GoldenRivet
02-04-08, 03:52 PM
Part I http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=130308
part II http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=130330
I opened my eyes to a quiet and peaceful world bathed in soft red light. I was lying in my bunk. For some reason Schaffer’s whore house parties came to mind. Suddenly I realized it wasn’t so much the party I was thinking about - it was the feeling one gets the morning after drinking himself into oblivion.
Tiny depth charges were relentlessly exploding between my ears. I was surprised and comforted by the cool air circulating through the entire U-boat. I slowly sat up and placed my feet on the floor. The diesels were throbbing away steadily drawing in outside air. I hunched over looking at my feet in confusion. I reached for my hat on the dresser, it’s normally white hue was almost deep purple in the glow of the red lights. It was blood soaked. I rubbed my hands along my scalp… our “doctor” had skillfully stitched what was apparently a 3 inch long incision located on the crown of my head. Clarity crept back into my understanding of the situation as I stood slowly and opened the curtain.
Ernst was sitting back in his chair reading a dirty magazine with his headphones wrapped around his neck.
“well…” said Ernst as he looked over the top of his dirty book “How is your head?”
“Never felt worse!” I muttered “how long have I been out?”
“About 8 hours.” Ernst replied “It was really spectacular…” he continued “You should have seen it. The last depth charge run nearly had us for good… the shock took you and Johann straight off your feet, of course he has that pole to dance with. You on the other hand, managed to catch the edge of a valve to your head!”
“And the rest of the crew?” I asked
“Fine, just fine. Johann really gave that destroyer the slip, it was beautiful, really beautiful, we slinked away without further incident!” Said Ernst
I just shook my head in the affirmative as I headed for the command room hatch.
“Herr Kaleun…” Ernst stopped me mid step “just so you know, your old U-401 will hold together at 240 meters.” Ernst added
“Christ… I’m glad I was unconscious!” I said with as much of a chuckle as I could muster.
As I entered the command room, it was devoid of all but the essential personnel. Moonlight shone through the open hatch as an unseasonably cool breeze passed through the opening. I found the strength to climb the ladder and retake command of the U-boat. The watch crew saw me ascend out of the hatch but remained focused on their duties. Eberhard, our senior watch officer or “Ebby” as we called him, greeted me with a hand shake and whispered a brief inquiry about my condition. He informed me that Schaffer had managed to repair the HP air line to the number 5 tube. I took a look at the full moon and the millions of stars overhead, enjoying the tranquility for a moment. I then told Ebby to carry on and went below.
I crept through the stern quarters silently, though I doubt anyone could have heard me above the snoring. When I made my way into the stern torpedo room Schaffer was overseeing the reload of the Falk torpedo.
“Ah herr kaleun…” Schaffer said “Good to see you on your feet.”
“Whats the story here?” I asked
“Well… we managed to get number 5 working properly, completed a dry run on it about 2 hours ago and blasted some HP air out into the sea, everything seems to be okay. We removed the Falk prior to commencing repairs of course, I have inspected it thoroughly and it seems to be in good working order.” Schaffer reported.
“Good work…” I said “good work all of you!” I added adressing the men in the torpedo room
I headed back to the command room to search for Johann, He was sitting at the table just forward of the sound station eating a late dinner talking to Walter, our navigator. Neither of them seemed surprised to see me as they must have noticed me leave my quarters just minutes before. The two men looked at me as if they were trying to figure out what I was about to do. I turned my attention to Walter.
“Walter…” I said “it’s a nice night topside… shoot the stars and confirm our position.”
Walter sensed that I was politely asking for him to excuse Johann and I and he obliged without hesitation.
“Johann… I have been meaning to have this discussion with you for a while.” I said as Johann listened intently.
“You know the average career span of a U-boat commander is little more than a dozen patrols. And this is our twelfth together. You have done a fine job for your boat and crew through all of them… especially this one.” I continued. “This war is growing more and more difficult Johann and we need capable and skilled commanders out here. When we return to Brest I’ll see to it that you are promoted, and I’m going to recommend you as my replacement to command U-401 when the time comes.”
