Chapter 38: Successful Ambush

  What's it like to stay in a constantly shaking can? Many people may not have experienced it, but Zhang Hainuo has had this feeling more than once. This time, although it wasn't the strongest shock, the taste was still unbearable. At best, he felt dizzy and disoriented, at worst, he couldn't help but vomit nonstop, and if he wasn't careful, he would have a close encounter with hard objects.

  If you ask Zhang Hainuo what he gained after coming to U171, "endurance" must be ranked first. There is always danger, and there is never a moment when one can speak out loud; under such circumstances, one minute feels like an hour, an hour feels like a day, and so on.

  At this moment, Zhang Haino's greatest hope was not in himself, but in those two German submarines that were approaching the British fleet. As long as they launched a torpedo on their side, U171 would be rescued from its predicament just like the State of Zhao in the story of "Surrounding Wei to Rescue Zhao".

  At this moment, Zhang Hainuo felt that he was a person with great sacrifice spirit and high professional ethics, just like an undercover agent or a hunting dog in the movies. However hard it was, however tired he was, he would endure for victory!

  Under the prayers of Zhang Haino and all U171 crew members, the turning point finally arrived. When explosions were heard from a distance on the sea surface, although the British did not immediately stop dropping bombs on their heads, the frequency was significantly reduced. Half an hour later, even the last British warship gave up attacking this "ninja submarine".

  "Alright, boys, now it's our turn to show off!" Zhang Haino stood up and stretched his slightly sore muscles, saying confidently to the crew.

  At 5:12, with the belated arrival of U-145, this collective sea hunt had no suspense. The sea surface was littered with large patches of black oil pollution, various floating objects, sinking or capsizing ships, and thousands of people who had fallen into the water. Although the light on the sea surface had gradually brightened, people's line of sight was almost blocked by the thick smoke of various burning objects.

  The convoy formation of the British was already gone, and the surviving freighters could only rely on their own speed to leave this sea of death as soon as possible. Those British cruisers and destroyers were like sheepdogs encountering a wolf pack, exerting all their strength but still unable to stop the enemy from hunting down their own sheep, and they also had to be constantly on guard against those torpedoes that came shooting out from some corner at any time!

  After firing the last torpedo on board, Zhang Haino and his U171 silently observed those helpless British warships under the sea in a corner of the war. If there were more German submarines participating in the siege, he believed that this battle could even wipe out the entire convoy.

  The battle was declared over before sunrise, although the German U-boats had the advantage underwater. Nevertheless, seven British freighters managed to escape. Five German U-boats sank nearly half of the convoy's ships, with a total tonnage of over 50,000 tons sunk, judging by their size.

  In the month just past, the German U-boat fleet achieved a monthly total of 850,000 tons, the highest in history since the start of the war. On average, each German submarine sank about 5,000 tons of enemy ships, but in the last 24 hours, Zhang Haino and his crew averaged sinking 10,000 tons of British ships per submarine!

  Perhaps it was the torpedoes darting back and forth on the surface of the sea that frightened them, or perhaps they were worried that those escaping merchant ships would be sunk by other German submarines without naval escort. The British light cruisers and destroyers did not dare to stay here for a long time. After dropping lifeboats and life rings, they disappeared hastily at the end of their sight.

  "After surfacing, the deck gun crew rushed to their respective combat positions at the fastest speed. Without my order, no one is allowed to open fire!" After finishing these words, Zhang Haino snapped back the periscope, "Surface!"

  On the sea surface, some survivors had boarded the warship and left the lifeboats behind, but they did not forget their companions who were still floating in the water, so they rowed back and forth to rescue other survivors.

  When a huge black thing emerged from the water, a wooden lifeboat that could hold 20 people was not far away on the sea surface. The British sailors had just rescued a seriously injured survivor from the water. The sudden appearance of that black shadow in their line of sight was like the sharp blade of the Grim Reaper's scythe, both dazzling and terrifying. A terrible killing machine with such simple lines, the smooth outer wall with water marks was like the skin of a whale, but it emitted a frightening cold light under the sunlight.

  Before the British sailors had time to think, they saw a group of German crew members rushing onto the deck. Those people were extremely skilled at removing the waterproof canvas from the deck guns and machine guns. In no time, the dark muzzles were aimed at this side.

  "Oh God..." A young British sailor immediately fainted.

  In the sea breeze, the German Navy war flag was fluttering.

  Most of the British sailors were focused on that terrible big gun, and few people noticed a young German lieutenant standing on the conning tower of this submarine, calmly watching all this on the surface.

  On the lifeboat, an older British sailor clasped his hands together and muttered to himself: "You will suffer what you are about to suffer. The devil is going to put some of you in prison to test you, and you will be tried for ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life..."

  Germans are devils, more brutal than beasts. British newspapers always portray Germans in this way, and over time many Britons have formed similar views. So when the big gun was aimed at them, all these British sailors were stunned, unable to resist, and it was impossible to escape at such a distance.

  "Simon, will the Navy send a submarine supply ship to the Atlantic?"

  "No, Lieutenant! Our surface ships cannot pass through the Strait of Dover or the British patrol line in the North Sea!"

  "So you're saying we can only head back after using up all our torpedoes?"

  "I'm afraid so!"

  "Then go up and see if there are any British naval officers upstairs, I think we can catch one or two valuable prisoners to take back!"

  "Yes, Lieutenant!"

  "Oh, and give them a jug of water, so they can at least hold on until the rescue ships arrive!"

  "Are you sure about this, Lieutenant?"

  "Yes, just do as I say!"