[Kaptlt.Endrass]

Commencing our 9th patrol out of our new base in Wilhemshaven, U-50 and her crew, receiving news of the commencement of Operation Hartmut, plot a course to take them off the shores of Norway in anticipation of the likely presence of both enemy merchants and enemy warships.

The first few days are very quiet...some ships are sighted, all either not worth the time or German, and U-50 plods on her course. Numerous times, word of a fleet or lone merchant comes in, and the crew gets excited for the next few hours, only to find the enemy has changed course at some point.

Finally, the third day after hostilities with Norway commenced, word comes in from the watch crew that an unidentified ship has been sighted, near midnight. The captain is roused and brought to the bridge. On first inspection, the night is too dark to observe the ship's colors, though her darkened nature marks her as a potential target. The captain orders a course change and U-50 closes the distance decks awash. Eventually, it is discerned that the ship, a coastal tanker, is Norwegian. U-50 rises from decks awash and the crew of the deck gun makes ready to commence firing.

The first shot delivers an outstanding hit to the tanker, and further firing brings the ship to a near halt. Firing is ceased, and after 30 or so minutes, the crew of the vessel abandons ship as the tanker capsizes.

With some tally on the board finally, U-50 moves north, where reports of English fleets abound from Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine sources alike. Two more days in, the crew is tracking once such report, and at long last hears the sound of warship screws over the hydrophone.

Positioning, though not quite what the captain would have preferred, was sufficient, as the torpedoes would be in range, if having to travel some way. In addition, it was daytime, and the enemy fleet was moving fast, meaning it was likely this was the only shot U-50 would have at these ships.

Raising the scope, the captain immediately notes a C&D class some 2, perhaps 3.000 metres to starboard, moving away. Further inspection of the battlegroup reveals an astounding prize: an Illustrious-class carrier, escorted by three Southhampton-class light cruisers. The crew immediately goes to full alert, and the torpedo doors are opened as the captain swiftly takes measurements. Within two minutes, three torpedoes slide out of their tubes, followed by a fourth shortly after, aimed for the cruiser to the stern of the carrier.

The next four minutes are quiet, save for the occasional muffled cough from one of the crew, and the occasional drip of condensation. Then, one, then two detonations are heard, followed by many smaller ones, and then a third. The crew briefly rejoices, only to be shushed by the officers and petty officers as the most tense portion of their hunt begins. U-50 goes to 60 meters, and, to the crew's amazement, never hears a single sonar ping. Slinking away, the crew congratulates each other on a job well done.

Later that week, another report comes in, and just as before, U-50 moves to intercept. This time, it is a much grander prize: HMS Nelson, heavily escorted. Despite a full salvo from all forward tubes, however, all but one torpedo misses due to the turns that the great battleship was doing; the one torpedo, a Type II, did not detonate as hoped, and the Nelson lived on. When the enemy was nearly out of sight, U-50 surfaced, reporting the task force's strength, course, heading, and composition, then began heading home, her torpedo stores nearly depleted.