Salvadoreno
02-09-06, 02:34 AM
Cheers.... Cheers were heard throughout all the compartments of U-33. The old and cranky VIIB had finally achieved a long overdue victory over the British convoys. In her 3rd patrol, she had managed sink 5 ships from HX101, for 28,000tons. The long and hard battle was fought without error and the crew was celebrated for it. Hans Lutlow sat in the control room satisfied with his boat, his crew, and his own leadership. Her maiden patrol ended in near disaster with a clumsy attack on a destroyer, and her 2nd patrol was hindered by heavy fog and rains-which led to the boat only sinking 2 ships for 4,000tons.
As Hans looked at his logs, he heard the songs of men drunk with glee after the attacks. It had been 2 hours since the attack, and 1 hour since the brilliant evasion from the escorts. Not 1 depth charge fell close to U-33. It was almost to good to be true. Hans smiled and continued to write in his logbook.
2000: Set course for Wilmshaven- Estimated time of arrival 1200 April 6 1940. Crew moral very high
"Donitz definately wont send us back to school now" the cheif said as he sat down next to Hans.
"It was a great run Kaluen, our hope is restored.
How bout some music"
The captain only wanted to hear the melody of Rina ketty, who reminded him of his wife back home. Her voice soared through the boat, and for the time being the songs in the crew compartments stopped to remember mothers, wifes, and girlfreinds whose sweet voices were missed.
Time for rest...
27 days had passed since leaving port. In about 4 more days the men would be home. Donitz had replied to Lutlows radio logs and guarenteed extended crew leave while the boat was refitted. Hans was excited, his mind was occupied with the things he would do when he got home. See his wife, his 2 children, and the rest of his family. Uboat matters did not concern Hans as much anymore, the attitude in the boat was relaxed, their war already seemed over. They achieved victory. Mens thought were filled with reaching that port, and all the decorations and treatment they would recieve. Maybe even a crew visit with Hitler himself! Maybe badges, medals, and promotions for most of the crew!
1200 March 31st: Rounding the Shetland islands. Watch spotted Destroyer. Dive.
1231: Destroyer far astern, remain under 15 minutes.
1243: Surfaced.
Ah yes, another disaster evaded. Hans went up to the conning tower for the first time since the convoy attack. The air was crisp, the winds were fair, and the clouds created those brilliant heavenly rays shining down from the sun. It felt as though the rays were directly on U-33.
Only about 3 days till Wilmshaven. Now anxiety was setting in amongst the crew, FLANK SPEED his men wished was ordered. But fuel was low, Had to save for an emergancy. U-33 was still very close to the British isles.
Hans ordered the 1st watch on board, he knew Bootsman Zimmerman had the best eyes, and his watch of 8 hours would be just enough to be safely away from the Brits.
Zimmeran heard the call from the intercom, "Ahh were almost home! Forget the watcH!"
He and the other 3 men, Fritz, Balow, and Erich slowly got off their conformatble places in the bow compartment and placed there beers (which the captain ordered shorly after reaching safe distance) under their beds. The sun was relatively bright outside, Zimmeran and his watch took places in the conning tower. Hans the Cheif, and the 2nd officer were all listening to the latest news from Germany. Nothing but victories with few losses. "This is our war" a man said in the control room.
6 Hours into their watch dusk began to set in. The captain was resting in his bed still dreaming of the wonderful explosions and choas he created amongst the convoy. You could tell from the smile he had in his sleep.
Zimmermand and Fritz were talking amongst each other while Balow and Erich took to the ciggerettes. Their watch was hardly that anymore.
Only 3 miles away a Walrus aircraft of Coastal Command was taking a risky patrol a couple miles southeast of the Shetlands. Captain Richard Wells and his crew were very nervous and cautious. The Luftwaffe were still a major threat, why would they be ordered to such a task. They were given coordinates where a U-boat had been DF'ed, but still, sending a singal Walrus to attack the threat seemed unprobable. Nonetheless the crew obeyed orders like good Soldiers. The walrus took to the skys and amongst the clouds for cover. They would only be detected if a good watch heard the noisy propellers of the Walrus. Wells was searching the empty blue sea for some time now, they had reached the coordinates of the DF'ed uboat, but none was there. He quickly made a decision, was the boat headed to the North Atlantic or home?? South, it must be going south! He set a new course. Only a couple minutes later, the Walrus had spotted its target, and the crew prepared.
