U-47 left St Nazaire on her tenth war patrol in late September 1941, bound for BF24, near Crow Sound in the western end of the English Channel. It did not escape me that this was the exact grid objective that saw the end of my previous career in U-46 as mentioned earlier.
This location is relatively shallow, with depths averaging about 110 meters. In addition, it is heavily patrolled by enemy aircraft. Aircraft have been very dangerous in recent patrols, and we have taken damage on no less than four occasions from near misses. As a result we have been spending more time conducting submerged patrols, which drastically limits our search radius, but spares us the calling cards from above. The hydrophones have good range though, and it is not a terrible disadvantage as we search for targets.
After completing the four days in BF24, we headed west to deeper water and came across a 5000 ton freighter which was sunk in a periscope attack. This is the first patrol in this career I have opted to carry G7e electric torpedoes. Recent patrols have seen the convoys escorted almost entirely by destroyers and Black Swans, replacing the patrol boats and corvettes of the early war. As a result we are making the switch to electrics to hopefully mask our position when making these attacks. The faults of the G7e have not been entirely worked out though, and our dud rate with these torpedoes is noticeably higher than with the G7a steamer. And of course they are slower and have a shorter range, which adds some complication to torpedo attacks. But the 'Happy Times' are over, and survival is the first consideration.
U-47 surfaces after torpedoing a British freighter of 5000 tons in the BF grid
As we have moved in to late 1941, finding lone merchants is proving difficult as the Allies utilize their convoy system more thoroughly. After conducting a mostly submerged patrol for close to a month in the BF grid south of Ireland, we finally detected a merchant heading for the Channel. It proved to be a small 1800 ton mast-stack-mast steamer which we hit with a stern torpedo that proved to be a dud. We extended, surfaced and ran an end around to submerge once again and sank her with a single bow torpedo at first light.
A few minutes after surfacing following this attack, the bridge watch spotted a destroyer closing from the northeast. I quickly plotted it's course and speed and took off ahead on it's track, hoping it may be the screen for a task force and heavy men-of-war. Curiously the destroyer was making just 12 knots by our plot and our flank speed quickly extended the range. After running ahead for five minutes, the watch spotted another ship off our starboard bow. Looking in the direction indicated, I could make out the faint outline of a fighting top in the light fog. We had found another battleship.
I plotted it's course and kept flank speed to pass her by and submerge ahead for an attack. The destroyers escorting were trailing by a considerable distance, effectively leaving the battleship unescorted as far as our approach was concerned. As we drew along her port beam, the battleship suddenly changed course to the south and headed straight for U-47. As she emerged from the fog, there was no mistaking the distinctive features of HMS Rodney with all of her main batteries forward.
As the situation presented itself, I imagined that the task force had encountered one of our kameraden, though there are no AI subs in this mod, but it gave the impression the destroyers were behind searching, and the battleship went ahead, and was zigging at 12 knots along her base course. U-47 submerged and closed the track, which swung from 135 to 160 degrees true.
We were able to close to 700 meters and using the same approach and firing technique outlined in previous posts all four bow electrics were fired on a 075 starboard track. Luck was with us as all four hit and detonated, but unlike other successful attacks on capital ships in this career, Rodney did not explode, but staggered and continued on, down noticeably by the bow and assuming a starboard list.
Ordering flank speed I maneuvered U-47 for a stern shot to finish her off. But I underestimated her speed and this torpedo missed astern. Our highly experienced crew had reloaded tube 1 quickly and we spun around to fire this torpedo before the escorts could close, but as we were ready to fire, Rodney capsized to starboard and slipped below the waves.
It's true that we have encountered and have sunk far too many capital ships in this career (three battleships and a fleet carrier) to be considered realistic in any way, but I must admit I absolutely love it. And for tonnage it's just way over the top, U-47 having surpassed even Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, the top scoring submarine skipper in history, who was credited with 453,000 tons in WW1. I am generally a stickler for realism, but it's just so damn fun to sink ships in sub sims
Here is my view as I relax that evening in the Captain's bunk as the the radioman pulls his shift.
After sinking the Rodney we remained in BF grid to hopefully rid ourselves of the few remaining torpedoes and found a big 9000 ton Panamanian freighter making for England and sank her with two electrics.
The Panamanian freighter, broken in two and sinking (hopefully the night time shots show up well)
U-47 returned to St Nazaire after two months at sea. All in all I am pleased we have survived this far, and we move on in to 1942. Transfers are available, and I am considering a transfer to the 23rd Flotilla in the Mediterranean, out of Salamis.
And this isn't from Operation Monsun, but a screen of my boat, USS Searaven in the South China Sea, in a recent TMO or RFB career. I like the shot so thought I'd share. It's my current wallpaper.
