U-21. The story begins....

[VonApist]

September 1940. Kiel.

The tall, bearded figure put out his cigarette and started walking towards the docks at a steady pace. He had just left the office of Korvkpt.Eckermann, the commander of the 1st U-Boat Flotilla, a feeling of excitement running through his veins. At last.

During his brief encounter with the Flotilla Commander, Oberleutnant Karl Limbach was given the command of U-21, a type-II coastal U-boat. He was expected to make final preparations and a shakedown trip within the course of the next 3 days and report back ready for duty.

As Commander Eckermann explained, he would be given a crew of mixed experience. U-21's LI, Klemens Dauter, has been a Chief Engineer in Type-II boats for most of his military life. He enjoyed the utmost respect from both sailors and officers for his extreme familiarity with every nut and bolt inside a Type-II and his superb and ingenious abilities as a mechanic.

On the other hand, his WO, his First Officer, was just out of kadet school, where he excelled. But academic/ training excellence is one thing. Experience is another, as Karl had learned the hard way during his 12 month stint as a First Officer in U-6 where he had witnessed the breakdown of a lot of "promising" young talent out of kadet school.

Nevertheless, he felt confident. He had 12 months of combat experience, a rare attribute so early in the war while his experienced LI would make his life a lot easier. And for those who knew, an experienced LI could make the difference between life and a metal catacomb buried under silt, 250m below the ocean's surface.

Lost in thoughts, he nodded towards the two Kriegsmarine sailors who stood at attention and offered a crisp salute as he walked by, entering U-21's pen.

[VonApist]

Oberleutnant Karl Limbach folded his arms across his chest and stared at his U-boat. Tied on the dock inside the pen, U-21 resembled a tin cigar. Sailors were moving in and out carrying supplies and equipment while two mechanics were performing a check on the Uboat's periscope.

A short and stocky blond officer stood on deck barking commands to a bunch of Uboat men trying to load a T-1 torpedo through the forward deck hatch and to the torpedo room.

This must be Chief Engineer Klemens Karl thought.

The torpedo hung menacingly from chains as a small crane purred and puffed trying to zero on the optimum spot, guided by a Bootsmanner on deck. The crane lowered the torpedo as two sailors expertly grabbed it and pointed its nose through the hatch down below. Satisfied, the Chief Engineer lit a cigarette and turned his head towards the dock.
When his gaze met Karl's he straightened his cap and took the cigarette off his lips ready to put it out.
Karl nodded at him to keep it and started walking towards the wooden plank that connected the Uboat to the dock. The Chief Engineer gave a last glance to the Torpedomen and reassured, he moved to meet his new Commanding Officer.

[VonApist]

The Chief Engineer moved his stocky frame swiftly for his size and walked towards his new Kaleun. He offered a formal salute and extended his hand for a handshake.

"Leutnant Klemens Dauter sir, serving as U-21's Leitender Ingenieur.
Happy to report that the boat is fit for duty." The LI reported.
"Supplies are already on board and we have a full load of torpedoes already in the lady's belly, sir. On behalf of the crew I would like to welcome you to your new command."

Karl saluted back and firmly shook the LI's hand.
"Oberleutnant Karl Limbach, Leutnant. Glad to meet you.
I have heard a lot of stories about you, all of them impressive."
Klemens offered a modest smile.
Karl continued.

"Im extremely happy to have you on board, Klemens. We will need all the experience we can get, cause with your help, I intent to shape this boat and crew to become the best in the Flotilla" the Oberleutnant concluded with a grin.

"Klemens, I will be back in two hours. Gather the crew on deck at 13:00 sharp. We will take her out for a ride" Karl ordered as his LI acknowledged.

The Oberleutnant made his way towards the pens exit.
Suddenly he stopped and turned around.
His gaze drifted towards the U-Boat's conning tower and the U-boat's emblem. An eagle holding a small swastika in its claws.
He pointed at U-21's emblem dismissively .
"Tell the boys to erase this . This boat and crew, from now on, have a new emblem. The Black Swan. "

[Johnfb]

Enjoying this

[VONHARRIS]

Πολύ ωραίο.

[VonApist]

Oberleutnant Karl Limbach sat alone at a table for two in the small but cozy restaurant of the Koehring Hotel. He took off his cap and placed it on the empty chair next to him.

He looked around. Apart from him, the restaurant was empty. He checked his wristwatch. 11.30am. Too early for lunch.
Well not for him. He was starving.

His trip from Munich to Kiel via Hamburg by train, had lasted all night.
He had arrived at the Koehring Hotel in the early morning hours, had taken a shower and left immediately for the Flotilla Headquarters.

Karl realized that he hadn't had anything to eat for more than 18 hours.
With the thought, his stomach groaned.

He nodded at the waiter and ordered a beef stew and a glass of beer.
As the waiter walked towards the kitchen, Karl lit a cigarette and retrieved a sheaf of paper from a yellowish manilla envelope stamped with the Kriegsmarine emblem.

He checked his wristwatch again. He had a little more than an hour to eat and check the crew files of U-21.

Then he would walk back at the pen, inspect the crew and take U-21 for a ride to check her out.

Type-II's were small but tricky. He needed to see if the helmsmen could trim her properly and keep constant depth. He wanted to push the diesels to the limit and take out every available knot. He wanted to time crash dives. But above all he wanted to check-out first hand the U-boats depth limits. His combat experience had taught him one thing. The deeper, the better. In wartime patrols he would have to take advantage of every extra centimenter of depth. This was the time to find out how strong his new tin lady was.

He placed the papers on the table and combed his hair.

With his left hand, Karl raised his beer glass as if toasting to an invisible friend and took a sip. Then, he took a last puff from his cigarette, put it out in the ashtray and started reading.

[VonApist]

Originally Posted by VONHARRIS

Πολύ ωραίο.

Thank you mate

[Sailor Steve]

Meh. I could write a better...wait a minute, no I couldn't.

Just teasing. It's great so far. I find myself starting to like the people even before they've really done anything. I'll be rooting for them.

Great start!

[VonApist]

Back at the pen, LI Klemens Dauter, a fanatical chain smoker, used his almost burned cigarette to light a fresh one.

The big metal clock at the eastern corner of the U-Boat pen showed 12:45.
The wind outside had grown in force and the sea swells caused the tiny U-boat to rock gracefully. Well, outside the pen it would be an entirely different story. If they went out for a shakedown, everybody would be up for a bumpy ride.

Klemens turned towards Kurt Falke, U-21's Watch Officer.
-The Kaleun will be here in less than 15 minutes Kurt. I think its a good time to line up the crew.

Kurt Falke nodded in acknowledgement and passed the order to Bootsmanner Kessler.

Falke was a bright young man, coming from a wealthy family with a long tradition in the Kriegsmarine. His father had fought as an officer aboard the first U-Boats in World War I, when the Grey Wolves of the time risked their lives in primitive, unreliable tin buckets. Still, they had almost managed to cripple the Empire during the Blocade of Britain back in 1915.

Kurt was proud of his family's naval tradition. He knew that he lacked in experience. He had never been to battle. But he had graduated first from the U-boat Kadet school.And his willingness to live up to the legend of his old man was immense.

Kurt straightened his uniform and arranged his cap. The crew was gathering on U-21's deck when a tall figure entered the pen purposefully.

It was their new Kaleun.