[Suicide Charlie]

I just picked up Silent Hunter III a week or two ago so I'm quite new to this community and game in general. I've been reading this thread every chance I get for the past couple of days, and now that I'm all caught up I'm almost bummed because now I have to wait just like everybody else to see what happens next.

It's quite fitting that this story has gone without screenshots, after all when you're at 100m and moving hard to port trying to evade a destroyer there's nothing in the control room to show you how things are folding out. You have to use your imagination and situational awareness.

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Deeper"

"Eighty five metres, Sir.

"Very well. Slow speed, and a good hard sprint at my command"

However many times we hear it, there is nothing quite like the sound of an approaching destroyer. That relentless chugging beat that grows ever louder as danger approaches.

The trick is not to show our hand too early, but wait until they are committed to their attack run.

You pointlessly gaze upwards sometimes. As if you can see through the pressure hull and the destroyer coming some 260 feet above our heads. The reason you do it, is just to avoid the stare of the men who have their eyes fixed on you, and trust you with their lives. Willing you with every ounce of their soul to make the right decision, and to make it soon, because that destroyer is almost here.............

"......Flank speed! Bow planes to dive! 30 degrees to starboard on the helm!"

"Wasserbomben!"

...BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"Hah! Not even close!" cries Willi, chalking another six of them off, as if for all the world, he knew all along they would never hit us.

And that is the greatest trick of all.

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

Always deeper, always changing direction and speed.

The last four runs weren't easy but they weren't the worst.

"Only scary for a first timer, eh, Willi?"

"The only first timers are those escorts up there, said Willi loudly so that the crew can hear him.

"Those jokers couldn't sink a pebble!"

"Let's get up and see who sinks who!"

There is an enthusiastic murmur around the Control Room.

I see Walter and a couple of the lads taking of their woolly hats and souwesters and perching their side caps jauntily on their heads. The tin swordfish as prominent as it can be.

And so to loud cheers, despite themselves....

"Periscope depth, Chief! U-46 is going back in!"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Sgian Dubh]

Well.

I've returned to SHIII after a hiatus imposed by a new job. What can I say that hasn't been said already. This is a great read. I enjoyed every bit of it and will definitely be checking this on a daily basis. LS, you have a way with words sir.

[Laughing Swordfish]

Welcome, Adlerkopf!

We're 7th Flotilla out of St Nazaire at the moment, but you and your crew are welcome in the 'Black Cat' for a drink anytime!

Madame would be proud to have the Eagle's Head alongside some of our emblems on the wall.

And thanks to everyone else. I really do appreciate it

LS

[mterentiusvarro]

Likewise, I'm thoroughly enjoying your story and anxiously looking forward to the next instalment . Keep up the good work!

Varro

[Suicide Charlie]

A curious happening... I started a new career for the Wolves at War campaign. I'm joing the 7th Flotilla as a friend of mine is the XO, the U-boat that's been assigned to me you ask? U-46.

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Is it safe, Hans?

"Well, Sir! There's plenty of warship noise at a distance"

"What about our friends, the destroyers?"

"Moving away at high speed ; it's hard to tell Herr Kaleun, there's a lot of explosions going on, it's like I can hear other torpedoes running in the water very faintly. Do you think..."

"What I think, Hans, is that the Bismarck is fighting for her life, and we may already be too late. Keep me posted, lad!"

As I duck back into the Control Room

"...50 metres.."

" Never mind that!. Just get get us levelled off at 12 or 13 , now Chief!"

"Joachim, take all the hands you need forward to reload those tubes. Go noisy. Report to me when we have any tube ready to fire

Otto blew his precious ballast tanks

Now I can see what......is going on.

There are large black dots in the distance, occasionally silhouetted by the crash of their guns. British battleships and cruisers

But the constant plumes of water, smoke and flame in one spot on the horizon

"Lads, they've caught Auntie Beatrice! The Bismarck!"

We have to...

"...Sir, I have to report that all our forward tubes are inoperaple.

Joachim sighed.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but one of those depth charges blew off or buckled our bow caps"

"Anytime we load, we risk flooding the boat. I'm sorry Sir, but there it is..."

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Brewster Pilot]

NOO! You are too cruel! Stop the story at the best part!

[Adlerkopf]

LS,

Thank for the welcome.

U-125 just got back to Lorient from a hop over to the American East Coast. 8 ships sunk (6 merchant, 2 DD's). Me and the boys will be heading down to St. Nazaire to celebrate with you 7th. Flotilla sea dogs. Tell Madame and the other fraulinen that the U-125 boys are on the way

First round is on us!!

In treue fest zu unterseebootwaffe,

Lt. Josef Hintz

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Can it be fixed?"

I already knew the answer

"Not in the middle of the Atlantic, Herr Kaleun"

"But we still have tube 5 to show our arse to them with?"

"Sir, I have to report that we used a lot of the parts from the rear tube to try to bring the fore tubes back into action"

"Joachim, can we not fire a single torpedo, at a British Task Force who are too busy bullying one of ours, to strike back?

"No Sir, we can't. The offensive capacity of the U-46 has been removed beyond repair at least in the latest battle situation"

"Stop standing to attention, Joachim, I'm sure you did all you could. Short of surfacing and taking on the Rodney or Prince of Wales with our 88mm peashooter.

We watched helplessly, taking turns on the periscope, as the Bismark sank in the distance, really only a plume of smoke amongst salvoes of shell splashes and strikes. She'd clearly fought back hard.

Torpedo strikes, and more shells, then Auntie B starts to go.

Oscar , our Medic, takes a squint.

"There's our lads in the water, Kap!"

"We can't go in, Oscar. You must know that."

"Because ....?

"Because the Brits are on the scene, and aren't a bad lot at following the rules of the sea. And they have the room and facilities to look after survivors (after all we've sent them a few of their own), but if they get a sniff of the likes of us, they'll be off like a shot."

Oscar,the best thing we can do for our comrades in the water is to leave them to dry captivity. But we'll hang around anyway"

"Slow speed, Otto. Steer us to 47........

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Laughing Swordfish]

"Keep looking Bruno"

We've now scoured the area several times since the last Royal Navy vessel has left.

It's daft really. I have doubled the watch to look out for lurking destroyers but half the crew are roaming on the deck casing hoping to spot one of ours. We'll never all get back in time if we need to crash.

I can't risk the boat.

"Boatswain, send two thirds of these blokes below. Have them ready for a turn on deck in three shifts, the ones you take below will be two and three. Have at least a petty officer in charge of them at all times.

"Yes Sir, anything else, Sir"

"Tell Kuki it's ok to make loads of hot coffee or soup for everyone, and also do what you have to do to get some dry blankets and clothing ready, also any inflatables...I was waving my hand vaguely, he was smiling and already moving.

U-46 is only inching through the water. The Doc is on the bridge, peering anxiously.

"We'll give it a bit longer, Oscar, I promise"

The water lapping against our hull is black with oil and the flotsam and jetsam of a sinking. Even several clearly dead bodies. Funny how we never cared about it so much before.

Myself, Oscar and two other hands have dropped down to the main deck.

"Watch your quarters, men! Ships and planes! Ships and planes!"

It was encouraging to know that Bruno was keeping his watch on their toes

"Don't forget us if you dive, Number Two"

"You know the rules, Sir!"

Yes, the old Kiel mantra.

(Last man down the hatch buys the schnapps. For everyone behind him, the salt water is free)

Oscar turns and smiles.

"He's a cheeky little....

"...shush, Doc...!

"...Did you hear something, just then...?"

Even Bruno turned serious, and was staring hard out of our starboard bow.

"There it is again" says Oscar.

"Hilfe...Hilfe mir, bitte...bitte...bitte...Hilfe...."


Lt de Bunsen, U-46

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Well Mr de Bunsen? Are you gonna rescue the poor guy or not?

[bookworm_020]

Haul him in and set course for home and Hedi.

[Belze]

I need the other part!
WOOOOAAARR