(Story) U-46 puts to sea again

[The_Pharoah]

dude I don't know who you are but you're a DAMN good author. Maybe you should consider writing something like this for real. I'm not kidding. Just from reading the stuff you wrote (and I read a lot of books as most people do I'm sure), I actually got the usual mental pic - pretty good.

[Laughing Swordfish]

Being a bit of a newbie to forums, I didn't get around to filling in my profile properly, but I do enjoy this forum, and I'm grateful for all the kind remarks about U-46. Glad you enjoy the postings


For the record I'm:
Raoul de Bunsen
Wimbledon
London
raoul@debunsen.wanadoo.co.uk

Once she's fixed she will be "pushed out to sea again" (!)

And I hope I can bring her back in one piece to tell the tale

Have to go now, my chief stoker has just been arrested in a brothel again...........I think they have a special cell reserved for U-46 when we come back in from patrol. God help us if we move to France!

Kind regards, Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[SmokinTep]

Good report.

[Laughing Swordfish]

The coxswain reports all men reported back from shore leave. The men are all sporting a tin laughing swordfish badge on their regulation caps. All are smiling and ready to go again. Marvellous what a hot bath, a cold beer or two, and the company of a 'friendly' girl will do

The last was Kurt, running back breathlessly to the dock with a very heavy kit bag

"How was Damage Control School, Kurt?"

"Good, Sir. But they seem to be missing some specialist tools, that aren't issued here in Kiel."

Despite his best efforts, his kit bag clanked suspiciously as he lowered it down

After our last prang, the Number One and the Harbour watch have performed miracles. Otto, the Chief, has been over everything twice with a fine toothed comb. Even he smiled once, and that's good enough for me

I opened our new patrol orders this morning. No transfer to France, but in a way we're going there all the same

BF12. That means the Bay of Biscay

Only Otto knows. He likes to conserve fuel on the way out. And I like to have some left for some hard running when we get there

Now Ernst is gone, our new flak gunner is going to have to be on his toes. I've ordered extra drills on the 20mm as soon as we are in open sea. Otherwise he'll be learning on the job

Bernhardt from U-217 has just come back from the same area. He looked tired, red-eyed and was drinking schnapps too fast last night

"Look to the skies" was all he mumbled

It was Heidi who passed me my orders this morning, not that other battle-axe. She smiled at me. Does she do that to all the Commanders, or is there any hope?

A succession of orders and the diesels kick in. The band starts up, and we dutifully stand to attention. Hard to tell whether she's standing on the dock. I'm told that she doesn't like to see the boats go off, only when they return; but I thought I caught a glimpse of blonde hair right at the end of the quay

Now I have other pre-occupations. U-46 and 51 men are going back in

I wish I had her picture, though.......

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Nopileo]

Great reading! I agree with the other poster, I got dragged into the story. I wish I had the rest of the book!

Plaese keep us posted.

[Laughing Swordfish]

U-46 chugs endlessly across the North Sea

Nothing to see in any direction. I suppose that will soon change

We are lounging in the wardroom, half listening to routine conversation from the Control Room, when the coxswain appears with young Muller, the most junior of the ratings. He is grinning like a Cheshire cat, and the twinkle in his eye makes even Otto put his engineering manual down

This should be good

"Beg to report, Herr Kaleun, a serious breach of naval discipline!"

"What on earth can it be?" I keep my side of it up with something like a straight face

"This miserable specimen has gone 17 years without shaving. Only today I have detected this bum fluff on his chin." (Conveniently forgetting the two days of stubble on his or our own sea-reddened faces)

"Hmmm"

There are indeed a a few tiny wisps of hair breaking through

"Get the medic here, I'd better hear his judgement"

The poor boy is twisting his cap nervously in his hands

"I'm sorry, Sir, I didn't mean, .... it's just that...."

"Quiet boy!" joins in Otto with mock solemnity. "Let's have the Doc take a look at you. Where would we be if this sort of thing was allowed to go on!"

Oscar comes in and studies the offending chin, scratching his head owlishly.

"Definitely a case of failing to shave on active duty. It's the Barber's Chair for you , my lad!"

Muller is gleefully sat down on a crate of cabbages by two burly seamen who are in on it.

Oscar, who's brother is in the paratroopers and has loads of little souvenirs as a result, brandishes an old belgian bayonet, and makes a great show of sharpening it

"Cover his eyes!"

While the terrified Muller is blindfolded, and soap and water applied none too gently to his face, Oscar swaps the bayonet for his own razor (one of the few on board who bother to bring one - but he's the medic)

A couple of deft strokes. The razor disappears and the bayonet is back in his hand before the lads whip the blindfold off

"Here Lad, keep this. You're a proper seaman now, but no more shaving until we're home"

Muller's young face is now beaming with pride. We can hear the laughter and back-slapping in the fore-ends for quite a while

The First Lieutenant, not much older himself, rolls his eyes.

"We'd better find a ship soon, before we all go crazy....."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[WWII44]

youve inspiered me to put to sea again in the U-124

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Is U-46 lost at sea?

Rollie? Are you there, matey?

Here's hoping all is well with you.

[Laughing Swordfish]

(Out of story) All well and good chaps and Kpt L!

Just way busy here in England.

November ceremonials (Armistice Day and Poppy Day) is a big deal in London and elsewhere in the UK, so have been rehearsing and marching on to several parades. Today the Mayor of London invited our detachment into the Mansion House for curry and champagne.

Shaking the tin in uniform outside Holborn tube raised 17 grand alone, and in the tally we came fourth behind more obvious spots like Piccadilly and the big train stations and tourist spots etc.

I had Germans giving too, (but then it is supposed to remember all of the fallen) little old ladies rummaging in their purse, and business men who slipped in a £50 note without a blink.

Our people may not like much of what is going around them, but I'm pleased to say they still cherish their servicemen and women. And as a nation which has rarely known peace throughout our history, home or abroad, our armed forces are part of the family.

Anyway U-46 is fine for now, next episode follows.

LS

[Laughing Swordfish]

I couldn't resist it.

"Have a look boys, do you want to see your boss getting a soaking?"

The watch gather round.

It's not often Willi gets to do his lucky ritual, I don't normally let him for one thing, which is why he painted the Laughing Swordfish in the control room by the ladder. But he has to touch his and our lucky mascot when we're in the thick of things.

Anyway, today I see a bit of a sea swell coming, and I have Otto turning into it. Crazy I know, playing a practical joke in the middle of a torpedo attack, and also distracting the watch, but ask any seaman, soldier or airman; it happens.

But the wave was much bigger and growing. It was going to swamp the boat.

Willi, having paid his homage to the Laughing Swordfish looked up to the Bridge, grinned and waved.

"Willi! Get up here now! Willi! Look out!"

Only then, as he started up the ladder, did his smiling face turn to see the freak wave about to descend on the boat.

When the sheer weight of water hit the side of the boat, it knocked all five of us on the bridge to the deck.

One of the watch, Venn I think, managed to haul me spluttering to my feet.

"Willi!....Willi!!....Willi!!!"

"Bridge to Control, all stop!"

"Willi!"

We peered anxiously over the side........

LS

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Laughing Swordfish

(Out of story) All well and good chaps and Kpt L!

Just way busy here in England.

November ceremonials (Armistice Day and Poppy Day) is a big deal in London and elsewhere in the UK, so have been rehearsing and marching on to several parades. Today the Mayor of London invited our detachment into the Mansion House for curry and champagne.

Shaking the tin in uniform outside Holborn tube raised 17 grand alone, and in the tally we came fourth behind more obvious spots like Piccadilly and the big train stations and tourist spots etc.

I had Germans giving too, (but then it is supposed to remember all of the fallen) little old ladies rummaging in their purse, and business men who slipped in a £50 note without a blink.

Our people may not like much of what is going around them, but I'm pleased to say they still cherish their servicemen and women. And as a nation which has rarely known peace throughout our history, home or abroad, our armed forces are part of the family.

Anyway U-46 is fine for now, next episode follows.

LS

Very pleased to learn of it and welcome back

what an engaging read!

I hope you're compiling all of these, I'd like to have a copy.

[Laughing Swordfish]

We're up near Hartlepool when we we first come to action stations

Everybody jumps to it again.

It's a another bloody trawler. The sea is too rough again to engage with the guns. I make the decision that there are bigger fish to fry, with our 14 precious torpedoes.

We actually wave to them as we sail past. In the darkness, I think they must have thought we were Brits...

It's been a couple of days since Muller's first shave. I happen to be on the bridge when he calls out

"Aircraft, two, fore and starboard bearing 20 , Sir!"

The Watch Officer is instinctivley reaching for the crash button before I stop him

"Have a another look, Christian. It's a minor miracle you rarely see. The Luftwaffe have come out to play"

Sure enough it's a couple of Condors, at high altitude.

This is enough excitement to bring the Chief out of the depths of his engine room. I hand him some spare binos, which he blinks into

"That's the life up there" he murmured

"I wish we could see what they can see" I replied

"Or at least hear from them once in a while, we could get a lot more done"

We've heard there's a big aerial punch-up going on over Southern England and London, which seems to be absorbing all Goering's attention, and not going too well by the sound of it.

But a few spare recce planes would make all the difference. A U-boat's low silhouette helps keep it alive, but it's hard to see anything from down here.

"Good eyes, Junge!" I clap Muller on the back. "Keep them peeled!"

The Condors are already out of sight as I go below.

Around the Northern tip of Scotland we get our first proper contact. Everyone shakes out, cursing, from their bunks or hammocks.

Even this is a coastal steamer

The sea is still running high but we manage to put a text-book shot into her, and turn away on standard

"She's still making way, Sir"

I look again to see the fire being fought, and although she is pitching and rolling badly, the little freighter is still making a gallant fight of staying on course.

"You know what we have to do, Number One"

We come around again and the job is finished. Nobody feels terribly heroic on the bridge. In this weather it's hard to imagine many survivors

"Do you think the British will give us a second chance if the time comes for us, Men?" I shout against the wind.

"When they're plastering us with everything at 50m, should we apologise and ask to go home?"

The younger hands studied thir sectors with a new intensity

Coming down the west coast of Ireland. We were bounced by a lone destroyer.

First we knew about it was the shell fire. One of which bashed in our port bow casing and sprung a valve.

The First Lieutenant was most righteous in his indignation, as we scampered below, to the trilling of the alarm bell

"I've just had that fixed!"

He fell down the ladder on top of the crew rushing forward to help push the boat down.

There was some very un-officer-like language.

If I'd sounded harsh with the second watch, this was a salutory lesson.

"Deeper, Chief. Give me 100 metres. Hard a-starboard to course 80, then bring her level at slow speed. I want accurate damage reports!"

I could already see Kurt going forward with his newly acquired bag of tricks

Everyone looked accusingly at the Second Watch Officer still in his wet oilskins and badly shaken

"Right out of a fog bank, Sir. On us before we knew it. Almost as if they knew we were there!"

We're looking at the depth gauge and willing the needle around.

There is the distant crump of detonations.

"Hah! Rubbish!" cries the Quartermaster. It's his job to check the depth charges off. But he's doing this more for the effect on the lads.

"Miles away!"

He knows that the destroyer's surface speed relative to our submerged little amble, gives him plenty of time for another run, if he can find us

All stations are reporting in. All good aft. It must be hard in the engine and battery rooms, they never have much of a clue as to what's going on

Kurt emerges from the fore-ends, soaking wet and still clutching a big spanner, with the CPO who is looking after him.

"Beg to report, Sir, we took a little dent but all leaks stopped" he grinned

Another succession of bangs, this time closer, rocks the boat, but nothing worse.

I turn to the Chief.

"Let's go quiet now, Otto. Can you you put us down a little deeper? Steer 170, that should show her our arse......"

The next day the destroyer has gone.

......"Surface stations!"


Now a new development

Radio Message from BdU

We are to curtail our patrol and put in to St Nazaire after all. All boats from 7th Flotilla to arrive as current operations allow. U-46 will be one of the first.

"You don't seem pleased with the news?" remarks Otto in the Wardroom

I shrug, and quietly think of Heidi back in Kiel

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Dowly]

This is like reading a book!! Keep it up!!

[stratege]

you definitly a king.

i love reading what you are doing.

This IS AMAZING, DRILLING, EXCITING ....

a real break throught ..........


I am definitly becoming a U-46 addict !!!


If i go to london soon, i will definitly PM you inorder to pay you a pint of beer !!!