Close Call for U-46

[Lane]

Was returning from Area AE87 heading south on surface Overcast and large waves running about 7 kts
All of suddent Lookout says we are under attack" Sir 'and Shell rounds hitting the water all around I glance to rear and here comes a lone Destroyer coming up on our stern. So I pull the plug Crash dive flank speed
We take some shell damage , We go deep flank speed
And the DD works us over with dept charges I go to
silent running and set couse south and release some
decoys? We escape and repaire damage and we surface
Later in day and repaire deck damage
Have any sneaked up on you like that?
All most sunk another C2 and small merchant hit them
good but they did not sink ran out torps and weather
to bad to use deck gun.
When on back to ST Nazaire ready for patrol 16
Lane U-46

[Komradsky]

happened to me a few times already, but not with a destroyer. this was still the pre-radar years. cruising on the surface in the english channel or that between britain and ireland, ive always been engaged at the surface by elco torpedo boats. luckily they only use their mg's and not their torpedoes. that would have been a shame sunk by a torpedo boat! my deck crew seems to spot them late though. i sunk only two using my twin 20mm. it's really quite a thrill when ap rounds are whizzing you past by, and your first officer is yelling at you, "cap'n, this ain't no target practice!" ;D i gave the last one i sunk with a surprise: detected him while underwater, and surfaced with just enough distance then, my cannons were spitting ap rounds at her. took only a minute or two and blew up just a hundred meters off starboard.

[faamecanic]

Heh heh...speaking of spotting late. After a succesful sinking of two T2 tankers (unescorted) off the south coast of Ireland my crew and I took off to the east.

It was a dark and stormy night (sounds like a novel).... I get a "WARSHIP SPOTTED SIR" message. I got to the bridge as USUALLY they are FAR off in the distance.

Well I go to the bridge only to be BLINDED by not one but TWO VW Destroyers searhlights!! They are about 200 m off my starboard bow.

"CRASH DIVE"..... we got about 10 m under when I hear glass breaking, men shouting, and my forward torp room is destroyed. We sink to the bottom as the rest of the U boat fills with water....

My thoughts... My next watch crew will have to be examined to make sure they arent BLIND!!!

[Komradsky]

if this ever happens again, i'll have my boat fitted with a searchlight!

how rude are these brits anyway...they would have asked you to surrender first! you sunk the tankers, not them. ;D

[rilder]

i know this is an old thread but one time I got attacked and my watch crew didnt even see them, it was like enemy is "engaging us sir" so I pressed periscope depth and the bugger warship rammed me and destroyed me instantly