Operation Berlin in GWX

KPII · 09-12-07, 01:20 PM

Just thought I would give a quick update on the next scenario I had a go at. It took two attempts before aquiring contact with the Bismarck task-force in "Operation Rheinubung", but boy was it worth it!

In the first attempt I was placed in the Denmark Strait at the right time, but they must have slipped past my search pattern. Took a wild dash towards the spot where the King George V task-force should be when they launched the Swordfish attack on Bismarck late on the 24th May, but no cigar.

Some time laterI received a MSG from BdU ordering all subs to quardrant BE53 to support the Bismarck - being a few thousand miles out I had no chance of arriving by the 27th, so I packed it in and reloaded the patrol.

This time around I tried to intercept the King George V task force and the Norfolk/Suffolk when leaving Scapa, but again the slipped past my ambush. Full speed ahead towards BE53 placed me on station early on the 26th May, a good 24 hours before the final show-down.

I started a search pattern in the area NE of "BE53", and when it dawned on the 27th without any contacts, I thought this would be another miss. Suddently I get a single warship contact to the SW and it turns out to be the Bismarck. We are now approx. 50 NM NE of "BE53", so I order ahead flank on a NE course in the hope that I'll intercept King George V in time. After a few Swordfish attacks I make contact with HMS Rodney and the King George steering 180 degrees at full steam in the direction of Bismarck. I'm so far out, that the best I can come up with is a spead of 4 at the Rodney from 3000 meters. I'm lucky to get one hit, which slows her down enough so I can finish her off, while the King George pounds the Bismarck back to the stone age.

During and right after the action we were continously being harrassed by Swordfish torpedo-bombers (12 of them made it to the patrol log) so it was quite intense and highly enjoyable.

An excellent scenario! I could really smell the cordit and the saltwater while trying to save the Bismarck.

09-12-07, 01:20 PM	#8
KPII Seaman Join Date: May 2007 Location: 45 degrees abeam with flooded tubes Posts: 35 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Operation Rheinubung Just thought I would give a quick update on the next scenario I had a go at. It took two attempts before aquiring contact with the Bismarck task-force in "Operation Rheinubung", but boy was it worth it! In the first attempt I was placed in the Denmark Strait at the right time, but they must have slipped past my search pattern. Took a wild dash towards the spot where the King George V task-force should be when they launched the Swordfish attack on Bismarck late on the 24th May, but no cigar. Some time laterI received a MSG from BdU ordering all subs to quardrant BE53 to support the Bismarck - being a few thousand miles out I had no chance of arriving by the 27th, so I packed it in and reloaded the patrol. This time around I tried to intercept the King George V task force and the Norfolk/Suffolk when leaving Scapa, but again the slipped past my ambush. Full speed ahead towards BE53 placed me on station early on the 26th May, a good 24 hours before the final show-down. I started a search pattern in the area NE of "BE53", and when it dawned on the 27th without any contacts, I thought this would be another miss. Suddently I get a single warship contact to the SW and it turns out to be the Bismarck. We are now approx. 50 NM NE of "BE53", so I order ahead flank on a NE course in the hope that I'll intercept King George V in time. After a few Swordfish attacks I make contact with HMS Rodney and the King George steering 180 degrees at full steam in the direction of Bismarck. I'm so far out, that the best I can come up with is a spead of 4 at the Rodney from 3000 meters. I'm lucky to get one hit, which slows her down enough so I can finish her off, while the King George pounds the Bismarck back to the stone age. During and right after the action we were continously being harrassed by Swordfish torpedo-bombers (12 of them made it to the patrol log) so it was quite intense and highly enjoyable. An excellent scenario! I could really smell the cordit and the saltwater while trying to save the Bismarck. __________________ ObLt. z. S. Edmund Hegner U-850 (Type IXD2) 12. U-Flotille, Bordeaux