"Ahh i tell you Zim that nurse WILL be waiting for me when i get there u cockroach!" yelled Erich.
"hah! I tell you she is servicing half the fleet right about now! She'll be waiting for you alright, with the crabs!" Zimmerman had jokingly called back.
The men laughed whole heartedly, it was still dusk, almost the end of their useless watch. Zimmerman paused for a moment. He hard the buzzing, sounded like a fly. Damn dirty uboat and filthy crew! The men were still talking while Zimmerman took to his 90degree area.
"QUIET!!!" the buzzing was a lot louder now, and it was getting closer!
The men quickly took to their watches. Nothing was seen.
"AIRPLANE SPOTTED 360DEGRESS!!!" Zimmerman had spotted the plane, but he didnt need his magic eyes to see it. He was already on his attack run falling out of the clouds.
"ALAARRRM!!!!!" The crew came tumbling across the control room.
The captain was jolted and jumped up from his bed.
"Its too late to DIVE FLANK SPEED STEER HARD TO PORT!" Zimmerman had called
"MAN THE FLAK!!!" Erich was getting it ready, the plane was only about 60 seconds from the attack.
Hans was climbing frantically up the tower! Then he heard the flak gun sounds, he had never heard it before. It terrified him.
screams were heard from the conning tower, he could not make it out. The flak gun was louder, but it wasnt loud enough to drown out the Walrus propellers.
"OH MY GOD.."
Hans was at the conning tower. Everything had turn to slow motion.
It felt like years as he could see the rust on the bomb come directly at his boat, and behind it the other bomb.
And then it was dark....
U-33 was lost with all hands April 1st 1940.
Richard Wells would not go without his punishment for killing his enemies. He was shot down 1 year later and killed during the Battle of Britian.
U-33's loss was unknown until its escort came back to port with no glorius uboat behind it...
:edited::
HOPE U ENJOYED!!! This is what actually happened to me. Of course i made it into a story. But when i heard the "FLUKOY KASEGE (german for Airplane spotted)" i was laying on my bed. I jumped up to the conning tower and saw the 2 bombs explode directly on my bow and near my conning tower. I was dead right away. It completely sucked. That was my single best patrol. But it was still an AWESOME expreience.
As Hans looked at his logs, he heard the songs of men drunk with glee after the attacks. It had been 2 hours since the attack, and 1 hour since the brilliant evasion from the escorts. Not 1 depth charge fell close to U-33. It was almost to good to be true. Hans smiled and continued to write in his logbook.
2000: Set course for Wilmshaven- Estimated time of arrival 1200 April 6 1940. Crew moral very high
"Donitz definately wont send us back to school now" the cheif said as he sat down next to Hans.
"It was a great run Kaluen, our hope is restored.
How bout some music"
The captain only wanted to hear the melody of Rina ketty, who reminded him of his wife back home. Her voice soared through the boat, and for the time being the songs in the crew compartments stopped to remember mothers, wifes, and girlfreinds whose sweet voices were missed.
Time for rest...
27 days had passed since leaving port. In about 4 more days the men would be home. Donitz had replied to Lutlows radio logs and guarenteed extended crew leave while the boat was refitted. Hans was excited, his mind was occupied with the things he would do when he got home. See his wife, his 2 children, and the rest of his family. Uboat matters did not concern Hans as much anymore, the attitude in the boat was relaxed, their war already seemed over. They achieved victory. Mens thought were filled with reaching that port, and all the decorations and treatment they would recieve. Maybe even a crew visit with Hitler himself! Maybe badges, medals, and promotions for most of the crew!
1200 March 31st: Rounding the Shetland islands. Watch spotted Destroyer. Dive.
1231: Destroyer far astern, remain under 15 minutes.
1243: Surfaced.
Ah yes, another disaster evaded. Hans went up to the conning tower for the first time since the convoy attack. The air was crisp, the winds were fair, and the clouds created those brilliant heavenly rays shining down from the sun. It felt as though the rays were directly on U-33.
Only about 3 days till Wilmshaven. Now anxiety was setting in amongst the crew, FLANK SPEED his men wished was ordered. But fuel was low, Had to save for an emergancy. U-33 was still very close to the British isles.
Hans ordered the 1st watch on board, he knew Bootsman Zimmerman had the best eyes, and his watch of 8 hours would be just enough to be safely away from the Brits.
Zimmeran heard the call from the intercom, "Ahh were almost home! Forget the watcH!"
He and the other 3 men, Fritz, Balow, and Erich slowly got off their conformatble places in the bow compartment and placed there beers (which the captain ordered shorly after reaching safe distance) under their beds. The sun was relatively bright outside, Zimmeran and his watch took places in the conning tower. Hans the Cheif, and the 2nd officer were all listening to the latest news from Germany. Nothing but victories with few losses. "This is our war" a man said in the control room.
6 Hours into their watch dusk began to set in. The captain was resting in his bed still dreaming of the wonderful explosions and choas he created amongst the convoy. You could tell from the smile he had in his sleep.
Zimmermand and Fritz were talking amongst each other while Balow and Erich took to the ciggerettes. Their watch was hardly that anymore.
Only 3 miles away a Walrus aircraft of Coastal Command was taking a risky patrol a couple miles southeast of the Shetlands. Captain Richard Wells and his crew were very nervous and cautious. The Luftwaffe were still a major threat, why would they be ordered to such a task. They were given coordinates where a U-boat had been DF'ed, but still, sending a singal Walrus to attack the threat seemed unprobable. Nonetheless the crew obeyed orders like good Soldiers. The walrus took to the skys and amongst the clouds for cover. They would only be detected if a good watch heard the noisy propellers of the Walrus. Wells was searching the empty blue sea for some time now, they had reached the coordinates of the DF'ed uboat, but none was there. He quickly made a decision, was the boat headed to the North Atlantic or home?? South, it must be going south! He set a new course. Only a couple minutes later, the Walrus had spotted its target, and the crew prepared.
"Ahh i tell you Zim that nurse WILL be waiting for me when i get there u cockroach!" yelled Erich.
"hah! I tell you she is servicing half the fleet right about now! She'll be waiting for you alright, with the crabs!" Zimmerman had jokingly called back.
The men laughed whole heartedly, it was still dusk, almost the end of their useless watch. Zimmerman paused for a moment. He hard the buzzing, sounded like a fly. Damn dirty uboat and filthy crew! The men were still talking while Zimmerman took to his 90degree area.
"QUIET!!!" the buzzing was a lot louder now, and it was getting closer!
The men quickly took to their watches. Nothing was seen.
"AIRPLANE SPOTTED 360DEGRESS!!!" Zimmerman had spotted the plane, but he didnt need his magic eyes to see it. He was already on his attack run falling out of the clouds.
"ALAARRRM!!!!!" The crew came tumbling across the control room.
The captain was jolted and jumped up from his bed.
"Its too late to DIVE FLANK SPEED STEER HARD TO PORT!" Zimmerman had called
"MAN THE FLAK!!!" Erich was getting it ready, the plane was only about 60 seconds from the attack.
Hans was climbing frantically up the tower! Then he heard the flak gun sounds, he had never heard it before. It terrified him.
screams were heard from the conning tower, he could not make it out. The flak gun was louder, but it wasnt loud enough to drown out the Walrus propellers.
"OH MY GOD.."
Hans was at the conning tower. Everything had turn to slow motion.
It felt like years as he could see the rust on the bomb come directly at his boat, and behind it the other bomb.
And then it was dark....
U-33 was lost with all hands April 1st 1940.
Richard Wells would not go without his punishment for killing his enemies. He was shot down 1 year later and killed during the Battle of Britian.
U-33's loss was unknown until its escort came back to port with no glorius uboat behind it...
:edited::
HOPE U ENJOYED!!! This is what actually happened to me. Of course i made it into a story. But when i heard the "FLUKOY KASEGE (german for Airplane spotted)" i was laying on my bed. I jumped up to the conning tower and saw the 2 bombs explode directly on my bow and near my conning tower. I was dead right away. It completely sucked. That was my single best patrol. But it was still an AWESOME expreience.