First and Last Voyage of U-53

[ChrisG2100]

I am a fool. I will now use Weapons Officer to assist with Firing solutions for Training. I have lost too many men to my arrogence.

U-53 - 13th Sept 1939

14:09 Radio report of large ememy convoy in Grid AM72 course NNW 6 kts. Am very excited. Have already achived first MT kill on last mission even though all perished in the channel.

14:15 Make plans for attack and have peanut butter sandwich.

14:18 Change course to 118 degrees to intercept

15:32 Clear with wind at 13 m/s 227 degrees - odd it sounds like rain but the WO reports he cant see rain. Must be British trick. Will notify BdU.

15:34 Range 6.1 Km to projected Convoy Course. Convoy not sighted.

15:41 Sea's Heavy with white caps - Invisable Rain still falling. Feel mind slipping. Will not tell man. Convoy not sighted.

15:42 Smoke sighted on horizon bearing 001 degrees. Ship hulldown over horizon.

15:43 WO estimates range at 7500 m

15:50 Contact 020 range 6200 m

15:51 Saw flash on bow of ship (We are under attack - I should have submerged before now)

15:52 Ships at 020, 028, 037, 040 at 5200 m to long range.

15:52 Order Crash Dive

15:54 Depth 67m

15:56 Nothing on Hydrophone.

16:10 Nothing on Hydrophone. Slow to 1/3 order Periscope Depth

16:12 Being Pinged.

16:12 Order Crash Dive and change course to 090

16:13 Heavy Pinging.

16:14 Screws can be heard Pinging stopped. I raise periscope just in time to see bottom of ship 60m above. (My God, she's right over us.)

16:14 Heavy Depth Charging

16:14 Dive deeper to evade - Its too late.

16:15 Bow Torpedo Room Flooded

16:16 Try to stop diving. One man dead. Bridge destoyed. Con damaged.

16:17 Now at 190m! Blowing ballast. Order to surface. Hull buckling. If we can only reach pariscope depth...

25-Sept-1939

Fdu reports not report recieved from U-53 in over 10 days. British convoy reports depth charging contact at AM72. Last know position of U-53 was AM72. U-53 must be presumed lost.


Eventhough I didn't get a shot off, it was an exciting patrol. Now leaving Wilhelmshaven commanding U-51. Hey its day time for a change.

[T.Von Hogan]

Condolances to u-53 and best of luck to U -51 me thinks you are going to need it. Sheesh to get blown up in sept of 39 is in a word embarrasing. What led you to believe Bernard could navigate you from trouble?

[ChrisG2100]

I got too close on the surface and then I didn't stay deep.

[danurve]

Crunchy or smooth?

[papa_smurf]

Here's to the lost crew of U-53 .As soon as I get back to port, I'll raise a glass in thier honour.

[Brag]

Umm, invisible rain. The real bad omen of impending disaster. Together with zombie ships, an event to be added to the GWX annals of doom.

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Brag

Umm, invisible rain. The real bad omen of impending disaster. Together with zombie ships, an event to be added to the GWX annals of doom.

Studies have shown, and this is for real, that if anyone draws a triangle between three locations at sea, they will find strange events and occurences that cannot be explained. So technically, we could all be operating in our own time-warp Bermuda-esque Triangle.