The Rose of Doom (BALZ)

[Brag]

16 August 1941

Lirutenant Commander Andrew Richards RNR Stood on the bridge of the Garlic Rose. Visibility had been steadily improving in the last hour and he could see the whole convoy steaming back in order after.the attack. Like a good shepherd, his ship weaved a zigzag course at the rear of the northbound convoy.

The bridge phone rattled like a woodpecker.

Richards picked it up. "Bridge," He barked into the receiver.

"SSS from the Nova Star."

Richards turned to watch the thick column of smoke created by the burning tanker below the horizon. After being hit by a torpedo, the Nova limped at two knots and was left behind.

The signals rating continued, "German submarine attacking with artillery."

Richards replaced the phone into its cradle.
The signals man on the bridge said, "Signal from Commodore. "Go get the bastard."
"Helm hard to port, engine ahead flank."
The Nova Star reported the submarine four thousand meters astern. Richards did a few calculations and placed a mark on the chart. "Action stations," he ordered.
It would take him 42 minutes to reach the location of the U-boat. The chances of finding it were slim, but he had to try his best.

The Nova´s crew had abandoned the raging inferno when the Garlic Rose rushed past it. Richards ordered a zigzag course of 10 degrees. As always, when approaching a submarine, tension was high.

"Knickers, twenty degrees of the starboard bow," Reported a lookout.
"What?" Richards asked.
"Knickers off the starboard bow," the lookout repeated.
Through binoculars, Richardson peered into the given direction. "By Jove," he exclaimed as he focused on a periscope with a pair of long johns tied to it five hundred yards ahead.

Meanwhile, inside the deadliest weapon of the Kriegsmarine:

Balz came out of the forward torpedo room and paused to observe Bernard playing a ukulele in the hydrophone compartment. "Hoochie woochie, hoochie woochie, Bernard sang.
"Hoffman, get your headphones back on, don´t listen to this twit. And you Bernard, get back to composing the complaint letter to Winston Churchill."
The sound man placed the headset on his head and jumped up. "Warship, high speed, pinging!"
Balz ran into the control room. "Who raised the attack scope?"
"I am drying my laundry," Bernard said.
Balz peered through the periscope and saw the corvette almost on top of him.



Toom de doom de doom. Stay tuned to see what happens next. Will the Garlic Rose end Balz's career? Will Balz die a hero's death? Will Balz send Bernard a laundry bill?