Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden (Long!)

[Enchanter]

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden – 1 Sep ’39 – 15 Sep ‘39

I have been given command of my first boat! After completing the Submarine Commander course in February, I have been waiting for my command. I was given my orders two weeks ago to prepare to take command of U-49.
A brand new VIIB! I can hardly believe my luck. I was expecting a well used Type II. My friend Jansen was put in one of those after he was caught ‘flirting’ (that’s the word he used) with the Commandants daughter. I suppose it was worth it. She is rather charming.

On my way back from BDu headquarters this morning, I chanced to walk past the barracks hospital. I was re-reading my boat specification when I walked straight into one of the nurses. I felt terrible. I immediately helped her pick up her things, and that’s when I actually realized how beautiful she was! She has long reddish hair, and a pale skin. Her eyes are as blue as the sky at sea. Being perhaps a bit emboldened by the fact I’m now a bona fide Kaleun, I introduced myself. Her name is Suzanne Wikus. Apparently she’s a volunteer nurse at the hospital on base.

Reported to my Commanding Officer today and was given my shore based office. It’s a cramped little thing, but I’ll take it over the filthy cubicle I worked in while I was at Naval Intelligence! I was given my crew manifests too! It seems with this war with Britain looming, the Command has seen fit to pass many of the youngsters through with little training. My crew is very inexperienced. I’m under-staffed with Officers, but I managed to enlist some higher ranking NCOs and seamen. I’ll train up a NCO to fill the Officer’s station within the next few cruises. It’s always better to have a ‘home-grown’ officer on ones boat!
In the past week, I’ve found myself thinking of the girl I bumped into at the hospital. I should try track her down again.

Over the last week I’ve met with the officers and crew of my new boat. They’re as green as they come, but I guess I’m not all that crusty either! Aside from one or two nervous looking rats, they seem an affable lot.
My first mate and chief engineer Sub Lieutenant Fritz will ensure we are fully ready to cast off in the morning.

This morning, we cast off our lines and departed from Kiel base. We’re assigned a quadrant on the western side of the British Isles. Our orders are to interdict the shipping routes there. I’m caught up in the euphoria of the moment.

Today, the 3rd of September, we received traffic from BDu that we are now at war with Britain! About time too, we’ll through off the stigma forced on us at Versailles and take our place as a power in the European community! Sadly, these thoughts fell on uninterested ears when I discussed it with my officers. They just shrugged at me, as if to say, ‘whatever’. Fritz, my Chief Engineer, was a little more excited than the rest. He looks forward to pitting our boat against the ‘fat and lazy English’. That’s the aggressive sort of thinking we need on this boat! We must cultivate a fighting spirit and take the wind out of the sails of the pompous west!
It is also my birthday, a fact only Fritz was aware of. Nevertheless, he and the rest of the officers took the time to approach me at the conn and wish me happy birthday. The news spread through the ship quite quickly, and most of the crew politely wished me too. I must remember to thank Fritz for his thoughtfulness. I just wish he’d stop staring at me and licking his lips all the time!

We are getting ready to pass Northen England. Before we could transit though, we received radio traffic informing us of a ship in our area. We managed an intercept and attacked! Sadly, our green crew fired off three torpedoes and only scored a hit with one! We were forced to surface and use our deck gun to sink her! I appointed one of our NCOs to man the guns, one Gotz Kals. His aim was marginal at best, but it could be he was nervous at the fact I was standing behind him telling him where to shoot. One would think the term ‘waterline’ pretty self-explanatory, but ‘ol Gotz seemed intent on shooting into the command deck. A well timed slap to the back of his head soon had him adjusting his aim.

We arrived on station in our patrol area with three kills to our name. This meant we only had four torpedoes left, two fore and two aft. Sadly, our torpedo skills leave much to be desired. A fact I have made clear to the crew in explicit detail. As a result, most of our kills have been due to shelling, not torpedo runs!
We had been on station for about 15 hours when we received news of a convoy heading towards the English coast. Too good an opportunity to miss, I plotted an intercept course for the convoy and ordered a flank run. We arrived in a position slightly behind the convoy, and proceeded with a surfaced stern chase. A risky maneuver, but due to the weather conditions, we were confident we could avoid any trouble. Visibility was dreadful, as we encountered the convoy smack bang in the middle of a storm! We were on course doing a good 17 knots when out of nowhere an American C3 appeared 200 meters off our bow! Some quick rudder work bought her alongside, but no alarm was raised. Steaming into the middle of the convoy, I decided to submerge the ship, knowing that the chances of my periscope being spotted in this weather were slim. We traversed the convoy at flank speed and managed to down three ships! The prize sinking was a T2 Tanker and the other two C2 cargo’s made for good target practice. The torpedo crew excelled. And with the four torpedo’s fired we only had one dud! I was very proud of my men. Having expended our torpedoes we submerged to 100 feet and exited the area. Although our hydrophones detected three warships, not one of them broke course to investigate, thanks to the appalling weather!

We transited back to base under orders from BDu, unfortunately, the stormed followed us all the way to port, so we couldn’t use our d/g for any engagement. Our last engagement before we entered the port occurred when we spotted a lone costal merchant. I maneuvered alongside her and allowed the officers each a chance to go onto the bridge and wave at the ship! That elicited a good few laughs and comments about how fast the softies could make their propellers spin when they had the correct incentive. The mood aboard the sub was excellent as we pulled into dock. We had performed an excellent patrol, expending all our fish, and although we have many areas in which to improve, we proved to each other we are capable of taking the fight to the enemy!

As we were docking, Fritz came onto the bridge and caught me staring at the base hospital, thinking about Suzanne.
“You have a brother in there Kaleun?” He asked, indicating the hospital.
“No Fritz. I met someone there, and I’m wondering what I can break to see her again.”
Fritz had a good laugh at that and made a very good point, “You just sunk 5 ships Kaleun. You shouldn’t worry about talking to a fraulein.”
I think Fritz is wiser than he appears.

We held an awards ceremony after the patrol, and I presented Gotz Kals my gunner with the Iron Cross for his exceptional work in sinking those boats. I also promoted one of our seamen. I’ve sent my Watch Officer Carlewitz for Torpedo man training, with the hope that he will assist the torpedo crew during underwater operations. The improvement in efficiency there may reduce our miss/hit ratio.

And now, a few days rest and we’ll get our orders. I’ll make more notes in this diary as that happens!

Gerhard Linden
U-49 Kapt.

[Enchanter]

Diary of Gerhard Linden 13 Oct ’39 – 30 Oct ‘39

Received our orders to patrol off the coast of Spain.
Headed off with the crew, and while exiting the docks began plotting the course to the patrol zone with the Nav Officer. He was totally horrified when I ordered him to plot a course through the Straits of Dover. Of course, he did what he was told, being a good little German.
Later my CE came over to ask me if I’d lost my mind. I laughed maniacally and said yes.
Note to self: Doing this sets the crew on edge…

Transiting the strait at periscope depth, I typically intercepted and sank anything that moved like a merchant. Being a bit cocky from our last patrol, our first engagement was a little hairy.
Spotting a lone costal merchant, I flipped off a single torp at her. It missed. Swearing a blue streak that made my Weapons Officer go slightly pale, I ordered the boat surfaced and the d/g manned. Kals got his chance to prove why he earned a Iron Cross Second Class on his last patrol, and blew her out of the water with some beautifully placed deck shots. While I’m securing from battle stations, I hear a distinctively strange sound. The sound of a shell whizzing by my boat. I glance around and on the horizon I spot a destroyer making for us! The damned merchant had radioed for assistance! With a filthy look for my Watch Officer, I ordered an excursion to 20 feet, given that we had only 21 feet of water. Slowing down substantially, I turned perpendicular to my original course and slowly began sneaking away. The first set of depth charges caught us a bit by surprise, but they were off the mark and we only suffered a jarring or two. Settling in at the hydrophones, I ordered the ship to flank and back to Slow between bouts of the charges being dropped. There is no more joyful sound than a depth charge being dropped somewhere you are not.

Sneaking away, having gained a lesson in humility, I summoned the Watch Officer to my berth, whereupon I launched a tirade reminding him that his job would be to watch out for ships that can shoot us, and I would worry about the ships we were shooting at. I think he got the point, because subsequently, his ship spotting became far more reliable!

Transiting the straight at periscope depth was a necessary evil. We saved a thousand km of travel and gave ourselves the opportunity for tonnage. During the transit to the patrol zone, a further 2 ships were sunk. Both Small Merchants though. We have been developing a technique I like to refer to as a ‘front-on sneak attack’. Approaching a target dead on, bow to bow, I fire off a magnetic trigger torp , passing by him, close alongside, I fire off a second torpedo from my stern, also set to magnetic trigger. This results in much confusion as the ships invariably try to guess which side I’m actually attacking from. As a result of this shot, I saw two destroyers heading in the opposite direction of my sub, in an attempt to track me. I must state that the weather conditions assisted this technique, as the storm conditions hid the wake of my torps and my periscope. I find this method far ore reliable, if riskier, than conventional attack runs. I shall have the crew exercise them some more, possible against military targets.

Arriving on station, we had an uneventful patrol, however, our return trip, following the same course as the approach, gave us two more ships to sink. Morale on the boat was lowering, as we had thus far sunk nothing but costal merchants and small merchant ships. The crew began muttering about having a challenge, so I glanced over the map and made some corrections to the navigators plot. Changes that included a transit to, and through the Portsmouth Dock. Much to the horror of the crew, I entered the port at night, on the surface and manned deck guns. Unfortunately, only two ships where docked, the first to go down to our guns was another small merchant, but the second was the prize of our patrol. A T2 tanker sat in the docks, begging to be sunk. I gave ‘ol Kals my gunner carte blanche and in 5 shots he had the beast ablaze and sunk. I was very proud. With a mad dash back out the dock gates, we were in the open ocean again, not a moment too soon as a V&W Destroyer came racing up to defend Portsmouth! Again the weather was our ally, as we slipped right past her in the violent waters. Not 20 minutes out of the dock we happen upon another C2 Cargo ship, but sadly, we had only two torps left, both of which hit, but did not sink the ship. Exuberant over our victory however, we broached the surface and made for home. Out of nowhere a costal merchant wandered across our path and I was able to convince Kals to man the d/g again. 15 minutes after fireballing that ship, another small merchant crossed our paths, and was sent to a watery grave.

A total of nine kills had our crew in a state of euphoria that lasted the whole trip home. Fritz was humming a merry tune the whole way (quite annoying really) and our navigator, by far my least biggest fan actually smiled at me and greeted me when I resumed the conn. Whisper among the crew have started, saying things like our boat is blessed, and even better, her officers are true naval warriors. Our crew slave for us now, and the NCOs treat us with noticeable deference.

Arriving in dock was a raucous affair. I handed over our patrol logs and nominated my crew for medals and awards. The awards ceremony included 2 promotions and another Iron Cross Second class! The Commandant then ordered me to the front of the ranks, and presented me with my Iron Cross 2nd Class, much to the exuberance of the crew. The resulting party was epic. I was especially touched that the crew invited the officers along, and I was pleased when the others accepted as well! Our camaraderie is fast becoming the talk of the base.

On the subject of the base, I thought about Fritz had to say, and decided to suck in my gut and go to the hospital to see Suzanne again. I earned a few odd looks, decked in full dress uniform (hey, chicks dig it) asking for Suzanne at reception. I assume it’s because mostly, they tend to have naval officers walking out not in.
I found her on first floor by the dispensary. She was at her desk annotating some files. She looked up and was quite startled when I appeared. I was extremely nervous, but I asked her to dinner, and she accepted! I was overjoyed, and walked out with a huge smile on my face. Another rare occurrence at the hospital apparently, seeing how I got more odd looks.
Suzanne has agreed to meet me for dinner at a little bistro we have near the base. I’ll include more on that in my next entry. For now, I’m going to find Fritz and have a celebratory drink….to calm my nerves.

Gerhard Linden
U-49 Kapt

[johan_d]

isnt easy to read for my eyes.. black on grey..

[Enchanter]

THATS what I coouldn't put my finger on!! I was wondering why it looked different! Sorry about that!! I'll fix it quick!

[Morts]

nice read

[Sea Wolf]

Good read! Looking forward to the next one

[Enchanter]

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 19 June ’41 – 02 July ‘41

Confound these worthless technicians!

