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#4548258 - 12/12/20 06:19 PM U-100 - sixth patrol  
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33lima Offline
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It's 23rd January 1941 and this time we're again off to fresh stomping grounds - Grid Square AM14, which is to the north-west of Ireland.

[Linked Image]

We have a night-time departure from Brest and are well out to the west by daybreak.

[Linked Image]

Being closer to the British Isles than I'm accustomed to, I'm a rather concerned about the threat from the skies. But all seems to be clear as we slide along in fine conditions.

[Linked Image]

We're still a long way short of our patrol area when the first contact is reported. I like these random, beyond detection range contacts which presumably represent sightings by friendly forces of some description. Many patrols would be dull without them, even if convoy sightings by U-boats operating in patrol lines would be more exciting and representative of real-life wolf pack tactics.

[Linked Image]

I quickly shift a couple of waypoints to set up an interception.

[Linked Image]

A couple of hours later, and it's 'all change'. One of the bridge watch has spotted a ship to port!

[Linked Image]

U-100 rolls as we turn hard towards her. Time to get busy!

[Linked Image]

...to be continued!


SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

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#4548259 - 12/12/20 06:40 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: 33lima]  
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33lima Offline
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There she is! Or rather, there they are! Not for the first time, it's a tanker with a large freighter astern...and no escort.

[Linked Image]

I am pretty certain we haven't been spotted so U-100 drops into the cellar for a submerged attack.

[Linked Image]

This goes near perfectly. I time my shots so both targets are hit almost simultaneously...though waiting till we were very close definitely helped.

[Linked Image]

I had fired two eels at the bigger shop and the second one hits, too.

[Linked Image]

A combination of close range to begin with, a delayed turn away on my part, and the stricken tanker zigging towards me results in a near miss for us...but a miss is as good as a sea mile.

[Linked Image]

Neither of the ships looks to be armed so as neither is sinking yet, I come to the surface to finish them off with the deck gun.

[Linked Image]

The tanker gets it first...

[Linked Image]

...and is soon going down, her foremasts collapsing outboard as she breaks up.

[Linked Image]

Ordered again to aim for the waterline, the gun crew switches targets to the freighter.

[Linked Image]

Her end is no less dramatic - she seems to fold in upon herself and collapse into the sea.

[Linked Image]

Well, that was easy, and a great start to our sixth patrol. I have a report sent to BdU, feeling rather pleased with myself. Now if we can just keep this up...

...to be continued!

Last edited by 33lima; 12/12/20 06:41 PM.

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4548261 - 12/12/20 06:47 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: 33lima]  
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Rick_Rawlings Offline
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Jeez, Lima! That's what they made an "All Stop" for!


The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
#4548268 - 12/12/20 07:45 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: Rick_Rawlings]  
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WolverineFW Offline
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Originally Posted by Rick_Rawlings
Jeez, Lima! That's what they made an "All Stop" for!


LMAO....or Full Astern

#4548274 - 12/12/20 08:17 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: 33lima]  
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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I did actually go full astern at one point, but belayed that as I needed speed to turn and dive away. All's well that ends well!

Meanwhile, back in the Western Approaches...it's suddenly more like Piccadilly Circus, with fresh contacts in various directions.

[Linked Image]

I decide to go for the one to the north, as it's on the way to my patrol area.

[Linked Image]

It's dark by the time we run into the contact, fine off the port bow.

[Linked Image]

Through the UZO. I can see that it's a large freighter.

[Linked Image]

This looks like another good situation for a submerged attack. Which turns out to be a wise move, as I will later notice that this merchantman is armed.

[Linked Image]

At any rate, the Tommy steams towards us, without zig-zagging. This shouldn't be too difficult, I tell myself smugly.

[Linked Image]

Torpedo...los!

[Linked Image]

It explodes - but short of the target!

[Linked Image]

So much for making a surprise attack!

...to be continued!


SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4548275 - 12/12/20 08:30 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: 33lima]  
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33lima Offline
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Belfast, NI
By now we're closing rapidly. This is where stern tunes come in handy. I turn hard away from the freighter, and let fly again.

[Linked Image]

Oh dear...this one looks like it's going to miss, astern!

[Linked Image]

Which is exactly what happens. #%&*$# and blast!

[Linked Image]

With the e-maschinen running at full pelt, I come around onto his starboard side and finally get into position to fire another bow tube. It's coming in at a rather shallow angle...will the fuse work?

[Linked Image]

There's my answer!

[Linked Image]

The freighter's luck has run out. She's wracked by internal explosions as her back breaks.

[Linked Image]

Blazing oil on the surface is soon all that's left.

[Linked Image]

Sensibly, the sou'wester-and-oilskin-clad look-outs are back to watching their arcs, not the fire.

[Linked Image]

Three sinkings already! For a while, it'll take our minds off the rough conditions, as we resume our course back to the north.

[Linked Image]

...to be continued!


SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4548634 - 12/15/20 07:17 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: 33lima]  
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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Belfast, NI
Time to resume our course up to Grid Square AF14.

[Linked Image]

For now, the weather remains rather rough...

[Linked Image]

...but U-100 ploughs on...

[Linked Image]

...the bridge watch not yet feeling the need to don oilskins.

[Linked Image]

Shortly after last light, a contact is reported almost on our track. But I decide it's too far away to be worth the diversion.

[Linked Image]

During the next day, we reach AF14 and begin a north-south zig zag search pattern, mean course to the west. The sea state up here is actually quite placid.

[Linked Image]

It stays that way until we've nearly completed the pattern...

[Linked Image]

...at which point, darkness having again fallen, we're in business at last! There's a contact just to the west, well within reach.

[Linked Image]

Here we go again!

...to be continued!

Last edited by 33lima; 12/15/20 07:18 PM.

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4548637 - 12/15/20 07:30 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: 33lima]  
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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Belfast, NI
After some hard running on the diesels, the contact is sighted coming our way, off the starboard bow, and we dive for a submerged attack.

[Linked Image]

Observed through the periscope, I can see that she's a small steamer, with a lot of deck cargo.

[Linked Image]

The red duster' at her masthead confirms she's an enemy and fair game.

[Linked Image]

A little manoeuvring in between observations with the periscope put us in a good position for the first shot, after allowing enough time tracking her to get a decent firing solution. At this range, can I miss?

[Linked Image]

Apparently not!

[Linked Image]

The blast throws deck cargo skyward.

[Linked Image]

The stricken steamer loses way and rolls over to starboard.

[Linked Image]

No doubt about that one - number four so far, on this trip!

[Linked Image]

...to be continued!


SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4549514 - 12/23/20 01:51 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: 33lima]  
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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Belfast, NI
Daylight finds us in fine conditions but with no contacts to chase down.

[Linked Image]

At low revolutions to maximise time on station I continue to criss-cross our patrol area. But no smudge of smoke or sign of a masthead breaks the horizon.

[Linked Image]

In the end, I decide to return to the Western Approaches, in the hope of repeating my earlier successes there.

[Linked Image]

I'm not long in position when we come across another merchantman, close to the scene of two previous sinkings.

[Linked Image]

There she is! Almost dead ahead.

[Linked Image]

Closer study through my binoculars shows that we're in a stern chase after a small steamer sailing independently.

[Linked Image]

I can't tell for sure if she's armed so despite my poor starting position astern of the target, I decide we're going to make a submerged attack. I could always hook around ahead of her on the surface at the limit of visual range, but will first try slowly overhauling her submerged, with the electric motors at full tilt. So down we go!

[Linked Image]

...to be continued!


SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4549722 - 12/25/20 02:20 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: 33lima]  
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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Belfast, NI
Finally I reach an attacking position and let go the first eel as the range comes down to 500 metres.

[Linked Image]

A hit astern!

[Linked Image]

The steamer doesn't sink, however. The element of surprise has been lost so I decide to resume the attack from the surface.

[Linked Image]

The conditions are not quite calm enough for the deck gun, so another torpedo will have to be used.

[Linked Image]

For some reason, this misses! So I decide to cut across behind the still-moving and now zig-zagging target...

[Linked Image]

...and use the stern tube.

[Linked Image]

Again, I fire from so close a range that the target's evasive manoeuvring should make little difference...and at a point where's she's just settled onto one of the legs of her regular zig-zag, to boot.

[Linked Image]

Nevertheless, there's the usual agonising wait for the torpedo to reach the target...

[Linked Image]

...which is doubtless even more anxious for the steamer's crew, with our boat in clear view of anyone topside.

[Linked Image]

Got her!

