danurve
01-31-07, 02:30 PM
This patrol-post contains a harbor raid.
It was by opportunity and consideration and one of the reasons for this post. On patrol I typicaly stick to patrol orders as some have been productive - fun to the game. So, before the uber-realists get all uptight I would ask only to first read the patrol log. It may shed some light as to how this unfolded.
Basically I don’t tell a story very well. Unless it involves how to make chicken wings the right way, or a day out with one of my trusty shotguns, or rifles. So, here is a log style presentation. The thumbnails are highlights; all in all I took about 50 screens on this patrol. Some of the images have been edited for night shot viewing. I used a program called ThumbaWumba 2.0 for the presentation, left out the originals to save space and bandwidth.
1.) First sighting produced a merchant. Tried to sneak in close then drop to periscope depth however I was soon spotted I believe due to the calm conditions. So as an alternate U-49 was ordered to full and then at 2000 meters started use of the deck gun. A few moments after she sank several aircraft were spotted and the boat was brought to periscope depth.
2.) Later after returning to course a sound contact produces a coastal steamer. A single fish makes her list heavy. Surfaced the boat to finish the kill but the deck gun wasn’t needed after all.
3.) U-49’s course then takes us through the English Channel. (early war) Some would say the officers of U-49 are over zealous. However since the days of the crews first type II we found a successful method to deal with many angry destroyers, and thus are determined along with the commander & crew to put this to use in the VIIB boat. Three such destroyers are sunk.
4.) A C2 cargo then makes the mistake of crossing our course. With some breathing room only one steamer is used. The crew gets in some deck gun time to help save fish.
5.) C2’s must be on sale, or merchant communications are at a standstill. Shortly after returning to course once again a sound contact produces another C2. This one took some tracking, however she was no match for a good aob shot. Once this was over U-49 found itself less then 5000 meters from Dover.
6.) CE reports U-49 is well on O2 & charge. WO reports 8 steamers remaining. U-49’s command must now decide to return to course and make use of BdU’s orders or make use of the crew’s mustered determination. A detour of course and sound check produces 6 targets on or about Dover, 4 being stationary. The opportunity has presented itself; a few less patrolling destroyers, a prime time on the clock, good distance & navigation.
7.) One of the patrolling targets turned out not to be the trawler caught in the scope earlier, but just a small boat most likely as a scout. U-49 proceeded to slowly enter the harbor while silent running. First target a docked destroyer to remove an immediate threat. Second target was a docked merchant, while the shot was difficult it was successful. Third shot was a costal broadside. And Fourth a docked C2. She put up more of a struggle but anxious to exit the harbor a 3rd steamer took her down.
8.) SO reports no other immediate threats nearby. Silent running was cancelled and the remaining 2 fish loaded. Upon exiting Dover a sound check reveals a merchant contact a few hours away.
9.) Plotted an intercept course for the contact away from a trawler so the boat could surface and get some air. Less then 30 minutes had passed then aircraft (6) were spotted. U-49 ordered to periscope depth at flank with a slight course change then slowed. Several charges dropped but none hit the boat. The British seem upset about the boats recent achievements. The boat crew being shifted to rest at opportune times as O2 was less then 100%. Course was corrected along with speed for the contact. Intercept was imminent.
10.) A bit of battery power was used for short bursts of speed combind with hydrophone checks to close this last contact but the course was true. The two last steamers stopped the C2 but failed to break her back. A short time on the deck gun resolved this.
11.) Patrol report sent, a general course ENE awaiting new orders from BdU. This would be U-49’s 2nd patrol depleting all fish without completing original patrol orders. So far BdU seems pleased regarding the results.
A few highlights
http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_004.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_004.jpg)http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_010.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_010.jpg)http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_015.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_015.jpg)http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_023.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_023.jpg)
http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_029.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_029.jpg)http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_030.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_030.jpg)http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_042.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_042.jpg)http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_047.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_047.jpg)
U-49 patrol #8 thumbs (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/page1.html)
It was by opportunity and consideration and one of the reasons for this post. On patrol I typicaly stick to patrol orders as some have been productive - fun to the game. So, before the uber-realists get all uptight I would ask only to first read the patrol log. It may shed some light as to how this unfolded.
Basically I don’t tell a story very well. Unless it involves how to make chicken wings the right way, or a day out with one of my trusty shotguns, or rifles. So, here is a log style presentation. The thumbnails are highlights; all in all I took about 50 screens on this patrol. Some of the images have been edited for night shot viewing. I used a program called ThumbaWumba 2.0 for the presentation, left out the originals to save space and bandwidth.
1.) First sighting produced a merchant. Tried to sneak in close then drop to periscope depth however I was soon spotted I believe due to the calm conditions. So as an alternate U-49 was ordered to full and then at 2000 meters started use of the deck gun. A few moments after she sank several aircraft were spotted and the boat was brought to periscope depth.
2.) Later after returning to course a sound contact produces a coastal steamer. A single fish makes her list heavy. Surfaced the boat to finish the kill but the deck gun wasn’t needed after all.
3.) U-49’s course then takes us through the English Channel. (early war) Some would say the officers of U-49 are over zealous. However since the days of the crews first type II we found a successful method to deal with many angry destroyers, and thus are determined along with the commander & crew to put this to use in the VIIB boat. Three such destroyers are sunk.
4.) A C2 cargo then makes the mistake of crossing our course. With some breathing room only one steamer is used. The crew gets in some deck gun time to help save fish.
5.) C2’s must be on sale, or merchant communications are at a standstill. Shortly after returning to course once again a sound contact produces another C2. This one took some tracking, however she was no match for a good aob shot. Once this was over U-49 found itself less then 5000 meters from Dover.
6.) CE reports U-49 is well on O2 & charge. WO reports 8 steamers remaining. U-49’s command must now decide to return to course and make use of BdU’s orders or make use of the crew’s mustered determination. A detour of course and sound check produces 6 targets on or about Dover, 4 being stationary. The opportunity has presented itself; a few less patrolling destroyers, a prime time on the clock, good distance & navigation.
7.) One of the patrolling targets turned out not to be the trawler caught in the scope earlier, but just a small boat most likely as a scout. U-49 proceeded to slowly enter the harbor while silent running. First target a docked destroyer to remove an immediate threat. Second target was a docked merchant, while the shot was difficult it was successful. Third shot was a costal broadside. And Fourth a docked C2. She put up more of a struggle but anxious to exit the harbor a 3rd steamer took her down.
8.) SO reports no other immediate threats nearby. Silent running was cancelled and the remaining 2 fish loaded. Upon exiting Dover a sound check reveals a merchant contact a few hours away.
9.) Plotted an intercept course for the contact away from a trawler so the boat could surface and get some air. Less then 30 minutes had passed then aircraft (6) were spotted. U-49 ordered to periscope depth at flank with a slight course change then slowed. Several charges dropped but none hit the boat. The British seem upset about the boats recent achievements. The boat crew being shifted to rest at opportune times as O2 was less then 100%. Course was corrected along with speed for the contact. Intercept was imminent.
10.) A bit of battery power was used for short bursts of speed combind with hydrophone checks to close this last contact but the course was true. The two last steamers stopped the C2 but failed to break her back. A short time on the deck gun resolved this.
11.) Patrol report sent, a general course ENE awaiting new orders from BdU. This would be U-49’s 2nd patrol depleting all fish without completing original patrol orders. So far BdU seems pleased regarding the results.
A few highlights
http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_004.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_004.jpg)http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_010.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_010.jpg)http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_015.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_015.jpg)http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_023.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_023.jpg)
http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_029.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_029.jpg)http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_030.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_030.jpg)http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_042.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_042.jpg)http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/t_047.jpg (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/n_047.jpg)
U-49 patrol #8 thumbs (http://huntny.us/sh3/u49_8/page1.html)