Once more into the breach

[Reverie]

U-52 Logbook
September 22.1939

Finished assigned patrol between Iceland and The Faeroes.
Nobody home. Have moved to AN13. Much better here.
Already claimed two passenger/cargo s running solo.

Last one got on her wireless and brought destroyer and airstrike.
Twin engine medium bomber overflew us, banked sharply to bomb.
We dove to periscope depth at speed. Bomber attack ineffective
and nonpersistant. Watched from periscope passenger/cargo sinking.
Heard approaching destroyer, and third merchant in this sector.
Plane was gone, so worked cargo intercept at flank on surface,
foregoing batteries charge.

Three kilometers to go until chosen point, when destroyer sighted
five kilometers crossing astern. Half-moon ahead of us made diving to periscope depth seem wise. And had time before cargo ship arrived.
Proceeded on slow while destroyer did some impromptu depth charging.
Five kilometers away. Laugh.

Ordered forward torpedo room to inspection and ready state.
Settled in to read radio log, and puzzle over torp malfunction reports.
We have spent four, two each ship, fired separately. All set same.
Running depth nine. Magnetic pistol. Medium speed. Range 600-1000.
Sea State One, and between One and Two respectively. Textbook.

IWO says fog is rolling in, and he's lost destroyer visibly.
One more sound/speed check on our target, then surface to finish run.
Clear sky. Sea State One. Thickening fog. Dive to locate company.
Destroyer found moving away, fading. Well done, Tommy. Laugh.
Merchant closing, sounding heavy. We all like big girls on this boat.

She's spotted in the scope coming out of the soup. Could be a Large.
Possibly a large Medium. Decided on close spread, medium magnetic.
All set to run at eight meters. She's doing nine knots. 1300 meters.
Stars are coming out, and she's about to see some. Fired spread at target bearing 340. Ready All Forward Tubes. Aft Torpedo reminds me that they could use some room. Laugh. Raise scope for a peek. Nine p.m.

Bang. Bang. Under the superstructure. ? No more ?
Right full rudder. All back full. Ready Tube Five.
Destroyer turning. They've been talking. Why haven't we heard them !!!
Explanations or reprimands later.

Bang. Torpedo detonation far ahead of the targets course.
All ahead flank. Maintain rudder. Where is my last torpedo ? Unknown.
Dive to fifty meters. Secure both Torpedo Rooms. Quiet the boat.
Nothing, then Bang, bearing unknown. Straighten out to 192 as we're this close to Scotland. Merchant still zigs, making six-seven knots, 45 degrees off starboard, destroyer closing at 90 degrees. Periscope depth.

Half an hour after the engagement everyone is roughly at the same bearings. The merchant is 4km with her rump getting wetter. The champion is about the same distance, and lofts a starshell and limps away after blowing one of her racks off. Never got close enough to make out her class, if she ever had any. We need to invite Neville on a cruise and let him see how futile this all is. Then he can talk to the French.

The merchant slowed to a halt then sank. Didn't hear any of this through hydrophones. ? A part of the boat needs complete evaluation.
Surfaced when clear. Decided to move North for deeper water, reload, and rest. Everyone sharp routine until then. Sent off tonnage report. Can't help feeling there may be one or two problems with a batch of our T1 torpedoes.

Reverie

[Brag]

Good to see you in action -- be more agressive :rotfl: :rotfl:

[KeybdFlyer]

Minor amendment to the quotation from Henry V, Act 3, scene 1. It's "Once more unto the breach..." etc. Not that it matters, I suppose.

[Reverie]

I know that, but unlike Winston, I was afraid of plagiarism ! :rotfl:

But yer right! Next time I'll be more aggressive! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Reverie

[KeybdFlyer]

Plagiarism? Isn't that where you get large black pustules in the armpits, that eventually burst open... and then you die in lingering agony? Or am I thinking of something else? :rotfl: