SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - Tell us what you are upto in your current campaign

Farflung Wanderer · 05-12-15, 08:23 PM

Continuing Patrol 1 for U-18, commanded by Lt. Jr. Theodor Lawrenz, attached to U-Flottila Weddigen, based in Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

02 September 1939
2000h: Reported in. 5 torpedoes left, grid AN61. We're still a good 38 hours from AN16, meaning it will be a long, boring night as we draw ever closer to our ordered grid.

I've ordered the crew to get some rest, as we're all getting tired. Hopefully we'll have a refreshed shift ready for the morning.

03 September 1939
0800h: Reported in. 5 torpedoes left, grid AN48. 27 hours to AN16 still, meaning it will be mid-day tomorrow when we finally reach our objective.

Still no news on the situation with Poland, it has been eerily quiet on that front. I hope we don't stumble into something.

Waters are very rough and visibility is decent, but it's making me a touch nervous. A Typ-IIA is not designed to take terribly much punishment.

1737h: I had my RA go on duty to check for any transmissions, and he came back to me not too long later, message in hand. It's from Raeder, and it's addressed to every German naval vessel at sea. The message: "Commence hostilities against Britain forthwith." Germany is at war.

So too, then, is U-18. We are still 17 hours away from AN16, but from here on in we are on war footing. Should we pick up any British vessels, we shall engage and destroy them.

The weathers are too choppy to have my SO on station, meaning it is up to the watch crew to spot the British as we approach AN16. Hopefully by tomorrow the waters will have calmed and we can begin our hunt.

2000h: Sent in status report. 5 torpedoes, grid AN44. 15 hours to our objective, no contact with the British yet. The waters have gotten rougher, the waves often rolling over the deck of the ship and even up to the conning tower. I am worried about being swamped, so I shall order a dive until 2200h.

2108h: Ordered a test dive at 2103 to 68m in order to test ship's ability to perform at depth. She performed admirably, and I ordered her back up to 30m and ordered the SO to man his station to see if we couldn't pick up anything despite the rough seas.

2200h: Ordered to surface to recharge batteries and refill air. Waters are still very rough, but at least we are not getting swamped. I am proud of my crew and how well they are performing in these adverse conditions.

04 September 1939
0830h: After a longer than usual breakfast this morning to mark the first full day of the war, reported in. 5 torpedoes left, grid AN44. It is a mere 4 hours until we arrive at AN16, and the crew is getting excited. This marks our chance to do our part for Germany.

The waters are still very rough, frustratingly. It will make hunting the enemy much more difficult, but not impossible. At least visibility is good.

1049h: At 1010h, we were passed over by a British plane. I ordered a crash dive, and we escaped with no attack being made on us. We will now surface and continue on our way to AN16.

1157h: At about 11:47h, we were passed over by another British plane. Again, a crash dive, again, no attack by the hostile aircraft. Our luck can't last forever, but I am thankful that the water is deep enough for us to be able to crash dive.

Two and a half hours until AN16.

1243h: Another crash dive, this time to avoid two British craft. They are getting much more aggressive, and I'm sure that they're ranging in on our destination and our course. Regardless, we are ever so close to AN16. I hope we make it soon so we can start our duties.

1419h: We have finally arrived in AN16. Our 24 hour patrol now begins. Let us hope that the British do not throw the book at us and instead send some nice soft targets our way.

1628h: Ship spotted, merchant of some form right off our bow. Diving to periscope depth, let us begin the hunt.

1631h: Target is a C2 merchant heading southeast, almost 7km away. We shall begin hunting her, and when the opportunity arises, strike.

1739h: We've been chasing for some time, but batteries are running low. I am going to run decks awash and try to get in closer using the diesel engines. We're only 3000m away, I think we can do this.

1846h: After a grueling hour chase, success! It took two torpedoes to sink her, but that is one C2 going into the deep. Our crew is celebrating, and we still have three torpedoes to hunt with. Now to return to AN16 and continue our patrol.

2000h: Reported in. 3 torpedoes left, grid AN18. One cargo ship sunk, for a grand total of 6446 tons. There will be partying tonight!

2015h: Another air attack, I'm sure in response to our sinking of the cargo ship. We've crashed dived away, and shall be safe from their bombs. Aside from this distraction, we are well on our way back to AN16 and shall be back on station by around 2100h.

2054h: We have surfaced and are almost to AN16. We received an uplifting response to our last report, which has been shared amongst a happy crew. It has been a good day for U-18.

05 September 1939
0420h: The SO awoke me to report a merchant vessel not too far from us. I have ordered the U-18 to turn to engage. We still have three torpedoes left, perhaps we can bag another victim before dawn...

0425h: Target has been identified as a coastal merchant. They ought to be faster than the C2s, and not worth as much tonnage, but they'll be easier to sink. It's heading northwest, meaning that we will need to catch it before it enters the protected waters of the Home Fleet. I think we can do it, though.

