The Magnificent Mishaps of U-1337

Weiss Pinguin · 01-22-09, 01:17 PM

30 minutes later...

"Range to target is 1850 meters, Herr Kaleun. Course and speed are steady." We had been tracking our contact for 15 minutes, since identifying it as a merchant, and were now almost in position to fire. From over 1500 meters. At 40 meters. This is madness, I thought to myself.

The sonarman continued pinging the target. "Range is now 1600 meters." We were closing at 6 knots, which would have made enough racket to bother a deaf man. The Type XXI, on the other hand, slid neatly and silently through the dark water, thanks to her streamlined hull.

Meanwhile, the tracking crew was busy updating the solution for a pair of acoustic torpedoes. "We must close to at least 1000 meters to ensure they acquire the target," Prietschner said reminded everyone and no one. "Set boths tubes to run at one meter. Any lower and they might bounce off the hull."

Several minutes later we were finally ready. Wagner popped his head into the radioroom. "Range to target?"

"1100 meters, sir." The sonarman sent one final ping to confirm his estimate.

"Close enough," the captain mused. "Flood tubes one and two... Feuer, einz! Feuer, zwei!"

One minute and sixteen seconds later, we heard first one, then the other torpedo impact. After continuing on for several more seconds, Reckhoff, back on the hydrophones, reported that our target was sinking.

Once we were clear of the attack area and the excitement and worn off, I took the time to record both attacks in the ship's log. As I began on the first entry I wondered how large the ships we had sunk were. So far we had detected and sunk three ships, and we hadn't even rounded the northern tip of Great Britain. Hopefully we would have enough torpedoes to stir up some trouble when we arrived at our assigned grid...

Several hours later, while we celebrated a clean escape, our sonarman suddenly yelled out a warning: "Warship! Bearing 230, long range but closing fast!"

To be continued...

Weiss Pinguin · 01-22-09, 05:42 PM

September 28th, 1939
Grid AN13

"... And fire! Tube five, tube six!" The tension in the control room was as thick as the smell of limburger cheese as Captain Wagner gave the final order of another tense approach.

Within 2 minutes another pair of torpedoes found their target, and another merchant met an exciting end.

By now the business of stalking and sinking enemy vessels was starting to become as routine as brushing ones teeth. Still, that was not to say there wasn't any excitement to be had...

12 hours earlier...

We all huddled quietly in the radioroom, staring intently at the sonarman as he concentrated on the hydrophone dial. He had been tracking the approaching contact, which had been identified as a warship shortly after detection, for almost half an hour now, and it continued to motor along quickly in our direction.
We feared the worst: A destroyer, sent to investigate the area. Or maybe it had already been in the neighborhood, undetected, and it had heard one or both of our attacks.

As we pondered this, U-1337 continued to creep northwest at 2 knots, just barely enough to maintain depth, while the crewmen silently went about their business. There was to be no cooking, talking, or using the toilet, which began to weigh heavily on my mind at an alarming rate. Never again would I consume three cups of tea inside of an hour.

The minutes passed slowly as the ship neared. We hoped the foul weather would interfere with any hydrophones or sonar devices they might carry, while we sat quietly at 50 meters below the surface and listened through ours.

"She's right on top of us!" The sonarman quietly shouted. The vessel overhead might hear if he spoke too loudly, after all.

"Mein gott," Wagner reprimanded, "Contain yourself, man!"

By now the anxiety had spread throughout the rest of the crew, and everybody stood frozen in place as they stared upwards, as though they could see the enemy pass overhead.

The sonarman continued listening. "Heading is constant... No change in speed..."

Wagner popped his head into the control room. "Slowly increase speed to 4 knots, come left to course two-seven-zero." He returned to his spot in the radioshack as the helmsmen went to work.

We slowly began to breath again as the contact continued on its way, apparently oblivious to the drama unfolding below.

After another hour or so, once the contact had passed beyond the hydrophone's range, we resumed our cruise, and I was free to finally empty my ballast tank.

Sailor Steve · 01-22-09, 07:21 PM

Very good start! Type XXI or no, it's a fun read so far.

Weiss Pinguin · 01-22-09, 07:49 PM

Edit: Thank you much

September 29th, 1939
Grid AN13

As I peered through the periscope at the good-sized freighter, it occured to me that this was the first time we would actually be able to see our target. I began calling information to the tracking crew, who adjusted the solution for one of our few remaining homing torpedoes.

Several minutes later we listened to the woosh of the ejecting torpedo, and Manfred Reckhoff on the hydrophones tracked our eel's progress. We were close enough to the enemy merchant that we could faintly hear the explosion as our torpedo impacted.

"Contact is still going, sir," Reckhoff called out. "She's reducing speed some..."

"Down periscope," Wagner ordered, "Come right to zero-zero-zero, increase speed to six knots. Set tube two to run straight at one meter, contact pistol." After several minutes of tooling along to the north, he ordered another course change, this time to the southwest.

"Reduce speed to 2 knots, up periscope." This time he took the scope, grabbing it just after it broke the water's surface. "Flood tube two... Feuer, zwei!"

Once more Reckhoff monited the torpedo's run. "Torpedo detonation!"

Wagner nodded confidently as he lowered the periscope. "Excellent work, men. Helmsman, come to course one-six-five, depth fifty meters. Increase speed to five knots."

This time I was finally able to record more than a simple 'Ship sunk' in the ship's log. I ran through the details in my head as I wrote: Granville-type freighter, estimate approx. 4000 tons, sunk September 29, 1939...

From there we decided to turn for home, as our torpedo stores were low, and our imposing 20mm kanonen were useless against anything bigger than a fishing vessel. The return trip was uneventful, and after having run submerged for an entire week, we finally surfaced on October 1st, several kilometers from Heligoland. The crew was more than happy to see the outside world again, and as we motored into Wilhelmshaven at a brisk 4 knots, they were all lined up on the deck, which was quite impressive, as there was little room to stand.

Later that evening a grand celebration at the nearest pub ended with a glorious barfight and rousing performance by a choir in town. I could have sworn the fellow leading them was wearing a tea cozy on his head, but I might've just been that tipsy.

Weiss Pinguin · 01-24-09, 03:42 PM

October 5th, 1939
Southeast corner of Grid AN59

"Depth under keel?" Kapitänleutnant Wagner asked the navigator.

Pietschner worked the Atlas-Echolot sounding device before answering. "Depth under keel is... Twenty-seven meters, Herr Kaleun."

"Very well. Prepare to dive," Kapitänleutnant Wagner ordered tersely. The crewmen responded to his stream of orders quickly and efficiently as he surveyed the control room, stopwatch in hand.

As we descended to 20 meters several minutes later, he clucked his tongue. "Too slow, mein schatz," he confided quietly to me. "We shall have to drill them harder..." He continued to mutter under his breath as we strode to the radioroom.

"Anything?" Reckhoff shook his head negatively at my question while he continued to manipulate the hydrophone controls.

Suddenly: "Aha! I have it!" His voice dripped with triumph.

"What is it! A freighter? No, a large warship, the Hood perhaps!" The captain and I crowded close with anticipation.

"I have finally remembered the name of the lady I entertained last night." He directed an evil grin in our direction as we stormed back into the control room.

"Everything looks good, Herr Kaleun," Eduard Jonetat reported. "Engines are running normally, no leaks indicated. It will be several minutes before I can get the tanks properly trimmed, though."

Wagner nodded smartly to the chief engineer. "Very well. If that is all, then I will be in my room for the next three hours. Winkelman," he said to me, "You have the watch. Put on some music, if you please." As I went back into the control room, making sure to give Reckhoff my angriest glare, I reflected on the last week.

We had spent a grand total of 3 days on shore, unless you counted yesterday, which was mostly spent in our cramped, soundproofed home, preparing for another patrol. Reports of increased activity in the Irish sea had cut short our small vacation, and now we were back in the familiar waters off the British coast. Such is life.

DanFraser · 01-24-09, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weiß Pinguin

Edit: Thank you much

Later that evening a grand celebration at the nearest pub ended with a glorious barfight and rousing performance by a choir in town. I could have sworn the fellow leading them was wearing a tea cozy on his head, but I might've just been that tipsy.

Love that little nod!

Weiss Pinguin · 01-25-09, 10:38 PM

From the personal log of Lt. z S Willi Winkelman...

October 14th:
Last patrol was a washout. BdU guesstimates less than 15000 GRT scored. Homing torpedoes need better acoustic sensors - Half our shots either lost contact shortly after acquisition or failed to acquire altogether. Firing pistol on T II electric is also abysmal. Word is that the Kriegsmarine is supposedly developing new equipment for them, but people will say anything these days.

Radio crew still need more practice with new hydrophone equipment. Even after half-dozen patrols they still have trouble identifying vessel types. (Not that I have much right to speak; The propeller noises all sound the same to me)
At least sonar set works. Several pings needed to pin down range, but so far all distance readings have been accurate enough. Hopefully crewmen will have enough experience with identification before things start heating up.

In any case, we are safely back in port, although crew is disgruntled. Didn't even round the northern tip of Great Britain before we expended our eels.
On the bright side, KptLt. Wagner and U-1337 are currently at the top of the scoreboard with nearly 50000 GRT credited. Crew are all very proud.

Tonight the boys are all planning to head out to let off steam. Hope that choir is still in town.

si888 · 01-26-09, 03:25 PM

A Type XXI in 1939 that sounds like lots of fun !! How do you do that ???

Weiss Pinguin · 01-26-09, 04:50 PM

[BETA] Type XXI 1939

Still some bugs being ironed out, but that makes it feel all the more experimental.

Next episode soon to come... (Heads up for everyone listening in... All 4 or 5 of you :p)

01-22-09, 01:17 PM	#1
Weiss Pinguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Auburn, Alabama Posts: 3,333 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	30 minutes later... "Range to target is 1850 meters, Herr Kaleun. Course and speed are steady." We had been tracking our contact for 15 minutes, since identifying it as a merchant, and were now almost in position to fire. From over 1500 meters. At 40 meters. This is madness, I thought to myself. The sonarman continued pinging the target. "Range is now 1600 meters." We were closing at 6 knots, which would have made enough racket to bother a deaf man. The Type XXI, on the other hand, slid neatly and silently through the dark water, thanks to her streamlined hull. Meanwhile, the tracking crew was busy updating the solution for a pair of acoustic torpedoes. "We must close to at least 1000 meters to ensure they acquire the target," Prietschner said reminded everyone and no one. "Set boths tubes to run at one meter. Any lower and they might bounce off the hull." Several minutes later we were finally ready. Wagner popped his head into the radioroom. "Range to target?" "1100 meters, sir." The sonarman sent one final ping to confirm his estimate. "Close enough," the captain mused. "Flood tubes one and two... Feuer, einz! Feuer, zwei!" One minute and sixteen seconds later, we heard first one, then the other torpedo impact. After continuing on for several more seconds, Reckhoff, back on the hydrophones, reported that our target was sinking. Once we were clear of the attack area and the excitement and worn off, I took the time to record both attacks in the ship's log. As I began on the first entry I wondered how large the ships we had sunk were. So far we had detected and sunk three ships, and we hadn't even rounded the northern tip of Great Britain. Hopefully we would have enough torpedoes to stir up some trouble when we arrived at our assigned grid... Several hours later, while we celebrated a clean escape, our sonarman suddenly yelled out a warning: "Warship! Bearing 230, long range but closing fast!" To be continued... __________________

01-22-09, 05:42 PM	#2
Weiss Pinguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Auburn, Alabama Posts: 3,333 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	September 28th, 1939 Grid AN13 "... And fire! Tube five, tube six!" The tension in the control room was as thick as the smell of limburger cheese as Captain Wagner gave the final order of another tense approach. Within 2 minutes another pair of torpedoes found their target, and another merchant met an exciting end. By now the business of stalking and sinking enemy vessels was starting to become as routine as brushing ones teeth. Still, that was not to say there wasn't any excitement to be had... 12 hours earlier... We all huddled quietly in the radioroom, staring intently at the sonarman as he concentrated on the hydrophone dial. He had been tracking the approaching contact, which had been identified as a warship shortly after detection, for almost half an hour now, and it continued to motor along quickly in our direction. We feared the worst: A destroyer, sent to investigate the area. Or maybe it had already been in the neighborhood, undetected, and it had heard one or both of our attacks. As we pondered this, U-1337 continued to creep northwest at 2 knots, just barely enough to maintain depth, while the crewmen silently went about their business. There was to be no cooking, talking, or using the toilet, which began to weigh heavily on my mind at an alarming rate. Never again would I consume three cups of tea inside of an hour. The minutes passed slowly as the ship neared. We hoped the foul weather would interfere with any hydrophones or sonar devices they might carry, while we sat quietly at 50 meters below the surface and listened through ours. "She's right on top of us!" The sonarman quietly shouted. The vessel overhead might hear if he spoke too loudly, after all. "Mein gott," Wagner reprimanded, "Contain yourself, man!" By now the anxiety had spread throughout the rest of the crew, and everybody stood frozen in place as they stared upwards, as though they could see the enemy pass overhead. The sonarman continued listening. "Heading is constant... No change in speed..." Wagner popped his head into the control room. "Slowly increase speed to 4 knots, come left to course two-seven-zero." He returned to his spot in the radioshack as the helmsmen went to work. We slowly began to breath again as the contact continued on its way, apparently oblivious to the drama unfolding below. After another hour or so, once the contact had passed beyond the hydrophone's range, we resumed our cruise, and I was free to finally empty my ballast tank. __________________ Last edited by Weiss Pinguin; 01-22-09 at 07:36 PM. Reason: Date again lol

01-22-09, 07:21 PM	#3
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Very good start! Type XXI or no, it's a fun read so far. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

01-22-09, 07:49 PM	#4
Weiss Pinguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Auburn, Alabama Posts: 3,333 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	Edit: Thank you much September 29th, 1939 Grid AN13 As I peered through the periscope at the good-sized freighter, it occured to me that this was the first time we would actually be able to see our target. I began calling information to the tracking crew, who adjusted the solution for one of our few remaining homing torpedoes. Several minutes later we listened to the woosh of the ejecting torpedo, and Manfred Reckhoff on the hydrophones tracked our eel's progress. We were close enough to the enemy merchant that we could faintly hear the explosion as our torpedo impacted. "Contact is still going, sir," Reckhoff called out. "She's reducing speed some..." "Down periscope," Wagner ordered, "Come right to zero-zero-zero, increase speed to six knots. Set tube two to run straight at one meter, contact pistol." After several minutes of tooling along to the north, he ordered another course change, this time to the southwest. "Reduce speed to 2 knots, up periscope." This time he took the scope, grabbing it just after it broke the water's surface. "Flood tube two... Feuer, zwei!" Once more Reckhoff monited the torpedo's run. "Torpedo detonation!" Wagner nodded confidently as he lowered the periscope. "Excellent work, men. Helmsman, come to course one-six-five, depth fifty meters. Increase speed to five knots." This time I was finally able to record more than a simple 'Ship sunk' in the ship's log. I ran through the details in my head as I wrote: Granville-type freighter, estimate approx. 4000 tons, sunk September 29, 1939... From there we decided to turn for home, as our torpedo stores were low, and our imposing 20mm kanonen were useless against anything bigger than a fishing vessel. The return trip was uneventful, and after having run submerged for an entire week, we finally surfaced on October 1st, several kilometers from Heligoland. The crew was more than happy to see the outside world again, and as we motored into Wilhelmshaven at a brisk 4 knots, they were all lined up on the deck, which was quite impressive, as there was little room to stand. Later that evening a grand celebration at the nearest pub ended with a glorious barfight and rousing performance by a choir in town. I could have sworn the fellow leading them was wearing a tea cozy on his head, but I might've just been that tipsy. __________________ Last edited by Weiss Pinguin; 01-22-09 at 08:04 PM.

