Tell us what you are upto in your current campaign

[Leandros]

Originally Posted by Paul Riley

A fine letter Leandros.

You clearly are a bull at sea,taking the fight to the enemy head on.Prien would be proud no doubt.
I see myself as a meticulous hunter...much like a snake carefully observing its prey,holding its life in the balance until the time to strike arrives.If the prey is too strong then the hunter retreats,only to come back with stronger venom next time.There is a lot to be learnt from close calls and disasters,how else are we to learn?

Thank you, Paul!

It is not that I yearn for close calls and disasters - on the last patrol we had two very lucky calls. I have also grown much wearier by time at the same time rationing my torpedoes to worthwhile targets. I also always keep my aft tubes loaded with T1's for self-defense and never empty those completely before the last part of the home journey.

Honestly, these last 11 patrols there has only been one what I would call close call - and we came back with 6% HI - how that is possible I do not know. Not counting being run over by the Home Fleet.

[Kubryk]

September 1940, flottilla's base changed from Wilhelmshaven to Brest. Patrol nr 7, first from new location. Ordered grid BF12. Wind 15 m/s, dense fog, visibility 300m. We heard something sounding like a convoy. Surfaced, max speed, TC 256 - let's speed for a couple of minutes. Suddenly I hear bullet noise - just my luck, from my port side there's a DD shooting at me from 200m, to my right I see Nelson or Fiji escaping (I had half of second to look at it before ordering crash dive).

I check hydro, seems there are 7 warships above us. After 30 minutes I hear 'merchant, slow, moving away'. Back to periscope depht, I see that fog is now a memory. Slowly we sail towards the merchant only to find that it's a DD Tribal class, some smoke coming from his deck, he's not moving. Easy shot from 1700m, magnetic trigger, he's sinking fast. Probably was injured by crazy DD who was shooting at me. I order pursuit of that Nelson/Fiji, but they must be moving extremely fast, plus we've just been attacked by 5 planes at once. Down we go, will continue patrol when it's dark again.

[Murr44]

Hit a Large Merchant in CO42 yesterday just before dawn. She was being escorted by a Town class DD & a V&W. Was detected at the last second before I launched 2 T1's at her. Both torpedos hit home and crippled her but she stubbornly refused to go down (ping-pong balls?). The escorts were very persistant & pestered us for well over an hour before they gave up. Had to wait another while until the DD's left the area. Went to periscope level & decided to finish the job with a stern shot. That one failed to detonate & bounced harmlessly away. Finally said "enough is enough", surfaced and destroyed her with the deck gun at 3100m.

U-74 out...

[Jimbuna]

[quote=Leg;1104650]isn't the all weather gun actually "cheat"?

quote]

That's 2,016 (at the last count) Iron Crosses that need recalling

[Leandros]

U-108, Sept. 26th. 1940 17:07 - Patrol 12.

Just East of the Northern Hebrides - a strong echo..! Oops, here we go again. A Fiji class cruiser approaching straight on.....how is that for positioning...








10 minutes later - what a flop! See our aft-launched "steamer" cross just behind him and past his starboard bow....some fancy maneuvering saved him from this and our first, forward-launched torp. Two wasted!




Nothing could make him turn around - U-108 chased Fiji Northwards.....

[Paul Riley]

Originally Posted by Leandros

Thank you, Paul!

It is not that I yearn for close calls and disasters - on the last patrol we had two very lucky calls. I have also grown much wearier by time at the same time rationing my torpedoes to worthwhile targets. I also always keep my aft tubes loaded with T1's for self-defense and never empty those completely before the last part of the home journey.

Honestly, these last 11 patrols there has only been one what I would call close call - and we came back with 6% HI - how that is possible I do not know. Not counting being run over by the Home Fleet.

Close calls and disasters,I was referring to myself there,the close calls and disasters I have had lately with air attacks,its how I am learning to cope, through hardship

[Leandros]

U-108, Sept. 29th. 1940 13:49 - Patrol 12.

In the North-Western Approaches. This A&B had to pay for the missed Fiji...a tail shot.

[Packerton]

Where did you find an unescorted Cruiser? I wish I was that lucky.

[Leandros]

Originally Posted by Packerton

Where did you find an unescorted Cruiser? I wish I was that lucky.

The position is described - East of the Northern Hebrides...........not much ado when it gets away.....

[Pohl]

December 19, 1939

U-99 arrived safely after completing patrol #4 still waiting for a convoy to destroy, patrol #5 will get me to grid AN18 hopefully I get a high tonnage in this patrol otherwise my renown will be very low

[Bronzewing]

U128 is currently finishing a refit after it's first transatlantic patrol which was started to raid shipping leaving Halifax on 25/11/1941. On the way Hostilities with the United States broke out and the target was switched to New York to give the Yankeedoodles a freindly welcome to the second world war.
Somehow, due largely to the ineptitude of the US atlantic fleet and a medium fog, U128 penetrated New York bay and sank 5 ships including a passenger liner being refitted for war service (gun spotted aft), and two tankers.
U128 will depart shortly on her second war patrol. Now with a new mark 3 conning tower, as soon as the Alberich dries.

[Captain Birdseye]

Originally Posted by Packerton

Where did you find an unescorted Cruiser? I wish I was that lucky.

It's amazing what you can find out in the open seas!

I found a tribal class destroyer on her own patrolling the eastern mouth of the channel. This was 1939. As you know, the depth there isn't so great. So it was a fight to the death.

Shot two torps off and dived to 20m, praying for some mercy. One was faulty, the other a beauty shot straight into her ammo compartment, and she went up like a bonfire.

[Paul Riley]

Originally Posted by Leandros

You mean - making it even easier..........free showers to all crews manning the deck gun now...!!!!......come on, guys - hurry up.....

Or is there a remote control from below deck...?

Could they operate the guns in rough weather?.I think they would have to be strapped to the railings?.I am interested in this mod,as it would give us a bit of protection during rough conditions.

[Jaman]

Originally Posted by Packerton

Where did you find an unescorted Cruiser? I wish I was that lucky.

In Gibraltar you may find them (at least in GWX). Three times i´ve found a group of three unscorted Fiji-class Cruisers getting into the strait ahead flank. Too bad they caught me off feet one time, another without stern torpedoes and the last time a Hurricane chased me off before i could get into attack position.

[Leandros]

Originally Posted by Captain Birdseye

It's amazing what you can find out in the open seas!

I found a tribal class destroyer on her own patrolling the eastern mouth of the channel. This was 1939. As you know, the depth there isn't so great. So it was a fight to the death.

Shot two torps off and dived to 20m, praying for some mercy. One was faulty, the other a beauty shot straight into her ammo compartment, and she went up like a bonfire.

There are destroyers all over the place - particularly around the UK coast. It is just to find a central spot and they come to you - they are seemingly part of a fixed patrol pattern, using the same lanes all the time. The trick is to observe the route of one, then move cautiously over there and wait for the next one. Lay still and use the scope sparingly. 700-1500 meters range and you cannot miss. Use TIII's and they never know what hit them.

Once I positioned myself outside the Lerwick sub base. Five destroyers passed in front of our forward tubes within a couple of days. Because the water was so shallow one could see their masts sticking up (Union Jack waving) only a few hundred meters apart........

.....and Black Swans.....