GoldenRivet
07-13-07, 10:56 AM
Started a new career in U-45 out of Kiel in 1939.
its now march 1940 and im on the third patrol. I encountered a convoy in grid square AM27 on March 6, 1940 at 0503 hours
settled into a firing position in the stormy seas and reviewed the target rich menu.
as my scope scanned the scene one ship was revealed after the other
large cargo for about 10,000 tons
whale factory ship for about 11,500 tons
another whale factory ship for another 11,500 tons
several passenger/cargo ships - hauling corks and life vests no doubt :shifty:
a couple of medium cargo ships
HMS Nelson
:huh: wha - wha - what!? through the poor weather (no rain yet) i couldnt tell right away what kind of ship it was - looked odd at first like some sort of off shore oil platform! but as my eyes adjusted through the scope i was elated.
a smile sneaked across my face. "ill spread two at the Nelson's magazine and one each at the two whale factory ships." even if i only damage them we are three days voyage to the British coastal shallows. :arrgh!:
Observed two hits on the nelson and one hit on each of the whalers, one of which exploded and sank. dived to evade escorts.
came to periscope depth after evading what - at the time - i thought was three escorts. The nelson now trails the convoy by a wide distance. Bow almost completely submerged, pushing a large wake. She was losing speed steadily, but the time i caught her I estimate she was only able to make two knots. slammed two more into her belly, she groaned and threatened to roll over to starboard... as the beast came to a hault her magazine lit off causing dozens of secondaries to engulf the ship. she rolled and sank at 9:34 am.
I re-intercepted the convoy around mid afternoon - 1600 hours. Once i established a good firing position i sighted and shot at the damaged whale factory ship, a medium tanker, and a large cargo. The whaler drifted to a stop, and the tanker exploded and sank... missed the large cargo - or perhaps it was a dud.
broke off contact to about 10 km to the convoy's port side. masts were visible on the horizon but they didnt see me. I charged out ahead of them as the weather began to clear i loaded the externals. It was at this time i realized that none of the merchants were armed, and only one destroyer served as an escort.
"If i can take out that black swawn this will be a slaugher with the deck gun" i thought to myself. I reintercepted the convoy at about 2100 hours. Due to the erratic search pattern of the escort i decided to take what i could get with my last bow tube and take out the closest heavy merchant - the shot was a dud - hydrophone clearly heard it "THUD" i brought the stern tubes around and fired a snap shop at the now closing escort and missed him narrowly.
I broke contact and headed for home with a modest 68,308 tons :arrgh!:
its now march 1940 and im on the third patrol. I encountered a convoy in grid square AM27 on March 6, 1940 at 0503 hours
settled into a firing position in the stormy seas and reviewed the target rich menu.
as my scope scanned the scene one ship was revealed after the other
large cargo for about 10,000 tons
whale factory ship for about 11,500 tons
another whale factory ship for another 11,500 tons
several passenger/cargo ships - hauling corks and life vests no doubt :shifty:
a couple of medium cargo ships
HMS Nelson
:huh: wha - wha - what!? through the poor weather (no rain yet) i couldnt tell right away what kind of ship it was - looked odd at first like some sort of off shore oil platform! but as my eyes adjusted through the scope i was elated.
a smile sneaked across my face. "ill spread two at the Nelson's magazine and one each at the two whale factory ships." even if i only damage them we are three days voyage to the British coastal shallows. :arrgh!:
Observed two hits on the nelson and one hit on each of the whalers, one of which exploded and sank. dived to evade escorts.
came to periscope depth after evading what - at the time - i thought was three escorts. The nelson now trails the convoy by a wide distance. Bow almost completely submerged, pushing a large wake. She was losing speed steadily, but the time i caught her I estimate she was only able to make two knots. slammed two more into her belly, she groaned and threatened to roll over to starboard... as the beast came to a hault her magazine lit off causing dozens of secondaries to engulf the ship. she rolled and sank at 9:34 am.
I re-intercepted the convoy around mid afternoon - 1600 hours. Once i established a good firing position i sighted and shot at the damaged whale factory ship, a medium tanker, and a large cargo. The whaler drifted to a stop, and the tanker exploded and sank... missed the large cargo - or perhaps it was a dud.
broke off contact to about 10 km to the convoy's port side. masts were visible on the horizon but they didnt see me. I charged out ahead of them as the weather began to clear i loaded the externals. It was at this time i realized that none of the merchants were armed, and only one destroyer served as an escort.
"If i can take out that black swawn this will be a slaugher with the deck gun" i thought to myself. I reintercepted the convoy at about 2100 hours. Due to the erratic search pattern of the escort i decided to take what i could get with my last bow tube and take out the closest heavy merchant - the shot was a dud - hydrophone clearly heard it "THUD" i brought the stern tubes around and fired a snap shop at the now closing escort and missed him narrowly.
I broke contact and headed for home with a modest 68,308 tons :arrgh!: