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GoldenRivet
04-10-08, 05:04 PM
Patrolling of the northwest coast of Norway in mid March 1940 and have encountered several lighted neutrals running east to west along a very tight shipping lane.

at about 2300 hours i came across an unlighted Medium Cargo moving at a pretty high speed.

i was watching him through the scope for several minutes trying to come up with a solution while simultaneously determining nationality.

the flag was not british, from the distance i could tell this much but i was unable to place the flag until i put the firing solution on hold while i closed in to determine nationality for sure.

As i got closer i realised my bow caps were open and my finger was poised on the fire button and my torpedo tubes were pointing right at a German Medium cargo!

needless to say i didnt shoot, i surfaced, looked them over for a minute and we headed out separate ways. that crew is lucky i wasnt trigger happy despite the 2 week dryspell in this patrol so far!

just a friendly reminder, never shoot when your not sure!

Check those flags!

Frank0001
04-10-08, 05:29 PM
That's a real class act there Rivet, that crew must've been thankful for your carefulness!
So far I've been shooting at everything that crosses my 0 and 180 degrees, not that I hit anything, friend or foe....

Then again, the German (Navy) flag is difficult to read, with the swastikas and stripes removed.

(woa look, I've been promoted from bilge rat to a nub!)

Kaleu. Jochen Mohr
04-11-08, 12:01 AM
have a guess what i got on my radio messages when returning from Paukenschlag :lol:

(only in german, SH3 dosnt have it in english)

BdU
Alle Boote
1942.02.01||Deutscher Dampfer "Spreewald" funkt SOS in BE78.||Um 17 Uhr DGZ wurde torpediert.||Brennt und sinkt.||BdU

BdU
Alle Boote
1942.02.01||Wer hat im Quadrat BE78 einen Dampfer torpediert?||Sofort melden!||BdU

U333
1942.02.01||Habe in Quadrat BE78 auf Weg Anton einwandfrei feindlichen Dampfer versenkt.||Zickzack um Generalkurs 60 Grad. Unterwasserangriff. Ein Treffer 1700 Ato. Schiff stoppt.||Zweiter Angriff mit letztem Torpedo ETO.1800 Uhr Treffer. Schiff sinkt.||U-333||Cremer

BdU
U333
1942.02.01||Cremer, Sie haben den deutschen Dampfer "Spreewald" versenkt, Sie Idiot!||BdU

FIREWALL
04-11-08, 12:09 AM
This much I can figure out.:p

BdU
U333
1942.02.01||Cremer, Sie haben den deutschen Dampfer "Spreewald" versenkt, Sie Idiot!||BdU :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

FIREWALL
04-11-08, 12:29 AM
That's a real class act there Rivet, that crew must've been thankful for your carefulness!
So far I've been shooting at everything that crosses my 0 and 180 degrees, not that I hit anything, friend or foe....

Then again, the German (Navy) flag is difficult to read, with the swastikas and stripes removed.

(woa look, I've been promoted from bilge rat to a nub!)


Yup I used to be a shoot first and ask questions later kinda guy myself.:D I was almost a U-boot Ace for Great Britain :p

papa_smurf
04-11-08, 09:38 AM
Been there, done that. Iv'e sunk numerous neutrals, without checking what nationallity the ship is first, only to realise when it too late.:nope:

Yup I used to be a shoot first and ask questions later kinda guy myself.:D I was almost a U-boot Ace for Great Britain :p
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Thats something not to be proud of...............

siber
04-11-08, 10:40 AM
Nov. '39, and I was patrolling the North sea in my trusty IIA, and I happened across a similar situation. A large merchant was spotted by my watch crew, and although I couln't see it myself, we plotted its course and speed and moved to intercept. Waiting submerged 500m from where the ship would pass I awaited the point where my solution gave me 000 gyroangle. At 345, the ship was visible; at 352 the masts were visible; and at 358, I saw the flag. The bow caps were open, my finger was on the trigger... but she was Dutch. Luckily, the flag was sighted with only a few seconds to spare!

You have been warned: Not all neutral freighters run with lights on. :know:

Brag
04-11-08, 03:35 PM
I saw a group of three large German patrol boats 200 kms. west of Lorient. So even in the Atlantic one can't be absolutely sure with darkened ships. :|\\