Syxx_Killer
10-03-05, 12:40 PM
This took a while for me to do. I hope you all like it. Enjoy. :D
This is the story of a U-boat commander named Otto. Otto is a part of the 1st Flotilla based in Brest, France. He is in command of U-137. U-137 is a type IID U-boat. Otto really likes his type IID. It is small, nimble, and can dive in a moment's notice. It only carries five torpedoes, but Otto looks at it strategically. He must choose his targets well and place his fish at the right spot. Otto is always up for the challenge.
Before boarding U-137, Otto was reviewing his patrol assignment. The date was January 29, 1941. The time was 15:00 local. He was ordered to patrol grid BF21. He was discussing the assignment with his top four officers: Viktor Kimmelman (Watch Officer), Fritz Friederichs (Chief Engineer), Otto Totenhagen (Navigation Officer), and Udo Hartenstien (Weapons Officer).
"We have been assigned to patrol grid BF21," Otto said.
Otto T. replied, "BF21? But sir..."
"Yes, I know. We will have to be extra vigilant for aircraft. Viktor, I am going to need you and your watch crew to be extra vigilant when we get to BF27. Also be on the lookout for those blasted destroyers. Otto, you will have to be extra careful with your plotted course. There will be no room for error. Once on station we will submerge the boat and serve our 24 hours. Once we are finished, we will head west towards BF15 to continue our hunt. Let's board the boat now."
U-137 would get no band on the way out. She would slip silently out of her subpen.
"Chief, set speed ahead slow."
"Yes sir. Ahead slow."
"Otto, plot course for BF21."
"Yes sir."
The time was now 15:48 local. There were numerous ships at anchor. The only signs of life were the two Luftwaffe aircraft patrolling over the harbor, the armed trawler escort, and a commerce raider that was sailing around the harbor.
It was now January 30 - 24 hours after slipping out of the subpen. U-137 was making its way along at six knots and was about to change course and head towards BF21. It was a cloudless sky. Fog was nil and winds were out of the north at five meters per second. At 15:21 U-137 made course change and headed towards its assignment grid. It would be another 11 and a half hours before U-137 would reach the grid.
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/6707/sh3img3102005113756627zu.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img3102005113756627zu.jpg)
The radioman (Wilhelm Barsch) said, "Herr Kaleun, I just received a report of a possible merchant contact to the northwest."
"Thank you."
Otto T. asked, "Shall we intercept? We certainly have enough fuel and we would be in a good position."
Otto replied, "Yes, let's intercept."
Otto climbed up to the bridge to bring the news to Viktor.
"Viktor, we have received a report of a possible merchant contact to the northwest. We will be changing course to intercept. Be extra vigilant."
"Yes sir," Viktor replied.
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/9839/sh3img31020051145402187mp.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img31020051145402187mp.jpg)
"Otto, change course to 282 degrees. Chief, set speed ahead standard."
"Change course to 282 degrees. Yes sir."
"Ahead standard. Yes sir."
U-137 promptly changed course and increased speed. They would now wait.
A little while later, Otto ordered U-137 to periscope depth.
"Ahead slow."
"Yes sir. Ahead slow."
A few minutes later the sonarman, Karl Creutz, reported enthusiastically, "Sound contact, sir! Merchant, moving slow. Closing! Bearing 038. Long range!"
"Thank you, Karl."
"Change course to 244 degrees."
"Yes sir. New course 244 degrees."
Otto asked Karl, "How far is the merchant?"
"Sir, the merchant is at medium range."
Otto raised the scope. He started watching for signs of a merchant vessel.
"All stop, he ordered.
"Yes sir, all stop," replied the Chief.
"Ahead 1/3," Otto ordered.
"Yes sir, ahead 1/3."
"There it is," Otto said softly, "Looks to be a small merchant."
"Udo, open tube 1. Set the torpedo to fast, impact pistol. Prepare to fire!
"Yes sir!"
"Do you have a solution?", Otto asked.
"Yes sir. Solution ready ready sir."
Otto yelled, "Fire tube 1!"
"Firing tube 1!," came the reply.
Otto watched his stopwatch without blinking. The seconds seemed to tick on forever.
