EricW
07-13-11, 03:01 PM
I had a cool interception the other night playing TMO 2.2. I was cruising NW of Luzon and couldn't seem to shake lousy weather.....two weeks and 600 miles of fog and rain. I came upon several ships and a convoy but couldn't (in my mind) attack due to the zero visibility. Finally I got a radar contact with a straight line of 4 ships with 5 or 6 escorts and I figured transports or maybe even a taskforce......GREAT(not)....I can't see anything. Out of boredom I flanked them to set up a pseudo attack and they lit me up with THEIR radar. WOO HOO at least I know its a task force now as 3 escorts shoot ahead to take me out in the foggy night (yeah right). I dove and at flank speed crossed the main body's track that I had meticulously plotted out with my NEW RADAR RANGING UNIT (that ROCKS by the way). I sat at radar depth about 400- 500 yds from the TF track as the escorts milled around where I used to be and I saw searchlights coming in line towards me through the fog......IDIOTS!!! NOW I can see 'em!!! First ship by- one searchlight, maybe a lead escort? dunno, because I CAN'T see it's shape ,lol. Next ship- THREE searchlights, that's gotta be worth a couple mk 23's, right? I had clocked them previously at 18kts, plotted their course and took a quick bearing to get an AOB and range from my plot. Fire ONE!! Fire TWO!!.......and NOTHING. No time to waste, 3 more searchlights on the next ship, coming fast. I quickly double-checked my range set into the TDC and changed it from 600 yds to 1000 (total guesswork) to give me more lead and.....Fire THREE!! Fire FOUR!!.......one HIT, TWO HITS!! and a big explosion lighting up the profile of a heavy cruiser bridge structure. It was RIGHT in front of me in the fog with secondary explosions going off for the entire time as it rolled over and sank. I got credit for a Takao class 15,000 tons. I had to crack a cold one after that...what a game!!