Earning your way.

[skookum]

I recently rediscovered my fondness for the type IID. After many frustrating and fruitless patrols in larger and faster U-boats, I decided some remedial training was in order. What better place to learn patience and precision than in a slow boat with only six fish?
Last week I joined the 1st floatilla as Kaleun Skook of Type IIA U-3. The first patrol proved as frustrating as all the previous, but I soon figured out why. Instead of running the sim at realtime speed when contacts were nearby, I'd leave time compression on and try to "speed things up" a little. No tracking or plotting for this Kaleun! Nope, just get in range and let the WO do the math. I would inevitabley be detected and then proceed to launch my eels anyways. Makes for a long boring trip home when you have three empty tubes and an equally empty patrol report.
On the second patrol, I decided to sit back, enjoy the scenery more, and wait. Boy did it pay off. Though I'm only avaraging four to six thousand tons per patrol, the satisfaction is difficult to describe. After three patrols I took command of U-5, a Type IID. It is now July 1940 and I'm on patrol number six. A couple more Ore carriers and I'll have earned enough renown to take command of that type VIIC in which I used to hopelessly chase convoys. It sure seems more satisfying to earn those boats rather than simply start a career later in the war, though I'm sure I'll do that again one day.

I will miss the Type IID when it's time to move on. It's certainly an underrated, and underappreciated vessel worthy of respect and admiration. No wonder it makes a great training boat.


U-5 in the North Sea:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/skookum_49/TypeIIDNorthSea05goodBWcopy.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/skookum_49/TypeIIDNorthSea04.jpg

[Venatore]

I will miss the Type IID when it's time to move on. It's certainly an underrated, and underappreciated

It would have been difficult for those commanders to leave their U-boats for another, due to promotion, posting etc. It would have been a real shock to learn of your old U-boat that you once commanded fate as the war went on. :cry:

[Canovaro]

Sorry still don't like it :lol:

I prefer the bigger boats.
I always start at '39 and work my way up until I can buy a IXD2 in 1943.
I'm in Januari 1942 now in a IXc.

[Dowly]

In WaW I'm in a type IIA and after two war patrols, she has proven her capability to keep me and my men safe. I'm terrified to think the day I get message from BdU to transfer to a new boat. :-?

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

In WaW I'm in a type IIA and after two war patrols, she has proven her capability to keep me and my men safe. I'm terrified to think the day I get message from BdU to transfer to a new boat. :-?

:hmm: if you dont count the ruined uniform and the pierced boat. then she kept you safe yes :rotfl::rotfl:

i prefer a real boat (IX) instead of the bathtub i sail in (VIIb) at WaW ;)

[skookum]

I'm now within 1000 renown of earning a VIIC. My crew is getting fairly excited at the prospect of having a little more room in the mess, and a lot more firepower to sink tonnage. On my last patrol (number eight I think) we sent to the bottom a small merchant out of forsythe, a small passenger/cargo near hull, and a sloop off Newcastle. It's now late 1940 and we're starting to see more aircraft on patrol overhead. I'm glad our little "bath tub" can get under quickly (unkile those sluggish type IX boats ;)). One more good haul ought to be enough I think. BTW I just got promoted to Oberleiutenent. I must be doing something to make BDU happy.

[Dowly]

In WaW I'm in a type IIA and after two war patrols, she has proven her capability to keep me and my men safe. I'm terrified to think the day I get message from BdU to transfer to a new boat. :-?
:hmm: if you dont count the ruined uniform and the pierced boat. then she kept you safe yes :rotfl::rotfl:

i prefer a real boat (IX) instead of the bathtub i sail in (VIIb) at WaW ;)
That's the point, she got hammered, she rolled over, had damaged engine etc. etc. but none of us got hurt. :up:

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

In WaW I'm in a type IIA and after two war patrols, she has proven her capability to keep me and my men safe. I'm terrified to think the day I get message from BdU to transfer to a new boat. :-?
:hmm: if you dont count the ruined uniform and the pierced boat. then she kept you safe yes :rotfl::rotfl:

i prefer a real boat (IX) instead of the bathtub i sail in (VIIb) at WaW ;)
That's the point, she got hammered, she rolled over, had damaged engine etc. etc. but none of us got hurt. :up:
i hear ya *taps my cap*
my bathtub held me safe on one of my testing careers (just to get known with the VIIb)
some heavy DC's and air cover attacks i had :doh:

[skookum]

Well I made it! On patrol number 8 I lucked out and my crew sunk a medium cargo and a large cargo for a total of nearly 17,000 tons. I was gloating on my way back to port, my crew and I were excited to get on to our new boat and put her through sea trials. But alas, we would have to wait a little longer. Upon arrival at Keil, BDU informed me that the transfer I had requested weeks earlier came through and that the crew and boat would need to reposition at St.Nazaire before taking command of our shiny new type VIIC. Damn.

So we loaded up and entered the Keil canal for the first time. Near the end of the canal portion of the patrol, I was mulling over the pros and cons of traversing the English Channel. Pros: Uses less fuel, memorable, action packed. Cons: Action packed, dangerous, suicidal.

To the Orkneys we went. On the way out of the canal we spotted a British Tanker berthed at the canal entrance. "Hmm, that's an odd place for an enemy tanker to be." I muttered. Oh well, might as well launch a couple of fish at it and let the harbour master clean up the mess. On we went.


Near Scapa flow we spotted and sunk two large cargos in quick succession. This made the rest of the journey to St. Nazaire quick as the crew now had a few stories to trade on the way.

All in all we sent 24,386 tons of British to the bottom. Not bad for a repositioning patrol in a type IID.

Sea trials in the VIIC begin next week after the crew rests up.

[gsc67]

Von Bummer... My lil "Canoe" is a toy... I like my IX a whole lot more. Heck... I will take a VII at this point... BDU cant tell me fast enough that they are wanting me in a new boat... as long as its not a Type IIA ! :damn:

[skookum]

I'll admit upgrading to the VIIC has been a welcome change; and here's the proof. This carnage took place near the southern entrance to the Irish Sea. Seven ships, including 2 swan class destroyers, were sent to the bottom for a gross tonnage of 42,000. I have to admit, though the type IID is certainly more advanced than it's predecessor, the type IIA, the IID pales in comparison to the VIIC's speed and torpedo capacity. Without the lessons provided by the IID however, I doubt I could make the Type VIIC perform so well.

This photograph was taken by the WO twenty minutes after torpedo impact.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/skookum_49/Tothebottomcopy-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/skookum_49/Patrol11.jpg

[d@rk51d3]

Yeah, when moving up from a type II to a VII or IX, it's really easy to get lazy and start wasting ammo.

Using a type II encourages you to "make it count".:yep:

[gsc67]

In truth guys... you can stay in the II with the Milk Cows offered later on.. they have them where you can refuel at enough points to take you to Africa and hit Freetown.

And Skookum.... how do you get those wonderful B&W photos ? Very authentic !

[skookum]

And Skookum.... how do you get those wonderful B&W photos ? Very authentic !
A combination of layer masks, blur filters, and adjustment layers.

[Jimbuna]

And Skookum.... how do you get those wonderful B&W photos ? Very authentic !
A combination of layer masks, blur filters, and adjustment layers.

........and a black and white film ;)

[skookum]

:hmm: :up: ;)