(Story) U-46 puts to sea again

[Laughing Swordfish]

I inspect my young crew on the fore deck. One or two are looking pretty green in every sense of the word.
Last night was a massive booze-up. A lot of our 'Lordships' in the fore-ends are regarding me with bright-eyed confidence. We sank a destroyer on our last patrol with a stern shot from long range in high seas, whilst busily running away. It was a petulant parting shot, that somehow hit home
A sheer fluke, but now they think I'm a genius
Now I have to take them out again, and bring them back in one piece
"Maybe the Hood or Ark Royal this time, Herr Kaleun!"
I smile at the cheeky remark and send them below to patrol stations; the First Lieutenant has reported U-46 ready for sea, but there is still much for the CPOs to do
Cast off bowlines, ahead standard both!
Otto, my Chief, is the last to go below
"Young pups!" he mutters as he lowers himself down the hatch
This is his eighth patrol. A good man to have in a tight corner, and I'd be worried if he wasn't pessimistic everytime we went out, balancing the youthful exuberance of the hands
I duck below the string bags of sausages and fruit hanging from the control room. The Quartermaster and Navigator are already poring over the chart table
We're going back to the Clyde approaches, some juicy targets to be found, sure, but it's the Royal Navy's living room, and we're not terribly welcome there
"Be ok again this time, Sir?"
Our Second Lieutenant ventures a wink
U-51 and U-107 have both failed to report in. That can only mean one thing. Good men, all of them
U-46 begins to purr out of the bunker
Back on the bridge I stand majestically as nurses wave enthusiatically from the dockside
No nurse can save us now
Only me
Back below, the Second Lieutenant is checking the signal flares, and spare binoculars
"Yes, Number Two, everything will be fine"
I close the green curtain on my cabin, and hope to God I'm right...

[Ula Jolly]

Care to give some more operational details about U-46? :arrgh!:

[Der Schatten]

Great writing....what got me hooked on this forum was interesting "action reports" by fellow members......whenever you get a chance, WRITE MORE! :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

U-46 is a type VIIC with 7th Flotilla out of Kiel, it's August 1940, and this is our 9th patrol. We have the Happy Swordfish painted on our conning tower, the lads swear it brings us luck

Up to now they've been right. We've had a couple of narrow squeezes but come through ok so far, and put a bit of tonnage on the board. Mostly off Norway and north and west of Ireland.

Two patrols ago we lost Ernst, our flak gunner, north of Scapa. Where did that bomber come from? No time to dive, but he stuck to his gun and nailed him. But took some tracer in the chest in doing so. By the time we got him below, there was nothing we could do for him. Certainly saved our bacon that time, but there are already signs we're not going to have it all our own way for much longer

Last time out we bagged a destroyer in a running fight. The boys were cock-a-hoop afterwards, but as the Chief says, "That's one less to worry about, but let's not make a habit of it!"

Now that our stubble-hoppers have the frenchies on the run, we're hoping for a move to one of the Biscay ports. For the seniors it will mean not having to make the North Sea run around the British Isles anymore; the boys are only thinking about the champagne and mademoiselles!

We're on our way to AM53 now, a lively stretch of water, with lots of opportunity to get our feet wet!

Hope to see you back in the Mess soon

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

U-46 limps back into Kiel

Four white pennants flap from the periscope, there is only one torpedo left in the stern tube. We are trailing a little diesel oil, the deck plating is ruptured, and the port side of the bridge and saddle tank is buckled

Below amidships, wooden beams support the hasty repairs to the pressure hull. The last of the welding has just finished, and the bilge pumps are just about coping

I have broken out a case of beer, and the crew are responding with their usual young bravado, but it's easy to see they are exhausted, and not a little shocked

The patrol to the Clyde approaches had started well enough. A relatively easy passage across the North Sea, even pausing to dispatch a British trawler with the deck gun. One warning shot across the bows to let the crew row clear, then three into the waterline.

"Nice shooting!" remarks the second lieutenant
"Hardly the Ark Royal" is the Chief's laconic reply
"Well at least there's no kippers for Winston's breakfast tomorrow"
comes the cheerful rejoinder

We hail the survivors, fishermen from Hull, and pass down water, food , cigarettes and a navigational fix

"I wonder if they got an SOS off?" muses the First Lieutenant.
"Don't even think about it" I growl, but we dive anyway to be on the safe side

Later we pick up an unescorted coastal tramp. The sea is so bad it takes three eels to send her to the bottom

"The torpedoes probably cost more than she did" grumbles the Chief. "We're running at a loss"

I smile. Otto is only happy when he's pretending not to be

We reach AM53 on the first of August, and start our search pattern across the approaches to Clyde. The weather is atrocious, and the lookouts certainly earn their pay

"On today's menu is the U-46 house speciality!" announces the 2nd Lieutenant one evening in the wardroom. "Soup in the lap!"

We take the boat down for a trim dive and to rest the crew

Then the excited face of Hans appears around from the Sonar Room, his phones dangling from one ear

"Slow screws, many, bearing 276, medium range, approaching!"

Convoy!

With a clatter of plates and cutlery we hasten to our stations. and I bring us up to periscope depth. Can't make out the mast heads yet, but Hans has given us a good fix. They're coming right at us

We figure on a reciprocal course that will put us in a 45 degree attack run by nightfall, and blow to the surface full ahead both

Alarm!

A destroyer puts us down. We go into the cellar and rig for silent running. An occasional peek an hour later convinces me he has lost the scent. We blow again and move in. We get off a contact report but don't expect any help, as far as I know we are the only boat in this vicinity

Flooding tubes 1-4

The big fat guys are right in the middle. The tommies are screening the convoy with neutral ships. But it looks like the nearest escort is the other side of the convoy

The fox is in the chicken coop!

And look there's a big tanker on the outskirts. "Flank speed, master sight to bridge!"

We put two in her. She must have been full of aviation fuel. Went up with a hell of a bang

A smaller merchantman goes down to, and we cripple a larger cargo ship, I think

Alarm! We've upset them again

A bit tricky, it's shallow here. Took a bit of a pasting but wriggled out the back of the convoy ok. A lot of cursing going on in the torpedo room as they struggle to reload. "Quiet, Men!" the coxswain shouts before realising he should be whispering himself!

Come up again. The convoy is no longer in sight, but we've a fair idea where they've gone, and Joachim on the weapons desk reports all tubes reloaded.

"One last go, Number One?" I ask, and then we're thrashing through the storm eastwards again in hot pursuit

We get ahead and drop down

When we come up, we're slap bang in the middle of them. Too close for comfort really. The range is too short, searchlights are playing everywhere, and our firing solutions are rushed. A couple of duds, one wounding shot, and one that glanced off

Then it happened

"Brace! Brace!" screamed the Watch Officer

We watched in horror as a large cargo ship loomed up on our beam out of the rain at ramming speed

The collision nearly capsized us, and certainly made a mess of the boat. With a great crunch we were hit full on, but the momentum of the merchant actually pushed us off his bow

I didn't need to flood tanks, we were going down anyway

We had serious flooding amidships, and every available senior rushed to damage control.

It was touch and go for a while, but Otto managed to stabilise our depth, and eventually I got the report that all leaks had stopped

At dawn we could see the big cargo ship we had hit last night. It was burning, but wouldn't go down. We had one torpedo left, but we were in no condition to mix it with any destroyers hanging around

Time to creep home

"That was a patrol and a half" murmured the Chief and then promptly fell asleep where he sat

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Zie Chuckinator]

u just reminded me to conclude my own story "when the wolf attacks"

bravo bravo. U can be the script writer for the re-make of Das Boot or U-571

[Mike 'Red Ocktober' Hense]

i was trying to catch you before you went out on patrol...

if i had've... i would've said something like...

so... they've pushed you out to sea again...

:-j :-j :-j :-j :-j :-j :-j

--Mike

[redstorm101]

@Laughing Swordfish....Great reading!! please feel free to report more..... :yep: ..... :sunny:

[Laughing Swordfish]

"That will be all Kapitan Leutnant"

With those words, the Great Man dismissed me

I snapped to the salute, hoping that the CinC hadn't noticed the oil and salt stains on my white cap cover, and turned about smartly, pausing only to glance at the operational map busily being updated by some (very pretty) young naval clerks

So few boats, such a big ocean

The debrief hadn't gone so badly. My fault that we'd popped up right in the thick of things on the second attack run of course, and got the boat rammed.

But we had torpedoed the Devonshire Rose, a 10,000 ton tanker. And that had brought a smile to old Doenitz's face. It goes down well in Berlin, I suppose

Our Quartermaster, Willi, was more pragmatic at the time:
"Less tankers means less fuel, means less bombers" without lowering the binoculars one inch as he scanned the horizon. The Tommies are starting to bomb Germany now, and he has a young daughter growing up in Hamburg

I hovered around the receptionist's desk to file my report, but Heidi wasn't there; just some boot-faced old woman who sees a lot of front-boat commanders come and go, and clearly doesn't expect to see them again

Not for the first time, I wondered whether it was better to have a girl at home or not.
A lot of the lads just go whoring, I know. But I've seen Otto and the coxswain looking over cherished and well-thumbed photographs on patrol. The look on their faces is sometimes unbearable. But they're home on leave with them now, while I'm still here in Kiel overseeing the repairs, and keeping the kids out of jail

U-46 is tied up, more welding sparks fly all around her, and dockhands swarm in and out

The First Lieutenant makes his report:

"Decking repaired , Sir. Bridge casing not as bad as we thought, but needs a couple of days. The 88 and the 20 both back in action. Port saddle tank rupture repairs in place, soon have it as good as new. Electrics fine. Pressure hull a little longer, the dock mateys reckon still about 30% damage. We have a spot confirmed with the harbour master booked for a check dive. New torpedoes greased and loaded and full provisions, fuel and water ordered. Fuel lines checked and functioning"

"Thank you Number One. How long?"

"Three weeks, Sir"

A phenomenal effort, but BdU want's us back out in one. Big ocean, too few boats.

"Is Kurt here? Wilhelm?" I name a couple of the other crew members who, drenched to the skin, got us out of our last jam

"Yes Sir, working below"

"Summon all hands on deck, please Number One"

With as little ceremony as possible I hand out the gongs and the uboat clasps. Kurt is to pack his things and go to damage control school. I want him qualified before we sail again, if there's time. After all, he's already showed promise by keeping us alive, and he can always make a living as a plumber after the war

We'll head for Konigstrasse tonight. First beers on the Captain!

When I slump on my bunk back at the barracks there is a thick brown naval envelope waiting for me from BdU.

Not sailing orders already?

I shake the contents loose

The Old Man doesn't miss a trick

An officially stamped slip from CinC Kriegsmarine saying:

"You might need this" signed *Onkel Karl"

A brand new white cap cover drops into my lap......


Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[The_Pharoah]

dude I don't know who you are but you're a DAMN good author. Maybe you should consider writing something like this for real. :yep: I'm not kidding. Just from reading the stuff you wrote (and I read a lot of books as most people do I'm sure), I actually got the usual mental pic - pretty good. :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Being a bit of a newbie to forums, I didn't get around to filling in my profile properly, but I do enjoy this forum, and I'm grateful for all the kind remarks about U-46. Glad you enjoy the postings


For the record I'm:
Raoul de Bunsen
Wimbledon
London
raoul@debunsen.wanadoo.co.uk

Once she's fixed she will be "pushed out to sea again" (!)

And I hope I can bring her back in one piece to tell the tale

Have to go now, my chief stoker has just been arrested in a brothel again...........I think they have a special cell reserved for U-46 when we come back in from patrol. God help us if we move to France!

Kind regards, Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[SmokinTep]

Good report.

[Laughing Swordfish]

The coxswain reports all men reported back from shore leave. The men are all sporting a tin laughing swordfish badge on their regulation caps. All are smiling and ready to go again. Marvellous what a hot bath, a cold beer or two, and the company of a 'friendly' girl will do

The last was Kurt, running back breathlessly to the dock with a very heavy kit bag

"How was Damage Control School, Kurt?"

"Good, Sir. But they seem to be missing some specialist tools, that aren't issued here in Kiel."

Despite his best efforts, his kit bag clanked suspiciously as he lowered it down

After our last prang, the Number One and the Harbour watch have performed miracles. Otto, the Chief, has been over everything twice with a fine toothed comb. Even he smiled once, and that's good enough for me

I opened our new patrol orders this morning. No transfer to France, but in a way we're going there all the same

BF12. That means the Bay of Biscay

Only Otto knows. He likes to conserve fuel on the way out. And I like to have some left for some hard running when we get there

Now Ernst is gone, our new flak gunner is going to have to be on his toes. I've ordered extra drills on the 20mm as soon as we are in open sea. Otherwise he'll be learning on the job

Bernhardt from U-217 has just come back from the same area. He looked tired, red-eyed and was drinking schnapps too fast last night

"Look to the skies" was all he mumbled

It was Heidi who passed me my orders this morning, not that other battle-axe. She smiled at me. Does she do that to all the Commanders, or is there any hope?

A succession of orders and the diesels kick in. The band starts up, and we dutifully stand to attention. Hard to tell whether she's standing on the dock. I'm told that she doesn't like to see the boats go off, only when they return; but I thought I caught a glimpse of blonde hair right at the end of the quay

Now I have other pre-occupations. U-46 and 51 men are going back in

I wish I had her picture, though.......

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Nopileo]

Great reading! I agree with the other poster, I got dragged into the story. I wish I had the rest of the book! :ping:

Plaese keep us posted.

[Laughing Swordfish]

U-46 chugs endlessly across the North Sea

Nothing to see in any direction. I suppose that will soon change

We are lounging in the wardroom, half listening to routine conversation from the Control Room, when the coxswain appears with young Muller, the most junior of the ratings. He is grinning like a Cheshire cat, and the twinkle in his eye makes even Otto put his engineering manual down

This should be good

"Beg to report, Herr Kaleun, a serious breach of naval discipline!"

"What on earth can it be?" I keep my side of it up with something like a straight face

"This miserable specimen has gone 17 years without shaving. Only today I have detected this bum fluff on his chin." (Conveniently forgetting the two days of stubble on his or our own sea-reddened faces)

"Hmmm"

There are indeed a a few tiny wisps of hair breaking through

"Get the medic here, I'd better hear his judgement"

The poor boy is twisting his cap nervously in his hands

"I'm sorry, Sir, I didn't mean, .... it's just that...."

"Quiet boy!" joins in Otto with mock solemnity. "Let's have the Doc take a look at you. Where would we be if this sort of thing was allowed to go on!"

Oscar comes in and studies the offending chin, scratching his head owlishly.

"Definitely a case of failing to shave on active duty. It's the Barber's Chair for you , my lad!"

Muller is gleefully sat down on a crate of cabbages by two burly seamen who are in on it.

Oscar, who's brother is in the paratroopers and has loads of little souvenirs as a result, brandishes an old belgian bayonet, and makes a great show of sharpening it

"Cover his eyes!"

While the terrified Muller is blindfolded, and soap and water applied none too gently to his face, Oscar swaps the bayonet for his own razor (one of the few on board who bother to bring one - but he's the medic)

A couple of deft strokes. The razor disappears and the bayonet is back in his hand before the lads whip the blindfold off

"Here Lad, keep this. You're a proper seaman now, but no more shaving until we're home"

Muller's young face is now beaming with pride. We can hear the laughter and back-slapping in the fore-ends for quite a while

The First Lieutenant, not much older himself, rolls his eyes.

"We'd better find a ship soon, before we all go crazy....."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[george@CASE]

what an engaging read! :)

I hope you're compiling all of these, I'd like to have a copy.

[Laughing Swordfish]

We're up near Hartlepool when we we first come to action stations

Everybody jumps to it again.

It's a another bloody trawler. The sea is too rough again to engage with the guns. I make the decision that there are bigger fish to fry, with our 14 precious torpedoes.

We actually wave to them as we sail past. In the darkness, I think they must have thought we were Brits...

It's been a couple of days since Muller's first shave. I happen to be on the bridge when he calls out

"Aircraft, two, fore and starboard bearing 20 , Sir!"

The Watch Officer is instinctivley reaching for the crash button before I stop him

"Have a another look, Christian. It's a minor miracle you rarely see. The Luftwaffe have come out to play"

Sure enough it's a couple of Condors, at high altitude.

This is enough excitement to bring the Chief out of the depths of his engine room. I hand him some spare binos, which he blinks into

"That's the life up there" he murmured

"I wish we could see what they can see" I replied

"Or at least hear from them once in a while, we could get a lot more done"

We've heard there's a big aerial punch-up going on over Southern England and London, which seems to be absorbing all Goering's attention, and not going too well by the sound of it.

But a few spare recce planes would make all the difference. A U-boat's low silhouette helps keep it alive, but it's hard to see anything from down here.

"Good eyes, Junge!" I clap Muller on the back. "Keep them peeled!"

The Condors are already out of sight as I go below.

Around the Northern tip of Scotland we get our first proper contact. Everyone shakes out, cursing, from their bunks or hammocks.

Even this is a coastal steamer

The sea is still running high but we manage to put a text-book shot into her, and turn away on standard

"She's still making way, Sir"

I look again to see the fire being fought, and although she is pitching and rolling badly, the little freighter is still making a gallant fight of staying on course.

"You know what we have to do, Number One"

We come around again and the job is finished. Nobody feels terribly heroic on the bridge. In this weather it's hard to imagine many survivors

"Do you think the British will give us a second chance if the time comes for us, Men?" I shout against the wind.

"When they're plastering us with everything at 50m, should we apologise and ask to go home?"

The younger hands studied thir sectors with a new intensity

Coming down the west coast of Ireland. We were bounced by a lone destroyer.

First we knew about it was the shell fire. One of which bashed in our port bow casing and sprung a valve.

The First Lieutenant was most righteous in his indignation, as we scampered below, to the trilling of the alarm bell

"I've just had that fixed!"

He fell down the ladder on top of the crew rushing forward to help push the boat down.

There was some very un-officer-like language.

If I'd sounded harsh with the second watch, this was a salutory lesson.

"Deeper, Chief. Give me 100 metres. Hard a-starboard to course 80, then bring her level at slow speed. I want accurate damage reports!"

I could already see Kurt going forward with his newly acquired bag of tricks

Everyone looked accusingly at the Second Watch Officer still in his wet oilskins and badly shaken

"Right out of a fog bank, Sir. On us before we knew it. Almost as if they knew we were there!"

We're looking at the depth gauge and willing the needle around.

There is the distant crump of detonations.

"Hah! Rubbish!" cries the Quartermaster. It's his job to check the depth charges off. But he's doing this more for the effect on the lads.

"Miles away!"

He knows that the destroyer's surface speed relative to our submerged little amble, gives him plenty of time for another run, if he can find us

All stations are reporting in. All good aft. It must be hard in the engine and battery rooms, they never have much of a clue as to what's going on

Kurt emerges from the fore-ends, soaking wet and still clutching a big spanner, with the CPO who is looking after him.

"Beg to report, Sir, we took a little dent but all leaks stopped" he grinned

Another succession of bangs, this time closer, rocks the boat, but nothing worse.

I turn to the Chief.

"Let's go quiet now, Otto. Can you you put us down a little deeper? Steer 170, that should show her our arse......"

The next day the destroyer has gone.

......"Surface stations!"


Now a new development

Radio Message from BdU

We are to curtail our patrol and put in to St Nazaire after all. All boats from 7th Flotilla to arrive as current operations allow. U-46 will be one of the first.

"You don't seem pleased with the news?" remarks Otto in the Wardroom

I shrug, and quietly think of Heidi back in Kiel

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Dowly]

This is like reading a book!! Keep it up!!

[stratege]

you definitly a king.

i love reading what you are doing.

This IS AMAZING, DRILLING, EXCITING ....

a real break throught ..........


I am definitly becoming a U-46 addict !!!


If i go to london soon, i will definitly PM you inorder to pay you a pint of beer !!!

[HundertzehnGustav]

tears rolling off cheek

wonderful :sunny:
like sugar on cake.

[Der Schatten]

Laughing Swordfish, I believe you are overdue with a report! This is not acceptable :nope:

[U-104]

dude I don't know who you are but you're a DAMN good author. Maybe you should consider writing something like this for real. :yep: I'm not kidding. Just from reading the stuff you wrote (and I read a lot of books as most people do I'm sure), I actually got the usual mental pic - pretty good. :up: What he said :yep:

[Kaleun]

The_Pharoah wrote:
dude I don't know who you are but you're a DAMN good author. Maybe you should consider writing something like this for real. I'm not kidding. Just from reading the stuff you wrote (and I read a lot of books as most people do I'm sure), I actually got the usual mental pic - pretty good.


What he said as well! :up:

[Nopileo]

Laughing Swordfish, I believe you are overdue with a report! This is not acceptable :nope:

He's probabøy still in St. Nazaire doing some R&R... :ping:

[JBClark]

Laughing Swordfish,

This is very fine writing. Thanks. Please keep it up, I enjoy reading it. My only regret is that when I next return to port, I will have to paint over my own laughing swordfish.

And I will probably have to wield the brush myself. My crew will certainly be drunk beyond all use within a few hours of docking. I fear my authority as Kaleun is not sufficient to stop this revelry, and the boys have earned it after all.

You have earned the sole use of the "Laughing Swordfish" tower art, and I urge my fellow kapitans to follow my lead and refrain from choosing that one. Paint over it if you currently display it. I've done 24 patrols in three careers sporting this stupid green fish but no more.

Keep up the good work. :up:

JBC

[iambecomelife]

Really engaging; keep it up :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

St Nazaire looks like any other port when we sail in to dock, but there is no curbing the excitement of the young Lordships, most of whom have never set foot in any other country but Germany.

There is a stern, but utterly wasted, lecture on the dangers of fraternisation from the Number One; the lads are itching to get into their best rig and go out on the town.

Soon they may just be itching

The Chief shakes his head. "Join the Navy and see the world!"

"Better let them make the most of it," I murmur, "I reckon we'll be out again soon enough. Someone tell Dieter not to lose his trousers this time, though"

I report to the makeshift headquarters with our very modest tonnage from the last patrol, and some slight repairs to be done.

Sure enough we're expected to turn the boat round and be back out in double quick time. Other boats from 7th Flotilla are due in soon.

"Keep your roughs in order, Lieutenant" says a poker-faced base-rat of a captain, as he sourly sifts through the endless paperwork. "We'll be needing them for the invasion of England soon, once we've put paid to the RAF"

I look around hopefully in the chaotic beehive of our new home. The majority of Flotilla Command, and a certain blonde receptionist are not here.

Otto, me and some of the other officers not still stuck working on U-46, go out for a quiet beer.

"So, next round in Portsmouth, Sir!" my Number Two grins confidently

"Don't be too sure" I reply, although it's a nice vision.

As we stroll back through the main square, we see a pair of Kriegsmarine No1 Dress trousers dangling from the top of the statue in the middle of the fountain.

"Have Dieter report to me first thing in the morning" I sigh.

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[yankee-V]

http://www.filmbuffonline.com/images/dieter1.jpg

[Laughing Swordfish]

The grand music of the military band seemed to subside a little, when everyone saw the state U-46 was in when we came back into St Nazaire from our first patrol

Even our youngest blades, normally waving and cheering every time we dock, were too tired to do more than accept the garlands thrown around their necks As we tied on.

I sensed all they wanted to do was kiss dry land again, and I don't blame them.

I refused to be towed in, but really I should have.

Even out of the open sea, U-46 was listing and responding very noisily and sulkily to every ministration that Otto could coax out of her engines. Our pressure hull hadn't let us down, thank God, but almost everything else was smashed, right down to Willi's favourite lucky blue cup.

Observation scope wrenched out of action, decks awash despite full pumping when we came back to the top, and getting the exhausted off-watch hands to bail. Two of the fore tubes out of action. All the perishable goods had to go over the side, they were the first to perish in the counter-attack, I'm afraid. All valves and seals made as good as possible, due to some desperate work from Kurt and the others. Some batteries cracked, but not too bad. The hint of chlorine and the water under foot, reminded me of a summer camp at a swimming pool in Baden....

Every piece of glass in every bulb and guage shattered. The Control Room PO fixed up the main ones to get us back.

Electrics severed or shorted in several places, but the stokers rallied round and patched that up.

Top side, it looked like we'd been chewed up and spat out. Which, in a sense we had been.

Up top everything seemed to be either dented or missing, including the AA gun, or most of it. The Wintergarten rail was still hanging off. No longer a safe place to sit.

U-46 wouldn't be appearing in a propaganda film any time soon.

Deck compass skewed hopelessly out of true. Only time I saw Willi lose his temper with his sextant, and I asked him for a navigational report. He just flung his hand out to our starboard bow, into a great grey heaving void of sea, and yelled "France is somewhere over there, Sir!"

He got us home, though.

"Sorry, Sir" he said later "But let me show you something....."

He lead me down from the conning tower to inspect the exterior damage.

"Pretty knackered, I'd have to say" I shrugged

"No, look, please, Sir"

He was pointing at our Laughing Swordfish emblem painted on the tower.

"There isn't a scratch on her"

It was true. The paintwork was completely unscathed

"Same on the other side" he grinned,

"This is a lucky boat!"

On the way back, we helped stick Willi's blue cup back together. Ridiculous really with everything else that needed to be done, but everyone found an excuse to search for the one last missing piece.

It was the Doc, Oscar, who found it, inadvertantly dislodging it with his boot from the scuppers when the boat rolled out of a wave.
They were great childish yells of joy. Me included
The beer bottles had all been broken, but Oscar himself produced a bottle of brandy from his cabinet, as Willi joyfully glued the last bit in place.

It hadn't been a bad patrol - three decent sized ships no longer going to Southampton or Bristol. But at the same time we'd been beaten off a major convoy three times, and taken quite a hammering into the bargain.

Plus, I'd bent the boat I'd been issued with. And I had to miss our usual reports in. The antennae were shot away in the first chase. Everyone seems amazed we're here at all.

I walked unsteadily down the gangplank, probably stinking to high heaven. Thinking of only a bath and a few hours grace before I have to face the music.

"Herr Kapitan Leutnant!"

I turn

"You are to report immediateley to BdU at Kerneval"

I stand there open-mouthed.

"I am to be your driver, Sir"

It's Heidi.

And I can see she has been crying......


Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Kpt. Lehmann]

:up: :up: :up: THREE CHEERS! ... and a SALUTE!

Well written!

[george@CASE]

i find myself eagerly awaiting every new post!

:up:

[HundertzehnGustav]

It's heidi

Thats the best part of it :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:
ooooh these Girls, these Wonderful girls. :D

[Nopileo]

This is truly gripping, Swordfish. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Is anyone making a compilation of it?

[Sarge McSarge]

"I am to be your driver, Sir"

It's Heidi.

And I can see she has been crying......
I nearly cried too :cry:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

:cry: Me three!

[Laughing Swordfish]

I climb into the back of the staff car, suddenly conscious of my appearance.

My God, she must think I look like a wild animal

I take a quick peek at myself in the rear view mirror. Bloody hell, I do look like a wild animal! I run a hand self-consciously over my stubble, whilst the other rakes through my salt-stiffened hair.

German military discipline dictates that she may not speak to me, unless I say something first.

Say something! Anything, you dumkopf! The lowest, most coarse seaman on the boat would know what to say now; but no words will come.

Long minutes pass. Longer than any depth charge run.

Finally, lamely:

"It's good to be back"

"It's good to have you back, Sir. " She turned briefly and flashed me a smile that melted my heart

"I thought...that is, we thought ,we had lost you a week ago"

Did she blush as she turned to concentrate on the road?

Before I can think of my next bit of dashing repartee, the wheels of the Mercedes are crunching to a halt on the gravel before a very imposing chateau. I show my papers to a stony-faced, steel-helmetted sentry who is noticeably wrinkling his nose at me.

"I'll take the Leutnant through" says Heidi, firmly

"I shouldn't say this, but aren't the SS so pompous, Sir?"

I can't answer. I have caught a whiff of her french perfume, and am lost

"This is the Admiral's office, Sir"

A sudden rush of impetuosity. The same madness that has brought U-46 so many kills, but also come close to getting us sunk

"You don't have to call me Sir all the time. I wonder... that is....maybe...."

"Yes, Sir?..."

"Um..."

The massive oak doors swing open

"Come in Lad. I'm sure we have lots to talk about!"

'Uncle Karl' Doenitz's eyes study me intently as I am ushered into his room. The doors close on Heidi still stood there in the hall. A picture I'll never forget.

"Well, I'll say one thing for U-46," Doenitz said as he leaned forward from his leather-backed chair

"You may be keeping our dock hands on overtime, everytime you come in, but you seem to be putting theirs.." he gestured vaguely at a map of Britain, "..right out of business"

Now tell me the whole story....."

[monkee]

I enjoyed reading the stories! :up:

[Mike 'Red Ocktober' Hense]

great narrative...

i'm luvin' it :up:

--Mike

[SmokinTep]

Awesome writing...........riviting.

[Laughing Swordfish]

"It's in my report , Sir"

"Damn the tonnage reports, Boy; I can read! I like to see your ships go down, more than anyone else! I want to know what the Tommies are up to. The only other commanders who can tell me are at the bottom of the sea!

"You're the first to be in contact with a convoy since your flotilla moved to France, and pretty banged up too. How did they get to you? What escort strength do they have? What weapons are they using? Detection devices? Tactics? Tell me Leutnant!"

It occurred to me in that instant, that, while in command of U-46, I was defenceless and blind and unable to communicate when submerged. For all his power over the entire U-boat fleet, and for all his maps and authority, the Admiral was in a very similar position back here at Kerneval.

I began to give my personal report, and cast my mind back:

We were in Area BE. No aircraft interference out of the Bay of Biscay, but then we did submerge during daylight hours, particularly when the weather showed good flight conditions.

Our test dives proved ok, electric motors also working efficiently.

"No aircraft then?" Doenitz interrupted

"No, Sir"

We picked up a sonar contact and investigated, running hard south. Out of the patrol area.

It was a merchant, British, not even bothering to zig zag.

("Only a fool would venture out on his own, these days!" smiled my Number One, watching it intently"

- "Yes, just like us." came Otto's typical reply)

She went down without a fuss. Two shots under the bridge and first funnel

She was the 'Belaron' of 8,000 tons. Carrying sugar from the West Indies, by all accounts.

That put the lads in a good mood. Our account was opened, and with two torpedoes gone, there was more room for them to live in.

We gave the survivors steering directions, to either Portugal, or Ireland. One of the look-outs shouted down "Don't sail to France, Englischer!" He got a clip round the ear for that. When the job is done, it's no joking matter.

However, two days later it was Kellermann's birthday. All of 20 years of age, but a good engine room hand.

The cake was just being proudly produced when we were called to action stations by Willi, on the watch.

We soon caught up with her. Another lone merchant, chancing her arm, who was about to be caught out on the home run.

"Maybe this one's carrying tea." said my my irrepressible Number Two. "At this rate we'll soon have the British Empire on it's knees!"

We began our attack run, and acquired our firing solution.

I called Kellermann forward.

"Press that button there, and shout 'Torpedoe Eins, Los!'"

We got Kellermann up on the bridge,and handed him some binoculars, as the stop watch ticked round.

Right on cue, Willi points him in the right direction, and says:

"Happy Birthday, Rudi!"

That ship wasn't carrying any tea, that's for sure. We didn't plan it that way but she went up in a massive ball of flame, with tracer and explosions soaring out in every direction.

An ammunition ship, reckon about 7 or 8,000 tons

"Now look what you've done, Kellermann. What a mess! How are you going to blow out the candles on that little lot!"

The time for joking was pretty much over, soon after.

Still south east of our patrol area, we came across a destroyer. Couldn't tell what type at that range but we were still a good distance off, and in that sea he'd be more likely to pick us up submerged than surfaced.

I turned the boat about and ran for it at full revs.

"Did he come for you?" asked Doenitz.

"Yes Sir, in a bee line! And gaining"

"How?"

"I don't know, Sir, I think he might have been a picket ship for the convoy we later found, and we'd got in the way of the dog and his sheep. He may have just been returning to station. Anyway he had us"

I remember the bridge watch looking at me now, casting anxious glances at the destroyer coming closer. But there were rain squalls about, and I wanted to hide in one whilst still having the option of surface speed.

"Battle stations. Prepare for emergency dive " I gave the Control Room.

"Apart from the Second Leutnant, bridge hands below"

SPLASH! a salvo of shells landed incredibly close to the boat for a first shot.

Splinters raked our stern.

I'd overplayed my hand

ALARM!!

The 2nd Officer, who hadn't flinched up to that point, needed no further bidding. He was rattling down the ladder as I took one last visual fix of the destroyer. Just in time to see another flash from a forward turret. Otto already had the boat dipping down, and I didn't want to be left behind.

"30 starboard, keep going down!"

"Level at 50m, slow speed. Everybody else, shut up!"

It's not long before we hear those screws churning ever louder

"Stand by for flank speed, right full rudder, on my command!"

"Depth charges in the water!" Hans whispers from the sonar cabin.

"Now Otto!"

True to form, the destroyer lays it's charges over our last known position. There are a couple of booms. Also true to form, Willi the Quartermaster winks at anyone who will catch his eye.

"Two wasted!" he says, but they seem to be watching me.

"Amidships"

Now, having gone hard-a-starboard, and if I've guessed him right,
my friend is sailing one way and we're creeping off in the opposite direction.

Of course, if the skipper up there has gone to starboard for his next run as well, and they must be pretty keen the way they came at us, then we'll end up back under his keel , with all that entails.

Actually the person everyone listens to is Hans. His sonar phones are the only sensory input they have, and it's nature, I suppose, to concentrate on who's trying to kill you, rather than who's trying to keep you alive.

And it's Hans who is the hero, as it turns out.

"Fast screws moving away. Fading"

Well , at least they know better than to clap and cheer just yet.

I get Otto to drop us another 20 metres and look at the charts. The Old Hares can smell a convoy

We weren't completely unscathed, when we surfaced as it turned out. The radio antenna is missing. We can't talk to BdU or any other boats. Operationally, we can't call in, either to direct any boats to a convoy, or to yell for help.

More importantly for the married men on the boat, U-46 will be presumed lost at sea if we don't meet our reporting schedules.

The mood is glum, until the First Officer reports excitedly from the bridge

"Smoke on the horizon , Sir!"

We scramble up. Sure enough, it's a convoy. But it's broad daylight and we are well astern.

..."So would did you do next, Leutnant?" asked Doenitz....

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[george@CASE]

loving every bit of it. :) Love the "birthday cake".

[Laughing Swordfish]

... "You might have shrugged him off, but how did he know your position so well?"

Doenitz was pacing up and down the office now

'What have they got, that we can do something about?'

'Continue your report Leutnant'......

"...Fast running to the south east and then a hook back north on the convoy's expected route, Sir. Hoping to appear back in it's path.."

'Very good, Leutnant.."

"Can you now explain why the perfectly good boat you have been entrusted with is now in pieces, and not seaworthy!?"

I swallowed hard.

"We were bumped again, Herr GrossAdmiral."

My mind cast back:

We'd set an interception course. I didn't want to lose contact, so ordered Willi to keep tight to the convoy. It wouldn't be the first time a boat had lost the enemy in heavy seas.

It was a risk I thought worth taking, to hit them before they get into better patrolled waters.

Soon, Christian has slammed the button and kicked his bridge watch down the hatch

Alarm!

and we're back in the game.

"Another picket ship, was it?" probes Doenitz......

"No Sir, unless they can detect us on the surface, I must have just not given them a wide enough berth"

"Go on" he prompts..........

- It was a corvette. Flower class, so Christian breathlessy told me.

Dumped it's first two barrels over our wake

"Hold on tight lads, this is going to be close!"

CRASH! BANG!!

U-46 is rocked one way and then the other.. The lights go out temporarily, and then restored. It reminds me to order all non-essential lighting turned off.

The coxswain has read my mind and is passing down the boat, telling the boys to keep the noise down. Whispered, to be fair, but not in naval academy language.

"Hard to 276, deeper to 100 metres, cut to slow speed". I'm trying to skip off to the West and see if they lose interest

I catch young Kurt heading aft. A huge wrench poised in his hands like a stone age weapon.

"Small problems, we're going to have to live with quietly. They can hear us. If anyone so much as sneezes on this boat now, someone upstairs in the Royal Navy will say 'God bless you'. And then give us the Mother and Father of all remedies

KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM!

The boat pitches violently again. The men are thrown all over the place.

My little display of sang froid is slightly ruined by the jet of water that is streaming down the back of my head

"Ok, Kurt you can start with that valve just behind me."

Crump, Bang, Crump, BASH!

That last one was right on the button. Damage reports are coming in from all stations. He must still be sitting right on top of us

More depth charges rain down

"It's going to be today, isn't it?"

"No, Otto," I reply. "Always tomorrow"

Hans pokes his head round again.

"Fast screws, new bearing 341.

A second escort is joining the hunt.

Otto shakes his head, and put's us deeper....

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

"How did they play it?" asks Doenitz

"They took it in turns , Sir. One would make his attack, and then stand off and search for us on asdic..

(I remembered the bone-chilling sound of the asdic, as it pinged out and made that rattling noise against our hull. The startled, alert and plain just scared faces of the Control Room Crew)

"Then the other one would go in on the bearing given to him by the other, I guess. It was pretty relentless"

(In U-46, I ordered deeper and a fast change of course as the screws above thrashed louder)

Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang.

We were tossed around like dolls. One of the dive plane controllers had a deep gash on his forehead. He thought the blood was seawater and wiped away impatiently, all eyes on his wheel and guages.

Engine room taking water! After Quarters taking water!

Kurt and the boys from damage control hurried aft.

I twisted and squirmed, spurted ahead, slowed down, with each attack going slightly deeper. Always tring to get far enough away from our tormentors, or at least. find a blind spot between them. All to the crash of depth charges that were sometimes off the mark, but other times blew fuses and sprung leaks. Damage Control was running fore and aft for each new emergency. We were taking a battering. All the time looking for a way out

Willi reports that we have only 10 metres left under keel. "Well the last thing we want is to scratch the keel!" I tell him.
"Bring her up 10, please, Chief and pump out when the next salvo comes."

It's been over 4 hours now. Willi is serene as ever, at his chalkboard. He has almost run out of room to log the depth charges.

"They're nearly out of fireworks, boys! This is a lucky boat. They can't sink us!"

Finally Hans gives me the report I am waiting for. The destoyer has slowed, probably to reload or take another fix. The Corvette hasn't come round in time.

There's a gap! "Let's risk it, Otto! Steer 162, open her up to quarter speed! We're going to slip out to the south east instead!"

We wait with baited breath before Hans tells us there is no pursuit.

There was a heated debate in the wardroom afterwards.

"We can't go in again, Sir, we've taken about 40% damage to the hull."

"Our job is to sink ships, Otto. While we're afloat and still have 11 torpedoes and the engines are working, that's what we'll do! Willi, set me a course to outrun the convoy by tonight."

The Chief stared at me for a long time..

"Yes, Sir, of course. I'll re-check the diesels and batteries. He disappearred aft, and I didn't see him for hours.

In a sense, I was right. We found a large cargo ship straggling behind the convoy, the next night, probably engine failure, which is fatal. And we sank her

But we were put down several times more, and depth charged twice again when trying to regain the convoy. Took more damage too,

I've been pushing the boat and the crew too hard.

Ruckmarsch!

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[GrimKnight]

Great reading, keep it up! :up:

[wetgoat]

This is much better than a lot of books I've read !

[Laughing Swordfish]

'So you headed back to base?' mused Doenitz....

"Yes Sir"

'With nine torpedoes still in your belly?'

"Yes Sir"

'Enough fuel for two more weeks at sea?'

"Yes Sir"

'I should have you and all of your crew shot for cowardice!'

"Yes, Sir"

'Why don't I, then!"

"Because not a man on the U-46 is a coward, Sir. U-46 took a pasting, Sir. It's a miracle we kept her up. We were out of radio communications for all of the battle, and she was slowly leaking.
She couldn't respond below, and we daren't risk her below 60 metres. We tried two more times with a badly damaged boat that can't manoevre, and with a flick of an English finger will send us straight to the bottom!

Are we already throwing tubs like that at the enemy!"

Jesus, I've really done it now........I'm shot for sure.

Doenitz just stares at me.

After an eternity..........


"You'll do, young man"


Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

Doenitz reaches for a crystal decanter.

''You'll join me, Leutnant?'

"So what you are saying, is that one of the escorts fixes you with asdic.."

Yes, Sir

"While the other runs in and peppers you, is that it?'

Yes, Sir

"And then they swap over?"

Yes Sir

"Damned methodical - But you cut away?"

The system isn't perfect , Sir. Either their drills slipped, or there was a technological error, or one of the ships lost us for a second and we took our chance to run

"U-46 is looking a bit sorry for herself?"

It took four hours, Sir. One more escort joining in , and it would probably have been all up for us.

"How did the first destroyer find you?"

(If it's possible, Doenitz's eyes narrowed even more)

I think the English have radar, Sir. It was too much of a coincidence for them to jump us like that. They can't be reading our codes. Either that or they were very, very lucky..


"..lucky like a swordfish , you mean..?" Doenitz smiled.......

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

Coming out of the story for a moment, can I just thank everyone who has posted their appreciation of the U-46 saga.

Every single one has made my day

A couple of people have even been kind enough to suggest that I compile the reports into a book.

I don't know whether many professional editors or publishers would agree, but I am thinking of compiling them onto a website, as I have been quite frankly astonished by the response to what started off as a newbie post-patrol report, and then just grew. I don't really know how to do screenshots, so I just had to describe it!

I'll give you that website link if it takes off, but I'll still be posting here first of course!

Schuss and best regards, from

Raoul de Bunsen, U-46

[HundertzehnGustav]

Please do so.
I only post in the mods forum, but your writings are a reason for me to get off the technical file and tga editing thing.
Having only red Master Buchheims book, and no other stuff at all, your story is very Human, and opens a new aspect of the Uboat war to me other than F4 being the Bridge station, and F2 being the Zentrale, or F5 being the Tactical map station.

Put it together as Text, Website or PDF document, my friend, i do not care, for as long as i can read and re-read it again and again.

my old CO of JG 27 (Messerschmitt BF 109 G Pilot Squad in Cfs3) wrote a story about us, and each and every of our 12 members joined in the writing, eventually ending up with a 50 megs of PDF documents :)

Lesson:
Its not onlw moving dodging and shooting, RTB and get some medals.

I thank you. :up:

[Rhodes]

More,more, I want to read more... :D :cool:

[Laughing Swordfish]

"You've hardly touched your cognac, Leutnant"

Doenitz freshens my glass. And watches me with a steely gaze as I gulp some down.

"You must understand that I have to ask these questions. Three big cargo ships are good, and you seemed to have followed the right agressive spirit. Perhaps give the escorts a little more leeway next time, hein?"

Yes Sir

"Look at the map."

We look at the 'Bird Table'. A huge horizontal map of the Atlantic.

There are a smattering of little u-boat models, each with a pennant bearing their number. It still seems pitifully few.

The BE sector is empty. That's where we were.

"When a boat doesn't report in, it is presumed lost, and it's pennant removed by one of the girls." Doenitz continued.

"One of my staff refused to remove your pennant even though you were a week overdue"

"I had to reprimand her of course, but It seems she had more faith in you than I could afford. We normally throw them away"

He opened a desk drawer, and plonked a pennant down with a bang on the port of St Nazaire.

It said U-46. And it looked to my startled eyes as if it had lipstick smudges on it.

"How many patrols have you done Leutnant? How many ships have you sunk? How many enemy have you killed? How many life or death decisions with your own crew have you made?

I was still staring at the lipstick on the pennant.

"I... I don't recall,Sir"

The Admiral topped me up with his finest French brandy.

Who do you think volunteered to drive you back, once that minesweeper had escorted you back in, and told us you were alive?

"Out of all those decisions, I couldn't think of an easier one to make, or a question to ask, than the one that is waiting for you outside those doors."

As the Admiral's office shut behind me, Heidi instantly looked up from the paperwork on her desk smiling.

And I shuffled nervously towards her....

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

I approached her desk, desperately rehearsing every line

Before I was even half way there, a blond , strikingly handsome man, still in his leather flying jacket beat me to it. His Luftwaffe uniform was immaculately pressed underneath.

"Shall we go, Heidi? We have the first dance, don't you remember, I made you promise two days ago?"

"Yes Gustav," She cast an anxious glance at the stinking, dishevelled tramp that was me.

"I must attend to the Kapitan-Leutnant, first though"

The pilot turned to face me.

"Oh, one of your sea bed-crawlers." He sneered. "And where have you been hiding when the real war has been going on, Leutnant?"

He stroked the Iron Cross at his throat. I had the sudden urge to tighten it for him. Mine, with the clasp, was still in the baggage from Kiel.

'Sinking English ships, strangling their war effort, and without much help from you fly boys!"

"And if you mean by a real war, killing civillians and bombing them out of their homes...."

"...I'm a fighter pilot. An Ace. How many planes have you shot down?"

"One...."

It wasn't much of a retort. But I was immediately thinkng of Ernst.
He'd stood there and manned the gun when we were caught out on the surface. Me and Christian desperately and clumsily manhandling him down the hatch afterwards, blood spurting everywhere. And then the sad, slight shake of Oscar's head from the Med Bay...

"Pah! That's nothing!" Gustav exclaimed

My fists clenched, and I took a step forward.

"Sirs! Please stop! Remember where you are!"

Heidi's cry stopped me in my tracks

"Come Heidi. That dance you promised me"

Gustav took her by the hand and led her out of the Chateau.

She turned her head at the door and gave me a pleading look.

And then I was alone.

I filed my logs and reports with another young clerk.

"Get me the duty driver, corporal"

"Where to, Sir?"

"Home"

"Sorry, Sir, where's that?"

"St Nazaire. U-46 quarters. That's home."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Captain Norman]

Wow, this is a great story to read. Wratt's is good as well (He is playing SH3 with no TC).

[U-104]

More,more, I want to read more... :D :cool: me too. :up:

[Mentalist]

Wow, this is fantastic stuff LS. Really exciting stuff, You're really making me care about what happens to U-46!

It would be great if someone told LS how to take screenies (I don't know either) It would add a whole new dimension to an allready fantastic story. SHIII truly is a fantastc game to inspire such great fan participation.

Also this is really very well written. I am still waiting to get my new web host and space and would love to put your story up on my website when I finish it. With your permission of course.

I am certain you could find more than one place that would be eager to host your story for the masses.

Thanks for writing such an interesting account and don't stop now! I have a feeling that U-46's next patrol will be just as riveting.


:rock:

[HundertzehnGustav]

Ey shi t girls can be either the joy or the pain in the butt, suger or salt on top of your cake, cant tell till you try it. :(

Wish him a good deep sniff of fresh air, and to let things calm down around his troubled mind.µ

Time for some off duty and off girls time methinks.
:D

[U-104]

[/quote]He stroked the Iron Cross at his throat. I had the sudden urge to tighten it for him.[/quote] :rotfl: [/quote] I was immediately thinkng of Ernst.
He'd stood there and manned the gun when we were caught out on the surface. Me and Christian desperately and clumsily manhandling him down the hatch afterwards, blood spurting everywhere. And then the sad, slight shake of Oscar's head from the Med Bay...[/quote] :cry:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Thanks again everyone.
I've actually started to build a website now, and it's all going ahead.
It's right I need to get some sceen shots in though with a caption and a time and date if possible

Anyway I'm working on it, and more to follow!

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Why so grumpy?"

Otto throws himself down by my side in the Chat Noir with two bottles of beer and some iced champagne

"You're a fine one to talk, Chief"

The bars in St Nazaire are doing a roaring trade; some of the other 7th Flotilla boats have come in, and everyone is having a fine old time. I can't seem to join in somehow.

Otto looked at me quizzically

"It's Heidi, isn't it?"

'What do you mean? Who's Heidi?'

"Do you think there's a single secret left in the U-boat service , Sir?"

I take a pull at my beer

'Oh you mean that Heidi, Otto' and force a smile

"Yes that Heidi. We're not all daft, dumb and blind you know!"

'Well you can forget the rumours, Otto. She's seeing some Fancy Dan of a Messerschmitt pilot, and no room for the likes of riff-raff like me.'

'It's not like you to give up so easily Boss, and here's something that might cheer you up....

He pulled a despatch envelope from his pocket...

"What new patrol orders so soon, U-46 is nowhere near ready...!"

'It was sent to the address of the boat. I opened it in your absence, while you were ashore, sulking. Take a look, Sir

I shook it out, still in a temper.

It was a photograph of Heidi

Not in uniform, it was a red summer dress and she was posed by a lake. Obviously taken and kept from not long before the war. She looked beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

On the back was written

'Schnell nach Heimat kommen, mein Liebe'

Below it, at first I thought it was a heart with an arrow though it.

But it had been written with something of a shaking hand in lipstick. a lipstick I recognised from our pennant back at BdU.

It was a swordfish.

And it was smiling at me.


Lt de Bunsen

[Torpman]

Hi, found your post last night and ended up finishing reading at 2 am with work at five. Made me want to comment and congratulate in my first post.
Riviting stuff, really increases the immersion in the sim as we can all relate so well to your story from our own careers. We just haven't the ability you have for telling it. Made me emotional and that's not easy.
Glad you're posting your work as you have a natural talent. What with the brilliant mods produced by those talented people and your postings no wonder this sim produces a community of this caliber which I haven't seen in other games.
Thanks again to all.

[george@CASE]

I am one of the people who suggested that you compile all of your work and I'm happy that you're working on a website to put it on. It'll be nice to be able to read it from start to finish.

I know I've said this before, and other people have said it, but I think it just underlines your innate talent with prose. Your work is amazing!

In just a couple of sentences, I have begun to loathe the Luftwaffers with great vehemence. The power of words, dude. :) Keep it up!

[HundertzehnGustav]

I am split with simpathy for the kaleun, and being a Plane nutter.
but that Pilot is jhust an ASShooligan if you ask me.
any girl deserves better than an EKII dangling, snobbish bully. :nope:
grr lets see how the boys are doin tomorrow. ;)

:up: :rock:

who needs TV soap operas, we have a Laughing swordfish!!

[Nopileo]

Thanks again everyone.
I've actually started to build a website now, and it's all going ahead.
It's right I need to get some sceen shots in though with a caption and a time and date if possible

Anyway I'm working on it, and more to follow!

Just wanted to express my appreciation once again for you sharing your story with us.

But regarding the screen shots, I don't mind at all if you don't include them. They may even ruin the 'immersion' and the mental pictures we all have now after reading your story. And how many 'real' novels have pictures?

This is just my humble opinion anyway.

Thanks again! :ping:

Regards,

Nopileo

[george@CASE]

But regarding the screen shots, I don't mind at all if you don't include them. They may even ruin the 'immersion' and the mental pictures we all have now after reading your story. And how many 'real' novels have pictures?


I agree with Nopileo. Since all of us here have an idea of how U-boats are and how they operate (from SH3 and movies and other books), we can easily make vivid mental pictures just from your words.

[HundertzehnGustav]

Yea i have a movie from this in my head, at least partially... :yep:
dont take that away please.

better small and good than big and crappy :yep:
:rock:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Thanks, Guys. More to follow from the R&R bit....

I think you may be right about the screen shots.

Besides, Christian is an excellent watch officer and shipmate, but his photo scares the hell out of me!

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

I gaze at Heidi's photo for a long time.

I glance up. Eyes narrowed.

'This wouldn't be the lads' odd idea of some kind of joke, would it, Chief ?'

"No sir" he beamed..

My heart was soaring. She cares!

Heidi cares....

I reached for my beer bottle, but it was long empty. I hadn't remembered drinking it

'So why the happy mood, Chief...?'

'..and why the champagne, my friend?'

"I finally got a line through to Frankfurt today, Sir. "

'And...?'

"She thought the U-46 was lost, Sir. Hell of a job convincing my own Gertie it was really me..."

Otto's eyes misted over. He was staring , not at the gaudy walls of the Chat Noir, but right through them. All the way back to Germany..

'And...?'

Otto popped the cork and champagne foamed all over the table.

"..And I'm to be a father, Sir!"

'You salty old sea dog, you!' I exclaimed

The champagne was soon gone, and I beckoned another bottle over, whilst Otto described the peace-time plans for his child.

After the third bottle, I remembered myself.

'But Otto, why are you still here? I'll sign a leave chit and...'

"No, Sir. We have to turn the boat round, and finish the job. Then maybe I can go home again. The lads are working hard on her, but you know I have to give her the once-over. Noone else will do."

'Sounds like we both have a reason for coming back from the next one, Otto......'

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[U-104]

Thanks again everyone.
I've actually started to build a website now, and it's all going ahead.
It's right I need to get some sceen shots in though with a caption and a time and date if possible

Anyway I'm working on it, and more to follow! regarding the screen shots, I don't mind at all if you don't include them. They may even ruin the 'immersion' and the mental pictures we all have now after reading your story. And how many 'real' novels have pictures? I Agree.

[Laughing Swordfish]

That's it then.

No screenshots

After all, the beauty of the game is that a lot of it unfolds inside our own heads

Best wishes, LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Thanks for something to look forward to these days.

[U-104]

That's it then.

No screenshots

After all, the beauty of the game is that a lot of it unfolds inside our own heads

Best wishes, LS :yep:

[GrimKnight]

Another great read, thank you very much :up:
btw:
On the back was written
'Schnell nach Heimat kommen, mein Liebe'

Should be : Komm schnell nach Hause, meine Liebe.

Or something like that. ;)

[U-4]

Keep posting... and when your done call a publisher!

:up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

The rest of the night was a bit of a blur. Me and Otto had a lot of champagne.

U-213 and U-122 had made it back to the flotilla over-night.

Max and Freddy. The inseperable twins.

They and their very happy crews joined the party.

They weren't twins of course, but they always seemed to be tasked together; and always, from whatever part of the sea they were sent to, always seemed to make it home at the same time.

Max had put down a large tanker, but then had been shrugged off a convoy of the Northern Approaches in no uncertain manner.

Freddy had sunk a couple of medium-size merchants and had to turn away with engine problems.

'Much damage on the U-213, Max?'

"A little. But then I saw your boat when we docked in the next bunker"

He looked at me with that quizzical eye that he had in naval cadet school.

Freddy joins in, still unconsciously wiping the oil that doesn't exist from his hands.

"Yeah, the U-46 looks like it could do with a little work on it"

I turn at him.

'You know our paintwork , Herr Kaleun Friedrich!, do you Freddie?'

'Do you see any blemish on the Laughing Swordfish, gentlemen?'

No destroyer or plane has put a mark on our Swordfish, and the crew are very proud of that.

That's how we stay up.

Because the men believe.....


Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[U-104]

more more. :rock:

[Laughing Swordfish]

"...and what do you believe in, my friend?"

Max smiled.

'The crew believe in the Swordfish. I believe in the crew'

"So you believe in the Swordfish too!" cried Freddy

"And the workings of her!" My Chief suddenly interjected

'Yes, Otto. The Boat and then the crew, and then the Swordfish. But it doesn't hurt to have a bit of luck'

"Looking at the condition of U-46," Freddy observed, you haven't had much of that!"

'The boat's back, and I'm here drinking with you rascals. What more luck do you need?', I smiled

"You to get the next round, Kamerad!"' shouted Max...

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Kpt. Lehmann]

MORE! MORE! We need our fix! I believe quite a few of us are getting addicted to your story! :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

The boozy conversation turned to superstitions and strange talismans.

Maximillian got us started

His U-213 famously sported a big pink oinking pig on his conning tower

"A few patrols ago, a couple of the lads tried to smuggle a piglet on board, in a sack, as a mascot."

'What did you do?'

"What could I do? The U-213 isn't a farmyard. We couldn't eat him, there'd have been a mutiny. So every time we submerged when the chips were down, Winston (we called hem Winston) had to sit with our medic. He had a hypodermic and a scalpel and knew what to do if Winston started making a noise....

"It couldn't have been much fun for a pig, but bless him, he never let out a single squeal. Even when the depth charges came.

"Tell him the best bit!" urged Freddy

"Oh Yeah!" grinned Max.

"We came across a lone freighter, but couldn't identify it. It was a Swedish neutral as it turned out. I can't remember whose idea it was, I was looking at their commander up close through the binos, and he was doing the same to me."

We got Winston up on the bridge and gave him my white cap to wear. We hoisted him up and held the binoculars to his face, while we all ducked down, while I kept an eye from the back of the Wintergarten.

That skipper's face was a picture! They must think we really are all Nazi swine now!

'Brilliant, Max'

"Yeah, Winston shat all down the watch officer's waterproofs as a result. That was the icing on the cake!"

'What happened to Winston' I enquired

"Well we tried to get him a Naval service number, but BdU have no sense of humour. Apart from that blonde girl at reception. ..Heidi..do you know her? Max asked slyly.

'Doesn't ring a bell' I replied, blushing furiously

"Well anyway, Winston is reposing on my Uncle's farm in Westphalia. He's got my iron cross round his neck, and some of the boys from U-213 regularly go to visit him when we put in.

"God, I hope nothing happens to that pig."

Max took a swig of his champagne, and fell silent.

He wasn't talking about a pig anymore..........

[Laughing Swordfish]

Freddy took a long swig, and smacked his lips with relish.

"Sailors are a superstitious lot, aren't they?"

"You know that the U-122 has the Ace of Spades for an emblem, right?"

We nodded, leaning forward.

"And you know Kurt, my weapons officer?"

"Yes," I replied

"A good man" said Max

"Yes, well he's been getting edgy lately. His wife is expecting, you know?"

Otto leaned forward too with renewed interest.

"Well when we've been forced down, below torpedo depth, and the Tommies are closing in, there's not a lot he can do. He would take a pack of cards into the Wardroom and cut them again and again"

"Why?" asked Otto.

"He reckoned if he could draw the Ace of Spades, we'd come through it ok"

"Well we took a bit of stick from that destroyer to begin with, but we started to draw clear. I think maybe their asdic wasn't working efficiently. And we'd got behind him.

"Just as we're putting a bit of water between us and the destroyer, Kurt bursts back into the Control Room clutching the Ace.
'It's ok!' he says, 'I found it! They can't touch us now!' Crazy!"

"Anyway, Kurt was convinced that it was his lucky Ace of Spades that had saved the day. A lot of the Control Room hands believed him. And so a myth was borne.

"Well, it was good for morale. 'Whatever floats your boat' as the Amis would say!"

Friedrich smiled, and took another long pull before continuing

"Well, if I was to allow the rictual to go on, I wanted a better chance. When we were back in, and Kurt was busy supervising the reloading, I sent the coxswain off to the casino. He came back with 52 identical packs of cards.

"Between us, we sifted out every Ace of Spades, made a whole pack of them, and substituted them for Kurt's pack in his locker.

'And he hasn't twigged, yet?' I asked, intrigued

"No, he thinks he has mystical powers! Everytime he cuts an Ace out of the pack, and everytime we come home safe!"

"Sooner or later, we'll be rumbled, and then hopefully Kurt will realise that we have to make our own luck.

"It's funny, though."

Freddy drained his glass.

"It started off as a joke, but now I'm starting to believe in it myself...."


Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[america person]

great, man, i jsut read it all now-when i was supposed to be doing me bloody hisotry and lit assignment....keep em coming

[U-104]

did this topic die? :(

[Laughing Swordfish]

No, still around. I'm just away for a couple of weeks is all.

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[U-104]

ok.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Good... we were worried that something had happened to U-46.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Bump :arrgh!:

[Crash Dive]

Looking forward to more of the story. :up:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

...Aren't we an impatient lot???? :doh: lol

[Psycluded]

WOOT...

You know, I had thought of posting some fanfic myself, but reading yours, I know I'd be put in my place immediately. :)

Great stuff, Swordfish! Keep 'em coming! And post a link to your site when you get it going! :rock:

[U-4]

U-46! Where are yoooouuuuuu????

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Sniff! :cry:

We miss you!

[Oberon]

Come in U46, I repeat come in U46, this is Bdu requesting communications from U46...do you read?

[Laughing Swordfish]

I'm back guys.
Quick tip: don't go walking over Dartmoor in the British Isles at this time of year. You will actually die of cold, or just think you have, which is worse.
Imagine being on the bridge of your own U-boat in an Atlantic howler, and without the occasional cup of cocoa passed up!

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

I had the usual motley assortment one by one to attention for Captain's Orders each morning.

The first three sent ashore to the doctor in shame. Pubic lice. The deck hands with the laborious task of shipping the new torpedoes in, jeerered and scratched their groins in mock sympathy

A tearfull young lad who missed his Mother, and was worried that the crops might fail, without him back on the farm.

The last two for fighting. With each other. One a stoker, and the other on second watch. Ridiculous tribal differences between the seamen and the engineers.

"Lehmann, you will chip the rust off the deck gun, clean it and oil it to laubching ceremony standard. Franz, you will do the same on the flak gun

"The first to finish will train his gun on the other, and settle it that way"

"But Sir, if you're on the bridge, and even if we could rotate that far, you'd be in the way, stopping us from shooting each other."

"Precisely, Lehman. Now the pair of you, get those guns cleaned"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[U-104]

YES! he is alive. :rock:

[Oberon]

I thought the Beast of Dartmoor had eaten you!! :o

Good to see you and U-46 back :up: :up: :up:

[Seeteufel]

Should be : Komm schnell nach Hause, meine Liebe.
Or "Komm schnell nach Hause, mein Lieber.", depending on what she's reffering to, to her http://www.world-of-smilies.com/html/images/smilies/love/txtloves.gif or to her "lover". http://www.world-of-smilies.com/html/images/smilies/love/2151.gif

Great reading, man, great reading.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

"Lehmann, you will chip the rust off the deck gun, clean it and oil it to laubching ceremony standard. Franz, you will do the same on the flak gun

"The first to finish will train his gun on the other, and settle it that way"

"But Sir, if you're on the bridge, and even if we could rotate that far, you'd be in the way, stopping us from shooting each other."

"Precisely, Lehman. Now the pair of you, get those guns cleaned"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

LOL!!! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I guess this could be called "The Deck Gun Discussion."
Ironic and humorous.

Great to see you surface Laughing Swordfish!

[Laughing Swordfish]

At last! The U-46 is cleared for sea.

A short run to BF17 again. That should give us plenty of diesel to use on station as it is only off the south western approaches to the Irish Sea and the Bristol Channel.

The boat is now absolutely seaworthy, and the crew are ready to go, if a little chubbier and more hungover than last time. We were a long time in port getting over the last one.

Freddy and Max, Peter and Stephan in his new Type Nine are forming some sort of screen outside the western end of the Englisch Channel. They were escorted out yesterday with a destroyer air cover. Wolf Packs, we're calling it. Our job is to mop up behind, take any opportunity targets, and reinforce the line if one of my kameraden chance upon a warship trying to steal up from Gibraltar. We also have to relay or produce the neccesary weather reports for BdU. We're still keen to get good Met reports for a Channel crossing.

It sounds like a good plan. Why do I feel both exhiliarated and listless, eager to go, but still feel like I'm sitting on the substitute's bench at the same time?

Damn, I am sitting on the bench! I'm still moping on my bunk when Christian, the First Officer pokes his head beaming through the curtain.

"It's customary for the Captain to take the salute out of port, Sir!"
One look at my face and the grin disappeared, as did he.

His face is replaced moments later by my faithful friend, Otto.
"Why so glum, Sir?
She is up there, you know."

I beat Otto to the bridge ladder. I could hear him laughing behind me.

Keeping a straight face, the 2nd Watch Officer was already handing me my favourite Zeiss binoculars and pointing me towards the edge of the dock.

There was Heidi. Heidi who never saw the boats out, in case they never came back. There she was this time. waving frantically as she saw the white cap being plonked on my forgetfull head by Otto.
Heidi who in that moment, I knew I would swim back across the Atlantic for, if I only knew she would have me...

At that moment in my young life I never felt happier, prouder and more alive. It snapped me out of my reverie.

"Harbour watch below! Patrol Stations for First Watch! Christian, get those charts out again.
Let's sink some ships!"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Nopileo]

Laughing Swordfish, must you never die! :ping:

[Curval]

I have by-passed this thread until now...for no other reason than because it was so long. I figured it was just an argument going on or something.

I have just spent over 45 minutes reading through the whole thing. Fantastic stuff.

The pig story actually made me laugh out loud...good thing my office is out of earshot of most of my staff.

Now...who on earth am I going to charge that 45 minutes to?

;)

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Ok, that's it. Good shooting, Joachim."

I step back from the voice tube to the Control Room. A good 6 or 7,000 tons, I thought, as I watched the merchant's back break, and it's bow half begin to accelerate downwards.

"Greedy skipper" said Willi.
"Had to make his run or pay late delivery penalties. Couldn't be slowed down to 4 knots in some of the convoys. Tchah! Don't they know there's a war on?"

"We killed some more people tonight, Willi", Otto rebuked gently.

Willi spat again.

"Did you see what was strapped on deck, Otto? Sherman tanks. Brand new, American-built tanks. They're not even supposed to be in the war, and yet they're supplying British ships with military hardware to kill us.
It'd take a month of Sundays for my brother's regiment to see off what we've just done in one torpedo"

"Enough Willi. We've done our job, let's leave it at that."
I send him and his watch below, it was a long stalk anyway and about time they were relieved.

Willi and his tired men troop down the ladder, there's hot coffee laid on for them, as the first watch take over again, some still wearing the infra-red goggles to protect their night vision.

Otto and I stay up. We squat down in the Wintergarten. Backs against the new railing and sea boots braced against the flak gun for the gently rolling sea.

I have already ordered a reciprocal course from the last known position of that C2-classified merchant.

"Let's have good eyes again, First Watch" I order.
"Don't want to be caught red-handed at the scene of the crime, do we?"

A torpedo rating allowed up for a smoke, chuckles as he crouches at the rear end of the bridge opening. His cigarette cupped in his hand. He sizzled it out on the wet bridge plating, before flicking it overboard. Then with one look aft, made himself scarce below.

"Willi's right you know, Otto"
"Yes"
"With every ship we sink we really are defending our country"
"Yes"
"You know that they would sink us without mercy"
"Yes"
"They've tried often enough"
"Christ, yes"
"So we have to see it through"
"Yes, Sir"

There was a long silence. The night sky had cleared, and the stars were out. Shining peacefully.

"Sir?"
"Yes?"
"The reason we have to see this through..."
"Yes?"
"Is for men to return to their families. And children."
"Yes"
"And also other loved ones"
"Yes, Otto...."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[U-104]

:rock:

[GrimKnight]

Or "Komm schnell nach Hause, mein Lieber.", depending on what she's reffering to, to her http://www.world-of-smilies.com/html/images/smilies/love/txtloves.gif or to her "lover". http://www.world-of-smilies.com/html/images/smilies/love/2151.gif

Whoah, you're from Hamburg too?
Na, denn mal Moin Moin :D

[Seeteufel]

Moin Moin Kamerad! ;)

Laughing Swordfish, you rule man, you really do! :yep:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Laughing Swordfish, must you never die! :ping:

HEAR HEAR!!!! :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:

[pugwash59]

1st post on here for me , so i'll skip the hello's and say.........

this is such a fantastic read :rock:

[Shadow]

Hey, my first post too. :yep:

Nice writing, Swordfish! Coincidentally, my u-boat is also designated U-46! :o

[Laughing Swordfish]

The Second Officer was first down the bridge ladder, swearing like a docker.

I was next, followed by the rest of the lookouts clattering disconsolately down.

My cap flew angrily across the control room, bouncing sharply off the head of one of the blameless diving plane hands and landing on the top of a sack of dried apricots, by the chart table.

"That was terrible! Absolutely *********g abysmal!" I shouted.

A sheet of cold Atlantic seawater followed the last man down, dowsing my bare head, and further improving my furious temper.

I gave a quick shallow dive order and a return to our monotonous course. The two plane hands spun their wheels and looked intently to their front, not daring to look round. A number of the crew who always gather in the Control Room during an attack were already backing out sheepishly through the hatches, in case some of tonight's fiasco attached to them somehow.

Hans poked his head round from the sonar cabin. I knew what he was going to say: something like "Slow screws bearing East, drawing away"

He took one look at my face and ducked back again, silently.

"I want all tubes reloaded now. Double check the warheads, percussion pistols and arming devices. ..Not you Joachim.."

I barked at the Weapons Officer,

"..Shake the coxswain out of his bunk, he can supervise it.

"All the officers in the Wardroom , right now!"

It was a tight squeeze. All the officers were bunched up and staring down intently at their own little patch of table.

"Well that was a bloody shambles!" I yelled.

"Five torpedoes gone, and for what?"

"We've just been given the run around, the cream of the Kriegsmarine, by a little coastal steamer. It's now laughing at us all the way back to England."

"What do you have to say Joachim?"

Joachim clenched his jaw and sighed. His exhausted stare never once leaving the table.

"At least one, maybe two of those eels porpoised , Sir. When they jump out of the sea in those waves, it can throw off the arming device. Judging by the wake and the firing data. They hit ok, just failed to detonate. One just sank after 200 metres" he shrugged.

"The others... "

He seemed to struggle to find the diplomatic words

"...perhaps didn't run square on to the target, Sir"

I felt my anger and frustration subside. I knew what he meant. It was my responsibility to obtain and check the optimum firing data before having it relayed downstairs. It was quite likely that the other two, if they would have exploded at all, had simply glanced off obliquely, as the freighter zigged and zagged desperately with a surprising amount of manouevrability.

I'd been too impatient as the night wore on, compounding other failures with those of my own.

"Yes well, she did lead us a merry dance didn't she? Probably have a few war stories to tell when they get back. Slippery little devils...

"But we have to be sinking these tiddlers as a matter of course. Show them whose Boss, and make every Tommy think twice about leaving port."

A few sad nods around the table

"But not tonight, though, eh?"

"Let's sleep on it, Menschen."

"It's not as though those torpedoes are coming out of our pay packets after all!"

I forced a smile and got a few grimaces back in return.

Otto, who had manned the Control Room during my outburst, was standing in the wardroom opening, as the officers trooped wearily out. Joachim, I noticed, making straight for the fore torpedo room.

"You haven't got anything to prove, Sir. You know that. We'll bag some more in the next couple of weeks, but it's not white pennants she's looking for, it's your white cap back at St Nazaire."

"0h yes, my cap", I murmured, feeling foolish.

"On your bunk, where you should be. See you in the morning, Sir, we'll still have a patrol to do."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[U-104]

:rock:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Viktor had his feet up, and was avidly devouring his latest American detective pulp thriller, in the radio room when I poked my head in.

They really were pulp, with the damp and mildew on board, and the times they changed hands, our literary collection was always dog-eared, but still worth the 50 pfennings a day, that I'm led to believe, but couldn't possibly condone, that our radio hand charged as the U-46's Chief Librarian.

Word might have it that he had been known to tear out the last page or two of a whodunnit, and charge an extra mark for them.

"Zu Befehl, Herr Kaleun!"

Viktor tried to snap to attention in the confined space and only added to his confusion.

"Take it easy, Viktor" I smiled.

"What is the book of the month?

He offered me the limp paperback.

It's appeal was obvious to the Lordships in the fore ends.

As far as I could tell, amid the oil stains, grime and thumbprints, the front cover depicted a voluptous redhead on a bed, with a heaving bosom, a low-cut green silk evening gown slit to her thigh, recoiling in fright from an unseen man but clearly wearing a trenchcoat, a fedora hat and wielding a large pistol from the artists's shadow thrown from the doorway.

"And they say that we Germans don't appreciate culture, eh, Viktor!"

"Well they appreciate the front cover, Sir"

"And so they should Viktor"

Viktor was a bit of a loner, and some say had a shady past. Volunteered for U-boat service to get out of prison, so they say. Learnt his morse code (and he was an infallible 20 words-a-minute man) just from tapping on the bars of his cell.

But you can't believe everything you hear in the Kriegsmarine.

I know it would have been passed to me, but I can't help asking anyway.

"Any new word from Wolfpack Greif?"

"Not since my last report, Herr Kaleun"

That last summary, had Max come in with a 5,000 tonner confirmed; Freddie bitching about aircraft every other day. Stefan with teething troubles in his new Type IX, but last heard still on station. The new lad hadn't come in on time. There could be a lot of reasons for that, but I had already got Willi to plot a contingency on the charts for filling that northern picket.

And now perhaps the real reason for my visit to the funkraum.

"Anything from BdU, Viktor?"

It wasn't unknown for them to send coded personal messages from time to time. The birth of Prien's daughter being one from Uncle Karl that was still widely celebrated in the service. - 'A u-boat has been launched without any torpedo'

"Anything at all?"

"Nothing, Sir" Viktor shrugged apologetically.

"Very well"

I cast my eyes over the small cabin. Next to the Enigma machine was a canvas satchel. The lumps in it, I knew were lead weights.
The code books were placed neatly by the satchel, and there was a 3 kg engineers hammer alongside the keyboard.

Our eyes met.

It was Viktor's job to see to it that none of his stuff fell in to enemy hands, at the peril of being last up the ladder, and then to dump what he couldn't destroy, over the side.

He was only being professional, but it struck a pessimistic cord with me.

"Good Viktor.." I said "..Good"

"But don't let the lads see that gear"

"We're never going to need it you know.."

"No, Sir"

I started through the hatch to the fore torpedo compartment for inspection, but turned at the bulkhead.

"Oh, and Viktor..."

"Yes, Sir?"

"Don't tell me what happens with the redhead, ok? I want to read it for myself. But I can tell you how the War will end...."

"Yes Sir...!?"

"It's a happy ending, but I can only reveal it when whe're back in St Nazaire, so keep 10 francs handy, when we're back safe again. That's the Captain's going rate these days!"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

Hello all.

Again, I'd like to say thank you, to all your replies to the U-46 war diary.

Every time I read one, I am inspired to write the next chapter.

The operational events depicted actually took place, and are taking place in SH3 with U-46

I hate to keep my periscope up for too long out of the story, but just to say that I have been working on cobbling all the reports together onto a website.

It is far from finished, and is just raw text, which I hope to polish into the website, but the site will exist.

More follows..

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[BaronVonSchnitzel]

Laughing Swordfish,


Thanks very much for the excellent story. Very well done indeed!

[pugwash59]

Bdu huh........................yer right he's hoping for a Message from his own Femme fatale ;)

[Laughing Swordfish]

The consolidated story will be at www.laughingswordfish.net

I've registered it and the site should be up in a day or three once it's processed.

Still pretty rough at the moment, and I hope I have got everything on, and in the right order, but I'll edit it and tidy it up when I can

Yours truly, LS

[Dowly]

Great news, LS! Can´t wait for the site to be up! :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

I think it's already up and running here at:

http://www.laughingswordfish.net/

Looking back on it, there's loads of typos and mistakes I need to correct, plus it might be nice to put a chat or guest room facility on there. Or any other suggestions?

Obviously the subsim site will always get any posting first, I wouldn't dream of breaking away from our excellent community.

This site is just supposed to be an archive.

The logo that I found was the original one from the U-96, which inspired the film, I'm delighted to report that it seems to be still preserved for posterity somewhere.

About time I got back to U-46 She's still afloat, and has even sunk another ship after my last tantrum!

Kind regards, fellow submariners!

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Awesome!

You know you might even accompany the story on your website with interspersed black and white photos that accent what you write. :cool:

[U-104]

www.laughingswordfish.net :rock: :rock: :up: :up: :D :D :sunny: :sunny: :|\ :|\ :cool: :cool:

[Laughing Swordfish]

I duck through from Viktor's lonely radio vigil into the bow torpedo compartment. Essentially the barracks of the boat for most of the hands who 'hot-bed' it here.

"Kapitan on the Deck!"

Joachim and the petty officers snap to attention. The Lordships do the best they can after their own way. (ie they condescend to put down their skat cards, or lift themselves up from their torpor) All the men, including the seniors are stripped to the waist, or wearing oily, begrimed, once-white vests. Even in that heat, the seniors are still wearing their caps of rank, or quickly don them.

"At ease, Menschen"

All of them, I know, are exhausted. They have just finished overhauling for the third time every torpedo that needs to be winched in and out of it's tube. There are tools, forgotten scraps of meals and hardly touched cups of coffee everywhere.

Since that last debacle, the Lordships' pride has been stung.

"My report, Sir!"

Joachim reels off the laborious efforts to inspect every eel. dismantle, clean and re-calibrate every detonating pistol, arming and magnetic device, every steam tube or electric system on every torpedo.

Each one is like a mini submarine in effect. And some would say just as short-lived. But almost as complex.

"Very good Joachim."

"Thanks to you, men, we'll have better hunting next time."

Amongst all the grease and turmoil, I spot a white barracks bedding sheet that has been hung up and kept spotlessly clean.

I turn to a young rating.

"What's that for, Helmuth?"

"Begging your pardon, Sir, that's for cutting up into pennants for when we hit the next convoy"

I was momentarily at loss for words. This was Loyalty. Not what the Party Big Wigs would have us believe

"That's a big sheet, boys," I gulped.

"Hope my aim is better next time, at least!"

Shouts of demurral and other cheers rang out, only interrupted by the opening of the hatch by the steward. climbing through manfully with a case of beer.

"Thought you might like to wet your whistles lads. One between two mind, we surface in five minutes" And then, gesturing at the four sealed torpedo loading caps,

"Let's have a go with this damned things!"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

Messing around with that website guys.

I've put on an extra page to basically explain what it is about.

But I had in mind to put on a related u-boat links page, and I'm sure there are a lot out there, and the obvious place to start with was this fine forum.

But I should get permission and the right link to do that, does anyone know?

LS

[Kpt. Lehmann]

I believe Neal Stevens is the forum boss. You might start there sir.

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Red light on!"

Second Watch started gathering by the ladder in the Control Room.

Putting on wet and clammy oilskins. Muttering sleepily.

"Periscope depth, if you please Chief?"

Quiet commands were issued to his control men
I clambered up and had a sneak preview.

Nothing in the sky, and with the shake of Hans' head I was confident that that there was nothing on the surface either.

"Surface stations"

"Bring her up Chief. Tell the Cook to bring some hot coffee forward"

I turned to Willi.

"Up second on the ladder, Quartermaster, and take one of your ensigns up with you. Let's get a good star fix"

Bruno is organising the ready-use AA shells, he's my 2nd Leutnant
A young man, don't know why they call him Bruno, other than I've never seen a frightened bear called Bruno.

"Surface"

U-46 kicks upwards again, just on her diveplanes. A little ballast blown, and she surfaces magnificently. The Chief is watching his dials but I know him too well, to know he's smiling.

Young Bruno, Willi and the lads are already through the dripping conning tower hatches, and binos in place on every quarter.

I can afford to saunter up after them. Watch Willi take his fix, and instruct the midshipmen in astral navigation

Except I can't.

Now that we're on the suface and the weather seems to have abated.

Viktor is working hard on the morse key, and scribbling hard on the note pad on his table.

[Nopileo]

I haven't been very active here lately, as I'm having a serious backflash on Rome: Total War (and Barbarian Invasion), but this thread I have to follow.

Thank you for keeping us posted on U-46's endeavours! (...and thank you moderators for the e-mail notifications on new posts :ping: )

[Laughing Swordfish]

Viktor is scribbling furiously.

His detective novel cast impatiently to one side, as I hover in the radio room doorway.

I don't know how he knows it, length of message, character groupings, or the morse 'signature' of every sender anywhere.

Everyone high or low, Navy, Army or Luftwaffe, 'leans'on the key in an individual manner. Struggles with one character, booms through with the next set, morse keying to the highly trained listener is like listening in on a highly privileged party line.

They have to be decoded yet, but Viktor has already sorted ot the wheat from the chaff.

"Damned weather report requests!" He exclaimed, as a with a sweep of his arm, various bits of paper were consigned to the far reaches of his tiny working space.

"This one, Sir!"

He waggled a lone finger at me, catching my eye

"U- 469! SOS in Clear!"

(Young Stephan on his first patrol with 7th Flotilla)

I turn to shout for Willi, our Quartermaster and Navigation Officer, to find he is already poking his head over my shoulder.

"Plot for U-469's last position. Tell the Chief to stand by for flank speed. More to follow. Move!"

Willi dashed away.

Now Viktor is writing fast. Ignoring his Kapitan, both phones clamped to his ears, staring at the receiver as if it was speaking to him personally

A few low oaths, and the odd muttering as he pencils down the codes, cursing foully against his damp paper

I wait there powerless until he has finished.

"U213, I'd know Wolfie anywhere......"

(That's Max's boat, Hundmann is their signaller.)

"Well, what!" I yell

Only Viktor in his position, and at a time like this could have got away with it.

"Quiet, Sir! It's a long message. Let me hear it all!...."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Serverdaemon]

More... More... More...!!!!!!!!!
:up:

S

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Yes yes MORE MORE .... WE NEED MORE!!! :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:

[Laughing Swordfish]

The other seniors and officers are congregating in the control room as if by some unspoken summons.

I am sifting through the messages that Viktor has punched through the Enigma machine for me.

U-213 saw them first. Got off a full salvo by all accounts. One confirmed, cargo only, estimated 8,000 tons, one tanker hit observed , but still making way.

Then just repeated "L ..L ..L ..L.. L"

'Laufen'

Our pre-determined code for a boat trying to escape

(Run, Max, Run!")

I thought of Max and his lucky pig back home. He would surely make it again this time? No way of knowing, of course, and that was the worst.

He had managed to give us the last course and speed of the convoy he'd attacked. It seemed to be coming up parallel to the Portuguese coast, and then just risking it due North West and strike for home.

Oscar came past from what we call the Medic Bay, and spotted me staring at my map of the Atlantic.

"Basically just a big bit of blue paper."

He said cheerfully

"It's a testimony to the ingenuity of mankind, that we can chase each other around and kill each other on it." he continued

I fixed him with a stare.

The last desperate report from U-467. Young pups out from Kiel too soon, still twisted in my hand.

It read simply:

'Bombed. Unable to maintain depth. Sinking. Abandoning boat. BE SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS......'

Their grid location wasn't that far from us, since I'd been loitering near the lad's position on the northern end of the screen, from the beginning

But to intercept the convoy instead, meant an immediate turn South

Maybe they had got out in time, or at least some of them. But maybe they drifted away, or drowned or froze. Maybe the Brits are picking them up. Maybe they're waiting to pick the likes of us up and bag us too? It's a thousand to one chance.

Oscar can always read my thoughts.

"If it was us, Sir, I'd hope for any odds to be fished out".

My last message was from BdU and of course it overrides all others.

"Attack and destroy convoy. Act decisively!"

Well the last bit of that crumpled message sheet could be construed as having been obeyed.

"Otto, full ahead both, new bearing 350. Yes, Willi were're heading North, give me that search pattern again. Coxswain, stand the Third Watch ready, and flak gun. Have some dry clothes ready. Oscar you'd better clear some room just in case. Tell Bruno to have the covered lamp ready, I'll be up in a minute. Break out flotation aids, dinghies and whatever. Tell the Cook to fire up his stove. Get Hans up We may not need his sound gear, but we might need his bunkspace. Willi bring us in on that search. "

I grin at Oscar, as he goes about his business.

"Enough mayhem for you Oscar?"

A harassed seaman stumbles groggily past on his way forward.

"I hope someone does the same for us" he grumbles bitterly

Oscar smiles and let's him pass.

"That's the whole point, isn't it Herr Kaleun!"


Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Serverdaemon]

Woo-Hoo!
Go Herr Kaleun, go!
:rock:

S

[U-104]

:rock: :rock: :rock: :rock:

[Laughing Swordfish]

I should admit that, being a Noob, I first thought that those icons were a symbol of someone leaning against a wall and puking up!
I'm glad it's not!
Anyway, back to sea...

LS, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Shut her down to quarter speed, Chief" I murmur into the pipe

"We don't want to come all this way and then run the silly buggers over"

We have both 2nd and 3rd watches up. Some of the 3rd watch, rudely awakened, are manning the fore decking and preparing for, basically, man-overboard drills. Once the gravity of the stuation has been explained to them by the Coxswain, they are bent silently and diligently to their duties.

"We're in the right place, Willi"

"Yes Sir"

It will be a miracle

The ocean is flat for once and the sky is clear. Dawn is soon approaching. As much as we want to rescue our kameraden, we don't want to share their fate. I notice more than one hand concentrating more on the sky than the sea.

"Anything, Bruno?"

My Second Leutnant shrugged and shook his head, then returned to his binoculars.

"Well we've done our best.......

"Light on the port stern!"

It was Johann, our new flak gunner, hastily traversing to engage.

"Hold fire, boy!"

All the seniors are crowding into the Wintergarten, making use of the 20mm irrelevant in any case.

"What did you see, Junge?"

"Just a glow, like a flicker, over there", he pointed in a most un-nautical way.

We followed his rough steer. Peering into the early morning dark.

"Stand by to crash, men!"

"There it is again, Sir!"

And this time we saw it. Maybe only 500 metres off.

Damned fine reckoning by Willi.

"Bruno, tell Otto hard to port, cut to electric motors and steer 197, slow speed and gently does it. Expose the signalling lamp to them, but don't light up the whole of the bloody Atlantic."

It was a rubber dinghy, in fact two roped together by their resouceful Chief, and with a few half-dead souls gibbering and clinging to life by the side.

Twelve in all. Hauled out of the water by 3rd Watch and ushered below. Two needed to be carried down for Oscar to work on

I could hear the coxswain from up here calling for hot drinks and dry clothes

The Chief made sure all his men were on board, before giving me his best salute

"Your Commander?" I enquired.

"Gone, Sir. Stayed with the boat. Brave in the end"

He shook his head tiredly

"The other officers too. The ones that made it out. Lt Hoffmann made way for the lad with the broken arm. He just slipped away. I suppose he was more injured himself than he was letting on.

He looked on the verge of tears

He patted his chest pockets and came up with a cylindrical double tube. Both empty.

"Funny, Sir. I was just lighting up my last cigar when you happened along"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[U-104]

:rock: :rock: :rock: :rock:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Laughing Swordfish,

Your story is fuel for all of us. It is an inspiration. For those of us hard at work modding the game... it keeps us going.

I hope you are considering making it a novel.

Wow man... I am speechless.

All ahead flank LS!!! :ping:

[U-104]

:rock:

[wetwarev7]

Man, every time I get tired tired of SH3 and writing my own journal, I read something like this thread and it makes me want to keep playing and writing. Excellent story!

[bookworm_020]

A wonderful read. Can't wait for the next chapter. :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Full ahead both Otto. Take her round. Be quick, we've got about an hour of daylight left. Second watch go below, if you can find room. Look after our guests first. Third watch, well done. Now you're on overtime. Assume bridge station"

A clattering of men up and down ladders. Me included.

"Get us back south Willi. Plot us to intercept that convoy if we still can. There'll be hell to pay if we miss it.

I pass aft from the chart table.

"How's it looking, Oscar?"

He has two seamen from U-467 lying head to toe on his bunk. A third is occupying the privileged position of Willi's bunk.

"Could be worse, Herr Kaleun. One broken arm. One with concussion"

He gestured vaguely at the bodies on his bed.

"They'll pull through."

He grabs our cook on the way through with a tureen of hot soup, and spoons some into the gasping mouth of the third man.

"This one, hypothermia, just needs a bit of thawing out. Went for a bit of a swim, didn't you boy!" He coaxes more soup encouragingly.

"Thanks Oscar, all in good hands."

I follow the cook through the hatches to the fore-ends where the Lordships have done their best to make the other survivors comfortable. And where they receive their soup like a benediction.

Twelve left out of over fifty. It doesn't do to dwell on what those last few moments must have been like.

"Alles in ordnung, menschen?"

"Jawohl, Herr Kaleun!"

It was a brave but tired response.

"We're turning round to hit the bastards back!"

And this time, it was a huge cheer.

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Kpt. Lehmann]

:rock: :rock: :rock:

[U-104]

:rock: :rock: :rock:

[Oberon]

:rock: :up:

Send em down U-46!

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Come on, Viktor!"

I was being unneccesarily harsh to a radio operator that I hadn't relieved for (Christ, how long?) many hours.
He was bent over his morse key and note pad.

Nothing, even in contact with the enemy, must be sent in clear apart from an emergency.

The emergency for U-467 and U-46 had temporarily been suspended. Neither for one reason or other in contact.

We were not in contact with the enemy and had to wait.

Even on the special u-boat frequency of the hour

"Hans, get round here! Now!"

His eyes were red-rimmed, but he responded immediately round the corner from the sonar room.

"Ja, Herr Kaleun?"

The boatswain came up with some men he had shaken out of their bunks. to relieve key posts.

"All under control, Sir. Messages are coming through, and you have the first important ones in your cabin. The men are working at their stations, and the survivors are tucked away. All staions report the boat in good trim. The ration account has been balanced, plus twelve, and the Chief reports bilges pumped clear. You know he doesn't like full ahead, but...permit me, Sir..?

"Yes, Coxswain?"

"Even Otto is going full ahead with a vengeance!"

Again I was aware as a young officer, how much I relied on my seniors for their no-nonsense approach to getting things done.

Even though they literally can't see what their Officers are doing up there.


Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Anything from U-213?", they ask in the Wardroom

Nothing

"No" I reply

Impatiently rifling through the messages, as if I haven't read them three times already

That's Max. He can't die. Someone will eat his lucky pig

The ward room is silent.

Nothing from U-213 for nearly two days since reporting contact, attacking and emergency diving.

"He might have stayed down longer, and then...."

"Yes, he might have stayed down, Bruno. A lot of boats do."

I glare at my Number Two, but it's not fair.

I shouldn't have snapped.

Everyone in 7th Flotilla had mates on U-213.

"Lads! What do we know out here! We've been presumed sunk before, just because our radio mast was shot away, and we got back in. ...."

(Not a good idea to remind them of that patrol)

"Old Max has probably got his feet up in the Chat Noir already, worrying about us."

Literally my Ace Card was played.

The Ace of Spades.

"And anyway, whe've heard from Freddie at last.."

"..that Slacker!..."

"..his bunch of fish food..

"..The famous skat players....!

etc... (I knew I had them when they were outraged by the success of another rival boat, especially manned in Kiel from roughly the same outcrop of fresh young officers that turned me out at Kiel)

"Yes, men. U-122 has reported in. Took a decent-sized tanker too. (Been in the thick of it by all accounts...) And reckons to have crippled three or four more, seen falling back from the Convoy, and one or two peeling off in our direction. If we really annoy the Chief, and burn his diesels. We'll be in the area in an hour....

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[U-104]

:rock: :rock: :rock: :rock:

[Laughing Swordfish]

It's a fair point from the Chief.

We use our own crew has human ballast when we're crash-diving

Now our boat, supposedly racing forward into action, but with our new friends, is now just starting to plunge slowly.

"Too many men forward, Sir," says Otto

Again, I can't think of everything.

Most of them are even greener than the youngsters I already have.

I get Christian and the Coxsain to form a 'Fourth Watch' from the best of them who can be called upon to fill in where needed, and the lads are distributed as best as possible under Petty Officers around the Boat.

Otto complained that I hadn't sent him any qualified engineers or electricians.

I had to take him to one side and tell him that noone from that end of the U-467 had made it out.

"But their Chief escaped"

"Good luck to him, Otto, he was probably at his battle station, on his Captain's right shoulder. Where you've always been for me!

"But the Captain drowned"

"Yes Otto. The brave lad did. But if it comes to it on the Swordfish...."

"Yes Sir..?

"I'll still be up that ladder before you from a standing start...."

"No chance....!"

We both eyed each other and then surreptitiously eyed the distance to the ladder

The resulting unseemly dash between the Kaleun and his Chief to the ladder was only halted by the big frame of Willi, perhaps only naturally perturbed by two senior officers racing to get out of the boat all of a sudden.

"What's going..."

..Was all that he could get out, before a more important announcement was made.

Down the pipe.

"Ship sighted, Starboard 30, long range, Kapitan to Bridge!"

"That was quick, Sir!" the Second Leutnant said admiringly. As I stumbled breathlessly onto the bridge

"Never mind that, Flank both. Action Stations. Gun Crew up! Break out the 88s. Life jackets and helmets on deck.

"Steer east then hard starboard , Bruno. Look at your quarters men !" I yelled out at the lookouts.

"Clear the Gun for action!..... Load!"

"I reckon she's a steamer maybe 3,000 tons, don't you Bruno?

Like a good U-boat man, he and his watch have still been covering their patch

"I'd say so, Sir"

The minutes tick by. The merchant is blissfully unaware.

But the range is closing.

Fire!

The first shell, well we never saw. I don't think the enemy did either. They kept sailing serenely through our next two shots too

"Can we at least see a splash, you idiots!"

Joachim, our Weapons Officer, was beside himself. He went down on deck muttering furiously that he was going to throw them all into the infantry when we got back and so on.

If the situation wasn't so perilous (I'd already given a warning to dive) it was quite a show.

"I think they've spotted us now, Sir. Target increasing speed and changing course." said Bruno, resignedly.

I remember Joachim throwing his helmet into the sea, but at nearly the same time the gun depressed rapidly and fired.

An orange explosion appeared seconds later on the ship's stern waterline. The ship stopped dead. It was starting to go stern first.

"Close the gun down! Get the men back in. All of them Bruno, and steer away" Periscope depth. Enough is enough."

Joachim was strangely silent about his triumph in the wardroom afterwards, but I'd already eavesdropped a couple of versions from the men in passing.

They ran to:

An Iron Cross for the Weapons Officer for his heroic intervention

or a Wooden Cross for forgetting that the elevation locking pin was still in, and needed to be bashed out with a hard object like, maybe, a steel helmet

The final word has to go to one of my unter-offiziers who just grunted:

"Well if he's packing us off to the Army, then I'll have him as our sniper, the lucky swine."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Kpt. Lehmann]

:sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:

[Oberon]

I know this isn't General Topics...and this isn't the 'Cat thread' but nevertheless, this thread is too good to be allowed to reach crush depth!!

EMERGANCY-BUMP!!

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Is this your girl, Sir?"

"No... Yes,.... No."

The Chief of U-467, being the last senior, is a guest of my cabin, and has seen the picture of Heidi, pinned above my bunk.

U-467 was a new boat, with a new skipper. Both gone now.They won't have picked up the rumours yet.

He's here to be debriefed by me, but already he has me flustered.

"It looks like that pretty blonde girl, Heidi, who used to do the rosters, back at U-Boot Schule..."

"Yes , well" I stammer,

"We're here to hear about the loss of your boat"

Rueben is his name. a boy sailor just like me before the War.
Ran away to sea, hoping for a job on one of the big Hamburg Liners. Ended up tramping round the Baltic, or do even more menial jobs on bigger ocean going vessels.

The Navy was recruiting hard in the late Thirties, it sounded like an adventure, and he found himself in submarines. It was an exciting time everywhere in Germany, but particularly at the docks and shipyards.

Apart from the odd patrol in a Type II 'canoe', he had badgered the command at Kiel and been given his first operational boat, as an engineer.

"None of my lads knew one end of u-boat spanner from another, Sir"

"What happened, Francks?"

He sighed.

"Very inexperienced crew, Herr Kaleun. The Kapitan, too. Keen as mustard though.

"The worst combination, Sir."

"They came out of the Sun. Two of them. I don't know if we even got a shot off. I doubt it...

"The first two bombs straddled us. We were lifted out of the water.

"I think at least one of the watch was flung overboard by the blast, but I do remember the Kapitan going back below.

"I followed him down,

"Too late to dive, and too late to defend ourselves

"The second aircraft managed to put one over our stern.

"I'd like to think it was over quick for my men in the engine and electric rooms. We'd sealed that bulkhead. but still the water was gushing through.

Rueben was re-living this terrible experience, in front of me.

"Out! Out!"

While I can't imagine an orderly queue at the ladder, I can imagine Rueben, ankle deep in control room water forcing his men topside to take their chances of getting out of U-467 while the going is good. And making sure there's some rubber dinghies untied and then re-tied.

"But your Commander? Where was he?

'Refused to order abandon boat, Sir, with the water swirling round his feet.

I did it, and saved a poor dozen.

He hangs his head.

And I slap it.

"Rueuben! You kept another eleven men alive. Remember that!

Reuben looks at me.

Sir, when we get back to 7th Flotilla..?"

"Saint Nazaire, yes?

"Our boat and most of it's crew is gone

"Yes"

"I'd like to serve on the U-46, Sir?"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[U-104]

:rock: :rock:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

I just don't believe this!

Every time I think that this story reaches a high-point of excellence... it is exceeded by the author.

This is NOT your typical fan-fiction.

This truly is a great story.

All ahead flank!!! .....and thanks for the SH3 FUEL!!! :ping:

[Laughing Swordfish]

"I could tell the bow was already out of the water by now, and we we were sliding backwards fast."

Rebeun Francks continued in a dull monotone.

"I won't lie to you, Sir, I wanted to get up on the bridge like the rest of them. It ocurred to me to save myself. But the last of them were wounded. Sepp had a broken arm and God knows what else. He couldn't make it up the ladder on his own. Me and his mate forced him screaming up the steps."

I looked back on the third rung to see my Kapitan, the code satchels around his neck, and Schmidt, our signaller unconscious under one arm. The water was up to his chest

"Come on, Sir!"

Go, Chief! Get out! Go!"

"She took a sudden lurch by a wave from her broken stern, which momentarily righted the boat on her forward axis, and then I found myself climbing for my life.

By the time I got to the Bridge, I didn't have to jump. The sea was there to greet me.

I splashed around until one of the hands hauled me alongside. Maybe the young lads were pleased to see me, but I was much more pleased to see them!

We lost a lot of boys who jumped into the water, but once we'd married up the two surviving dinghies, and collected as many as we could clinging to the side.....

Well morale was better, but it was a chance in a thousand that we'd be picked up at all, let alone by our own people.

We were there for hours, when I decided to light up a cigar and pass it around. It would have been a shame to let it get wet, before the end....

"A miracle" I smiled.

"Never give up the cigars if you join my boat, Reuben!"

"These days, we need every puff or glow of luck....."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[U-104]

:up: :rock: :rock:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

:up: :up: :up: Keep on Keepin' on!!!

[Laughing Swordfish]

Whatever the terrible twins of Max and Freddie had done further south, and they had clearly gone in again and again on their own at the southern end of Wolfpack Grief; for some reason at least a column of that convoy, and maybe the wounded ones, or some who had the jitters, sheered away further north. Hoping for a more direct route home.

They fell right into our path. Or driven onto our guns, like some boar hunt, by Stefan finally managing to wheel south himself.

We sank another three in two days. Our gunnery this time was spot on. No big shakes. Between one and three thousand tons each. They all count I suppose, and Joachim was pleased enough with his deck crew; but I can't say I enjoyed it much. All three had to be done in broad daylight, and we felt vulnerable while it was going on.

So much so, that I incremented the watch just to look upwards; and while normally there would be a joyful crowding forward to watch the kill, Bruno summed it up on the last one, without ever taking his eyes off the sky, by saying:

"Has he finished yet? Permission to dive, please, Sir?"

Perhaps it was having the reality and possible finality of their profession brought home to them, by taking on the U-467 survivors (although our own last few patrols should leave them in no doubt of that) that has added some tension

But the Lordships have a point to prove with their torpedoes. And they want to slam them into at least one big one before we go home.

So do I. Friedrich in U-122 is dogging them from the south, but he has only 3 torpedoes left. A bit of depth charge damage, but then Freddy is always complaining about something. Stephan in his Type IX, although he's also taken one chance freighter, has been dogged by mechanical problems, and his U-358 is ploughing east-wards at best speed to form the new 'back-stop'

So Freddy is the contact boat in U-122, he hasn't been shaken off on their south-southwestern quarter, and the poor sod is getting most of the attention by all accounts, but he keeps pushing the reports out when he can.

U-46 is now hammering along on a southeasterly bearing to head them off at the pass, as the Amis say in the Westerns.

While Stephan in U-358 is running a wider course eastwards, to try and catch them if they break north.

What could possibly go wrong over that vast stretch of sea....?

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Quiet, please, Sir! It's very faint."

Viktor is hunched over his morse key, almost willing the message to come through. One earphone hanging off so I can at least strain to hear.

..-

Even I know that is 'U' for U-boat

"What callsign, Viktor?" I urge impatiently

He holds up the palm of his hand to silence me. The other has a pencil poised for the next feeble dits and dahs

---

..

-.

-.-

OINK!

"Ha ha! That's Max, the cheeky monkey!"

"U-213 has come back up, lads! The Pig has surfaced!"

There are cheers as the news spread through the boat, and some of the seniors crowd around Viktor's radio cabin for news.

Viktor painstakingly compiles the rest of the report.

It's clear that U-213 has incurred the wrath of the Royal Navy. Their signal is weak, something must have happened in their radio room. Now well behind the convoy, and only one stern torpedo left

I get Viktor to acknowledge immediately, and order a run back to France which should keep him parallel with Friedrich for most of the way.

There was no SOS, and Freddie in U-122 is closest to him, and has also confirmed that he is hearing Max. We can't turn back to help. U-46 is in the best position, out of the four boats left, to take another dig at the convoy, that Max and Freddie have set up for us.

If me and Willi have calculated right, we should start to see their smoke stacks to starboard anytime now....

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Kpt. Lehmann]

:ping: :ping: :ping:

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Smoke, Sir! To the Bridge please!"

And we have them.

The remnants of the convoy plugging away on roughly the same North Easterly bearing that Freddie last gave us.

In my haste up top, I look more like a tramp than a U-boat commander, a thick knitted hat perched on my head, my once expensive lambswool jacket, still unfastened, and doing nothing to hide the wear, tear and stains of weeks at sea.

But Christian and I have them, and are already now scouring the silhouettes through our binoculars to pick out the best ones.

The first row 4,000m off, behind our starboard bow, in ragged formation, maybe fifteen, but yet determined on the home stretch. And a clouded moon.

Yes, we have them.

"Battle stations. Flank 180. Flood all forward tubes."

"That C3-type cargo, second row, second column, Sir"

"Yes Christian. And that tanker on the nearside in the row behind. Two apiece. Any escorts?"

Christian frowned.

"None that I can see, Sir, but they'll be around somewhere, spoiling for a fight, and they don't have so many to look after now.."

"Ok, we won't go charging in this time, so let's make the most of this set up"

"Aim for the crane nearest the bridge on the first one, and the second torpedo should break open the aft cargo hold."

"For the tanker, just aim forward of the bridge, where the superstructure levels out, with the next two, that's where the fuel is."

We turn into our attack run, and watch with baited breath as the range drops and the angle on the bow becomes more and more favourable. I'm concerned that the cargo ship may get herself masked by a smaller ship in the outer column, but even more anxious to avoid being trapped by any destroyer screen.

"Extra hands, stand by to go forward"

Like with a crash dive we will have to compensate for the sudden loss of weight in the bow with a sudden salvo from four tubes. That is for Otto to work out below, and he would like to balance the boat without unneccesary pumping of his trimming tanks from aft to forward, when he has other things to think about.
Plus it's always handy for that emergency dive.

At 2,000m the figures look right, and we're still undetected. Not a great range to be firing at, but the hell with it, the ships are broadside on, and look big enough through the sight at least...

"Nummer Eins!"

"Nummer Eins!" is the tense answering pipe from Joachim

"Los!"

"Zwei, Drei und Vier, Los! Los! Los!"

There is the temporary upsurge of the bow and the white bubbly snakes of the torpedoes as we are already turning about.

"10 degrees on the rudder to North-North East! Kapitan to Contol Room, get the boys reloading fast, all spare hands."

I turn to Christian who already has the stopwatch in his hand.

"Well Number One, this is were the fun usually begins...."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[U-104]

:rock: :rock: :up: :up: :) :) :|\ :|\ :cool: :cool: :ping: :ping: :sunny: :sunny:

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Look to your sectors, men!" I shout to the First Watch.

"No nasty surprises!"

Francks, late of U-467, has come up to lend a hand, enabling Christian to join me in the Wintergarten staring hard over our stern at the receding convoy, like two excited schoolboys waiting to see a fireworks display.

"How about tube five Sir?" Christian asks.

It's tempting, and I normally would. But tonight I have decided on more caution.

"Let's keep a little knife in our sock, eh, Christian? Just in case things turn rough"

He nods. If we are forced down with all tubes empty, which we have been before, it would be an act of desperation to risk the noise involved in reloading underwater, for some means of striking back, with escorts prowling and listening overhead. And the stern tube has proved useful before in that situation. At least it's good for crew morale to know that we still have some teeth, even when the depth charges are dropping lazily down, and we seem to be trying to dodge snowflakes.

"Time enough yet, Sir" he grins

We watch and wait. To ease the tension, I murmur "Keep the stopwatch running even after the eels should hit, Christian. I want to time those lazy good-for-nothings below to reload all four in one hour."

"Ten marks say they don't make it, Sir"

"It's a bet!" I smile back...

"Should be round about now, Sir"

We peer more closely. After the last debacle when that steamer gave our torpedoes the slip, this just has to go right.

The first we knew, was no more than a flicker of light and a spray of water high over the merchant's bow. But there was no doubting the second orange ball of flame just under her bridge.

Moments later, two dull booms rolled out across the ocean towards us.

No need for a bridge announcement, we can hear the muffled cheers from below, as the sound carries through the water quicker than we can read them the scores.

"Look, Sir! She's crash diving just like us!"

Christian is almost hopping with joy.

"Steady, Number One. There were some brave men on her. Eyes on the tan..."

...Before the words were even out of my mouth, there were two vivid flashes on the second target, and a vast explosion as the tanker went up. The noise, when it reached us was like two gigantic cracks of a whip. Followed by something like a continuous peal of thunder.

Moments later there was no sign that the merchant had even existed, but a thick cloud of smoke to show where the tanker had once been.

Star shells were firing randomly over the convoy, adding to the whole surreal spectacle.

"Destroyer!" yells Dieter on the Port Aft Watch. For once, not caught with his pants down, as he so often is in port.

"Port and stern! There! There! There Away!"

We quickly follow the direction of his outstretched hand, jabbing urgently in the direction of our most hated enemy. I hadn't expected them to be on to us so soon.

I have just enough time to note that Francks has rushed over to confirm it visually to me with a fist raised where I can see it, and the thumb pointed down. A fairly universal sign for 'enemy'.
If he had been thrusting that thumb up and down at least three times, I knew it would be time to crash dive the boat. But he meets my eyes and holds steady.

Vital in the atrocious weather that U-46 has encountered, when even close conversation on the bridge has been impossible, but I have to admire his attention to his bridge watch training. Drills that I know Bruno and Christian are constantly trying to hammer into the heads of their watch teams.

Tonight, though, the sea and weather is calmer, so he follows up his signal with a fuller report.

"Destroyer confirmed, Sir! Two stacks, one forward turret observed, too early to identify" (He hurried on to the more important stuff) "Range 2,500. Bearing 200 from us. Speed 25 knots and slowing. Now playing searchlights to port and starboard. Estimated intention, survivor rescue "

I blinked at this perfect textbook recital. This man is good.

Looking back astern, I can see that the destroyer (it might be Hunter class) has indeed slowed, and there is no sign of pursuit. But there's fat chance of picking up any survivors, I'm afraid; certainly not from the tanker, and the big cargo-man sank too quickly. Besides, it's cruel but crazy to stop anywhere out here for long. Is he trying to lure us back in? Maybe giving time for his sonar people to get a fix with the engines running slow and more quietly, like we sometimes do?

Anyway, I'm not going back with just one stern tube loaded. Better to wheel round and hit them again tomorrow night with everything we have left.

"Tell the helm to maintain course, please Francks, then hand over to the First Officer. You and I will go down. I need to look at the charts.

There are raucous cheers as we clatter tiredly down.

I poke my head into the fore-end torpedo room first

"We're pretty much out of trouble lads, and we took two big ones tonight, a tanker full of juice and a big old merchant that didn't know what hit her; I'd say 19,000 tons the pair. The tanker went up with such a bang that the First officer swears they could hear it back in Germany - even your deaf old mother, Grun!"

"Anyway, damned fine shooting boys, all four hit and went off perfectly"

Their chests swelled with pride, as if they'd done the aiming, instead of actually the hard bit of loading and daily maintenance.

"But get those bloody torpedoes loaded! We're going to take another swing at them!"

There were congratulations too for Joachim, our weapons officer, particularly for some remarkable shooting, and Willi for navigating us there into such a prime position in the first place. Francks got a slap on the back for the way he stepped up on the bridge of an unfamiliar boat. And it would have been Otto too but he was asleep having handed over minutes before, but my thanks to him go without saying.

Stephan is ordered to converge down from the North, as is Freddie from the South. If we can't hit them all at once, then we'll bite away like pirhana fish, however we can.

Now at last I can get some sleep.

It seems like only minutes later that the shrill ringing of the alarm bell snaps me upright again.

I'm not dreaming. The rumble tumble of the crew rushing forward, the clanging of the conning tower hatch, Bruno shouting, Otto making himself heard over everyone to give orders to his planesmen.

And the unmistakeable tilt of the boat, my boat, the U-46, now diving hard and steeply downwards....

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[U-104]

:rock: :rock: :up: :up: :ping: :ping: :sunny: :sunny: :|\ :|\ :cool: :cool: :D :D

[bookworm_020]

More, More, I'm getting adicted to this :sunny:

[Serverdaemon]

I AM addicted to it!
:rock:

S

[america person]

who isn't? really good stuff, pity no one could rig this up into a sort of podcast....or recording ya know?

[Oberon]

You mean a radio play?

That'd be cool :up:

*practices his "ALAAAAAAAAAAARM!!" and wakes the whole house up*

[america person]

yeah almost exactly like one, unfortuantly im not a tech wiz, so i dont know hte nuts and bolts of it, but it could be as simple as recording it wiht a mic at a pc, and hten putting it one one of those dl sites? but im not sure, there is probably somone here who has more knowledge, but i shall try to chip in with advice here and there

[bookworm_020]

I'm sure I could fine some good sound effects for it. Just need to find some voice talent and a place to record it

[Laughing Swordfish]

Hey Guys!

Thanks for all the comments and the encouraging icons.

I've no idea what you mean (because I'm not techy enough), but it sounds cool.

As far as I have gone is to compile the reports onto a website

www.laughingswordfish.net

But I'm a bit behind with that, and anyway, the reports appear here first. Although the intention is to edit them a bit better and maybe add some pictures/photos, but no screenshots, there's plenty of people in this forum who can do it far better than me.

Anyway, I'm sure we all have u-boats to run, so thanks again for all the kind messages.

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

U-46 is still nosing down as I stumble desperately across to the control room. Still wearing my leather over-trousers and sea boots, but the red and white plaid cotton shirt was the last thing I still had that was still remotely dry.

"What is it Otto? Otto??"

He doesn't answer immediately. He is busy issuing orders, for a bold move to starboard, the full right rudder, glancing at dials, and generally cuffing any seamen foolhardy enough to get in his way

Francks is there too, staring at the Papenburg tube, with a hand on the shoulder of each of our young planesmen, murmuring reassuringly to them. Although his hands seem to be trembling.

The depth dial is 20 metres and dropping.

Bruno is sitting in the corner, staring ahead without seeing. "Halifax...Halifax.." was all that he had breath for.

"Otto?"

"Yes, Sir. Bomber. Low cloud this morning."

He gestured at Bruno

"According to the Second Officer, they were just as surprised as we were"

"Is Bruno ok?"

"Yes, Sir, just fell down the last few rungs, knocked the wind out of his sails for once."

"Damage to the boat?"

"Anytime now, Sir. He's bound to circle back. Hold on to something....."

"Wasserbomben!" Hans yells from sonar, yanking off his phones to protect his ear drums

"We maybe have just enough water"' muses Otto, for all the world as if he is contemplating some laboratory physics experiment, rather than the lives or deaths of the 63 men we have on board. We've survived depth charges before, but never this shallow.

Francks, who has already lost his Kapitan, his boat, and 39 of his shipmates to air attack, has his eyes firmly shut.

'Kaboom.... KABOOM!"

U-46 reels away from the explosion, we're all flung about a bit however much we were trying to anticipate it. There is a temporary loss of power, quickly restored. A few minor cuts and bruises, and not a few flapping hearts, but they don't give out wound badges for that. Reports indicate no serious harm done, just a couple of tiny repairs to make; a valve here, and a pipe there. Kurt and his damage control gang look almost disappointed. Almost, but not quite.

We level off at 40 metres, and cut speed so that we can hear, and not be heard. There might well be a surface follow up

"That last one was close, Sir"

"Not close enough my friend. But you did all the work this time, Otto, well done"

"Well, we're all in the same boat, as they say, Sir"

"Fine, but it was still a hell of a way to wake me for breakfast, you old rascal. Do you think the cook will bring the pair of us something hot to the wardroom, if we ask him nicely....."

[U-104]

:rock: :rock: :rock: :rock: :up: :up: :up: :up: :ping: :ping: :ping: :ping: :|\ :|\ :|\ :|\ :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:

[Von Scheerbach]

LS: I read this the very first time you posted, and haven't opened since. I kept seeing it pop up, but assumed it was another X1 Software or Starforce rant, so I ignored it.

Needless to say, I was quite surprised when I actually spent the last hour of my workday paging through this, reading every post! I won't be ignoring it anymore!

Great job! Cheers! :()1:

Someone get Wolfgang Petersen a link to this thread!!!!

You've certainly stoked my fire to play a little SH3! So it's off to the bridge of the U-64, currently on patrol in the North Sea in June, 1940.

Rumor has it we will be transferring to Brest soon. Maybe I will run into a Heidi of my own!

[Laughing Swordfish]

Thanks VS, and everyone else, it's really much appreciated.

Loved that boozy icon!

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Of course, the thing about airplanes, is that it's all or nothing. The chances are they'll get you first time,"

Otto pauses with his fork to his mouth,

"Just look at U-467. She won't be the last. Nearly us today. But if we can get past that, we're pretty much clear.

"Your destroyers on the other hand, are a lot less quick. But quicker by far than us. They know time is on their side. Bit by bit they'll wear us down, because they'll damage us enough, or wear us out enough, that at some point we must surface, or worse, can't"

"They haven't caught us yet, Otto"

"Maybe tomorrow"

"I've told you before, Otto. Tomorrow is a fairly fictional concept while we are at sea."

"But when we get back home, Sir?"

"A lot of tomorrows, Otto. A lot of them"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[america person]

coolness, he is becoming evan more cynical....i like the new direction/ twist

[Laughing Swordfish]

Of course the dilemma now presents itself.

Coming to periscope depth, and using the observation scope, I can see enemy planes routinely patrolling overhead. Bruno reckoned it was a Halifax that bounced us. I think on the evidence, it was more likely a Liberator, from what I can see. But either way, the RAF have plenty of twin-engines up there waiting for us.

Staying down is slowing us down during the day. I had hoped to sprint forward, and take another poke in the darkness that the next night will offer, but we risk losing them while submerged.

Stephan is making a wider loop to the North, and doesn't have 'eyes on' yet. Freddie is making best speed to the South, but I suspect his boat and crew are pretty banged up already. They've already done their bit and it would be a bonus if they could make it in time. Max, that wily old fox, should be limping back to France by now. I can't realistically expect him to rejoin the hunt.

So we are the contact boat and losing time with every minute and hour that passes. All the time what's left of the convoy is creeping closer to the safety of the Cornish coast, and we can expect things to be much more hairy next time we go in. Even if we can regain them and assume another good attacking position.

Then Hans gives me a secondary sonar contact.

"Heavy screws bearing North, Sir! They sound laboured."

I steer a course to give us a visual.

Sure enough it's a C3 class merchant, that has broken free, or got lost in the night. Even at that range I can see she's sporting some torpedo damage, which has to be the work of Freddie or Max.

Doesn't seem to have lost too much speed though. I wonder whether Stephan will pick her up; but the sea is still very big and he has his orders to out-race the convoy.

I look at the charts with the Navigator. Time is slipping away.

"The hell with it, Willi. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Give chase!"

Pretty soon we're on her tail. But there isn't a torpedo solution We only have her stern and can't catch up any more from down here.. If we're going to do it, it's going to have to be under our guns on the surface. However it is broad daylight, just after lunch in fact, and I have the feeling that the pilots of RAF Coastal Command have brought their sandwiches...

"Take us up Otto, but be prepared to crash at a moment's notice. Joachim I want the ready-use 88 shells and no messing about. A quick kill and then back in, you understand?"

"Yes Sir!" replied my Weapons Officer as he summoned his crew and set them about their tasks as U-46 started to rise.

"Go! Go!" I urged as we broke surface.

The gun crew didn't let me down, beating the watch crew upstairs much to the chagrin of Christian who prides himself on the speed of his boys.

The first ranging shot wasn't bad either. One or two more and we'll hit her in the engine compartment. Christian's team weren't idle either, earnestly scanning the sky and horizon.

And a good job too. We'd just got off a second much nearer shot, when the alarm came.

Only a dot in the sky, but growing bigger, and coming faster than any seagull. Well done Christian.

We managed to get everyone back in, because Otto wasn't messing about, and the boat was already slanting rapidly down.

This time the charges were well off the mark. But they were on us like a ton of bricks, and again we lost distance with the evasive action.

Well, we tried three more times to surface and re-engage. Each time we were forced below by aircraft. It was as if that merchant had her own personal aerial bodyguard

We were having to run with the electric motors flat out just to keep up, and everytime we surfaced we were thwarted from the air. It didn't play so well with the survivors from U-467, who had already taken one dunking from an aircraft. And even Otto was back to his pessimistic best.

"Don't you think you're being a little stubborn, Sir?"

"She sinks tonight, Chief. If it takes forever we'll have her. As soon as it gets dark and the RAF bugger off, we'll scoot round ahead on full diesels and nab her from there. I know I'm caning your engines, but bear with me."

Sure enough, we dogged her long enough, that in the night we were able to burst ahead in a loop on the surface, and one well-placed torpedo did the trick, around midnight.

I hate rejoicing after a kill, but I was pleased to finally nail that one.

"BdU for you, Sir"

Victor hands me a message form.

Apparently our small rescue has created quite a stir back home, and they seem more excited about that than the convoy we have been decimating. Propaganda, I suppose.

Anyway we are to break off, and head back, and under all circumstances to deliver the 12 remaining crew of U-467 back to base, where no doubt the cameras are waiting.

To be sure, there were no complaints when I delivered that news to the boat.

"Set us for St Nazaire, Willi"

Otto winks at me.

"Can I have one of my tomorrows yet, please Sir...?"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

The lads are busy cutting up white triangular victory pennants from that white bed sheet, for our return.

Francks is sharing my space the best he can. But to be fair we have both been busy over the last couple of days. The Bay of Biscay is far from safe if you're not on your toes.

"I meant to ask, Reuben, what was the emblem of the U-467 before she went down?"

And so it was that when U-46 guided herself up the river towards St Nazaire, intact for once, that alongside the Laughing Swordfish emblem, was a sheet draped on either side painted with the five olympic rings of the U-467. Their crewmen had pride of place standing to attention on our foredeck, and I think I spotted one or two of them blubbing.

We'd found another white cap cover to give to Francks. Against regulations of course, but he was the senior surviving commander of his boat and crew, and deserved to see them into harbour in style. He took the salute alongside me on the bridge, his eyes moistening on his craggy face.

Otto was hopping up and down with excitement, of course, just desperate to get the first train to Frankfurt and his pregnant wife.

I suppose there's no prizes for guessing who I was looking out for.
I caught a glimpse of her, waving frantically near the military band, and it made my heart leap into my throat.

"Christian," I whispered.

"Dock the boat for me this time will you?"

"I want to be first ashore..."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[bookworm_020]

Great little rescue story. A pure Iron Cross 1st Class. :up:

Enjoy your shore leave! :yep:

:lost:

[donw]

*bump*
...getting antsy for the next installment!!!

[Serverdaemon]

Seconded!!!!

S

[bookworm_020]

Sea or Shore Action????

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Laughing Swordfish]

For one mad moment, I thought I would bound down the gangplank like a latter-day knight jumping from his trusty white stallion, after killing the dragon or black knight, sweep Heidi into my arms, (just like in one of Viktor's trashy paperbacks) and profess my love, the crowd would cheer and the rightful King would smile benignly and instantly pronounce.....

..But my faithful steed was a modern day Type VIIC U-Boat, battered and rusted by the sea. I'd completely forgotten how the landlubbers always recoil from the stench as they catch the unique aroma of over 51 unwashed men locked in a steel tube for weeks mixed with god knows what that had rotted, and the venting out of diesel fumes, when all the hatches are open. The swagger on to dry land became a stagger too, without land legs.

I suppose I looked like something more fit for the chain dogs from shore patrol to arrest, than a conquering hero.

But for all that, I was a hero. Cameras were flashing or reels turning. The crowd of soldiers, nurses and every other branch of auxilliary service only kept at bay by stern-faced soldiers enforcing a cordon.

I looked around bewildered for a sight of Heidi, but she was now lost in the throng, but of course she couldn't either get near or be seen.

A moment ago, I was in total charge of my little world, and now, in the reality we dreamt of, I wasn't.

It must have been Bruno who formed the two crews up on the quay, and urged me to the front of the parade.

Because Doenitz himself had come over to St Nazaire to see us dock safely. And was now approaching me.

In his way, he returned my salute and grasped my hand whilst leaning closer out of earshot.

"Well done, my boy"

He whispered.

"I know very well that you and your men are tired, and I'll sort that out later, but for now what's happening is just as much another part of the war effort. Now introduce me again to the men for the cameras. I know most of them anyway, but particularly the men you pulled out of the drink from U-467.

He winked.

"It's good to see you back lad, but the nation needs to see a miracle, and it won't do any harm for our lot either to know that they may not always be stranded, hein?"

"Not quite a miracle, Sir. We only saved a handful, and that was a stroke of luck because.."

"Shut up Leutnant! The Fuhrer has decreed it a miracle, and so it shall be!

We have more to talk about operationally, but that will have to wait. There are apparently more important things"

"I'm sure you have other things to think about.."

Did the Admiral wink at me just then?

"But for now, let's smile nicely for the Volkerische Beobachter, and their other Goebbels' friends in the news industry, and do this parade, Leutnant"

Lt de Bunsen, u-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

(I'm heartbroken. I just wrote a very long bit concerning the U-46 and U-467's debrief at Kerneval, and then clicked 'Preview' instead of the usual 'Submit'
Now I can't retrieve it at all to post it.
Does anyone know of a way to get it back, please? Or why the preview option turned into a black hole?
As always, I much appreciate your comments, but have so much to tell, before I can get out on patrol again)
LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

Finally the charade is over. The band marches away, the crowd disperses, and even the propaganda merchants are told to leave us alone for their own sake.

The Boat is docked with a skeleton watch who will be relieved regularly, by men from U-711 (another new 7th Flotilla boat yet to go out, and are well rested comparatively)

But I insist we have at least some good men from U-46 in charge of things at all times

This should make certain everyone gets ashore at some point, and to put it euphemistically, 'freshens up' (That means ages under the shower, particularly for the engine crew) and then perhaps even more hopefully: take 'just some "light refreshment" in the local cafes and hostelries' that the fawning local mayor proudly announces are to be had in his fair town of St Nazaire.

I know they'll go off the leash for a night or two, but that's for another day

More importantly, I scribble a chit, written hastily against Otto's back, and my Chief is smuggled by the coxswain (by whatever means, I don't want to know) towards the train station, and home to his wife and impending child back all the way to Frankfurt.

He hardly mentioned it since we were last back here, and he stepped in brilliantly when we were dive-bombed that time, but as soon as we broke off from the convoy and started heading home, I noticed he was starting to spend a lot more time than he never had before around Willi and his chart table. Starting to count the hours and minutes.

God speed, Otto.

Most importantly of all, there was no sign of Heidi, after the excitement had died down. I had pinned my hopes on seeing her, as much as I'd pinned and gazed at her photograph in my cabin over the last few weeks.

Duty calls, I suppose...

But I'm sure she was waving from the flagstones...

Or a certain Luftwaffe pilot....

In the event of course, neither me or Reuben Francks, the senior survivor from the other boat that we, oh, so heroically rescued, are to see any off this.

We are promptly whisked away by staff car. Me with my full diaries, logs and reports; Reuben with nothing.

And now we stand in the well appointed office of our Uncle.

It is Francks' turn first to face the grilling, having lost his Boat, his Kapitan and most of the crew.

He is awestruck at first by Kerneval, as I was (and still am), but he stands his ground resolutely.

"Did you fight back, by any chance?"

"No, Sir. I don't think so. The flak was manned but the first we knew it, was the bombs. There was no alarm or sound of firing from us. And none of that bridge watch survived , Sir"

"So how many ships did U-467 sink, before you went down?"

(Doenitz through and through. Straight to the tonnage)

Reuben hung his head slightly

"None, Sir, we had no contacts on that edge of the Pack at the time

"Well that's not a good return, it'll only improve the British batting average. What about your codes? The enigma machine and other security items? Don't tell me they are in English hands?"

I could visualise, only from Reuben, for he was the last to see them, young Peter, the Kapitan, hopelessly trying to save his wounded signaller at the bottom of the bridge ladder; yet urgently ordering his Chief upwards to save himself, that no outstretched arm could help.

Those damned precious items and the man he'd gone back for, draped around his neck. The water swirling in around them.

"Our boat took pretty much everything with her, including the codes and our Commander, Sir" Reuben blinked hard.

"Ah, yes, your commander", Doenitz replied relentlessly

"What about Kapitan Sepp?"

"A brave man, Sir. A boy really. Fair to his men, and pretty good with his boat. But he had no combat experience, Sir, neither did they. He was sent out too soon, and.."

I'd put a restraining hand on Reuben's shoulder in the hope that he would shut up.

And he did. Doenitz's frosty glare and silence saw to that.

"And how would you tell me to give more combat experience to our crews, my friend, other than to send them to attack the enemy? How many boats and men should I keep training in the Baltic until they alone think they are ready for battle?

"I'm sorry, Sir..

"Don't be. I have a high regard for my men, all of them, to the lowest stoker, to speak their mind if they have something useful to say. And sometimes even if they haven't. It sounds like with your opinions, I should transfer you back to the Kiel or Wilhelmshaven depots, they could use of a man of your combat experience. You might tell them how easy it is to get sunk on your first patrol without firing an eel or a shot in anger...

"Sir! I respectfully request that I am assigned to the next front boat as soon as possible!" blurts an outraged Reuben.

Doenitz rising from his desk smiles, and pours three glasses of brandy.

"Well, we'll see"

And I suddenly realise that the Old Man, although his sea days are behind him, still knows how to score a torpedo amidships with his men

[Laughing Swordfish]

"And what about you, Leutnant. How is U-46? Back in one piece for a change, I see"

My turn.

I recounted our patrol, and a list of confirmed sinkings and estimated tonnage.

Even he nodded approvingly, leafing through my log as I gave my report.

"No opportunity to identify the names of the ships any more closely, Sir."

"Aircraft?"