“Yes sir… thank you sir… ill try my best to live up to the honor.” He replied
With that there was nothing more that needed to be said, Johann was a fine officer, and would make an excellent commander. He surely had the respect and admiration of the rest of the crew… if not before, he definitely had earned it now! It takes a true leader to stand up in a time of crisis when all seems hopeless and put down the fear of the men and lead them to safety or victory. Johann did precisely that under difficult circumstances.
I headed back to my bunk as one of the watch crew hurried toward me through the hatch.
“Ship spotted sir! Its that Hunt I again!” he reported
“Action stations!” I shouted, the order was echoed by other voices in various compartments as the boat sprang to life.
As the command room filled up with personnel I put my foot on the bottom rung of the ladder and began to climb. I glanced at Johann who was taking his position behind the planesmen.
“Ahead slow and Put her low in the water chief! Im going up to have a look” I ordered
It was a Hunt I alright. Probably our “phantom” we had been playing cat and mouse with for the past three days. Our hunting ground must have been his patrol zone, but it was our ocean! The minute my head cleared the conning tower hatch, Ebby was giving me all the details.
“Sir… there on a bearing of zero four zero, creeping slowly toward the south. We have had no radar warnings from him.” Reported Ebby
“He suspects we have a detector, his radar is probably off. He is trying to catch us on the surface the old fashioned way. Is the FuMB working?” I said
“We had a few warnings several hours ago, but it has been a quiet night so far.” Reported Ebby “the FuMB appears to be functional.”
“Flood tube five, hard to port.” I ordered “We are ending this little game tonight.”
I could hear the crew reading back my orders down the hatch. A since of excitement seemed to fill the crew. For once during this patrol we were going on the offensive!
“Non essential crew below deck.” I ordered
Most of the watch crew slid down the ladder. Only myself, Ebby and petty officer Poscher remained above.
I gazed at the destroyer through the Binoculars as the boat swung around to bring the stern tube to a good firing angle.
“Looks like what? about 3500 meters?” I said to Ebby
“yes" he agreed, "maybe a little bit less.”
Ebby was interrupted by a massive muzzle flash from the destroyer’s forward turret, a star shell ignited directly above us lighting up the entire area around the U-boat! We were completely vulnerable standing there with our pants squarely around our ankles!
ALAAAAAARM!!!!
(to be concluded)
part II http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=130330
I opened my eyes to a quiet and peaceful world bathed in soft red light. I was lying in my bunk. For some reason Schaffer’s whore house parties came to mind. Suddenly I realized it wasn’t so much the party I was thinking about - it was the feeling one gets the morning after drinking himself into oblivion.
Tiny depth charges were relentlessly exploding between my ears. I was surprised and comforted by the cool air circulating through the entire U-boat. I slowly sat up and placed my feet on the floor. The diesels were throbbing away steadily drawing in outside air. I hunched over looking at my feet in confusion. I reached for my hat on the dresser, it’s normally white hue was almost deep purple in the glow of the red lights. It was blood soaked. I rubbed my hands along my scalp… our “doctor” had skillfully stitched what was apparently a 3 inch long incision located on the crown of my head. Clarity crept back into my understanding of the situation as I stood slowly and opened the curtain.
Ernst was sitting back in his chair reading a dirty magazine with his headphones wrapped around his neck.
“well…” said Ernst as he looked over the top of his dirty book “How is your head?”
“Never felt worse!” I muttered “how long have I been out?”
“About 8 hours.” Ernst replied “It was really spectacular…” he continued “You should have seen it. The last depth charge run nearly had us for good… the shock took you and Johann straight off your feet, of course he has that pole to dance with. You on the other hand, managed to catch the edge of a valve to your head!”
“And the rest of the crew?” I asked
“Fine, just fine. Johann really gave that destroyer the slip, it was beautiful, really beautiful, we slinked away without further incident!” Said Ernst
I just shook my head in the affirmative as I headed for the command room hatch.
“Herr Kaleun…” Ernst stopped me mid step “just so you know, your old U-401 will hold together at 240 meters.” Ernst added
“Christ… I’m glad I was unconscious!” I said with as much of a chuckle as I could muster.
As I entered the command room, it was devoid of all but the essential personnel. Moonlight shone through the open hatch as an unseasonably cool breeze passed through the opening. I found the strength to climb the ladder and retake command of the U-boat. The watch crew saw me ascend out of the hatch but remained focused on their duties. Eberhard, our senior watch officer or “Ebby” as we called him, greeted me with a hand shake and whispered a brief inquiry about my condition. He informed me that Schaffer had managed to repair the HP air line to the number 5 tube. I took a look at the full moon and the millions of stars overhead, enjoying the tranquility for a moment. I then told Ebby to carry on and went below.
I crept through the stern quarters silently, though I doubt anyone could have heard me above the snoring. When I made my way into the stern torpedo room Schaffer was overseeing the reload of the Falk torpedo.
“Ah herr kaleun…” Schaffer said “Good to see you on your feet.”
“Whats the story here?” I asked
“Well… we managed to get number 5 working properly, completed a dry run on it about 2 hours ago and blasted some HP air out into the sea, everything seems to be okay. We removed the Falk prior to commencing repairs of course, I have inspected it thoroughly and it seems to be in good working order.” Schaffer reported.
“Good work…” I said “good work all of you!” I added adressing the men in the torpedo room
I headed back to the command room to search for Johann, He was sitting at the table just forward of the sound station eating a late dinner talking to Walter, our navigator. Neither of them seemed surprised to see me as they must have noticed me leave my quarters just minutes before. The two men looked at me as if they were trying to figure out what I was about to do. I turned my attention to Walter.
“Walter…” I said “it’s a nice night topside… shoot the stars and confirm our position.”
Walter sensed that I was politely asking for him to excuse Johann and I and he obliged without hesitation.
“Johann… I have been meaning to have this discussion with you for a while.” I said as Johann listened intently.
“You know the average career span of a U-boat commander is little more than a dozen patrols. And this is our twelfth together. You have done a fine job for your boat and crew through all of them… especially this one.” I continued. “This war is growing more and more difficult Johann and we need capable and skilled commanders out here. When we return to Brest I’ll see to it that you are promoted, and I’m going to recommend you as my replacement to command U-401 when the time comes.”
“Yes sir… thank you sir… ill try my best to live up to the honor.” He replied
With that there was nothing more that needed to be said, Johann was a fine officer, and would make an excellent commander. He surely had the respect and admiration of the rest of the crew… if not before, he definitely had earned it now! It takes a true leader to stand up in a time of crisis when all seems hopeless and put down the fear of the men and lead them to safety or victory. Johann did precisely that under difficult circumstances.
I headed back to my bunk as one of the watch crew hurried toward me through the hatch.
“Ship spotted sir! Its that Hunt I again!” he reported
“Action stations!” I shouted, the order was echoed by other voices in various compartments as the boat sprang to life.
As the command room filled up with personnel I put my foot on the bottom rung of the ladder and began to climb. I glanced at Johann who was taking his position behind the planesmen.
“Ahead slow and Put her low in the water chief! Im going up to have a look” I ordered
It was a Hunt I alright. Probably our “phantom” we had been playing cat and mouse with for the past three days. Our hunting ground must have been his patrol zone, but it was our ocean! The minute my head cleared the conning tower hatch, Ebby was giving me all the details.
“Sir… there on a bearing of zero four zero, creeping slowly toward the south. We have had no radar warnings from him.” Reported Ebby
“He suspects we have a detector, his radar is probably off. He is trying to catch us on the surface the old fashioned way. Is the FuMB working?” I said
“We had a few warnings several hours ago, but it has been a quiet night so far.” Reported Ebby “the FuMB appears to be functional.”
“Flood tube five, hard to port.” I ordered “We are ending this little game tonight.”
I could hear the crew reading back my orders down the hatch. A since of excitement seemed to fill the crew. For once during this patrol we were going on the offensive!
“Non essential crew below deck.” I ordered
Most of the watch crew slid down the ladder. Only myself, Ebby and petty officer Poscher remained above.
I gazed at the destroyer through the Binoculars as the boat swung around to bring the stern tube to a good firing angle.
“Looks like what? about 3500 meters?” I said to Ebby
“yes" he agreed, "maybe a little bit less.”
Ebby was interrupted by a massive muzzle flash from the destroyer’s forward turret, a star shell ignited directly above us lighting up the entire area around the U-boat! We were completely vulnerable standing there with our pants squarely around our ankles!
ALAAAAAARM!!!!
(to be concluded)