Receiving orders to patrol just off the North West coast of Africa, the crew and I looked forward to some time near the tropics. What we got however, was high blood pressure!

During our transit to our patrol zone, I began marking off the locations of the various signals our Radioman established. Since most of the time the location of these ships was too far from our projected track, I contented myself with marking them on the map for future reference. What I established after approximately 4 days of steaming was a possible entry and exit lane for the Straits of Gibraltar! This would stand us in good stead.

During the transit I received traffic that the Fatherland had declared war on our allies the Russians. This news served to sink my spirits. Any hope of surrender from the British forces was sunk, now that the Russian bear Stalin was on their war council. I felt like cursing, but couldn’t do so before the crew.

Establishing ourselves on station patrolled the designated zone for 24 hours before turning back home. Having not spotted so much as a flying fish, I elected to establish a patrol near this supposed cargo highway. I informed Command of my intentions and received a reply saying, “Be more aggressive!”
I found this strange, as if I had anything to be aggressive towards I would.

Nearly four hours after establishing our patrol plot, we crossed paths with a Small Merchant ship. Until now, the crew and I had seen a total of 3 hours of sunlight the entire trip. The weather on the seas hadn’t changed a whit. Poor visibility, high winds and precipitation meant that we would not get the opportunity to exercise the deck gun.

Submerging the ship and laying in an intercept track, we crept forward silently and prepared to attack. Having learned from my previous patrols, I ordered two torpedoes readied, and fired them separately, setting them to explode magnetically.
The first torpedo established its 10 m deep run, made 200 meters from the ship and promptly detonated. The fact that the torpedo had a further 400 meters to the target was the problem.

Fortunately the close timing of the second torpedo meant that it could detonate beneath the target just as she began her turn. Although the detonation did not sink her, she was severely disabled in the high sea state.
We prepared another attack, and fired one torpedo off again. This one missed ahead of the target, and the second we fired (now the fourth for the encounter), finally sank the target.
All in all, not suitable results for such a well drilled crew.
But worse was to come. Re-establishing our patrol, we received word of a C3 cargo ship, and sure enough, we spotted her an hour later. Still in the terrible storm, I called for periscope depth and planned the attack. A freak occurrence in the wave periodicity must have exposed our sail however, for no sooner did I open my torpedo tubes than I heard the sound of the C3’s gun firing on us. We had been spotted. It was time to act fast. The solution set, and the torpedoes primed, I loosed two shots. BOTH detonated as soon as they made the 200 meters arming distance, a full 500 meters from the target!
Concerned that the storm was playing havoc with my magnetic sensors, I re-established my intercept and fired off a further two shots with impact triggers, at a depth of 8m.
The first torpedo detonated 400 meters out, but the second hit the target. Sadly I was running out of torpedoes and the C3 showed no signs of stopping. Over the course of two hours I expended every torpedo on the boat. Not one torpedo successfully armed, or detonated on time. I was livid. Turning my stern to the target, I made for Base, certain that I could hear the laughter of the C3’s crew as we left the scene ingloriously!

On return to the Base, I made my report to the Commandant, who was furious at the news of the premature detonations. He and I marched off to speak to the chief technician in charge of the torpedoes. An inspection found fully 30 of the 70 torpedoes were primed incorrectly! Immediately, the word saboteur sprang to mind. I believe the Commandant had the same suspicions, as I see the weapons locker now has armed personnel on guard, 24 hours a day.
Subsequent to this, I have sent all my torpedo men on a course, held by the chief technician, to learn how to inspect, repair and arm the triggers. The chief technician was clear however, that major storms WILL have a negative effect on the magnetic torpedo trigger.

