VonApist
03-14-11, 06:10 AM
Bad luck in Loch Ewe
U47 was ordered to patrol BE 26 for 24 hours. We left Wilhelmshaven at night and I decided to follow a course through the English Channel , really close to the French coast. A fairly easy trip, had to evade (not engage) only 2 destroyers and got a French small merchant (used deck gun as it was 02.00 in the morning, no need to waste torpedoes) and an English C2. Out of the Channel and on our way to BE26, its early in the morning, I’m surfaced speed 1/3 and my look out spots a T2 Tanker. Periscope depth and 2 torpedoes later she is down. After a 24 hour patrol with no sightings (except an English torpedo-boat!! In the middle of the Atlantic!!) I decided to try my luck and see if any big ships were moored in Loch Ewe. I decided to use the northern approach. The moment I reached the northern tip of Ireland, we had to move with extreme caution, as destroyers and planes were all over the place. My sonar man indicated that a C3 cargo was approaching. I decide to stalk it and attack at night as to do it during the day with so many destroyers and planes around would be very challenging. At 23.00 I launch my attack and 2 torpedoes later she is down. We get the hell out of the way and I surface the boat to recharge batteries and replenish 02. I have put all of my excess crew to rest as tomorrow will be (hopefully) a big day. Next morning U47 is ordered to depth 20m, speed 1knot silent running, as I try to approach the “mouth” of Loch Ewe. Its very busy on the surface with destroyers, torpedoboats and trawlers all patrolling out of the port. I enter Loch Ewe at 15m depth , speed 1 knot around 05:00 so I decide to move away from the piers towards land, remain submerged , All stop all day. I don’t even dare to raise my periscope. At 15m depth , depth under keel is a mere 3 metres. Crew, doesn’t like this. At 21:00 I dare to raise the periscope, sweeping aroung to find a big fish – and there is none!!! 3 destroyers (2 hunt, one V&W) as well as one torpedo boat are moored. Nothing else!! All this trip for nothing!. I decide to attack the 2 Hunts which are positioned in a way such that allows me to aim both from where I stand. Tube 1 goes to Hunt 1 and tube 2 goes to hunt 2. And they are down!! Now I have to get the hell out of here (at 1 knot :o). Again 1 knot depth 12m periscope down. I avoid one torpedo boat but I get pinged by the remaining destroyer. I have been detected. Full ahead rudder right and she comes from 9o clock towards me. First barrage of depth charges in the water. I am at 12m depth! Bang Bang Bang – hull integrity 100%!! Unscathed! Now I turn my boat and the destroyer is completing its circle . Periscope up, stern torpedo armed , I ask for a firing solution from Otto (my WO). Very good angle, Tube 5 fires and the destroyer is down as well!! Periscope down rudder full left speed 2 knots silent running. 3 Hours later I am out of danger. I surface the boat (risky but CO2 levels where critical) , 1/3 ahead towards deeper waters. Battery recharged at 50% and O2 partially replenished when a single plane is spotted. I decide to engage her while surfaced and try to take her down as if I dive I will have low battery and O2 to engage the destroyers that will come after me as the plane spots me. And I need some to put some space between my boat and the prospective Hunters. Speed full ahead 14 knots and Hans my Flak gunner is ready for action. He is trained and he is good. I evade 2 dives and in the meantime, Hans does his hand work. The plane is down:up:. I continue surfaced towards the open ocean. Now batteries are charged 100% and O2 replenished. Depth 30m , North course and wait until night comes in order to make it to surface again. Back to port with decent tonnage, a great attack and escape but no cruisers or battleships under my knife. Promotion for UBoat front Clasp for Hans (the flak gunner) while Otto gets a promotion. :arrgh!:
U47 was ordered to patrol BE 26 for 24 hours. We left Wilhelmshaven at night and I decided to follow a course through the English Channel , really close to the French coast. A fairly easy trip, had to evade (not engage) only 2 destroyers and got a French small merchant (used deck gun as it was 02.00 in the morning, no need to waste torpedoes) and an English C2. Out of the Channel and on our way to BE26, its early in the morning, I’m surfaced speed 1/3 and my look out spots a T2 Tanker. Periscope depth and 2 torpedoes later she is down. After a 24 hour patrol with no sightings (except an English torpedo-boat!! In the middle of the Atlantic!!) I decided to try my luck and see if any big ships were moored in Loch Ewe. I decided to use the northern approach. The moment I reached the northern tip of Ireland, we had to move with extreme caution, as destroyers and planes were all over the place. My sonar man indicated that a C3 cargo was approaching. I decide to stalk it and attack at night as to do it during the day with so many destroyers and planes around would be very challenging. At 23.00 I launch my attack and 2 torpedoes later she is down. We get the hell out of the way and I surface the boat to recharge batteries and replenish 02. I have put all of my excess crew to rest as tomorrow will be (hopefully) a big day. Next morning U47 is ordered to depth 20m, speed 1knot silent running, as I try to approach the “mouth” of Loch Ewe. Its very busy on the surface with destroyers, torpedoboats and trawlers all patrolling out of the port. I enter Loch Ewe at 15m depth , speed 1 knot around 05:00 so I decide to move away from the piers towards land, remain submerged , All stop all day. I don’t even dare to raise my periscope. At 15m depth , depth under keel is a mere 3 metres. Crew, doesn’t like this. At 21:00 I dare to raise the periscope, sweeping aroung to find a big fish – and there is none!!! 3 destroyers (2 hunt, one V&W) as well as one torpedo boat are moored. Nothing else!! All this trip for nothing!. I decide to attack the 2 Hunts which are positioned in a way such that allows me to aim both from where I stand. Tube 1 goes to Hunt 1 and tube 2 goes to hunt 2. And they are down!! Now I have to get the hell out of here (at 1 knot :o). Again 1 knot depth 12m periscope down. I avoid one torpedo boat but I get pinged by the remaining destroyer. I have been detected. Full ahead rudder right and she comes from 9o clock towards me. First barrage of depth charges in the water. I am at 12m depth! Bang Bang Bang – hull integrity 100%!! Unscathed! Now I turn my boat and the destroyer is completing its circle . Periscope up, stern torpedo armed , I ask for a firing solution from Otto (my WO). Very good angle, Tube 5 fires and the destroyer is down as well!! Periscope down rudder full left speed 2 knots silent running. 3 Hours later I am out of danger. I surface the boat (risky but CO2 levels where critical) , 1/3 ahead towards deeper waters. Battery recharged at 50% and O2 partially replenished when a single plane is spotted. I decide to engage her while surfaced and try to take her down as if I dive I will have low battery and O2 to engage the destroyers that will come after me as the plane spots me. And I need some to put some space between my boat and the prospective Hunters. Speed full ahead 14 knots and Hans my Flak gunner is ready for action. He is trained and he is good. I evade 2 dives and in the meantime, Hans does his hand work. The plane is down:up:. I continue surfaced towards the open ocean. Now batteries are charged 100% and O2 replenished. Depth 30m , North course and wait until night comes in order to make it to surface again. Back to port with decent tonnage, a great attack and escape but no cruisers or battleships under my knife. Promotion for UBoat front Clasp for Hans (the flak gunner) while Otto gets a promotion. :arrgh!: