Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden (Long!)

[Enchanter]

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden – 1 Sep ’39 – 15 Sep ‘39

I have been given command of my first boat! After completing the Submarine Commander course in February, I have been waiting for my command. I was given my orders two weeks ago to prepare to take command of U-49.
A brand new VIIB! I can hardly believe my luck. I was expecting a well used Type II. My friend Jansen was put in one of those after he was caught ‘flirting’ (that’s the word he used) with the Commandants daughter. I suppose it was worth it. She is rather charming.

On my way back from BDu headquarters this morning, I chanced to walk past the barracks hospital. I was re-reading my boat specification when I walked straight into one of the nurses. I felt terrible. I immediately helped her pick up her things, and that’s when I actually realized how beautiful she was! She has long reddish hair, and a pale skin. Her eyes are as blue as the sky at sea. Being perhaps a bit emboldened by the fact I’m now a bona fide Kaleun, I introduced myself. Her name is Suzanne Wikus. Apparently she’s a volunteer nurse at the hospital on base.

Reported to my Commanding Officer today and was given my shore based office. It’s a cramped little thing, but I’ll take it over the filthy cubicle I worked in while I was at Naval Intelligence! I was given my crew manifests too! It seems with this war with Britain looming, the Command has seen fit to pass many of the youngsters through with little training. My crew is very inexperienced. I’m under-staffed with Officers, but I managed to enlist some higher ranking NCOs and seamen. I’ll train up a NCO to fill the Officer’s station within the next few cruises. It’s always better to have a ‘home-grown’ officer on ones boat!
In the past week, I’ve found myself thinking of the girl I bumped into at the hospital. I should try track her down again.

Over the last week I’ve met with the officers and crew of my new boat. They’re as green as they come, but I guess I’m not all that crusty either! Aside from one or two nervous looking rats, they seem an affable lot.
My first mate and chief engineer Sub Lieutenant Fritz will ensure we are fully ready to cast off in the morning.

This morning, we cast off our lines and departed from Kiel base. We’re assigned a quadrant on the western side of the British Isles. Our orders are to interdict the shipping routes there. I’m caught up in the euphoria of the moment.

Today, the 3rd of September, we received traffic from BDu that we are now at war with Britain! About time too, we’ll through off the stigma forced on us at Versailles and take our place as a power in the European community! Sadly, these thoughts fell on uninterested ears when I discussed it with my officers. They just shrugged at me, as if to say, ‘whatever’. Fritz, my Chief Engineer, was a little more excited than the rest. He looks forward to pitting our boat against the ‘fat and lazy English’. That’s the aggressive sort of thinking we need on this boat! We must cultivate a fighting spirit and take the wind out of the sails of the pompous west!
It is also my birthday, a fact only Fritz was aware of. Nevertheless, he and the rest of the officers took the time to approach me at the conn and wish me happy birthday. The news spread through the ship quite quickly, and most of the crew politely wished me too. I must remember to thank Fritz for his thoughtfulness. I just wish he’d stop staring at me and licking his lips all the time!

We are getting ready to pass Northen England. Before we could transit though, we received radio traffic informing us of a ship in our area. We managed an intercept and attacked! Sadly, our green crew fired off three torpedoes and only scored a hit with one! We were forced to surface and use our deck gun to sink her! I appointed one of our NCOs to man the guns, one Gotz Kals. His aim was marginal at best, but it could be he was nervous at the fact I was standing behind him telling him where to shoot. One would think the term ‘waterline’ pretty self-explanatory, but ‘ol Gotz seemed intent on shooting into the command deck. A well timed slap to the back of his head soon had him adjusting his aim.

We arrived on station in our patrol area with three kills to our name. This meant we only had four torpedoes left, two fore and two aft. Sadly, our torpedo skills leave much to be desired. A fact I have made clear to the crew in explicit detail. As a result, most of our kills have been due to shelling, not torpedo runs!
We had been on station for about 15 hours when we received news of a convoy heading towards the English coast. Too good an opportunity to miss, I plotted an intercept course for the convoy and ordered a flank run. We arrived in a position slightly behind the convoy, and proceeded with a surfaced stern chase. A risky maneuver, but due to the weather conditions, we were confident we could avoid any trouble. Visibility was dreadful, as we encountered the convoy smack bang in the middle of a storm! We were on course doing a good 17 knots when out of nowhere an American C3 appeared 200 meters off our bow! Some quick rudder work bought her alongside, but no alarm was raised. Steaming into the middle of the convoy, I decided to submerge the ship, knowing that the chances of my periscope being spotted in this weather were slim. We traversed the convoy at flank speed and managed to down three ships! The prize sinking was a T2 Tanker and the other two C2 cargo’s made for good target practice. The torpedo crew excelled. And with the four torpedo’s fired we only had one dud! I was very proud of my men. Having expended our torpedoes we submerged to 100 feet and exited the area. Although our hydrophones detected three warships, not one of them broke course to investigate, thanks to the appalling weather!

We transited back to base under orders from BDu, unfortunately, the stormed followed us all the way to port, so we couldn’t use our d/g for any engagement. Our last engagement before we entered the port occurred when we spotted a lone costal merchant. I maneuvered alongside her and allowed the officers each a chance to go onto the bridge and wave at the ship! That elicited a good few laughs and comments about how fast the softies could make their propellers spin when they had the correct incentive. The mood aboard the sub was excellent as we pulled into dock. We had performed an excellent patrol, expending all our fish, and although we have many areas in which to improve, we proved to each other we are capable of taking the fight to the enemy!

As we were docking, Fritz came onto the bridge and caught me staring at the base hospital, thinking about Suzanne.
“You have a brother in there Kaleun?” He asked, indicating the hospital.
“No Fritz. I met someone there, and I’m wondering what I can break to see her again.”
Fritz had a good laugh at that and made a very good point, “You just sunk 5 ships Kaleun. You shouldn’t worry about talking to a fraulein.”
I think Fritz is wiser than he appears.

