Well Patrol five is under-way.
Left Brest on July 24th after one month in port for repairs etc following my last patrol.
DT24 is my alloted grid right down near africa I think....so a long slog ahead. Just abrest western coast of spain on 26/27th July I change my plan slighly and am going to meander around near casablanca for a bit as I know large convoys often frequent the area.
CG28 July 28th
"Ship Spotted" was reported by the crew in the early hours. Skipper W Suhr had only been
an hr or so but crew decides to wake him, with a mug of tea...
"Well what we got, what you woke me for this time?" I ask my crew....(yes me the skipper as W Suhr)
1XO: We got a large merchant sir, was thinking u might want to see....
"well yeh I suppose....Ahead FLANK! Open tubes two & three for salvo firing"
in my slumber I had forgotten to ask my weps to set the spread angle to minimum given the distances involved.
LOS was ordered and no detonation is heard. Five mins later I give up and order the crew to "MAN DECK GUN!"
We put around 15 shells into her and I then ordered us to periscope depth as she is returning fire in some way with a small cannon of some description
Up the scope, properly set the tubes this time....
"Open Tube one please"
Tube 1 duly is opened and fired....without further ado & before long....detonation!!!!
A hit is scored.
The process is repeated by using the now re-loaded tube two and she is now sliding below....
That's where we are upto ATM
R/L: food & Bedtime calls.