U-957 - Patrol 04...
September 15th, 1941 - After successfully attacking the tanker Convoy for the second time and sinking 3 more tankers at night... it was time to break off since the escorts were becoming more wary and getting closer with their DC's.
With 6 remaining torpedoes, It was time to begin the journey home with the remaining reserves, and see if we encounter another enemy convoy or single ship.
5:34pm - Radio Report Recieved: Large Enemy Convoy, Grid AM15, Headed Northeast... We plotted an intercept course, and upon hydrophone contact we learned the convoy had just zigged.
September 16th, 1941 - We adjusted course and arrived at the new intercept point... after some time I made visual contact with the convoy in the attack periscope...
We positioned ourselves on the right side between lanes 2 & 3, looking to see if a high value target was hidden near the center of the convoy... It didn't take long for one to come into view...
Though not as much tonnage as the tanker's we sunk earlier, the Dido-class Light Cruiser has good air defense that helps protect the convoy. Since recently BDU wanted us to also focus on warships, this was my target of choice.
Tube 5 was empty since we used the remaining stores the previous night. We were unable to load the stern external store due to bad weather, but we were able to reload tubes 1-4 after we broke away from the previous convoy. I selected tubes 3 & 4 for the attack, and opened the outer doors. The lead destroyer had already long passed, so we began to move into position for the attack.
Tube 3...
Los!
Tube 3 hit the forward magazines causing secondary explosions throughout the ship. Sonar reported that the engines had stopped... I figured she was done for, and we got her.
After a few moments sonar reported that the engines had restarted, looking through the periscope I could see she was moving again...
"It's better to sink one ship, then to damage many..."
Tube 4...
Los!
Sonar reported the engine had stopped again, and also...
Warship, Bearing 200, Closing!... "Crash Drive, 110 Meters, Course 320, Ahead Fank!"
We listened to the warship behind us searching around our previous location for about an hour, no pings, no DC's... It never even detected us.
After both the convoy, and the warship faded on the hydrophone, and there was no sound contact, we surfaced.
We arrived on our previous course, and continued sailing home...
