Ramming Speed

Zosimus · 07-09-14, 03:10 PM

At 2048 this evening I was lying in wait for a convoy a few hundred kilometers from the Irish Sea when the convoy abruptly changed course directly toward me. As I had not yet determined the speed of the target and the new trajectory ruined my plans, I went to 25 meters to await developments. As the convoy passed over me, I returned to periscope depth and determined its speed and course. I was able to angle my sub for a shot on one of the rear ships–a small cargo ship of some sort. Although the angle was probably about 135 AOB I scored a successful torpedo impact and the escorts did not detect my presence. About an hour later I returned to scope depth to find the majority of the convoy gone with the stricken ship behind.

I began following the ship at 3 knots, which was the ship's speed. After 5 hours, however, I had overtaken the ship. I believe the ship's speed is 1-2 knots and it is listing to port. As is my custom I came up on the starboard side of the ship prepared to eliminate the ship with the deck gun. Unfortunately the wind speed is 15m/s.

My crew was nonplussed at the order to ram the ship.

At ahead slow we rammed the non-damaged side of the cargo vessel. Except for an unpleasant screeching noise, U-48 was not affected. I attempted again on the damaged side of the cargo ship with no better results.

I backed off about 500m on the damaged side and ordered ahead one third.

Except for an unpleasant grinding sound no effect was observed to either my fine boat or the cargo ship.

After a few false starts we managed to get a good AOB on the stricken ship and I ordered ahead standard. The ship zigged and we scraped off towards the stern with no damage.

I backed off to 700m and ordered ahead full. My loyal crew

obeyed my order without question. U-48 struck the enemy vessel at 14 knots and climbed up on top of the boat in question. It took more than a minute of back emergency to sort that out. The bow torpedo tube was damaged, but my intrepid crew fixed it within 3 minutes.

At 800m and with a good angle I ordered ahead flank.

We hit the stricken vessel at 15 knots and slid underneath her. It was impossible to sort that out with any kind of back anything so I went to 25m and surfaced on the other side of her. The cargo ship was unaffected by any type of ramming. I noted no damage to my vessel, but my crew assured me that we took damage. We must have lost some hull integrity.

Conclusion: Don't ram cargo ships. It doesn't work.

07-09-14, 03:10 PM	#1
Zosimus XO Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Chorrillos, Lima, Peru Posts: 401 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Ramming Speed At 2048 this evening I was lying in wait for a convoy a few hundred kilometers from the Irish Sea when the convoy abruptly changed course directly toward me. As I had not yet determined the speed of the target and the new trajectory ruined my plans, I went to 25 meters to await developments. As the convoy passed over me, I returned to periscope depth and determined its speed and course. I was able to angle my sub for a shot on one of the rear ships–a small cargo ship of some sort. Although the angle was probably about 135 AOB I scored a successful torpedo impact and the escorts did not detect my presence. About an hour later I returned to scope depth to find the majority of the convoy gone with the stricken ship behind. I began following the ship at 3 knots, which was the ship's speed. After 5 hours, however, I had overtaken the ship. I believe the ship's speed is 1-2 knots and it is listing to port. As is my custom I came up on the starboard side of the ship prepared to eliminate the ship with the deck gun. Unfortunately the wind speed is 15m/s. My crew was nonplussed at the order to ram the ship. At ahead slow we rammed the non-damaged side of the cargo vessel. Except for an unpleasant screeching noise, U-48 was not affected. I attempted again on the damaged side of the cargo ship with no better results. I backed off about 500m on the damaged side and ordered ahead one third. Except for an unpleasant grinding sound no effect was observed to either my fine boat or the cargo ship. After a few false starts we managed to get a good AOB on the stricken ship and I ordered ahead standard. The ship zigged and we scraped off towards the stern with no damage. I backed off to 700m and ordered ahead full. My loyal crew obeyed my order without question. U-48 struck the enemy vessel at 14 knots and climbed up on top of the boat in question. It took more than a minute of back emergency to sort that out. The bow torpedo tube was damaged, but my intrepid crew fixed it within 3 minutes. At 800m and with a good angle I ordered ahead flank. We hit the stricken vessel at 15 knots and slid underneath her. It was impossible to sort that out with any kind of back anything so I went to 25m and surfaced on the other side of her. The cargo ship was unaffected by any type of ramming. I noted no damage to my vessel, but my crew assured me that we took damage. We must have lost some hull integrity. Conclusion: Don't ram cargo ships. It doesn't work.