I just returned to SHIII last night after a long break and started a new campaign in 1939 with U-48, a Type VIIB. I was based in Kiel with 51 crew. September 1st came and passed as we set sail early in the morning. We spent 2 days cruising from Kiel to the channel when the English ports turned from green to red. On the morning of the third, even without a message from BdU to being hostilities, we recieved a contact not too far into the channel. We surfaced to Periscope depth, and in a desperate bid to get his attention, I surfaced. Getting his attention worked, but I had turned on TC (dumb move on my part) and turned it off after he got too close to me. I went into an emergency dive, but only has 80 or so meters between my hull and the floor. I was DC'd and had to blow ballast because of serious flooding and damage to my deck dun area and engine room. When I surfaced to meet the Hunt class Destroyer and try a little one on one with him, my deck guns were still functional, and scored 4 hits on the destroyer. I then looked forward to set a course and avoid running aground. When I looked back, he had turned and sped up, ready to ram me. I ordered forward flank, but it was too late. I almost cleared his path, but alas, I was aft-rammed
Boat sunk, all hands lost, and in the words of a fellow forum member :
"Rewind back to 1939 : In other news.... "
A new type VIIB has been commissioned and is ready to set sail today
Part of the learning process I guess!