Above Us the Waves Page #3

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A midget submarine.

You'll attack sitting in it, not on it.

And when l say attack, l mean attack.

The midgets carry four

tonnes of high explosive.

Were going to blow such a hole in

Tirpitz, shell never move again.

Quite comfortable down there?

It will be, Chief,

when Smart finds room for his feet.

Sorry about that, sir.

My head's not in your way, is it, sir?

- Diver in position.

- Yeah, about time too.

You're the only one who

can stand up straight.

I could if I was six inches shorter.

- Who's your No.1?

- Abercrombie. He's down here.

- He all right?

- Well, he is at the moment.

But he's a growing lad. I doubt if

we'll get him out in an hour's time.

- Where's that mad Irishman?

- Yeah. No engineer, Chief.

McCleery.

Aye, Chief.

- Hello, right on my barnet!

- Sorry, Ernie, boy.

What's the matter with X3?

- I'll ram em and sink em if they

don't hurry up. - All clear, sir.

- Everybody OK? No.1?

- Aye aye, sir.

- Engine?

- All set, sir.

- Diver?

- Spare a penny for the diver, sir.

Now, that's an idea. How do you

spend a penny in this contraption?

Lower purchase.

Carefully.

Handsomely.

- We don't want to blow the dockyard up.

- No, sir.

Stop purchase.

Right,

- Is it clear now?

- Yeah.

Hey!

- I thought they gave

you three weeks.

- They did. I knew it was

too good to be true.

Nobody gets three weeks

leave out of this navy.

Unless they're too sick to stand up.

- What's new?

- That is.

Why, it's a side cargo.

I've seen it before.

Yes, except that the

others were dummies.

This isn't.

Don't hit it, son. Two tons of

amatol makes an awful big bang.

No amount of hitting will affect it,

but we've heard nasty stories about leaks.

- Leaks in a side cargo?

- Sets it off.

Hey, there's another bit of news, too.

When we do go in,

the old man will lead the attack.

Yes, but when?

- Why muck up our leave?

- Better ask him yourself.

You're early, aren't you?

You weren't due back till 2359.

- Keen, sir. That's us.

- Good, start right away.

- Chubb, give these boys net

cutting practice. - Aye aye, sir.

Cor blimey, what a welcome!

J Skye Boat Song

J ..the sailors cry...

What'll you do after the war, Tom?

Just what I was doing before it, I suppose.

Go back into the family business.

Oh, what's that?

- Biscuits.

- Oh, biscuits.

You'll be bored stiff in

peace time after this.

There are worse things than being bored.

Especially if you've got

a wife and children.

What about you?

Me?

I'm going to buy me a little

boat and just sail it.

- Where?

- Anywhere.

Any place where the booze is cheap

and all the girls have got husbands.

Playing

- You know, it's dead funny...

- Ere, what is it?

Um, Deuces Wild, Aces to open.

It's dead funny, you know.

People at home still think I'm a steward.

Poor old Ernie - a hero in disguise.

Well, it's a bit rough, isn't it?

Cor blimey. I'll open and play these.

- What?

- I can't even tell my girl.

I wouldn't worry, Ernie.

- I'll take three.

- Right.

She'll probably pass you up, anyway,

for some lovely big RAF type. With wings.

I'll give him flippin wings if she does,

and a ruddy harp and all.

Come on, what are you going to do?

- I'll bet doubles.

- Don't be reckless.

Company

Shun.

Sit down, gentlemen.

I know where you're going, mate.

- Norway.

- Really?

The passage across the North Sea

will be made under tow.

His Majesty's submarines

Tiger, Tomahawk and Striker

are detailed for this operation.

The attack will be carried out

by three X-type submarines.

Commander Fraser Royal Navy, In X1,

will take charge of the entire operation.

For the purpose of the attack, X1 will

therefore become flotilla leader.

X2 will be commanded by Lieutenant Duffy,

Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve.

X3 will be commanded by lieutenant Corbett,

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

During the North Sea passage, each X-type

submarine will be manned by a passage crew.

The operational! Crews wll rest as much

as possible in (he towing submarines.

- Ship's head?

- O95, sir.

- Steer O98.

- Steer O98.

Together

- Group down.

- Group down.

- Blowing up a bit, isn't it?

- Yes, sir.

We're in the right submarine, then.

I wouldn't be a passage crew

for all the gin in Pompey.

- Depth?

- 7O feet.

- About time for our breath of air,

isn't it? - About half an hour yet.

Cor, what a job.

All the work and none of the glory.

Well, someone's got to do it.

"What did you do in the war, Dad?"

"I was towed across the North Sea."

"Sitting on my um... fat bottom, son."

Oh, ta, sir.

"ANNOUNCEMENT". Check A inboard vent.

Check A inboard vent.

I don't like leaving her behind.

Then take her, Digger.

The order said no personal effects.

Since when have you been

fussy about orders?

All right.

We'll be transferring you to your own craft

about 1800.

All right?

Diving stations in five minutes time.

Diving stations in five minutes time.

Second coxswain and dinghy party,

muster in the control room.

Second coxswain and dinghy party,

muster in the control room.

- Sir...

- Yes, sir?

What do you reckon they'll give us

for supper - chicken again?

Don't you ever think of

anything except food?

Well, I look at it this way, sir.

Either we get what's coming to us

and then we won't be

bothered by food no more

or else we do the job,

blow Tirpitz sky high,

get nicked by Jerry

and put in a prisoner of war camp.

What's all this about prison camps?

12 hours

after the attack you'll

be back in this sub.

Stuffing yourself with

I'll believe that when I do it, sir.

- You chaps ready?

- Yes, sir.

Down periscope.

If we transfer crews now

while there's a bit of light,

- I can tow you in another four miles.

- Fair enough.

Tell X3 we're surfacing to transfer crews.

Tell X3 we are surfacing

to transfer crews, sir.

I have a feeling those chaps

are going to be glad to see us.

- Stand by to surface.

- Stand by to surface.

Diving stations.

- Stand by to surface. Report main vents.

- Report main vents.

Open one, two, three, four,

five and six LP master blowers.

Open one, two, three, four, ve and six.

- Check all LP tank size.

- Check all LP tank size.

What's that funny smell, Dad?

- That's air, son.

- All right.

- All right, stand by to transfer.

- Aye aye, sir.

And about time too.

Give the ruddy Tirpitz an

extra kick from us?

Don't worry. We will.

- Good luck.

- Bye.

Rather you than me.

They've transferred crews all right.

Stand by! There's a ruddy

drift mine caught in the tow.

Hey.

Hold on to your hats.

There's a mine caught in our tow.

My God.

It's a mine! It's fouled the tow rope.

There's a mine on the tow.

Shut all water-tight doors.

I never could stand loud bangs.

Right, move along, there.

It's all right. You can take out

your ear plugs. She's gone.

- Corbett and Duffy have

transferred crews, sir. - Good.

- Well, we'd better love you and leave you.

- Yes, sir.

- Ship's head?

- 1'05, sir.

- Periscope depth?

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