Hunt For Fishing Steamers

This time we set our sights especially for fishing boats. We had to try out our new cannon. We didn't really know yet how we are going to proceed but figured we'll work it out as we go. First, we cruised back and forth at a safe distance in front of a line of steamers in order to determine how they are connected with the nets. Then we would pick one out of their middle and shoot it down to create a gap.

The sea seemed to assist our undertaking with small spring waves. This way we could approach fairly close without being detected. It all looked good according to plan. By day we did mostly observe and when it got dark, then we would pull away to charge our battery only to stalk them again afterwards. A few times it looked like they might have noticed us because a torpedo boat or motor boat would unexpectedly criss-cross in our direction. But since they did not drop any bombs we assumed we were still undetected.

The third night we had to dive one time very deep, to 50 meters and let a chain of steamers pass over us. Now we knew that their nets did not reach down that far which was very important to us. We wanted to search around the south entrance to Valona again but couldn't find anything that interested us. So we approached the fishing steamers once more. The next night would show what our new cannon is worth.

After we took care of the battery and ventilated the boat well we looked up the steamers again. We met them just right, as they passed in the light of the moon in front of us. We quickly surfaced and quietly like cats we sneaked to the cannon. The last man brought a round with him. The sight was mounted and then it started. Shot after shot resounded and all hit straight at the waterline. There must have been plenty of confusion for it took a while till the spotlights came on.

But then it started like a hurricane was suddenly let loose. The first shell went over us and before a spotlight could find us we had already gone down to 20 meters. We continued diving quickly to 55 meters and went forward with full power straight through underneath them. The prior attacked steamer was clearly visible. He must have been taking on a lot of water because we could hear the splashing of the pumps.

Now we surfaced and repeated our attack and once again, ten rounds struck the already damaged steamer. But now it was time for us to disappear. Torpedo boats darted about like irritated wasps and kept dropping their bombs. We could just barely notice as they cut the tow lines of the hit steamer. Now we could use some good luck. We dove again underneath and past the fishing boats, but this time it did not go so smoothly. We thought that we had made it through when suddenly the boat was restrained.

"Oh dear, if we get caught now." muttered Lehar. All glanced over to the Commander for a moment but his face was so composed and did not evoke any doubt that we would get out of this. "Engines stop! Full reverse!" Sounded the order to the engine room. Now we went down to 60 meters. We must be free by now. Then the "Full forward" order came. But now it got uncomfortable. The detonations of the depth bombs came ever closer. Sometimes the whole boat shook. We turned off the depth-manometers so they would not be damaged by an explosion. The lights were also switched off and only the emergency lights on. Now we were prepared for anything.

The whole crew was under highest tension and throughout the boat a weird silence prevailed. Every man was at his post awaiting eventual orders. Now a loud scraping outboard. Aha! Now it comes. There are only two possibilities…either we make it through and are safe, or we get stuck. But now the scraping has stopped and the detonations are getting weaker until finally they stop.

The boat is sweating from the high pressure it had to endure. Tiny streams are running down the walls and we too have no dry spot left on our bodies. The depth-steering man had difficulty keeping the boat down that deep. It is very buoyant and to flood the tanks more would result in sinking too fast in case of a nearby explosion. Gradually, the bad air became noticeable but we were not allowed to add oxygen.

After two hours we slowly surfaced. Only now we noticed that the 'stuff-box' of the periscope was leaking. The water squirted inside in fine streams. We had not pressed enough grease into it for the pressure at that depth. As we surfaced the first light of morning appeared. We charged the battery and aired out the boat so we can dive in case we are pursued. We also pressed more grease into the stuff-box.

With the brightening morning we can see the steamers far to the south. During our trip home we had to dive a few more times, otherwise nothing happened on the way. Whether the steamer we hit sank or was able to be towed away we regrettably could not observe.We had a hard enough time to keep out of harm's way ourselves. The new gun was useful, that much we knew. Later, on closer examination of the boat, it was discovered that the paint was scraped off in an outboard area for the whole length of the boat.