First Air Raid

rudderless · 04-21-10, 06:03 AM

June 1940
Nearly completed a circumnavigation of the British Isles without much to show for it. Bad weather and mechanical problems were turning this into the patrol from hell. Just about decided to give it up and run for home. We will have a quick look in Hull (should be Blyth not Hull, sorry), if nothing there home we go.
Surfaced and headed in at 1/3 speed to about 12k out, down to P depth, ahead slow, rig for silent running. Still enough daylight to spot mines, never spotted one, very lucky as I have lost a few careers to mines.
AWS trawler on guard patrol, quick peeks trying to work the best position to get around him.
Crew are looking very nervous at this stage when all of a sudden we can hear explosions.

Have we been spotted, up scope, no not us, it's an air raid. Quick change of underpants for all and we are good to go.
Bugger there goes the medium tanker we were after but lucky for us so did AWS trawler.
Ok, that still leaves an empire freighter, a sub, a destroyer and a small coal freighter.
Air raid sirens again, destroyer and shore batteries firing, must be the second wave. Down goes the destroyer and the empire, Oh $%it only leaves the sub and the small coal freighter.
Managed to get the sub and the freighter without having to try and get through the nets, set torps to minimum depth and they just skimmed over the top.
Counted 3 Heinkels, I think they were, splashed.
Man that was worth watching.

RConch · 04-21-10, 06:15 AM

Never have seen an actual air raid-sounds very neat!

Best I can claim was one mission in a Type II canoe, when chasing a ore carrier in the North Sea, I called in the contact and shortly after a pair of JU 88s showed up and damaged the ore carrier and allowed me to catch up and finally sink her.

Phantom II · 04-21-10, 06:27 AM

I saw an air raid once during Operation Weserubung. I spotted a British Naval Taskforce moored in one of the many fjords in Norway, radio'd BdU, and as I was getting into position for a torpedo run, they got the crap bombed out of them

Immelman · 04-21-10, 07:16 AM

The only air raids I ever experienced where on the receiving end coming out of the sub pen flaks firing as all hell is breaking lose all around me. Funny thing is every time I have stayed in the pens to ride out the raid I get damaged if I go out guns blazing then I do not get a scratch! Weird

KL-alfman · 04-21-10, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Immelman

The only air raids I ever experienced where on the receiving end coming out of the sub pen flaks firing as all hell is breaking lose all around me. Funny thing is every time I have stayed in the pens to ride out the raid I get damaged if I go out guns blazing then I do not get a scratch! Weird

yep!
happened to me too. in April1944 I also tried to wait till the Halifax-bombers returned home but got severe damage though 12m armoured concrete were protecting me ....

papa_smurf · 04-21-10, 07:45 AM

I've yet to see Herman Goerings flyboys do anything yet. They never do anything to help the Kriegsmarine

(p.s. KL-alfman, looks like you got hit by bunker busters.....The RAF had a few in '44)

Reinhard Dietz · 04-21-10, 07:54 AM

I have to hand it to the AI for Luftflotte 3; their Ju 88s probably saved me from an early end to the career. I was cruising on the surface somewhere near England---probably the eastern end of the English Channel---in early 1940, and I just happened to be in the bridge view looking around.

Lo, I hear aircraft engines, but not the usual sound of Hurricanes, which have been the extent of ASW coverage so far. I didn't dive right away, mostly because the water was shallow and I wasn't sure as to how deep it was at the moment. I had the flak station manned, but then something off about 2 o'clock blew up. Turns out a four-ship element of Ju 88s had found an ASW trawler ahead of me in the fog that I never saw until it was destroyed.

I don't know if it was lying doggo or what, but it was a lot closer than I prefer things with radios or artillery to be, and we never knew it was there. So yeah, the (former) crew of ol' U-48 really appreciates the efforts of a small pack of Ju 88s.

KL-alfman · 04-21-10, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa_smurf

I've yet to see Herman Goerings flyboys do anything yet. They never do anything to help the Kriegsmarine

(p.s. KL-alfman, looks like you got hit by bunker busters.....The RAF had a few in '44)

hm, I see.
the French bases really are let alone by fat-assed Göring's boys.

I'll transfer to Norway soon, chances are good to have at least minor protection there.

Jimbuna · 04-21-10, 10:22 AM

Your best chance of witnessing an air raid is usually in 11th Flotilla out of Bergen.

Sailor Steve · 04-21-10, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Immelman

Funny thing is every time I have stayed in the pens to ride out the raid I get damaged if I go out guns blazing then I do not get a scratch! Weird

If you return in bad weather you might notice that rain falls right through into the pens.

So do bombs.

KL-alfman · 04-21-10, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Your best chance of witnessing an air raid is usually in 11th Flotilla out of Bergen.

speaking of Norway:
just (1944-08-17) received message of BdU that the French bases will be evacuated and we "should take preparations for"??!!
until now I got no definite base to get back to.
will there be an according message or may I take one I like?
and what happens after that?
which Flotilla will I be assigned to?
which base will now be my home one?

Jimbuna · 04-21-10, 10:52 AM

You will be allocated one by Bdu....but it's dependant on where you start your patrol from.

I generally get transferred to 11th Flotilla.

KL-alfman · 04-21-10, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

You will be allocated one by Bdu....but it's dependant on where you start your patrol from.

I generally get transferred to 11th Flotilla.

thx for explaining!
(never got that far in SH3

)

I started out of Brest (1st Flotilla) in a VIIC/41

04-21-10, 02:13 PM

I remember when the Air Raid Siren mod was created.
I sent it out for testing and told everyone to turn the speakers up
as high as they would go because the sound file was low in volume.

Boy did I catch FLAK over that!

schlechter pfennig · 04-21-10, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by privateer

I remember when the Air Raid Siren mod was created.
I sent it out for testing and told everyone to turn the speakers up
as high as they would go because the sound file was low in volume.

Boy did I catch FLAK over that!

04-21-10, 06:03 AM	#1
rudderless Watch Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 20 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	First Air Raid June 1940 Nearly completed a circumnavigation of the British Isles without much to show for it. Bad weather and mechanical problems were turning this into the patrol from hell. Just about decided to give it up and run for home. We will have a quick look in Hull (should be Blyth not Hull, sorry), if nothing there home we go. Surfaced and headed in at 1/3 speed to about 12k out, down to P depth, ahead slow, rig for silent running. Still enough daylight to spot mines, never spotted one, very lucky as I have lost a few careers to mines. AWS trawler on guard patrol, quick peeks trying to work the best position to get around him. Crew are looking very nervous at this stage when all of a sudden we can hear explosions. Have we been spotted, up scope, no not us, it's an air raid. Quick change of underpants for all and we are good to go. Bugger there goes the medium tanker we were after but lucky for us so did AWS trawler. Ok, that still leaves an empire freighter, a sub, a destroyer and a small coal freighter. Air raid sirens again, destroyer and shore batteries firing, must be the second wave. Down goes the destroyer and the empire, Oh $%it only leaves the sub and the small coal freighter. Managed to get the sub and the freighter without having to try and get through the nets, set torps to minimum depth and they just skimmed over the top. Counted 3 Heinkels, I think they were, splashed. Man that was worth watching. Last edited by rudderless; 04-22-10 at 07:19 AM.

04-21-10, 06:15 AM	#2
RConch Captain Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: No. Virginia Posts: 619 Downloads: 518 Uploads: 0	Never have seen an actual air raid-sounds very neat! Best I can claim was one mission in a Type II canoe, when chasing a ore carrier in the North Sea, I called in the contact and shortly after a pair of JU 88s showed up and damaged the ore carrier and allowed me to catch up and finally sink her. __________________ "Noch und Noch" Prowling the Nord Atlantik with GWX 3.0.

04-21-10, 06:27 AM	#3
Phantom II Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 139 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	I saw an air raid once during Operation Weserubung. I spotted a British Naval Taskforce moored in one of the many fjords in Norway, radio'd BdU, and as I was getting into position for a torpedo run, they got the crap bombed out of them __________________

04-21-10, 07:16 AM	#4
Immelman Sparky Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 150 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	The only air raids I ever experienced where on the receiving end coming out of the sub pen flaks firing as all hell is breaking lose all around me. Funny thing is every time I have stayed in the pens to ride out the raid I get damaged if I go out guns blazing then I do not get a scratch! Weird __________________ Fotia kai tsekouri

04-21-10, 07:45 AM	#6
papa_smurf Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2,851 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	I've yet to see Herman Goerings flyboys do anything yet. They never do anything to help the Kriegsmarine (p.s. KL-alfman, looks like you got hit by bunker busters.....The RAF had a few in '44) __________________

04-21-10, 07:54 AM	#7
Reinhard Dietz Machinist's Mate Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Lorient Posts: 121 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	I have to hand it to the AI for Luftflotte 3; their Ju 88s probably saved me from an early end to the career. I was cruising on the surface somewhere near England---probably the eastern end of the English Channel---in early 1940, and I just happened to be in the bridge view looking around. Lo, I hear aircraft engines, but not the usual sound of Hurricanes, which have been the extent of ASW coverage so far. I didn't dive right away, mostly because the water was shallow and I wasn't sure as to how deep it was at the moment. I had the flak station manned, but then something off about 2 o'clock blew up. Turns out a four-ship element of Ju 88s had found an ASW trawler ahead of me in the fog that I never saw until it was destroyed. I don't know if it was lying doggo or what, but it was a lot closer than I prefer things with radios or artillery to be, and we never knew it was there. So yeah, the (former) crew of ol' U-48 really appreciates the efforts of a small pack of Ju 88s. __________________ Reinhard Dietz U-126 2. Unterseebootsflottille, Lorient

04-21-10, 10:22 AM	#9
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Your best chance of witnessing an air raid is usually in 11th Flotilla out of Bergen. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

04-21-10, 10:52 AM	#12
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	You will be allocated one by Bdu....but it's dependant on where you start your patrol from. I generally get transferred to 11th Flotilla. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

04-21-10, 02:13 PM	#14
Madox58 Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I remember when the Air Raid Siren mod was created. I sent it out for testing and told everyone to turn the speakers up as high as they would go because the sound file was low in volume. Boy did I catch FLAK over that!