Returning from my most recent patrol (December 1940) because of low fuel I still had four torpedoes left in the bow tubes. North west of Scotland my sound man picks up several warships closing fast. After listening for a while I worked out they were more or less coming straight at me. I thought this was an opportunuty to good to miss. I went to silent running and came up to periscope depth. The weather was overcast and the seas rough and dawn was just breaking. When they were close enough I spotted a Fleet Carrier right in the middle of the task force and worked out that it would pass about 1,500 metres right in front of me. I set the torps to fire a salvo at 2 metre depth using impact pistols and a 2 degree spread angle. As soon as I fired I dived down to 150 metres. Three torps hit and one missed. Two of the escorts came looking for me but I'm glad to say the didn't even get a sniff of where I was hiding. About twenty minutes after firing the carrier went down. As desirableroasted says, if they are coming right at you it presents an opportunity not to be missed.
Nemo
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"I'm afraid there is no disguising the fact that King's obsession with the Pacific and the Battle of Washington cost us dear in the Battle of the Atlantic".
Sir John Slessor GCB, DSO, MC, DL
AOC-in-C Coastal Command RAF
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