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View Full Version : The Career Patrols of SinStar87


SinStar87
11-05-13, 08:47 AM
Month of August 1939:
Given command of a Class VII sub in the 2nd Flotilla. I receive orders for patrol in grid BF17.
We reached the target grid, beginning patrol. Thus far command has been boring, we've no official enemies as of yet leaving the crew chomping for some action.
Goal + 2 days watch has reported nothing for the past 3 days, boredom has overtaken me. The rumor mill says Britain will declare war on us anytime now, I figure I'll take in the sights while I can and order waypoints around Britain.
End of Patrol.

September 1939:
Renewed orders for patrol in grid BF17. We finally have war, Britain and France are our current targets of interest. I issue headings for the Channel.
The sun sets as we close on the Dover Straits. The darkness is our ally so I stay on the surface, keeping watch for any signs of the enemy. Reports come in regularly but they are simply ghosts. I can feel the crew's tensity weighing in the air. The boat dives and heads north to the English coast.
Arriving outside Dover port the periscope rises, a warship Southampton Class, time for first blood. I call out bearing, she sits in port, easy prey.
Torpedo 1 and 2 away, the clock ticks away, seconds pass. An explosion, torpedo impacts. The ship floods, crackles, then sinks below the water. Sonar calls out inbound warships. I issue orders for silent running, south.
Goal reached, return to the Channel.
Watch calls out, ship spotted, Merchant. I scan the waters, 2 coastal Freighters. Crew to the gun, round after round flies at the ship. Then the call comes, She's going down. Shortly thereafter the call goes out again.
Hours later, sonar reports, merchant. Periscope up, it's a Modern Tanker. I enter solution and open torpedo tube 1, adjust solution and fire 1. Tick tick tick as the clock winds down. Sonar reports impact. I scan the area, all clear, overcast sky. I order the boat surfaced and follow the tanker at long range, water pours into her hull. Then the call goes out, She's going down. Dive orders go out, the crew heads below. We make our way home.
End of Patrol, 5 Merchants 1 Warship 32k tons.

SinStar87
11-05-13, 10:49 AM
October - December 1939:
2 patrols in this time frame
Grid Am19
Proceeded in route to the grid, along the way came across several merchants of freighters, cargo, and tankers. We engaged with mixes of torpedoes and deck gun.
Goal + 7 days I extended patrol zone throughout sector AM, came across a number of merchants of varied sizes. Set off for home by way of Northern Britain, down to 2 torpedoes, I set course for eastern Britain and scouted a port, finding a Southampton Class I fixed solution, firing tubes 2 and 3. Impact. Shortly thereafter she sank beneath the waves.
End Patrol 8 Merchants 1 Warship 63k Tons
Grid An13
I decided to end patrol early. After reaching the goal we returned for home. Along to way we came across a couple of Coastal Freighters and sank them.
End Patrol 2 Merchants 3700 tons

SinStar87
11-05-13, 03:00 PM
Well that sucked

December-January 1939-1940:
Grid BF41
By this point patrols are routine. We make it through the Channel without complications and arrive at grid.
Goal-4 hours Report comes in, Convoy to the SSE heading ENE/Slow. My course is by happenstance plotted to intercept. I kick speed to one third. After a full hours searching the course watch calls out, merchant. Closing the gap watch picks up another then another. A total of 12 merchants. I'm excited, my hands are shaking as I give the order, fire at will. The deck gun rings out, several shots hit their mark and explode on the closest merchant. Then fear, warship spotted. I yell out dive! We get underwater but the warship, a Hunt I knows we are there. Rig for Silent and shift our course ENE. Raising the periscope just out of the water I lock the hunt and open tube 5, it's still closing on our previous position. Then sonar calls out warship closing, an auxiliary cruiser emerges from the center of the convoy. My tail end is cut on the Hunt I, I loose the torpedo and watch the clock.
A minute passes, I turn my nose on the Aux. Opening tubes 1 and 2, creeping towards it. I up the torpedo speeds and loose them. Impact the hunt is hit, leaning. The Aux. goes full rudder but too late, 2 impacts, the Cruiser quickly sinks, followed by the Hunt. Cleared of escorts, I mercilessly tear the convoy apart and head for home. My lucky day, I'm down to 3 torpedoes, a message chirps, convoy in the channel heading W/Slow. I catch sight of it SW of Cornwall and plot intercept WNW.
I line up on a Large Merchant, then sonar calls out a Warship. A Revenge class in the center of the convoy. I shift view to the new target and let loose my remaining torpedoes 15 seconds apart. The clock ticks away, then the Revenge ups its speed for 5 seconds and then cuts back.
I watch as the first torpedo speeds by. I set course for port somewhat deflated, the second torpedo misses. A few seconds pass and then Impact, the third torpedo caught it on the tail end. My heart raises a bit, but my ammo's dry.
End of Patrol ~20 ships sunk 2 warships 116k tons.

February 1940:
I set out on Patrol, plot a quick course and run out of the room for a few minutes. I get back to horror, my sub sunk, run aground on helgoland.