Psychfilm
08-04-2005, 11:28 AM
~A lone U-Boat Captain fighting a battle of wits in the Atlantic…completely unarmed
Taken from the personal War Diary (Kriegstagebuch) of Captain J. Smitlack
Saturday
September 28, 1940
My desk job as Naval Attaché to Japan did not last long. In fact the ship I was on with the Japanese delegation did not even clear her moorings before I was fired. The delegation told Donitz that they were considering withdrawing from the Tripartite (Axis) Pact if I was not sent immediately to the front, hopefully in a job that would get me killed. Upon my return I was reassigned to U-1. Apparently no other crew had manned the boat since I left. The workers on the dock at Brest said it was because the other crews were afraid and that the ship was cursed but I know that the real reason was because I was an impossible act to follow. I just wish I knew why they delegation did not want me to go to Japan with them. I do not understand it.
I’ve been going over my every move. I boarded the transport ship and stowed my bags in my room. I met the delegation in the dinning hall for a tea ceremony where I said the greeting that the Chief Engineer, who had been crushed under the deck plates while Socko mutinied on U-1 (see Patrol 11), had prepared for me before we parted ways.
BAKA KA YARIMAN INPO OKAMA
After I said it the delegation was quiet for several moments before I was taken down below. They took turns beating the tar out of me before throwing me overboard. They did not realize though that the ship had not left the pier and instead of hitting the water and getting wet, I fell two stories and hit the concrete pier. I laughed up at them as the ambulance crew loaded me on the stretcher. I bet they thought I was going to get wet but boy o boy did I show them.
The Chief came to the hospital. He was there for his Metrazol Shock Treatment. Did he ever look surprised when he saw me. I told him to prepare U-1 to sail and to search Brest for a new deck chair. The Chief was so over come with emotion, probably because now that I was back I would take the awesome responsibility of commanding U-1 from his frail shoulders, that he covered my face with a pillow and pressed down… hard. As U-boat men we are forbidden from showing our emotions especially to one another. He is such a softy. As he was pressing the pillow into my face I heard him uttering over and over again.
“The boat was mine. You couldn’t sail your way out of wet paper bag. Die die die.”
He is such a kind soul. The Chief eventually pulled the pillow away from my face and staggered out of the room crying; probably off to inform the crew of my happy return, to prepare the boat for our next patrol and to find me a deck chair.
U-1 would be sailing soon. As I lay in that hospital bed thinking about our next patrol I could feel the salt water coursing through my veins again. It was invigorating. I called for a bedpan.
http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/53.gif
Well after a month off working on the book, which is coming along. Smitlack refused to leave me alone so I have decided to work on the Noob Patrols some more.
My gaming system is currently being revamped and upgraded. My wife and I are going to Michigan this weekend to pick it up. I’m hoping to have a patrol out sometime next week. I will also be playing around with Battlefield 2. I’m not sure if I’ll be posting stories on that forum or not yet. Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive. Feel free to respond and let me know what you’re thinking and feeling. Thanks.
Taken from the personal War Diary (Kriegstagebuch) of Captain J. Smitlack
Saturday
September 28, 1940
My desk job as Naval Attaché to Japan did not last long. In fact the ship I was on with the Japanese delegation did not even clear her moorings before I was fired. The delegation told Donitz that they were considering withdrawing from the Tripartite (Axis) Pact if I was not sent immediately to the front, hopefully in a job that would get me killed. Upon my return I was reassigned to U-1. Apparently no other crew had manned the boat since I left. The workers on the dock at Brest said it was because the other crews were afraid and that the ship was cursed but I know that the real reason was because I was an impossible act to follow. I just wish I knew why they delegation did not want me to go to Japan with them. I do not understand it.
I’ve been going over my every move. I boarded the transport ship and stowed my bags in my room. I met the delegation in the dinning hall for a tea ceremony where I said the greeting that the Chief Engineer, who had been crushed under the deck plates while Socko mutinied on U-1 (see Patrol 11), had prepared for me before we parted ways.
BAKA KA YARIMAN INPO OKAMA
After I said it the delegation was quiet for several moments before I was taken down below. They took turns beating the tar out of me before throwing me overboard. They did not realize though that the ship had not left the pier and instead of hitting the water and getting wet, I fell two stories and hit the concrete pier. I laughed up at them as the ambulance crew loaded me on the stretcher. I bet they thought I was going to get wet but boy o boy did I show them.
The Chief came to the hospital. He was there for his Metrazol Shock Treatment. Did he ever look surprised when he saw me. I told him to prepare U-1 to sail and to search Brest for a new deck chair. The Chief was so over come with emotion, probably because now that I was back I would take the awesome responsibility of commanding U-1 from his frail shoulders, that he covered my face with a pillow and pressed down… hard. As U-boat men we are forbidden from showing our emotions especially to one another. He is such a softy. As he was pressing the pillow into my face I heard him uttering over and over again.
“The boat was mine. You couldn’t sail your way out of wet paper bag. Die die die.”
He is such a kind soul. The Chief eventually pulled the pillow away from my face and staggered out of the room crying; probably off to inform the crew of my happy return, to prepare the boat for our next patrol and to find me a deck chair.
U-1 would be sailing soon. As I lay in that hospital bed thinking about our next patrol I could feel the salt water coursing through my veins again. It was invigorating. I called for a bedpan.
http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/53.gif
Well after a month off working on the book, which is coming along. Smitlack refused to leave me alone so I have decided to work on the Noob Patrols some more.
My gaming system is currently being revamped and upgraded. My wife and I are going to Michigan this weekend to pick it up. I’m hoping to have a patrol out sometime next week. I will also be playing around with Battlefield 2. I’m not sure if I’ll be posting stories on that forum or not yet. Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive. Feel free to respond and let me know what you’re thinking and feeling. Thanks.