German U-boat pre-deployment process
 

We all know the scene in Das Boot when the Captain, the Chief, and the guest arrive in the U-boat pen and all of the crew is on deck waiting patiently, but I am curious, on the day of a U-boat setting sail what actually goes on prior to leaving for their mission?

I am sure it takes more than a morning to make sure the U-boat is sea-worthy, including loading the weapon stores, cramming as much food and water wherever there is space available. But what specifically (even if it is a check list) does the crew do the day of departure?

Deffinetly want to do a last minute check and make dang sure there's enough butt-wipe for the patrol. Then set the sea detail.

Hehe, yeah that's probably right, but last minute check of what?

Also, did the crew have a 'last meal' of sorts? Or was the whole structure of it pretty lax considering the conditions of living on board a U-boat?

I was a surface sailor. Cant imagine it would be much different. We had a checklist which started three days before our patrol. Gathering intel, charts, food, water, fuel, tools, parts, cleaning supplies, toilet paper department heads inspected their spaces. The day we sailed we mustered on deck took count of everyone, noted who wasnt there and got our pep talk. Afterwards we set material condition Zebra (IIRC), synchronized watches, fired up the mains, manned the sea detail and left the dock. Depending on the time meals were served either before or after getting underway. No drama, just routine.

The boat and crewsize was small and we were not allowed on the weatherdecks. If you fell over nobody wouldnt really know until it was time for your watch. In between jobs unless we were on watch, eating or watching a movie we were in the bunk catching up on sleep.

Not much drama underway either, but once in a while we had some fun. Remember once we sneaked up on a mothership operation. Chased down a speeding boat, crashed alongside guns out and jumped aboard like a bunch of pirates. Talk about a rush. lol. We netted 100,000 tons of marijuana and 1500 kilos of columbian snow.

Did you build a " snowman " with the Columbian material ? :D

:o That's more than the displacement of a supercarrier!

Yep, there's three more zeros than there ought too being.

This is perfect! Thanks Rockstar

@SailorSteve, do you have any memories of what you did prior to departure?

Whew! That's a relief.

Not really. I don't recall putting out to sea as being different from any other day. Then again, I was a radioman, and our duties were pretty much the same no matter where we were.