(Story) U-46 puts to sea again

[Jimbuna]

Got a sneaky suspicion them oysters are gonna end up on the floor :smug:

[Laughing Swordfish]

We had eggs and ham and brioche, with a rich butter, hot sausages, lashings of rich, real coffee, and being Navy, a shot of brandy in mine, and champagne and orange juice for the other two. And of course oysters for Josie, with pepper and a squeeze of lemon, that she bravely pretended to like, and then made me and Heidi down the last few. Apart from that we ate ravenously. Josie had insisted last night during the battle, on being driven down to the docks as soon as she could find a driver that would let her, and that didn't take long.

I like Josephine, silly but impetuous and a sense of fun, that I'm guessing Heidi warms to, as well.

The girls, already tired, and getting giggly on the champagne and orange juice, I order myself another stiff brandy, and to hell with the hour of the morning. I also order two crates of cold beer to be left outside the front door, 5th Platoon, 2nd Company are just heading back up the street. Auel is there seeing every man past, there is a clink, clink, clink, and the crates are empty as every soldier relieves his thirst. Unbeknownst to his men or his Leutnant, he turns to the window, salutes, drains his beer, and disappears with his men.

I paid the exhorbitant bill, and couldn't help noticing how quick they were to usher us out. Or the fact that there were no other french people in there.

Back outside, and with a perfect view down to the harbour.

"What shall we do now!" said Josie happily.

The time was now 10.19 am.

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

We are all still staring at the destroyer, her bow up at an angle forced there by the speed of her collision

"Girls, I have some work to do. I have to account for my crew after last night, and then make a full report to Flotilla Headquarters, then make sure the boat is seen to. We can meet up later and...."

"Look there's Franz!" Josie cries excitedly.

Sure enough her favourite Major is standing proudly atop the bridge, not much older than myself, but this is War and people are living faster these days. With two other high ranking army friends, and a couple of Naval Staff officers, who I vaguely recognise from Kerneval, and I reckon this is the closest they've ever been to an enemy warship. Beaming proudly into the camera, just a couple more snaps, just to be sure. Smile!

Franz spots Josie waving, and smiles and waves back, she lets out an excited little cry, and runs down the slope to the dock.

Behind us, even though the restaurant should be setting up for lunch, I can hear the door being bolted, and the rattle as I turn, of shutters being closed.

Heidi is clinging sleepily to my arm, Josie is running joyfully down the short cobbled street.

The time is 10.29.

LS

[Bluewings12]

Hi again D. Bunsen !

After more than a year , "Bernie" Goelf and his U-100 "Blackcat" is back :D
(I left the UK for the Homeland ~France)

I see that your novel is still going , great ! Well done LS !
I 'll send you my new eMail soon ;)

B. Goelf out .

[Jimbuna]

This is gonna be the longest 6 minutes ever on this forum :up:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

This is gonna be the longest 6 minutes ever on this forum :up:

That's for sure. I will say that if it takes a week for the six minutes to pass... I'm going to park a fat crate of onions on LS's navigation charts... topped with a shiney new peeler. :stare: ;)

[Laughing Swordfish]

10.35

The blast fom the destroyer exploding knocked us off our feet.

The noise and force of it, and the rolling cloud of dust that followed it, well it must be like being torpedoed.

Josie's body is flung back up the incline.

I cover Heidi futiley with my own body, "Are you ok?"

"Yes, Rollie, what was that?"

"The ship lodged in the dock, they must have packed her full of explosives and on a time fuse."

"Franz?"

"Not a chance, I'm afraid, Heidi."

"What about Josephine? Where's Josie? Where is she Rollie?"

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"She's here Heidi....she's still breathing....No! Don't look! ...I'll take care of her. Run ahead and get some help!"

I tore a strip off her own dress to tourniquet Josie's leg.

"Come on Josie.."

I picked her up in my arms and started up the hill, to be met by the clatter of boots. Heidi is running back with some of that platoon from before, who were waiting for transport at the top of the road. Feldwebel Auel at their head.

"Give her to me, Sir"

He took her in his strong arms

"Abel! Run off and find me a car, any vehicle, if you have to comandeer a french one, so much the better. Just be back in one minute!"

"Yes Sergeant!" the corporal ran off.

"Where's the Medic?"

"Down at the docks, Sergeant. He's still looking after the casualties from last night, and now some new ones.

"OK."

He held her as if she was as light as a feather, and gently stroked her hair.

"You're going to be fine...."

"Her name is Josie" I intervened

"You're going to be fine, Josie".

Her eyes flickered briefly awake, and there was something like that old smile.

"I've seen this sort of thing before. I don't think she'll be playing football for Saint Pauli any time soon, Sir" he whispered grimly

A french taxi roars up with Corporal Abel at the wheel.

"Ease her in gently lads. Abel, drive fast but no bumps; I'm going along. The rest of you men head back and report to the Leutnant, they're probably going to want to re-sweep the area, but you don't need an old sergeant for that."

"Wait! I'm coming too"

And Heidi is in the taxi dashing away to the hospital in the taxi.

I turn and see the owner of the restaurant throwing the doors open, and the shutters being thrown back.

He catches my eye and his smile says it all.

LS

[Jimbuna]

Not sure who I sympathise with now :hmm: ....The French or the Germans :damn:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Personally... I sympathize with Josie.

[Laughing Swordfish]

Josie is sitting up in her hospital bed, and chatting girly talk with Heidi.

The doctor says that they've saved her leg, but she'll limp for the rest of her life, and they've bandaged up the rest of her cuts and bruises. Heidi's too. They left mine alone when I waved them away impatiently.

All the crew have answered to roll call which is something. Apart from the officers who boarded the Campbeltown to their cost, only two seamen lost their lives. It looks like the commandos did mean to get to the Black Cat, but they never got close before the Army arrived. Those killed were Fritsch and Lauer, both from U-304; which was only put in for repairs after a hard patrol; she's not even from our flotilla. They came running out armed only with empty bottles, down by the harbour. It startled the tommies for a moment, but two of them were shot down before our own soldiers turned up.

U-46 has to sail, as do the rest of the boats in the Flotilla. They need the space. for the work going on. The deep sea and dry dock are ruined, but they built these bunkers well. In our case, we're finishing our replenishment further up the coast at Lorient. It's going to feel strange putting to sea with no torpedoes, and we shall have to hug the coast all the way up, and get our orders from there.

"Hey Josie, have this." I gave a her a small cup of wine.

"It's customary for recipients of the Wound Medal to drink one of these!"

The smile was nearly all the way back.

"I'm sorry about Franz, he couldn't have felt a thing"

"Thank you Rollie"

I went to Heidi's side.

"Don't you both start blubbing now, or you'll start me off!"

"We have to go now Josie", she said.

"But here's someone else to see you,"

And here, without any blood or dust on his immaculate uniform and boots, is Feldwebel Auel clutching a bunch of roses.

He cleared his throat nervously.

"Hello Josie, I thought..........I thought you might like these."

It was time for us to leave.

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

:up: :up: :up: ;)

[Jimbuna]

Apparently the first words Josie uttered when she regained consciousness were................"I'm bloody thankful Kpt. Lehmann is an EMT" ;)

[NZ_Wanderer]

*** Sniff Sniff ***

I'm glad Josie is ok...

Great Story, Keep it coming... :up::up:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Apparently the first words Josie uttered when she regained consciousness were................"I'm bloody thankful Kpt. Lehmann is an EMT" ;)

LOL.

Methinks she'd be happier to see der Feldwebel Auel instead. :D

[Laughing Swordfish]

There was a lot of planning to do, so I didn't see Heidi anymore on that home run, she had to go back to Kerneval, and she and those people must have been busy.

The channels had to be swept for mines, and fresh AA guns brought in for the estuary and harbour defences from the Luftwaffe. Even before the rebuilding could begin. Destroyers had to be diverted, and in fact became our escorts as in groups of two or three, we slipped up to the coast to Lorient, or down to La Rochelle, which were the nearest and the only available ports able to berth us, finish our re-equipping and send us out again.

Extra work for those ports too, and I imagine other boats were sent out on the hurry-up. It was a major upheaval for the u-boot waffe.

There were boats coming in to be diverted, some low on fuel; the boats that were in the pens had all survived, like ours but had to make way. But all had sustained minor damage in some way because of the blast. Some like the unlucky U-304 who had limped back to the nearest friendly base on one propellor, and a hole shored up in her deck plating, and had then lost 2 crew members to enemy raid when she got there, would stay a little longer. They had things of all natures to attend to.

U-100 and U-666 have already gone, under the AA protection of Z52, the Hans Ziegel, a destroyer like all ours, well armed with AA guns.

We are to go out with U-213, which has been in dock for a while, and now needs to go to sea again. Under the protection of Z33, the Roland Fischer.

Willi, well he's superstitious, thought this a good sign.
Even though for a hazardous exodus, that the enemy must have at least guessed at, having forced it in the first place.

"The destroyer's name, is almost the same as yours, Kap!"

I stared at him.

"Not now, Willi! Just plot me a course that avoids the sand banks. I've just had a discussion with the Kapitan of the Z33......."

My mind cast back to the discussion around the briefing table an hour earlier...

LS

[Scape]

I was worried you stoped postin. I joined this forum just to give kudos. Nice work!

[Laughing Swordfish]

We were around the French North West Coast map at 7th Flotilla HeadQuarters

The destroyer captain was talking.

He wanted to hug the coast tight enough for no harm to become of his ship, and to come under the umbrella of the luftwaffe and other naval defenses. I have the feeling that there is a new note of caution with surface ships since the Bismark was lost.

I had Willi's charts with me.

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Sir, I have standing orders from Admiral Doenitz, as does every other U-boat commander to find and engage the enemy. Destroyers have torpedoes too, I know, we've sunk a couple of them ourselves, how about you, Kapt Keppler?"

He spluttered about that.

"We cannot sail that close to the coast, even with the comfort of coastal AA batteries. My boat, the U-46, knows about these things. Destroyers can look after themselves with all their AA guns. We need to dive and need at least 50 metres depth to do that and some open sea ("where you should be" I thought, "where the British destroyers and convoys are")

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

To be fair, our destroyers took hell during the invasion of Norway. Ten of them were trapped in a Fjord by the Brits who brought up a battleship as well. Not one made it out. A lot of them had been diverted to contesting the English Channel, or being modified to support Operation SeeLowe (which with Barbarossa now in full bloody swing, is now not going to happen). Others had seen action escorting the big capital ships. But it was a constant source of speculation and debate in boat wardrooms and the Black Cat, what would happen if some could be spared to make surface sorties aginst the convoys further out. After all the Tommies have theirs out there, and don't we know it.

And it looks more and more as if the u-boats are carrying the war to the enemy, at least on the high seas; many of the best sailors even on the big ships are transferring over.

In the end I won the argument. As we studied the charts it was clear that we had to push a little further out to sea. For a U-boat to run aground when diving or not have room to dive under air attack would mean certain destruction.

We devised a plan. Both U-boats would be slightly seaward of Z33. U-46 would take the lead, then Keppler in Roland Fischer, AA guns bristling, in the middle, and Maximillian in U-213 bringing up the rear.

When the jabos come, and we fully expected them to because we knew the enemy would take full advantage of having shaken the nest and brought us all out, then the two boats would dive if they could and head out West to deeper water still, while the Fischer blazed away, and zig zagged like crazy, and would then turn back South. After half an hour or whenever it was safe, Max and I would take a peek, and surface, by which time the destroyer has drawn them off, or at any rate by turning about, and then about again, not raced too far ahead for us to catch up.

U-100 and U-666 had already got through, but they were ready to sail almost immediately. We could look forward to a rougher ride now.

LS

[Lagger123987]

Woah, I got lots of reading to do, been away for sometime.

[Laughing Swordfish]

It's no coincidence that I wangled it to go out with U-213.

That's Max's 'Oinking Pig'. A hard drinking, hard fighting boat with many patrols and sinkings. The story goes around the Flotilla that instead of diesel and provisions, Doenitz just fills Max, his crew and his boat full of schnapps and rum and just sets them off.

Max is an excellent Commander, if not in the Prussian officer mould. What some would call reckless, I regard as aggressive spirit, that's Max. The French Army had an expression "Toujours l'attaque!". Well it didn't do them much good, because we did all the attacking, and now the likes of Max and me are taking it out to sea.

Like us, maybe dented and hurt, he always brings the boat and the crew back.

He normally buddies up with Freddie who makes his own luck with his Ace of Spades boat, but this time his boat is still out on patrol, and still reporting, so that's ok.

"The buggers caught us napping this time, hey Rollie!"

Big Max orders more drinks in the Cat. There are people coming and going all the time, the Brits really did stir up a hornet's nest this time.

"So now you're an infantry captain too! I heard about you and your second engineer playing cowboys against the red indians!"

"Yes all right Max. You only wish you were there!"
In fact we just huddled down behind whichever was the reserve section of the platoon (as they rotated through the assault, always leap-frogging). We fired off a load of MP40 rounds, but I don't suppose we hit a thing. But anyway me and Francks are being put forward for the Infantry Assault Clasp, that's a first for the u-boat service!

LS

[Jimbuna]

The fuel of life LS :rock: :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Actually Max, to his great chagrin, slept through the whole thing upstairs at the Cat, empty bottles on the carpet and a girl snuggled up on each arm.

And he envies me for my adventure, the idiot!

"How's Josie and Heidi?" he enquired.

"Josie's up and about in a wheelchair now. She'll be ok, I think she has someone big and strong to wheel her around."

"You mean that big Army brute.....There can only be one winner there"

"Yeah, Josie will soon knock him into shape!"

"Heidi's good too, a couple of cuts and bruises, and now she's working round the clock at Headquarters. Those Tommies really messed us around.

"Looks like you got a bit of a bash yourself, Rollie?"

He's looking at the long bruise down the right side of my face. No reason to tell him that I ran smack into a lamp post in the middle of the battle. A heroic shrug will do just as well.

"How's the other Max, anyway"

Max is a pig that U-213 adopted as a mascot, and it even went on patrol with them once. Like I say, U-213 is a crazy boat. But now it's kept somewhere on a farm in Southern Germany I think. It's a huge talisman for Max and it's crew. And so their conning tower emblem is a big pink pig. Someone always goes to look after him when U-213 docks.

"He's fine by all accounts, Rollie. I should get over to see him myself more regularly. Gunther and Lens are with him now. We're going to have to sail without them. Maybe they can be recalled in time to RV with us at Lorient"

"How many eels have you got, Max?"

"Only three loaded forward. You?"

"Nothing"

"Well they'll sort us out at Lorient, and we can get out again. Hey! you know what we should do?"

"What?"

"Let's sneak up the Solent, and get into Portsmouth Harbour. Give them a taste of their own medicine!"

We both laughed, but I know Max. He was only half joking.

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

...No reason to tell him that I ran smack into a lamp post in the middle of the battle. A heroic shrug will do just as well.


Its good to know that our heroes are human too.:lol:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Anyway we're out again. Past the wreck of the destroyer, and our naval docks, and the inspection crews now (much more cautiously) going over her and the hulks of one or two patrol boats that we caught.

Out into the Bay, and we turn north and north west, lights winking at the Roland Fischer, and Max bringing up the rear. Willi is giving me regular soundings. When we get a steady 50 metres under the keel we flash back. Z33 takes up station, and now it is us that is the convoy. But we've made the most of the darkness, by dawn we should be only an hour or two away...........

