The First Large Action

"God knows what is coming up for us," says the Engine-Mate to the Electro-Master. "I cannot figure it out. This time we even have to fill the trim tanks with fuel oil. We must be getting ready to go on a really huge operation." "Maybe we'll go all the way down to Turkey. The talk has been heard that a couple of small boats shall go down there." replied the other. Novotny the cook always nosed around the officers in order to find out something but his efforts did not pay off.

In the meantime the secretive preparations smoothly continued. A larger amount of provisions was taken on board and we were also advised to receive more rations and lemons. Our curiosity reached a peak when they brought three extra barrels of drinking water on board. Also, instead of three, we took four torpedoes, two in the tubes and another two stowed between the air bottles. One extra oxygen tank was stored in the back. A double amount of grease was taken on board and various tools and gaskets that we never took on before. These were all preparations that so far, no other small boat has taken.

Then came the necessary trial dives with the extra weight and it turned out that the boat could not be trimmed out sufficiently with all that oil in the trim tanks. So we had to take some trim weights on board. The overload that resulted from these preparations had to be balanced out with the regulator tanks. However, because the regulators were almost empty the boat lost very much in stability.

Now, after two days of practice runs the boat was ready for action. On the 20th of October, towards evening, we put out to sea. After we had put the mine field behind us we went farther out and then took our course to the south. The sea was only slightly agitated and since we did not have a current against us we made good progress. The next evening we sighted the first fishing steamers cruising around the Strait of Otranto. Now it was important to be careful so we can get through unnoticed and reach the Greek islands without any loss of time. For it was the Greek coast to the south of the Gulf of Patras that was the area we had to search this time.

We made it through the Otranto Strait without any incidents worth mentioning. A few times we had to dive quickly when planes or motorboats came too close, but we remained undetected. Even though we lost about a day evading the fishing boats it could not be helped and did not matter much. After four days we had the island of Korfu behind us. Now the sea became calmer. Sometimes we saw a destroyer but always too far away. During the day we cruised leisurely past the Greek islands in battle trim. At dusk we went further out to sea to ventilate the boat and charge the battery. Then we resumed to run on the surface.

For the past three days already we lurked around the sea between the Ionian Islands and the gulf in front of Patras, then going out to open sea during the night. Then, on the fifth day, a heavy aerial activity became evident. More frequently too, English and French destroyers were sighted. Something must be coming. We were sure that we had not been spotted otherwise they would have dropped a few bombs sometimes.

The destroyers always searched the same route for two days. Then on the third day just before darkness, very heavy smoke became visible to the south. But again, it was only destroyers and torpedo boats. The Commander said to the Second, "There must be something very special coming that they are securing so much." It had become rather dark and we had to strain at the lookout.

Once more three destroyers approached. A fast dive steering towards them and letting them pass over us. Then, at last, the convoy appeared. Twelve escorts and a huge crate in their midst with a smoke-stack. The escort boats flashed signals to each other and sometimes we could see flashes from the transport boat. "We have to get this one," followed by "Come quickly and look at this." said the Commander. One after the other we looked through the periscope but only for a glance. There was no more time. The forward escorts had passed over us and those that protected the seaward were behind us.

The Torpedo-Masters had both torpedoes ready to go and everyone was waiting for further orders. "Both torpedoes clear!" came the order calmly from the tower, as if we were on a practice run. "Go to eight meters!" and then "Larboard, 5 degrees, now, torpedo ready! Torpedo los!, Go to 10 meters!" We counted. Then again from the tower, "Starboard torpedo ready, Torpedo Los!" Now we already heard the first explosion and shortly after, the second. "Full starboard! Go to 30 meters, Engine full power!"

Faraway, we heard the first bombs. After ten minutes we surfaced to see what was going on. A dreadful panic must have prevailed on the steamer. A few destroyers illuminated the rescue action while they lowered the lifeboats. The other escort boats searched in the dark for the culprit that caused this catastrophe. With the beams of their spotlights scanning the sea, they darted about at maximum speed. Whenever they saw something that looked like a periscope they dropped their bombs in a wasteful manner. While the steamer was already listing to larboard it kept drifting without power with the waves. The whole ship was in flames and first forward then aft, tower high jets from the explosions rose to the sky. So he had not only troops but also ammunition on board. Taking turns, we were allowed to observe this gruesome-beautiful show.

The Commander seemed to be struggling with a decision but only for a few seconds. Then his face showed the usual calmness. After going to battle mode we steered towards the steamer. The escort boats went more into the distance and seemed to follow a track. The Commander orders the machine gun to be set up and the ammunition belts were handed up to the deck. "Strafe the steamer!" came the order up from the Commander. First in short and then in longer bursts clattered our machine gun into the chaos. The confusion on the steamer got worse. One destroyer of the group now separated and came fast towards us with his lights beaming in front of him. We had to dive fast and left the gun on deck. We had just made it down to 10 meters when he rushed over us. Now the bombs start coming. We thought he had assumed us farther away and we wanted to come back up when one exploded quite close. "Go deep fast!" the Commander called. Soon we were down to 30 meters. The Commander wanted to give another order but a strong explosion very close startled everyone. The lights in the boat went out and we got that sinking feeling. Our boat was falling down.