VonApist
03-28-11, 05:33 AM
October 1939 and so far the crew of U45 has done an fine job. During its first two patrols, U45 had sent a total tonnage of 65,000 tons to rest at the bottom of the Atlantic.
Its time for a new patrol and U45 is ordered to patrol AN19. I decide to use the Northern approach (even though its still early in the war, I don’t much fancy the English Channel). So Northern Course to Norway, Faroes and down to Rockhall Banks.
October 3, 21:30 and an English Large Merchant is spotted right off the Norwegian coast. Weather is clear and there is no activity around so after a brief encounter, Alois (my deck gunner) sends her down. Ahead 1/3 rd , northern course and the rest of the day is completely uneventful. Weather has now changed, windy, low clouds.
Its 14:30 October 5 we are close to the Faroes and U45 gets a report of a task force moving fast, North/ NorthWest. I am quite close and decide to have a look. I plot a course to intercept, and upon arrival I order all stop and remain surfaced (as now the weather is even worst in terms of swells so chances of being spotted while stopped are low) until we make a visual. And after some time we make it.
It’s a small task force with a Southampton Class escorted by 2 Black Swan and 2 V&W destroyers. Distance 4.5km, bearing 080. My fresh map calculations show that if the Task Force maintains the current course and speed they will pass 2.5 km ahead of my stern. Hence I decide to dive to 20m , speed 3 knots in order to try and position my boat better for the attack as at 2.5km and high swells, my steam torpedo accuracy will be highly compromised.
U45 is now positioned at 1400m from where the Southampton Class is expected to make a pass. All stop, periscope up . Sea remains pretty rough. Task force coming as expected, but one of the Black Swans is coming my way (and its definitely my way). I keep my position as I want to figure out if they have spotted my or if they are just doing their routine check circles.
Well this is definitely not a circle. She is now at 1900m, bearing 050 course right at me. I decide to engage her and get the hell out. Full rudder right , Tube 1 torpedo speed slow, magnetic setting depth 4m. My boat has turned towards the incoming destroyer, its going to be close. I need to bring her closer in order minimize the chance of her outmaneuvering my torpedo. She is now at 800m. FIRE Tube 1, Crash Dive to 140m, rudder full left. We are at 30m when the crew starts shouting with joy. “Torpedo Impact”.
Ok good, lets get out of here. No Southampton class, but it could have been much worst. I order silent running, speed 2 knots , course S/SE/ Depth 140m and now I have 3 destroyers right on top of me . Depth charges in the water. Not close enough. I go to the hydrophone room. Lets see where they are. Bearings 150, 210, 270, and something at 90 but this must be the Southampton. Keep course and speed.
After 1.5 hours they are behind me DCing the emptiness. Keeping silent and keeping my depth at 2 knots I make my way out. Its now night, and I order the boat to surface. Close call but everyone is fine and we have zero damage. We continue to grid AN19 with nothing really happening.
A report comes in , Convoy closing in and if I run surface, full speed I might be able to make it. I decide to try. And I manage it. It is now 06:45 in the morning and I am positioned heading north for the incoming convoy. I stand submerged at 45m right below were the convoy is expected to pass (if my map calcs are correct). I want to attack from inside. Hydrophones suggest that they are coming as expected. Its still dark outside when the convoy should be close enough for me to have a look.
Depth 13 metres periscope up. And there she is. Rodney class at 1600m bearing 350. Im lucky. Also a Granville Cargo at bearing 180, 700m. Adolf, my WO sets up the solutions. Tube 1,2,3 (impact depth 5m) go for the Rodney. Tube 5 fires for the merchant. Periscope down depth 140m rudder left.
All 3 torpedoes hit the Rodney, but one is a dud…And my Aft one hits the cargo. Silent running course west depth 140m and I can guess the destroyers must be extremely pissed off. Rodney goes down and the cargo is on fire. Yes!!! I haven’t been detected yet.
30 mins pass. Hydrophones suggest that I have 2 warships around, and the depth charge barrage begins. Bang Bang Bang . Not bad for them. Aft torpedo room damaged. I sent the repair team in. Out of silent running. Full speed rudder left and after 3 mins again at 1 knot. Another barrage in the water. Bang Bang Bang… more serious now.
Flooding in the diesel engine compartment. But its under relative control. Again rudder right. Changing course, speed the same. Another barrage in the water. Lights are out , command room damage but small. Flooding in diesels stops. Down to 150m hoping the hull will take it. Another barrage - it misses. Phew. Course the same, speed 1 knot silent running stop repairs. Next barrage misses. And so does the next one. And the next one. 2 hours later im clear…:up:
Hydrophone shows that all activity is far away. I dare to go to 12m. Periscope up. All clear. Off silent running, repairs full steam. Course set for home port. On my way back , I find 2 lonely merchants (C2 and Intermediary Tanker). They go down.
