[Bubblehead1980]

Dark Waters
100 difficulty, map contacts off, external cams on for screenshots.


First War Patrol of U-95, Type VIIC U Boat.

Screenshots in previous post.

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Departed Lorient at 0800 on 3 September 1940 for Grid AM 11 in Western approaches.


At 21.33 hours on 11 September, spotted a 4,200 ton merchant at 4000 meters ahead. Unusual to find a unescorted merchant in these waters but perhaps felt his high speed would protect him in a solo run.


At 22.06 fired Tube No.1 (G7e TII). Torpedo missed for unknown reasons.
Possibly ran deep in heavy seas.


At 22.35 Fired Tube No 2(G6e TII). Torpedo impact!


22.40 Vessel damaged but not sinking. Manned deck gun.

22.50 Sunk K-M-KF-M-K 9 (B) Merchant 4,200 tons
in Grid AL 32. Resumed patrol.


The next ten days were uneventful with yachting like weather in the area.
No contacts were made. At 21.53 on September 21, received report of Large Convoy in Grid AL 26 on Easterly Course at 6 knots. Plotted intercept and set course,with estimated interception time just after noon on September 22.


Spotted smoke at 12.31 bearing 340 20000+ meters. Submerged for sound check and upon pre surfacing observation, found heavy fog and overcast arrived in area with increased sea state. Surfaced and soon rains, 29 knot winds, and heavy seas settled in. Set course 090 at 7 knots to stay ahead of convoy until storms cleared.


For next three days maintained contact via sound checks but storms persisted preventing attack. Finally, at 22.00 on September 25, storms cleared, but had lost contact with convoy since last sound check at 21.30.
Searched area for 48 hours but unable to regain contact. Resumed normal patrol. Shifting to Grid AL on 3 October.


For next thirty days, U-95 searched area with no contacts, except for a unknown group of high speed vessels on October 16 , believed to be high speed transports and destroyers. Due to heavy seas and high speed was unable to make contact.



Finally, on October 25 at 15.39 made contact with a large eastbound convoy.
in Grid AL 35.Sent contact report and moved ahead shadowing until nightfall for surface attack.



At 19.15 moved in for attack on a moonless, but clear night with
no fog and light clouds. Seas were nearly flat calm with a 1 kt wind from the west.


After several attempts to work inside convoy from astern, each flank, and from ahead, decided it was not advised due to general decent visibility and tight formation of convoy. Opted to fire from outside the convoy, targeting
two large tankers and a large freighter in center column with bow tubes.



Moved in (attempted to flood down but the Type VIIC would not flood down as Type VIIB did, will have to adjust the settings in files) for attack, closing to 1800 meters off port column. Just as prepared to fire,
the lead freighter in port column apparently spotted U-95, as she increased speed and made a hard evasive turn to starboard, believing she was the target. The lead escort, a corvette made a "U turn" and headed for U-95's location. A destroyer about 5000 meters astern, the outside port escort, began closing at high speed.

In order to salvage the attack, increased speed to flank and set up on the Hog Island Type A Freighter second in line in outside column.


Closed to just 800 meters when the searchlight of the corvette ahead to port at about 1000 meters illuminated U-95. Fired TII G7e in tube 1 at the freighter and under heavy machine gun and deck gun fire, ordered a dive.

Enemy began pinging and closing when suddenly...torpedo impact was heard as we passed 22 meters. A series of secondary explosions followed the initial impact. Several rounds of pinging and wasserbombe were endured by as usual once hit 125 meters enemy seemed to lose contact.


Enemy freighter could be heard breaking up (freighter was burning, dead in water from a solid hit amidships, blew out engine spaces)


After about one hour, came to periscope depth astern at just 400 meters was a large 8500 ton tanker. Readied stern tube. Given short range a simple 180 bearing and 180 AOB with 0 kt speed was used. TII G7e was fired from stern tube, which hit the tanker. Tanker did not burn or explode as anticipated,
likely not loaded with fuel.


A large freighter was ahead, estimated 8000 tons. Not a solid solution but fired Tube No.2 TI G7e. Torpedo missed when freighter made hard evasive turn away from our periscope.

Completed turn and fired two G7e TII from tubes 3,4 at the tanker torpedoed minutes ago, tanker burned and began to sink, suffered a large explosion in engine compartments about two minutes after impact.

A enemy destroyer was closing in and ordered 150 meters. As passed 90 meters, wasserbombe exploded near stern, causing minor damage,
most serious of which were leaks and minor flooding in stern torpedo
and propulsion compartments. (See Damage Section below). Flooding quickly
contained. Many more wasserbombe were dropped but all were above with U-95 at 165 meters depth.

After some time, enemy was astern dropping wasserbombe on a false contact. U-95 went to 200 meters secured silent routine and reloaded torpedoes.

After reload complete, resumed silent routine and returned to 160 meters.
After two hours, came to periscope depth to find convoy moved on, except one destroyer and the Hog Island freighter torpedoed earlier. Freighter was dead in water, low, and burning at range 5000 meters bearing 094. Destroyer was about 3000 meters on opposite side searching, dropping occasional wasserbombe.


Turned bow towards the stricken freighter, opened tube No.2 and fired
the TI G7a on high power from 3500 meters. Torpedo hit the target, breaking its back. U-95 secured and surface, sped away. Freighter's two sections lingered for 10 minutes before sinking.



Now at flank speed, Tube No.3 was reloaded with the last reserve torpedo,
a G7e TII a, and U-95 raced to catch convoy. Dodging the rear escort, a destroyer, slipped inside the convoy from astern and spotted group of tankers, which had formed in the rear, with a destroyer just ahead keeping guard. Spotted a large 10,500 ton tanker and moved to port side at 4000 meters. After passing the giant tanker, turned to starboard for bow shot.

Due to size and priority of target, as well as evasive movements, fired four
torpedoes with two aimed at middle of target, one at aft stack, and one at fore mast, to cover the target well.


About 20 seconds after firing last torpedo, noticed the destroyer ahead of the tanker contingent turned hard to port, increased speed and began using his signal light. U-95 has been spotted. Began a turn but soon spotted a destroyer astern, we were boxed in! Turned toward the escort ahead to present minimal angle and ordered a dive when he opened fire/illuminated with searchlight. As the boat was submerging, two out of four torpedoes hit the tanker, both after. A large fire and explosion occurred after the second hit. Now under, rigged for silent routine and wasserbombe.


First destroyer and second laid on solid attack for twenty minutes before losing contact. At 01.25 the 10,500 ton tanker sunk (sunk by the stern) in Grid AL 35.



After evasion and coming to periscope depth it was now 04.00. A quarter moon had risen silhouetting the convoy ahead to our port at 10,000 or so meters. U-95 quietly surfaced and moved along side the starboard columns,
inside convoy dodging a destroyer in process. All bow torpedoes expended,
Tube No.5 had a TII G7e loaded with a TI G7a in reserve.


Attempted set up on several freighters but spoiled by course and speed changes and a destroyer, which did not spot but his routine patrol forced U-95 out of attack position. Around 05.30 while setting up for another attack, convoy zigged slightly throwing U-95 out of position, then a destroyer spotted the boat and rushed in. U-95 submerged to 140 meters.

The destroyer briefly hunted then rejoined convoy. This would seemed to be
the new tactic, force our dive, hunt, then move back to guard convoy.
After surfacing, decided to secure and move ahead for dawn (which was quickly approaching) submerged attack.


At 07.02 fired Tube No.6 G7e TII at 5000 ton merchant in outside starboard column. Torpedo hit, but was a dud. Alerted by the hit, vessel alerted and two destroyers arrived on scene. Pinging for several minutes but no
wasserbombe were dropped, the destroyers moved on.


Final torpedo was loaded, U-95 came to periscope depth at 11.00 to find a heavy overcast and moderate fog had set in, as well as choppy seas. Sound had convoy ahead. Surfaced and headed for bearing,
as could maneuver on surface under cover of the fog and perhaps find a target for final torpedo.


Located in the fog a large 6000 ton merchant, turned for attack at 13.50. However, merchant spotted U-95 as closed and fired with a stern mounted 3 inch gun! U-95 raced away and submerged.


Soon out of the fog, came a destroyer heading right for us. Turned a few degrees to port to line up for a "down the throat " shot on destroyer. Speed was set to Fast, with Pistol to magnetic in case choppy seas caused torpedo to run deeper.


At 700 meters, fired final torpedo from Tube No.5, TI G7a.
The C/D class destroyer, attempted to avoid by turning to port to allow torpedo pass alongside. Torpedo passed alongside the starboard but when just about amidships, it detonated, as it was close enough to trigger magnetic pistol. Destroyer erupted in a fireball and appeared to go out of control as it was moving at high speed and went into two circles before losing way, then heading off to the NorthEast profusely burning and listing.

In spite of fog, the large fires and smoke clouds remained visible at some distance. Soon another destroyer arrived in area, went to 100 meters to avoid. This destroyer never located U-95.


After some time, returned to periscope depth, no ships were visible except the smoke plume from the burning destroyer in the distance, estimated 3000-5000 meters. Closed to observe the burning vessel.

At 14.13, observed the destroyer sink rapidly by the bow. Soon after, spotted
in the fog what appeared t be a large tanker or merchant. While seas were choppy, they were calm enough for use of deck gun. Surfaced for gun action,
cautious to make sure target did not have a deck gun as the freighter encountered earlier did. This tanker was unarmed, and thus commenced firing from 1000 meters.


Loaded tanker quickly burned and exploded. Multiple waterline hits
sealed her fate. 8,300 ton tanker sunk in Grid AL 36. A destroyer was spotted emerging from the fog, U-95 submerged , went to silent routine,
destroyer dropped a few, but never came close to U-95.



Surfaced at 22.30 hours. All cleared. With fuel down to 25 percent and all torpedoes expended. Set course for Lorient for a uneventful passage.


Entered the Bay of Biscay on 2 November, 59th day of the patrol. That morning made two dives to avoid British aircraft, bombed once by twin engine. In the afternoon, just 90 KM from Lorient, another twin engine aircraft appeared. Ordered AA gun manned and set the plane on fire. However, it's bomb found its mark, hitting U-95 just forward of conning tower. Most topside were killed, a few injured. Boat quickly began to sink, in spite of best efforts, massive flooding throughout all forward compartments and conning tower/control room. As U-95 slide under, the aircraft crashed into the water.


U-95 sank to the bottom and crashed at 110 meters, unable to surface, she was doomed. ( I rarely every joust with aircraft, habit from TMO. I was not aware dark waters aircraft, esp in 1940 were deadly . Will not repeat this mistake. Killed on first patrol, which started out great)

Love the effects of this mod...the oil slick after the sub sunk which was above my sinking location and moved if sub moved. The deck hatch which closes when dive, opens when surface.



Final Total for patrol:

Two merchants, three tankers, one destroyer sunk.

39,657 tons.