Ok, folks, here is a final update.
The old proverb "Seek and ye shall find" has proven true.
Earlier in this patrol (13), I had encountered a convoy in Grid BE61, attacking this convoy I used all but six fish in the fore tubes, and 4 of 6 fish in the aft tubes, leaving me with a toal of 10 fish.
The total from the convoy attack was:
25.5.41.
0344 Grid BE 61 Ship sunk! HMS Venomous (V&W Destroyer), 1188 tons. Crew: 112. Crew lost: 43
0357 Grid BE 61 Ship sunk! SS Gudrun Mærsk (Coastal Merchant), 2042 tons. Cargo: Aircraft. Crew: 25. Crew lost: 90
400 Grid BE 61 Ship sunk! MV Peder Bogen (T3 Tanker), 11697 tons. Cargo: Crude Oil. Crew: 66. Crew lost: 50
401 Grid BE 61 Ship sunk! SS Marjory (Coastal Merchant), 2044 tons. Cargo: Military Vehicles. Crew: 22. Crew lost: 10
0401 Grid BE 61 Ship sunk! Small Merchant, 2339 tons. Cargo: Grain. Crew: 45. Crew lost: 23
0402 Grid BE 61 Ship sunk! Small Merchant, 2341 tons. Cargo: Mail/Packages. Crew: 75. Crew lost: 57
0406 Grid BE 61 Ship sunk! Small Merchant, 2340 tons. Cargo: Coal. Crew: 37. Crew lost: 1
0513 Grid BE 53 Ship sunk! T2 Tanker, 10874 tons. Cargo: Aviation Fuel. Crew: 53. Crew lost: 5
The only reason I post this is because, the Rodney and the King George pass not far from where I had contact with this convoy.
From the NE corner of Grid BE53, plot a course SSE (Heading 130). About 8 kms due east of the convoy contact, you will run into the Rodney, King George, and the two previously mentioned Fuji Light Cruisers on a heading roughly NNE.
I position myself at a key point.
About 10:00 am, sonar calls out:
Quote:
|
Warship, Moving fast, Closing, Bearing 302
|
I look through my periscope and lo and behold, here comes the Rodney and the King George.
To make a long story short, I couldn't help the Bismark, her destiny was written long ago, but:
1010 Grid BE 61 Ship sunk! HMS Nelson (Nelson Battleship), 36000 tons. Crew: 1585. Crew lost: 729
1029 Grid BE 61 Ship sunk! HMS King George V (King George V Battleship), 35900 tons. Crew: 1892. Crew lost: 1494
1124
Patrol results:
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 10
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 106765 tons
Für das Vaterland! Für die bismark!