Two Worlds Collide by Shirley Patrick;

Author:Shirley, Patrick;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
Published: 2022-05-24T00:00:00+00:00

April to November 1944

From April to November 1944, U-boat U-425 conducted a further five campaigns in the operational area of the Arctic Ocean. In terms of the weather, this time of year was more pleasant. We experienced bright sunshine, few storms, and the sea was often as smooth as glass. Most importantly, from June to August, we did not have to endure the deathly cold.

The ‘Dachs’ or ‘Panther’ task forces, to which we were assigned in turn, regularly had to attack convoys or to patrol this area of the sea.

At this time of the year, fewer convoys travelled to and fro than in the darker days of winter. Once, the look-out spotted a convoy. I was also on the bridge at the time and could make out, through the binoculars, the clouds of smoke produced by the many ships.

The commander turned off the radio transmitter with the direction finder. In the next few minutes, the convoy came up against a hitch and switched its course. At the same time, we saw that a ship from this convoy was heading at full speed in our direction. It kept flashing its light so that we could not identify it. Our commander gave the order to turn around, whereupon our pursuer, which we assumed to be a so-called ‘U-boat trap’, gave up its attempt to draw nearer.

These U-boat traps were usually fast, heavily armed ships equipped with numerous depth charges and various locating and sounding equipment, which travelled as part of the convoy. To engage in combat with one of those would have been asking for trouble! But by deviating from our course, we were also moving away from the convoy.

In comparing notes with other crews, we learned that the commanders of the British convoys had considerable tactical and sea-faring experience. Maybe we had unknowingly helped the enemy. They had listened in to our last radio announcement to U-boat Command in which we said that other German U-boats were expected. We were once again at a disadvantage. We later learned from radio contact that this convoy had voyaged directly along the Norwegian coast, north of Lofoten, in the direction of North Cape as there were no German U-boats in this area.

On another occasion, we struggled under water with an enemy submarine. Both commanders were definitely aware of the complexity of the task in hand. Again and again, our radio operators had located the enemy. Scanning/probing on both sides had gone on for two hours already and neither had obtained a suitable firing position. The contact was suddenly broken, never to be re-established.

After checking that all was well, the commander issued the order to come up.

In doing so, the commander was quicker in opening the hatch than in checking the pressure balance with the control room.

As a result of the pressure, the hatch was thrown open. The commander’s white cap was blown out to sea and the hatch slammed shut again, injuring his scalp. Luckily for all, the incident ended happily and the first aider brought him a fashionable white ‘turban’ to wear.

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