(Story) U-46 puts to sea again

Laughing Swordfish · 12-21-12, 05:43 AM

"Damn it!" Bruno mutters, stopwatch in one hand, binos in the other.
"They're zigging."
Sure enough the convoy has turned sharply to starboard on a south easterly course.
Was that planned? Or have they got the wind up? Either way, our chances of a hit, at least on the intended targets, have been reduced.
In the next few moments we'll know.
It takes time for a merchantman to turn, especially the big ones , so they are still presenting some sort of a side to us even at an angle that may cause only a glancing blow. We've had failures before which could have been an outright miss, or a dud, or that the eel just skimmed off the hull at such an acute angle.
An orange flash lights up the sky, flickeringly illuminating the grin on Bruno's face, and before the sound of the explosion reaches us, there is another. Proper fireworks this time, a shower of sparks and hundreds of small lights shooting up into the night sky, as if she was firing off a load of flares. May well have been. I reckon Bruno managed to hit some ammunition consignment in her cargo.
Cheers on the bridge are quickly qwelled by Christian. "Look to your sectors Jungen! we could have that destroyer and his mates up our arse any moment now!"
And indeed the destroyer is still closing, searchlights now snapped on and playing across the waves. Has he seen us? He must know the attack came from this side. He's still a way off, so as usual we have to keep our nerve and get away on the surface as much as possible. To dive too early is a nervous commander's mistake, and leaves his boat too close to the convoy and vulnerably slow underwater, when the trick is to get some distance away, reload and then come back in.
I give a change of course to see if the destroyer responds.
"Hey, Christian," I clap my tired Number One on the shoulder. "Get below and grab some sleep. We'll probably need you again before the night's out!"

LS

Laughing Swordfish · 12-21-12, 05:49 AM

A very Merry Christmas or Seasons Greetings, and a Great New Year to all with Sub Sim!

LS
Raoul de Bunsen

Jimbuna · 12-21-12, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laughing Swordfish

A very Merry Christmas or Seasons Greetings, and a Great New Year to all with Sub Sim!

LS
Raoul de Bunsen

Thanks for all the fish Raoul and have a great festive season

Sailor Steve · 12-21-12, 10:22 AM

Thanks for the new entry. The only problem now is that I can feel the tension too. Has that destroyer seen us...I mean you? Have a good Christmas, but don't leave us hanging too long!

Laughing Swordfish · 12-22-12, 06:49 AM

There's a muffled rumble across the sea of another hit. We can't make out the stricken ship by now. I reckon it was one of ours, and Bruno will definitely claim it, but part of me is hoping its from another U-boat joining the game and taking some of the pressure off.

It's one of the new boys on Second Watch, who makes the vital spot.

"They're manning the forward gun Herr Kaleun!"

I raise my binos

"Good eyes, Sylvester. Looks like they've got a sharp lookout too. Well menschen, looks like the game's up. No cigarette break tonight on this watch! Get yourself downstairs and go to battle stations, we'll flick that pesky flea off in no time."

Looking cool and confident is a big part of it, however much I hate and dread those destroyers.

Just me and Bruno on the bridge now and the die is cast. We change course again, and the destroyer, a Clemson, I can now see, is picking up speed, and following us.

There's a puff of smoke from the destroyer's foredeck and a shell splash a good way short and behind us.

"Ok that's enough Bruno, after you"

"Alarm!!"

LS

Laughing Swordfish · 12-22-12, 07:01 AM

Thanks Sailor Steve.

In that sense, we're all in the boat together.

All the best, LS

Laughing Swordfish · 12-31-12, 04:32 PM

The boat is dipping sharply even as Bruno and I clatter down the ladder, as if she already knew what we were thinking.

Of course it helps having Otto directing the helm down here telling her what we are thinking.

What are we thinking?

Well we made a show of a hard starboard turn (becuse that's actually where we wanted to go, and what he was chasing, but in the long game we must ease ourselves out and away, showing the least underwater profile, until he makes his first run.

"Port thirty, steady at fifty metres Chief!".

He grinned as if he was reading my mind, and repeated the orders as quietly as is possible for him, usually half deaf from the engine room, and the red needle, and compass on the bulkhead has us gracefully turning and dropping down.

Those of us who have been on this boat from the beginning, know that the graceful part of things can quickly disappear after the first couple of depth charges, of course.

But for now, although the distant but distinct sound of the destroyer, can be heard discernibly louder.

LS

(Happy New Year, RdB!)

12-21-12, 10:22 AM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Thanks for the new entry. The only problem now is that I can feel the tension too. Has that destroyer seen us...I mean you? Have a good Christmas, but don't leave us hanging too long! __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

12-21-12, 05:43 AM	#1
Laughing Swordfish Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 713 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	"Damn it!" Bruno mutters, stopwatch in one hand, binos in the other. "They're zigging." Sure enough the convoy has turned sharply to starboard on a south easterly course. Was that planned? Or have they got the wind up? Either way, our chances of a hit, at least on the intended targets, have been reduced. In the next few moments we'll know. It takes time for a merchantman to turn, especially the big ones , so they are still presenting some sort of a side to us even at an angle that may cause only a glancing blow. We've had failures before which could have been an outright miss, or a dud, or that the eel just skimmed off the hull at such an acute angle. An orange flash lights up the sky, flickeringly illuminating the grin on Bruno's face, and before the sound of the explosion reaches us, there is another. Proper fireworks this time, a shower of sparks and hundreds of small lights shooting up into the night sky, as if she was firing off a load of flares. May well have been. I reckon Bruno managed to hit some ammunition consignment in her cargo. Cheers on the bridge are quickly qwelled by Christian. "Look to your sectors Jungen! we could have that destroyer and his mates up our arse any moment now!" And indeed the destroyer is still closing, searchlights now snapped on and playing across the waves. Has he seen us? He must know the attack came from this side. He's still a way off, so as usual we have to keep our nerve and get away on the surface as much as possible. To dive too early is a nervous commander's mistake, and leaves his boat too close to the convoy and vulnerably slow underwater, when the trick is to get some distance away, reload and then come back in. I give a change of course to see if the destroyer responds. "Hey, Christian," I clap my tired Number One on the shoulder. "Get below and grab some sleep. We'll probably need you again before the night's out!" LS

12-21-12, 05:49 AM	#2
Laughing Swordfish Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 713 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	A very Merry Christmas or Seasons Greetings, and a Great New Year to all with Sub Sim! LS Raoul de Bunsen

12-22-12, 06:49 AM	#5
Laughing Swordfish Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 713 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	There's a muffled rumble across the sea of another hit. We can't make out the stricken ship by now. I reckon it was one of ours, and Bruno will definitely claim it, but part of me is hoping its from another U-boat joining the game and taking some of the pressure off. It's one of the new boys on Second Watch, who makes the vital spot. "They're manning the forward gun Herr Kaleun!" I raise my binos "Good eyes, Sylvester. Looks like they've got a sharp lookout too. Well menschen, looks like the game's up. No cigarette break tonight on this watch! Get yourself downstairs and go to battle stations, we'll flick that pesky flea off in no time." Looking cool and confident is a big part of it, however much I hate and dread those destroyers. Just me and Bruno on the bridge now and the die is cast. We change course again, and the destroyer, a Clemson, I can now see, is picking up speed, and following us. There's a puff of smoke from the destroyer's foredeck and a shell splash a good way short and behind us. "Ok that's enough Bruno, after you" "Alarm!!" LS

12-22-12, 07:01 AM	#6
Laughing Swordfish Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 713 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Thanks Sailor Steve. In that sense, we're all in the boat together. All the best, LS

12-31-12, 04:32 PM	#7
Laughing Swordfish Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 713 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	The boat is dipping sharply even as Bruno and I clatter down the ladder, as if she already knew what we were thinking. Of course it helps having Otto directing the helm down here telling her what we are thinking. What are we thinking? Well we made a show of a hard starboard turn (becuse that's actually where we wanted to go, and what he was chasing, but in the long game we must ease ourselves out and away, showing the least underwater profile, until he makes his first run. "Port thirty, steady at fifty metres Chief!". He grinned as if he was reading my mind, and repeated the orders as quietly as is possible for him, usually half deaf from the engine room, and the red needle, and compass on the bulkhead has us gracefully turning and dropping down. Those of us who have been on this boat from the beginning, know that the graceful part of things can quickly disappear after the first couple of depth charges, of course. But for now, although the distant but distinct sound of the destroyer, can be heard discernibly louder. LS (Happy New Year, RdB!)