The Storm Whisperer 

By Lee Kendrick 

Captain Mallory, over the years, has grown accustomed to knowing the tell-tale signs of when a storm is coming; not just through his knowledge of meteorology, but by developing an acute sensitivity. Some would say he has a sixth sense when a storm is on its way. His body becomes electrically charged to the point that he gets goosebumps and the hairs stand up on his arms and the back of his neck.

Ever since he was a boy of eight he had a knack of foreseeing a storm just by looking outside at the sky from the window of his parents home back in Scotland. He would shout out– “there will be a storm in a short while!” And maybe ten minutes later a storm would be overhead.

Twenty years later, now a captain on the SS Endeavour, part of a convoy of 15 ships including six destroyers, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, carrying vital supplies to Great Britain in World War II.

The Captain was aware that there was a wolf-pack out there in the ocean ready to pounce at any moment. These deadly U-boats need fine weather to fire their torpedoes with accuracy. They would fire them at periscope depth or even float to the surface and launch their torpedoes at the convoy.

However, this would also be dangerous for the U- boat if a Swordfish-a Biplane spotted them they would drop their deadly torpedo, bombs or fire rockets, blasting them out of the water.

What Captain Mallory was praying for 

was bad weather to keep the U-Boats at bay. But this would be hazardous to the convoy, including the destroyers escorting them.

“Captain sir, the destroyers have picked up a U-boat close by on their sonar” Said the radio officer.

“That's okay, the storm will stop them.” Said the captain, smiling.

“Steady as she goes.” 

“Aye aye Captain” the Quartermaster said, raising an eyebrow as he gripped the ship's wheel. Thinking …back in the olden days the Captain would've been burnt at the stake for believing a storm was approaching without any sign of one...only to then appear!

“Keep me posted if you hear anymore about that sub, officer?” Said Captain Mallory, grabbing his binoculars to look for U-boats.

Suddenly, thick, dark clouds suddenly appeared overhead, blanketing the whole convoy which was now in the grip of a powerful Tempest. The ships tossed from side to side, as thirty-foot waves and a howling gale pounded them violently followed with heavy thunder…and lightning striking the ships!

“Captain we have an SOS distress signal from SS Bulldog, " shouted the radio officer. 

“They say:

Taking in water fast, listing, ship sinking. 

Evacuating crew. Hit an object.

Then message ends, Sir.”

“Head in the ship's direction, Quartermaster. Engine room give me full speed ahead. Hopefully we can pick up survivors,” He said.

Finally the storm abated, and lookouts were able to see survivors in a dingy. But also something else …some wreckage was floating on the surface …it was a submarine's damaged periscope. It was from the same U-boat the destroyer radioed Endeavour about earlier. 

The Captain surmised that the U-boat was probably at periscope depth when the storm clouds descended and darkened the area, causing low visibility…making both the SS Bulldog and the U-boat collide!

After the storm died down there was fair weather again. Making it easier for

the Endeavour to pick up survivors from the SS bulldog and the U-boat.

All was wwell now as the convoy sailed closer towards the British Isles. Then…

“Sir!”shouted a lookout… there's a Swordfish about two miles away in a westerly direction.”Shouted a lookout.

“That could mean they've spotted a U-boat. I want lookouts for subs in every direction!” Ordered the Captain.

“Aye Captain!”Replied the officer

Moments later the Swordfish swooped down and released its 1600 lb torpedo into the water…targeting a U-boat some 400 hundred yards ahead. Seconds after, Captain Mallory and his crew heard a massive explosion as it ripped through the submarine's metal- Hull, yellow flames rose up with thick- black smoke,billowing from Its mangled hull; sinking it with no survivors!

 Shortly after there was a second explosion. One of the Merchant ships had been hit by a U-boat. It was the SS Irma, one of two Norwegian Merchant ships in the convoy. A nearby destroyer, the Lionheart, headed towards her to rescue the crew.

It soon became clear to Captain Mallory that his convoy were sitting ducks; The destroyers and Swordfish were great at holding back the U-boats but couldn't guarantee one of them wouldn't sneak through the defences and attack the convoy.

The convoy still had some three more days of sailing before getting to safety. Every minute left was an opportunity for the Wolfpack to take out another Merchant ship. Another ship sunk means thousands of tons of food, ammunition and other valuable supplies lost which could've helped the war effort. Captain Mallory again had to ask the elements to protect the convoy.

As night came the Captain went to his cabin, to sleep; asking not to be disturbed unless it was urgent.

Prior to going to bed Captain Mallory asked for the elements to provide another storm to help the convoy. During sleep, he dreamed he was on a ship caught in a storm. He saw the Merchant ships and the destroyers being battered by a terrible storm. But he had complete faith that the convoy would get through the storm and arrive home safely.

Having awakened the next morning the Captain went on the bridge and saw clear skies. But he believed a storm was brewing somewhere out there … They have never failed to come for him!

While on the bridge he looked through his binoculars to the South-Easterly direction and there was his storm… Dark Cumulonimbus clouds were building up at a swift pace. Within ten minutes the clouds had scudded halfway across the sky.

suddenly...his jaw dropped when he saw through his binoculars some 800 yards away was not…one, two, but …

four periscopes heading for the convoy!

The Captain closed his eyes, and willed the storm to hurry. But the U-boats were rapidly approaching his convoy…

Now just a few hundred yards away, the submarines were preparing to fire their torpedoes then… out- of- the- blue… a Swordfish dropped its torpedo in the ocean targeting one of the U-boats.

Seconds after, a huge explosion tore into the U-boat, thick black smoke billowed from it with ten-foot orange flames bursting through its metal hull. The Captain spotted a number of German submariners diving into the water, some of them screaming with their uniforms on fire. The destroyer Vanguard quickly moved in to pick up German survivors in their orange life jackets, treading in the freezing water.

The Swordfish continued its attack with rockets, strathing the remaining three U- boats! Two destroyers the Essex and Gauntlett sliced through the waves at 20 knots to engage with the“Wolf pack”, to drop depth charges, but the U-boats quickly dived when everything went dark … The sky filled with low dense, black cumulonimbus clouds covering the whole area; a gale now blew with the clap of thunder and lightning hitting the convoy's ships; The three remaining U-boats had escaped and now distanced themselves from the convoy.  

Looking up to the storm clouds and taking off his cap Captain Mallory wiped the sweat from his brow and mentally thanked the storm for coming and saving the convoy. With a smile he Mentally pleaded…”Please try to be quicker next time!” 

With just two days remaining before the convoy reached the British coastline, things were looking positive for the convoy to arrive home safely.

Then… “Captain! There's a German Condor plane heading our way!” Shouted a lookout.”

“Sound battle stations!” Screamed the Captain. The alarm shrieked continuously as the fifteen crew on board moved to their positions. Nervously they waited with bated breath; hoping the Condor wouldn't attack them. Although the Endeavour wasn't a warship she had a machine gun on the bow and a type of 

…“akk akk” gun on the stern for enemy aircraft. These were manned by two Royal marines 26 year old Alan and Michael 24 both sat in position by the guns, scanning the sky for the Condor.

Before the war the Condor was a passenger plane. It was specially chosen for its long range, and was now adapted for bombing raids on Merchant shipping and destroyers. The plane was also a favourite of Hitler's when he had to travel by plane.

“Where the heck is it?” Alan shouted, his knuckles white, while holding the gun tightly. 

“There it is!” Screamed Michael.

“Blimey! I can't see for the sun, the b!****!d thinks he's the Red Baron!” Shouted Alan.

Just a few hundred yards away the Condor came out of the sun, diving and screeching towards the Endeavour. 

“Alan, fire the damn thing! Screamed Michael. 

At that moment Alan saw the silhouette plane in his sights. Ratatatat! ratatatat! He gave a few bursts from the gun as Michael replenished the shell magazine… 

“Ready!” he shouted,

The Condor fast approaching, with its bomb aimer locking on to the Endeavour was ready to release its bombs!

Alan fired another burst ratatatat! ratatatat! hitting the plane's fuselage and one of its engines…boom! The plane exploded into an orange fireball, just yards away from the ship,crashing into the ocean. 

As the convoy continued its voyage to the British Isles the ocean was calm with clear blue skies. Seagulls flew above occasionally diving into the ocean for fish. Some of them bobbing up and down the small waves. Suddenly … There was a terrific explosion…one of the gulls had flown onto a mine, causing it to explode.

Moments later, a lookout shouted:

“Mine! 50 yards on the starboard side. Two of the crew rushed outside holding wooden poles, clambering onto a rope ladder, climbing down as close to the water they could. The nearest crew mate to the mine extended out his pole with one arm as he clung on to a rung of the rope ladder to push the mine further away from the ship… The menacingly four foot diameter black metal ball, with its intimidatingly...Hertz horns (spikes), all around it, which bobbed up and down in the water threatening to hit the ship.

The other crew member tried to coax his crew mate:

“Easy now…we, we don't want to hit the horns!" He said in a shaky voice.

Suddenly the mine veered off in a spin only to drift back towards the Endeavour again. 

“ Hey mate, I don't think I can hold this pole much longer!” Said the nineteen year old; His arm began to cramp with the cold and weight of the heavy pole.

“Hold on son!” shouted his much older crew-mate. climbing down the rope ladder with his pole, gave the mine one heavy push. Finally, the mine relented and drifted off away from the ship. But with the younger crew-mate unable to hold the pole any longer dropped it into the water. 

“Wait, I've got you!” His crew mate said, grabbing his waist.

 After a short breather they both clambered back safely onto the ship.

Lookouts continued to scan the ocean for submarines and mines, as well as check the sky for more German Condor planes.

Finally, it was sunset and soon the reddy/orange sun went down bringing darkness to the relief of all the convoy ships. They were now just two days away from home.

As Captain Mallory lay in bed in his cabin he thanked the storms who had helped the convoy and asked for more storms to come for the next 48 hours. 

