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frau kaleun · 10-06-11, 02:58 PM

I always wonder about the choice to attack the destroyer as well. IIRC the 2WO says something to Werner about the Old Man being crazy to try it.

OTOH - it's not like he starts lobbing shells at it with the deck gun, lol.

He goes to periscope depth and tries to set up a torpedo attack. My assumption has always been that *he* believes from the destroyer's behavior up to that point that the u-boat has not been detected on the surface, and that it's unlikely the periscope will be sighted in those heavy seas (afterward he expresses amazement and consternation that this is apparently exactly what happened).

There's also the fact that, IIRC, they and a bunch of other boats are in the process of trying to intercept a convoy reported by another u-boat in the area. I think there is some dialogue before that scene, when the weather is getting really bad, indicating that according to the info they were given, they should have found the convoy already - which they haven't. The visibility is so bad that they might well sail right past it and never see it. They submerge for a hydrophone check, hear a surface ship, and resurface. Then they spot the destroyer. So my assumption there is that he believes he has come across one of the escorts that is sweeping the area at some distance ahead of or around the convoy that the proposed wolfpack is supposed to be finding and attacking. Since that's the only enemy ship sighted so far, and it seems not to have noticed them, and a stealthy hit and run from periscope depth is not totally unthinkable, I suppose the reasoning might be: why not take out this guy, and make one less escort that we all have to deal with if and when we actually locate this convoy we're chasing?

Altho I will grant you, I think general frustration with their situation at that point did play some part in the decision to attack.

10-06-11, 02:58 PM	#2
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	I always wonder about the choice to attack the destroyer as well. IIRC the 2WO says something to Werner about the Old Man being crazy to try it. OTOH - it's not like he starts lobbing shells at it with the deck gun, lol. He goes to periscope depth and tries to set up a torpedo attack. My assumption has always been that he believes from the destroyer's behavior up to that point that the u-boat has not been detected on the surface, and that it's unlikely the periscope will be sighted in those heavy seas (afterward he expresses amazement and consternation that this is apparently exactly what happened). There's also the fact that, IIRC, they and a bunch of other boats are in the process of trying to intercept a convoy reported by another u-boat in the area. I think there is some dialogue before that scene, when the weather is getting really bad, indicating that according to the info they were given, they should have found the convoy already - which they haven't. The visibility is so bad that they might well sail right past it and never see it. They submerge for a hydrophone check, hear a surface ship, and resurface. Then they spot the destroyer. So my assumption there is that he believes he has come across one of the escorts that is sweeping the area at some distance ahead of or around the convoy that the proposed wolfpack is supposed to be finding and attacking. Since that's the only enemy ship sighted so far, and it seems not to have noticed them, and a stealthy hit and run from periscope depth is not totally unthinkable, I suppose the reasoning might be: why not take out this guy, and make one less escort that we all have to deal with if and when we actually locate this convoy we're chasing? Altho I will grant you, I think general frustration with their situation at that point did play some part in the decision to attack.