Just missed a TF

[K-61]

I came soooo close to bagging some precious RN warships from a TF down near the Canary Islands. I'm on my maiden patrol in my new IXC; used up most of my renown from four patrols in a VIIB to buy her. A foggy night with low visibility, so I can hear more down there than I can see from up here, to quote Das Boot. After several hours submerged I get a contact from my hydrophone man, warship contacts from astern, closing fast. I was trolling along at 25 metres, so I ordered full speed and up to scope depth. Realizing I would never catch them this way I quickly surfaced and made a high speed run, disengaging battery recharge so I could squeeze out every knot.

I got to within just under 6,000 metres but could not see them. They were so tanatalizingly close; I did use the "cheat" X-ray vision once I realized I was not going to be able to attack, just to see what I missed but could not dishonour myself by using a game exploit to magically see what in reality was too far away on a dark night for me to spot for an attack. I really dislike using game faults to cheat tonnage.

Using the magic lenses I was able to make out several destroyers of the Tribal and Hunt classes and several Dido cruisers. It hurts to see them get away, but I have fond memories of nailing such TF's in other careers. I feel sorry for those guys who have never had the luck of nailing a TF at sea. On the other hand, in spite of always calling in my convoy sightings, I have yet to see a Luftwaffe strike. I share Jurgen Prochnow's cynical opinion of "Der Dicke."