A Mistake That Went Well

Kaptlt.Endrass · 09-30-15, 10:12 PM

I've played SH3 for close to 3 years now. While I haven't played in the past two months, I was reminded of one of my last patrols recently, and would like to share it with you.

It is late 1941. We have joined the 10th Flotilla out of Lorient and are sailing to our patrol area off of Freetown, Africa. We've had minimal contacts throughout: A friendly armed merchant cruiser in the Bay of Biscay and, earlier that even, a convoy of four Irish intermediate tankers headed south as well. Tempting, but we refrain.

As we pass the neutral ships, I turn on the gramophone to relieve the crew of the monotony of the transit. (I have my own playlist, based off of what was popular in the Kreigsmarine, but maintain some of the original GWX songs). We continue on as night falls, running into a storm by dark.

Some hours later, we take a sound check and score: A convoy moving north, already on an intersect course. We surface; the storm has passed, but there is plenty of chop to help hide us from early war radar.

10 klicks out, we dive moving into position. However, my original estimate of 8 knots was off, and the convoy is threatening to escape. We surface insude the thin escort screen and find targets, managing to stay hidden from radar and the naked eye. I line up tubes 1 and 2 on a large cargo, and tube 3 on a small merchant. As the eels slide out of the tubes, I hear a tune filter through the hatch: the gramophone is still playing.

I go to switch it off, but then analyze the song. It is Das U-boat Lied ( http://uboat.net/special/songs/#boot , the second one) The song could not have been more appropriate, and I allow it to continue as our torpedoes decimate our targets. However, I dive out of there, and continue my journey south sometime later. And in the background, 'Westerwald' is being sung or hummed by the bridge crew as well as the rest of the U-boat's company.

A mistake I will not regret. I like to put myself in the shoes of a U-boat captain or crewmember when I play, yes. Being part German, I am very proud of my heritage, and feel a connection with the sailors of the Kreigsmarine, however small. But that one moment, I have never had a more immersing experience in SH3, with the German patriotic music playing as we made that attack. I hope I get more experiences like this when I return to the game.

09-30-15, 10:12 PM	#1
Kaptlt.Endrass Sonar Guy Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: No Longer On A Big Grey Floaty Thing Posts: 395 Downloads: 116 Uploads: 0	A Mistake That Went Well I've played SH3 for close to 3 years now. While I haven't played in the past two months, I was reminded of one of my last patrols recently, and would like to share it with you. It is late 1941. We have joined the 10th Flotilla out of Lorient and are sailing to our patrol area off of Freetown, Africa. We've had minimal contacts throughout: A friendly armed merchant cruiser in the Bay of Biscay and, earlier that even, a convoy of four Irish intermediate tankers headed south as well. Tempting, but we refrain. As we pass the neutral ships, I turn on the gramophone to relieve the crew of the monotony of the transit. (I have my own playlist, based off of what was popular in the Kreigsmarine, but maintain some of the original GWX songs). We continue on as night falls, running into a storm by dark. Some hours later, we take a sound check and score: A convoy moving north, already on an intersect course. We surface; the storm has passed, but there is plenty of chop to help hide us from early war radar. 10 klicks out, we dive moving into position. However, my original estimate of 8 knots was off, and the convoy is threatening to escape. We surface insude the thin escort screen and find targets, managing to stay hidden from radar and the naked eye. I line up tubes 1 and 2 on a large cargo, and tube 3 on a small merchant. As the eels slide out of the tubes, I hear a tune filter through the hatch: the gramophone is still playing. I go to switch it off, but then analyze the song. It is Das U-boat Lied ( http://uboat.net/special/songs/#boot , the second one) The song could not have been more appropriate, and I allow it to continue as our torpedoes decimate our targets. However, I dive out of there, and continue my journey south sometime later. And in the background, 'Westerwald' is being sung or hummed by the bridge crew as well as the rest of the U-boat's company. A mistake I will not regret. I like to put myself in the shoes of a U-boat captain or crewmember when I play, yes. Being part German, I am very proud of my heritage, and feel a connection with the sailors of the Kreigsmarine, however small. But that one moment, I have never had a more immersing experience in SH3, with the German patriotic music playing as we made that attack. I hope I get more experiences like this when I return to the game. __________________ "That flag and I are twins, born in the same hour from the same womb of destiny. We cannot be parted in life or in death; so long as we float, we shall float together." As much as I dislike it sometimes, I'm a tin can sailor, through and through.