Story of Kurt Bach, U113 (1xTC)

[Dowly]

First of all, I´ve started multiple 1xTC patrols, but havent finished any. Now I decided to give another try (again ), but this time I´ll do it!

I`ll post my patrol info here, I try to write it as a story, but beware: My imagination sucks and so does my english.

Flotille: 7th
Uboat type: VIIB
Kaleun: Kurt Bach
Port: Kiel

[Dowly]

I walk along the pier in Kiel, there´s lots of traffic today. Rumors say
that something big is going to happen soon. Kommandant gathered every Kaleun
to his office yesterday and ordered us to provision our boats. He didnt say why...

Today at 07:00, we started to load our boat, the U-113, with torpedoes and food.
The weather was calm and sunny. Sweat pushed to the surface of my skin as I helped
my crew to carry the heavy boxes onboard. We were ready at 15:05.

I reached the end of the pier and stared the oily water. I was startled by the sound
of horn, coming from a small coastal merchant, making it´s way to the pier next to
the one I was standing on.

I turned around and started walking back to my quarters. I was at the mid-section,
when my 1st WO, Karl, came running down the pier towards me.

- HERR KALEUN!, he screamed.
- Urgent message from BdU! We are to leave Kiel before the end of the day!, Karl said.
- Let me see the orders, Karl.

As I read through the paper, I felt slightly confused. We were to leave Kiel and sail
to the coast of England.

- Very well, tell crew to start preparing U-113 for sailing.
- JAWOHL, HERR KALEUN!, Karl yelled with smile on his face.

When I got back to my quarters, I started immediatly pack my personal belongings to
a single wooden box. It was a precaution-- if something would happen to me, my belongings
would be easier to find and mail to my family.

At 17:30, I went to check on my boat. Preparations were almost finished. Karl was yelling
orders from the conning tower to the men working around him. Suddenly he noticed me and went
all quiet. I smiled to him and gave the 'thumps up' sign. Karl smiled slightly and nodded.

We were scheduled to leave at 21:20, we had the honor to be the first boat to leave. Others
would leave right after us.

I was laying on my bunk, listening to the clock nervously tick. 13 more minutes and we would
finally be on our way.

[Dowly]

At 21:17, black smoke broke through deep down from our diesels as I gave the command
to start the engines and loosen the ropes.

There was hardly anyone on the piers, everyone was in the mess hall where Herr Doenitz
was making somekind of speech about our growing navy and it´s purpose.

I noticed that someone on the pier was holding something in his hand and pointed it towards
us. I grabbed my binoculars and zoomed on him-- he was holding a camera. It felt good to
know that someone really bothered to photograph us.

We were soon clear from the bay. I climbed the aluminium ladders to the control room. I saw Karl searching for something with desperate look on his face.

- Karl, what is it?
- My wife made me a sweater! I cant find it!, Karl screamed.
- Have you looked everywhere?, I asked.
- YES!! I cant find it!!!
- Did you search from the torpedorooms? You know as well as I do, that they use old
shirts and pants to clean the torpedos

Karls face turned white and he rushed to the stern torpedoroom. After awhile he ran past
the control room, heading to the bow torpedoroom. Minutes passed, then after six minutes,
it happened.

- VERDAMMT!!! SCHEISSE!! DUMMKOPF!!

Karl had found his sweater.


U-113 sailing out of Kiel:

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by CV-707

WOW! Didn't know you were such a good writer! I also like the illustrations to your text, it adds a bit of that "you're almost inside the book" feeling. Keep up

I dont think myself that I`m a good writer. For example, in school when we had to write stories and stuff, my writings were always the shortest ones, because my imagination really really REALLY sucks.

But I`m glad you like it.

[Dowly]

It´s 02:01. Skies are clear. Stars glow above us and the moon is watching as we travel
through the dark waters.

I stand in the tower and scan the black horizon. I can just barely see dark figure
following us. It´s the U-76, commanded by Hans Zugier. Following him, is the U-54,
which is commanded by Gerhard Göbel. Göbel is one of the oldest kaleuns in Kiel,
with age of 37.

I ask my navigator to calculate our distance to Kiel.

- 130KM, Herr Kaleun!, comes the answer.

Orders was to get atleast 100KM from Kiel before opening the envelope containing
our assigned patrol grid. I sit down to my bunk and open the cabin, the envelope drops
straight to my hands. I rip it open and take the piece of paper out.



I ask Karl to my corner.

- Take this to Horst. Make him calculate the shortest way around. Lower our speed to
ahead standard.
- Okay, Kurt, Karl replied.
- Karl, how do you address a person that is above you in ranks?, I asked with a slight
smile on my face.
- Ja Ja, Herr Kaleun., Karl said and vanished to the control room.

I decided to take a short nap.

[Dowly]

I woke up to the sound of silence. We were on halt. I quickly jumped out of the
bed and went to search for my chief engineer.

On my way to the engineroom, Karl stopped me.

- Why aren´t we moving!?
- Chief reported that the port-side diesel has a minor leak on the fuelpipe, Karl
answered.
- Very well, next time wake me up!

I stumbled my way to the engineroom and saw Fritz working on the leaking pipe.

- How bad is it?, I asked Fritz.
- Don´t worry, Herr Kaleun. It´s almost done. We are ready to continue in less than
15 minutes.
- Good job, Fritz. Let me know, when we are ready.

After 20 minutes, Fritz reported that the leak was patched and that we can start the
engines. I gave the command to return to course at standard speed.

I climbed up to the conning tower. Skies were lighten up already. Couple of kilometers
behind us was a lone merchant, gently breaking the surface of the water. I zoomed in to
it, to see who our guest was. The ship was waving a Swedish flag.

I returned below the decks and went to my corner. The clock was 05:47.