Writing mood. U-137 hitting the convoy routes.

VonApist · 09-13-12, 05:25 AM

"The periscope is still up sir" Gerald whispered to his Kaleun's ear.

He was right. Having the periscope up for an extended period of time in such close vicinity to Allied escorts was very risky.

Stephan nodded and gave the order to retract it. He moved his big frame towards the U-Boats' sonar box.

"Jorg. I dont know how you're gonna do it, but you have to locate the 7th warship, pronto. I will slowly turn the boat to starboard in case she is in your hydrophone's blind spot. Let me know as soon as you get a fix on her. We dont have much time."

"Yes sir" the sailor replied and focused on his hydrophone sweep.

"Chief. Speed 1 knot. And, Albert, keep RPMs below 100 at all times. Turn 20 degrees to starboard."

At a snail pace the U-Boat started its anorexic turn. Stephan kept checking his wristwatch. They would have to complete their circle before the convoy's pass from their attack spot. It would be tight. But Stephan was not going to risk an attack at low visibility with a warship unaccounted for. For all he knew, this warship could be positioned for an attack run as they spoke.

The crew fully complied with ther Kaleun's order for ultimate silence. All that could be heard was the low humming of the electric engines and the occasional creak of the hull as U-137 started to turn.

They were all, or most of them, experienced, patrolling the Atlantic for more than 3 years. They had seen their fair share of convoy attacks. Everybdy knew, that it was all up to the Kaleun and their efficiency in obeying his orders fast and effectively.

They trusted Stephan. He had managed to pull off some spectacular attacks and always seemed to have a hand for moving them out of harms way when things got nasty. Like their encounter 7 months ago when they were pinned down at relatively shallow waters by 2 Tommie destroyers. Despite the long depth charge barrage, they managed to escape with only some dents on their hull.

Half way through their turn,Jorg's agitated whisper broke the eery silence. "Sir, i think I got her. Bearing 330 but she is moving at a slow speed within the convoy lanes. Its a warship but she doesnt sound or move at the pattern of a destroyer, sir."

"Good job Jorg." Stephan replied relieved. "If its not a destroyer, it may prove a juicy target." He turned towards his Chief.

"Albert, 30 degrees to starboard, lets complete this turn as soon as possible. I want to reposition the boat and have another look. The convoy should be within our visual range by know. We dont have much time"

"Yes sir. Rudder 30 degrees to starboard, move it gentlemen" the Chief ordered as the helmsmen oblidged.

"All stop. Rudder 0 degrees" the Chief ordered and turned towards Stephan.
"We have completed our turn sir."

"Thanks Albert. Periscope UP"

Stephan glued his face on the eyepiece and started scanning the horizon. Visibility remained low but the convoy was close. The sound of the merchants propellers could be now heard, albeit faintly, without the need for a hydrophone.

He turned the scope to the left. Damn they were close. The convoy was closing in . His U-boat was positioned within the lanes. Thankfully, he didnt have to move to avoid the approaching vessels. He started identifying targets to his second.

"Gerald. We only have 3 eels ready to go. Lets find a juicy one...5,000 ton steamer... Granville.... couple of medium cargos....wait... I think I have the warship. Scheisse! Its a light cruiser. Range 900m Must be Southampton class....check penant C76 on the recognition manual" Stephan ordered as his second in command fumbled through the manual's pages to find the vessel.

"Its HMS Newcastle Herr Kaleun. Eleven thousand tons!!"

"Ok Gerald. We have our target. Assume weapon officer duties. We will go for the cruiser."

"Ok Gerald. Target Bearing 340, give me length"
"170m sir. mast height 27m"

Stephan, eyes still glued on the periscope retrieved a small notebook and a pencil from his breast pocket. With his left hand he grabbed his wristwatch.

"Ok Gerald. 2 Degrees, Mast height 27m . Length 170. Calculated distance..." Stephan scribbled calculations on his notebook
"...930m". He pressed the starter of his stopwatch and after a minute scribbled again. "No time for precise measurement Gerald, approx speed 7 Knots"

"Open tubes 1 and 2"

"Tubes 1 and 2 open and flooded sir"

"Confirm depth 2.5 metres, impact pistol.... Albert, make sure that the torpedo compensating tanks will keep us below surface...."

