[VonApist]

"Periscope depth" the boat's second in command announced, turning at his Kaleun.

"Thank you Gerald. Periscope Up"

Stephan took off his cap, stepped closer and slung both his arms over the scope's handles, gluing his face on the eyepiece. He performed a swift but detailed sweep and satisified he pulled the handles up.

"All clear, boys. 2 meter waves , rain, poor visibility. Periscope down. Speed Full Ahead. Surface the boat."

The U-boat's captain put on his oilskin and turned towards his Wachoffizier.

"Gerald, please assume tower watch with Friedrich, Johan and Hans. Make sure that everybody is secured with lines as its bumpy and I dont want any of the tower crew to be thrown overboard."

"Yes sir" Gerald replied.

"Lange, Neumann, Koch. Dress up. You are joining me for watch duty. Come on men, on the double" The U-boats' second in command barked, as he finished putting on his oilskin and followed his Kaleun, climbing the conning tower's ladder.

***

Stephan emerged from the conning tower's hatch. He grasped the bridge's railing and secured his lifeline. He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath, filling his lungs with the crisp ocean air.

Despite the rain and the swells, the ocean was relatively silent. All he could hear was the lullaby of the diesel engines and the splashing of the waves as the U-boat cruised at a speed of 7 Knots.

The small boat was clumsily rocking on the surface. Type-IIDs were ment to be coastal U-boats. Nevertheless, and despite the relative low crash depth and limited torpedo ordinance, Stephan felt much more safe aboard one of these buckets while hunting the Atlantic in 1943, than aboard a larger VIIC or the clumsier IXB.

Even though, inevitably, his tonnage as a kaptain could not be compared to that of his fellow Kaleuns serving in the larger U-boats, now in late 1943, survival was the name of the game.

He had long given up the belief that U-Boats could stop the flow of suppllies from the Americas to Britain. Back in 1940 it was a possibility. In 1941 it seemed that things were getting tougher. Now, in late 1943, with the emergence of huge convoys protected by small fleets of escorts, the evolution of radar, improved ASDIC and constant Allied air presence, Stephan had no illusions. U-boats could sting the beast but could not kill it.

Still he would give his best. He was trained to do so.

His thoughts were interrupted by Gerald, who stood next to him scanning the horizon with his binoculars.

"Visibility is less than 1Km kaleun."

"I can see that Gerald. Still its better than yesterday, and on the positive side its highly unlikely we get spotted by Tommie aircraft in this weather. Assuming they dare to fly."

Stephan leaned over the hatch.
"Chief. Speed Ahead Full. Heading 065. Keep it that way"

He then turned towards his 2nd in command.

"Should be some 4.30 hours before we reach our position. Its going to be bumpy. Keep your eyes open Gerald. And also keep an eye on the men up here. ". With this, he climbed down the ladder towards the Zentrale.

(to be continued).