Had some time to play out this patrol.
Before I go on some Kaleuns in here may not agree with what I did. Feel free to comment on the patrol reults.
Behind the 1st Battleship, behind the Carrier, in front of the 2nd Battleship was a Cruiser.
Considering the position of the boat, speed and positions of the capitol ships and their closing escorts, I weighed my options and best chances for success then decided on a Target, the HMS Dido. Shoot, that was a tough call. Three larger sweet targets, this career may never see such a collection so close at once again. However I have confidence the War Ace Campaign will not stop suprising me.
Fired 3 remaining fish fast speed, 1st shot 6.5 mag-pistol, last two at 6.0. Aiming for mid to bow then midship.
heads-up!
1st hit
2nd
3rd
Dropped scope set to silent running normal dive 1 knot. This may have been a mistake but a similar tactic has worked against escorted convoys using their noise as cover, setting a course under & behind to escape. But this task force was moving about 17 knots. Sometime thereafter, the Cruiser succumbed to her wounds! Felt like it was going to take forever.
A pair of escorts stayed behind and hunted me. Took the boat on an alternate 2 degree course to 140 meters then back up to 120. Also took a good pounding from three runs. The escorts made more runs and for a moment I belived the boats fate was sealed. But their secondary runs were not accurate as depth-charge explosions began to fade.
Damage screen
Knowing it would take some time to make repairs I set course back to the original patrol grid AN41 SW of the attack. Swordfish and fighter-bombers were everywhere. Knowing the type II's limited amount of crew, and with trying to keep a full repair team going, fighting fatiuge with keeping only two lookouts uptop was yet another challenge. But we reached the NE corner of the grid and continued with repairs while keeping the watch.
And speaking of that, durring the watch a smaller task force crossed our path as we kept quiet and a safe distance. The task force was reported, a minor task seemingly as being out of arms might as well shoot tennis balls at them.
Two Cruisers and four escorts.
If that wasn't a slap just before the patrol time was due the lookout spotted a ship. My first thought was perhaps a returning taskforce so I attempted to report the contact. But turns out it's a Liner! Doh! What could I do? Not a thing, %^(# me, might as well take a picture, ok.
Liner
Set course for home port - Kiel. Spotted what would have been a few more targets such as Ore freighters & jazz. Plus in West of AM36 a Russian Convoy. Of course they were neutral at the time so I played nice and altered course as to simulate rendering honors to their escorts.
Russian Convoy AM36 Russian escort
Whew, back home Late Oct `39. Must treat the crew to some Meed.
Bdu has made a new boat, VIIB class available as an option. The choice of course is mine but if the officers could speak,.. I must be concerned to the current crews experience and being able to take on new crew.
End results;
Patrol #2 U-47 U-Flotilla Weddigen
Departed Oct 2, `39 - Kiel, for patrol AN41.
06.11.39
AN43 Ship Sunk! large cargo 5637 tons
AN42 Ship Sunk! large cargo 5638 tons
10.03.39
AN22 Ship Sunk! Dido Cruiser 5600 tons
10.16.39
Returned to Kiel, Ships sunk=3, Total tonnage=16875
LEUTNANT Z. S. ROBERT RXR RÖSNER U-47