U-505 page 13

 U-505 page 13 by ric gustafson

When a 250 pound bomb exploded on the foredeck of U-505, chaos ensued. The lights onboard went out. Every crew member was knocked off their feet. To the crew, it was as if a giant fist had slammed into the boat. Sea water was seeping into the engine room. Skipper Zschech and Second in Command Bode went up to the damaged bridge to inspect the damage. They noticed that Lieutenant Stolzenburg was unconscious on the deck. He had been wounded in the head and back.

The deck of the U-505 was a mess of steel and metal. The fuel tanks had been split open. Black oil was seeping into the ocean. With this much damage, Skipper Zschech contemplated abandoning ship. Then Chief Petty Officer Otto Fricke told Zschech  he could fix the hole in the hull. He also promised that he could use water pumps to get the sea water from the engine room. Zschech told Fricke to do whatever was necessary as far as repairs. 

When it was safe to do so, U-505 quietly started for home. 

Meanwhile, a new Chief Engineering Officer had been assigned to the USS Guadalcanal. The Skipper of the Guadalcanal was Captain Daniel Gallery. The name of the new officer was Earl Trosino.

research help: ' Codename Nemo' by Charles Lachman

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric