The night was calm. A warm wind was blowing slightly from the desert of Sinai, as soon as the rippling waters of the Strait of Goubal. The cold rainy mists of Glasgow were far, miles behind the stern of the large cargo ship.
Angus, the second driver, taking advantage of the unexpected break, went up on deck to smoke a cigarette in peace and away from the heat of the engine room.
Also in October, the Sinai is a warm, very warm, yet to Angus seemed almost cold in comparison to the engine room of hell.
Angus, the second driver, taking advantage of the unexpected break, went up on deck to smoke a cigarette in peace and away from the heat of the engine room.
Also in October, the Sinai is a warm, very warm, yet to Angus seemed almost cold in comparison to the engine room of hell.
The Thistlegorm was a new ship. Launched a few months before, still had the scent of oil, and fresh paint mix that characterizes the ships launched recently.
Yes, Angus reminded the pitfalls and the cold North Atlantic, where the Thistlegorm had already completed two crossings, to stock up by the Yanks, the materials needed to continue the war.
At least, thought Angus, here in the Red Sea does not have to worry about the fucking U-Boot .... my hat off, those Krauts are really brave, but he's not sure she wanted to end up soaking in the icy North Atlantic ... at least here the water was hot ....
Okay, what kind of talk ... the trip around Africa was quiet, and once out of range of German submarines, the days were followed in the boredom of routine. All ships in the “K” convoy en route to bring to the boys of Monty needed to see the white mice to Afrika Korp ‘s Krauts , were anchored in the night dark and velvety.
Yes, Angus reminded the pitfalls and the cold North Atlantic, where the Thistlegorm had already completed two crossings, to stock up by the Yanks, the materials needed to continue the war.
At least, thought Angus, here in the Red Sea does not have to worry about the fucking U-Boot .... my hat off, those Krauts are really brave, but he's not sure she wanted to end up soaking in the icy North Atlantic ... at least here the water was hot ....
Okay, what kind of talk ... the trip around Africa was quiet, and once out of range of German submarines, the days were followed in the boredom of routine. All ships in the “K” convoy en route to bring to the boys of Monty needed to see the white mice to Afrika Korp ‘s Krauts , were anchored in the night dark and velvety.
Angus broke away from the rail, and headed towards the stern, where the two FLAKs gun, poor protection in case of attack, were in position, with their caps screwed on the fly well.
That stop at the reef of Sha'ab Ali was welcomed ... After the brief stop in Cape Town for the supply of coal (no time to spend a night on the ground, in good company with a nice cold pint ...), was pleasant to wait for the Royal Navy ended to remove the mines that Krauts threw in the channel.
The night went quiet, was now October 6 ... All quiet on the deck officer on the bridge, stretched, yawning loudly. There is little to do at night on a boat moored, even if it is at war ... the crew, with few exceptions, slept.
That stop at the reef of Sha'ab Ali was welcomed ... After the brief stop in Cape Town for the supply of coal (no time to spend a night on the ground, in good company with a nice cold pint ...), was pleasant to wait for the Royal Navy ended to remove the mines that Krauts threw in the channel.
The night went quiet, was now October 6 ... All quiet on the deck officer on the bridge, stretched, yawning loudly. There is little to do at night on a boat moored, even if it is at war ... the crew, with few exceptions, slept.
With a loud yawn, Angus proceeded to descend toward the engine room, to make a final check of the boiler before being allowed a few hours of sleep. He loved that ship, even though new, was a ship safe, modern and fast ... wow, 12 knots, the fastest of the convoy.
Launched his cigarette butt into the water, Angus took the direction of the aft hatch, just past the officers' quarters, where silence reigned ...
... silence ....
... silence ... a moment, there is a buzz away to the north ... to be a scout? A roar too low to be a patrol boat of the Royal Navy ....
Gone ... perhaps some airplane far to the north, the wind makes bad jokes at times.
Angus slipped down the narrow hatch, where the sounds of the big ship prevented him from hearing the buzz grow up to become a tremendous roar.
All of a sudden, hell. Sirens, gunshots, people running real anti-aircraft pieces,shouted commands, fire, fire.
Angus went running instead of fighting, fire hose at the starboard boiler room ... had not had time to wear a life jacket, but he thought that was the problem child.
An air attack, no doubt ... I wonder if the concentrated fire of the entire convoy will be able to pull down some Kraut ... from which they come, the cursed ..? From Crete ...no doubt a spy has given the position of the train ...
A terrible blow! A blast! Stroked, stroked... but where accidents? The hold no. 4 is full of explosives !. We must immediately operate the pumps ...
Launched his cigarette butt into the water, Angus took the direction of the aft hatch, just past the officers' quarters, where silence reigned ...
... silence ....
... silence ... a moment, there is a buzz away to the north ... to be a scout? A roar too low to be a patrol boat of the Royal Navy ....
Gone ... perhaps some airplane far to the north, the wind makes bad jokes at times.
Angus slipped down the narrow hatch, where the sounds of the big ship prevented him from hearing the buzz grow up to become a tremendous roar.
All of a sudden, hell. Sirens, gunshots, people running real anti-aircraft pieces,shouted commands, fire, fire.
Angus went running instead of fighting, fire hose at the starboard boiler room ... had not had time to wear a life jacket, but he thought that was the problem child.
An air attack, no doubt ... I wonder if the concentrated fire of the entire convoy will be able to pull down some Kraut ... from which they come, the cursed ..? From Crete ...no doubt a spy has given the position of the train ...
A terrible blow! A blast! Stroked, stroked... but where accidents? The hold no. 4 is full of explosives !. We must immediately operate the pumps ...
Not even a minute to do these considerations ... a terrible explosion raises the ship from the water, one of two locomotives to read the board amidships like a bullet in the dark sky ... The order preventorium abandon ship ....
Down in the warm water and then swim, swims away ... the ship can blow at any moment.
A Lightning. An explosion. The Thistlegorm sink into the waters of the Red Sea, carrying 6 crew members.
Angus, on the deck of another merchant convoy, looking with tears in his eyes his beloved ship resting on the bottom of the sea.
Down in the warm water and then swim, swims away ... the ship can blow at any moment.
A Lightning. An explosion. The Thistlegorm sink into the waters of the Red Sea, carrying 6 crew members.
Angus, on the deck of another merchant convoy, looking with tears in his eyes his beloved ship resting on the bottom of the sea.
Bulletin of the Admiralty of His Majesty, October 7, 1941
"... precious supplies for our troops engaged in North Africa continue to be received without a stop at the headquarters in Alexandria, Egypt. Yesterday, a convoy we lamented the loss of a merchant ship and 6 crew members. Our reaction resulted in the downing of a German bomber, allegedly took off from the island of Crete ... "
another day of war, October 6, 1941
(..to be continued...)
Capitan A
