U.XXX Going Out On Action

Now the time has come. A few men were shipped out again. There was the Second Torpedo-master among them. When the replacements came in we moved out. With a course to southwest we steered toward Ancona. Yes, this was something else. With such a boat you can really move. At Ancona nothing interesting to observe so we continue south along the Italian coast toward the Otranto Strait. We could not find anything except sometimes whole bunches of tied together glass balls that served as submarine traps with their mines connected below the surface. Then we conducted shooting contests. The men stood on deck and shot with their pistols at the glass balls. Whoever broke the most of them got a prize. It was mostly cigarettes.

During the night we broke through the fishing blockade in the Strait of Otranto. It must be a boring job on these fishing boats. Always cruising the same routes and nothing to do but looking out. Sometimes we see a submarine hunter but usually far enough away that we did not even have to dive. Toward dawn, after crossing the strait we sighted Korfu. Nothing was showing up. Now we kept closer to land and searched along the traffic corridor between Korfu and Petra. But we didn't find anything worth sending to the bottom in the Commander's judgement.

At last, with the Gulf of Petras well behind us a steamer came toward us. He could have between 1500 and 2000 metric tons. Half an hour later he was gone. A single torpedo and after ten minutes all you could see was a boat rowing toward shore with five or six men in it.

We steer out to sea. Two days later, at Cape Malagen, we sighted another. He was protected by two destroyers. They seemed to take their job seriously, constantly swarming around their protege. We went to 20 meters and let the first one pass over us. The steamer fast approached. It was French. For a moment it seemed they had noticed us. The stern torpedo was cleared and, as we started turning, it was fired. We dove deep and headed for the open sea. When we surfaced a half hour later there was nothing visible. He must have had 6000 tons for sure.

We turned to the west and headed toward Sicily. The sea was rough and in rapid succession the waves broke over us. The new crew was good and we soon became friends. Back in Fiume we did not take much notice of them, considering them green. They also stayed mostly away from us "old guys." But now on the high seas it was different. While being dependent on each other drew us closer together, they also demonstrated sea worthiness. That was good because we did not have to worry about having to do extra duty for others every time the waves got a little rough.

The mood was good and the new gramophone was used frequently. Sometimes we spotted but with those we did not want to get involved and so would rather go below before they noticed us. Then a steamer came along without any cover. He did not show any colors. "This is a chance to try out the new cannon." says the Commander as he climbs up into the tower. He was quite impressive. 5000 metric tons we estimate. We set a course toward him and when we got within one km we put a shot across his bow. He turns and seems to stop his engines. But suddenly, a flash from over there! Not so dumb of him, showing us the bow and firing with two cannons at us. Quickly we dive. Now we have to see that we catch him from the side. He too knows what is waiting for him and tries to get away. But we are faster. With full power and diving to ten meters we are soon in position and within range. Our larboard torpedo turns out his lights. But now it is high time to disappear. Three submarine hunters are after us at high speed and intend plenty of bombs for us.