.......Willi shakes me awake. That short nap was longer than I intended.

"Steady 70 metres below us Kap. On a north-westerly course. First watch going up to relieve my guys".

"Thank you Willi"

"It's getting light, Sir"

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and put on my leather jacket on my way up to the bridge.

"Good morning Sir!" Christian smiles. He already has Jurgen and the boys back on the new AA gun. His team are scanning the skies. Z33 is still on station, and I can just make out Max in U-213 coming along behind.

"Have you lads had any coffee yet, Christian?"

"Kuki is sending some up. A mug for you too, Kap"

"You're a life saver, Number One!"

We nursed our mugs in both hands as we peered into the rapidly appearing daylight.

"How's your chest now Christian?"

"Oh not so bad, Kap, I hardly ......"

...He dropped his mug onto the Bridge platform, and jabbed a finger forward at 6 black dots in the distance ahead of us...

"...Here they come!"

LS

[Jimbuna]

Great :rock: :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Hard to Port all engines! Prepare to dive Otto!

It is Christian's call.

I shout to Jurgen and his boys who are already traversing to starboard, as the U-46 swings round and brings their gun into play.

"Too far out for us, but closing Sir!"

"I don't care! Give them the full clip, it's better than any other air alarm, and then make yourselves scarce, I'll stay here till you do, but be quick for God's sake. I reckon they'll be overhead in a couple of minutes. By then be below, we're running down to sea"

Our fast turn and the immediate but futile pump of Jurgen, Dieter's and George's 20mm gun was enough to alert our friends even if it had no chance of hitting at that range.

Our destroyer is also turning, although not as quick as us. Down everyone,.. Christian you first. Is everyone in? Get Otto to crash us to 50 metres, 275 degrees....
"Hurry up, Christian...!"

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

U-46 is canting down, and twisting away at full revs, and dropping down ever deeper.

We don't have to be quiet from an aircraft when we're underwater, we just have to quieten Willi sometimes.

"Was that the yellow or the blue mug, I lent you up on the Bridge, Christian? Don't tell me you lost my....."

"It's ok Willi! I lost the yellow one. Noone in the entire Navy is allowed to use your Lucky Blue one. It's kept in the Kapitan's cabin for safe keeping and emergencies. Now come on, this isn't an emergency! Help us keep our depth and course this would be a bad time to get stuck"

Christian rolled his eyes at me as he led him back to the chart table.

"Wait for it Lads! We'll see this one out!"

"Any time now..........."

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

We can hear the throb of of the Roland Fischer as she turns about behind us. I saw before I hurtled down the ladder that she was already moving as to the plan. Back on herself but Keppler had put her at an angle to bring most of his guns to bear.

Hans tells me he has an underwater contact at high speed heading on westerly parallel course. That'll be Max's Pig.

Our depth gauge is already reading 30 metres.

Let's see...

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"It's funny, hearing a destroyer up above and not having to worry about it"

Willi is back to his normal self. Confident and assured again. We all need our little ways in this terrifying life.

I've heard Otto murmur "Yea though I walk through the Valley of Death, yet shall I fear no evil, for thou art by my side, my shield and comfort still.." in those dark moments when Hans has called the splash of the depth charges. He doesn't even know he's saying it, I'm sure. Because the next second he is yelling orders and rushing through the boat and cursing everyone in his way.

One of the planesmen, Siggy, slaps his hand to his head constantly when we're under attack. "It's lucky to touch wood" he once explained shyly.

Bruno chews on anything to hand. We now keep a small sack of dried fruit in the control room to keep him happy.

Christian is a pretty cool customer, but when things have got really tight, I've noticed that he turns his mother's wedding ring round and round on his finger.

Coolest of them all is Oscar, our Medic. When we're crash diving his typical response is to climb into his bunk, pull the blanket over his head, and say something like "Wake me if you need me"

That is oddly reassuring to us, because Oscar is regarded amongst the whole crew as having the intellectual brains, and if he's having a nap, it can't be all bad. Except the times when he's been rushed into service of course.

Most of the seamen and mechanics have their own habits , mascots and mantras which get them through those long submerged periods. But most of the time the fear is dissipated by the frantic action required in checking valves, putting out flames, and shoring up the pressure hull. Then they don't have time for anything except to pant and gasp and swear like sailors.

All of them believe that the Laughing Swordfish on our conning tower brings us luck. Willi certainly does.

And like his lucky blue mug, that reassures him that we will get home, I have a picture of Heidi in my cabin that tells me we must.

LS

[Lagger123987]

More to read. Keep on coming!

[Lagger123987]

DUMP oops, I mean Bump.

[Jimbuna]

Shh!....he's busy looking at Heidis picture :p

[Laughing Swordfish]

Damn me, Siggy is tapping his skull every 30 seconds or so.

"Both hands on the wheel, helmsmen! Otto roared.

"Without all those torpedoes loaded, especially in the Bow, Rollie, it's a devil of a job to keep her trimmed fore and aft."

"That's fine, Chief just do your stuff and shift your ballast to get us on an even keel here."

Without so much initial weight even with all the men in the fore-ends, it took a disconcertingly long while to get down with so much bouyancy forward

But we have the luxury of running at high speed from our diving place, because planes can't pick us up underwater like destroyers can. The trick is the same, show them a different wake as we dive, and let them bomb in front of that, but as soon as we are at 14 metres we twist and turn and run like a scalded cat.

Like Madame's at St Nazaire, whose beloved black cat was accidentally treated, so the story goes, by an accidental spill from a maid with a hot kettle. And ran out in front of a retreating french truck. The poilus, in their haste, kicked the cat, Gigi. Madame was beside herself with utter fury. And that's when she changed the name of her establishment. So the story goes. And it's bad luck for a black cat to cross your path.

It's bad luck for many convoys which has a u-boat with the Black Cat emblem come across it's path, so the story goes!

My mind wanders sometimes..

"60 metres steady!"

"Thanks Otto"

"What below Willi?"

"Plenty, Kap, undulating but I can give you another 60 metres beneath the keel..

"All slow on electrics, let's give Hans's sonar a chance."

He's picking up fast screws close, which can only be our destroyer, and also faint ones underwater, which can only be U-213

"The Brits'll have to be quicker than that boys! Resume course at slow revs and prepare to surface in thirty minutes as to plan, Number Two"

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Hmm..."

Christian is looking up bemused, as if he can see the path of their planes.

He ducks his head though the hatch.

"No splash, Hans?"

"Nothing, Sir" he shrugged.

"Periscope depth, Otto!"

I turned to Christian.

"I don't think they were meant for us in the first place, you know Christian, the flak from Keppler's destroyer may have pushed them higher, but they weren't really looking for us. If you have a wasp's nest do you kill every individual wasp, or do you destroy the nest? That's where they're going. St Nazaire to finish their work, I'm certain of it."

"Surface Otto!"

"Ausblasen schnell!"

"Thanks Otto... Viktor!"

He peered through the hatch from his radio cabin

"Yes Sir?"

"To 7th Flotilla at St Nazairre"

"Emergency air raid alert. Six bombers heading SE. To you."

"Put the grid and time in, Willi will help you with that. And send it. And keep tapping it out until you get a reply"

"Surface stations, Bruno let's get your ugly bunch out of here, and up there!"

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

Christian's watch is over. Bruno's lads are already topside.

He throws his cap tiredly onto the chart table.

""What's up, Number One?"

"We're not wasps, Kap"

"What?"

"We're not wasps. Wasps have no purpose in life. They come and ruin your picnic. I hate them. They sting you when you least expect it and...."

"Time for you to get some sleep, Christian...."

"...butterflies! we could be butterflies! Everyone likes them!"

"Come on Christian you haven't slept in hours, get your head down. Bruno has the bridge, and we'll be in to L'orient soon.

My Number One is asleep in his bunk in five seconds flat. He'd stood the watch all the way up from St Nazaire.

Otto has the Control Room, Reuben is working the engines. Bruno has the bridge with Willi guiding him in towards port.

The destroyer is blinking back at us, roaring back on a northerly course at 25 knots. Not only that, those six bombers are now five. Keppler's AA crews managed to bag one of them them as they went overhead. Those cloud-punchers did us proud!

"Through Sir!"

Victor interrupts my reverie and hands me a hastily scrawled message.

"7th Flotilla on full air alert, Sir, they acknowledge!"

"Thanks, Victor"

Heidi should be up at Kerneval which is miles away, and it was only a follow-up raid on the docks as far as I could guess, but just like every serviceman, I wanted to look after her as much as possible. She worries about me, hell I worry about her!

Oscar came through to the control room.

"You could do with some sleep yourself Rollie"

"What?"

"Bruno and Willi are perfectly capable of docking this tub. We do need you on your best form for the next patrol. I heard your conversation with Christian, though..."

"Oh?"

"Yes. It's not a pleasant image but we really are like wasps, you know? We spoil the party and sting without warning. Isn't War fun?"

"But..."

"Bed! Doctor's orders! The boat will sail itself"

When Oscar's right, he is definitely right......

LS

[Jimbuna]

Salute :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

A rough hand shakes me awake.

"L'orient, Sir".

Willi is none too gentle in pulling my blanket aside.

"Christian is stirring too, Sir. It's midnight and we're surfacing into the port."

We had agreed that we would sit outside till dark, submerged for as long as it takes, and come in under quiet of darkness. I suspect Z33 without the stealth option that we have, sailed right in and their crew are even now having beers and a fish supper. Good luck to them.

The quiet orders of Otto to Reuben around the corner and the steady throb of the diesels on low revolutions and the gentle conning directions from Bruno down from the bridge, tells me we're in good hands.

Christian is already up there with Bruno. When I arrive, we are virtually docked, men fore and aft are casting lines, in one of their bunker pens.

"Kapitan on the Bridge!"

And everyone snapped to attention and saluted.

"What's this about, Bruno?"

"New Port, Kaleun! Every officer must be piped ashore!"

"Balls Bruno! Stop winding me up. There's no officers even here. Except there are these big long things called torpedoes that the dock gangs are already swinging over. Joachim is in charge of the eels. I want 14 properly checked and greased.
Cox that looks like the provisions piled there. Get it stowed. Also that water bowser, the Chief will want us to refuel and.."

"You don't have to remember everything Sir. I'll get the replen done. By the next tide."

"Thank you Cox, if you have the time or you can trust someone to do it. Let's have some crates of beer brought down to the boat. Myself and the First Officer are attending orders, we'll be back in a couple of hours, but noone else is to stray ashore. Oh and Cox..?"

"Yes Kaleun?"

Some other boats from the 7th are in. A lot of boats are based here from the 10th Flotilla. Old rivalries aside, there won't be any trouble from the U-46 crew, will there?"

"They'll be as well behaved as always Sir"

"I turned, sighed, and joined Christian for our briefing.

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Once more, unto the breach.:up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

There's quite a few commanders around the table, a lot from 7th Flotilla, not just me and Max, and there's a fair bit of joshing before the orders group is called to order.

"I hear you guys have been kicked out of your little nest, Rollie....!"

"...bet your Swordfish isn't laughing now..!"

"..come running to us, and taking up our berths...

"..Hey Max give us an oink, we hear you piggies are famous for it."

Max leaps to his feet, which is his way, but Christian is too quick for the old fellow, and calms him back into his seat.

I rise.

"Thank you Comrades of the 10th Flotilla, for your warm welcome. It's true we are temporarily homeless. But our boats are our home. I was under the impression from our Flotilla tonnage reports (which I have never if barely read), that the reason we're here is to make better use of the torpedoes that keep being returned unfired here"

Well that did it....And I told the boys not to fight.

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Achtung! Stillgestanden!"

The Flotilla Commander strode in.

"Gentlemen, you are all officers in the Geman Navy, save your aggressive spirit for the sea, not dry land. If you want a proper fight, join a panzergrenadier regiment.

A leutnant that I had just been tussling with nudged me and murmured

"His son was killed on the Russian Front three days ago"

"We have work to do, Gentlemen, firstly welcome to the boats we have from Seventh Flotilla, I can see you have already greeted each other in typical U-boat fashion. You will be extended every hospitality and service while you are here. That won't be long. We need you back out of here in 24 hours, that goes for our 10th flotilla boats which should already be ready for sea. We have boats coming back in, and new boats arriving around the British Isles, so I want you all the hell out of here!"

He tossed a sealed envelope at Max."U-213. that's yours, U-46 that's for you. You'll both be going down to Gib. Don't worry, not through the Straits themselves, you are to lay in ambush here and here."

He threw two more envelopes out.

"U-100 and U-666 get the mid Atlantic. You will find expected convoy routes in your packets, but basically just sink and report anything you see"

He turned to the rest of the Commanders around the table. The 10th flotilla guys.

Heinrich, Toby, same as before we'll have you hanging around the Clyde, and picking up the Liverpool traffic that these 7th Flotilla buffoons might have missed"

This time there is laughter all round the table.

"Same for you Wendel, and Jess, we want you to patrol outside the Bristol Channel here. You both have Type IXs, and therefore longer range; you are to respond to any contact you receive either down to a Gibraltar run, or up to here at the North West of Ireland or even if we get a firm and continued sighting from our 7th Flotilla friends out in the Atlantic, get the hell over there and form a wolf pack.

"Everyone happy? I'm famished, I've been up half the night, Im sure you have too. Let's talk the details through over a spot of early lunch"

LS

[Jimbuna]

Fantastiche :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Come on, gentlemen, these cracked crabs won't eat themselves! Better tuck in. Next time you come across a crab it might be eating you! More wine!"

Flotilla Kommandant Durmann was the perfect host. And as the food came and the wine flowed so did the details of the plan. (Max and I already had our plan for going south together), the smile slightly faded from his face when he saw young men, now best of comrades and swapping stories..young men still full of life if even for the moment.

"Sir?.....Sir, I was so sorry to hear of your son..."

He looked at me distractly, as if from a distance. As if from a Steppe a long way away.

"Do you have any children, Kapitan?"

"No Sir, no parents either"

"Sometimes best that way in this line of work. You know...it's de Bunsen isn't it, U-46?"

"Yes Sir"

"Oh yes, they call you Rollie, because you fall down in the snow!"

"That would be me, Sir"

"Well Rollie, I suppose anyone my age would tell you that now is a bad time to have children, especially in this business. He was called Roland, only 21, almost named like you...I have two other boys over there, one younger, one older, neither of them know yet. And his Mother is still crying. God help me, there are times when I now pray for just one, either of them to make it back in one piece".

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Who are your boys with, Sir?"

"The Sixth Army. Already working their way in to Stalingrad."

"Well they tell me they're the best, Sir. If anyone can pull it off it's those guys."

"It's starting to get cold again. Dietrich sent me a picture of them all posing for the camera wearing women's furs underneath or around their combat uniforms. Looks funny doesn't it?"

"Heinrich tells me in his last letter that he doesn't think the Italians or Rumanians have their heart in it. He's constantly watching his own regiment's flanks and even their rear. If we can get over and control the Volga, then the game's up for Stalin... but I don't like it."

"Now the Ami's and the Brits are fighting their war through Ivan. That last C2 type ship you sunk had at least 25 sherman tanks or trucks, or half-tracks on it; it must have. All eventually heading to Murmansk.

(It was actually going to Bristol, but the point is moot given it's current location on the sea bed)

"You know in front of Moscow last Winter, we had entire proud and famous panzer divisions who could muster less serviceable tanks than what the Amis are sending on one ship"

"Kapitan, it's up to us to even up the odds. Drink your wine and load your torpedoes"

LS

[bookworm_020]

I'm sure the brit's are waiting for your return as well!

[Jimbuna]

Ooh!!........Stalingrad ? :o

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Thank you, Sir.

Your hospitality has been most pleasant"

I cuffed Max around the back of his head, and he drank the last of his wine.

"We need to get out working, Sir. So if you'll excuse us?"

His pen hovered over the page.

"U-46 and U-213 are provisioned and loaded, and we have our orders. Can we get started, Sir?"

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

He signed both sheets.

"Gentlemen; you will return these papers in an utterly dry condition, that is an order. Do you understand the nature of that order?"

"Yes, Sir"

We smiled and he winked as he shook our hands.

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

Back to the boat. The men are lined up on the dock.

"Hello Cox, everything aboard? Stowed equally? Everyone here? Have you done a roll call?

"Yes Herr Kaleun, only two missing that we couldn't sail without." He looked wryly at me and Christian, the Kapitan and the First Officer, both swaying on our feet. As the lads broke into grins.

"Just finding our land legs men!"

They laughed. A voice from the back:

"We heard you took on 10th Flotilla, Sir!"

Christian stepped forward.

"Well, do you see a mark on us boys!"

This was met with a huge roar of approval.

"Lads, Lads!.. come around here and take a seat wherever you can. Gather round, get those beers cracked open and passed around, Kuki. Dieter, Franz and Kals make sure there are no eavesdroppers"

"Ok boys, here's the sketch. We're going down to Gibraltar"

There were some sighs of dismay from the older hands. They knew what a ridiculously dangerous mission that could be.

"It's ok, we are not ordered to go through the Straits into the Med, although we can't rule anything out. We are going to stand off and attack any convoys and sink any ships coming out of there. There will be an O Group in the Wardroom for all officers and senior appointments."

""Lads it's not going to be a Summer cruise. The convoys coming out of there are going to be well escorted. We may expect light carriers in amongst them, so watchmen, keep your eyes open to the skies as well as the horizon. They may even have bigger ships, but they always come with their own huge escort screen."

"Pass me that beer Kellerman."

"Anyway we won't be alone. You don't need to know, but we have an old friend from the Seventh with us."

Oscar is sitting cross-legged two away from me.

"That'll be Max's Pig then"

"Well yes, Doc. They could only send the best boats"

He swigged his beer, and shook his head gently. "Never a dull moment"

"Right, drink every drop of beer lads, but do it now and then get to your stations. We have clearance to sail. Officers and seniors below for orders, Reuben see us out, Bruno get your harbour watch standing by to cast off.

LS

[nikbear]

Oh this is going to be a good trip:yep: can't wait:up:

[Jimbuna]

Not too much to drink lads......we have work ahead of us :arrgh!:

[Flying Fish]

Give 'em hell, Kaleun. :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

It was tight in the Wardroom, with everyone packed in even with the table folded.

"Ok gentlemen here is how it is. We are going down to Gibraltar, you never know, but we are not yet ordered to sneak through"

There was an audible murmur.

"Should such an order come then we will nick through somehow, but not with the Tommies picking up the noise and complaints coming from my own wardroom!"

Everyone looked at their feet and was quiet for a moment.

"Ok business. Willi and me are going to be over the chart table , Christian, you too.

The plan is that we and U-213 are going back where we came from; past those islands, and past St Nazaire. We're then going to take the Piening Route. Here"

I described a route which pretty much hugged the huge curve of the Biscay Bay.

"Now that will take a lot longer, and we will be submerging a lot at day. Max in his Pig has been down there before, so he'll lead. He has is own patrol grid, but it goes without saying that either boat will jump in to help the other.

"Ok, now Otto, I never thought I would say this, but we need to conserve fuel. We and U-213 intend to spend any aircraft weather underwater, so that should at least give the diesels a rest"

(The main reason was to take regular sonar impressions which only really work underwater at slow speed) Also the slim hope that the Brits don't know where our flotilla has dispersed to.

"Joachim, have them maintaining those new eels, no duds!

"Christian, let's get things started. Bruno can cast us off, I need Willi and you around the chart table. We're going to rendezvous with U-213 and take their lead and split up off South West Portugal and home in here....."

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Well, at least we'll get some nice weather!" says Bruno cheerily as they go to their stations

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"What's this sunny weather!" Bruno yelled indignantly.

At least that what I thought he was saying as my oilskin cap drowned out the worst of it as my Number Two ranted away.

The sea and rain was atrocious. I have to agree with Bruno, we've had better weather in the North Atlantic, and we're being soaked and we can't see a thing, let alone sink anything.

This is futile. We'll make better progress if....

Vawoom! A plane soars straight out the storm over our heads. We don't even get a shot off.

"Brace Men! Brace!"

LS

[perincurium]

Has U-46 been lost?

[Jimbuna]

More than likely she's gone deep to avoid the air attack ;)

[donw]

Trust me...U-46 is alive and well ;)

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Well, hopefully RdB is doing well too.

I'm sure the next bit of the story will be ready when it is ready.:|\\

[donw]

Almost as much fun as waiting for the next patch :up:

[bookworm_020]

He's leaving us hanging! Can we get an update on when to expect the next installment?

[Sailor Steve]

Soon tm

[Torp III]

Another newbie here, came across this story 2 weeks ago. Having great U-46 withdrawls as I got all caught up on this last Friday and seen it was still ongoing. Do we have to wait for the book to come out? I don't know if I can last any longer.

[Jimbuna]

Almost as much fun as waiting for the next patch :up:

Clever :lol:

Welcome aboard Kaleun TorpIII :arrgh!:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Sorry comrades, didn't mean to leave it this long before reporting back. There were things to do and places to go, you know how it is.

Raoul de Bunsen (LS)

[Laughing Swordfish]

It's funny. You can't hear a plane's engines when they're coming up behind you, but the terrible roar as they pass overhead is deafening.

"Christ!" shouts Bruno, clutching his head. "Am I hit?"

Hals pointed down to where his Watch Officer's cap was now perched at a jaunty angle on top of the 88mm deck gun.

"The Tommies blew your hat off, even better than Michelle, Sir!"

All this happened in an instant. And it's also funny how insane laughter in a crisis sticks in your mind too.

No bombs. Came right out of the clouds and rain. If they saw us at all, they would have been as surprised as we were, and no time to react on either side.

But they have seen Max.

Even now I can see the Liberator banking and attackiing as U-213 is already dipping down, her watch scrambling for the safety of the hull, and the boat itself searching for the sanctuary of the water.

"Prepare to dive!"

"I have to get my cap Kaleun!"

"Well you know the drill, Bruno. Ten seconds then you're either in or out. Go! The rest of you get below now"

LS

[Jimbuna]

Great to see you back LS.....with the fastest 10 second dash of the 20th century :up:

[U49]

Wonderful reading... I almost can't wait to read more. Perfect for stuff for the loading times of SH3 :)

[bookworm_020]

The pig could be roasted!:cry: Bruno has to go back to get his cap!

[TarJak]

Nice to see more of this LS! Thanks keep up the good work!

[Brag]

anti poll bump

[Laughing Swordfish]

"First Officer up to bridge!" and he came clanging up alone.

"You have to see this Christian."

Bruno is trying to retrieve his Cap which has blown further forward from the Gun and we see it now perched on the hawser line. I gave him 10 seconds, he's already had 40.

"Don't mess him about, Sir. You know how long it's taken him to get that Cap. If it went overboard, you'd feel terrible."

It's madness to stay up with airplanes in the vicinity, and I shouldn't be playing around with Bruno who is a loyal officer and crewmate of mine.

He's waving his Cap triumphantly from the fore deck.

"Get in Number Two! You, you.... we're going down!"

For all our mucking around, and it has its points in the face of danger; last down the hatch, I saw a succession of four huge white splashes. Just about where Max went to the cellar.

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

In all the hubub of late, I've been missing this.

Hoping for more soon. :arrgh!:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Even as our sea boots hit the deck, and pitched forward (from experience there was always someone to catch us as we bounced off the ladder and followed the deck downwards.
Very undignified but it does the trick, and even soothes the tension with a bit of laughter to see the Kaleun and one of his seniors take a tumble and a last soaking from the conning tower.

But now, "Business Lads!"

The first of four quick explosions pass through the water ahead of us. Not ours. Max's. Maybe 200m ahead, but right out of the cloud and almost straight on him.
We're used to the shock waves of distant depth charges, but we also know what a ship or a small vessel sounds like when it breaks up under water..

.."Ruhe, Menschen...."

I have this habit of pinching one earphone from Hans's set when he's busy, and this time he doesn't scold his Kaleun...a distant boom..."Two more", whispers Hans as much to himself as to me. The next seemed to detonate deeper, "Random depth pattern, Kaleun, but they were right on top of her". And then uncharacteristically for such a taciturn man: "Come on Max! One more.....!"

We all tensed to hear the last one go off. Max would have sheared away and gone deeper, I'm sure, but that damned plane happened on both of us out of the blue.

Come on Max......

LS

[Jimbuna]

Ah...more fuel for the bunker :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

BOOM!

The last one was loudest of all. U-46 rocked slightly on her keel. Sea water ran across to the starboard scuppers.

Then silence.

"Hans what are you getting..?!"

"Sshhhh, Sir, can you hear it...?"

Water is a great sound conductor, even without Hans's cans we can just about hear banging and thudding going off to our port.

"That's Fischer and his mob on damage control" breathes Otto, poking his nose into the sonar cabin.

"Hans?"

"That's the U-213 alright Kaleun, losing depth."

"You mean going down."

"Yes Sir" he returned bleakly. "But only slowly"

More frenzied banging could be heard. I could swear I could hear old Maximillian himself cursing and swearing....

...and then silence.

LS

[Sailor Steve]

Come ON, Max!:stare:

[bookworm_020]

The pig can't turn up it's trotters now!:cry:

[Rhodes]

Max, don't you do that:stare: !

[Kpt. Lehmann]

~SALUTE!~

[Laughing Swordfish]

Otto sighed.

"Are you getting anything, Hans?"

"Gar nichts, Herr Ober.."

Kurt is leading his damage crew aft, standard procedure after a crash dive under aircraft, but we've not been hit.

"Kurt!"

"Yes Kaleun"

"Get back here with that bloody great monkey wrench..."

"What is it Sir, a leak behind the control boards, because....."

"No Kurt. There's no problem."

I gestured to the port side of the Control Room.

"Without damaging any of our pipes, wires, valves or tubes, I want you to bash our pressure hull three times with all you've got.

Young Kurt stared at me for a second, and then with the smallest of shrugs turned and hefted his wrench.

KERANGG!

KERAANG!!

KERAAANG!!!

"Quiet boys..........."

Nothing.

"Do it again, Kurt. Harder!"

There is another long wait. I can't believe Max and his boys have cashed in just like that....

Then Hans seizes the phones off his head; "Can you hear that, Sir!.."

Faint but definite....'Bang...bang...bang'

"That's Max! The Old Pig! Hammer back to him Kurt! Hans! Hans, which way is he going...."

"You already have the other ear phone Sir, you know that bubbling noise, Kaleun?

"That's U-213 blowing her last ballast."

Max is either going to pop to the surface or not at all.

Otto is at my shoulder.

"Up, Sir?"

LS

[bookworm_020]

Up you come Max!!! We're all waiting!!!!


"Push the button, Max!"

[Jimbuna]

The cream always ends up at the top :know:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Technically, it is still Bruno's Watch for another hour, but there is much jostling under the ladder. Christian, Willi and some of their gangs amongst them.

"Jurgen, Dieter, George! get up through Kuki's hatch. It'll be quicker than this Piccadilly Circus. Get that Flak gun loaded!" I can see they already have the 20mm shell brackets, and are champing at the bit.

"Hals, you and Michel stand by with the dinghy on my command"

Otto is counting us up as I peer into the observation scope.

"Klar Chief. Surface!"

I lead the charge up the ladder. Jurgen already has his gun cleared for action and is traversing a broad sweep across the sky.

"Look to the sky men! It won't do Max any good if we cop it as well."

Somewhere over to port, that's where the men's eyes are constantly returning. That's where Max should be coming up.

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

Some cigarettes are lit, and puffed nervously.

Christian is clenching the rim of the tower.

"..Come on Max...."

We're way too overcrowded on the bridge, it's crazy in the Bay of Biscay, but I'd risk a mutiny if I sent anyone below now. Everyone has mates on the U-213.

"Come on Fischie..."

"Get up here, Ehrlich, right now.."

"The sun is shining up here, Johann...."

"Come on Albrecht, you useless fat sod..."

And then the water starts to break and foam, agonisingly slowly, only about 20 metres away. That could have been embarrassing if Max had surfaced right under us.

But there is the shocking pink of his famous emblem, as the conning tower of his Type VIIC finally breaches the water.

"Slow ahead both, Otto!"

Max is first up. Bare-headed, and even from 20-odd metres he looks exhausted. Soon the rest of his watch scramble up, and his gun crew race to the 20mm, although by the looks of it, it may need some work. Also the WinterGarten rail won't stand too many people sitting on it this trip.

On our loud cheers, he turns and waves with the same cocky grin. One of his watch officers thrust his white cap on his head.

There is more activity around the hatch, something that looks like a body wrapped in a blanket is being pushed and hauled up to the Bridge. My God, it is a body in a blanket. An arm trails loose as they lower him tenderly to the deck.

We stand open-mouthed in dismay, as Max says some last words, and the sailor is rolled gently over the side. We all salute as U-213 are doing.

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Battered... but not broken.

What a relief.:huh:

[Sailor Steve]

:()1:

I hope it lasts. They still have to get home.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

:()1:

I hope it lasts. They still have to get home.

Yup... and maybe with two crews somehow crammed onto one boat. Minus the poor unfortunate crewman from Max's crew.:cry:

[Jimbuna]

Twice the crew means half the work :hmm:

Take the positives Kaleuns....fate will decide the rest :yep:

[bookworm_020]

Twice the crew means half the work :hmm:

Take the positives Kaleuns....fate will decide the rest :yep:
What, two boats become one, two crews become none????:dead:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Fortunately the weather and sea are calm. I can make out Max pretty well on our loud hailers...and after a long and nervous exchange....

"Get the Doc up here.... Hals, you and your mate prepare to launch the dinghy.. Bruno, I don't think we can get any closer do you?"

"I'll see what I can do, Kap"

Oscar is on the bridge with his medical bag.

"What is it Rollie?"

"Max has a few injured engine room hands. Two of those bombs gave them a whack on the stern. His Medic..."

"Konrad..?"

"Yeah, he's ok but he lost a finger in the last explosion apparently. I need you to go over to them, Doc"

"Well he sounds like he needs a hand" he smiled.

Hals already has the dinghy ready and is waiting to cast off.

"Your boat awaits Herr Doktor, I wouldn't wear your best shoes though, Max still has a bit of flooding he's still pumping out. Once you're aboard keep our guys with you. Max is going to submerge, and so are we. We're sitting ducks up here. Otto, I'm giving them your Theodore, for the rest of this patrol; they're going to need some machinists who know what they're doing over there. Get him up with his kit, and in the dinghy."

"Ok Doc, once you're in and submerged, do the best you can, both boats are going to steer a slow parallel course until darkness, or untill you're finished, but it will have to be dark anyway. Then we'll be near enough to hear each other blowing tanks, and you and the boys can come back. Ok?"

