Reluctant Hero

Prologue

This story is a rewrite of a story I previously wrote entitled “Coming Home.” I have used many of the same characters but the plot has changed significantly. It is as far as possible historically accurate although of course the characters and the plot are fictional.

The Nazi U Boat threat in 1941 was gradually strangling the UK supply lines and Merchant shipping was being sunk faster than they could be replaced. The Germans were using their U Boats to great effect, and had introduced a new type of submarine called a Milch Cow which could re- supply U Boats with fuel food and ammunition to keep them at sea for much longer periods. The Milch cows had designated areas in the Atlantic where they would appear at pre-arranged times.

These areas were well beyond the zones in which the RAF and coastal command could operate and so they were relatively safe from interference. The Royal navy tried their best to destroy the Milch cows and much of the Royal navies Submarine Service was employed increasingly in anti-submarine operations.

Something had to be done to counter this threat. This story is based on one fictional and futile attempt to break the German stranglehold. At the time such an attempt in these circumstances would have probably been considered. This operation would as the story tells us have been made fruitless by HMS Bulldog capturing an Enigma machine on the 9th May 1941 from U110.

The crew of U110 were relatively inexperienced and abandoned their boat before ensuring that she would sink before being boarded. A very brave boarding party from HMS Bulldog boarded the U Boat and captured the Enigma machine and other documents. It became a turning point in the war and very gradually the Royal Navy and the Commonwealth Navies who were very much involved in the sea war were able to gradually get on top of the U Boat threat.

The following story tries to be historically correct. There was no Royal Naval Submarine called HMS Tenacious to my knowledge, but there was however a destroyer of that name. On which I served for a short time. The story which I have written and submitted for your enjoyment is purely fictional. I served in the HM Submarine service for three years and I also have a good working knowledge of the geography of Germany, and the low countries which I have used in this story.

I am using the Oxford English dictionary which probably irritates US readers, but as my spell check has US parentage, the story is balanced in a few places by US spelling.

Sirdar

The Reluctant Hero
Chapter One
By Sirdar

It was a dark and windy night in April 1941, there was a strong sea running and spray occasionally wet the bridge crew as the patrolling T class submarine HMS Tenacious was just about to make her first sweep on the surface of their patrol area just off Ushant. Intermittent driving spray lashed the faces of the bridge crew. The Captain Lt Commander Tony Nash had just ordered a running charge to be started on the batteries, and the lookouts and machine gunners were closed up on the bridge. This was just the sort of night that German U Boats would consider ideal for slipping out of their base for the open sea, to attack the Atlantic convoys.

Below in the control room the asdic operators listened intently, to see if they could distinguish any propeller noises. On the surface they were highly vulnerable as were all submarines, but they must recharge the batteries, and although they could now have a hot meal, and use the toilet and have a quick clean of the boat as far as was humanly possible, they were all ready to dive again at a seconds notice if necessary.

Down below the Chef had started cooking breakfast off tinned sausages, tinned tomatoes (known affectionately as read lead), and powdered egg, and the off watch members of the crew were enjoying their first cigarette for over twelve hours. Even a few non smokers were stood around in the control room reveling in their first breath of fresh air, as the two powerful sixteen cylinder diesel engines sucked the chill night air down into the control room, quickly getting rid of the foul air, and diesel fumes which accumulated in a submarine during a long dive.

As was normal most submarines turned night into day as far as possible, although it was now about 10.00pm, they knew that Breakfast would be their first meal on surfacing and a hot dinner would, if possible be served t about 4.00 am before they dived for the day.

The Leading Signalman Mark Andrews came down from the conning tower to the control room to be replaced by a lookout as he slipped out of his Ursula suit and safety belt and made his way forward to his mess. He was always the first on the bridge with the Captain when they surfaced in case he had to reply to a challenge from another ship. Now Mark like the others were looking forward to getting dry, and having a hot meal. He knew that he could be recalled at any instant to the bridge. The dreaded cry “Signalman on the Bridge.” always kept him tense and experience told him this was such a night when he could be called upon quite easily.

When the Captain was confident that the boat had sufficient buoyancy then he would hand over the watch to one of the junior officers, and he himself would be looking forward very much to a hot breakfast. If the night went without incident, then they would dive again with full batteries just before dawn, followed by a day when they cruised at a bout three knots dived, watching and waiting. The off duty crew members sleeping and conserving air until dusk, when they would prepare to surface once again.

In the wireless office Peter Mowbray the Leading Telegraphist was listening and waiting to see if any signals would be broadcast for them. Suddenly he stiffened, and reached for his pencil as their call sign came over the air. He started writing rapidly taking down the blocks of code in a message addressed to them. It was soon decoded by the signals officer and taken to the Captain.

It was a recall, but not back to their depot ship, but to HMS Dolphin the Submarine home base at Portsmouth. The message was stressing the need for them to return with all dispatch. The Captain Tony Nash called for the navigating officer, and asked him to set a course for Portsmouth and within a few moments HMS Tenacious had left her patrol area and was ’cracking on’ at full speed for Portsmouth harbour still with her full load of torpedoes intact.