If not "Happy Times" then what were they called?

dmlavan · 08-24-07, 10:09 AM

I've lived through the glories of the "Happy Days" with several kaleuns, racking up impressive tonnage while losing only a few boats. Now, though, it's late 1943...

We left Bergen, Norway, for our patrol just west of the British Isles. From leaving the fjord to arriving at our assigned area, I think every pilot in the RAF had a go at us. Mosquitos, Wellingtons, PBYs, TBDs, Swordfish (downed 2 of those!), Mosquitos again, and it just never stopped. Then I've been dodging hunter-killer groups. Finally found and sank three individual merchants - and one River-class escort thanks to a new acoustic homing torpedo - and I'm headed home. Seems every British pilot wants to see me off again.

So, if the good times were the "Happy Days", what did they call 1943 and beyond? I've got some choice words for it, but not sure that's what the kaleuns really called it.

GoldenRivet · 08-24-07, 10:12 AM

first you had the happy times

then came the "crappy times"" :rotfl:

mookiemookie · 08-24-07, 11:50 AM

WERNER HIRSCHMANN (Chief Engineer of U-190): "The hunters of the early years had become the hunted of the latter years. The "Happy Times" had changed to what we called the "Zauergherkinzeit" or "Sour Pickle Time." We did not have any fun out there anymore."

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcr...12lostsub.html

dmlavan · 08-24-07, 11:52 AM

Thanks - that's an apt description of what I'm feeling.

Jimbuna · 08-24-07, 03:56 PM

Very apt descriptive terms for sure

Heibges · 08-24-07, 05:16 PM

German seems to have such great words for things.

mookiemookie · 08-24-07, 05:48 PM

The only way I knew that is because I just finished Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson and they mentioned it in there. It's an EXCELLENT EXCELLENT read about the discovery of the wreck of U-869 off the coast of New Jersey. Wonderful addition to anyone's naval library.

sunvalleyslim · 08-24-07, 06:23 PM

Thanks mookie, I'll have to look for the book. Sounds interesting.....

Mush Martin · 08-24-07, 06:35 PM

Ya gotta take the good with the bad I guess

the happy times / the crappy times

I wonder how that translates

gimpy117 · 08-24-07, 10:10 PM

by 1943 happys days has jumped the shark....

Shelton · 08-25-07, 12:39 AM

I'm pretty sure that after the Happy Days, they called the next episode Disaster and Defeat

08-24-07, 10:09 AM	#1
dmlavan Weps Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 351 Downloads: 69 Uploads: 0	If not "Happy Times" then what were they called? I've lived through the glories of the "Happy Days" with several kaleuns, racking up impressive tonnage while losing only a few boats. Now, though, it's late 1943... We left Bergen, Norway, for our patrol just west of the British Isles. From leaving the fjord to arriving at our assigned area, I think every pilot in the RAF had a go at us. Mosquitos, Wellingtons, PBYs, TBDs, Swordfish (downed 2 of those!), Mosquitos again, and it just never stopped. Then I've been dodging hunter-killer groups. Finally found and sank three individual merchants - and one River-class escort thanks to a new acoustic homing torpedo - and I'm headed home. Seems every British pilot wants to see me off again. So, if the good times were the "Happy Days", what did they call 1943 and beyond? I've got some choice words for it, but not sure that's what the kaleuns really called it.

08-24-07, 10:12 AM	#2
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	first you had the happy times then came the "crappy times"" :rotfl: __________________

08-24-07, 11:50 AM	#3
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	WERNER HIRSCHMANN (Chief Engineer of U-190): "The hunters of the early years had become the hunted of the latter years. The "Happy Times" had changed to what we called the "Zauergherkinzeit" or "Sour Pickle Time." We did not have any fun out there anymore." http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcr...12lostsub.html __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here. Last edited by mookiemookie; 08-24-07 at 02:31 PM.

08-24-07, 03:56 PM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,500 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Very apt descriptive terms for sure __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

08-24-07, 05:16 PM	#6
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	German seems to have such great words for things. __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

08-24-07, 11:52 AM	#4
dmlavan Weps Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 351 Downloads: 69 Uploads: 0	Thanks - that's an apt description of what I'm feeling.

08-24-07, 05:48 PM	#7
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	The only way I knew that is because I just finished Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson and they mentioned it in there. It's an EXCELLENT EXCELLENT read about the discovery of the wreck of U-869 off the coast of New Jersey. Wonderful addition to anyone's naval library. __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here.

08-24-07, 06:23 PM	#8
sunvalleyslim Ace of the Deep Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Posts: 1,142 Downloads: 267 Uploads: 0	Thanks mookie, I'll have to look for the book. Sounds interesting..... __________________ Crew member/ decommission member TM2(SS)(SD) 3/68-7/70 DIESEL BOATS FOREVER USS SEGUNDO (SS398)

08-24-07, 06:35 PM	#9
Mush Martin Eternal Patrol Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,398 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Ya gotta take the good with the bad I guess the happy times / the crappy times I wonder how that translates __________________ RIP Mush Tutorial

08-24-07, 10:10 PM	#10
gimpy117 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 3,243 Downloads: 108 Uploads: 0	by 1943 happys days has jumped the shark....

08-25-07, 12:39 AM	#11
Shelton Planesman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 195 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I'm pretty sure that after the Happy Days, they called the next episode Disaster and Defeat __________________ I use Linux http://www.kde.org/screenshots/