Before setting off, I decide to spend a few moments admiring my decorations and awards. I've still got plenty of room for more.



Right, so now where are they sending us? Out to grid square BF17, as it happens. This is well out into the Western Approaches, almost due west of our base at Brest.



It's a night-time send off again and we're soon rattling our way out of our usual berth.



I'd feel safer in one of those concrete pens, but never mind; perhaps later.



I come around onto a westerly heading and increase speed as we pass between the pens to starboard and the breakwater to port.



A low half-moon hangs in a clear, inky sky as the French coast slips away dimly to starboard.



The weather is fine as night turns to short December day, to night again then back to day, as U-100 runs out to her patrol area.



Whatever awaits us out there, it won't be long now!

...to be continued!

For many hours, we criss-cross grid square BF17 fruitlessly. Then, in the early morning, we receive a sighting report. The target, possibly a single steamer, is well to the north west. There's nothing doing in BF17 so I quickly plot my usual dog-leg intercweption course.



This works out quite nicely. Some hours later, we run nearly head on into what the view through the UZO tells me is a small steamer.



This is going to be a gun action, I decide. At this early stage in proceedings, few merchantmen are armed and this one seems unlikely to be an exception. Our deck gun is soon manned...



...and as the range comes down to about 1,200 metres, goes into action upon my command. Rounds are pumped into the steamer's waterline and the effects are soon visible.



I circle around my victim's stern and continue firing. Soon, it's all over.



Soon, there's little above the waves to mark the ship's grave, apart from some quickly-dissipating smoke. Time to let BdU know what we've been up to, I decide. The radio operator quickly cranks out the appropriate report.



It's hardly a major contribution to the tonnage war, but every little helps. So far, so good!

...to be continued!

But I'm not done yet. There's another contact to the north-west. It's quite an old one, so I plot a dog-leg interception course which will first take me well to the east of her track.



Daytime arrives and it looks like we've passed like ships in the night. Fortunately, it looks like she's not got far. I alter course accordingly and increase speed in pursuit.



We thunder through heavy seas and eventually, the watch officer turns and announces a sighting!



I grab the binos to get a closer look and come onto a course towards the target, which is another small steamer.



The sea state is too heavy to man the deck gun, I reckon, so this is going to be a surface torpedo attack.



The merchantman is rolling heavily in the swell as I study her through the U-Boat Ziel Optik. There's no sign of any deck guns, which will help.



It's about this time that we realise that there's a second steamer ahead of the one we spotted first. It's not a convoy, just these two fellows, proceeding in company.



Well, let's see what we can do about that!

...to be continued!

U-100 rolls as she races after the merchantmen, who are still following a steady course.



They start zig-zagging as the range winds down. This is what I was expecting, so I get within about 500 metres before firing at the hindmost steamer, timing the shot to when it is on the left-hand leg.



Torpedo treffe!



Will one be enough?



Looks like it.



Yes, there she goes. We're getting pretty close, but there's no need to take evasive action.



One down, and one to go!





...to be continued!

Increasing speed again, I'm soon closing on the second freighter, which is zig-zagging along a mean course parallel to starboard.



There she goes, off on the leg to starboard. My plan is to wait till she's in the middle of her leg back to port, which like last time will put her in a decent position for a shot from a bow tube. At close range and well before she's due to change direction, so as to reduce the chance of a miss.



She's back at an angle of 40 degrees of my starboard bow and within 500 meters when I order Tube 2 fired.



Hit!



I'm slow to realise it, but what's different this time is that the steamer is coming in at a much less acute angle. On a collision course, in fact!



Oh no! I've left it way to late! Alaaaarm! I order a crash dive in a last desperate effort to stave off an ignominious and avoidable disaster.



The thing that saves me is that the doomed freighter is still turning towards my stern and has lost nearly all her way. I fancy there's a glancing blow, an almost imperceptible bump, and then I'm down and away.



A frantic check confirms U-100 is undamaged!



Nevertheless, I waste no time in getting topside again.



The bridge watch is quickly i position and scanning their arcs, but of my victim, who was also so very nearly my undoing, there is now no sign to be seen.



The main sensation is one of relief. I can't quite believe we're really escaped unscathed but another check re-confirms it. I take the opportunity to switch the watches back to surface cruise mode, though after giving the boys a rest I will later get some of them back into the forward torpedo room, to reload Tubes 1 and 2.



Three small steamers isn't a bad tally, but we have plenty of fuel and eels left and I hope to make good use of both!

...to be continued!

Your reports are always amazing, regardless the sim. Is this SH 3 or 5? I'm waiting for UBOAT to cure a bit longer before I dive back into it.

Thanks Rick! This is the Steam version of SH3 (I had a CD version but Steam was cheap and easy to install). Only mod is Rubini's widescreen, which also pushes the LH menu bar off screen and puts the stopwatch into a wooden frame. Haven't played SH3 for ages and my impression on returning is that it's even better than I remembered, even un-modded and without patrol lines and wolf packs. I have SH4 but while likely very good, have never played it; SH5 I never liked the sound off and even tho now modded, many seem still to rate SH3 the best of the franchise.

I enjoyed SH5 modded up quite a bit when I was playing it a couple of years ago. I also liked SH4, even though being rooted in place and unable to move is kind of frustrating! I am waiting on that one until the WW I mod comes out: https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=156161 I haven't been in this sub-forum in quite a bit so it was a real treat to see both you and carrick going at it!

I have 3 and 5, although I have very little time to play either. The latter, I find takes so long to load, even on a SSD, that I haven't the patience to wait. Anyway, SH3 modded with the Grey Wolves mod is excellent. Even the unmodded version displayed here, looks great and is very atmospheric.

Conditions remain stormy for the rest of the day.



I've long completed my assigned minimum time in my patrol area, so I feel free to experiment with a wide zig-zag search pattern back to the west.



This proves fruitless until after lunch-time the next day, when another contact is reported and I plot my usual dog-leg course to get him.



I miss the target, but manage to pick him up again after dark. He's not far to port on a roughly recriprocal course, so I swing around and after him.



And there he is!



...to be continued!

I increase speed and U-100 cuts cleanly through the waves after our quarry. Conditions are still too rough for the deck gun, so another torpedo it will have to be.



The steamer has spotted us and starts zig-zagging. I wait till the range has come down and she's just started on a leg back towards us.



Taking no chances this time, I go hard a-starboard after firing, to cut in behind her and avoid the risk of collision, accidental or deliberate. The single torpedo fired strikes amidships.



There's soon nothing left but flotsam, bursting to the surface. The good thing about these small steamers is that one decent torpedo hit will invariably do the job.



A quick glance at my log reveals U-100's tally. And we're not done yet!



...to be continued!

I plot another zig-zag search course, first out into the Atlantic then back eastwards, for a run in back towards Brest. A contact is reported heading north-west near the Isles of Scilly, but it's too near land to risk it, I decide.



Later the next day a more promising contact is reported. In fact I'm practically running straight into him, in the middle of no-where!



And there it is, another steamer proceeding independently, off to port.



Answering her helm smartly, U-100 quickly comes around and the chase is on again!



He's seen us, it's fairly clear, but his game will soon be up. At least, that's the plan.



Tracking begins via the UZO. It's a coastal steamer, apparently, but a long way from any coast.



By now the drill is well established. Wait till the freighter zig-zags back towards us, and then, torpedo los!



Won't be long, now!

...to be continued!

Great stuff! Out of curiosity, any reason why you don't run out in front of them and drop to periscope depth for a sneak attack?

That's what I would do if the target was armed, escorted, near likely air cover, part of a convoy or was sighted in a good position for a submerged attack. Otherwise there's nothing the boat can do submerged that it can't do better and quicker on the surface, including using the deck gun if the sea state permits. Cleverer evasive action by the AI would make a difference.

The steamer reaches the end of her leg to starboard...



..and comes back to port. Time to shoot!



The range is close and the eel strikes home, starting a fire in or above the forward hold. I turn away sharply to port. No more near misses with dying steamers, for me.



My victim goes down rapidly.



Flotsam and fading smoke is soon all that's left.



I'll be quite happy with this tally, even if we have no further successes.



...to be continued!

Thanks to the tip, Blitzkrieg! I'll check that out.

Back in the Western Approaches, there is no let-up in the stormy weather.



This bridge watch seems to be dressed in anticipation of conditions improving. Oilskins all round would really be in order.



Down in the control room, the motion of the boat is still apparent but things are at least drier.



Time to plot another zig-zag search pattern, first westwards then back to the east. I'll stick to the same general area, as it's been fruitful, so far.



I haven't gone too far when, to the south-west, a trio of dispersed contacts is reported!



I make a quick check of the crew. In particular, I don't want to be caught out with not enough people in the bow torpedo room to reload the tubes I've fired. Or with tired people in key positions.



Satisfied with the arrangements, I set up an interception course which will take me onto the track of the nearest contact, then straight back towards her on a reciprocal course. The contact astern of her is on almost the same course, so I hope to pop them off, one after the other. But first, I have to find them, in the dark and with conditions still poor.



We're soon heading right at the oncoming contact - I hope. I reduce the revolutions and let the bridge watch do their job as we rattle and roll on into the night.



Now, where is that ship?

...to be continued!

Well, if the contact is still up ahead, we should be running into her any minute now...



There she is! Fine off the port bow!



