U-4714 by Robert F. Clifton (best ereader for graphic novels txt) 📕

to depend on the radar”.

“Very good sir”.

Sauer went up the ladder, released the hatch and after opening it and dodging a large amount of water that spilled down inside the boat entered the conning tower. Two lookouts followed him. Once there he took the sextant out of its cover and took a sighting of the sun and the horizon.

Before Dresner could go topside he was told by the radar operator that there were several objects on the surface. “How far away?”, asked Reinhardt.

“Seven thousand five hundred meters sir (four and One half miles)”.

“Probably fisherman. What about aircraft?”, asked the Captain.

“Nothing sir”

“Very good”, Dresner replied as he went up the ladder. Once outside, he breathed in the clean salt air. Down below the stench of unwashed bodies was becoming unbearable to him and the dirty beard on his face made him itch. He decided to wait until nightfall then have the hatches opened allowing fresh, clean air to enter the boat. The entire crew living in a steel cylinder surrounded by warm tropical water perspired each and every day. The water stored on board was for drinking and cooking only. Although the U-4714 had a saltwater shower use of it required a special soap that left the skin covered in a type of scum and not too many showered. The boat was equipped with air conditioning but after the arrival in the Gulf on Mexico it had malfunctioned and was now useless. Most of the crew worked dressed only in their underwear shorts. Reinhardt thought back to the last time he was in the Caribbean. He was on the U-D-5 with Captain Bergman. Back then the crew was allowed topside with permission to swim and sun at fifteen minute intervals. Now, however, the enemy had better radar and sonar, long range air craft and shore batteries. Still, he was counting on the Cubans to be less vigil on the south side of the island. Since the beginning of the war Cuba, working in alliance with the Americans had provided escorts for shipping traveling through the Florida Straights. Their navy and air craft hunted for U-Boats. Nonetheless, Dresner was confident that he would succeed using the route he chose in order to enter the Atlantic.

As Reinhardt stood enjoying the feel of sunlight on his skin Sauer turned to him and gave the co-ordinates. “Excellent, that's where I thought we would be, right in the middle of the Yucatan Channel. Of course I'm off by a few degrees. Alright Herr Sauer allow the men on your watch to come top side and enjoy the air and sun when they are relieved. Have all deck hatches opened, but with a hand standing by in case of a crash dive”.

“Yes sir”.

Speaking to those down in the control room, Reinhardt said, “All engines stop.” When the U-4714 stopped it then floated along on the Gulf Stream at one and a half knots while at the same time a tropical breeze moved across the turquoise water along the deck of the boat then down and into the below deck. Although still a warm air Reinhardt hoped that it would help rectify the hot, humid and foul conditions inside the boat. He climbed down from the conning tower and joined those on deck. Handing his peaked cap to a seaman he then dove off of the deck and into the water. Instantly he felt the cool of the Caribbean on his skin, in his hair, in his beard. At that moment he felt the dirt and grime leave his body. When he surfaced he found other members of the crew in the water doing the same. Everyone knew that the clean feeling would only last for a short time, then the feeling of salt on the skin would then become annoying. Nonetheless, for that one moment they felt clean and cool at last.

After the sun had dried his body Dresner went below and in the control room stood at the chart table and using the co-ordinates that Sauer had given him marked the boats location. They were directly opposite Isla Mujeres, Mexico and Cabo San Antonio, Cuba. What he didn't know was what the Cuban Navy had on this side of the Island.

When all hands had the chance to swim and the boat aired Reinhardt ordered all hatches closed, and then for the boat to submerge to three hundred feet. At that depth cold water surrounded the exterior of the hull cooling the interior. Then, in comfort a meal was served and the men ate. He himself enjoyed eating a meal when not sweating from the heat. He was certain the men felt the same way.

As he ate he talked with Baumhauer. “Chief, I want to get past Cuba without incident. That means avoiding the radar I'm certain is on the shore, plus any surface craft we might encounter. The only way I see to do it is underwater. Now, I know that they say the range of the boat is three hundred miles using the electric motors, but I'm asking you is the information correct?”

“I really don’t know Captain. Like you, this is a first time for me. In all probability that range is associated with the use of the snorkel. The boat can only do six knots submerged with the snorkel. It can do seventeen knots without it. However, I do know that our position on this side of Cuba forces us to go against what is known as the Yucatan Current.

Where we are now is the western side of Cuba. Here the current is the strongest as the Caribbean flows east to west and then up and into the Gulf of Mexico. If you are asking me should we go submerged, or surfaced, I say plot a course that gets us out of these waters as quick as we can. In my opinion on the surface is still the quick and safe way to go”.

“Thank you Chief, I'll take your advice into consideration”.

“Yes sir'”.

Later, Reinhardt stood at the chart table deep in thought. Mentally, he thought of a route that would take him between Cuba and Jamaica past Haiti and out into the Atlantic. That would be the quickest way to go. It also made him accessible to surface and air craft, radar and shore batteries. It was a chance he did not want to take. Next, he decided to head due south bypassing Jamaica then turning east, southeast, squeezing past the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico and into the Atlantic. He would take his chances with the Dominican Republic although technically an enemy it had no navy, just a few patrol boats. He looked at his wristwatch, noted the time and the fact that it was now dark he ordered, “Surface. New heading due south. Half full ahead. Radar man stay alert”, he ordered.

