TMO RSRD
100 realism no cams, contacts on.
USS Jack
Running my current career and testing hings I've added to TMO RSRD
Departed Fremantle on April 2, 1944 for patrol area off Luzon in East China Sea. After fueling at Exmouth Gulf, chose to make transit via Ombai Strait(Timor), via Banda and Molucca Sea's, up East coastal of Philippines, Enter via Bashi Channel in lieu of running the Lombok/Balabac route this time.
Arrived in patrol Area on April 20, 1944. No contacts other than diving for planes. I added the Take Ichi convoy and an Ultra concerning this important convoy(Ultra did not show up properly) but also a contact report on evening of 24th showed up. I raced North towards Luzon Straits(Convoy College) and made radar contact around 1300 on April 25.
Attempted to get into position for submerged attack and had a nice set up but after run in, came to scope depth, could see smoke was in different direction.Sound and then radar showed they had zigged. Surfaced and raced , planning to attack on next zig, which should be about dusk.
Once again as prepared to attack, was thwarted as an enemy escort making a wide sweep preventing us from closing. Decided(as Jack was forced to do in real life, on a night surface attack). On the next zig, was in a good position and closed in toward starboard side of convoy. Counted 15 ships in two columns in main body witth 13 escorts(!) on radar. Made inside screen and ready to shoot from 3700 yards on two very large troopships. when suddenly a Kamikaze class destroyer turned turned us at high speed. No way could have seen us from this distance, guessing he has radar(did not have boat equipped with radar warning equipment yet) . Reset TDC as targets while still making a medium speed, were zig zagging. However while waiting for ideal firing time. A shell splashed close by. Forcing a crash dive. Before sub went under, sent final bearing to TDC and fire. Using spread knob to spread out the fish.
All six fish sped away as we went under and to silent running, as escorts closed. External cam off by soon heard a torpedo impact and many seconds later, another one. Two out of six impacted something. Soon we were at 300 feet, taking a pretty intense depth charging. Forcing Jack to 375 to get under the large patterns being laid down. Some close ones caused flooding in after torpedo room, damaged stern tubs, compressor, pumps, diesels and electrics as well as batteries. Flooding was soon controlled. After about two hours, escorts lost contact. Surfaced and began the run back to get into position. Obvious we would have to fire from long range(as Jack did in real life). Set up aft next zig, closed to 7100 yards and set up to fire. Fired at center of first column, aiming for large troopships, zigging making 10.5 knots.Turned for stern shot(although number 8 torpedo tube was not operational yet) and fired three more.
After a long torpedo run, three hits in quick succession, set the large ship on fire and from TBT, could see it settling in the water. Two stern torpedoes impacted a large ship in second column as well. Soon, the large troopship was sinking(later identified as Kotobuki Maru 18,000 tons). Other was on fire but not sinking.Not bad for such long range shooting on zigging targets Raced away and reloaded last four bow tubes and my the the operational stern tubes.
Prepared for a follow up night surface attack but was spoiled by convoy zigging away and alert radar equipped escorts forcing me to pull away in lieu of diving.
As dawn approached dove deep and closed in at high speed, planning to shoot from 1,000 yards. All torpedo tubes now operational. After reaching predetermined point, sound checked, came to scope depth. Convoy had moved a little sounth, I was 2400 yards from desired point and an enemy escort was near.I went deep but soon he was close and started pinging. Other escorts closed in, unleashing a serious attack.
Rudder transmission was knocked out, leaving turning ability limited, batteries, pumps, compressor damaged, stern tubes damaged. Prop prop shaf damaged.Forced 400 feet and eventually 450 to get out from under.Finally around 0700, lost them. Crew was exhausted with fatigue levels high and damage to repair. Surfaced and prepared to shadow convoy and attack later in the day or in evening. Stern tubes were revealed to be destroyed and rudder transmission repairs were taking a long time. Lost contact with convoy.
Headed back to patrol area and made contact with a southbound convoy that night. With just four bow torpedoes left and stern tubes non operational, this was last attack before heading home. Convoy was 10 ships and 4 escorts. Moved in on surface after dark. Flank escort forced to fire early but targeted a large merchant(NAGARA MARU), scoring four hits, she quickly sank. We raced away with Type C escort in pursuit, but was able to pull away.
Arriving in Balabac Strait found some fishing boats which opened fire on us, obviously pickets. Quickly dispatched them with 40 MM and 4 inch deck gun fire. While making the transit, encountered an armed tug on patrol. Closed in quietly in darkness and at 3,000 yards, opened fire, setting it ablaze and quickly sinking her.
Made run for Lombok Strait arriving. Evaded North patrol but was constantly hounded by a fast moving vessel which soon revealed to be an enemy PT boat, which reported us as the South guard was on radar and moving towards our location. Seas were heavy so only manned 40 MM guns turned towards the PT boat which shined a spotlight on us and opened fire with automatic weapons. Scored hits on the PT with 40 MM guns, causing large explosions and she sank quickly. Avoided the in rushing patrols and exited the South of Lombok Strait before dawn. Forced to dive multiple times due to air patrols after dawn.
Arrived at Fremantle few days after. few screenshots I remembered to take.
