THE SHOWBOAT engages THE IRON CHANCELLOR Part 15
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 7:05 pm
THE SHOWBOAT engages THE IRON CHANCELLOR Part 15
4 JUNE 1941 0830 The signal was hauled down executing today's live fire gunnery practice. USS North Carolina BB-55 responded imediately although both signal men were on the same ship. Aboard BB-55 the XO commander Stryker, the Gun & Ops Bosses along with the 1st LT, BMC with 3rd division, GM2c Borgnino USN (AKA Ernie Borgnine) with his gang had rigged two of the target sleds and passed them, to USS Kearny DD-432, Gleaves-class that would be doing the towing today.
The TC was manned and ready LT. Tolley and CRM O'Shea had made sure the radar and comms were all functioning. The Gun Boss and his GMCFC had peaked the firecontrol, main and secondary battery for today's shoot. The Mud Maroons" in 5"38 mount 52 were anxious to prove they were the best DP mount on the ship.
4 JUNE 1941 1030 The daylight shoot went well as far as CRM O'Shea could tell; no one had hit the target towing Can. Lee was not as pleased as the CRM. It took his gunners too long to get on target. They were on the sled well within the peace time standards. However, minutes and maybe even seconds would count when they were up against Bismarck. "XO we will have another shoot at 1330. get the gun team in here at 1100. There are a few things I want to talk to them about."
Next he picked up the TBS handset "King" this is Nan Charlie. What is the status of my sled?"
CO Kearny " My carpenter's mate and his crew are rebuilding the target now. The float had some shell splinter holes but we have already patched them. She should be good for another run in about an hour Sir."
Lee " Good. We will commence our next firing run at 1400. You will have to get the sled back in action before 2300 for the night shoot. Make sure you hang radar reflectors on it."
CO Kearny "Interogative radio reflectors sir?"
Lee " I say again RADAR reflectors. Have one of your machinest mates rig up a couple of 18 inch sheet metal plates set at right angles and hang them from the top of the sled's superstructure. That wil give my fire control radar something to line up on besides King."
CO Kearny "Will do sir. Request permission to double the length of target's tow line?"
Lee "Permission granted. Out" CO Kearny was sure he heard the old bastard laughing as he signed off.
5 JUNE 1941 0330 Lee picked up the TBS "King this is Nan Charlie convey a well done to your crew from me. Ten firing runs and you were right where I wanted you on every run Commander. That took some real sailorman ship handling."
Co Keraney "Will do sir."
Lee "Keep this up and I will be calling on you for all my target towing, you'll like that right? Out" CO Kearney heard the same evil laugh again.
5 JUNE 1941 1900 Both of TG Cilax's type 1936A destroyers Z23 and Z25 had evaded Force H aerial scouts due to their high speed run and were now making a max fuel conserivng two boiler operations of 20 kts. They were all that was left of 8 Zerstörerflottile (8th Destroyer Flotilla), now Commanded by Z23's 29 year old Korvettenkapitän Wolfgang Becker. His crew nicknamed their fine new destroyer "Werwölfe“, after their much respected and sometimes feared but always scrupulously fair CO. His tactical brilliance and superb seamanship had saved them at that basket screw off Narvik against that “Gott verdammt Englander devil ship“ Renown and that counted for a lot. He and and about one third of them had been together since commissioning and had formed a bond of muttual respect. Truth to tell, Becker cared very much for his men and hated the fact his stern duty required risking their lives.
Those Sea Hurricanes and Fulmars had literally decimated his 350 man crew. He had buried 35 good men and he had another 45 wounded. That left "Werwölfe“, short handed but thanks to his rigorrous and thorogh training of his crew with casualties in mind he still had enough watch officers, CPOs and senior PO‘s to run his ship.
It was a miracle his Wasserbombes had not blown the stern of his ship off. The 300 LB high explosive filled Mülleimers (trash barrels) had been riddled with .303 fire. He had them dumped over side imediately after the attack. Now both his repaired launchers were reloaded with undamaged Wasserbombes. His excellent "Werwölfes“ S-Gerät active sonar and GHG passive sets along with their very skilled operators had survived intact. The GHG could ,under good conditions, detect enemy ships at ranges up to 50 miles and would to some extent compensate for their lack of radar.
His main and secondary DP battery along with his gun and fire control crews had sufferd crippling losses. All he had left were one, riddled but still functional mount Anton, of his 4 single 5.9 in guns, 2 of his five single 20 mm AA guns both on the port side, the port side of his two liberally punctured but still functional quad 21 in torpedo tubes without a single Ael to reload and 2 of his 4 × depth charge launchers; both on the port side. Z-23 had taken the brunt of the strafing runs on her starboard side. He was the lone survivor of those on starboard bridge wing during the strafing runs. All he had to show for it was a scalp and face pock marked with slight splinter wounds that bled as if he were seriously wounding when infact he was not incapacitated in any way. The Tommy lead had not done much to improve his looks but it did miss his eyes so he had little to complain about.
There was nothing he could do about the loss of his very valuable FuMB radar detection receiver. It often detected, gave a precise bearing and, depending on the skill of the operator, a rough but useable range estimate long before the enemy radar detected Z-23. It‘s antenna along with it‘s bridge mounted,reciever, his skilled operator Oberster Unteroffizier Karl Schuster, and his apprentice Johnny Voigt had been riddled with machine gun fire. He would have to rely on his sonar and GHG passive hyrophone array.
The black gang had been very very lucky and was still at close to full compliment. Although Z23 and Z25 had their topsides along with the men stationed their thoroughy devestate the engineeriong plant was undamaged. They had rigged emergency substitutes that were doing the job as well as could be expected. He also had been forced to transfer some of his engineers to absolutely essentail topside duties. One of which was to relieve the deck sailors so they could get some sleep. No one including the Deck Apes were happy with this temporary arrangement.
He had decided to make for the Spanish Coast as quickly as p[ossible. That would open the range from Force H and any patrols from southern England. He was absolutely determined to reach the French port Hendaye in southwestern France's Nouvelle-Aquitaine region without further loss to "Werwölfe“. He was quite sure Franco, while preaching to anyone who would listen Spain‘s absolute nuetrality ...would cooperate. Somehow the Armada and Ejército del Aire, or EdA (Spanish Air Force) would fail to notice his two ships as they sped along within Spanish territorial waters. Those waters were jealously guarded against allied intrusion by Spanish naval and air units (equipped with modern Greman aircraft).
Z-25 was in better shape. Her engineering plant was untouched but her topsides, especially just forward of the bridge had taken a heavy shell that blew Mount Anton over the side and severely damaged the hull. Her DC parties had flooded the forward 5.9 inch magazine (now pumped out and ammo after inspection resdistributed to her two after main battery mount‘s magazines) and put out the fires quickly. They had also been able to close up the hull, which had not been damaged below the waterline, with steel backers, a tar covered canvas and woven line pad and wooden patch. The Oberster Unteroffizier metal worker had a working party stripping non vital deck, and topside plate steel he intended to fashion into shell plating to reenforce the patch. Fortunately, her damage did not impair her sea keeping enough to rule out her max 36 kts speed for short periods and a long run at as much as 25 kts.
Z-25‘s bridge watch had been wiped out completely and was now commanded by her senior LT. They had jury rigged all essential topside ship control stations.
Initially it looked like all three after 5.9s had been damaged beyond shipboard repair. However, the Oberster Unteroffizier Gunner‘s mate and two of his senior gunnery petty officers after 32 hours of effort, were able to repair Bruno, and Cäsar. There was nothing to be done with the main firecontrol director which was nothing but a burnt out mass of metal above what was left of the heavily damaged bridge. The Secondary Director was also now operational, sort of. The exhausted gunners were still trying to restore auto director fire to Bruno and Cäsar. For now, the director could provide accurate elevation and azimouth figures to the mounts but they had to transmitted by voice and manually set by the gun crews.
One of the 37 mm AA mounts was now operational, as well as three of the 20 mm guns. Like Z-23 her tposides had been turned intio a colander and all antenna‘s and other topside sensors were useless. Nither had long range communications yet but restoring them was high on the priority list. For now blinker light and hand held signal flags would do. Both her Torpedo mounts were operational but she did not have torpedoes for them. Her depth charge projectors were functional. Her sonars and opetrators were undamaged.
Z-25 had lost her Cpatin, XO, navigator and gunnery officer. She had 52 killed and 97 wounded, although 25 of those had been patched up enough to do light duty. Her galley, like Z-23 was functional and putting out hot meals. Both destroyers were issuing the normal beer ration along with schnapps as a bonus to those men doing a really outstanding job, which did a lot for the morale of the sailors. They needed it after the mass burials.
5 JUNE 0315 TG Cilax, now only Gneisenau, was hunting WS-12 again. The Battle Cruiser's crew had done a magnificent job of repairing her Fire control directors. The designers of Gneisenau class battle Cruisers built a lot of redundancy into her key systems. Main and secondary batteries were controlled from the Directors, which were located forward (which was destroyed), astern, and above the foretop platform (which had splinter damage which proved repairable.
Each of these three Directors mounted a rotating dome with a stereoscopic rangefinder manufactured by Zeiss, and a FuMO 23 radar. The Directors were connected by armored communication shafts (which withstood all but the direct 15 inch shell hit forward) to the battery plots (Rechenstellen) under the armor deck forward and aft. The foretop command post, under the command of the Gunnery officer (I.A.O.), was above the foremast, at about 90 feeet above sea level. It was equipped with a 32 ft. base rangefinder (Basisgerät BG) with a maximum 50 times magnification, and had a visual field of 360º. The forward battery plot was incorporated in the base of to the forward conning tower whose armor protected it but it's and had a 21 ft base rangefinder was destroyed. The after Battery Plot had a 32 ft base rangefinder of similar characteristics as the one in the foretop.
Each of the three main battery turrets ("Anton", "Bruno",and "Cäsar" ) was also equipped with a 32 ft. base rangefinders. In case all three Directors were put out of action in battle, the turrets could track and fire locally. However, the chances of scoring a hit with each battery firing on its own were obviously less than under a centralized command. The central turrets of the secondary battery also had their own 19 ft. base rangefinder.
The anti-aircraft fire was directed from four Directors of the type SL-8, each equipped with a 12 ft. Rangefinder. Two of these Directors, covered by spherical cupolas (Wackeltopf), were on either side of the foremast, and the other two uncovered directors amidships aft.
Additionally, there were also two 12 ft night rangefinders on both sides of the Admiral's bridge. In short, Renown's main battery hits did a lot of damage but Gneisenau's superbly trained crew and exceptional redundancy paid great dividends as she closed with WS-12.
Vizeadmiral Cilax also made excellent use of his Flag ship's hydrophones. This passive underwater listening system allowed Him to track WS-12 at a very long range without the Royal navy escorts knowing he was approaching. The Germans called these installations Gruppenhorchgerät (GHG), and consisted of two panels of 60 microphones, one on each side of the ship's hull. The maximum effective range was over 20 miles depending on conditions such as water conductivity and background noise. The deep cold waters of the North Atlantic under favourable conditions, bearings with an accuracy of 1 degree could be expected at speeds of 30 knots from a distance of 20 miles. He was able to close WS-12 in EMCON B, no radar, radio or active sonar transmisions were allowed during the approach.
This approach was only made possible by the intense rain, high winds and low lying cloud base that made aerial recon both suicidal, (the loss of three aircraft and crews proved that), and ineffective. Somerville was counting on his radars but the same storm conditions and the pounding had taken during the last engagement with TG Cilax, including the blast from his own guns, rendered them far less effective than he would have liked.
Transferring all 660 lb 11 inch shells from wrecked Anton and Bruno magazines to the after battery magazines of Cäsar was a back breaking job. Those 11 inch rounds had to be moved by hand truck and that had caused more than a few hernias, smashed feet and severed fingers.
These 11 inch main battery rounds used a "fore charge" weighing 91.5 lbs in a silk bag and a "main charge" weighing only 170.2 lbs. was in a brass cartridge . The cartridge helped to seal the gun breech. Fore and Main charges were rammed together. Moving the propelleant was much easier on the crew.
Waiting for TG Cilax was HMS Renown and the close escort of WS-12 now under Somerville's tactical command.
HMS Devonshire pennant # 39, County-class CA 3 stacks London sub-class with 4 twin 8-inch Mk VIII, 4 ×single QF 4-inch Mk V AA , and 4 single 40 mm AAGuns. She also mounted 2 quad 21 inch torp tubes and had an Armor Belt: 1 in, Decks: 1.5 in, Barbettes,Turrets, Bulkheads 1 in and Magazines 2–4.4 in. She was Type 281 Air-warning and Type 272 Surface Warning radars and aerial scout.
HMS Argus "Hat Box" CV pennant # I49 Commissioned 16 Sept 1918 partially modernised 1938, Speed 20 kts. Armament 4 4 in AA 2 surface only 4-inch Radar Type 281 Air-warning Type 272 Surface Warning Aircraft 15–18 now 3 Sea Hurricanes and 5 Fulmars.
HMS Cairo CLAA pennant # D87 Commissioned 23 1919, Converted to Anti-Aircraft cruiser at Chatham dockyard in 1938. Speed 29 kts, Type 280 Air-warning / AA control and Type 272 Surface Warning radars. Armament 10 single mount 4 inch high angle (HA) guns and two eight-barreled 2-pounder "pom-pom" mounts. Armor 3 in side (amidships), 2+1⁄4–1+1⁄2in side (bows), 2in side (stern), 1in upper decks (amidships) and 1in deck over rudder
HMS CATHAY Pennant # F 05 Armed Merchant Cruiser AMC, formerly passenger ship London15,225 BRT Armament: 8 6inch and 2 3 in AA guns. Speed17 kts Radar Type 272 Surface Warning
HMS Agamemnon Pennant # M10 type Auxiliary Minelayer AML, formerly MV Agamemnon cargo liner requisitioned by the Royal Navy in early 1940. Speed 16 kts Armament 3 QF 4 in MkV, 2 QF 2-pounder, 4 Oerlikon 20 mm 4 × 0.5 in Mgs and 542 mines (she was only carrying 210 now).
HMS SIKH Pennant # F82 and HMS Blackney Tribal-class DD, commissioned 1938. Speed 36 kts Sensors ASDIC Type 124 Retractable head with a range recorder, Type 272 Surface Warning Radar. Armament 4 twin 4.7 in, 1 quad 40 mm AA, 2 quad 0.5 in AA MGS, 1 quad 21 in torpedo tube, only 20 depth charges, 1 rack, 2 throwers
HMS Witch Pennant # D89, HMS Whitehall D94and HMS Radsworth Modified W-class DD Commissioned 1924 Speed 34 kt Armament 4 BL 4.7 in Mk.I, 2 QF Mk.II "pom-pom" 40 mm AA, 6 21-inch Torpedo Tubes, 20 depth charges, 1 rack, 2 throwers. Sensors Type Type 127 ASDIC, Type 286M Air Warning & Type 271 Surface search radars fitted 1940.
HMS Bradford, HMS Stanley, HMS Brighton, HMS Lancaster and HMS Newark Town class former USN DD Commissioned 1919/21 Speed 35kts. Armament 3 4in/ 50, 2 3in AA gun Six 21in torpedoes in two triple mountings,Two depth charge tracks, One Y-Gun depth charge projector. Type 141 ASDIC, No dome, American QCJ/QCL, modified with British range and bearing recorders, Type 272 Surface Warning radar and high frequency direction finding (HF/DF or "Huff Duff").
HMCS Assiniboine River class DD Commissioned1939. Speed 35 knots Armament 4 single 4.7 in, 2 single 40 mm, 1 QF three-inch AA,1 quad 21 in torpedo tubes, 2 DC racks and 6 throwers for a pattern of 10 depth charges, with stowage increased to 70 charges. SENSORS ASDIC Type 124 Retractable HEAD with a range recorder , Type 79 Air Warning and Type 272 Surface Warning Radars amd upgrades high frequency direction finding (HF/DF or "Huff Duff").
HMCS Saguenay A class DD Commissioned 1931 Speed 35 knots Armament 4 single surface only 4.7 in, 2 single 2 40 mm AA, 2 quad 21 in torpedo tubes 1 DC rail 33 charges.
Vizeadmiral Cilax thought "I just have to get by that old relic Renown. One solid 3 gun salvo of 11 inch hits fron Casar may not sink her but it should take her out of the figjht long enough for his needs. He still thought his odds good to sink or damage close escorts with Casar, his 10 remaining 5.9s and 8 operational 4.1 inch guns .
5 JUNE 0435 Gneisenau,was now doing 24 kts and she still had, according to her Chief engineer a couple more up his sleeve if need. She was hunting for WS-12 and haopping Renown had suffered more than minor damage because Vizeadmiral Cilax was determined to take her on with his one remaining 11 inch turret if she stood in his way.
Kapitän zur See Harald Netzbandt C.O. of Gneisenau informed the Vizeadmiral his hydrophones had picked up a large, 4 propeller ship bearing 220 true. The Ober-maat (CPO) confirmed the operator had a definite contact and it was a large ship with four shafts at a speed of 12 kts. We hold nothing on the FuMO
(Fuunk-Mess-ORadar Seetakt 23). Our senior Communications Stabsfeldwebel (Chief Warrant Officer ) is working on the FuMO 23 now. In can have it operating in 15 minutes if you wish sir"
Vizeadmiral Cilax that sound contact sounds like Renown to me and it appears she is damaged from that 12 kt speed. If she were hunting us she would be going fatsre than that. Captain sound action stations. It is my intension to close with that contact , maneuver to unmask Casar and take it under rapid fire as soon as we have a firing solution by Radar, sound or night optics. I intend to continue to close the reange until our are 5.9s are scoring hits also. We must hit Renown first and continue until she is no longer a threat to our primary commerce raing mission; the total destruction of WS-12.
5 JUNE 0450 Acting captain of HMS Sheffield Sir Edmund Blackadder was in the main transmitting station (main battery plot ) observing the large contact held on the surface search radar. The large contact was 19 miles away and coming on fast. His guns maximum effective range was 12 miles but if that was Gniesnau Shiny was in range now. The Gun Buster LCDR Baldrick was with him as he watched his fire control team work the firing solution for her main battery turrets. The dmaged X turret was now operational with a replacement gun crew and wood patches over her the largest of her shell holes keeping the weather out. How long that turret would stay in action once her twin six inchers started pounding away was anyone's guess.
Gun Buster Baldrick's twelve BL 6 inch Mk XXIII rifles could hurle 112 pound HE shells at 2,760 feet per second at 8 rounds per minute per barrel or 96 rounds a minute per salvo. That was alot of for any ship to obsorb even a Battle cruiser. His plan was to keep all turrets firing at maximum rate until the Nazi's ran or Shiny was sunk. How long the gun crews could keep that up in battle was anyone's guess with "gallons" of adrenalin pumping he would bet it would be long enough. However, the gunnery regulations stated rapid fire should only be maintained for 10 minutes without a break to cool the barrels liners, preferably with fire hoses. If no break was possible then a sustained fire of 5 rounds per minute was neccessary to keep from damaging the guns and killing the crews with a breach explosion. He would keep them at rapid fire as long as it took. If they survived, success has many friends, if they lost he would not be around anyway.
5 JUNE 0530 Vizeadmiral Cilax and Kapitän zur See Harald Netzbandt C.O. of Gneisenau still out of sight even by the fire control director optics. If this was not Renown they were well within range of Renown's 15 inch rifles. The radar was still down. The first salvo from Sheffield fell short. 12 water spouts, convinced him this was a cruiser not a Battle Cruiser. The second salvo was over and the third peppered Gneisenau's upper decks wrecking two 5.9s.
In Sheffield's main transmitting station Gun Buster LCDR Baldrick ordered rapid fire and the turrets. Kapitän zur See Harald Netzbandt ordered a course change that would unmask Casa's 11 inch rifles and laid them on the bearing of the shell splashes. Gneisenau's armor protected the most imporatant parts of his ship from what he now thought were 6 inch fire. He then ordered his engineers to give him every knot they had. Casa was hit by 4 rounds of the 4th salvo and another six shells hit and tore up the ship, causing much damage but nothing vital.
At 9 miles the range finder locked on the cruiser and the main battery turret fired it's first salvo which overshot their target. The fifth cruiser salvo peppered Casa with no effect. The second 11 inch salvo hit close aboard Sheffield, still over. The sixth crusier salvo hit Casa and the belt. Still not penetrating but one destroyed the optics of the director. His well trained gunners switch to the secondary fire control director and fired her 3rd salvo. This one was short, over corrected and was answered by the cruisers seventh salvo which hell close aboard. The entire ship shook and the hastily repaired engineering plant began to loose speed as the main steam feed line was shocked into multiple minor steam leaks. The cruiser's 8th salvo hit Casa with 4 rounds detonating on the face plate just as the 4th battle cruiser salvo left the barrels and disabled the starboard gun barrel. The cruiser fired salvo 9, 10 and eleven. Casa returned fire and the entire gun house spouted fire from every openeing. The entire turret crew was killed insatntly. Now all they had left were her remaining 5.9s and Kapitän zur See Harald Netzbandt ordered an emergency turn to bring the unengaged starboard 5.9s which were firing rapdly but the drastic turn had thrown off the aim. Sheffield fired salvoes 12, 13, and 14 at 15,000 yds that knocked out a quarter of the starboard side 5.9s.
Vizeadmiral Cilax ordered an immediate turn away at best possible speed now down to 20 knots that was rapidly opening the range. Sheffield's 12 knots could not match the Battle cruisers 20. Salvo 15 and 16 still scored hits but 17, 18 and 19 were ragged and 20 fell short.
Sheffield's B turret suffered a breach explosion at salvo 18 that wiped out most of the gun crew.
Fortuneatley Gun Buster Baldrick's inistance on strict adhereance to gunnery regs ensured the flashproof doors and scuttles did their job and the flash did not penetrate the magazines. Shiny had a lot of splinter damage, numerous small fires and her engineering plant was shaken badly but only minor leaks which still challenged her pumps were suffered. It was now up to Shiny's DC and fire parties to save the ship.
CPO Sharky and his mates had made this survival possible. It was thanks to his ability to reapir Sheffield's radars that saved them this day. Both Sir Edmund and the Gun Buster looked at each other and then both looked at CPO Sharkey and just smiled. That man would be rewarded by a warrant.
5 JUNE 0700 a signal was recieved from BdU with a recall order. The Fuher had gone into a just short of hysterical vile, filth filled, threatening rant when he heard of the decimation of Vizeadmiral Cilax's command. He was raving about the cowardly loss of the Admiral Graf Spee and now the Scharnhorst and the almost certain sinking of Gneisenau. He eventually calmed down enough to say "Call Cilax back now. You fools will waste my entire Battle fleet at this rate." When he was in this state noone in his right mind would argue with him. Better to let him tire, as he soon would, and drop into one of his still rare brooding stupors and with the aid of a sedative sleep for a few hours. Just maybe when he awakened he would be so spent that he would listen to reason, but not now.
5 JUNE 0745 Vizeadmiral Cilax, after reading the signal from BdU over twice ordered thKapitän zur See Harald Netzbandt to come to ring up best speed and make for the Spanish coast. He then said to all in hearing with a strange smile on his face, "Meine tapferen Schiffskameraden ( My brave shipmates) we are ordered home to a heroes welcome from our beloved Fuher."
Now, he sat in his cabin smoking a good cuban cigar and sipping at a snifter of very expensive Cognac. He had the flimsy of the recall order on his side table. It had been worded with a lot more tact than BdU was noted for. However, it could not hide the fact he was going home in disgrace to face a very hostile board of enquiry, if not outright court martial. Those Nazi bastards would see he paid a very high price for the loss of Scharnhorst, Hipper and the failure to sink WS-12. His Schiffskameraden at (shipmates) at BdU would be all too eager to distance themselves from him; no help there. When he finished the cigar, he tossed down a full snifter of the excellent cognac, straitened out his uniform, jacked the slide, placed the muzzle of his Walther P38 9 mm semi-automatic pistol in his mouth and pulled the trigger. The expected shot was heard by his aide in the next compartment
WS-12 might have been spared a visit by TG Cilax but BdU had long ago stationed another Ruder (wolf Pack) of his beloved U-boats in poistion to savage that convoy. These Grey wolves were lead by one of his most effective and ruthless Officers, one of his Alfa Wolves. They were to clean up the dispersed transport survivors after TG Cilax had taken out most of the escorts and as many of the troopers as possible with the limitted amount time available. TG Cilax had to clear this flaming datum very, very fast this close to the British isles. Now his ever hungry "nephews", his U-boat men called him "Onkel Karl" (Uncle Karl), would do the job themslves. In the end, WS-12 would be a pale wreck of what left the UK. Maybe, just maybe, one of his U-Boats woud sink "Des Teufel" (The Devil) Renown. Would not that be a welcome gift for the Fuher?"
5 JUNE 0800 RN HQ Bunker London. Vice Admiral Ramsay "I relieve you sir Alfred"
The First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, Sir Alfred Dudley Pickman Rogers Pound
"I stand relieved"
The First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff,Vice Admiral Ramsay " All standing orders will stay in effect until such time as I formerly rescind them.
We will all get to know each other soon but for now we have a great deal of work to do. DismissedAdmiral Sir Alfred Dudley Pickman Rogers Pound quietly and quickly quit the bunker.
"Last thing Bertie needs is for me to hang around", he thought as he returned the Royal Marine's salute at the street level, trademen's entrance.
6 JUNE 1030 Captain Ching Lee was in a very good mood. The night shoot had come off without a single screw up. North Carolina BB-55's night gunnery was as good as it had been after their last prolonged target practice and that said a lot. His Gun Boss and his cannon cockers were really on the top of their game. All the training and newly developped tracking and firing techniques he had introduced were paying off. Even the Sea Going Bell Hops in mount 52 managed not to disgrace themselves. GM2c had a lot to do with that. Ernie had, where senior Gms had failed corrected a number of intermittant problems that had plagued that 5"38 mount since before commissioning. That was why Mt 52 had been assigned to the Marines. Looks like Brute Krulock and his enforcer, 1st Sgt Carlo Morano, had no valid reason for terrorizing the marine gun crews this time. He was sure those two sadists would soon find some other fault with their men.
Lee would have advanced Ernie to GM1c before but the fight with Fireman 2nd Kevin Madrick, especially what he did to the MAA force put that idea on hold. Truth to tell the way Ernie had conducted himself after his Captain's mast "Award" did him great credit.
He had performed his duties with even greater dedication and skill than before his Mast. That convinced Lee Ernie was not only a very skilled GM but he had the maturity that Lee demanded of his senior PO's; an absolute neccessity for an enlisted leader. With 7 or 8 more years of Peace time service, or a hell of a lot less in wartime, he'd make a good Chief and maybe even a warrant Gunner. That is the point; he would advance Ermes Effron Borgnino to GM1c today. While he was at it there were a few more enlisted that deserved advancement; might as well bump them all up today. One of them was a real surprise. Fireman 2nd Kevin Madrick, one of BB-55's older wild men and real pain in his ass, seemed to be in one of his 4.0 Sailor periods. The man had real skill as an electrician and he also had very good leadership skills, when he felt like displaying them. His DIVO and and his division Chief both recommended him for advancement to EM3c. He'd been there before and had once even been a submarine qualified EM1c. He had shown himself to be a real asset to the ship. The last time that had lasted all of two months, granted mostly underway. A drunken liberty run to an off limits dive in which a hooker and her pimp tried to roll him ended that. It did not help that Madrick put both, the now naked and worse for ware, Hooker and her pimp in the hospital. The fact Madrick and two of his, badass, stewed to the gills, shipmates had wrecked the bar and tried to assault a couple of veteran police officers ( who put them down the drunks with a few swings of their sawed off axe handle clubs) did not make things any better. What the hell, if after he put the fear of God in them, Madrick's Divo and Chief still think they can control him he'd give him back his crow. If it were not against naval uniform regs he'd order Madrick to put on the crow with a zipper. Lee had a great respect for his young "Wild men" when things got really bad, they came through. Too bad they got bored so easily.
6 JUNE 1941 0500 the "nuetral" Venezuelan tanker PSS Cabello, transporting No.1 bunker oil, was picked up on both the Bismarck and Prince Eugen's FUMO radars coming from the south west at 22 miles range making directly for the rendezvous point. The rendezvous was selected because it was well away from normal allied air and surface patrols, off the normal merchant routes and no allied convoy or other naval activity was reported in this area.
He had two Arado's up since nautical sunrise, hours ago, making sure they had the sea to themselves this morning. Nothing found within 150 miles so far except the expected tanker which was flying the correct recognition signal for today.
He would have to rely on both ships Gruppenhorchgerät ('group listening device', abbreviated GHG) passive hyrophone arrays to warn of lurking allied U-boats. Those arrays had proved highly efficient,The Prince had picked up Hood with them before they had a solid track with the Fumo at over 35 miles.
The principle of hydrophones was simple enough. It consisted of two pairs of underwater microphones which listened to the sound of ships’ propeller noises. By measuring the amount of time it took for sound to arrive at each of the microphones, the device could triangulate the bearing of the target vessel. The radioman could also tell if it was a merchantman, warship or even submarine but not the range, direction or speed it was moving. Because sound travels much further underwater, hydrophones could pick up distant convoys travelling up to 60 miles, single ship at 40 and that included a surface U-boat. Best range for a submerged U-boat, given good eater conditions and own ship' speed of under 12 kts was about 10 miles, well outside torpedo range. For maximum effectiveness however, own ship had to come DIW (dead in the water), secure it's engines while the hydrophones listened in for a few minutes. That was not going to happen.
The two separate units of TG Brinkmann had made a long duration, high speed, deceptive runs to clear the areas of their recent attacks on allied shipping and needed topping off soon. SS Cabello was a 480 ft o/a, 61ft Beam, 7,625 GRT modern tanker loaded with 8,500 tons of bunker fuel and other marine patroleum proucts at 17 kts. She had left Port of La Guaira 12 days ago on a scheduled run to Cadiz Spain. As a nuetral she was not escorted and did not provide position reports to anyone but her parent company C.A. de Navegación Fluvial y Costanera de Venezuela, Puerto Cabello using a modified simple "book cipher". PSS Cabello's shipping company had adopted homophonic substitution cipher, a code in which the key is some aspect of a book or other piece of text. The trick is to replace individual letters rather than words known as the Second Beale cipher, which replaces the first letter of a word in the book with that word's position. However, if used often, this technique has the side effect of creating a larger ciphertext (typically 4 to 6 digits being required to encipher each letter or syllable) and increases the time and effort required to decode the message. So it lended itself to Posit and short status messages, not extensive texts. The "Key book" was changed at random intervals so each of the company's ships and shore establishments had a "Library" of a dozen identical books available. It is essential that both correspondents not only have the same book, but the same edition.
Cryptologist Elizabeth Smith Feldman of USCG Lcdr Jones’ Code and Sypher Branch “Unit 387” could break this simple code without the Key Book but the effort still required time better used for other assignments. PSS Cabello had a normal pre war mixed nationality crew of 50, although her officers were all "nominally" Venezualans. Unknown to the Master or his company the Grupo Regional de Venezuela del Partido Nazi had placed a chief engineer, 2nd mate and 12 of her crew sympathetic to the Nazy cause aboard Cabello. Unknown to the Nazi Sympathizers there were also 6 clandestine members of the Marinenachrichtendienst (Naval Intelligence Division AKA MAD) special operations group aboard. Five days out of Port of La Guaira, after carefully vetting the Nazi sympathizers, the leader of the MAD enlsited both the 2nd mate and Chief engineer and 6 crew help sieze the ship. The capture went very smoothly and no one was injured. The Master, 1st and 3rd mates, one of the junior engineering officers and 5 of the crew were confined. The rest went along with the men with the guns who, at that time, were winning the war.
The leader of the MAD team was Fregattenkapitan Friedrich Max von Muller, winner of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and first captain of the merchant raider Michel. He had two Oberleutnant zur See (Senior Lieutenants), two Engineering Ober-maat (CPOs) and one Communications Stabsfeldwebel (Chief Warrant Officer ). All members of his team were selected by von Muller, had served with him aboard Michel to his satisfaction and were very hard men when the situation called for it. They all had a good working knowledge of Spanish. He had personally rigorously trained his men and then had his men cross train their team mates. They were also thoroughly familiar with the capabilities, layout, machinery and other peculiarities of PSS Cabello. They had been "smuggled" into Venezuella a month before Cabello sailed without incident as Spanish seaman. Once ashore they were lost in the 4,000 Germans living in the country.
The new "Master" of PSS Cabello, wearing the former Master's work uniform, ordered a course change that would liesurely get them to their rendezvous point as directed. After going over the coding procedures, No Enigma, code names, watch schedule, EMCOM to be employed and ensuring his man was comfortable with the radio gear von Ruckteschell gave his order. His Communicator was to transmit one, short, two letter and three number coded signal informing BdU and TG Brinkmann Cabello had been taken without incident. The ship was on it's way to the rendezvous point. BdU had a radioman specifically assigned to the cabello frequency who immediately handed the coded signal to his watch Ober-maat (Chief). The signal was broken in five minutes and the reply was transmitted 10 minutes later. Cabello acknowledge receipt and then the Stabsfeldwebel (CWO) unplugged the speed key and locked it in the safe with the spare code keys). Until further orders from the Fregattenkapitan it would be a listening radio watch only.
7 JUNE 1941 0730 TG Brinkmann began refueling operations from PSS Cabello. Since the Venezualan commercial tanker was not equipped for alongside UNREP the astern hose system had to be used. This was not particularly efficient because the operation was limited to one ship at a time, and only one refueling point on the warship could be employed. Their fueling gear consisted of a ten-inch towing hawser, two six-inch breast lines along with the three-inch fuel hoses. To keep the fuel hoses clear of the sea, they were supported by a wooden carrier suspended from the oiler's cargo booms.
Sea conditions during the operation were pretty good, with a moderate cross swell that caused Cabello to roll from 6 to ten degrees, with only mild pitching. These fairly calm summer North Atlantic conditions allowed fuel transfer at the rate of Sixty Five tons per hour. More to the point, the towing hawser and fuel lines parted only once during the entire evolution. For a first effort this was very, very acceptable; causing the TG commander to send a well done to the Cabello.
The small 6 member Marinenachrichtendienst (Naval Intelligence Division AKA MAD) special operations group had been trained thoroughly on rigging the refueling gear from what they would find aboard PSS Cabello. They had, with the help of the deck force, completed the improvised rig days ago. They had also trained those members of Cabello's crew they could trust (as long as they could keep a close watch on them holstred pistol at their side) on the techniques required of the refueling tanker. Most of those procedures were nothing but variations on the deck seamanship any competent merchant sailor had already mastered.
Bismarck was first while the Prince stood at Action Stations and the Arado's maintained their search for uninvited guests. It took 10 hours to top fill Bismarck's massive tanks and then it was the Prince's turn which took another eight hours. Fregattenkapitan Friedrich Max von Muller, and his Oberleutnant zur See (Senior Lieutenants) shared the 18 hour OOD/conning watches. When not on watch, one of the Oberleutnant zur Sees supervised the refueling rig from the fan tail. The two Engineering Ober-maat (CPOs) relieved each other in the engine room, keeping a close watch on the black gang although the Engineering officer was a Nazi sympathiser. Communications Stabsfeldwebel (Chief Warrant Officer ) Kept the radio watch for signals from TG Brinkmann and any other close by radio traffic. The Grupo Regional de Venezuela del Partido Nazi 2nd mate and 4 seaman (each with a pistol but no spare ammunition) watched the other crewmembers. Muller would only trust them so far.
Vizeadmiral (Rear Admiral, upper half) Brinkmann, took advantage of the calm seas to transferred his flag and staff back to Bismarck. After Bismarck's refuelling he briefed Kapitäns zur See Lindemann of BdU's orders they attack the Oil Refineries on Trinidad Tobago. Both men knew Trinidad Tobago's oil refinery in Pointe a Pierre was the largest in the British Empire and a vital strategic asset of the allies. Much of Venezeulan crude was refined there. The file on Trinidad Tobago was quite extensive and included in the intel provided Lutgens before he sortied.
Brinkmann " Lindemann now it is up to us to decide exactly how we will carry out those orders. The obvious course is to close the island and bombard the rifineries with our main batteries. I would think it would not take much to set Pointe a Pierre ablaze. I also want the port facilities wrecked, although that will take a lot more ammunition and cost us time. So far we have had "Des Teufels eigenes Glück" (Devils own luck) and I expect to sink some tankers before we disapear again. I'd love to send ashore a couple of landing parties to direct our gunfire, assess damge on the refineries and port facilities and also find some other good targets. I want those refineries completely wrecked and require complete rebuilding before they process another drop of crude. That would take a year at least. That should push our Englander "friends" much closer to reason and the negotiation table. This could be the straw that knocks them out of the war. Maybe? Without Great Britain to deal we, our Army and Luftwaffe will be able to concentrate most of our strength in Russia alone. The Bolsheviks have taken losses that would cripple any other country. They have to be near breaking.
A few more such routes and Stalin will have to ask for terms. Even then he will probably be assasinated. I doubt there is anyone who will be willing to continue the war. If the assasins fail his party "friends" and he will be in their own civil war. No matter Hitler will get what he wants in the East. I doubt the Americans will prove to be decisive. They probably will act far too late if at all." The recently advanced Vizeadmiral had no idea FDR had come to a similar conclusion well ahead of him.
Rear Admiral Hewitt's TG-39 was out to sink his ship and ensure America came into the war BEFORE it was too late.
Bismarck's CO was a bit uneasy about this latest operation. He could not forget both Kapitäns zur See Karl Friedrich Max von Müller CO of Emdem and Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee commanding the German East Asia Squadron had been very successful as commerce raiders but both came to disater when they decided to expand their war to attacking shore targets.
Before dismissing him, the Vizeadmiral handed the CO of Bismarck a copy of the draft oporder his C of Staff had prepared. "Look this over and let me know what you think." Both men had work to do and until the UNREP was completed their stations were the Flag Plot and Bismarck's bridge. So it was not until that evening with Bismarck and The Prince on a course heading to Trinidad Tobago, did Lindemann get a chance to study the Draft Op order.
The WW II German naval Operations Order was very similar to the army version and consists of an orientation and five paragraphs. The five paragraphs are: Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration & Logistics, and Command & Signal.
1. SITUATION.
a. Area of Interest. British Crown Colony Island of Trinidad Tobago
b. Area of Operations. North Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea 150 nautical miles centered on Trinidad Tobago
(1) Terrain. Map included in the folder with all important locations marked
(2) Weather. To be updated during the approach for now forecast good
c. Enemy Forces. Trinidad Tobago Garrison and any allied units present
(1) Composition, Disposition, and Strength.
Coast Artillery Battalion Royal Marines Siege Regimeent
HQ Battery locate at Trinidad at Carenage Bay
Service battery Carenage Bay
Six sections, each with a searchlight and aircraft sound locator
colocated with Flak batteries
Coastal Defense Group
Three batteries, each with two BL 6-inch Mk VII Surface only guns.
See map for last known locations. Be advised these guns are moved sporadically.
Projectiles Surface AP, HE, Shrapnel 100 lb
Rate of fire 8 rounds per minute
Maximum effective range 25,000 yds at 20° elevation
Antiaircraft Group
Four FLAK batteries, each with 4 mobile QF 3 inch 20 cwt anti-aircraft guns mounted on towed, 4-wheeled sprung trailer FLAK platforms.
Each battery is equipped with Vickers No. 2 Predictor based on a US Sperry AAA Computer M3A3. The No 2 could track targets at 400 mph at heights of 25,000 ft. The No 2 Predictors received height data, generally from the Barr & Stroud UB 7 (9 feet base) instrument.
See map for last known locations. Be advised these guns are moved sporadically.
Projectiles 24 lb Fixed round 12.5 lb projectile weight
types: AP, AA , HE, Illumination
Rate of fire 16 – 18 rounds per minute
Maximum effective range 16,000 yds at 43° elevation 30,400ft AA ceiling
Two AAA machine gun companies, each with 12 Oerlikon guns
See map for last known locations. Be advised these guns are moved sporadically.
Projectiles High Explosive with tracer, H.E. without tracer and Incendiary
Ciclical rate of around 500 rpm from 60 rounds magazines
Maximum effective range 1,000yds
One Seaplane tender of the AVD class converted WW I destroyer
Anchor in Carenage Bay.
Supporting 4 to 6 PBY-3 Patrol Seaplanes
Maximum speed: 196 mph Cruise speed: 125 mph
Range 2,520 mi
Service ceiling: 15,800 ft
Guns: Three .30 cal Mgs (two in nose turret, one in ventral hatch at tail)
Two .50 cal HMG (one in each waist blister)
Bombs: 4,000 lb of bombs, depth charges or torpedoes
Radar some PBY's are fitted with ASV Mark II Surface Search Radar
Wavelength 170 cm Pulse Width 2.5 microsecond
Pulse Repetition Frequency 400 Hz Peak Power Out 7 kW
Range 20 miles for destroyer 30 miles Capital ships and merchants
60 miles for coastline
Minimum range 1 mile
As of last report no land based military Patrol, Bomber or Fighter aircraft are permantly based on Trinidad and Tobego as their bases are in the early phase of construction.
No land bases search radar is operational. However, as this is a key Convoy assembly area various radar equipped warships are often present.
Local Patrol Boats There are about a dozen police and customs launches armed with pistols and rifle. No radar but they do have two way radios which are considered their most dangerous weapon. No more than two of the boats have been observed actively patrolling between Midnight and nautitical sunrise.
d. Friendly Forces. TG Brinkmann and PSS Cabello and various U-boats
(1) Higher HQ Mission and Intent. BdU Destroy oil refining capability on Trinidad Tobago
(2) Mission of Adjacent Units. N/A
e. Attachments and Detachments. N/A
f. Civilian Considerations Avoid civilian casualties unless they jeopardize success of the mission.
2. MISSION. In a night action destroy the refineries, port fracilities and any tankers in the vicinity of Trinidad Tobago without sustaining major damage to TG Brinkman that would degrade primary, commerce raiding mission. To withdraw before enemy forces can pose a threat to TG Brinkman. Radar Navigation and gun laying will be employed along with beacon(s) planted by sleeper agents.
Pointe a Pierre refinery is one of the largest and most modern (due to constant upgrades) refineries in the world. Point Fortin a somehwat smaller refinery and being of recent expanded and modernized has better fire fighting facilities. The fuel, refined at Pointe a Pierre and Point Fortin is very important to the RAF, Royal Navy, British home Islands Industry and allied merchant fleet. The total destruction of Pointe a Pierre and Point Fortin will be a major strategic victory for the Fatherland and a serious loss for the enemy.
3. EXECUTION. TG Brinkmann will destroy the refineries, port, air field facilities and any tankers or naval vseesls in the vicinity of Pointe a Pierre and Point Fortin by gunfire on the night of 9/10 June.
a. Commander's Intent Total destruction of Trinidad Tobago's Refineries. Inflicting as much damage to Trinidad Tobago's port, tankers, communications and naval units as reasonably possible.
b. Concept of operations. To use surprise, radar navigation and fire control and precision gunfire under cover of darkness
(1) Maneuver. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
(2) Fires. As required
(3) Reconnaissance and Surveillance. U-boats, local sleeper agents, Arado scouts and radar will be the chief methods of Recon and Surveillance
(4) Intelligence. As provided by BdU
(5) Engineer. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
(6) Air Defense. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
(7) Information Operations.
c. Scheme of Movement and Maneuver. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
d. Scheme of Fires.
e. Casualty Evacuation.
f. Tasks to Subordinate Units
g. Tasks to Combat Support.
(1) Intelligence. See Appendix
(2) Engineer. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
(3) Fire Support. See Appendix
(4) Air Defense. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
(5) Signal. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
4. SUSTAINMENT. Per TG Brinkmann SOP
5. COMMAND AND CONTROL.
a. Command.
(1) Location of Commander. Bismarck
(2) Succession of Command. Per TG Brinkmann SOP
c. Signal. Per TG Brinkmann SOP
(1) SOI index in effect.
(2) Methods of communication by priority.
(3) Pyrotechnics and Signals.
(4) Code Words.
(5) Challenge and Password.
(6) Number Combination.
(7) Running Password.
(8) Recognition Signals.
7 JUNE 1941 1130 One of CPO Sharkey's Radar operators reported a "contact" at 005 relative, distance 17 and a half miles to his watch PO. Second Class Petty Officer "Bertie" O' Higgins came over and studied the "O" scope presentation for a minute and then adjusted the "gain" control. He was rewarded with two small contacts. Bertie informed the watch officer and log keeper of the new contacts. Bertie worked out the contacts' course, speed, CPA (closest point of approach) and time of CPA at current course and speed. He provided that amplifying information to the watch officer who, after a quick check, informed the OOD.
The OOD picked up the sound powered phone to the anchor windless room, where CDR Edmund Blackadder, acting CO Sheffield, was inspecting the shoring strong back recently installed. It replaced the emeregency "Patch" from the battle that had failed about an hour and a half ago. The pumps had been making slow but steady progress "dewatering" Shiny until that patch let loose. He had to order speed reduced to a little above steerage way while the DC party, working in waist high and then chest high water fashioned and emplaced the replacement. Just 25 minutes ago he had ordered Shiny Back to her best speed, 15 knots in 5 knot increments. He was watching, along with the DC party, the patch which he was now almost convinced would hold when he got the contact report.
He said to the Chief Stoker DC party leader, "Chief I'm heading back to the bridge" and to the DC party, "Job damn well done. I will order up a dram for each of you. Chief see our men and you get that rum issue after you secure."
He was then on the run up 6 ladders to the jury rigged bridge. He made it in less than 5 minutes puffing like an old man and got the full report from the OOD.
Blackadder to the OOD, That should be the Norwegion manned Ocean going Tug Hafgufa and "OUR" escort the Flower class Corvett Primrose." Both men smiled at the lame joke but that was the best he could do at present.
"Make sure the lookouts keep a sharp eye on that bearing and order action stations NOW. " They were not out of the woods yet by a long margin and he was not taking any more chances than he had to with Shiny leaking like a collander and his engines held together with wire and the sweat of his Chief and his stokers. In due course his signal men acknowledge the flag hoist challenge. It was the Tug and Corvette. He immediately ordered the crew secure from Action Stations. He ordered the Corvette to maintain an ASW screen and the tug to take station abreast of Shiny at 500 yds to starboard. No sign of the promised Coastal command patrol bomber or fighter escort so far. Well he had not really expected the RAF to drop everything just to nursemaid old Shiny.
7 JUNE 1941 1200 TG 39.1 was at 18.0708° N, 62.0501° W heading South at 25 knots with the destroyers in a bent line screen, BB-55 as guide with USS Brooklyn CL-40 scouting 50 miles ahead. Rear admiral Hewitt had three SOC souts out patyolling search sectors to the East,West and South out to 150 miles. Nothing so far. The TG was heading for an UNREP with one of the fast oilers. His Destroyers needed fuel after the long high speed transit.
7 JUNE 1941 1315 The Southern scout sighted the oiler at 70 miles, speed 15 knots heading for TG39.1
7 JUNE 1941 1830 the last of TG39.1 broke away from the oiler and was heading back to it's screening station. The oiler was heading to the next UNREP station. Hewitt was sure he would need more fuel after an action with TG Brinkmann.
8 JUNE 1941 2100 There was no black out at all on Aruba, U-156 's target lay there, fully lit. He had easily eluded the Two 34 ft. " customs launches. These boats are armed with small arms and a single, pedestal mounted, Canon d'Infanterie de 37 modèle 1916 TRP (37mm mle.1916) French infantry support gun. Rate of fire Sustained: 25 rpm, Maximum Effective range1,600yds But their most dangerous weapon was their excellent radios. He also beat the Six 24 ft. Radio equipped Police/rescue boats stationed in the island. Without radar fire control he had no fear of the shore battery located at Juana Morto, the highest point of the easterly part of the island, a coastal battery consisting of two pre WW 1 150 mm 40 caliber guns.
What he did fear was Stationed at KLM Field Savaneta, a graded runway if caught close in during daylight was the 6 Martin 139s WH-3As the Export version of the B-10. With Maximum speed: 213 mph, Range of 1,240 mi and armed with 3 30 caliber Browning machine guns and 2,260 lbs of bombs.
Even the 6 Brewster 339Ds Export version of the F-2A Buffalo wuth two 0.50 in nose and 2 wing -mounted M2 Browning machine guns and two 100 lb bombs could damage his boat enough to cause real trouble.
U-156 was a Type IXC with one × 4.1 inch SK C/32 deck gun with 180 rounds, a 37mmAA gunand one twin 20 mm FlaK 30 AA . She surfaced off the Lego refinery and the guns crews manned their weapons, sighted them on the refinery and bombarded Lego with everything they had. A fatal error by one of the 5.9's gun crew disabled the breach block after firing 97 rounds. That very UNGreman error spared Lago refinery total destruction But not by much. With needless loss of his main deck gun, the U-boat only had left the much lighter guns. The CO, in a cold rage, the hapless gunner having been beaten severely by the gun captain (who knew he was really in for it), contuned the bombardment. They hit the refinery and at the surrounding buildings and a nearly empty venezulean tanker carrying crude to the refinery repeatedly but the damage was only minor. Lago escaped that night and only because the bombardment had been terminated early. The U-156 torpedoed 2 tankers and a ship loaded with 3000 tons of dynamite, waiting for daylight to enter the port of Oranjestad, on her way out. Both tankers caught fire and sank. The luckless merchant literally disintegrated showering pieces of her over a space of three miles inlcuding ashore on Aruba.
Kaleu U-156 thought "With luck we just drew every Englander ship and aircraft away from Trinidad Tobago for long enough for Bismark and The Prince to destroy those refineries. The question is good or bad luck for U-156? At least his U-Boat stood a fair chance of getting back into the Atlantic, something Bismarck would never be able to do if she was insane enough to actually enter the Gulf of mexico. She would never get past the Island chain to the East on the way in let alone on the way out.
4 JUNE 1941 0830 The signal was hauled down executing today's live fire gunnery practice. USS North Carolina BB-55 responded imediately although both signal men were on the same ship. Aboard BB-55 the XO commander Stryker, the Gun & Ops Bosses along with the 1st LT, BMC with 3rd division, GM2c Borgnino USN (AKA Ernie Borgnine) with his gang had rigged two of the target sleds and passed them, to USS Kearny DD-432, Gleaves-class that would be doing the towing today.
The TC was manned and ready LT. Tolley and CRM O'Shea had made sure the radar and comms were all functioning. The Gun Boss and his GMCFC had peaked the firecontrol, main and secondary battery for today's shoot. The Mud Maroons" in 5"38 mount 52 were anxious to prove they were the best DP mount on the ship.
4 JUNE 1941 1030 The daylight shoot went well as far as CRM O'Shea could tell; no one had hit the target towing Can. Lee was not as pleased as the CRM. It took his gunners too long to get on target. They were on the sled well within the peace time standards. However, minutes and maybe even seconds would count when they were up against Bismarck. "XO we will have another shoot at 1330. get the gun team in here at 1100. There are a few things I want to talk to them about."
Next he picked up the TBS handset "King" this is Nan Charlie. What is the status of my sled?"
CO Kearny " My carpenter's mate and his crew are rebuilding the target now. The float had some shell splinter holes but we have already patched them. She should be good for another run in about an hour Sir."
Lee " Good. We will commence our next firing run at 1400. You will have to get the sled back in action before 2300 for the night shoot. Make sure you hang radar reflectors on it."
CO Kearny "Interogative radio reflectors sir?"
Lee " I say again RADAR reflectors. Have one of your machinest mates rig up a couple of 18 inch sheet metal plates set at right angles and hang them from the top of the sled's superstructure. That wil give my fire control radar something to line up on besides King."
CO Kearny "Will do sir. Request permission to double the length of target's tow line?"
Lee "Permission granted. Out" CO Kearny was sure he heard the old bastard laughing as he signed off.
5 JUNE 1941 0330 Lee picked up the TBS "King this is Nan Charlie convey a well done to your crew from me. Ten firing runs and you were right where I wanted you on every run Commander. That took some real sailorman ship handling."
Co Keraney "Will do sir."
Lee "Keep this up and I will be calling on you for all my target towing, you'll like that right? Out" CO Kearney heard the same evil laugh again.
5 JUNE 1941 1900 Both of TG Cilax's type 1936A destroyers Z23 and Z25 had evaded Force H aerial scouts due to their high speed run and were now making a max fuel conserivng two boiler operations of 20 kts. They were all that was left of 8 Zerstörerflottile (8th Destroyer Flotilla), now Commanded by Z23's 29 year old Korvettenkapitän Wolfgang Becker. His crew nicknamed their fine new destroyer "Werwölfe“, after their much respected and sometimes feared but always scrupulously fair CO. His tactical brilliance and superb seamanship had saved them at that basket screw off Narvik against that “Gott verdammt Englander devil ship“ Renown and that counted for a lot. He and and about one third of them had been together since commissioning and had formed a bond of muttual respect. Truth to tell, Becker cared very much for his men and hated the fact his stern duty required risking their lives.
Those Sea Hurricanes and Fulmars had literally decimated his 350 man crew. He had buried 35 good men and he had another 45 wounded. That left "Werwölfe“, short handed but thanks to his rigorrous and thorogh training of his crew with casualties in mind he still had enough watch officers, CPOs and senior PO‘s to run his ship.
It was a miracle his Wasserbombes had not blown the stern of his ship off. The 300 LB high explosive filled Mülleimers (trash barrels) had been riddled with .303 fire. He had them dumped over side imediately after the attack. Now both his repaired launchers were reloaded with undamaged Wasserbombes. His excellent "Werwölfes“ S-Gerät active sonar and GHG passive sets along with their very skilled operators had survived intact. The GHG could ,under good conditions, detect enemy ships at ranges up to 50 miles and would to some extent compensate for their lack of radar.
His main and secondary DP battery along with his gun and fire control crews had sufferd crippling losses. All he had left were one, riddled but still functional mount Anton, of his 4 single 5.9 in guns, 2 of his five single 20 mm AA guns both on the port side, the port side of his two liberally punctured but still functional quad 21 in torpedo tubes without a single Ael to reload and 2 of his 4 × depth charge launchers; both on the port side. Z-23 had taken the brunt of the strafing runs on her starboard side. He was the lone survivor of those on starboard bridge wing during the strafing runs. All he had to show for it was a scalp and face pock marked with slight splinter wounds that bled as if he were seriously wounding when infact he was not incapacitated in any way. The Tommy lead had not done much to improve his looks but it did miss his eyes so he had little to complain about.
There was nothing he could do about the loss of his very valuable FuMB radar detection receiver. It often detected, gave a precise bearing and, depending on the skill of the operator, a rough but useable range estimate long before the enemy radar detected Z-23. It‘s antenna along with it‘s bridge mounted,reciever, his skilled operator Oberster Unteroffizier Karl Schuster, and his apprentice Johnny Voigt had been riddled with machine gun fire. He would have to rely on his sonar and GHG passive hyrophone array.
The black gang had been very very lucky and was still at close to full compliment. Although Z23 and Z25 had their topsides along with the men stationed their thoroughy devestate the engineeriong plant was undamaged. They had rigged emergency substitutes that were doing the job as well as could be expected. He also had been forced to transfer some of his engineers to absolutely essentail topside duties. One of which was to relieve the deck sailors so they could get some sleep. No one including the Deck Apes were happy with this temporary arrangement.
He had decided to make for the Spanish Coast as quickly as p[ossible. That would open the range from Force H and any patrols from southern England. He was absolutely determined to reach the French port Hendaye in southwestern France's Nouvelle-Aquitaine region without further loss to "Werwölfe“. He was quite sure Franco, while preaching to anyone who would listen Spain‘s absolute nuetrality ...would cooperate. Somehow the Armada and Ejército del Aire, or EdA (Spanish Air Force) would fail to notice his two ships as they sped along within Spanish territorial waters. Those waters were jealously guarded against allied intrusion by Spanish naval and air units (equipped with modern Greman aircraft).
Z-25 was in better shape. Her engineering plant was untouched but her topsides, especially just forward of the bridge had taken a heavy shell that blew Mount Anton over the side and severely damaged the hull. Her DC parties had flooded the forward 5.9 inch magazine (now pumped out and ammo after inspection resdistributed to her two after main battery mount‘s magazines) and put out the fires quickly. They had also been able to close up the hull, which had not been damaged below the waterline, with steel backers, a tar covered canvas and woven line pad and wooden patch. The Oberster Unteroffizier metal worker had a working party stripping non vital deck, and topside plate steel he intended to fashion into shell plating to reenforce the patch. Fortunately, her damage did not impair her sea keeping enough to rule out her max 36 kts speed for short periods and a long run at as much as 25 kts.
Z-25‘s bridge watch had been wiped out completely and was now commanded by her senior LT. They had jury rigged all essential topside ship control stations.
Initially it looked like all three after 5.9s had been damaged beyond shipboard repair. However, the Oberster Unteroffizier Gunner‘s mate and two of his senior gunnery petty officers after 32 hours of effort, were able to repair Bruno, and Cäsar. There was nothing to be done with the main firecontrol director which was nothing but a burnt out mass of metal above what was left of the heavily damaged bridge. The Secondary Director was also now operational, sort of. The exhausted gunners were still trying to restore auto director fire to Bruno and Cäsar. For now, the director could provide accurate elevation and azimouth figures to the mounts but they had to transmitted by voice and manually set by the gun crews.
One of the 37 mm AA mounts was now operational, as well as three of the 20 mm guns. Like Z-23 her tposides had been turned intio a colander and all antenna‘s and other topside sensors were useless. Nither had long range communications yet but restoring them was high on the priority list. For now blinker light and hand held signal flags would do. Both her Torpedo mounts were operational but she did not have torpedoes for them. Her depth charge projectors were functional. Her sonars and opetrators were undamaged.
Z-25 had lost her Cpatin, XO, navigator and gunnery officer. She had 52 killed and 97 wounded, although 25 of those had been patched up enough to do light duty. Her galley, like Z-23 was functional and putting out hot meals. Both destroyers were issuing the normal beer ration along with schnapps as a bonus to those men doing a really outstanding job, which did a lot for the morale of the sailors. They needed it after the mass burials.
5 JUNE 0315 TG Cilax, now only Gneisenau, was hunting WS-12 again. The Battle Cruiser's crew had done a magnificent job of repairing her Fire control directors. The designers of Gneisenau class battle Cruisers built a lot of redundancy into her key systems. Main and secondary batteries were controlled from the Directors, which were located forward (which was destroyed), astern, and above the foretop platform (which had splinter damage which proved repairable.
Each of these three Directors mounted a rotating dome with a stereoscopic rangefinder manufactured by Zeiss, and a FuMO 23 radar. The Directors were connected by armored communication shafts (which withstood all but the direct 15 inch shell hit forward) to the battery plots (Rechenstellen) under the armor deck forward and aft. The foretop command post, under the command of the Gunnery officer (I.A.O.), was above the foremast, at about 90 feeet above sea level. It was equipped with a 32 ft. base rangefinder (Basisgerät BG) with a maximum 50 times magnification, and had a visual field of 360º. The forward battery plot was incorporated in the base of to the forward conning tower whose armor protected it but it's and had a 21 ft base rangefinder was destroyed. The after Battery Plot had a 32 ft base rangefinder of similar characteristics as the one in the foretop.
Each of the three main battery turrets ("Anton", "Bruno",and "Cäsar" ) was also equipped with a 32 ft. base rangefinders. In case all three Directors were put out of action in battle, the turrets could track and fire locally. However, the chances of scoring a hit with each battery firing on its own were obviously less than under a centralized command. The central turrets of the secondary battery also had their own 19 ft. base rangefinder.
The anti-aircraft fire was directed from four Directors of the type SL-8, each equipped with a 12 ft. Rangefinder. Two of these Directors, covered by spherical cupolas (Wackeltopf), were on either side of the foremast, and the other two uncovered directors amidships aft.
Additionally, there were also two 12 ft night rangefinders on both sides of the Admiral's bridge. In short, Renown's main battery hits did a lot of damage but Gneisenau's superbly trained crew and exceptional redundancy paid great dividends as she closed with WS-12.
Vizeadmiral Cilax also made excellent use of his Flag ship's hydrophones. This passive underwater listening system allowed Him to track WS-12 at a very long range without the Royal navy escorts knowing he was approaching. The Germans called these installations Gruppenhorchgerät (GHG), and consisted of two panels of 60 microphones, one on each side of the ship's hull. The maximum effective range was over 20 miles depending on conditions such as water conductivity and background noise. The deep cold waters of the North Atlantic under favourable conditions, bearings with an accuracy of 1 degree could be expected at speeds of 30 knots from a distance of 20 miles. He was able to close WS-12 in EMCON B, no radar, radio or active sonar transmisions were allowed during the approach.
This approach was only made possible by the intense rain, high winds and low lying cloud base that made aerial recon both suicidal, (the loss of three aircraft and crews proved that), and ineffective. Somerville was counting on his radars but the same storm conditions and the pounding had taken during the last engagement with TG Cilax, including the blast from his own guns, rendered them far less effective than he would have liked.
Transferring all 660 lb 11 inch shells from wrecked Anton and Bruno magazines to the after battery magazines of Cäsar was a back breaking job. Those 11 inch rounds had to be moved by hand truck and that had caused more than a few hernias, smashed feet and severed fingers.
These 11 inch main battery rounds used a "fore charge" weighing 91.5 lbs in a silk bag and a "main charge" weighing only 170.2 lbs. was in a brass cartridge . The cartridge helped to seal the gun breech. Fore and Main charges were rammed together. Moving the propelleant was much easier on the crew.
Waiting for TG Cilax was HMS Renown and the close escort of WS-12 now under Somerville's tactical command.
HMS Devonshire pennant # 39, County-class CA 3 stacks London sub-class with 4 twin 8-inch Mk VIII, 4 ×single QF 4-inch Mk V AA , and 4 single 40 mm AAGuns. She also mounted 2 quad 21 inch torp tubes and had an Armor Belt: 1 in, Decks: 1.5 in, Barbettes,Turrets, Bulkheads 1 in and Magazines 2–4.4 in. She was Type 281 Air-warning and Type 272 Surface Warning radars and aerial scout.
