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Heffalump · 08-16-05, 03:07 AM

I'm in August of 42, not far from the US east coast in an IXC, and the happy times it ain't. Have been attacked by an endless stream of aircraft, most of which have missed thanks to a pathetically inadequate aim, but what they lack in aim they make up for in number...

Anyway, I was on the surface at DC35 when the first attack occurred. I was trying to load some external torpedos down below. My lookout gave the chilling cry "flugzeug gesichtet!". I didn't immediately dive because the boat was in no condition to do so while loading externals (self-imposed rule) so I sat helplessly on the surface for several minutes while a group of Catalinas dived on me.

I ordered our best flak gunner up top and we did our best to fend them off while the crew buttoned up the ship.

The water erupted around us as the first load of bombs fell. None of them hit. Another plane dived on us. Another miss. But the machine gun fire was tearing us apart. Both flak gunners were killed. Fortunately the bombs kept missing us. One of the aircraft was hit and plunged into the water.

Finally, after several minutes, my exec reported we were ready to dive. I ordered a crash dive and all hands rushed below, bringing the bodies of our fallen comrades with us.

Our bow was under, our stern helplessly exposed, when the bomb hit us. Just aft of the tower. BOOM! We lost our port diesel, radio both flak guns were destroyed, and suffered flooding which I eventually brought under control. But our hull integrity was severly weakened and damage to the engine could not be repaired..

In the face of such unrepairable damage I abandoned our patrol and we're now heading for home. For two days we've been limping away from the area and are now about a 100 miles due south of Bermuda. The air bombardment has been intense. At best I've managed two hours on the surface before the planes com. Typical time is 30 minutes. We've taken further hits and have now lost our radio, deck gun, and suffered further damage to hull integrity.

I don't know if we'll make it back.

(Our blackened boat....)

08-16-05, 03:07 AM	#12
Heffalump A-ganger Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 77 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	I'm in August of 42, not far from the US east coast in an IXC, and the happy times it ain't. Have been attacked by an endless stream of aircraft, most of which have missed thanks to a pathetically inadequate aim, but what they lack in aim they make up for in number... Anyway, I was on the surface at DC35 when the first attack occurred. I was trying to load some external torpedos down below. My lookout gave the chilling cry "flugzeug gesichtet!". I didn't immediately dive because the boat was in no condition to do so while loading externals (self-imposed rule) so I sat helplessly on the surface for several minutes while a group of Catalinas dived on me. I ordered our best flak gunner up top and we did our best to fend them off while the crew buttoned up the ship. The water erupted around us as the first load of bombs fell. None of them hit. Another plane dived on us. Another miss. But the machine gun fire was tearing us apart. Both flak gunners were killed. Fortunately the bombs kept missing us. One of the aircraft was hit and plunged into the water. Finally, after several minutes, my exec reported we were ready to dive. I ordered a crash dive and all hands rushed below, bringing the bodies of our fallen comrades with us. Our bow was under, our stern helplessly exposed, when the bomb hit us. Just aft of the tower. BOOM! We lost our port diesel, radio both flak guns were destroyed, and suffered flooding which I eventually brought under control. But our hull integrity was severly weakened and damage to the engine could not be repaired.. In the face of such unrepairable damage I abandoned our patrol and we're now heading for home. For two days we've been limping away from the area and are now about a 100 miles due south of Bermuda. The air bombardment has been intense. At best I've managed two hours on the surface before the planes com. Typical time is 30 minutes. We've taken further hits and have now lost our radio, deck gun, and suffered further damage to hull integrity. I don't know if we'll make it back. (Our blackened boat....)