JW51B German: Operation Zither
Commander: Admiral zur See Klaus von Steinfinkel (Adrian HP)
Note: messages to the commander will appear in the left column, those from the commander in the right column.
Note: messages to the commander will appear in the left column, those from the commander in the right column.
30 Dec 1942 12:00: Preliminary plans
Forces
Force A
Admiral Hipper
leberecht Maas
Max Shultz
Force B
Graf Spee (flagship)
Richard Beitzen
Paul Jacobi
Force C
Koln
Wolf Zenker
Hans Lody
U-boot
U255
U345
U586
U625
What you want to do if one of your subs meets targets. Radio before attacking? Or radio after? Or not at all?
Radio to fleet commander position of convoy, then shadow - await further orders.
Radio to fleet commander position of convoy, then shadow - await further orders.
30 Dec 1942 23:30
FLASH MESSAGE
FROM: ADMIRAL HIPPER, FORCE A
TO: GRAF SPEE, FORCE B
DATE/TIME: 30 DEC 1942 2330
LOCATION: W17
WEATHER: WORSENING, BECOMING FORCE 10 STORM 50 KT WIND VISIBILITY 2000 YDS SNOW SQUALLS
MESSAGE: FOUR UNIDENTIFIED RADAR CONTACTS DETECTED X17. PLEASE ADVISE: ENGAGE, SHADOW, DISENGAGE?
FROM: ADMIRAL HIPPER, FORCE A
TO: GRAF SPEE, FORCE B
DATE/TIME: 30 DEC 1942 2330
LOCATION: W17
WEATHER: WORSENING, BECOMING FORCE 10 STORM 50 KT WIND VISIBILITY 2000 YDS SNOW SQUALLS
MESSAGE: FOUR UNIDENTIFIED RADAR CONTACTS DETECTED X17. PLEASE ADVISE: ENGAGE, SHADOW, DISENGAGE?
FLASH MESSAGE
FROM: GRAF SPEE FORCE B
TO: ADMIRAL HIPPER, FORCE A
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0100
LOCATION: S17
WEATHER:
MESSAGE: ENGAGE THE ENEMY!
FROM: GRAF SPEE FORCE B
TO: ADMIRAL HIPPER, FORCE A
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0100
LOCATION: S17
WEATHER:
MESSAGE: ENGAGE THE ENEMY!
FLASH MESSAGE
FROM: GRAF SPEE FORCE B
TO: U586
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0101
LOCATION: S17
WEATHER:
MESSAGE: TURN TO ENGAGE CONVOY LAST REPORTED IN X17
FROM: GRAF SPEE FORCE B
TO: U586
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0101
LOCATION: S17
WEATHER:
MESSAGE: TURN TO ENGAGE CONVOY LAST REPORTED IN X17
FLASH MESSAGE
FROM: GRAF SPEE FORCE B
TO: KOLN, FORCE C
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0100
LOCATION: S17
WEATHER:
MESSAGE: CONTACT REPORTED BY FORCE A IN X17; SAIL NW TO INTERCEPT POSITION IN V21
FROM: GRAF SPEE FORCE B
TO: KOLN, FORCE C
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0100
LOCATION: S17
WEATHER:
MESSAGE: CONTACT REPORTED BY FORCE A IN X17; SAIL NW TO INTERCEPT POSITION IN V21
FLASH MESSAGE
FROM: GRAF SPEE FORCE B
TO: U345 AND U625
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0100
LOCATION: S17
WEATHER:
MESSAGE: CONTACT REPORTED BY FORCE A IN X17; SAIL TO INTERCEPT POSITION IN V21
FROM: GRAF SPEE FORCE B
TO: U345 AND U625
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0100
LOCATION: S17
WEATHER:
MESSAGE: CONTACT REPORTED BY FORCE A IN X17; SAIL TO INTERCEPT POSITION IN V21
FLASH MESSAGE
FROM: ADMIRAL STEINFINKEL
TO: FORCE B
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0100
LOCATION: S17
WEATHER:
MESSAGE: FORCE B WILL SAIL SW TO INTERCEPT POSITION IN V21
FROM: ADMIRAL STEINFINKEL
TO: FORCE B
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0100
LOCATION: S17
WEATHER:
MESSAGE: FORCE B WILL SAIL SW TO INTERCEPT POSITION IN V21
31 Dec 1942 00:36
FLASH MESSAGE
FROM: KMS MAX SCHULTZ, FORCE A
TO: GRAF SPREE, FORCE B
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942
LOCATION: AT SEA
WEATHER: PISSING DOWN FORCE 7
MESSAGE: INTERCEPTED RADAR CONTACTS IN X17. 1 HEAVY CRUISER, 1 LIGHT CRUISER, 2 DESTROYERS HEADING WEST. NO CONVOY IN SIGHT. HEAVY EXCHANGE OF FIRE. DESTROYED 1 ENEMY DESTROYER (POSSIBLY HMS WHIRLWIND) BY MAGAZINE HIT. KMS HIPPER REPEATEDLY HIT, DEAD IN WATER, FOUGHT VALIENTLY FOR THE MOTHERLAND BUT EVENTUALLY SUNK. MAASS AND MAX SCHULTZ UNSCATHED. HEIL HITLER.
