johnm
06-02-07, 04:17 PM
I realised that lately I'd only been reporting complaints and problems. When I finished my fifth patrol, I thought I could give some good news for a change.
I was ordered to patrol BE59. My VIIB, U-51 left Wilhelmshaven on 21/12/1939 at 2:34.
Despite being jumped by a couple of Hurricanes (IIC!) I pressed on and sank a large merchant west of Scotland. I detected another ship but was unable to sight it due to heavy weather.
I didn't sight anything after that also due to continuous heavy weather but managed to complete my patrol of BE59.
On completion I started north towards tanker alley, then raised a merchant signature. I laid in a course to intercept only to find it was a small convoy consisting of a minesweeper (later identified as french), a C2 and a coastal merchant. I lurked, tracking the minelayer, once I'd dealt with him, the other would be easy meat.
I let the minelayer get to within 800 metres before firing a magnetic torpedo at 5 metres depth. It missed. The minesweeper was zig-zagging and I'd fired at the wrong time.
Quickly set up another solution and fired again. No go - he was within 300 metres and torpedo wasn't armed. By this time I was down to my last two torpedoes and he was starting a depth charge attack (ungrateful so and so).
By thias time I was fed up with bad weather and no useable targets. so decided to attack him before he blew me to oblivion! I waited until it appeared that he was travelling away from me and ordered the sub surfaced.
Unfortunately, by the time I'd dragged the watch officer up on deck and ordered the guns crew to work, the minelayer had turned and was running towards me! I'd ordered the 88 to target his armament but they were not having much succes and he was starting to hit me. I took over the gun and managed to knock it out. After a few more hits, I left the gun's crew to fire at his waterline while I tracked the other ships.
Once the minelayer was signalled as 'going down' the gun's crew switched to the C2! I took over the gun again and sank the coastal merchant.
I then laid in a course to close the C2. I had a slight problem, I had two torpedoes but one in the bows and one in the stern tubes. I fired the bow tube. a hit but little effect. I then had to chase the C2, try to get ahead and turn to get the stern tube operational. After several goes, I managed. A hit! but still no coconut!
I had to use the gun's crew to shell it, while I amused myself with the flak gun on his deck cargo. Eventually it sank!
I then cheated and 'escaped' rather than sail all the way back. Success and promotions for my crew.
I was so pleased, I decided to post the results on the forum as a change from moaning about problems. However, when I looked at the patrol report supplied by SH3 commander, it only registered the first kill, nothing about the convoy! French were our enemies in Dec 1939 surely?
Still, as they used to say in the Royal Navy --- if you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined!
:damn:
I'll try again and again!
I was ordered to patrol BE59. My VIIB, U-51 left Wilhelmshaven on 21/12/1939 at 2:34.
Despite being jumped by a couple of Hurricanes (IIC!) I pressed on and sank a large merchant west of Scotland. I detected another ship but was unable to sight it due to heavy weather.
I didn't sight anything after that also due to continuous heavy weather but managed to complete my patrol of BE59.
On completion I started north towards tanker alley, then raised a merchant signature. I laid in a course to intercept only to find it was a small convoy consisting of a minesweeper (later identified as french), a C2 and a coastal merchant. I lurked, tracking the minelayer, once I'd dealt with him, the other would be easy meat.
I let the minelayer get to within 800 metres before firing a magnetic torpedo at 5 metres depth. It missed. The minesweeper was zig-zagging and I'd fired at the wrong time.
Quickly set up another solution and fired again. No go - he was within 300 metres and torpedo wasn't armed. By this time I was down to my last two torpedoes and he was starting a depth charge attack (ungrateful so and so).
By thias time I was fed up with bad weather and no useable targets. so decided to attack him before he blew me to oblivion! I waited until it appeared that he was travelling away from me and ordered the sub surfaced.
Unfortunately, by the time I'd dragged the watch officer up on deck and ordered the guns crew to work, the minelayer had turned and was running towards me! I'd ordered the 88 to target his armament but they were not having much succes and he was starting to hit me. I took over the gun and managed to knock it out. After a few more hits, I left the gun's crew to fire at his waterline while I tracked the other ships.
Once the minelayer was signalled as 'going down' the gun's crew switched to the C2! I took over the gun again and sank the coastal merchant.
I then laid in a course to close the C2. I had a slight problem, I had two torpedoes but one in the bows and one in the stern tubes. I fired the bow tube. a hit but little effect. I then had to chase the C2, try to get ahead and turn to get the stern tube operational. After several goes, I managed. A hit! but still no coconut!
I had to use the gun's crew to shell it, while I amused myself with the flak gun on his deck cargo. Eventually it sank!
I then cheated and 'escaped' rather than sail all the way back. Success and promotions for my crew.
I was so pleased, I decided to post the results on the forum as a change from moaning about problems. However, when I looked at the patrol report supplied by SH3 commander, it only registered the first kill, nothing about the convoy! French were our enemies in Dec 1939 surely?
Still, as they used to say in the Royal Navy --- if you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined!
:damn:
I'll try again and again!