The Plot Behind U-SSN 881
North Sea, off the port of Scapa Flow
By morning the next day, Nathan Banks and John Brooks were awoken by the sudden shift on the HMS Belfast, Captain Robert Strokes was taking the Royal Naval ship out into the North Atlantic, along with several other hunter-killer destroyers and light cruisers in search for the rogue German submarine. Banks and Brooks, once dressed, walked quickly to the bridge where Captain Strokes looked back to the ports of Scapa Flow, remembering the first time (as a junior officer) he left the ports of Scapa Flow during war-time.
As Banks and Brooks entered, the captain was having flashbacks of the great naval battle between the Germans and Royal Navy in the North Sea, 1941. He saw the might of the Kriegsmarine, seven battleships in all, firing deadly projectiles against the British Home Fleet of nine battleships and two carriers. Despite the advantage, the British were caught off guard and their carriers didn’t play an important role during the battle. The captain flashed back to the moment he was that youthful lieutenant, right next to his captain who was shouting orders only moments before the traumatic experience. As Captain Strokes turned to receive the orders, a German shell from the KMS Bismarck, or the KMS Scharnhorst ripped through the bridge. The explosion was so great, it rocked the heavy cruiser HMS Kent through the waters. When Strokes stumbled to his feet, bleeding from his face and arms, all that was left of the captain (and for that matter much of the officer corps in the bridge) was a pile of red water.
“Captain,” said Nathan Banks, interrupting the captain’s flashback to war. “Captain, I would like to know where your nearest free radio is, and what the hell your mission is. I need to keep the USS Midway informed of the situation that might be unfolding in the North Sea – they’re currently steaming for the Irish Sea, the United States Sixth Fleet. Sir? Sir?”
The captain turned around, “Lieutenant Wells,” he called out. The British officer responded.
“Yes captain,” replied Lt. Wells.
“Take Nathan Banks and Jonathon Brooks to the free radio in the cabin deck. Show them how to connect and work that bloody bastard, and inform them on our intention of finding that damn submarine and blowing it kingdom come.”
“Aye captain,” replied Lt. Wells
“Rule Britannia,” finished Captain Strokes as he took his spyglass from his desk and peered out into the ocean in hopes to locate the lost German U-Boat.
In the halls, Lt. Wells, informed the duo (Banks and Brown) about the current plan of attack for the Royal Navy. “Just this morning, Prime Minister Attlee and the Naval Arm Ministry has granted us clearance to engage the German submarine. How is that possible, the German Chancellery has given us clearance to, if we find her, to destroy her as the German Navy is on the same mission; but of course, they’re light years behind us in technology and hunter-killer tactics,” chuckled the British lieutenant.
“Please tell me you have battle experience?” asked John Brooks.
“Of course, I served in Southeast Asia from 1944 until 1945, and then stationed in the Home Fleet from 1946 until the end of the war.”
“Thank God,” whispered Banks into Brooks’ ear.
“Here we are,” said Lt. Wells, pulling out the radio, quickly informing them on how to use it. As he did, an alarm was signaled by the Bridge, “All hands, man your battle stations!”
In a flash, the crew of the light cruiser, HMS Belfast, jumped to positions, just as Captain Strokes was looking out into the sea, quickly clearing of a light fog to show a small and nimble shadow in the distance. As the fog quickly vanished, it became obvious that the HMS Belfast had found the U-SSN 881, which had surfaced during the storm late last night that past over the seas resulting in the fog. Most of the crew was on the decks, and in a heartbeat, the two rivaling crews were facing off against each other.
“Batteries one and two, proceed and fire on my command,” said Captain Strokes.
On the U-SSN 881, Captain Kruger shouted orders to his men, ordering them all back inside the ship and ordering Captain Gysae to dive immediately, regardless of who was still on the ship’s prow. As Captain Gysae and the crew rushed back into the hull, Lieutenant Kress and a few other sailors broke into the emergency armory box, stationed directly to the left of the 120mm gun at the bow of the ship, still distinguished were the new super subs that the ministry had ordered an upgrade weapon on their new U-Boat fleet, just as a precautionary measure that the “pride” of the Kriegsmarine wouldn’t be a sitting duck when surfaced.
“Lieutenant what the hell are you doing?” cried out Captain Gysae. Just as he completed, a round from the HMS Belfast hit the waters, no less than twenty feet away from the U-Boat, the water mound that shot into the air came down, soaking Captain Kruger and those who remained on the deck. Another shell from the HMS Belfast struck about the same distance away from the U-Boat as before, causing Lt. Ruth to slip as he was returning to the hull.
Inside the HMS Belfast, Captain Strokes ordered the forward batteries to unleash all shells onto the target, also ordering all minor batteries and anti-aircraft guns to do the same. As the ship began to rock with the force of a volley from the light cruiser’s 6-inch guns, Nathan Banks and John Brooks were rushing back to the bridge through the crowded and noisy halls. As they entered the bridge, Lt. Wells prevented them from reaching the captain under this time of battle. An argument broke out between the three men, as it began to spike, Lt. Wells pulled out his service sidearm and nervously pointed at the two agents.
“The captain can’t see you right now,” he mouthed, unable to be heard by Banks and Brooks as the ship unleashed another volley of her six inch guns, one of which stroke the top end of the U-SSN 881 radar’s antenna; causing the ship to lose all radar abilities as the shell took the tip of the ship, but didn’t explode because of the thin metal material that it struck, contrast to the heavy metal hull of the ship.
“Lieutenant, get your ass back into the ship!”
“I will not have this ship shot out from beneath me!” replied Lt. Kress to Cpt. Kruger. “Fire!”
The crew working with Lt. Kress, which included Lt. Conrad, fired the 120mm gun at the HMS Belfast, striking the ship in the side of the hull, causing a major dent and explosion, but not penetrating the ship’s side armor. It did do enough damage to knock out two of the ships AA guns, and wound 9 sailors, none of which would die.
Captain Kruger walked up to the lieutenant and the crew, “Get back in the ship!” Just as he said that, a six inch shell struck a few feet away from the U-SSN 881. The resulting explosion caused three of the sailors to be knocked unconscious and into the water. As that happened, the anti-aircraft guns started firing on the submarine. The captain abandoned the lieutenant and his little operation and headed back to the hull, the U-SSN 881 was already starting to descend. As it did, Lt. Kress and Conrad looked at one another and decided to abandon the gun too, as did the crew assisting them.
“What about those men captain?”
“Leave them.”
With that the crew of the U-SSN 881 was filing into the hull, the ship was moments away from submerging. As Lt. Conrad was rushing towards the hull, he slipped, hitting his head on the deck and blacked out as a result. Lt. Kress looked back at him, then looked back at Cpt. Kruger who was waiving for him to get inside.
“Come on, come on!”
Lt. Kress backtracked, rushed back for Lt. Conrad, picking him up and bringing him into the hull of the submarine just as it submerged. “Get inside,” replied Cpt. Kruger as he closed the hatch just as water was pouring into the submarine. Kruger made his way to Cpt. Gysae, soaking wet, his navy-blue uniform tainted black by the water of the North Sea. “Dive!”
Back on the HMS Belfast, Captain Strokes ordered the HMS Tribal, now assisting the light cruiser to prepare for depth charges, then, “Lieutenant, give the orders and prepare for depth charges,” stated Cpt. Strokes, looking at Nathan Banks and John Brooks as he exited the bridge and made his way to the decks of the ship to inspect the minor damage done to his vessel.