not all Black swans are uber!

johnm · 11-06-07, 12:06 PM

There I was sailing along in a IXB, just left Lorient, destination DB94 - my first mission against Americans - April 1942.

Chugging through BE, trying to pick up the singletons' route to Halifax, then swing south by GD, whistling and enjoying the splendid weather (for a change) when ........

pick up a radar signal, too slow reacting, then a Black Swan heading due south, no, wait, two BS in line ahead, by the time I'd crash dived, my integrity was down to 80 and there were now SIX Black Swans, nice new paint, pretty ensigns, all following father, who decided to whop me good!

Took her down to 95, didn't dare go lower, 3rd or 4th DC attack wiped out my radio and radar antennas, both periscopes and another 10+ off my integrity!

running silent or nearly, Bernard keeps whining about 'depth charges in the water' and 'we're under attack' - as if we didn't know!

After rearranging his hairstyle with the engineer's biggest wrench, we weaved and waved and upped and downed and tried everything I could think of.

At Last, they appeared to lose me, DC's being dropped over a 1000 metres away! Like Dad, I just kept mum and we crawled away at <2 knts. After about 3 hours, I lost them.

Now - conning tower of doom? I came up to 15 metres, took a deep breath and surfaced. Up went the watch, and the officer. I didn't even have to kick him up there, just wave a luger in his face.

So, there we were, about 200 miles from Lorient, 60% integrity, no periscopes, radio or radar. All the crew, even bErnard, alive and well. I chicked out and decided to cut and run home to mum.

I'll get the yanks next time!

11-06-07, 12:06 PM	#1
johnm Navy Dude Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North of England Posts: 173 Downloads: 68 Uploads: 0	not all Black swans are uber! There I was sailing along in a IXB, just left Lorient, destination DB94 - my first mission against Americans - April 1942. Chugging through BE, trying to pick up the singletons' route to Halifax, then swing south by GD, whistling and enjoying the splendid weather (for a change) when ........ pick up a radar signal, too slow reacting, then a Black Swan heading due south, no, wait, two BS in line ahead, by the time I'd crash dived, my integrity was down to 80 and there were now SIX Black Swans, nice new paint, pretty ensigns, all following father, who decided to whop me good! Took her down to 95, didn't dare go lower, 3rd or 4th DC attack wiped out my radio and radar antennas, both periscopes and another 10+ off my integrity! running silent or nearly, Bernard keeps whining about 'depth charges in the water' and 'we're under attack' - as if we didn't know! After rearranging his hairstyle with the engineer's biggest wrench, we weaved and waved and upped and downed and tried everything I could think of. At Last, they appeared to lose me, DC's being dropped over a 1000 metres away! Like Dad, I just kept mum and we crawled away at <2 knts. After about 3 hours, I lost them. Now - conning tower of doom? I came up to 15 metres, took a deep breath and surfaced. Up went the watch, and the officer. I didn't even have to kick him up there, just wave a luger in his face. So, there we were, about 200 miles from Lorient, 60% integrity, no periscopes, radio or radar. All the crew, even bErnard, alive and well. I chicked out and decided to cut and run home to mum. I'll get the yanks next time!