and is being installed.

The Atlantic

2 U-Boats sunk another 7 escaped with damage 11 Merchant ships sunk and 1 Destroyer

December 1941

Breaking News.... Japan has attacked Pearl Harbor America has entered the war the European war is now a world war.

East Prussia

The Wolfs Layer days after Japans attack Hitler declares war on America

England

Churchill is relieved America has entered the war

The Atlantic

No U-Boat has been lost that month 3 Merchants sunk only the bad weather keeps the lost rate down.

Russia

Moscow is saved as the Soviet army attacks a enemy that has stalled 12 miles from Moscow.

Richard

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Oct. - Jan. 1942:

In The Med German Naval forces continue to regroup. 4 IIA u-Boats arrive by rail at La Sepzia in late Oct. All 4 are ready for combat by early Dec.. No u-boats are lost during the period, only 6 merchants are sunk and 1 free French Destroyer. One additional sub pen is repaired at La Spezia in mid Dec. Allied naval forces in control of most of the Med.

On the research front work continues on the FAT torpedoes, slow progress being made. Design work is complete on the new larger coastal boat XVIIB and reach Dornitz's desk in early Jan. Dornitz is satisfied with the addition of 2 extra torpedoes and is scheduled to meet with Hitler early next month to get final approval to start production. Research continues on the counter measures on allied radar detection and radio detection. A new sonar absorbing material has been available for the last 2-3 months. Test are under way to see if the material will absorb radar signals as well as sonar signals.

On the U-Boat front 21 u-boats are completed with only 8 losses the loss of U-110 crippled operations for the month of Oct. and lead to the sinking's of the 4 remaining C2 raiders. The new night time measures for u- boats seem to be working but sinkings in the air patrol areas have dropped by over 50% However merchant sinkings maintained a average of 15 a month, not counting Oct. The new snorkel has been fitted to 10 new u-boats and these boats are to be sent to Air patrol areas for combat testing. 5 snorkels have the absorbing coating to test against 5 without. Results will not known for the next 2-3 months once all u-boats complete their patrols and report their findings. All boats put to sea in Mid Dec. In mid Dec all u-boat commanders are informed that American ships are no longer Neutral targets and are to regarded as enemy vessels. Now that a state of war exist between Germany and America.

On the surface fleet front under very tight security the new air craft carrier "Wilhelm" is launched in mid Dec. Sea trials are completed by the end of Jan.and the ship becomes combat ready the first week of Feb. Aircraft version torpedoes are redesigned and tested in Oct. Testing is a success. The ME-109 can now be used as a torpedo plane as well as a fighter. In one of the last reports from the C2 raiders. The Medium action group has left the north sea area. However the other task force is still patrolling the North sea area. Which includes a air craft carrier 3 battleships and 10 other support ships. In Nov Admiral Reader consults with Dornitz to come up with a plan to break out the German fleet. A plan is devised. Both admirals agree to wait a while longer to see if the British will further reduce their presence, and for improved weather in the North sea. Plans call for the breakout to happen after the 1st of the year.

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Jan. 1942:

Breaking News........... In Mid Jan. the Battleship Repulse and Prince of Wales are sunk by Japanese aircraft near Singapore. British naval forces in the pacific area are falling back in full retreat .
Also in late Jan. a severe winter storm has hit the North sea area. A British task force patrolling there has several ships that have sustained damage, due to hurricane type conditions in the area. Damage is unknown at this time.

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Early Feb. 1942:

A German spy in the British Admiralty, has reported back to German High command the fate of the task force caught in the Huge winter storm 10 days earlier. One light cruiser and 1 destroyer sustained enough damage to return to port for repairs. One other destroyer went back as a escort. No ships were lost in the storm. However the Aircraft carrier Formidable lost 14 of her 32 aircraft. 12 aircraft had to remain on deck during the storm. 2 aircraft flying CAP were forced to ditch in the sea . During the storm lashings broke away and aircraft were either washed over board or were damaged beyond repair and were pushed overboard after the storm.

Task force Trident had set sail that very day to attempt a break out, but the task force was only able to travel 100KM before being forced to return to port due to the building storm. One German Merchant ship was lost and presumed sunk during the storm. The German task force will attempt to break out again at a future date.