HMS Argus "Hat Box" CV pennant # I49 Commissioned 16 Sept 1918 partially modernised 1938, Speed 20 kts. Armament 4 4 in AA 2 surface only 4-inch Radar Type 281 Air-warning Type 272 Surface Warning Aircraft 15–18 now 3 Sea Hurricanes and 5 Fulmars.
HMS Cairo CLAA pennant # D87 Commissioned 23 1919, Converted to Anti-Aircraft cruiser at Chatham dockyard in 1938. Speed 29 kts, Type 280 Air-warning / AA control and Type 272 Surface Warning radars. Armament 10 single mount 4 inch high angle (HA) guns and two eight-barreled 2-pounder "pom-pom" mounts. Armor 3 in side (amidships), 2+1⁄4–1+1⁄2in side (bows), 2in side (stern), 1in upper decks (amidships) and 1in deck over rudder
HMS CATHAY Pennant # F 05 Armed Merchant Cruiser AMC, formerly passenger ship London15,225 BRT Armament: 8 6inch and 2 3 in AA guns. Speed17 kts Radar Type 272 Surface Warning
HMS Agamemnon Pennant # M10 type Auxiliary Minelayer AML, formerly MV Agamemnon cargo liner requisitioned by the Royal Navy in early 1940. Speed 16 kts Armament 3 QF 4 in MkV, 2 QF 2-pounder, 4 Oerlikon 20 mm 4 × 0.5 in Mgs and 542 mines (she was only carrying 210 now).
HMS SIKH Pennant # F82 and HMS Blackney Tribal-class DD, commissioned 1938. Speed 36 kts Sensors ASDIC Type 124 Retractable head with a range recorder, Type 272 Surface Warning Radar. Armament 4 twin 4.7 in, 1 quad 40 mm AA, 2 quad 0.5 in AA MGS, 1 quad 21 in torpedo tube, only 20 depth charges, 1 rack, 2 throwers
HMS Witch Pennant # D89, HMS Whitehall D94and HMS Radsworth Modified W-class DD Commissioned 1924 Speed 34 kt Armament 4 BL 4.7 in Mk.I, 2 QF Mk.II "pom-pom" 40 mm AA, 6 21-inch Torpedo Tubes, 20 depth charges, 1 rack, 2 throwers. Sensors Type Type 127 ASDIC, Type 286M Air Warning & Type 271 Surface search radars fitted 1940.
HMS Bradford, HMS Stanley, HMS Brighton, HMS Lancaster and HMS Newark Town class former USN DD Commissioned 1919/21 Speed 35kts. Armament 3 4in/ 50, 2 3in AA gun Six 21in torpedoes in two triple mountings,Two depth charge tracks, One Y-Gun depth charge projector. Type 141 ASDIC, No dome, American QCJ/QCL, modified with British range and bearing recorders, Type 272 Surface Warning radar and high frequency direction finding (HF/DF or "Huff Duff").
HMCS Assiniboine River class DD Commissioned1939. Speed 35 knots Armament 4 single 4.7 in, 2 single 40 mm, 1 QF three-inch AA,1 quad 21 in torpedo tubes, 2 DC racks and 6 throwers for a pattern of 10 depth charges, with stowage increased to 70 charges. SENSORS ASDIC Type 124 Retractable HEAD with a range recorder , Type 79 Air Warning and Type 272 Surface Warning Radars amd upgrades high frequency direction finding (HF/DF or "Huff Duff").
HMCS Saguenay A class DD Commissioned 1931 Speed 35 knots Armament 4 single surface only 4.7 in, 2 single 2 40 mm AA, 2 quad 21 in torpedo tubes 1 DC rail 33 charges.
Vizeadmiral Cilax thought "I just have to get by that old relic Renown. One solid 3 gun salvo of 11 inch hits fron Casar may not sink her but it should take her out of the figjht long enough for his needs. He still thought his odds good to sink or damage close escorts with Casar, his 10 remaining 5.9s and 8 operational 4.1 inch guns .
5 JUNE 0435 Gneisenau,was now doing 24 kts and she still had, according to her Chief engineer a couple more up his sleeve if need. She was hunting for WS-12 and haopping Renown had suffered more than minor damage because Vizeadmiral Cilax was determined to take her on with his one remaining 11 inch turret if she stood in his way.
Kapitän zur See Harald Netzbandt C.O. of Gneisenau informed the Vizeadmiral his hydrophones had picked up a large, 4 propeller ship bearing 220 true. The Ober-maat (CPO) confirmed the operator had a definite contact and it was a large ship with four shafts at a speed of 12 kts. We hold nothing on the FuMO
(Fuunk-Mess-ORadar Seetakt 23). Our senior Communications Stabsfeldwebel (Chief Warrant Officer ) is working on the FuMO 23 now. In can have it operating in 15 minutes if you wish sir"
Vizeadmiral Cilax that sound contact sounds like Renown to me and it appears she is damaged from that 12 kt speed. If she were hunting us she would be going fatsre than that. Captain sound action stations. It is my intension to close with that contact , maneuver to unmask Casar and take it under rapid fire as soon as we have a firing solution by Radar, sound or night optics. I intend to continue to close the reange until our are 5.9s are scoring hits also. We must hit Renown first and continue until she is no longer a threat to our primary commerce raing mission; the total destruction of WS-12.
5 JUNE 0450 Acting captain of HMS Sheffield Sir Edmund Blackadder was in the main transmitting station (main battery plot ) observing the large contact held on the surface search radar. The large contact was 19 miles away and coming on fast. His guns maximum effective range was 12 miles but if that was Gniesnau Shiny was in range now. The Gun Buster LCDR Baldrick was with him as he watched his fire control team work the firing solution for her main battery turrets. The dmaged X turret was now operational with a replacement gun crew and wood patches over her the largest of her shell holes keeping the weather out. How long that turret would stay in action once her twin six inchers started pounding away was anyone's guess.
Gun Buster Baldrick's twelve BL 6 inch Mk XXIII rifles could hurle 112 pound HE shells at 2,760 feet per second at 8 rounds per minute per barrel or 96 rounds a minute per salvo. That was alot of for any ship to obsorb even a Battle cruiser. His plan was to keep all turrets firing at maximum rate until the Nazi's ran or Shiny was sunk. How long the gun crews could keep that up in battle was anyone's guess with "gallons" of adrenalin pumping he would bet it would be long enough. However, the gunnery regulations stated rapid fire should only be maintained for 10 minutes without a break to cool the barrels liners, preferably with fire hoses. If no break was possible then a sustained fire of 5 rounds per minute was neccessary to keep from damaging the guns and killing the crews with a breach explosion. He would keep them at rapid fire as long as it took. If they survived, success has many friends, if they lost he would not be around anyway.
5 JUNE 0530 Vizeadmiral Cilax and Kapitän zur See Harald Netzbandt C.O. of Gneisenau still out of sight even by the fire control director optics. If this was not Renown they were well within range of Renown's 15 inch rifles. The radar was still down. The first salvo from Sheffield fell short. 12 water spouts, convinced him this was a cruiser not a Battle Cruiser. The second salvo was over and the third peppered Gneisenau's upper decks wrecking two 5.9s.
In Sheffield's main transmitting station Gun Buster LCDR Baldrick ordered rapid fire and the turrets. Kapitän zur See Harald Netzbandt ordered a course change that would unmask Casa's 11 inch rifles and laid them on the bearing of the shell splashes. Gneisenau's armor protected the most imporatant parts of his ship from what he now thought were 6 inch fire. He then ordered his engineers to give him every knot they had. Casa was hit by 4 rounds of the 4th salvo and another six shells hit and tore up the ship, causing much damage but nothing vital.
At 9 miles the range finder locked on the cruiser and the main battery turret fired it's first salvo which overshot their target. The fifth cruiser salvo peppered Casa with no effect. The second 11 inch salvo hit close aboard Sheffield, still over. The sixth crusier salvo hit Casa and the belt. Still not penetrating but one destroyed the optics of the director. His well trained gunners switch to the secondary fire control director and fired her 3rd salvo. This one was short, over corrected and was answered by the cruisers seventh salvo which hell close aboard. The entire ship shook and the hastily repaired engineering plant began to loose speed as the main steam feed line was shocked into multiple minor steam leaks. The cruiser's 8th salvo hit Casa with 4 rounds detonating on the face plate just as the 4th battle cruiser salvo left the barrels and disabled the starboard gun barrel. The cruiser fired salvo 9, 10 and eleven. Casa returned fire and the entire gun house spouted fire from every openeing. The entire turret crew was killed insatntly. Now all they had left were her remaining 5.9s and Kapitän zur See Harald Netzbandt ordered an emergency turn to bring the unengaged starboard 5.9s which were firing rapdly but the drastic turn had thrown off the aim. Sheffield fired salvoes 12, 13, and 14 at 15,000 yds that knocked out a quarter of the starboard side 5.9s.
Vizeadmiral Cilax ordered an immediate turn away at best possible speed now down to 20 knots that was rapidly opening the range. Sheffield's 12 knots could not match the Battle cruisers 20. Salvo 15 and 16 still scored hits but 17, 18 and 19 were ragged and 20 fell short.
Sheffield's B turret suffered a breach explosion at salvo 18 that wiped out most of the gun crew.
Fortuneatley Gun Buster Baldrick's inistance on strict adhereance to gunnery regs ensured the flashproof doors and scuttles did their job and the flash did not penetrate the magazines. Shiny had a lot of splinter damage, numerous small fires and her engineering plant was shaken badly but only minor leaks which still challenged her pumps were suffered. It was now up to Shiny's DC and fire parties to save the ship.
CPO Sharky and his mates had made this survival possible. It was thanks to his ability to reapir Sheffield's radars that saved them this day. Both Sir Edmund and the Gun Buster looked at each other and then both looked at CPO Sharkey and just smiled. That man would be rewarded by a warrant.
5 JUNE 0700 a signal was recieved from BdU with a recall order. The Fuher had gone into a just short of hysterical vile, filth filled, threatening rant when he heard of the decimation of Vizeadmiral Cilax's command. He was raving about the cowardly loss of the Admiral Graf Spee and now the Scharnhorst and the almost certain sinking of Gneisenau. He eventually calmed down enough to say "Call Cilax back now. You fools will waste my entire Battle fleet at this rate." When he was in this state noone in his right mind would argue with him. Better to let him tire, as he soon would, and drop into one of his still rare brooding stupors and with the aid of a sedative sleep for a few hours. Just maybe when he awakened he would be so spent that he would listen to reason, but not now.
5 JUNE 0745 Vizeadmiral Cilax, after reading the signal from BdU over twice ordered thKapitän zur See Harald Netzbandt to come to ring up best speed and make for the Spanish coast. He then said to all in hearing with a strange smile on his face, "Meine tapferen Schiffskameraden ( My brave shipmates) we are ordered home to a heroes welcome from our beloved Fuher."
Now, he sat in his cabin smoking a good cuban cigar and sipping at a snifter of very expensive Cognac. He had the flimsy of the recall order on his side table. It had been worded with a lot more tact than BdU was noted for. However, it could not hide the fact he was going home in disgrace to face a very hostile board of enquiry, if not outright court martial. Those Nazi bastards would see he paid a very high price for the loss of Scharnhorst, Hipper and the failure to sink WS-12. His Schiffskameraden at (shipmates) at BdU would be all too eager to distance themselves from him; no help there. When he finished the cigar, he tossed down a full snifter of the excellent cognac, straitened out his uniform, jacked the slide, placed the muzzle of his Walther P38 9 mm semi-automatic pistol in his mouth and pulled the trigger. The expected shot was heard by his aide in the next compartment
WS-12 might have been spared a visit by TG Cilax but BdU had long ago stationed another Ruder (wolf Pack) of his beloved U-boats in poistion to savage that convoy. These Grey wolves were lead by one of his most effective and ruthless Officers, one of his Alfa Wolves. They were to clean up the dispersed transport survivors after TG Cilax had taken out most of the escorts and as many of the troopers as possible with the limitted amount time available. TG Cilax had to clear this flaming datum very, very fast this close to the British isles. Now his ever hungry "nephews", his U-boat men called him "Onkel Karl" (Uncle Karl), would do the job themslves. In the end, WS-12 would be a pale wreck of what left the UK. Maybe, just maybe, one of his U-Boats woud sink "Des Teufel" (The Devil) Renown. Would not that be a welcome gift for the Fuher?"
5 JUNE 0800 RN HQ Bunker London. Vice Admiral Ramsay "I relieve you sir Alfred"
The First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, Sir Alfred Dudley Pickman Rogers Pound
"I stand relieved"
The First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff,Vice Admiral Ramsay " All standing orders will stay in effect until such time as I formerly rescind them.