Because of these developments, I found myself working late at the base almost every night. After a week ashore, I heard a knock on my door one evening. Gruffly, I gave permission to enter, and glanced at my wall clock. 22:00. Another wasted evening. When my eyes returned to the figure at the door I broke into a smile. Standing there in a light coat and clutching a basket was Suzanne.
“Remember me?” she asked timidly.
“Sometimes I think you are simply a dream.” I replied standing and coming around the desk. She opened the basket and revealed a picnic dinner.
“Since you seem intent on avoiding my cooking, I thought I’d bring it to you,” she chuckled. Not seated for five minutes however, my door opened and in strode my Commandant. Jumping to my feet and snapping out a salute, I began preparing for a tongue lashing for letting civilian personnel into my office. The Commandant however, didn’t even blink to see Suzanne there. Quite the contrary, he strode over to the basket and plucked out a chicken leg, which he began to nibble as he casually joined our dinner! It would seem my darling fiancé has endeared herself to the whole base!
We spent a pleasant hour discussing everything but the war, but finally the discussion turned there.
“Gerhard,” began the Commandant, “have you thought about moving to 2nd Flotilla? You could snap up command of one of the IX boats with no trouble.”
I eyed my Commandant, weighing my reply. I could see that Suzanne had held her breath.
“I have, Sir. But I don’t feel now would be a prudent time.”
“Why not?”
“It would mean a relocation of base, Sir, and I’m not prepared to do that prior to the wedding.”
The Commandant’s smiled beamed over my table, and I heard Suzanne exhale a little sigh of relief.
“Very good Gerhard,” he nodded, “but even as much as I will hate to lose you, it is far more prudent that you gain command of a more effective boat.”
“Thank you, Sir,” I replied. Then stood as he rose and made his farewells.
Suzanne eyed me steadily for a few seconds, and then asked, “Are you holding back in your career because of me?”
I came around the desk to hold her before replying, “No my love. I’m simply waiting for the right moment. I’m a submariner remember? I’m nothing if not patient!”
Her return hug was hard and long, her words muffled against my chest.
“Just be careful out there, sailor.”

[Enchanter]

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 30 July ’41 – 11 Aug ‘41

This entry promises to be a little bit dull I’m afraid.
A standard patrol of the NW coast of Africa again, this time we encountered and sank 4 costal merchants.

Tired of Kals’ whining about not getting any time at his post, I surfaced in calm weather and sank the first merchant with armour piercing rounds to the deck gun area. We must have ignited the ammo storage locker as she went up very quickly. Well, if the enemy wants to play with fire, let them get burned!

The remaining three were put under by torpedo. Each torpedo fired hit her mark this time, and all exploded at the correct time! It would seem that our chat with the head technician has paid off.

The crew is suitably relaxed and happy with a successful mission.

As my wedding day draws near, I’m beginning to get nervous. Accommodation has been located for the families and they will all be arriving the 1st of September. The chapel is booked, and the formalities seem to be ironed out. The reception, sadly, will not be a lavish affair, but we have been able to secure catering for approximately 100 people. Fritz has begun planning the bachelor party, and when I ask him about it, he merely shrugs, and smiles mysteriously. I should have gotten around to having him shot sooner than this.

In addition to his duties as best man, Fritz is also responsible for my military entourage. He has graciously given the honour of announcing the married couple over to the base Commandant. But he has reserved the right to make the opening speech at the reception.

Suzanne is getting more and more excited. It’s great to watch her lively animated excitement as she picks flowers, arranges seating and lives - what she has taken to calling - her personal fairytale.
She has become my morning star, the single method by which I navigate through this life, a life that despite the grey terror that is war, nevertheless promises beauty and peace. I fight now, not for the Fatherland. Now I fight to return home to my precious love. With each burning hulk I send to the bottom, I will this war to end sooner. No more the stories of glory or adventure I was promised. Now I fight merely to live a life of peace. There is a strange dichotomy in that; I the warrior who fights for his peace, and she the healer that battles the suffering my very war causes.

[Penelope_Grey]

This was a really cool read... but its seems to me.... a common norm emerges... U-boat captains seem to have a "thing" for nurses! lol

[Enchanter]

Maybe it's a matter of availability?
After all, there aren't all that many eligble ladies running around who are...shall we say of the correct calibre? :hmm:

Aside from the Commandant's daughter...and we ALL know where that ends up!

[Enchanter]

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 8 September ’41 – 20 September ‘41

Bon Voyage U-49!

Setting out from port for this patrol was a singularly emotional experience for all the crew. It is very likely the last time I shall command this boat into unfriendly waters. My patrol expected to last 10 days or so will return me to shore and find me on leave. Thereafter, I transfer to 2nd Flotilla, and gain command of a new boat.