We held an awards ceremony after the patrol, and I presented Gotz Kals my gunner with the Iron Cross for his exceptional work in sinking those boats. I also promoted one of our seamen. I’ve sent my Watch Officer Carlewitz for Torpedo man training, with the hope that he will assist the torpedo crew during underwater operations. The improvement in efficiency there may reduce our miss/hit ratio.

And now, a few days rest and we’ll get our orders. I’ll make more notes in this diary as that happens!

Gerhard Linden
U-49 Kapt.

[Enchanter]

Diary of Gerhard Linden 13 Oct ’39 – 30 Oct ‘39

Received our orders to patrol off the coast of Spain.
Headed off with the crew, and while exiting the docks began plotting the course to the patrol zone with the Nav Officer. He was totally horrified when I ordered him to plot a course through the Straits of Dover. Of course, he did what he was told, being a good little German.
Later my CE came over to ask me if I’d lost my mind. I laughed maniacally and said yes.
Note to self: Doing this sets the crew on edge…

Transiting the strait at periscope depth, I typically intercepted and sank anything that moved like a merchant. Being a bit cocky from our last patrol, our first engagement was a little hairy.
Spotting a lone costal merchant, I flipped off a single torp at her. It missed. Swearing a blue streak that made my Weapons Officer go slightly pale, I ordered the boat surfaced and the d/g manned. Kals got his chance to prove why he earned a Iron Cross Second Class on his last patrol, and blew her out of the water with some beautifully placed deck shots. While I’m securing from battle stations, I hear a distinctively strange sound. The sound of a shell whizzing by my boat. I glance around and on the horizon I spot a destroyer making for us! The damned merchant had radioed for assistance! With a filthy look for my Watch Officer, I ordered an excursion to 20 feet, given that we had only 21 feet of water. Slowing down substantially, I turned perpendicular to my original course and slowly began sneaking away. The first set of depth charges caught us a bit by surprise, but they were off the mark and we only suffered a jarring or two. Settling in at the hydrophones, I ordered the ship to flank and back to Slow between bouts of the charges being dropped. There is no more joyful sound than a depth charge being dropped somewhere you are not.

Sneaking away, having gained a lesson in humility, I summoned the Watch Officer to my berth, whereupon I launched a tirade reminding him that his job would be to watch out for ships that can shoot us, and I would worry about the ships we were shooting at. I think he got the point, because subsequently, his ship spotting became far more reliable!

Transiting the straight at periscope depth was a necessary evil. We saved a thousand km of travel and gave ourselves the opportunity for tonnage. During the transit to the patrol zone, a further 2 ships were sunk. Both Small Merchants though. We have been developing a technique I like to refer to as a ‘front-on sneak attack’. Approaching a target dead on, bow to bow, I fire off a magnetic trigger torp , passing by him, close alongside, I fire off a second torpedo from my stern, also set to magnetic trigger. This results in much confusion as the ships invariably try to guess which side I’m actually attacking from. As a result of this shot, I saw two destroyers heading in the opposite direction of my sub, in an attempt to track me. I must state that the weather conditions assisted this technique, as the storm conditions hid the wake of my torps and my periscope. I find this method far ore reliable, if riskier, than conventional attack runs. I shall have the crew exercise them some more, possible against military targets.

Arriving on station, we had an uneventful patrol, however, our return trip, following the same course as the approach, gave us two more ships to sink. Morale on the boat was lowering, as we had thus far sunk nothing but costal merchants and small merchant ships. The crew began muttering about having a challenge, so I glanced over the map and made some corrections to the navigators plot. Changes that included a transit to, and through the Portsmouth Dock. Much to the horror of the crew, I entered the port at night, on the surface and manned deck guns. Unfortunately, only two ships where docked, the first to go down to our guns was another small merchant, but the second was the prize of our patrol. A T2 tanker sat in the docks, begging to be sunk. I gave ‘ol Kals my gunner carte blanche and in 5 shots he had the beast ablaze and sunk. I was very proud. With a mad dash back out the dock gates, we were in the open ocean again, not a moment too soon as a V&W Destroyer came racing up to defend Portsmouth! Again the weather was our ally, as we slipped right past her in the violent waters. Not 20 minutes out of the dock we happen upon another C2 Cargo ship, but sadly, we had only two torps left, both of which hit, but did not sink the ship. Exuberant over our victory however, we broached the surface and made for home. Out of nowhere a costal merchant wandered across our path and I was able to convince Kals to man the d/g again. 15 minutes after fireballing that ship, another small merchant crossed our paths, and was sent to a watery grave.

A total of nine kills had our crew in a state of euphoria that lasted the whole trip home. Fritz was humming a merry tune the whole way (quite annoying really) and our navigator, by far my least biggest fan actually smiled at me and greeted me when I resumed the conn. Whisper among the crew have started, saying things like our boat is blessed, and even better, her officers are true naval warriors. Our crew slave for us now, and the NCOs treat us with noticeable deference.

Arriving in dock was a raucous affair. I handed over our patrol logs and nominated my crew for medals and awards. The awards ceremony included 2 promotions and another Iron Cross Second class! The Commandant then ordered me to the front of the ranks, and presented me with my Iron Cross 2nd Class, much to the exuberance of the crew. The resulting party was epic. I was especially touched that the crew invited the officers along, and I was pleased when the others accepted as well! Our camaraderie is fast becoming the talk of the base.

On the subject of the base, I thought about Fritz had to say, and decided to suck in my gut and go to the hospital to see Suzanne again. I earned a few odd looks, decked in full dress uniform (hey, chicks dig it) asking for Suzanne at reception. I assume it’s because mostly, they tend to have naval officers walking out not in.
I found her on first floor by the dispensary. She was at her desk annotating some files. She looked up and was quite startled when I appeared. I was extremely nervous, but I asked her to dinner, and she accepted! I was overjoyed, and walked out with a huge smile on my face. Another rare occurrence at the hospital apparently, seeing how I got more odd looks.
Suzanne has agreed to meet me for dinner at a little bistro we have near the base. I’ll include more on that in my next entry. For now, I’m going to find Fritz and have a celebratory drink….to calm my nerves.

Gerhard Linden
U-49 Kapt

[johan_d]

isnt easy to read for my eyes.. black on grey..

[Enchanter]

THATS what I coouldn't put my finger on!! I was wondering why it looked different! Sorry about that!! I'll fix it quick!

[Morts]

nice read

[Sea Wolf]

Good read! Looking forward to the next one

[Enchanter]

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 27 November ’39 – 9 December ‘39

Our orders in hand, the crew cast off the lines and made for the western coast of England. Our track took us north of the port of Scapa Flow and resulted in a good many targets of opportunity!

No fewer than 5 merchant ships (including one fishing boat) took the final plunge. Our torpedo skills left much to be desired, a 50% hit rate was, in my opinion, not good enough for a ship of our caliber. I have instituted a ‘two shot policy’ aboard the boat. In circumstances permitted by weather, a medium to large ship, (Small Merchants and up) will be fired upon with two torpedoes. Should either (or in some cases both) torps miss or fail to detonate, I surface and hand the destruction over to my gunner Gotz Kals. This policy stresses the evaluation of a target, not in terms of tonnage, but in respect of what is occurring in the surrounding area. I aborted one such use of the policy during the patrol when my sonar man detected a warship inbound to our position. However, for the most part, this policy allowed me to conserve torps for more dire situations.

One incident I am still quite livid about is my encounter with a C2 Cargo just off my patrol zone. I established a submerged intercept, in the classic 90° position. At 1000m I launched a salvo of two torpedoes both set to fast and magnetic trigger at 8 feet. I was suspicious of the indicated track by my Weapons officer, but I trusted to his judgement. Which, ultimately was my greatest error. The damned fool managed to miss the target completely both fore and aft of the target. Needless to say, I was a slightly grouchy commander. Nevertheless, I refrained from introducing him to the bulkhead long enough to re-direct another salvo launch. Again, a silly mistake, though this time, only one torpedo missed. One slammed into the aft of the ship, slowing her, but by no means causing a sinking feeling. Having wasted four torpedoes already I ordered a surfacing and the d/g manned. Karl put her under with several shots later. During this time, I remained below and slammed the weapon officers head into the bulkhead. On every shot fired, so as not to give away our position…

Relieving the dazed weapons officer of duty for a while, we entered our patrol zone. Quickly I established contact, but our foray against the C2 meant that we were sorely missed by no less than three destroyers. As they passed out of detection range, I happened across another C2. I’m pretty sure that these ships were designed to give me a headache. They are fast becoming the bane of my tonnage reports. Firing two individual torpedoes into the pig, both of which hit (thus proving the fault lay with the Weps Officer, still dazed in his quarters), the C2 steamed on, quite oblivious to my attack. Considering this to be poor etiquette on the part of the target captain, I directed the boat to surface and manned the d/g once more. I ordered Kals to fire on the command deck, to display our displeasure at being ignored.
After about 6 shells, the captain of the C2 was graceful enough to sink the ship.

Our patrol sector now cleared, we left the area and happened to encounter another costal merchant. I swear, I’m using some or other deodorant that attracts the damned things. One torpedo later, this time delivered by my Weps Officer, eager to please I might add, we had her sunk. 7 Hours later I crossed paths with a tug boat! I was quite happy to leave the thing along, seeing how it wasn’t worth the tonnage, but Kals begged me for a chance to shoot it. He claimed it would be amusing! I agreed, and went to the bridge to watch Kals have his fun. Subsequently we’ve taken to calling him ‘Tug Boat Charlie’. He wears the new name with pride!
Rounding the Scapa Flow base area once again, we intercepted a small merchant, with only two torpedoes remaining, I was loathe to fish for her, so I manned the d/g again. Although we were running short of shells, Kals challenged me to a shooting contest. In the spirit of teaching the little swine a lesson or six in advanced naval gunnery, I accepted. We pulled alongside the boat at 1500 m, and proceeded to call of targets. Kals is a devious little *****! He called some very difficult shots. He was suitably impressed when he indicated the flag pole, and I took it out with a single shot. After alternating between us for six shots, I tired of the game and ordered Kals to fire into the engine room. With a single HE shot he tore the boat apart. I was suitably impressed. Fritz informed me that he had heard Kals later talking about the contest, apparently he was rather inspired by my display, and has decided to name ‘his’ d/g ‘Kaleun’s Ire’. I think that should serve as a fervent reminder for our esteemed weapons officer too!

Due to the excellent weather during the patrol, I despaired of ever having the opportunity to try further exercises of the ‘front on sneak attack’ manoeuvre. However, as we entered the last leg of our journey, a single small merchant happened along. The weather had degraded sufficiently for me to try the tactic, and once again we demonstrated the power of German engineering where you need it most on a torpedo. The exploding part.

