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Enchanter · 01-05-07, 08:39 PM

Diary of Gerhard Linden 13 Oct ’39 – 30 Oct ‘39

Received our orders to patrol off the coast of Spain.
Headed off with the crew, and while exiting the docks began plotting the course to the patrol zone with the Nav Officer. He was totally horrified when I ordered him to plot a course through the Straits of Dover. Of course, he did what he was told, being a good little German.
Later my CE came over to ask me if I’d lost my mind. I laughed maniacally and said yes.
Note to self: Doing this sets the crew on edge…

Transiting the strait at periscope depth, I typically intercepted and sank anything that moved like a merchant. Being a bit cocky from our last patrol, our first engagement was a little hairy.
Spotting a lone costal merchant, I flipped off a single torp at her. It missed. Swearing a blue streak that made my Weapons Officer go slightly pale, I ordered the boat surfaced and the d/g manned. Kals got his chance to prove why he earned a Iron Cross Second Class on his last patrol, and blew her out of the water with some beautifully placed deck shots. While I’m securing from battle stations, I hear a distinctively strange sound. The sound of a shell whizzing by my boat. I glance around and on the horizon I spot a destroyer making for us! The damned merchant had radioed for assistance! With a filthy look for my Watch Officer, I ordered an excursion to 20 feet, given that we had only 21 feet of water. Slowing down substantially, I turned perpendicular to my original course and slowly began sneaking away. The first set of depth charges caught us a bit by surprise, but they were off the mark and we only suffered a jarring or two. Settling in at the hydrophones, I ordered the ship to flank and back to Slow between bouts of the charges being dropped. There is no more joyful sound than a depth charge being dropped somewhere you are not.

Sneaking away, having gained a lesson in humility, I summoned the Watch Officer to my berth, whereupon I launched a tirade reminding him that his job would be to watch out for ships that can shoot us, and I would worry about the ships we were shooting at. I think he got the point, because subsequently, his ship spotting became far more reliable!

Transiting the straight at periscope depth was a necessary evil. We saved a thousand km of travel and gave ourselves the opportunity for tonnage. During the transit to the patrol zone, a further 2 ships were sunk. Both Small Merchants though. We have been developing a technique I like to refer to as a ‘front-on sneak attack’. Approaching a target dead on, bow to bow, I fire off a magnetic trigger torp , passing by him, close alongside, I fire off a second torpedo from my stern, also set to magnetic trigger. This results in much confusion as the ships invariably try to guess which side I’m actually attacking from. As a result of this shot, I saw two destroyers heading in the opposite direction of my sub, in an attempt to track me. I must state that the weather conditions assisted this technique, as the storm conditions hid the wake of my torps and my periscope. I find this method far ore reliable, if riskier, than conventional attack runs. I shall have the crew exercise them some more, possible against military targets.

Arriving on station, we had an uneventful patrol, however, our return trip, following the same course as the approach, gave us two more ships to sink. Morale on the boat was lowering, as we had thus far sunk nothing but costal merchants and small merchant ships. The crew began muttering about having a challenge, so I glanced over the map and made some corrections to the navigators plot. Changes that included a transit to, and through the Portsmouth Dock. Much to the horror of the crew, I entered the port at night, on the surface and manned deck guns. Unfortunately, only two ships where docked, the first to go down to our guns was another small merchant, but the second was the prize of our patrol. A T2 tanker sat in the docks, begging to be sunk. I gave ‘ol Kals my gunner carte blanche and in 5 shots he had the beast ablaze and sunk. I was very proud. With a mad dash back out the dock gates, we were in the open ocean again, not a moment too soon as a V&W Destroyer came racing up to defend Portsmouth! Again the weather was our ally, as we slipped right past her in the violent waters. Not 20 minutes out of the dock we happen upon another C2 Cargo ship, but sadly, we had only two torps left, both of which hit, but did not sink the ship. Exuberant over our victory however, we broached the surface and made for home. Out of nowhere a costal merchant wandered across our path and I was able to convince Kals to man the d/g again. 15 minutes after fireballing that ship, another small merchant crossed our paths, and was sent to a watery grave.

