Patrol Report.

[andym]

I thought id try a different approach to a Patrol Report.Hope you like it.


The Patrol,Part 1.



The band played,the Nurses in their starched aprons waved and wept a tear or two as we slipped our lines in Lorient.We were bound for a patrol to the North of Ireland.Our New Kaleu was resplendant in his new white Cap,gold wire badges gleaming.
"That wont stay shiny for long....soon be tattered and torn like a well used Battle Ensign!"
That was Kurt Gerstner,he was a Berliner and a veteran from the Great War.He had an Opinion on everything and was usually an Expert on any topic being discussed!

We went about our duties on the casing as we slipped out of harbour,the Gulls sang and the sun shone.Back aft the Engineers were caressing their new upgraded motors,they shone with a thin film of oil and sweat.The batteries had been replaced after the last Patrol.We were caught on the surface by a Sunderland and had a near miss which caused a leak in the Batterry compartment.It was about time they were repalced LE Schmidt reckoned they were left over from the Great war !!!!

You could smell the Salamis and Wurst hanging from the Bulkhead,swinging gently as the boat gently rolled.Every nook and cranny was filled with either preserved food or a tin of some description.Seemann Loewe has a Banana he rescued from a freighter we sank months ago,hes trying to dry it and preserve it,the rest of the Crew have bets on how long it will be before the Kaleu is served it up!"Lili Marlane" was being broadcast by the Volkssenderrundfunk,AGAIN!Du Liebe,even the Tommies have a Version of her song!
We procede on the surface untill the Kaleu took us to PD to avoid any Tommy fliers stooging around the Channel.We head NNW until early in the Morning we pick up a vessel on the 'phones.
"Slow moving vessel,medium range,bearing 089 degrees,slow revolutions."The silence was tangible,we all turned to look at the Kaleu.
"Nah,Jungs,shall we have a party?AUFTAUCHEN!VOLLER FARHT VORAUS!"
The boat responded well,we were a well oiled team despite the new ratings that joined us from Barracks,the Kaleu was a bit of an unknown so far.You could smell the Sea as the fresh air wafted down the conning tower hatch,the Bridge crew were scanning the horizon for the tell tale smoke,it wasnt long in coming,we were charging along at 16 knots..
As the C2 Freighter setteld down beneath the waves the Deck Gun was secured and the crew about to go below,when a shout was heard,"Vessel astern,close range!"we changed direction,it was a small Coastal Freighter.We used the deck gun again.We didnt want to wast a fish on her so early in the Patrol.Yet agin we sank the Enemy.
We swept the ocean at depth for any hydrophone contacts,none, so as it was coming to dusk we surfaced and topped up the Batteries.The Cook was knocking one of his favourites again,"Doenitz Platte"." slices of fatty Schinken,a spoonfull of Zigeunersalat,the odd potato and some grated Cellerie,yummmmm.All topped off with some Bayerische Sussensenf.Klausen,never happy unless he is either asleep or eating was quite for a while as we ate our meal.

"!ALAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARM !"


That was when Klausen started,we all rushed forrad food,plates eating irons everywhere.
We levelled off and heard the splash of depthcharges,Aircraft attack!Had to be!We held on to what we could find and waited for the explosion,when it came it was way off.We stayed down for an hour or so untill the OOW decided it was dark enough to Surface.It was an uneventful night and we dived at Dawn.Changed heading as per the Charted course and swept the deeps for sound of the Enemy.Nothing.......maybe we were unde an "Inversion Layer"?We changed depth frequently untill.

"Herr Kaleu,Props geradevoraus!High Speed,bearing constant,range closing" called Loewe,who was possibly the best Hydrophone Operator in the Fleet.
"Keep on her Loewe,i want to know the minute anything changes,ok?"
"jahwol,Kaleu",he returned back to his sweep,we crept up to pericope depth and there she was.........a Flower Class Corvette,zig zagging.Probably looking for us!
We shadowed him for half an hour noting each change of course and speed.2 Merchantmen and a possible Corvette was too good to be true.What would the Kaleu do i wondered.I didnt have to wait long.............................................. .....
"AUFTAUCHEN!Prepare for surface attack!"The Diesels kicked in and we heard the bearing and speed being read off ...She was headed straight at us!And we were on the Surface!The Kaleu was cooler than a night in an ice store!He stood there, Zeisses locked to his eyes........."EINS!LOS!Dive!Depth 30 Meters!steer 215 degrees!"
We heard the explosion and the corvette break up on her way to the bottom,the Kaleu calmly filled in the Log and then demanded his "Doenitz Platte" be served again in the Wardroom!Who was this Man?We resumed the Patrol heading to the Atlantic side of Ireland.