A Mistake That Went Well

Kaptlt.Endrass · 09-30-15, 10:12 PM

I've played SH3 for close to 3 years now. While I haven't played in the past two months, I was reminded of one of my last patrols recently, and would like to share it with you.

It is late 1941. We have joined the 10th Flotilla out of Lorient and are sailing to our patrol area off of Freetown, Africa. We've had minimal contacts throughout: A friendly armed merchant cruiser in the Bay of Biscay and, earlier that even, a convoy of four Irish intermediate tankers headed south as well. Tempting, but we refrain.

As we pass the neutral ships, I turn on the gramophone to relieve the crew of the monotony of the transit. (I have my own playlist, based off of what was popular in the Kreigsmarine, but maintain some of the original GWX songs). We continue on as night falls, running into a storm by dark.

Some hours later, we take a sound check and score: A convoy moving north, already on an intersect course. We surface; the storm has passed, but there is plenty of chop to help hide us from early war radar.

10 klicks out, we dive moving into position. However, my original estimate of 8 knots was off, and the convoy is threatening to escape. We surface insude the thin escort screen and find targets, managing to stay hidden from radar and the naked eye. I line up tubes 1 and 2 on a large cargo, and tube 3 on a small merchant. As the eels slide out of the tubes, I hear a tune filter through the hatch: the gramophone is still playing.

I go to switch it off, but then analyze the song. It is Das U-boat Lied ( http://uboat.net/special/songs/#boot , the second one) The song could not have been more appropriate, and I allow it to continue as our torpedoes decimate our targets. However, I dive out of there, and continue my journey south sometime later. And in the background, 'Westerwald' is being sung or hummed by the bridge crew as well as the rest of the U-boat's company.

A mistake I will not regret. I like to put myself in the shoes of a U-boat captain or crewmember when I play, yes. Being part German, I am very proud of my heritage, and feel a connection with the sailors of the Kreigsmarine, however small. But that one moment, I have never had a more immersing experience in SH3, with the German patriotic music playing as we made that attack. I hope I get more experiences like this when I return to the game.

Sailor Steve · 09-30-15, 11:14 PM

A cool experience! Thanks for sharing it.

UKönig · 10-01-15, 12:32 AM

HW3 · 10-01-15, 02:17 AM

Magic1111 · 10-01-15, 03:56 AM

Fahnenbohn · 10-01-15, 05:33 AM

Kaptlt.Endrass,

I really liked your story. I can easily imagine the emotion that you felt during the attack on the convoy. Thanks to the music and its power of suggestion, you realized suddenly that you REALLY were in 1941, aboard a german U-boot in South Atlantic. You were the free Germany acting for its future and fighting against all the powers of the world allied against her. This is the charm of simulations : make us relive a part of the past.

You're right to be proud of your heritage. The Germans waged a heroic struggle, which will never be forgotten by the future generations. Although they lost the war, the actual state of the world proves that their struggle was not madness but a definite choice to stay the great civilized nation they were.

F.

Kaptlt.Endrass · 10-10-15, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fahnenbohn

Kaptlt.Endrass,

I really liked your story. I can easily imagine the emotion that you felt during the attack on the convoy. Thanks to the music and its power of suggestion, you realized suddenly that you REALLY were in 1941, aboard a german U-boot in South Atlantic. You were the free Germany acting for its future and fighting against all the powers of the world allied against her. This is the charm of simulations : make us relive a part of the past.

You're right to be proud of your heritage. The Germans waged a heroic struggle, which will never be forgotten by the future generations. Although they lost the war, the actual state of the world proves that their struggle was not madness but a definite choice to stay the great civilized nation they were.

F.

Thank you, mate. I'm so used to people cringing at the fact I'm German. Unlike much of the world, we here at SubSim realize that not all Germans were Nazis. They weren't bloodthirsty killers. Like the French in the Battle of Paris, like the Red Army at Stalingrad, or the Japanese at Okinawa, each thought of only a few things worth fighting for; country, family, and thier lives. They followed thier orders and never gave up. The numbers tell the story.

I hope you all can make sense of my words.

