Das Meer und Das Unterseeboot
The sea is a a sailor's paradise. No matter how calm or rough the sea is, the sea will always be a sailors natural habitat and escape from the toils of life on land. It was pure freedom. But sometimes, the sea could turn rough. Rough seas are normal, but not this type of rough. This type of rough seas only comes with human input... War.
From the first conflict between man to this latest world wide conflict, the seas were always made rough by war. From the beginning, it was simple boarding or firing arrows at each other from short distances. Now, submarines lurked the depths silently stalking their targets while surface ships threw salvos of high explosive and armor piercing shells at each other as aircraft droned overhead. With each century, naval warfare kept on becoming more advanced. Gone were the volley fires of cannons on galleons and in with the torpedos of submarines.
For Captain Friedrich Zimmern, no thoughts of if he would ever make it home came to mind. He had a duty, not only for his countrymen but also to his Führer and his party. The Amerikaner and Engländer bombed his Nation mercilessly while the once mighty armies were being pushed back to the borders of the Reich. He had always wanted to play a part in the war but when it had started in 1939, he was still in secondary school, almost about to graduate. His parents wanted to see him go into a university and stay out of the war. He knew that was not right. The party was right. It was his duty as a loyal German to fight for his country by any means necessary. So here he now stood, 5 years later, on the top of his Type IXC submarine, ready to sink any enemy cargo ship transporting goods to destroy his country and his countrymen.
His crew was sound in both their drive to fight and their ideological pride in the National Socialist belief. His first officer, Michael Dietrich was a young man just like Zimmern. However, Dietrich came with experience from 3 past patrols in his previous stint. Short and stocky, one could mistake Dietrich for a Swabian or Bavarian, especially with his accent. But funnily enough, he was a Saxon. How he was a Saxon with such features went beyond Zimmern's capability to comprehend. Also how Dietrich had not been promoted to command his own U-Boat was strange enough. When Zimmern finally passed his officer training after serving as a Gunner on an E-Boat and was transferred to the U-Boat fleet, he found himself doing menial staff officer work until a promotion and new command was given to him. But all of that seemed like a distant memory. A memory that needed to be put down. He had a job to do. A duty to his country, his people, his party, and his Führer.
As the U-Boat sailed through the North Atlantic, a brewing storm caught the eye of the lookouts.
"Herr Captain, a storm is forming in front of us!" Called out one of the lookouts.
"Hm... Get me the navigator Krauss, I want to know where we are. That storm does not look very good at all." He told the lookout, peering through his binoculars at the storm.
"Jawohl, Herr Captain!" Lookout Krauss said as he made his way down into the U-Boat.
A few hours later, Zimmern found himself back inside the U-Boat as it sloshed and churned through the rough seas of the storm. While he sat in his small quarters, his men were lounging in their bunks as they waited for the storm to pass while the hydrophone operator sat at his desk, ever diligently listening for any contacts. Within the next few hours, the U-Boat crew would unknowingly travel to a new world.
*** *** ***
The Equestrian Sea, a true sailor's paradise. From Manehattan to the Griffon Coast, the Equestrian Sea was a lifeline of commerce between the nations who possess a coastline on the large ocean. Cartographers had already mapped out the ocean and sea lanes long before his time, but still... the vastness of the ocean always took his mind away from life on the mainland.
Sea Breeze was a seasoned cargo Captain. For nearly 3 decades, he sailed under the Equestrian Banner, 25 years in the Navy, and the rest as a merchantpony. Though being in the merchant business was not as exciting being in the navy and captaining your own floating fortress armed with 14 inch guns (which he happily did so for 4 years), the joy of being at sea was still there.
Sitting in his chair on the bridge of the ship, he had the ship's manifest in one hoof and a fresh cup of coffee brewed with a good Manehattan blend in the other hoof. His ship, the SS Lapsis Taylor (to this day he would never know who or what thought that was a good name for a ship), was a fairly well rounded hybrid of sorts. She had the capacity of a cargoship but could also carry passengers in a very comfortable interior lush with the finest furniture that the company, the Lunar Star Line, could afford to furnish their ships with. Just under 12,000 tons, she was by no means the largest merchant/cargo ship. Heck, she was actually a few decades old but she still kept on sailing, albeit at the rather slow speed of 14 knots during regular runs. But due to the increase in pirate activity lately, safety speed was disregarded and a convoy system was introduced.
Currently, the Lapsis Taylor found herself not indulging in a pleasure cruise/cargo run but instead found herself in a convoy escorted by numerous destroyers of the Equestrian Navy carrying relief material for the Griphons, who have once again found themselves in serious financial trouble and are also recently reeling from quite a nasty earthquake. All in all, it was supposed to be a routine trip in calm seas. But even at sea, the Pegasi cannot control nature.
"Captain, looks like a storm is brewing up." Said his first officer, Riveted Keel. He was all and all a good crewmate to have. He was loyal, outgoing, and even had a sense of humor that he apparently picked up from the Navy as well.
"Aye... Make sure Sparky keeps the radio and Moose system on and monitored at all times, I don't want any accidents to occur in that storm." He ordered.
"On it Sir." Riveted said as he snapped a salute and made his way to the radio room.
The crew of the Lapsis Taylor were mostly navy veterans and reserveponies. The Lunar Star Line tended to hire those who were already trained which served to not only strengthen their image but also make sure that their accident rates were kept low. In his time in command of the ship, he had never had a serious incident occur thanks to the strict naval discipline that was enforced at all times while on-duty. Bear in mind though, after hours, naval discipline broke down as always but they never caused serious problems. If anything, the crew enjoyed a good prank every now and then, which Sea Breeze did not mind at all. If anything, it made the crew more of a family... A large, albeit mixed, happy family.
Sitting in his chair, he looked through the glass of the bridge, thinking about his crew, unaware of what was lurking in the deep.
*** *** ***
"Captain! I have something over the hydrophone!" Yelled Steiner, the hydrophone operator.
"Is it close?" Zimmern asked. It only took a few seconds for Steiner to answer.
"Ja, it is almost like we are on top of them. From the sounds of it, we may have found a convoy." Steiner said with an enthusiastic tone.
Though Steiner was a veteran of 4 patrols, never had the submarines he had been stationed on been able to sink any ships. Some of the crew started calling it the Steiner curse but that rumor was all but forgotten when word of the convoy spread around the ship.
From that moment, the ship's crew began to move around getting ready at their stations. The torpedo tubes were being primed and loaded as the the deck gunners went up to the conning tower to help the lookouts. Though the sea was still too choppy for the deck gun to be used, the gunners could still be used to help spot. Deep in Zimmern's mind though, he was slightly worried. This was technically his first actual combat experience. Life as an E-Boat gunner could only get exciting if any enemy aircraft were spotted. This now... This was different, now he was in his own command, ready to sink any allied scum that dare transport war material to be used against his country. Now... It was his time.
Forgetting about his bout of nervousness, Zimmern dinner his Captain's cap and his coat and made his way up the conning tower. There with him was his crew, a crew that was new to him, but also a crew that treated him as family. A good crew. He knew it was his duty to protect his crew, and protect he would. He did not know what he was in for though.
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Das Unterseeboot, if I recall correctly. Boot (boat) is a neuter noun in German, which is why the movie is titled Das Boot—das being the neuter nominative article. (I took three years of German in high school, and gender and case still haunt me to this day.)
10142737
Thank you for the correct mate. And sorry about your German language experience. I actually kinda wanna learn it but the thing is they don't offer that language down here in Florida... And especially with the whole Corona Virus thing going around.
10142741
No worries—though it might be wise to double-check rather than rely on my unaided memory! German can be a tricky language, particularly when it comes to gender and case; I remember the classic four-by-four grid of masculine, feminine, neuter, plural across the top and nominative, dative, genitive, accusative down the left. (I never did get the hang of case.)
All that said, German also is an important language, especially in science and engineering, and if you have a talent for languages, it is well worth studying.
10142765
Yes... I actually hope to become an architect after high school and such. Funny thing, I had a Frank Lloyd Wright book at I borrowed from a good acquaintance of mine and most of the designs were marked with German notes.
Ah, a hardcore Nazi for a Uboat captain. Equestria is not prepared for someone whose whole ideology is built off hate and in the belief that some groups of people have to be exterminated. Also, how Nazified the Kriegsmarine was is still a debate that scholars are researching. Like according to some reports I read, several instances of when UBoat crew were rescued after the submarine sank were hardcore Nazis but in other instances, they were not. Like the leadership were full hardcore Nazis with Donitz being named Fuhrer by Hitler and was a raving Anti-Semite and the Kriegsmarine did help kill Jews on the Eastern Front. As for the story, I will follow this story with great interest.
Another of your stories that has capture my attention, now the trick is to keep it :)
10142818
Haha! I think I have learned my lesson now after my writer's block for my Titanic story and subsequent rebound after those drunken officer chapters.
10142814
Thank you very much. Funny, I never really delved into the subject of the Kriegsmarine's land forces... thanks for giving me that interest!
10142826
If I recall correctly, Kriegsmarine sailors helped murder Jews in the Baltic region. They just didn't commit that much war crimes since they spent most of their time at sea but if given the opportunity as the army, then they would have committed the same number of atrocities. Sadly, for Twilight and crew, this is one of the instances where friendship can't save the day since the Nazis were well Nazis. MLP has never had genocidal villains with the exception of that one penguin tyrant from G1 and G1 Grogar.
I actually legit had to make a new account since I lost my old password. Wanted to give some encouragement since this does seem like a very interesting idea for a crossover.
Fanfics don't really do naval war, so I would love to see where you're gonna take this story since so far your writing looks very solid.
Impatiently awaiting another chapter.
10142911
Thank you very much! Sorry about your password though mate.
Let me guess. Lusitania.
10143236
Good guess, though I believe the Lusitania was slightly above 12000 tons and was just a tad faster than 14 knots. Nice try though. Here is a hint, in is from the White Star Line and operated as both a cargo ship and a third class ocean liner.
10142864
Hm, just searched that up. Very interesting, I never knew they had a hand with war crimes in the Baltic States. I mean yeah they committed war crimes at sea but I honestly did not expect any in land war crimes. Thanks!
10143364
Well, it was a case of sailors who were given time off their ship and who then participated with the locals in the killing of local Jews. The German military, in general, did not respect international law and all branches participated in the murder of civilians. The US Holocaust Museum has done extensive research in the crimes perpetrated by not just the Waffen SS, but the Luftwaffe, Wehrmacht and Kriegsmarine. In fact, this one twitter historian I follow is writing her dissertation on the Nazification of the Luftwaffe, basically how many pilots were Nazis besides the officers.
10143383
I must say, I tend to be slightly skeptical of online historians such as those that try to preach "facts" on Twitter it those who try to use sources taken from fricken Reddit (which bear in mind that the sources from the Reddit page were not even used by mainstream historians due to how ludicrous they are or how they contradict each other) but do send me this one. You have my attention now.
10143390
Yeah here's her twitter . She's a Ph.D. candidate and famous British historian Dan Snow has even mentioned her in a tweet. I actually follow quite a bit of actual historians on twitter as in they actual degrees in history.
10143417
I am a Mark Felton and TIK type of person. Though lately, TIK kinda went a bit controversial but then again, it was mainly idiots on r/shitwehraboossay that were complaining. TIK is a YouTube historian that has probably done some of the best videos regarding battles such as Operation Crusader and the Courland Pocket. I suggest check both out. Thanks anyways!
I do hope that this Captain is smart enough to take a look through the periscope to check before attacking, to be sure he's not about to attack a German or Japanese vessel.
