August 1943

[GoldenRivet]

A difficult month.

Took my U-202 out on patrol and attempted to infiltrate a slow moving large convoy. I thought that perhaps if i went down to about 100 meters i could sneak in along side the flanks of the lead escort at 1 knot with silent running.

My efforts were met almost immediately with pinging from perhaps 3 directions. I deployed a few decoys and headed down to 200 meters.

The first depth charge run was too close for comfort. Destroyed the Radar antenna, destroyed the forward deck, and the deck gun. I went deeper still, with no real idea of what the hull integrity might have been.

after abotu 3 hours, of weaving in and out of ash cans which were falling like a gloomy snow i finally gave them the slip.

I sailed out of range of their radar and surfaced, plotted a crude intercept and tried once more about a day and a half later.

My position was quite bad. I had failed to lead the convoy enough and quickly discovered i was right along their beam about 2500 meters ahead of one of the flanking escorts.

Again, my efforts were met with pings thumping againt the hull.

I calculated a quick shot and fired a spread at a large merchant which missed astern of the ship.

Again the escorts retaliated against my incroachment into their convoy. They were obviously frustrated that i had twice gotten so close to their precious stream of war materials.

I went straight to 220 meters and deployed a few decoys on the way down. and again the dance took place as i weaved and twisted around their depth charges.

Once more i gave them the slip after taking a heavy beating but sustaining no damage. I surfaced out of radar range and once again proceeded to an estimated intercept point.

This time, i got lucky. Just as i had established myself in a perfect position about 45 degrees off the port side of the convoy i quickly realized i had found a hole which showed the potential for placing me inside the convoy lanes.

a quick look through the periscope revealed that the lead escort had his back turned on me. and the flanking escort was making his way out to do a search pattern along the starboard beam.

perfect.

I carefully claculated a solution on a large tanker and a troop transport. and fired a spread of two at each target. never leaving my periscope up for more than 30 seconds.

as soon as the 4th shot left the tubes i ordered a dive down deep, and turned hard to starboard to emerge from the rear of the convoy.

the first two torpedoes found their mark, causing many secondary explosions aboard the large tanker.

this must have set the whole force to evasive maneuvers as the other spread missed entirely.

In a chaotic frenzy the escorts began a panic stricken search for any signs of a u-boat, but by now i was already approaching 180 meters, slow and silent.

for about 15 minutes they diligently pounded the sea where i had launched a decoy.

eventually, they convoy dissapeared over the horizon as their prop beats fell silent and out of range i poped up for a look through the scope.

As i was admiring the debris and life boats from the tanker, i noticed a shape take form above.

with my heart quickly leaping into my throat i noticed several small splashes all around my periscope.

we were now under attack from an aircraft which had no doubt spotted our scope on radar.

as we passed 40 meters in a crash dive, several explosions rocked the boat causing minor damage.

after remaining submerged for the rest of the day, i decdided it was time to return home to lick the wounds.

[SandyCaesar]

Ah, yes: Black May is over, and the war slides steadily downhill.

From what I've heard, you were lucky to have attacked and survived at all. Still, getting pinged that early...those escorts are crazy. Too bad; maybe next time.

[predavolk]

If they had regular sonar, I'm impressed with your luck and/or skill.

If they had improved sonar, I'm floored with your god-like luck and/or skill.

Evading multiple escorts is a TOUGH job at any time, but it gets nearly suicidal later in the war.