Jonathan
12-06-07, 01:17 PM
On my last patrol, I returned to port with 0 eels left in the tubes and only 4336 tons...given, it was with a type IIA, but still. Back at Bdu, I pleeded with my superiors and practcially anyone would listen to grant me a bigger sub so I could really show what I could do and make-up for my poor performance. Well, my request was granted, but I could tell that everyone knew that this was make it or break it for me in the world of unterseeboots. If I f*cked this patrol up, I could ship out because this was my last and only chance in the Kriegsmarine.
Anyways, on January 3rd, 1940, the U-47 lead by Kpt. Viktor Krieken sets sail from Wilhemshaven in a new Type VIIB with a total crew of 52, including 5 officers. The assigned patrol gride is set as AN56, right off the eastern coast of Hartlepool, I reach the patrol grid and thus far, my patrol trip has been none-to-exciting, with only a Norwegian C2 cargo spotted. But I had 24 hours of patrolling ahead of me, and I knew that things would have to pick up sooner or later, and boy, was I right. After a few more hours of moving westerly at 15km an hour, my WO screamed "Ship Sighted" and the hunt was on.
The ship, which was a British Coastal Merchant was about 6100m off the port side of the boat, and I accelerated to ahead full and set an intercept course. I told my WO to bring the deck gun crew on deck, to fire at medium range, and to aim for the hull. When we were within 1500m, I ordered the deck gun crew to open fire with the 8.5mm HE shells. Soon the ship was ablaze and at the bottom of the ocean, and it had only taken 15-20 shells to do so. I commended my deck gun crew and then ordered the WO to bring the watch crew back on deck and we continued on our patrol course. Already this patrol was turning out to be better than the last one. It was only going to get better from here.
After half a day, the sea was engulfed in the blackest darkness that I had ever seen, and I figured that we not "see" any other ships until daybreak. However, in the middle of the night, I heard my WO scream "ship spotted" and I rushed the command deck to see what we had found. Sure enough, about 6000m dead ahead of us was a British C2 cargo. Just like before, I ordered the deck gun crew on deck and we made for an intercept course. Just like before, when were within 1500m, I ordered them to open fire for the ships waterline, and soon enough, that ship to laid at the bottom of the ocean. Two for two, and things were looking up.
Throughtout the next four or five days, I set a course that made a big circle from just east of Hartlepool south to the beginning of the English channel, and back north towards the middle of the North Sea, and back west to ward Britain. When I enventually ran out of deck gun ammunition, my deck gun crew had managed to down six ships with a total tonnage weight of over 36,000 BRT. And the best part is, only one eel has been fired! :rock:
While on patrol, I received new from Bdu that Danzig was once again open, and that I should "keep up the good work". So now, I am going to take my sub to where the REALLY big ships lie and try to sink them. For that, I turn to my fellow Kaleuns here. Where can a daring and hungry Kapitain find the 10k plus ton ships? Is there any sort of guarunteed spot? I am looking for the big ones because my tonnage goal for this patrol was 75k, and I am only 39k away from that goal. Once, I got three eels off at the Revenge, but it was in harbor and was too shallow to sink. Anyone have any leads? I am playing at 61% realism. :D
Anyways, on January 3rd, 1940, the U-47 lead by Kpt. Viktor Krieken sets sail from Wilhemshaven in a new Type VIIB with a total crew of 52, including 5 officers. The assigned patrol gride is set as AN56, right off the eastern coast of Hartlepool, I reach the patrol grid and thus far, my patrol trip has been none-to-exciting, with only a Norwegian C2 cargo spotted. But I had 24 hours of patrolling ahead of me, and I knew that things would have to pick up sooner or later, and boy, was I right. After a few more hours of moving westerly at 15km an hour, my WO screamed "Ship Sighted" and the hunt was on.
The ship, which was a British Coastal Merchant was about 6100m off the port side of the boat, and I accelerated to ahead full and set an intercept course. I told my WO to bring the deck gun crew on deck, to fire at medium range, and to aim for the hull. When we were within 1500m, I ordered the deck gun crew to open fire with the 8.5mm HE shells. Soon the ship was ablaze and at the bottom of the ocean, and it had only taken 15-20 shells to do so. I commended my deck gun crew and then ordered the WO to bring the watch crew back on deck and we continued on our patrol course. Already this patrol was turning out to be better than the last one. It was only going to get better from here.
After half a day, the sea was engulfed in the blackest darkness that I had ever seen, and I figured that we not "see" any other ships until daybreak. However, in the middle of the night, I heard my WO scream "ship spotted" and I rushed the command deck to see what we had found. Sure enough, about 6000m dead ahead of us was a British C2 cargo. Just like before, I ordered the deck gun crew on deck and we made for an intercept course. Just like before, when were within 1500m, I ordered them to open fire for the ships waterline, and soon enough, that ship to laid at the bottom of the ocean. Two for two, and things were looking up.
Throughtout the next four or five days, I set a course that made a big circle from just east of Hartlepool south to the beginning of the English channel, and back north towards the middle of the North Sea, and back west to ward Britain. When I enventually ran out of deck gun ammunition, my deck gun crew had managed to down six ships with a total tonnage weight of over 36,000 BRT. And the best part is, only one eel has been fired! :rock:
While on patrol, I received new from Bdu that Danzig was once again open, and that I should "keep up the good work". So now, I am going to take my sub to where the REALLY big ships lie and try to sink them. For that, I turn to my fellow Kaleuns here. Where can a daring and hungry Kapitain find the 10k plus ton ships? Is there any sort of guarunteed spot? I am looking for the big ones because my tonnage goal for this patrol was 75k, and I am only 39k away from that goal. Once, I got three eels off at the Revenge, but it was in harbor and was too shallow to sink. Anyone have any leads? I am playing at 61% realism. :D