meduza
09-26-08, 12:13 PM
June 1943. Atlantic Ocean, off the African coast. After 20 days at sea, we had a mixed success. It all started well, when we sank 3 larger merchants. After that, the patrol went downhill. Two attacks on a large convoy resulted with only two sunk ships, a lot of torpedoes missing the target, and depthchargin for hours. On top of that, one aircraft managed to surprise us on surface. CE reported some hull damage.
After many days of nothing but empty ocean, the BdU notified us of a ship spotted not far from our position. Although it was moving away, we went for it. The weather was worsening for the past few days, and the heavy rain greatly reduced visibility.
We arrived at interception point early, and dived to perform a hydrophone check. There was a faint sound, exacrly at suspected position. Judging by the noise, it was a large ship, although the sound was a bit strange. We surfaced and started sailing towards the ship.
"Detecting radar signals!" - reported the RA.
Where the hell was this coming from ?! We quickly dived to periscope depth. The hydrophones revealed 2-3 merchants and at least one escort. That's what made the sound so strange. It wasn't a single ship, as reported, but a small convoy!
Since the visibility was still low, I decided to get closer to the convoy, inspect it and follow it until the weather improved. After a while, the SO reported 4 merchants and two escorts. Based on the first report and its current position, the convoy was sailing NE at 9-10kt.
After they passed, we surfaced, took position at their port and started to shadow. The weather was still bad, with heavy rain and strong winds.
Suddenly I noticed that the bearing of the radar emissions started to change, as if the convoy, or escorts, changed course. As a precaution, we reduced speed and dived.
"Warship, bearing 097, medium range, closing. Moving Fast!!" - yelled the SO. The pinging sounds followed soon after.
"Sh*t!" I yelled, ordered silent running, dive and 20 degree change of course. A minute or two after, we heard the first depth charges exploding. We released a bold, briefly went to flank, and changed course slightly after returning to silent running. The pinging continued...
We were at 80m when the first depth charge hit. Apparently there was a minor damage to the bow quarters, and some flooding. No casualties. I made a decision not to break silent running, not even to make repairs, thinking that the additional weight of the water coming in will allow us to reach the safer depths sooner, without making any noise. Then we'll deal with the flooding.
At 180m we were sinking fast, so I gave the order to stop the flooding and pump out the water. The explosions could still be heard, but from some distance.
The repairs took longer than I expected. When we passed 200m, the hull started to crack. Fortunately, the boat stoped sinking and started to raise. For a moment I thought we're not going to make it. We increased the speed a bit to raise as soon as possible, preventing more damage.
Went to 150m and continued to clear the area, running silently. I could hear the convoy moving away, followed by the sounds of the escorts. We manage to get away!
Since the speed were insufficient to maintain depth, I ordered a slight increase. At that moment, we heard an engine noise directly overhead, followed by deptcharges. The bastards stayed above us, waiting.
It started all over again, the pinging, the explosions, evading manoeuvres. Fortunately, after a while, the escort lost us and joined the convoy.
Even after all this, I decided to stick with the original plan. We surfaced again and started to follow the convoy, this time at a larger distance, and with more frequent hdydophone checks.
Finally, the visibility improved! We rushed forward and positioned the boat for an attack. The leading destroyer passed 2km in front of our possition, the trailing one was far away. Four torpedoes were fired at Large merchant and Modern tanker. Two minutes later we heard torpedo impacts, followed by another one later. Both ships were hit, and one torpedo that missed, made a lucky hit at Liberty Cargo in the second line! :smug:
The destroyers were circling around, but were not able to detect us!
Soon, two ships sank, and the third continued to sail with greatly reduced speed. We followed it, and when it was considerably away from the convoy, sent it to the bottom.
With the sounds of the depth charges still echoing in my mind, I went after the convoy to sink them all, but they reached the shallow watters off the Freetown where I was not willing to follow.
Never mind, for the escorts, the fact that they returned home without the convoy they were supposed to protect, is big enough punishment.
:arrgh!:
After many days of nothing but empty ocean, the BdU notified us of a ship spotted not far from our position. Although it was moving away, we went for it. The weather was worsening for the past few days, and the heavy rain greatly reduced visibility.
We arrived at interception point early, and dived to perform a hydrophone check. There was a faint sound, exacrly at suspected position. Judging by the noise, it was a large ship, although the sound was a bit strange. We surfaced and started sailing towards the ship.
"Detecting radar signals!" - reported the RA.
Where the hell was this coming from ?! We quickly dived to periscope depth. The hydrophones revealed 2-3 merchants and at least one escort. That's what made the sound so strange. It wasn't a single ship, as reported, but a small convoy!
Since the visibility was still low, I decided to get closer to the convoy, inspect it and follow it until the weather improved. After a while, the SO reported 4 merchants and two escorts. Based on the first report and its current position, the convoy was sailing NE at 9-10kt.
After they passed, we surfaced, took position at their port and started to shadow. The weather was still bad, with heavy rain and strong winds.
Suddenly I noticed that the bearing of the radar emissions started to change, as if the convoy, or escorts, changed course. As a precaution, we reduced speed and dived.
"Warship, bearing 097, medium range, closing. Moving Fast!!" - yelled the SO. The pinging sounds followed soon after.
"Sh*t!" I yelled, ordered silent running, dive and 20 degree change of course. A minute or two after, we heard the first depth charges exploding. We released a bold, briefly went to flank, and changed course slightly after returning to silent running. The pinging continued...
We were at 80m when the first depth charge hit. Apparently there was a minor damage to the bow quarters, and some flooding. No casualties. I made a decision not to break silent running, not even to make repairs, thinking that the additional weight of the water coming in will allow us to reach the safer depths sooner, without making any noise. Then we'll deal with the flooding.
At 180m we were sinking fast, so I gave the order to stop the flooding and pump out the water. The explosions could still be heard, but from some distance.
The repairs took longer than I expected. When we passed 200m, the hull started to crack. Fortunately, the boat stoped sinking and started to raise. For a moment I thought we're not going to make it. We increased the speed a bit to raise as soon as possible, preventing more damage.
Went to 150m and continued to clear the area, running silently. I could hear the convoy moving away, followed by the sounds of the escorts. We manage to get away!
Since the speed were insufficient to maintain depth, I ordered a slight increase. At that moment, we heard an engine noise directly overhead, followed by deptcharges. The bastards stayed above us, waiting.
It started all over again, the pinging, the explosions, evading manoeuvres. Fortunately, after a while, the escort lost us and joined the convoy.
Even after all this, I decided to stick with the original plan. We surfaced again and started to follow the convoy, this time at a larger distance, and with more frequent hdydophone checks.
Finally, the visibility improved! We rushed forward and positioned the boat for an attack. The leading destroyer passed 2km in front of our possition, the trailing one was far away. Four torpedoes were fired at Large merchant and Modern tanker. Two minutes later we heard torpedo impacts, followed by another one later. Both ships were hit, and one torpedo that missed, made a lucky hit at Liberty Cargo in the second line! :smug:
The destroyers were circling around, but were not able to detect us!
Soon, two ships sank, and the third continued to sail with greatly reduced speed. We followed it, and when it was considerably away from the convoy, sent it to the bottom.
With the sounds of the depth charges still echoing in my mind, I went after the convoy to sink them all, but they reached the shallow watters off the Freetown where I was not willing to follow.
Never mind, for the escorts, the fact that they returned home without the convoy they were supposed to protect, is big enough punishment.
:arrgh!: