“Full ahead both engines, make for the flash of light!” ..
After travelling for a short while it may be taken that we are in the general area of the spot we have been observing. We have moved right up to it, and a sharp lookout needs to be kept on all sides with our excellent night-glasses. Something is travelling very close to us, it is clear, for we on the bridge can smell the smoke from ships funnels. Great excitement! Now orders to the helmsman, a sign that something is definitely afoot. The crew is at diving-stations. Now ships can be made out, and definitely recognized as a convoy; they are tacking backwards and forwards while travelling east. On no account must we be seen; it is our intention to approach inside the safety-cordon of the escorts and then to penetrate into the double line of the convoy, which appears to be the formation of the convoy. We manage it, after some manoeuvres to evade the escorts and U-boat hunters. We are now travelling unnoticed on the surface in the middle of the convoy, as though we belonged to it. The convoy is travelling east, and is off the top of the Irish coast. We spot that the fattest ships lie at the front; however we are astern of the convoy, in other words right at the end of it, so we steam at top speed up to the front. This is where the juiciest morsels are travelling. Both bow tubes are reported clear for action, and it is decided to take out two of the front ships travelling in the starboard column. We have remained unseen up to this point, and after a few adjustments to our firing position we are almost ready to shoot. Now the boat turns into the attack position, the torpedo is despatched at the first steamer, and leaves the tube with best wishes. The boat turns even further and the second torpedo leaves the tube. In the meantime the first torpedo has reached its target. A massive fire instantaneously breaks out and with an explosion the steamer blows apart. It makes for a dramatic spectacle. The steamer was carrying high-octane fuel, and immediately burns up. It is an impressive sight, but also a proud moment, as we see how our boat lies on the surface in the middle of the U-boat hunters and the steamers, floodlit by the fire caused by the burning petrol which is rapidly spreading over the water. We watch the steamers positioned astern going into reverse with their propellers, to avoid running into the fire. It has got too hot for us too, and since the enemy is beginning to cover us with his guns, we dive and make our escape. We saw the second torpedo we had shot passing just in front of the bows of the second steamer. Obviously that was because of the halting of the steamer as a result of its putting its screws into reverse. We couldn’t have reckoned with that. No depth-charge attack follows.
The boat at this point is positioned about 100 nautical miles north west of Ireland. We continue on a southerly course. We are hoping to come across some busier traffic off the entrance to the Channel and the approaches to the St George’s Channel. The sea is calm, and like a stalking hunter seeking his prey with watchful eyes, we direct our keen glasses over the open sea to track down our prey.
According to the Law of the Stronger we consider ourselves masters of the sea. Then the report comes down to the Kommandant from the bridge, “Smoke clouds off the port bow!” The smoke clouds approach rapidly, and as masts and funnels creep over the horizon, the ship can be made out as an enemy passenger-steamer on its way to England. As it comes closer, by the white stripe around it, the green paint on the ship’s side and the Red Cross, it can be made out to be a hospital ship. It is around 15000 tons. The ship is stopped with a shot across its bows, and the captain is ordered across to the boat with his papers to establish where he is travelling from and to. Although the ship is travelling in the war-zone, because of the restrictions applying to hospital ships it cannot be sunk. It may be that the hospital ship will be used immediately afterwards, regardless of its proper purpose, for transporting war-materials or troops. But according to the ship’s papers the steamer had to be allowed free passage. While the papers were being checked, a thorough search of the ship by the prize-crew unfortunately could not take place, but the ship’s passengers were assembled on the boat deck. They clearly believed that everyone of them, man and mouse, would be sent to feed the fishes, for one man, who was dressed as a priest, gave them the last rites. The return of the Captain, and the announcement that they were to be allowed to sail on, immediately produced a terrific storm of rejoicing and relief. They pressed against the railings, waved handkerchiefs, and proposed “three cheers for German submarine”.
We continue below the surface. Morale is bad. We had just experienced with a practical example the feebleness of the prosecution of the U-boat war under the limitations imposed on it by the government. For it was perfectly possible that such a ship could go on to travel in the service of England, a country that was bringing Germany’s women and children to the brink of starvation. We were absolutely clear in our opinion that in this struggle for existence the only important thing to aim for by every possible means was a reduction of enemy tonnage, in order to bring about a counter-blockade. Restrictions on carrying this out, like the curtailment as in this case of the greatest opportunities for overpowering England, were snatching away certain success from us and making us lose the war. No blame attached to our director of U-boats and the admiralty; opposition to the carrying out of an unrestricted U-boat war lay with the government.
We could not come to terms under water with the fact that this ship was allowed to continue sailing in the service of our fiercest enemy; and we were convinced that the English had been equally mystified by our behaviour.
After surfacing we continued cruising in our area of operations. We lay now on a good route for merchant shipping, where something had to come into our line of fire. Sure enough, the bridge watch soon reported, “Sailing ship ahead!”. We approach the sailing-ship and compel it to heave to with a shot across the bows. Looking at this ship I become more and more convinced that we are dealing here with a U-boat trap. That turned out to be the case. The Captain of our boat was not at first clear about the sailing-ship, and crept a bit nearer. Suddenly the boards on the side fell away; the camouflaged guns were clear for action and began at once to fire. Our boat turned away in a split second with the engines on full speed, which also produced clouds of black smoke from the exhaust in order to make it harder for the enemy to aim his weapons. The harmlessness of the ship was a disguise and the alarm among the crew after our warning-shot was a show, as was some of the crew taking to the boats. High time to make a move! Fortunately their chaps didn’t shoot accurately enough, so that we got away in one piece.
The delicate nature of a submarine prevents it from getting involved with an artillery duel with a similarly armed or superior enemy; otherwise we would have fired on these treacherous ‘gentlemen’, who were waging war against every code of conduct. We had to restrict ourselves to giving a warning to all boats that an armed ‘U-boat trap’ was operating in Quadrant X, disguised as a three-masted schooner.
This situation could easily have gone badly wrong, and taught us a lesson or two. It is certainly the case that U-boats couldn’t yet rely on their own experiences, and had to acquire these themselves. I will tell you another similar story, since it concerns U-boats. On this occasion our boat was somewhere in the Atlantic when the bridge watch saw a freighter ahead, which didn’t seem to us to be keeping on a steady course. We approached it underwater to inspect the ship more closely, since there seemed to be something fishy going on. Because the freighter was travelling alone, and so had no escort with it, we were able to get a good look at it quite peacefully and without any haste from ahead and astern. There was nothing strange noticeable about it. It was about 1500 tons gross, and doubled backwards and forwards, but didn’t seem to sticking to a course. In any case the whole thing was suspicious. The commandant decided to sink the freighter, and prepared the boat for an underwater attack. We were just about to shoot, and all the conditions seemed perfect for success. Indeed it gave a special satisfaction to put paid to such a shifty enemy. In the middle of the attack a torpedo suddenly broke the surface of the water in front of the boat’s bow. “What on earth is going on?”
After travelling for a short while it may be taken that we are in the general area of the spot we have been observing. We have moved right up to it, and a sharp lookout needs to be kept on all sides with our excellent night-glasses. Something is travelling very close to us, it is clear, for we on the bridge can smell the smoke from ships funnels. Great excitement! Now orders to the helmsman, a sign that something is definitely afoot. The crew is at diving-stations. Now ships can be made out, and definitely recognized as a convoy; they are tacking backwards and forwards while travelling east. On no account must we be seen; it is our intention to approach inside the safety-cordon of the escorts and then to penetrate into the double line of the convoy, which appears to be the formation of the convoy. We manage it, after some manoeuvres to evade the escorts and U-boat hunters. We are now travelling unnoticed on the surface in the middle of the convoy, as though we belonged to it. The convoy is travelling east, and is off the top of the Irish coast. We spot that the fattest ships lie at the front; however we are astern of the convoy, in other words right at the end of it, so we steam at top speed up to the front. This is where the juiciest morsels are travelling. Both bow tubes are reported clear for action, and it is decided to take out two of the front ships travelling in the starboard column. We have remained unseen up to this point, and after a few adjustments to our firing position we are almost ready to shoot. Now the boat turns into the attack position, the torpedo is despatched at the first steamer, and leaves the tube with best wishes. The boat turns even further and the second torpedo leaves the tube. In the meantime the first torpedo has reached its target. A massive fire instantaneously breaks out and with an explosion the steamer blows apart. It makes for a dramatic spectacle. The steamer was carrying high-octane fuel, and immediately burns up. It is an impressive sight, but also a proud moment, as we see how our boat lies on the surface in the middle of the U-boat hunters and the steamers, floodlit by the fire caused by the burning petrol which is rapidly spreading over the water. We watch the steamers positioned astern going into reverse with their propellers, to avoid running into the fire. It has got too hot for us too, and since the enemy is beginning to cover us with his guns, we dive and make our escape. We saw the second torpedo we had shot passing just in front of the bows of the second steamer. Obviously that was because of the halting of the steamer as a result of its putting its screws into reverse. We couldn’t have reckoned with that. No depth-charge attack follows.