We will all get to know each other soon but for now we have a great deal of work to do. DismissedAdmiral Sir Alfred Dudley Pickman Rogers Pound quietly and quickly quit the bunker.
"Last thing Bertie needs is for me to hang around", he thought as he returned the Royal Marine's salute at the street level, trademen's entrance.
6 JUNE 1030 Captain Ching Lee was in a very good mood. The night shoot had come off without a single screw up. North Carolina BB-55's night gunnery was as good as it had been after their last prolonged target practice and that said a lot. His Gun Boss and his cannon cockers were really on the top of their game. All the training and newly developped tracking and firing techniques he had introduced were paying off. Even the Sea Going Bell Hops in mount 52 managed not to disgrace themselves. GM2c had a lot to do with that. Ernie had, where senior Gms had failed corrected a number of intermittant problems that had plagued that 5"38 mount since before commissioning. That was why Mt 52 had been assigned to the Marines. Looks like Brute Krulock and his enforcer, 1st Sgt Carlo Morano, had no valid reason for terrorizing the marine gun crews this time. He was sure those two sadists would soon find some other fault with their men.
Lee would have advanced Ernie to GM1c before but the fight with Fireman 2nd Kevin Madrick, especially what he did to the MAA force put that idea on hold. Truth to tell the way Ernie had conducted himself after his Captain's mast "Award" did him great credit.
He had performed his duties with even greater dedication and skill than before his Mast. That convinced Lee Ernie was not only a very skilled GM but he had the maturity that Lee demanded of his senior PO's; an absolute neccessity for an enlisted leader. With 7 or 8 more years of Peace time service, or a hell of a lot less in wartime, he'd make a good Chief and maybe even a warrant Gunner. That is the point; he would advance Ermes Effron Borgnino to GM1c today. While he was at it there were a few more enlisted that deserved advancement; might as well bump them all up today. One of them was a real surprise. Fireman 2nd Kevin Madrick, one of BB-55's older wild men and real pain in his ass, seemed to be in one of his 4.0 Sailor periods. The man had real skill as an electrician and he also had very good leadership skills, when he felt like displaying them. His DIVO and and his division Chief both recommended him for advancement to EM3c. He'd been there before and had once even been a submarine qualified EM1c. He had shown himself to be a real asset to the ship. The last time that had lasted all of two months, granted mostly underway. A drunken liberty run to an off limits dive in which a hooker and her pimp tried to roll him ended that. It did not help that Madrick put both, the now naked and worse for ware, Hooker and her pimp in the hospital. The fact Madrick and two of his, badass, stewed to the gills, shipmates had wrecked the bar and tried to assault a couple of veteran police officers ( who put them down the drunks with a few swings of their sawed off axe handle clubs) did not make things any better. What the hell, if after he put the fear of God in them, Madrick's Divo and Chief still think they can control him he'd give him back his crow. If it were not against naval uniform regs he'd order Madrick to put on the crow with a zipper. Lee had a great respect for his young "Wild men" when things got really bad, they came through. Too bad they got bored so easily.
6 JUNE 1941 0500 the "nuetral" Venezuelan tanker PSS Cabello, transporting No.1 bunker oil, was picked up on both the Bismarck and Prince Eugen's FUMO radars coming from the south west at 22 miles range making directly for the rendezvous point. The rendezvous was selected because it was well away from normal allied air and surface patrols, off the normal merchant routes and no allied convoy or other naval activity was reported in this area.
He had two Arado's up since nautical sunrise, hours ago, making sure they had the sea to themselves this morning. Nothing found within 150 miles so far except the expected tanker which was flying the correct recognition signal for today.
He would have to rely on both ships Gruppenhorchgerät ('group listening device', abbreviated GHG) passive hyrophone arrays to warn of lurking allied U-boats. Those arrays had proved highly efficient,The Prince had picked up Hood with them before they had a solid track with the Fumo at over 35 miles.
The principle of hydrophones was simple enough. It consisted of two pairs of underwater microphones which listened to the sound of ships’ propeller noises. By measuring the amount of time it took for sound to arrive at each of the microphones, the device could triangulate the bearing of the target vessel. The radioman could also tell if it was a merchantman, warship or even submarine but not the range, direction or speed it was moving. Because sound travels much further underwater, hydrophones could pick up distant convoys travelling up to 60 miles, single ship at 40 and that included a surface U-boat. Best range for a submerged U-boat, given good eater conditions and own ship' speed of under 12 kts was about 10 miles, well outside torpedo range. For maximum effectiveness however, own ship had to come DIW (dead in the water), secure it's engines while the hydrophones listened in for a few minutes. That was not going to happen.
The two separate units of TG Brinkmann had made a long duration, high speed, deceptive runs to clear the areas of their recent attacks on allied shipping and needed topping off soon. SS Cabello was a 480 ft o/a, 61ft Beam, 7,625 GRT modern tanker loaded with 8,500 tons of bunker fuel and other marine patroleum proucts at 17 kts. She had left Port of La Guaira 12 days ago on a scheduled run to Cadiz Spain. As a nuetral she was not escorted and did not provide position reports to anyone but her parent company C.A. de Navegación Fluvial y Costanera de Venezuela, Puerto Cabello using a modified simple "book cipher". PSS Cabello's shipping company had adopted homophonic substitution cipher, a code in which the key is some aspect of a book or other piece of text. The trick is to replace individual letters rather than words known as the Second Beale cipher, which replaces the first letter of a word in the book with that word's position. However, if used often, this technique has the side effect of creating a larger ciphertext (typically 4 to 6 digits being required to encipher each letter or syllable) and increases the time and effort required to decode the message. So it lended itself to Posit and short status messages, not extensive texts. The "Key book" was changed at random intervals so each of the company's ships and shore establishments had a "Library" of a dozen identical books available. It is essential that both correspondents not only have the same book, but the same edition.
Cryptologist Elizabeth Smith Feldman of USCG Lcdr Jones’ Code and Sypher Branch “Unit 387” could break this simple code without the Key Book but the effort still required time better used for other assignments. PSS Cabello had a normal pre war mixed nationality crew of 50, although her officers were all "nominally" Venezualans. Unknown to the Master or his company the Grupo Regional de Venezuela del Partido Nazi had placed a chief engineer, 2nd mate and 12 of her crew sympathetic to the Nazy cause aboard Cabello. Unknown to the Nazi Sympathizers there were also 6 clandestine members of the Marinenachrichtendienst (Naval Intelligence Division AKA MAD) special operations group aboard. Five days out of Port of La Guaira, after carefully vetting the Nazi sympathizers, the leader of the MAD enlsited both the 2nd mate and Chief engineer and 6 crew help sieze the ship. The capture went very smoothly and no one was injured. The Master, 1st and 3rd mates, one of the junior engineering officers and 5 of the crew were confined. The rest went along with the men with the guns who, at that time, were winning the war.
The leader of the MAD team was Fregattenkapitan Friedrich Max von Muller, winner of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and first captain of the merchant raider Michel. He had two Oberleutnant zur See (Senior Lieutenants), two Engineering Ober-maat (CPOs) and one Communications Stabsfeldwebel (Chief Warrant Officer ). All members of his team were selected by von Muller, had served with him aboard Michel to his satisfaction and were very hard men when the situation called for it. They all had a good working knowledge of Spanish. He had personally rigorously trained his men and then had his men cross train their team mates. They were also thoroughly familiar with the capabilities, layout, machinery and other peculiarities of PSS Cabello. They had been "smuggled" into Venezuella a month before Cabello sailed without incident as Spanish seaman. Once ashore they were lost in the 4,000 Germans living in the country.
The new "Master" of PSS Cabello, wearing the former Master's work uniform, ordered a course change that would liesurely get them to their rendezvous point as directed. After going over the coding procedures, No Enigma, code names, watch schedule, EMCOM to be employed and ensuring his man was comfortable with the radio gear von Ruckteschell gave his order. His Communicator was to transmit one, short, two letter and three number coded signal informing BdU and TG Brinkmann Cabello had been taken without incident. The ship was on it's way to the rendezvous point. BdU had a radioman specifically assigned to the cabello frequency who immediately handed the coded signal to his watch Ober-maat (Chief). The signal was broken in five minutes and the reply was transmitted 10 minutes later. Cabello acknowledge receipt and then the Stabsfeldwebel (CWO) unplugged the speed key and locked it in the safe with the spare code keys). Until further orders from the Fregattenkapitan it would be a listening radio watch only.
7 JUNE 1941 0730 TG Brinkmann began refueling operations from PSS Cabello. Since the Venezualan commercial tanker was not equipped for alongside UNREP the astern hose system had to be used. This was not particularly efficient because the operation was limited to one ship at a time, and only one refueling point on the warship could be employed. Their fueling gear consisted of a ten-inch towing hawser, two six-inch breast lines along with the three-inch fuel hoses. To keep the fuel hoses clear of the sea, they were supported by a wooden carrier suspended from the oiler's cargo booms.
Sea conditions during the operation were pretty good, with a moderate cross swell that caused Cabello to roll from 6 to ten degrees, with only mild pitching. These fairly calm summer North Atlantic conditions allowed fuel transfer at the rate of Sixty Five tons per hour. More to the point, the towing hawser and fuel lines parted only once during the entire evolution. For a first effort this was very, very acceptable; causing the TG commander to send a well done to the Cabello.
The small 6 member Marinenachrichtendienst (Naval Intelligence Division AKA MAD) special operations group had been trained thoroughly on rigging the refueling gear from what they would find aboard PSS Cabello. They had, with the help of the deck force, completed the improvised rig days ago. They had also trained those members of Cabello's crew they could trust (as long as they could keep a close watch on them holstred pistol at their side) on the techniques required of the refueling tanker. Most of those procedures were nothing but variations on the deck seamanship any competent merchant sailor had already mastered.
Bismarck was first while the Prince stood at Action Stations and the Arado's maintained their search for uninvited guests. It took 10 hours to top fill Bismarck's massive tanks and then it was the Prince's turn which took another eight hours. Fregattenkapitan Friedrich Max von Muller, and his Oberleutnant zur See (Senior Lieutenants) shared the 18 hour OOD/conning watches. When not on watch, one of the Oberleutnant zur Sees supervised the refueling rig from the fan tail. The two Engineering Ober-maat (CPOs) relieved each other in the engine room, keeping a close watch on the black gang although the Engineering officer was a Nazi sympathiser. Communications Stabsfeldwebel (Chief Warrant Officer ) Kept the radio watch for signals from TG Brinkmann and any other close by radio traffic. The Grupo Regional de Venezuela del Partido Nazi 2nd mate and 4 seaman (each with a pistol but no spare ammunition) watched the other crewmembers. Muller would only trust them so far.
Vizeadmiral (Rear Admiral, upper half) Brinkmann, took advantage of the calm seas to transferred his flag and staff back to Bismarck. After Bismarck's refuelling he briefed Kapitäns zur See Lindemann of BdU's orders they attack the Oil Refineries on Trinidad Tobago. Both men knew Trinidad Tobago's oil refinery in Pointe a Pierre was the largest in the British Empire and a vital strategic asset of the allies. Much of Venezeulan crude was refined there. The file on Trinidad Tobago was quite extensive and included in the intel provided Lutgens before he sortied.
Brinkmann " Lindemann now it is up to us to decide exactly how we will carry out those orders. The obvious course is to close the island and bombard the rifineries with our main batteries. I would think it would not take much to set Pointe a Pierre ablaze. I also want the port facilities wrecked, although that will take a lot more ammunition and cost us time. So far we have had "Des Teufels eigenes Glück" (Devils own luck) and I expect to sink some tankers before we disapear again. I'd love to send ashore a couple of landing parties to direct our gunfire, assess damge on the refineries and port facilities and also find some other good targets. I want those refineries completely wrecked and require complete rebuilding before they process another drop of crude. That would take a year at least. That should push our Englander "friends" much closer to reason and the negotiation table. This could be the straw that knocks them out of the war. Maybe? Without Great Britain to deal we, our Army and Luftwaffe will be able to concentrate most of our strength in Russia alone. The Bolsheviks have taken losses that would cripple any other country. They have to be near breaking.
A few more such routes and Stalin will have to ask for terms. Even then he will probably be assasinated. I doubt there is anyone who will be willing to continue the war. If the assasins fail his party "friends" and he will be in their own civil war. No matter Hitler will get what he wants in the East. I doubt the Americans will prove to be decisive. They probably will act far too late if at all." The recently advanced Vizeadmiral had no idea FDR had come to a similar conclusion well ahead of him.
Rear Admiral Hewitt's TG-39 was out to sink his ship and ensure America came into the war BEFORE it was too late.
Bismarck's CO was a bit uneasy about this latest operation. He could not forget both Kapitäns zur See Karl Friedrich Max von Müller CO of Emdem and Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee commanding the German East Asia Squadron had been very successful as commerce raiders but both came to disater when they decided to expand their war to attacking shore targets.
Before dismissing him, the Vizeadmiral handed the CO of Bismarck a copy of the draft oporder his C of Staff had prepared. "Look this over and let me know what you think." Both men had work to do and until the UNREP was completed their stations were the Flag Plot and Bismarck's bridge. So it was not until that evening with Bismarck and The Prince on a course heading to Trinidad Tobago, did Lindemann get a chance to study the Draft Op order.
The WW II German naval Operations Order was very similar to the army version and consists of an orientation and five paragraphs. The five paragraphs are: Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration & Logistics, and Command & Signal.
1. SITUATION.
a. Area of Interest. British Crown Colony Island of Trinidad Tobago
b. Area of Operations. North Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea 150 nautical miles centered on Trinidad Tobago
(1) Terrain. Map included in the folder with all important locations marked
(2) Weather. To be updated during the approach for now forecast good
c. Enemy Forces. Trinidad Tobago Garrison and any allied units present
(1) Composition, Disposition, and Strength.
Coast Artillery Battalion Royal Marines Siege Regimeent
HQ Battery locate at Trinidad at Carenage Bay
Service battery Carenage Bay
Six sections, each with a searchlight and aircraft sound locator
colocated with Flak batteries
Coastal Defense Group
Three batteries, each with two BL 6-inch Mk VII Surface only guns.
See map for last known locations. Be advised these guns are moved sporadically.
Projectiles Surface AP, HE, Shrapnel 100 lb
Rate of fire 8 rounds per minute
Maximum effective range 25,000 yds at 20° elevation
Antiaircraft Group
Four FLAK batteries, each with 4 mobile QF 3 inch 20 cwt anti-aircraft guns mounted on towed, 4-wheeled sprung trailer FLAK platforms.
Each battery is equipped with Vickers No. 2 Predictor based on a US Sperry AAA Computer M3A3. The No 2 could track targets at 400 mph at heights of 25,000 ft. The No 2 Predictors received height data, generally from the Barr & Stroud UB 7 (9 feet base) instrument.
See map for last known locations. Be advised these guns are moved sporadically.
Projectiles 24 lb Fixed round 12.5 lb projectile weight
types: AP, AA , HE, Illumination
Rate of fire 16 – 18 rounds per minute
Maximum effective range 16,000 yds at 43° elevation 30,400ft AA ceiling
Two AAA machine gun companies, each with 12 Oerlikon guns
See map for last known locations. Be advised these guns are moved sporadically.
Projectiles High Explosive with tracer, H.E. without tracer and Incendiary
Ciclical rate of around 500 rpm from 60 rounds magazines
Maximum effective range 1,000yds
One Seaplane tender of the AVD class converted WW I destroyer
Anchor in Carenage Bay.
Supporting 4 to 6 PBY-3 Patrol Seaplanes
Maximum speed: 196 mph Cruise speed: 125 mph
Range 2,520 mi
Service ceiling: 15,800 ft
Guns: Three .30 cal Mgs (two in nose turret, one in ventral hatch at tail)
Two .50 cal HMG (one in each waist blister)
Bombs: 4,000 lb of bombs, depth charges or torpedoes
Radar some PBY's are fitted with ASV Mark II Surface Search Radar
Wavelength 170 cm Pulse Width 2.5 microsecond
Pulse Repetition Frequency 400 Hz Peak Power Out 7 kW
Range 20 miles for destroyer 30 miles Capital ships and merchants
60 miles for coastline
Minimum range 1 mile
As of last report no land based military Patrol, Bomber or Fighter aircraft are permantly based on Trinidad and Tobego as their bases are in the early phase of construction.
No land bases search radar is operational. However, as this is a key Convoy assembly area various radar equipped warships are often present.
Local Patrol Boats There are about a dozen police and customs launches armed with pistols and rifle. No radar but they do have two way radios which are considered their most dangerous weapon. No more than two of the boats have been observed actively patrolling between Midnight and nautitical sunrise.
d. Friendly Forces. TG Brinkmann and PSS Cabello and various U-boats
(1) Higher HQ Mission and Intent. BdU Destroy oil refining capability on Trinidad Tobago
(2) Mission of Adjacent Units. N/A
e. Attachments and Detachments. N/A
f. Civilian Considerations Avoid civilian casualties unless they jeopardize success of the mission.
2. MISSION. In a night action destroy the refineries, port fracilities and any tankers in the vicinity of Trinidad Tobago without sustaining major damage to TG Brinkman that would degrade primary, commerce raiding mission. To withdraw before enemy forces can pose a threat to TG Brinkman. Radar Navigation and gun laying will be employed along with beacon(s) planted by sleeper agents.
Pointe a Pierre refinery is one of the largest and most modern (due to constant upgrades) refineries in the world. Point Fortin a somehwat smaller refinery and being of recent expanded and modernized has better fire fighting facilities. The fuel, refined at Pointe a Pierre and Point Fortin is very important to the RAF, Royal Navy, British home Islands Industry and allied merchant fleet. The total destruction of Pointe a Pierre and Point Fortin will be a major strategic victory for the Fatherland and a serious loss for the enemy.
3. EXECUTION. TG Brinkmann will destroy the refineries, port, air field facilities and any tankers or naval vseesls in the vicinity of Pointe a Pierre and Point Fortin by gunfire on the night of 9/10 June.
a. Commander's Intent Total destruction of Trinidad Tobago's Refineries. Inflicting as much damage to Trinidad Tobago's port, tankers, communications and naval units as reasonably possible.
b. Concept of operations. To use surprise, radar navigation and fire control and precision gunfire under cover of darkness
(1) Maneuver. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
(2) Fires. As required
(3) Reconnaissance and Surveillance. U-boats, local sleeper agents, Arado scouts and radar will be the chief methods of Recon and Surveillance
(4) Intelligence. As provided by BdU
(5) Engineer. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
(6) Air Defense. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
(7) Information Operations.
c. Scheme of Movement and Maneuver. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
d. Scheme of Fires.
e. Casualty Evacuation.
f. Tasks to Subordinate Units
g. Tasks to Combat Support.
(1) Intelligence. See Appendix
(2) Engineer. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
(3) Fire Support. See Appendix
(4) Air Defense. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
(5) Signal. Per SOP TG Brinkmann
4. SUSTAINMENT. Per TG Brinkmann SOP
5. COMMAND AND CONTROL.
a. Command.
(1) Location of Commander. Bismarck
(2) Succession of Command. Per TG Brinkmann SOP
c. Signal. Per TG Brinkmann SOP
(1) SOI index in effect.
(2) Methods of communication by priority.
(3) Pyrotechnics and Signals.
(4) Code Words.
(5) Challenge and Password.
(6) Number Combination.
(7) Running Password.
(8) Recognition Signals.
7 JUNE 1941 1130 One of CPO Sharkey's Radar operators reported a "contact" at 005 relative, distance 17 and a half miles to his watch PO. Second Class Petty Officer "Bertie" O' Higgins came over and studied the "O" scope presentation for a minute and then adjusted the "gain" control. He was rewarded with two small contacts. Bertie informed the watch officer and log keeper of the new contacts. Bertie worked out the contacts' course, speed, CPA (closest point of approach) and time of CPA at current course and speed. He provided that amplifying information to the watch officer who, after a quick check, informed the OOD.
The OOD picked up the sound powered phone to the anchor windless room, where CDR Edmund Blackadder, acting CO Sheffield, was inspecting the shoring strong back recently installed. It replaced the emeregency "Patch" from the battle that had failed about an hour and a half ago. The pumps had been making slow but steady progress "dewatering" Shiny until that patch let loose. He had to order speed reduced to a little above steerage way while the DC party, working in waist high and then chest high water fashioned and emplaced the replacement. Just 25 minutes ago he had ordered Shiny Back to her best speed, 15 knots in 5 knot increments. He was watching, along with the DC party, the patch which he was now almost convinced would hold when he got the contact report.
He said to the Chief Stoker DC party leader, "Chief I'm heading back to the bridge" and to the DC party, "Job damn well done. I will order up a dram for each of you. Chief see our men and you get that rum issue after you secure."
He was then on the run up 6 ladders to the jury rigged bridge. He made it in less than 5 minutes puffing like an old man and got the full report from the OOD.
Blackadder to the OOD, That should be the Norwegion manned Ocean going Tug Hafgufa and "OUR" escort the Flower class Corvett Primrose." Both men smiled at the lame joke but that was the best he could do at present.
"Make sure the lookouts keep a sharp eye on that bearing and order action stations NOW. " They were not out of the woods yet by a long margin and he was not taking any more chances than he had to with Shiny leaking like a collander and his engines held together with wire and the sweat of his Chief and his stokers. In due course his signal men acknowledge the flag hoist challenge. It was the Tug and Corvette. He immediately ordered the crew secure from Action Stations. He ordered the Corvette to maintain an ASW screen and the tug to take station abreast of Shiny at 500 yds to starboard. No sign of the promised Coastal command patrol bomber or fighter escort so far. Well he had not really expected the RAF to drop everything just to nursemaid old Shiny.
7 JUNE 1941 1200 TG 39.1 was at 18.0708° N, 62.0501° W heading South at 25 knots with the destroyers in a bent line screen, BB-55 as guide with USS Brooklyn CL-40 scouting 50 miles ahead. Rear admiral Hewitt had three SOC souts out patyolling search sectors to the East,West and South out to 150 miles. Nothing so far. The TG was heading for an UNREP with one of the fast oilers. His Destroyers needed fuel after the long high speed transit.
7 JUNE 1941 1315 The Southern scout sighted the oiler at 70 miles, speed 15 knots heading for TG39.1
7 JUNE 1941 1830 the last of TG39.1 broke away from the oiler and was heading back to it's screening station. The oiler was heading to the next UNREP station. Hewitt was sure he would need more fuel after an action with TG Brinkmann.
8 JUNE 1941 2100 There was no black out at all on Aruba, U-156 's target lay there, fully lit. He had easily eluded the Two 34 ft. " customs launches. These boats are armed with small arms and a single, pedestal mounted, Canon d'Infanterie de 37 modèle 1916 TRP (37mm mle.1916) French infantry support gun. Rate of fire Sustained: 25 rpm, Maximum Effective range1,600yds But their most dangerous weapon was their excellent radios. He also beat the Six 24 ft. Radio equipped Police/rescue boats stationed in the island. Without radar fire control he had no fear of the shore battery located at Juana Morto, the highest point of the easterly part of the island, a coastal battery consisting of two pre WW 1 150 mm 40 caliber guns.
What he did fear was Stationed at KLM Field Savaneta, a graded runway if caught close in during daylight was the 6 Martin 139s WH-3As the Export version of the B-10. With Maximum speed: 213 mph, Range of 1,240 mi and armed with 3 30 caliber Browning machine guns and 2,260 lbs of bombs.
Even the 6 Brewster 339Ds Export version of the F-2A Buffalo wuth two 0.50 in nose and 2 wing -mounted M2 Browning machine guns and two 100 lb bombs could damage his boat enough to cause real trouble.
U-156 was a Type IXC with one × 4.1 inch SK C/32 deck gun with 180 rounds, a 37mmAA gunand one twin 20 mm FlaK 30 AA . She surfaced off the Lego refinery and the guns crews manned their weapons, sighted them on the refinery and bombarded Lego with everything they had. A fatal error by one of the 5.9's gun crew disabled the breach block after firing 97 rounds. That very UNGreman error spared Lago refinery total destruction But not by much. With needless loss of his main deck gun, the U-boat only had left the much lighter guns. The CO, in a cold rage, the hapless gunner having been beaten severely by the gun captain (who knew he was really in for it), contuned the bombardment. They hit the refinery and at the surrounding buildings and a nearly empty venezulean tanker carrying crude to the refinery repeatedly but the damage was only minor. Lago escaped that night and only because the bombardment had been terminated early. The U-156 torpedoed 2 tankers and a ship loaded with 3000 tons of dynamite, waiting for daylight to enter the port of Oranjestad, on her way out. Both tankers caught fire and sank. The luckless merchant literally disintegrated showering pieces of her over a space of three miles inlcuding ashore on Aruba.
Kaleu U-156 thought "With luck we just drew every Englander ship and aircraft away from Trinidad Tobago for long enough for Bismark and The Prince to destroy those refineries. The question is good or bad luck for U-156? At least his U-Boat stood a fair chance of getting back into the Atlantic, something Bismarck would never be able to do if she was insane enough to actually enter the Gulf of mexico. She would never get past the Island chain to the East on the way in let alone on the way out.
