Post by Dominico Baggio on Apr 16, 2005 15:29:37 GMT
Well after a period of mourning for my last Crew 
i decided it was time to start a new campaign, i just cant stay away!! Well straight away i got into an adventure...
3rd September 1939 Wilhelmshaven
The modifications to my Tiny U-boat were complete, i had begged high command for an AA gun to be mounted and thanks to my high scores at U-boat school they had agreed. The modifications took two days and early on September the 3rd we were ready to sail on our first voyage.
Proudly we sailed out in the tiny U-3 with my 25 crewmen crammed into the hull.
Our girlfriends and wives wave and the band plays
Spirits were high and we were soon passing a German destroyer as we headed out into the North sea and our patrol sector. Patroll grid was off the coast of North England a few hundred kilometres below the Scapa flow anchourage.
That day as we left port we heard the declaration of war by Britain. They had started hostilities against us and it meant the entry of Australia New Zealand and all the commonwealth countries were at war also. It wouldnt be long before Canada declared war also. Suddenly things didnt look so rosy for Germany, our gamble to take Poland had backfired.
Stoicly i told the men we would still be victorious though i new we were massively outnumbered on the waves. I was thankfull i had fitted that AA gun.
A few days later as we neared the patrol area we had seen nothing, no ships or signs of life. The odd radio interception from Danish and Norwegian ships but that was of no interest to us.
Then on the 5th of semptember 2 days into the patrol we sighted a massive cargo ship just as night began to fall. At full speed we raced to intercept with the engines hammering. Likely we had only once chance to sink or slow the ship.
Perfect position was reached on the surface and I fired off a torp. After a run of about 400 metres, maybe less it exploded in the water. I berated the chief who ran to the front torpedo room to see what the problem was and ordered a brace of two torpedoes fired as the frieghter sped away. They winged their way towards the ship.
Two shots, but ship speed was badly estimated
They hit the rear section with a boom and we dived to periscope depth and waited for the inevitable sinking. If they were radioing for help we didnt want to be caught on the surface. Lots of movement on deck as the panicked sailers raced around but two hours later the ship had settled and showed no sign of sinking. By next morning it was listing heavily but the water was so calm it seemed they had saved the ship.
Heavily listing but flooding under control
Surfacing i set another torpedo off and this hit the front section.
Ten minutes later still no sign of sinking, i think we had found a ship filled with cork. I fired off my second to last torpedo amidships and that finished her. She rolled over and sank rapidly. I hoped all British ships were not so tough!
Pleased with the kill we set off on the surface for more enemies, and forgot the catiousness of earlier.
Within 30 minutes of leaving the sinking frieghter i was below with the navigator plotting the coarse around the patrol grid when i heard the unmistakable whine of aircraft engines. MAN THE AA i shouted racing to the deck just in time to see two fighters speed away into the sun. Damn, we had been spotted, I ordered flank speed and carried on above the waves, no doubt they would be radioing our position to destroyers. We had to get out of there.
About a minute later i heard again the rush of propellors as both planes dived onto us from nowhere. They had cleverly come out of the sun and as the AA Fired pointlessly the lead aircraft dropped what looked like a bomb. Shocked i hid behind the parapet and watched as it crashed directly into the back of the U-boat.
All hell broke loose as the boat immediatly sprunk fatal leaks, and i tried to control the men and get them organised. Now i thought of diving but now it was imposible. Three compartments were holed and electric engines were knocked out, also the hull seemed wrecked.
Hull wrecked, a brave sailer mans the AA as we try to plug the holes
Ordering the AA gun remanned i ran to oversee repairs and prayed the planes had no more bombs or friends. Surface speed had dropped to 4 knots as one of the diesals was out also.
Three compartments are holed and diving is suicidal
Horrifying minutes passed and within 15-20 minutes we had seen no sight of the aircraft, thankfully they must have only had one set of bombs. We were atlast safe to test a periscope depth dive and one electric motor was running so i ordered the deck cleared and dived crossing my fingers. Luckily she held tight, though i dare not go any deeper.
We travelled for a few hours at this depth making more repairs and then i ordered course for home. Without the ability to dive and our speed on the surface so low we were as good as dead if caught by destroyers.
An uneventful voyage passed on the way home and we returned to a happy crowd. As i climbed off the U-Boat and looked back I realised i had to curb my adventurous side and follow the lessons i had learnt in training. My crew were too valuable to be reckless with!