I slap a bewildered Theo on the back as he blinks into the sunshine, and the prospect of a dicey trip on a rubber dinghy to a leaking u-boat.

"You'll be ok, Junge!"

"Off you go, Oscar, none of us can hang around any longer. We'll be back for you tonight, as long as you pinch some of Max's rum!"

Oscar turned and grinned, a quick half salute, like I ever got anything else from him, and then he was down on the deck and organising the dinghy, which the two experienced seamen patiently let their officer do, and then ushered him and Theo in and pushed off.

"Let's see them in Bruno.....it would be typical for the RAF to turn up now..."

A last wave from Max as the dinghy was secured and my people were safely below, and with a clang of the hatch, U-213 took refuge.

"Ok, down to periscope depth, please Chief."

"Who was it, Kap?"

"Young guy, Christian, only his second patrol; name of Keppler apparently."

"Damn!" He grimaced.

"That's Joachim's cousin. He persuaded him to join up...."

LS

[Jimbuna]

"Yeah, he's ok but he lost a finger in the last explosion apparently. I need you to go over to them, Doc"

"Well he sounds like he needs a hand" he smiled.

Don't know if it was intentional, but I loved it all the same :lol:

Keep up the excellent work sir :rock: :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

A cheap play on words, guilty as charged, I'll try to resist the temptation in future!

It was just a quip from Oscar that slipped out. And everyone loves the Doc, right?

[Sailor Steve]

...I'll try to resist the temptation in future!
Don't. Real people are guilty of making bad puns, especially in rough situations. I grimaced, not at your doing it, but at the Doc doing it. I also believed it.

Keep it up.

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Send for the Weapons Officer, please Cox"

Otto and Christian poked their nose into the wardroom.

"Thought you might want some moral support, Rollie, we knew the boy too, and Joachim was close to him"

Otto came in and plonked himself down.

And Christian barged in with a clink of glasses, and a bottle.

"And if that isn't enough, here's your Number One with a drop of the Dutch"

"Thanks my friends, let's pour four glasss now......."

Joachim came breezily through the curtain.

"You wanted to see me Kap? Hey! brandys all round! What's the celebration?"

LS

[Jimbuna]

...I'll try to resist the temptation in future!
Don't. Real people are guilty of making bad puns, especially in rough situations. I grimaced, not at your doing it, but at the Doc doing it. I also believed it.

Keep it up.

Allow me to second that :yep:

Great stuff LS.....keep the crew fed :rock: :up:

[bookworm_020]

I got a feeling that Joachim is about to go swiming!

[Laughing Swordfish]

Joachim tossed back his brandy with relish, and accepted a refill quickly poured by Christian.

"Thirsty work checking those forward tubes............why the quiet? Are we on silent running?" He laughed.

"It's about U-217, Joachim.." I began.

"I heard she took a bit of a clout"

"Yes, and they took some casualties over there......Joachim.

His glass stopped at his lips, and returned to the table.

"......Young Heinz, Kap....?"

"I'm sorry Joachim, Keppler didn't make it."

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Thanks RdB sir.:up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

After a very long time, Joachim looked up from the table.

"What am I going to tell Tante Andrea? She wanted him to go on stage like her, when he was older, but I promised him a life of adventure at sea, on the boats..."

Christian put his arm round him.

"Come on Jokey (the joke being that Joachim never jokes), here get this down you. Everyone knows the risks, and...."

"..Where is Heinz now?

"He's gone Joachim", I replied. "Max took best care of him. We've got the Doc and three of the boys over there now sorting things out. We'll both surface at nightfall and then Oscar will be able to tell you more. I'm so sorry"

LS

[Jimbuna]

Keep it up matey :rock: :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

"217 is blowing Sir"

"Thank you Hans. Take us up if you please Chief"

All this time Joachim has been busying himself with trivial torpedo paperwork, or disappearing into the fore-ends; where the Lordships know the score and are falling over themselves to be nice to him. A huge gesture to an officer at that rough end of the boat.

"First watch up! Stay on electric motors, Christian get as tight as you can. Max should be somewhere off to port. Bruno let's have your watch onto the fore deck.

Sure enough, U-217 breached the surface. About 200 metre off. Not bad dead reckoning, and he pulled starboard at slow speed. His blokes already busy on the fore deck, and his gunners, like my Jurgen and his jail fodder, manning the gun and scouring the night sky.

Three silhouetted figures are ushered down to the dinghy, and oars put in the water.

Max doesn't waste light or sound by talking to me across the water. He'll have told the Doc everything I need to know. A heartfelt wave will do.

By now other people apart from Chistian's and Bruno's Watches have crept up to see what's going on. Cox has to shoo them back to their stations, apart from Willi who had a sudden urge to take a star navigational fix.

Now the boat is alongside, and amid soft mutterings and orders, the two seamen and Oscar are brought onto the deck. The Doc is carrying a big oilskin bag.

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

Hals is first out of the boat, followed by his mate Michel. Together they hand Oscar back onto the U-46, and Bruno's boys hurriedly deflate and stow the dinghy. U-217 is already gone to periscope depth and peeled away.

"Hals, Michel, get straight below, the Cook has something hot for you. When you're thawed out, come and report back to me in the Ward Room, verstehen?"

"Jawohl, Herr Kaleun!"

I stare after them with a proud grin. As keen as mustard those two. I'm lucky with my crew.

Oscar flops down in the Wardroom, exhausted.

"Tell me about it Doc...?"

LS

[bookworm_020]

Looking forward to the report!:yep:

Nice writing!

[Laughing Swordfish]

"What do you want first, Rollie?"

"Well I have to say operational matters first, please Doc. How's she looking, the 217?"

"You know I don't know a lot about these things Rollie, but she was down slightly by the stern, despite them pumping ballast forward. Young Theodore waded in - quite literally actually - with some of their damage control and off-watch crew while I was treating the engine room hands. Here.."

He rummaged in his bag and brought out three pages of scribbled and damp notes

"Theodore made some notes and so did their Chief and Max himself."

Otto seized them and pored over them owlishly.

"Two battery cells leaking...stopped.. chlorine gas averted with lime ('Well done young Theo' Otto murmured). Rear deck plates up.. water underfoot wiring to electric motors checked as a priority. Faulty or loose connections repaired and extra wiring installed. Trimming tank valves fixed and essential lighting.

"Main diesels jarred but not broken....." 'What they mean is there are a couple of poor sods drenched in oil and water trying to replace or realign some cogs, and pistons, but they do have limited surface propulsion"

"That's pretty much what I saw Rollie. Max is quite confident he'll certainly stay up, and still be able to fight." says Oscar.

"He'll certainly be limping quite a bit, and his diving times are going to be shot to hell" was Ottos's expert view.

"Well Max isn't giving up, that's for sure. We may need to stay closer, that's all."

A silence.

"What about the crew, Doc?"

Oscar ran his hands through his hair. He had tried repeatedly to wash his hands in the sea on the way back to U-46, I could see him doing it, but there were still blood stains up his sleeves and on the front of his jacket.

"That Konrad, the 217's MO, he's quite something. He'd lost one finger in the first blast, and the second was cut badly. Very badly."

Oscar's own hands were trembling, as he recounted it.

"He diagnosed amputation himself. And at first I protested and hesitated. He just yelled at a passing seaman on damage control duty to lend him his wire shears, and snipped his own finger off just like that."

"Jesus Christ, Doc!"

"And then he talked me quite calmly through the cauterizing, sealing and suture procedure. But even if they can make it back, Max still wants to stay out even though his MO is risking serious infection, he'll never go back to sea again, or even civilian practice, at least not as the surgeon that he was."

"The other men were all in the aft part of the boat when the bombs dropped, engine room, aft torpedo, electricals...four with concussion, two fractures, and one fatality. His head was stoved in by the sudden lurch of the boat on a valve wheel. It looks like he died instantly, according to Konrad, he couldn't have felt a thing the poor old fellow...."

"Wait a minute, Doc...what do you mean 'old fellow'..Keppler was only just turning twenty years old?"

"Well ok, here's his effects anyway"

And he dug out of the oilskin bag some sad items, a carefully nutured chocolate bar with only three squares gone, a lucky charm in the shape of a four leafed clover, and also one in chrome of a pig his boat's lucky emblem, some dry socks, a racy novel well-thumbed, and a cigarette case. A letter from his wife, enclosing a picture of his family on holiday by the sea in peacetime, and one he had started writing probably before his last watch, which I folded without reading....and his Soldbuch.

'Keffler. Fritz Keffler. Senior Engineer. Age 30'

He looked around at our open mouths...

"What's up, Kap?"

"What about young Heinz Keppler, spelled with a P, also in the engine room?"

"Oh yes, strong as an ox, I treated him for some cuts and bruises, and he was straight back out there shoring up the engine. Good lad.

"Oh my God. Doc we've had the most almighty cock up"

And I explained Joachim's supposed bereavement.

"Cox! Cox! Wake the Weapons Officer up and get him in here quick!"

"Yes Sir!"

We looked around the Ward Room table not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Who's going to tell him?"

"Well if it helps.." says Oscar reaching into his pouch for the last time. These might make it easier..."

And he produced three bottles of the finest Jamaican Rum.

"Max's own private stock! How did you pull it off, Doc?"

"I didn't Rollie, Konrad did on our behalf. And we all now know what a light-fingered bastard he is!"

LS

[Jurgen Prochnow]

Thank you for posting this great story.

i had much fun reading it.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Thanks for the fuel RdB.:up: :up: :up:

Grand as always.

[Jimbuna]

Dark Rum....my favourite....lucky Joachim :()1:

[NiclDoe]

For some reason the story nevers gets bored which I like.:up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

".......so you see, Joachim, Heinz is fine. A couple of cuts and abrasions, but absolutely ok, I saw to him myself". Oscar patted our dumbstruck Weapons Officer on the shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Joachim" I said for the second time that night. There was a mix up somehow between me and Max. The poor guy who died was an older fellow with a similar name."

He just shook his head slowly smiling, and gulped some rum down.

"Thank you, Kap. Thank you Doc. Thank you, thank you."

"Two seamen to see you, Sir" announced Cox at the Wardroom entrance, and I beckoned Hals and Michel in. Their caps off and looking unsure of themselves.

"Boys, I know you're tired but I wanted to congratulate you on your work with the Doc and Theodore over at the 217. It will not go unnoticed. Theo too. You saw Heinz Keppler alive and well didn't you?"

"Oh yes Sir!" piped up Michel. "Complaining of wet feet though!"

"Here lads, will you take some rum with us?"

Silly question.

"Stick the rest of the bottles up your jumper and give everyone in the foreends a tot"

Whether they had time to enjoy it is another matter. Back up on the surface, we picked up two merchants soon after, chancing it and blacked out heading North.

Joachim was like a man possessed. Not surprising after the night he'd had, not to say the quantities of brandy and rum we'd poured down him.

Willi worked a good position for him up top, but he managed to calculate all four to hit on separate targets, two each in one salvo. Willi reckons 6,000 and 8,000 tons respectively. All hits and timed to hit each ship at the same time, so no zigging.

Great cheers in the Lordships, as the sinkings were announced and we could hear their bulkheads buckle.

"That'll more likely be the rum being broken out!" murmurs Christian.


LS

[Jimbuna]

Business as usual....all is well :rock: :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

A quick message off to BDU with the tonnage, and we are down as dawn rises.
Nothing fom Max. He is far too far away underwater to pick up. He decided in his notes to me to scrub the original plan, which was a more aggressive patrol outside the straits, now he's heading north of us back where we came, concerned about any leaking oil showing and staying closer to a neutral Spanish port in case the boat suffers worse. He'll pick up what we miss or disperse. That's the plan. And also he has closer to get home.

"He'll be furious we took those two and left him with nothing! Bloody good shooting downstairs!"" laughs Willi as he come off watch and hands over to Christian.

"Sir! Sir! I'm getting something intermittent on the phones.... too fast to be a merchant, yes......yes..........I'm picking up fast screws closing 301 degrees in and out could be long or medium range., and some bigger noises behind.

"Surface!"

I'm up the ladder like a squirrel.

"What can we see to our port quarter, Christian?"

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Nichts, Rollie. Christ, these waves could hide a battleship."

"Perhaps they are Christian.... Bridge to Control!"

"Ja Kaleun?" came the answering pipe from Reuben.

"Cut speed to give Hans's ears a chance. I want regular sound reports up here!"

"Jawohl Kap!"

Going at slow speed in heavy seas and storm on the surface is a nightmare for something as relatively light and slender as a u-boat. The sea really takes over, and everyone and everything gets thrown around. it's worse for those of us on the Bridge.

"Buckle up boys!" shouts Christian, as we lash ourselves to the conning tower.

"Goggles on!"

This was a stroke of genius that he and Cox pulled with Auer's Panzer Grenadier Regiment. In exchange for some surplus leather jackets, which he and and his Company Quartermaster now proudly wear whenever they can or on exercise in the rain, we got a box of 20 motorcycle despatch rider's goggles. Excellent for keeping the worst of the salt water out of the eyes. Not to be used too much with binos, but even our excellent Zeiss lenses are not much use in this sea and weather. Peripheral vision is more important.

After half an hour of being tossed around and half drowned, at some point all of us six on the bridge had to be helped to our feet after being knocked down, deluged or thrown off their feet by a wave....

"Control to Bridge. Fast screws bearing 85. Medium range and closing heading North. Some background noise longer range."

"Thank you Control, bring us up to flank speed, new course 30. We'll head them off at the pass! Second watch standby to take the bridge in five minutes. Tell Hans, well done and keep it coming. Hot coffee from Kuki please, for the off-coming watch. It's been quite bracing up here.....!"

LS

[bookworm_020]

Could the U-46 be on the verge of bagging a capital ship??? Bring on the next installment!:rock:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Sheer luck.

Most of what we do, or how we survive is sheer luck. Or double guessing

We thought we had caught a large capital ship

Otto is up from his nap and barking for information.

"They've got some sort of destroyer screen that we're trying to outrun because we have bigger fish to fry.

"Have damage crew up, we're at battle stations, wake the children!"

"I'm sorry, Sir. Big but she's no battleship."

"No and neither is the other one behind. They're full of oil menschen, tankers, they are our target, mind that destroyer and get to anything near 1,000m. We have to cut off the oil first instead of any big prizes men!...Back to your stations....as me and Joachim read the data down. Bruno calls the Swordfish to it's new bearing and flank speed.

There is an explosion on the eastern side of the convoy.

(Damaged as you are, good for you Max!)

"Christian, Max has given us our moment. Attack run! Those two!"

A salvo of two at each, all but one hitting, most of the Lordships sneaking up on deck to see the display. And a massive couple of bangs from ships daring to carry aviation fuel or oil across the ocean. We could feel the heat and roar as their oil bunkers combusted and exploded. Soon we were lit up from the flames as if we were under a porch light.

"Time to go, boys, show's over. Get yourselves back in. Control, dive to 13 metres

We took one more good-sized tanker before the seas and/or our torpedoes ran out, and even that was on the way home. There had been no signals from U-217, but there rarely is from the grumpy bastard.

No warships, but a huge tonnage. We come back in back through the Biscay, and get the order to return to St Nazaire instead of L'Orient. The approach waters and the pens are now deemed safe and operational, and overflown for once by our own gentlemen in the Luftwaffe.

Five ships and about 28,000 tons.

In normal military etiquette, the men are to be first down the gangplank, and so on by seniority. Thats because historically we feed the Horses first; then Men, then Officers. And rightly so.

So baskets of bread, cheese and ham are waiting. The french don't all exactly love us, and some put a face on. But many a Maman puts aside some brioche, jambon, fromage et du vin, in an old dockside tradition, as she sees a young seafaring boy of her own, in the weary youthful faces of ours.

But when we come off the U-46 after a long and good haul, who can tell the difference from one beard from another, nothing more than stubble in most cases, and the subject of fierce competition and conjecture in the Fore-Ends.

We always go out as eager young boys, and each time come back so much older.

Heidi and Josie are waiting and waving.....

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

I would have liked to say that I was first to sweep Heidi off in my arms, but this time I was dragged into a short ceremonial parade, where you present you boat back in harbour, state your crew, and your results which are evident from the huge white pennants flying from the periscope mast.

Myself, Oscar, Christian and even Bruno are the only ones not putting Heidi and Josie on their shoulders and marching them off to the nearest bar in town.

LS

[rizZO_77]

Found this thread a few days ago and spent hours reading it all. I must hand it to you LS; you truly are gifted with finding the right words to tell a great story :yep: . I loved every word of this!! Count me in as hooked on this thread.

MORE!!!:up:

[donw]

Join the club Mate! Did you read it all here on the forum, or at the website?

[rizZO_77]

Thanks for the welcome.
I found it here on the subsim forums and started reading. Since i liked to read all the reactions i decided to read it all here.
Really wonderful stuff!

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Just wear it, Number Two..."

"But these Garland ceremonies are...."

"...to be endured, Bruno. Smile nicely at the pen-pushers and officers, and think naughty thoughts about the nurses, that should get you through"

As soon as it was over, we were all straight over to the Flotilla Office. New younger girls on shift.

"What news of U-217?"

LS

[america person]

LS, does the website get updated, I've missed out on quite a few (since march and don't know how far back on the forum I'd have to go.) keep the work coming, really enjoyable to read.

AP

[donw]

LS, does the website get updated, I've missed out on quite a few (since march and don't know how far back on the forum I'd have to go.) keep the work coming, really enjoyable to read.

It does Mate...when I get to it...and I think I have it up to when he just hit port...
Feel free to strangle me if I get behind! :up:

[america person]

ok cheers then

AP

[Jimbuna]

Still my no1 story LS :rock: :up:

[Oberon]

Well done U-46, from Oblt z. See Alfons Elric and the crew of U35, 'Die Schwarze Wyrm' :D

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Mr. deBunsen, could you review your PM box please?

Cheers, from the crew of U-96.

KL

[Laughing Swordfish]

Heartfelt thanks Kapt Lehman. I've said it all in my PM to you, but I will repeat publicly, however much people might enjoy the U-46 story wherever it goes or ends up, I really appreciate every bit of feedback I see, and it encourages me to keep writing. So thank you everyone for your support, and have a Merry Christmas.

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

You are quite welcome mate.:up: :up: :up:

[bookworm_020]

Merry Christmas and a happy new year for the laughing Swordfish and the crew of the U-46. Hope to see more of the story in the new year.

[Laughing Swordfish]

We bundled in through the door at the Vie de Napoleon.

Heidi and Josie don't work here, they are at BDU not Flotilla HQ, but these Golden Pheasants still surround themselves with some very pretty girls. And in any case they're both boozing it up with the rest of the crew. I so wanted to get this over with and join her, but we have to find out about Max.

A gorgeous brunette leans over the desk and makes eyes at Bruno.

"You must be from U-46. I can tell from the Laughing Swordfish badge on your cap, we were hoping to see you back in."

I've never seen Bruno blush before, or lost for words.

"If it's not too forward, can I have your badge to keep, please Sir? I'll look after it"

And Bruno hands it over as meek as a lamb.

We were all spellbound, and it took Oscar to break it.

"Come on Bruno. Corporal we're to see the FlotillenChef. Sir, give this Orderly your logs and reports, and then we can...."

The doors to the Office are flung open.

"Ah Gentlemen! I've been expecting you. Come in"

Bruno is still hopping up and down.

"Do you think she fancies me, Kap?"

"Well we've been three weeks at sea without a wash or shave, so if she can give you a smile without holding her nose, I'd say you have a chance."

Now come on concentrate, we want to find out about Max..."

LS

[Jimbuna]

All the best for the coming festive season LS http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/welcome.gif ;)


http://www.itsnature.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfmoon.jpg


http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd320/pasquarade/wolf-38.gif

[Hondo314]

After having been away for several months, I am glad to see the epic continue! Hope you take some time to relax over the holidays, but try and squeeze in some time for the crew of the U-46 too will ya? :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Can I just step out of the story for a moment to thank everyone very much for all their support and kind words over the years.

I've had so much help and kindness from people who make this whole community tick so well and down to people who stumbled across the thread and took the trouble to read it.

A Merry Christmas to you all.

Before this turns into an Oscar speech, I'd better go.

I did write a long piece about the fate of Max's U-217 yesterday, but somehow it got lost when I tried to post it. I'll re-write it and try again.

Best wishes, Raoul de Bunsen (LS)

[Sailor Steve]

Can I just step out of the story for a moment...
NO! Get back to work!
:rotfl:

You had to know someone was going to do that. I would actually be happy to read your comments on other threads; your take on aspects of the game etc. You're writing is entertaining and engaging, and I like others wait breathlessly for each new installment, but who are you in real life, and in relation to the game?

[Laughing Swordfish]

Hi Mate,

Yep walked into that one with my chin!

Well like I say I'm Raoul de Bunsen aka Rollie, aka LS, I'm a bloke from South London.

You're quite right, I used to post away and join debates all over the forum, but perhaps I've become a bit absorbed lately. I had no idea that the story would take off and I should get back into that.

Otherwise, I'm just a regular player, and with obviously some embellishment and story telling, what happens to the U-46 in the game is what happens here on the thread. So nothing special, and there's plenty more great u-boat stories out there.

All the best from LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

Apparently U-217 had been hurt worse than Theo's, and Max's scribbled notes, and Oscar's untrained eye could tell.

They'd stabilised her ok, with a huge effort of ingenuity and resolve. Every rank who wasn't injured must have pitched in, and even some who were. But Max had risked it one last time. I remember hearing the detonation from the small but high value convoy.

The brief counter attack didn't help, but I guess Max was too wily for a couple of green escorts. We certainly slipped away from their attentions

It was the damned weather. The boys who rowed over there mentioned that she was handling like a brick. It seems the storms down there aggravated more damage than the enemy. Tossed around like a bucket up top, and unable to dive for very long or at any good depth, for any period, it was surely only a matter of time. Even when they did seek brief respite, a small but steady fuel leak gave them away, and reduced their range by the hour.

Add in the combined wrath of the RAF after we finished off those big merchants (they were buzzing around like hornets with their nest poked), and the longer it went on there could only be one outcome.

It seems that with God knows what skill, luck and sheer balls, Max made it over towards the Spanish coast before succumbing to the inevitable.

A small dapper man in a smart and pressed suit is telling me this. He is from our Embassy in Madrid. I can't remember his name, and I don't think he ever told us.

So it turns out that for the Old Pink Pig War Horse, victor of so many missions, the time had come.

He had to swallow his pride and seek sanctuary and emergency repairs in a neutral port.

Vigo as it happens. And the recovery operation was quite something.

During the darkest hours a small fleet of sardine boats happened to put out, manned by 'interned' German merchant crewmen thoroughly enjoying their war. They put up such a fuss on leaving and returning that noone noticed a limping submarine, trimmed right down to the conning tower, easing her aching body into port. Before submerging.

It seems we also have at least one fully laden supply ship 'interned' by the Spanish, and under the pretext of a full inspection, and at siesta time she was moved to a closed dock. A crude towing arrangement meant that she had a submerged little friend with her.

Looking at him again, his tight smile, attention to detail, but bright glittering blue eyes, I'm sure his service to Germany has more to do than just being a diplomatic flunky.

U-217 is being repaired surreptitiously, it seems, under the noses of British spies, and even re-armed.

"This was a bold and triumphant blow for the Fatherland, Herr Kapitan. The tonnage sunk greatly furthers our interests in this part of the World. However it has not been without cost. I am to tell you that there have been a further three fatal casualties, as a result of this operation. You must understand that U-217 was strafed repeatedly"

"Who? Who? do you have their exact names"

"All those killed were deck or gun crew. Herr Kapitan. One instantly, his body blown into the sea. And of the numerous injured men, two have since died of their wounds.

"My God..." Oscar whispered. "I should have stayed with them....."

"But their names?" I urged.

"Ah yes, you have an engineer Ecks on short term transfer... he will be fine. He's discharged from the U-217, and his temporary Kapitan has passed me this note of commendation."

He passed me an envelope that had clearly already been opened.

"He along with the other wounded, are being repatriated by special transport. Unless there are any other questions, I expect you would like to freshen up gentlemen. It remains to say that the Fuhrer thanks you for your significant contribution to final victory. Sieg Heil!"

I offered a fairly tired normal naval salute in return. In truth we just wanted to get out of the office door.

And a few seconds later, we were. Back in town!

LS

[Jimbuna]

Great stuff LS :rock: :up:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

As Thin Lizzy would say....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aKel-rkScRw&feature=related

:rock: :rock: :rock:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Very very Cool!

I had the privilege of talking to Kapt Lehmann direct recently, and it was a huge pleasure

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Ahh matey, the pleasure was all mine.:yep: :up: :up: :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

"So crafty old Max made it ok!"

Bruno danced happily in the street.

"And now it's cocktails on the beach for him and the 217, the lucky swines!"

He took a pull from his well-used (by all of us) leather hip flask. It hardly ever left the Bridge until we were in port, but was always miraculously refilled whenever a new Watch took over..

Doc took it from him and took a long pull and grimaced.

"Not all of them, Bruno......"

Bruno nodded sheepishly and cast a glance at me and Christian.

It's ok you fool, my boy made it at least, so did our Theo, and they'll have some scars and stories to tell. We all have to live for the moment"

He took a heroic swig of the rum, and passed it to me.

"What do you say, Rollie?..."

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

So despite my protests we are in this Casino Bar that Bruno knows. We were all led to individual rooms set aside with hot tubs and towels and a simple change of clothes. My hostess was Cherie. She had dark hair, and bright red pouting lipstick, and clearly wasn't looking away as she poured some champagne.

It seems strange that the first thing a U-boat man would do on coming home would be to immerse himself in water. But this was hot water for once, and full of suds. It was luxury, although I have to say I left the water black. Cherie seemed to want to do more for me, but we finished the bottle and helped my recently aching body into a simple but clean suit. Our uniforms had already been labelled and packed off to the barracks laundry. 7th Flotilla really look after us when we come back in.

Oscar's in the corridor too, but the other two seem to be taking a little longer judging by the panting and gasping going on behind their doors.

"I have to find Heidi, Doc"

"Let's go down this way, the exit is through the casino floor...."

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Sirs! Officers of the Ubootwaffe are always welcome here!

"Some drinks surely" He clapped his hands, and a tray was brought.

"Come sit down, some complimentary chips to get you started!"

"I don't know about this Oscar.."

It's only a free ride, Rollie, here..."

He chucked the whole stack on black.......

'Number 2, Black'

Christian and Bruno are working their way downstairs straightening their ties and grabbing a drink from any tray going.

"What's going on ?"

"We're up!" cries Oscar with a beaming smile.

"Put your money in!"

"Kap, you have to call it; you always call the shots! Where are we going to let it ride?"

"Not me this time, Bruno."

"Why not Kap?"

"Because..........."

"Because, my friends, the decisions I make affect the lives of 51 people. To attack or stalk, go deeper, to rise, to left, to right, to speed up or slow down."

"I can't second guess everything. And in any case I wouldn't want the boys to know my intuition was flawed, just because I saved their lives but couldn't follow up with a bet for several crates of beers. Can someone else make a decision for once.."

Bruno placed the chips. The whole lot.

He came alongside as we walked out with our heads high.

Christian and Oscar were deep in conversation behind us.

"Kap, would you have bet on Evens instead of Odds?"

"Bruno, I would have bet on you. And that's what counts."

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

Bruno's flask came out again and was passed around, as we walked arm-in-arm down the middle of the road across town, past the blackened ruins of that Restaurant we'd taken refuge in during the Raid. They had been in on it, and Josie's boyfriend was killed and she was crippled as a result.

Two Army NCOs almost as drunk as we were, halted and saluted. He cocked a thumb at the wrecked remains. With a slightest of winks.

"Must have been the work of saboteurs, Sir"

That called for more beers!

LS

[Jimbuna]

All the best for the New Year LS http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

Let's hope 2008 is as productive as 2007 was http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

[Laughing Swordfish]

I order up the first round of beers with the landsers, before realising to my horror we haven't got a franc or reichsmark between us.

I turned to Corporal Weiss, one of the landsers we'd befriended

"Pieter, I'm really sorry - we're strapped. We got cleaned out at the Casino just now, but..."

"No Buts, Sir! We saw you blundering around in the middle of that Raid and that was good enough for us, honestly Sir, don't they teach you even basic infantry training?! Your money's no good here anyway, these are on the Army.

Conversation turned to the events of the War of which we were in some ways way behind, but in in other ways not blinded by too much propaganda either. The landsers, of which more and more where joining this watering hole all the time, seemed to still have a confident view of progress on the Eastern Front, older heads, and I mean older by the experience not their age, or even more visibly scarred by it, drank their beer more quietly.

They were all keen to know about the ships we sank, and Bruno and Christian soon had them enthralled in our ambushes and escapes. And they particularly liked the vivid descriptions of enemy war materiel being sent to the bottom.

Auer was away on exercise apparently, which made me think of Josie, which made me think of Heidi.

"Lads...., lads.., quiet down for a moment. We're heading up to the Chat Noir, I know it's normally off limits, but you are all U-bootmen for the evening!"

"Hurrah!"

LS

[Jimbuna]

Drinks all roond http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

http://www.abfnet.com/forum/images/smilies/pirate_with_bottle_of_rum_lg_blk.gif

[bookworm_020]

Hic!:()1:

[rizZO_77]

I know im a bit late but i still want to wish you a very good 2008 LS!:up:

Hopes are 2008 will be a very good year for Heidi and the kaleun...:yep:

[Laughing Swordfish]

When we burst in, there where many of the same familiar faces at the bar or around the tables.

"U-46 is back gentlemen. And these are our friends from the Infantry!"

It was never going to be a problem, and besides Army types can't behave worse off-duty than Navy people.

The clincher was when they saw Josie, and rushed across to lift her on her one good leg, up to their shoulders amid great cheers.

I took that moment to take Heidi's arm, spin her round and kiss her, and kiss her again. And then she just knocked my Cap off and kissed me.

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Ahhh. Homecoming is always so good.:up: :up: :up:

[bookworm_020]

At least he'll never forget what he's fighting for!:D:D:D

[Laughing Swordfish]

Everyone wanted to know about U-217 and Max. Particularly Freddie, who has been pretty much inseperable with Max since we got to France.

I realised with a pang that although he's been damaged before, the first time he nearly came a cropper was when he was out on patrol with me and not with Freddie.

"By all accounts he's fine, Freddie. They've all got their feet up in a villa somewhere in Spain. They did lose a couple of guys. And the injured are getting sent back, including one of my boys. They're going to get repaired and re-armed and go out straight from there in a few weeks. Sounds like a cushy number, they'll have Spanish food and not the stodge they issue us, and he won't have to go out through the Biscay next time. Here, Doc can tell you all about it, I sent him over to Max after they were first bombed....."