01-24-09, 03:42 PM	#5
Weiss Pinguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Auburn, Alabama Posts: 3,333 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	October 5th, 1939 Southeast corner of Grid AN59 "Depth under keel?" Kapitänleutnant Wagner asked the navigator. Pietschner worked the Atlas-Echolot sounding device before answering. "Depth under keel is... Twenty-seven meters, Herr Kaleun." "Very well. Prepare to dive," Kapitänleutnant Wagner ordered tersely. The crewmen responded to his stream of orders quickly and efficiently as he surveyed the control room, stopwatch in hand. As we descended to 20 meters several minutes later, he clucked his tongue. "Too slow, mein schatz," he confided quietly to me. "We shall have to drill them harder..." He continued to mutter under his breath as we strode to the radioroom. "Anything?" Reckhoff shook his head negatively at my question while he continued to manipulate the hydrophone controls. Suddenly: "Aha! I have it!" His voice dripped with triumph. "What is it! A freighter? No, a large warship, the Hood perhaps!" The captain and I crowded close with anticipation. "I have finally remembered the name of the lady I entertained last night." He directed an evil grin in our direction as we stormed back into the control room. "Everything looks good, Herr Kaleun," Eduard Jonetat reported. "Engines are running normally, no leaks indicated. It will be several minutes before I can get the tanks properly trimmed, though." Wagner nodded smartly to the chief engineer. "Very well. If that is all, then I will be in my room for the next three hours. Winkelman," he said to me, "You have the watch. Put on some music, if you please." As I went back into the control room, making sure to give Reckhoff my angriest glare, I reflected on the last week. We had spent a grand total of 3 days on shore, unless you counted yesterday, which was mostly spent in our cramped, soundproofed home, preparing for another patrol. Reports of increased activity in the Irish sea had cut short our small vacation, and now we were back in the familiar waters off the British coast. Such is life. __________________

01-25-09, 10:38 PM	#7
Weiss Pinguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Auburn, Alabama Posts: 3,333 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	From the personal log of Lt. z S Willi Winkelman... October 14th: Last patrol was a washout. BdU guesstimates less than 15000 GRT scored. Homing torpedoes need better acoustic sensors - Half our shots either lost contact shortly after acquisition or failed to acquire altogether. Firing pistol on T II electric is also abysmal. Word is that the Kriegsmarine is supposedly developing new equipment for them, but people will say anything these days. Radio crew still need more practice with new hydrophone equipment. Even after half-dozen patrols they still have trouble identifying vessel types. (Not that I have much right to speak; The propeller noises all sound the same to me) At least sonar set works. Several pings needed to pin down range, but so far all distance readings have been accurate enough. Hopefully crewmen will have enough experience with identification before things start heating up. In any case, we are safely back in port, although crew is disgruntled. Didn't even round the northern tip of Great Britain before we expended our eels. On the bright side, KptLt. Wagner and U-1337 are currently at the top of the scoreboard with nearly 50000 GRT credited. Crew are all very proud. Tonight the boys are all planning to head out to let off steam. Hope that choir is still in town. __________________

01-26-09, 03:25 PM	#8
si888 Swabbie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	A Type XXI in 1939 that sounds like lots of fun !! How do you do that ???

01-26-09, 04:50 PM	#9
Weiss Pinguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Auburn, Alabama Posts: 3,333 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	[BETA] Type XXI 1939 Still some bugs being ironed out, but that makes it feel all the more experimental. Next episode soon to come... (Heads up for everyone listening in... All 4 or 5 of you :p) __________________

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