September 17 1939U-46 is now NW to the Shetland Islands. Weather has changes slightly to the worse, now wind is 4m/s and there are some waves. Still good though and visibility is OK.
Late in the evening:
20.37: Ship sighted, dead ahead!!
It seems to be heading straight towards. No lights... This near to Britain its a valid target, and it doesnt have its lights on. Battle stations!!!
Stabsbootsmann Hugo Baltz and his team man the deck gun!
U-46 approaches at full speed of 15 knots. At a distance of about 2000 meters, the ship sights us and starts to zig-zag!
Deck gun opens fire! 3 first shots miss... The waves rock the submarine so aiming is pretty difficult. The
Kaleun orders U-46 to close in!
Another hit! Hitting above the waterline usually doesnt do much if theres nothing burning or explosive aboard... This is pretty much waste of ammo unless the engine room, defensive weapons or etc. are hit. It might take over a hundred 88mm hits to sink a ship if it doesnt catch fire well enough to burn it to the waterline, or if something aboard doesnt explode. Hitting just below the waterline is much more productive!
This close we can ID the ship: a Danish merchant. Sorry boys, but this close to Britain you're a valid target! Where we you coming from any way?
For some reason the pictures of her going down miss... Maybe someone ordered them to be burned later? (TBH no idea what happened, I'm 100% sure I pressed the correct button in Fraps... There were pretty pictures of men in lifeboats and the ship going down stern first with big explosions(ammo on board?) and bodies floating in the water. The ship left just lifeboats, bodies, some wreckage and diesel oil floating:
28 88mm cannon shells were used. The BdU is informed:
BdU replies:
Thats a long way to paddle/row for the survivors... But at least not hopeless!
M14X, right? Thats what the crew ID'd it... Tonnage doesnt match exactly, but there was some cargo aboard, plus there are no ships matching that exact tonnage. Fog of war...
September 18: Sunrise in the North Sea