One good thing, i have been promised a Brand new Type VIIB U-boat fresh from the factory when i return from the next patrol! So good news, We also get a few weeks off while they repair this current boat, so time for a return to Berlin to Visit my family!
i decided it was time to start a new campaign, i just cant stay away!! Well straight away i got into an adventure...3rd September 1939 Wilhelmshaven
The modifications to my Tiny U-boat were complete, i had begged high command for an AA gun to be mounted and thanks to my high scores at U-boat school they had agreed. The modifications took two days and early on September the 3rd we were ready to sail on our first voyage.
Proudly we sailed out in the tiny U-3 with my 25 crewmen crammed into the hull.
Our girlfriends and wives wave and the band plays
Spirits were high and we were soon passing a German destroyer as we headed out into the North sea and our patrol sector. Patroll grid was off the coast of North England a few hundred kilometres below the Scapa flow anchourage.
That day as we left port we heard the declaration of war by Britain. They had started hostilities against us and it meant the entry of Australia New Zealand and all the commonwealth countries were at war also. It wouldnt be long before Canada declared war also. Suddenly things didnt look so rosy for Germany, our gamble to take Poland had backfired.
Stoicly i told the men we would still be victorious though i new we were massively outnumbered on the waves. I was thankfull i had fitted that AA gun.
A few days later as we neared the patrol area we had seen nothing, no ships or signs of life. The odd radio interception from Danish and Norwegian ships but that was of no interest to us.
Then on the 5th of semptember 2 days into the patrol we sighted a massive cargo ship just as night began to fall. At full speed we raced to intercept with the engines hammering. Likely we had only once chance to sink or slow the ship.
Perfect position was reached on the surface and I fired off a torp. After a run of about 400 metres, maybe less it exploded in the water. I berated the chief who ran to the front torpedo room to see what the problem was and ordered a brace of two torpedoes fired as the frieghter sped away. They winged their way towards the ship.
Two shots, but ship speed was badly estimated
They hit the rear section with a boom and we dived to periscope depth and waited for the inevitable sinking. If they were radioing for help we didnt want to be caught on the surface. Lots of movement on deck as the panicked sailers raced around but two hours later the ship had settled and showed no sign of sinking. By next morning it was listing heavily but the water was so calm it seemed they had saved the ship.
Heavily listing but flooding under control
Surfacing i set another torpedo off and this hit the front section.
Ten minutes later still no sign of sinking, i think we had found a ship filled with cork. I fired off my second to last torpedo amidships and that finished her. She rolled over and sank rapidly. I hoped all British ships were not so tough!
Pleased with the kill we set off on the surface for more enemies, and forgot the catiousness of earlier.
Within 30 minutes of leaving the sinking frieghter i was below with the navigator plotting the coarse around the patrol grid when i heard the unmistakable whine of aircraft engines. MAN THE AA i shouted racing to the deck just in time to see two fighters speed away into the sun. Damn, we had been spotted, I ordered flank speed and carried on above the waves, no doubt they would be radioing our position to destroyers. We had to get out of there.
About a minute later i heard again the rush of propellors as both planes dived onto us from nowhere. They had cleverly come out of the sun and as the AA Fired pointlessly the lead aircraft dropped what looked like a bomb. Shocked i hid behind the parapet and watched as it crashed directly into the back of the U-boat.
All hell broke loose as the boat immediatly sprunk fatal leaks, and i tried to control the men and get them organised. Now i thought of diving but now it was imposible. Three compartments were holed and electric engines were knocked out, also the hull seemed wrecked.
Hull wrecked, a brave sailer mans the AA as we try to plug the holes
Ordering the AA gun remanned i ran to oversee repairs and prayed the planes had no more bombs or friends. Surface speed had dropped to 4 knots as one of the diesals was out also.
Three compartments are holed and diving is suicidal
Horrifying minutes passed and within 15-20 minutes we had seen no sight of the aircraft, thankfully they must have only had one set of bombs. We were atlast safe to test a periscope depth dive and one electric motor was running so i ordered the deck cleared and dived crossing my fingers. Luckily she held tight, though i dare not go any deeper.
We travelled for a few hours at this depth making more repairs and then i ordered course for home. Without the ability to dive and our speed on the surface so low we were as good as dead if caught by destroyers.
An uneventful voyage passed on the way home and we returned to a happy crowd. As i climbed off the U-Boat and looked back I realised i had to curb my adventurous side and follow the lessons i had learnt in training. My crew were too valuable to be reckless with!
One good thing, i have been promised a Brand new Type VIIB U-boat fresh from the factory when i return from the next patrol! So good news, We also get a few weeks off while they repair this current boat, so time for a return to Berlin to Visit my family!
At least you didnt dive with your hull looking like swiss cheese this time!