tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20594388406697406062024-03-05T16:02:59.089-08:00Eric Marcelo - Indie AuthorThoughts, sharings, opinions, stories and other things.Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-40884659537126896352017-10-28T06:03:00.000-07:002017-10-28T06:03:00.678-07:00God's Shower of Blessings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/755936?ref=dejmarcelo" target="_blank"><img alt=" God's Shower of Blessings" height="400" src="https://dwtr67e3ikfml.cloudfront.net/bookCovers/d500c921f332fd2241c169c8f0432087d797cf4a" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The latest addition to my list of published ebooks.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We all have periods, experiences, situations, or circumstances where we can get depressed or frustrated. We </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: large;">carry these feelings around causing additional miseries and misfortune. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: large;">This is my story. A story about faith and obedience, and a story of promises kept and a shower of blessings. Perhaps this will change our outlook and attitude toward challenges in life and bring you your own shower of blessings.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/755936?ref=dejmarcelo" target="_blank">God's Shower of Blessings</a></span></span></div>
<br />
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-83749697756693486642017-08-31T23:03:00.004-07:002017-08-31T23:12:06.905-07:00Content Writing Isn't What I Thought it Would Be<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Content writing is a hugely popular way to earn money online and I wanted to see if I could have a go at it. I had been writing ebooks, short stories on Facebook and here in my blog, and writing speeches. I felt I might do reasonably well as a content writer. I signed up with a few sites but I'm not going to say who they are out of respect for them. I'm just going to share a few of my experiences.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On one site, there were three levels of writers. As a newbie, I started out in the lowest level. Everyday, sometimes several times a day, I'd go through their list of jobs and pick out an article. I quickly discovered a few things I didn't like.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There were only a few jobs and some of them were for articles in languages other than English. Some of the jobs that were in English were for topics I was unfamiliar with. Some were even for reviews of products. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">How to you make a product review if you haven't tried the product yet? "Just fake it," the client said. Other than the fact that it was a dishonest thing to do, I was afraid that readers would see right through the article and discern the truth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A few clients rejected my work because I didn't follow their instructions, they said. I didn't know what they meant because that was all they said. How can you improve if you don't know where you erred? It was frustrating, to say the least.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The worst part was clients choosing the writers who can write their articles. All jobs for lower level writers were open meaning, any writer can take them. That was a company rule, according to the admin. Some clients, however, blatantly violate that rule by expressly saying that their articles were reserved for this-particular-writer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I informed admin about this but they asked me to give the names of the clients who were violating the rule. I told them, it wasn't my job. They should screen the jobs that their clients were posting and catch them before the jobs are put on the writer's page. I also suspected that those clients who had rejected my work did so because I wasn't "their writer."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I had been with them for about three weeks and all I had was $4.47 (for two articles; 3 had been rejected). </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(".)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another company I joined was better. I wrote five 400 word, one 2000 word, and three 500 word articles that had to be written in a specific format. I had a few problems complying (mostly because I forgot) but they were nice about informing me of the mistakes. I did have a few issues, however.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They called it content writing but I think the proper name for it is "keyword writing." You're supposed to use specific keywords and sprinkle them around the article. A few of those keywords were difficult to work with. One keyword (a long-tail keyword or a keyword phrase) was actually a question and I had to repeat it about two times. A question that is repeated twice in 500 words seemed unusual but I did it anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The most difficult was the 2000 word job. I was supposed to rewrite a website that was just over 1000 words long. When I went over the website, there were several repetitions in each page, meaning the whole website was actually less than 1000 words. I got down to work but ran out of things to say at 1000. I needed help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I contacted my supervisor, editor, and team lead to tell them. I asked if the client would accept the article as I had wrote it. They contacted him but he said I could add the information from the website's other pages. I said I already did but he wanted a 2000 word article, not 1000 words. So, I searched the internet and found a few, somewhat related information and I incorporated that into the article. I wasn't happy with it though. I felt that I had bloated the article with irrelevant content just to achieve the word count.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The company was paying me Php20 per 100 words, which translates to around $0.40 per 100 words. After nine articles, I earned Php1,100.00 (about $22.00)...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">for a month's work. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">My wife, rightly so, told me that we couldn't possibly live on that much and urged me to find other work...of the normal kind...the kind where you get up in the morning, take a bath, eat breakfast, get dressed, and travel to a place where you interact with people face to face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I still believe this writing-for-the-internet can still bring in enough money for my family to live comfortably but it's taking a little too long. We don't have time to wait for it to get better. Maybe later, when I have a steady income from a "normal" job, I can devote more time to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, this experiment earned me around $30.00, more or less...or is that more of less or less of more?</span> (",)Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-38507080372473850142017-08-08T00:57:00.002-07:002017-08-08T00:57:45.699-07:00Legend of the Moon is on Promo!Legend of the Moon can be purchased at your selected price until January 31, 2018. You can pay whatever price you want for the book. Click on the picture to go the Smashwords and download the book. While you're there, why not check out other books on Smashwords? You might find something you like.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/425317?ref=dejmarcelo" target="_blank"><img alt=" Legend of the Moon" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="546" height="320" src="https://dwtr67e3ikfml.cloudfront.net/bookCovers/d8ea1b19f0fd2e110675f311d6f7ab80b7fe95af" width="218" /></a></div>
<br />Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-62720601176037760802017-07-26T01:44:00.001-07:002017-08-31T19:35:12.175-07:00Jack's Adventure<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Another excerpt from Funny Stories from My Travels:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">In 1987, the company I worked for had a project in a factory in Cabuyao, Laguna. It’s a two-hour bus ride to get to the factory plus a ten to fifteen minute ride in a jeepney. I'm not going to say what we did there but we had an experience that I'd like to share.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">On our first day at the factory, we had an afternoon snack break at their canteen. One in our group, whom I shall hide under the name, Jack, discovered a table with jars of coffee, creamer, sugar, powdered milk and powdered chocolate. You can make coffee, milk or chocolate, all for free.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">While my companions and I opted for softdrinks, Jack proceeded to mix coffee, sugar, milk and chocolate in a glass until the powders reached to about half the glass' height. Then he put in hot water and stirred. His drink had the consistency of condensed milk, thick and gooey. He drank a mouthful from the brew and gave a satisfied "aaah" as he lowered the glass. It's amazing what effect the word "free" has on some people.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">After knock off time, we took the two-hour bus ride back to the office. We had not gone very far when Jack started to complain. "I'm not feeling so good." Jack had paled considerably and looked quite sick. The concoction he’d created had upset his stomach. The bus had already entered the South Super Highway and was making good time. Jack, however, was having great difficulty.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">"I need to get off now! I can't hold it!"</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">We protested. There were no stops along the highway in those days and it would be dangerous to sit by the roadside with all sorts of vehicles speeding past. Besides, even if the driver let us off, we'd have a hard time getting a ride on another bus since the entire length of the highway was a no-stop zone. There was no choice. Jack would have to hold it until we reached the office.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Poor Jack twisted and turned in his seat. He transferred to the back of the bus while everyone else moved off toward the front. If the unthinkable happened, the wind would keep the gases in the back and blow them out the windows. At least that's how we hoped it would be.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px;">
<div style="color: #1d2129;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">For the next two hours, Jack fought his silent battle. Occasionally, his face would grimace as he struggled to keep his purity. Once we reached the outskirts of Manila, however, the traffic slowed our progress considerably. Things were looking really bad for Jack.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ho.lazada.com.ph/SHRasb?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lazada.com.ph%2Fpineng-pn-969-20000mah-powerbank-blackred-1426953.html%3Fspm%3Da2o4l.category-011110000000.0.0.ECzIod%26ff%3D1%26sc%3DEeIb%26offer_id%3D%7Boffer_id%7D%26affiliate_id%3D%7Baffiliate_id%7D%26offer_name%3D%7Boffer_name%7D%26affiliate_name%3D%7Baffiliate_name%7D%26transaction_id%3D%7Btransaction_id%7D" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" 20,000mAH Powerbank from Lazada" height="200" src="https://ph-live-03.slatic.net/p/2/pineng-pn-969-20000mah-powerbank-blackred-1484618707-3596241-c6494a7e9dfdbb32690bdb6c073448a7-webp-zoom.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20,000mAH Powerbank from Lazada</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Jack’s tenacity, however, proved to be his saving grace. The bus stopped at the corner near our office and Jack bounded the length of the bus and out the door. He was gone by the time we got off. The office was two blocks from the bus stop and on the sixth floor. Sometimes, the elevator didn't work.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">When we arrived at the office, Mike, our gofer (go fer this, go fer that), asked us what happened to Jack. He had jumped through the door, grabbed the ladle, and bolted out without saying a word. The story came out and we were having a hearty laugh when Jack came in, wide grin on his face, walking as if nothing had happened.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">"What an adventure!"</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/67707?ref=dejmarcelo" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1239" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRny9-J94YhhWNBTkqWFb7Coa_C-QyzPn5xYOLTOR0hAYROePjkEAn2vPgDF73GzgPVpcX7yS-a82NM3hA5ur8t06gBVpdkx-CQ82n5QvRI8lMkPw8vkcsj68QucwUR3jH-lVvhByUmPU/s320/Funny+Stories+from+my+Travels.jpg" width="247" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/67707?ref=dejmarcelo" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Grab a copy of my book.Just click on the picture</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-52590834141783449792017-07-11T03:44:00.000-07:002017-07-11T07:26:42.203-07:00Alone with My ThoughtsI'm alone in the house. The wife went off to fetch our youngest from school because she's not comfortable with the little one going home after 5pm.<br />
<br />
Things have not been good lately. Projects for my consultancy have dried up and money is in short supply (as in very short). We have to find a new source of income that can tide us over for the meantime.<br />
<br />
I've got four sources of income at the moment: 1.) consultancy, 2.) writing books, 3.) conducting training seminars on public speaking, and 4.) working on a networking business. At this time none of those four are making any money.<br />
<br />
The consultancy only runs when there are projects. Last year, I was occupied for almost the whole year. It was great. I was doing what I loved to do, the money wasn't bad, and I had something to occupy myself. Unfortunately, my partner used the money that was supposed to paid to me for the second project. He said, it was inadvertent because his daughter, who is the operations manager (sort of) of his company thought that the money that came into the bank was theirs, not mine. So, she used it. My partner apologized and said he was going to pay it in installments.<br />
<br />
That's what he did but he only paid when I asked. Then, I learned that the last two projects that I did had not been billed. It takes the client three months to release the payment, which means I get nothing for the next month or two.<br />
<br />
I still have a few things to be thankful for though.<br />
<br />
We transferred our youngest daughter back to her old school and the president was so please with her entrance exam scores that he gave us a 25% discount. We saved around P10,000 in tuition.<br />
<br />
The next blessing came from my son's school, which was a semi-government university. The government had decreed that tuition at all government schools would be free. So, instead of the P15,000 we usually pay for a semester, we only pay P800 a month, which comes out to around P4,000 per semester.<br />
<br />
God is still looking after us.<br />
<br />
I've been applying for online writing jobs, hoping someone would take me. I used to do this for a short time but had to stop because it was taking too much of my time. That was back when I was still working. Today, I'm not doing anything (work-wise that is) so I have lots of time in my hands. I'm not sure how I'll fare since I'm not very familiar with the jobs I applied for but I'll learn.<br />
<br />
I've also been trying to sell ebooks as an affiliate for <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/?ref=dejmarcelo">Smashwords</a>.<br />
<br />
I'm praying that God will turn things around for us. I believe He will. 😊Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-76543322115823460212017-07-05T04:19:00.002-07:002017-07-07T18:21:48.573-07:00Formatting Services for Smashwords and Amazon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zQAibpTvI0bAuFbrz6GEe_2xq5wDzpvjuuw3KmqWqxYs2gipygCHVNv7v-IOIXw3ig7I2QxNR-N1gHjM1Dgzz_onVqGj0B88iylKBukueeO2x1d4kZmY4Ts_fOzA-YY5alk8dKK-cEQ/s1600/20170626_100547%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zQAibpTvI0bAuFbrz6GEe_2xq5wDzpvjuuw3KmqWqxYs2gipygCHVNv7v-IOIXw3ig7I2QxNR-N1gHjM1Dgzz_onVqGj0B88iylKBukueeO2x1d4kZmY4Ts_fOzA-YY5alk8dKK-cEQ/s320/20170626_100547%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Do you have a book you're writing or planning to write? Do you want to publish it online as an ebook?<br />
<br />
I have successfully uploaded six books to Smashwords.com and gotten distributed to several online bookstores like Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple iBookstore, Scribd, Baker & Taylor, and more. I've also successfully uploaded three of my books to Amazon.<br />
<br />
It's easy to upload a book to Smashwords and Amazon but it's not easy to format the book so it will be acceptable to them. This is where I come in.<br />
<br />
I am offering formatting services for writers who want to get into Smashwords and/or Amazon. Prices start from $10 for a 10,000 word book to $50 for a 150,000 word book. The price will differ if you want me to proofread your book.<br />
<br />
Send me a PM on my facebook page at <span style="color: #666666; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dejmarcelo">https://www.facebook.com/dejmarcelo</a></span></span>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-10951774071712320592017-07-05T04:09:00.001-07:002017-07-07T02:09:43.071-07:00Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/?ref=dejmarcelo" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>, the largest distributor of indie, or self-published, books is having their annual summer/winter sale this July 2017. Many books are on sale at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% off!<br />
<br />
This sale is only until July 31, 2017 and only comes once a year. Scan through their catalog for your choice.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/?ref=dejmarcelo" target="_blank"><img alt=" Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale" border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="1172" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIEQaDrGzBRF9WC9ssONZj30-7yFtDeDWuyftIAE_eFx1gf_SgiMxlUclrtbouMinEtVzmgeBV5CyBumaEC9sJdsFX1luz9i1G0QH9PF9LhQvcu93GbmwiCwKWisRkHIO-LqWbY5_S9M/s320/Smashwords+Summer-winter.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/?ref=dejmarcelo" target="_blank">Smashwords.com Summer/Winter Sale</a></div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-9176952289583616682017-07-05T02:30:00.001-07:002017-09-03T19:35:47.059-07:00Latest Book - Understandable and Memorable PresentationsMy most recent book is out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/728037?ref=dejmarcelo" target="_blank"><img alt=" Understandable and Memorable Presentations" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1094" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPv2v6m7yXFIdvf2FFwFmfxisbdPQIsgbKlGzc_Jzl1TmtSU-QCPQpA84HDL35ZeWx8rssX_cGGardeSTyogKkhkkAcMx1kveaIdGXZw0qChJqqSt53b4Vi1v4MHGrwjK1BZHx1LQXnY/s320/Amazon+Cover.png" width="218" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/728037?ref=dejmarcelo" target="_blank">Understandable and Memorable Presentations</a></div>
<br />
Ever since I started working for my last company (before retirement), I had been exposed to presentations. For the most part, I watched others make presentations but as time went on, I found myself making more and more of them. Being part of the audience and being in front of the audience taught me a lot about how effective (and ineffective) presentations are made.<br />
<br />
I've attended a few seminars on making presentations but many of the lessons are outdated today. Furthermore, many of the tips are not necessarily best practices but common practices, and do not really do anything to improve understandability and memory retention.<br />
<br />
One of the worst practice that I've seen (and still being done today) is creating slides with too much information in them. The most common is the bullet point slide.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFvy3WmUe9jtwZlUqWOibYqRq9b1aMwedJu-xDsWlaJIt5pkLjCPka6GuKJ84bXe29Af1eg97BnFrhMbjqO4cGeCTJ0iBZdl6QwRRkyb3yvRsjQoEfPM06ZMR15VHf71Ex5PhKQbkEFY/s1600/bullet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1388" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFvy3WmUe9jtwZlUqWOibYqRq9b1aMwedJu-xDsWlaJIt5pkLjCPka6GuKJ84bXe29Af1eg97BnFrhMbjqO4cGeCTJ0iBZdl6QwRRkyb3yvRsjQoEfPM06ZMR15VHf71Ex5PhKQbkEFY/s320/bullet.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
If you think the example above is bad, I've seen worst, slides with as much as 20 bullet points on them. When you put that slide up on the screen, this is what happens:<br />
<ol>
<li>The audience will start reading the list and not listen to your talking about the first bullet point. They're already reading the fifth bullet point or maybe even further down the list while you're still on the first.</li>
<li>They will begin discussing the other bullet points, usually the one you're not discussing yet.</li>
<li>They will continue to discuss the bullet point you already finished discussing while you're already on another one.</li>
</ol>
<div>
The point (pun not intended) is that when you give the audience more than one idea, message, or piece of information, they will choose which one they will give their attention to.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The solution is to give them only one idea/message/piece of information at a time. That way, they won't be distracted and will listen to you talk about the idea/message/piece of information you put up on the screen.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is just one of the tips I included in the book, and there are more of them. From slide design, to delivery, to tips on how to improve yourself as a presenter. Try it out. Download it at:</div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/728037?ref=dejmarcelo" target="_blank">Understandable and Memorable Presentations</a></div>
</div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-33433375597208417622017-02-05T06:12:00.003-08:002017-02-05T06:12:34.581-08:00What's Up With Me?It's funny. I'm retired and have more time in my hands but my blog is still neglected. 'Gotta change that.<br />
<br />
What have I been busy with?<br />
<br />
For the most part of last year, I've been working as a consultant. Most people are surprised to know that I still work. When they hear my reason, they usually nod their heads in agreement.<br />
<br />
A person needs to have something to occupy his mind after retirement. Many retirees I know who just stopped working and staying at home doing nothing are now dead. Living a sedate lifestyle, doing nothing but watch TV or talk with the neighbors will not improve your health and when you're getting along in years, you need to stay healthy to live longer. Also, keeping your mind active keeps your brain healthy. I'm a believer in the adage: "If you don't use it, you'll lose it."<br />
<br />
Is working as a consultant the same as working as an employee?<br />
<br />
A consultant will know the answer but an employee might not.<br />
<br />
As a consultant, I have my own time. I don't have a boss though I have a client. When you have a client, you're more or less at the same level. They can't change what you're doing because the contract says you only work on what you agreed with them. Most of the time, this means I work on only one thing at a time. It's easier to plan and work the plan.<br />
<br />
Do I have any new books in the works?<br />
<br />
Yes, I'm working on something about public speaking. I'm also working on something about making presentations while creating a seminar about presentations. I hope to start offering the seminar by next month.<br />
<br />
Anything else?<br />
<br />
Well, my eldest daughter graduated in January last year and is now working. She had planned to work at my old place of work but for some reason, they ignored her application. It's okay because she seems to be happy where she is right now. She's far from home but she's happy, and that's okay.<br />
<br />
My mom came over for a vacation here with me last December 22 until January 15, which means she spent Christmas and New Years here with me and my family. This is the first time she's done that and also the first time in a long time that we've spent Christmas and New Year with her.<br />
<br />
I also had an opportunity to go to Cabuyao to work on a factory's evaporator. They had a problem and couldn't run so me and three former co-workers went over to help them. I was there from December 27 to 31 and then again from January 3 to 7. I caught a cold and a flu while I was there the second time. On the flight back to CDO, my ears blocked and wouldn't adjust to the pressure during the descent. Nothing I tried worked and it was very painful. I had to suffer from partial deafness for a full day. I went to the doctor and she diagnosed my condition as bronchitis and prescribed antibiotics. It took two weeks to fully recover.<br />
<br />
Last January 16, we had a low pressure area (LPA) around Norther Mindanao that brought heavy rains for about six hours or so and caused flooding in many areas around the city. The house is situated on a hill so we were not affected by flooding though water did seep into the house. It was raining so hard that the ground couldn't absorb the water fast enough. The water crept up through the foundations and came out of the convenience outlets. I had to turn off the electricity to prevent electrocution. We had to mop up the floor every few minutes but we managed.<br />
<br />
Around four in the afternoon, my youngest daughter called and said their school had released them early due to the flooding in the city. The school wasn't affected but the kids might have difficulty getting home through the flooded streets. My wife and I fetched her and had to wade through the raging currents to get her. On the return leg, we had to take a long detour because the bridge that goes to our subdivision was covered with fast flowing water. When we had passed it earlier, it was not covered yet but in the hour or so that transpired, the water had risen to the level of the top of the bridge. I was still sick at the time and it probably prolonged my recovery.<br />
<br />
That's it. I'll have to try harder next time to keep this blog alive.Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-67674612883546371192016-07-01T04:34:00.002-07:002017-07-30T20:48:58.783-07:00Legend of the Moon is on 50% discount!<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Get your copy now! My book, Legend of the Moon, is on sale all throughout the month of July 2016. Just use the coupon code SSW50 when you checkout to avail of the discount. Go to: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/425317 to get your copy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can also browse through other books on Smashwords' catalog: https://www.smashwords.com/books/category/1/newest/1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Don't miss this opportunity!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoF7R-TN_YJtNYqI4IzQvGa_oCTLMEjXa4fSMQiJckwDDqoHr4cA0uTh9CeFnWlLaovwU7bX5E9mxGRkulVOP9oEteefLYA3AYBqI_JcVNB2RnMoZymE8VLjmbT53Rs5swW6TIzHvMF8/s320/Book+Cover+5.png" width="218" /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-37536499173636763242016-06-04T06:46:00.000-07:002017-09-03T19:38:57.605-07:00Working on the new book and working at my old place of work<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've downloaded the whole story of The Silent Sub. I'm going to convert it into an ebook and publish it soon. There will have to be a lot of changes though and not just in spelling or grammar. The story will have to be modified somewhat. I'm also going to depart from my usual practice of deleting the blog version when the ebook is published. I did that with my other stories and my blog looks like it's been neglected.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In addition to writing, I've been working part-time at my old place of work. Many of my friends tell me that it must be like old times, coming to work everyday. In some ways, yes, and in some ways, no. What's the difference?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I was an employee, I could bring my cellphone into the factory. As long as we don't use them in the production areas, this was allowed. Now, however, I have to leave my phone at the guardhouse and pick it up when I go home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I also have to wear my ID while I'm inside the factory. I never liked having anything hanging from my neck because it sometimes gets in the way. Fortunately, I don't have to work on any machines that may snag the ID and pull me down toward something deadly. The biggest inconvenience is when I brush my teeth. The ID swings into the path of my spit. I have to insert it into my shirt to prevent that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The better difference from before I retired and today is that I'm working on one thing at a time. Back when I was an employee, I had to juggle several activities, some of which I wasn't fond of.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many of the things that haven't changed don't involve me, however. It's the environment inside. I'm talking about things like having to come up with a budget and seeing it get used by someone else; requests that take months to resolve; and people's seeming acceptance of the situation they're in but still unhappy. I'm not exposed to these anymore but my friends are. I made the decision to get out but they don't have that option, unfortunately.</span>Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-40879875028587375122016-05-27T06:55:00.001-07:002016-05-27T06:55:40.553-07:00THOUGHTS ON "THE SILENT SUB"<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a story that had germinated in my mind for years. What if the Germans had successfully built a nuclear submarine back in World War II?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For submarines, staying underwater is safer than being on the surface, especially during war. For the German U-boats, the depths provided them with cover for attack as well as escape. So what advantage would a nuclear submarine have had for them? A submarine that doesn't need to surface or can at least stay underwater for long periods of time. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Couple that with a silent propulsion engine and silent torpedoes and you have a weapon that would devastate the Allied merchant fleet as well as the American and British Navies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I began writing the story in November 1, 2015 and finished May 19, 2016. It should have taken that long though. The gap between the last chapter and the previous one was five months. One reason was I had no idea how to end the story. My original ending was very different but I decided I didn't like it. The second was time (but that's not an excuse, I know). The result is an ending that was too abrupt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If I ever decide to publish this story (as a free ebook), I'll need to make some changes. I'm not sure if a saboteur mouse would sit well with the readers. :-)</span>Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-19775413635496566832016-05-19T07:38:00.001-07:002016-05-19T16:50:35.128-07:00THE SILENT SUB CHAPTER 20 - FIRE<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Tubes 1, 4, 5, and 6 are ready for launch, Captain," </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schneider informed his commanding officer. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner turned to his sonar crew.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Sonar?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"The two destroyer escorts are still searching, Captain, using ASDIC. Still no sound from the carrier." </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner nodded his head and looked at Schneider.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Launch torpedoes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schneider gave the order to fire the weapons. Werner fought the urge to move to the non-working periscope. It was a much favored tool by submarine commanders and he could not imagine being able to perform his job satisfactorily without it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Four torpedoes left their tubes and sped their way toward their assigned bearings, not directly at the circling destroyer escorts but away to the sides.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The two destroyer escorts were 8000 meters away. All four torpedoes were set to go active at the same distance. They would then turn toward the their targets and converge on them from all sides. The chances for hitting both vessels were high.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">USS BUZZARDS BAY</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"We're ready to restart the engines, Admiral."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Admiral Brown thought hard. This u-boat was a new type and had both silent engines and silent torpedoes; that much he had deduced. Keeping the carrier shut down was probably keeping her alive. The u-boat was probably having trouble finding her and he thought it was a good idea to continue being invisible. <i>Buzzards Bay's</i> survival, however, hinged on the two remaining destroyer escort 's finding the elusive submarine. It had turned into a pitch black night and it would be difficult for the sub to see them. If the two destroyer escorts are sunk or damaged though, <i>Buzzards Bay</i> would not last very long, whether they were moving or not. He shook his head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Keep them off for now, Captain. We stay invisible."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Captain Bennet nodded giving orders for the engineering crew to stand by. He also ordered a complete black out of the ship, no external lights, no work lights outside the ship, all outside hatches closed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bennet turned back to Admiral Brown. "Yes, sir?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Call the two destroyers."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">USS JAMES SMITH</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lt. Commander Denning looked at his XO incredulously.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"He said WHAT?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Those are exactly his words, Skipper." The XO himself couldn't believe what he'd heard either but his was not to reason why. "He also said, now."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Denning nodded, not liking it but orders were orders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Do it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On USS John Johnson, the same order was being given.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Torpedoes should be going active in three minutes, Captain." Schneider reported. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His captain nodded almost imperceptibly. He'd been watching the clock as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Silent torpedoes! When we get back, I'll tell the admiral what I think about his silent torpedoes! </i>He thought. <i>No way to track them, no way to find out where they are. All we're doing is guessing!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His peripheral hearing picked up someone cursing and he turned toward the sound. Johann Merk was hurrying toward him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain! We've lost them!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">USS BUZZARDS BAY</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Do you think it's working?" Captain Bennet asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Is there a way of knowing?" Admiral Brown answered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Only as long as there's no explosion from a torpedo," Bennet said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Admiral Brown looked out over the sea toward the two destroyer-escorts, lying dead in the water, their engines shut down, making no noise whatsoever. It was too dark to see them but, occasionally, they'd occlude the light from stars near the horizon so he at least knew the direction they were from him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"We can't hear them, they can't hear us."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"They might use their periscope."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"They could but it will be difficult for them to see and our radar will pick them up. Hell, they might even surface."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The radar had emergency battery power, which enabled them to use them when the ship was shutdown. The batteries wouldn't last long, however, so they switched them on at fifteen minute intervals, each ship alternating every five minutes. They only made five sweeps before shutting them down again but it couldn't be helped.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All sound from the enemy vessels had disappeared. Being silent worked for the enemy as well as for U-1215.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Sonar, what was the last bearing to the vessels?" Werner asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Last bearing was 168 and 174 degrees for each destroyer escort, Captain. Distance was approximately 7600 meters."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everyone was unhappy, more so because their captain was unhappy. Their plans had been foiled again. Werner came to a decision.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"We surface."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schneider straightened in surprise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"But Captain, you told us we cannot show ourselves to the enemy."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"It is a moonless night so it will be dark up there. Furthermore, our hull is black, which makes it impossible to see us in a situation like this. We bring only the conning tower above the water and we search for them with binoculars. There might be enough light for us to spot them. If so, we fire at them from the surface."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"But what if they see us?" Schneider asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"They won't. Get us up on the surface, now." Werner's tone indicated that no more questions were to be asked. Schneider gave the order to surface.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">USS JOHN JOHNSON</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everyone's eyes scanned the dark ocean. There were not enough binoculars for everyone but each available sailor squinted their eyes at the darkness even then. One of them might get lucky.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sonar was thankful for the silence. Listening to an ocean in passive mode minus the sounds of the engines and the waves slapping the hull was as perfect a situation a sonarman could want. Their concentration was as intent as the sailor's up on deck.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lt. Commander Gonzales was in the bridge, scanning peering out at the blackness half expecting an explosion from a torpedo that he couldn't see or hear. He almost jumped out of his skin when a door slammed open.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, SAILOR? YOU WANT TO TELL THE ENEMY WHERE WE ARE?" <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gonzales' face was bright red from anger as well as embarrassment from being startled. The man's eyes were wide open and he was almost out of breath.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Sorry, skipper..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215's conning tower broke the surface of the sea and rose up until the submarine's deck was just below the water. Four men quickly climbed out on the bridge and began scanning the horizon. The sky was overcast with only a few holes to offer some starlight to provide illumination. This was not enough for good vision and everyone strained their eyes looking in every direction though the last heading to the destroyers went through the most scrutiny. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bucher, an off-duty torpedo handler was one of those assigned to man the bridge. He was looking through his binoculars at his assigned section, scanning left and right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"What was that?" a man to his right said. Bucher had seen it out of the corner of his eye. It was a flash and he instinctively knew what it was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"INCOMING!" he shouted. This was followed about a second later by a huge splash to port and a rumble that rolled over the waves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"We're under fire! Dive, dive, dive. All hands clear the bridge!" No one needed to hear the third exclamation. Everyone was scrambling down the hatch as fast as they could as several more splashes hit the water around them. Water was falling into the hatch opening when the last man closed it. With the <i>bridge clear </i>signal, U-1215 steepened its dive to an angle of 15 degrees.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">USS JOHN JOHNSON</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gonzales looked out the bridge windows at the direction of the splashes. The sailor who had slammed the door had announced that sonar had detected the surfacing u-boat. Gonzales immediately restarted the engines, gave the order to swing the guns toward the direction given by sonar and waited for his radar to pick up the u-boat. Once he had the numbers dialed in, the order to fire had been given.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There was no bright explosion, he saw. They had missed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner dove the boat steeply, heading for a depth of 120 meters. Items that were not fastened down came crashing to the deck plates along with a few people. They staggered to their feet and held on to anything that would support them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer was one of those staggering to his feet, a cut on his cheek attesting to the force of his fall. Gunther was on the deck, blood pouring out of a wound Meyer could not see. He moved toward the reactor monitors and scanned the gauges, looking for any danger signs. Nothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then he felt the boat level out. <i>We're at whatever depth that fool of a captain ordered</i>, he thought. <i>I'll make a full report to the admiral when we get back to base</i>. <i>If we get back, </i>he thought ruefully.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then, a flash, a hot searing flash burst out of the generator room, followed by a deafening explosion. The </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the hot gas swept through the reactor compartment in a second and the </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">inside of the submarine was immediately engulfed in darkness. A few seconds later, flames leapt out of the generator room, sending tendrils out into the reactor room. Those who had gathered their senses ran out through the hatches, leaving several of their comrades either dead or dying in the room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer had been deafened and temporarily blinded by the blast. He groped around, trying to get his bearings but the room was rapidly being filled with smoke. Memory helped him find his way to the hatch between the crew's quarters and the reactor room. Crew members waited for him to get through before closing the hatch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The submarine was slowly filling with smoke and, from the smell, Meyer could tell it was toxic. He had to convince the captain to surface the boat and get the crew out. If they tried to fight the fire, the smoke would overwhelm the fire fighters before they could put the fire out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was dark and he groped his way toward the torpedo room and the stairs and hatch that would lead him into the control room. The smoke was getting thick, aided by the ventilation ducts that ran the length of the submarine. He struggled up the stairs, pushing his way through crew members who were looking for clean air.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He finally reached the control room, which had red lights on that were running from batteries. The smoke had filled it and the silence meant that it had either been abandoned or the crew were dead. He had to find the ballast tanks controls and surface the boat before he, himself, was overcome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He crawled his way to the panel, slipping over two dead crewmen. He found Werner, leaning on the panel with the diving controls. Werner turned his head. He was still alive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer was on his last breath. He slowly pulled himself up and pushed the controls that would surface the boat. Nothing happened.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Except for the red lights, the boat was completely without power. None of the controls would work. Meyer fell beside his captain and looked at him. Werner looked back, he had stopped covering his mouth and nose and freely breathed in the toxic fumes. They both sat silently for a while before Werner said a single word, "sorry." Meyer didn't hear it. He was dead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner gazed at the man for a few moments, an inner strength keeping him alive for a few more minutes until he, too, breathed his last.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">USS BUZZARDS BAY</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"They hit it?" Admiral Brown asked. Captain Bennet shrugged his shoulders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"It's possible. Sonar heard what seemed to be an explosion though it was muffled. Implosion noises were heard several minutes later. He's gone."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Admiral Brown looked thoughtful as he went back through the day's events. Two destroyer-escorts sunk, his carrier damaged, his aircraft lying at the bottom of the ocean, it was a fairly decent performance for the u-boat. He would have liked to capture it but that was impossible now. He'll have to send a communique to naval headquarters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THREE MONTHS LATER</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215's SECRET BASE</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The admiral stood in Werner's office, gazing out into the empty dock. It had been three months since he had last seen U-1215. There was no clue about what happened to her. Intelligence had reported an attack on a task group near the Madeira Islands but nothing else. He had no way of knowing if U-1215 had been involved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He sighed. He was alone. He moved toward the chair and sat down on it with a heavy thud. He had yet lost more of Germany's children. He had failed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His aide was talking with one of the guards outside when a shot rang out. They ran to the office and found the admiral, still sitting on the chair, a pistol in his hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Adolf the mouse remains was almost indistinguishable among the carnage of the generator room. The explosions and violent movements of the boat had driven him into a chewing frenzy on the boat's wire insulation. The last were the generator's cables, which carried the most electricity. They shorted and created a great flash, killing him instantly and causing the rest of the insulation to catch fire. Though the fire soon burned itself out, the toxic smoke from the smoldering cables had filled the submarine through the ventilation ducts. U-1215 slowly began to drift down into the depths.</i></span>Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-36104745485568807592015-12-17T04:43:00.001-08:002016-05-19T16:52:09.036-07:00THE SILENT SUB CHAPTER 19 - PAUSE<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What was that? The whole submarine had shuddered violently and had thrown him about. The </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">deafening roar that accompanied it made his ears ring and hurt.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> He left his hiding place and ran while the crew were busy either recovering or trying to watch the panels. He reached a door and entered, finding himself inside the generator room. There was no one inside so he ran for an opening underneath one of the generators. Someone had opened a cover, probably to inspect the inside. It was a convenient hiding place.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer staggered to Gunther, both of them shaken by the massive vibration caused by the exploding depth charge. They stared at the dials, looking for any sign that the reactor or any of its components might have been damaged. Everything seemed normal but they continued looking anyway. After a few minutes, Meyer turned to Gunther.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Gunther, I'm going to the electrical room. Keep monitoring the reactor. Call me if you see anything that doesn't seem right...even a little, understand?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gunther nodded. "Yes, sir."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer climbed the stairs to the catwalk and entered the electrical room. Three technicians were inspecting a panel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Any problems here, men?" he asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Everything seems normal, sir. None of the fuses popped during the explosion."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The boat's holding up</i>, Meyer thought. <i>This could work! We need to get back to base and inform the admiral, Donitz, and the Fuhrer. The test is successful! The technology is viable!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215 was moving at 17 knots away from the scene of the last attack. At this speed, it was almost impossible to hear anything on sonar and that was the problem of sonar chief, Johann Merk. He and another sonar operator had taken over the station after Blöhme and Schmitt were wounded by the blast. Right now, all he was hearing was water rushing by his sensors. He had recommended that they slow down to listen, something he didn't really want to do but it was the correct thing to say at the time. Werner wanted to wait a little longer to put a little more distance from the searching destroyer escorts, much to Merk's—and quite a few other's—relief.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner turned to Schneider and asked, "What happened to our torpedo?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schneider thought quickly. He had suddenly been pushed into second-in-command in the control room and the captain needed his analysis. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"With the explosion happening so soon after launch, it's very possible it exploded prematurely, Captain."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner nodded. He'd thought as much. "Tube 3 is unusable but all the other tubes are functional. We'll move away for a while and turn around for another try."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After fifteen minutes, Werner ordered ahead slow and a rise to a depth of 50 meters. Merk reported that the two destroyer escorts were now about eight thousand meters behind them, pounding the sea with ASDIC.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">USS BUZZARDS BAY</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Admiral Brown watched as a launch cast off to pick up Lt. Brian after he ditched in the ocean. He thought of writing a letter of commendation for the pilot. He'd probably saved the carrier. It seemed, however, that he had missed. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sonar had not heard the break up sounds of a submarine sinking towards the bottom of the ocean.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If a submarine is hulled, water would rush in and the boat would sink. Any compartments that are closed would soon implode when the sinking vessel reaches the depth where the pressure of the ocean overcomes the strength of the submarine's hull. This depth is aptly called, <i>crush depth</i>, and the actual value varies for each vessel. The sound of rushing water is unmistakable and the <i>boom </i>that accompanies the implosion, signals that men have died.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Without the telltale signs, or sounds in this case, of a sinking submarine, Admiral Brown had to conclude that the u-boat was still alive and could be coming around for another attempt. The two destroyer escorts, USS John Johnson and USS James Smith, had quickly moved in to the spot where the periscope had last been seen. They were now scouring the sea with ASDIC.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Buzzards Bay had stopped sinking though several compartments had flooded. They were going to attempt to light the boilers again to get the ship moving. A motionless ship is a sitting duck and usually didn't live very long. There was also a possible second u-boat out there and they had not found it. The two destroyer escorts were scouring the surrounding sea, looking for the telltale echo of a u-boat swimming by.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain," a junior officer called out, "James Smith reports no contacts."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Admiral Brown shook his head. <i>We have to find him before he can shoot again.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner made a discovery that made him swear but would have made Meyer very happy. The periscope had sprung a leak and was unusable. There was no way to repair it except to surface, find the leak, and repair it. He'd have to rely solely on sonar. Since the carrier was not making any noise, he would not be able to shoot a torpedo at it. He could still take out the two destroyer escorts, however.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schneider took a glance at the torpedo controls. "All tubes are loaded, Captain, and waiting for targeting information."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"We'll shoot at the two destroyer escorts," Werner said. "After they are out of action, we'll surface and finish off the carrier."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schneider nodded and was about to turn away when he remembered something.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain, we can't show ourselves to the enemy."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner didn't speak for a few seconds. Schneider was right. The admiral's orders said to make sure that no one, friend or foe, sees U-1215. He, however, knew something that the young officer had not thought of.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"It's night up on the surface, Lieutenant. They won't be able to see us approach. They'll have a few lights, I'm sure, and that will give us the correct bearing to launch an attack."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schneider nodded again, smiled, and turned away. Werner moved to the sonar room to get range and bearing information on the two moving warships. They were most likely sailing around a spot on the ocean where they last detected U-1215. They didn't know that the u-boat was already way out of their search box. Werner planned to launch four torpedoes, two for each vessel, but not directly at them. He would fire them at an oblique angle and then have them turn toward the ships from different directions. He hoped it would increase the chances of getting a hit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>He had not recovered from the fright of all the noise and shaking earlier. His nervous tic was really strong right now and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He stayed underneath the generator, shaking badly.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><a href="http://ericmarcelo-indieauthor.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-silent-sub-chapter-20.html">GO TO CHAPTER 20</a></span></div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-62453014714617424122015-12-05T03:50:00.001-08:002015-12-17T04:44:44.646-08:00THE SILENT SUB CHAPTER 18 - DAMAGE<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The typical acoustic torpedo has "ears" on either side of its warhead. Directional control is simplicity personified. If the left ear hears a louder sound than the right ear, the torpedo changes course to the left and, when the right ear hears a louder sound than the left, the torpedo changes course to the right. If the sound has equal loudness in both ears, the torpedo steers a straight course.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215's torpedoes had an additional feature </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">design</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ed </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">to target submarines as well as surface ships. It had two additional sensors, one on top and one at the bottom of the warhead. This allowed it to follow a noise source down into the depths.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">UNIT 1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The two torpedoes headed for the noise sources, switching their attentions every now and then before deciding on one each. Unit 1 hit USS James Smith's Foxer noisemaker, exploding it and tearing it apart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">UNIT 2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Unit 2 was slightly ahead of USS John Johnson and was hearing both the ship's screw and engine as well as the noisemaker. It steered for the space between the two noise sources and its path put it on a direct collision course with the noisemaker's tow cable.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It hit the tow cable but didn't explode. The cable snapped but not before damaging the top fin of Unit 2. The weapon lost control and began running in circles and arcs, its maneuvering commands scrambled by the damaged fin. USS John Johnson's Foxer sank to the depths, still intact and making noise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">UNIT 6</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The unit intended for the carrier had turned around and had been tracking USS Johnson's Foxer when the noise suddenly seemed to dive. Unit 6 followed the noisemaker down into the depths and smashed into it, obliterating it in a massive explosion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Blöhme frowned. He had his sensors turned down in anticipation of the explosions from the torpedoes but he was having trouble interpreting the sounds he was hearing. There were three torpedoes in the water, one was heading in the opposite direction of the other two. He heard the two explosions in the directions of Units 1 and 2 but nothing from the direction of Unit 6. Furthermore, the second explosion had come about a half minute after he had expected it. The sound also seemed to come from a deeper depth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner listened to his sonar crew describe the information they were getting from their sensors and helped in interpreting them. The two Foxer units had certainly been successful in decoying their torpedoes and the two destroyer escorts were still moving. The absence of an explosion in the direction of the carrier meant that Unit 6 had missed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Make Tubes 3 through 5 ready! Unit 3 for the carrier and Units 4 and 5 toward the two destroyer escorts. Quickly, before they deploy another Foxer!" Werner was going to take another shot at the warships, determined that he would be taking home six pennants. "Head for the carrier, we'll shoot from very close range and at periscope depth to make sure we sink her for sure."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer was not in the control room to hear this but he would not have made any objections. He had accepted that Captain Werner would not listen to reason anyway and decided to monitor his precious reactor. Besides, he was having problems of his own.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of the electricians had reported that one of the fuses for the reactor control had popped. It was fixed immediately and did not seriously affect the reactor's operation. Meyer asked himself whether he should inform the captain of this new incident but decided not to. The captain was dead set on sinking every ship in this flotilla. Nothing, short of saying the sub was sinking would probably make a difference.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The repeated explosions frightened him and he ran from one hiding place to another. One of the wires had given him a terrible shock and he was resting behind one of the numerous panels in this vast room. The other occupants were clustered around another panel he'd been in about half an hour ago.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Up periscope!" Werner had brought the boat back to periscope depth and was sailing toward the carrier. The floating airfield was not moving and would be an easy target. Tubes 3 through 5 were set, their outer doors open.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain! The two destroyer escorts are heading for us!" </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Blöhme</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and Schmitt worked their sensors, trying to gather enough data to give their captain a chance to launch weapons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"How long?" Werner asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"At this speed, we estimate they will be on top of us in twelve minutes," Schmitt answered. "They are still building up speed. They might have detected our periscope, Captain." </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schmitt was wrong, however. Someone else had detected their periscope.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lt. S.G. Walter Brian was circling the carrier. He couldn't land because the ship was not moving. There would not be enough space to bring his plane to a stop. The flight deck was also full of personnel pushing planes over the side, trying to keep the ship afloat. Besides, it was too dark already and the carrier was totally blacked out with only a few lights. His friends on other planes had already ditched and were being picked up from the water. He was waiting until the last minute before ditching his own fighter. He chanced to look down to his radarscope when he spotted an anomaly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There were three ships on the water but he was seeing a fourth blip on the screen. It was small and was moving toward the carrier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I've got a periscope on the surface 2000 yards from the carrier! I'm going down," he called to the radioman on Buzzards Bay. He dove steeply for the approximate location of the blip. Without a visual sighting, he was flying blind. With one eye on his altimeter and another on the blip, he felt with his fingers for the bomb release. He had one depth charge and one chance. He caught sight of the periscope feather, dimly illuminated by phosphorescent sea plankton. It was a god sent opportunity. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Half watching the altimeter and half watching the luminescent trail, he pulled the release at 500 feet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner's eye was locked onto the carrier's image on the periscope. Their close range made it appear large. He ordered slow speed to bring the boat directly abeam of the dead, but still floating, carrier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Tubes 3 through 5 are set, Captain," the chief said, "anytime you're ready."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner kept silent, watching the carrier on his scope. He had heard the chief but he wanted the carrier. It was a bigger prize than the smaller destroyer escorts. He knew that the destroyer escorts were more dangerous at this time, however, so he took his eyes out of the eyepiece and nodded to Fischer. The First Watch Officer gave the order.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Shoot Tube 3!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Unit 3 left its tube and ran straight for the carrier, now 1600 meters away. Werner looked back into the eyepiece and gave the final order himself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Shoot Tubes 4 and..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner never completed the order. Brian's depth charge fell into the water 200 meters in front of the submarine, and sank to 50 feet before exploding. Werner's order to slow had ruined Brian's aim, causing him to overshoot U-1215.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"AAAH!" Both </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Blöhme</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and Schmitt pulled off their headsets, blood coming out of their ears, deafened by the explosion of the depth charge at very close range. Crew members staggered as the boat shuddered from the force of the blast. Training, however, galvanized everyone into action. The sonar chief quickly pulled out </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Blöhme and Schmitt. Then he and another sonar operator sat on the chairs and clapped the headsets to their ears.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">From the deck plates, Werner shouted. "All ahead flank, right full rudder! Dive to 150 meters!" He scrambled to his feet along with the others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The two helmsmen, who were strapped in, quickly operated their controls. Because U-1215 had been at ahead slow, even turning at right full rudder took a longer time and the engine took time to pick up speed. Soon, however, they were diving for the specified depth and were running at 14 knots and increasing. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fischer was still on the deck, writhing in pain, both legs broken by the violent shaking that accompanied the explosion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schneider, shaken but uninjured, staggered to his captain. Werner took one look around and decided Schneider was the only other officer in the control room who was uninjured.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Schneider! Get damage reports from all compartments," he ordered. As Schneider leaped up to the all-ship communication system, Werner ordered crewmen to take Fischer into sick bay. Several men were also moving toward the medical facility with similar injuries. Some of them would have to be taken to their bunks and treated there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain," Schneider called, "all sections report minor damage and all systems are operational. Torpedo room reports a leak in Tube 5's breech door."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"How bad is it?" Werner asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"It is a minor leak, Captain. The outer door has been closed and the leak has gone down to a small trickle." Schneider's voice trailed off as Werner made his way to the torpedo room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner made way for a group of men carrying one of their injured mates into the crew's quarters. He moved to the torpedo loading area and turned to the torpedo room chief. "Report."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The chief showed Werner the leaking breech door. "It's not a major leak, Captain. The door was stressed during the explosion due to the outer doors being open. After we closed the door, the leak began to slow down. It's still decreasing as you can see."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner could see that the leak was indeed decreasing. <i>This is not a major problem</i>, he thought.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://ericmarcelo-indieauthor.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-silent-sub-chapter-19.html">GO TO CHAPTER 19</a></span></div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-14743589253464185242015-11-20T22:54:00.003-08:002015-12-05T03:52:00.635-08:00THE SILENT SUB CHAPTER 17 - NOISEMAKERS<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">USS JAMES SMITH</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Lt. Commander Denning was
on the bridge of the USS James Smith, coordinating the search. USS James Smith
and USS John Johnson had been using an expanding-box search pattern. Basically,
they sailed on opposite sides of a square box pattern and expanded the size of
the box with every rotation. At this time, however, with no sign of the u-boat,
they either had to abandon the search or use a different search pattern.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">After a submarine attack,
surface warships usually have to consider two possibilities: the u-boat is
sailing away or staying around to attack again. German submarine captains were
notoriously brave and willing to take risks, which means there was a high
probability this one was just biding his time, waiting for another opportunity.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Denning had lookouts all
over the rails looking for a periscope, snorkel, or even the actual submarine.
Denning's ship also had a centimetric radar, a type of radar that was capable
of detecting the small periscope stub when it was raised above the water.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">U-1215</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">The periscope broke the
surface of the water approximately 2000 meters away from USS Buzzards Bay. The
aircraft carrier was just visible in the last sunlight of the day. The two
destroyer escorts that had been hit were no longer in sight. They had sunk
earlier. Werner listening in to the sonar sounds of the sinking vessels. The
carrier had actually made some noise earlier in their attempt to restart the
boilers but it was now quiet again. They would have to fire a straight running
torpedo at her.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">USS JAMES SMITH</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"Skipper!" A
junior officer called Lt. Commander Denning. "Radar has detected a
periscope bearing 284 degrees, 4200 yards, on course 248."</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Denning ordered the ship
turned around and a message sent to USS John Johnson and USS Buzzards Bay. He
went to the plotting table and swore. The u-boat was heading for the aircraft
carrier.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">U-1215</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"Captain!" the
sonar chief shouted from the sonar room, "The two destroyer escorts are
heading this way!"</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"Damn!" Werner
whirled toward Fischer. "Set it up, we can't wait any longer. Fire Tube 6
on the aircraft carrier using the bearings from the periscope observation and
use Tubes 1 and 2 on the destroyer escorts. Set the activation distance of
Units 1 and 2 to five hundred meters. Let the torpedoes find their own targets."</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner checked the
periscope again and refined the bearings. Fischer used the bearings, the speed
and course of U-1215 to calculate a course and time to launch for the torpedo.
The next two torpedoes were fed the same bearings from sonar's reports. Then he
straightened.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"Firing solutions set,
Captain. Tube 6 will have to be fired in 44 seconds. Tubes 1 and 2 can be fired
anytime."</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Werner didn't waste any
time. "Launch Tubes 1 and 2, now. Set the timer on Tube 6 and fire when
the timer runs out."</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">U-1215 used a hydraulic ram
launch system. It was less noisy and simpler than the compressed air launch
system that most submarines used. Both systems, however, produced noise when
flooding the tubes in preparation for opening the outer doors. This couldn't be
helped and Werner knew it. He only hoped that the silent torpedo would confuse
the warships' sonar operators.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">USS BUZZARDS BAY</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Buzzards Bay's sonar
operator's eyes widened at the familiar sound of tubes flooding. He immediately
informed his superior who informed the captain. Bennet immediately got on the
radio.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"Bulldog, Doberman,
this is Doghouse. Torpedo launch warning!" Bulldog was USS James Smith
while Doberman was USS John Johnson. Both were running at maximum speed toward
U-1215's periscope and would be unable to hear the torpedo launch.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lt. Commanders Dennning and
Gonzales, skippers of James Smith and John Johnson respectively, both gave the
same order to their ships.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"Launch Foxer!"</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Foxer is the name for an
anti-torpedo device. It was basically a noisemaker that was pulled along by a
vessel to decoy acoustic torpedoes. It made a lot more noise than the vessel
pulling it and was quite effective in achieving its purpose. The two destroyer
escorts had to slow down to 14 knots, however, as the device tended to fall
apart when running at faster speeds.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Both Admiral Brown and
Captain Bennet watched as the two destroyer escorts turned so they would be
running perpendicular to the approaching torpedoes and give Foxer a better
chance of decoying the torpedoes. USS James Smith ran north while USS John
Johnson ran south.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">U-1215</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Blöhme swore when he heard
the noisemakers. He immediately informed his superior who informed Werner. The
acoustic sensors on the torpedoes were the same as the ones used in other
torpedoes. Foxer had fooled those types so there was no reason why U-1215's
torpedoes would not be fooled. Still he was banking on the silence of the
torpedoes to cause the destroyer escorts to make a mistake.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">The torpedo (Unit 6) for
the aircraft carrier was already on the way. Its seeker head was set to
activate at maximum distance. This meant it was not going to activate before it
hit the carrier. With all the noise the two destroyer escorts were making, the
torpedo might turn around and go searching in the wrong direction.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Unknown to Werner, Unit 6
had a flaw. Its seeker head had gone out of calibration and was set to activate
after only 100 meters. It had turned immediately upon activation and headed for
the two destroyer escorts. Being silent was an advantage only for the torpedo.
Blöhme and Schmitt never heard it make the turn.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">USS JOHN JOHNSON</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Lt. Commander Raul Gonzales
was querying the sonarman on what he'd been hearing. Prior to launching Foxer,
the operator had tried to track the approaching torpedo.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"I didn't hear
anything, Skipper," the man said. "No high-speed screws, no nothing.
He might have been trying to spook us, trying to get us to use Foxer."</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US">But why?</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> Gonzales asked himself. It
was a worrying thought. Foxer was good at decoying acoustic torpedoes but there
were those few times when the torpedo had locked onto the warship instead of
the noisemaker. Gonzales wondered if he should stop or cut the cable that was
pulling Foxer.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US">No</span></i><span lang="EN-US">, he thought. <i>Foxer
has been successful more times than failed. Our chances are better with it.</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">UNIT 1 AND 2</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Unit 1 and 2 had activated
as programmed and had detected four noise sources. Two were loud while two were
fainter. Their controls selected the loud ones and steered for them. Unit 1 had
turned to follow USS James Smith while Unit 2 had acquired USS John Johnson.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">USS BUZZARDS BAY</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"There's nothing,
Skipper." Buzzards Bay's sonarman was having the same problem as USS James
Smith. He had been listening for the high pitched <i>screeee</i> of
the torpedoes screws as they spun. He could clearly hear the two noisemakers
along with the almost faint sound of the destroyer escort's own screws but the
sound of torpedoes running in the water was eerily absent.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"Are you sure you
heard tubes flooding?" Bennet asked.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"Yes, sir," the
man answered. "It was one of things they made you listen to over and over
again in sonar school."</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Bennet thought it over for
a few seconds and came to a conclusion.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"He's flooded his
tubes and caused James Smith and John Johnson to deploy Foxer. Their sonar is
useless with Foxer operating (because of the noise), which means they can't
find him."</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"But I can't hear him
either, Skipper," the operator complained, fiddling with his controls.
"He's probably drifting with his motors off."</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"Can't be," the
sonar boss countered. "We haven't heard anything since the attack started.
Do you think he's had his motors off all this time? Besides, we've detected his
periscopes in two places, both too far from each other for a sub running
underwater."</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Bennet suddenly came to a
realization. "We've got two submarines here."</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ericmarcelo-indieauthor.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-silent-sub-chapter-18-damage.html">GO TO CHAPTER 18</a></div>
</div>
</div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-87564915362994409512015-11-18T18:48:00.002-08:002015-11-20T22:55:44.841-08:00THE SILENT SUB CHAPTER 16 - WIRES<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">USS BUZZARDS BAY<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was chaotic on the bridge though it was
actually an orderly chaos. The captain was taking reports from the different
sections of the ship, the executive officer was somewhere supervising the
damage control parties while Admiral Brown was trying to coordinate the search
for the u-boat. The aircraft carrier was not in immediate danger of sinking but
the two destroyer escorts, Michael Jones and Robert Williams were already being
abandoned. James Smith and John Johnson were heading for a detected periscope
to the east. Buzzards Bay's captain, Marlon Bennet, turned to Admiral Brown.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"He got us pretty good, didn't
he?" He was referring to the u-boat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"That he did, captain. He's either
very good or very lucky. I'm leaning toward the former, however." Admiral
Brown gave grudging respect for the u-boat commander that put holes into three
of his warships.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The executive officer came up to the two
officers. "Damage control says the flooding has been contained though we
might have as much as a five degree list until we can get to a repair yard. One
boiler is badly damaged but we can get the others running in about thirty
minutes or so."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Casualties?" Captain Bennet
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Twenty-one wounded, two seriously.
Four dead."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Thank you XO. Keep me updated on
developments."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The executive officer nodded and left to
check on other things. Captain Bennet turned to the Admiral.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Admiral? You might consider
transferring to another ship."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Admiral Brown shook his head. "We're
not in danger of sinking and we're still operational to some extent. I'll
transfer when I need to." He pointed toward the two destroyer-escorts
searching for the u-boat. "Those two are too busy to pick me up
anyway."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Captain Bennet nodded. He turned when a
sailor gave a message from the radio room. He read the note and shook his head.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Smith and Johnson reports that they
lost contact with the u-boat. Smith fired off a few depth charges but can't
hear anything anymore. It's hiding under a layer."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Admiral Brown gave a sigh. "We'd
better find him or he might come back and try to finish us off." He looked
out over the sea toward the two destroyer escorts searching for the u-boat. He
looked worried.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Frightened by the earlier explosions from
the torpedoes, the newer explosions were terrifying. These were much closer and
shook U-1215 violently. He scrambled for a better hiding place behind a panel.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The depth charge attack had not been close
enough to do more than rattle the nerves of several crewmembers. Werner had
ordered the submarine to move north at fifteen knots for five minutes and west
for ten. This brought him in between the searching destroyers and the aircraft
carrier. The sonar department had analyzed the earlier attack and deduced that
the torpedoes had either activated early or they had made a mistake in
calculating the distances. The weapons had attacked the closest sound source
and that happened to be the three closest targets. He decided that moving in
between the surface warships would allow him to fire in different directions
and increase their chances of hitting all the targets. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer argued with Werner on the wisdom
of continuing the attack.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain, we already have four
victories, including the British submarine we sunk earlier. We don't need to
sink anymore ships, we could leave and sail back to base. We need to inspect
U-1215's systems for faults." Meyer had kept following Werner around the
control room, trying to convince him to abandon the attack. The latter was
trying keep his temper from exploding on the lieutenant commander-engineer.
Finally, he had grabbed the man's arm and pulled him like a child into his
stateroom and whispered harshly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Meyer!" Werner had called him by
name instead of rank. "I told you we will go home when we have finished
off all of them. You gave me your word that you will follow my orders. If I
hear another word out of you, I will confine you to quarters under guard."
Meyer, however, was not intimidated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain, I do not know if you were
informed but we just had another problem a few minutes ago. One of the dial
gauges monitoring the reactor temperature suddenly stopped working. I tell you,
we are experiencing unusual failures. I couldn't tell you in the control room
else we alarm the crew." Werner had been ignoring Meyer as much as he
could. Meyer needed to find a way to get his attention.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner was shocked. Meyer had emphasized
again and again that the reactor was the most important and dangerous piece of
equipment on the submarine. A problem here will not just disable the submarine
but could also kill them in a fiery inferno that none of them would survive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Is the reactor safe?" Werner
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Yes," Meyer answered. "One
of the technicians found a wire that seems to have frayed and become detached.
The electrician has reconnected it."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"So, you are worried about one
wire?" Werner was becoming angry again. "This does not sound very
serious!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer shook his head. "No, Captain.
The electrician said that he found several wires in the same condition."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner's eyes widened at this revelation.
"Several wires? Do you know how this could happen?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I am not sure. At first I thought the
wires might have corroded but, upon looking closer, I think the wires are being
eaten."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"EATEN?" Werner shouted.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN EATEN?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I said I am not sure, Captain. It may
be that even the small amount of radiation we have inside the reactor room is
affecting the wires. Remember that every one of our previous problems were with
wires. I cannot explain them." Meyer gave the Captain a baleful look. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"We have to go back, Captain. We might not make it back if we delay any
longer."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner turned away for a moment and looked
back at Meyer. "We will fire three torpedoes at the enemy and turn for
home immediately. We will listen for the hits as we move away. Any explosions
we hear will be counted as a ship sunk. There will be no more discussions. Go
back to your station, Meyer. We have a job to do." Werner quickly left
before Meyer could say anything further.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner entered the control room and went to
the plotting table.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Take us above the layer, Mr. Fischer,
but be ready to duck back down if necessary."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fischer repeated the order and gave the
command to the planesman. The boat slowly rose up from the depths with the
sonarman listening intently through his headphones and the others watching the
gauge that showed the seawater temperature outside the hull. Soon, the sonarman
announced the presence of engine sounds but those were some distance off and
did not present any present danger. The firing solution team immediately set to
work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Do we have a firing solution?"
Werner asked after several minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"We are just refining our distance
calculations, Captain. We can fire with what we have now but our chances will
be better if we wait a few more minutes." Fischer waited for his captain to
give the word. He was eager to get on with it but, as an experienced
submariner, he understood the value of being patient.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His captain, however, seemed indecisive.
Werner looked at the plotting table as the plotting crew worked on the data
they had to determine the positions of the warships relative to U-1215. Meyer
stood to one side, waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner straightened and looked at his crew.
"We will wait."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer's mouth opened in surprise. Werner
gave him a hard look, warning him not to say anything. Meyer closed his mouth,
lowered his head, and left the control room, toward the aft end of the boat.
Werner turned back to the plotting table and caught Fischer looking at him. It
was an unspoken question, with an unspoken answer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fischer's
team had a problem. The aircraft carrier was not making any noise, its engines
were shutdown. They could raise the periscope again and fire a straight-running
torpedo at it while sending the acoustic torpedoes toward the two destroyer
escorts. After twenty-three minutes, Werner decided he'd waited long enough and
ordered the boat to periscope depth.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://ericmarcelo-indieauthor.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-silent-sub-chapter-17.html">GO TO CHAPTER 17</a></span></span></div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-86945942600630540902015-11-17T05:23:00.000-08:002015-11-19T05:36:51.747-08:00THE SILENT SUB CHAPTER 15 - THE BATTLE BEGINS<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">USS BUZZARDS BAY<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Admiral Brown checked with his pilots. They
had not spotted the submarine again and it looked as if it had given them the slip.
Aircraft had been circling the area for the past three hours. If the u-boat had
remained submerged, it could not have gone further than ten miles. Then again,
three hours was not impossible for a u-boat to endure but as long as it
remained underwater, it could not go very far. By the time they arrive in the
area where it was last seen, the u-boat could be 30 miles away assuming it ran at 3 knots in a straight line. <i>That's
2,800+ square miles of ocean to search. Not small but not too big either.</i> <i>When it surfaces, we'll catch him</i>, he
thought.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He was sending his fighter-bombers off in
relays. Just before a plane needed to turn back for fuel, another would arrive
to take over its station. Right now, he had four of them flying in an expanding
box pattern around the area where the u-boat was last detected. He had four
others flying around elsewhere individually on the chance they might find
another submarine. It was an intricate dance, one which they had lots of
practice. They could keep doing this as long as they had fuel to fly the
planes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215's sonarman, Martin Blöhme, felt as
if he could reach out into the depths and feel the presence of a ship. In a
way, that was true. The sounds of a ship's engines and screws carried quite a
distance when the sea conditions were perfect. Right now, conditions couldn't
be better. The sea above was calm, with hardly a wave to disturb the surface.
That meant that wave noise was absent. There were several dolphins swimming
about but not much else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Listening, however, only worked when the
sub was moving slowly, as in slower than 15 knots. Faster speeds generated flow
noise, a rushing sound that made it impossible to hear anything. Every hour or
so, Captain Werner would order U-1215 to slow to 5 knots so that Blöhme and his
mates could listen to the sea around them. After around fifteen minutes of
listening, he would order them back to 17 knots for the next hour. As they got
closer to the estimated interception point with the Allied task group, Werner
ordered listening stops at thirty minutes intervals. It didn't take long.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Blöhme straightened, listening intently. He'd
thought he heard something during the previous listening stop but the sound had
disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Now, it was definitely there.
Somewhere out on the surface slightly to their right, a group of ships were
sailing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He couldn't tell how many yet. All he could
hear was a generalized rumble most sonarmen called, "a thundering
herd." This didn't sound like a large herd though.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Blöhme was the most experienced sonarman on
the boat. He'd been on two other u-boats before being assigned to U-1215. He
was using the omnidirectional sonar set which enabled him to hear sounds from
all around and give a general direction from where it was coming from. He
turned to the second sonarman, Helmut Schmitt, and gave him a direction to turn
the directional sonar. Schmitt swung the sonar and listened intently. A smile
broke out on his face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain to the sonar room," Blöhme's
superior called out. Werner strode over to the little compartment and waited
for the two men to make a report. They waited a while before speaking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"A small flotilla, Captain ... not more
than six or seven ships maybe ... bearing ... 128 degrees ... can't tell what
their coarse is at the moment." Schmitt made small adjustments to his
filters. "Estimate 40 kilometers ... I can't differentiate screw sounds yet, Captain ... we'll need
to get closer."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner gave a small laugh. "That is
exactly what we're going to do." He turned to the control room.
"Helm! Set course 120 degrees, 12 knots." As the submarine settled
into her new course, Fischer and Meyer smiled but for different reasons.
Fischer was anticipating the action while Meyer was happy they would soon be
finished with this mission.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain," Meyer called, "we
can fire our torpedoes from maximum range. We're sure to get a hit. I'm sure of
it."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner didn't turn toward Meyer. "I
agree that we would hit at least one, Meyer. But we must make sure we could
sink it. We cannot claim a kill if it doesn't sink."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"But we will sink it! Our torpedoes
are high explosive types. For such a small flotilla, it is sure to be an Allied
task group. If we hit a destroyer-escort, or even a destroyer, we are sure to
hole them or even break them apart."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner finally turned toward him. "We
do not know that, Meyer. Sonar distances are guesses—estimates if you wish—if
our estimates are incorrect, the torpedoes may run out of fuel before they hit.
Or every torpedo might target one single target. What good would that do?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"But we only need to sink one!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"That is where you are wrong, Meyer. I
intend to sink every ship in that flotilla and I am going to do it with one
torpedo for each of them."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer's mouth dropped. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">USS BUZZARDS BAY<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With the task group sailing at 17 knots,
the sonar systems in the ships were hardly functional. Their present course was
ideal because they were actually sailing into the wind. That meant Admiral
Brown could launch and land his planes without altering course. He was on the
bridge watching another Avenger fly off the deck toward the north. Then he went
inside to consult with the plot yet again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schmitt listened intently on his earphones,
twisting the dial left and right in the standard method for scanning for sounds
in the sea. "Captain, we have five ships. Two close to us, a third beyond
them, and two further out." He turned his controls a few more times and
fiddled with his filters. "I estimate they are sailing at 16 knots, course
356 degrees. The center ship sounds different from the others. I believe they
are four destroyer escorts with a cruiser or aircraft carrier in the
center." He gave off distances and bearings to give the plotters a picture
of the formation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"They are unaware of our presence,
Captain," Fischer said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Yes, it seems that way. We must
attack before they remember they are in a war." </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner barked orders
to the torpedo control center. He would fire five torpedoes at staggered
intervals. If their sonar estimates and calculations are correct, their weapons
would hit their targets at almost at the same time. They would be sending an
impressive message to Donitz and Hitler if they could pull this off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer watched the preparations, barely
keeping from urging the crew to hurry. He wanted this to be over as quickly as
possible. He wanted to bring his precious submarine back to its base and
examined thoroughly. He didn't tell Werner that even if they bring home five
pennants, if they find flaws in the design of U-1215, deployment could still be
delayed or even cancelled. His only consolation was that he had convinced
Werner to fire the torpedoes from at least 20 kilometers away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The torpedo solutions were set. The targets
had been designated as Targets 1 to 5 with Target 1 being the closest and
Target 5 as the farthest. It was time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The first torpedo launched out of its tube
and headed for its programmed course. The next four torpedoes were fired at
various intervals with the last one almost eight minutes after the first. All
five weapons turned toward their targets. The explosions should come about 45 and-a-half minutes after the last weapon had been launched.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner was standing near the periscope
watching the clock, ready to raise it about twenty seconds before the torpedoes
would hit. Suddenly, an explosion was heard to rumble through the hull.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"That was too soon," Fischer said.
It had only been 37.9 minutes after the last launch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Several seconds later, a second explosion.
"What is happening?" Werner grumbled, making his way to the sonar
room followed by Fischer. "Report!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Before Blöhme could answer, a third
explosion reverberated through the hull. "It's still too confusing,
Captain, but I think three of the torpedoes hit other targets."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"What does that mean?" Werner
almost screamed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fischer figured it out. "Three of our
torpedoes did not hit their assigned targets, Captain."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Well, which targets did we hit?"
Werner demanded. "Did we hit three? Two? Or just one?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Blöhme was having trouble analyzing the
sounds he was hearing and having his commander press him for information.
Fischer noted this and tried to calm Werner down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain," Fischer grabbed
Werner's arm. Werner whirled around. "Let him get a clearer picture, sir.
He needs time."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner stared at Fischer for a moment
before his eyes defocused. He nodded his head and turned to Blöhme. "Take
your time, Mr. Blöhme. Make your report when you're ready."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A moment later, Blöhme made his report.
"Captain, I can no longer hear Targets 1, 2, and 3...no sounds of sinking, however...Targets 4 and 5 are maneuvering."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner pounded his fist on the wall and
bounded back to the control room. "All ahead full," he shouted. "Make
your course 243 degrees. Rise to periscope depth."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer closed his eyes. So much for the idea
of not using the periscope.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After a run of 30 minutes, he moved to the
periscope and ordered it raised. When it had stopped, he slapped the handles
down and began turning the device around. He stopped.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was late afternoon. The ships were
silhouetted against the setting sun. "Two destroyer escorts in close...one
is listing badly...the other has sunk up to its deck..." He turned the
handles slightly, "An aircraft carrier...she's dead in the water."
Another turn, "Two more destroyer escorts...undamaged...looking for us, no
doubt."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He slapped the handles up and ordered the
periscope lowered. Then he turned to Fischer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Three confirmed hits." Werner's
voice sounded triumphant. "Reload all tubes. We'll target the other two
destroyers..." He was interrupted in mid-sentence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain!" The sonar supervisor
called out. "ASDIC coming on from the escorts!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner automatically ordered the periscope
raised again. Meyer shook his head. <i>We
need to remove that periscope.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner watched as the escorts seemed to be
turning toward him. <i>Damn!</i> He slapped
the handles back up and ordered "down scope" and "make your
depth 150 meters, ten degrees down on the planes" in one breath.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215 dived toward the depths at a steep
angle, seeking to escape from the searching destroyer escorts. They could make
a run for it but the escorts were about as fast as or slightly faster than his
submarine. He needed to get to the layer and sprint to another spot without his
pursuers realizing it. He would then launch a torpedo at each of them. He was
going to bring home six pennants even if he had to stay here all night.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner and Fischer watched the temperature
indicator, looking for the thermal that would hide them. Three minutes later,
the indicator had hardly moved. The ASDIC pings were now audible through the
submarine's hull. Soon depth charges would be dropping into the water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Left
ten degrees rudder," Werner ordered. In case the destroyer escorts had a
fix on him, he would make a course change to throw off their aim. </span><i style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Where is that thermal?</i><br />
<i style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://ericmarcelo-indieauthor.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-silent-sub-chapter-16-wires.html">GO TO CHAPTER 16</a></span></div>
</div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-48359976391436979182015-11-16T16:12:00.001-08:002015-11-18T17:13:52.252-08:00THE SILENT SUB CHAPTER 14 - ASSURANCES<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">U-1215<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Meyer watched as an electrician took out a
wall switch cover revealing burned out wires. The man pulled out the wires to
see the extent of the damage and was relieved to find the burned portion was
only a little over an inch long. He began clearing out the melted material
around the wire and trimmed it before reattaching it to a new wall switch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Can you see what caused it to short
circuit," Meyer asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"It was probably installed
incorrectly, sir," the man replied. "Whoever worked on this probably
trimmed off too much insulation and the wires touched causing the short
circuit. I've seen it happen before, sir." The electrician had noted that
Meyer seemed edgy and was trying to be reassuring. He'd heard about Meyer's
mutterings about the spate of electrical malfunctions. <i>Does he think we're incompetents?</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Meyer stopped talking and appeared to be
thinking deeply. He suddenly whirled around and left, leaving the electrician
who seemed thankful to be out of his scrutiny.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Meyer went to the control room and found
Captain Werner bent over the charts with Fischer. He moved closer and overheard
what they were discussing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"If that aircraft came straight from
his carrier, they are sure to head in our direction. If they sail at 16 knots,
we will meet around here." Werner pointed at a spot in the chart in the
middle of the ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fischer nodded and measured the distances.
"That means we should meet them in about four to five hours' time."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Werner leaned his elbows on the chart
table. "Yes, I suggest we start preparations in case they are traveling
faster than our estimate."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Right." Fischer straightened and
moved off toward the bow spaces. Meyer waited for Werner to notice him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Yes, Meyer. What is on your
mind?" Werner had been aware of Meyer's presence all along. Since the man
had not tried to get his attention, it was probably not important.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"We had another electrical short,
Captain."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Are you referring to the lights in
the officer's compartment, Commander?" Werner already knew.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Indeed I am, Captain, and that is the
third defect since we set sail on this trial turned mission."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Werner sighed and motioned to Meyer to walk
with him. They headed toward officer's country. People were either on their way
to their duty stations, relaxing in their cubicles, or down in the mess for a
meal. Everything seemed calm and tranquil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"You designed this boat Meyer, did you
not," Werner began. "Or at least you had a hand in its design."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Yes, I did, Captain," Meyer
replied, sensing that Werner was going to try and belittle his fears. "A
lot of this came from my ideas."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Werner nodded. "The electrical
installation, however, was not your jurisdiction?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Meyer shook his head. "No, Captain. I
do not install wall switches or wire panels. I gave the concept and someone
else would turn the concept into something usable or tangible."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I see. So, you mean you know nothing
about electrical installations?" Meyer could see where Werner was headed
with this line of questioning. Just as they entered the darkened area of the
compartment, the lights came back on. "Ah, that is much better."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Werner looked at Meyer with a serious look.
"Meyer, do you have any ideas why we are experiencing these...short
circuits, you call them?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Meyer nodded to answer the last question.
"Captain, these problems could be caused by a number of things. Poor
installation, substandard materials, or maybe the radiation from the reactor is
making the insulation on the wires brittle or causing them to deteriorate."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Werner almost paused at that. Meyer had
described the effects of radiation poisoning once before and that lesson had
caused a small amount of chill to come over him whenever he passed through the
reactor room. But that was the effect on human flesh, not other materials.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"You're saying that we have a
radiation leak?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"No, Captain. Our detectors have not
detected raised levels of radiation." The submarine was equipped with
radiation detectors that clicked when it sensed radiation. The more it clicked,
the higher the radiation levels.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"But if the detectors are not sensing
anything, it must be something else then," Werner replied. "Poor
installation or substandard materials, as you said."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Correct, Captain," Meyer said.
"But if it is indeed one or both reasons, it is possible there may be
more. We may be endangering our lives and this vessel by continuing."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Werner had to admit that Meyer was making
sense and he considered the course of action the young commander had wordlessly
suggested. He thought about the expected encounter with an Allied vessel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Werner took a deep breath. "Commander,
in about four hours or so, we are expecting to meet up with an Allied force,
possibly an aircraft carrier and her escorts. We will engage this force and
fire a spread of torpedoes at them. As soon as we know if we hit them, we will
turn back to base. You have my word."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Meyer wrestled with his thoughts. <i><span class="ThoughtChar">He really wants to sink a ship and bring back a pennant. We
are risking this vessel to satisfy one man's ego</span>. On the other hand,
coming into base with a pennant flying would surely be a convincing factor when
the Admiral speaks to Donitz and, later, the Fuehrer. </i><span class="ThoughtChar"><i>Will
a few more hours make a difference?</i> Meyer reluctantly nodded his head.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="ThoughtChar" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Werner smiled widely. "Good,
Commander. Now we must prepare for our attack. The quicker we sink their ships,
the quicker we can get back to base."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>And
I can't wait to get this over with</i>, Meyer thought.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://ericmarcelo-indieauthor.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-silent-sub-chapter-16-battle.html">GO TO CHAPTER 15</a></span></span></div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-72693945651489355362015-11-15T03:20:00.000-08:002015-11-17T22:12:30.420-08:00THE SILENT SUB CHAPTER 13 - FIRST CONTACT<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After a run of about 36 hours, U-1215 surfaced again at night. Fischer had objected but Werner reasoned that they needed to obtain radio bearings to enemy ships. By surfacing, they could detect the radio transmissions or radar emissions being made by Allied ships thereby giving them a direction to sail towards. After about an hour, t</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he radio intercepted a series of messages from one of their u-boats. The first message said it was being attacked by an aircraft. The next message, about two minutes later, said they had been unable to meet with the resupply submarine. About an hour later, it said it was under attack by a surface ship. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner knew what was happening.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The u-boat had been spotted by an aircraft, which had directed an enemy destroyer or destroyer escort toward it. The fact that the u-boat had sent messages meant that the u-boat was unable to dive to avoid the attack (radios don't work underwater) and a u-boat that is unable to dive is effectively a sitting duck.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US">That u-boat is as good as lost, </span></i><span lang="EN-US">Werner thought. Some of the men would survive by diving into the sea but the captain would probably choose to sink with the boat. Another German lost to the Allied navy.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Radio bearings to the doomed u-boat gave them a direction to go to. They changed course and dived just before dawn.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">12 hours later, they surfaced again. They had been on the surface for only fifteen minutes when the radio operator stiffened. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Airborne radar to the south!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The shout of "ALARM" and the sound of the alarm bell resounded through the sub. The engines were set to ahead full and the forward diving planes pushed to their maximum down angle. The bridge watch scrambled down and the hatch closed just as the sea began to swirl around the top of the conning tower. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lt. James Hendry led a two-plane section of
TBF Avengers patrolling this area of the sea. Their radar had detected a
surface contact and they firewalled their throttles to get to the target before
it dived. When they reached the spot, however, U-1215 was gone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner headed for the radio room.
"From what direction did the contact come from?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The operator rechecked his notes.
"Bearing was 177°, Captain."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner turned to Fischer. "Set course for
177°."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">USS BUZZARDS BAY</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">120 kilometers to the south of U-1215, Task
Group 28.16 turned northward. Composed of the escort carrier, USS Buzzards Bay,
destroyer escorts USS James Smith, USS John Johnson, USS Robert Williams, and
USS Michael Jones, they were one of several hunter-killer groups plying the
Atlantic. TG28.16, in particular, had been quite successful, sinking two
u-boats on this patrol bringing up their total to five since they were formed
three months ago. At present, they were 270 kilometers east-north-east of the
Madeira Islands, acting on a reported u-boat sighting by Lt. James Hendry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Admiral William Brown, commander of the
Task Group, frowned at the chart. Lt. Hendry's sighting was the first since
coming back after refueling at Casablanca. A </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">milch cow</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, a u-boat that was used
to refuel, re-arm, and/or re-supply another u-boat, had been reported in the
area. Hendry's sighting was not in the area where the milch cow was estimated
to be so it was probably another u-boat. He ordered more planes to be launched
and sent to the area of the u-boat sighting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since the u-boat had apparently submerged,
it was expected to travel between two and three knots, which determined how big
the search area was. If it had been an hour since the last sighting, the search
radius would be around six kilometers. Sending one or two of the destroyer
escorts to head for the area at full speed would take approximately eighteen
hours by which time the radius would become thirty kilometers. No, he'd keep
the group together and hope the u-boat would surface eventually. The searching
planes would then detect and pounce on him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">u-1215</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner didn't know if the aircraft had
detected or seen U-1215 but he guessed they had. Those pilots would report the
contact and the task group, a carrier and several destroyer escorts most
likely, would proceed toward the area. They, however, would be operating on the
assumption that he was a normal u-boat, not the high speed U-1215. He was
heading south at seventeen knots. He was already far away from where the search
planes were looking for him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer lay on his bunk, thinking about the
mission. On one hand he was concerned about the status of the boat systems.
There were no more malfunctions but there was always the possibility that
something important would break down and do so at the most inappropriate time.
On the other hand, the excitement of going into combat for the first time was
infectious. The crew were happy to be heading into battle, their purpose for
being finally being realized. Even the reactor technicians were looking forward
to it. For Meyer, studying how the crew and the boat would perform during
actual combat was an important part of the mission.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He was imagining how the battle would be
conducted when the lights in the cubicle suddenly went out. Somebody must have
switched it off. He turned over and went to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He
moved through the spaces undetected. The wires from the switch were behind him,
frayed and burned. The spark had startled him and he scurried away from it.
There was much he could do here but he'd have to be careful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">USS BUZZARDS BAY</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">TG28.16 sailed on. USS Buzzards Bay was in
the middle of a trapezoid-shaped formation with the destroyer escorts at the
corners. USS James Smith was 3000 yards in front and to the left, USS Michael
Jones was the same distance to the front and right and USS John Johnson and USS
Robert Williams were 4000 yards to left and right of the USS Buzzards Bay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Admiral Brown was in a discussion with Buzzard
Bay's executive officer. The location of the last radar detection was fifteen hours
away. They would keep sending search planes armed with depth charges,
torpedoes, and rockets in the hope that the submarine would surface within the
search pattern. They'd expand the search radius as time went by.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the past, they didn't find u-boats;
u-boats found them. Small and able to dive underneath the surface, they were
the ultimate hunters of the sea. The only way to know of their presence was the
explosion from a torpedo hit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-boats, however, had one flaw. They
couldn't stay underwater for long periods of time. Consequently, the best way
to find a u-boat was by catching it on the surface while it was recharging its batteries and the best way to do that
is by aircraft. Limited to searching close to land at first, the arrival of the
escort carriers enabled aircraft to search ever larger swaths of ocean.
Furthermore, improvements in radar, sonar, and weapons made life for the u-boat
crews much more dangerous. TG28.16's successes did not help their plight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Admiral Brown figured it would take them
about eleven to thirteen hours to reach the location of the sighting depending
on which direction the u-boat was moving. His search planes were constantly
orbiting the area in an expanding box. If the u-boat captain decided to
surface, his planes would find him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The sun was low on the horizon, it being
late afternoon in this part of the world. The planes had not detected anything
and it began to appear that the u-boat had given them the slip or it was being
very cautious and not surfacing. A submerged u-boat could stay down for up to
24 hours, maybe a bit more depending on how much battery time they had. They
couldn't be resting on the bottom of the sea because this part of the Atlantic
was thousands of feet deep. Admiral Brown considered abandoning the search but
it was still too early. These things took time.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://ericmarcelo-indieauthor.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-silent-sub-chapter-15-assurances.html">GO TO CHAPTER 14</a></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-18851283482425068172015-11-12T16:47:00.000-08:002015-11-17T22:11:39.522-08:00THE SILENT SUB CHAPTER 12 - EXPLORATIONS<div class="Thought">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>He scurried down the hall to the kitchen. It
was difficult to find food to eat and this place was almost always occupied by
at least one person. The only time that it can be expected to be empty was
during night time though people can be expected to come in at odd times to get
something to munch on or drink during their breaks. Tonight, it was empty.
There were a few crumbs from someone's biscuit but the prize was a piece of
meat left on a plate. He quickly stole it and took it back to his hiding place
where he finished it off.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="Thought">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="Thought">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Deciding to explore after his meal, he crept
towards the back of the sub, squeezing himself into any cavities or crevices he
could find whenever someone approached. Moving stealthily, he came upon an open
door. Waiting for the coast to clear, he entered...<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer was giving Schneider some lessons in
the operation of the reactor. "This here are rods that control how much
heat the reactor generates. If we lower the rods into the pile, the reaction is
reduced which lessens the heat that is generated."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schneider shook his head. "I still
don't understand where the heat comes from."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer sighed and put a hand on the young
officer's shoulder. "Even if I explained it to you, you might not
understand it. The principles of how all this works were fairly recent
discoveries and few understand it. It took me a while to understand it
myself."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schneider folded his arms in front of his
chest and looked at the diagram. Various lights and meters showed the status of
the reactor and peripheral equipment, making a fascinating display on the
control panel. He understood how steam could make a turbine turn but the
workings of the reactor was quite beyond him. Learning that the reactor was
capable of generating such a vast amount of heat that it was capable of melting
the steel skin of the vessel was unnerving. He immediately deduced the
importance of the control rods Meyer was describing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"So, the control rods determine the amount
of heat that can be generated. If we were to fully lower the rods into the
pile...?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer smiled, he had a good student here.
"The reaction stops...or at least becomes so low that the reactor is
effectively shut down."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schneider put a hand on his chin, as if
contemplating the result. "That would lower or stop generation of steam,
causing the turbines to stop or slow down." He turned to Meyer with a
realization. "That would stop the generators! We'd be without power!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer moved quickly to dispel the man's
fear. "The control rods have back up power from batteries, which can allow
us to operate the rods in case of a problem. We will have time to either effect
repairs on the generators or blow the tanks and surface the submarine...if that
becomes necessary."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer was careful to choose what words he used during these training sessions. If he
told them too much, they could become too frightened and do something rash. The
reactor used uranium which, by itself, was dangerous. It was contained inside a
lead-lined container, which was encased inside a steel vessel. The system was
designed to generate only enough heat to boil water and keep the turbines
running and the generators spinning. There was no need for the maximum amount
of heat the reactor can generate. It was, therefore, relatively safe. However,
as Schneider suspected, a malfunction in the control systems could lead to a
shutdown, causing the turbine and generators to stop, cutting all power to the
submarine. They didn't have a back-up diesel engine to provide emergency power.
What they had were batteries, which could provide temporary power for the
submarine's systems and the control rods but only for a limited time. The
control rods themselves were moved up and down by electro-magnets. This was a
safety feature designed to drop the rods into the pile in case of power
failure. It ensured that the reactor would not continue generating heat when it
was not needed. If the control rods were to become stuck in the up position,
the heat could easily increase to dangerous levels. Once that happened, U-1215
and all her crew would become casualties to the sudden appearance of a
miniature sun, incinerated into ashes. The only consolation was that the pain,
if any, would be very short.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Thought">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Thought">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Thought">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>He stayed hidden, listening. When the men
moved off, he explored the interior of the vast room, noting locations and
features. It was probably lunch time since there were less people around than
normal. It was easy to flip from one place of concealment to another. He
memorized the layout of the equipment and locations where he could safely stay
out of sight.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Life in U-1215 settled into a routine. The
drills came and went, keeping everyone on their toes and honing their skills in
responding to alerts. To save their precious air scrubbers, they surfaced for a
few hours at night to ventilate the spaces. Fischer and Meyer thought this was
dangerous but Werner said that it would enable them to intercept radio messages
and detect radar emissions from Allied warships. It would give them a direction
to head for. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These surface runs also offered
opportunities to practice emergency dive drills. With five men on the bridge of
the conning tower, an alert would be sounded and everyone was expected to be
below, the hatch closed and secured, and the sub below the surface, within 30
seconds. If there were less men on the bridge, they could dive faster but they
needed the eyes to keep watch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They sailed west for more than half the day
to get out of the Bay of Biscay before turning south-south-west toward the area
east of Madeira, approximately 1000 kilometers away. From radio intercepts, the
area was a hotbed of Allied activity. A number of u-boats had disappeared while
transiting there, suggesting that U.S. hunter-killer groups were actively
searching for and sinking their comrades. It was a dangerous place to be but it
was also a target-rich patch of ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Karl Gunther was noting down the readings
on the gauges in the reactor room when he felt like he was being observed. He
looked around but only saw his fellow technicians doing their own things. No
one was looking at him, each of them engrossed with whatever it was they were
assigned to do. He shook it off and continued.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Thought">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Thought">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Thought">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>He pulled back into a crevice when he saw one
of the people turn toward him. Apparently, the man was one of those who can sense
when someone was watching him. For the next hour, he stayed where he was until
he saw an opening. He slipped out and disappeared through the door, returning
to his hiding place in the kitchen.</i></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://ericmarcelo-indieauthor.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-silent-sub-chapter-14-first-contact.html">GO TO CHAPTER 13</a></span></span></div>
</div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-46704651724787165352015-11-12T04:41:00.004-08:002015-11-17T22:10:54.702-08:00THE SILENT SUB CHAPTER 11 - ENCOUNTER<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fischer had just started one of their drills when the sonar operator announced a contact to their north. Werner ordered the drill stopped and all hands to battle stations. He wasn't worried about going into battle but it was just another way to drill the men to perfection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The sound of twin diesels said that it may be another submarine on the surface. It was moving west-south-west from the direction of France which could mean it was another u-boat. Werner decided to hazard a peek with the periscope.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Bring us up to periscope depth. When we reach it, set engines to dead slow. I don't want to make too much of a feather. Planesman, engage automatic depth-keeping and maintain periscope depth." Slowing down kept the periscope from producing too much of a feather or wave disturbance which could be seen in good weather.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It took several minutes to get up to depth and Werner double checked with the sonar operator in case there was more than one surface vessel up there. Werner raised the periscope and turned around in a complete circle before settling on the contact. It was a u-boat alright. He upped the magnification to get a better look and laughed with delight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"It's U-684! It's my old boat!" Werner wished he could surface to greet his old command but they might fire on him as soon as they see a strange submarine appear out of nowhere. Besides, he had his orders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner watched for a few more seconds, more than was safe, really. He risked the lookouts on U-684 seeing the periscope but they gave no indication of having seen the optical pipe on the surface. He reluctantly ordered the periscope lowered and told the sonar operator to keep listening to the sound of the surfaced submarine. Diesels were loud things and it was easy to track them. After several minutes, the contact changed course, a safe move during wartime. It ruined the firing solution of any submarine that may be tracking them. It would take the enemy several minutes to get the torpedoes properly targeted again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Several minutes went by and the distance between U-1215 and U-684 increased. Werner was about to order a course reversal to begin another cycle on their oval racetrack cruise when the sonar operator reported another contact.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This was also to their north but closer to them. The sound profile said it was submerged, a submarine running on its electric motors. Werner suddenly became worried. This submerged contact was moving north...toward U-684, like a lion stalking its prey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What was it? A re-supply submarine? If U-684 had just left port, they probably didn't need a re-supply. Perhaps they were having mechanical problems and had requested a re-supply sub to help in the repair. If that was so, however, the re-supply sub should have surfaced at a farther distance. An overly cautious sub commander was a rarity in the Kiegsmarine. A British or American submarine getting into firing position? There was no way to know what it was. The sonar operator reported that the submerged contact seemed to be at periscope depth. Werner looked at Fischer. <i>What should we do?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His orders were explicit, avoid contact with any vessel, friend or foe. He tried to think. A submarine was targeting U-684. Seemed to be targeting, he corrected himself. Fischer could see that his commander was thinking hard. "What are you planning to do, Captain?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner looked at Fischer intently for a second before answering. "We prepare tube one for firing on the submerged contact. We have no idea what it is but if they fire on U-684, we'll fire on them. Let's hope their torpedoes miss U-684." He couldn't fire on the submerged contact without knowing what it was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a terrible dilemma. It was bad enough knowing that the surfaced vessel was a u-boat, with fellow Germans and service comrades. The fact that it was a vessel with people whom he knew was worse. He couldn't surface to warn them, they'd probably start firing when they see a strange vessel rising out of the water, thinking it was a new Allied submarine. Besides, surfacing would also alert the stalking submarine. He had no doubt that he could defeat a submerged submarine—the new torpedoes allowed him to target them as well as a surface ship—but he couldn't take the risk with the new boat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They were already at battle stations and the tracking team already had a firing solution on the submerged contact. All they really had to do was to push the firing button.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">HMS Grimsby</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Prepare to fire torpedoes. She's settled on her new course and won't make another turn for several minutes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Commander James Hendley kept the scope raised and pointed at U-684. The firing computer kept the torpedoes updated on the target's movements and could be fired at any time. They had detected the surfaced u-boat several minutes ago and had waited for it to approach to firing range. Now, they were ready to sink one of ol' Adolf's boats.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Shoot!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The submarine shuddered as the torpedo shot out of the tube, propelled by compressed air. The weapon immediately changed course to its preset heading and sped on to an intersection point in the ocean where it was supposed to meet the u-boat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The torpedo controller set Tube 1 to the same bearing as relayed by the sonar operator. They had a rough range but they were going to set the torpedo so that it activated a little more than half-way to the target. Werner didn't want to risk the torpedo moving past the target and latching onto the sound of the surfaced u-boat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Torpedo in the water! They've fired on U-684!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner's fear had been realized. He did not hesitate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Fire One!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Enemy torpedo is running hot, straight and normal. It's heading for the u-boat. Our weapon will hit a few seconds after theirs, Captain. We're too late."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner and Fischer looked at each other as if asking the other their next course of action. Fischer came to a decision and shook his head. They couldn't risk being discovered. They'd have to wait and hope for the best.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The British torpedo ran true and hit U-684, lifting it partially out of the water. It was a precise shot, hitting dead center of the surfaced u-boat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">HMS Grimsby</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hendley shouted as he saw the u-boat explode, followed soon after by the sound of the explosion. The crew celebrated, laughing and punching the air in jubilation. Their celebration was short-lived, however. U-1215's torpedo hit them just after the conning tower, instantly killing the control room crew and tossing the rest about the hull of the submarine. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There was no celebration in U-1215, though. They had their first kill but they had lost countrymen in the process. The sonar man listened to the noise of the two submarines filling with water and breaking up as they sank to the bottom of the Atlantic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner lowered his head, mourning the death of his former boat mates. Fischer didn't know what to say except to remain silent and watch his captain. The man had just lost all of his friends and comrades and there wasn't anything anyone could do about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner lifted his head, looked at Fischer, nodded and retreated to his stateroom. Fischer wondered if he should give the order to reverse course for the north-west leg of their trial cruise. It was about that time. He sighed, orders were orders and, in the absence of any instructions from the captain, he had to follow the mission orders. U-1215 turned around and settled on a heading of 317°.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The Decision</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner entered his room and laid down on his bed. The sub was quiet, everyone whispering among themselves while performing their duties. Werner was alone with his thoughts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner's thoughts were not on his former shipmates though. True, he had started out by thinking of them but was soon thinking about what he could have done to prevent it. He should have surfaced and taken the chance. The men on the U-684 would have been surprised but they would not have been able to react quickly. Their first reaction would probably be to turn towards them, unmask their 105mm deck gun and begin firing. U-1215 would have been under fire but the maneuver by U-684 would have thrown off the enemy sub's aim or cause their torpedo to miss. U-1215 would have dived then and left the scene. The unknown, of course, was whether U-1215 would be hit by one of U-684's shells. The range was close enough for a highly probable hit so that wouldn't have worked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Should they have fired a torpedo as soon as they had detected the submerged submarine? It had certainly been acting like an enemy sub when they first detected it. No, that's only because we know that it was an enemy sub now. Any sub commander would have hesitated as he had. There was no way to identify the submerged submarine before it fired on U-684.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As Werner lay on the bed, his mind wandered towards the capabilities of U-1215. He could have sneaked into a British harbor or lay in wait just offshore and pick off the enemy vessels as they came in or out. That way, that enemy submarine would have been sunk long before he could get to U-684. For that matter, he could have ventured out into the open ocean and hit convoy after convoy, preventing important material from reaching Britain and curtailing their ability to wage war. Countless lives of Germans would be saved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner began to imagine approaching an Allied convoy, firing torpedoes left and right, two for the closest escorting destroyers and four towards the convoy ships themselves. The surviving escorts would think that they were under attack by several u-boats and be forced to search in every direction. Meanwhile the convoy ships would scatter, thinking they would confuse the attacking submarines. Some would blunder towards U-1215 and he'd dispatch them easily. Then he would run at full speed, chasing ship after ship, sinking them one by one, or even two or three at a time. The searching destroyers would be picked off when the opportunity presented itself, making U-1215's job easier. He would chase down the remaining ships and destroy them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Destroy them. Destroy them now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner sat up from his bed. He had several indicators in his stateroom that showed him the status of his. The compass showed that the sub was on a north-westerly course while another instrument indicated a speed of nine knots. They were forty-five meters under the surface and maintaining that depth. They were the stealthiest submarine in the world and the only such one existing. There was only one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner, jumped off the bed and opened the door. "Fischer! Come here!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fischer was startled but ran to the captain's stateroom. Werner had such a wild look on his face that Fischer wondered if his commander had gone crazy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Assemble the officers and meet me in the wardroom," Werner ordered. Fischer acknowledged the order and hurried off to gather the officers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner went to the wardroom and waited for his men to enter. He was pacing the room from one end to the other greeting each man as he came in. When all were present, he ordered them all to sit down. He remained standing. He gazed at the men for a few moments before speaking, as if telling them that he was going to accept no dissenters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Men, we have been the unfortunate witnesses of the death of about 50 of our comrades," Werner began. Everyone lowered their heads as if in prayer. News travels fast in a submarine even though an announcement had not been made. "I have been thinking this over and have come to the conclusion that the best way for us to prevent this from happening is to have U-1215's sisters built as soon as possible. With a flotilla of U-1215s, the Allied convoys will not be able to reach British ports and Allied warships be sunk at a fast rate. The only way to prevent more losses of German lives is by winning this war.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"U-1215's future is uncertain. After we return to base, the admiral will bring the results of our trial to Donitz who will bring it to the Fuhrer for his approval. He may or may not give it. The only way he can be convinced of our submarine's effectiveness is to bring home a prize. The sinking of an Allied warship or warships."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fischer nodded his head but Meyer's eyes widened in surprise. The long range trial cruise was a little more than a week old with less than two more weeks to go. Except for the problem with the stove and the water distillation system, there have been no serious problems thus far, but it was too early to tell. There was also that submarine they had just sunk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Excuse me, Captain. We already have a prize. That submarine we sank should serve the purpose satisfactorily." Meyer was just as enthusiastic to see his baby project become a reality but this was all very new technology and concepts. They just couldn't push it into combat without ironing out the imperfections.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner, however, was not going to be put off. "That is true, Meyer, but submarines usually stay on patrol for several weeks and it can take several weeks more before they will admit that a boat is lost. And that's assuming they ever admit it. The loss of a bigger vessel, on the other hand, is much more difficult to conceal."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fischer suddenly sensed what Werner was planning but decided not to keep it to himself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"You are thinking of sinking a much larger ship, Captain? A destroyer? A cruiser, battleship, or even an aircraft carrier?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everyone in the room looked at the man next to him in surprise. Should they do it? The submarine had not been certified even though it had performed well in practically every trial. Each man had no doubt that they could pull off such a feat. Sailing back to base with a pennant (a small flag signifying that the submarine had sunk a vessel) was something that every submariner wants.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer tried one last counter. "Captain, U-1215 has not yet been certified. He is only a prototype and will only be used as the basis for the design of the combat version. We don't know if he will perform well under real battle conditions. We've already had two malfunctions and there may be more later. Remember, also, that our men are mostly fresh from training. How they react to the stresses of battle is unknown."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer fired his last salvo. "Do not forget also, Captain that this project is top secret and we cannot afford to reveal our existence to the enemy. Our orders to avoid contact is still in force."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner looked at Meyer as he finished what seemed to be a diatribe but was actually quite short. Meyer had not been present when the admiral had given their trial orders, indeed, Werner was the only one present. He had informed them that they were to sail up and down the continental shelf for three weeks but that was all. <i>It is fortunate</i>, he thought, <i>that I didn't tell them about the order to avoid combat</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"That is where you are wrong, Commander," Werner said. "You were not present during the pre-trial briefing. The admiral ordered us to avoid being detected by the enemy. That usually means that we are to move away from them. He, however, also said that we can use our torpedoes as I see fit." It was a slight lie, to be sure, but with a grain of truth. Enough that he sounded convincing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer's eyes opened wider. "The admiral told me no such thing!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"As I said, Commander, the admiral kept everyone else out of the briefing except me. He had his reasons, I suppose, but he did say it. The decision to take this boat into combat is at my discretion and I intend to use it. Why else would he authorize the loading of live torpedoes?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer still wanted to argue the point but he could see that the other officers were itching to go with the captain. He was the only senior officer without combat experience and the thought of going into a fight terrified him. On the other hand, a pennant would make the admiral's case more convincing to the Fuhrer. He wanted this project to succeed just as much as Werner did. He lowered his head as he waged an internal battle with his thoughts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When he looked up, he found Fischer, Schneider, and Schmitt looking at him. Their gaze was intent, waiting for him to...what? Give in? Suddenly, Meyer felt he was alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"It goes against my better judgement, Captain. I can see that your mind is made up and I did promise, when we first met, that I will follow your orders whatever the circumstances."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner was magnanimous in victory. He didn't smile or react to Meyer's statement of support. He merely nodded his head and addressed the assembled officers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"We will sail for the area around Madeira off the western coast of Morocco. Allied activity there have increased substantially since they landed at Sicily. The environment will be rich with targets, I'm sure. Fischer, order the boat turned around and sail towards the Madeira Archipelago. Gentlemen, return to your stations. Meyer, please stay awhile."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When the room had emptied and the door closed, Werner began speaking. "Meyer, I know you think this is a bad idea but believe me, it's the best way to ensure that U-1215 goes beyond just being a prototype. Be assured that I will take full responsibility as this submarine's commander. I just want to be sure that I have your cooperation for this mission. Your expertise is going to be crucial."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer had all sorts of things he wanted to say but made an effort to keep a level head. If he disagreed and Werner went ahead anyway, he'll find himself isolated with no real way of changing anyone's mind. He had to pretend to go along. Maybe he'd be able to convince Werner later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I already said that I will support you, Captain. You have my word."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner smiled and clapped Meyer on the shoulder. "Thank you, Meyer. We'll sail back into base with a pennant, maybe several, if we get lucky. U-1215 is the best submarine in the world for the job. Come, I will need to address the crew."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner led Meyer out and they both headed for the control room. By then, the boat's course had already been changed and their heading was now westward. Rumors were also spreading through the boat rapidly. Some of the officers had talked and the crew's reaction was divided nearly evenly with half reacting in fear and the other half with excitement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner took the microphone and switched on the ship wide public address system.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Attention all hands, this is the Captain speaking. I am informing you of a change in our mission. Effective immediately, we will sail for the West-African coast to wage war against Allied shipping in the area. I know most of you have never seen combat. Be assured, however, your officers are experienced and can guide you in what to do. Just remember your training and everything will be all right. You have been a good crew thus far. I am sure you will perform well. The result of this mission is crucial to ensure that more U-1215's will be built and we can start turning the Battle of the Atlantic back in our favor. That is all."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Karl Gunther looked at his shift mate in surprise. "No one told us that we'd be going into battle! This isn't what I signed up for."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Fool," his friend said, "we are in a submarine loaded with torpedoes. What do you think they intend to do with them? Sink a whale?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Shooting at a whale is one thing, sinking a ship that can fight back is another," Gunther reasoned. "Look at how we performed against the Heimlich. If they hadn't made a mistake, we'd have lost that exercise and everyone on this boat would look like a fool, not just me!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Ah, Karl, you worry too much. The captain is an old hand and so is Fischer and the others. They know what to do."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gunther grumbled and returned to his duties. <i>Great, just great</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://ericmarcelo-indieauthor.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-silent-sub-chapter-13-explorations.html">GO TO CHAPTER 12</a></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-73680694942623185102015-11-11T16:06:00.004-08:002015-11-17T22:09:50.452-08:00THE SILENT SUB CHAPTER 10 - PROBLEMS<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One day, Werner was passing by the
officer's mess' kitchen when he encountered Schneider talking to the cook. Near
their feet was one of the electricians working on one of the stoves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Problems, gentlemen," he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Just a little trouble with one of the
stoves, Captain," said the cook, "I can't get it to work."
Schneider snorted. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"You probably spilled some soup on the
controls." He turned to Werner. "One of the fuses for this
compartment popped, Captain. Bachmeyer here is checking out the stove."
Schneider turned to the electrician.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Find anything, Johann?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bachmeyer looked up from his work. "I
think there's a short on the cable that's supplying power to the stove, sir.
The wire goes into the wall space so I'll have to open the panel to get to it.
I'll have to remove the stoves though."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"You do that and the cook will have to
use the main kitchen to prepare the officer's meals. That means you and your
mates will have delayed meals until you fix it. How do you think will the other
men like that?" Schneider growled at the hapless electrician. The man just
shrugged, leaving the decision up to the officers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"The other stoves are still working,
correct?" Werner asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Yes they are, Captain," the cook
answered. "One stove won't matter much. I'll just have to cook
earlier."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"There you go, Schneider. Leave the
repair for when we return to base. That way, Bachmeyer won't have to face his
fellow crewmates for delaying their breakfast, lunch, and dinner." Werner
smiled at Bachmeyer who smiled back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As Werner turned to leave, he almost bumped
into Meyer who was standing behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Problems, gentlemen," he
repeated Werner's words of just a minute ago. Werner answered for the others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"One of the stoves seems to have
suffered a problem with its power cable. It's not a serious problem, though.
We'll repair it when we get back to base."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer looked at the others as if he was
going to ask more questions but thought better of it. He made way for Werner to
pass and headed in the opposite direction. Schneider gave Bachmeyer a soft
kick.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"You heard the man, Johann, get out of
there!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Submarines are busy places. If they just
cruised around and only responded when there was a threat, they wouldn't live
very long. Survival depended on every crewman knowing what to do in the event
of an attack, whether they were doing the attacking or someone was attacking
them. This was done by conducting drills at random times of the day and can be
done any number of times. The duration of these drills depended on the results
and the whims of the First Officer, Fischer. Right now, Fischer was having the
men simulate a crash dive. In the other, smaller, submarines, a crash dive
usually required every available hand to rush pell-mell toward the forward
torpedo room to make the vessel bow-heavy and enable them to make a steeper,
faster dive. Due to the size of the U-1215, however, this was no longer
practical. Besides, the controls of the new submarine were more responsive and
easier to operate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Dive! Make your depth 100 meters,
fifteen degrees down angle on the planes," Fischer ordered. As the sub's
bow dipped forward, the men held on to whatever they could reach. A few items
crashed to the deck but everyone ignored them. If an item wasn't dangerous,
rolling about on the floor, it would stay there until they could pick it up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the sub headed for the depths, a warning
light came on in the electrical room. Another fuse had popped disabling one of
the water distillation units that provided water for the sub. They couldn't do
anything about it for now but Schneider called the control room to report.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer looked up in alarm. Another failure?
There were three distillation units in the submarine though two were enough for
them to continue operations without fear of running out of water. Still, the
thought of another electrical problem worried him. Was the submarine coming
apart from the inside?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Later, after the drill, another electrician
reported that a wire for the unit's power supply had shorted causing the
insulation to melt. The wire was replaced and the incident was considered
closed. They continued their trips up and down the continental shelf.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain," Meyer stepped into the
latter's cabin and closed the door. "I'd like to talk to you about
something."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Of course, Meyer, please sit
down." Werner put down a book he was reading and gestured at the only
other chair in the room, a fold away seat on the wall. A loose chair would just
slide or tumble about when the sub maneuvered violently. "What's on your
mind?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain, I'm a little worried about
the problems we've been having with the electrical system. Perhaps we should
return to base to make a thorough check of the sub's wirings." </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer's
face reflected his concern about the incidents. They were minor in nature but
who knows what might fail next.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner smiled and waved a hand in the air.
"Nonsense, Meyer! Other submarines have problems and continue on their
patrol in spite of them. We repair them as best we could and call for a repair
sub if necessary. Sometimes we just do the repairs back at the base. Besides,
this patrol is just a little more than half over. We'll be back to base before
you know it."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer, however, seemed a little more than
just worried. When he stood up, Werner thought he seemed like someone about to
run out of the sub. "I know that, Captain. But this sub is not just any
other sub. It's the only one of its kind in the world and experimental at that.
There are things we don't know and still need to find out. Things have gone
well since we started, I know, but these failures are too close together and
too similar for me to ignore. Besides, we cannot call for a repair sub like all
the others do. We just can't."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner looked at Meyer thoughtfully for a
few seconds. Then he calmly bade Meter to sit down, relax, and take a deep
breath. "Meyer, are you claustrophobic?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer looked surprised. "No, I am not,
Captain! Whatever gave you that idea?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I've known crewmen who seemed
perfectly at ease when the situation was quiet. Then when things start to go
wrong, like a leaking pipe or when things break down, they get all worked up. I
remember once, we had a crewman who was the picture of efficiency. He was even
being considered by our captain for entry into officer's school when the sub's
e-motors suddenly stopped. We dropped to the bottom in less than a minute.
Fortunately, we were in shallow waters so we were never really in danger. He
became unglued and started trying to open the hatch, the fool. In the end, we
had to tie him up and the medic gave him a sedative to calm him down. We
eventually had to let him go. The last I heard he was in an infantry division
fighting in the Eastern Front."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner leaned forward and looked Meyer in
the eyes. "You're our resident expert in the workings of U-1215, Meyer. I
can't afford to lose you and, much more, I can't have you spreading your
uncertainties to the crewmen. That's one sure way of jeopardizing the sub, the
crew, and the mission. I need you to focus and help us, not scare us. Can I get
your assurance on this?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meyer did not speak immediately, he met his
captain's gaze for some time that Werner wondered if he was going to have a
staring match with him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I am perfectly all right, Captain,
thank you for your concern. Please forgive me for being so...worried. As I said
before, I will follow your orders and do my best to be an example to the
crew." Meyer stood up, bowed to his captain and exited.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner
gazed at the closed door without moving before leaning back on his chair. He
took his own advice and took a deep breath before going back to his reading.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://ericmarcelo-indieauthor.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-silent-sub-chapter-12-encounter.html">GO TO CHAPTER 11</a></span></span></div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-67032314974181121882015-11-09T23:22:00.001-08:002015-11-17T22:09:06.973-08:00THE SILENT SUB CHAPTER 9 - THE LAST TRIAL<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The briefing for the last trial was in Werner's
office. None of the other officers were present, just </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the admiral and </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner. The admiral came straight to
the point.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain, this is the last trial for
your boat. If this trial is successful, I will be taking the results of all the
tests to Admiral Donitz to get his approval to present it to the Fuhrer. This
project, thus far, has been quite successful and I believe that the Fuhrer will
be hard pressed to find a reason to disapprove it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"You are to take U-1215 out and
submerge as soon as possible and sail to the edge of the continental shelf
approximately 180 kilometers away. You will then follow the shelf two hundred
kilometers southeast, turn around and sail northwest two hundred kilometers.
You will repeat this continually for three weeks. At the end of those three
weeks, you will return to base. This trial is to test how the submarine
performs on long cruises and whether the crew comforts we included in the
design will improve the men's performance. Are there any questions so
far?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Is the Heimlich going to accompany us
on this trial, sir?" Heimlich had not had much success tracking U-1215.
She would not be able to follow them around, much less guard them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"No, the area is being actively
patrolled by Allied aircraft. In any case, her presence will seem strange to
anyone who finds her. What is a destroyer doing all alone so far from the
bases? If the Allies capture her or any of her crew, they may find out about
U-1215 which we cannot allow."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner thought about it for a few moments.
Three weeks at full speed would bring them to New York and back with several
days extra to sink some ships. That was wishful thinking, of course. The admiral would never allow it. Instead,
they were going to sail up and down the Bay of Biscay, following the
continental shelf for three weeks, submerged the whole time. This area was
close enough to the mainland that Allied warships avoided it but aircraft were
another matter. Their being underwater would keep them safe from detection but
what if an enemy captain discovers them? "Admiral, what if we encounter
enemy vessels along the way?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"That is unlikely to happen, Captain,
but in case you do encounter them, you are to avoid contact at all cost. I am
confident they cannot hear you but you are still detectable if they use active
sonar. Your boat is the only one of its kind so don't lose it. Furthermore,
both sides of this conflict do not know about you. An Allied submarine will
attack you for sure, but a u-boat may decide to attack you as well just because
he doesn't recognize you as a German submarine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Still, one can never be 100% sure
about anything so I have authorized you to carry a full load of torpedoes with
active warheads. If you are discovered, you may launch your weapons at them but
you will not, repeat, not initiate action against any vessel. Is that
understood?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Clearly, Admiral."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"And that goes for u-boats as
well."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner looked at his admiral in surprise.
"Sink a u-boat? Sir that would be counter-productive!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"It would be counter-productive if
everyone knows about you before U-1215 and his brothers can become operational.
My order stands. You are to destroy anything that discovers you."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Very well, Admiral. I shall do as you
say." Werner, didn't like it but he had his orders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Good, you will leave on May 7 and we
will expect you back on May 28."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner suddenly thought of something.
"Admiral, what if something goes wrong and we need to surface?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The admiral looked at Werner for a few
moments before he spoke. "Captain, if you can, you may sail her on the
surface back to base. If you are unable to sail her, you may call for help on
the radio using our codes. I will send the Heimlich to
take you in tow. If, however, you are in danger of being discovered by an enemy
warship, you are to scuttle her," the admiral made a short pause,
"along with you and everyone else on board."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The admiral's final sentence caused Werner
to look up in shock. The older man just looked at him intently. He was ordering
Werner to commit suicide and to bring his men along for his last trip, if it
came to that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The admiral stood up and told Werner to
follow him. They went out to the submarine where the admiral ordered everyone
to get off. Once the boat was cleared of men, he led Werner inside to the
captain's stateroom. He went to the bed and pulled up the reading lamp. The
fixture came off and revealed a recessed space. Inside was a button.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"This, Captain, is a scuttling button.
Normally, the engineering officer is in charge of scuttling the boat once all
the crew have abandoned ship. This button, will enable you to blow up the
submarine from here, in case you need to destroy the boat with everyone in it.
Commander Meyer is the only other officer who knows about this button and he
has orders to activate it in case you are unable to do so." The admiral
replaced the reading lamp. It went back to being an ordinary reading lamp.
Werner suppressed a shudder. He had switched that lamp on and off dozens of
times in the past weeks. He wondered if he was ever going to be able to sleep
in his own stateroom after this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The admiral stood up and started walking
toward the control room. There, he paused and faced Werner. "Captain, the
Bay of Biscay is a very dangerous place. Allied planes patrol it regularly and
British submarines occasionally lie in wait for our u-boats to pass by before
sending a torpedo as a way of greeting. Since you will be underwater the whole
time, you won't have to worry about aircraft. A submarine, however, is another
matter. I'm confident they won't hear you but you will probably hear them
unless they happen to be lying around with their motors off. If you do detect
them, you are to change course to avoid. I know the temptation to fire on an
unsuspecting enemy is very great but if you miss and they escape, they will
return to their base and report that they encountered a silent u-boat. They may
start developing something to counter that ability. We must hide that fact from
them until we have a force of U-1215's brothers in operation."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner nodded his head as he and the
admiral walked toward the ladder that went up to the conning tower, but thought
that the admiral was being overly cautious. If he heard another submarine in
his path, he would have no way to know if it was friend or foe unless it was on
the surface. A ship, however, was another matter. If he encountered a ship, he
thought he could safely fire torpedoes into it. What better way to prove
U-1215's abilities?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-boat commanders were usually given free
reign since they were so far from their bases. The decision to attack or not to
attack was often left up to them though no u-boat commander in his right mind
would pass up an opportunity to sink an enemy vessel. Still, he was given an
order and he intended to follow it...unless forced to do otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Thought">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Thought">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="Thought">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>He hid behind some crates, the shadow thrown
by the overhead lights concealing him perfectly. He could hear the sound of
activity close by so he stayed still to avoid discovery. Soon, the sounds faded
and he ventured out, sticking to the shadows and hugging the walls or the sides
of crates. People seemed to have gone into one of the buildings and the pier
was empty. He ran out in the open, reached the aft gangplank, and was searching
for an opening when he heard a noise. Sensing danger, his search became frantic
when he found the aft hatch and started down. The slippery metal ladder caused
him to fall to the deck below. He was a little stunned but uninjured. He
started down a corridor to find a hiding place.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Center">
<br /></div>
<div class="Center">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Center">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lt. Schneider took them out this time. It
was two days short of the full moon so conning the sub out of the pen was not
difficult but it did not make it safer. They were partially submerged again,
moving out at engines ahead slow. They were to keep monitoring the depth under
the keel and dive completely as soon as the depth showed 30 meters. <i>A very
shallow dive</i>, thought Schneider. <i>If I'm not careful, I could run the sub
aground and that might spell the end of this project, not to mention my life</i>.</span></div>
<div class="Center">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The moonlight was also worrying Schneider.
All four lookouts, he and one other man were watching the sky and the horizon.
If a plane spotted them, they had no weapons to defend themselves since U-1215
had no deck armaments. With only the conning tower above the surface, they
might mistake us for a whale, Schneider thought hopefully.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The dive point was approximately eight
kilometers away. Schneider ordered engines ahead one-third and set course to
243°. His fears were unfounded. Less than an hour later, U-1215
slipped beneath the waves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">About a hundred kilometers out, they
encountered their first contact. It was probably a submarine, traveling on the
surface and recharging its batteries. They didn't know if it was a submarine or
a surface vessel, Allied or Axis. Werner debated with himself about using the
periscope to identify it but it was coming toward them and they might see the periscope's feather when it rose above the surface. Werner ordered a turn to the
north to avoid it. Just for practice, the firing team plotted an attack on the
unsuspecting vessel as it moved on, unaware that it was being targeted though
it was never in any danger. Their orders ensured that. If it was a u-boat, Werner
wondered who it was. If it was a British or American submarine, it was being
daring. By being on the surface in u-boat infested waters, they could easily
become the prey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The sonar operator kept his ear on the
contact, listening for any changes but there was none. The unknown sub or
vessel was chugging along toward the east at about 8 knots. A u-boat perhaps,
not an Allied submarine. As the range increased, the sound became fainter and
fainter until it was no longer distinguishable from the other noises of the
sea. Werner got them back on their previous course. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Life on board the new sub is much more
comfortable compared to his previous assignments, Werner thought. With the old
submarines, space was at a premium. It was almost impossible to move from
compartment to compartment without encountering someone moving in the opposite
direction. Most of the time, one had to jam himself against the side of the
passage to let someone pass. Of course, rank had its privileges. When the
captain is walking in one direction, anyone walking in the opposite direction
almost always let him pass unobstructed. During drills and actual combat, however,
anyone seen running had priority. Even the captain had to let him pass.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All this was almost unnecessary in U-1215.
The passageways were wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side but hardly
anyone did this. Everyone walked single file going in one direction and single
file in the other direction. A two lane road in a submarine! The only place
where the passage was a bit tight was in the crew's compartment. The crew slept
in bunk beds which were in cubicles—two bunk beds per cubicle, four beds in all.
Each man had a locker for his use and the bunk bed could be lifted to reveal
more space underneath for other personal effects. It was possible to sit up on
a bunk bed and a fold away table let the men do any writing if they wished.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There were three columns of cubicles, one
on each side of the sub and another in the middle. A head and a shower were at
each end of the crew's compartment. The sub actually had four heads, a luxury
in a submarine. Two were near the crew's compartment, one forward of the control
room, and another in officer's country. More than once, the crew who had served
on smaller submarines, were heard to refer to the U-1215 as "Neptune's
Hotel."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This
cruise was turning out to be a boring one. 200 kilometers at 12 knots can be
traversed in under 9 hours though Werner had them crawling at one-third every
few hours or so. They could make about four round trips per day at the rate
they were going. Other than the surface contact on the first day, nothing else
was encountered for a week. All was not well with the submarine, however.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://ericmarcelo-indieauthor.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-silent-sub-chapter-11-problems.html">GO TO CHAPTER 10</a></span></span></div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2059438840669740606.post-14486796517366378742015-11-09T05:14:00.002-08:002015-11-17T22:08:28.152-08:00THE SILENT SUB CHAPTER 8 - COMBAT TRIAL<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Confident that the sonar department's
equipment were functioning well and the crew had gotten the hang of finding
targets, the admiral decided to conduct a practice attack. SS Heimlich was to
sail around the exercise area and U-1215 was to find her and fire one of their
practice torpedoes. These had the same propulsion system and sensors as the
live ones and were tipped with a rubber head. When they hit, the target's hull
would give a loud boom. Heimlich, on the other hand, had dummy hedgehog
projectiles. These also made a loud booming sound when they hit. If either
vessel was hit, that would signal the end of the exercise. The admiral was
going to be inside the submarine to gauge U-1215's, and her crew's,
performance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was going to be a duel between a new
submarine and a seasoned hunter. It was also a duel between a mostly green crew
and a crew of veterans. The only advantage that U-1215 had was her silent
propulsion and silent weapons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On 24th April, U-1215 slipped out of her
sub pen and set out for the exercise area. SS Heimlich was already at sea,
having left earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The exercise area was far out to sea but
other u-boats sometimes passed through it either on the way out to their patrol
assignments or in coming back to base. To avoid complications, the admiral had
a false message sent out saying that the area had been mined and that all
u-boats were to avoid it. They would have to detour around that patch of sea,
giving U-1215 and Heimlich the privacy they needed for their exercise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Previously, Heimlich had been unable to
detect the secret sub. She had stayed some distance away as U-1215 conducted
her trials. In the last one, where U-1215 tried to track the Heimlich and a
small merchant vessel, Heimlich had actually heard the submarine when he
happened to turn toward it, forcing them to dive quickly. Diving causes a sub's
hull to pop or generate soft booms and that is what gave them away. After that,
however, nothing else was heard. That sub was certainly quiet. They were going
to have to be creative.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215 crept into the exercise area at
engines ahead one-third. The sub hardly made any sound especially at this
speed. About the noisiest equipment in the sub was the reactor coolant pump but
that was mounted on rubber stands and springs which prevented any vibrations it
made from reaching the hull. The only way to make a sound was for someone to
drop something onto the metal grating that passed for a floor in a submarine.
Their shoes had soft rubber soles that kept their footfalls quiet and
everything that wasn't supposed to be moving was secured or tied down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Heimlich's commander was being smart.
She was lying on the surface with her engines off. Her sonar was set to
passive, just listening without producing any sound herself. All the crew were
told to move quietly about their duties or stand still. Talking was not
forbidden but a warning had been issued about shouting, something about being
shot or thrown overboard. This was a matter of pride for both vessels.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heimlich's sonar man looked like he was in
a trance, his face blank and with a faraway look in his eyes. He was
essentially blind during times like this. The only way to catch his attention
was to talk to him. Standing or sitting in front of him wouldn't work. They
usually refrained from touching him as it sometimes startled him. So intent on
listening to sounds in the sea, his hearing practically took over his whole
being.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The sonar operators on U-1215 went about
their job in much the same way. To help them concentrate, U-1215 was rigged for
silent running. It was easier to hear from underwater than from above it since
water conducts sound much better than air. Werner wasn't taking chances,
however. Every order or report was given sotto voce. Everyone was either
sitting or standing still.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The submarine was actually about 10
kilometers from the Heimlich but both of them had not heard each other. Werner
now knew the destroyer was lying to, her engines stopped and her sonar people
listening intently. He didn't know where his quarry was. He was tempted to use
the periscope but the point of the exercise was to see if they could detect and
evade using just the sonar.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For the good part of an hour, both vessels
just listened for each other. At one point, U-1215 actually passed within 500
meters of the Heimlich but neither of them heard the other. One of them was
going to have to make a mistake or something happened that would give one of
them away. U-1215 was more fortunate in that she was underwater. Heimlich, on
the surface, was starting to feel the effects of an approaching squall.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The wind was rising and the waves were
starting to slap against the destroyer's hull. They were starting to make noise
that a good sonar operator could hear. Heimlich's commander knew this and was
thinking of starting his engines anyway when his sonar man reported a loud
crashing sound. The rolling of the ship had caused something large to drop to
the ship's steel flooring. The commander didn't need the report to know about
it. The noise was that loud.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heimlich was quick to react. Her engines
were started up and she began moving about. Her quarry was still undetected but
he was free to use his active sonar if he saw fit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The U-1215's sonar man suddenly straightened
up. The noise was too clear to be far away. Just as he was about to report it,
he heard the destroyer's engines start up. The game was on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain, noise transient at bearing
345°. Now hearing engine and screw noises. It's the Heimlich, sir."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner came over to the sonar room and
waited for the next report. All he knew was that the Heimlich was to his north.
He didn't know how far away or whether it was coming toward or away from him.
The other sonar man rotated his directional sensor and found his target.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Heimlich is now at bearing 343°,
estimate distance 1,600 meters."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Listening to his sonar men was a test of
patience. They had a direction and a rough range but they didn't know what
direction the target was moving. They listened intently to the sounds and made
educated guesses. If the sound was growing fainter, the target was moving away.
If it was getting stronger, it was moving toward them. That much was easy to
do. Getting a course was much more difficult. Heimlich wasn't going to make it
easier though.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"ASDIC! She's using her active sonar.
Sound's faint though. She's turning around...away from us." The man's
halting, short sentences was how they made their reports.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heimlich was sending pings into the water
to try and acquire U-1215. She was pointed in the wrong direction for now but
she was turning slowly to sweep the sea around them. Time to do some
maneuvering.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Make your course 160°." Werner
was going to move directly away from the destroyer. Also, by putting the
destroyer on his tail, he reduced his profile from the destroyer's sonar.
Hopefully, it would be small enough for the sonar man on Heimlich to ignore it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">SS HEIMLICH<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heimlich's sonar man listened intently for
the returning pings from the active sonar. Her active sonar sent out short,
directional bursts of sound into the water. The sound traveled through the
water and, when it hits an object, is reflected back to the source. The time
difference from the start of the sound burst and its return gave a fairly
accurate range to the object that reflected it. The strength of the returning
echo told the sonar man how large or hard the object was. A small echo could
probably mean a large fish or dolphin. A large return that sounded muffled was
probably a school of fish. A rather large and solid return might turn out to be
a whale…or a submarine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the destroyer continued her turn, the
sonar operator heard a few faint returns that were close. Fishes. A somewhat
larger return occurred as the ship was pointed toward the south. It was a
little too small for a submarine but the man had been working with sonar for
several years and was good at it. He reported the contact to the captain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Control room, he's turning back! He
might have gotten a return off us." The sonar operator on U-1215 dialed in
his controls. The Heimlich's engine sounds changed to a higher note as the
destroyer sped up to get on top of the submarine. "He's coming toward
us."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner knew Heimlich was faster than U-1215
even at flank speed so trying to outrun her was pointless. His advantage,
however, was that Heimlich could only listen in one direction, the front. He
thought fast.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sonar estimated Heimlich was moving toward
U-1215 at 15 knots. At this distance, she'd be over him in a little more than
three minutes. U-1215, however, was moving away from her at 10 knots so the
closure rate was actually five knots which meant Heimlich would catch up with
them after about 10 minutes. He had time. "Dive! Make your depth 120
meters. Maximum dive rate."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He was going to go deep. As the submarine
dived, the temperature of the surrounding water suddenly changed several
degrees in a few feet. This temperature change was called a "layer"
by submariners and submarine hunters. It tended to reflect sonar pulses so
submarines frequently used it to hide from the searchers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There was another advantage to going deep.
It put vertical distance between the submarine and the destroyer. Depth charges
took longer to sink and made timing the drops more complicated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">S.S. HEIMLICH<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heimlich was carrying weapons. Hedgehogs
were mortar-like weapons that fired 24 shells in front of the ship. The shells
then entered the water and sank rapidly down into the depths. Unlike depth
charges, the hedgehogs were a contact-type weapon meaning, they had to actually
hit the submarine before exploding. An explosion after firing the hedgehog was
a sure sign that the submarine had been hit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of course, Heimlich would only use dumbed
weapons on this target. They were on the same side after all. The hedgehogs
were fitted with a dummy head and won't explode when they hit the hull of the
sub. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heimlich bore straight for the echo showing
on his sonar. The pulses were changing which told the sonar man that his target
was diving. The distance was great but their speed might put them above the sub
before it disappeared underneath the layer. A hedgehog fusillade would be fired
and when the boom of even one shell is heard, the exercise would end.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215 was canted downwards at such a steep
angle that her crew held on to whatever was close by to keep from sliding down
towards the bow. Werner kept his eye on the bathythermograph, a device that
measured the temperature outside the submarine and plotted it on a roll of
paper as a long unbroken line. He smiled as the line suddenly moved signaling
that there was a rapid change in temperature. They had reached the layer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Slow to one-third, level out at 115
meters. Once we're level, give me fifteen degrees right rudder. Come to new
course 290°."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He was turning right to confuse his
pursuer. His pursuer could no longer hear him and would have to decide if the
sub had turned left, right or stayed on course. One in three odds could not
instill confidence but it was better than nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">S.S. HEIMLICH<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heimlich's captain cursed under his breath
when his sonarman reported that contact had been lost. The sub could have
turned anywhere but, from experience, a sub would usually either turn left or
right. Rarely did they maintain course. The captain did a mental coin toss and
made his decision.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Slow to one-third. Come right to
250°."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Both vessels had made a right turn but
U-1215 had continued her turn until she was a little to the north of Heimlich
who was moving west-south-west while U-1215 headed west-north-west. With U-1215
underneath the layer, both vessels couldn't hear each other and were
essentially blind. Werner, thought quickly. If Heimlich had turned left, he was
to his east and moving away. If he had gone straight, they were also heading
away from each other. If he had changed course to the right, he was probably a
little to the south or right above him. Werner's best option was to make
another turn to the right. That move would either bring them further apart or
maintain their distance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Come right, change course to
070°"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">S.S. HEIMLICH<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heimlich maintained her course, his active
sonar pinging away at the sea. Hunting for submarines was a waiting and
guessing game. Patience was often rewarded though patience in this game was
sometimes measured in hours and Heimlich's captain was a patient man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">S.S. Heimlich had a reputation among both
German and Allied submarines. She had sent several British submarines to the
bottom of the ocean and harried a lot of German u-boats on their approach or
departure to and from their submarine bases in the Atlantic coast of France. He
was good at what he did and there were few German u-boat captains who could
surprise him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="ThoughtChar"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="ThoughtChar"><span lang="EN-US">That accursed submarine
could be anywhere, thought Heimlich's commander</span></span><span lang="EN-US">.
She was very quiet and his sonar operator had not heard her except for a hull
pop when she changed depth. His best hope of finding her was to use his active
sonar but the submarine could also hear the sound pulse and change direction to
try and confuse or throw them off. Another advantage the submarine had was that
they could react to the sonar pulse a bit earlier than the destroyer. This was
because the sonar pulse needed to return to the destroyer before they could get
direction and range data whereas the submarine could react as soon as they
heard the sound. It wasn't much of an advantage, however. At this range, the
echoes from the sonar pulse would be almost instantaneous.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heimlich's captain ordered a slow turn to
the left to cover all directions. U-1215 was most certainly under the layer but
it would need to come up to get range data on the destroyer. He was determined
to prevent that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner had posted himself near the sonar
room, watched closely by the admiral. The operators were concentrating on their
instruments intently but made no reports. They were too far underneath the
layer to detect anything. Their course was unchanged as Werner thought it would
take them a bit farther from the destroyer. After several minutes, Werner
decided to take a peek above the layer to reacquire the Heimlich.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Come up, slowly. Make your depth, 110
meters."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They had an idea of how deep the layer was
but this could change based on sea conditions. If they moved up too fast, they
could come out of the layer and be exposed before they could dive back into it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fischer reported that they were starting to
come out of the layer. Sonar quickly found Heimlich.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Contact! Engine sounds aft. Making
turns for 5 knots...close...turning towards us." Werner gave a quick
command.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Back down beneath the layer! Let's
hope he won't see us."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fischer gave the order, bringing the
submarine down while Werner waited for the sonar operator's report. He had not
heard the active sonar but the sonar man had not mentioned it. He made a quick
decision.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Fischer, we need to get far enough
away so we can fire our torpedoes. Go north, all ahead full. Stay under the
layer. After 30 minutes, slow to 1/3 and turn back. Let's try to reacquire him
and set up a firing solution."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">S.S. HEIMLICH<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As U-1215 sped north, Heimlich's captain
cursed his luck, mostly the lack of it. He'd lost contact with his quarry and
it was probably now getting ready to launch a torpedo at him. He didn't know
what kind of torpedoes U-1215 had but he assumed it was the same as the rest of
the submarine fleet. His sonar operator could hear those coming. He'd evaded
torpedoes before and he had some confidence he could outmaneuver them. Acoustic
torpedoes, however, were another matter. He'd never had any fired at him,
mostly because the other side didn't have them, at least none that he knew of.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He knew that submarines needed several
minutes to get a good firing solution and a target that constantly changes
course could disrupt those calculations. The normal method of searching for
submarines was to sail in a square while increasing the size of the square at
every revolution. That was a good method especially if there were two or more
destroyers to coordinate their movements. So he needed to run for several
minutes in one direction, change course and run for several more minutes. He'd
keep repeating that until he either reacquired his opponent or his opponent
fired a torpedo on him. If U-1215 fired a torpedo, Heimlich would have a direction
to go and continue his hunt for the elusive submarine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So far, the admiral had remained quiet,
staying out of the way and observing the actions of the crew and their captain.
Werner was learning how to use the capabilities of his new submarine. Other
submarines did not have the underwater speed or the stealth of U-1215. <span class="ThoughtChar">We will catch the Heimlich by surprise</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thirty minutes later, U-1215 slowed to
one-third and turned around. They crept above the layer and immediately
obtained contact.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Target to the south, bearing 174°.
Still pinging. Estimate range twelve kilometers."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Finally, thought Werner. They were going to
win this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Make tube one ready in all respects.
Open outer doors. Set torpedo course 174° and slow run up to ten kilometers.
Sonar, give me target's course."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Getting it now, sir. Target course
seems to be 096°...no, wait! He's changing course."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US">So</span></i><span lang="EN-US">, Werner thought, <i>Heimlich is using a tactic employed by most
surface vessels, change their course every now and then to throw off an enemy
submarine's firing solution. That might work with conventional torpedoes but
my torpedoes are anything but conventional</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Target seems to have settled on
course 010°, captain. He's heading for us."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They were too far away for the destroyer's
active sonar to detect them but he was also a little too far for a sure strike.
The torpedoes had enough range to reach the Heimlich but if the destroyer
changed course before the torpedo acquired him, it may move out of the
torpedo's acoustic range. He came to a quick decision.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Make tube 2 ready in all respects.
Set torpedo course to 164° and slow run up to 10 kilometers."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner waited for the series of commands to
be repeated before giving another one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Change tube 1 course to 184° and
maintain other settings."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fischer, nodded his head. Werner was going
to fire two torpedoes, one to the left of the target and another one to the
right. That way, if the target changed direction either left or right, he was
going to have a torpedo coming toward him. Time to end this game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Open outer doors on tubes 1 and 2,"
Werner ordered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Open outer doors on tubes 1 and 2."
Orders are always repeated to ensure that orders were heard correctly. "Outer
doors on tubes 1 and 2 are open." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Fire one!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tube one fired its weapon which immediately
turned to its preset course at 15 knots. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Fire two!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Having fired his weapons, Werner seemed to
relax a bit. "Now we wait. Fischer, estimated time to target?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Ten minutes, thirteen seconds,
Captain," Fischer replied. "The target is moving toward us at the
moment."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Very well. Helm, right fifteen
degrees rudder, set course 310°."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner changed course to avoid getting too
near the Heimlich. With her active sonar operating, she might detect the
weapons though he might not know what they were. They were noiseless and Werner
hoped the Heimlich sonar operator would think they were large fish like a shark
or dolphin moving toward them. There was nothing else to do except to wait for
the next nine minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">S.S. HEIMLICH<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Having just made a direction change,
Heimlich wasn't going to make another change for several minutes. The ASDIC
operator listened to the sounds of the returning sonar pulses. He had a fair
idea of the size of his target after the first contact was made so that was
what he was listening for. His ears picked up two returns but these were too
small to be the submarine. After two more pulses, he frowned. They were about
as big as sharks but these were faster, but not as fast as torpedoes. Dolphins?
Didn't dolphins swim in groups? These two were moving apart and were going to
pass him some distance to the left and right of the destroyer. Perhaps they
were playing a game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The sonar operator suddenly realized that
he had made an assumption. He'd already set his mind into thinking these were
the swift swimming mammals of the sea. Might they be a new type of torpedo, a
slow one? But a slow torpedo would not be very effective. The Heimlich had a
maximum speed of 30 knots. These objects were moving at around 15 knots. At
fifteen knots, they might catch a slow freighter but only if they were launched
at close range. Typical torpedoes had a maximum range of only five kilometers.
Long range torpedoes? Did they sacrifice speed for range? All these thoughts
flashed through Heimlich's sonar operator in a split second. He decided to
alert his captain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Two unidentified objects in the
water, bearing 353° and 008°, moving at fifteen knots, Captain. They'll miss us
by about 600 meters on either side."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heimlich's captain quickly picked up the
microphone. "Identify! Torpedoes?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"They are not emitting any sounds,
Captain. All I can tell you is that they are about the same size as large
sharks or dolphins." A momentary pause. "Captain, these objects are
running straight. They must be a new type of silent running torpedoes."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heimlich's captain made his own realization
in an instant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Helm, all ahead two thirds, make your
course 000°! Head right in between the torpedoes. That's where he is."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That accursed submarine was directly in
front of him. Not too far, for sure, and he had made an error in his firing
solution. The torpedoes were going to pass him harmlessly on either side.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Captain, sonar. The torpedoes are
passing out of the ASDIC's detection angle. I'll lose them in a few
seconds."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Ignore them, they're going to miss
us. Look for the submarine."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At that moment, Unit One's seeker head
switched on and began listening to the sea around it. There was a loud noise to
its left and it immediately turned towards it. Then, it increased its speed to
25 knots.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">An acoustic torpedo had two sensors on
either side of its head. A louder sound on the left meant there was a noise
source in that direction. When the sound levels equalized, it meant the noise
source was directly ahead. Unit One's noise source was to its left, heading in
the opposite direction. As the torpedo turned, the noise source stayed to its
left. No matter, the torpedo was going to continue turning until the sound from
the two sensors equalized or until the sound disappeared. If the sound did
disappear, the torpedo was designed to turn around to re-acquire the target or
until it ran out of power.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Unit Two turned on its seeker head a few
seconds after Unit One. It turned to the right and slipped behind Unit One,
increasing speed to 25 knots. Both were now directly behind the Heimlich.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Target is heading this way, Captain.
Bearing 171°, fifteen knots. They don't have us yet but they will in about four
minutes."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Increase speed to two thirds,
maintain course. Sonar, listen for the torpedoes making contact." Werner
didn't want to miss the sound of victory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fischer, shook his head. He'd have dropped
beneath the layer and changed direction but, then again, he wasn't in command.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">S.S. HEIMLICH<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Prepare to fire the hedgehogs!"
Heimlich's captain could almost smell his quarry. The submarine couldn't move
faster than five to seven knots without draining its batteries in a short time.
He was sure he was now so close to his opponent that he should have already
detected him. Why was it taking so long for the sonar operator to make contact?
He needed to slow down and make a proper search.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Slow to one-third."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the Heimlich's speed dropped, the two
torpedoes gained ground even faster. As that point, Heimlich's sonar operator
found U-1215 and alerted his captain. With a cry of triumph, Heimlich's captain
ordered a course and speed change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Standby to fire the hedgehog!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heimlich's sonar operator frowned. He was
certain that the submarine had heard them approach and knew the ASDIC had found
them. Why hadn't they turned to evade? Then he remembered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Torpedoes inbound aft!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heimlich's captain face blanched as the
torpedo warning caused a heartburn. But the sudden grab of fear also galvanized
him to action.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Left full rudder! All ahead
flank!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Unit One sensed the target's sound shift to
the left and turned accordingly but it was a little too close and missed. Unit Two,
slightly behind, cut the corner and struck just forward of the screw. The
resulting boom was loud enough to cause the sonar operator to quickly clap his
headset off his head.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="ThoughtChar"><span lang="EN-US">Damn it!</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> Heimlich's captain, pounded his fist on the steel plotting table.
He'd lost the fight. He was shaking from rage as much as the adrenalin rush
from the torpedo warning. He ordered ahead one-third and commanded the sonar
operator to try to keep tracking the stealthy submarine. The fight was finished
but some pride in him caused him to try and tell that submarine commander that
he was not entirely invisible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At that point, Unit One, which had turned
around and reacquired the Heimlich, struck the side of the destroyer causing
everyone to jump. Heimlich's captain, now even more enraged, cursed his
opponent out in the water beyond and stormed out of the bridge. The executive
officer watched the empty doorway for a few seconds, shook his head and ordered
half speed and return to port.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="NoIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U-1215<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Sonar, what's he doing?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"He's still at flank speed, Captain.
Bearing to the south on an easterly course. He's not...wait...he's slowing
down, turning away from us. Yes, he's changed course to the west and
maintaining around 12 knots."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner heaved a sigh of relief.
"We'll, I guess that's over. Engine's ahead two-thirds, set course for the
base."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The admiral stood up and shook Werner's
hand. "Excellent work, Captain Werner, excellent work. Congratulations to
you and the crew. I think this calls for a celebration when we get back to
base."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Amid the sounds of hurrahs and clapping of
shoulders, the admiral beckoned Werner to his stateroom. Werner let his men
celebrate for a few more seconds before giving a terse command.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Silence! The reason why this
submarine is the quietest, is not because of its design. It's because of the
men who crew him. You may celebrate but do so without a sound. The enemy might
be lurking somewhere out there"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The admiral waited for him by the door to
the captain's stateroom. After both of them had entered and sat down, the
admiral began his critique.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Well, Captain. That was a victory no
doubt. Instead of me giving my viewpoints on this exercise, I'd like to hear
your own analysis of the battle."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner, took a deep breath before speaking.
"Admiral, the beginning of the trial was not the usual way that a
submarine-destroyer duel begins. Heimlich was lying in wait and that is not
what destroyers normally do when they hunt submarines. If we had been allowed
to use our periscope, we might have found him from farther away and fired from
a safe distance. Of course, the rule of the trial was that we not use it."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"That it was, Captain. You could not
hear the Heimlich so you had no idea of where she was. You could have raised
your scope but without knowing where she was, you might have raised it close to
the destroyer and she could have detected you sooner. It might have been more
difficult for you to evade him then. Those are the fortunes of war, Captain. It
is useless to dwell on them."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"As you say, Admiral. The U-1215 is
certainly quiet but it is not undetectable. I knew that coming into this but I
was not sure how detectable until today. This is a valuable lesson for us. As
for our speed underwater, it is an advantage but only as long as the enemy
doesn't know about it. Heimlich was looking for us at our last position before
we made the sprint and that proved to be the opening we needed to get away and
obtain a firing solution."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The admiral nodded his head and waved at
Werner to continue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"The torpedoes certainly work as
designed though Heimlich seems to have detected them with ASDIC. It might be
advantageous to fire the torpedoes beneath the layer so that they will remain
hidden until they become active. But that's only if the enemy is using their
ASDIC sonar. If they're using passive sonar, we can fire from any depth."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Again, the admiral nodded before making his
own observation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"What you say are all valid, Captain.
There is one critique that I can give, however. After firing your torpedoes,
you changed direction but didn't dive. And when the Heimlich obviously detected
you, you continued on the same course and speed. Why is that, Captain? It's a
dangerous move to bait the enemy, especially knowing Heimlich's
reputation."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Admiral, Heimlich was running
straight at the time of firing. By changing direction and allowing them so see
us, they would have to change direction as well and that would bring him into
one of the torpedoes. I had planned to head for the layer if he got too close
but I also wanted to hear the torpedo impact. I find it strange that he chose
to slow down when he did. That's what sealed the victory for us. I also find it
curious that he suddenly sped up. Did he detect the torpedoes behind him? I
find that hard to believe."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"As do I, Captain. I will have to
debrief Heimlich's captain when we get back to base. You were up against a
first rate vessel, Captain. And since he'd been with you through all the
trials, he probably had a good idea of your capabilities though he had been
told nothing. Congratulations again, Captain. You deserve it. You and the
crew."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Thank you Admiral. Perhaps we can
start building these submarines now?" It was a question, not a statement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"We still have one trial, Captain. If
it is successful, we will send the report to Donitz and he can inform the
Fuhrer. Hopefully, within the year, we can start construction of the first
group."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Werner smiled and received the admiral's
congratulatory hand.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://ericmarcelo-indieauthor.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-silent-sub-chapter-10-last-trial.html">GO TO CHAPTER 9</a></span></span></div>
</div>
Eric Marcelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15427800145044285264noreply@blogger.com0