The boat at this point is positioned about 100 nautical miles north west of Ireland. We continue on a southerly course. We are hoping to come across some busier traffic off the entrance to the Channel and the approaches to the St George’s Channel. The sea is calm, and like a stalking hunter seeking his prey with watchful eyes, we direct our keen glasses over the open sea to track down our prey.
According to the Law of the Stronger we consider ourselves masters of the sea. Then the report comes down to the Kommandant from the bridge, “Smoke clouds off the port bow!” The smoke clouds approach rapidly, and as masts and funnels creep over the horizon, the ship can be made out as an enemy passenger-steamer on its way to England. As it comes closer, by the white stripe around it, the green paint on the ship’s side and the Red Cross, it can be made out to be a hospital ship. It is around 15000 tons. The ship is stopped with a shot across its bows, and the captain is ordered across to the boat with his papers to establish where he is travelling from and to. Although the ship is travelling in the war-zone, because of the restrictions applying to hospital ships it cannot be sunk. It may be that the hospital ship will be used immediately afterwards, regardless of its proper purpose, for transporting war-materials or troops. But according to the ship’s papers the steamer had to be allowed free passage. While the papers were being checked, a thorough search of the ship by the prize-crew unfortunately could not take place, but the ship’s passengers were assembled on the boat deck. They clearly believed that everyone of them, man and mouse, would be sent to feed the fishes, for one man, who was dressed as a priest, gave them the last rites. The return of the Captain, and the announcement that they were to be allowed to sail on, immediately produced a terrific storm of rejoicing and relief. They pressed against the railings, waved handkerchiefs, and proposed “three cheers for German submarine”.
We continue below the surface. Morale is bad. We had just experienced with a practical example the feebleness of the prosecution of the U-boat war under the limitations imposed on it by the government. For it was perfectly possible that such a ship could go on to travel in the service of England, a country that was bringing Germany’s women and children to the brink of starvation. We were absolutely clear in our opinion that in this struggle for existence the only important thing to aim for by every possible means was a reduction of enemy tonnage, in order to bring about a counter-blockade. Restrictions on carrying this out, like the curtailment as in this case of the greatest opportunities for overpowering England, were snatching away certain success from us and making us lose the war. No blame attached to our director of U-boats and the admiralty; opposition to the carrying out of an unrestricted U-boat war lay with the government.
We could not come to terms under water with the fact that this ship was allowed to continue sailing in the service of our fiercest enemy; and we were convinced that the English had been equally mystified by our behaviour.
After surfacing we continued cruising in our area of operations. We lay now on a good route for merchant shipping, where something had to come into our line of fire. Sure enough, the bridge watch soon reported, “Sailing ship ahead!”. We approach the sailing-ship and compel it to heave to with a shot across the bows. Looking at this ship I become more and more convinced that we are dealing here with a U-boat trap. That turned out to be the case. The Captain of our boat was not at first clear about the sailing-ship, and crept a bit nearer. Suddenly the boards on the side fell away; the camouflaged guns were clear for action and began at once to fire. Our boat turned away in a split second with the engines on full speed, which also produced clouds of black smoke from the exhaust in order to make it harder for the enemy to aim his weapons. The harmlessness of the ship was a disguise and the alarm among the crew after our warning-shot was a show, as was some of the crew taking to the boats. High time to make a move! Fortunately their chaps didn’t shoot accurately enough, so that we got away in one piece.
The delicate nature of a submarine prevents it from getting involved with an artillery duel with a similarly armed or superior enemy; otherwise we would have fired on these treacherous ‘gentlemen’, who were waging war against every code of conduct. We had to restrict ourselves to giving a warning to all boats that an armed ‘U-boat trap’ was operating in Quadrant X, disguised as a three-masted schooner.
This situation could easily have gone badly wrong, and taught us a lesson or two. It is certainly the case that U-boats couldn’t yet rely on their own experiences, and had to acquire these themselves. I will tell you another similar story, since it concerns U-boats. On this occasion our boat was somewhere in the Atlantic when the bridge watch saw a freighter ahead, which didn’t seem to us to be keeping on a steady course. We approached it underwater to inspect the ship more closely, since there seemed to be something fishy going on. Because the freighter was travelling alone, and so had no escort with it, we were able to get a good look at it quite peacefully and without any haste from ahead and astern. There was nothing strange noticeable about it. It was about 1500 tons gross, and doubled backwards and forwards, but didn’t seem to sticking to a course. In any case the whole thing was suspicious. The commandant decided to sink the freighter, and prepared the boat for an underwater attack. We were just about to shoot, and all the conditions seemed perfect for success. Indeed it gave a special satisfaction to put paid to such a shifty enemy. In the middle of the attack a torpedo suddenly broke the surface of the water in front of the boat’s bow. “What on earth is going on?”
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