William516
08-01-06, 12:42 AM
This has been an ongoing story from my career and wondered if maybe some of you might want to check it out. I apologize ahead of time for length i just have an overactive imagination
William
Captain
U-66
"Tiger shark"
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PART 1 THE HELL BEGINS
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Well I finally got what was comming to me. I was tracking a convoy in my lovely weather that I have been having and waited till night fall to attack. At night fall popped scope up marked target and let loose on the convoy. Using the New Damage mod from "Not your grandmothers damage mod" sorry cant think of who made it but its awesome." Well anyways Hit a t-3 and a t-2 before attracting the attention of a destroyer escort.
He starts pinging and I let out a decoy allowing me to slip away and open up on another target. Let loose another torpedo spread into the side of troop carrier. Thats when it happened. All of a sudden out of nowhere my sub starts shaking and the lights flicker glass shatters all around me. What the hell happened. Popped of the scope and looked for the escort, he was still depth charging my decoy. Then I saw what happened. My scope now under tracer fire from an aircraft. I order flank speed and my crew quickly wake up from there long holiday and jump to station. The submarine once quite is now in full swing and everyman is up out of there bunks at there station.
Another large explosion this time near the port side by the crew quarters. I check my damage and see only mild damage to the foward berthing area. I order a shallow dive due to depth to get out of sight of the plane. But by now the Destroyer escort is allready heading for the recently bombed area and is pinging away. A third large explosion and the sub shakes violently as the pipes start to break.
Damage report I scream. Forward compartment mild flooding, bow torpedo room, mild flooding, bow dive planes destroyed. I send damage crew to forward areas to control the flooding. All Stop I scream and try to level out the dive but its too late with the bow dive planes destroyed the sub could not level out and U-66 bottoms out hard into the muddy bottom below. All crew to forward area as again the flooding begins. Critical flooding this time and my crew gets to work to try and stop it. Just then my sonar operator picks up the destroyer on the hydophone and tells me. I'm sure he heard the impact of the sub as it slammed into the bottom.
I had no choice but to sit and pray that the charges would miss. I knew it was comming. The crew continued to work trying to be as quite as possible and after being up past there waist in water managed to get it under control. We could here the "pings" as the destroyer circled the area. Then the horror began as the charges came raining down. The first few were shallow and they simply rocked the submarine but I knew it wasn't over. I put the motors in reverse and slowly tried to pull myself free from the dirt. I had no choice the destroyer had pinpointed our location and was comming around again. The hull scraped on the ground and leaks sprang throughout the sub. Again my now exhusted repair team had to go to work.
Slowly she pulled free as the destroyer crept closer. All stop I ordered and we went silent. The pinging continued as the men lay waiting for there fait. Some prayed others were just to stunned and where white as ghost. Loud explosions were heard in the distance as each one got closer the sub would shake. Then it stopped. I released my grip from the pole and breathed a sigh of relief. Had the destroyer given up did he think that we were dead? Then just as that thought ran through my head the hydophone operator wispered to me that he detected two warships at 180 degrees medium range and closing. My heart sank and im sure the men could tell it. The destroyer had called for reinforcments and he sure got them. I lay quite as i wispered to put the motors into silent speed and cut rudder hard to starboard.
We had to keep moving, soon again the pinging began as the new ships began to circle above like birds of prey in waiting. They knew we were not dead and they planned on finishing the job. The new destroyers started to drop charges and once again the explosions rang close. The damaged hull creaked with each shockwave and the water started to seep in. Then a loud explosion rocked our sub and all our lights went out, motors died and I got the dreaded call of men down on the deck. We had taken a depth charge right at the stern engine and also the quarters area. We were hit very bad and the ship began to bleed out into the ocean a crude black oil slick.
All hands to repair stations as the now scared and tired men struggled through the flooding sections of the sub to try and stop the leaks. You could see the look on there faces as they saw the bodies of the now dead engine crew floating by them.
Another huge explosion now rocked our severly damaged sub and severe flooding was reported everywhere in the aft region. All the men sprang to life leaving the stations to repair the sections. Even me the captain had to help secure and fix the damage sections. I had led all my men to die. I couldn't get the thought out of my head. The stern torpedo room was flooding very fast and it took over an hour to get it pumped out. Our aft quarters was also flooding and men worked feverishly to control all flooding and repair the motors. Durring this the injured of dead crew was moved to the foward quarters. My Mechanics told me the horrible truth, both port and starboard motors could not be repaired. More loud explosions were heard but they seemed a ways off. I couldn't concern myself with something I no longer had control over.
For over an hour and a half our sub was pummeled by the two destroyers and my men fought with blood, sweat and tears to control the flooding. I had to decide what action to take. Was it worth the lives of all the men left aboard the sub to risk staying where we were, or should I blow all tanks and surface to be taken
prisoner. I knew life would be hell if we were taken prisoners and also the BDU would probably execute us when or if we returned. I had to wait it out and pray for the best.
After a total of 3 hours they destroyers left the area to resume escorting the remainder of the convoy. Once I was certain they were out of range I told the XO to blow all main and trim tanks. There was a loud rush as the water was slowly expelled from the tanks. The U-66 slowly began to rise from what I thought would be its watery grave. Upon breaching surface the watch commander ran to the bridge. No ships or aircraft sighted. We were safe for now but a hell of ways from home. I strolled through the sub surveying the damage and the quick repairs done. Men had tied things up with everything available including the shirts off there back. I moved forward away from the smell of burt engines and flesh. Slowly I walked up to the forward berthing compartment and my heart sank. There lay ten men and the medical officer was reading some of them there last rights as he prayed over them.
Out of 10 men 6 were dead from the fire on board and the other four men the officer wispered probably would not make it back home. Another 4 men were wounded but would heal with proper medical attention on board. They were laying in the beds as the remaining crew assisted in keeping those men corfortable. There was blood and medical tools strewn everywhere. I dont think my crew saw it but tears were forming at in my eyes. I had no choice but to put it all aside and focus on the problem at hand. How to get this injured boat and her crew home. I sent out a crew to survey the damage to the aft section of the sub. He put on some diving gear and went into the water. Shortly after he reported that the port propellor was severly damaged and that we did not have a rudder. I had the radio operator send out a coded report to BDU. The air was very cold and the wind was a mild breeze.
There would be no sleeping tonight for many men and the thought that we might not make it back was the scuttlebutt of the crew. You could see it on there faces and I wrote down the damage report to send to BDU. I sent up a watch crew to the top deck to man flack guns. We were sitting ducks at this point. We could not dive and would have to limp back to Base on one good engine and one bad propellor.
I listened to the calming sounds of the quite ocean lapping at the hull as I broke out my pen to begin to write letters to the ones lost in todays battle. Since I was now alone I broke down and cried. Never before has the U-66 lost a crew memeber.
Dear Mr.
................
And so the letters began and in the background I could here the crew as the reality finally sank into them. There would be no songs and card games tonight.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------PART 2 CRIPPLED U-BOAT SERCHES FOR HOME
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Severly damaged from an encounter while attacking a convoy the U-66 boat under my command continues to limp its way for home. While we have no rudder control or bow dive planes atleast one thing is in our favor.
My navagator runs up to me and shows me the chart. Sir if we plot a course and continue in the direction we are facing we can reach neutral/friendly waters. The stench of the submarine is now unbearable to all but the strongest stomachs and most of the crew has come topside. Still in enemy waters we have survival gear at hand in case she decides to go down. The enigma safely tucked away in the back is ready to destroy if needed in a moment. The U-66 is bearly sea worthy at this time and her aft end dips deep in the water as her pumps try and keep up with the water as it comes in wave by wave.
Inside the sub it is quite with the exception of the diesel engines strugling to make the power required to push us about the only thing heard was the sound of weeping, coughing, and gagging of the men on board. It was not even 24hrs ago when the whole crew, myself included thought this would be our little iron coffin. For most of my crew is green and though we have been on some patrols before never have I lost a crew member until today. The crews spirit is low they now realize that war is ugly and all to real.
I pace the deck and look at men around mid 20 holding pictures of their wives or girlfriends back home. Tears streaming down their cheeks as they clutch it like its the most important thing on earth to them. Some are writing letters. In our small little "galley" yesterday there was card games today men holding other men to comfort them.
Night was slowly rolling in and what a beautiful sunset to the west. it almost makes you forget the horror and reality of the fate of the U-66. Radio operators are busy looking for any sign of help and our radar is only turned on once an hour to avoid detection. If we are spotted this time its over. The U-66 is crippled, she can not dive nor can she manuever. My men have repaired the flack gun but I pray we dont have to use it.
Night falls and again the cold air blows through the mens wet clothes. However most still stay outside afraid or just not wanting to go back inside. Even on the bridge the smell of diesel has not overcome the smell of death and seeps out everytime the watch tower hatch is opened.
Our death count has now risen to 8 men and still two are not expected to make it back home. The medic has decided that its best to make them comfortable and gives them morphine to ease the pain. I look over the bodies to see how my men died. Many are burt so bad I can barely tell who they are, but as captain I know then men who serve on my ship. One of the men grabs me with his bloody hand and asked me to make sure that I tell his wife and kids that he did his job.
I look at him with a tear and tell him I will. The medic looks at me and I know whats in his head, I know what he is saying about the young man laying there. The eyes tell alot about people, He would not make it through the night.
Sure enough around 23:42 I recieve word that he has passed away.
Morning rolls in and I still can not sleep even as exhusted as I am, I can not, No i WILL not sleep. The fog is lifting and still a gentle breaze blowing as i check on the watch crew. There were no messeges from any friendly ships or from BDU.
That morning the other member of my crew and officer also died from his wounds. This officer has served with me for 8 patrols now. It was hard to watch as the medic pulled the cover over the blood soaked clothes and face. Less then two days ago I was thinking of giving him a promotion. No longer is that a thought i said to myself as I wiped tears from my eye.
Around midday we held a funeral services for those men killed in the battle. Each body was searched for any letters or memos and then wrapped in clothes or whatever we had. The men all stood at attention as the names were called out. Each man stood still as this was a somber occation. I looked at my men covered in blood, oil, and dirt flashing back to our sendoff when each man was the pride of the German people. Now they looked beaten and weary. We played a somber tune over the gramaphone as we placed each body into the sea.
One by one they splashed over as each man struggled to hold back tears and emotions. Some of the men less then 48hrs ago were goofing around or playing poker and now, well they are gone. The ceremonies finshed with a prayer and some final words by me.
I told the crew that each member was respocible for saving our lives and they shall be remembered. How each man tought us something better and to remember the good times. I also told them that each death shall be avenged. It seemed to lift some spirits but most men knew the severity of the sitution. They knew that any minute a plane or ship could be spotted and it was all over. I wish i could have thought of better words to say but i never lost a crew member before let alone 10.
I wanted to take the bodies home but the medic said that it would cause disease and sickness if kept onboard the boat, I had to let them go.
Burial detail was dismissed and each crew member went back to there asigned stations. There were alot of empty racks now and now one sailor would touch there friends bunk.
After a quick check with the radio operator to see if anything had been recieved I retired to my quarters to read over the letters found in the personal belongings of my former crew members.
Sometimes you forget that the men you serve beside have families too until you read the letters that each man onboard hopes they never have to send back home.
I again pulled out my pen and began to write to the families. I did not know what to write and must have pondered on for almost a half an hour or more. I guess like my crew the reality of the deaths onboard did not hit me yet.
As I began to write again there was a knock on my quarters wall.
A pale face covered in grease stood in front of me telling me to follow him back to the engine room. Slowly walked past the damaged portions of the U-66 until I got to the engine room. There was no doubt that diesel engine wasn't running right. The mechanic went on to explain that we had lost a large amount of oil and fuel durring our battle and at the rate of consumption we would only be able to sail for maybe 2 days.
The engine was running very hot and you could see smoke comming out of it. The electric motors well they looked like tangled pieces of metal. They were shot to hell.
I saluted the man for his report and effort and told him to do what he could to increase our range then hung my head and walked back to the radio room. I wrote on a piece of paper something to add to our report to BDU and our distress call. I dare not say this out loud as would kill all hope of even the most religious of men onboard. The paper read.
"BDU"
"U-66 severly damaged"
"10 dead 8 inujured"
"leaking fuel and oil"
"Require assistance ASAP"
"Fuel level low, amount approx 2day max"
"please reply"
"S.o.S U-66"
I tapped the radio operator on the shoulder and handed him the piece of paper. I didn't say a word. Again the eye contact between us said it all. I called over to my XO and told him the situation. The look on his face told everyone around just how grim the situation was.
Night fell again and I tried to slip into my small bunk and sleep. I said a prayer to God and tried to sleep. The images of the men now on the sea bed somewhere kept me awake all night. Slowly the humm of the engines brought my eye lids closed and I listened to the lapping of the ocean on the hull and slipped into sleep.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------PART 3 PLEASE JUST TAKE US NOW
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It has been almost 4 days since the U-66 and her faithfull crew brushed with disaster. Now down to her last drop of fuel and not to mention food the crew struggle on as the even the very best now fear for death.
It was another slow night. The sun had set and the watch crew was changing shifts I sat in my bunk with my head pressed into my hands wondering what I could have done differently to avoid this. Had I played it safe we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. I began to place the blame on myself. As captain It was my respocibility to make sure ship and her crew
were safe. I had failed this time. I wondered what would happen to me if we did make it back to base. At the accademy we had always been tought to be aggressive, but maybe I pushed it. My mind again drifted back to our sendoff as family and friends had gathered to say goodbye and goodluck. The thought of those that perished were still clear in my head and I
remember watching them hug there wife and kids. Now to know that I would have to tell them in person when or if we got back that their loved one would never be home again. It was just to much to handle. I had written the letters but in them I couldn't think of anything to scratch the surface of their sacrafice. The least I could do was go tell and comfort them in person.
I began to feel sick and I could not tell if it was from the thoughts brewing in my head or the lack of food and water. It didn't matter there was no time to pay attention to my feelings I was still in command and Damn it I would give it everything and then some to get this ship and her crew home.
I stood up and walked down the wet path into the command room and asked for a report on fuel. The officer looked at me with a grim face and told me that at present speed we would have about 20 hours before we were "dead" in the water.
This was just one more thing to heave on my chest. Atleast if we would have sank it would have been quick and maybe even painless, I began to think to myself. But now my crew and I are starving to death slowly.
I walked back into the aft crew berthing area, It still smelled like death but i guess you get used to it after awhile. It didn't seem as strong. In the compartment I watched as my men looked at me with faces I had never seen before. They new now exaclty how bad our situation was. I would be willing to bet they would have liked to drown as well. Hell maybe those men of the earlier funeral services had it easy.
In the middle of one of the bunks was a bucket of fruit, some of the men went on and tried to peal the moldy layers of skin off to eat what little food we had left. Food was just one of the problems but being surrounded by water with no way of drinking it was another. In desperation some of the crew tried to drink the sea water but it only made things worse. We had rationed all our water and now it was gone. The only comfort came at night when the sea was calm and the air was cool.
I walked further back into the engine department where the mechanics worked to keep our one engine running. Shortly after nightfall the other diesel had burned up from lack of oil. I went did an about face, after saluting the men that were keeping our only chance or survival alive, and walked back towards the command room. Along the way I stopped by our radio operator in hopes of hearing some good news for a change. I ask him if he had heard any reports of German ship in the area. He didn't answer, I repeated the question but still no answer. I walked and stood in front of him and knelt down, slowly I
waved my hand in front of his face and watched his eyes there was no response. I called for the medic to get him and bring him into the forward berthing area. The medic then told me that this man was severly dehydrated and that his mind was shutting down. Without some water he would not make it. I noticed that alot of my crew was acting dilusional and the medic
assured me that it would only get worse as time went by.
I pointed to a man resting his head on a rusty pipe and told him to take the radio operators station. He relunctantly did as he was ordered and sat in the chair. "You let me know if you here anything from friendly ships" I yelled to him and then added "Its our only hope of survival"
The submarine continued to chug along the waves again it was nice weather but honestly at this point I would give my left arm for some rain atleast then we would have some fresh water. That was not the case instead the sun beat down in all of it glory onto our little boat. It was so bright at times that the reflection off the water was blinding the watchmen. I had reduced the watchcrew to only two men because of the severe dehydration of my crew. I myself was also starting to feel the effects of lack of food and water. There were times where I would simply stand there until a member of my crew tapped me on the shoulder to ask if I was ok. Then I would wake from my daze and resume my duties. For the life of me I never knew what I was dreaming about.
As the hours slowly moved on there was nothing on the submarine to do. The only thing that could be heard was the diesel engine struggling along, the waves outside lapping at the side of the U-66, and the gramaphone. The gramaphone by now was honestly started to irritate me, there are only so many time that you can listen to the words "It's a long way to tippirary"
but it did seem to keep the crews hopes up. I gathered my strength and walked to the foward berthing compartment. Now every bed in the area was filled with men to weak to carry out dutties. Next to many was a bucket filled with there past stomach contents of the day. I couldn't stand the smell and had to return to the command room. There was still no signal or radio message from the fleet. At that time I heard a loud explosion and it rocked the U-66. Black smoke billowed out of the engine campartment were the diesel engine was and the fire team sprang into action. As tired as my men were they still did there job. The fire was extinquished very quickly but the diesel engine was no longer running. I walked into the engine room and instantly my eyes teared from the strong smoke. I could bearly see the men in front of me staring at the engine now
covered in black oil.
'What happened?" I asked the officer in charge.
"We lost her, I think its from the lack of oil, I dont know if i can fix it sir." he replied.
I told him to do everything possible to get the engine running again, to take who ever he needed to help him. Without and engine we had better just shoot ourselves and get it over with. Still a thought in the back of my head at the time.
For atleast 8 hours the mechanics and crew made the engine room their home as they took parts from the the damaged starboard engine and moved the parts over to the port. It was a scene that would have made the very best machinest back at base quiver with fear of losing there job. My men were amazing they fought off the exhustion and worked in conditions that made a slave looked blessed. Some of the men cut and bleeding from the earlier attack worked in oil soaked clothes moving parts from one engine to the other. Slowly you watched as one engine began to look more like a pile of scrap metal then a powerfull diesel engine. The other engine started to take shape. They also came up with a way using some old pipe from the exhaust manifold to transfer much needed oil back into the circulation. It was very clever what they had come up with. As the sun started to go down the U-66 got very dark and we had to break out some lights to keep the engine comparment lit enough to see. I also chipped in to help and i felt like one of the crew at this time I forgot what rank I was and listened to the mechanical knowledge being yelled out around me. After what seemed like an eternity we were ready to give the repairs a try.
I gave the command to start the port diesel, as I silently prayed that it would work. The engine slowly turned over and I started to think that maybe the battery by now was dead. Then it turned a little faster but would not fire.
"Keep trying, without the engine we are dead!" I exclaimed to the officer as he again tried to fire up the diesel engine.
This time though the praying payed off. The engine started to turn faster and rev higher. I watched as a huge puff off dark black smoke came from the engine. Then as if the engine were returning from the dead she fired up. The lights throughout the U-66 slowly began to brighten. My mechanics had done it, they had saved our ass for now.
"When we get back to base I'm buying you guys all the drinks you can handle, now ahead standard!" I ordered as the U-66 slowly started moving through the water again. The engine was making some noises I had never heard a diesel make before but it was running, that all I cared about at this time. The U-66 and her crew made it past yet another trial.
I breathed a sigh of relief eventhough I knew our ordeal was far from over. My crew still needed water and food despreatly and even with our engine we only had enough fuel to last another 5 hours.
The radio had been silent, there was no updates or reports of any kind. This was odd but not too uncommon. I knew that everytime we transmitted our coded S.O.S. message we made it easier for the enemy to find us. This, however was a chance we had to take. I climbed the ladder into the conning tower and onto the bridge. The bridge crew was famished and barely able to stand but they were doing there best. I told the men to go down and get some rest the next crew was on the way. The followed me back into the belly of the U-66 and headed for the aft berthing compartment. The next watch crew made its way up the ladder and disappeared from sight as they stepped out onto the bridge.
I went back to my quarters and layed down in bed looking at the pictures of my own family wondering i I would ever see them again. Trying to find out why I took this job, this career. I was young and indestructable or so I thought. For now i was seeing that I was wrong. Maybe Dead wrong this time. I felt my chest and looked at my rank and metals. None of this could save me now. My uniform looked just like the men I served with. It was covered in dirt, oil, and stale blood. I sat up and picked up my journal to write some letters to home. I realy was scared at this point that I would never make it. Death
would be a pleseant surprise at this time though as my stomach growled for food. I leaned forward and threw up all over the
floor. The taste was horrible and I fought the gag reflexes. It wasn't a huge mess because there was no food for my stomach to get rid of. It was however a horrible feeling and it kept comming and going all day.
I put that thought out of my head and wiped my mouth off with the cleanest dirty towl I could find and began to write to my family. I didn't get but a sentence into the journal when to my horror.
"Aircraft spotted!" came down through the pipes used to transmit messages to the command room and then was repeated. I nearly hit my head as I jumped out of my bed and ran to the command room. I tried to reassure myself by saying that it was a german plane and would be here to help us but with our luck....
I stopped in the middle of my thought and yelled out.
"All crew general quarters, general quarters!"
"Man the flack guns, I repeat man the flack guns"
"All crews to assigned areas"
I sure as hell hope our luck has changed I thought to myself as my crew rushed around securing doors and climbing up the ladders onto the pitching deck of the U-66.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ :D PART 4 AND MORE COMMING SOON HOPE YOU ENJOYED :p
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William
Captain
U-66
"Tiger shark"
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PART 1 THE HELL BEGINS
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Well I finally got what was comming to me. I was tracking a convoy in my lovely weather that I have been having and waited till night fall to attack. At night fall popped scope up marked target and let loose on the convoy. Using the New Damage mod from "Not your grandmothers damage mod" sorry cant think of who made it but its awesome." Well anyways Hit a t-3 and a t-2 before attracting the attention of a destroyer escort.
He starts pinging and I let out a decoy allowing me to slip away and open up on another target. Let loose another torpedo spread into the side of troop carrier. Thats when it happened. All of a sudden out of nowhere my sub starts shaking and the lights flicker glass shatters all around me. What the hell happened. Popped of the scope and looked for the escort, he was still depth charging my decoy. Then I saw what happened. My scope now under tracer fire from an aircraft. I order flank speed and my crew quickly wake up from there long holiday and jump to station. The submarine once quite is now in full swing and everyman is up out of there bunks at there station.
Another large explosion this time near the port side by the crew quarters. I check my damage and see only mild damage to the foward berthing area. I order a shallow dive due to depth to get out of sight of the plane. But by now the Destroyer escort is allready heading for the recently bombed area and is pinging away. A third large explosion and the sub shakes violently as the pipes start to break.
Damage report I scream. Forward compartment mild flooding, bow torpedo room, mild flooding, bow dive planes destroyed. I send damage crew to forward areas to control the flooding. All Stop I scream and try to level out the dive but its too late with the bow dive planes destroyed the sub could not level out and U-66 bottoms out hard into the muddy bottom below. All crew to forward area as again the flooding begins. Critical flooding this time and my crew gets to work to try and stop it. Just then my sonar operator picks up the destroyer on the hydophone and tells me. I'm sure he heard the impact of the sub as it slammed into the bottom.
I had no choice but to sit and pray that the charges would miss. I knew it was comming. The crew continued to work trying to be as quite as possible and after being up past there waist in water managed to get it under control. We could here the "pings" as the destroyer circled the area. Then the horror began as the charges came raining down. The first few were shallow and they simply rocked the submarine but I knew it wasn't over. I put the motors in reverse and slowly tried to pull myself free from the dirt. I had no choice the destroyer had pinpointed our location and was comming around again. The hull scraped on the ground and leaks sprang throughout the sub. Again my now exhusted repair team had to go to work.
Slowly she pulled free as the destroyer crept closer. All stop I ordered and we went silent. The pinging continued as the men lay waiting for there fait. Some prayed others were just to stunned and where white as ghost. Loud explosions were heard in the distance as each one got closer the sub would shake. Then it stopped. I released my grip from the pole and breathed a sigh of relief. Had the destroyer given up did he think that we were dead? Then just as that thought ran through my head the hydophone operator wispered to me that he detected two warships at 180 degrees medium range and closing. My heart sank and im sure the men could tell it. The destroyer had called for reinforcments and he sure got them. I lay quite as i wispered to put the motors into silent speed and cut rudder hard to starboard.
We had to keep moving, soon again the pinging began as the new ships began to circle above like birds of prey in waiting. They knew we were not dead and they planned on finishing the job. The new destroyers started to drop charges and once again the explosions rang close. The damaged hull creaked with each shockwave and the water started to seep in. Then a loud explosion rocked our sub and all our lights went out, motors died and I got the dreaded call of men down on the deck. We had taken a depth charge right at the stern engine and also the quarters area. We were hit very bad and the ship began to bleed out into the ocean a crude black oil slick.
All hands to repair stations as the now scared and tired men struggled through the flooding sections of the sub to try and stop the leaks. You could see the look on there faces as they saw the bodies of the now dead engine crew floating by them.
Another huge explosion now rocked our severly damaged sub and severe flooding was reported everywhere in the aft region. All the men sprang to life leaving the stations to repair the sections. Even me the captain had to help secure and fix the damage sections. I had led all my men to die. I couldn't get the thought out of my head. The stern torpedo room was flooding very fast and it took over an hour to get it pumped out. Our aft quarters was also flooding and men worked feverishly to control all flooding and repair the motors. Durring this the injured of dead crew was moved to the foward quarters. My Mechanics told me the horrible truth, both port and starboard motors could not be repaired. More loud explosions were heard but they seemed a ways off. I couldn't concern myself with something I no longer had control over.
For over an hour and a half our sub was pummeled by the two destroyers and my men fought with blood, sweat and tears to control the flooding. I had to decide what action to take. Was it worth the lives of all the men left aboard the sub to risk staying where we were, or should I blow all tanks and surface to be taken
prisoner. I knew life would be hell if we were taken prisoners and also the BDU would probably execute us when or if we returned. I had to wait it out and pray for the best.
After a total of 3 hours they destroyers left the area to resume escorting the remainder of the convoy. Once I was certain they were out of range I told the XO to blow all main and trim tanks. There was a loud rush as the water was slowly expelled from the tanks. The U-66 slowly began to rise from what I thought would be its watery grave. Upon breaching surface the watch commander ran to the bridge. No ships or aircraft sighted. We were safe for now but a hell of ways from home. I strolled through the sub surveying the damage and the quick repairs done. Men had tied things up with everything available including the shirts off there back. I moved forward away from the smell of burt engines and flesh. Slowly I walked up to the forward berthing compartment and my heart sank. There lay ten men and the medical officer was reading some of them there last rights as he prayed over them.