"Yes sir" his Chief replied.

Stephan continued

"Gerald. Get ready to calculate solution. Bearing 355, speed 7 knots, Impact angle 90, leading angle 30.. ."

Gerald inputed the data into the TDC.

"Solution ready Sir!!"

"Fire tube 1" Stephan ordered as he pressed the starter of his stop watch.
"Torpedo out"

He let 5 seconds pass

"Fire tube 2"

"Torpedo out sir"

Stephan stepped back and retracted the handles of his periscope. According to the torpedoe's speed and targets heading, impact should be in roughly 50 seconds, if his calculations were right.

"Periscope DOWN. Albert take us down to 150m. Speed 1 Knot. Silent running. Rudder 5 degrees left. Lets move before the fireworks!"

"Yes sir" the Chief acknowledged.

They had barely passed the 20m mark when the first explosion was heard, or more correctly FELT as it was pretty close. Then the second!

They had hit it! A low cheer rose from the crew on their success. But there was no time for celebrations. Now the escorts knew that they were there. They had to get out. Fast.

They had passed the 30m depth mark when they heard something resembling the sound of a diapason hitting their U-boat's hull...

"Enemy sonar pinging us" Gerald reported.

"Chief, rudder 10 degrees to port... Jorg warship contact update"

"2 escorts approaching sir, bearing 060 and 240, moving fast. 060 medium range."

The pinging sound became more fast and intense.

"Keep taking us down Chief. I dont care about silence. Full Ahead. Lets go down deep, fast. Depth 150m. They know we are here."

He then turned towards the crew at the Zentrale.

"Get ready for a bumpy ride gentlemen. It seems that we have really pissed them off."

(To be continued)

