U-49 (Type VIIB). On present patrol, 20 May 1940. Position, 40 miles west of Pentland Fyrth.
Positioned boat to intercept convoy. Weather: Rough seas, thunderstorms, rain. Visibility 300 meters. Hydrophone reports at least 4 escorts. Convoy in tight formation steaming at 8 kts. Having underestimated convoy speed, I'm in the middle of it, going in the opposite direction. A small freighter bears on us less than 200 meters away. Down scope, let him pass. Up scope. Freighter/passenger almost on top of us. Down scope.
Up scope. Large freighter. I fire a torpedo at it. Down scope, torpedo misses. Freighter hits conning tower. Open stern tube door, switch pistol to magnetic, depth 9 meters. Up observation scope, which is already aiming at 180 degrees. Target is 200 meters away, vanishing in the fog.
Fire!
Torpedo explosion. escorts all around us, but can't see them. The convoy has passed. We dive to 140 meters expecting a hammering. Nothing happens.
Good thing I marked the spot where we dove deep. When sure no escorts were around, back to PD. Following the convoy's heading I search left and right. Got a glimpse of a shadow. Changed course, sure enough, the big freighter sat there not moving. Maneuvered around and let it have an impact torpedo--it sank an hour later.
11,000 tons.