The very English ENGLISH CHANNEL

PapaG39 · 11-20-07, 05:05 PM

They don't call it the French channel or the Dutch channel or the German channel... No! They call it the English channel for a very good reason...The Brits own it! They own the top of the water and they own the bottom. They own both shores and they own everything over the damn thing.

In early 1940 I had to go through it from Wilhelmshaven to AM something & just about didn't make it then, so when I was ordered to go to that area again I said "to hell with this" and I want around Scapa Flow and down to just below Ireland. At that time I thought I was being transferred to Brest...HA HA jokes on me. NOT!

I originally left Wihelmshaven on 5th December 1940, and it is now May 1941 & I am still trying to get back to Kiel where my new base is.

My first try was to go back around via Ireland/Scapa flow to Kiel, but I ran right smack into a damn convoy, and while I did get 4 ships with my six torpedos I almost got myself killed & my ship a little worse for wear making it my #1 priority to return to Brest for fixen up da boot.

My next try didn't fare much better, while I did sink another 4 ships those pesky aircraft made my life a living hell & drove me back to Brest for more fixen up da boot.

Now I am in the middle of that very English channel trying to make it to Kiel once again.

Aircraft keep me down all day and twice at night they dropped bombs around me, but to no avail on their part...

I made it as far as the Dover/Calais area where after being hounded for the past two days by those English PT boats which are everywhere I finely had enough & when I had a good sound on a DD I poked my scope (very slowly) up & shot a torpedo under his stack....Yea! whoopie & other such exclamations of joy were very short lived. I don't know where they were, but the next thing I know I have 6 PT's & two Trawlers and another DD all over the place.

Through all of this I am 17km from Calis which is full of German fighting ships. I sent a msg to Bdu, but they did nothing. No help from Herr Goring & his Luft-waffel either. I don't know how, but I made it into Calis where I got much needed repairs as I was down to 26% ship integerty...

I left Calis at 0000 on May 14, 1941 and within 10km I am right back into the same damn scenario. Those bloody English are everywhere arond me in their speedy little boats & nasty dang Trawlers & DD's.

I don't know boys...This may be the last you ever hear from PapaG39 and his little IID U-39.
you may have to drag the channel if you want me...

I'm not dead yet! However I can't get up to recharge, which isn't a factor as yet, but it will be in about 10 hours or so...

I am hoping that once (IF) I get through the Dover/Calis narrows things will chill out...

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11-20-07, 05:05 PM	#1
PapaG39 Frogman Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 297 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	The very English ENGLISH CHANNEL They don't call it the French channel or the Dutch channel or the German channel... No! They call it the English channel for a very good reason...The Brits own it! They own the top of the water and they own the bottom. They own both shores and they own everything over the damn thing. In early 1940 I had to go through it from Wilhelmshaven to AM something & just about didn't make it then, so when I was ordered to go to that area again I said "to hell with this" and I want around Scapa Flow and down to just below Ireland. At that time I thought I was being transferred to Brest...HA HA jokes on me. NOT! I originally left Wihelmshaven on 5th December 1940, and it is now May 1941 & I am still trying to get back to Kiel where my new base is. My first try was to go back around via Ireland/Scapa flow to Kiel, but I ran right smack into a damn convoy, and while I did get 4 ships with my six torpedos I almost got myself killed & my ship a little worse for wear making it my #1 priority to return to Brest for fixen up da boot. My next try didn't fare much better, while I did sink another 4 ships those pesky aircraft made my life a living hell & drove me back to Brest for more fixen up da boot. Now I am in the middle of that very English channel trying to make it to Kiel once again. Aircraft keep me down all day and twice at night they dropped bombs around me, but to no avail on their part... I made it as far as the Dover/Calais area where after being hounded for the past two days by those English PT boats which are everywhere I finely had enough & when I had a good sound on a DD I poked my scope (very slowly) up & shot a torpedo under his stack....Yea! whoopie & other such exclamations of joy were very short lived. I don't know where they were, but the next thing I know I have 6 PT's & two Trawlers and another DD all over the place. Through all of this I am 17km from Calis which is full of German fighting ships. I sent a msg to Bdu, but they did nothing. No help from Herr Goring & his Luft-waffel either. I don't know how, but I made it into Calis where I got much needed repairs as I was down to 26% ship integerty... I left Calis at 0000 on May 14, 1941 and within 10km I am right back into the same damn scenario. Those bloody English are everywhere arond me in their speedy little boats & nasty dang Trawlers & DD's. I don't know boys...This may be the last you ever hear from PapaG39 and his little IID U-39. you may have to drag the channel if you want me... I'm not dead yet! However I can't get up to recharge, which isn't a factor as yet, but it will be in about 10 hours or so... I am hoping that once (IF) I get through the Dover/Calis narrows things will chill out...