Out of 10 men 6 were dead from the fire on board and the other four men the officer wispered probably would not make it back home. Another 4 men were wounded but would heal with proper medical attention on board. They were laying in the beds as the remaining crew assisted in keeping those men corfortable. There was blood and medical tools strewn everywhere. I dont think my crew saw it but tears were forming at in my eyes. I had no choice but to put it all aside and focus on the problem at hand. How to get this injured boat and her crew home. I sent out a crew to survey the damage to the aft section of the sub. He put on some diving gear and went into the water. Shortly after he reported that the port propellor was severly damaged and that we did not have a rudder. I had the radio operator send out a coded report to BDU. The air was very cold and the wind was a mild breeze.
There would be no sleeping tonight for many men and the thought that we might not make it back was the scuttlebutt of the crew. You could see it on there faces and I wrote down the damage report to send to BDU. I sent up a watch crew to the top deck to man flack guns. We were sitting ducks at this point. We could not dive and would have to limp back to Base on one good engine and one bad propellor.
I listened to the calming sounds of the quite ocean lapping at the hull as I broke out my pen to begin to write letters to the ones lost in todays battle. Since I was now alone I broke down and cried. Never before has the U-66 lost a crew memeber.
Dear Mr.
................
And so the letters began and in the background I could here the crew as the reality finally sank into them. There would be no songs and card games tonight.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------PART 2 CRIPPLED U-BOAT SERCHES FOR HOME
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Severly damaged from an encounter while attacking a convoy the U-66 boat under my command continues to limp its way for home. While we have no rudder control or bow dive planes atleast one thing is in our favor.
My navagator runs up to me and shows me the chart. Sir if we plot a course and continue in the direction we are facing we can reach neutral/friendly waters. The stench of the submarine is now unbearable to all but the strongest stomachs and most of the crew has come topside. Still in enemy waters we have survival gear at hand in case she decides to go down. The enigma safely tucked away in the back is ready to destroy if needed in a moment. The U-66 is bearly sea worthy at this time and her aft end dips deep in the water as her pumps try and keep up with the water as it comes in wave by wave.
Inside the sub it is quite with the exception of the diesel engines strugling to make the power required to push us about the only thing heard was the sound of weeping, coughing, and gagging of the men on board. It was not even 24hrs ago when the whole crew, myself included thought this would be our little iron coffin. For most of my crew is green and though we have been on some patrols before never have I lost a crew member until today. The crews spirit is low they now realize that war is ugly and all to real.
I pace the deck and look at men around mid 20 holding pictures of their wives or girlfriends back home. Tears streaming down their cheeks as they clutch it like its the most important thing on earth to them. Some are writing letters. In our small little "galley" yesterday there was card games today men holding other men to comfort them.
Night was slowly rolling in and what a beautiful sunset to the west. it almost makes you forget the horror and reality of the fate of the U-66. Radio operators are busy looking for any sign of help and our radar is only turned on once an hour to avoid detection. If we are spotted this time its over. The U-66 is crippled, she can not dive nor can she manuever. My men have repaired the flack gun but I pray we dont have to use it.
Night falls and again the cold air blows through the mens wet clothes. However most still stay outside afraid or just not wanting to go back inside. Even on the bridge the smell of diesel has not overcome the smell of death and seeps out everytime the watch tower hatch is opened.
Our death count has now risen to 8 men and still two are not expected to make it back home. The medic has decided that its best to make them comfortable and gives them morphine to ease the pain. I look over the bodies to see how my men died. Many are burt so bad I can barely tell who they are, but as captain I know then men who serve on my ship. One of the men grabs me with his bloody hand and asked me to make sure that I tell his wife and kids that he did his job.
I look at him with a tear and tell him I will. The medic looks at me and I know whats in his head, I know what he is saying about the young man laying there. The eyes tell alot about people, He would not make it through the night.
Sure enough around 23:42 I recieve word that he has passed away.
Morning rolls in and I still can not sleep even as exhusted as I am, I can not, No i WILL not sleep. The fog is lifting and still a gentle breaze blowing as i check on the watch crew. There were no messeges from any friendly ships or from BDU.
That morning the other member of my crew and officer also died from his wounds. This officer has served with me for 8 patrols now. It was hard to watch as the medic pulled the cover over the blood soaked clothes and face. Less then two days ago I was thinking of giving him a promotion. No longer is that a thought i said to myself as I wiped tears from my eye.
Around midday we held a funeral services for those men killed in the battle. Each body was searched for any letters or memos and then wrapped in clothes or whatever we had. The men all stood at attention as the names were called out. Each man stood still as this was a somber occation. I looked at my men covered in blood, oil, and dirt flashing back to our sendoff when each man was the pride of the German people. Now they looked beaten and weary. We played a somber tune over the gramaphone as we placed each body into the sea.
One by one they splashed over as each man struggled to hold back tears and emotions. Some of the men less then 48hrs ago were goofing around or playing poker and now, well they are gone. The ceremonies finshed with a prayer and some final words by me.
I told the crew that each member was respocible for saving our lives and they shall be remembered. How each man tought us something better and to remember the good times. I also told them that each death shall be avenged. It seemed to lift some spirits but most men knew the severity of the sitution. They knew that any minute a plane or ship could be spotted and it was all over. I wish i could have thought of better words to say but i never lost a crew member before let alone 10.
I wanted to take the bodies home but the medic said that it would cause disease and sickness if kept onboard the boat, I had to let them go.