*******************
PS thanks for commenting. It motivates me to keep writing.

09-13-12, 05:25 AM	#16
VonApist Navy Dude Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Greece Posts: 175 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	"The periscope is still up sir" Gerald whispered to his Kaleun's ear. He was right. Having the periscope up for an extended period of time in such close vicinity to Allied escorts was very risky. Stephan nodded and gave the order to retract it. He moved his big frame towards the U-Boats' sonar box. "Jorg. I dont know how you're gonna do it, but you have to locate the 7th warship, pronto. I will slowly turn the boat to starboard in case she is in your hydrophone's blind spot. Let me know as soon as you get a fix on her. We dont have much time." "Yes sir" the sailor replied and focused on his hydrophone sweep. "Chief. Speed 1 knot. And, Albert, keep RPMs below 100 at all times. Turn 20 degrees to starboard." At a snail pace the U-Boat started its anorexic turn. Stephan kept checking his wristwatch. They would have to complete their circle before the convoy's pass from their attack spot. It would be tight. But Stephan was not going to risk an attack at low visibility with a warship unaccounted for. For all he knew, this warship could be positioned for an attack run as they spoke. The crew fully complied with ther Kaleun's order for ultimate silence. All that could be heard was the low humming of the electric engines and the occasional creak of the hull as U-137 started to turn. They were all, or most of them, experienced, patrolling the Atlantic for more than 3 years. They had seen their fair share of convoy attacks. Everybdy knew, that it was all up to the Kaleun and their efficiency in obeying his orders fast and effectively. They trusted Stephan. He had managed to pull off some spectacular attacks and always seemed to have a hand for moving them out of harms way when things got nasty. Like their encounter 7 months ago when they were pinned down at relatively shallow waters by 2 Tommie destroyers. Despite the long depth charge barrage, they managed to escape with only some dents on their hull. Half way through their turn,Jorg's agitated whisper broke the eery silence. "Sir, i think I got her. Bearing 330 but she is moving at a slow speed within the convoy lanes. Its a warship but she doesnt sound or move at the pattern of a destroyer, sir." "Good job Jorg." Stephan replied relieved. "If its not a destroyer, it may prove a juicy target." He turned towards his Chief. "Albert, 30 degrees to starboard, lets complete this turn as soon as possible. I want to reposition the boat and have another look. The convoy should be within our visual range by know. We dont have much time" "Yes sir. Rudder 30 degrees to starboard, move it gentlemen" the Chief ordered as the helmsmen oblidged. "All stop. Rudder 0 degrees" the Chief ordered and turned towards Stephan. "We have completed our turn sir." "Thanks Albert. Periscope UP" Stephan glued his face on the eyepiece and started scanning the horizon. Visibility remained low but the convoy was close. The sound of the merchants propellers could be now heard, albeit faintly, without the need for a hydrophone. He turned the scope to the left. Damn they were close. The convoy was closing in . His U-boat was positioned within the lanes. Thankfully, he didnt have to move to avoid the approaching vessels. He started identifying targets to his second. "Gerald. We only have 3 eels ready to go. Lets find a juicy one...5,000 ton steamer... Granville.... couple of medium cargos....wait... I think I have the warship. Scheisse! Its a light cruiser. Range 900m Must be Southampton class....check penant C76 on the recognition manual" Stephan ordered as his second in command fumbled through the manual's pages to find the vessel. "Its HMS Newcastle Herr Kaleun. Eleven thousand tons!!" "Ok Gerald. We have our target. Assume weapon officer duties. We will go for the cruiser." "Ok Gerald. Target Bearing 340, give me length" "170m sir. mast height 27m" Stephan, eyes still glued on the periscope retrieved a small notebook and a pencil from his breast pocket. With his left hand he grabbed his wristwatch. "Ok Gerald. 2 Degrees, Mast height 27m . Length 170. Calculated distance..." Stephan scribbled calculations on his notebook "...930m". He pressed the starter of his stopwatch and after a minute scribbled again. "No time for precise measurement Gerald, approx speed 7 Knots" "Open tubes 1 and 2" "Tubes 1 and 2 open and flooded sir" "Confirm depth 2.5 metres, impact pistol.... Albert, make sure that the torpedo compensating tanks will keep us below surface...." "Yes sir" his Chief replied. Stephan continued "Gerald. Get ready to calculate solution. Bearing 355, speed 7 knots, Impact angle 90, leading angle 30.. ." Gerald inputed the data into the TDC. "Solution ready Sir!!" "Fire tube 1" Stephan ordered as he pressed the starter of his stop watch. "Torpedo out" He let 5 seconds pass "Fire tube 2" "Torpedo out sir" Stephan stepped back and retracted the handles of his periscope. According to the torpedoe's speed and targets heading, impact should be in roughly 50 seconds, if his calculations were right. "Periscope DOWN. Albert take us down to 150m. Speed 1 Knot. Silent running. Rudder 5 degrees left. Lets move before the fireworks!" "Yes sir" the Chief acknowledged. They had barely passed the 20m mark when the first explosion was heard, or more correctly FELT as it was pretty close. Then the second! They had hit it! A low cheer rose from the crew on their success. But there was no time for celebrations. Now the escorts knew that they were there. They had to get out. Fast. They had passed the 30m depth mark when they heard something resembling the sound of a diapason hitting their U-boat's hull... "Enemy sonar pinging us" Gerald reported. "Chief, rudder 10 degrees to port... Jorg warship contact update" "2 escorts approaching sir, bearing 060 and 240, moving fast. 060 medium range." The pinging sound became more fast and intense. "Keep taking us down Chief. I dont care about silence. Full Ahead. Lets go down deep, fast. Depth 150m. They know we are here." He then turned towards the crew at the Zentrale. "Get ready for a bumpy ride gentlemen. It seems that we have really pissed them off." (To be continued) ******************* PS thanks for commenting. It motivates me to keep writing. __________________ "Submariners are a special brotherhood, either all come to the surface or no one does. On a submarine, the phrase all for one and one for all is not just a slogan, but reality.” -- VADM Rudolf Golosov