As such, the crew and I are determined to make a show of returning with high tonnage!
There was absolutely no doubt that we would achieve precisely this when, 2 days into our patrol we encountered our first target, a juicy, fat C3 cargo ship.
Submerged, with battle stations manned, the U-49 set about plying her deadly trade. Without error we plotted a solution and loosed a torpedo. Against common sense and tradition, we watched her drive all the way home. The subsequent explosion in the after section of the ship lifted the vessel out of the water at the stern! As the stern returned into the water the entire aft section of the ship broke apart and the vessel began her dive of death.

Such a spectacular hit set the tone for our future engagements. Two Small merchants, one costal merchant and another C3 cargo ship were sent to the bottom for a particularly impressive tonnage value! The crew and I refused to leave our area of operations until we were out of torpedoes! And that we did! Sadly, the inclement weather precluded the use of the deck gun, or we would have surely stayed out longer!

In fact, it was due to the terrible weather we found the majority of our targets! With the fog so heavy one could barely see the bow of our submarine; I ordered the lookouts below and ran to a depth of 13 meters. I slowed to Ahead Slow and began trolling for contacts on my hydrophones. Our time spent locating the freight highways into and out of the Straits of Gibraltar paid dividends here. We were able to detect the targets a lot further out than we would have spotted them, then close in we fired off torpedoes. The nature of the engagement meant that most of the time we were coasting along at 3 knots, less than 350 meters from our target! One such engagement left us with a solution, but no visible target! As we finished the plot the ship drifted out of sight into the haze. I ordered the shot fired and listened at the hydrophones until we heard the sound of an explosion on the bearing of the missing ship! A cheer of joy erupted throughout the boat as we proved once again to be the best crew upon the seas!

Thus encouraged by well timed solutions and shots, I began taking this approach to more ships. Often lowering the periscope before a plot was finished. The subsequent ‘over the shoulder’ shot as my Weapons Officer has taken to calling them, produced more hits than our previous, standard solution shots! I believe this is a combination of several factors, including the experience of the crew, the accuracy of the solution, and most importantly, our proximity to target. Such proximity is unthinkable in clear weather conditions, but whereas in the past the merchant ships felt safer in the storms, with us unable to shoot from far away, we have just now developed a technique that promises to remove that thin safety blanket of theirs!

Returning to base as heroes once more, the crew and I disembarked from more than a submarine. We stepped off our home for the last time. With Fritz and the other officers assembled alongside the pier, we all came to attention to salute a faithful friend who had protected us and suffered with us until the very end of our tenure.

The Commandant in charge of the base informed me during my report that as a wedding gift from a grateful Navy, (his words, not mine), my whole crew was being transferred to my new command, at such time as it became clear what that was. The cheers, backslapping and partying that accompanied that announcement when I informed the crew was enough to remain etched in the history of St. Nazaire for years to come!
Tears were in both Fritz and Reckhoff's eyes as they shook my hand and gave me a fierce hug. They had served too long to be separated from me now.

Sitting at my desk a few days later I asked Fritz why he had never asked to be re-assigned. His rank and experience were certainties to acquire him a boat of his own.
His reply touched me, “Herr Kaleun. I wouldn’t dream of leaving this berth. Where else can I serve the Fatherland better, than by serving with her most prized Kaleun?”
I began to sputter that was hardly the case, but he smiled at me and stood slowly. “When we met, I didn’t think we’d survive our first tour Gerhard. But I was wrong. And beyond your ability to command, is your ability to inspire the souls of your crew. I would follow you, Herr Kapitanleutnant to the gates of Hell itself. If only to watch you torpedo them open and drive the devil from his lair!”

With our families arriving, Suzanne and I had hardly a moment to spare to ourselves. Upon learning that my father was in St. Nazaire, the Commandant demanded to meet him. The two sat gossiping like old men on a porch for three hours before I was ordered to conduct a tour of the base for my father. My dad marveled at our country’s advancement since his time in the Kriegsmarine. Then in a rare honour, the Commandant accompanied us to the U-49, where I gave one final inspection.
My dad ran his hands over the periscope grips and lovingly handled the Hydrophone gear – his station during the First Great War. Then we inspected the massive diesel engines that had so tirelessly pushed us through the raw majesty of the ocean. Finally we came to the bow torpedo rooms. I showed my father the torpedoes we used and explained the magnetic trigger to him. Once back in the command room of the ship my father stopped and turned full circle. He went to stand at the point where I always assumed my command. Without error he stood on the exact spot where I had stood, silently praying that the destroyers would miss, or the torpedoes would run to completion.
“You stand here, Gerhard, yes?” he asked quietly. I nodded once. My father closed his eyes and stood still for a while.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like. But I am so very proud of you my son. So very proud.”
When he opened his eyes, tears glistened in them, though he made a show of turning to the weapon officer’s station and examining the bulkhead.
When we returned home he was quiet, but later that day my mother came to me and told me how I happy I had made him. How happy he was to see the might of Germany after the embarrassment that was Versailles. That made me think. My father had served in a losing war, and yet remembered only the pride of the Fatherland. I hoped that when I grew old enough to watch my children work, that I too could remember my time in the service with honour and distinction.
Suzanne came up to me and put her arms around my waist as I stood staring out of the windows at the base that I had served in for so long.
“What are you thinking about Gerhard?” she whispered.
“I’m thinking,” I replied after a moments thought, “that I’m a very fortunate man.”
Her answering hug confirmed to me that I was.

[Enchanter]

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 18 October ’41 – 26 October ‘41

Shakedown.

Well, as efficient as the German Kriegsmarine can be, I never thought they’d be this efficient!
Not two days into my leave I get called into the 2nd Flotilla’s Commandant’s office and told that my new command is ready!
I had initially been made to believe that I would take command of a used IXB when her crew returned from patrol, however, it was decided that I would command an IXC, and it so happened my boat, U-504 arrived in dock at Lorient just yesterday!
My Commandant gave me my transfer papers, then shook my hand and saluted me. I felt as if I was leaving my family home as I got into the staff car for the trip home to pack.

I didn’t count on a livid fiancé however!
“You’re on leave, Gerhard!” she yelped when I told her the news.
“We’re at war, Suzanne,” I replied, which I admit now was the best response I could have given, but I was so excited about my new command!
A few choice words later, I was hurrying out of my old apartment as my irate wife-to-be began picking up one or two of the things she had thrown at me. Getting into the staff car, I urged speed, not for my command, but to escape my loves wrath!

Although I was upset she couldn’t be excited about this fantastic opportunity, I must admit that I am very glad to see she has some pluck! She’s certainly as tempestuous as the day I met her! Despite the argument, I called her the instant I arrived in Lorient, and her sweet silky voice greeted me back. We both apologized, declared our love and I went to meet my new Commanding Officer, Viktor Schütze.
Words cannot describe what it felt like to meet such a hero of the German people! This tall man came around the desk and shook my hand and sat me down.
“Gerhard,” he began, sitting across from me, “I won’t lie to you. We have some of the hardest tasks in the navy. We also have some of the greatest Kaleun’s in the world. I’m afraid your reputation in 7th Flotilla will count for very little here. You’ll have to begin proving yourself all over again.”
“I’ll prove myself, and more, sir,” I replied.

His words were true however. As I stepped onto my newly constructed boat, the marvel of the new technology receded and a single word sprang to mind.
“Deathtrap.”
“What was that Gerhard?” Fritz asked, as we walked through the command deck. Until then I hadn’t realized I had spoken out loud.
“Leaking seals, dented bulkheads, this gangway is already rusted and it’s not forty days old!” I exclaimed.
“That’s why we have such an experienced crew!” came the jovial reply.

Such experience would be needed, and badly so! I spent two weeks preparing to take my command out, and finally I felt ready to take her to sea. The Commandant gave me my orders, explaining that this would be a ‘soft’ cruise to test the systems on board. And my mettle, it was implied.

We began our transit, and arrived on station. The IXC has a lot of power to offer, and her deep fuel tank means extended, high speed runs. Her batteries last longer than on the VIIB and she is a far sturdier ship. We ran down to crush depth once or twice, and flanked and reversed the engines. By the time we arrived on station we had tested almost every station.
Except for the deck gun, every station was ready and becoming better. When our first victim appeared on the horizon, I deliberately watched my gunner Kals. The poor man almost began salivating with excitement! Calmly, and sadistically, I asked for a weather report. When the report came back all clear with no wind, I began to look thoughtful. I couldn’t decide who’d break first. Me - with laughter - or Kals. Finally the man broke. All but hitting his knees, he begged for a chance to test the new deck gun. I nodded and joined him on deck.

