The death of another fine uboat and its crew 1940

[redsocialist]

So, I was on my 4th 1940 beggining patrol. Anotherwards, I can't survive past 1940. The reason for this? Because 2 ships does not mean success for me, I want a convoy. So after gunning down 2 lone merchants and patrolling my grid I decide to take her out to the north of ireland, convoy rout on the port coming out of liver pool. We spot a ship on the horizon. I see 2 of them. I'm like great! 2 lone merchants with no escort, so I foolishly order full speed ahead and intercept course. then they start turning towards me, and I'm like Awsome, this will be easy now I can really intercept them. Then I get a closer look, Low bow, with smoke stack in the back, I take her down to periscope depth and shut off the engines. Sonar man picks up contact closing, merchant. So I decide its safe to surface. But, before I go to the hydrophones and take a listen myself and I hear a fast swooshing and cranking noise. I'm like WAIT now, this is not a merchant! Then after 2 mintues of listening, he finnaly classifies it as a warship, and announces its closing. CRAP! I ordered ahead slow and a depth of 40 meters not changing my course. i think all is fine so I foolishly speed time up to x8, then I hear a doppler affect, then BOOM! I go to x1 and the uboat is nearly destroyed with flooding in almost all compartments. I ordered ahead flank to dive, which was useless and obviously made it worse, then blowing all my Ballast, before we sunk to the aybass.

I was pretty upset seeing this is the 3rd time on my patrol that I was killed. I have about a month of experience but I play with 95% realism and I like to go by the "did" and "dead is dead rule". I think I learn more and become a better commander that way. I heard no pinging what so ever, but in reality those 2 "merchants", were RN patrol craft, and there must of been a merchant behind them in the distance I have no clue. I learned my lesson though now. Silent running doesn't mean silent speed.. So if I run into this again ill be sure to take her to the bottom at 1 knot!