Transfered to Panang

David I · 12-22-09, 12:24 PM

On the morning of Oct 5, in heavy seas we got a radio intercept. Plotted an interception course and bye and bye got a radar contact. Two ships in column. I assume they are armed and the seas are rough so I set up for a submerged attack.

As they got closer I identified the lead ship as a Granville and the second as a Medium Cargo, both of just under 5,000 ton. I set my three bow TIII torpedos for 1m to 1.5m beneath their hulls turn until I'm about 30 degrees off the 90 degrees to their course and fire two torpedos at the Medium. I then turn hard to port and brought up the Granville and fired my third torp. I heard the explosion of a premee torpedo. Damn. The Medium got hit by the second torpedo and veared sharply to port just as the Granville's torpedo hit.

Great! But wait a moment, both ships are proceding at 9 knots. I spun the U-129 hard to port and got off a stern shot at the Medium as she went by. A good solid hit amidships and she broke in two.

Now for the Granville. There she is steaming away at 8 knots, one better than I can do. I began the pursuit The crew frantically loaded torpedos and I wait until the Granville straightens out his course. He must have thought I was gone. My batteries are running low and I take a long shot at a bad angle trusting in the depth setting of the T III. The torpedo travels about 600m of the 1200m to the target when it too premees. I'm going to loose my prize! I foolishly fire another torpedo and am rewarded with a complete miss. Time to rethink as the Granville pulled steadily away.

New plan. I drop my speed and head North, letting the Granville gain more distance to the South East. When the Granville is about 2,000m + away I surfaced the boat and head North at high speed. The Granville sees the boat, started to zig zag and fired a couple of shots off with his stern chaser. I replotted a intercept course further down his anticipated course, but because I am recharging I am making only 11 to 12 knots in these seas. I stop the recharge at about 50% and the boat kicks up to 15 knots. Now I'm gaining on him. We kept just out of visual, used my radar to keep tabs on him I get ahead of the Granville. I began my starboard turn to intercept him when....

"Aircraft Spotted!" Crash Dive! He'd called the cavarly in and they were arriving just in time. The stern of the U-129 was still on the surface when the Wellington drops it's depth charges. Oh we are so dead. Bam. Bam. Bam. Leaks in three compartments, two of them serious. I rushed my damage repair parties to the worst hit. Gradually they started to get the upper hand. We hear more depth charges go off and I brought the boat to slow speed. Oh crap, my batteries are only 50% charged.

I waited for an hour and then surface. The pursuit began again. It was now getting dark, and my speed was slowed by the battery recharge, but this time I was determined to be patient. Got a radar fix, and stayed on it.

The pursuit went on into the early morning of the 6th of October, but finally I set up the shot I was looking for. I dove down for the attack.

Flood Tube One. Torpedo Loos. The end of the Granville.

All together we fired 7 torpedos (two premees one miss) for just under 10,000. I've got to do better.

Surface. Reverse course. Back to the patrol.

Crew is pretty tired, but morale is good.

12-22-09, 12:24 PM	#16
David I Ensign Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 231 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	The Long Chase 5-10-44 through 6-10-44 On the morning of Oct 5, in heavy seas we got a radio intercept. Plotted an interception course and bye and bye got a radar contact. Two ships in column. I assume they are armed and the seas are rough so I set up for a submerged attack. As they got closer I identified the lead ship as a Granville and the second as a Medium Cargo, both of just under 5,000 ton. I set my three bow TIII torpedos for 1m to 1.5m beneath their hulls turn until I'm about 30 degrees off the 90 degrees to their course and fire two torpedos at the Medium. I then turn hard to port and brought up the Granville and fired my third torp. I heard the explosion of a premee torpedo. Damn. The Medium got hit by the second torpedo and veared sharply to port just as the Granville's torpedo hit. Great! But wait a moment, both ships are proceding at 9 knots. I spun the U-129 hard to port and got off a stern shot at the Medium as she went by. A good solid hit amidships and she broke in two. Now for the Granville. There she is steaming away at 8 knots, one better than I can do. I began the pursuit The crew frantically loaded torpedos and I wait until the Granville straightens out his course. He must have thought I was gone. My batteries are running low and I take a long shot at a bad angle trusting in the depth setting of the T III. The torpedo travels about 600m of the 1200m to the target when it too premees. I'm going to loose my prize! I foolishly fire another torpedo and am rewarded with a complete miss. Time to rethink as the Granville pulled steadily away. New plan. I drop my speed and head North, letting the Granville gain more distance to the South East. When the Granville is about 2,000m + away I surfaced the boat and head North at high speed. The Granville sees the boat, started to zig zag and fired a couple of shots off with his stern chaser. I replotted a intercept course further down his anticipated course, but because I am recharging I am making only 11 to 12 knots in these seas. I stop the recharge at about 50% and the boat kicks up to 15 knots. Now I'm gaining on him. We kept just out of visual, used my radar to keep tabs on him I get ahead of the Granville. I began my starboard turn to intercept him when.... "Aircraft Spotted!" Crash Dive! He'd called the cavarly in and they were arriving just in time. The stern of the U-129 was still on the surface when the Wellington drops it's depth charges. Oh we are so dead. Bam. Bam. Bam. Leaks in three compartments, two of them serious. I rushed my damage repair parties to the worst hit. Gradually they started to get the upper hand. We hear more depth charges go off and I brought the boat to slow speed. Oh crap, my batteries are only 50% charged. I waited for an hour and then surface. The pursuit began again. It was now getting dark, and my speed was slowed by the battery recharge, but this time I was determined to be patient. Got a radar fix, and stayed on it. The pursuit went on into the early morning of the 6th of October, but finally I set up the shot I was looking for. I dove down for the attack. Flood Tube One. Torpedo Loos. The end of the Granville. All together we fired 7 torpedos (two premees one miss) for just under 10,000. I've got to do better. Surface. Reverse course. Back to the patrol. Crew is pretty tired, but morale is good.