Saturday, 22 August 2015

Poem ~ Submarine Duel - Sunday, 22 August 1915


Impression sketch of submarine duel - by Jamie. 

Within the press of war, an Italian
Publication La Stampa, made account
Of two submarines meeting in Adriatic sea.

Setting out from Pola, on southern
Tip of the Istria Peninsula, the Austrian
Submarine U12, looked out for ships to sink.

Between the Italian and Balkan
Peninsula, a submarine of Italians,
Cruised the waters in home defences.

At a distance, an Italian torpedo
Boat made observation in the waters,
Of a shape of enemy submarine at speed.

In maneuver, to avoid advertising
That they had been spotted, the Captain
Closed in on Italians, in pretence of ignorance.

Suddenly an enemy faced an enemy,
A fired Austrian torpedo missed, to open
Up a struggle to last over one and half hours.

Almost nose to nose, they each
Made attempts to torpedo the other,
Practically making collision in a final blow.

The deadly encounter had taken
Place under water  - as a watching
Italian torpedo boat was prepared to fire.

Should Austrian U12 had surfaced to be
Opened to fire by surface vessel, aversion
Tactics ensued to avoid broadside shell tubes.

While each vessel had matched
The other, a final chance secured Italian
Advantage, as U12 fired final two torpedoes.

They passed underwater, without
Harm, but Italian torpedo hit amidships,
The Austrian vessel sank quickly with all lost.

 by Jamie Mann.

Ann.,1915. Submarine V Submarine - 'An Epic Struggle.' The Daily Telegraph, [online] 21 August. P.8. Col.3. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11801552/Daily-Telegraph-August-21-1915.html [Accessed: 21 August 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 21 August 2015). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Italy

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