Can't slow to crawl without sinking - help!

[Obersteuermann]

It's vital to keep a clear head when your boat's flooding. I very nearly lost U-93 in September 1943 when a lucky American destroyer dropped a depth charge that exploded right in front of my bows. All 4 for'ard tubes were destroyed and the boat started taking on water like a thirsty camel. Hull integrity 54%. I had to go to flank speed just to keep her from dropping below 150m while the damage control boys got the pumps running.

Had to blow ballast twice just to stop us from sinking into the depths. I was getting really nervous by the time we finally gained positive buoyancy again - we only had enough air in the lines for one more blow and the destroyers were getting really persistent.

Luckily we pumped all the water out before another tin can found us, and the boat was manageable after that. Have faith in your crew, and never give up!

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by Obersteuermann

It's vital to keep a clear head when your boat's flooding. I very nearly lost U-93 in September 1943 when a lucky American destroyer dropped a depth charge that exploded right in front of my bows. All 4 for'ard tubes were destroyed and the boat started taking on water like a thirsty camel. Hull integrity 54%. I had to go to flank speed just to keep her from dropping below 150m while the damage control boys got the pumps running.

Had to blow ballast twice just to stop us from sinking into the depths. I was getting really nervous by the time we finally gained positive buoyancy again - we only had enough air in the lines for one more blow and the destroyers were getting really persistent.

Luckily we pumped all the water out before another tin can found us, and the boat was manageable after that. Have faith in your crew, and never give up!

Wise words that I have failed to heed too often. When you get cracked like that, you worry about stealth later. They already know where you are, so might as well make a virtue of it.

[9emini]

That's an awesome story Obersteuermann. Crimson Tide's on tv right now - it's an ad break but the Alabama's <50' shy of hull crush depth! So here I am of course =)

[derrinurban]

Originally Posted by Obersteuermann

It's vital to keep a clear head when your boat's flooding. I very nearly lost U-93 in September 1943 when a lucky American destroyer dropped a depth charge that exploded right in front of my bows. All 4 for'ard tubes were destroyed and the boat started taking on water like a thirsty camel. Hull integrity 54%. I had to go to flank speed just to keep her from dropping below 150m while the damage control boys got the pumps running.

Had to blow ballast twice just to stop us from sinking into the depths. I was getting really nervous by the time we finally gained positive buoyancy again - we only had enough air in the lines for one more blow and the destroyers were getting really persistent.

Luckily we pumped all the water out before another tin can found us, and the boat was manageable after that. Have faith in your crew, and never give up!

I had a similar situation early on in my learning of this game, a destroyer got a couple of lucky hits on the bow. The front two compartments started taking on water heavily. The sub started dropping like a stone, I increased speed and my descent slowed, but did not stop. Even at flank speed, I could not maintain a constant depth or even ascend. Blowing ballast helped, but only temporarily. Soon I was once again on my way down. After several tries, I too was running low on compressed air and again plummeting to the depths. The repair crews were working frantically to try and get the flooding under control. I had just past 200 meters, was this the end.

I resigned myself to death and thought I would take one last look at my sub as she went down. Switching to external camera, I was stunned, dumbfounded, then cursing my stupidity. The flooding in the bow had caused the sub to become nose heavy. Looking from the side, the sub was nose down about 30+ degrees from horizontal. No amount of dive plane and speed is going to overcome that. I quickly realized I was literally driving my boat to the bottom, AT FLANK SPEED no less.

Quickly, back flank, there may be hope yet. Slowly, as I started to pick up speed in reverse, my depth started to decrease. Success. For the next four hours I dodged the destroyer and went ahead speed, driving to the bottom till I closed on 200m, slowing and reversing back up to 100m. I took a bit more damage but eventually got the flooding stopped and pumped out. Fortunately the destoyer had run out of depth charges by this time.

I survived to fight another day and learned a lesson I will never forget.

[Jimbuna]

Ah, the memories.

[Brag]

This is how the Balz story Missing got going.

Was on a Freetown patrol. A PBY Catalina dropped a cluster of bombs and caused severe damage and flooding. Damage control was unable to keep up.

Blew all the air and surfaced. The plane was gone. Flooding continued. I simulated abandon ship. Waited five minutes, long enough for the crew to come on deck and deploy rafts.

Teleported back to base. Thus still staying true to DID career
To know how Balz got back, you have to read the story.