Patrol finishes. 4 Promotions, Iron cross for me and medals for everyone.:arrgh!:
Its time for a new patrol and U45 is ordered to patrol AN19. I decide to use the Northern approach (even though its still early in the war, I don’t much fancy the English Channel). So Northern Course to Norway, Faroes and down to Rockhall Banks.
October 3, 21:30 and an English Large Merchant is spotted right off the Norwegian coast. Weather is clear and there is no activity around so after a brief encounter, Alois (my deck gunner) sends her down. Ahead 1/3 rd , northern course and the rest of the day is completely uneventful. Weather has now changed, windy, low clouds.
Its 14:30 October 5 we are close to the Faroes and U45 gets a report of a task force moving fast, North/ NorthWest. I am quite close and decide to have a look. I plot a course to intercept, and upon arrival I order all stop and remain surfaced (as now the weather is even worst in terms of swells so chances of being spotted while stopped are low) until we make a visual. And after some time we make it.
It’s a small task force with a Southampton Class escorted by 2 Black Swan and 2 V&W destroyers. Distance 4.5km, bearing 080. My fresh map calculations show that if the Task Force maintains the current course and speed they will pass 2.5 km ahead of my stern. Hence I decide to dive to 20m , speed 3 knots in order to try and position my boat better for the attack as at 2.5km and high swells, my steam torpedo accuracy will be highly compromised.
U45 is now positioned at 1400m from where the Southampton Class is expected to make a pass. All stop, periscope up . Sea remains pretty rough. Task force coming as expected, but one of the Black Swans is coming my way (and its definitely my way). I keep my position as I want to figure out if they have spotted my or if they are just doing their routine check circles.
Well this is definitely not a circle. She is now at 1900m, bearing 050 course right at me. I decide to engage her and get the hell out. Full rudder right , Tube 1 torpedo speed slow, magnetic setting depth 4m. My boat has turned towards the incoming destroyer, its going to be close. I need to bring her closer in order minimize the chance of her outmaneuvering my torpedo. She is now at 800m. FIRE Tube 1, Crash Dive to 140m, rudder full left. We are at 30m when the crew starts shouting with joy. “Torpedo Impact”.
Ok good, lets get out of here. No Southampton class, but it could have been much worst. I order silent running, speed 2 knots , course S/SE/ Depth 140m and now I have 3 destroyers right on top of me . Depth charges in the water. Not close enough. I go to the hydrophone room. Lets see where they are. Bearings 150, 210, 270, and something at 90 but this must be the Southampton. Keep course and speed.
After 1.5 hours they are behind me DCing the emptiness. Keeping silent and keeping my depth at 2 knots I make my way out. Its now night, and I order the boat to surface. Close call but everyone is fine and we have zero damage. We continue to grid AN19 with nothing really happening.
A report comes in , Convoy closing in and if I run surface, full speed I might be able to make it. I decide to try. And I manage it. It is now 06:45 in the morning and I am positioned heading north for the incoming convoy. I stand submerged at 45m right below were the convoy is expected to pass (if my map calcs are correct). I want to attack from inside. Hydrophones suggest that they are coming as expected. Its still dark outside when the convoy should be close enough for me to have a look.
Depth 13 metres periscope up. And there she is. Rodney class at 1600m bearing 350. Im lucky. Also a Granville Cargo at bearing 180, 700m. Adolf, my WO sets up the solutions. Tube 1,2,3 (impact depth 5m) go for the Rodney. Tube 5 fires for the merchant. Periscope down depth 140m rudder left.
All 3 torpedoes hit the Rodney, but one is a dud…And my Aft one hits the cargo. Silent running course west depth 140m and I can guess the destroyers must be extremely pissed off. Rodney goes down and the cargo is on fire. Yes!!! I haven’t been detected yet.
30 mins pass. Hydrophones suggest that I have 2 warships around, and the depth charge barrage begins. Bang Bang Bang . Not bad for them. Aft torpedo room damaged. I sent the repair team in. Out of silent running. Full speed rudder left and after 3 mins again at 1 knot. Another barrage in the water. Bang Bang Bang… more serious now.
Flooding in the diesel engine compartment. But its under relative control. Again rudder right. Changing course, speed the same. Another barrage in the water. Lights are out , command room damage but small. Flooding in diesels stops. Down to 150m hoping the hull will take it. Another barrage - it misses. Phew. Course the same, speed 1 knot silent running stop repairs. Next barrage misses. And so does the next one. And the next one. 2 hours later im clear…:up:
Hydrophone shows that all activity is far away. I dare to go to 12m. Periscope up. All clear. Off silent running, repairs full steam. Course set for home port. On my way back , I find 2 lonely merchants (C2 and Intermediary Tanker). They go down.
Patrol finishes. 4 Promotions, Iron cross for me and medals for everyone.:arrgh!: