A new type of Grey Wolf

[U777]

This is my first attempt at writing a story so here goes. Any constructive critiques are welcome and they will be associated with a new career I started with FS commander.


It was a mild evening in Munich for which the whole city was grateful for after the last few blistering hot days. I was walking home after a satisfying meal enjoying the cool breeze, and listening to the crickets chirping a peaceful melody when someone from behind called out my name. "Rienhart!" I heard that voice before......... turned around and who else could it be, Wally an old classmate back from our days as seekadetts back in '35.

"And a pleasant evening to you too Wally, what are you doing all they way from Cologne? How's officer life compared since your days as a Stabsoberbootsmann?"

"I've decided to move here and become a recruiter, pushing paper Berlin gets old really fast but the pay is much nicer than a NCO's pay".

I cracked a smile, everyone told him to avoid choosing a administrative occupation but he is thick skulled as usual, he is one who prefers to learn from his own mistakes vs taking advice from others.

"My place is a block away, want to catch up over a mug or two of bier"?

"Nien, I just finished dropping an applicant off at the PS hotel and had a ton of stuff to deal with, how about tomorrow night around 7"?

"Sure, guten nacht Wally"

"Guten nacht" Wally replied with a smile.

I finally walked up to the steps of the apartment complex and opened the mail box. Water bill, electric bill, ads from a tailor, yet another contact attempt by Julie, and finally a yellow envelope from the Kriegsmarine base in Kiel marked urgent. Closed the mailbox and walked up the 5 flights. I plopped down in living room and set aside the bills, saved the ad (could use a new suit), and the envelope from Julie flew into the fireplace. After opening the yellow envelope I was surprised to see a train ticket enclosed. Fished out the letter and it was from the base commandant.

"you are to report to Kiel shipyards no later than August 1st 18:00 hours. Report to the adjutant's office and tell him that you have an appointment with me".

It was signed by Rudolf Hoft. Well August 1st isn't for another 15 days, its probably regarding my recent graduation from U-boat commander training. I locked up the envelope's contents in the already crowded safe and collapsed into bed for tonight................

[Alpha Von Burg]

So far, all I can say is keep'em comin'
:yeah:

[U777]

The following evening Wally showed up and I pulled two out cold ones. We catched up on old times and current events.

"So hows the recruiting business working out"?

"We just got a large quota issued for the current fiscal year, we are getting applicants but it will be tough to make mission before the year is up. Due to my rank I'm the station commander so i only handle a recruit here and there personally. How about you, I'm surprised that you haven't been assigned a boat yet."

"There is a shortage is available boats at the moment so I've been rotated to teach at the local diesel school until a position opens up. However I've received a letter that instructed me to report to Kiel in a couple of weeks so that might change, its not a typical assignment notice though"

"You'll find out soon enough" Wally chuckled. "Higher ups seem to get quite an enjoyment in keeping us dark"

As the hours went by we discussed about anything we could think of. He asked about Julie and I told him that she simply broke up with me out of nowhere via telephone and now I don't want anything to do with her.

"That explained why you haven't returned her letters" Wally said.

"Ja, I simply toss them in the firepla........ hey how did you know about them"?

"She tried to get a hold of you through me knowing that we are good friends. I always told her I'm oblivious to your whereabouts, she hasn't mentioned what happened between you two".

"well the past is the past, do you have anybody draining your wallet"?

"Nien, and I intend on keeping my marks safe"

We burst out laughing. Some people never change after all these years. We bid farewell well into the morning twilight and yet again I collapsed into bed.

--few weeks later--

Ok bag is packed, ticket in coat pocket, gave all perishable food to next door neighbor, seems that all is in order. I looked around my apartment one last time and grabbed the uniform cap as the door closed. 7 hours later I walked into the adjutant's office.

"I have an appointment with Konteradmiral Hoft"

I showed him my ID and was told to sit down and wait. And wait I did. After what seems to be 45 minutes Hoft walked in.

"Ah so you must be Rienhart Hagemann"

Clicks heals and salutes "Yes Admiral"

We walked into his office and told me to sit down as he offered a drink. Not a typical meeting this is turning out to be. He sat down and pulled out my personal file.

"You have been selected from a group of 45 commanders that recently graduated. You earned top marks in theoretical coursework and practical examinations. Prior to that you served with distinction on board U-31 as one of the leading engineering NCO's. You seem to get well with others and perform with excellent efficiency while under great pressure. However it seems that you are a bit restless teaching at the diesel engineering school."

"Yes sir, I haven't pictured myself stationed on land in the Navy"

Hoft smiled as he sipped the last of his drink.

"Whats the longest time you spent underwater on board U-31"? Hoft asked.

"8 hours sir" was my reply.

"What I'm about to say and offer you shall not leave this room, under penalty of 40 years in the Hamburg stockade"

[Mittelwaechter]

:D

Good: "Nein Reinhardt, there are no Wiener in the Kriegsmarine."

(phonetic: Nine Rhinehard , there are no weener in the Kreegsmarine)

Bad: "Nien Rienhardt, there are no Weiner in the Kreigsmarine."

(phonetic: Neen Reenhard, there are no whiner in the Crygsmarine)

:D

Nice story, I stay tuned Reinhardt.

[U777]

"Yes sir, and you should see a security clearance in that file"

He got up and motioned to follow him. He was silent during the entire car ride from the office to the manufacturing slips. We finally got to a pen that was under extreme guard staffed by the Gestapo and SS, finally after a lengthy ID check we were permitted inside. I followed the admiral through the maze of hallways and he paused in front of a door and looked at me. The door opened slowly and we walked into the pen.

I was amazed at the size and shape of the boat. It was much bigger than the any U-boat I've seen and looks very different. Bow planes folded in the bow, 6 torpedo tubes in the bow yet no stern tubes. Two cannon turrets placed on the for and aft section on the conning tower. Various antennas sticking out. The only two I could recognize are the attack and observation periscopes raised to full length. We rode up to the top scaffolding in a worker elevator and stepped aboard. I'm still dumbfounded and amazed with the admiral smiling at my reaction as we descended below the hatch.

The conning tower had a typical layout with a TDC computer and attack periscope along with all the other knickknacks you expect to find. However the control room was something to behold. It was so roomy and un cramped compared to our current boats.

"Lets skip the torpedo room and crew bunks, their nothing special on this boat aside the added capacity for storing more eels" Hoft said.

"Instead we will go to the radio shack then head aft to the propulsion unit"

I mused at the control room and it seemed very impressive, all the controls you expect to find but with larger and easier to read dials. Of course hanging wires suggests that there are more goodies left to be installed. We entered the radio room.

"Typical radio set up except this set has longer range and is generally more reliable than previous sets, however this is the newest gadget we have".

He pointed to the unit with a green circular display.

"we call it RADAR and basically it allows us to see ships shrouded in fog and those who are beyond visual range. I'll explain how it works back at the office"

I was amazed by this contraption, there are rumors about such a device but to see it exist is a whole different story.

"Now to the propulsion unit" Hoft smiled.

We walked back through the control room and past the aft bunks which seem luxurious compared to U-31. I also noticed its unusually cool on board the boat.

"before going in" Hoft paused at the sealed hatch guarded by an SS soldier, "may I remind you about the Hamburg stockade, I'll make sure it will be the most miserable 40 years of your life if you can't adhere to your security clearance."

I nodded and with that signal Hoft gave the hatch lever a strong turn.We walked into a buzzing compartment and into what appears to be a control room. Dials reading water temperatures, pump RPMs, energy output, and various switches and handles.

"This little shack controls the propulsion unit, which does not use diesel, kerosene, coal, or any other fuel you are familiar with, follow me".

We walked out of the shack and into the heart of the compartment. Through a thick porthole I saw a very clean little compartment with rods and various pipes going in and out with a similar unit with pipes and rods was adjacent. The wall seems to be pretty thick.

"This is the heart of the submarine, two nuclear reactors that permit the submarine to stay underwater as long as food supplies hold out. Range is unlimited and the next time we have to refuel this boat is when your son will graduate from the academy."

"I don't have a son admiral".

"My point exactly" Hoft said. "This ship can go 25 years between refueling".

I stood there astonished as Hoft continues to explain.

"I'm going to to give you the basics. The fuel rods contain fuel pellets made of uranium which creates heat and super heats water. This superheated water is pumped into a heat exchanger where water for the turbines is heated into steam. The reactor water is sent back to the rods and the steam is fed into the turbines. After leaving the turbines the steam goes through another exchanger that condenses it back into water and is pumped back into the first exchanger. We have two turbines on board that also turn two generators".

We entered the ancillary machinery and turbine compartment.

"Here lies the water evaporator, air conditioning systems, the turbines of course, generators, and everything else needed to run this ship".

"Admiral.....I don't know......"

"You'll get acquainted with her as commander during the first sea trials in two weeks. War is in the air and we want her operational before any conflicts arise"

I stood there just astonished, this has got to be a dream. How is this technology possible?

[U777]

Since then I've been placed under command of U-777, this number chosen deliberately due to its luck. I've gotten to know the boat really well as the final components are being installed, she even has a small freezer and shower below the forward bunks, unheard of luxury. Two week passed and she is finally ready for sea trials.

I stepped aboard this time with my seabag and arranged my bunk. After 4 hours of final provisioning and final tests we are ready to depart. In the pen there is a small crows of high ranking officers and political figures. A band is playing Deutschland Uber Alles. At the conclusion of the anthem I ordered the gangway and forward lines to be released. After the final ok from the chief the stern lines were released as well and the pen doors opened, faint glow of a sunrise is in the distance.

"both turbines ahead slow"

The telegraph bells rung and without sound U-777 glided forward effortlessly. We slipped out of the harbor one hour before sunrise so the public cannot get a good glimpse of the boat.