The Raid of the Submarines
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dropped U-32 for its attack on enemy submarine flotilla and proceeded cautiously. It had previously been arranged that U-30 should attack the easterly and U-31 the westerly gates. Sighted Gatun locks; and, as it was necessary to destroy both outer gate and inner guard gate, U-30 and U-31 each fired the four bow torpedoes in quick succession. To make sure of destroying the inner (guard) gates, we turned through 180 degrees so as to bring our stern tubes to bear, when each boat fired two more torpedoes.[1]
We then rose to the surface, coupled up engines, and drove ahead at 18 knots. As I approached Cristobal, saw several columns of water rise from the docks, indicating that U-31 was attacking the
- ↑ The Panama Canal being wrecked and incapable of operation, the pre-dreadnought fleet of the U. S. Navy was now separated by 14,000 miles of water from its main fleet.