And with that, and the party in full swing, I grabbed Heidi's hand and made for the exit. Time ashore is too short......

LS

[Jimbuna]

Will the next instalment be censored ? :oops:

;)

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Will the next instalment be censored ? :oops:

;)

:lol: Woohoo! Maybe we'll get to see Heidi 'nekkid' as we say in Texas?

[Jimbuna]

Will the next instalment be censored ? :oops:

;)

:lol: Woohoo! Maybe we'll get to see Heidi 'nekkid' as we say in Texas?

http://imgcash3.imageshack.us/img233/1387/pasdeqicikz9.gif

http://imgcash3.imageshack.us/img104/6951/nopornomj2.gif

[Sailor Steve]

I think we're already well past that stage, as they've stayed together in a hotel in Paris.

I never knew you guys were voyeurs.:rotfl:

[Laughing Swordfish]

A Gentleman never tells. And while we all in the Ubootswaffe are hard pushed to call ourselves gentlemen at times. That must remain a closed book!

Besides lads, we have another patrol to go on, and a War to fight!

LS

[Jimbuna]

I think we're already well past that stage, as they've stayed together in a hotel in Paris.

I never knew you guys were voyeurs.:rotfl:

Oh yes we are http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/images/smilies/a115[1].gif

[Jimbuna]

A Gentleman never tells. And while we all in the Ubootswaffe are hard pushed to call ourselves gentlemen at times. That must remain a closed book!

Besides lads, we have another patrol to go on, and a War to fight!

LS

SINK EM ALL!! http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[Laughing Swordfish]

Sailor Steve's right of course. Rollie and Heidi did become lovers in Paris to put it quaintly. Where else? Certainly not Hamburg - that was when he was younger and on a dare!

Anyway U-46 has new orders.

We have to go again.

LS

[bookworm_020]

I think we're already well past that stage, as they've stayed together in a hotel in Paris.

I never knew you guys were voyeurs.:rotfl:
Oh yes we are http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/images/smilies/a115%5B1%5D.gif

Speak for yourself!:smug: Can't wait till the next patrol based installment is posted!:up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Leave is always over so fast.

But at least U-46 is looking in fine trim, and Cox has the boys lined up on the fore deck and accounted for. Even Dieter has made the parade on time.

We haven't ever made many changes to the crew roster (and Cox and the other seniors tells me that noone wants to be posted out - and I like to believe them)

Anyway those young faces have aged somewhat, and not just because of the sea.

They've seen and been through quite a bit already, but still ready and eager to go again.

It's my job to bring us all back, but also my priority to risk us all against the enemy.

"Well menschen...what are we waiting for! The nurses from the hospital where the First Officer was skiving have sent us cake. First watch up, cast off! Save some for them, but the last one below gets crumbs!"

And with a cheer they skidded down into their home from home, as the lines were cast off and pulled in.

Those not on harbour stations immediately came back up with cake in one hand and waving their Laughing Swordfish side cap with the other as the nurses waved and blew kisses back.

Nowadays Heidi stands on the end of the dock so she can see us for the longest time before we disappear down the Loire, even though she still hates to see any boat off. Now she has brave Josie, and a gaggle of feldgrau uniformed soldiers around her as well.

I grip the rim of the bridge tighter, and wave back for as long as I can. Then it's time for me to go below and just close the green curtain across my cabin space for a moment.

U-46 is going out again.

LS

[Jimbuna]

Was just about to report you AWOL http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

[Laughing Swordfish]

Not till they can sink me!

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

Heading down towards the Estuary is a sobering experience. They are still trying to repair the deep water dock after the raid. St Nazaire is the only dock big enough for our last big battleship, the Tirpitz. So she's still biding her time in Norwegian fjords, with no decent outlet into the Atlantic (and look what happened to her sister)

Those Tommies knew what they were doing all right.

Doc comes up and offers a cigar.

"Better grab a smoke before we're out into the Bay eh, Rollie? Where to this time?

We're just pushing out West as far as half our tanks can take us, Oscar. It's a plan of sorts. There are other boats out there. It's just this Biscay Bay, we're like fish in a barrel crossing it. Suicidal, a firing squad...!

Give me a last light then, will you?"

And we both laughed.

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

This is out of the story, and I do apologise.

But I know there are some German speaking friends out there.

What it is, I have been asked to act in a film which is set in a POW Camp, and they want me to be the Camp Commander. And I have to be perfect by Sunday. (Talk about a fast ball!)

The other lines will be spoken in German-accented English, but I really need help from anyone out there who can put these few lines into German for me:

"He still isn't in a fit condition for proper questioning. Captain Frings, leave Captain Hodgson here for now, we need to keep him seperate from all other inhabtants. we need information that he possesses to be uncontaminated through other soldiers' idiocy. We need to know why they were here. I believe he has information on the next British attack. Post two guards outside this room, and keep me updated on his condition over the next day"

That's it. I didn't write it, but I guess it will be subtitled so we can't mess with it too much, but I'm hoping someone could help me translate that into a shorter German version. I'd be very grateful.

Thanks, LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

We are almost out, on the Western edge of BF. God knows which quadrant, the weather is so bad.

A couple of scares from the sky maybe, but nothing worse. At least Otto can check his diving times and trims, and I'm glad to say the U-46 seems as nimble as ever. But there is wear and tear on the crew.

After we surfaced from the last alarm, I came up to join Willi's watch. He immediately turned to me and gestured at one of his bridge crew. Young Halli.

Despite anything the watch officer could say or cajole, the lad was gripping the rim of the bridge tightly with both hands, his binoculars dangling uselessy from his neck and fixed stare.

"You ok, Halliman? It's a heavy sea up here isn't it?"

No response.

"Halliman?"

It's hard to say with the spray, but I think he's crying.

"Willi, I'm going to submerge the Boat, get Halliman below and get him to Oscar. don't isolate him, have Doc talk to him in the wardroom, and some hot tea sent forward.

Actually we could all do with some"

"That's true enough Kap.....Hey Halliman!"

He jerked around.

"Come on, lad. The Doc needs you and me downstairs for a minute. Any chance to get out of the rain eh!"

And he prised his fingers off and led Halliman gently down the ladder. He's been with us almost from the start, and he's still only twenty one years old.

Willi winked as they headed down the ladder

"I'll get Christian to kick one of his gang up to replace him......"

LS

[Jimbuna]

More fuel http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/headbanger.gif

[Laughing Swordfish]

Some time later we had a really good call from the the bow lookout of Third Watch. Tienst, another kid, but good eyes.

At least one stack, aproximately 3,000 tons could be more or less, by the silhouette of her.

"Just one Joachim, come on, let's keep your record up!"

By now we had got ahead through my and Willi's stalking, and dived again.

Our torpedo hissed away set to a shallow setting with an impact pistol.

And my Weapons Officer didn't disappoint me. The Bang and huge shudder through the water told us what we needed to know.

I left Christian to confirm and log it, and poked my head through the Wardroom curtain, where Oscar is sitting with Halli.

"We sank another one men....!" I began cheerfully. And then noticed quite how tightly Halliman was gripping his tin mug, how much it was shaking and rattling against the table, and how much he was spilling out in all respects.

LS

[Paul.Saenger]

"He still isn't in a fit condition for proper questioning. Captain Frings, leave Captain Hodgson here for now, we need to keep him seperate from all other inhabtants. we need information that he possesses to be uncontaminated through other soldiers' idiocy. We need to know why they were here. I believe he has information on the next British attack. Post two guards outside this room, and keep me updated on his condition over the next day"


"Er kann immer noch nicht verhört werden. Hauptmann (Army/Luftwaffe Captain=Hauptmann, Navy is a bit trickier, but I am guessing it is army) Frings, lassen sie Captain Hodgson fürs erste hier. Wir müssen ihn von den Anderen getrennt halten, damit die Informationen nicht durch irgendwelche Idioten beschädigt werden. (That part is a bit tricky. I am guessing this is written information, otherwise this needs to be changed). Wir müssen herausfinden, weshalb sie hier waren. Ich glaube, dass er Informationen über den nächsten Britischen Angriff hat. Stellen sie zwei Posten auf und geben sie mir Bescheid, wenn sich etwas ändert."

A question: This dialogue sounds a bit cheesy. What movie is this for?
And you might be better off to interrupt this dialogue, otherwise it just sounds like cheesy evil overlord exposition 101. Better might be something like this:

"(assessing the prisoner)Er kann immer noch nicht verhört werden.(turning away to Frings)Hauptmann Frings, lassen sie Captain Hodgson fürs erste hier. Wir müssen ihn von den Anderen getrennt halten, damit die Informationen nicht durch irgendwelche Idioten beschädigt werden. (lighting a cigarette/doing something - just anything, don't rattle it off). Wir müssen herausfinden, weshalb sie hier waren. Ich glaube, dass er Informationen über den nächsten Britischen Angriff hat. (walking out) Stellen sie zwei Posten auf und geben sie mir Bescheid, wenn sich etwas ändert"

But admittedly, that is just my (very limited, as I have only acted in three plays up to now) opinion.

[donw]

Nice of you to jump in and try to assist Paul. But you must have missed that his request was on Wed 2/6, and was needed by Sun 2/10 :hmm:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Thanks anyway Paul!

In the end, I typed it into babelfish or Babylon or whatever, and it seemed to make sense to my rudimentary German knowledge, and just cuffed it on set! I'm sure your version was better, although I'm quite proud that I my cut-down version was pretty close to yours but I was definitely under the clock!
Noone else could speak German, so in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is King!

The script was a bit cheesy, so I ad-libbed quite a bit.

The producer and director won't name the film yet, but they threw a lot of pyrotechnics at it, in battle scenes (before my bit, unfortunately).

But it was filmed on an old WW2 airbase on the English South Coast, which was interesting from the point of view of our game.

Thanks again, LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

We caught another one the next dawn. Bigger and one shot. There are still these people who think they can creep through without escort.

I left Christian and Willi to it, and ducked down into the Ward Room

He was sitting there with Doc.

"Hello Halliman, hows it going? How are you feeling? That last explosion you heard would have been another 5,000 tons at least!"

I plonked myself down in Otto's regular seat

"Halli..... we all have the right to get scared at times. Except for Officers. For us fear is forbidden on the grounds that we are too stupid to recognise it!"

That at least brought a smile to Halli's face.

"Listen Halli, it's only natural to be afraid, or just to have your nerves frayed; we're in a very dangerous business. To let you in on a secret, Kapitans very occasionally get the wind up too, but we have a big advantage when the chips are down.

Firstly these Type VIIs are made to last, the Brits have hardly made a dent in the U-46 yet. (Actually they had and we both knew it, but these boats are remarkably resilient)

And secondly my confidence comes from knowing I have a superb and brave crew, who will never let me or each other down.

You are one of those crew, Halli.

What do you say? Want to get back upstairs and rejoin 3rd Watch? They'll be pleased to see you.

Come on, I could use some fresh air myself ....it's the only advantage of the job!....."

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Good show LS! :up: :up: :up:

[donw]

Hey Folks!
The next installment may be delayed a bit...Rumor has it LS may be making a trip to the Academy Awards in Hollywood for a possible nomination for an Oscar tomorrow! :o
;) :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

More like the Raspberries mate!

And I have to tell you it's warmer on the bridge of your boat riding the Atlantic Wave, than a long derelict RAF base in Dorset (and with jackboots two sizes too small!)

It was fun, but anyway........

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

Third Watch don't even notice him at first. They are constantly raising and lowering their binoculars as they observe their quadrants out to sea.

But Willi, standing in the middle does, and manages three things at once, he salutes me, shouts greetings to Halliman (Hey Halli! Where have you been, you skiver, we need you up here!") and horse kicks the nearest watchman to him who turns and ..

"Halli, what happened, did you go below to get your cigarettes dry?"

"Give us one then, you sly dog!"

"Come on, mate, U-46 is already 2-0 up on this patrol, just like Hamburg v Munchengladbach, in the final tomorrow, oh I forgot! You support those St Pauli minnows!"

"Hey, Halli! What particular stretch of this godforsaken ocean and sky would you like to stare at this time? You can have mine, but it looks a lot like yours and everyone elses!"

Back slapping and hugging, incongruous as it is in layers of clothing and oilskins. Someone took his sou'wester off and ruffled his dank wet hair.

Willi and I stood back against the periscope mount, and watched the four men laughing, and passing looted Canadian chocolate around.

I noticed the outsider from the group. Janeck from Second watch, his eyes red-rimmed with salt, wind and fatigue having served nearly two consecutive watches on the bridge as a replacement. But before I could intervene, Halliman went straight over to him, and took his Zeiss binos back.

"Thank you Jan, I've got this station again now. I'll take your next watch, and double on yours if..."

And he turned to me and his Watch Officer

"Yes, that's ok, Halliman."

"Janeck. Thank you and well done. Get some uninterrupted rest now. Report to the 2nd Watch Officer, that he is to take Halliman up on his next watch instead of you, but don't wake him, or he'll shout at you in his sleep! Go on junge, get yourself below and get some rest. Just tell him I said so. Get the Coxswain to organise it. He's always awake"

"Jawohl Kaleun"

After he stumbled tiredly down the ladder, Willi turned to me.

"Is Halliman ok"

"I think so Willi, but that is a question I should be asking you, he's on your Watch. We have to know our own men"

My Navigator's face was crestfallen, he has a lot of other duties apart from Watch Officer after all, but we can never neglect the men.

"It's ok, Willi, we've been turning the boat round pretty fast between patrols and repairs and the other incidents, without much leave rotation, so I'm to blame for that.

Willi nodded.

"But it's bad luck to break up the crew too much"

"Yes I suppose it is, especially by depth charge, Willi; if the crew are too tired and even one or two of them lost their nerve for a moment like young Halli, that's how we make the last mistake"

I clapped him on the shoulder.

"We could all do with a break, but..."

"..'but there's a War on'.."

Willi smiled as he finished the same mantra probably being repeated on both sides of the Channel. I'm staying up on the bridge.

"So come on my friend. Let's finish it quicker. Find me some more ships..!"

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

And we did find them. Almost in a straight south westerly line, another three, two picked up by Willi's 3rd Watch, and at least one by Halliman spotting the top of a mast or funnel off to his quarter in the middle of the storm.

Approximately 3,000 or 4,000 tons each. Impossible to tell in this weather, but 5-0 to us! (Of course just one strike the other way, and that's the whole game over).

Anyway, it's time to submerge.

"Omelette Day!"

With that Bruno brings his gang clanging and clattering down the hatch, and Otto and his Control Room men easing us down to 20 metres, out of the waves.

There are many overpowering smells in a U-boat: diesel and various human ones being the worst; but when the Chef decides to use all the eggs before they spoil, every man can smell the frying pan on those two small stove rings. We don't know how he does it, and he has been sought after by other Kapitans, but we don't tell him

Omelette Day!

Even Christian's Watch who have just got into their bunks still half wet are up and ready. Everyone eager for their equal slice.

We're not completely without fresh rations yet, but nothing survives long on a U-boat, and perhaps that could apply to everyone, but certainly the eggs. And Kuki always throws in some onions or potato or sausage, or peppers and garlic, maybe some cheese. Pretty much anything goes, that won't last forever

My job is to stand with Kuki in his tiny galley, and distribute the omelettes, already presliced to the various watch and compartment seniors, who in turn take them back through the boat still piping hot, and ensure everyone get's a portion.

