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

city that I have visited. My home as a boy was in Oststeinbek, so I was in the city several times a month”.

“I have heard that there is not much left of Hamburg”, Baumhauer replied.

“Much of it was bombed and burned out as I understand”, said Dresner.

“The last I heard Berlin is being hit night and day by the British and Americans”.

“Do you have family there?”

“Yes sir, my wife and two children. Naturally, I worry hoping that they are safe. And you Captain, are you married?”

“Yes I am Chief, yes I am. Like all of us I miss her and worry about her”.

“There must be a lot of pressure on you sir first, worrying about the boat and crew then being concerned about the well being of loved ones at home”, said the Chief.

“No more than anyone else aboard Conrad”, Dresner responded.

“Excuse me Captain, but we have a message from U-Boat Command”, came a voice from the control room.

“What is it?”, asked Dresner.

“They request our position, actions, weather reports, and fuel, ration reserves and performance of the zaunkonig”.

“Very well. Do not transmit until further orders. I repeat. Do not transmit. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir”.

At 0400 hours Elmar Sauer and two fresh lookouts entered the conning tower and took over the watch. “If all is quiet submerge at daybreak take her down to three hundred feet. Right now I'm heading for my bunk and sleep”, said Reinhardt.

“Very good sir”.

Reinhardt slept well into mid-morning. As he did he had sporadic dreams. First were conversations with his father, then with Hedda's father. Next, Captain Bergman and the U-D-5. He woke at 1015 hours rolled out of the bunk, put on his boots and walked into the galley.

“Guden Morgen Captain. I have kept your breakfast hot for you”, said the cook.

“Thank you”, Reinhardt replied as he released the folding mess table from the bulkhead and took a seat. The cook then brought him a bowl of buttermilk soup, hot biscuits with butter and honey and a mug of hot coffee.

After he ate Reinhardt went to the control room. Falkner was the watch commander. “Good morning sir. We are at three hundred feet as you ordered. All is quiet. No movement on the surface”, he reported.

“Very good. Take her to periscope depth”, said Reinhardt.

“Periscope depth sir”.

“Up scope”. Reinhardt peered into the scope moved it three hundred and sixty degrees and observed nothing but open water. Turning to the sonar man he said, “What is today’s date?”

“May twenty five sir, a Thursday”, the man answered.

“Good. The Mexican tankers in all probability are being loaded as we speak and their crews are enjoying shore leave. The ships should embark either tomorrow or Saturday. Keep listening for any sounds on the surface”. “Herr Falkner, have torpedo tubes one and two reloaded”, said Reinhardt.

“Yes sir”.

“Turning back to the radio operator he said, “You may give the crew a bit of music. Fifteen minute intervals, then silence as the hydrophone scans, understand?”

“Yes Captain”.

Turning back to Falkner he said, “I'll be in my quarters.”

“Yes sir”.

As the musical tones of polkas and dance music came out of the speakers, Reinhardt sat on his bunk studying the charts that would take the U-4714 from the Gulf of Mexico into the Caribbean then south around Cuba. He wanted to take this route that would lead him back into the Atlantic. This way he would avoid the airbase at Key West that after his attacks on shipping in the Gulf of Mexico would have the Americans on the alert.

Satisfied with his plan he called all three officers to his quarters. Falkner, Sauer and Baumhauer sat uncomfortably on the bunk while Dresner seated at the pull down desk revealed his idea to them. “This is the way to the Atlantic and home. Should anything happen to me or anyone of you I expect you to follow this order. I do not expect any problems with the Mexicans or Cubans, however, keep in mind that when we are off of Jamaica the Americans have troops based there. There is also aircraft based on Goat Island. Sail between Cuba and Jamaica, then past the Turk and Caicos islands and into the Atlantic. Keep a sharp lookout for enemy planes. Use the radar and pay attention to it. Are there any questions?”

“Yes sir. U-Boat command has contacted us twice with orders. Yet, you refuse to respond to them. I am certain that you are aware that after a certain time with no contact the Kreigsmarine will list us as overdue. They in return will notify our families. Could you tell us why you refuse to respond to U-Boat headquarters?”, asked Sauer.

“Certainly Elmar. First of all the Americans are now using RDF radio which could mean that they pick up our transmission signals, pin point our location and attack, probably by air. If they don't attack, they then alert every military installation from Florida to Cuba that a submarine is operating in the Gulf of Mexico. That then means many surface ships scouring the Gulf looking for us. Surfacing and sending information about what we are doing, what we have done and how the weather is I consider to be stupid. As far as I know we are the only boat in the area. If there is another, then they know what the weather is. When I am ready I will inform U-Boat Command all they want to know”.

“Yes sir. Thank you sir”, said Sauer.

A Petty Officer appeared at the entrance to the Captain's quarters. “Sir, sonar is reporting propeller sounds”, he said.

“Thank you. Gentlemen, to the control room. Let's see what we have,” said Reinhardt.

Once in the control room Dresner noticed that Falkner had descended the boat to three hundred feet. Reinhardt smiled, knowing that he had a fine executive officer in Falkner. A man who didn't have to be told what to do. One who moved instinctively. “Periscope depth”. He ordered.

“Coming up to periscope depth sir”, said Falkner.

“Up scope”.

“Direction?”

“Right off of the bow sir”, said the sonar operator.

Reinhardt scanned left, right and ahead. Then, he spotted what was causing the sound. “A Mexican patrol boat. It appears to be a converted fishing trawler, not even worth a shot with a torpedo. Down scope. Back to three hundred feet. We will surface at night again and let the Chief recharge the batteries.”

At midnight the U-4714 surfaced to a warm, still, night. Once in the conning tower Reinhardt glanced toward the Mexican shoreline where bright lights illuminated the sky. “It appears that the Mexicans are very sure of themselves not having lost a ship since 1942. Well, let's hope that after today the lights go out again”, he said to Sauer who had joined him.

“Sounds of ships weighing anchor sir”, came word from the control room.

“Very good. We'll wait and see how many come out and what their course will be”, said Dresner.

“If they are weighing anchor that means they are not at the docks”, Sauer stated.

“Evidently, they anchor in the harbor and are filled by a pipeline. Oh how I would like to go in their and blow it all to hell. Unfortunately, we don't know if there are shore batteries protecting the facility. We'll wait and follow', said Reinhardt.

At 0530 Friday May 26, 1944 Two loaded oil tankers slowly made their way out of Tampico, Mexico. In the half light Reinhardt peered through binoculars at the ships. “Do either one have radar Elmar?”, he asked.

“If they do they are not using it Captain”, Sauer answered.

“Very good. I estimate their speed at approximately seven knots.

Course, north by northeast. In all likelihood their taking their oil to the Texas refinery. Alright, clear the bridge, dive, dive, take her down to periscope depth. Set course north by northeast. Half full ahead. Let me know if you detect more than two ships on the surface”, Dresner said to the hydrophone operator.

“When do you expect to attack Captain?” asked Falkner.

“We will follow both vessels until I know I have plenty of water beneath us. From what I have observed those tankers top speed is fifteen knots and that's when they are empty. We on the other hand can go at seventeen knots submerged. When the time comes we will get ahead of both ships and then attack taking one at a time. Then in deep water we'll submerge to about five hundred feet, set a new course and head for the Atlantic”.

Reinhardt looked at his wristwatch. Approximately four hours had passed since the Mexican tankers got underway. During that time he had kept the U-4714 one mile ahead of the two ships always at periscope depth. Now, with the hydrophone operator telling him that both vessels behind him were approaching he ordered, “Up scope”.

As he watched the first ship coming directly at him he said. “Open torpedo tube doors”.

“Torpedo doors open sir”, said Falkner.

“All engines stop. Range eight hundred meters. Steady, steady, fire one, fire two. Down scope”.

“Torpedoes away Captain said Falkner again watching the stop watch. Then there came the sound of an explosion.

“Up scope”. Reinhardt waited for the periscope lens to clear then saw black smoke being emitted from the sinking tanker. The surface of the water was covered with crude oil. Men were trying to launch lifeboats some were putting on life jackets as the ship they were on began to list to one side. Dresner turned the periscope searching for the other oil tanker. When he found it he noticed that instead on turning and trying to get away it had come to a complete stop. It now floated on top of the water two points off of his port bow. “Come to port two degrees”, he ordered.

With the U-4714 in position he said, “New target. Range twelve hundred meters. Steady, fire three, fire four!”

“Torpedoes away sir and running smooth”, said Falkner.

“Dive ! Dive,take her down to five hundred feet”.

As the U-Boat descended two explosions were heard. Then came the sounds of the first tanker breaking up as it sank slowly to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.

“All torpedoes accounted for Captain”, said Falkner.

“Very good. Periscope depth”.

“Periscope depth sir”.

“Up scope”. Reinhardt looked and saw the second ship like the first listing, the crew abandoning ship, lifeboats being lowered into the black ooze of crude oil. “Down scope. Come about set the course West by southwest. Good work men. Herr Falkner, you have the boat”, said the Captain. As he was leaving the control room the radio operator said, “Captain, I intercepted their emergency calls. One ship is the Mexican ship, Ignacio, the other the Mexican ship Achension”.

“Very good I'll enter their names in the log book”.

Later, after a small lunch Reinhardt stepped into the control room. “Course?, he asked.

“Still West by southwest, Captain, said Sauer now the watch commander.

“Sound operator what are the conditions?”, asked Dresner.

“All quiet sir, just our own props”.

“Very well. Surface. Herr Sauer when we are finally up, go topside shoot the sun and get me a bearing. We should be about fifty miles from the two tankers by now. Keep in mind that the Mexicans have an excellent air force so watch the radar. They will be hunting for us. Hopefully since the tankers were heading northeast they will think we also are moving in that direction. At the same time when we approach British Honduras in the Yucatan Channel I have no idea what they have in the way of surface ships or air craft”.

“Still, we have the Hohentwiel Captain. It should warn us of any air craft in our area”.

“You used the word, should, Sauer. That means there is always a chance for failure, Let me give you some friendly advice should you one day get your own boat. Count on your own knowledge and ability rather than a piece of electronic equipment. You see, once I enter the Yucatan Straights we will submerge, use the snorkel. This boat has a range of over three hundred nautical miles submerged. I intend to take advantage of it.

So you see I won't need