Quote:
Originally Posted by sharkbit
5th patrol out of La Spezia, March '43.
3 ships sunk so far, mostly to the WNW of Malta, and we have 10 torpedoes, all up front  .
Took some damage from an ill advised gun battle with the last ship we sunk but we're fixed up with some hull integrity lost but not enough to turn for home.
A couple of days ago, had to dive due to aircraft. Soon after, picked up multiple warships on the hydrophone heading our way. Sighted 3 destroyers sweeping the area but we couldn't get in good position to shoot.
Went a little deeper to let them get out of the area and soon picked up another warship and 2 fast merchants closing. Went back to PD and sighted 2 troop ships escorted by a Captain Class frigate chugging along pretty quick. They were just too fast and we were not in a good position. I thought about a long range shot with about a 160 degree AOB or so but thought it wiser to save torpedoes.
We tried to surface and shadow and report in on them so the flyboys could take care of them but they kept pulling away and we never could get a message off.
Bad weather hit with zero visibility soon after and that has lasted a couple of days. Got a report of a convoy to the SE of Malta heading our way. Plotted an intercept course hoping that the weather will clear.
We are now on their track with moderate visibilty, and rough seas. We just picked up radar signals so things are going to get hot real soon.
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Continued.....
We were able to penetrate the screen submerged. Due to extremely rough seas, the convoy is crawling along at 1.5 knots. Never seen that before.
Everything still happened pretty quick inside the convoy though. Shot 2 eels at a troopship and 2 eels at a ore carrier. Missed the troopship (damn this manual targeting
) but got the ore carrier. No retaliation from the escorts-they must be too seasick
.
Due to clearing my firing point after shooting, we got behind the convoy and we are currently working around for another go and are debating on trying to slip in submerged while it is still light out for another submerged attack or waiting for darkness to try to slip through the escorts in the heavy seas.
