Dowly
12-16-05, 09:08 AM
Ok, I made this thread, so we can share our "It was a miracle!" moments experienced in SHIII. I´ll start.
December, 1942 Mediterranean
In W@W patrol, U186 was assigned to patrol CN26. We did our 72h patrol and managed to sunk couple of outbound merchants. After a long talk with the crew, I decided that U186 would proceed to photograph the entrance to port of Valletta. To be used, if Germany would attack the port. After few hours, U186 got permission to proceed.
The weather was stormy as we got closer to Valletta. Submerged, one-third ahead. I checked the depth continuously, to not hit the bottom. 5 warships were heard via hydrophone, all patrolling close to the entrance.
U186 slowly made it´s way through the warships and we were sure we made it. Then, only 2km from the entrance, enemy started pinging us! I ordered slow ahead and took course back to deeper waters (It was only 20m deep where I was). Soon, the first burst of explosions was heard. "Hah, aim better!" I though. Then the rest 4 came to play Hide & seek with me. I still couldn´t dive deeper than 21m.
After many many many near hits, 2 charges exploded right on top of us. Stabsobersbootsmann Jurgen Dittmer lost his life immediatly and the boat started to take on water. Flooding was quickly under control, but we had water onboard and the boat sank to bottom.
Everyone one was dead quiet. Soon the sharp 'PING' started again. I waited for the warship to be right on top of us, then started to pump the water out.
After a few minutes, I ordered the boat to be taken to 30m (Bottom was in 36m). Silent run, ahead at 1kts.
*PING* *PING *PING* *PING* *PING**PING*PING*
Another string of depth charges were dropped. We got hit again. Bootsmann Gerhard Schuster was wounded, stern torpedo tube was destroyed, batteries damaged, conning tower heavily damaged. I ordered ahead flank, it was only 9km to deeper waters.
We had to go back to silent run as the destroyers dropped their load deadly accurate on top of us.
After we got to deeper waters, I sighed for relief and took the boat to 120m. I calculated 172 depth charges, dropped on and around us.
U186 aborted the special mission and took heading back to La Spezia, but it didnt get home yet as we were ordered to continue our patrol near towards Gibraltar.
:smug:
December, 1942 Mediterranean
In W@W patrol, U186 was assigned to patrol CN26. We did our 72h patrol and managed to sunk couple of outbound merchants. After a long talk with the crew, I decided that U186 would proceed to photograph the entrance to port of Valletta. To be used, if Germany would attack the port. After few hours, U186 got permission to proceed.
The weather was stormy as we got closer to Valletta. Submerged, one-third ahead. I checked the depth continuously, to not hit the bottom. 5 warships were heard via hydrophone, all patrolling close to the entrance.
U186 slowly made it´s way through the warships and we were sure we made it. Then, only 2km from the entrance, enemy started pinging us! I ordered slow ahead and took course back to deeper waters (It was only 20m deep where I was). Soon, the first burst of explosions was heard. "Hah, aim better!" I though. Then the rest 4 came to play Hide & seek with me. I still couldn´t dive deeper than 21m.
After many many many near hits, 2 charges exploded right on top of us. Stabsobersbootsmann Jurgen Dittmer lost his life immediatly and the boat started to take on water. Flooding was quickly under control, but we had water onboard and the boat sank to bottom.
Everyone one was dead quiet. Soon the sharp 'PING' started again. I waited for the warship to be right on top of us, then started to pump the water out.
After a few minutes, I ordered the boat to be taken to 30m (Bottom was in 36m). Silent run, ahead at 1kts.
*PING* *PING *PING* *PING* *PING**PING*PING*
Another string of depth charges were dropped. We got hit again. Bootsmann Gerhard Schuster was wounded, stern torpedo tube was destroyed, batteries damaged, conning tower heavily damaged. I ordered ahead flank, it was only 9km to deeper waters.
We had to go back to silent run as the destroyers dropped their load deadly accurate on top of us.
After we got to deeper waters, I sighed for relief and took the boat to 120m. I calculated 172 depth charges, dropped on and around us.
U186 aborted the special mission and took heading back to La Spezia, but it didnt get home yet as we were ordered to continue our patrol near towards Gibraltar.
:smug: