SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - Writing mood. U-137 hitting the convoy routes.

VonApist · 09-05-12, 08:13 AM

***
Stephan checked his wristwatch. 8.20pm. He moved his big frame towards the map table and waited for Otto to finish his calculations.

He scratched his chin. God it was itchy. He needed a shave. And a shower for that matter.

They were in patrol for the past 10 days. Not long by U-boat standards, but poor hygiene was taking its toll. Especially in terms of body odour, in the confined space of his U-IID boat.

Otto turned his blond head towards his Kaleun.

"We are in position, Sir. And according to my calculations the convoy is currently positioned some 60-65Km to our West. They should reach our vicinity around 02:30 - assuming they have kept their reported heading and speed."

Stephan leaned over the map, took a pencil out of his breast pocket and double-checked his navigators numbers. They were correct. He stood up, flipping the pencil around his fingers.

"OK Otto. Here is the plan. We will assume a search pattern covering a patrol area of 3 Sq Km." Stephan exclaimed, drawing a near perfect square with his pencil around their current position. "We will remain surfaced until midnight. Then submerge and listen to our hydrophones. I dont want to risk radar detection. We will only have one chance at this."

He pressed the intercom button. "Chief, speed ahead slow."

"Speed, Ahead Slow" Albert acknowledged from the engine room.

"What's depth under keel Otto?"

"280m Herr Kaleun"

"Great. Please plot a search pattern. Boat is with you. I am going up"

He was half way up, climbing the conning tower ladder when he saw the agitated face of Gerald above him leaning over the hatch.

"Alaaaaaaaarm" his second in command yelled, with such an intensity that the veins in his red, unshaved neck popped out, seemingly ready to burst.....

(To be continued)

09-05-12, 08:13 AM	#3
VonApist Navy Dude Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Greece Posts: 175 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	*** Stephan checked his wristwatch. 8.20pm. He moved his big frame towards the map table and waited for Otto to finish his calculations. He scratched his chin. God it was itchy. He needed a shave. And a shower for that matter. They were in patrol for the past 10 days. Not long by U-boat standards, but poor hygiene was taking its toll. Especially in terms of body odour, in the confined space of his U-IID boat. Otto turned his blond head towards his Kaleun. "We are in position, Sir. And according to my calculations the convoy is currently positioned some 60-65Km to our West. They should reach our vicinity around 02:30 - assuming they have kept their reported heading and speed." Stephan leaned over the map, took a pencil out of his breast pocket and double-checked his navigators numbers. They were correct. He stood up, flipping the pencil around his fingers. "OK Otto. Here is the plan. We will assume a search pattern covering a patrol area of 3 Sq Km." Stephan exclaimed, drawing a near perfect square with his pencil around their current position. "We will remain surfaced until midnight. Then submerge and listen to our hydrophones. I dont want to risk radar detection. We will only have one chance at this." He pressed the intercom button. "Chief, speed ahead slow." "Speed, Ahead Slow" Albert acknowledged from the engine room. "What's depth under keel Otto?" "280m Herr Kaleun" "Great. Please plot a search pattern. Boat is with you. I am going up" He was half way up, climbing the conning tower ladder when he saw the agitated face of Gerald above him leaning over the hatch. "Alaaaaaaaarm" his second in command yelled, with such an intensity that the veins in his red, unshaved neck popped out, seemingly ready to burst..... (To be continued) __________________ "Submariners are a special brotherhood, either all come to the surface or no one does. On a submarine, the phrase all for one and one for all is not just a slogan, but reality.” -- VADM Rudolf Golosov