shortest U-Boat career

Bilge_Rat · 04-10-06, 05:00 PM

I recently reinstalled SHIII to try out the GW mod, after a few single missions, I launched into a new career, which turned out to be the shortest I ever had.

Lt Herbert RÃ¶bing was assigned the U-53 out of Kiel. We left port at 9 a.m. sept. 1st, 1939 and took a shortcut through the Kiel canal (very nice job, by the way

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U-53 was assigned patrol grid BF 17. Since Britain and France were still neutral ( or so we thought ), Lt. RÃ¶bing decided to sneak through the English Channel before war was declared. U-53 moved at high speed down the coast to pass by calais on the night of sept. 2-3.

At 0100 on the morning of sept. 3, the bridge watch spotted a warship. Lt. RÃ¶bing reached the bridge just in time to see an enemy destroyer lighting up the boat with searchlights and FIRING!.

U-53 quickly dived, however the sea in that area was only 27 meters deep.

Lt RÃ¶bing ordered silent running, but it was too late, depth charges rained around the sub, severally damaging it, causing flooding and destroying the forward batteries.

The sonar operator announced the enemy warship was quickly moving away, so Lt. RÃ¶bing decided to surface the ship and escape at high speed. Once on the bridge, the enemy destroyer was spotted on a westerly course. Lt. RÃ¶bing ordered flank speed towards the south. However, the enemy spotted U-53 and bent on speed to RAM!

Lt. RÃ¶bing tried to setup a quick torpedo shot from the stern tube, but the enemy was too quick and was mere yards away when U-53 dove. It was however too late, U-53 was struck. The boat rolled 45 degrees to port and hit bottom at 40 meters. There was extensive damage, both the hydrophone and the radio were destroyed.

Lt. RÃ¶bing decided to lay low and keep quiet, hoping the enemy would lose U-53. But it was not to be, even without the hydrophones, the crew in the control room could hear the enemy ship coming closer and closer...

At 0120 on the morning of september 3rd, 1939, U-53 was lost with all hands. The first U-Boat sunk in the war ... funny thing is, the war had not officially started yet.

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p.s. - I have started a new career and have come up with a new personal rule: "STAY AWAY FROM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL!"

04-10-06, 05:00 PM	#1
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,855 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	shortest U-Boat career I recently reinstalled SHIII to try out the GW mod, after a few single missions, I launched into a new career, which turned out to be the shortest I ever had. Lt Herbert RÃ¶bing was assigned the U-53 out of Kiel. We left port at 9 a.m. sept. 1st, 1939 and took a shortcut through the Kiel canal (very nice job, by the way ) U-53 was assigned patrol grid BF 17. Since Britain and France were still neutral ( or so we thought ), Lt. RÃ¶bing decided to sneak through the English Channel before war was declared. U-53 moved at high speed down the coast to pass by calais on the night of sept. 2-3. At 0100 on the morning of sept. 3, the bridge watch spotted a warship. Lt. RÃ¶bing reached the bridge just in time to see an enemy destroyer lighting up the boat with searchlights and FIRING!. U-53 quickly dived, however the sea in that area was only 27 meters deep. Lt RÃ¶bing ordered silent running, but it was too late, depth charges rained around the sub, severally damaging it, causing flooding and destroying the forward batteries. The sonar operator announced the enemy warship was quickly moving away, so Lt. RÃ¶bing decided to surface the ship and escape at high speed. Once on the bridge, the enemy destroyer was spotted on a westerly course. Lt. RÃ¶bing ordered flank speed towards the south. However, the enemy spotted U-53 and bent on speed to RAM! Lt. RÃ¶bing tried to setup a quick torpedo shot from the stern tube, but the enemy was too quick and was mere yards away when U-53 dove. It was however too late, U-53 was struck. The boat rolled 45 degrees to port and hit bottom at 40 meters. There was extensive damage, both the hydrophone and the radio were destroyed. Lt. RÃ¶bing decided to lay low and keep quiet, hoping the enemy would lose U-53. But it was not to be, even without the hydrophones, the crew in the control room could hear the enemy ship coming closer and closer... At 0120 on the morning of september 3rd, 1939, U-53 was lost with all hands. The first U-Boat sunk in the war ... funny thing is, the war had not officially started yet. ------------------------------------------------- p.s. - I have started a new career and have come up with a new personal rule: "STAY AWAY FROM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL!"