Stoli
04-30-07, 10:05 AM
U-1 Type IIa off the Coast near Aberdeen. Arrived at patrol grid with 50% fuel reserves, storming rain and minimal visibility. Dove to 25m, Sound contact long range, moving slow, heading away. The men were anxious for action but Chief was grumbling about burning the fuel. We decide to surface and give chase. The seas were raging with a vengeance and the boat would completely submerge after cresting the waves. Diesel engines could only maintain 9kts at best but the merchant was in sight now. Chief calls out fuel levels at 40%. It was soon clear we would not be able to flank her; the seas were favoring the prey this day. Fuel is 35% and we have maneuvered the boat within 700m directly behind the merchant vessel. The unforgiving seas were tossing her side to side. We were only going to get one chance and this was it. Set the G7a’s on magnetic at 10m depth, three shot salvo, 3 degree spread. Torpedoes in the water, switched to free camera and followed the fish. 100m before impact the center fish premature detonates and the two remaining zing harmlessly past the vessel to the left and right…
Dove to 25m, all stop, reloaded tubes and assigned all crew to the barracks. All were pushed to point of exhaustion and the chase had required three engine crew changes. After waiting out the 24hour patrol shift we started the agonizing trip back home alternating between 3kts diesel power and battery. We hit critical fuel about 90nm off the Kiel Canal entrance. Luckily our boat was equipped with the top secret “Return to Base” option.
Man what a rush, I know it’s just a “game” but my heart rate was pumping when I finally let those fish fly.
Stoli
U-1 Type IIa
(Currently located somewhere in their baffles)
Dove to 25m, all stop, reloaded tubes and assigned all crew to the barracks. All were pushed to point of exhaustion and the chase had required three engine crew changes. After waiting out the 24hour patrol shift we started the agonizing trip back home alternating between 3kts diesel power and battery. We hit critical fuel about 90nm off the Kiel Canal entrance. Luckily our boat was equipped with the top secret “Return to Base” option.
Man what a rush, I know it’s just a “game” but my heart rate was pumping when I finally let those fish fly.
Stoli
U-1 Type IIa
(Currently located somewhere in their baffles)