Kaleun Volk
05-03-08, 01:19 PM
:arrgh!: Patrol Report to BDU:
Feb 20, 1940.
I followed a contact report of a neutral convoy south of our assigned patrol grid, in the hopes of finding a few legitament targets scattered amongst the convoy. 14 hours later, 1749hrs, Jan. 1, 1940, we stumbled uppon the convoy, directly ahead of us and making 10 knots our direction, SSE. I scaned the formation of ships ahead of us, and could not identify any escorts. Before submerging, I look at the most suspicious shape in the distance through my banoculars. It appered to be a long merchant with a tall bridge. Selecting this as our anticipated target, I ordered the weapons officer to mark its location in our charts. I dove to periscope depth, and headed NNE to give us a good angle on the target, occasionally putting the pariscope up to locate our target and correct our hedding and speed. On our second look, I was shocked to discover the Merchant was indeed a Nelson class battle-wagon. I scanned the records and compared camoflage scheems, determining that It was the HMS Rodney. We turned tunill we were perpindicular to the Rodney, and made adjustments to our torpedos. I decided uppon a Salvo of four torpedoes, all set to impact pistons and running at 7 meters, 1 degree spread. we closed to 1570 meters, the entire convoy remained unaware of our presense. Perfect. We fired the salvo and lowered the pariscope untill 25 seconds to estimated impact. I rased the scope. I peered at the beast, whom in a few moments would either detect us or be sent to the bottom.... Immediatly 3 huge plooms of water jet out from the Rodney's Side, andd seconds later, a fourth impacts astern in the rear quarter. One of the other eels must have hit the Ammuniton bunkers, as the largest explosion I have ever had the pleasure or terror of seeing rocked the Rodney. "She's Going Down!!!" The cheers filled the boat, who were now safe as the only ship capable of fighting was now slipping beneath the waves, stern first.
I surfaced and continued to fire and sink ships for the better part of an hour, untill I was out of Deck gun ammunition and down to 2 forward tubes remaining, for an estimated 52,000 tons of merchant shipping, along with the estimated 36,000 tons of the HMS Rodney. I now forward a request that the Officers and Crew, especially the gun crew and the Officer of the watch (whom assisted in the torpedo room) be rewarded and decorated as BdU sees fit.
With reguards,
Kpt. Leutnant Karl Melchert, Kpt. U-47
-Volk
Feb 20, 1940.
I followed a contact report of a neutral convoy south of our assigned patrol grid, in the hopes of finding a few legitament targets scattered amongst the convoy. 14 hours later, 1749hrs, Jan. 1, 1940, we stumbled uppon the convoy, directly ahead of us and making 10 knots our direction, SSE. I scaned the formation of ships ahead of us, and could not identify any escorts. Before submerging, I look at the most suspicious shape in the distance through my banoculars. It appered to be a long merchant with a tall bridge. Selecting this as our anticipated target, I ordered the weapons officer to mark its location in our charts. I dove to periscope depth, and headed NNE to give us a good angle on the target, occasionally putting the pariscope up to locate our target and correct our hedding and speed. On our second look, I was shocked to discover the Merchant was indeed a Nelson class battle-wagon. I scanned the records and compared camoflage scheems, determining that It was the HMS Rodney. We turned tunill we were perpindicular to the Rodney, and made adjustments to our torpedos. I decided uppon a Salvo of four torpedoes, all set to impact pistons and running at 7 meters, 1 degree spread. we closed to 1570 meters, the entire convoy remained unaware of our presense. Perfect. We fired the salvo and lowered the pariscope untill 25 seconds to estimated impact. I rased the scope. I peered at the beast, whom in a few moments would either detect us or be sent to the bottom.... Immediatly 3 huge plooms of water jet out from the Rodney's Side, andd seconds later, a fourth impacts astern in the rear quarter. One of the other eels must have hit the Ammuniton bunkers, as the largest explosion I have ever had the pleasure or terror of seeing rocked the Rodney. "She's Going Down!!!" The cheers filled the boat, who were now safe as the only ship capable of fighting was now slipping beneath the waves, stern first.
I surfaced and continued to fire and sink ships for the better part of an hour, untill I was out of Deck gun ammunition and down to 2 forward tubes remaining, for an estimated 52,000 tons of merchant shipping, along with the estimated 36,000 tons of the HMS Rodney. I now forward a request that the Officers and Crew, especially the gun crew and the Officer of the watch (whom assisted in the torpedo room) be rewarded and decorated as BdU sees fit.
With reguards,
Kpt. Leutnant Karl Melchert, Kpt. U-47
-Volk