Thursday, November 10, 2011

A Support Cruiser and a Destroyer

Stefan went on furlough. It was my turn but Stefan begged me if I would not let him go. He was from Galicia and his mother had to go through the whole Russian invasion. It was understandable that he could not wait to get home and see his mother again. I was not at all in too much of a hurry. I did not have parents anymore and actually had to go to acquaintances of my family. Consequently I let him go first.

In the meantime, on the 20th of June we went out on action again down into the Strait of Otranto. During the night we passed by Valona. The sea was smooth like a mirror and very bright. Now and then some planes flew over us and during the day we had to dive a few times so they would not notice us.

Smoke appeared on the southern horizon, a nice support steamer similar to our Gua and two French destroyers. We could look at them again through the periscope. A magnificent sight. Then we got ready for the attack. "Both torpedoes ready!" and "Ready!" came back the reply from the torpedo room. The two Torpedo-Masters were busy at the torpedo tubes. "Larboard five...against...at once!" "Larboard torpedo ready." and "Larboard torpedo los!" The first torpedo gurgled out and we were counting again. "Full larboard, dive to 20 meters!" At the count of 22 we heard the loud explosion, a hit! Three times hurrah and the gramophone played our song.

We rose up to 10 meters and there stood a destroyer only 200 meters ahead of us. So, let's go after him. "Starboard torpedo ready!" The same routine again. A minute later the second torpedo whooshed out and found it's mark too. Once more three hurrahs and we turned to congratulate the Commander but with his face to the periscope he did not have the time. The Second destroyer wound up in front of us too but unfortunately we were out of torpedoes and had no choice but to go home.

Only now the Commander thanked and congratulated us too. He did not need a toothpick in his mouth now. Instead he went straight to the medicine cabinet and with his own hands took out the bottle of cognac. With the toast, "Long live the XVer and his crew!" he drank to us and we answered with "Long live the XVer and his Commander!" When we were out of sight we surfaced and headed home with combination power.

The Telegraph-Master wired ahead to Klinci, "UXV has sunk 50 miles off Cape de Otranto the Italian support cruiser Citta di Messina and French destroyer Faurch." On the 24th of June at 18:00 hours we made port at Ponta Rosa with all our flags hoisted. The coastal guns, the Rudolf and the whole station received us with hurrahs. In the evening, a big victory celebration. Unbelievable. Just a four day joyride in the Otranto Strait and such success.

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