Why not to attack in a hurricane

dmlavan · 07-30-07, 01:20 AM

After about two weeks patrolling in the convoy lanes NW of Freetown with nothing to show for it except some moldy food, streaks of rust, and empty fuel bunkers, a nasty storm kicked up and I decided to head home. Just a few hours later, I received a report of a large convoy nearby, and changed course to intercept. As I got closer, I dove to periscope depth and heard the convoy, adjusted course, surfaced and continued to close.
About 30min later, with Ahead Flank rung up but only making about 6kts due to the seas, my lookouts reported a warship dead ahead. As I closed, I could tell it was struggling with the sea, and making very little headway. There didn't seem to be any other escorts around, but behind this were several fat merchants. I decided to take out the escort, leaving the convoy unprotected, and continued to close to less than 1000m.
Feeling like taking my chances despite the seas, I lined up my shot and fired two eels set for 5m depth with magnetic pistols. Unfortunately, I fired as the bow lifted in the seas. The first eel flew out of the water like a dolphin. However, both eels continued towards the target. As the two eels approached the escort, it went down in a trough between two waves. As I watched through the event camera... I watched both eels pass OVER the escort. That's something you don't see every day! Needless to say, I realized the weather was not in my favor, and decided to find a target I could put my torpedoes under...

07-30-07, 01:20 AM	#1
dmlavan Weps Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 351 Downloads: 69 Uploads: 0	Why not to attack in a hurricane After about two weeks patrolling in the convoy lanes NW of Freetown with nothing to show for it except some moldy food, streaks of rust, and empty fuel bunkers, a nasty storm kicked up and I decided to head home. Just a few hours later, I received a report of a large convoy nearby, and changed course to intercept. As I got closer, I dove to periscope depth and heard the convoy, adjusted course, surfaced and continued to close. About 30min later, with Ahead Flank rung up but only making about 6kts due to the seas, my lookouts reported a warship dead ahead. As I closed, I could tell it was struggling with the sea, and making very little headway. There didn't seem to be any other escorts around, but behind this were several fat merchants. I decided to take out the escort, leaving the convoy unprotected, and continued to close to less than 1000m. Feeling like taking my chances despite the seas, I lined up my shot and fired two eels set for 5m depth with magnetic pistols. Unfortunately, I fired as the bow lifted in the seas. The first eel flew out of the water like a dolphin. However, both eels continued towards the target. As the two eels approached the escort, it went down in a trough between two waves. As I watched through the event camera... I watched both eels pass OVER the escort. That's something you don't see every day! Needless to say, I realized the weather was not in my favor, and decided to find a target I could put my torpedoes under...