I'm well positioned for a submerged attack, so I waste no time 'dropping into the cellar' before we're spotted.



Up periscope! Tube 1, stand by! The range is rather long, so I track her for a while. In these conditions and in darkness, I'm not too worried about my periscope or its wake being spotted. The bigger risk is probably my conning tower breaking surface in the heavy swell.



Little does the crew in the hapless steamer realise what's creeping up on them, just below the surface. I drop the periscope briefly, just in case.



A turn to port about the time I should be drawing level with the steamer works out nicely. Scope up, I track her again till the range is down to under 600 meters. Tube 1, fire!



...to be continued!

Hit!



The steamer drifts away, on fire astern...



...but isn't sinking.



I watch her for a while, but she obstinately refuses to give up and go down.



So not all small steamers will sink with a single torpedo hit. Fair enough then, if that's how it goes...

...to be continued!

A few minutes manoeuvring sets me up for another attack. Fire Tube 2!



A hit, level with the forward hold, this time!



There's a fiery secondary explosion. The stricken ship breaks in two...



...and goes down quickly.



By the time I'm back on the surface, there's nothing to be seen of her.



Well, it took two torpedoes, but that's another two thousand tons to add to U-100's tally - and we're not finished yet! There's still that second steamer, last reported coming my way, astern of the one I just sunk.

...to be continued!

Time to check how many eels we have left. The answer is, one for each of the four forward tubes, and a reserve under the forward casing, reloading which will be impossible in other than calm conditions in daylight. For the stern tube, there's one torpedo 'up the spout', a spare stored internally, and another under the rear casing. All in all, enough to wreak significant further mayhem. Fuel is plentiful so we can continue to hunt.



It's not long before we run into the second steamer - the one that was coming up behind our earlier victim.



In fact, in the murky conditions, he's actually sweeping past us before he's spotted. The bridge watch have been caught napping!



A surface torpedo attack is clearly the only option now. From the bridge, I'm soon tracking the steamer in the UZO.



The target is close but zig-zagging. I try to time the shot right and the eel races away, stopwatch counting down the seconds until the estimated time of impact, shown by the red hand.



Got him! A bit earlier than expected - he may have turned into the torpedo.



This one goes down quickly...



...and we race away into the darkness.



That was easy, despite the fact that he nearly ran us down! The lookouts will need to do a better job, next time, poor conditions or not.

...to be continued!

Right, let's try another zig-zag search pattern, this time a short way to the west, the remaining legs back east, towards home. This will be the last one, I decide. I'm not a big believer in pushing my luck.



Just as I'm nearing the end of the last eastwardly leg with darkness falling again, there it is - another contact!



A relatively short dog-leg brings me onto a reciprocal course. Two hours later, there she is, off the port bow.



She's far enough away for me to get below without being spotted.



The unsuspecting steamer is fine off the starboard bow at under 400 metres when I decide it's time to shoot.



Got her!



Question is, will she go down or am I going to have to fire off another one of my dwindling stock of torpedoes?

...to be continued!

The merchantman staggers along, gradually losing way with her rear deck cargo burning.



There she goes!



The stern dips rapidly under, putting out the fire, but the vessel is clearly doomed.



Once again, there's nothing left by the time we're back on the surface.



Let's have a look at the tally. Eight small steamers, total just over 17,000 tons.



Easily the most successful patrol so far! I'm already beginning to think fondly of the welcoming party back at Brest, with eight pennants proudly flying and the band playing on the quayside.

...to be continued!

Great stuff, as usual, 33Lima!

I may have to scratch that SH3 itch again myself.

Thanks BuckeyeBob! Been away from SH3 a long time myself and I'm really enjoying it - more so than first time around, in fact!

The weather shows no signs of improving as U-100 ploughs on through the darkness, pitching and rolling, lashed by the relentless waves.



This has now become a significant problem. Not only can I not man deck guns, I can't reload my empty tubes using the last two spare torpedoes, which are located externally under the deck casing and need fair weather, time and a lot of heaving and hauling to lower into the torpedo rooms, using dismountable external brackets.



The officer on bridge watch is sensibly attired, at any rate.



Time to plot another course! Again I go for another zig-zag search pattern, to the west first then back east. I've already checked with the navigation officer and we have more than enough fuel left.



By early next morning, we have two contact reports to choose from - one to the south-east, and another to the north. I plot a course to intercept the latter, as it's closer.



It's only after daybreak that I realise I'm a bit off in my plotting, since my final leg is slightly offset from my target's reported track. Not by much, though.



We rattle steadily onwards, but here's nothing to be seen but empty horizons.



Poor navigation on my part? Inaccurate reporting of the contact? Or a change of course on her part? Whatever the reason, this one has got away!



...to be continued!

I plot another zig-zag course, back to the west, ignoring the old, fading contacts (one green, denoting a neutral vessel) and a distant one to the north.



That evening, another contact is reported, not far to the south. You'll do!



An interception dog-leg is soon plotted, this time more carefully...



...and some hours later, there she is, fine off the port bow and coming our way.



We don't seem to have been spotted, so this should be another good opportunity for a submerged attack. Down we go!



...to be continued!

I quickly pick up the target in the attack periscope. It's yet another small steamer, sailing independently. she's making a steady course and clearly has no notion that we're coming to get her.



After tracking her continuously for a while, I let fly with Tube 3 as the range comes below 800 meters.



Torpedo treffe!



She's on fire astern almost at once...



...and is quickly slipping below the waves, stern first.



We come to the surface to watch her end, but she's gone by the time we get there.



Considering we haven't met a convoy, this patrol is going rather well!

...to be continued!

I'm soon in pursuit of a fresh contact, a short distance to the west.



Another single steamer is soon in view off the port bow.



'Periscope depth!' Down we go, the control room watch intent on their work. The hydroplane operators should really be using the twin buttons above the centre of the back-up wheels they're using, but it's a small detail.



I turn to port and set up an attack with Tube 4.



Torpedo...los!



The second had on the stopwatch passes the calculated time of impact...nothing! Instead, the torpedo explodes well short of the target.



As the weather doesn't allow reloading the external reserve torpedos, that leaves the stern tube. Hopefully the boys back there will be glad of the action!

...to be continued!

The steamer is doing 6 knots and we're making just 8 submerged, so it takes a while to get to the point the stern tune can engage.



But it's another miss! This time, the torpedo explodes beyond the target! Perhaps it's run under her keel, as she's pitching considerably in the stormy seas.



My last hope is the internally-stored reserve torpedo for the stern tube. By this time, I've got a lot of tired crewmen, so to ensure the reload can take place, I get the tired seamen into the accommodation areas and mame sure the stern torpedo room is fully crewed. The bow compartment is no use to me now and I leave it empty.



I see it'll take 11 minutes to reload. The turn away to bring the stern tube to bear cost me distance so I decide I'll have to come to the surface to catch this one. I can't run the electric motors at maximum revolutions without quickly draining the batteries.



So up we go, and start running down my intended victim.



Let them spot us and start zig-zagging; we'll just catch them more quickly!



There's not much for the bridge watch to do in the meantime.



This will be my last attempt, so it had better be a good one this time!

...to be continued!

Exciting stuff!

Thanks Rick!

The range to the steamer winds down steadily. My plan is to turn to port to bring the stern tube to bear when I'm roughly abeam of her.



The steamer is by now definitely zig-zagging - and she nearly catches me out!



Having turned hard to port away from her, she's so close that I actually have to wait for the range to open out a little before firing. Which I do from under 400 metres.



Ka-boom!



I turn to starboard again, while the steamer is now on fire astern. Question is, will she go down? I've used my last internal reserve eel and it's too rough to man the deck gun, so this was my last throw of the dice.



...to be continued!

There's the confirmation. There's no way I'm going to be able to use the two external reserve tubes, unless the wind dies down and we find ourselves sailing suddenly in a mill pond.



Meanwhile, the steamer ambles on, burning and slightly down by the stern, but quite unwilling to slip below the waves.



I even try to man the 2 cm flak gun, thinking that being up on the wintergarten, it might be usable in the stormy conditions. But no luck there.



I hang around for a while, in the hope the situation will improve.



Which it does - for the steamer. Seems the crew has been able to put out the fire. A plucky lot, on a lucky ship.



I plot a course for home. There's no point pottering about in the Atlantic in these conditions, effectively disarmed, happy though the hunting grounds have been.



Conditions are little or no better when daylight arrives. I won't even be able to load my last two torpedoes for self-defence.



Now, I just need to make it back to Brest!

...to be continued!

As it happens, the trip back home is uneventful and conditions are more settled as the wintry French landscape comes into view.



The bridge watch are taking no chances with the weather, though. It's still very murky as Brest's harbour lights come into view.



We begin the passage between the protective mole and the port itself. Safe at last!



The quayside band plays, the bridge watch relax and we slip back into our berth. A final check confirms we were never close to being short of fuel. But there was no point using it up, cruising around in the open ocean looking for trouble, while hoping the conditions would mellow and enable the last two eels to be loaded.



Anyhow, that's the best tally so far - eight ships sunk, no less, from ten days at sea!



The icing on the cake is that I'm awarded the EK1 and have some awards and promotions to hand out to my trusty crew.



Mister Churchill will be very cross! As for U-100, she's well on the way to making a name for herself - hopefully she and her crew will last longer that the real boat!