"The war" #2 said "is passing us by"...

[rome8800]

Awesome, I'm really loving it.
I can really place myself into the characters and, its got something special.
I dont know what, but something special

[bigboywooly]

Very nice
Always look forward to the next installment
Keep em coming

[Jimbuna]

Be quick about the woman part

[Silverleaf]

16 March, 1941
Captain's Log

We've been sitting on the bottom for the last 14 hours. Serious damage to all compartments has the crew close to the breaking point, whether it's them or the ship is yet to be determined. At this moment, 5 men have lost their lives, due to DC's and flooding.

[Silverleaf]

21 hours earlier...

BDU sent a report of a convoy heading due west - some 40 degrees to starboard from our current position. It's been hell playing mud puppy to the battleship group that's been tailing us relentlessly for 3 days. Chief reports some minor damage from DC's and a close rake with the ocean floor - how I wish we could go on the offensive.

I've called rig for silent and changed course so many times I need to keep checking the map for our position. Petre keeps giving me coffee, Doc orders me to lay down, and Bull wants to load the torpedoes and give em' hell. Hans has done a fantastic job, he's relentless, and when we get back to port I'm putting him in for a medal - he's earned it in spades.

"Contact moving away sir - it's quiet, for the time being". I personally check out the sonar, and change course another 60 degrees, dropping 30 more meters as we go. Chief has sweat and grease dripping off him from checking the batteries, so far their holding up well.

Sonar, give me readings every 2 minutes for the next 20. #2, if everything is quiet, periscope depth and tell Bull to get some eels ready. I gulp down more coffee, this time Chief's added some of his hooch to it. Whoa, that's got a kick! An hour later, we're free and clear of those bastards, and sailing North East at breakneck speed. Something tells me we're in for one hell of a ride, but I'm enjoying the sea spray and fresh air.

Chief joins the watch elbowing me for a refill, I nod slowly and just as he finishes pouring a drought, Hans screams "Multiple screws, moving West, medium speed".

Here we go again...

[kdv]

Well done, this is a very interesting read!

Keep up the good work, and may I suggest - this has the makings of a good novel, depending on how much writing you're willing to do .

[Silverleaf]

We've played the mouse for too long Chief. Bull, get them eels ready and pronto, something feels wrong. Hans is listening intently, making notes when he drops the headset "Captain, listen to this".

When I'm ready Hans turns the dial and a cacophony of screws greets my ears. Hans gives me a perplexed look, then I nod for him to repeat. After three passes, I drop the headset, ignoring his stare and turn to Petre. All stop, I want silence for the next ten minutes.

The ship goes dead, everyone holding their collective breath as Hans and I continue to listen, marking times and coordinates, comparing notes and staring holes into the Junghans stopwatch as the minutes pass. Victor slides in when the time has passed, and we all gather around the map to lay out the data. When everything has been drawn and we get a view of the situation, I can feel the ship's nerves set on edge.

Twenty eight ships, heading Northwest.

#2, check if we have any reports of other u-boats in the region. Chief, bring us to course 335, max speed. All stations stand by.

This will be our first real test, a convoy or perhaps even a task force. With that storm up there those ships won't make good time and we can beat em. Chief gave the order, then came over to where we were standing "Captain, where we heading?".

I looked at Petre, then slowly dropped my hand down to the map, sliding my finger up and stopping at the words 'Scapa Flow'.

[Weiss Pinguin]

Hanging on every word.

[STEC]

great job, good imagination.

[Silverleaf]

6 hours later we were in position, periscope depth and screws barely turning. I took a quick look, nasty waves, high seas and then bang there they were. We've spotted the entire British fleet I thought as Petre confirmed the sighting.

All right boys, it's time to start the hunt. #2 confirm positions at check. His silence spoke volumes as Chief grabbed my shoulder - a firm but reassuring grasp. Check, gears turned and check. 24 and 38 degrees. Two huge merchants. Chief, come to heading 31 we'll split the differ..

Hold!!

As I peered through the periscope a destroyer rolled past my view and a massive ship came into sight. Either a troop or ..damn waves... battleship perhaps but couldn't tell for sure. Then as I was ready to move, a glint of moonlight shown through, and the Hood's older stacks became prominent.

Check position. 28 degrees

I watched the destroyer and she looked like she was angling inwards slightly towards the center of the group, if so, then we might have a clear shot. Worth a go.

Chief, come to heading 26.
Depth under Keel as tube 1 fires.
Open tubes 1 through 4, 2 degree spread.

Petre gave the thumbs up, and I waited..feeling my heartbeat and counting them 6, 7, 8, 9, ... tubes 1 and 3 LOS!

Depth is 84 Sir. I waited another 5 heart beats... tubes 2 and 4 LOS!