Burial detail was dismissed and each crew member went back to there asigned stations. There were alot of empty racks now and now one sailor would touch there friends bunk.
After a quick check with the radio operator to see if anything had been recieved I retired to my quarters to read over the letters found in the personal belongings of my former crew members.
Sometimes you forget that the men you serve beside have families too until you read the letters that each man onboard hopes they never have to send back home.
I again pulled out my pen and began to write to the families. I did not know what to write and must have pondered on for almost a half an hour or more. I guess like my crew the reality of the deaths onboard did not hit me yet.
As I began to write again there was a knock on my quarters wall.
A pale face covered in grease stood in front of me telling me to follow him back to the engine room. Slowly walked past the damaged portions of the U-66 until I got to the engine room. There was no doubt that diesel engine wasn't running right. The mechanic went on to explain that we had lost a large amount of oil and fuel durring our battle and at the rate of consumption we would only be able to sail for maybe 2 days.
The engine was running very hot and you could see smoke comming out of it. The electric motors well they looked like tangled pieces of metal. They were shot to hell.
I saluted the man for his report and effort and told him to do what he could to increase our range then hung my head and walked back to the radio room. I wrote on a piece of paper something to add to our report to BDU and our distress call. I dare not say this out loud as would kill all hope of even the most religious of men onboard. The paper read.
"BDU"
"U-66 severly damaged"
"10 dead 8 inujured"
"leaking fuel and oil"
"Require assistance ASAP"
"Fuel level low, amount approx 2day max"
"please reply"
"S.o.S U-66"
I tapped the radio operator on the shoulder and handed him the piece of paper. I didn't say a word. Again the eye contact between us said it all. I called over to my XO and told him the situation. The look on his face told everyone around just how grim the situation was.
Night fell again and I tried to slip into my small bunk and sleep. I said a prayer to God and tried to sleep. The images of the men now on the sea bed somewhere kept me awake all night. Slowly the humm of the engines brought my eye lids closed and I listened to the lapping of the ocean on the hull and slipped into sleep.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------PART 3 PLEASE JUST TAKE US NOW
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It has been almost 4 days since the U-66 and her faithfull crew brushed with disaster. Now down to her last drop of fuel and not to mention food the crew struggle on as the even the very best now fear for death.
It was another slow night. The sun had set and the watch crew was changing shifts I sat in my bunk with my head pressed into my hands wondering what I could have done differently to avoid this. Had I played it safe we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. I began to place the blame on myself. As captain It was my respocibility to make sure ship and her crew
were safe. I had failed this time. I wondered what would happen to me if we did make it back to base. At the accademy we had always been tought to be aggressive, but maybe I pushed it. My mind again drifted back to our sendoff as family and friends had gathered to say goodbye and goodluck. The thought of those that perished were still clear in my head and I
remember watching them hug there wife and kids. Now to know that I would have to tell them in person when or if we got back that their loved one would never be home again. It was just to much to handle. I had written the letters but in them I couldn't think of anything to scratch the surface of their sacrafice. The least I could do was go tell and comfort them in person.
I began to feel sick and I could not tell if it was from the thoughts brewing in my head or the lack of food and water. It didn't matter there was no time to pay attention to my feelings I was still in command and Damn it I would give it everything and then some to get this ship and her crew home.
I stood up and walked down the wet path into the command room and asked for a report on fuel. The officer looked at me with a grim face and told me that at present speed we would have about 20 hours before we were "dead" in the water.
This was just one more thing to heave on my chest. Atleast if we would have sank it would have been quick and maybe even painless, I began to think to myself. But now my crew and I are starving to death slowly.
I walked back into the aft crew berthing area, It still smelled like death but i guess you get used to it after awhile. It didn't seem as strong. In the compartment I watched as my men looked at me with faces I had never seen before. They new now exaclty how bad our situation was. I would be willing to bet they would have liked to drown as well. Hell maybe those men of the earlier funeral services had it easy.
In the middle of one of the bunks was a bucket of fruit, some of the men went on and tried to peal the moldy layers of skin off to eat what little food we had left. Food was just one of the problems but being surrounded by water with no way of drinking it was another. In desperation some of the crew tried to drink the sea water but it only made things worse. We had rationed all our water and now it was gone. The only comfort came at night when the sea was calm and the air was cool.
I walked further back into the engine department where the mechanics worked to keep our one engine running. Shortly after nightfall the other diesel had burned up from lack of oil. I went did an about face, after saluting the men that were keeping our only chance or survival alive, and walked back towards the command room. Along the way I stopped by our radio operator in hopes of hearing some good news for a change. I ask him if he had heard any reports of German ship in the area. He didn't answer, I repeated the question but still no answer. I walked and stood in front of him and knelt down, slowly I
waved my hand in front of his face and watched his eyes there was no response. I called for the medic to get him and bring him into the forward berthing area. The medic then told me that this man was severly dehydrated and that his mind was shutting down. Without some water he would not make it. I noticed that alot of my crew was acting dilusional and the medic
assured me that it would only get worse as time went by.
I pointed to a man resting his head on a rusty pipe and told him to take the radio operators station. He relunctantly did as he was ordered and sat in the chair. "You let me know if you here anything from friendly ships" I yelled to him and then added "Its our only hope of survival"
The submarine continued to chug along the waves again it was nice weather but honestly at this point I would give my left arm for some rain atleast then we would have some fresh water. That was not the case instead the sun beat down in all of it glory onto our little boat. It was so bright at times that the reflection off the water was blinding the watchmen. I had reduced the watchcrew to only two men because of the severe dehydration of my crew. I myself was also starting to feel the effects of lack of food and water. There were times where I would simply stand there until a member of my crew tapped me on the shoulder to ask if I was ok. Then I would wake from my daze and resume my duties. For the life of me I never knew what I was dreaming about.
