Mensch, that was too close!!!

Schöneboom · 06-11-07, 01:10 PM

Moin moin, Alle,

Jungs, I nearly bought it on my 5th patrol, in my Type II off the N.E. coast of Scotland. Just before dawn we intercepted a lone small freighter on the surface, nailed her in the bow at 2000 m, nicht schlecht! But the verdammte Frachter, she wouldn't sink, but turned tail and ran from us at full speed, presumably towards Inverness.

We pursued at flank -- slowly catching up... hoping I wouldn't have to use my last eel to finish off this little bugger. Then I notice a plume of smoke in the distance -- another Frachter coming towards us? Could we be that lucky?? Then I see the big white moustache (bow wake), and just like in Das Boot: "Scheisse, das ist kein Frachter, das ist ein ZERSTÖRER! ALAAARM!!!"

Then I remember, last time I checked, we had only 31 m of water under us -- Make that periscope depth! Going to Schleichfahrt as soon as the tower goes underwater. Ach, I can imagine the crew of the stricken Frachter pointing right at us: "He's that-a-way!" Only one chance to get this right!

Impact fuse, 3 m depth, high speed, Feuerlosung eingestellt! LOS!! The V&W is at bearing 300 when our last eel launches. Will it work? If it doesn't we're done for, the wake will give us away. Down scope! The seconds tick by, the tension you could cut with a knife... then...

BOOM!!! Ach, you could've knocked me over with a feather!

Happy ending: The V&W went down by the stern. I set course for home immediately; didn't chase the Frachter, but got credit for its sinking, too.

Whew!

06-11-07, 01:10 PM	#1
Schöneboom Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 651 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	Mensch, that was too close!!! Moin moin, Alle, Jungs, I nearly bought it on my 5th patrol, in my Type II off the N.E. coast of Scotland. Just before dawn we intercepted a lone small freighter on the surface, nailed her in the bow at 2000 m, nicht schlecht! But the verdammte Frachter, she wouldn't sink, but turned tail and ran from us at full speed, presumably towards Inverness. We pursued at flank -- slowly catching up... hoping I wouldn't have to use my last eel to finish off this little bugger. Then I notice a plume of smoke in the distance -- another Frachter coming towards us? Could we be that lucky?? Then I see the big white moustache (bow wake), and just like in Das Boot: "Scheisse, das ist kein Frachter, das ist ein ZERSTÖRER! ALAAARM!!!" Then I remember, last time I checked, we had only 31 m of water under us -- Make that periscope depth! Going to Schleichfahrt as soon as the tower goes underwater. Ach, I can imagine the crew of the stricken Frachter pointing right at us: "He's that-a-way!" Only one chance to get this right! Impact fuse, 3 m depth, high speed, Feuerlosung eingestellt! LOS!! The V&W is at bearing 300 when our last eel launches. Will it work? If it doesn't we're done for, the wake will give us away. Down scope! The seconds tick by, the tension you could cut with a knife... then... *BOOM!!!* Ach, you could've knocked me over with a feather! Happy ending: The V&W went down by the stern. I set course for home immediately; didn't chase the Frachter, but got credit for its sinking, too. Whew! __________________ Dietrich Schöneboom, U-431 "Es wird klappen, Herr Kaleun. Ganz sicher." Last edited by Schöneboom; 06-11-07 at 01:22 PM.