The 10.5 inch gun is an impressive naval weapon. Sadly, the increased diameter means decreased shell capacity. But overall, a very solid weapon. Kals needed some time to re-adjust to the sighting and accuracy, but as he became more proficient the fires on the distant C3 we targeted became more and more wild.
Finally she slipped beneath the waves. That would be our last opportunity to fire from the surface.

Now I wished to test our submerged capability. I began executing all my attacks and intercepts from a submerged position. Slowly we became more comfortable running this behemoth. Consequently, the Weapons Officer and I have decided to use only the type II electric torpedoes on our next patrol. We wish to perfect our silent, submerged kill.

On return from the shakedown cruise, with no less than 5 ships sunk, we were greeted much more positively by the dock crew. Obviously, we have made our bones with these crusty old salts. Now we, the soft, sea faring crew, must live u p to those standards on every patrol. Schütze shook my hand when I arrived back in his office and took my report with a nod.
“Very well Kaleun,” he smiled, “you’ve got what it takes to be in the 2nd Flotilla. Welcome aboard.”
With a smile, I thanked him and made to leave. As I turned he mentioned casually,
“I understand you are to be married this November yes?”
“Yes Kapitan!” I replied proudly.
“You poor, poor, man,” he laughed, “you almost look eager! Well Kapitanleutnant, you’ll be pleased to know you are only required back at base on the 25th of November.”
With that, I departed to return to St. Nazaire, and my tempestuous fiancé.

On arrival, she met Fritz and me as we sat in the Officers Club enjoying some beers and chatting with a few other Kaleuns. Amazingly, it was Suzanne who asked a question no-one else had framed by then. After the usual chatting and laughing she looked at me and asked,
“What is your ship’s name?”
Fritz and I looked at each other. We had discussed this at length, and even found a suitable emblem for the shipwrights to paint on the sail.
“Das Krokodil.” I replied, with a smile.

[Thunder]

Good stuff man.what province you in?

[Enchanter]

Thanks Thunder, based in Gauteng.

[Enchanter]

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 26 November ’41

This will be the final entry in this diary.

On the morning of November 26 1941, Gerhard Linden set sail for his assigned patrol route. Poor intelligence or just a lack of communication led him to the rendezvous point for an Allied battle formation.

First indication of trouble was when, under cover of night his ship was rammed side on by a light destroyer.
Crippled and unable to submerge, Kapitanleutnant Gerhard Linden ordered his crew to the guns and began a raging fire fight. Standing atop the watch tower he directed torpedo fire while his brave crew fought gun actions against the British Navy.

Accounting for five enemy warships, this Hero of the Fatherland was finally sunk by gunfire.

As his crew abandoned ship, Gerhard Linden, gravely wounded, began the operation of destroying the various top secret coding devices found aboard his vessel.
He was lost with his boat, and 35 of 55 crewmen.
Their ultimate sacrifice led to the safe destruction of the top secret equipment, and the total loss of U-Boot 504.

I know it was his habit to speak of his personal affairs in this diary too. His wedding and subsequent honeymoon was what he would later describe to his friends as the most perfect example of heaven in the world. Photos show a happy smiling couple, and friends talk of a wonderful union between two well loved people.
His family grieves the loss of a son, as the people of the Reich grieve the loss of a hero.
His 14 days of marriage, he wrote in a love letter, were the best two weeks of his life.

I know his spirit is at peace, laid to rest among the fighting men he had come to cherish, and aboard the command to which he had aspired his entire career. He was lost in a manner reflective of his brave, unwavering dedication to his land, his crew and his Fuhrer.
His devotion to his family, and his new bride was rivalled only by his devotion to his duty, as a warrior of the Reich, and an officer of the Kriegsmarine.

Farewell Gerhard, my loving, wonderful husband. You shall be sorely missed forever.

Suzanne Linden.
28 November 1941