Paukenschlag! Hardegen Hits near New York - WDS Wolfpack
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| Rating: | 0 (0) |
| Games Played: | 0 |
| SM: | 1 |
| Turns: | 2 |
| Type: | Stock |
| First Side: | Allied (NC_WP) |
| Second Side: | German (NC_WP) |
Paukenschlag! January 14, 1942
Paukenschlag, the first U-boat offensive operation along the North American Eastern seaboard was given a start date of January 13, 1942. Due to heavy weather, only one boat was in position and attacked that day. U-123, under Kplt Reinhard Hardegen, actually began his attacks early, on January 11, using the implied directive from Doenitz: "We will never let a 10,000 tonner go by."
Now on January 14, Hardegen reached his assigned operating area near the busy seaway off New York Harbor. Hardegen was dumbfounded when he saw the lights of shore and city blazing with abandon. Ships with full running lights steamed to and fro with no thought of escort or convoy. The American seaport of New York continued life as if war was only a distant rumbling far over the horizon. That was about to change.
Not long after midnight, Hardegen stalked and lined up in his "sights" the hapless Norwegian tanker Norness. He took her with torpedoes, staying in the vicinity to deliver a coup de grace and send her flaming to the bottom near Montauk Point, Long Island.
Retreating and lying low, submerged on the bottom, Hardegen passed the hours until darkness again brought near-invisibility to the U-boat as she again rose to hunt. It would not take long. Hardegen spotted the British Tanker Coimbra, again with lights burning and taking little precaution even after the Norness' sinking the previous night. Hardegen approached with skill and put two torpedoes into her. January 14 was not a good day for the sailors near New York.
Scenario Note: This scenario conflates these two attacks. Also, nighttime visibility is greater than actual due to the merchant ships steaming with full navigational lights. Good hunting, Kapitän!
Paukenschlag, the first U-boat offensive operation along the North American Eastern seaboard was given a start date of January 13, 1942. Due to heavy weather, only one boat was in position and attacked that day. U-123, under Kplt Reinhard Hardegen, actually began his attacks early, on January 11, using the implied directive from Doenitz: "We will never let a 10,000 tonner go by."
Now on January 14, Hardegen reached his assigned operating area near the busy seaway off New York Harbor. Hardegen was dumbfounded when he saw the lights of shore and city blazing with abandon. Ships with full running lights steamed to and fro with no thought of escort or convoy. The American seaport of New York continued life as if war was only a distant rumbling far over the horizon. That was about to change.
Not long after midnight, Hardegen stalked and lined up in his "sights" the hapless Norwegian tanker Norness. He took her with torpedoes, staying in the vicinity to deliver a coup de grace and send her flaming to the bottom near Montauk Point, Long Island.
Retreating and lying low, submerged on the bottom, Hardegen passed the hours until darkness again brought near-invisibility to the U-boat as she again rose to hunt. It would not take long. Hardegen spotted the British Tanker Coimbra, again with lights burning and taking little precaution even after the Norness' sinking the previous night. Hardegen approached with skill and put two torpedoes into her. January 14 was not a good day for the sailors near New York.
Scenario Note: This scenario conflates these two attacks. Also, nighttime visibility is greater than actual due to the merchant ships steaming with full navigational lights. Good hunting, Kapitän!
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