Thank you
After some decent R+R and TLC from the French locals, Freudenburg was transferred to tenth flotilla, based in Lorient to take command of U-634. Upon arriving at the port, Freudenburg chose his crew. Unimpressed by their laid back attitudes he soon whipped them into shape. Waking them up at 4am to do submarine checks before patrol.
A hard taskmaster. A battle weary kaleun.
Freudenburg set sail from Lorient on the 1st June 1942 in his brand new IXC. He would be one of the first to have the epic mission of patrolling the east coast American waterways. Freudenburg chose the latest torpedo advancements. The type TIII.
The journey began well. The crew noticing the kaleun was a very serious man, with many things hidden away. Especially during his sleep when the radio operator heard him shouting "Frederik! No! Frederik come back!". The crew ere out into the deepest ocaen now. Depth charge safety.
Freudenburg was writing in his journal, when, a watchman called for him at 1am. "Sir! Large convoy crossing our path! We spot five DD's!" Five DD's? this is something the allies need. Coming from the south? Food from Brazil! of course! The kaleun gives orders for periscope depth, charging directly the the middle of the passing convoy. After a few minutes of torpedo checks, a "bone mouthed" DD is seen storming towards the U-Boat. "I need tube 1 ready right now!" and as if by magic, the green bulb lit up the dark room. "Steady, steady.....Torpedo 1 LOS!" the torpedo left the boat. A last act of desperation before the hunter becomes the hunted. "Dive to 100 metres! Go go go! crash dive!". Sailors hold on to anything sturdy as the submarine dives rapidly. The clock ticks on. "Damn, dud torpedo..." Freudenburg was not in the capable hands of the Royal Navy.
"Take her down to 200 metres!". The hull creaks and groans as pressure builds. After 3 hours down at 200 metres. The men are desperate for air. To periscope depth U-634 goes.
To be continued...