FROM: KMS MAX SCHULTZ, FORCE A
TO: GRAF SPREE, FORCE B
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942
LOCATION: AT SEA
WEATHER: PISSING DOWN FORCE 7
MESSAGE: INTERCEPTED RADAR CONTACTS IN X17. 1 HEAVY CRUISER, 1 LIGHT CRUISER, 2 DESTROYERS HEADING WEST. NO CONVOY IN SIGHT. HEAVY EXCHANGE OF FIRE. DESTROYED 1 ENEMY DESTROYER (POSSIBLY HMS WHIRLWIND) BY MAGAZINE HIT. KMS HIPPER REPEATEDLY HIT, DEAD IN WATER, FOUGHT VALIENTLY FOR THE MOTHERLAND BUT EVENTUALLY SUNK. MAASS AND MAX SCHULTZ UNSCATHED. HEIL HITLER.
See X17A for full details of the battle.
31 Dec 1942 01:00
31 Dec 1942 03:00
Current situation. Force A has disengaged from British and is to their NE.
Please advise on amended orders and damage to ships.
Current weather conditions: Force 8.
Map with hex labels viewable here.
Please advise on amended orders and damage to ships.
Current weather conditions: Force 8.
Map with hex labels viewable here.
FLASH MESSAGE
FROM: ADMIRAL STEINFINKEL
TO: ALL FORCES
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0300
LOCATION: S17
WEATHER:
MESSAGE:
FORCE A - HOLD POSITION
FORCE B - MOVE TO T22
FORCE C - MOVE TO V22
U255 - MOVE TO S22
U385 - MOVE TO U22
U586 - MOVE TO U22
U625 - MOVE TO W22
ORDERS: ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY. ONCE CONTACT IS MADE, ALL FORCES TO CONVERGE ON CONVOY.
FROM: ADMIRAL STEINFINKEL
TO: ALL FORCES
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0300
LOCATION: S17
WEATHER:
MESSAGE:
FORCE A - HOLD POSITION
FORCE B - MOVE TO T22
FORCE C - MOVE TO V22
U255 - MOVE TO S22
U385 - MOVE TO U22
U586 - MOVE TO U22
U625 - MOVE TO W22
ORDERS: ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY. ONCE CONTACT IS MADE, ALL FORCES TO CONVERGE ON CONVOY.
31 Dec 1942 04:00
FLASH MESSAGE
FROM: U586
TO: ADMIRAL STEINFINKEL
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0446
LOCATION: W19
WEATHER: FORCE 7
MESSAGE: TWO LARGE SHIPS AND THREE ESCORTS DETECTED, HEADING SE, UNABLE TO ENGAGE BECAUSE OF POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS. CONTACT LOST.
FROM: U586
TO: ADMIRAL STEINFINKEL
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0446
LOCATION: W19
WEATHER: FORCE 7
MESSAGE: TWO LARGE SHIPS AND THREE ESCORTS DETECTED, HEADING SE, UNABLE TO ENGAGE BECAUSE OF POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS. CONTACT LOST.
FLASH MESSAGE
FROM: ADMIRAL STEINFINKEL
TO: ALL FORCES
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0500
MESSAGE: ALL FORCES TO CONVERGE ON X21 TO INTERCEPT ENEMY FORCE SEEN HEADING SE IN W19. ENGAGE THE ENEMY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, EVEN IF THE FORCES ARRIVE PIECEMEAL.
FROM: ADMIRAL STEINFINKEL
TO: ALL FORCES
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0500
MESSAGE: ALL FORCES TO CONVERGE ON X21 TO INTERCEPT ENEMY FORCE SEEN HEADING SE IN W19. ENGAGE THE ENEMY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, EVEN IF THE FORCES ARRIVE PIECEMEAL.
31 Dec 1942 06:00
FLASH MESSAGE
FROM: FORCE C
TO: ADMIRAL STEINFINKEL
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0700
LOCATION: W19
WEATHER: FORCE 7
MESSAGE: All forces other than U255 have now arrived at X21, the predicted intercept for the enemy group.
Force A X21
Force B X21
Force C X21
U255 V20
U345 X21
U586 X21
U625 X21
FROM: FORCE C
TO: ADMIRAL STEINFINKEL
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0700
LOCATION: W19
WEATHER: FORCE 7
MESSAGE: All forces other than U255 have now arrived at X21, the predicted intercept for the enemy group.
Force A X21
Force B X21
Force C X21
U255 V20
U345 X21
U586 X21
U625 X21
FLASH MESSAGE
FROM: ADMIRAL STEINFINKEL
TO: ALL FORCES
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0741
MESSAGE: Sail NE to W22 - how long since U586 contacted the enemy group? How far might the convoy have travelled?
If not contact, head to V23 then U24.
If still no contact, force A move to T24,force B to T25, force C to U25. Subs stay with main forces (first two Us with A, third with B, last with C)
In this formation, head NE, then SE, then NE, then SE .... and so on, until contact made, then all forces concentrate.
FROM: ADMIRAL STEINFINKEL
TO: ALL FORCES
DATE/TIME: 31 DECEMBER 1942, 0741
MESSAGE: Sail NE to W22 - how long since U586 contacted the enemy group? How far might the convoy have travelled?
If not contact, head to V23 then U24.
If still no contact, force A move to T24,force B to T25, force C to U25. Subs stay with main forces (first two Us with A, third with B, last with C)
In this formation, head NE, then SE, then NE, then SE .... and so on, until contact made, then all forces concentrate.