I am currently reading a great book called Dönitz and the Wolfpacks, and its basically a in depth description of selected encounters between convoys and wolf packs throughout the war.
This book really opened my eyes to the stress the sailors in convoys were under, particularly during "Happy Times", as they often knew they were being shadowed by wolf packs (due to intercepted radio traffic from the uboats), and that the attack would likely come at night. Often the packs followed the convoy for days whilst waiting for even more uboats to join the party before they attacked. This ment the sailors didn`t sleep at all, just bit their nails and hoped for hurricanes or even krakens.
What a shame this is not in SH3!
This is classic drama at its best, just like the movie Jaws. Imagine the ships all huddled together waiting for the unevitable trail of bubbles.
I am very surprised no film has dealt with this, since covering this from the merchants would mean lots of suspense and drama. Its just to good not to do something about.
I am a writer by trade, so dont be to surprised if there is a (based on real events) fiction novel about such an encounter one day. :D
I reccomend all read Dönitz and the Wolf Packs by Bernard(!) Edwards! Great book!
Here is a cool piece from the book:
Quote:
True, (convoy) ON 113 had lost two ships, but the tanker British Merit was still afloat and under tow by a tug from St John`s. It seemed to (captain) Campbell that the worst was over.
When Campbell saw a school of whales breaking the surface to port, his first reaction was to call for his passengers to come on deck. They came, the two small girls agog with excitement. It was one of the girls who then pointed out another lone whale surfacing on the quarter minutes later. Campbell turned to look, and froze as he saw a line of bubbles break away from the "whale" and race towards his ship.
Vogelsang`s first torpedo struck the Pacific Pioneer immediately under her bridge; five seconds later his second exploded in her No. 5 hold, just abaft the engine-room bulkhead.
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Just imagine that scene in a movie! OMG!
PS: The ship sank within 45 minutes, with no casualities. Alle were picked up by the corvette
Calgary.
