Pirate Patrol - ARRRGGGGHHH!!!

[Jonathan]

On my last patrol, I returned to port with 0 eels left in the tubes and only 4336 tons...given, it was with a type IIA, but still. Back at Bdu, I pleeded with my superiors and practcially anyone would listen to grant me a bigger sub so I could really show what I could do and make-up for my poor performance. Well, my request was granted, but I could tell that everyone knew that this was make it or break it for me in the world of unterseeboots. If I f*cked this patrol up, I could ship out because this was my last and only chance in the Kriegsmarine.

Anyways, on January 3rd, 1940, the U-47 lead by Kpt. Viktor Krieken sets sail from Wilhemshaven in a new Type VIIB with a total crew of 52, including 5 officers. The assigned patrol gride is set as AN56, right off the eastern coast of Hartlepool, I reach the patrol grid and thus far, my patrol trip has been none-to-exciting, with only a Norwegian C2 cargo spotted. But I had 24 hours of patrolling ahead of me, and I knew that things would have to pick up sooner or later, and boy, was I right. After a few more hours of moving westerly at 15km an hour, my WO screamed "Ship Sighted" and the hunt was on.

The ship, which was a British Coastal Merchant was about 6100m off the port side of the boat, and I accelerated to ahead full and set an intercept course. I told my WO to bring the deck gun crew on deck, to fire at medium range, and to aim for the hull. When we were within 1500m, I ordered the deck gun crew to open fire with the 8.5mm HE shells. Soon the ship was ablaze and at the bottom of the ocean, and it had only taken 15-20 shells to do so. I commended my deck gun crew and then ordered the WO to bring the watch crew back on deck and we continued on our patrol course. Already this patrol was turning out to be better than the last one. It was only going to get better from here.

After half a day, the sea was engulfed in the blackest darkness that I had ever seen, and I figured that we not "see" any other ships until daybreak. However, in the middle of the night, I heard my WO scream "ship spotted" and I rushed the command deck to see what we had found. Sure enough, about 6000m dead ahead of us was a British C2 cargo. Just like before, I ordered the deck gun crew on deck and we made for an intercept course. Just like before, when were within 1500m, I ordered them to open fire for the ships waterline, and soon enough, that ship to laid at the bottom of the ocean. Two for two, and things were looking up.

Throughtout the next four or five days, I set a course that made a big circle from just east of Hartlepool south to the beginning of the English channel, and back north towards the middle of the North Sea, and back west to ward Britain. When I enventually ran out of deck gun ammunition, my deck gun crew had managed to down six ships with a total tonnage weight of over 36,000 BRT. And the best part is, only one eel has been fired!

While on patrol, I received new from Bdu that Danzig was once again open, and that I should "keep up the good work". So now, I am going to take my sub to where the REALLY big ships lie and try to sink them. For that, I turn to my fellow Kaleuns here. Where can a daring and hungry Kapitain find the 10k plus ton ships? Is there any sort of guarunteed spot? I am looking for the big ones because my tonnage goal for this patrol was 75k, and I am only 39k away from that goal. Once, I got three eels off at the Revenge, but it was in harbor and was too shallow to sink. Anyone have any leads? I am playing at 61% realism.

[GoldenRivet]

give em hell

[HundertzehnGustav]

hell dude you was lucky... i did a type II patrol once and had 3 Duds... came home emptyhanded.

they didnt give me a new boat or nothing. i got a VIIC when we were in France, late 1940.

and, jhust like you say... THAT boat gives you abilities... what an upgrade!

[Blacklight]

Show them how to swim !!!!!

[Jonathan]

And the whole reason why I named the post "Pirate Patrol" was because when I saw a ship on the horizon, I outran it and then beat into the depths of Davy Jones' Locker with my cannon. The Skull and Crossbones will definitely be my new emblem...and I cannot wait to take this baby down to the Caribbean!

[Jonathan]

I forgot to mention that I had my WO take pictures of all the ships that we have sunk so far. He was a photography major in college, and he has a really swift camera. It can even take photographs through binoculars. Look for them as soonas he gets them developed.

[papa_smurf]

Thats what I like to see - an agressive U-boat commander

[Jonathan]

Any ideas on where to spot the big un's?

[Brag]

Take a look at the Operation spinnennetz map (in the stikies section).

SW of England is full of traffic

[Jonathan]

Thanks...I will take a look. I did a harbor raid in Hartlepool...there was nothing!

[I am Back]

Ahhh the type IIA, I remember when I sunk a Revenge Class in Scapa Flow (Maybe the Royal Oak, BEFORE THAT U-47 BY 2 DAYS!!!!

[Jonathan]

New Patrol Report Update:

After raiding the harbor at Hartlepool, no significant targets were found, and the U-47 'boot snuck back out into open waters, all the way avoiding a V and W Destroyer and a tugboat. Sonar made contact with a slow moving merchant ship and an intercept course was set. Soon, a British C3 cargo was spotted on the dark horizon. Range was decreased to 1500m and then two eels were fired...both direct hits! The lay floundering, but would not seek. A third eel hit midship and literally seperated the already hurt vessel into two halves, where it sunk to the botton. I ordered return to course and we boomed our way towards Dover and those famous cliffs.

On route Dover, another sound contact was made and I ordered the sub to intercept. We came upon two vessels travelling besides each other. One was a Coastal Merchant and the other was a C3 cargo, both British. I turned on the C3, closed the distance, lined my shot up, and fired two eels. They hit midship and within five minutes, the ship sank quietly to the bottom.

That makes the total number of ships sunk so far 12, with the tonnage at 51k. Hopes are high that a big battleship will be in the harbor at Dover. If not a battleship, then a major tanker or some 10K+ ship. Wish the crew of the U-47 luck!

[Jonathan]

Anyone? Buler? Bernard?

[GoldenRivet]

you using stock?

i thought stock harbors were empty. :hmm:

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

you using stock?

i thought stock harbors were empty. :hmm:

Well, using stock, I once came upon the Revenge...and another time I found like a T3 tanker...and the smallest thing I have found is a Coastal Merchant and a trawler