Chapter 277 Ambush

Otto Kretschmer raised the periscope to observe the sea surface, but all he saw was pitch darkness. Due to the weather, the planes couldn't take off to drop illumination flares, indicating targets for them.

In 1941, Germany had three ace submarine commanders, and their outstanding records made other commanders marvel. However, in the same year, these three aces fell one after another. Two of them perished with their U-boats at sea, and one was captured—Otto Kretschmer.

Otto was Germany's top submarine ace, sinking a total of 47 ships, amounting to 208,869 tons. He ranked first among all U-boat commanders in World War II.

Kretschmer deeply understood the essence of submarine warfare. Usually silent and concise, during maritime missions, his submarines rarely transmitted radio signals, earning him the nickname "Silent Otto". Brave and meticulous, he dared to infiltrate between Allied escort convoys, becoming the most dangerous wolf in the sea. He initiated attacks at close range from the surface, highly valuing each torpedo. His famous saying was "one torpedo, one ship".

His will was as tenacious as steel. After a daring raid on a convoy, his U-99 was caught by a British escort. Subjected to continuous attacks for about 20 hours, around 136 depth charges were dropped, each impact resembling thousands of giant hammers striking the hull simultaneously. While the crew was in a state of panic, Kretschmer asked everyone to wear breathing masks and lie down to conserve oxygen. He calmly read a detective novel, demonstrating extraordinary leadership amidst the intense vibrations. (Later, it was discovered that he had turned the books upside down, just putting on a show to reassure the crew.)

After scanning the area, Kretschmer gave up on visually searching for targets. The British weren't fools, even if they had ships, they wouldn't sail around with lights on. "It seems we'll have to use our secret weapon. Sonar operator, any targets?"

The sonar operator promptly reported, "Captain, ten degrees ahead, about 5000 meters away, from east to west, seems to be a large passenger liner."

From east to west, that meant it was a ship returning from Dunkirk to England. "A large passenger liner? These Brits sure know how to choose the timing. Presumably, it's filled with Brits. Torpedo room, how's the status of torpedoes three and four?"

"Report, torpedoes are in good condition, ready to launch at any time."

"Switch the engine to electric power!! Launch torpedoes three and four!!"

"Boom! Boom!" As the torpedo operator forcefully pressed the launch lever, two T5 modified torpedoes successively shot out of the torpedo tubes, plunging straight into the water.

Internally, powered by a hydrogen peroxide oxidizer, the engine assembly, driven by a piston-type diesel engine, rotated rapidly at an extremely low volume. With the propulsion of the power shooting out of the torpedo tubes, the nearly six-meter-long 533mm diameter standard body accelerated, reaching nearly 30 knots in no time. The sound induction mechanism in its head allowed it to detect the rapidly approaching liner immediately. Without hesitation, it lunged forward!

The "sound induction mechanism" was also why Kretschmer deliberately had the engine switched to electric power before launching torpedoes. These new T5 modified torpedoes all featured a sound guidance system, a fresh innovation. Unfortunately, the guidance system of that era wasn't very intelligent. Engineers warned them strictly not to launch these sound-guided torpedoes when the engine was diesel-powered because the enormous noise from the diesel engine might interfere with the torpedo's navigation system. This interference could cause them to circle around and return to destroy the launching submarine.

This was somewhat terrifying, getting hit by the torpedoes they shot out themselves would be quite miserable.

Therefore, the submarine commanders receiving these new torpedoes strictly followed the launching regulations.

At this moment, the sonar operator reported again, "Behind the liner, a high-speed destroyer is following! It's about to parallel the liner!"

A destroyer? Kretschmer frowned. He thought that using the secret weapon for the first time could take down a big fish, but how come a destroyer appeared? How many people could a destroyer carry? If this destroyer interfered with the torpedoes, it might be a bit of a loss.

"Reload the torpedoes quickly!" Otto habitually urged, but the submarines at that time didn't have modern electric hoists or hydraulic rods. Even reloading a single torpedo took more than ten minutes. By the time they finished reloading the new acoustic-guided torpedoes, the liner would likely have moved far away.

The six-meter-long giant rushed toward the target at high speed, resembling a shark. However, it detected a louder acoustic signal ahead, and the torpedo's pendulum control system adjusted its direction to align with the new target.

However, the destroyer had a steam turbine with 44,000 horsepower, racing forward at 35 knots. After chasing for a distance, the torpedo's acoustic guidance system found the sound signal of the target becoming weaker. Soon, it was replaced by the previous target. The pendulum control system adjusted its direction again, relocking onto the liner and ruthlessly colliding with it.

"Boom! Boom!"

The first torpedo struck the rapidly rotating propeller of the liner, causing a violent explosion!

In less than two seconds, the second torpedo also collided.

The slender stern of the ship burst apart like a steel dough, several meters destroyed on the spot. The propulsion system and stern rudder were instantly torn off the ship, the massive explosive force pushed the liner violently forward. Coupled with the compression from the front, it seemed like the giant hands of a skyscraper coming together, forcibly lifting the entire liner halfway out of the water. Then, the keel snapped and twisted in the middle, and the riveted steel plates kept breaking off with a vigorous "clang" sound, shooting out like bullets and shells in all directions!

The most unfortunate were the people at the stern of the liner. Double-squeezed by the shockwaves from two large explosions, their internal organs ruptured first. Then, the entire person, with the ship's twisting deformation, was squeezed into an unrecognizable mass among the steel, turning into fragments of minced meat. In just a few seconds, except for the boiler room inside, not a single person survived!

"What happened?!" Hearing the explosion, Montgomery rushed to the destroyer's deck, staring in astonishment at the towering flames behind.

The executive officer, who had already run to the deck, exclaimed, "The liner exploded! It must be a German submarine!" Such a huge explosion, it was either a sea mine or a torpedo; there could be no other explanation!

"Rescue the people!" Montgomery shouted without hesitation.

The executive officer decisively refused. "We can't stop! If we stop, we're done too!"

"Stop immediately and rescue people!" Montgomery grabbed the officer's collar, shouting loudly. His eyes were bloodshot, and he roared with gritted teeth, as if he wanted to swallow the executive officer. "There are over 7,000 wounded on board! Stop immediately and rescue them!"

The executive officer stubbornly insisted, "Sir, Commander Gort's final order was that no matter what happens, our ship cannot stop. We must ensure the safety of the people on board!"

"Boom! Boom!"

Just as Montgomery raised his fist to punch the guy, more intense explosions came from the rear.

The flames caused by the liner's explosion allowed Kretschmer to clearly see the target. Immediately, he fired two more conventional torpedoes.

With the towering flames from the explosion, Kretschmer vaguely saw the distant destroyer. However, the torpedo tubes had not yet been loaded with new torpedoes, and they couldn't catch up with the destroyer's speed. He could only reluctantly abandon the idea of pursuing.