A VERY pleasant surprise

UnterseeBoogeyMan · 05-17-09, 05:37 PM

I'm cruisin along in AM53, Feb 28 1940 and what do I see?

An unescorted convoy at 7 knots. I did get a radio intercept of a 'Nuetral' convoy on this heading at about this speed (10 knots), so I figure this is them.

I picked them up on the hydrophones,raced ahead. Within 4,000 meters I asked sonar guy for warship contacts. There are none. There's 10-15 ships in the convoy - ammo ship, medium tanker, small tankers, Empire Freighter, medium cargo, granville freighter. I dont believe it. I ask him again - no warships. I listen in on the hydrophones myself. No screws belonging to a DD.

I surface. I approach at top speed to check out the flags. Some are Norwegian, still neutral at the time, and behold...the Union Jack on more than half of them. Not only that, a small freighter is carrying fighter planes in it's hold and the Empire is carrying tanks! Churchill, you naughty naughty boy! Stashing war material in a 'Nuetral' convoy. You tricks me once (with the Lusitania a few years back), you tricks me twice? No way.

Between the 30 rounds of deck gun ammo left and the AA flack ammo, we managed to down the big ones and pick off some of the intermediate freighters. Stayed well clear of Norways' ships as their cargo only promotes peace and love, not war.

So, note to self; check out these 'Nuetral' convoys.

05-17-09, 05:37 PM	#1
UnterseeBoogeyMan Ensign Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Land of Cholla Cactus and Red Chile Posts: 224 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	A VERY pleasant surprise I'm cruisin along in AM53, Feb 28 1940 and what do I see? An unescorted convoy at 7 knots. I did get a radio intercept of a 'Nuetral' convoy on this heading at about this speed (10 knots), so I figure this is them. I picked them up on the hydrophones,raced ahead. Within 4,000 meters I asked sonar guy for warship contacts. There are none. There's 10-15 ships in the convoy - ammo ship, medium tanker, small tankers, Empire Freighter, medium cargo, granville freighter. I dont believe it. I ask him again - no warships. I listen in on the hydrophones myself. No screws belonging to a DD. I surface. I approach at top speed to check out the flags. Some are Norwegian, still neutral at the time, and behold...the Union Jack on more than half of them. Not only that, a small freighter is carrying fighter planes in it's hold and the Empire is carrying tanks! Churchill, you naughty naughty boy! Stashing war material in a 'Nuetral' convoy. You tricks me once (with the Lusitania a few years back), you tricks me twice? No way. Between the 30 rounds of deck gun ammo left and the AA flack ammo, we managed to down the big ones and pick off some of the intermediate freighters. Stayed well clear of Norways' ships as their cargo only promotes peace and love, not war. So, note to self; check out these 'Nuetral' convoys.