Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Heavy Seas

We are operating in the Otranto Strait once more, the boat rolling and pounding in the heavy seas. It seems as if it isn't moving from the spot. This time we cruise around the Gulf of Taranto. Unfortunately, it is our fate to have to watch for our prey like a cat in front of a mouse hole. But nothing comes along except once in a while a destroyer that does not interest us anymore. Sometimes even a cruiser, but so far away that we cannot get to him.

Talk is circulating that our troops are about to occupy Valona. That is what we have been waiting for a long time now. While we can reach from the Bocce to the Gulf of Taranto and south of Korfu with our slow boats, then we could, out of Valona, extend our range to Malta without difficulty. Even a more important point would be that we could disable the blockade of the Otranto Strait completely. But regrettably, we have not achieved it yet so we still have to mess around with the fishing steamers while the bigger boats could search all over the Ionian and Mediterranean Sea.

We set course to ninety and steer out to open sea. We can't do any good in these high waves anyway. Even if we could get a nice and large crate into our sight, no torpedo could hit its target. As long as we possibly can, we stay on the surface to save electricity. It is very well possible that we will be noticed. Then it is good to have a full battery. The hatch cover is half closed so we don't get too much water inside the boat.

Now that we don't ride with the current anymore but between the waves, the boat rolls terribly. The helmsman can barely hold on. Every time the boat leans to starboard he slides over to the depth-steering wheel with his chair. The compass dances like crazy. The helmsman tries to fight dizziness.

There, now comes another of those big waves. We know the pattern very well. Every time the boat leans heavily to port it will fall back to starboard the next moment with all its weight. This time it seems as if it wants to turn itself completely around. The helmsman in haste fishes for an extra hold with his left hand and unfortunately grabs the fresh water pump. He tries to get a hold of something else and braces his feet to starboard but it is too late. The boat jerks to starboard with full force and tosses the helmsman to the other side of the boat and he takes the water pump with him.

Both the floor bolts of the pump are broken off. Every time the boat rolls a splash of drinking water shoots out. We reported it right away to the Commander who ordered us to dive. Now the tank could be made tight by the Engine Master. The they tried to set up the pump again but all effort was in vain. We did not have welding equipment onboard and nothing else worked. We had to head for the station. Until we reach port, we won't have any sweet water of course.

When we headed back through the Otranto Strait the sea had calmed down a little. But the fishing steamers had developed a busy activity. We scarcely evaded one of them and thought we could now surface when a torpedo boat came along and we had to dive again. Even with the part time surface running we still had to add oxygen to our air because it was so bad. Everyone gasped and breathing deeply didn't help. For the simplest task the utmost willpower was required.

Finally, after four days we arrived in the Bocce. We staggered on land with our left over canned rations. To be able to get a good night's sleep again after this strenuous action, no other wish was nutured by anyone. Regrettably we only had time to sleep a few hours. Soon we had to get up again to repair the boat. We had to be ready to go out again as soon as it was in shape.

The New Cannon

"Well, finally we'll get rid of our old squirt gun!" With these words came the Torpedo Master through the door. "Not that we can do anything with the new one either." replied the Second. But nobody asked about that. We received a 47 mm rapid-fire cannon and that was that. Yes, it sure was an improvement even though it was not like the 6 cm they put on new boats being built in Fiume. But nevertheless, it is a better one. If we would have had it at the time, then that steamer would not have gotten away.

Now the deck platform had to be reinforced and when we took the first tryout runs we found that the boat had to be trimmed anew because of the different weight conditions. Since the new base and the cannon were much heavier and mounted at the front, the boat became much too heavy in front. Despite the ammunition being stored aft, the rear trim tank still had to be enlarged. The work progressed rapidly and after fourteen days we could attempt the next action

No comments: