Brag
03-12-07, 10:54 AM
You can guess why in May 1941, BDU sent me to a zero traffic grid south of the Equator.
Having sunk a FiJi class a few days earlier and still alive after serious interference by 3 black Swans, we merrily chugged 150 kms. off the African coast. Abeam Freetown, a listening dive revealed a convoy heading our way. A 90 degree turn, action stations, silent running and we were ready.
Soon, a Black Swan appeared on the scope, heading straight for us. Expecting it to zig-zag, I held my course. The blighter held his. Testing my nerves of steel, I kept my course. One thousand meters away, the Black Swan was still on a collision course. Large convoy behind it. "Merde alors, " I said, wishing I was in Lorient.
"Tube one, depth, 4.5 meters." With the Swan 550 meters away, "Feur einz!."
"Torpedo treffer!"
The eel exploded somewhere to the rear and the bugger started pinging, firing starshells and illuminating our scope. Still heading straight for us. Now tossing depth charges. "Crash dive."
Almost on top of us, its stern goes under and the vessel does its swan-song.
Arrest dive. Can't see any other escorts.
Ten minutes later, 90 degrees to convoy's course, I spot a Flower nestled btween a huge tanker and a large freighter.
We launch six torpedoes at various targets. 2 seconds after hitting the tanker, the corvette launches a long string of depth charges without changing course. We bag over 40,000 tons while the other escorts also dump depth charges right where they are. We left the convoy without being bothered. It was refreshing to tangle with a convoy escorted by idiots. :yep: :yep: :yep:
Having sunk a FiJi class a few days earlier and still alive after serious interference by 3 black Swans, we merrily chugged 150 kms. off the African coast. Abeam Freetown, a listening dive revealed a convoy heading our way. A 90 degree turn, action stations, silent running and we were ready.
Soon, a Black Swan appeared on the scope, heading straight for us. Expecting it to zig-zag, I held my course. The blighter held his. Testing my nerves of steel, I kept my course. One thousand meters away, the Black Swan was still on a collision course. Large convoy behind it. "Merde alors, " I said, wishing I was in Lorient.
"Tube one, depth, 4.5 meters." With the Swan 550 meters away, "Feur einz!."
"Torpedo treffer!"
The eel exploded somewhere to the rear and the bugger started pinging, firing starshells and illuminating our scope. Still heading straight for us. Now tossing depth charges. "Crash dive."
Almost on top of us, its stern goes under and the vessel does its swan-song.
Arrest dive. Can't see any other escorts.
Ten minutes later, 90 degrees to convoy's course, I spot a Flower nestled btween a huge tanker and a large freighter.
We launch six torpedoes at various targets. 2 seconds after hitting the tanker, the corvette launches a long string of depth charges without changing course. We bag over 40,000 tons while the other escorts also dump depth charges right where they are. We left the convoy without being bothered. It was refreshing to tangle with a convoy escorted by idiots. :yep: :yep: :yep: