Oooooo-kaaaay . . . that was . . . interesting . . . if you have an odd idea of interesting.
While I was posting the above, I'd decided to bring inside some externals while the weather was nice and calm. I'm in AN1426, at 6:00AM, just as dawn is starting. Should only take about 40 minutes to haul one inside and, while I still have internal reserves, better to grab one or two while I can.
So I come to dead stop, man the watchtower and send out the crew and start the process of bringing inside an external. Seas as smooth as glass, the horizon salmon pink with the barest hint of dawn . . . what could go wrong?
Heh.
Ten minutes into the process a watchman screams out the dreaded "Aircraft spotted!"
I can't dive; not with a torpedo half-in, half-out. So I call for ahead flank, clear the forward deck of personnel and man the flak stations. Throwing the rudder to 25 degrees port I look up and try spotting what's incoming.
Jeez! Not one, not two, but three Swordfish!
Before they manage making their first bombing pass, the heavy flak takes them out; one-two-three. My jaw hits the decksole!
No sooner has the third hit the sea then I clear the flak stations, man the watchtower again, go to all stop and send the torpedo crew back out.
With ten minutes to go, I again hear "Aircraft spotted!" Oh, you have got to be kidding!
Ummm . . . no.
So again I call for ahead flank, clear the forward deck of personnel and man the flak stations, while scanning the skies.
OK . . . who have I ticked off today? There's another three Swordfish incoming!
The heavy flak brings them down, too!
I finally manage reloading the torpedo, then off we go at ahead full. There must be a carrier someplace around, that's the only way I can see having two groups of three Swordfish just swanning around up here, and while I wouldn't mind adding a carrier to my belt I somehow think she --and her escorts-- might have an ideer we're around.
(I usually do not duke it out with aircraft. I see 'em, I dive. This is the first time, ever, I've been in a position --self-imposed at it might have been-- where I couldn't dive. Not a pleasant feeling!)
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