Missing (BALZ)
 

21 June 1941
Waiting for Lt. Schulz to return Doenitz paced in his dispatch smoking a cigar.
Finally, Shulz, the duty communications officer returned. "We have queriwd all units. No one has heard from U-123."

"Their last position report was on 21 May. 200 miles northwest of Freetown. Sea calm, operations normal."

"Declare them- Missing in action."
"Jahwhol, Herr Admiral." Schultz clicked his heels and left.

It cant be true!:o

:wah: :wah: :wah: :wah: :wah:

Just when I'd gotten the tank polished! :stare:

Balz has died and been resurrected more times than I can count.

Well, not died exactly, but had his whole universe destroyed, which can be argued is worse. I suspect he's vacationing on Tahiti or some-such place it should be impossible for him to get to. But after all he's Balz, so nothing is impossible. :sunny:

Naaa, this just something to divert our attention. Balz is just enjoying the sun in some non-official shore leave!

I sank a coastal freighter outside Freetown last week. Full of tea-cozies.

I don't know if that means anything...

It's okay, 200 miles NW is around Portuguese-Guinea (nowadays Guinea Bissau), and if you zoom in there is a lovely white-sand beach around Ilha de Orango:

Ilha de Orango

Ilha de Orango is located west of Bubaque and is part of the Orango Islands National Park, together with several other islands. Getting there is half of the adventure as it involves several boat trips before ending in Eticoga on the west coast of Ilha de Orango. From here, you can enter the beautiful park with palm groves and light woodland. Also there are mangrove areas and mud flats exposed at low tide. There is some extraordinary wildlife here including the the rare saltwater species of hippo and crocodile. To add, numerous birds species call this place home and it is also one of the largest green and Ridley turtle-nesting sites on the entire West African coastline.


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Balz's welcoming committee - But that's not a proper tea-cosy!

We now know where Herr Balz gets his tea cozies from, either that or hes gone into tea cozy production:hmmm:

Perhaps Bernard switched the radio receiver off again? Or perhaps there are a few new crew members that need some intensive hoochie woochie training? :hmmm::hmmm::hmmm:

I think Bernard braged about his unique skills of electronics and was assigned to repair the radio...:hmmm:

Herr and Frau Schmenk who live in Darmstadt received a Red Cross postcard dated 28 June 1941.

Liebe Vati und Mutti,
I am alive in Lisbon.
Your loving son,
Lt. Schmenk

On the same day the Red Cross worker visited Schmenk, A kind Portuguese nurse brought him a new notebook so he could write from his hospital bed.

A Portuguese doctor loaned him his fountain pen.
Though his hand was not too steady, Schmenk began to write about the great tragedy.

We left Lorient at 10 in the morning of 02 May 1941 to patrol NW of Freetown. The transit to our patrol area was uneventful. On 18 May our commander sent a radio message to the Freetown Port Captain, it read something like this:

Dear English Port Captain,
Kindly inform us when your next northbound convoy is scheduled to leave your fine harbour. I would hate to miss it.

A U-boot.

The British never answered.

On 20 May, at 2314 hours, I was on watch. It was a fine tropical night and pleasure to be on the bridge. Without warning we were enveloped in a bright white light.
"Alaaaaarm," I yelled and range the emergency bell. We were pelted by machinegun fire and an airplane roared overhead.
We dove without receiving much damage. An hour later, we came up to periscope depth- The airplane was gone. At least, we couldn't see it.

Shortly after we surfaced, a tropical squall gave us shelter. Capt Balz ordered full speed ahead to get away from the area the enemy had spotted us.
"How in the bloody hoochie woochie could they find us at night?" Balz raged above the intensity of the squall. " From now on, we recharge batteries with ballast semi-flooded. Not one centimetre above six meters," He instructed the LI. and watch officers.


Lt. Schmenk´s gripping story will continue anon.

The following day was typical doldrums weather. A flat sea and copper sky. The soundman said the sea sounded dead. As usual we had choir practice before lunch. I read The Sea Wolf and dreamed of cold seas and fog. Balz said it was too hot to wear a tea cozy.

We surfaced at 2130.

The sky was brilliantly clear with Orion shining overhead. Stars reflected on the flat sea, giving one the impression of being on a spaceship floating in the middle of the universe.
"Flugzeug!"
"Alarm!"
I stepped aside to let the lookouts scramble down the hatch.
The airplane was loud.
A bomb exploded on the stern. I got slammed against the bulwarks.
Somehow I managed to get into the conning tower.
It was impossible to breathe.
The submarine was full of smoke.
I couldn´t stand. I couldn't walk.
Someone sat me on the chart box and handed me a breathing aparatus.
I realized I had a broken leg.
"Fire in diesel compartment is out, Herr Kaleun," someone said.
"Seal off aft torpedo room." Balz yelled. "Stop the dive."
That´s when I noticed we were going down stern first.
Everyone wore his breathing aparatus.
Main electricity was out.
"Full speed ahead," Balz ordered.
My leg was broken, maybe some ribs. My arms were burned, too. I forced myself to ignore the pain and think like an officer.
The depth meter showed hundred and twenty meters.
"Stop the dive."
"We´re out of control, Herr Kaleun."
"Blow ballast!" Balz looked around. Get your life jackets on. Take Herr Schmenk out first. Line up by escape hatches. Schmenk goes out first. On deck, deploy life rafts-"
"Critical depth, Herr Kaleun."
"Blow all ballast."
"Hoffman and Herzog are dead, Herr Kaleun."
"Prepare to abandon ship." Balz bellowed.
As I got dragged to the forward hatch, I saw the depth needle indicating a fast ascent.
Klank, salt water burned my face. I got shoved onto the deck.
I gulped air.
"Mach schnell. She´s going down." Bosun Detzel´s voice rand next to me.


Stay tuned for the next episode.

Silly wabbits, those tea cosies were being returned for a refund. Balz has upgraded.

http://cheezpictureisunrelated.files...f2e64f5a19.jpg

Bwa ha ha ha hoochies :haha::haha::haha:

Ghasp :o

I'm tuned, I'm tuned :o