The Kapitan and officers wait till last on these occasions. The men are always fed first. But I was delighted like a child to discover a sliver of bacon, some onion, and a piece of potato, and what could have been spinach in mine. In our Control Room, and I guess, around the boat, similar delighted discoveries were being made, and ate with gusto.

"Christian, we're pretty much in the patrol area now, get Otto to find us a nice thermal layer with no cross currents at slow speed, and give the boys as much rest as we can. Get Viktor in with Hans, one-on-one-off, and a good listening watch".

"Yes Kap, but one last thing Sir...?"

"Yes Christian?"

"I got two slices of sausage in mine, did I beat you this time..?"

LS

[Kipparikalle]

Yes, yes. Good story you got there but....

WHAT THE ******* ARE YOU DOING ON MY BOAT!?!?!?

(I just noticed that our uboats share same name, U-46)

[Jimbuna]

More ammo for the war effort LS http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif




@Kipparikalle.......I think you'll find.....it's LS who skippers this boat http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/whistle.gif

Hat off whilst in the presence of a senior officer http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif





http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/ROFLMAO.gif http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/ROFLMAO.gif http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/ROFLMAO.gif

[donw]

@Kipparikalle

Ahem...1st of all mate Mate...Look at your "Join Date"...
Now...go back to his very first post of this story....and check the date.

Care to borrow a bucket of paint...to get your number changed?
http://www.geocities.com/donw_43/ROFLMAO.gifhttp://www.geocities.com/donw_43/ROFLMAO.gifhttp://www.geocities.com/donw_43/ROFLMAO.gif

(sorry Jimbo...coundn't resist :))

[Kipparikalle]

Whoops.

I hope I won't be exc-*BLAM*


x_x

[Sailor Steve]

:rotfl: Good comeback!

Don't worry; it seems that every boat out there has at least 3 commanders at any given time.

[Jimbuna]

@Kipparikalle

Ahem...1st of all mate Mate...Look at your "Join Date"...
Now...go back to his very first post of this story....and check the date.

Care to borrow a bucket of paint...to get your number changed?
http://www.geocities.com/donw_43/ROFLMAO.gifhttp://www.geocities.com/donw_43/ROFLMAO.gifhttp://www.geocities.com/donw_43/ROFLMAO.gif

(sorry Jimbo...coundn't resist :))

Absolutely no prob mate....just one big happy family here http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/picture.gif

[Brag]

In this nest of vipers, Uboats are stolen as often as smilies.

Good read as usual, LS. :D

[Jimbuna]

In this nest of vipers, Uboats are stolen as often as smilies.

Good read as usual, LS. :D


Here's a spare one I made a good while back http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4030/winkbigid2zj6.gif

http://imgcash4.imageshack.us/img504/2364/submarinecp8.gif

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Ahh. Thats the stuff. :|\\

Welcome back and thanks for the fuel LS! :up: :up: :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Ploughing through the waves with an eye to the sky, we adopt our search pattern with four other boats to one side or the other, supposedly forming an impregnable net.

We have finally found a break in the weather to bring the external torpedoes in. A fraught exercise, not least individually manhandling a heavy eel on a rolling deck in high seas, but also leaving the U-46 effectively with her legs open, for any plane or destroyer that comes along.

Morse chatter is frowned upon, but now and again Viktor's mates in the rest of the pack come up with some titbits.

Kranz in U-262 off to our north, had his white cap blown off his head whilst diving from a Halifax. There's this story that the Brits only count a U-boat kill when they see the Kapitan's Cap floating on the surface. So what did they do? They evaded, re-sufaced and went to look for it. And they found it! It must have been a chance in a million. It'll be the star attraction back at the Chat Noir. The Boss would go crazy if he knew, but it's lifted morale all around the boat. And also by going back, Kranz picked off a 3,000 ton steamer that strayed into that vicinity.

There's more to luck than I give Willi credit for.

LS

[bookworm_020]

LS, At least I know why you haven't posted for awhile, your sig says it all!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Rough night at Langtrees brothel indeed!:roll:

[Bosje]

I'm loving it, just spent all day at 64x compression, reading the whole thing while taking peaks ingame

A lot better than most of the stuff I have to read for my literature classes, actually

[Jimbuna]

LS, At least I know why you haven't posted for awhile, your sig says it all!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Rough night at Langtrees brothel indeed!:roll:

LOL :lol:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Back to work. Running hard on the surface to get ahead.

Loud curses as each heavy wave crashes into us, and gives us a lurch, Bruno shouts down for more revolutions, and turn more into the sea.

But there's not much more that Otto can do. U-46 is plunging in and out of the waves like a bucking bronco in the American Westerns, and half the time her screws are spinning uselessly out of the water. Meanwhile we are strapped on to the Bridge being tossed around like rodeo clowns.

But we can see her. By her length and twin stacks. I'd say at least 5,000 tons, just a shadow in the storm, and still at least 5,000 metres away. But the 2nd Watch lads keep picking her up as the distance closes.

And of course in this piss-wet weather she doesn't even know we are here.

In about fifteen minutes we will have got ahead of her, and closed for an ambush at about 700-900 metres if we get it right. Joachim is already setting two magnetic eels while we roar at each other over the wind on the Bridge...

....Now right in our path , and none the wiser.
"All right Bruno, that'll do. Get your boys unhooked and downstairs sharpish. Tell the Chief we're diving to 12metres, new bearing 60 degrees standard speed electric motors. Stand by tubes one and two. You can have first peek, Bruno, these sea boots must have a hole in them, I can't feel my toes...
LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

The first one got her near her bow.

I felt bad about getting Joachim to send a salvo of two, when in the end, one would have been enough; but we had to make sure. She could have slipped from sight in this sea. Well now she really has disappeared. None of them could have stood a chance after the second explosion. Especially in this storm.

"Good shooting, Weapons Officer"

But there was none of the usual hilarity and banter, at least not from the seamen who had been up in that weather.

Sailors are like that. Cheering like kids when we blow up a tanker and incinerate everyone on board, and then sometimes strangely doleful when we despatch a merchant in heavy seas with little chance of the crew's survival.

They don't really hate the merchant crewmen, probably very much less than they hate us.

But they (and I include myself) take it more personally against the Royal Navy and Air Force.

We are crash diving again....

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Thanks for that Mr. deBunsen.:up:

[america person]

Yeah how cool...erm theres no Rss Feed for this is there? I mean Cos I keep forgetting to come back and check for updates. I don't come down this way as often as I once used to, but still very much interested int eh game, now that my mates got a computer to run the thing.

Cheers
AP

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Deeper, Otto! For God's sake run deeper!"

As the boat tilts sharply down, I have the chance to compose myself.

Destroyer, at least one, looming out of the mist. Damn near collided. And we dropped down the hatch like lemmings.

I need to take the fear out of my voice.

"Steer port 280 please Chief, dive planes down, all you've got!"

The dial says 30 metres already and dropping. The crew have already tumbled forward to bring our nose down.

"There's going to be a couple of bangs, boys, but nothing worse than we've had before. Those sons of bitches don't know where we are exactly, but hold tight anyway....

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

Fifty metres and the depth guage needle is still steadily moving round.

That destroyer will have been as surprised as we were. Christ, we could even see a couple of the crew pointing at us and shouting. They can't drop depth charges just like that, they would need to get to action stations, and then prepare and arm the charges. They'll have to come around again, which buys us a little time to scoot under and away.

We've turned hard to port, because I think the Tommy Captain will have to come round to starboard given his course, and that will offer us some precious moments and extra depth.

Of course he might expect me to do that and so the guessing game begins.

"New course starboard to 320, Chief. Level off at 100 metres. Slow speed and silent running. Pipe down men! Be ready to give me a burst of speed and drop her deeper on my call, Otto"

Hans has his earphones clamped on. And Viktor is hovering over him.

All of us are straining to hear the ping of their ASDIC, or the growing throb of the destroyer's screws approaching us.

Composure is needed now.

Bruno always finds something to chew at moments like these. It's a nervous habit, but it works.

"Hey Number Two! Chuck me one of those apples, I'm starving over here!"

As I bit into it with great relish, smiles started to break out around the Control Room.

Someone murmured "Come on English, let's see what you've got!"

And now people were grinning, and waiting for the next move...

LS

[Jimbuna]

Yeehaa http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/headbanger.gif

[gord96]

hehe. this story is still going? cool! i cant even remember where I left off last year :hmm: whats been happening. are the two folks still married? why does rollie seem so mad on this page?

[Sailor Steve]

They haven't gotten married yet. Many things have happened. The war is still on and things are progressing. Try to remember when you stopped reading, and go find it; or follow the link under LS's signature and read it in book form. there's too much there for any quick summary to satisfy.

[Laughing Swordfish]

Welcome back gord96. You may have some journal reading to catch up on, but I have to go - we're under attack!

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Wasserbomben!"

"Thanks Hans. Relax men, I bet their aim is miles off.."

"They do this you know, especially new commands when they come into contact. They'll drop a couple (two distant muffled crumps proved my point). but now they'll be circling back on our last known position"

Except we've vacated those premises, and are already running quiet and deep. We've got a head start, but if he's any good, he'll ping us soon enough.

LS

[Frank0001]

I'm currently at page 5, been reading for more than an hour (it's 03:00 here!)
You're a real wizard with words there, I can't wait to read the rest tomorrow!

My next kill will be for the Laughing Swordfish!

[Laughing Swordfish]

"We've got a good depth boys, and she hadn't got a clue with her first shot. So shall we string her along or pop up and sink her?"

The younger hands were cheering, and being silenced by their POs, the seniors were looking to their stations, and dials.

We're already very deep when she comes around again.

"Don't waste the batteries, Otto, just bring her round to port."

And the Chief made some matter of fact orders to change our bearing and keep our depth in the colder current we were now in.

"As soon as she's even close to dropping her next load of charges, Chief never mind about the depth, just run us ahead at flank speed. 30 degrees on the rudder but run away from it while we can make some noisy speed that they can't hear.

Sure enough the new pattern was closer, but nowhere near close enough "But no Havana!" as Bruno murmured delightedly, as we return to slow speed.

We can hear him pinging now, sonar waves trying to bounce off a solid object in the water. Ping.....Ping.....Ping every few moments. But water is a great carrier of sound which is why we have to keep the youngsters quiet sometimes, but there is no reciprocal ping back. We would hear throughout the boat by a deadly rattling noise as the damned thing pinged back. And every man is listeneing for that answering ping that says we are detected.

"Come to 268, port, slow speed, deeper to 120 metres"

U-46 creaks down, and makes her slow turn.

LS

[Jimbuna]

More diesel for the tanks http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[Laughing Swordfish]

Freddie always used to say "Be the cigar that you are!"

By which he means always be end-on and not broadside on to the Brits, not always possible, particularly when there's more than one. And the longer it takes to evade the first one. We need to slip away before they gang up on us.

The last watch are still hovering around in the Control Room, their oilskins dripping everywhere .

"Coxswain"

Cox appears as if by magic.

"Get these men out of our way when we're trying to work here! Out of those wet clothes, and give them some rest, we'll need them when we surface again"

That small bluster of confidence put a smile on everyone's face, but the roar was louder this time.

"Twist port again 15, Chief, both full!

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"We'll maintain this depth for the next couple of runs, Chief. Just ease her a little more to port."

It's a constant mental exercise to remember your own profile and distance in the water, with the constantly changing reports from Hans in his sonar cabin.

Deep in the cellar is good for a U-boat for two reasons. The depth charges take longer to reach you, giving you time to scoot away, and also at this depth the water pressure contains a lot of the initial blast.

The downside is that the same water pressure that protects us, also wants to find it's way into the boat. And despite every maintenance effort every U-boat, and every ship afloat will leak to some extent. Even a small breach or damage to the hull or the valves could prove fatal to the boat, and certainly to anyone unlucky enough to be in the way of a 200km per hour stream of water directed in a solid thin jet like a rod across the boat. Also we have the pumps turned off to keep silent. The bilges will fill and we will start to naturally sink, unless we compensate by releasing a little ballast, which gives the game away in terms of bubbles on the surface, not much of a problem in the North Atlantic and it's choppy sea, but still eats into our oxygen supply.

So it's a fine balancing game.

Plus the boat creaks and moans painfully at this depth. I know she can take it and more, well beyond the shipyard expectation or recommendation; but however many times we hear it, it is very wearing on the nerves.

Two more attack passes. A pattern of four which was met with derisory cheers from the Control Room, but the next drop actually rocked us and blew a light bulb.

"We've had ten times worse lads! Chief ease us back up to fifty metres, port again 30, we nipping off to the South, lets take a bit of the weight of the boat, eh lads, maybe even fire a torpedo!"

Huge grins as the Control Room gang apply their latest orders.

It's important for us to know we can strike back, even though the opportunity is rare and always frought with risk.

In truth we can hurt them more, these Royal Navy people trying to drown us, by sneaking away and around and in between them, and blowing up their precious cargoes that they are supposed to be protecting.

Now her depth charges are way too deep, and some way off.

Hans reports her engines stopped.

She's trying to listen for us again without any background noise from her propellors.

A bold tactic alone in the Atlantic, or a foolhardy one.

"Periscope depth, Chief!"

LS

[Bosje]

yay, go get her! :)

[Jimbuna]

Good Hunting http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[U-46 Commander]

What!!!! you have stolen my Unterseeboot, I will see that the fuhrer and the Admiral will here about this! (it could be my other evil twin:-? )

[Sailor Steve]

Well, since LS has been captain of that boat since August 2005, I'm sure an investigation into who has prior claim will clear things up.:rotfl:

If you read the whole story (and I highly recommend it) you'll find that someone else said something similar not too long ago.

Also, WELCOME ABOARD!:sunny:

[U-46 Commander]

Thanks steve, perhaps i shall tell you the truth. It is all part of Admiral Donitz plan. We have many U-boats with the same numbers, that way the enemy thinks our U-boats are incredibly speedy!! around 6000 knots perhaps?!:D

[U-46 Commander]

When in command of my own U-46, I once sank over 100,000 tons of shipping, including two destroyers in 45 minutes. Sank a freighter and then ran into a convoy that had a couple of large tankers. Sank the largest one last with my deck gun and then dove to get away from a armed trawler. I have now upgraded my U-boat to the U-cruiser, with the armament of a destroyer! (Mush Martins U-boat)

[Jimbuna]

If you read the whole story (and I highly recommend it) you'll find that someone else said something similar not too long ago.



Some of us remember it well :lol:

Welcome aboard Kaleun http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[Laughing Swordfish]

She's already sitting there like a plump pigeon.

Nice and quiet, hoping that we'll breathe a sigh of relief, speed off and give them a new fix.

We have risen gently on the dive planes only.

Joachim has already gone aft and whispered to the torpedo crew.

I have to look around at 12 metres to see who is ambushing who. Many a boat has fallen into that trap of a still ship.

No other escort in sight

"Funf offen!"

"Fertig!"

"Los!"

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

LS,

You certainly have a way of waiting just long enough for us to start thinking, "What the heck happened to LS???"

Thanks for the fuel, mate.:up: :up: :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Hi Capt Lehmann.

Never far away mate! I had a couple of seperate accidents (both self-inflicted!) which caused head injuries and some hospital time.

(Quick safety tip - Do not attempt to jump over a hotel reception sofa from a standing start, or drink two bottles of wine, and a pint of vodka with your brother before going to the Wembley Cup Final)

All ok now, and I've even got my good looks back!

