I recently rediscovered my fondness for the type IID. After many frustrating and fruitless patrols in larger and faster U-boats, I decided some remedial training was in order. What better place to learn patience and precision than in a slow boat with only six fish?
Last week I joined the 1st floatilla as Kaleun Skook of Type IIA U-3. The first patrol proved as frustrating as all the previous, but I soon figured out why. Instead of running the sim at realtime speed when contacts were nearby, I'd leave time compression on and try to "speed things up" a little. No tracking or plotting for this Kaleun! Nope, just get in range and let the WO do the math. I would inevitabley be detected and then proceed to launch my eels anyways. Makes for a long boring trip home when you have three empty tubes and an equally empty patrol report.
On the second patrol, I decided to sit back, enjoy the scenery more, and wait. Boy did it pay off. Though I'm only avaraging four to six thousand tons per patrol, the satisfaction is difficult to describe. After three patrols I took command of U-5, a Type IID. It is now July 1940 and I'm on patrol number six. A couple more Ore carriers and I'll have earned enough renown to take command of that type VIIC in which I used to hopelessly chase convoys. It sure seems more satisfying to earn those boats rather than simply start a career later in the war, though I'm sure I'll do that again one day.
I will miss the Type IID when it's time to move on. It's certainly an underrated, and underappreciated vessel worthy of respect and admiration. No wonder it makes a great training boat.
U-5 in the North Sea:
