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Old 01-27-10, 06:31 PM   #669
Falkirion
Ace of the Deep
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Melbourne, AUS
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Patrol 8. U-47 August 20th. Continued from last post.

After making our initial attack on the convoy and eluding the escorts we jetted off ahead of their position to get ready for another crack and to get some more tonnage under our belt. We made it into position just ahead of the convoy and lay in wait one grid north. We had them on sonar before we spotted them. The waves had started rolling a little more resulting in more up and down motion for the ships. Impact detonations were set on tubes 1 and 2. They'd changed course since our last contact so my closing angle on my target was less than ideal at around 78 degrees but it didn't matter. I had faith in the eels we'd prepped. We set up tube 5 for a stern shot at a small merchant to create a bit of chaos while we tried to slip away. All 3 shots fired hit and we ducked down to evade again and try and get into position for another attack. The men were tired but knew that we could make it and then slip away our eels nearly all expended. The 3 shots fired hit. 2 into an Ore carrier which went down quickly and the single into a small merchant for Norway. A Flower nearby and Black Swan both came to invsitigate but we were already safely below their ADSIC range so weren't worried about them getting a fix on us. After a half hour of fruitless searching they gave up and rejoined the convoy.

We jetted ahead again and just after midnight made contact again. This time we set up for a spread across the remaining ships leading the formation. A grainville, tramp steamer and small merchant. A set of 3 eels were prepped and in the tubes quickly. We fired off each as the merchants ran into our cross hairs. All 3 eels impacted and the convoy came to life with spot lights. The Grainville copped the worst hit, keel broken she sank like a stone. The small merchant and tramp steamer though survived though the Tramp took on a low bow attitude it never pulled out of. After 10 minutes the Small merch was listing badly to starboard. All 3 kills confirmed via Hydrophones at 200m. We endured a heavy counter attack by the escorts. I think they were starting to get pissed off that we'd managed to make such an impression on the group. After getting down low and evading we headed south disengaging. Another attack with only 3 eels judged not worth the risk. We're now killing some time around the BF's looking for some single merchants to send under before heading home to Keil. Though with all the messages coming in from France I think the 7th's home might be changing soon.
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