A sober Christmas

[don1reed]

U-103 IXB, 14 Dez 1940, 04:29

C310 S8. U-103's last fix: N46°32!3 x W15°00!6.
Weather(Wx): No moon, no clouds, no rain/fog, temp 5°C, Wind 5m/s @225°, Sea 3.

Deck Watch reports ship on the horizon! Where away? Br056°, range 10.100m, AOB ~35°port. Started Stopwatch.

Vg1 = Own speed x sin Br / sin AOB
9 x sin 56° / sin 35° = 13.01 kn.

3min and 15sec later...

Mark: Br059°, range 8900m.

Distance travelled in 3min 15sec...8900m x sin 3° / sin 35° = 812m.

Vg2 = meters x constant / seconds

812m x 1.94 / 195sec = 8.1 kn.

Vg1 13.01kn
Vg2 -8.1
----
4.91kn ~ 5kn.

Target course = Co 310° + Br056° = 366°
-180°reciprocal =186°
+035°AOB(port) = C221°
Target: C221 S5. Identified as British Small Merchant: LOA: 78.5m, MHH 32.0m, Dft: 7.5m

Set all fwd torpedoes for 8m depth, speed 40kn, magnetic pistol.

Ib = 310° - 221° = 89°
Gyro Angle = 90° - 89° = 1°
Offset Angle of Collision (lead angle): arcsine [(5/40) sin 90°] = 7.2°

While remaining surfaced with decks awash in dawn's starlight, U-103 continually presented her knife edge view toward her target until we were within 600m. Then, when target's fwd mast reached 8° on the UZO, fired 1. As aft mast reached 8°, fired 2.

U-103's crew erupted with shouts of jubilation a millisecond after both our weapons found their target. She was sunk for 3245grt. Three lifeboats bearing 23, shivering, officers and crew survived the sinking of S.S. McGregor. She was seven days out of Liverpool with cargo bound for Gibraltar. The special sea detail was on deck, armed with boat hooks and Schmeissers, providing first aid, hot coffee, food, water, and compass directions to nearest land. The joy of our success was short lived when faced with the reality of pushing away lifeboats filled with fellow mariners to an unknown fate. As we parted ways, a lone seaman standing unsteadily in the closest lifeboat, cupped his hands around his mouth to amplify the sound. He shouted, "Merry Christmas, mate!"

Later, I went below to record events in the log, I passed the particulars to the radioman. During after action conversation I was having with the off going watch, the radioman stuck his head out to acknowledge that BdU had been notified.