"Much busier than before, Sir. Didn't dare to hang about too much on the surface"

I caught a wry grimace from Reuben.

"Nearly got jumped once ourselves, and the last 8,000 tonner took some chasing. She had constant aerial cover during daylight hours.

"The surface escorts seemed a little less organised, and didn't give us so much trouble this time. I think hitting them from different angles paid dividends. The credit for that should go to U-122 and U-213, they had the first contact and bore the brunt of it. We just mopped up."

Doenitz nodded.

"Any news from them, Sir"

"U-122 should be making her rendezvous with a couple of e-boats we've sent out for the purpose of escorting her in. Signals from U-213 have been patchy. We think he's hurt. But the girls are listening out for him even now. U-358 is still in good form, and in fact took a straggler just this morning. I'm bringing him back too. All in all, Wolfpack Grief gave the Brits quite a hiding!"

Doenitz sipped his Remy Martin and smiled.

"But of course, your duty doesn't finish here, my boy"

"Sir?"

"Let's just say that the air raids over England haven't gone quite according to plan."

He sipped again meditatively

"Not to put too fine a point on it, the Luftwaffe has sustained huge losses in trying to gain air superiority. The verdammt English won't quit just yet. We've suffered huge plane losses, while you've been having fun at sea. Between us, Operation Sealion, the last piece in the jigsaw, isn't likely to happen. You might have noticed that a lot of our landsers have been entrained and moved back East. I'll say no more, but there's something even bigger in the wind.

"You'll also know that we've lost Kretschmer, Prien and Shalke all in the space of one convoy attack"

I agreed sadly. The U-boat grapevine is second to none.

"For whatever we do next, our leader requires a propaganda coup, something to inspire the nation in the light of these losses.

"Yes, Sir" I replied bewildered.

"You and Francks, here, are that inspiration...."

"I don't understand, Sir, I..."

"In short, Leutnant you are both to return to St Nazaire, and clinb into your best dress uniforms. You will then be taken to Berlin by special train for a special presentation"

"You mean, Sir....?"

"Yes, Leutnant, and take it from me, when you get there, there is no smoking or drinking in the presence of the Fuhrer....."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Dutch]

I must say that I have enjoyed every bit of this reading. Stumbled across it last night and read them all.

I almost feel like I can relate to the captian of the U-46 not on a personal level of course but through the game itself because I in some small way I have been given a glimpse of the type of job that was needed to be done, but this reading gives me a glimpse into the mind, and heart of the commander himself, therefore completing the circle.

All to many times certian nationalities have always been made to seem less than human in war stories and the sort. I am American myself and therefore never really understood the logic behind the mindset of the germans during world war 2 though I have always had a great respect for them. This little story in a small, but very effective way, tells us all what went through there minds. They weren't evil people, atleast not all of them. They were just that, people like the rest of us, and doing the job they had been given to do in the only way they knew how. They too lived, and loved thier countries no less than we do.

Swordfish its a great reading, I look forward to your next installment. :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Thank you, Dutch, for that thoughtful and nicely written post.

I'm glad you (and everyone else who has been kind enough to post, or just to read it)) seem to be enjoying the U-46 story, which began as a tentative first post on this excellent forum, and kind of got bigger as I embellished the tale of my own campaign in SHIII.

The Battle of the Atlantic was a brutal death struggle but was generally fought with more gallantry and chivalry by both sides than was certainly evident (again from all sides) than the land war. Being British myself, it goes against instinct to live the role of a German U-Boat Commander, but I too have great respect for the courage and resourcefulness of these men, not many who survived against ultimately suicidal odds. Despite the despicable regime they found themselves fighting for.

The attraction of submarine sims, and this era and game in particular, is not just the history, and not the nationality, but the sense of being the underdog basically on your own and living on your wits against a greater enemy.

Of course the Germans weren't the ruthless automatons they are so often portrayed as. They were generally very young men with the same hopes, fears, faults and humour as anybody else.

So I'm glad, if nothing else, if I have added a bit of human colour to the gaming experience of SHIII.

Kind regards to all, LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Now finish up yor drinks and get started, don't you suppose I have other boats coming in all the time"

I coughed nervously.

" Sir,..is... that is...er..I was hoping to see..."

Doenitz drained his glass and ushered us out.

"Ah, yes my Heidi. You foolish boy"

"0f course, I can't be seen to approve of my Kapitans fraternising with the lower ranks.."

No, Sir. Of course not, Sir"

"But she has paid special attention to the fortunes of your boat. Although I can't think why. You both smell like a couple of dead seals. Let me think now...."

"No, she's not here. Had to go immediately to Abbeville, after you docked."

'The Boys from Abbeville' The famous ace fighter Geschwader based in Northern France. I'll never be able to compete with them.

"I see, Sir."

Doenitz must have noticed my crestfallen face, and became grave.

"It's for a memorial service for a couple of their pilots. We always send someone, I can't remember who went down this time, there's been too many; but she volunteered to go. Now get yourself off to Berlin and enjoy yourself. A spot of home leave will do you good!"

And so we walked out towards the duty driver. Both more bewildered than when we walked in....

Leutnant de Bunsen, U-u6

[Laughing Swordfish]

The trip back to Germany was slightly surreal.

Me and Reuben just wanted to sleep, but were constantly awakened with snacks or champagne, by endless train stewards with swastikas on their armbands.

"Thank you, leave it and go!" I finally snapped.

We finally got to Berlin, our train, much to my shame having taken precedence over all civilian trains, several troop trains and even one with red crosses on a white background, displayed all over it, which had to pull over to let us pass.

Another bloody band was playing at the Bahnhoff, more speeches, and the smartest of the Liebstandarte SS received us very correctly and escorted us off to our temporary quarters on the Unter Den Linden with their polished boots. Thank God we didn't have to goose-step.

"Is this what you imagined your homecoming would be like, Reuben?"

He offered me a tired smile, and I could have bit my tongue. This couldn't be to his liking either. But shipwrecked in the Atlantic, I suppose he couldn't have hoped for any homecoming at all.

Soon we are courteously taken through a labyrinth of identity checks, to be kept waiting for two hours in the ante room of our Great Leader. There is a hive of activity, Staff officers and clerks are scurrying back and forth with sheaths of papers and rolls of maps. Very senior officers are pacing up and down on the carpet, waiting impatiently to be seen.

Us two u-boat scruffs sit quitely by. We know too well our own depth.

Reuben turns disconsolately to me:

"Now I really could use a cigarette , Herr Kaleun."

"Couldn't we all, lad."

We both looked up and snapped to attention. It was General Guderian. The Victor over France. Some of the Army boys say that he rides his panzers as fast as Indian ponies.

"Sir!"

"At ease gentlemen," he nodded towards the huge oak doors.

"You're next. But don't be long. There's a lot going on...."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[lafeeverted]

Amazing! First time I have read this thread, can't believe I missed this for all these months. Now I am hooked :up: This should be a "sticky" topic, or listed somewhere as a must read for all forum visitors.

[donw]

SECONDED!!!
:rock: :up: :rock:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Thirded!!!!! :up: :up: :up:

[bookworm_020]

Vote is carried by all!

when you speak to the fuhrer, don't mention the war!

if you bump into Göring, refer to him as Meyer! :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

We are ushered in, and the doors close behind us.

Any number of staff officers are there, poised readily with notebooks or files in hand.

We see him. Hunched over a huge 'bird table' of what seems to be Eastern Europe. Demanding reports and map overlays angrily from a harassed staff.

The orderly coughs politely

"Officers of U-46 and U-467 to see you, mein Fuhrer"

The crowd of lackeys parts, and we get a better look.

In a drab dun-coloured tunic and trousers, with an SS Eagle on his left sleeve, a diminutive man turns from the map table. A lock of lank dark hair falling down from his forehead. And that unmistakeable moustache.

"Yes, yes of course, our heroes of the deep!"

He pumped our hands with great excitement. Whatever land war forgotten for the moment.

"And which of you saved the other?"

"Well, Mein Fuhrer..." Reuben started..

"..Never mind, never mind! The German people salute you! Bring me those medals!"

He pinned them onto our chests. The Oak Leaves. A huge honour, but I couldn't help noticing as the Aide de Camp tidied away, that there was a whole box of them.

Obviously heroes of the Reich come cheaper by the dozen.

"Great work against the English. Soon we will send our finest battleship to smash their naval power, and you will all be home soon. Now we have bigger fish to fry!"

A number of the staff tried to intervene discreetly at this incaution, but Hitler would not be stopped.

"England was never our enemy in the long term, oh no! We have sent her running back to her shores, and you must keep it that way. But here....!"

He made a grand gesture at the map. Stabbing his finger at Moscow.

"Here is where Germany's destiny lies!

"Russia, mein Fuhrer?"

"Yes, Russia, Leutnant! We have only to kick in the doors and the whole rotten building will come crashing down! At dawn tomorrow, the Bolsheviks won't know what hit them!"

"Yes, my Fuhrer"

We were clearly not meant to hear any of this, and were even kept under armed guard by OKW until H-Hour was reached.

Reuben turned to me

"Russia?"

I pulled a small face.

"Well maybe we can pull it off. We have done so far"

"What about that stuff about going home, Sir?"

"Trust me, Reuben, I reckon that we'll still be dodging destroyers this time next year. And when it happens we can explain that we have it on Herr Hitler's authority that we shouldn't be there. Now, what are we going to do with the rest of our leave? God help me I'm already missing U-46 after this madness. Any ideas...?

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Oberon]

Brilliant work! :D :D :D :D :D
I love the fact you used the 'rotten building' quote :up:

And you put in Guderian as well! :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

My parents are not around anymore.

Neither are Reuben's. But his Uncle still has a house in Hamburg. and since that''s where we both hail from, and we have the use of a staff car, I suggest that we should go there, and revisit our old stamping ground.

Reuben is strangely reticent about the idea.

But we arrive there all the same.

His Uncle, Fritz, is not a little shocked to see two decorated naval officers at his door, but soon recovers his surprise and embraces his long unseen Nephew. His welcome to me was more reserved, and did I notice some silently mouthed communication between Nephew and Uncle, which I was not supposed to see?

Soon we are sitting down to a hearty meal of mutton and sauerkraut. (I thought it should normally be knuckle of pork, but it still tasted great)

Towards the end of the meal, and the wine is being poured, there is a definite bumping noise from the attic.

Uncle Fritz has closed his eyes, and Reuben is staring at me intently.

"Damned mice, Sir."

"Damned big mice, Reuben", I tried to joke.

"Sir..." Reuben sighed,

"You know my name is Reuben; my Uncle's real name is Isaac."

He swallowed some wine.

"Does that give you a clue, Sir?"

"Yes. Yes it does, Reuben..."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[CV-707]

WOW! I just read all the posts on this topic; and I must say that you're a star! Keep it coming; I'm drooling after the next chapter!!!
:up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Uncle Isaac laid down his knife and fork.

"Yes, I am a Jew, obviously my family and friends, too, Herr Leutnant."

"I suppose it is your duty to report us to the authorities"

"But I am German, and served as a young machine gunner on the Western Front in the last war. I never dreamed then that it would come to this. Reuben here is half jewish on his father's side. My brother who fell on the Somme, fighting for his country. Despite all that's going on, I'm proud that Reuben is fighting for his country too, and we're very grateful to have him back in our arms. But we have been trying to survive the last few crazy years, until things become normal again. You must do your duty, but our lives depend on you."

I didn't know what to say. I had heard rumours of course, but never imagined it was like this.

Isaac fell silent. Reuben just stared at me, his body language told me that he would use his very cutlery to defend his family against the rifle butts and truncheons of the Gestapo, if need be.

I rose from the table. And took off my tunic.

"You don't have a rodent problem in your attic, Herr Francks. You have some human people up there who I am sure would be more comfortable down here joining us for supper. I'd be delighted if they would join us, even though I won't ever be able to remember meeting them..."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[donw]

My goodness Herr Swordfish!
You keep this up and you might have a best seller on the shelves with the right publisher!! :rock:

[Gizzmoe]

Thread stickied.

[Crash Dive]

Finally its a stickey post :rock:

[U-104]

:up: :up: :rock: :rock: :|\ :|\ :cool: :cool: :sunny: :sunny: :|\ :|\ :rock: :rock: :cool: :cool: :up:

[CV-707]

Thanks for stickying it Gizz!
;) ;) ;) ;)

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Thread stickied.

What took ya so long :-j

[Mast]

This IS a great read. Just like others have said, I would by-pass this thread but glad I didn't this time. :) All I can say is wow!! Can't wait for the next installment. :up:

Mast

[bookworm_020]

Great to see it's been stickied. Now all can enjoy this great story and get more into the mood of the game. Hope to hear more in the very near future. :up: :up: :up:

[Curval]

My goodness Herr Swordfish!
You keep this up and you might have a best seller on the shelves with the right publisher!! :rock:

Agreed. But keep quiet..he might stop posting the story and then we are all gonna have to buy it.

:lol: .

[donw]

Just tell me where to send the money!! I have transportation arranged below to go pick it up!! :yep:

[CV-707]

I dont have! :cry: :cry: :cry:

My own signature transportation was just blown up!

[Laughing Swordfish]

It was time to take the train back to France.

Germany had frankly scared me, but I had a particular reason to get back to St Nazaire, and not just the strange umbilical tie that I felt for U-46 when I was parted from her for too long.

"How will your Uncle cope, Reuben?" I asked as the train rattled back through Belgium.

There had been four young children, three girls and a boy, all heart-breakingly young, none fully understanding what was happening to them. Their parents, and an elderly couple, all of whom had initially regarded me with trepidation and fear, to my shame, when they were enticed down from the attic.

"I don't know, Sir. My Uncle does his best, but there's no ration cards for them. They don't exist anymore."

"Well, we always have some tinned food left over from each patrol. It's not food fit for a King exactly, but it would be a shame to see it go to waste. Maybe next time we come in you could see your way clear to getting rid of it for me. I'm sure the coxswain would lend you a hand; he's good at that sort of thing."

"Thank you, Sir, for everything. But you mean...?"

"Off course, Reuben. If I have anything to do with it, you'll be sailing with our boat, the next time out."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

We changed at the Gare du Nord in Paris.

Reuben stared wistfully out of the window.

"In all my travels, Sir, I've always wanted to visit Paris, but now..."

"..Now, I just want to get back to the Boat Pens.."

"Me too, Reuben, let's keep pressing on."

Eventually we are arriving back in St Nazaire, and of course the first port of call is the Chat Noir where we know our boys will always end up.

An oily haired 7th Flotilla Desk Captain is there insisting on a presentation and speech, but is given short shrift. The U-46 lads are all around, with raucous cheers, and they get first priority.

It's so good to be back.

Even better is Freddie and his seniors from U-122, absolutely legless at the Bar. He took at least four, and holed at least three more which between me and Stephan who is also there, we took the credit for finally putting down. According to him, the reason U-46 had such an easy time of it was that the Tommies ran out of depth charges stalking his boat. He's always complaining but he may be right. Anyway it's great to see him again.

"And what about Max?" I hardly dared to ask.

Freddie frowned.

"Not so good"

He looked at the drop in my face and laughed

"I only mean he's round the back throwing up! He'll be here in a minute!"

Sure enough, Max came roaring back into the Club, blaming a bad bottle of champagne and then ordering two more.

After much back-slapping the story emerged from U-213's patrol.

Max had spotted the convoy first and got off a quick contact report, but instead of shadowing, he had drove right into them. He took three on his first run. He had to lose a couple of destroyers, who in his words "were very upset". He managed to break off, but sufferred serious damage, including to his radio room which killed Braun, his signaller, *and buggered up the radio".

"We went in next night, but we could only send morse by my Quartermaster touching two bare wires together, and he hardly knows the code at all. That's when we last spoke to you. I got him to send 'Oink'!"

"Anyway the boat wasn't handling well at all, and we only nabbed a small one on the second night, and then they gave us quite a kicking. Nearly lost her then...."

Max paused, and I could tell he was back in his Control Room re-living those desperate moments.

"I've never dived so deep. The boys didn't fancy it much," he grimaced. "Anyway we finally shook them off, and then it was time to haul our sorry arse home. It woudn't do to not get back" he smiled

"This is Reuben Franks", I replied.

"He did make it back, but not his boat unfortunately"

"Yes, we heard about that. Welcome home Reuben" Freddie said solemnly shaking his hand, and Max followed suit.

"He's going to be serving on ours next time"

Which reminded me.

"Is Otto back from leave, fellows?"

"Yes", said Freddie,

"He's over there..."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[CV-707]

MORE! GIVE US MORE!

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[bookworm_020]

Bring on the action. I'm starting to miss the sound of bulkheads imploding. :rock: :rock: :rock:

[donw]

Go get some popcorn or something!!
We're enjoying the WHOLE movie!!

[lafeeverted]

Heidi!?!?

[Laughing Swordfish]

Happy Christmas, everyone, and many heartfelt thanks.

In answer to the last replies, I'm getting there!

As the title of the story says, I'm anxious to put to sea again myself.

But there's a couple more things to tie up...

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Hello Otto!"

We embrace as old friends do, before I sit down.

"How was it in Berlin, Sir?"

"I wouldn't have wished you there, Otto. It's more crazy than Kerneval. Err..I hear there's a new Eastern offensive underway, but I've been on a train for the last few days. What news?"

Otto grinned.

"They tell us that our Armies are rolling up Ivan at a great pace! We'll soon be in Moscow, and then we can all think about going home for good"

"Yes, well, Otto, my friend, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."

Otto placed his glass down, and looked at me quizzically.

"What do you mean , Sir?"

"How was Frankfurt, Otto? How his Gertie and the baby she's carrying?"

He beamed.

Fantastic, on all counts, Sir! When she opened the door to find me standing there, well....."

Otto's words failed him for the moment. I could only imagine his homecoming. Only imagine. There is no one waiting for some of us, well not for me; and the only time I have experienced it was a kind old man who lived in fear of a knock at the door from someone in German uniform.

I shuddered and yearned at the same time.

"...And the baby's fine Herr Kaleun, we are hoping for a girl....or a boy...and....."

Otto burbled happily on

"Otto, I've been thinking that you've done more than enough of your bit"

"What, Sir?"

"That you can maybe take a shore-based job, now that you have a child, and it wouldn't be fair for you to go out again."

Otto's eyes opened wide

"What , Sir"

"There's an opening coming up in Flotilla HeadQuarters, and they need someone with some sea experience, let's face it - we've both said the same - and it would be safer, and..."

"Are you trying to get rid of me, Sir?"

"No! No, Otto. I need you on the U-46, you know that, but you also know now things have changed for you, and I thought if I could get you off active duty and spend more time with...

" No! No, Sir! Don't do it. This is my boat as much as yours! you can't discharge me!"

Otto had risen from his chair and dashed his glass to the ground

"Noone knows the engines and the Control Room as well as me. And it's that Reuben isn't it? You're replacing me with an upstart who lost his boat and wants to take mine!"

(Actually mine, I thought, but I admired the sentiment, and me and Otto were a great double act when at sea)

"I just thought you might want to get out of it while the going's good, Otto. It's going to get pretty rough from here on in. And I'm giving you the chance"

"No, Sir!" he repeated wildly, but then looked at me silently for a while, as I impatiently waved curious officers away.

Otto subsided into his seat, and eventually continued

"We're still at war. How could I go home to Gertie with the job half-done. I'm not supersticious like Willi, but I do believe U-46 has one of the best run boats in the Kriegsmarine, at least in my department. And we have a good chance of seeing it out. By staying with our boat, I'll have the best chance of fighting for Gertie and the baby's security and future. You need me Kap!"

"Yes I do, Otto, but I had to offer you the choice. You're still my Chief, my friend, and I'm very glad to hear it if you're sure"

We were bent over the table towards each other as the drinks came, and everyone else was waved away while we discussed who should make way for Francks, who would be a definite asset to the boat and come under Otto's wing.

It was going to be old Wofram (all of 32 years) who had made a couple of minor maintenance mistakes, but was actually starting to suffer from respiratory problems from the confined space of the engine room.

Just as we agreeing on that, Otto looked up from the table. He suddenly drained his glass, and said

"Time for me to go, Herr Kaleun"

I looked up surprised at his sudden departure and followed his gaze.

Heidi

Suddenly standing over my table; and then without a word, bending forward and kissing me....

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[CV-707]

You know how to stop the story in the best part!

MORE!!!
I'M ADDICTED!

:arrgh!: :arrgh!: :arrgh!:

[HundertzehnGustav]

Heidi is back and Otto Stays....

Dude i really Hope you save these up each time you write them...
could be a good nights story for your son, if you happen too have one.

Damn fine reading....
DAMN :up: :rock:

[donw]

Damn fine reading....
DAMN :up: :rock:

Could'nt have said it better myself!!! (as the moderator would probably banish me anyway!) :rock:

[Laughing Swordfish]

(only copied in the sense that I started putting it on a website:)

laughingswordfish.net

And I still need to get on with the editing and updating of that as it is way behind. The patrol stories are real in the sense that they are real SHIII outings, (except for my invention of a WolfPack), so I really don't know how it will all turn out.

And none of us do.

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

When Heidi's lips met mine, and held there longer....

... these were dreams I'd often had on the night bridge watch. Always truly alone as Commander especially when under attack.
Heidi had always been in my thoughts,

For all my bellowing on the Bridge or in the Control Room or wherever, I couldn't think of a thing to say.

She kissed me again this time on the cheek with her hand cradling the other side of my head.

"Welcome home, my hero"

".. well I'm not really a hero, you see..."

"You're my hero you idiot! You always have been. Can I sit with you, Sir?"

Desperately keeping up some semblance and pretence of protocol, as she sat down so close to me, I attempted to introduce myself.

"Well, you know that my name is Kapitan Leutnant de Bunsen, I stammered. That seemed rather stiff, but I was new to these things.

"My first name is Raoul, it's not a German name, but.."

"I know. But everyone calls you Rolley in 7th Flotilla."

"Do they! Why?"

Because of your attempts at skiing on leave from Kiel, when there was more snow on you than on the slope down in Bavaria!"

"Well yes, but my crew never call me that."

"No, Rolley, not to your face"

I laughed.

"Heidi, can I just say how much I have....

"Yes Herr Kaleun?"

"Well I guess you can call me, Rolley"

Heidi laughed, but leaned closer.

"Er..it,s just that I'd really like to take you...

"Yes?"

Suddenly there was a commotion at the door. No uncommon occurence at the Black Cat. Couriers from Kerneval fighting their way through drunken sailors to deliver despatches.

Heidi dropped her head.

"I thought we had more time"

She looked up at me apologetically, as yet another brown envelope was thust in my lap for me to sign for.

And placed her beautiful hand over mine that was trying to open the envelope.

I looked at her bewildered

"It means that a major naval operation is underway. and all available u-boats are to join the operation."

"Well I was only with the Fuhrer a couple of days ago, what can it be.

"We both have to go. As she stood up I noticed for the first time the swordfish badge on her coat that she must have got from one of the lads.

"Well what is it, Heidi!"

"My darling, the Bismark is sailing"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

And then she was gone.

Hell of a night.

Heidi

But our best battleship is coming out to take them on

But Heidi actually kissed me!

I shook my head. It's time to go fishing again.

It's supposed to be an officer's car, but I'm cramming in as many of my men as I can, and taking their beer bottles off them as I can, and then insisting he goes back for the others.

My mind is racing. The Bismark. The greatest, sleekest and most powerful ship the world has ever known. We know she's been biding her time in Norway. Now it won't be us just carrying the fight. Well, she must come round from the North. I guess excitedly that when she breaks out into the Atlantic, whatever scattered convoys, or even better, the odd capital ship may fall into the path of the likes of us.

And Heidi kissed me!

"First Officer, report the Boat and Crew!" I demand on racing along the pens, until we get to ours"

The hasty parade we're having is not quite battleship standard.

"All fifty one men reported in, Sir!"

"The U-46 is ready for sea!"

In an aside, Christian whispered,

"I think some of them might be drunk, Sir"

"I'd say most of them, including me, and this has just interrupted the most ....Never mind Christian, go to see us off properly, but give me at least eight clear eyes upstairs. I''ve got some orders and charts to go through. I want good navigation down the estuary, you know the course. Wake me if you need me but in all events when we come out into the Bay, or daylight is approaching, or any other emergency including the cook making coffee."

And so the U-46 puts to sea again.

Lt de Bunsen

[HundertzehnGustav]

:roll:
and WHEN can he have some time off with her?

not thqai i want to know every detail of what happens then, but good lord, give this Kaleun what he deserves!!

Jeesus, load up the TI s and TII s and here we go again.
good luck, fella. ;)

[donw]

Awwwww come on Swordfish!!!
You COULD have given the poor guy ONE more night in port!!!
:dead:

You be darn careful out there Mate!!! This "movie" has GOT to continue!! :up: :rock:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

SWORDFISH!!!

I am speechless!

God I wish I could buy you a beer.

The way you go about this story is PERFECT!!!

Always do it YOUR WAY!

:rock: :rock: :rock:

[CV-707]

Aww! Poor Kaleun! How can you be so heartles? *Sniff :cry: * Lets just hope that it will all be fine for him and Heidi. Oh, and one more thing,

MORE!

[Laughing Swordfish]

Just to say I'm away for 4 days doing the whole Christmas thing, U-46 is alive and well somewhere out in the Bay of Biscay as we speak.

And I'm determined to make it back again.

Thank you so much one and all for your kind responses. I avidly read every one, and it really encourages me to write each episode.

My New Year's resolution is to bring the website up to date, and sink more ships! (and also brush up on my morse code!)

But anyway, you'll read it all here first!

Merry Christmas everybody, and thanks again.

LS

[Oberon]

Just to say I'm away for 4 days doing the whole Christmas thing, U-46 is alive and well somewhere out in the Bay of Biscay as we speak.

And I'm determined to make it back again.

Thank you so much one and all for your kind responses. I avidly read every one, and it really encourages me to write each episode.

My New Year's resolution is to bring the website up to date, and sink more ships! (and also brush up on my morse code!)

But anyway, you'll read it all here first!

Merry Christmas everybody, and thanks again.

LS

Biscay? Keep those binoculars trained Kaleun! Good sailing! And a Merry Christmas to yourself and all the crew of U-46!

[Bluewings]

Well , it has been a real pleasure to read what as become your novel Laughing Swordfish .

You do have a great talent :D

I have been reading your words and ... I am hooked ! Characters are vivid ! Willy and Otto especialy .

Heidi found herself a true Sea Lover and admirable U-Boat Captain . They both deserve to spend more time together but being a Skipper is a rather busy life ... :-?

Some posters did bring the idea of possibly publishing your writing and I entirely agree with the idea . Nevertheless , keep your website updated .

This is my 1st post here as I am usually on :
http://www.steelbeasts.com/

I am a Frenchman living in UK (Sidmouth , Devon) and I am a Mod/Designer for the Tank Sim "Steel Beasts" . That being said , Tanks are not my only passion as I have my own Boat too ~VII-B Class , U-100 "BlackCat" , 2nd Flotilla) .

To cut it short Laughing Swordfish , keep up the good work
:up:
You have one more fan :)

Cheers .

[Drebbel]

This is my 1st post here as I am usually on :
http://www.steelbeasts.com/

Welcome aboard Bluewings.

Just checked your websit, never saw any ingame tanksim footage, was sure fun to watch it :up:

[Bluewings]

Thx for the welcome Drebbel . :)

I 'll gladly explain what Steel Beasts ~SB~ is all about , but obviously not on this special thread .

Swordfish , my Boat is in Lorient and is especialy rigged to go after Destroyers . I keep 'em busy while boat like yours can wreck havoc on the convoy ;) . I know BE like the back of my hand and I 'll happily give you a hand if we ever met at sea .

I find it funny that you and your crew drink in "Le Chat noir" as it is the name of my boat ! :lol: I 'll try to give you a quick visit in a couple of days as U-100 "BlackCat" is in dock for minor repairs .

We encountered a "Clemson Class" on its way back from Gibraltar in heavy Sea and the bugger jumped on us in the harshest mannner :x
We sent it down the bottom like an anvil in a pool , but not before it managed to damaged my front deck and destroyed my 88mm ...
It was a close call ... :-?

Cheers .

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/6876/u100blackcat7dv.jpg

[Steeltrap]

At the risk of being killed for being pedantic, Bismarck was sunk 27th May '41 whereas Barbarossa began 22nd June '41, so you're a bi out of synch with your timing.

Having said that (I'm just teasing), it's a fun read, especially when my partner is a real-life "Heidi". Her mother is German and escaped Eastern Germany soon after WWII as a very young girl.....

:rock:

[Laughing Swordfish]

Hey Guys, I'm back. I hope you had a good Christmas?

I knew this was coming. Yes, the Bismark did go out earlier than I have said. There's probably a lot of other historical inaccuracies that, not to mention typing mistakes, need to be sorted out.

I'm just telling a story as close to the terrible original as I can.

The 'Black Cat' came to me out of the blue (must have been memories of AoD), but I'm really glad that someone is carrying the emlem.

You might find U-100 pitched into the action rather soon.

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

Well we're out.

The Bay is the feeding tray for the Birds of Prey that periodically come round for a nibble, or often a swoop.

"I don't like this, Bruno" I murmur,

"The sky is too clear"

I looked across at U-100, with much better mounted AA guns than us, and he could sense the same unease.

"Clear the bridge, Number Two. Too much daylight. We're going below for a while.

Looking across at U-100 he seemed to have made the same decision. His semaphore lamp winked at me briefly, and then I saw
his men disappearring below in an orderly fashion.

"Tell Otto to put us down to 12. Get Viktor up here. We need to relay the message on."

We had U-513 away to our starboard, yet another 'green' boat, and U-711 beyond her. The idea being that there's safety in numbers getting away from France.

The first we knew of it was the 'punch, punch, punch': the repetitive noise of a 20mm answering to the call from the heavens.

Then I could see the tracer arcing up seemingly lazily at red intervals, from U- 711, previously just a distant speck on our starboard flank, and now fighting for her life.

That dot in the sky, they were firing at was turning into a Sunderland.

"As quick as you please, Bruno. I should think we may be paid an unpleasant visit in the next thirty seconds. Tell the Chief to drop us like a stone!"

Most of the watch were halfway down but my Number Two didn't need to be asked twice. I could hear him yelling at Otto even as I clamped the last two lids and slithered (less gracefully than I would have wished) down into the Control Room.

"What is it, Sir?"

"Bloody aircraft, Willi, what did you expect? The Good Fairy?"

Suitably chastened, Willi resumed his battle station by the chart table. It won't use much of his pencil lead to work out our progress at this slow rate.

He lifts his chalkboard. Another of his jobs is to mark off the number of depth charges dropped.

Most of the surviving boats do this. It's not all about crew morale, and striking out all the ones that haven't killed us. As a guide for me, it's good to know as a commander how many my friend up there has chanced his arm with. Unless it's changed for better or worse, and she might have already dropped some somewhere else, I can get a feel, or hope to, for when she might be giving up the chase, maybe even take a pop back at her? It's happened once.

Yes damn it, there are too many possible variables. But you know what Willi is like for his lucky mascots, and if there's anything that holds the boys together in the preliminary stages of a depth charge attack, it's Willi confidently holding his little blackboard. He nearly ran out of chalk once or twice though. (but as he pronounced proudly):

"I may run out of chalk for the depth charges, Kap, but I'll never get it wet!"..............

"I think we should be ok, boys but keep us going down. A nice straight line, please Otto"

There are three other boats in relatively tight formation who are probably swimming about all over the place. It wouldn't be good to collide with one of them underwater now, however freaky the accident might seem. It has happened in training in the Baltic.

"Hans! Give me good sub-surface reports"

I think we have ducked away in good time; as Otto says, it's all or nothing if they catch us on the surface. But I'm concerned about the others. U-100 seemed to be heading down before , or at least the same time as we sought sanctuary.

But the other two 'younger' boats were slower off the mark in diving before it turned nasty. At least U-711 was slugging it out with them on the top.

"What do you think, Sir?" said Christian, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and trying to find out about this new threat.

It could be either or both of them, Number One. I don't think they dived in time. At least the picket boat, U-711 put some flak up. Maybe they managed to drive him off, but...

...I tailed off. It couldn't have been nice for those youngsters to see their senior commanders of the Pack vanishing beneath the waves But that's what it's like out here. The Devil takes the hindmost.

"... Well we'll soon know, Christian, you know what a depth charge sounds like surely. And we've sunk enough ships for you to be familiar with the noise of a vessel breaking up underwater. Sorry to be morbid about it, but..."

Hans interrupted us.

"Depth charges, Sir!"

And with the loud crack, boom and unforgettable sound of rending metal, even from a kilometre away at most, from the expression on Christian's face,I could see that he was listening to the sound of his own death...

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[soundken]

couldnt read your beutiful work without thanking the author
Im especially liking it since we share the same u boat designation(u-46) and are almost at the same point in the campaign. i read the storys of the legendary Herr Kaleun to them and i swear they are more motivated
The laughing swordfish is the first boat i look for in the pens upon my arival back to port
May we both see it through and meet at the chat de noir for a beer when its all over Herr Kaleun,
good luck, and sink them all :()1:

ps: i just did that "preview" thing to myself :damn: posts as valuble as yours should typed out in word or somthin then pasted in ;) i know i for one dont want to lose a single word to the digital abyss :up:
Happy New Year, thanks for the read
Lt De Holt (the other U-46)

[Camaero]

While I can't say I have read them all yet, I have really enjoyed every one I have! Just keep it up and I will keep on loving this stuff! :up:

[magick]

very very nice writing:)

[U-104]

:up: :up: :up: :up: :|\ :|\ :|\ :|\ :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :rock: :rock: :rock: :rock: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :arrgh!:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

:sunny: :sunny: :sunny:

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Hans?"

"Two other sets of screws below the water, Sir, both U-boats, one to port approximately 400m"

(That'll be U-100. Well done, you old salt)

"Another one, further off to starboard, hard to tell the distance yet"

He grimaced wryly,

"There's other noise interference"

It didn't take the brains of Einstein to know what he meant. It was clearly audible. The mournful song of a vessel going down. The odd final crack of bulkheads giving way, the background noise of air escaping, and worse, the keening whine of metal breaking open, like a whale's song. A song of anguish. A mortally wounded whale.

We'd heard it often enough, and even cheered at it. This was one of ours, and everyone was quiet in the Control Room.

"Well they didn't dare come for us this time, menschen! And anyway we're always too quick for them"

I attempted to lighten the mood.

A few forced smiles around the crew.

"Level again at periscope depth, Sir" reports Otto

"Anything from the other boats, Viktor?"

"Nothing, Sir, I doubt if they had time"

"Can you transmit and receive from this depth?"

"Should be able to, Sir"

"Try and raise the other two boats periodically. They might still be too deep at the moment, whichever one made it."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Red light on! Prepare to surface at my command!"

I'd checked the charts again with Willi, and Hans had given me regular sonar reports. Remarkably, U-100 had kept a rough station with us underwater.

That's Goelf in her. Bernhardt; or Bernie to his mates in the Club, which is everyone.

I was surprised when he came out with us, I thought he was sunk, or more likely locked up long before now. Bernie was a bit of a maverick. And that's saying something in the U-bootwaffe.
A habit of speaking his mind, when senior officers are talking rubbish, and had his own table at the 'Cat', but it had been empty for a while. Popular in the Flotilla for his unfallibly jolly attitude, and good to his men, he could still kick them into action when needed.

So that's two of us. Where, or who is the third out of the four we started with?

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[CV-707]

I cant stand waiting for more! I'm seriously addicted to your stories!

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Call Wolfram in, Coxswain"

I rubbed my forehead. It had all happened too quickly from a table with Heidi, back to the sea.

Much too bloody quickly.

"Cap off! Stand to attention!" barked the Coxswain enjoying himself.

"Wait outside, Cox, and be ready to bring in the unteroffiziers"

Wolfram stood before me. He coughed nervously. In fact he couldn't help coughing all the time.

"Hello Wolfram. How is it going with you?"

"Very (cough) well, Sir, (cough) Am I in any trouble, Sir, Because if it's about that oil valve check, I...?

"No, of course not, Wolfram. Just a chat. Tell me, you live in Magdeburg don't you?"

"Yes, Sir"

"The Cathedral there is quite something isn't it?"

"Yes, Sir, (cough) Magdeburg is a beautiful City and..."

"...And you have quite a family back there, nicht wahr?"

"Oh yes, Sir, three girls (cough) and two boys. They both want to join the Army and..."

"Quite so, Wolfram. How would you like to spend more time closer to them? Get some fresh air for once, and go home to them more often?

"I would like (cough) nothing better, Sir, but I belong here, Sir, on the U-46!"

"Yes, Wolfram, but you have done your duty, nobody could have done more. I'm recommending you for your outstanding service to take up a training post back in Germany. We need good men like you, and so does your family. I know we're at sea now, but next time we put in at St Nazaire, I want you to be ready with your kitbag and rush off home home to your wife and kids. We'll deal with the paperwork. What do you say?"

"Thank you , Sir!

"Good. Now look to those engines, because we're not home yet"

"Yes, Herr Kaleun"

"And another thing, Wolfram, I wouldn't like to hear that this had got about amongst the boys who are staying on, otherwise I might have to rethink my decision. You'll do you're duty while we're still on patrol or the Chief Engineer will want to know the reason why, and so will I!"

"Yes (cough), Yes, Sir!"

I looked at my watch. I'm hoping to surface soon.

"Next, Coxswain!"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Bluewings]

The good thing is , we don 't have to wait long for the Author to report in :) ;)

Cheers .

[Laughing Swordfish]

Otto and Reuben cram themselves into my cabin.

Reuben makes some effort at coming to attention, I wouldn't expect more than a shuffle of feet from Otto.

Those drill pigs were the bane of his life back in the depot; probably why he never made officer first time. Much more happy with machinery, which is why the instructors picked on him and called him an 'oily rag'

Anyway.

"What the devil do you mean by stowing away on my boat, Francks? And what do you mean by concealing it, Chief?"

"But, Sir, you said..."

"Never mind what I said. There are procedures. Have you any idea of the paperwork this will involve? The number of clerks who will be scurrying about because of this?"

"No, Sir"

"No Sir

"No!" I thundered

But I couldn't keep it up any longer.

"And I couldn't care less, either!"

"Welcome aboard again, Reuben. I trust the Chief here is showing you the ropes, and don't let him kid you or me that we're down to our last lite of fuel. He's a devil for that. It may take a bit of sorting out at BdU when we get back, but I'm prepared to do that exceptionally in this case."

Otto smirked at this, (as if to say, 'any pretty young clerk in particular?')

"What are you smiling at, Chief?"

He straightened his face as best he could.

And my show of temper was running out of steam, but with one last gathering of bluster.

"Well you'll have to hot bunk it between you. Wolfram is leaving us after this patrol, and then with a bit of re-arranging, you'll have your own pit, Reuben"

"Yes, Sir"

"Yes, Sir"

"We're going back in one piece, with everyone on board, and with some tonnage on the board, alles klar?"

"Yes, Sir!" they chimed

"Well what are you waiting for? First Watch have been stood under the ladder in their oilskins for the last half hour! One of you surface us, and the other be ready to start the diesels, we won't win the war by pootling along down here all night!"

"Sir!"

And then they were gone. Bending through the boat to their stations.

A good old squint through the observation scope, and then

"Surface!"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Bluewings]

I 'm convinced Reuben will do well ...

Cheers .

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Well, this is what it looks kike lads,"

I had Christian, Otto and Willi with me in the cabin

Doenitz's sealed orders to me were unequivocal.

"Uncle doesn't believe in capital ships, you know him, he's a U-boat man, and we should be thankful for that. Our job is to be merchant tonnage. And that's what we'll do..

But if the Bismark breaks out, and starts making a mess of the Halifax convoys, or starts drawing the big ships of the Royal Navy on to her, guess where the U-46 will be, if we can!

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Bluewings]

You take care of yourself "Swordfish" , as something is telling me that Bismark will run into trouble ...

Stay out of it if you can :hmm:

Cheers .

[HundertzehnGustav]

i have a feeling he will never make it Home to Magdeburg... cant define it, but i feel something evil coming this mans way. :o :-?

Hmmm....

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Can you all keep quiet! Now I've lost it, and I'll have to ask for a repeat, you idiots!"

Viktor was yelling at the assembled company of every off-watch officer, including me , who had gathered round his radio cabin. But to a man we all backed off, chastened.

The dits and dahs flew through the air to his pencil, for some minutes.

"How's Kaiserslautern getting on against Bremen in the quarter finals?" ventured Bruno.

"Shut up, Number Two!" I growled.

"What is it Viktor?"

He was busily punching the keys of the Enigma, oblivious of any impatient officers standing around him.

"One moment, Sir", but his eyes were gleaming with excitement

"Looking big, Sir!"

"All right gentlemen, and you , Bruno. Wait in the Wardroom. We'll know soon enough"

But I hung around Victor's cabin myself like a naughty schoolboy.

Viktor finally thrust the message triumphantly in my hand.

"Sorry sir, but I hope it was worth waiting for"

I took it into my cabin, and read it.

Made the short journey to the expectant officers of my crew.

"Gentlemen, the Hood is sunk, and the Bismark is out!"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Bluewings]

Yes !! :P

I recieved the message too Kaleun ...
That will keep the Brits stunned for a little while . It 's up to us to take advantage of it :up:

B. Goelf out .

Cheers .

[Laughing Swordfish]

"The Bismark and the Prinz Eugen smashed her to bits, lads, no contest! Also sent the Prince of Wales scurrying away with her bum spanked!"

"Pass the word. Never mind wolves, my friends, we have a charging rhino out in the North Atlantic!"

Huge cheers as the news was passed.

Me Willi and Christian looked at the map again.

She may have just boldly struck out in the wide gap between Scotland and Iceland. God knows we've had to do it often enough, but we're no bloody great battleship.

Or maybe she was crafty and went through the Denmark Straits, the northern side of Iceland?

Either way the Northern Fleet managed to find her, and she gave battle and won!

That has really thrown the cat among the pigeons.

We'e still a couple of whole grid blocks from where Willi and I think she might be. But well placed for any eventuality, including the sailing of the Gibraltar Fleet. Wouldn't that be something if I could get Otto his Ark Royal!

Something I didn't read out, though. Bismark took a hit in her oil bunkers, and we are already hearing repeated orders for auxilliary fuelling ships (and we have precious few of those) to report in and make their way to the North East Atlantic...

Lt de Bunsen, U-46