SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - Tell us what you are upto in your current campaign

John Pancoast · 01-31-20, 02:01 PM

Return voyage to Lorient going well so far. Eleven days into the return voyage.
Aircraft spotted at times, but we're able to get under before they spot us. No attacks.

900 hours. Running submerged during a storm. Glad for the storm; keeps aircraft grounded and gives the crew a much needed rest. Thank God the batteries and engines were undamaged. Twenty meters depth.
Suddenly the sound of high speed screws ! An asw patrol or a capital ship ? ! Hope it's a capital ship.....
With the hydrophones and scopes out, there was no other notice of their approach.

1030 hours. It is an asw patrol. Somehow dodge multiple depth charge runs the last hour and one half; same tactic as before, flank speed, change course. I cannot change depth with the hull the shape it's in. Out of BOLDS long ago.
Must be multiple destroyers; the attack runs happen to quickly for it to be only one.

Hope the storm is still raging to help our chances.

Then it finally happens. We're hit yet again.

One electric and one diesel destroyed, other of each bank seriously damaged. Compressor seriously damaged. Stern torpedo room has minor damage. Chief estimates 36 hours minimum to repair.
We have no means of propulsion. But there is no flooding thankfully. Repairs crew immediately put to work. Noise be damned.

Another abandon ship scenario, the order is given, but without a radio we can't. We may try anyway.

1122 hours. For some reason the enemy is no longer dropping charges. They are still doing runs, but no attack.
We're at zero knots. The repair crews are making plenty of noise. Could they not be able to hear us, or are they out of fireworks ?
Over time the ship slowly sinks due to no forward motion. Each time at 30 meters we blow tanks to get back up to 20 meters depth.
I dare not take the boat deeper.

Which will happen first ? The enemy gives up, or we run out of compressed air ?

01-31-20, 02:01 PM	#5410
John Pancoast Ocean Warrior Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Minnysoda Posts: 3,189 Downloads: 490 Uploads: 4	U-553 Update. August 27th, 1943. Approx. 500 kms west of Brest. Return voyage to Lorient going well so far. Eleven days into the return voyage. Aircraft spotted at times, but we're able to get under before they spot us. No attacks. 900 hours. Running submerged during a storm. Glad for the storm; keeps aircraft grounded and gives the crew a much needed rest. Thank God the batteries and engines were undamaged. Twenty meters depth. Suddenly the sound of high speed screws ! An asw patrol or a capital ship ? ! Hope it's a capital ship..... With the hydrophones and scopes out, there was no other notice of their approach. 1030 hours. It is an asw patrol. Somehow dodge multiple depth charge runs the last hour and one half; same tactic as before, flank speed, change course. I cannot change depth with the hull the shape it's in. Out of BOLDS long ago. Must be multiple destroyers; the attack runs happen to quickly for it to be only one. Hope the storm is still raging to help our chances. Then it finally happens. We're hit yet again. One electric and one diesel destroyed, other of each bank seriously damaged. Compressor seriously damaged. Stern torpedo room has minor damage. Chief estimates 36 hours minimum to repair. We have no means of propulsion. But there is no flooding thankfully. Repairs crew immediately put to work. Noise be damned. Another abandon ship scenario, the order is given, but without a radio we can't. We may try anyway. 1122 hours. For some reason the enemy is no longer dropping charges. They are still doing runs, but no attack. We're at zero knots. The repair crews are making plenty of noise. Could they not be able to hear us, or are they out of fireworks ? Over time the ship slowly sinks due to no forward motion. Each time at 30 meters we blow tanks to get back up to 20 meters depth. I dare not take the boat deeper. Which will happen first ? The enemy gives up, or we run out of compressed air ? __________________ "Realistic" is not always GAME-GOOD." - Wave Skipper Last edited by John Pancoast; 01-31-20 at 03:53 PM.