Fritz starring in "Sitting duck"

[Freiwillige]

(This post is Fritz approved):up:

U-96 somewhere in the north atlantic.

"Argh how long Uwe?!" Fritz had grown weary of the morning light soon the entire R.A.F. would be bearing down on him and he would feel just a slight better if he could get underway...and if need be, underneath. "Herr Kaleun we have hope for # 1 but # 2 is a total loss." Fritz watched the sun rising in the distant eastern sky as the orange glow on the waves lapped at his boat. "Keep scanning, we dont want any suprises do we boys!" He knew that sunlight meant certain death, he could hear aircraft looking for him in the distance thru most of the night. Occasionaly somwhere in the distance he would see a flair dropped. U-96's only saving grace was the rain squalles that momentarilly covered his position from the airborn predators..

The depth charges and cannons really did there work, This boats a real mess. It wasnt often that fritz caught himself thinking such hopeless thoughts. minutes turned into hours and just when he bagan to beleive that all was lost he felt the familiar engines vibration under his heel. "Can it be!? This old mule is moving!" The whole bridge crew let out a slight burst of joy filled laughter. 6 hours dead in the water was alot for anyone to take, just counting the seconds untill the next one of Churchills flying porcupines comes to hammer at them again.

"We can only make about 7 knots herr Kaleun, # 1's shaft is bent and knocking everything around down there." Fritz could feel the boat ratteling apart beneath him "Very well number one keep the crew plugging those holes, we wouldnt want to make our return with more water in our boat then out of it!"

(To be continued)

[Brag]

Patiently waiting for the next installment :|\\

[papa_smurf]

.......patiently waiting for next instalment

[Kipparikalle]

Hanging myself due to the massive boredown of waiting for next installment.

[Freiwillige]

Johannes Roienberg was head of his class back in 36'. He could have posted to any mechanics position in the Kreigsmarine if he wanted, but he chose the Unterseebootwaffe. The training classes were always far cleaner than deep in the bowels of u-96. Never for a single moment in his mind did he think it could be like this.
"I cant budge it!" Johannes hands the pry bar to his cheif assistant. "It would be so much easier if we could get all this clorine gass pumped out eh Johannes!?" His assistant quiped. It wasnt easy working in gass masks but until the boat was pumped out sufficiantly it had to be done. "If only I would have closed that battery maintainance hatch 10 hours ago."

(10 hours earlier) "ALARM!" the Sunderland flying boat had ripped out of the cloudbank just 2,000 yard to their stern. It was bearing down on U-96 as if the devil himself were piloting her. There was little time to respond, Peter had just barely made it to the single 20mm before all hell broke loose. At that moment time seemed to slow down. Long before the 20mm could be loaded the Sunderland dropped a package of four strattleling the aft of the boat. Every man on deck braced himself for what was coming. The back of the boat lifted 20 feet out of the water as it rode the gysers skward. The nose of u-96 burried and pulled the boat just under the surface. Fritz could feel his lungs expanding as he took his last gasp before U-96 pulled him under. He crouched behind the tower as u-96 violently slipped beneath the waves. Inside the command room the flooding was instantanious through the main hatch as the helmsman fought to get her to climb.
It seemed like minutes before U-96 broke the surface. The actual time under had only been about 15 seconds before U-96 popped up again like a cork. "We made it!" Fritz screamed. "Damage report! I want an immediate damage report!" fritz hollard down the main hatch. Although Fritz could see the back of his boat bent in on both sides as if king Neptune himself had kicked her. The Sunderland was tearing off at full power before Peter could get his composure back and return fire. Thank goodness for our safety lines Fritz thought.



(8 hours later)
Johannes entered the command station pulling off his clorine gass mask. "Herr Kaleun, Ive got grave news." He paused momentarily looking at the gass mask in his hands. "Well herr Kaleun it seems that our number one engine Dorean (Johannes has always named his engines) is working for now but because of the bent main shaft the bearing brace is failing." "How long have we got Johannes?" Fritz snapped back. "Im not sure.......Maybe an hour at current speed, maybe less." Fritz felt that sinking feeling in the bottom of his stomache again. "Jurgan! Get a message to B.D.U., a situation report. lets see if we cant get some help out here. And Johannes, Keep messaging that engine! Ill reduce speed as soon as were clear of the area."

"to be continued"

[papa_smurf]

Lets hope U-96 makes it back to base intact.

[I-25]

thank god Fritz (which is also my real name) ain't another Bernard or Batlz.
waiting for next instalment:up:

[Jimbuna]

I'm guessing this is going to be a lucky boat http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[Brag]

Getting better and better. :D

Good use of metaphors and original similes.

[Freiwillige]

"Just you better come back!" Fritz's wife Gretchen had always worried when his short term of leave was up "You know this ol' sea dog, The Tommy's and the Yanks keep trying but I'll always come home for you Gretch." Fritz kissed his wife one last time before turning for the door. He gave his wife one last smile but deep inside he knew that the odds were stacking heavily against him and his fellow Kammeraden in the Unterseebootwaffe. Germany was Losing this war and he knew it by the numbers of boats failing to return. "When will the valkries be coming for me" he thought aloud in the back of his government schouffered Mercedes. Fritz looked around and noticed things that he would not have normally noticed. He noticed certain tree's, Flocks of song birds, The smell of the fresh country air. His senses were always heightened before a patrol. He of all people understood that this could be the last time he saw the things that normal people take for granted. Soon he would be back in france.

U-96's 13th Patrol began just like all the others. There were the political speaches about Duty und Fatherland. There was the typical last minute faults with the boat that had to be repaired quickly and often inadiquatly. Then there was the fanfair from the crowds who wanted to see a hero and his crew go off to war. A just war against that crook Churchill who opposed peace no matter how many times our Fuhrer tried to end this conflict. I just dont understand why the Tommy's are fighting us. Nobody here in Germany wants this war. How long can this maddness go on!?

"Sir B.D.U. has responded." With that the radio man Willi handed Fritz the message.
Fritz read the message while the entire command room crew held the breaths in anticipation. "well what is it herr Kaluen?" Heinrich asked. "They want us to head back to St. Nazier." the look of disbeleif was complete on every mans face. "What do they think we are doing!" Fritz screamed out "Dont those dumbkopfs understand that we are lucky to travel 150 Kilometers let alone 5,300!" Just then the damage control team leader entered the Command station. "what is it Gotfreid, Let me guess the boat is sinking and we have to ride our damn torpedo's home?!" Nervous laughter erupted somewhere in the back of the room. Gotfreid was visably caught of gaurd by the casual remark. He looked around the room at the other officer and men trying to figure out just what it was that he had missed. "Well what is it." Fritz barked. "Well herr kaleun the ship is now water tight above the waterline" "Finally Some good news" Fritz retorted under his breath. "Alarm! Aircraft S.W. closing fast" the cheif watch officer screamed into the tube from the watch station. "Take us down number 1!" Fritz spun around and hollered at Gotfreid just as he was ducking thru the hatch to the aft compartment. "Hey Gotfreid.....Just in time eh!"

T.B.C.

[Kipparikalle]

Reminds be about one time when I was on the atlantic in mid 44'
Oh boy that was fun, sky full of planes coming down.

[Brag]

Keep dishing out problems :huh:

[Able72]

planes, I hate planes. In stock SH4 they were no biggie, go to guns and its one more kill to add to the roster. In GWX 2.0, its dive, dive, dive and hope they miss you while your on your way down.

Looking forward to the rest of it.

[NealT]

Anxiously waiting with baited breath for the next installment.....:yep:

[Jimbuna]

planes, I hate planes. In stock SH4 they were no biggie, go to guns and its one more kill to add to the roster. In GWX 2.0, its dive, dive, dive and hope they miss you while your on your way down.

Looking forward to the rest of it.

As was generally the rule in RL :lol:

[Freiwillige]

The boat ever so slowly slipped beneith the waves and there was an erie silence aboard. Every man looked skyward as if they could see thru their steel coffin at the depth charges that were soon to be falling around them. "Hold depth steady at 25." Fritz whispered to the helmsman. "take a course 180 ahead slow." "180 ahead slow aye herr kaleun." The boat vibrated badly but movement was the only viable option.

"Wasserbomb!" the sound officer reported. "Port not close." With that the concusion from the first blast could be heard in the distance. Followed closely by the rest. "Alright cheif all stop"
"All stop aye herr Kaleun." Fritz looked at the battery guages. They were low from the damage received in the firt attack. "The damage control team did all they could Herr Kaleun but im affraid that after bypassing all those cells this is all we get." Fritz knew his cheif officer was right but would it be enough?
"Not one ship." His number one looked puzzled. "Not one ship sunk on this patrol." Again his cheif officer tried to find the words but could come up with nothing to say. "Remember the good ol' days when there seemed to be more ships than water?" Fritz asked. "Im going to rest the crew and myself, Keep seeing what we can do with those engines........We have a long trip home."

"Herr Kaleun!" "Fritz wake up!" Fritz opened his eyes to see his to see his number 1 standing worriedly above him. "Well what is it Jurgen?" Fritz asked while rubbing the much needed sleep out of his eyes. "Sonar has picked up a destroyer. Its running a search pattern towards us." Fritz jumped up so fast he hit his head on the upper wood works in his qaurters. Rubbing his smarting head he turned the corner to the sound station. With out a word the sonar man handed him the headphones. Fritz listened intently "Its a destroyer alright but it isnt pinging." Fritz then ducked thru the hatch into the command room. He grabbed the observation periscope, ran it up just breaching the water and peered thru it. "I think they beleive they got us!?" Fritz stated matter of factly. "Its acting like it looking for survivors." Fritz loward the periscope and climbed into the tower followed by Jurgen to the attack periscope. "Flood tube V stand by." Fritz clenched the scope controls. "Just a little closer..... Come on just a little more and well give you some survivors to be looking for." Tension was building inside the sub ass they all awaited the sound of the torpedo launch. Fritz had to keep wiping the sweat off his brow with his sleeve. "Damn he's heading away!" Just as fast as the ship showed up it dissapeared. "Wait till dark Jurgen then well surface the boat" Fritz quiped "Ja Herr kaleun, its getting hard to breath in here."

T.B.C.

[Brag]

Well . . .Damn. Will their problems never stop? :shifty:

[NealT]

Well . . .Damn. Will their problems never stop? :shifty:

I hope not...this is getting fun...

[Freiwillige]

The boat breached the waves bow first, It was a slow crawl to get on top. "Ahead slow." Fritz was not trying to over strain the shaft bearing. "When the deisel fails we can use the electric for short bursts and Johannes may still be able to get number 2 started Herr Kaleun." The number two moter was completley ripped out of it mount and the shaft was twisted beyond all usefullness. "Well has Johannes gotten that shaft removed?" U-96's last bit of hope was to remove the screw shaft of number 2 and use it for reacharging only. "I will look into it Herr Kaleun."

The night was clear with a full moon shining like glass on an unusualy calm sea.
"You know Jurgen, If we cant make it we could always surrender to the tommy's"
Fritz knew that time for his beloved u-96 was running short. "Were lucky this ol' boat is a Hamburg boat. Others wouldnt of lastd this long." It did feel like a small miracle that the type VII was afloat at all. "Herr Kaleun, we will do all we can, As long as we can. We beleive in you and this boat. We will return home Herr Kaleun. With you guiding us how could we not!" No sooner had the words finished slipping past Jurgens lips When a loud thud was heard. "Herr Kaleun we have lost the bearing brace to the number 1 shaft coupler. Doreen is Kaput!"

"Send a report to B.D.U. informing them that we are dead in the water. Let them know that we will do our duty to the last man, U-96 out."

"Herr Kaleun vessal bearing 196 closing fast!" Fritz grabbed the binoculars and peered through the night sky at the distant horrizon. "I beleive it is that destroyer that was searching for us earlier!" Fritz knew the situation was hopeless. "Man the Deck gun!" The well trained crew sprang across the deck and immediatly began to swing the gun towards the target. "Get the Flak gun into action as well!" There was an odd feeling of hope in the back of Fritz's mind. "At least we wont just be sitting ducks!" When the destroyer closed to 3,000 meters its foward cannon belched out a sheet of flame into the night like a dragon snorting before battle.
Every man on the conning tower instinctivly ducked although all knew that the tower offered no protection. The shell cracked over head. "Its a warning shot herr Kaleun, We wont get a second one." Fritz pondered his thoughts for a moment. "All hands Destroy all clasified material set scuttling charges and prepare to abandon ship!"

Fritz could hear small explosions below decks as all hatches flew open and men poured out lining up on deck before diving into the water. The destroyers lights lit up the water as Fritz and his command crew joined their men into the water. The destroyer passed slowly around the side of the boat firing machine guns over everybody's head to keep them from re boarding the boat.

"Why havent the scuddling charges gone off!? Did we at least open the flood valves?" He was right although the boat was very slowly sinking it should have been slipping beneith the waves by now. Fritz's thoughts on this were interupted by a weird feeling of something quickly passing by his leg thru the crowd of swimmers. Was it a shark? He thought momentarilly before his answer came in the form of an explosion!
The concusion blast disoreintated every man in the water. It felt as if being struck by an automobile made entirely of water. Fritz slowly regained his mental capability.
He looked up to see the remnants of the destroyer broken and sinking 100 meters away. The flames licked the dark sky siloetting the tower of u-96 in a most comforting way. "My god. She's going down....but ......but how?" Then Fritz realised that that feeling he had felt moments earlier was not a shark but a torpedo! But how?

"All aboard U-96 and shut off the valves we just might be able to save her!"

[Freiwillige]

Climbing aboard the crew wasted no time in getting the valves closed. "Herr Kaleun we have 3 survivors fom the H.M.S. Bristol with us." Jurgen reported. "Very well make sure that they are well taken care of and out of everybodys way number 1."

Fritz looked out over the wreckage. There was oil burning and some scattered floating debris. But what had caused her demise he had thought to himself.
"Sir U-boat surfacing astearn" The watch called out. In the dark all he could make out was the familiar conning tower of a type IXB. Then the mystery boat signaled.
"Its Heinrichs boat!" The watch crew let out a cheer.

"So B.D.U. lets you go play in the ocean and this is the trouble you and your boys get yourselves into eh!?" Heinrich said with a twisted sarcastic grin. "Yea its good to see you too, So they actually let you drive one of those things now huh? I guess your rowboat training really paid off." Fritz returns the sarcastic grin. "Were dead in the water, We dont have any screw shafts. Can we borrow one of yours?"
Heinrich laughed at the cheeky suggestion. "Ill tell you what, My u-baot has one of the best ol' tug boat skippers from Wilhelmshaven on board as my number 1 and well haul your sorry carcase back but your going to have to pay the standard tug fee for three thousand Kilometers!" Both men laughed "I dont think I can afford it after I repay you for saving our arse" Fritz snickered

By 1:00 am Heinrichs boat had U-96 in tow and heading east at a respectable 9 knots. "Its still a long way home Jurgan and alot can happen." "Yea Fritz weve learned that if it can go wrong it will.

T.B.C.

[NealT]

I smell a problem with the tow cable...

[Able72]

wow, heck of a serial

[Freiwillige]

Okay im back to finish this great story after my short dissapearance. Ill get working on the dramatic conclusion A.S.A.P. for you all!

PS hows the new GWX? As great as the first!?:D

[Jimbuna]

Okay im back to finish this great story after my short dissapearance. Ill get working on the dramatic conclusion A.S.A.P. for you all!

PS hows the new GWX? As great as the first!?:D

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

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9678/gwx21gifuj3.gif

[Brag]

Okay im back to finish this great story after my short dissapearance. Ill get working on the dramatic conclusion A.S.A.P. for you all!

PS hows the new GWX? As great as the first!?:D

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

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9678/gwx21gifuj3.gif

Much better. Lots of new little thingies, improved sea, weather. Nastier escorts, Finding somethin new every day.

[yatyas]

Okay im back to finish this great story after my short dissapearance. Ill get working on the dramatic conclusion A.S.A.P. for you all!

PS hows the new GWX? As great as the first!?:D

I stumbled across this story, and I'm hooked. Waiting for the next serial, huddled around my little radio set.

[Freiwillige]

The journey had been oddly unneventfull. The cable held, The boat was stable and the Tommy's had been away for tea. The weather as usuall had played a part in this ocean wide game of cat and mouse. For now it was on our side.

"Mighty Odin must be pleased with us, eh?" Fritz Jested with his number 1.
"Maybe King Neptune like's all the toy ships we sent down to him as well!" Came the reply. If it hadnt of been for his humor Fritz would have cracked along time ago.

"Sir, B.D.U. reports a cold front coming from the north east."
"Thank you, Keep me informed." Fritz responded.
"Should be quite a storm.....Think we'll make it?" The doubt was plastered all over Jurgens face like a poster for the coming disaster. "We have made it this far have'nt we!?" Fritz's response seemed more like something shouted during drill back at the naval acadamy. Fritz began to feel like he was on auto pilot. The lack of sleep was taking it toll on everybody but Fritz felt it the hardest. "This storm is coming out of the British Isles!" Fritz's eyes burned intensely on Jurgen. "Ja and Herr Kaleun?" As he tried to grasp Fritz's deeper meaning. "Those Tommy's dont give up do they?" Fritz giggled as he walked passed Johan and headed to the conning tower.

It was a calm yet overcast night with light sea's. Fritz garbbed his binoculars
and peered into the night. "Were going real slow so as to not stir up a long wake."
"Also we dont want to put any extra stress on our lifeline eh?" Nobody responded to Fritz. The fatige of the crew was at its peak. Fritz thought about how ghostly and ragged they all now looked to him. They had looked like youthfull boys only a fortnight ago and now they look like dead men. If only he could just get home and get his boys home. If only he...............

[Freiwillige]

The alarm snapped everyone out of their daze. "What is it?" Uwe asked. "The watch officer heard aircraft flying but could not get a visuall sighting through the overcast." Jurgen responded. "They are very tricky and we have our pants down!"

"Man the deckgun." Fritz whisper's to his number one as he scans the sky and listen's for the mystery craft droning faintly in the distance. "Signal the other boat that our AA is active." With both boats 20mm's they stand a chance against a lone attacker. "Sir we cannot take another hit....She wont hold." stated in a hushed tone. "If they so much as drop a Christmas card on us were done for."
"If we know churchill he will have alot of gifts for us this year." Fritz always found a way of Joking his way thru the stress.

The signal officer was blinking his response from the towing boat when out of the clouds low and fast another flying boat straddles the u-boat in front of them with charges! With in seconds Fritz and the whole crew on deck watched as Heinrich's boat had first buckled then snapped mid ship. "Good lord, Heinrich!" Fritz reached out his hand towards the spot where just moments ago there was a boat. Nobody had a chance to respond to the swift attack. Heinrich and his boat were gone in the blink of an eye but now U-96 had a far more and imediate danger to deal with.

"Herr Kaleun!!!!" The watch officer struggled to find the words as U-96 was being pulled under by the very tow line that had once been their savor!

[Freiwillige]

Screeching could be heard throughout the ship as the nose was slowly pulled under. Fritz couldnt utter a single order as all on the tower froze with fear. As the nose dipped ever further Fritz grabbed the towers front structure and watched the cold sea climbing up to meet him just a few feet away. Just as it looked hopless the line snapped and what was left of the old boat that had saved them dove into the abyss.

For a moment no man spoke for they all knew that their time had come one too many times this trip. As the boat bounced up again breaking the surface Fritz's thoughts returned to him. "Man the Flakgeschutzen!" Men who were frozen only moments before snapped back to life to counter their new found airborn threat. "Wait for it........Wait for it..........FIRE!" The 20mm Flak mount started spitting flame as tracers reached out towards the Liberator. It only took a few seconds for the gunner to find his mark as impact explosions rocked cockpit and wing root. The liberator pulled up hard to clear the 20mm shells being thrown at them but the airframe couldnt take the stress. "Aaahaaaa haa haaa!" Fritz screamed as the Liberators wing seperated from it body just over the crews head. It crashed into the sea just 100 yards past the boat.

"What is this madness!?" Fritz yelled out. "We should be dead!" "We should all be dead!" The shocked faces of the watch team said it all. "Is this even real or have we all cracked up and gone to the madhouse?" "What now herr Kaleun?" one of the watchmen asked. "We pray."

[Jimbuna]

A great enthralling return http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

[Brag]

Another exciting episode. :D

[Task Force]

Veary intresting. now how are they gona make it back. Call in Mc Giver.:rotfl:

[Freiwillige]

"Bdu has been informed of our situation and is looking for a solution herr Kaleun."
"Danke." Frits replied. "Whats the news on the storm front?" Fritz knew that it was not looking good, the seas were starting to get rough and the winds were kicking up to a low whistle.

The men of U-96 sat around the confined dining table trying to get their rotting provisions down and contemplating their situation. "The men are doing all they can but with the lack of parts I dont think it can be done." Jurgen quiped. "Maybe there will be another rescue?" Nobody around the table even looked up from their food at the casual question, nobody even had the willpower left to discuss hopes and dreams at this point. "Well we cannot just stay out here and die!" Johannes blurted out. Calmly Fritz lifted his eyes and locked them sternly with Johannes "We can stay here and we will stay here, It is our duty. Unless you have any ideas that will get us out of this situation than we might also be left to die out here. Those are the facts and the sooner we accept our situation the sooner we can reason our way out of it................If there is a way out." With that Fritz's head slowly drifted back down to his soup bowl where he had been stiring his spoon ever so casually.

The silence was suddenly broken with a heavy metallic thud followed by the rustling of feet as the whole back of the boat came alive. Fritz stood up just as his cheif engineer barged into the dining section. "We were trying to budge the motor that was ripped from its mount and making a little progress when the chain broke trapping ensin Hochmann between the hull and the motor...........He is dead."
the silence returned as suddenly as it was broken. "Any hope of getting the motor back into its mount?" Fritz asked. "There is always hope but nobody can be sure at this point herr kaleun. It is getting more difficult in these rough seas be certain."
"Okay then ill take us down, at least well get a few hours of comfort for sleep."

[FIREWALL]

from this great read : Let me guess the boat is sinking and we have to ride our damn torpedo's home?!" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Freiwillige]

"Pull you dogs, well get this boat moving or die trying!" Johannes was never an authorative persona and it took alot to get him worked into his frenzied state. "Hermann shackle that mount!" The work conditions were horrific for the crew but they struggled heroically to succeed in their overwhelming task. "get that shaft welded and do it right we dont know how many chances well get."

"Herr kaleun, we have some hope of getting Eva started again. there are no garentees though." Johannes reported. "Very well surface the boat." Fritz paced the small area of the controll room looking over the shoulders of the crew frantically trying to coax the wounded vessal smoothly to the surface.
Once on deck the men scanned the clearing skies for any sighns of trouble.

Down in the engine room Eva coughed as she tried to come to life. Johannes and his crew turned every lever to try and kick his motor to life. Finally she caught and roughly came to life spinning her welded bent and battered shaft the was nearly twisted off hours before.

Up on deck the setting sun broke thru the overcast giving a bright orange light across the seas and the bottom of the clouds lighting as much the spirits of the crew as the sky around them. "Informe Bdu that were limping home and could still use any and all assistance"