As the hours slowly moved on there was nothing on the submarine to do. The only thing that could be heard was the diesel engine struggling along, the waves outside lapping at the side of the U-66, and the gramaphone. The gramaphone by now was honestly started to irritate me, there are only so many time that you can listen to the words "It's a long way to tippirary"
but it did seem to keep the crews hopes up. I gathered my strength and walked to the foward berthing compartment. Now every bed in the area was filled with men to weak to carry out dutties. Next to many was a bucket filled with there past stomach contents of the day. I couldn't stand the smell and had to return to the command room. There was still no signal or radio message from the fleet. At that time I heard a loud explosion and it rocked the U-66. Black smoke billowed out of the engine campartment were the diesel engine was and the fire team sprang into action. As tired as my men were they still did there job. The fire was extinquished very quickly but the diesel engine was no longer running. I walked into the engine room and instantly my eyes teared from the strong smoke. I could bearly see the men in front of me staring at the engine now
covered in black oil.
'What happened?" I asked the officer in charge.
"We lost her, I think its from the lack of oil, I dont know if i can fix it sir." he replied.
I told him to do everything possible to get the engine running again, to take who ever he needed to help him. Without and engine we had better just shoot ourselves and get it over with. Still a thought in the back of my head at the time.
For atleast 8 hours the mechanics and crew made the engine room their home as they took parts from the the damaged starboard engine and moved the parts over to the port. It was a scene that would have made the very best machinest back at base quiver with fear of losing there job. My men were amazing they fought off the exhustion and worked in conditions that made a slave looked blessed. Some of the men cut and bleeding from the earlier attack worked in oil soaked clothes moving parts from one engine to the other. Slowly you watched as one engine began to look more like a pile of scrap metal then a powerfull diesel engine. The other engine started to take shape. They also came up with a way using some old pipe from the exhaust manifold to transfer much needed oil back into the circulation. It was very clever what they had come up with. As the sun started to go down the U-66 got very dark and we had to break out some lights to keep the engine comparment lit enough to see. I also chipped in to help and i felt like one of the crew at this time I forgot what rank I was and listened to the mechanical knowledge being yelled out around me. After what seemed like an eternity we were ready to give the repairs a try.
I gave the command to start the port diesel, as I silently prayed that it would work. The engine slowly turned over and I started to think that maybe the battery by now was dead. Then it turned a little faster but would not fire.
"Keep trying, without the engine we are dead!" I exclaimed to the officer as he again tried to fire up the diesel engine.
This time though the praying payed off. The engine started to turn faster and rev higher. I watched as a huge puff off dark black smoke came from the engine. Then as if the engine were returning from the dead she fired up. The lights throughout the U-66 slowly began to brighten. My mechanics had done it, they had saved our ass for now.
"When we get back to base I'm buying you guys all the drinks you can handle, now ahead standard!" I ordered as the U-66 slowly started moving through the water again. The engine was making some noises I had never heard a diesel make before but it was running, that all I cared about at this time. The U-66 and her crew made it past yet another trial.
I breathed a sigh of relief eventhough I knew our ordeal was far from over. My crew still needed water and food despreatly and even with our engine we only had enough fuel to last another 5 hours.
The radio had been silent, there was no updates or reports of any kind. This was odd but not too uncommon. I knew that everytime we transmitted our coded S.O.S. message we made it easier for the enemy to find us. This, however was a chance we had to take. I climbed the ladder into the conning tower and onto the bridge. The bridge crew was famished and barely able to stand but they were doing there best. I told the men to go down and get some rest the next crew was on the way. The followed me back into the belly of the U-66 and headed for the aft berthing compartment. The next watch crew made its way up the ladder and disappeared from sight as they stepped out onto the bridge.
I went back to my quarters and layed down in bed looking at the pictures of my own family wondering i I would ever see them again. Trying to find out why I took this job, this career. I was young and indestructable or so I thought. For now i was seeing that I was wrong. Maybe Dead wrong this time. I felt my chest and looked at my rank and metals. None of this could save me now. My uniform looked just like the men I served with. It was covered in dirt, oil, and stale blood. I sat up and picked up my journal to write some letters to home. I realy was scared at this point that I would never make it. Death
would be a pleseant surprise at this time though as my stomach growled for food. I leaned forward and threw up all over the
floor. The taste was horrible and I fought the gag reflexes. It wasn't a huge mess because there was no food for my stomach to get rid of. It was however a horrible feeling and it kept comming and going all day.
I put that thought out of my head and wiped my mouth off with the cleanest dirty towl I could find and began to write to my family. I didn't get but a sentence into the journal when to my horror.
"Aircraft spotted!" came down through the pipes used to transmit messages to the command room and then was repeated. I nearly hit my head as I jumped out of my bed and ran to the command room. I tried to reassure myself by saying that it was a german plane and would be here to help us but with our luck....
I stopped in the middle of my thought and yelled out.
"All crew general quarters, general quarters!"
"Man the flack guns, I repeat man the flack guns"
"All crews to assigned areas"
I sure as hell hope our luck has changed I thought to myself as my crew rushed around securing doors and climbing up the ladders onto the pitching deck of the U-66.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ :D PART 4 AND MORE COMMING SOON HOPE YOU ENJOYED :p
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