Fritz had questioned me with regard to my dinner with Suzanne. I had enjoyed a lovely evening with the girl. She is bright and witty, and has a very gentle disposition. She admitted, all the while blushing beautifully, that she had looked me up in the Naval Command office and had been told of my reputation as a U-Boat commander. I was flattered that such a stunning woman would take so much interest in a U-Boat commander. It turns out, the bistro was owned by one of her friends husbands and we spent nearly the entire evening talking. When I finally walked her home, we parted ways with a hug, that, although I may have imagined it, lingered deliciously.
Fritz says lingering hugs are a good sign. I’m certain I’m going to have to have this man shot…

As I was making my way onto the boat, I was handed a note by one of the dock men. It was a brief letter from Suzanne, wishing me well for the patrol. I’ve kept it in my pocket ever since. I think we may have a good luck charm, for this patrol netted no fewer than 12 ships! As a result, I invited Suzanne to attend the awards ceremony for the patrol. The awards ceremony had me presenting another Iron Cross 2nd Class, this time to my NCO watch stander for his exceptional ship spotting skills. A Iron Cross 1st class went to a machinist I had observed during the patrol. Not once in the seven days did he leave his station! According to the crew, he took short naps at his station whenever he had a full compartment, but the Cross I had awarded him in the previous cruise inspired him to work even harder. No doubt Chief Sr. Warrant Officer Herbert Reckhoff is on the fast track to promotion. I still have an officers berth to fill, and his qualification as Machinist will fill the post nicely. My commanding officer presented me with my Iron Cross 1st class, and with my U-Boat War badge AND my U-Boat Front Clasp. The crew were rather jubilant after the ceremony, and I received a few phone calls complaining about my crews excessively loud singing and bragging at local drinking halls, the next day. Apparently most of my crew are strutting about, telling anyone who’ll listen they are the crew of U-49, you know, the U-49, with the best damned crew ever to sail the English waters!
This morale boost will no doubt serve us well in a war that seems set to last a long while.
I’ve spent many evenings with Suzanne since our arrival home. We also went on a day bicycle ride around country, then picnicked in a field. We’ve become extremely close, and several times she’s accompanied me to various officer parties at the officers club. She is a constant source of mirth, she brightens me up considerably. Several of the crew have now seen me about town with her, and I imagine, rumours have already started. I’ll deal with that when next we sail. Fritz has admitted to both her and I, that he is confused how such a grumpy U-boat commander (who are vastly inferior to Chief Engineer’s he’ll have us know), has managed to attract such a vivacious lady. I’m still certain I’ll have to have this man shot…

Due to the date of our arrival, I imagine we’ll not sail until next year. I look forward to taking the famous U-49 and her excellent crew out again as we terrorise the waters off the English coast.

Until next time,

Gerhard Linden
U-49 Kapt.

[Enchanter]

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 6 January ’40 – 22 January ‘40

After an age in dock, we were finally handed fresh orders, to patrol the same area west of England. Thus, we established a plot and made for the patrol zone.
24 hours out of dock, we met an outbound Costal Merchant. Our torpedo skills have improved considerably, and she went down with a single shot amidships.

About a day later we diverted off course to investigate radio reports of a ship in our area. We intercepted a C3 Cargo ship. Those things are impressively big! Due to the weather, I knew we’d have no opportunity to shell her, so accuracy was the name of the game. We established a parallel course until we were slightly ahead of the ship, then came in at a 90° angle off the port side. At periscope depth, with wind velocity a good 15 km/s the sea state was rough, and I pondered the settings on my depth gauges. I elected to set three alternating depths. Tube 1 was set to below the keel, at 11 m, tube 2 was set to 8 meters, hoping for a side on impact on the same line as the first, and the third shot was set to 4 meters. The varying depths took into account the possibility of a premature detonation, and as I was firing off single shots (my previous foray with salvoes not forgotten by either myself or my now concussed Weapons Officer) I wanted to allow for the possibility that the ship would be lower and slower in the water after successive hits.
Launching tube 1, we waited 15 seconds before firing off the second torpedo. I had established a close approach, and torpedo run time was approximately 30 seconds. However, as I launched the second (and shallower) fish, I was surprised by a detonation. The first torpedo, at 10m, had detonated a full 200 meters from it’s target. I was worried about two things immediately. Would my shallower shot meet the same fate? And what would the reaction onboard that target be?

Not wanting to miss the opportunity for a well placed third shot, I launched my third torpedo and began plotting my new attack position. Two successive explosions had me at the periscope in seconds, and to my delight, I observed the C3 engulfed in flame. Dubious that such a ponderous hulk would go under from two torpedoes, I began plotting my third firing position on the now dead in the water ship. As we were maneuvering however, my look outs reported that the ship had broken apart in an explosion. Although three torpedoes had been launched, the ship had been sunk by only two. Impressed by the level of skill aboard the boat, we continued our journey.

Buoyed by our success against a formidable target, we later sank a small merchant, though this now felt like small fish compared to what we had destroyed.
24 hours later we received simultaneous reports of two contacts, on opposite sides of our track! I plotted both projected movements, then elected to hunt down the faster, and nearer target. Intercepting a C2 in rough seas, we submerged to periscope depth. I tried to pretend that the sinking feeling was a result of our excursion below the surface, but the reality remains that I, and now most of the crew believe that C2 cargo ships are our bane. Two magnetic torpedoes slammed into the beast, but she hardly paused for breath. In the worsening sea state, I was unable to execute my two torpedo policy, so I ordered another torpedo into her. This time, she came to a dead stop. However, 20 minutes later she showed no sign of going under. Worrying about possible interference from a warship, I turned my stern to the target, and fine tuned the torpedo solution to slam into the weakened area of her hull, just at the waterline. A risky maneuver given the sea state and the notorious impact triggers, but I was determined to not expend any more shots against the swine. With a tremendous explosion the ship went down, but the price had been high. Four torpedoes for a medium sized merchant. This left me with a total of four torpedoes, and I had not even arrived on station in the patrol zone. I mulled this over and elected to go after the second target we had plotted. A short sprint later brought us up behind another C2. The crew, aware of my distaste for the C2 class, have taken to calling them Elephant Ships. Making my way forward to the bow torpedo room, I encountered Tug-Boat Charlie (Gotz Kals, my gunner) sitting morosely on his bunk. I queried his depressed state and he informed me that he was totally bored! We had taken down 4 ships, were plotting to destroy our fifth and he had yet to fire a single shell. I admit, I had a good chuckle at that, then sent him above to relieve the duty officer and watch the kill. Our final two forward torpedoes left their tubes from directly astern the target, 15 seconds apart. The first torpedo, set to 8 meters detonated beneath the screws, slowing the target substantially. The second torpedo, set to 10 meters passed further up the axis of the ship before detonating directly amidships beneath her! She cracked open like an egg. A beautiful, cursed little egg.

Our forward supply of torpedoes depleted, and only two stern shots remaining, I elected to enter the patrol zone, in the hope we could deal with any problems with the two torpedoes, and weather permitting, my d/g. Sadly, we encountered no contacts for the duration of our patrol, and our return home was equally uneventful.

About 100 km from home port, Fritz my Chief Engineer, informed me that our diesel reserves were down to 10%. I queried my Nav Officer, and he assured me we had a full 230 km of travel available. Thus, I left my engine running at ahead standard. Not 50 km from port, we ran out of fuel! I was furious with my Navigation officer, but the fault lies squarely with me. I should have been more cautious and ordered a reduction in speed. Nevertheless, I submerged the boat and crept into harbor on batteries at Ahead Slow. It was decidedly embarrassing.

Back in port, I was like a Seaman after my first cruise. Without pause I picked up my telephone and called the base hospital. There I spoke to the woman who had kept me smiling throughout the cruise. That evening I stopped by the hospital, and made a display to the various personnel there on how to kiss a beautiful woman! She blushed bright pink as I held her in my arms while several of the other nurses applauded and giggled. Walking out of the hospital arm in arm, with her holding onto me like she’d never let go, I felt a sense of rightness about the world, and my place in it. Several of the crew, leaving base for a night on the town whistled and cheered loudly when they saw their commanding officer walking arm in arm with his lady. Several had remarked during the patrol that I was a lot less frustrated and…well…mean.

Suzanne and I spent the evening in a small coffee shop, catching up with two weeks of history. The next morning, I was summoned to the Commander’s office and given the date of our awards ceremony. As we’d had a lack luster patrol, I was loathe to award any medals, but I did think that two of our seamen had worked well at keeping my torpedoes in prime condition. Therefore, I had them both promoted. I invited Suzanne to the ceremony as well, as most of the married or involved officers usually do. I called the promotions out and presented the men with there patches, and dismissed them. The commanding officer then called me to the front. I couldn’t believe my ears when he presented me with my promotion to Senior Lieutenant!
Until we receive our new orders, I shall oversee the refit of the boat. I’m also planning to spend more time with this amazing woman. Fritz is worried and keeps cocking his head and saying, “Hear those bells, Herr Kaleun?”
I still must have that man shot.

More news in the next entry!

Gerhard Linden
U-49 Kapt.

[Enchanter]

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 19 February ’40 – 28 February ‘40

Unbelievable!
Ordered to patrol deep water west of Spain, we transited the Straits of Dover again, and had not a single encounter! Regular excursions to periscope depth, full stops and baffle clearings had no effect, we couldn’t locate a single target in the entire patrol.
The crew are badly demoralized having returned home with a full load of fish, but the commanding officer of the base awarded me my Knights Cross for exceptional performance throughout the course of the war. Somehow, it feels like I should have earned this burning 20 ships to the waterline. But sadly, not so much as a fishing vessel crossed our bows this time. I hope this is a sign that the British navy and merchant marine are beginning to take the threat from the Kriegsmarine seriously!

Suzanne and I spent some more time together, but I admit, I was distracted by the recent events on patrol. This lead to a minor argument, culminating in her telling me that I can’t burn every ship in the enemy’s navy down. My hot headed response was that I would damn well like to.
After we calmed down again, we apologized to each other, and while she does understand my consternation, she just wanted to be more important to me. I understand that, and I am yet to figure out the precise words to tell her how she has become my very reason for returning to port. And smiling. And breathing. Somehow, I can’t get the words out when we are together. But every chance I get to spend with her I grab. She’s often busy at the hospital, and I at the docks, but we steal any moment available. The day of her birthday, 16 March, I wandered into a small store selling odds and ends, like old books and a few records for what little coin is still available, and food tickets. I spotted a record of popular Viennese waltzes, and I immediately bought it. Wrapping it in a simple brown paper, I handed it to her when next I saw her. She loved it, being a huge fan of the modern waltzes. She dragged me into her small little apartment near the hospital and proudly showed off her whole collection of records and her very modern gramophone. I knew she was an avid fan of music, but I never realized how much so! She played the record over and over again all night, and insisted that we dance to it every time! As the night got darker, we stopped moving to the music and merely stood in her living room holding onto each other swaying gently. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that night.

Subsequently I’ve ordered Fritz to locate waltzes for the boats gramophone. Before the end of this war, I’ll have the fiercest most refined warriors in the Reich!

Gerhard Linden
U-49 Kapt.

[Enchanter]

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 27 March ’40 – 3 April ‘40

This one a hairy patrol!
From the moment I left Suzanne’s arms that morning of our departure, I couldn’t shake an ominous feeling. Fritz too seemed on edge as we put to sail.
Assigned to the ‘soft’ east coast of the British Isles, my crew and I left port expectant of a large tonnage on our return. What we got, was a rude awakening

Near the Norwegian coast, we encountered a coastal merchant, and for want of better option, we decided to practice on her. Following my two shot policy, the first torpedo missed, but the second slammed into her amidships from 1500m. A shot that did us proud, and gave us the boost we’d been looking for. Ominous thoughts were lost in the exultation of the kill.

Arriving on station, we patrolled for 24 hours, but all the contact information radioed to us indicated the shipping lanes were in the quadrant adjacent to ours. Having finished our assigned patrol, I elected to enter the next quadrant, far closer to the coastline. This proved a wise decision, but very nearly our undoing.
My Watch Officer sighted a large cargo ship, and I ordered an intercept. The settings were perfect for the crew of U-49 to do their jobs. An excursion to periscope depth that evening had yielded no contacts, on the surface the night was illuminated by a half moon, with the waters as calm as a piece of glass. Maneuvering out of sight, I brought the ship on a 90° angle portside to the target, descended to periscope depth and came to a full stop, 800 m from the projected track of the target. The perfect ambush was ready. The crew diligently performed their functions, and the torpedo room was alive with activity. Having my watch officer qualified as a torpedo man was a wise move on my part. Reckhoff the senior machinist was at his post, and reported we had full power on our batteries. 15 minutes of waiting had the cargo ship appear, and soon she was near enough to identify as a C3 cargo. We began plotting our solution. I ordered the torpedo tubes opened and readied, solidified our solution and fired. First one torpedo, aimed just behind the stack, in the hopes of shutting down her engine. Our first indication something was wrong was when the torpedo, set to magnetically trigger, failed to detonate. Unphased, we updated the solution, and launched a second torpedo, set to impact trigger, quite shallow in the water as to avoid the curved hull and rudder mechanism. This torpedo inexplicably overshot the target. The Weapons officer was beginning to sweat bullets, but I had watched and overseen his ever calculation, I had plotted the same solution as he, and I couldn’t understand the situation either. Setting him at ease with a hand on his shoulder, I quietly ordered a salvo prepared and fired. Almost immediately two torpedoes left their tubes. One missed, shooting after of the target, the second, also a magnetic trigger set halfway between the waterline and the hull slammed into the target. But did not detonate. Until now, the target had been unaware of us, but the impact from the torpedo threw her into action. Immediately I ordered a surface excursion and had the d/g manned. Three shots where fired off, all three directly into the engine area, at the water line and my watch officer screamed, “Warship!”
Dead behind us we saw the silhouette of a destroyer making for us. Somehow it had avoided notice, and it was too lat to do anything about it. In a desperate bid to save the ship, I ordered flank speed and a crash dive, but getting the men off the deck took precious seconds we didn’t have. As the last man slammed the hatch and secured it, we began our descent. Not 5 meters down we were thrown across the submarine as he destroyer rammed into our conning tower, the only part of the ship still above the waterline. Instantly the conning tower and bridge were destroyed, and to make matters worse, the damned destroyer tore open her hull and began sinking on top of us! A hard turn port managed to get us clear, but we weren’t clear of trouble yet. Settling back to Ahead slow and checking our dive at 20 meters I assessed the damage and centered the rudder. Our periscope was gone, and no doubt, so was our conning tower. Then my sonar man announced he had picked up a warship. Seconds later we heard depth charges being dropped, but checking our flank run to ahead slow had put us behind the position the charges fell. A moment of grace as we had no chance of surviving a barrage in the state we were in. Tracking the C3 as she made her escape, we were dogged by the warship above us. Somehow, she managed to circle us, regardless of our direction of travel, but no more charges were dropped. After 15 minutes of this game of cat and mouse, I realized why we were being held down:
1) To allow the C3 to escape
2) To mark our position, until something capable of sinking us arrived on station.

With no way to tell what we were up against, I took a gamble. Ordering Kals and his crew to their hatch, I surfaced the boat, simultaneously calling for flank speed and a hard starboard turn. The maneuver worked, and Kals scrambled up the hatch and led his crew to the deck. Our conning tower was so mangled that I couldn’t get the Watch Officer aloft to call bearings. I ordered him to the bow torpedo room, as a final gesture if the d/g gamble failed. Scrambling up the d/g hatch, I stood behind the gun as I watched Kals work. Slewing the gun almost 160° around He located the target. By some miracle, we were under attack from an armed trawler. No doubt the crew hadn’t been expecting such a brash move, as we squeezed off two shots straight into them at close range before they could answer with an errant return salvo. The inexperience of the attacking crew made our jobs easier. In the dark night, with no way of scanning the area for our target, we were essentially blind, except for the blessed spotlight. I later remarked to Fritz that I had never been so glad to see and enemy searchlight. Kals centered the gun on the ship and looked back at me, “Your orders Kaleun?” he asked, a feverish light in his eyes. My voice as steady as I could make it, I gave the command,
“Sink her Kals. Aim straight at that damned light!”
“Jawohl Kaleun!” He screamed as the roar of the gods sent a shell directly into the command deck. Without checking our mad dashing turn, we pumped 7 shells into the target before she exploded and began burning.
The immediate threat gone, I was seized by a cold fury. That C3 had almost killed us, and she was escaping with little more than a scratch. I descended the hatch and moved to the conn, where I studied the projected plot. Still at flank speed I brought the boat around on an intercept track with the C3. If it was the last thing we’d do, we’d finish that pig. Fritz looked over at me and nodded as I gave the command. The Navigation officer, pale and sweaty licked his lips nervously. Damned cowardly swine. He flickered a gaze at the Weapon’s officer, then nervously cleared his throat and said, “Herr Kaleun, our boat is damaged. Badly! We should return to port!” Silence fell on the command bridge as I turned to face the little man. Without warning I threw a punch into his face that slammed him against the bulkhead. Before he could stagger to his feet Fritz grabbed him and held him up against the bulkhead. Leaning in close I sniffed once and smelt the stench of fear on the pathetic swine.
“When you are ready to fight like a German, you’ll return to your post. Until then you pathetic little man, you shall assist the torpedo crews in the bow.” I summoned Carlewitz my watch officer to the conn and had him escort the Nav officer to the bow torpedo section. Then Carlewitz manned the navigation station. Not five minutes later I heard a shout from the d/g. Popping my head up through the hatch, Kals pointed off our bow, and there she was, steaming for all she was worth. With a nod at Kals, I ascended the ladder as the first shell roared across the ocean and into the hull of the ship. Bringing the sub alongside her at about 1500m, I watched as Kals pumped 6 shells into the engine room at the waterline. With a display worthy of our efforts, the C3 exploded and began to sink.

Returning to the conn I took the report from the damage assessment crew. Our hull was in bad shape, and it was risky to dive so much as to periscope depth. With that, I ordered a return to base. Running at flank speed to get as much distance between us and this damned coast as possible while we still had night.

Then I walked across to my bunk, and ordered the radio and sonar man to quarters for a short rest. Closing the interconnecting doors, I sat on my bunk and began shaking. I had almost killed us. The Nav officer had been right. One shell, one more encounter like the initial one this evening, one plane, one shot could have sent us to the bottom.

About an hour later, I summoned the Navigation officer to my bunk area. His nose swollen and red, he saluted me, much to my surprise. He then broke down and began sobbing. I stood and put a hand on his shoulder as he sobbed. Then he looked at me and began sniffling an apology. Surprised, I accepted it, I had been planning to apologize to him. I allowed him to sit at the sonar station, and he began telling me how scared he had been. How much he had wanted to scream with fear. He spoke of his shame. His terror. Finally I said to him, “I was scared too Udo. But we can’t let that stop us from our mission. I need my officers up there. I can’t do it without all of you.” He nodded, and stood. Walked out and resumed his post. He didn’t say much for the rest of the cruise home, but his back was straighter, and his manner more determined. I think we’ll make a warrior of him too.

Later, after we had moored at the dock, Fritz and I were discussing the incident in my office. I hadn’t realized it, but the crew had treated Udo like a pariah. The seaman wouldn’t even acknowledge his orders in the torpedo room. Apparently, by going up on deck to take on the trawler with Kals, I had earned their respect. They had been ready to strap Udo to a torpedo had he so much as griped once.

My phone rang and I took the report from the damage assessment crew that had examined the boat when I docked. Apparently our hull was more than 70% compromised. How we survived is nothing short of miraculous. As I put the phone down and was about to inform Fritz, my door slammed open and Suzanne stood there. Her hair was disheveled, and her face was tear streaked. My secretary was trying to restrain her, but she bullied her way into the office and stood before me sniffling. I stood and walked over to her, and noticed Fritz and the secretary quietly leaving. As the door clicked shut, Suzanne threw her arms around me and sobbed into my chest. After a while she calmed down and looked up at me. She told me that the base was alive with rumors. The ‘untouchable’ U-49 had limped into harbor full of holes. Stories flew between the entire crew being dead, and the Kapt being blown apart in an attack.
“Why didn’t you call me and let me know you were safe you evil, nasty, terrible swine!” She demanded, beating her tiny fists against my chest with each word as the tears came again. I held her close and let the tears dry on her face. And mine. Finally we walked of the office, and sat in her apartment, holding hands and talking for hours.

The repair party have informed me that I’ll be in port for some time. I’ve requested a few weeks leave of absence to take Suzanne to meet my family in their country home. Permission was granted with a nod and a smile. As I was leaving, the commander slid a case across his desk at me. Opening it, was the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves.
“Now go Lieutenant. Go to your family. And welcome to the war.”
“Thank you Commander.”

Gerhard Linden
U-49 Kapt.

[Jimbuna]

Nicely written

[Enchanter]

Thanks! Glad it's being read!

[Enchanter]

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 12 June ’40 – 19 June ‘40

More than a month has passed since we last put to sea. In days gone by, I would have chafed at this, but now, I have found something to calm my restless spirit.

Suzanne and I spent two weeks in my family’s country retreat. My parents were overjoyed to have their son return home, after an absence of more than two years. My father, now a retired party official beamed with pride as I helped Suzanne alight from the staff car provided for us. Suzanne was awestruck by the size of the estate, and the warmth my family received her with. Hardly had she set foot into the house than my mother whisked her off to the sitting room, leaving my father and I to lug the baggage up the stairs. Having warned my parents to expect company, I was unsurprised to find fresh flowers from our gardens in the guest quarters. My room is still unchanged. My parents had kept everything precisely as I had left it.

Setting down my duffel bag I looked through the picture windows in my room and marveled at the sight, once so familiar and boring. After months at sea with nothing but the blue sky and slate water, the sights of the garden and fields filled me with wonder. My father, puffing his pipe as ever stood at my door and allowed me the moment, then we were walking to the barn, examining the old horses and talking about the war. By dinner, I was reunited with Suzanne, who exclaimed over my mothers cooking and laughed merrily at my fathers jokes. She was an instant and true success! By the end of the first week she referred to Ma and Pa, and fixed some of her own meals in the family kitchen. I was surprised by her cooking skill. She almost rivals my mother!

Family picnics, nights out at the local pool room, horse riding. It was easy to forget the war. But soon came the time to depart. Too soon. My mother hugged me long and hard, and Suzanne longer and harder, my dad was stoic, never for an instant revealing the depth of his worry and anguish until the moment he shook my hand and a single tear left his eye. Suzanne was exhorted to keep me in line and have me writing home to my dear old parents. The drive back to base twittered with her joy at meeting my family, and the amazing time she had had.

Reporting back at base, I was pleasantly surprised to find my boat ready, a new Conning tower and Flak Gun installed, the hull repaired, and most surprising of all, my Navigation Officer supervising the repairs. With a crisp salute he reported on the work done. I acknowledged the report, gave him my thanks and returned to my office. Fritz was seated behind my desk.
“Fritz, the Kaleun’s seat almost suits you.” I laughed. Rising and shaking my hand warmly, he responded,
“Please don’t say that Kaleun!”
His report indicated the level of effort the crew, refusing to abandon their boat to the dock crews, had put in. Machinist Mate Reckhoff who’d so skillfully mastered the batteries had personally overseen the installation of our engine upgrade. I was so touched by the spirit de corps of my crew that I immediately recommended Reckhoff for promotion to Sub Lieutenant. I took great pleasure in handing him his promotion papers, and in thanks, he invited Suzanne and I to dinner with his family. I accepted, and that evening, Suzanne and I met Reckhoff’s wife (which I had no idea he had) and three children (all of whom were darling little girls). Suzanne was an instant hit with the children, they clung to her all night, and giggled whenever she put her hand in mine or smiled at me. The youngest, a little dear named Marisa asked her, “Are you an angel? Do you look after my dad when he’s working?” Her eyes shining, Suzanne replied, “You do that my darling, when you think of him with happy thoughts!”
Reckhoff was a totally different man around his family. Usually withdrawn and taciturn, he was ebullient and joyful in the midst of his family. Never had I been more happy to promote a man. He will serve aboard the submarine better than any other, in my opinion.

Finally our orders came. The crew and I boarded the boat with none of our previous bonhomie, but we went aboard knowing what job we had to do. Suzanne, like most of the other officers partners came to see us off. She slipped a little note into my tunic, and told me to read it when I had cleared the peninsula. She made Fritz promise to watch me, and demanded that I return home to her. Then, in front of the entire crew, this beautiful angel kissed me, eliciting cheers and whistles from my seamen.

Making our way from the sub pens, rounding the peninsula 24 hours later, I opened the letter. It was a simple note. The words, etched forever in my mind simply said,
“I love you.”
Never before had we spoken those words, and here, now, amidst the trappings of war, I discovered this beautiful gift. Grinning like a clown, I ordered the watch to their posts, and the war began for us again. Ordered to almost the same grid, we entered the patrol zone and within 10 hours had intercepted a C2 Cargo ship. Due to the fine weather, I ordered Kals aloft to shoot the ship down from 5000 meters. The display of gunnery raised the morale of the ship, and 15 hours later we had left our original patrol zone and moved closer to the English coast. Immediately we happened across another lone C2 and, previous superstitions of the ship were dispelled when at periscope depth, from a range of 600 meters, two torpedoes ripped apart her hull and sank her. Confident in our large surplus of hardware, we next engaged a small merchant. The inclement weather favored us, with medium sized swells, but we approached from a poor position, the rising sun behind the target boat. Unable to man the d/g due to excessive wind, I expended my full load of torpedoes before scoring a hit. Our task was made difficult by the fact that the ship had sighted us, and that they could watch our torpedoes bubble trail. I admit, the crew and I were impressed with the skill which the merchant evaded our torpedoes, but finally, our last shot slammed home, and the game was done. Sailing 200 m from the burning hulk, we spotted who could on be the captain standing on the bow of his burning ship, while the other men abandoned her. Moved by this mans courage and sense of honour, I ordered the men to raise our ships flag half mast, and salute the ship as we passed. Foe he may have been, but he had died with great honour.

Orders from BDu turned us for home, but I think this quiet patrol bolstered the men once more. More than before, I think they are ready for this war. Now comes a time of new learning for us. I have directed Fritz and the other officers that we must begin making our attacks from further away, both to minimize the chance of being spotted, and to expedite our kill time. At present, our close range shots always land us in hot water. I intend to begin this practice in our next patrol, firing from greater distances, and perfecting the salvo firing techniques, prior to our next convoy engagement, which, I have no doubt, will come soon. I have instructed my Weapons Officer to investigate taking on board a larger number of electric torpedoes in our next refit.
Back in port, I recommended one of our chief seaman for promotion, filling the gap left in the NCOs ranks when Reckhoff had been promoted. I found our fame had spread and we had a veritable queue of young seaman eager to come onboard what they say is the most famous U-Boat in 7th Flotilla.

Orders had been received to rig the base for removal to the western coast of France. Within the month we would transfer 7th Flotilla to St. Nazaire. I was shocked by the news. That afternoon I entered the base hospital and located Suzanne. She was standing over the bed of a young child, playing a rhyming game. She saw me and squealed with delight, throwing her arms around me. I smiled back, but my heart was heavy, with orders now to leave the woman I had come to love. The young boy stared at my uniform, and Suzanne pulled me closer. He had recently had his appendix removed. His name was Karl. He wanted to drive U-Boats one day. He smiled shyly at me and asked me if I was a torpedo man. With a chuckle I told him my rank and berth. His eyes shot open in wonder and he spent 30 minutes interrogating me about my boat, probably more thoroughly than any POW camp could manage! Finally Suzanne excused us, and we walked out of the hospital arm in arm.
”Karl will be over the moon for weeks,” She smiled, “You’re his biggest hero. He’s always talking about the famous Kaleun Linden and his magic boat! He wants to serve aboard your boat when he turns eighteen!” She smiled. “Thank you for making his day.”
“Hopefully by the time he’s eighteen, this damned war is over.” I said.
With a heavy heart I told her of the orders to change operational bases. She took the news calmly and smiled up at me.
“Did you open your letter when you promised?” She asked, a tiny smile on her rosebud lips.
Surprised by the calm manner she was accepting our parting, I stammered an affirmative reply.
“Well then you great lug head, you’ll know I love you.” She continued, in a voice as sweet as honey.
“Yes…”My slightly confused reply. Then, registering what was expected of me, I added, “and I love you too, Nurse Wikus.”
Her smile illuminated her face, “Head Nurse Wikus.”
“Pardon?” Confusion.
“Head Nurse Suzanne Wikus, newly appointed to the St. Nazaire medical hospital.”
Words failed me then.
“You didn’t think I’d let you hare off to another port, with other women now did you? You great lummox.” She laughed gaily. I stood slightly stunned, until finally I regained my powers of speech. It turns out that Suzanne had also heard of the change of operational base, long before I did of course. She had requested to be transferred there, and her Chief of Staff had approved her promotion. I was overwhelmed. Celebrations were in order, and in short order we were in the Officers Nightclub, I found most of the other ships officers there, and a large scale party ensued. Ending only the next morning, with a large…very large…headache!

[Kumando]

Nice, do you have more? From where did you took this?

[Enchanter]

Thanks I write up the personal diary after each patrol for my career.