U-4714 - Robert F. Clifton (reading list .TXT) 📗

there he climbed again up and into the conning tower. “Ah the smell of saltwater carried on the air. It's nice to know that there are other odors then diesel oil, body odor and human shit', he said.

Reinhardt laughed. “I remember that after my first cruise I had a difficult time eating food that did not have the taste of diesel oil. The same was with a cup of coffee”.

“Speaking of coffee, cook has just made a pot for the crews mess”.

“I'll wait until later”.

“Do you really think that the hunting will be good here?”, asked Falkner.

“Actually yes. Right now the Americans are being victorious against the Wehrmacht. As a result most of their thinking is on Europe. They will let their guard down and as a result send the oil tankers alone or one or two at a time escorted by old, Coat Guard Cutters”.

On the night of May 10, 1944 the U-4714 floated on a rather calm sea. Dresner stood next to Falkner who had the duty watch. Lookouts were stationed port and starboard sides of the conning tower and armed with the Zeiss binoculars constantly scanned the dark horizon. Far in the distance the lights of Pensacola Beach could be seen with the naked eye.

“You will notice Herr Falkner that what I told you earlier is a fact. The Americans sensing victory in Europe have little or no concern about U-Boat attacks in the Gulf. They are more interested in making money selling schnapps to soldiers and sailors then they are in protecting their shipping. They leave the lights on there along the shoreline “.

“Attention bridge”, came a voice from the control room.

“Bridge”, said Falkner.

“Sir, the hydrophone operator has detected propeller sounds”.

“Bearing?”

“Three points off of the starboard bow”.

Both, Dresner and Falkner turned to starboard and peered into the night searching for what might be a ship. Falkner was able to see it and said, “There sir, a small tanker. You can make out the ships silhouette in front of the shore lights”.

“Ah yes. How convenient . Action stations. I have the boat. We will attack. Dive, take her under”. said Dresner”

Once submerged Dresner asked, “Position of the enemy ship?”

“Still just off of our starboard bow”, said the hydrophone operator.

“Half ahead”, said Dresner.

“Half ahead”, repeated the helmsman.

Soon, the turning shaft and propeller sounds of a ship on the surface could be heard over the hum of the electric motors of the U-Boat. “Distance to target?”, asked Dresner.

“Eight hundred yards Captain”, answered the hydrophone operator.

“ Periscope depth, ordered the Captain.

When the boat reached periscope depth Reinhardt said, “Up scope”.

Looking into the periscope Reinhardt saw the tanker riding low in the water. “Ah, she must be coming from the Texas fuel docks, probably loaded with either bunker or crude oil. A fat target gentlemen. Come to five points off of the starboard bow”, he said.

“ Are there any other sounds except for the target?”, asked Falkner.

“No sir”.

“Up scope”, ordered Dresner.

Once again Reinhardt focused the scope and then saw the slow moving tanker directly in front of him. “ Open torpedo tube doors”, he ordered.

“Doors open sir”, said Falkner

“Steady as she goes, Steady, steady, fire one”, said the Captain.

“Torpedo away and running”.

“Dive, dive take her down. Silence in the boat”, Dresner commanded.

Falkner stood watching the hand of the stop watch as it moved going tic, tic, tic, and then a dull sounding explosion could be heard.

“Periscope depth”, said Dresner.

Once the boat reached the desired depth and the periscope was raised Dresner looked trough the lens and said, “A direct hit. The tanker is burning and listing to its port side. Men are in the water. On deck they are trying to launch lifeboats. Take her down to three hundred feet. Full ahead. Return to the wreck of the Empire Mica”.

As the U-4714 made its way submerged the hydrophone operator later picked up the sounds of surface ships and boats. Yet, none seemed to be searching for a submarine. “Thankfully, what we are hearing are the sounds of rescue vessels coming to the aid of members of the crew that are in the water. But stay alert. Let me know if you hear the sounds of their sonar”, said Dresner.

One hour later the sound man reported, “Enemy sonar sir”.

“ Location?” asked Dresner.

“Eight hundred meters north, but going away sir”.

“Just as I thought. They know the location of the Empire Mica and don't want to get false signals, so they are ignoring this area”.

“Brilliant Kapitan”, said Sauer.

“Not really, Captain Bergman was brilliant. I just did what he taught me. Maintain silence. Let me know if their ships are coming our way”.

“Yes sir”.

Two hours later the hydrophone operator reported. “All quiet on the surface Captain”.

“Bring her up to periscope depth”.

“Periscope depth sir”, said Falkner.

“Up scope”. With the periscope lens above the water Dresner scanned the horizon turning the instrument three hundred and sixty degrees. “All clear gentlemen. Tell the cook to turn on his ovens and feed the crew. Raise the snorkel and charge the batteries. Herr Falkner you have the boat”.

“Yes sir. Thank you sir”.

Later, with the boat still submerged Dresner sat at the folding mess table eating his breakfast. He took small sips of coffee from the cup and as he did he concentrated on the nautical chart before him. What he studied was the location of Port Arthur Texas. There on the Sabine River were the oil refineries. There they turned the crude oil into aviation gasoline. There the tankers left the Gulf of Mexico traveled up the Sabine River, docked and were loaded with the petroleum. Once loaded, they had to come out into the Gulf of Mexico again. He finished his breakfast, got up and handed his plate and cup to the cook. “A good breakfast Hans”, he said.

“Thank you Captain. Could you tell me when we might surface?”, asked the cook.

“Why?”

“The garbage is piling up. I would like to go on deck and dispose of it with your permission”.

“I'll let you know Hans. Make sure that it is weighted down when you drop it over the side”.

“Yes Sir”.

Entering the control room he went to the chart table. He found the location of the Sabine River and where it flowed into the Gulf. Turning to the sonar operator he asked, “What is the situation?”

“All quiet Captain”

“Mister Sauer. I have the boat”.

“Yes sir Captain”.

“Periscope depth”

“Periscope depth sir”.

“Up scope”

Looking through the periscope Dresner searched the horizon, seeing rather calm water, several sea gulls bobbed on the small swells. “Surface”, he ordered and the U-4714 began to rise among a stream, of million of bubbles as water was blown out of it ballast tanks. Mister Sauer you have the watch. Place your lookouts and make damn sure the radar is working. I don't want any unexpected aircraft catching us on the surface”, Dresner continued.

As he looked over the charts and plotted his course one of the radio operators said, “Begging the Captains pardon, but we have received a message from U-Boat Command wishing to know our location, actions and weather conditions”.

“No reply at this time”, said Reinhardt.

“Yes sir. I also have some news sir”.

“Very well, what news?

“The tanker we sunk was called the McCormick Dancer. The Americans are calling it a crude tanker”.

“Excellent. I couldn't make out its size in the dark of night. Crude tankers are much larger then coastal tankers. Thank you”.

“ You're welcome sir”.

Turning to the helmsman Reinhardt ordered, “New course heading west by southwest, full ahead”.

The U-4714 lay submerged at periscope depth one mile off of the entrance of the Sabine River. Reinhardts plan was to wait until a loaded tanker left the Port Arthur docks, follow it and attack when it was several miles away from port. Then, depending on how many navy surface ships were searching for him return to the same area and strike again in the same manner. However, at the moment there was no activity going into or coming out of the river entrance.

At 1800 hours and on a high tide the hydrophone operator reported the sounds of twin screw propellers. Reinhardt raised the periscope and saw a loaded tanker leaving the river. “Sauer, don't you read and speak English?”, Dresner asked.

“Yes sir”.

“Take a look and tell me the name of the ship that's painted on the bow and whether or not she is equipped with radar”

Sauer stepped up to the periscope, lowered it so he could see comfortably, he being shorter then Reinhardt. He gazed a moment and said, “It's the Prince Wellington and no signs of radar”, he said.

“Very good”. Reinhardt looked again at the tanker and mentally figured the course of the loaded ship along with its speed. “Come about. Set new course, East by northeast. We'll surface at dark, get ahead of the Prince Wellington and attack. This time gentlemen we'll attack on the surface. I'll take a chance on the new torpedoes. Let's just hope we have none that circle back and kill us”.

“Torpedo tubes two, three and four are loaded Captain”, said Falkner”.

“Excellent, full ahead”, said Dresner.

At 2045 hours the U-4714 broke the surface and when it did Reinhardt climbed up and into the conning tower. Falkner stood ready in the control room waiting for orders. Dresner looked into the night trying to locate the Prince Wellington in the dark. He knew that he was ahead of the slow moving tanker, still he could not see him visually. Calling down below he said, “ If we are still receiving prop noise from the tanker get me a bearing”.

“Bearing north three twenty degrees sir”, said Falkner after receiving the information from the hydrophone operator.

Turning Dresner looked again into the night then he made out the blurry form of the tanker moving slow through the Gulf waters. As it came closer it materialized. Dresner now saw a large ship approaching just off of his port bow. “Action stations”, he ordered.

“Action stations”, repeated Falkner.

“Open torpedo tube doors two and three”, said Dresner.

“Torpedo tube doors two and three open sir”.

“Full ahead”.

“Full a head sir”.

The U-4714 closed the distance between it and the tanker. Then at five hundred meters away from the target Dresner said, “Fire two”.

“Torpedo away and running smooth Captain', said Falkner”.

Dresner did not answer. Instead he watched as the night sky turned into a red, orange and yellow color from the explosion of high octane aviation gasoline. As he watched he doubted if there were any survivors.

“Come about. New heading west, 220 degrees southwest. All hands stay at action stations. Mister Sauer be alert for enemy sonar and radar”, said the Captain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eight

Mexico And Cuba

 

At 0227 hours on May 24, 1944 the U-4714 surfaced thirty two nautical miles off of the coast of Tampico, Mexico. Dresner stood in the conning tower and two seaman, one on each side of of the tower served as lookouts. Reinhardt scanned the dark horizon,but saw nothing but empty blackness. Then he heard a voice. “Permission to come topside sir”, said Conrad Baumhauer, Chief Engineer Officer.

“Certainly Conrad. Come get some air. Breath something except diesel oil fumes”, Dresner answered.

“Ah, it's a beautiful morning, even though it is dark. A million stars in the sky. A calm sea. Here I brought you a cup of coffee”, said Baumhauer.

“Danka schoen”, said Reinhardt as he took the mug from the man.

After taking a sip he asked, “Are your batteries charged?”

“Yes sir, but since we are surfaced I'll continue charging. Below the interior lights are on for the crew. Radar and sonar are operating as well as the radio all of which put a drain on the electric system”.

“How do you like the boat sir?”, asked Baumhauer.

“Ah, she's a u-boat commanders dream. Who would have ever thought that a submarine would be built that travels faster submerged then it does on the surface, but it does. Nonetheless Conrad let's hope that we don't have to use that speed in escaping from a surface attack.”

“Yes sir”.

“Where is home Chief?”, asked Dresner

“Berlin sir”.

“Ah a large city man. Funny, I've never been there. Hamburg is the largest