I thought I was a gonna... [pic]

[Kpt, Otto]

I thought I was a gonna!

U-23 type IIb
AN79’39 – 60km E’SE off the coast of Harwich.

11:50 hrs. 11th Jan 1940.

Whilst submerged, listening, I picked up two sound contacts, One was on bearing relative 070, slow screws course south and the other on 075 fast turning high pitched sounding screws therefore probable armed trawler escort. Then we picked up a third vessel, bearing relative 005. Slow moving, difficult to make out possibly a small merchant or a destroyer on slow speed conducting a search pattern, we had sunk a large transport vessel at 10:25 hrs this morning not too far north east of our position.

I ordered the boat surfaced, turned onto a search course bearing and ordered full speed. The hunt was on and it was worth using the much needed fuel. The vessel that was at bearing 005, I suspected was a naval vessel possibly looking for us and so I set a course that would distance us from them but would cut off the merchantman that was further to the west near the coast. Depth under keel was only 32m

12:05 hrs.
Ship spotted relative bearing 000 range 6000m!! I rushed onto the bridge and peered through my binoculars… Destroyer!! Clear the bridge, sound off action stations, Alaarrmm!!! Bring her down 25m.



Ahead slow! Hydrophones now indicating contact closing rapidly! I ordered periscope depth… once there I had a quick look. The destroyer had seen us and altered course onto our position, they had probably seen our bow wave or the spray thrown up as we dived. In future I will try to slip away on the surface. But for now… the destroyer is rapidly closing our position they are on our starboard side. I order a depth of 24m, rudder port 10 degrees maintain speed 3’kts. I hope to pass them by. Then asdic sounds, we having problems trimming the boat and maintaining depth. Rig for silent running steer rudder port 20.

… we can hear the destroyer coming in overhead…







DEPTH CHARGES IN THE WATER SIR!!!



AHEAD FLANK! , HARD TO STARBOARD…



Keep her under control – KEEP HER UNDER CONTROL GET A GRIP!




Rudder amidships ahead slow we are in her baffles! But for how long.

We have taken damage sir. I NEED REPORTS - I NEED DAMAGE REPORTS!

Hull damage electric motor room we are taking on water, compressor damaged, starboard propeller shaft misaligned, damage control parties are bringing the damage under control.

Steer Hard to starboard, destroyer coming round sir! Now on bearing 270 closing!

Amidships rig for silent running! ..Sir we can’t repair the damage like this?! ..SCR*W THE DAMAGE! You want to stay alive don’t you?!

Hard to port…

Shush shush shush (dodgy sound!!) the destroyer is coming in again, DEPTH CHARGES IN THE WATER SIR!



The explosions are at 180 degrees close - but not close enough I order the rudder be turned hard to port through 45 degrees before ordering amidships.

During the next half hour we carry out a series of L shaped manoeuvres and escape slowly clearing a distance of 4000m, during this time we managed to repair the damage. Then Verdammt!!! He is closing, closing very rapidly! RIG FOR SILENT RUNNING hard to starboard…

Again another series of maneuvers we survive several depth charge attacks and I am worried they have called for reinforcements. At this rate they are keeping our heads down and we are using up our batteries.

I form a plan, I am going to have to take the offensive before his buddies arrive. I set a torpedo to run on a straight course, magnetic fuse depth 4 meters. The enemy is circling our position and does not know where we are exactly. I instruct Victor Shultz on hydrophones to relay the position of the destroyer to me and I order the boat to a depth of 20m.

They are coming round behind us, slow, can hear the screws overhead, they are close… now 270 degrees… PERISCOPE DEPTH!! AHEAD STANDARD! FLOOD TUBE 3…

As soon as the water cleared the scope there they were bearing 345 degrees heading across our bow, distance about 370 - 400m
LOS! Fired one G7a and lowed the scope as quickly as possible and ordered a depth of 24m, rudder 20 degrees to port.





Gotta say I thought I was a gonna on this one! Just off Harwich in only 32m of water. When the first run of charges when off and the boat rose up I thought we were goning to hit the sea floor but the crew managed to regain control.

In one word I would say I was lucky!!

[SmokinTep]

Good job. I bet you were sweating bullets there for a while.

[nikbear]

Good stuff Gotta say in that depth of water attack really is the best form of defence you didn't have enough to hide in and its early in the war so the DD crew will be inexperienced,you did exactlly what I would have done bet you were sweating though Its thing like this that really make this game so exciting!

[Brag]

Good show. Not much chance of survival under those conditions. You did right in whomping the destroyer.

[Kpt, Otto]

I knew it was a bit risky going too far south of Lowerstoft. I only use the roving eye camara after I have made a course change or decision and have the orange surface marker enabled so that I can see if it was the right one. I will not allow myself to use it to my advantage, as can be seen.

I was sweating buckets though! I can imagine standing by the hydrophones operator listening and then giving the order Hard to starboard, ahead flank, as the depth charges come down... it really makes my game!!

[Shelton]

well done ! you did exceptionally well to bring your crew home

[Venatore]

Originally Posted by Kpt, Otto

I was sweating buckets though! I can imagine standing by the hydrophones operator listening and then giving the order Hard to starboard, ahead flank, as the depth charges come down... it really makes my game!!

Well done matey

[TarJak]

That's the way to do it.

If it's you or them I'd take the shot everytime in that depth. Best rethink going into shallow water again though. Its a hell of a way to try to survive the war going through that every time.