05-12-15, 08:23 PM	#4878
Farflung Wanderer Watch Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 23 Downloads: 12 Uploads: 0	Continuing Patrol 1 for U-18, commanded by Lt. Jr. Theodor Lawrenz, attached to U-Flottila Weddigen, based in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. 02 September 1939 2000h: Reported in. 5 torpedoes left, grid AN61. We're still a good 38 hours from AN16, meaning it will be a long, boring night as we draw ever closer to our ordered grid. I've ordered the crew to get some rest, as we're all getting tired. Hopefully we'll have a refreshed shift ready for the morning. 03 September 1939 0800h: Reported in. 5 torpedoes left, grid AN48. 27 hours to AN16 still, meaning it will be mid-day tomorrow when we finally reach our objective. Still no news on the situation with Poland, it has been eerily quiet on that front. I hope we don't stumble into something. Waters are very rough and visibility is decent, but it's making me a touch nervous. A Typ-IIA is not designed to take terribly much punishment. 1737h: I had my RA go on duty to check for any transmissions, and he came back to me not too long later, message in hand. It's from Raeder, and it's addressed to every German naval vessel at sea. The message: "Commence hostilities against Britain forthwith." Germany is at war. So too, then, is U-18. We are still 17 hours away from AN16, but from here on in we are on war footing. Should we pick up any British vessels, we shall engage and destroy them. The weathers are too choppy to have my SO on station, meaning it is up to the watch crew to spot the British as we approach AN16. Hopefully by tomorrow the waters will have calmed and we can begin our hunt. 2000h: Sent in status report. 5 torpedoes, grid AN44. 15 hours to our objective, no contact with the British yet. The waters have gotten rougher, the waves often rolling over the deck of the ship and even up to the conning tower. I am worried about being swamped, so I shall order a dive until 2200h. 2108h: Ordered a test dive at 2103 to 68m in order to test ship's ability to perform at depth. She performed admirably, and I ordered her back up to 30m and ordered the SO to man his station to see if we couldn't pick up anything despite the rough seas. 2200h: Ordered to surface to recharge batteries and refill air. Waters are still very rough, but at least we are not getting swamped. I am proud of my crew and how well they are performing in these adverse conditions. 04 September 1939 0830h: After a longer than usual breakfast this morning to mark the first full day of the war, reported in. 5 torpedoes left, grid AN44. It is a mere 4 hours until we arrive at AN16, and the crew is getting excited. This marks our chance to do our part for Germany. The waters are still very rough, frustratingly. It will make hunting the enemy much more difficult, but not impossible. At least visibility is good. 1049h: At 1010h, we were passed over by a British plane. I ordered a crash dive, and we escaped with no attack being made on us. We will now surface and continue on our way to AN16. 1157h: At about 11:47h, we were passed over by another British plane. Again, a crash dive, again, no attack by the hostile aircraft. Our luck can't last forever, but I am thankful that the water is deep enough for us to be able to crash dive. Two and a half hours until AN16. 1243h: Another crash dive, this time to avoid two British craft. They are getting much more aggressive, and I'm sure that they're ranging in on our destination and our course. Regardless, we are ever so close to AN16. I hope we make it soon so we can start our duties. 1419h: We have finally arrived in AN16. Our 24 hour patrol now begins. Let us hope that the British do not throw the book at us and instead send some nice soft targets our way. 1628h: Ship spotted, merchant of some form right off our bow. Diving to periscope depth, let us begin the hunt. 1631h: Target is a C2 merchant heading southeast, almost 7km away. We shall begin hunting her, and when the opportunity arises, strike. 1739h: We've been chasing for some time, but batteries are running low. I am going to run decks awash and try to get in closer using the diesel engines. We're only 3000m away, I think we can do this. 1846h: After a grueling hour chase, success! It took two torpedoes to sink her, but that is one C2 going into the deep. Our crew is celebrating, and we still have three torpedoes to hunt with. Now to return to AN16 and continue our patrol. 2000h: Reported in. 3 torpedoes left, grid AN18. One cargo ship sunk, for a grand total of 6446 tons. There will be partying tonight! 2015h: Another air attack, I'm sure in response to our sinking of the cargo ship. We've crashed dived away, and shall be safe from their bombs. Aside from this distraction, we are well on our way back to AN16 and shall be back on station by around 2100h. 2054h: We have surfaced and are almost to AN16. We received an uplifting response to our last report, which has been shared amongst a happy crew. It has been a good day for U-18. 05 September 1939 0420h: The SO awoke me to report a merchant vessel not too far from us. I have ordered the U-18 to turn to engage. We still have three torpedoes left, perhaps we can bag another victim before dawn... 0425h: Target has been identified as a coastal merchant. They ought to be faster than the C2s, and not worth as much tonnage, but they'll be easier to sink. It's heading northwest, meaning that we will need to catch it before it enters the protected waters of the Home Fleet. I think we can do it, though.