32K tons in 11 minutes; or Oskar Köditz's birthday comes early
 

November 28, 1939

After a refuel and reload at the Corrientes, Oberleutnant z. S. Oskar Köditz and crew (U-48) head for the western approaches to Gibraltar. My intention is to disrupt shipping there for 14 days, then head home to W'haven, which we departed October 22.

0634: I am called to the conning tower by 2WO H. Preuss. Following his point, I see a Large Merchant in haze at about 5500m. As it will pass within 1500m of us, and as I can see no flag, I order a turn to intercept.

0635: I spot two more Large Merchants. The three are in a straight line. I can see no escorts, but must assume they are there. I order periscope depth.

0640: Vogel, my best soundman, insists there are only three contacts, all merchants. I put on the headphones myself, and find only three.

0644: O-scope up. The merchants are French and there are no escorts. Doubting my own eyes, I order 1WO Lippenkötter to look. "Three French Large Merchants, no escorts...."

0649: Target lead ship. Range 650. TI set for fast, impact at 5 meters. Hit.

0652: Target 2nd ship. Range 610. TI set for fast, impact at 5 meters. Hit.

0655: Target 3rd ship. Range 350. TI set for fast, impact at 5 meters. Bounces.

0655: Lead ship sinks.

0656: Target 3rd ship. Range 470. TI set for fast, magnetic, 10 meters. Hit

0657: 3rd ship sinks

0706: 2nd ship sinks

Indeed, my birthday has come early.

GWX3.0, realism 74% (external cam, and I let Weps do his thing).

http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/9...rgemerchan.jpg

Nice haul! :yeah:

Nice :arrgh!:



Unescorted merchants are always nice to see.

Like shooting fish in a barrel. No skills required. Easier than Naval Academy in stock, to be honest.

What astounded me was seeing them come along like that... unescorted, big, slow.

No complaints, though.

well done! :DL

...Gorgeous:yeah:

...no doubt 1st 2nd and 3rd round on Flottilla Command...!!

Lucky , veeery lucky!
Congatulations on a job well done!

Great catch. Gibraltar in my opinion is the best place to hunt the french. They mostly come unescorted or with a trawler that only has some machine guns and a deck gun.

Amazing how naive they are!

Three large merchants, unescorted, though. I am trying to work out what Easter Egg I found.