U-21. The story begins....

VonApist · 02-04-14, 08:30 AM

September 1940. Kiel.

The tall, bearded figure put out his cigarette and started walking towards the docks at a steady pace. He had just left the office of Korvkpt.Eckermann, the commander of the 1st U-Boat Flotilla, a feeling of excitement running through his veins. At last.

During his brief encounter with the Flotilla Commander, Oberleutnant Karl Limbach was given the command of U-21, a type-II coastal U-boat. He was expected to make final preparations and a shakedown trip within the course of the next 3 days and report back ready for duty.

As Commander Eckermann explained, he would be given a crew of mixed experience. U-21's LI, Klemens Dauter, has been a Chief Engineer in Type-II boats for most of his military life. He enjoyed the utmost respect from both sailors and officers for his extreme familiarity with every nut and bolt inside a Type-II and his superb and ingenious abilities as a mechanic.

On the other hand, his WO, his First Officer, was just out of kadet school, where he excelled. But academic/ training excellence is one thing. Experience is another, as Karl had learned the hard way during his 12 month stint as a First Officer in U-6 where he had witnessed the breakdown of a lot of "promising" young talent out of kadet school.

Nevertheless, he felt confident. He had 12 months of combat experience, a rare attribute so early in the war while his experienced LI would make his life a lot easier. And for those who knew, an experienced LI could make the difference between life and a metal catacomb buried under silt, 250m below the ocean's surface.

Lost in thoughts, he nodded towards the two Kriegsmarine sailors who stood at attention and offered a crisp salute as he walked by, entering U-21's pen.

02-04-14, 08:30 AM	#1
VonApist Navy Dude Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Greece Posts: 175 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	U-21. The story begins.... September 1940. Kiel. The tall, bearded figure put out his cigarette and started walking towards the docks at a steady pace. He had just left the office of Korvkpt.Eckermann, the commander of the 1st U-Boat Flotilla, a feeling of excitement running through his veins. At last. During his brief encounter with the Flotilla Commander, Oberleutnant Karl Limbach was given the command of U-21, a type-II coastal U-boat. He was expected to make final preparations and a shakedown trip within the course of the next 3 days and report back ready for duty. As Commander Eckermann explained, he would be given a crew of mixed experience. U-21's LI, Klemens Dauter, has been a Chief Engineer in Type-II boats for most of his military life. He enjoyed the utmost respect from both sailors and officers for his extreme familiarity with every nut and bolt inside a Type-II and his superb and ingenious abilities as a mechanic. On the other hand, his WO, his First Officer, was just out of kadet school, where he excelled. But academic/ training excellence is one thing. Experience is another, as Karl had learned the hard way during his 12 month stint as a First Officer in U-6 where he had witnessed the breakdown of a lot of "promising" young talent out of kadet school. Nevertheless, he felt confident. He had 12 months of combat experience, a rare attribute so early in the war while his experienced LI would make his life a lot easier. And for those who knew, an experienced LI could make the difference between life and a metal catacomb buried under silt, 250m below the ocean's surface. Lost in thoughts, he nodded towards the two Kriegsmarine sailors who stood at attention and offered a crisp salute as he walked by, entering U-21's pen. __________________ "Submariners are a special brotherhood, either all come to the surface or no one does. On a submarine, the phrase all for one and one for all is not just a slogan, but reality.” -- VADM Rudolf Golosov Last edited by VonApist; 02-04-14 at 09:22 AM.