Heffalump
10-05-05, 04:16 AM
(as played with Rub 1.43 and Improved Convoys)
U-665
Oblt Lothar Rosner
March 18, 1943 : 12:56
A convoy was reported to be in the grid CF25. Course SSW. Speed 8 knots. Almost due north of the present position of U-665. The navigator plotted an interception course. Speed increased to 15 knots.
15:36
The boat goes to periscope depth. All engines stopped.
15:38
The sonar operator reports no contacts. A check by Oblt Rosner however results in a faint, very dull band of sound at 20 degrees starboard.
15:40
The boat surfaces. Course set to WNW. The boat is still east of the convoy's estimated path. Speed reduced to 7 knots.
16:09
Course set to due west. Speed reduced to 3 knots. The boat lays in the convoy's estimated path. The weather is excellent: windstill, clear skies. The watch stand under a warm, early Spring sun without their coats. A hushed sense of anticipation descends over the boat. This is only the second patrol of U-665. The men have done this before and know what to expect, but the tension is still there. Perhaps it always will be.
16:18
The boat dives to 15 meters. A sound check again reveals the convoy. This time the sound band is stronger and much wider
16:20
The boat surfaces. Course set just east of due south. Oblt Rosner wishes to sail ahead of the convoy until darkness falls.
16:34
U-665 has gotten too close and has no doubt been detected on radar. A single escort has been detected astern. Steaming quickly south. After studying it for a few minutes Oblt Rosner orders a dive.
16:38
U-665 levels off at 13 meters. Course changed to due west, then back around to WNW. Speed 3 knots.
16:44
All engines stop
16:48
Periscope up. The escort is sighted to the north, zig-zagging south. It seems that U-665 was not detected. However Oblt Rosner has allowed himself to get too close to the convoy and now the lead escort is bearing down on him. Surfacing will result in detection.
16:49
Periscope down. A decision is made. The boat is excellently positioned and will attack now although it is still daylight. The early attack will also allow plenty of time to do an end around and attack again that night.
16:54
The bands of sound grow stronger and wider. The lead escort is only a couple kilometers away. Oblt Rosner orders the men to the fore and aft torpedo compartments. The WO takes his post.
17:04
The lead escort is about 1200 meters west of the boat, course SSW. Faint sonar pinging is heard.
17:06
The lead escort has passed and is now moving away. U-665 resumes moving west at 3 knots. Depth 13 meters.
17:10
All engines stop
17:12 Periscope up. The convoy is nearly upon the boat. U-665 is excellently positioned. The outer column will pass about 100 meters astern. A quick sweep reveals the best targets: A T-3 positioned a couple of columns away, and then either a T-2 or a much closer C3. Periscope down
17:17 Periscope up. The first row of ships is approaching. Oblt Rosner begins feeding targetting data into the TDC. The T-3 will not pass closer than 1900 meters. The FAT pattern running torpedos will be used against it. In the event of a miss they should still hit something.
17:19 Tubes 2 and 4: fire! The fish aimed at the T-3 are now running. Rosner swivels the scope and settles upon a nearby C-3 as the second target.
17:20 Tubes 1 and 3: fire! Periscope down.
17:20 Course set to due south. 3 knots.
17:20 Explosion heard. Still too early for T-3. something is wrong.
17:21 3 explosions heard. Ships are being hit. But what?
17:22 The boat has swung around to a course parallel with the convoy. All engines stop.
17:24 Periscope up. The convoy is in chaos. The C.3 is burning and rapidly sinking. The T-3 trails a faint whisp of smoke but is still moving at full speed. A nearby C2 is burning at the bow. One of the torpedos meant for the T-3 clipped it. Rosner swivels the scope around. A escort from the convoy's eastern flank is rapidly bearing down. on him. The last shot will need to be a quick one. The T-3 is the prime target but the angle and distance are difficult and it has begun zig-zagging. Don't waste a torpedo. Better to wait again and hit it tonight. He swivels the scope. A small freigher lays 600 meters away. Impossible to miss. He feeds in the data. Tube 5.. fire! Scope down. Speed 3 knots.
17:25 The WO reports that tube 2 is reloaded and ready to fire. This is impossible to resist. Scope up. Rosner nows he is surely sighted now for the boat is moving and the scope leaves a distinctive wake. Time is short. The escort is close. He feeds in data for the T.3. Fire!
17:26 Scope down. New depth 150 meters. Speed 4 knots. Course changed to NNW. An explosion is heard. The freighter is hit. The power of the explosion leaves no doubt. It is finished.
17:27 U-665 is being pinged by an onrushing escort. Every man in the boat hears it. Rosner knows he is detected and orders full speed. U-665 needs depth as quick as it can get it.
17:28 Depth charges are in the water. Full speed ahead. Course set to NNE.
17:29 The charges explode astern.
17:31 The boat is at 150 meters. A new depth of 180 is ordered. The escort is coming around again. Or is that the second escort already arrived? Depth charges in the water ... ahead. Course set W. Full speed.
17:32 Powerful explosions rock the boat. Flooding reported in the Forward torpedo compartment and Bugraum. Maintenance crews rush to duty. The boat begins to sink rapidly.
17:33 The water is still rushing in. The maintenance offer reports that he can bring it under control, but more time is needed. The boat spins perilously deeper. Over 200 meters. Water levels rise and the bow sinks. The chilling sound of chief engineer calling out the depth grips every man's heart.
...210 meters
220 meters
230 meters..
17:34 Rosner realizes that the bow is down and the engines are only pushing deeper. All stop is ordered. He orders the tanks blown. Still the boat spins crazily downward. Out of control. Deeper and deeper.
280 meters...
290 meters...
300 meters....
17:34 Metal groans. Guages and lights explode. The boat is plunged into darkness.
310 meters...
320 meters...
330 meters...
340 meters...
A last picture of the brave men, of U-665. Lost at sea on the 18th of March, 1943
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/3020/sh3img41020052233x38ca.th.jpg (http://img394.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img41020052233x38ca.jpg)
U-665
Oblt Lothar Rosner
March 18, 1943 : 12:56
A convoy was reported to be in the grid CF25. Course SSW. Speed 8 knots. Almost due north of the present position of U-665. The navigator plotted an interception course. Speed increased to 15 knots.
15:36
The boat goes to periscope depth. All engines stopped.
15:38
The sonar operator reports no contacts. A check by Oblt Rosner however results in a faint, very dull band of sound at 20 degrees starboard.
15:40
The boat surfaces. Course set to WNW. The boat is still east of the convoy's estimated path. Speed reduced to 7 knots.
16:09
Course set to due west. Speed reduced to 3 knots. The boat lays in the convoy's estimated path. The weather is excellent: windstill, clear skies. The watch stand under a warm, early Spring sun without their coats. A hushed sense of anticipation descends over the boat. This is only the second patrol of U-665. The men have done this before and know what to expect, but the tension is still there. Perhaps it always will be.
16:18
The boat dives to 15 meters. A sound check again reveals the convoy. This time the sound band is stronger and much wider
16:20
The boat surfaces. Course set just east of due south. Oblt Rosner wishes to sail ahead of the convoy until darkness falls.
16:34
U-665 has gotten too close and has no doubt been detected on radar. A single escort has been detected astern. Steaming quickly south. After studying it for a few minutes Oblt Rosner orders a dive.
16:38
U-665 levels off at 13 meters. Course changed to due west, then back around to WNW. Speed 3 knots.
16:44
All engines stop
16:48
Periscope up. The escort is sighted to the north, zig-zagging south. It seems that U-665 was not detected. However Oblt Rosner has allowed himself to get too close to the convoy and now the lead escort is bearing down on him. Surfacing will result in detection.
16:49
Periscope down. A decision is made. The boat is excellently positioned and will attack now although it is still daylight. The early attack will also allow plenty of time to do an end around and attack again that night.
16:54
The bands of sound grow stronger and wider. The lead escort is only a couple kilometers away. Oblt Rosner orders the men to the fore and aft torpedo compartments. The WO takes his post.
17:04
The lead escort is about 1200 meters west of the boat, course SSW. Faint sonar pinging is heard.
17:06
The lead escort has passed and is now moving away. U-665 resumes moving west at 3 knots. Depth 13 meters.
17:10
All engines stop
17:12 Periscope up. The convoy is nearly upon the boat. U-665 is excellently positioned. The outer column will pass about 100 meters astern. A quick sweep reveals the best targets: A T-3 positioned a couple of columns away, and then either a T-2 or a much closer C3. Periscope down
17:17 Periscope up. The first row of ships is approaching. Oblt Rosner begins feeding targetting data into the TDC. The T-3 will not pass closer than 1900 meters. The FAT pattern running torpedos will be used against it. In the event of a miss they should still hit something.
17:19 Tubes 2 and 4: fire! The fish aimed at the T-3 are now running. Rosner swivels the scope and settles upon a nearby C-3 as the second target.
17:20 Tubes 1 and 3: fire! Periscope down.
17:20 Course set to due south. 3 knots.
17:20 Explosion heard. Still too early for T-3. something is wrong.
17:21 3 explosions heard. Ships are being hit. But what?
17:22 The boat has swung around to a course parallel with the convoy. All engines stop.
17:24 Periscope up. The convoy is in chaos. The C.3 is burning and rapidly sinking. The T-3 trails a faint whisp of smoke but is still moving at full speed. A nearby C2 is burning at the bow. One of the torpedos meant for the T-3 clipped it. Rosner swivels the scope around. A escort from the convoy's eastern flank is rapidly bearing down. on him. The last shot will need to be a quick one. The T-3 is the prime target but the angle and distance are difficult and it has begun zig-zagging. Don't waste a torpedo. Better to wait again and hit it tonight. He swivels the scope. A small freigher lays 600 meters away. Impossible to miss. He feeds in the data. Tube 5.. fire! Scope down. Speed 3 knots.
17:25 The WO reports that tube 2 is reloaded and ready to fire. This is impossible to resist. Scope up. Rosner nows he is surely sighted now for the boat is moving and the scope leaves a distinctive wake. Time is short. The escort is close. He feeds in data for the T.3. Fire!
17:26 Scope down. New depth 150 meters. Speed 4 knots. Course changed to NNW. An explosion is heard. The freighter is hit. The power of the explosion leaves no doubt. It is finished.
17:27 U-665 is being pinged by an onrushing escort. Every man in the boat hears it. Rosner knows he is detected and orders full speed. U-665 needs depth as quick as it can get it.
17:28 Depth charges are in the water. Full speed ahead. Course set to NNE.
17:29 The charges explode astern.
17:31 The boat is at 150 meters. A new depth of 180 is ordered. The escort is coming around again. Or is that the second escort already arrived? Depth charges in the water ... ahead. Course set W. Full speed.
17:32 Powerful explosions rock the boat. Flooding reported in the Forward torpedo compartment and Bugraum. Maintenance crews rush to duty. The boat begins to sink rapidly.
17:33 The water is still rushing in. The maintenance offer reports that he can bring it under control, but more time is needed. The boat spins perilously deeper. Over 200 meters. Water levels rise and the bow sinks. The chilling sound of chief engineer calling out the depth grips every man's heart.
...210 meters
220 meters
230 meters..
17:34 Rosner realizes that the bow is down and the engines are only pushing deeper. All stop is ordered. He orders the tanks blown. Still the boat spins crazily downward. Out of control. Deeper and deeper.
280 meters...
290 meters...
300 meters....
17:34 Metal groans. Guages and lights explode. The boat is plunged into darkness.
310 meters...
320 meters...
330 meters...
340 meters...
A last picture of the brave men, of U-665. Lost at sea on the 18th of March, 1943
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/3020/sh3img41020052233x38ca.th.jpg (http://img394.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img41020052233x38ca.jpg)