A total of nine kills had our crew in a state of euphoria that lasted the whole trip home. Fritz was humming a merry tune the whole way (quite annoying really) and our navigator, by far my least biggest fan actually smiled at me and greeted me when I resumed the conn. Whisper among the crew have started, saying things like our boat is blessed, and even better, her officers are true naval warriors. Our crew slave for us now, and the NCOs treat us with noticeable deference.

Arriving in dock was a raucous affair. I handed over our patrol logs and nominated my crew for medals and awards. The awards ceremony included 2 promotions and another Iron Cross Second class! The Commandant then ordered me to the front of the ranks, and presented me with my Iron Cross 2nd Class, much to the exuberance of the crew. The resulting party was epic. I was especially touched that the crew invited the officers along, and I was pleased when the others accepted as well! Our camaraderie is fast becoming the talk of the base.

On the subject of the base, I thought about Fritz had to say, and decided to suck in my gut and go to the hospital to see Suzanne again. I earned a few odd looks, decked in full dress uniform (hey, chicks dig it) asking for Suzanne at reception. I assume it’s because mostly, they tend to have naval officers walking out not in.
I found her on first floor by the dispensary. She was at her desk annotating some files. She looked up and was quite startled when I appeared. I was extremely nervous, but I asked her to dinner, and she accepted! I was overjoyed, and walked out with a huge smile on my face. Another rare occurrence at the hospital apparently, seeing how I got more odd looks.
Suzanne has agreed to meet me for dinner at a little bistro we have near the base. I’ll include more on that in my next entry. For now, I’m going to find Fritz and have a celebratory drink….to calm my nerves.

Gerhard Linden
U-49 Kapt

01-05-07, 08:39 PM	#2
Enchanter Bosun Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Africa Posts: 66 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Diary of Gerhard Linden 13 Oct ’39 – 30 Oct ‘39 Received our orders to patrol off the coast of Spain. Headed off with the crew, and while exiting the docks began plotting the course to the patrol zone with the Nav Officer. He was totally horrified when I ordered him to plot a course through the Straits of Dover. Of course, he did what he was told, being a good little German. Later my CE came over to ask me if I’d lost my mind. I laughed maniacally and said yes. Note to self: Doing this sets the crew on edge… Transiting the strait at periscope depth, I typically intercepted and sank anything that moved like a merchant. Being a bit cocky from our last patrol, our first engagement was a little hairy. Spotting a lone costal merchant, I flipped off a single torp at her. It missed. Swearing a blue streak that made my Weapons Officer go slightly pale, I ordered the boat surfaced and the d/g manned. Kals got his chance to prove why he earned a Iron Cross Second Class on his last patrol, and blew her out of the water with some beautifully placed deck shots. While I’m securing from battle stations, I hear a distinctively strange sound. The sound of a shell whizzing by my boat. I glance around and on the horizon I spot a destroyer making for us! The damned merchant had radioed for assistance! With a filthy look for my Watch Officer, I ordered an excursion to 20 feet, given that we had only 21 feet of water. Slowing down substantially, I turned perpendicular to my original course and slowly began sneaking away. The first set of depth charges caught us a bit by surprise, but they were off the mark and we only suffered a jarring or two. Settling in at the hydrophones, I ordered the ship to flank and back to Slow between bouts of the charges being dropped. There is no more joyful sound than a depth charge being dropped somewhere you are not. Sneaking away, having gained a lesson in humility, I summoned the Watch Officer to my berth, whereupon I launched a tirade reminding him that his job would be to watch out for ships that can shoot us, and I would worry about the ships we were shooting at. I think he got the point, because subsequently, his ship spotting became far more reliable! Transiting the straight at periscope depth was a necessary evil. We saved a thousand km of travel and gave ourselves the opportunity for tonnage. During the transit to the patrol zone, a further 2 ships were sunk. Both Small Merchants though. We have been developing a technique I like to refer to as a ‘front-on sneak attack’. Approaching a target dead on, bow to bow, I fire off a magnetic trigger torp , passing by him, close alongside, I fire off a second torpedo from my stern, also set to magnetic trigger. This results in much confusion as the ships invariably try to guess which side I’m actually attacking from. As a result of this shot, I saw two destroyers heading in the opposite direction of my sub, in an attempt to track me. I must state that the weather conditions assisted this technique, as the storm conditions hid the wake of my torps and my periscope. I find this method far ore reliable, if riskier, than conventional attack runs. I shall have the crew exercise them some more, possible against military targets. Arriving on station, we had an uneventful patrol, however, our return trip, following the same course as the approach, gave us two more ships to sink. Morale on the boat was lowering, as we had thus far sunk nothing but costal merchants and small merchant ships. The crew began muttering about having a challenge, so I glanced over the map and made some corrections to the navigators plot. Changes that included a transit to, and through the Portsmouth Dock. Much to the horror of the crew, I entered the port at night, on the surface and manned deck guns. Unfortunately, only two ships where docked, the first to go down to our guns was another small merchant, but the second was the prize of our patrol. A T2 tanker sat in the docks, begging to be sunk. I gave ‘ol Kals my gunner carte blanche and in 5 shots he had the beast ablaze and sunk. I was very proud. With a mad dash back out the dock gates, we were in the open ocean again, not a moment too soon as a V&W Destroyer came racing up to defend Portsmouth! Again the weather was our ally, as we slipped right past her in the violent waters. Not 20 minutes out of the dock we happen upon another C2 Cargo ship, but sadly, we had only two torps left, both of which hit, but did not sink the ship. Exuberant over our victory however, we broached the surface and made for home. Out of nowhere a costal merchant wandered across our path and I was able to convince Kals to man the d/g again. 15 minutes after fireballing that ship, another small merchant crossed our paths, and was sent to a watery grave. A total of nine kills had our crew in a state of euphoria that lasted the whole trip home. Fritz was humming a merry tune the whole way (quite annoying really) and our navigator, by far my least biggest fan actually smiled at me and greeted me when I resumed the conn. Whisper among the crew have started, saying things like our boat is blessed, and even better, her officers are true naval warriors. Our crew slave for us now, and the NCOs treat us with noticeable deference. Arriving in dock was a raucous affair. I handed over our patrol logs and nominated my crew for medals and awards. The awards ceremony included 2 promotions and another Iron Cross Second class! The Commandant then ordered me to the front of the ranks, and presented me with my Iron Cross 2nd Class, much to the exuberance of the crew. The resulting party was epic. I was especially touched that the crew invited the officers along, and I was pleased when the others accepted as well! Our camaraderie is fast becoming the talk of the base. On the subject of the base, I thought about Fritz had to say, and decided to suck in my gut and go to the hospital to see Suzanne again. I earned a few odd looks, decked in full dress uniform (hey, chicks dig it) asking for Suzanne at reception. I assume it’s because mostly, they tend to have naval officers walking out not in. I found her on first floor by the dispensary. She was at her desk annotating some files. She looked up and was quite startled when I appeared. I was extremely nervous, but I asked her to dinner, and she accepted! I was overjoyed, and walked out with a huge smile on my face. Another rare occurrence at the hospital apparently, seeing how I got more odd looks. Suzanne has agreed to meet me for dinner at a little bistro we have near the base. I’ll include more on that in my next entry. For now, I’m going to find Fritz and have a celebratory drink….to calm my nerves. Gerhard Linden U-49 Kapt __________________ Hasta la wookie...baby. Last edited by Enchanter; 01-06-07 at 02:59 AM.