Fahnenbohn · 10-10-15, 02:04 PM

I will never believe the american and soviet war propaganda describing the "nazis" as bloodthirsty killers. And you shouldn't believe it. Yes, there were some criminals in german side, but much less as in american and soviet sides.

Regards,

F.

09-30-15, 10:12 PM	#1
Kaptlt.Endrass Sonar Guy Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: No Longer On A Big Grey Floaty Thing Posts: 395 Downloads: 116 Uploads: 0	A Mistake That Went Well I've played SH3 for close to 3 years now. While I haven't played in the past two months, I was reminded of one of my last patrols recently, and would like to share it with you. It is late 1941. We have joined the 10th Flotilla out of Lorient and are sailing to our patrol area off of Freetown, Africa. We've had minimal contacts throughout: A friendly armed merchant cruiser in the Bay of Biscay and, earlier that even, a convoy of four Irish intermediate tankers headed south as well. Tempting, but we refrain. As we pass the neutral ships, I turn on the gramophone to relieve the crew of the monotony of the transit. (I have my own playlist, based off of what was popular in the Kreigsmarine, but maintain some of the original GWX songs). We continue on as night falls, running into a storm by dark. Some hours later, we take a sound check and score: A convoy moving north, already on an intersect course. We surface; the storm has passed, but there is plenty of chop to help hide us from early war radar. 10 klicks out, we dive moving into position. However, my original estimate of 8 knots was off, and the convoy is threatening to escape. We surface insude the thin escort screen and find targets, managing to stay hidden from radar and the naked eye. I line up tubes 1 and 2 on a large cargo, and tube 3 on a small merchant. As the eels slide out of the tubes, I hear a tune filter through the hatch: the gramophone is still playing. I go to switch it off, but then analyze the song. It is Das U-boat Lied ( http://uboat.net/special/songs/#boot , the second one) The song could not have been more appropriate, and I allow it to continue as our torpedoes decimate our targets. However, I dive out of there, and continue my journey south sometime later. And in the background, 'Westerwald' is being sung or hummed by the bridge crew as well as the rest of the U-boat's company. A mistake I will not regret. I like to put myself in the shoes of a U-boat captain or crewmember when I play, yes. Being part German, I am very proud of my heritage, and feel a connection with the sailors of the Kreigsmarine, however small. But that one moment, I have never had a more immersing experience in SH3, with the German patriotic music playing as we made that attack. I hope I get more experiences like this when I return to the game. __________________ "That flag and I are twins, born in the same hour from the same womb of destiny. We cannot be parted in life or in death; so long as we float, we shall float together." As much as I dislike it sometimes, I'm a tin can sailor, through and through.

09-30-15, 11:14 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	A cool experience! Thanks for sharing it. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

10-01-15, 12:32 AM	#3
UKönig Captain Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 495 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	__________________ Because I'm the captain, that's why!

10-01-15, 02:17 AM	#4
HW3 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Gresham Oregon Posts: 6,574 Downloads: 458 Uploads: 0	__________________ "Some ships are designed to sink...others require our assistance." Nathan Zelk

10-01-15, 03:56 AM	#5
Magic1111 Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Germany - Sailing on U-552 in North Atlantic Posts: 4,429 Downloads: 783 Uploads: 0	__________________

10-01-15, 05:33 AM	#6
Fahnenbohn Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: France Posts: 1,072 Downloads: 155 Uploads: 0	Kaptlt.Endrass, I really liked your story. I can easily imagine the emotion that you felt during the attack on the convoy. Thanks to the music and its power of suggestion, you realized suddenly that you REALLY were in 1941, aboard a german U-boot in South Atlantic. You were the free Germany acting for its future and fighting against all the powers of the world allied against her. This is the charm of simulations : make us relive a part of the past. You're right to be proud of your heritage. The Germans waged a heroic struggle, which will never be forgotten by the future generations. Although they lost the war, the actual state of the world proves that their struggle was not madness but a definite choice to stay the great civilized nation they were. F.

10-10-15, 02:04 PM	#8
Fahnenbohn Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: France Posts: 1,072 Downloads: 155 Uploads: 0	I will never believe the american and soviet war propaganda describing the "nazis" as bloodthirsty killers. And you shouldn't believe it. Yes, there were some criminals in german side, but much less as in american and soviet sides. Regards, F.