(Story) U-104

[MantiBrutalis]

Radio message 0817/07, 7th March 1941, 08:17.

To BdU: Clear sky, sea very harsh. Sank SS Wear (2228 tons), CF8919. 2 seamen second class picked up, interrogated. 10 torpedoes remaining, unable to load externals due to weather. Sea condition does not allow further operation. 8 out of 10 torpedoes failed. Requesting new orders. - U-104 -




Radio message 0841/07, 7th March 1941, 08:41.

To U-104: Proceed to Canary Islands for refitting. Increase torpedo maintenance rate. Non-officer prisoners unimportant, permission to let them go when possible granted. Report after 24 hours. - BdU -

[MantiBrutalis]

Diary of Manfred Bollmann, 8th March 1941, 00:52, U-104 “Lucky Halibut”, 300km northwest of Madeira.

Yesterday we finally found a ship to sink and we did, although it cost us four more torpedoes. Damn useless torpedoes, failing so often this patrol. We had to take two British survivors on board, there was not a single working lifeboat for them. These two visitors and the fact that the sea decided to kill us is really sinking the crew’s morale.

The sea became our enemy. We spend most of the time underwater, since the waves slow us down, threaten to damage the boat or injure the watch. They also steer us away a lot, so we have to constantly adjust our course. Course to Canary Islands! It isn’t freezing now, but still, Canary Islands should be a warm paradise. We will probably stay there a few days to check everything on the boat, reload and store the extra provisions. Not that the quality of the resources matter with our cook, he makes horrible stuff. Also, we could dump our British friends there, although the captain hopes that we could place them on a lifeboat of the next ship we sink.

Anyway, back to reality. We are making less than 5 knots on average now. And we will really need to recharge our batteries soon, or we could be trapped in one place for a looong time. The sea can stay this way for a lot longer. We are surfacing for fresh air every couple of hours, but only for a brief moment. Recharging batteries could take a few hours. That is going to be unpleasant.



Note - Bollmann's diary acts like a recap lately, or as a tool to skip times when nothing's happening. Sometimes I feel it is a hindrance to tell the part of the story twice. Maybe I shouldn't continue with the diary. Maybe Bollmann should die... Just to justify the end of the diary. Any ideas/suggestions?

[MantiBrutalis]

Radio message 0113/08, 8th March 1941, 01:13.

To BdU: Convoy sighted, DH1394, 6 knots, course 20. 20+ ships, 4+ destroyers. Small and medium cargos, 2+ tankers. Sea harsh, but we can shadow. Standing by for orders. - U-107 -



Radio message 0119/08, 8th March 1941, 01:19.

To U-107: Shadow convoy, report every hour. Await reinforcements.
To U-83, U-104: Intercept large convoy, DH1394, 6 knots, course 20. Report position every two hours. Report upon contact with convoy. Permission to engage not granted. - BdU -
 




As experienced by captain Georg Braun, 8th March 1941, 01:21, U-104 “Lucky Halibut”, 300km northwest of Madeira.

Jürgen Kriegshammer scratched his bearded chin before looking again at the charts. For the last two minutes, he has been drawing lines, circles and triangles far more complex that what they taught us at the Academy. I’d like to say I understand his creations, but I can’t. Half the stuff there has no meaning for me. But now we are running out of time to ask unnecessary questions, we dived to 20 meters just to be able to draw this.

I begin to lose my patience: “So?”
“I don’t know,” he mutters, “we might be able to get there in time. The convoy is 200 kilometers west of –“ he pauses as our submerged boat’s cracking sounds reminds us of its fragility “– west of us. Eight hours to this intercept.”
“Why can’t we make for this closer intercept?” I point at a different line on the paper.
“We’re not fast enough. We have to head a bit more ahead of them if we plan to make it. Even then, we have to do at least 8 knots on average,” Jürgen rests his head against the wall.
“Another IXB type shadows the convoy, which means they can do more than 6 knots. The Lucky Halibut isn’t just some IXB, it is the best one. It will not be beaten by another.”

Jürgen raises his eyebrows. To this point I have never accepted the name of this boat. After a brief pause, he nods: “Hard to starboard. Prepare to surface the boat. Ahead flank. We have a sea to tame and a meeting to catch.”

[MantiBrutalis]

As experienced by doctor Fritz Matuszak, 8th March 1941, 05:03, U-104 “Lucky Halibut”, closing on convoy SL-67.

This wound doesn’t look good, I think to myself.
The owner of this bloodied and torn arm, the chief engineer Peter Zeisller, nervously asks: “Come on, patch me up already. I need to check the port engine’s oil now!”
I avert my eyes from his arm to look at him: “Do you want your arm or not? I can let you go, you can lose your arm.”
“Whatever, just do it fast. The engines don’t operate themselves, not when strained this much.”
“If you don’t hold still for a moment, there won’t be a chief engineer to do it.”
“Yeah, sorry. But the sea calmed a bit, we can still make it in time.”
“Right… Sure…”

Lucky Halibut cuts through the harsh sea, battling it, metal moaning with stress. I can’t stitch in these conditions, bandages have to do it for now. At least he won’t bleed to death. I start working as soon as the boat rams through the next wave. Nothing is falling off the walls in the entire boat anymore. What did fall off was fastened where it ended up. This entire boat was a mess now, but it is still bravely fighting the sea in this mad race to battle.

“Done?”
“For now. Take it easy, you could still easily lose it.”
“Thanks, doc,” he trails away through the boat.

Lot of injuries in these conditions, mainly the watchboys. Nothing too serious yet, but that might come sooner than I’d like.
“Next!”

[MantiBrutalis]

Radio message 0748/08, 8th March 1941, 07:48.

To BdU: Convoy report, CF8891, 4 knots, course 20. 30+ ships. - U-107 -



Radio message 0756/08, 8th March 1941, 07:56.

To BdU: Developed engine problems due to sea conditions. Unable to intercept convoy. Port engine not operational. – U-83 –



Radio message 0803/08, 8th March 1941, 08:03.

To U-83, U-104, U-107: Escort reinforcements reported from north. ETA 10 hours.
To U-83: Abort pursuit. Safely proceed to CF8891, permission to engage ships breaking off the convoy granted. Leave the area before 14:00.
To U-107: Attack immediately. Leave the area before 16:00.
To U-104: Attack immediately upon arrival. Leave the area before 16:00. - BdU -

[MantiBrutalis]

As experienced by captain Georg Braun, 8th March 1941, 10:17, U-104 “Lucky Halibut”, engaging convoy SC-67.

This waiting will kill me. I am looking through the periscope for an hour and half already! And I can’t see bloody nothing over these high waves. Max stopped trying to count the ships; he says there is just a giant wall of noise on our entire left side. But the periscope is under the water half the time, and I don’t want to raise the boat more, the tower could emerge between the waves. The visibility is perfect, the enemy could spot us so easily. We’re taking 10 minute shifts with Jürgen at the periscope. It’s his turn now.

Just as I prepare to relax for a while and let Jürgen take the periscope, a broadside of a destroyer emerges above the waves.
I immediately report my sightings to Jürgen: “Destroyer, V class, dead ahead. 1000 meters. AOB 90, going slow.”
“That means the convoy is right on top of us. Anything else?”
I turn the periscope to our left side to check: “I think I can see smoke.”
Jürgen chuckles: “Let’s start hunting.”

[Jimbuna]

Patience is a virtue