Sorry for the break in service

It sounds like we should have a U-46 skippers conference or reunion! Any more out there roaming the seas?

LS (Raoul de Bunsen)

[Lagger123987]

Damn, I need catching up to do, keep up the good stuff!

[Bismarck]

I had U-46 a few months ago but i umm sort of got it sunk by a J&K DD.

[Sailor Steve]

Wow, LS! I had no idea!

I'm glad your alive - and back to normal.:sunny:

[Jimbuna]

The question is.......Did your team win ? :lol:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Thanks Guys, headache for a few days.

We did win, but I was a bit concussed, and my brother was a bit tipsy, so that I had to go and buy the whole game again on DVD, so we can both see what happened!

By the way, although I live in London I have strong family connections with Britain's most famous naval base, Portsmouth.

Ironic really, given this forum.

Anyway they won against Cardiff by just 1-0, and sent the fans crazy (except two who already were).

The last time Pompey won it was also ironic, 1939, a few short months before the outbreak of the War, so they got to keep it for 6 long years, and this is the first time, since then, they've won it back for real!

Kind regards, lads, LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

Fifty seconds to impact.

We should dive away. But I would need a heart of stone to stop the crew crowding around the periscope vying for a peek as our stern tube races to it's work. They have been tormented enough by these escorts, and surely will be again, this is their pay back.

I don't know about pay back, I just want any destroyer off our back.

Christian cuffs and curses the boys, both in a sort of muffled way.

"Make way for the Kaleun. Let the dog see the rabbit...!"

He makes a path for me to the scope, but of course is pressing right against my back, desperate for a glimpse.

Joachim is already back from the aft torpedo compartment, stopwatch in hand.

"Fifteen seconds, Herr Kaleun!"

"Running true kameraden!" I reply as the steam wake is now clearly visible. And I think they've seen it. Yes, she's definitely been trying to pick up steam, but too little, too late.

Those destroyers, they have enough explosives to sink ten little boats like ours, and wouldn't they love to.

"Five seconds..."

Maybe I do have a heart of stone. For the last hour they have been trying to drown us all, without ever seeing us. That makes them the enemy, that reason alone is good enough.

"Here Number One. You call it."

And Christian eagerly peered through the scope.

The explosion that rolled back through the sea left all commentary redundant

"Impact! A hit! Hunter class 1,800 tons. She's breaking in the middle already! Look boys!"

Cheers are ringing out, and I'm smiling too as I head through to the med bay.

Oscar is on his bunk reading a book. Only him.

Before I can perch on the end, take my Cap off and rub my forehead, his latest Charles Dickens is down, and there is a brandy from his cabinet in my hand.

"Not many get away from those flimsy tin cans when we manage to hit them, Doc"

"Well a damned sight better chance than we stand when they hit us, Rollie"

"Yes, that's true. What novel are you up to these days?

"Well on our first patrol in U-46, it was 'Great Expectations'

We grinned

"So what is this one, then Doc?"

"You may not like it so much.."

"Come on what is it..?"

"Hard Times"

And concerned faces looked in, to see their Kapitan and their Surgeon laughing hysterically at each other all over a stupid English book

LS

[Jimbuna]

You tell him LS....."RTFM" http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/read2.gif

http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/wacko.gif

[Laughing Swordfish]

Our celebrations at sinking a destroyer are short-lived.

U-344 has not reported in, for two days. She must be gone. Willi and Christian knew their opposite numbers on that boat, and did their training with them. They are taking it hard.

We are submerged during the day and popping up at night to run forward and plug the gap.

"I'm sorry about Pieter, and also about Sven, you guys"

We are sitting in the wardroom, and after two days it is clear they must be lost at sea.

I pour some brandy. "Let them go, my friends."

"They will not have suffered"

Of course I have no way of knowing that; being sunk in a u-boat is noone's favourite way to leave the earth.

"Take a break fellows, until it's time to surface again. It's not going to happen to us if we keep our wits about us, and we will get them back. Now sleep for the both of you"

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

Now we get a message fron U-862.

It was intended for BDU but Victor can still receive it.

And he calls me straight to his cabin. Christian and Willi are not far behind.

"U-862, Sir. That's Sigmund's boat. They have come across a rubber dinghy. One of ours! Four survivors from U-344"

Who are they, what are their names, Mensch?"

Victor bends to his morse key again. And listens patiently, shushing his officers away, as he scrawls with his pencil.

"Georg Muller, Heinrich Rotenblum, Pieter Weiss, and Sven Schoenstein.

He listens in again.

"That's all , Sir. Ariel in U-862 is making another sweep. but it doesn't look like there's much more hope."

Four survived out of 51, but Christian and Willi are cock a hoop. Against all the odds, their mates made it this time.

I don't even want to think about that last desperate scramble up onto the bridge, with the screams of terror going on behind, or the loss of shipmates as they one-by-one slip away in cold exhaustion back into the sea,

Reuben knows this better than anyone. He has been there, and now he just sits quietly, playing with his thumbs.

"Good work from Siggy!" I announce brightly.

Come on every one, let's help him out and get back on station....

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

RdB,

I am sorry to hear about your injury, but glad to hear you are okay.

Sounds like you were having fun up until that moment though.:arrgh!:

Seems like a trend of head injuries among friends I know and emergency calls of late at work.:hmm:

Be careful with your noggins people!:doh:

Cheers though! Looking forward to the next edition.

[Jimbuna]

RdB,

I am sorry to hear about your injury, but glad to hear you are okay.

Sounds like you were having fun up until that moment though.:arrgh!:

Seems like a trend of head injuries among friends I know and emergency calls of late at work.:hmm:

Be careful with your noggins people!:doh:

Cheers though! Looking forward to the next edition.

Aye.....definitely a worrying trend of late :o

http://forums.randi.org/images/smilies/bricks.gif

Keep up the good work LS. I enjoy my regular fix http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

[Laughing Swordfish]

Still slight head injuries, it was a nasty fall. It must be an English thing , but we were told within the group to mime an Olympic event, and when it got to me< I went for hurdling.

And the worst thing was, when I came out of German ER (which is very good by the way) picked up the trail of my mates and rejoined them for a beer.... they couldn't, not one of them, get that my disappearence over a hotel sofa was a hurdler taking his first jump.

That's the English for you. We're all stupid.

LS

[Sailor Steve]

Well, since most Australians and Canadians, and a fair amount of Americans are still closely related to the mother country, I don't think I'm going to criticize too harshly.

JUST DON'T DO IT AGAIN!!!:nope:

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Stop grinding your teeth, Christian. We're not going up in this weather, it's a perfect sunny day, and no wind or cloud, we'll have planes all over us like flies.

"....It seems to me that there is no perfect weather for an attack, with this boat....."

"Who said that?.. Otto, who said that...?!"

My Chief has already got the culprit by the scruff of the neck and swung him away from his guages.

"Say that again before your Kapitan, boy!"

"...I only meant...Ow!"

"Easy Chief, back to your station. You boy, you're new. It's Friedmann isn't it?

"Second patrol, Sir", all his bluster gone.

"Tell me Friedmann, do you know how many ships the U-46 has sunk?"

"No Sir,"

"Well quite honestly neither do I. There are some logs somewhere. Perhaps forty, probably more. Two destroyers certainly"

"We're not in a fairground game, Lad. Every thing we do is for a reason, we didn't sink those enemies without a fair amount of stalking, and taking our chances. including this idling along and listening."

"Yes Sir"

"But I can't have talk like that in my Control Room, or anywhere else on the Boat, do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir?"

"You have a choice of two punishments; the first is to lay on your bunk for two days, and have your shipmates do all your work for you; the second is to return to your station report to the coxswain and stand in for a few extra duties for your
friends?

"Junge, we have to have everyone pulling together on this Boat. What's it to be....?"

LS

[Sailor Steve]

"Well quite honestly neither do I. There are some logs somewhere."
:rotfl:

Brilliant! Didn't mean to interrupt so soon, but that was priceless!:rock:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Sure enough, a chastened Friedmann chose the extra duties.

Maybe I was too harsh on him, but I can't have any whinging especially in the Control Room when we could be in contact.

Confidence is everything, and I don't need my boat's record put into question by some pup. (As it is, he emerged from the fore-ends with a black eye and split lip, one morning) our lordships administer their own justice at that end of the boat.

Noone saw anything of course. And he didn't want to press it.

"Friedmann, this isn't a yellow boat. You haven't been out into the Atlantic anywhere near enough as the other crew. Keep yoiur mouth shut until you have, because they will punch it. Now get back to work and fit in.

Tell the Chief I want to surface in fifteen minutes, have Viktor shaken from his bunk, for our regular report; and what happened to my hot coffee from the Galley? Go Boy, Go!"

We should be pretty much on station now.......

LS

[Bosje]

brilliant :|\\

[Jimbuna]

More fuel needed http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/9708/piratebf4.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[Kpt. Lehmann]

More fuel needed http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/9708/piratebf4.gif (http://imageshack.us)

...and apparently more coffee too! :arrgh!:

[Jimbuna]

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/5918/coffeedi7.gif (http://imageshack.us) http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/5918/coffeedi7.gif http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/5918/coffeedi7.gif

[Laughing Swordfish]

I lost a whole long new chapter with a click of a button. I wish that could be solved.
But I'm going to make this the first novel, if I can, and get it made into a book.
I've got Don and you guys who know who you are, but also a guy who's been published in small volumes back here in Blighty. He has no interest in U-boats, but will come down from Liverpool to London (which is a big distance on our Island), to beat me up if I don't publish. Enough already. Raoul

[Jimbuna]

The very best of British LS.....I'm sure you'll succeed http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

[Laughing Swordfish]

Sorry for being quiet lately. My access to the forum was blocked out for some reason, and I've only just found my original username and password. Hope you're all having a good summer..?
LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

We are now directed south down the Portuguese coast towards Gibraltar. Thankfully not to go through those gates of hell, but to lie in ambush just further south and pick up the Freetown convoys.

We have taken a couple of small ones already, no more than 2,000 tons each, in the same area and within five hours of each other, both by deck gun action. Easy enough, but with a dead calm sea, and clear blue skies, we are very conscious of sticking out like a sore thumb. Willi gives a great sigh of relief, as we come down the ladder where we will stay submerged for the rest of the day. In both cases the crews had put to their boats in good time, and they are not that far from a neutral coast.

Elsewhere in the North Atlantic, Menz is limping home on one propellor in U-342 after a bombing attack. And Braun in U-296 has missed two reporting schedules, and BdU is trying to raise them. Viktor slips that sort of news to me quietly, the boys don't need to know about potential losses when they're at sea themselves.

It sounds as though the rest of the lads have latched on to quite a juicy convoy, 11 boats converging in AK51.

Lunch today was sardines and dauerbrot, a sort of indestructable bread which Bruno swears he can use to bash in rivets.

This afternoon, we all had to stand clear for a 'boat race' this isn't Oxford and Cambridge by any means. It's the engineers against the seamen in two teams, and both send a runner against the other at the same time in relay, racing the length of the boat from the engine room to the forward torpedoes, and anything may be done to impede the other rival. The most fun is at each hatchway, which is only big enough for one at a time at best. The seamen tend to be nimbler, but the engineers always put up a good fight in every sense of the word.

Oscar sighs, shakes his head and reaches for his dwindling supply of bandages from his medical cabinet.

Life in U-46 goes on.....

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

There are a couple of other boats in the vicinity. U-342 is hanging around the northern approach to the straits, that's Ehrlich and his Raging Boar, a Type IX. We have the southern end, in our modest but experienced Type VII. Sanders in U-441 (Snorting Donkey) has the short straw. He is to attempt the Straits themselves in another IX. He has only been on three previous patrols, and it's a tall order.

The perceived wisdom is that to have any chance of slipping through you have to get as close as you can, and then sit on the bottom until night. The Gibraltar Straits are unique in that their narrowness creates two flows and ebbs at different depths, because of the high warm salinity of the Mediteranean Sea compared to the cold vast depths of the Atlantic. So if Sanders can judge his thermal layers right, he can sit tight, and on the quietest speed, and at the deepest possible depth, which is only about 40m to be safe, the Mediterranean should slowly suck him in during the night.

All he has to worry about then is the mines, anti-boat nets, the patrol boats, and destroyers, shore batteries, and regular overflights from the RAF.

Fingers crossed for Sanders.

LS

[bookworm_020]

Glad to see you back LS!:up:

[Jimbuna]

A most welcome return LS http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/9026/wolfthumbsuprw5.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Why do you have to do it now, Willi? This is ridiculous. We're completely exposed out here. This is the Atlantic, in range of at least three enemy air bases; not a dry dock in Kiel"

"It must be done for the sake of the boat, Sir"

Willi clenched his teeth stubbornly and tightened his grip on the pot of green paint.

"You and your bloody superstiticions, Number Three!"

But I could already see I was in danger of losing this one, from the faces around me me in the Control Room and poking through from the PO's quarters and the Fore-ends. All the crew on U-46 took great stock in it's emblem, just like any other boat. The poor old Laughing Swordfish had become chipped and tarmished, both by enemy action, but lately badly faded by the higher salt content of the water, and the bleaching of the sun; a phenomenon she was not used to.

That fish was our lucky mascot, and the whole crew, Willi in particular, believed in it. In terms of morale, optimism under fire and efficiency, it would be a lick of paint well spent.

"Joachim, send your Flak gunners up. Willi I'll give you ten minutes at slow surface speed. If we get bumped, I'm leaving without the four of you Renoirs, and you'll have to swim for it"

Willi grinned and nodded.

In the end he took twenty five minutes, and we didn't dive for another thirty five, so that the paint could dry. Crazy, but we got away with it.

"Further proof!" said Willi.

He even painted a minituare version of the Swordfish on a Control Room bulkhead near the bridge ladder for everyone else to see.

Soon everyone was touching it, patting it, saluting it, or even blowing it a kiss every time they passed it. All smiling.

Of course there's no logic to a bit of green paint keeping fifty two men alive in this most hazardous of endeavours, but the highest brains in psycology could learn something from the Navigation and Third Watch Officer of U-46.

LS

[donw]

"but the highest brains in phsycology could learn something from the Navigation and Third Watch Officer of U-46."
LS

phsycology = psychology

For Queen's sake Rollie!!! When are you going to get that spell check fixed!!!

[Jimbuna]

"but the highest brains in phsycology could learn something from the Navigation and Third Watch Officer of U-46."
LS

phsycology = psychology

For Queen's sake Rollie!!! When are you going to get that spell check fixed!!!

LOL :rotfl:

The story is too good to notice....let the agent sort it during proofing ;)

[Laughing Swordfish]

Hey Don!

I don't have an agent. You're my partner in this. I just got encouraged to publish by some guy over here (lives up in Liverpool) who has done the same thing with his own stories, and has proved it can be done by sending me a paperback of his first book.

What needs to happen is to edit all the pages for grammatical, spelling (yes, mine is atrowshus and oarful - I knew I should never try to use big words!) and also historical sense, and also to add some narrative link to the individual chapters, which are mostly one-offs, which would need to be another 2000 words to make a novel apparently.

All of which will need a critical eye, some painful blue-pencilling, and probably a lot of re-jigging of the chapters. Then we might have a book, or at least the first volume because I aint quitting yet, and if it were on only 3 peoples' bookshelves, yours, mine and my mother's that would still be fine by me.

LS