[Linked Image]

The stricken steamer is rent by a noisy and spectacular explosion in her forward cargo hold...

[Linked Image]

...and soon sinks beneath the waves upright, without capsizing.

[Linked Image]

She caused me to use up a disproportionate number of my remaining torpedoes, but it's my fifth success from this patrol, so I'm not complaining!

...to be continued!

Last edited by 33lima; 12/25/20 02:21 PM.

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4549740 - 12/25/20 05:28 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: 33lima]  
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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Belfast, NI
Low on torpedoes, I decide to set a course for home, hoping to encounter more enemy traffic before we leave the Western Approaches. I'm not disappointed - just after midnight, a contact is reported just south of my homeward track!

[Linked Image]

A few hours later, through my binoculars, I get my first glimpse of the target - another small steamer, sailing alone.

[Linked Image]

He's converging from off my starboard bow and I've plenty of time for a submerged surprise attack...

[Linked Image]

...which goes entirely to plan.

[Linked Image]

On this occasion, one eel does the trick. And by the time I'm back on the surface, there's little left to see of my victim.

[Linked Image]

Six sinkings, coming to over thirty thousand tons! I report my latest success to BdU and resume my course for Brest.

...to be continued!


SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4549742 - 12/25/20 05:53 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: 33lima]  
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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Belfast, NI
Daylight sees us sailing through still-choppy seas on route to Brest.

[Linked Image]

But we're not quite done yet! Another contact is reported, just north of our track.

[Linked Image]

A quick course adjustment sends U-100 racing on an interception course.

[Linked Image]

Suddenly, we're attacked from the air! It's a Hurricane, of all things this far out to sea! Do they have catapults on merchant ships this early in the war?

[Linked Image]

Alaaarm!

[Linked Image]

A quick check confirms the small bombs dropped have done us no damage.

[Linked Image]

Below the surface, I check and resume my course after the merchantman. We've 0plenty of charge in the batteries and I'm hopeful that the troublesome flyboy will have had to go home by the time we're in contact.

[Linked Image]

...to be continued!


SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4549743 - 12/25/20 06:01 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: 33lima]  
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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Belfast, NI
After a suitable interval I check the situation through the sky periscope (although SH3 only features a single one for both search and attack purposes). All seems clear, so up we go.

[Linked Image]

Yes, we're in the clear again. The short-ranged Hurricane hasn't been able to hang around.

[Linked Image]

The bridge watch is wisely taking no chances, with either the weather or the enemy.

[Linked Image]

After another hour or so of hard running the surface, there she is - smoke on the horizon.

[Linked Image]

Viewing the target through the UZO, I can see that we're in a stern chase with a single freighter.

[Linked Image]

Won't be long now!

[Linked Image]

...to be continued!


SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4549744 - 12/25/20 06:08 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Sep 2010
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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Belfast, NI
The good news that the calmer conditions mean that we should be able to use the deck gun on this fellow...assuming he isn't armed too.

[Linked Image]

But no! We're attacked from the air again, and this time it's two Hurricanes!

[Linked Image]

We're lucky to be able to get down into the cellar before the bombs start dropping, all thoughts of nabbing another victim quickly forgotten.

[Linked Image]

I throw in a quick change of course as we go...

[Linked Image]

...and the bombs when the come drop astern and to port.

[Linked Image]

Enough is enough! With two air attacks in this suddenly-unhealthy sector in a matter of hours, I decide it's high time we went home!

...to be continued!

Last edited by 33lima; 12/25/20 06:09 PM.

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4549746 - 12/25/20 06:20 PM Re: U-100 - sixth patrol [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Sep 2010
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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Belfast, NI
I wait until nightfall before coming to the surface again.

[Linked Image]

We make the rest of the run without interruption and are soon in sight of the cold but welcome countryside of Brittany in what is now early March.

[Linked Image]

The bridge watch can at last relax as we nudge towards our berth.

[Linked Image]

The usual welcoming party greets us warmly.

[Linked Image]

I feel we've well earned their enthusiastic reception - our sixth patrol, and six ships sunk - U-100's best result so far!

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

I've medals and promotions to hand out amongst the crew, and my Knight's Cross looks even better with the award of the Oak Leaves!

[Linked Image]

So far we haven't been tested in action against escorted convoys, but the time for that will come. And when it does, U-100 will have a seasoned crew, all the more ready for it!


SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)


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