To: BDU

Sept 3th 1940.
U 44 A
Type VIIB
St. Nazaire, France
0100 hrs

U44 A is ready to set sail to assigned sector BF15. U Boot will depart at 0300 hrs..

Contact Report.: Sept 5th Aircraft spotted. Pulled the plug , will remain submerged the rest of day Speed slow 1400 Hrs.

Contact Report: Sept 11th spotted numerous smoke columns to the North East. 1000 hrs.

Contact Report: The night of Sept 13th. Engaged Convoy Est at 30 ships speed fast Escort 2 DD's + 1 Korvette. Spotted by Escort as torpedo Loose. ( 3 G7a's ) 1 Hit Fast merchant as we dived.
Forced down . The Escorts worked us over causing damage to Stb Diesel Eng and compressor. Sonar reported 2 ships departing.

Popped up for a look see at 0345 hrs. Spotted the Korvette the convoy left behind. Spotted , pulled the plug and into the Celler we hid. the enemy ship dropped random charges all over.

Contact Report: 0613 hrs Sept 14th. No screws heard went to Periscope depth spotted Lone disabled Fast Cargo ship. Closed. fired 2 torpedoes she exploded / Ammo ship ? 7719 Tons.

Message: Sept 17th 1500 hrs: Despite best efforts . Stb Engine un repairable. Retiring to Base

Helmut Kassel
Leutnant zur See

19400903 01:30
Von: BdU
An: U-44
Message received. Gratulieren on your success. Report when 24 hrs from arrival so escort can be arranged.

This is the sort of radio interaction with a human HQ that I get with DEF, before during and after a patrol. As well as signing up with DEF, I would also recommend creating commanders and careers first in SH3 Commander and then launching sH3 from there, not least as it then provides you with an excellent personnel file and the ability to see the actual names of the ships sunk, even how many of the crew survived. As seen here: http://www.donitzeliteflotilla.com/forum/index.php?topic=3368.0

Good luck on your next patrol, Kommandant!