Into the flow

[bstanko6]

I have been inside Scapa flow. In stock SH3 I have successfully attacked vessels there. But in GWX, it has never happened. I was beginning to believe it was not possible. So I tried it, and here is my story:

Late November 1939, I was approaching the east side of the flow in U-47 at around 1130hrs. My Watch Officer calls out ship sighted... a destroyer cruising along on patrol. I calmly order decks awash. No need to panic. The north sea was choppy this morning, and sitting low would give me an excellent platform to observe the 'tin can'.

As soon as it moves away I order engines full to get even closer and I make good time doing so. Bearing 300, 'tin can' turns around, and I dive to periscope depth. The entire ocean leading to the cay of eastern Scapa is so shallow, I am scraping the bottom here and there.

Closing! I turn off engines and track the unwanted guest until he passes. As soon as he moves away I am free to maneuver around the north side of the island leading into the flow. But it is way to light out. Around 1530hrs. I stop engines and wait at periscope depth until 2100hrs when it is completely dark out. I surface, maneuver around the blockships, and find another destroyer heading towards me from the west end. I dive again and make turns for 50 rpms. Nothing. All quiet.

I slowly make my way north to see what was there. Only two dead still V&W destroyers. Disappointment! I worked this hard to find some destroyers!

I take another look through my Obs scope, and think to myself...
These destroyers are the bane to my fellow U-boat commanders everywhere. I let these go, and they could kill someone... maybe me!

I order my Number One to flood all forward tubes, and I begin to take my measurements. Range... 1750. AOB... 85 to starboard, both destroyers. I know there have been problems with magnetic torpedoes, and since the flow is so shallow, I set depth for all tubes to 2 meters, fast. I fire only tubes 1 and 4, standing by if I need more.

BAM!! Destroyer one hit, search beams from both ships bouncing around on the water like eyes from God looking for me. I want to lower my scope in fear of being seen, but I have to see if the second destroyer gets it.

BAM!! The second one splits in two! But that first one is still going, and MOVING!. I do an about face, and head back where I came from. Several minutes go by, and I hear the sweetest words, "She's going down, sir!"

Other warships make there way into the flow, I am still here, but they do not hear me. they never use ASDIC. I slip out. I did it. It is possible!