By the timeU-69 was in visual contact of the convoy, it was 9 o'clock.
And, sure enough, there were 5 destroyers and a battleship. "Verdamnt!" Manfred whispered. They were not in any position to torpedo the battleship. Oh well, he thought, might as well get some freighters. However, when they were within 1000 meters of the first escort, he noticed that there were 10 or so men on deck, watching through binoculars. It would only be a matter of time before they saw U-69. "All men below, take us down to 14 meters!" ordered the captain. By his reckoning, the destroyer was out of ASDIC range. After several minutes, when Benno judged that they were surrounded by the merchants, Manfred gave orders to surface. When their boat emerged from the depths, Manfred raced up the ladders, opened the conning tower hatch, and placed the UZO on its pedestal. After doing the calculations for a shot at a freighter, he ordered "Rohr einz und zwei, Los!" He then switched to a closer freighter. "Rohr drei und veir, Los!"
Now all they could do was wait.
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