U-33 - the patrol continues...

[33LIMA]

Western Approaches, 6th June 1940

After failing to locate the first convoy reported, we have at last located another. We're waiting, submerged at 80 metres, ahead of its track, for the leading escort(s) to pass over...

... before coming up to periscope depth and attacking the merchantmen, who range from whale factory ships...

...to more conventional freighters, large...

...and small.

In the event, the convoy approaches quite quickly and by the time I’m at periscope depth, there are merchantmen all around me, in several columns.

My immediate priority is establishing that none of the ships is a collision risk. That done, I start picking out targets, fore and aft. There are so many that I’m a bit overwhelmed. On top of that, some are a bit closer than I’d like...

...while others are within range, but still too far off for a high probability of a hit.

Above all else, experience tells me the heavy seas are going to mean that even shots that are accurate for line will have problems with the wildly undulating sea surface and the ships pitching up and down, on it.

But I'm here, and they're there, right in front of my torpedo tubes! I can't resist the urge to do something about it, here and now, while I can!

...to be continued!

Edited June 17, 2021 by 33LIMA

[33LIMA]

My immediate priority is establishing that none of the ships is a collision risk. That done, I start picking out targets fore and aft.

There are so many that I’m a bit overwhelmed. On top of that, some are a bit too far away; others are a bit close for comfort. 

And above all else, experience tells me the heavy seas are going to mean that even shots that are accurate for line will have problems with the wildly undulating sea surface and ships pitching up and down, on it. Shot at close range but not too close,  eel is running straight and true for this modern tanker...

...but runs under it without hitting and without the magnetic pistol setting it off.

I have no better luck with the second eel at the same tempting target.

In the end, I lose off all four torpedoes from the forward tubes – with no hits. At this point I need to dive to avoid being run down by the nearest column of ships.

I then take the opportunity to turn nearly 180 degrees to extricate myself from the middle of the convoy.

On the way out, I pop back up to periscope depth and let fly with the stern tube at the nearest suitable target...

...but it’s another miss.

The plan now is to do what I should have done, originally – shadow the convoy, attacking only after the wind drops and the sea state settles. Unreliable eels are bad enough - combined with heavy seas, shooting them off is a waste of reichsmarks!

...to be continued!

Edited June 19, 2021 by 33LIMA