Graaaaaaaa [ten hours later] aaaaaaah!
Never ever steer an Uboat while you're drunk!
At December 31th 1944 (!!!) U-46 and her crew under KaLeu Willy Bukowski (nicknamed "raging Willy" by the Allied) was lost with all hands somewhere south of Ireland at the western approaches. The last radio message by U-46 was received at around 2200, saying "...firing up our new year's eve-party, some (hic) subchasers came by to celebrate with us (hic), nice fireworks, PROST!".
Bukowski and his crew managed to sink about 212.000 BRT in 9 patrols, including the HMS Battler (Bogue-Class) with 15.930 tons, and shot down one Sunderland-Aircraft.
Overall the crew and the skippers of U-46 was responsible for the loss of 860.000 tons of cargos and warships within 5 years.
What happend? Came back from a party sunday morning with a heavy list the port, deceided to "do just one patrol before I go to bed" ... and stumbled over a subchaser group, unable to react properly with about 1,5 ‰ ... very stupid, yes - but dead is dead
