The Fear log

[TS13]

July 10th 1940,
2:25 AM

We are moving in to intercept a large convoy in northwest BF17. I am scared. This is the first time we 've ever done this, since till now we have been spending our time sinking dozens of lone merchants and moving away from distant destroyers. But this time we are going in.

I am keeping a calm face in front of my worried sailors, telling them that the tons we 've sunk make for countless of convoys and that the best singing mermaids are awaiting for us to return true victors. I am fooling them but I cannot fool myself. At times like this I wish I had children, so I could pretend that I am scared to leave them fatherless, but I don't. But maybe it's better like this.

I am keeping myself busy by adjusting our position in front of the convoy and by looking through the notes I have kept from other captains' convoy attacks. Those were the very best, but few of them have survived. This damn thing is huge, the hydrophone gives at least 16 contacts. My very first convoy, here we come. May you not be the last one.

Rig for silent running.

[Jimbuna]

SINK EM ALL!! http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[Kipparikalle]

Only mad people doesn't feel fear.

Be smart, be safe, be aware.

[papa_smurf]

In the words of BDu:

BE MORE AGRESSIVE!!!

[Kipparikalle]

In the words of BDu:

BE MORE AGRESSIVE!!!

Forgot to add that one.

SINK EVERY ONE OF THEM! NO MERCY TO ANYONE!
BLOW THE BASTARDS ON THE DEEPEST DEPTHS OF HELL!

Give em' hell son! :arrgh!:

[Brag]

Good luck with your attack. Don't hang out near the surface after you launch your torpedoes. :up:

[Platapus]

Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway. John Wayne

Good luck and good hunting

[danurve]

Mid `40 in a trusty VIIB with a handfull of good old electric eels?
What could possibly go wrong?:|\\

[sunvalleyslim]

Good Hunting, and bring your crew back alive to fight another day.........:up::up::up:

[Jimbuna]

Mid `40 in a trusty VIIB with a handfull of good old electric eels?
What could possibly go wrong?:|\\

They could operate just like they did in TL ;)

[TS13]

Ladies and gentlemen,
fearful and fearless,

A big thank you for your support. Last night when I carried out the attack, I would sometimes pause the game, while waiting for the convoy to come to me, and would read your comments to soothe my wrecked nerves.

So here is what happend.

It was a pitch dark night (good weather) and I submerged well ahead of the convoy, trying to take a position just outside (by ~2.5 km) the leading escort's path. Running silent, I started moving towards the convoy at 2knots and at 25m. Although the sea was as deep as it gets, I was afraid to go deeper, as I was really worried that I wouldn't time my manouvering correctly (so little space available!), and so I wanted to do as little manouvering as possible.

I had decided to go for just one ship, preferrably a huge one, spit two electic ones at it and get the hell outta there. The trouble was, the night was so dark that I couldn't see anything on the periscope at a distance!


Anyway, the leading escort went by at about 2 kms and my heart was beating fast. So when exactly should I start ascending? How fast was I allowed to turn? How can I look at the rpm gauges from up close?! I had no idea! It somewhat felt like when I tried to make love for the first time, not knowing what exactly I was supposed to do!

Eventually, I started ascending and turning. Man, that was slow, or so it seemed. When I reached periscope depth, the front lines of the convoy had already gone by! It turned out that the convoy was made by a 4rowsX5columns grid, with one escort at the front and one at the back. Side escorts didn't seem to exist. I was awkwardly positioned just inside the outer left column and saw a merchie coming straight at me! Luckily, she passed right behind me... That was scary, man!

When I was finally all lined up and ready to shoot, there were just two rows
of ships still to go by. Most of the large merchants had moved on, but there was a juicy large tanker coming. One impact electic at the bow, one midships (shooting the torps felt so noisy!), and started to descend towards 95m. Both torps hit, and she went down right away.

I managed to slip through the back of the convoy, even though the romantic back escort (a flower corvette) came really close at some point. I even heard an electronic sound at some point, was that pinging? There was no pinging message. I kept
her at my stern and slowly moved away.

That was 12k for Germany and a lot of fun! I can't wait to do this again. :arrgh!:

[Jimbuna]

Congratulations http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[T.Von Hogan]

Wtg ! Herr Kaleun ........medals await i'm sure.:yep: Early in the war convoys that only have 2 escorts can be in deep doodoo if you can muster the nerve to tangle with said escorts.

I like to let the front escort go by and pick a ship from the last columm or 2 to fire on 1st, after firing the torpedoes i show that back escort my stern and dare him to come get me.....with a torp set on magnetic 3/4 of a meter below his keel depth.

Once the back escort goes down i come off silent running, locate the front 1 which is usually making a bull charge between 1 of the columms, and head right for him. Once he is disposed of the convoy is yours for the taking:arrgh!:


Disclamer: wouldn't try this if more than 2 escorts, or after 1941 lol

[Kipparikalle]

Congraturations on your first convoy raid, Herr Kaleun!
Fatherland needs more courageous U-boat commanders like you!

Der Führer is proud of you! And will be giving your Iron Cross medal to you personally.

[Sailor Steve]

Not to perpetuate a bad joke, but the Cicero quote from Das Boot really is apporpriate here: "One is always at one's best when it is hardest."

Way to go, Herr Kaleun!:rock: