To BdU from U-554

 Just spent the best part of 90 minutes attempting to sink a small merchant in a storm. I hit with my second torpedo then missed with my next three. Number six turned out to be a charm though and it went down by the stern. I've now made it into my area of operations 'AL35', burned up over an eighth of my diesel however so, will have to cut my patrol time a little shorter then I would like.

                                                    Hagen

To BdU from U-568

Successfully infiltrated MERTHYR harbour and sank troopship (Passenger Liner) with one torpedo in calm seas. Sank C3 Cargo and left MERTHYR undetected. Now between Ireland and England, enroute to LOCH EWES in search of Royal Navy tonnage.

Expect this to be last message, possibly forever. Prost!

NEW MESSAGE RECIEVED.

Today's machine settings:
M4 UKW: C
Walzen: Gamma III V VIII
Ringstellung: I-09 L-12 S-19 T-20
Stecker: AO BE DV FX GI JZ KN LP RU SW

Message:
EBJL XURI =
VTFM CLKK LJJN FYWP SFBR NRHV LQMW EUIK ROQP PVFG OOTT VOFO FIJN UVVE UABY XBRY UHXS QZHC HYXZ DODT KFOK QTMV LHVE OUVW AEYC FMNT BAOG RBTB VRHZ KIJQ ZMUG NOCV TVTD GJYK LSAQ BLKW AYLW AVOM DDQR AYEF UGZH QXE

Message Ends.

--

And for those of you not willing to screw with the "Enigma Simulator" which currently has a death-grip on my mind, I've just returned from Loch Ewes. U-568 and this particular KptLt has successfully destroyed HMS Illustrious, which is a fleet carrier. An unknown Bogue-class escort carrier was also destroyed, and a Fiji light cruiser was damaged but I ran out of torpedoes. Aiming for the sweet spot works, but only if you don't "waste" torpedoes outside the harbour on enemy escorts and large merchantmen before going inside to kill the big boys.

For those of you who are currently decoding the above message, keep in mind that the first four are to decode the second four so you can get the message key to use as your new start settings before you start decoding the body of the message. And remember to hit "F1" and see how the Germans used the machine to fully comprehend the abbreviations I have used above.

  To BdU from U-554

           Found convoy, but short on torpedos. Driven under twice by destroyer escort, depth charged both ocassions. No damage, sank American C3 cargo. Out of torpedos. Returning St. Nazairre

                                 Hagen

 To BdU from U-554

          Have almost reached assigned patrol area, "AL35" again. Third evening out ran across unescorted British T2 tanker. Herr Churchill is now missing 10,000+ tonnes of tanker.

                                 Hagen

  To BdU from U-554

               Shadowing large convoy, dark in approx. 90 mins. Will surface and commence attack then.

                              Hagen

Like the rest of you, I have been blown away by this simulator's graphics and realism.  Haven't sunk a damned thing because I have spent all the time looking at the pretty skimmers through the periscope.  Have you tried the mission to protect the Bismark (the most magnificent ship ever created)?  The shells that hit you within a few moments of poking the periscope out of the water are unbelievable and the sea effects are amazing.  Do you find yourselves swaying gently when on the bridge surfaced?