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Scoochy · 03-21-10, 02:11 AM

This is the story of the second patrol for U-31....with lots of screenies.

Leaving Kiel on 28 September, with no intention of returning before our unit made the transfer out of there. To many close calls going through that harbor has us all nervous each time we make the transit.

We took the northern route vice fighting through the canal. It meant there was a few more days to sail, but the weather was nice so we didn't mind much.

A little morning sun to warm the Con Watch up

Even though we are only a few hours sail north of Kiel, the WO still keeps a keen lookout.

Sailing off to the north, U-31 departs for her second patrol.

A few days into it and we are only 14 hours east of Britain. We are eager to get to work cracking open some boats, but you can't help think about what might go wrong.

We are dipping under every couple hours to give the ocean a listen to. Early morning on the 30th, we hear what sounds like a mess of engines, moving to west. We turn to the north, trying to keep the sound on a constant bearing to close in for a visual.

Several hours pass, and we are finally able to pick them up. Looks like a group of 8 mixed merchants and no escort in sight. Our periscope seems to be on the blink so it makes IDing these guys tough.

Something screwy with the scope, we're missing half the ship.

Over the course of the next couple of hours we shadow the convoy, checking for escort and getting ID's. Our numbers still match, 8 ships, no escorts. So we get ahead of them by 6km and set up our attack position.

Our plan is simple. Sit on their port 90, and fire 2 salvos, 2 shots per into 2 targets. We'll continue to shadow while we reload, picking them off as soon as the tube is ready. It's daytime out, but we see no armament on any of these. We need to keep a watch out though, any sign of DD pulling in and we gotta hide.

The targets are coming into position. They apparently do not suspect a thing. Still steaming along at about 13 knots and steady on course. Our first target enters the profile.

"Fire tube 1, fire tube 3"

I rotate the scope, getting our second target in sight.

"Fire tube 2, fire tube 4"

The fish are out, tracking. No indication that the convoy has seen anything. First torp impacts the lead target but hits way aft! Damnit, the range or speed must have been off and with this distance and spread, the second torp must have gone behind her! All this planning, only to have it fall apart.

The ships stern begins to sag and is no longer leaving a wake. Must have hit it in her drive, she is now DIW and not going anywhere.

The second salvo of 2 impact the second target. Both hitting fore and aft of the structure, but she doesn't sink.

This is going to be a long engagement I'm thinking. The time goes by, I'm reloading, and firing and soon as the tube is ready. Picking them off, one by one. But none are sinking. My ranges and speeds are consistently off to the point where I am finally out of torps. Need to get this stadimeter checked when we pull back in.......

Current tally;
5 Ships damaged
1 Ship sunk
2 Undamaged

We are all pretty frustrated right now. 10 Torpedoes out, and one ship to show for it. We are not letting these guys go home.

We surface the boat. The deck gun starts it's volleys, High Explosive ammunition begins to burst against the hulls and structures resulting in an incredible fireworks show. One by one, the ships yield to the barrage and sink to the bottom.

Swiss Cheese

HE ammo is expended, switching over to AP. All but one torpedo damaged ship has been dispatched and we turn the gun over to the fleeing undamaged ships. The AP quickly pierces the thin hulls, just below the water line. After 30 minutes, quick for us, probably an eternity for them, the 2 merchants sink to the bottom.

One ship left. We have recovered from the terrible start and have 7 of the 8 lying on the ocean floor. We turn the ship over to our first friend. With her drive taken out, she is drifting and unable to maneuver, should be easy. Good thing to, ammunition check shows that we have only 13 AP rounds left.

Turning in towards the wounded merchant, the last of the convoy.

Deck gun manned, ready to put her down.

13 AP rounds later, the ship engulfed in flames, we had to leave. All of our ammunition is expended and no other way of bringing her down. Tough ship.

8 Ships in the convoy, 7 sunk, 1 heavily damaged and immobilized. Total tonnage, 41,119. I think we can go home now.

03-21-10, 02:11 AM	#2
Scoochy Sparky Join Date: May 2005 Location: San diego Ca. Posts: 150 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	This is the story of the second patrol for U-31....with lots of screenies. Leaving Kiel on 28 September, with no intention of returning before our unit made the transfer out of there. To many close calls going through that harbor has us all nervous each time we make the transit. We took the northern route vice fighting through the canal. It meant there was a few more days to sail, but the weather was nice so we didn't mind much. A little morning sun to warm the Con Watch up Even though we are only a few hours sail north of Kiel, the WO still keeps a keen lookout. Sailing off to the north, U-31 departs for her second patrol. A few days into it and we are only 14 hours east of Britain. We are eager to get to work cracking open some boats, but you can't help think about what might go wrong. We are dipping under every couple hours to give the ocean a listen to. Early morning on the 30th, we hear what sounds like a mess of engines, moving to west. We turn to the north, trying to keep the sound on a constant bearing to close in for a visual. Several hours pass, and we are finally able to pick them up. Looks like a group of 8 mixed merchants and no escort in sight. Our periscope seems to be on the blink so it makes IDing these guys tough. Something screwy with the scope, we're missing half the ship. Over the course of the next couple of hours we shadow the convoy, checking for escort and getting ID's. Our numbers still match, 8 ships, no escorts. So we get ahead of them by 6km and set up our attack position. Our plan is simple. Sit on their port 90, and fire 2 salvos, 2 shots per into 2 targets. We'll continue to shadow while we reload, picking them off as soon as the tube is ready. It's daytime out, but we see no armament on any of these. We need to keep a watch out though, any sign of DD pulling in and we gotta hide. The targets are coming into position. They apparently do not suspect a thing. Still steaming along at about 13 knots and steady on course. Our first target enters the profile. "Fire tube 1, fire tube 3" I rotate the scope, getting our second target in sight. "Fire tube 2, fire tube 4" The fish are out, tracking. No indication that the convoy has seen anything. First torp impacts the lead target but hits way aft! Damnit, the range or speed must have been off and with this distance and spread, the second torp must have gone behind her! All this planning, only to have it fall apart. The ships stern begins to sag and is no longer leaving a wake. Must have hit it in her drive, she is now DIW and not going anywhere. The second salvo of 2 impact the second target. Both hitting fore and aft of the structure, but she doesn't sink. This is going to be a long engagement I'm thinking. The time goes by, I'm reloading, and firing and soon as the tube is ready. Picking them off, one by one. But none are sinking. My ranges and speeds are consistently off to the point where I am finally out of torps. Need to get this stadimeter checked when we pull back in....... Current tally; 5 Ships damaged 1 Ship sunk 2 Undamaged We are all pretty frustrated right now. 10 Torpedoes out, and one ship to show for it. We are not letting these guys go home. We surface the boat. The deck gun starts it's volleys, High Explosive ammunition begins to burst against the hulls and structures resulting in an incredible fireworks show. One by one, the ships yield to the barrage and sink to the bottom. Swiss Cheese HE ammo is expended, switching over to AP. All but one torpedo damaged ship has been dispatched and we turn the gun over to the fleeing undamaged ships. The AP quickly pierces the thin hulls, just below the water line. After 30 minutes, quick for us, probably an eternity for them, the 2 merchants sink to the bottom. One ship left. We have recovered from the terrible start and have 7 of the 8 lying on the ocean floor. We turn the ship over to our first friend. With her drive taken out, she is drifting and unable to maneuver, should be easy. Good thing to, ammunition check shows that we have only 13 AP rounds left. Turning in towards the wounded merchant, the last of the convoy. Deck gun manned, ready to put her down. 13 AP rounds later, the ship engulfed in flames, we had to leave. All of our ammunition is expended and no other way of bringing her down. Tough ship. 8 Ships in the convoy, 7 sunk, 1 heavily damaged and immobilized. Total tonnage, 41,119. I think we can go home now.