Decided to break this report in mid-patrol to align the report # with the patrol # and as loading should be faster.

At this point in U-33's fifth patrol, we're still operating in the shallow waters of the north Sea, off the NE coast of England. After an unimpressive start, the catch has recently improved.



However, as I feared, enemy aircraft are now making an appearance, doubtless in response to our depredations. This time, it's a Blenheim, soon after our last sinking...



...and we spot him late. We're lucky to escape damage from his admittedly small A/S bombs - which actually did more damage to the aircraft dropping them than to U-boats, in the early months of the war.



The bomber leaves us alone after that.



This is why I hate operating in these shallow waters: our crash dive to 60 metres has taken us close to the bottom. In fact I have to check the depth on crash diving just in case it's too shallow.



I give it half an hour then up we go.



As we come to periscope depth for a visual and hydrophone check, the latter picks up a contact dead ahead - a merchantman.



I can see nothing in the periscope, however. So up we come. Where are you?



...to be continued!

This is where it gets strange. Where a merchantman should be, there is only a floating mine! I suspect this is a side effect of incompatibility between the GWX searchlight mod and GWX OneAlex Edition. It's not good to enable or disable mods unless in port between patrols, so fixing that will have to wait.



Of course, I give the mine a wide berth and slow down, in case there are more of them.



Apparently the mine is on its own. I try to set it off with a few rounds from the flak gun.



This has no effect, so we go our separate ways.



...to be continued!

Our next encounter, soon after, is with another aircraft. This time we spot it and get under in good time.



It's a Swordfish, which is headed directly for the swirl left on the surface where we dived.



He drops his bombs, but we're long gone.



The approach of dusk finds U-33 safely back on the surface.



I order a search pattern plotted to the north of the area in which we've been operating. Hopefully this will throw off our hunters, while keeping us where some more traffic will be found.



...to be continued!

Despite clear skies and a new moon, the early morning of 6th March 1039 is nearly pitch black. But the bridge watch manage to spot a small sailing vessel - no more than a yacht - coming towards us out of the darkness. We engage her with deck and flak guns.



...and leave her sinking.



The next night is also calm but dark when, around 2100, we run into another ship - this time, a steamer. It's coming straight for us.



U-33 side-steps, submerges and shoots. A hit!



Coming to the surface to get a close look, I suddenly notice that she has an unusual flag, with white and red horizontal bands, not the British Red Ensign. Could we have sunk a neutral? But no, the binos reveal what looks like a Polish flag.



We finish off the steamer with the deck gun before departing.



Our catch is now looking much more respectable.



Even BdU thinks so!



...to be continued!

Early the next morning, in fine conditions, we run into yet another small yacht!



I'm thinking, either there's been a regatta in the vicinity, or this is a side-effect of that searchlight mod!



The deck gun is brought into action....



...and the flak gun manned.



As we come abeam of her, both weapons are firing.



It's little more than target practice...



...and down she goes.



War is Hell!

...to be continued!

On the 8th March 1940, BdU assigns us a new patrol grid - AN58. A glance at the map shows this takes in only a small area of sea, right off the coast between Hull and Hartlepool.



There's no way I'm going to finish a reasonably successful patrol by committing suicide. My zig-zag search pattern takes me in the general direction of AN58 so I decide to continue with it. The plan is I'll find targets for my remaining three torpedoes and be able to come home without every having gone anywhere so near the very shallow waters right off the enemy coast.

This works out nicely. In pitch black but calm conditions just after midnight on 10 March, the lookouts spot a steamer crossing our bows at close range. We're so close that I just attack surfaced. I let her have the last bow torpedo and get a hit.



The steamer is on fire and slows down, burning but apparently not sinking.



I turn away to bring the stern tube to bear but there's an accident and the eel is fired too soon. I wait impatiently till the last reload goes into the stern tube, line her up, and then let fly again from 800 metres. By this time the target is stationary.



The steamer is hit again and soon sinks on an even keel.



We send a situation report to BdU...



...and waste no time setting out for home. We reach Wilhelmshaven as darkness is falling on 12th March 1940, with the crew dressing the decks and victory pennants flying proudly from U-33's attack periscope.



Despite the late hour, we get a rousing reception from the quayside.



This time, as well as handing out a clutch of awards and medals to my crew, I get one myself - not the coveted Iron Cross but a German Cross.



The patrol log provides more detail on our successes.



My SH3 Commander-generated personnel record is now looking a bit more healthy



I've now disabled the GWX searchlight mod and hope next time to be seeing fewer sailing yachts and mines. And that our next patrol will be to where we belong, the deep, restless waters of the North Atlantic!