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melnibonian · 10-19-06, 05:46 AM

Hello

I have two moments of ‘truth’ as I like to call them.

1. Bernard did it again!!!!!!

I was somewhere along the Irish coast around 1941 on a partially cloudy day. The waves were about 15 meters but visibility was quite good. So I left Bernard in command of the watch, put time compression to about 34 (I think) and started reading a book. I was also watching the monitor to see what is going on, when suddenly I saw the stealth meter getting red, without any indication for a spotted ship or plane. Immediately I put time compression again to 1 and jumped on the conning tower, only to get a slight glimpse of a Destroyer ramming me!!!!!!!!!!!!

Visibility was about 3-5 km and my watch crew haven’t even seen it at a few meters away from us!!!!!!! So U-21 went down with all hands

2. The Valetta Effect

It must have been early 1942 when I decided to raid the Valetta harbour. So I took my VIIC very close to the harbour (around 20km from it) and submerged at periscope depth and silent running. There were a lot of Armed Trawlers and Destroyers around but I’ve managed to pass through their defences and enter the vicinity of the harbour. Once close I’ve unleashed hell by sinking a Destroyer, two Troop Transports, a Tanker and a Merchant. I was pretty pleased with my performance and assured of my getaway. Unfortunately the Destroyers patrolling outside the harbour had a different opinion and the means to enforce it. All four of them came close and started ping me like mad. It was about 3:00 in the morning so quite dark but as they were throwing their Depth Charges I was confined inside the harbour. They were attacking me for more than 3 hours, inflicting quite a serious damage to the hull and the instruments of the boat. At first light I knew the game was up. With hull integrity of about 20%, most of the diesel and electric motors damaged or destroyed and almost no hydrophones left, there was one solution left. Try to break off the blockade. Because of my position inside the harbour I had to use reverse to get out but the adrenaline was running high so I gave the order. The boat having about 1 meter below keel started moving towards the harbour exit and the looming Destroyers. A barrage of Depth Charges followed, while I was moving my boat around to make the run for deep waters and safety. Destroyer after Destroyer was passing above us dropping their deadly cargo. Some of the Charges were thrown a bit far away but most of them were direct hits. U-101 met his end inside the Valetta harbour with all 51 hands.

10-19-06, 05:46 AM	#14
melnibonian Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Reading UK Posts: 3,473 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Hello I have two moments of ‘truth’ as I like to call them. 1. Bernard did it again!!!!!! I was somewhere along the Irish coast around 1941 on a partially cloudy day. The waves were about 15 meters but visibility was quite good. So I left Bernard in command of the watch, put time compression to about 34 (I think) and started reading a book. I was also watching the monitor to see what is going on, when suddenly I saw the stealth meter getting red, without any indication for a spotted ship or plane. Immediately I put time compression again to 1 and jumped on the conning tower, only to get a slight glimpse of a Destroyer ramming me!!!!!!!!!!!! Visibility was about 3-5 km and my watch crew haven’t even seen it at a few meters away from us!!!!!!! So U-21 went down with all hands 2. The Valetta Effect It must have been early 1942 when I decided to raid the Valetta harbour. So I took my VIIC very close to the harbour (around 20km from it) and submerged at periscope depth and silent running. There were a lot of Armed Trawlers and Destroyers around but I’ve managed to pass through their defences and enter the vicinity of the harbour. Once close I’ve unleashed hell by sinking a Destroyer, two Troop Transports, a Tanker and a Merchant. I was pretty pleased with my performance and assured of my getaway. Unfortunately the Destroyers patrolling outside the harbour had a different opinion and the means to enforce it. All four of them came close and started ping me like mad. It was about 3:00 in the morning so quite dark but as they were throwing their Depth Charges I was confined inside the harbour. They were attacking me for more than 3 hours, inflicting quite a serious damage to the hull and the instruments of the boat. At first light I knew the game was up. With hull integrity of about 20%, most of the diesel and electric motors damaged or destroyed and almost no hydrophones left, there was one solution left. Try to break off the blockade. Because of my position inside the harbour I had to use reverse to get out but the adrenaline was running high so I gave the order. The boat having about 1 meter below keel started moving towards the harbour exit and the looming Destroyers. A barrage of Depth Charges followed, while I was moving my boat around to make the run for deep waters and safety. Destroyer after Destroyer was passing above us dropping their deadly cargo. Some of the Charges were thrown a bit far away but most of them were direct hits. U-101 met his end inside the Valetta harbour with all 51 hands.