Made some changes, tested ability get inside convoy. This was in a single mission. No moon, seas were light (for the Atlantic) . Time period of mission August 1940
Convoy was westbound...I avoided the lead escort moved along side the port column of convoy about 3300 yards, while rear escort was lagging behind, I made a "u turn" and increased to flank speed to overtake convoy, aiming to come up the middle between center columns, where best targets typically are.
I made it past the first two (well last two in each center columns) undetected. turned with bow facing starboard center column and stern facing port center column. Targeted a large merchant ahead and mid sized one astern.
Fired torpedoes 1,2, at large merchant ahead, then stern tube at mid sized merchant. Turned starboard to bring tubes to bare on last merchant in column. First torpedoes hit , large fire and explosion. Some sporadic gunfire form merchants. Stern torpedo hit its target, more fires.
Fired one torpedo at the merchant ahead with a 30 degree AOB. Began moving across the convoy at flank speed, dodging some gunfire. Avoiding closing escorts. torpedo hit, merchant exploded and sunk fast, surprisingly fast.
Mowing across the columns for port side to exit, coming under increased fire, flooded down to 7 meters. (mod) This reduced incoming fire, all rounds missed.
Soon had a aft engine freighter or tanker ahead, fired last torpedo. Torpedo prematurely exploded. U-48 was caught in a searchlight of a unseen trawler type escort. on outside starboard column. Clearly illuminated and taking machine gun fire on conning tower. Ordered a crash dive.
After some depth charges damaged boat from two flower class corvettes Since just a test mission surfaced, guns manned and slugged it out.
One corvette rammed me, pretty dramatic moment. Screenshot and others below.
