Patrol 5
U-27 was carelessly cutting cold waves of North Sea. We were going around the Shetland Islands, hoping for some action. Morale was dropping fast after wasting few days monitoring Norwegian coastal shipping - to be exact Norwegian Floating Theme Parks as we were calling those big merchants with just every possible light turned on...
"Insane..." whenever I recall that view.
The weather was not that bad, 15 m/s wind but the ocean was not trying its best to wipe us off the tower and God thank you, it wasn't raining again!!
"Chief, take us to 25 meters, make turns for 1 knot and see what our cook can prepare for us today..."
Hainz gave a signal with his hand to hold on. "Her Kaleun! Convoy report!"
The same grid as our last encounter, we glanced at each others faces.
"Not the best sector to be remembered Her Kaleun" noded Herman. His usual grin was already coming back "but now we can show them whose the real wolf!!".
"Plot new course Walter, we're gonna bite those little sheeps hard... Full ahead flank!"
Heavy overcast and heavy see state, perfect conditions for hiding U-27 but not that good for our torps. Walter placed us exactly in front of convoy. Actually he made it too good because we found ourselves between two columns but it was too late.
We fired all 5 eels, 2 merchants were sinking, about 2500BRT each. 2 DDs were coming closer so we put her on the bottom behind the convoy and reloaded. We found out that there were 3 DDs not 2 and on the surface there was a true hell. Ships scattered all over the place in panic.
Surface, full ahead flank, no need to charge the batteries. 16 knots and preparing for a second approach. Now we can hunt down that 5000BRT. She goes down with a spectacular 'bang' after 2 torp impacts. Another 2 small ships go down also. Again 3 DDs try their best but we're far away from the convoy now. They say you never enter the same river twice...
We're back with our wolf intact, not a scratch! A miracle or maybe this is called experience?
On the next day Donitz after congratulations, my full report and a glass of Scotch (!) introduced me the score board. I didn't know what to say, I was breathless...
"Listen up men, I've got some important news from the admiral. We are ordered to celebrate today till down!" My crew looked at me like I was a ghost or something.
"But Her Kaleun, can you be more specific about those orders?" Finally chif put together few words.
"Yes, I can. We are behind Herbert Schultze with 110 000BRT on his account. We are SECOND with 80 000BRT!"