During his sleep he dreamed he was on deck on the Endeavour, looking through his binoculars, his eyes widened with fear because in front of him were dozens of submarines moving towards his ship. His face turned white when he found the Endeavour surrounded by dozens of U-boats! Suddenly his heart raced when above him he saw hundreds of Condor planes. Sweat poured down his forehead as he became so frightened he jumped ship, falling Into a dark abyss. It was then that he awoke, covered in a cold sweat…

“Was this a bad Omen?”He thought.

The following morning was a fine day with a clear blue sky. Hours had passed…no submarines, no mines, no Condors, nothing. Captain Mallory thought it was too quiet for his liking.

Moments later, he heard a tremendous bang… one of the destroyers the Warrior, had hit a mine, disabling it, smoke and fire emanated from its bow. But the crew hadchecked fire under control.

“I want lookouts at 360°, covering the ship for mines, U-boats, anything that could be a threat to us.” Said the Captain.

Just then an aircraft was seen some three miles out heading towards the convoy.

“Battle stations! battle stations! The alarm now set off piercing the crew's ears as they went into action. 

“Sir, it's a Swordfish, they've spotted a U-boat. Suddenly the whole crew was screaming out get the… b******d!…They hollered as if rooting for their… favourite football team to score a goal!

Moments later, the Swordfish attacked the submarine with a torpedo, hitting it at the side. Then pounding it with rockets, as it began to dive. The U- boat blew up, sending debris hundreds of feet into the air. It was unlikely there would be any survivors. But the Essex steamed fast to the scene in case any German submariners were in the water. Luckily two Germans were spotted in their orange life jackets and were picked up.

After this engagement the Convoy sailed off at full speed, in case there were any other U-boats lerking about.

Back in his cabin, Captain Mallory asked for a storm to develop quickly because of how dangerous the situation was getting. 

“ Oh, sorry Captain!” Said the radio officer opening the Captain's cabin door…catching him praying.

“Erm, that's okay!” He blushed. 

“Captain Jupitus from the destroyer, Neptune wants us to change our course to 54°North 4°West heading directly for the British Isles!” Said the radio operator.

With just 36 hours away to safety, the convoy now changed its course heading Northwest, raising its speed to 18 knots.

The convoy, now extra diligent, realising the Wolfpack would soon lose its window of opportunity to attack. 

The convoy had done remarkably well, losing only one ship and one destroyer disabled …Perhaps, too well thought the Captain!

Worried about his recent dream and believing it to be a bad Omen what with recent events with the mine, submarines and Condor planes regularly patrolling, the Captain decided to call on another storm. He sensed his convoy was still at 

 risk of being attacked…even with only 24 hours left before seeing the British coast!

Back in his cabin and making sure his door was locked this time Captain Mallory summoned up another storm. He asked for it to be heavy and to last right up until the convoy sighted the coast of Britain. He knew there were risks with the storm, but thought the Germans would give it their all before their window of opportunity closed. 

An hour had passed when the Captain went on the bridge to check in his binoculars for any signs of a storm brewing…nothing!

It was now midday, with a clear blue sky. The convoy reduced their speed, being careful to avoid any mines in an area notorious for mines… So far so good. A couple of hours passed when…Sonar on the destroyer, Vanguard picked up a U-boat…not one, two but…five of them now surrounded the convoy! 

“Captain, Vanguard has found five U-boats now in the area, closing fast. All destroyers ready to depth charge submarines. Swordfish on their way.” Read the radio officer.

 Captain Mallory looked through his binoculars to see if the destroyers had engaged with the U-boats . Three of the destroyers suddenly fired their depth charges into the ocean; seconds later there were explosions dotted everywhere; Lifting water hundreds of feet in the air.

Lookouts then spotted diesel on the ocean's surface, together with U-boat debris, life jackets and dead German submariners.

After scanning the ocean the destroyers destroyed two of the five U-boats in the area. The convoy now made haste for Britain.

Captain Mallory now on the bridge looked through his binoculars but there was still no sign of the storm he'd wished for.

But then…what he saw was horrifying.

His heart pounded as he had spotted… to the East three Condors heading for the convoy. They were perhaps 3 miles out…but to the west was a wonderful sight… out of nowhere was a massive storm brewing and was heading in his direction just a mile away. He sounded the alarm as did the destroyers…Battle stations! Battle stations!

The race was on…Would the Condors get to the convoy before the storm?

As the Condors closed in, the storm covered the convoy just before them. The storm looked menacing, as its gigantic cumulonimbus black clouds climbed above the convoy, turning day into night…then it bombarded the convoy mercilessly with hail the size of golf balls and powerful lightning strikes hitting the convoy ships, followed by eardrum bursting claps of thunder.

Before the Condors released their bombs all three of them were tossed in the air and spun in a dive out of control, smashing them into the ocean and bursting them into flames. It was the German's final attempt to destroy the convoy. After an hour the powerful storm lifted and the sun peeped through the clouds momentarily, only to dip below the horizon, finally ending the day.

The following morning Captain Mallory gave a sigh of relief when he heard a look out shout… “Land ahoy!”

Ends