As the eels slid away, I was already dropping the scope and giving new orders. Damage control to stations, double knuckle to starboard, dive to 56, continue for 45 seconds, then rig for silent. Hans, I want sonar reports 30 seconds after we turn.

The boat exploded into action, and through it all Petre stood still, balancing his body and keeping an eye on his stopwatch as we started the tight turn.

I had a vision of the battle in my head, the eels flying strong through the turbulence, perhaps one of two of the sonar men picking up a slight disturbance on board one of the ships, but in these rough seas, good luck. We, turning away and showing our tail and a slim target, and above the ships struggling mightily against the storm.

As we came out of the turn, I looked at the clock beside Chief. 42..43..44..45.

"Rig for silent" came Chief's call.

"Time Captain" came the voice over my shoulder as a report was slid into my view. Victor and Hans had become quite a team. Nothing yet on Sonar. Chief, turn to heading 145.

I gazed at Petre, the clock in my head saying we had perhaps another minute before we'd know when Hans screamed, "CONTACT! Screw right on top.."

There was a horrendous sound as the boat lurched. Then the lights went out.

[Silverleaf]

Creaking and buckling sounds greeted my ears, though I couldn't see a damn thing. "I need damage and crew reports, and someone get working on the lights". Multiple depth charges jolted us some more, sending the ship rolling severely from port to starboard, and in a few cases, on all axis. In the distance explosions sounded but we couldn't be sure what they were.

Otto, one of our trusted Helmsmen was seriously injured, Doc was working on him frantically to close a large gash in his side. A few crewmen came to help us move him back to a bunk and Bull appeared in the doorway between flickers of light and a torch haphazardly held to report the loss of three men. Oskar, Erwin and Felix. I nodded slowly, wiping blood off my hands. As I made my way past Bull the boat jumped again - slamming hard on what could only be the ocean floor - and grinding along what sounded like a rocky outcropping. Hopefully she doesn't tear apart along the seam.

Lights flickered, then went out and at the same time we all hit the deck, hard. Then silence.

The DC's faded at least temporarily, and then with a last deep gurgle the boat lurched to one side and stopped, listing to port by some 9 degrees, it was surreal to realize we were on the bottom of the ocean and still alive.

When I made it back to the command room the lights flickered on for half a heartbeat, went off then started to brighten from a dull glow. Klaus screamed from the foredeck that partial lights were restored, and that he and Chief were checking the batteries. Petre appeared from below the table, a nasty cut on his head, but he still held the watch in his hands. I helped #2 over to a bunk, and checked his wound. You'll make it old friend, and hopefully we all will.

A few moments later the wretched death throe sounds of a ship coming to join us could be heard, the joy and sorrow that moment brought won't soon be forgotten as I made my way over to the gauges, wiping condensation to clear the dials, and checking positions. Water reported in the rear torpedo room, but it was under control. I squinted through the haze at the depth, blinked then wiped again. #2, came staggering over and peered over my shoulder...

207 meters.

[Silverleaf]

Chief took this moment to appear, enough sweat and grease to make me do a double take. He glanced at the depth, checked some gauges then turned to face me.

"Kap, it's not good. We've got ruptures throughout the ship, and some flooding. We've got enough air for 35 hours and the batteries are in fair shape. Christoff, one of our Damage Control team got trapped and Doc just told me... Otto didn't make it".

He pulled out his flask, went to take a drink and realized it was empty. A small hole in the side told the tale. "Dammit" he bellowed "that's two in six months!"

I nodded to Leopold our second shift Helmsman and he brought out a bottle of whiskey, which we passed around. After a short break, I told Petre to order everyone off duty to report to their bunks. We need to save air and take stock of everything. I'm off to help Chief and see how the boat's holding up.

[nikbear]

I read that all so fast that I had to read it twice,I'm on the edge of me seat here cracking material

[kdv]

Hasn't their air run out yet ?

We need an update!

[Silverleaf]

I awoke to the banging of a pipe near the ladder, raised my head groggily and peered through the din. Chief leaned back heavily against the bulkhead with exhaustion written on his face. Sweat rolled off his body, his breath was short and labored. He took a drink of water and then glanced my way. "Sorry Kap, that's the best I can do". He rose to his feet and slowly stumbled over to where I sat hunched against the table.

"Its okay Chief, we've got enough air, but if she don't rise it won't matter". He wiped the gauges, took another glance then turned to me. I stood up, wiping a ten minute nap from my eyes as we checked the list. "Everything that can be done, has been. We need to give her a go, and pray like hell". I nodded and moments later everyone was in position. Sonar was clear.

"Chief, take her up".

Every eye was trained on the depth gauge as Chief nodded, grabbed Leopold's shoulder's as we waited holding our breath.