10143423
Uhmm TIK is iffy since he equated Nazism with socialism which they're not. Nazism is far-right while socialism is of the left. Yes, early Nazism had socialist aspects but as the Nazis gained power they dropped those aspects and imprisoned all the socialists. Also, the Nazis were pretty buddy with big business. I'd suggest watching instead Military History Visualized, Military Aviation Visualized, the ww2 week by week channel hosted by Indy Neidell as better history youtube channels. Military History Visualized is especially good since the guy is Austrian and as such can read German primary sources, in fact, he helped translate a 1941 tank doctrine manual that the Wehrmacht published in 1941 which contains what they learned from the invasion of Poland and Fall Gelb.
10143429
There is a navy saying... "Once Mr Torpedo has left the water, he is neither yours, nor the enemy's friend".
10143442
Ah yes, I have watched Military History Visualized before as well as Military Aviation History (Bismarck).
10143451
I'm actually waiting for my next paycheck so I can the manual they translated to see how German Panzer doctrine was like in the days leading to Barbarossa. As for the story, what season does it take place during?
10143456
I never really thought about what season this took place in really. I kinda just typed this up vaguely and placed if after the Griphonstone episode with Gilda and published it after reading through it because I was still tired (which I still am... It is currently 3:17 AM at the time of this comment.
10143466
So Season 5 which Tirek has been defeated but Starlight is still insane.
10143469
Yeah, about that time. It seems like Griphons and stable financial situations just don't mix.
10143473
Now I wonder how off the charts Pinkie Sense will be since the Nazis are well Nazis.
10143483
Lol. Now that is something interesting enough to write... Now I just have to loose a bit of rationality that I gained back recently if I ever want to write that.
10143485
Well, yeah like Pinkie Sense will be insane due to the threat that Nazis pose. Well anyway, have a good night.
10143499
Yeah, you too. I just noticed your bio, a fellow Midwesterner I see.
Lapsis Taylor, Lusitania.
... very clever.
10143686
Literally, it isn't a Cunard liner lol. Lapsis Taylor is just the name of a ship that I thought up years ago back when I played Roblox on a game called Le Bote
10143858
Ah, but is it not uncanny, monsieur?
10143898
I actually did not notice that I admit. However, the merchant ship I am basing it off of goes on 14 knots and the Lusitania was much faster than that.
10143948
Yeah, she was a regular greyhound. The only thing floating that I can think of... crud. Is it a Liberty class freighter?
10143977
Nope. I was half tempted to use a Liberty Ship but I opted against it. Look at the technical stats that I included.
10144076
Hmmmm... she almost sounds like a Tramp, but they weren't that slow, nor were they in possession of any luxury...
Well, at the moment, I'm stumped.
... was the ship you are rendering off of built by the White Star shipping line?
10144232
Yes, yes it was.
10144256
Alright... not an Olympic class. Perhaps...?
What were her engines, and how many screws?
10144263
Two screws, Quadruple Expansion engines
10144378
Ha! Jubilee class! If I'm not mistaken S.S. Medic?
10144435
Hahaha! You finally got it! And yes, it is based off the Medic. Took you long enough!
10144441
Well, pardon me for being old. Many ships have been built and sunk or scrapped in my time.
Long gone are the Galleons, Schooners, and Man O'wars. Sails to steam, pistons to turbines, Dreadnoughts to Destroyers to nuclear attack submarines.
And here I am... reading about ponies.
10144451
Oh, I didn't mean to insult you or anything. Heh, you'd be surprised that I know that considering my own age.
10144454
Okay, I'll bite... how old are you?
10144474
Sixteen Years of age and counting.
10144485
What the-?! You're-?! How-?!
Well... I am impressed. Also embarrased, but still impressed.
10144534
Yep, I am 16 years old. Born late November 2003. You have questions?
10144760
Yes. How does a sixteen year old... I'm sorry, what is your gender? I'm avoiding making assumptions about such things. It has gotten me much verbal abuse.
10144789
Male.