The Ocean Liner

The Western Approaches

It was U-113’s youngest crewmember, a hydrophone operator, who first picked up the sound of a four-screw ship. He sent for the First Watch Officer.

‘A destroyer?’ Hufnagel asked, holding the earphone to his ear.

The operator shook his head. ‘She’s still too far away to tell. Around twenty miles. We need to submerge and stop engines to be sure.’

‘Very well.’

Hufnagel went to Todt’s cabin with the request. Todt got out of his bunk and gave the order. U-113 submerged to twenty meters and turned off all her engines. Hanging motionless in the dark sea, the U-boat’s crew were silent while the hydrophone and radio operators listened to the swishing in their headphones and made careful calculations.

After fifteen minutes, they had an answer. ‘It’s not a warship. We think it’s either a tanker or a liner.’

Furthermore, they had triangulated the position and bearing of the other vessel as lying almost directly on the U-boat’s track. Four screws meant a large vessel, at least fifteen thousand tons. The atmosphere on board changed. Emerging from his sulk, Kapitän-leutnant Todt ordered the torpedomen out of the engine room and into their natural habitat, to check over the monsters and ensure that this time there were to be no errors.

Hufnagel, too, felt the thrill of excitement. To return with at least one major prize might redeem his career.

He and Todt went up on to the bridge. U-113 was now making full speed to intersect with the target vessel. She surged through the swells as though eager for the appointment. The night was foggy and very dark, with no moon. They were heading closer to the enemy coast with every minute that passed.

‘We’ll reach her at about 05:00 hours,’ Todt said. ‘My intention is to get this done in darkness and be gone before the British can respond.’

‘I agree.’

Todt hugged himself against the intense cold. ‘Make no mistake, Hufnagel. This is our chance.’

Hufnagel nodded but said nothing.