To the Last Salute: Memories of an Austrian U-Boat Commander

Twelve. Gasoline Stupor

hand signals to the other boat: “All boats lowered to waterline. Everyone ready to abandon ship! If the enemy comes in sight, this vessel will be sunk.” The tranquility aboard the vessel is visibly disturbed. The life boats, which for years had been hanging from their davits, appear hydrophobic, because it takes a long time before they are packed full with boxes and sacks and hang on the ship’s sides. But, undisturbed, U-boat and cargo vessel succeed in reaching the minefield in front of the Gulf of Cattaro. So that the freighter’s crew would not be able to locate the minefield, they are locked down below. The captain, who doesn’t know what that means, becomes afraid and screams, “He’s murdering us! He’s murdering us!” But he is reassured. A destroyer takes over and tows the freighter into the harbor. Everything had gone beautifully and bloodlessly—but at the last moment there is a casualty. One of the men manages to shoot himself in the foot when unloading his pistol! The only injury of the whole war on my boats. Twelve.Gasoline Stupor The lighthouse on Lagosta reports: “Twenty nautical miles out to sea toward Lagosta a light cruiser Quarto type sighted.” The same day U-5 leaves Rose. The Italians could have designs on the islands that extend up and down the Dalmatian coast and return! That evening the boat waits 20 nautical miles southeast of Lagosta . The night is misty; a severe thunderstorm approaches and bolts of lightning flash into the water one after another, blinding the eyes. The downpour destroys all visibility and it is pointless to stay above water. An attack is out of the question; at worst we might be rammed unexpectedly. For that reason, I decide to spend the night underwater. At the same time, that will spare the GASOLINE STUPOR 55 crew. Two at both rudders, two others for the electric motors and the bilge pump. All the others can sleep. It is very cozy on board. We are 25 meters below the surface, at the slowest speed that keeps the boat maneuverable. Everything is quiet, and only now and then the high pitch of the bilge pump interrupts the stillness. The pump must constantly empty the bilge, where incoming water collects through small, porous leaks. The underwater rest is especially beneficial to the mechanics, since they seldom rest. They can barely sleep their fill when the boat is in her harbor because there is so much work to do on the ancient engine. We two officers relieve each other, checking the depth as well as the course and letting the bilge pump work when the boat becomes too heavy. She should travel underwater at bare steerage, the diving rudder keeping her at the ordered depth. At dawn the boat resurfaces again. Everyone’s lungs need fresh air after the stifling atmosphere that developed overnight in the boat. 56 GASOLINE STUPOR Fig. 11. S.M.U. 5 at the dock in Comisa The thunderstorm has blown over, wind and sea have subsided , and the boat lies stopped while the engines charge the batteries and fill the air cylinders. A dark, thick bank of fog lies toward Italy; it slowly rolls toward the boat. It stands there like a wall, sharply contrasting with the blue of the sea. It is approximately only six miles away; therefore, we must keep watch in this direction. The men have made themselves comfortable on deck and smoke their long-awaited cigarettes. Some of them swim alongside the boat. Only those on watch are on the lookout. Suddenly the cry: “Shut off the engines—emergency dive— turn on the ventilators!” Like ripe plums the men drop into the boat through the tower. The deck is already awash as the last swimmer reaches the railing and dashes up and over to the conning tower. The hatch is barely closed as the sea rushes over the sinking boat. This all has happened so fast that the dive can be stopped only at 30 meters —and only then the boat is raised to periscope level. “What’s happened? Did you see something?” “Didn’t you see her? An Italian cruiser—Quarto type. All at once she was there in full view. She came through the fog as if it were a curtain. It’s a miracle they didn’t see...