U-538 takes its place at the bottom...

akula_krieg · 08-24-05, 01:31 PM

A veteran of 10 war patrols, this Type IX-C was engaged in a convoy battle somewhere in the vicinity of BE-31 in February of 1943. She had torpedoed three ships, with two tankers sunk and a C2 listing badly to starboard.

She managed to escape the escorts during the initial attack, relying on the ensuing havoc created by panic-induced zigging and foul weather to drop behind the convoy and prepare for another attack the next evening.

Alas, it was not to be. At 0800, U-538 surfaced and plotted an end-around course to gain position before nightfall. What she didn't know was that an entire squadron of Sunderlands had been dispatched, having been informed of her last known course.

At 0830, the first Sunderland dove out of the clouds and caught U-538 unawares. The boat did not have sufficient time to dive or man her flak guns before a stick of bombs, perfectly placed, ripped her hull apart. She was gone within seconds, with all crew lost.

A toast to the men of U-538...fair winds and following seas

(Rewind to September 1, 1939)...

U-48, a Type VIIB U-boat, deployed for her first patrol today...

-akula-

08-24-05, 01:31 PM	#1
akula_krieg Mate Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 60 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 0	U-538 takes its place at the bottom... A veteran of 10 war patrols, this Type IX-C was engaged in a convoy battle somewhere in the vicinity of BE-31 in February of 1943. She had torpedoed three ships, with two tankers sunk and a C2 listing badly to starboard. She managed to escape the escorts during the initial attack, relying on the ensuing havoc created by panic-induced zigging and foul weather to drop behind the convoy and prepare for another attack the next evening. Alas, it was not to be. At 0800, U-538 surfaced and plotted an end-around course to gain position before nightfall. What she didn't know was that an entire squadron of Sunderlands had been dispatched, having been informed of her last known course. At 0830, the first Sunderland dove out of the clouds and caught U-538 unawares. The boat did not have sufficient time to dive or man her flak guns before a stick of bombs, perfectly placed, ripped her hull apart. She was gone within seconds, with all crew lost. A toast to the men of U-538...fair winds and following seas (Rewind to September 1, 1939)... U-48, a Type VIIB U-boat, deployed for her first patrol today... -akula-