Weiss Pinguin
11-03-09, 09:18 AM
Captain's log, U-33
October 10, 1940
Grid BF19
I am now captain of the luckiest U-boat in the world.
We had spent most of the previous day and night getting into position ahead of a convoy reported to our northeast. We failed to correctly guess their speed, and ended up several kilometers behind them.
So we had sprinted ahead, and finally were in position by midnight. Thankfully it was a clear night, with a good moon, and impossibly calm waters for this time of the year.
This time around I decided to try a new tactic - we would strip the convoy of its escorts, and as it was heading out to sea and was already out of aircraft range, there would be nothing to stop us from picking it apart as we pleased.
So, the first torpedo we fired was directed at the lead destroyer, who, in the darkness, apparently failed to sight the wake left by our steam torpedo.
As soon as it impacted I ordered a dive to 100 meters, and was in the middle of lowering the periscope when I spotted an odd-looking cargo ship nestled in the middle of the freighters and merchantmen.
I quickly ordered a climb back up to periscope depth, and by the time we were there the convoy had moved a good deal closer, and had zig-zagging as well. I very nearly had a heartattack and grabbed Albert by what I thought was his shoulder. (It turned out to be his neck)
"Mein Gott!! It's a bloody battleship," I almost screamed at the crew, who thought I really was having a heartattack.
We quickly setup a firing solution for the remaining forward tubes after confirming it was indeed a battleship - the Warspite no less, according to our manual.
In a few moments our volley was on its way, two steamers set at fast and medium, and our last electric eel. I ordered a dive to 100 meters, with a right-hand spiral. I knew it would put a devilish strain on the helmsmen, but I was determined to tell this story to everyone back at the club.
I waited tensely as the first two eels either missed or failed to detonate, and then gave up all hope of the third making contact. I was in the middle of planning our escape when suddenly an explosion sounded, practically right over us. I can only presume our last torpedo made contact, as less than a minute later the sound operator reported a ship breaking up and sinking.
Our celebration stopped cold as soon as it had begun as the sound of a dying warship came through the hull quite clearly. I very nearly had another heartattack as for a moment I wondered if I had put my command underneath our target... That would have been a truly ironic demise.
In any case our descent was unhindered by the sinking vessel, but all the way down we could hear the hull breaking up, and the steel twisting and coming apart. I hope I never have to listen to such a mournful sound again.
Several hours later we surfaced to the south of the convoy. The escorts never picked us up, and currently we are racing into position once more. As best as we could tell, there are a scant 2 escorts remaining, and at least a dozen merchants for the taking once the guard dogs are put down.
To be continued... :arrgh!:
October 10, 1940
Grid BF19
I am now captain of the luckiest U-boat in the world.
We had spent most of the previous day and night getting into position ahead of a convoy reported to our northeast. We failed to correctly guess their speed, and ended up several kilometers behind them.
So we had sprinted ahead, and finally were in position by midnight. Thankfully it was a clear night, with a good moon, and impossibly calm waters for this time of the year.
This time around I decided to try a new tactic - we would strip the convoy of its escorts, and as it was heading out to sea and was already out of aircraft range, there would be nothing to stop us from picking it apart as we pleased.
So, the first torpedo we fired was directed at the lead destroyer, who, in the darkness, apparently failed to sight the wake left by our steam torpedo.
As soon as it impacted I ordered a dive to 100 meters, and was in the middle of lowering the periscope when I spotted an odd-looking cargo ship nestled in the middle of the freighters and merchantmen.
I quickly ordered a climb back up to periscope depth, and by the time we were there the convoy had moved a good deal closer, and had zig-zagging as well. I very nearly had a heartattack and grabbed Albert by what I thought was his shoulder. (It turned out to be his neck)
"Mein Gott!! It's a bloody battleship," I almost screamed at the crew, who thought I really was having a heartattack.
We quickly setup a firing solution for the remaining forward tubes after confirming it was indeed a battleship - the Warspite no less, according to our manual.
In a few moments our volley was on its way, two steamers set at fast and medium, and our last electric eel. I ordered a dive to 100 meters, with a right-hand spiral. I knew it would put a devilish strain on the helmsmen, but I was determined to tell this story to everyone back at the club.
I waited tensely as the first two eels either missed or failed to detonate, and then gave up all hope of the third making contact. I was in the middle of planning our escape when suddenly an explosion sounded, practically right over us. I can only presume our last torpedo made contact, as less than a minute later the sound operator reported a ship breaking up and sinking.
Our celebration stopped cold as soon as it had begun as the sound of a dying warship came through the hull quite clearly. I very nearly had another heartattack as for a moment I wondered if I had put my command underneath our target... That would have been a truly ironic demise.
In any case our descent was unhindered by the sinking vessel, but all the way down we could hear the hull breaking up, and the steel twisting and coming apart. I hope I never have to listen to such a mournful sound again.
Several hours later we surfaced to the south of the convoy. The escorts never picked us up, and currently we are racing into position once more. As best as we could tell, there are a scant 2 escorts remaining, and at least a dozen merchants for the taking once the guard dogs are put down.
To be continued... :arrgh!: