U.XXX Out On Action…continued

None could get close enough. For a time we ran in a circle. After a while we rose to periscope depth to see what was going on. There was the steamer listing heavily to starboard. The crew was just being taken on by a submarine hunter. We attacked again but the torpedo passed underneath. He came around promptly with his bombs. We went down to 50 meters and got out of there. After a while we could hear the charges explode. When it had quieted down we surfaced and went on our way.

Two days later we sighted land. We kept cruising to north-west so we only gradually approached the Sicilian coast. The outline of the land got clearer and after a few hours we could make out Monte Etna, the highest mountain of Sicily. At its foot lies the beautiful Catania. It must have been a big city. We changed course to north-east toward Cape Spartivento. Here it gets livelier again. Fast cruisers and destroyers, among them some English, on their way from Messina to the north. They are too far for us to reach so we would rather not be seen.

Lately we have had a little diversion and fun on the boat too. The weather has been nice and the Commander let the lookouts go up on deck and smoke a cigarette. Afterward we would play a game called "Hit-the-stick. Though it is a little rough there is a lot of laughter. Your bottom my burn a little but the important thing is to pump your lungs full with fresh air and get some exercise. The officers are watching us from the tower and join in the laughter. Then, the Second comes down to look a little closer. Lehar invites him to join the game. But when it is his turn to get hit he tries to scamper away. Two of the men hold him tight and explain the rules. "Alright," he says, "but not too hard." One gets ready to show his strength when from the tower the Commander suddenly calls, "Ready to dive!"

Everybody disappears into the boat except the one who wanted to hit. He looks around once more to see if it was really necessary to go down. "Too bad." he grumbles to himself. Heavy smoke is visible to the south. Three destroyers and a steamer. "Everyone to battle stations!" orders the Commander. The English boat and the Italian steamer coming closer but still a half-hour out of range. In the meantime one after another could go to the periscope and look at this view. One destroyer in front, one to port and the third aft of the steamer. This is how they slowly approach. About 10 miles away, maybe a little less. We estimate he has 12,000 metric tons. What could he have on board? But now is not the time to think about that.

The first orders are starting from the tower. The Commander dances around the periscope as if it were some kind of competition. And it keeps going up and down. Now we hear the destroyer go by to starboard and the familiar routine commences. "Torpedo Clear!" then "Torpedo ready!" A slight adjustment and "Torpedo Fire!" While we dive and turn we also count. A dull, thunder-like explosion. It was a hit but the first depth-charges are detonating already. They must be big ones. They're still far away but the whole boat is trembling. We go back up to 10 meters. The Commander calls the second over after he looks through the periscope. After that we may look too. The steamer is badly listing to port and sinking fast. Two destroyers are rescuing the ship-wrecked crew and the third one is after us. He zig-zags back and forth like crazy. He has enough bombs and keeps dropping them. We turn north-east again and are on our way.

The Third officer is writing in his diary and reports to the Commander that until now we have sent 24,000-25,000 metric tons to the bottom. While the officers are discussing the operation the gramophone is enhancing our good mood. After all, we are homeward bound. We did not have to go all the way back to Fiume but could return to the Bocce Cattaro. There we would see the old comrades again. We all looked forward to that.