Otto wondered, "The torpedo should have hit by now."
Udo quickly said, "Torpedo missed, sir!"
"Damn! Must have been a dud," Otto was furious. He didn't want to waste another torpedo on a small merchant. He said, "Set tube 2 for magnetic pistol. 8 meters. OPEN TUBE 2!"
"Udo! When you get a solution, fire!"
"Yes sir!" A short time later Udo said he had a solution to fire. "Firing tube 2!"
Otto again watched his stopwatch waiting, wondering if this torpedo, too, will be a dud.
Finally he heard, "Torpedo impact!"
"Yes! She's breaking in two!"
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/9696/sh3img3102005128304844cn.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img3102005128304844cn.jpg)
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/50/sh3img3102005121114068as.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img3102005121114068as.jpg)
Otto was excited, yet disappointed at the same time. He had sunk more allied shipping but had to use two torpedoes to do so. The small merchant feel prey in BF24.
Otto lowered the scope and ordered, "Surface the boat. Return to the plotted course. Ahead slow."
About 06:30, U-137 reached its patrol grid.
"Otto, take a sounding."
"Yes sir. Depth under keel is 96 meters."
"Submerge the boat. Take it down to 50 meters."
The Chief replied, "Yes sir. Set dive planes for normal dive! New depth 50 meters!"
Now they would serve out their 24 hours...
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/5563/sh3img31020051222332030hk.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img31020051222332030hk.jpg)
The 24 hours were up.
Otto said, "Let's take it up. Surface the boat. We need to replenish the battery and air supply. Otto, plot a course for BF15. Ahead slow."
The radioman broke in, "Just received a report of a merchant heading southwest away from us."
Otto T. spoke up, "We have enough fuel. Shall we pursue?"
Otto replied, "No. We will let that one slip away. These waters are active for merchant shipping. Let's conserve our fuel."
"Yes sir."
Otto said, "Otto, change course for BF13. We have three torpedoes left. Maybe we can use them on something worthwhile."
Otto T. replied, "Yes sir."
Just as the U-boat started to change course the radioman again broke in, "Sir. I just recieved another report of a possible merchant to our southwest. It is heading towards us at medium speed."
Without even letting Otto bring it up, Otto said to Otto, "Change course to intercept. Ahead full."
"Yes sir."
The Chief replied, "Yes sir. Ahead full!"
Otto ordered, "New course 137."
A short while later Otto again ordered, "Ahead slow. Periscope depth. When at periscope depth stop the boat. Karl, keep and careful ear out for that merchant."
"Yes sir."
A while later Karl reported a merchant travelling at medium speed was closing.
Otto ordered, "Ahead standard."
He raised the scope and began watching for any signs of a merchant. "There it is," he muttered. It was a C2 cargo. It was now February 1. The time was 22:16 local.
"Open tube 1! Udo, try to aim for the area just under the stack. When you have a solution fire."
A short while later Udo achieved a solution he was happy with.
Otto ordered the torpedo launched.
"Torpedo hit!", Udo exclaimed.
"She's not breaking up, but you got her. Great work!", Otto proclaimed. "Here, Udo, take a look." Otto proceeded to let Udo take a look at U-137's latest victim. It fell prey in BF16.
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/1508/sh3img3102005124481401lj.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img3102005124481401lj.jpg)
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/2483/sh3img31020051244194217ta.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img31020051244194217ta.jpg)
Otto ordered, "Surface the boat, ahead slow, return to course." A flurry of yes sirs and other repeated commands followed.
U-137 reached grid BF13 and began a patrol.
The radioman again broke in and said, "Sir, I have received a report of a merchant to our southest moving northeast at medium speed."
Otto ordered U-137 to pursue and intercept.
U-137 proceeded to intercept. At the desired spot, Otto ordered the boat to submerge and listen for contacts. The radioman reported a merchant, but it wasn't the one they were after! Otto then proceeded to intercept this one. Otto raised the scope to have a look.
"There you are."
The merchant appeared to be a coastal merchant.
"Open tube 2! When you have a solution, fire!"
"Yes sir," Udo replied.
"Solution ready, sir. Firing tube 2!"
"Torpedo impact!"
"Yeah!"
Otto lowered the scope and ordered the boat to surface and head in a westerly direction. That was all BF13 produced so far. U-137 only has one torpedo left.
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/8352/sh3img3102005130595465ml.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img3102005130595465ml.jpg)
U-137 was still in BF13. It was heading northeast. It was now February 3 at 03:30. Otto was in the command room when all of a sudden Viktor shouted, "Ship spotted! Bearing 226! Long range! It is a destroyer!"
Otto, being the calm commander he is ordered the boat to periscope depth.
"Rig for silent running," he ordered. "Let's see if we can sink'em."
The officers in the command room gave him a dumbfounded look. He repeated his orders.
It was a V&W destroyer travelling at 12 knots. Otto whispered to Udo, "Set the torpedo for magnetic pistol, 4.2 meters under the keel. When you have a solution, launch tube 3."
"Yes sir," came the somewhat nervous reply.
"Range to target 2671 meters."
"Launch tube 3!" Otto ordered.
"Yes sir, launching tube 3."
"Torpedo impact!"
"Yeah!"
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/4518/sh3img3102005131137652fv.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img3102005131137652fv.jpg)
Otto ordered, "Secure from silent running, surface the boat. Let's head home."
This was music to their ears. They were heading home!
Otto asked, "Otto, how far until we are home?"
"510 km, sir."
"Ahead full, Chief."
"Yes sir. Ahead full!"
It was the best the Chief has felt the whole patrol.
"Otto, at this speed how long until we are home?"
"About 24 hours, sir."
They would remain radio silent. Otto never liked using the radio unless he absolutely had to. It made him uneasy.
They were now nearing the inner harbor. Otto ordered ahead slow.
It was February 4 at 01:29. They were home! Even at this hour the band was still out welcoming back the brave souls that would patrol the ocean. It was a welcome site, even in the dark, for the men of U-137 to see the band and nurses on the pier welcoming them home.
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/6857/sh3img31020051323482031ie.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img31020051323482031ie.jpg)
They were safe and lived to see another day. When all was said and done, the crew were all healthy and they sunk 12024 tons of allied shipping. They were home now, but Otto always wonder, though, if they would make it through another patrol.
This is the story of a U-boat commander named Otto. Otto is a part of the 1st Flotilla based in Brest, France. He is in command of U-137. U-137 is a type IID U-boat. Otto really likes his type IID. It is small, nimble, and can dive in a moment's notice. It only carries five torpedoes, but Otto looks at it strategically. He must choose his targets well and place his fish at the right spot. Otto is always up for the challenge.
Before boarding U-137, Otto was reviewing his patrol assignment. The date was January 29, 1941. The time was 15:00 local. He was ordered to patrol grid BF21. He was discussing the assignment with his top four officers: Viktor Kimmelman (Watch Officer), Fritz Friederichs (Chief Engineer), Otto Totenhagen (Navigation Officer), and Udo Hartenstien (Weapons Officer).
"We have been assigned to patrol grid BF21," Otto said.
Otto T. replied, "BF21? But sir..."
"Yes, I know. We will have to be extra vigilant for aircraft. Viktor, I am going to need you and your watch crew to be extra vigilant when we get to BF27. Also be on the lookout for those blasted destroyers. Otto, you will have to be extra careful with your plotted course. There will be no room for error. Once on station we will submerge the boat and serve our 24 hours. Once we are finished, we will head west towards BF15 to continue our hunt. Let's board the boat now."
U-137 would get no band on the way out. She would slip silently out of her subpen.
"Chief, set speed ahead slow."
"Yes sir. Ahead slow."
"Otto, plot course for BF21."
"Yes sir."
The time was now 15:48 local. There were numerous ships at anchor. The only signs of life were the two Luftwaffe aircraft patrolling over the harbor, the armed trawler escort, and a commerce raider that was sailing around the harbor.
It was now January 30 - 24 hours after slipping out of the subpen. U-137 was making its way along at six knots and was about to change course and head towards BF21. It was a cloudless sky. Fog was nil and winds were out of the north at five meters per second. At 15:21 U-137 made course change and headed towards its assignment grid. It would be another 11 and a half hours before U-137 would reach the grid.
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/6707/sh3img3102005113756627zu.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img3102005113756627zu.jpg)
The radioman (Wilhelm Barsch) said, "Herr Kaleun, I just received a report of a possible merchant contact to the northwest."
"Thank you."
Otto T. asked, "Shall we intercept? We certainly have enough fuel and we would be in a good position."
Otto replied, "Yes, let's intercept."
Otto climbed up to the bridge to bring the news to Viktor.
"Viktor, we have received a report of a possible merchant contact to the northwest. We will be changing course to intercept. Be extra vigilant."
"Yes sir," Viktor replied.
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/9839/sh3img31020051145402187mp.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img31020051145402187mp.jpg)
"Otto, change course to 282 degrees. Chief, set speed ahead standard."
"Change course to 282 degrees. Yes sir."
"Ahead standard. Yes sir."
U-137 promptly changed course and increased speed. They would now wait.
A little while later, Otto ordered U-137 to periscope depth.
"Ahead slow."
"Yes sir. Ahead slow."
A few minutes later the sonarman, Karl Creutz, reported enthusiastically, "Sound contact, sir! Merchant, moving slow. Closing! Bearing 038. Long range!"
"Thank you, Karl."
"Change course to 244 degrees."
"Yes sir. New course 244 degrees."
Otto asked Karl, "How far is the merchant?"
"Sir, the merchant is at medium range."
Otto raised the scope. He started watching for signs of a merchant vessel.
"All stop, he ordered.
"Yes sir, all stop," replied the Chief.
"Ahead 1/3," Otto ordered.
"Yes sir, ahead 1/3."
"There it is," Otto said softly, "Looks to be a small merchant."
"Udo, open tube 1. Set the torpedo to fast, impact pistol. Prepare to fire!
"Yes sir!"
"Do you have a solution?", Otto asked.
"Yes sir. Solution ready ready sir."
Otto yelled, "Fire tube 1!"
"Firing tube 1!," came the reply.
Otto watched his stopwatch without blinking. The seconds seemed to tick on forever.
Otto wondered, "The torpedo should have hit by now."
Udo quickly said, "Torpedo missed, sir!"
"Damn! Must have been a dud," Otto was furious. He didn't want to waste another torpedo on a small merchant. He said, "Set tube 2 for magnetic pistol. 8 meters. OPEN TUBE 2!"
"Udo! When you get a solution, fire!"
"Yes sir!" A short time later Udo said he had a solution to fire. "Firing tube 2!"
Otto again watched his stopwatch waiting, wondering if this torpedo, too, will be a dud.
Finally he heard, "Torpedo impact!"
"Yes! She's breaking in two!"
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/9696/sh3img3102005128304844cn.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img3102005128304844cn.jpg)
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/50/sh3img3102005121114068as.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img3102005121114068as.jpg)
Otto was excited, yet disappointed at the same time. He had sunk more allied shipping but had to use two torpedoes to do so. The small merchant feel prey in BF24.
Otto lowered the scope and ordered, "Surface the boat. Return to the plotted course. Ahead slow."
About 06:30, U-137 reached its patrol grid.
"Otto, take a sounding."
"Yes sir. Depth under keel is 96 meters."
"Submerge the boat. Take it down to 50 meters."
The Chief replied, "Yes sir. Set dive planes for normal dive! New depth 50 meters!"
Now they would serve out their 24 hours...
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/5563/sh3img31020051222332030hk.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img31020051222332030hk.jpg)
The 24 hours were up.
Otto said, "Let's take it up. Surface the boat. We need to replenish the battery and air supply. Otto, plot a course for BF15. Ahead slow."
The radioman broke in, "Just received a report of a merchant heading southwest away from us."
Otto T. spoke up, "We have enough fuel. Shall we pursue?"
Otto replied, "No. We will let that one slip away. These waters are active for merchant shipping. Let's conserve our fuel."
"Yes sir."
Otto said, "Otto, change course for BF13. We have three torpedoes left. Maybe we can use them on something worthwhile."
Otto T. replied, "Yes sir."
Just as the U-boat started to change course the radioman again broke in, "Sir. I just recieved another report of a possible merchant to our southwest. It is heading towards us at medium speed."
Without even letting Otto bring it up, Otto said to Otto, "Change course to intercept. Ahead full."
"Yes sir."
The Chief replied, "Yes sir. Ahead full!"
Otto ordered, "New course 137."
A short while later Otto again ordered, "Ahead slow. Periscope depth. When at periscope depth stop the boat. Karl, keep and careful ear out for that merchant."
"Yes sir."
A while later Karl reported a merchant travelling at medium speed was closing.
Otto ordered, "Ahead standard."
He raised the scope and began watching for any signs of a merchant. "There it is," he muttered. It was a C2 cargo. It was now February 1. The time was 22:16 local.
"Open tube 1! Udo, try to aim for the area just under the stack. When you have a solution fire."
A short while later Udo achieved a solution he was happy with.
Otto ordered the torpedo launched.
"Torpedo hit!", Udo exclaimed.
"She's not breaking up, but you got her. Great work!", Otto proclaimed. "Here, Udo, take a look." Otto proceeded to let Udo take a look at U-137's latest victim. It fell prey in BF16.
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/1508/sh3img3102005124481401lj.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img3102005124481401lj.jpg)
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/2483/sh3img31020051244194217ta.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img31020051244194217ta.jpg)
Otto ordered, "Surface the boat, ahead slow, return to course." A flurry of yes sirs and other repeated commands followed.
U-137 reached grid BF13 and began a patrol.
The radioman again broke in and said, "Sir, I have received a report of a merchant to our southest moving northeast at medium speed."
Otto ordered U-137 to pursue and intercept.
U-137 proceeded to intercept. At the desired spot, Otto ordered the boat to submerge and listen for contacts. The radioman reported a merchant, but it wasn't the one they were after! Otto then proceeded to intercept this one. Otto raised the scope to have a look.
"There you are."
The merchant appeared to be a coastal merchant.
"Open tube 2! When you have a solution, fire!"
"Yes sir," Udo replied.
"Solution ready, sir. Firing tube 2!"
"Torpedo impact!"
"Yeah!"
Otto lowered the scope and ordered the boat to surface and head in a westerly direction. That was all BF13 produced so far. U-137 only has one torpedo left.
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/8352/sh3img3102005130595465ml.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img3102005130595465ml.jpg)
U-137 was still in BF13. It was heading northeast. It was now February 3 at 03:30. Otto was in the command room when all of a sudden Viktor shouted, "Ship spotted! Bearing 226! Long range! It is a destroyer!"
Otto, being the calm commander he is ordered the boat to periscope depth.
"Rig for silent running," he ordered. "Let's see if we can sink'em."
The officers in the command room gave him a dumbfounded look. He repeated his orders.
It was a V&W destroyer travelling at 12 knots. Otto whispered to Udo, "Set the torpedo for magnetic pistol, 4.2 meters under the keel. When you have a solution, launch tube 3."
"Yes sir," came the somewhat nervous reply.
"Range to target 2671 meters."
"Launch tube 3!" Otto ordered.
"Yes sir, launching tube 3."
"Torpedo impact!"
"Yeah!"
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/4518/sh3img3102005131137652fv.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img3102005131137652fv.jpg)
Otto ordered, "Secure from silent running, surface the boat. Let's head home."
This was music to their ears. They were heading home!
Otto asked, "Otto, how far until we are home?"
"510 km, sir."
"Ahead full, Chief."
"Yes sir. Ahead full!"
It was the best the Chief has felt the whole patrol.
"Otto, at this speed how long until we are home?"
"About 24 hours, sir."
They would remain radio silent. Otto never liked using the radio unless he absolutely had to. It made him uneasy.
They were now nearing the inner harbor. Otto ordered ahead slow.
It was February 4 at 01:29. They were home! Even at this hour the band was still out welcoming back the brave souls that would patrol the ocean. It was a welcome site, even in the dark, for the men of U-137 to see the band and nurses on the pier welcoming them home.
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/6857/sh3img31020051323482031ie.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img31020051323482031ie.jpg)
They were safe and lived to see another day. When all was said and done, the crew were all healthy and they sunk 12024 tons of allied shipping. They were home now, but Otto always wonder, though, if they would make it through another patrol.