"The war" #2 said "is passing us by"...

[Silverleaf]

So the day had come at last. Being trained to lead a boat of sailors was my goal, but getting there had been tough. I lost good friends in the last 12 months, some to service in other countries and a few close friends when the U-Boat they were on never came back. A type II was my destination and my largest fear wasn't death but letting the men see that I was scared stiff. Patience, breathe deep and we'll get through this, or so I thought..

Our first patrol in August had been a shake down of sorts, the men getting used to a brand new ship and me getting used to them. Petre was my #2, a good man whom spoke little but whose actions demanded attention. I had no concerns about him, nor the enlisted men, but a junior officer named Koenig was testing my patience with slow reports of sonar readings.

Our first conversation about a missed merchant ship almost came to blows, though if it weren't for the torpedo man affectionately called Bull, he might have got away with it. Funny how that works, I know Bull's sister, a shapely lass who has her eye on capturing Petre's heart. She's always inviting us over for drinks and on the rare occasion when I can't make it, he begs off for some other "important" task. I think she's wearing him down.

We were to patrol sector AN18, and after I found it on the map, I gave an appreciative whistle. Hans our resident Helmsmen smirked as he plotted in our course, saying just loud enough for me to hear "We'll see what she's made of huh?" I clipped him on the back of the head and said over my shoulder as I went top side "...and I'll see what your made of too."

24 days, three missed merchant signals and one pissed off Captain later, we arrived back at port - five fish wasted and nothing to show for it. Petre tried to talk to me about it, but the only consoling I could stand was a bottle of schnapps.

September 8, 1939

AN42...

Well it's a bit closer this time I thought, throwing the orders down on the table and staring out the window overlooking the docks. I was thinking about strategy, replaying in my mind everything I had been taught and a few tricks that Hebert had shown me on a napkin last night at the club. As I watched a seagull dive down to the water I was snapped out of my revelry by some commotion on the dock. Looks like a child got caught stealing something, the vendor's screaming and threatening to hit her. Even though I'm two stories up, I can't help but want to leap through the window and beat the stuffing out of him, she's just a kid, hungry, scared, we all are.

A hand comes out of no where, blocks the arm and knocks the vendor to the ground. Well, well.. that's Hendrek, my can't hear a damn thing Sonar man coming to the rescue. The merchant gets up, curses Hendrek and fades into the shadows. He kneels down and wipes her face with a hankerchief then quickly looks around and hands her some money. A whisper in the ear, a smile on her face and she's gone to stave off starvation for another day. He heads to the club, and I'm thinking I need to buy him a drink.

Two days out and I've had another conversation with Hendrek, only this time Petre's involved. Something about money lost in a bet, though I can't get the whole story. I tell them it's finished till we get back to Keil, your wasting my time. Up on watch theres a foul wind blowing, the radio's been buzzing with reports of high seas and terrible rain. Our chief screams from below "All right you bastards, time to see what your made of", I can only smile, look at the fading stars, and wait for the impending storm.

"Contact Battleship, bearing 110, long range" comes the reply. It's about time I think and head down to the sonar to take a listen. 36 hours later, we've been making little headway against this storm. I think it's good to be below the waves and out of that wind, but damn Chief, what should we do? He smiles, takes a long draw of powerhouse coffee and doesn't say a word. I can see where this is going Chief, thanks!. I go to my quarters, "#2 you have the con", I need to think...

I awoke 4 hours later to the sound of electric engines humming, not whining. When I popped out to the control room and looked around "The war" #2 said "is passing us by"...

[Jimbuna]

Message from Bdu:

BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!!

[Brag]

I like your characters--keep writing

[Task Force]

Very good silverleaf. you have done a good job on this.

[nikbear]

It will be interesting to see where these chaps and the story leads:hmm:keep up the good work

[Silverleaf]

I truly appreciate your kind words, thank you. 8)

I started thinking about writing something as just an introduction to my career, but when I installed SH3 Commander and actually had a crew with names and historical data, well that made it interesting.

I just finished Patrol 3, so we'll see what happens...

Cheers,

R.S.

[STEC]

great job, good imagination.

[Silverleaf]

6 hours later we were in position, periscope depth and screws barely turning. I took a quick look, nasty waves, high seas and then bang there they were. We've spotted the entire British fleet I thought as Petre confirmed the sighting.

All right boys, it's time to start the hunt. #2 confirm positions at check. His silence spoke volumes as Chief grabbed my shoulder - a firm but reassuring grasp. Check, gears turned and check. 24 and 38 degrees. Two huge merchants. Chief, come to heading 31 we'll split the differ..

Hold!!

As I peered through the periscope a destroyer rolled past my view and a massive ship came into sight. Either a troop or ..damn waves... battleship perhaps but couldn't tell for sure. Then as I was ready to move, a glint of moonlight shown through, and the Hood's older stacks became prominent.

Check position. 28 degrees

I watched the destroyer and she looked like she was angling inwards slightly towards the center of the group, if so, then we might have a clear shot. Worth a go.

Chief, come to heading 26.
Depth under Keel as tube 1 fires.
Open tubes 1 through 4, 2 degree spread.

Petre gave the thumbs up, and I waited..feeling my heartbeat and counting them 6, 7, 8, 9, ... tubes 1 and 3 LOS!

Depth is 84 Sir. I waited another 5 heart beats... tubes 2 and 4 LOS!

As the eels slid away, I was already dropping the scope and giving new orders. Damage control to stations, double knuckle to starboard, dive to 56, continue for 45 seconds, then rig for silent. Hans, I want sonar reports 30 seconds after we turn.

The boat exploded into action, and through it all Petre stood still, balancing his body and keeping an eye on his stopwatch as we started the tight turn.

I had a vision of the battle in my head, the eels flying strong through the turbulence, perhaps one of two of the sonar men picking up a slight disturbance on board one of the ships, but in these rough seas, good luck. We, turning away and showing our tail and a slim target, and above the ships struggling mightily against the storm.

As we came out of the turn, I looked at the clock beside Chief. 42..43..44..45.

"Rig for silent" came Chief's call.

"Time Captain" came the voice over my shoulder as a report was slid into my view. Victor and Hans had become quite a team. Nothing yet on Sonar. Chief, turn to heading 145.

I gazed at Petre, the clock in my head saying we had perhaps another minute before we'd know when Hans screamed, "CONTACT! Screw right on top.."

There was a horrendous sound as the boat lurched. Then the lights went out.

[Silverleaf]

Creaking and buckling sounds greeted my ears, though I couldn't see a damn thing. "I need damage and crew reports, and someone get working on the lights". Multiple depth charges jolted us some more, sending the ship rolling severely from port to starboard, and in a few cases, on all axis. In the distance explosions sounded but we couldn't be sure what they were.

Otto, one of our trusted Helmsmen was seriously injured, Doc was working on him frantically to close a large gash in his side. A few crewmen came to help us move him back to a bunk and Bull appeared in the doorway between flickers of light and a torch haphazardly held to report the loss of three men. Oskar, Erwin and Felix. I nodded slowly, wiping blood off my hands. As I made my way past Bull the boat jumped again - slamming hard on what could only be the ocean floor - and grinding along what sounded like a rocky outcropping. Hopefully she doesn't tear apart along the seam.

Lights flickered, then went out and at the same time we all hit the deck, hard. Then silence.

The DC's faded at least temporarily, and then with a last deep gurgle the boat lurched to one side and stopped, listing to port by some 9 degrees, it was surreal to realize we were on the bottom of the ocean and still alive.

When I made it back to the command room the lights flickered on for half a heartbeat, went off then started to brighten from a dull glow. Klaus screamed from the foredeck that partial lights were restored, and that he and Chief were checking the batteries. Petre appeared from below the table, a nasty cut on his head, but he still held the watch in his hands. I helped #2 over to a bunk, and checked his wound. You'll make it old friend, and hopefully we all will.

A few moments later the wretched death throe sounds of a ship coming to join us could be heard, the joy and sorrow that moment brought won't soon be forgotten as I made my way over to the gauges, wiping condensation to clear the dials, and checking positions. Water reported in the rear torpedo room, but it was under control. I squinted through the haze at the depth, blinked then wiped again. #2, came staggering over and peered over my shoulder...

207 meters.

[Silverleaf]

Chief took this moment to appear, enough sweat and grease to make me do a double take. He glanced at the depth, checked some gauges then turned to face me.

"Kap, it's not good. We've got ruptures throughout the ship, and some flooding. We've got enough air for 35 hours and the batteries are in fair shape. Christoff, one of our Damage Control team got trapped and Doc just told me... Otto didn't make it".

He pulled out his flask, went to take a drink and realized it was empty. A small hole in the side told the tale. "Dammit" he bellowed "that's two in six months!"

I nodded to Leopold our second shift Helmsman and he brought out a bottle of whiskey, which we passed around. After a short break, I told Petre to order everyone off duty to report to their bunks. We need to save air and take stock of everything. I'm off to help Chief and see how the boat's holding up.

[nikbear]

I read that all so fast that I had to read it twice,I'm on the edge of me seat here cracking material