ppk
11-06-08, 03:46 AM
EDIT : I'm a bit of an amateur writer so I'll make this in some sort of novel that anyone could read and understand. If anyone wants to comment on the style I use feel free to criticize/applaud.
On October 4th 1940 was Wolf Kruger's first mission aboard the U-111. He knew all of the crew from his previous assignment in the Baltic Sea at the start of the war, where they had sunk 67 300 tons of Polish merchant shipping. There had however not been a single encounter with enemy warships. Kruger was now the commander of a brand new Type IXB submarine, straight out of the factory. With a range exceeding 25 000km's it was the only submarine in service within the U-Boote Waffe that could attack enemy shipping lanes as far as the South Atlantic and the Carribean. Designed in 1935 and ’36, the boat was much larger than the mass produced VIIB’s and VIIC’s, and was consequently much less maneuverable. On the surface it made an acceptable top speed of 19 knots on calm seas, but it’s reluctance to change direction and depth once underwater had earned it the name of seekuh (Sea Cow) from its crews.
Albert Deckert was the chief engineer on board U-111. One of the most experienced aboard the ship, he already had nine war patrols to his record. When Kruger arrived at Pier 4 in Lorient's bomb proof U-Boote pen, Deckert was still supervising the seamen loading food and ammo below decks. Peter Hageman, the second in command, waved at his captain from the top of the conning tower.
``Herr Kruger, she will be ready to sail in less than an hour.``
``Very well. The sooner the better.`` Walking quickly across the temporary passageway and climbing up to the bridge, he saluted Hageman before climbing down the hatch and heading to the radio room to see if Karl Oesten, a talented young sonarman, had finished all the tests on the refitted hydrophones. The GHG set that was in place during the first sea trials proved to be faulty and were replaced with the newer KDB model, that could be rotated to listen from any direction. Soon the decks were cleared and the supplies all loaded. With the whole crew on the bridge except for a few men to man the diesels and the helms station, the band began to play You Will Return. There was no crowd to see U-111 leave for grid square AL 29, only a few worried wives and children, but it was tradition for boats to receive such a salute when leaving port.
``Release the bow and stern lines at once. Ahead slow on both diesels.`` Ordered Kruger, now back topside. The boat slowly inched forward, it's nose now crawling out of the U-Boote pen.
``Rudder ten degrees to port.`` U-111 turned left at a relaxed pace as it eased out of Pier 4. Wolf Kruger wanted the men to hear the last notes of the song before what would be a long time in an over-sized tin can. ``Hageman.`` He said. ``Handle the navigation out of Lorient. I will go below and start plotting our course.``
``Of course Herr Kaleun.``
Sliding down the ladder, Wolf walked over to the navigation maps. His orders were to patrol his assigned grid square for 24 hours. After this, he was required to remain at see as long as his supplies lasted and relatively free to go where he wanted to, unless otherwise ordered. A quick work with a ruler and a compass and he had a precise course to the patrol area. Not a big fan of the North Atlantic, the captain would have preferred a trip south. Winter was coming and the rough seas and frequent storms made for an unpleasant cruise at this time of year. Maybe he could ask BdU permission to dispense some havoc in Freetown. He’d have to think about that.
*To be continued*
On October 4th 1940 was Wolf Kruger's first mission aboard the U-111. He knew all of the crew from his previous assignment in the Baltic Sea at the start of the war, where they had sunk 67 300 tons of Polish merchant shipping. There had however not been a single encounter with enemy warships. Kruger was now the commander of a brand new Type IXB submarine, straight out of the factory. With a range exceeding 25 000km's it was the only submarine in service within the U-Boote Waffe that could attack enemy shipping lanes as far as the South Atlantic and the Carribean. Designed in 1935 and ’36, the boat was much larger than the mass produced VIIB’s and VIIC’s, and was consequently much less maneuverable. On the surface it made an acceptable top speed of 19 knots on calm seas, but it’s reluctance to change direction and depth once underwater had earned it the name of seekuh (Sea Cow) from its crews.
Albert Deckert was the chief engineer on board U-111. One of the most experienced aboard the ship, he already had nine war patrols to his record. When Kruger arrived at Pier 4 in Lorient's bomb proof U-Boote pen, Deckert was still supervising the seamen loading food and ammo below decks. Peter Hageman, the second in command, waved at his captain from the top of the conning tower.
``Herr Kruger, she will be ready to sail in less than an hour.``
``Very well. The sooner the better.`` Walking quickly across the temporary passageway and climbing up to the bridge, he saluted Hageman before climbing down the hatch and heading to the radio room to see if Karl Oesten, a talented young sonarman, had finished all the tests on the refitted hydrophones. The GHG set that was in place during the first sea trials proved to be faulty and were replaced with the newer KDB model, that could be rotated to listen from any direction. Soon the decks were cleared and the supplies all loaded. With the whole crew on the bridge except for a few men to man the diesels and the helms station, the band began to play You Will Return. There was no crowd to see U-111 leave for grid square AL 29, only a few worried wives and children, but it was tradition for boats to receive such a salute when leaving port.
``Release the bow and stern lines at once. Ahead slow on both diesels.`` Ordered Kruger, now back topside. The boat slowly inched forward, it's nose now crawling out of the U-Boote pen.
``Rudder ten degrees to port.`` U-111 turned left at a relaxed pace as it eased out of Pier 4. Wolf Kruger wanted the men to hear the last notes of the song before what would be a long time in an over-sized tin can. ``Hageman.`` He said. ``Handle the navigation out of Lorient. I will go below and start plotting our course.``
``Of course Herr Kaleun.``
Sliding down the ladder, Wolf walked over to the navigation maps. His orders were to patrol his assigned grid square for 24 hours. After this, he was required to remain at see as long as his supplies lasted and relatively free to go where he wanted to, unless otherwise ordered. A quick work with a ruler and a compass and he had a precise course to the patrol area. Not a big fan of the North Atlantic, the captain would have preferred a trip south. Winter was coming and the rough seas and frequent storms made for an unpleasant cruise at this time of year. Maybe he could ask BdU permission to dispense some havoc in Freetown. He’d have to think about that.
*To be continued*