Through the night the U-4714 cut through the water. Moonlight and starlight illuminated the wake astern appearing like a long, white ribbon as the boat in its travels easily made its way against the current.

Just before daybreak Reinhardt went up to the conning tower and joined Falkner. Even as the sun appeared on the horizon black rain clouds could be seen in the distance. “Looks like that squall will miss us”, said Falkner.

“Good, I don't want any delays. We should be off of Jamaica in the next hour. Once we get past Goat Island things should get better. Still,

we must stay alert. The Americans are just about everywhere here in the Caribbean. They have seaplane basis on Goat Island, and gasoline storage facilities. Oh, how I wish I had a deck gun to use on them”, said Reinhardt.

“Like they did in Aruba?”, asked Falkner.

“Exactly. The U-D-5 was part of the flotilla, but we were ordered

away from Aruba to patrol near Venezuela otherwise it might have been our boat that shelled the Dutch refinery”.

“Well, maybe we'll be sent back here on our next patrol and you'll get another chance sir”.

“Perhaps. I'm going below and chart a new course then I'll have breakfast”. Reinhardt was concerned about the American Navy PBY aircraft said to be stationed on both Jamaica and Goat Island. If he could avert both islands he thought that the island of Hispaniola and a weak combat force was the way to go in order to enter the Atlantic. Still, he had to take the boat Between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico an area he considered a narrow gap leading to the North Atlantic. “ First things first”,he thought to himself. “New heading. Southwest two forty”, he ordered.

“Southwest two forty sir”.

“Actung! Actung! Aircraft appraoaching”, said the radar operator.

“Location?”, asked Reinhardt.

“Four point eight meters northeast”.

“Alert! Alert! Clear the bridge. Dive! Dive!”, shouted Dresner.

Reinhardt stood in the control room and watched Falkner on the ladder closing and securing the hatch. Once that was done the Executive Officer stood beside Reinhardt. Take her down to one hundred meters. Rig for depth charges”, said Dresner.

“All compartments rigged sir”.

“One hundred meters Captain”, said the helmsman

Dresner and the crew waited, holding their breath, expecting to hear the sound of an underwater explosion. None came. Reinhardt looked at his wristwatch. “Slow ahead”, he ordered.

“Slow ahead sir”, repeated the helmsman

Still, nothing happened. No attack, no depth charges dropped. Did the aircraft fly away or was he up there circling waiting for the U-boat to make a mistake and give away its position under the surface? Forty five minutes passed. “Periscope depth”, said Dresner.

“Periscope depth sir”.

“Up scope”

Peering through the lens Dresner first checked the surface, then the air. There was nothing to see. Both the sea and the air were absent of any type of craft. “Herr Baumhauer, what is the situation with your batteries?”

“Fully charged sir”.

“Excellent, I want to move submerged and get out of this area.

Full ahead, maintain southwest two forty”.

“Southwest two forty sir”.

“Herr Sauer, you have the Conn”.

“Thank you sir. All compartments report leaks”, said Sauer.

As Dresner headed towards his quarters the U-4714 moved through the green subsurface of the Caribbean at seventeen knots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eight

Bordeux

 

After a restless sleep, Reinhardt entered the control room. “Heading?”, he asked.

“Southwest two forty sir”.

“Right full rudder. Come to Northeast fifty degrees”, said Dresner.

“Right full rudder coming to northeast fifty degrees sir”, repeated the helmsman.

“I take it we're heading home”, said Falkner

“Well, I'm heading for the Atlantic. Let's hope they call us home”. Reinhardt replied.

“I'd like to shoot the sun Captain”, said Sauer.

Turning to the hydrophone operator Reinhardt said, “Klaus, anything?”

“No sir”

“Very well. Periscope depth”.

“Periscope depth sir”.

Once the periscope was up and Reinhardt surveyed the surface he ordered, “Prepare to surface”. Then, “Surface”.

As Lieutenant Sauer prepared to go topside, Reinahrdt said, “Have the deck crew inspect the alberic. It has been some time since it was done”.

“Yes sir. deck crew, top side. You heard the Captain”, said Sauer.

After Sauer established latitude and longitude Reinhardt went to the chart table and after pinpointing the position of the boat he turned to Falkner and said, “We're one hundred and twenty five nautical miles from the south coast of Jamaica. At the same time our heading will take us to Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. Passing between those two islands puts us in the Atlantic. Once we are there I'll contact U-Boat Command. Meanwhile, we must be alert, mainly for American air craft coming from Puerto Rico. Therefore, we will go close to the Dominican Republic and take our chances with their patrol boats”.

On the surface the U-4714 moving at full speed at fifteen knots cut through the swells of the Caribbean. The deck crew worked on the alberic adding adhesive where the rubber coat had seperated and a chief petty officer reported the deck in good condition with little rust. The radar and hydrophone operators reported no contacts either for air or surface craft and the radio operator relayed again that U-Boat Command was trying to contact them. Again, Reinhardt refused to report waiting to get into the North Atlantic where he thought he would be safe from RDF signals.

At dusk and nearing