U-Boat Commander Starts Over - Musings of Sorts

Majestik 909 · 01-24-16, 09:55 AM

Well, after a long career aboard U-796 XXI, and over 400,000 GRT, the war ended. So, I started new career aboard U-196 IXC, based out of Penang, June 11, 1943. First mission was a supply drop to Manila through many small island chains. Had to make almost the entire run surfaced...aircraft everywhere. Its a wonder we survived. Sank 13 freighters on the return trip, many in shallow passages, attacking with deck gun and blaring music over the Gramaphone. One ran aground to avoid us, probably by accident. Well, 40,000 GRT isn't a bad start I suppose.

The crew did a nice job of shooting down one pesky aircraft. I passed out cans of black bread, beer and cheese as a reward. In retrospect, the combination may prove at bit much for our CO2 scrubbers!

I forgot how fast the batteries run down on the older boats! I think the XXI has spoiled me.

Waiting for nightfall...sk

R.H.v.H - U-196

Majestik 909 · 01-24-16, 10:16 AM

June 12, 1943 - Hours pass...sitting in a deep pocket just outside Darwin at 18 meters in daylight....every now and again, i take a look around....just fishing boats....small freighters, most of them look as if they could be sunk with a slingshot...waiting for a nice, fat fish to come along. I take no action against small boats.

This odd thing happened to us last night. While attacking a lightly armed merchant. I came by close and looked through the scope just as my gun crew was firing the coup de grace, and I actually saw one sailor drop to his knees on the burning deck as if in prayer. How wish I could order sailors to abandon their ship before final attack, but I find no mechanism that permits this. At least the island clusters afford them safety.

Waiting....

R.H.v.H - U-196

Torplexed · 01-24-16, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Majestik 909

I passed out cans of black bread, beer and cheese as a reward. In retrospect, the combination may prove at bit much for our CO2 scrubbers!

Methane power your IXC. Silent but deadly.

Majestik 909 · 01-24-16, 11:45 AM

Yes, Torplexed!

My dream since childhood is to one day either commission or build a full scale Typ XXIII u-boat and sail it all around the world, as a sort of museum cruise....

Majestik 909 · 01-26-16, 12:32 AM

Update - On June 13, 1943, ordered back to Penang. Given command of U-847 - IX-D2. Received immediate orders to patrol grid quadrant SZ off Darwin. 10 days of patrol chasing contacts that turn out to be nothing more than fishing boats! Only one T3 tanker sunk in 10 days of intense patrol.

Scout aircraft provide good updates, but no heavy tonnage appears to be afloat in this region. Things are quiet indeed.

Considered hiding in Torres Straight, in hopes of intercepting task force, but shallow depths make such an exercise perilous.

May cruise SSW towards Fremantle in hopes of finding targets.

Running surfaced at flank speed by night and watching radar for contacts. Battery life isn't bad on IX-D2. I can get almost 5 hours out of a single charge at flank speed.

As always....waiting....SK

R.H.v.H - U-847

Majestik 909 · 01-26-16, 10:24 AM

June 24, 1943 - 1815 - 150km NW of Sandy Cape - T3 tanker, unescorted, flying American standard, 10 knots, course 270 - first sighting 2,200 meters of target's port bow on heading of 260 with about 800 meters of lead - closing in for deep, close-range shot just above bilge keel....

R.H.v.H - U-847

Majestik 909 · 01-26-16, 12:03 PM

1825 - coffee cools all too quickly in this magnetic cup. Target course and speed unchanged - still closing - observation indicates Kennebeck class tanker - large numerals '68' on bow - heavy armament visible - 21,000 GRT, 11.2 meters draft - G7a torpedoes set to high speed, magnetic pistols, depth 7 meters, spread 2 degrees -will recalculate final firing solution when range to target is under 500 meters.

Closing.....R.H.v.H - U-847

01-24-16, 09:55 AM	#1
Majestik 909 Planesman Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: California Posts: 195 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	U-Boat Commander Starts Over - Musings of Sorts Well, after a long career aboard U-796 XXI, and over 400,000 GRT, the war ended. So, I started new career aboard U-196 IXC, based out of Penang, June 11, 1943. First mission was a supply drop to Manila through many small island chains. Had to make almost the entire run surfaced...aircraft everywhere. Its a wonder we survived. Sank 13 freighters on the return trip, many in shallow passages, attacking with deck gun and blaring music over the Gramaphone. One ran aground to avoid us, probably by accident. Well, 40,000 GRT isn't a bad start I suppose. The crew did a nice job of shooting down one pesky aircraft. I passed out cans of black bread, beer and cheese as a reward. In retrospect, the combination may prove at bit much for our CO2 scrubbers! I forgot how fast the batteries run down on the older boats! I think the XXI has spoiled me. Waiting for nightfall...sk R.H.v.H - U-196

01-26-16, 12:32 AM	#5
Majestik 909 Planesman Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: California Posts: 195 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Update - On June 13, 1943, ordered back to Penang. Given command of U-847 - IX-D2. Received immediate orders to patrol grid quadrant SZ off Darwin. 10 days of patrol chasing contacts that turn out to be nothing more than fishing boats! Only one T3 tanker sunk in 10 days of intense patrol. Scout aircraft provide good updates, but no heavy tonnage appears to be afloat in this region. Things are quiet indeed. Considered hiding in Torres Straight, in hopes of intercepting task force, but shallow depths make such an exercise perilous. May cruise SSW towards Fremantle in hopes of finding targets. Running surfaced at flank speed by night and watching radar for contacts. Battery life isn't bad on IX-D2. I can get almost 5 hours out of a single charge at flank speed. As always....waiting....SK R.H.v.H - U-847 Last edited by Majestik 909; 01-26-16 at 12:55 AM.

01-24-16, 10:16 AM	#2
Majestik 909 Planesman Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: California Posts: 195 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	June 12, 1943 - Hours pass...sitting in a deep pocket just outside Darwin at 18 meters in daylight....every now and again, i take a look around....just fishing boats....small freighters, most of them look as if they could be sunk with a slingshot...waiting for a nice, fat fish to come along. I take no action against small boats. This odd thing happened to us last night. While attacking a lightly armed merchant. I came by close and looked through the scope just as my gun crew was firing the coup de grace, and I actually saw one sailor drop to his knees on the burning deck as if in prayer. How wish I could order sailors to abandon their ship before final attack, but I find no mechanism that permits this. At least the island clusters afford them safety. Waiting.... R.H.v.H - U-196

01-24-16, 11:45 AM	#4
Majestik 909 Planesman Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: California Posts: 195 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yes, Torplexed! My dream since childhood is to one day either commission or build a full scale Typ XXIII u-boat and sail it all around the world, as a sort of museum cruise....

01-26-16, 10:24 AM	#6
Majestik 909 Planesman Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: California Posts: 195 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	June 24, 1943 - 1815 - 150km NW of Sandy Cape - T3 tanker, unescorted, flying American standard, 10 knots, course 270 - first sighting 2,200 meters of target's port bow on heading of 260 with about 800 meters of lead - closing in for deep, close-range shot just above bilge keel.... R.H.v.H - U-847

01-26-16, 12:03 PM	#7
Majestik 909 Planesman Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: California Posts: 195 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	1825 - coffee cools all too quickly in this magnetic cup. Target course and speed unchanged - still closing - observation indicates Kennebeck class tanker - large numerals '68' on bow - heavy armament visible - 21,000 GRT, 11.2 meters draft - G7a torpedoes set to high speed, magnetic pistols, depth 7 meters, spread 2 degrees -will recalculate final firing solution when range to target is under 500 meters. Closing.....R.H.v.H - U-847