Stories and Patrol Logs + Screenshots and Videos (merged)

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by Bleiente

Perfectly right - whoever wants to prove himself as a CO as irresponsible and a daredevil - the command is permanently deprived.

Departure...

Hmm well normally not one to gun it out with enemy escorts, but it was sink or fight, fought and managed to get home.

[Sniper297]

Heartbreaker, one of those fickle lady luck days. Good luck, sighted big task force with a bunch of heavy cruisers. Bad luck they were running full tilt boogie, I was already behind and too far away, and they were heading into a shallow water harbor without slowing down. Just starting to set up a desperation low speed 6000 yard spread when a FUBUKI destroyer decided to cut through the task force, lady luck smiled and a FURATAKA heavy cruser rammed the can and got tangled up with it. They slowed down enough I was able to get within 3500 yards, fired a high speed spread, then the FURATAKA sped up, slewing the FUBUKI around to the side. One fish hit the FURATAKA, the resulting secondary explosion from the depth charges engulfed the FURATAKA, which followed suit with an explosion in the after magazine. Both sunk, but of course the way the game is set up I only got credit for the destroyer, not the cruiser.

[cookiemonste]

Very lucky indeed.

[Bubblehead1980]

Never made a full patrol with Donation Narwhal(that I recall) so decided to give it a run.

TMO+RSRD
RSRD "Hollywood Missions"(restores special missions)

plus my own modifciations to RSRD campaign(in progress)

map contacts on , external camera off 100 difficulty.


April 23, 1942- Pearl Harbor-USS Narwhal-

Ordered to insert an intelligent agent in Port Arthur, Manchuria, departing on April 26, 1942.


Departed Submarine base on a course for Midway for refuel. Upon refueling at Midway 4 days later, headed ENE at 13.5 knots.

While passing roughly 600 NM North of Wake Island, SD contact appeared at 10 miles and closing.Ordered a dive to 100 feet, came back to periscope depth to find a large flying boat(Mavis) about 4,000 yards heading NNW. Remained submerged until nightfall, traveling at 4 knots.Surfaced and charged batteries.

Began submerging after dawn, as boat was now in enemy waters.While submerged a at 1430 hours about 200 NM East of Sofu Gan, sound detected an enemy warship, possible submerged submarine(one of several I dded to campaign) . Never able to make contact. Went to 200 feet. Surfaced after dusk. Around dawn next morning, Sofu Gan was within sight.Continued for the East China Sea, submerged traveling at 4 knots until nightfall.


May 9, 1942-Dawn- Dove and began submerged transit of of strait between Yakushima Island and Kuchinoshima Island, to enter the East China Sea.

Around 1200, sound detected an enemy warship.Periscope observation confirmed a patrol type, possibly a Destroyer, which never came close.After clearing the strait, surfaced after dark and headed for Yellow Sea.


Continued daytime transit submerged, surfaced at night.

May 18, 1942, 30 miles SE of Port Arthur surfaced after dark and closed to 2,000 yards off shore, deploying agent aboard inflatable raft at 0200 hours.With enough fuel for two days patrol, turned west for Bohai Sea (added some light traffic to the area).

Just after dawn on May 19, while still surfaced smoke was spotted to the North East. Turned boat toward for contact and went to GQ. Soon could see had a lone mid sized freighter. Plot showed her heading for us, ordered a dive to 80 feet to close .Coming to scope depth, set up to close to 1,000 yards to attack.

Sound reported target slowed.Raised scope to see ship changed course, presenting a AOB of less than 10 degrees now, likey heading to leave the Bohai Sea.Ordered back emergency and left full rudder.Slowly but surely, Narwhal responded.

Next scope observation had target with a 35 degree AOB, at 765 yard and making 7.5 knots. Fired two Mark 14 torpedoes set at 10 feet. First one hit target, second one prematurely exploded just yards from target.Fired two more, with several degrees of spread set via the TDC's spread knob. Both hit, starting at fire on the ship and stopping her engines. Vessel now identified as a Biyo Maru class.

Ship soon began listing and several secondary explosions occurred.About 2 minutes later, lifeboats deployed, she was going down.

Sound reported a warship in area, began heading for deeper waters in central Bohai Sea.Soon a patrol craft was in area, we went to 100 feet and slipped away.

Patrolled North and West at periscope depth, spotted a sampan but did not attack.Also spotted a "Pete" float plane. Surfaced after dark to patrol and recharge batteries. Due to fuel shortage, decided to head for home. Shortly after reaching central Yellow Sea, ran into heavy clouds and fog, could see just a few yards in front of boat.Choosing to remain surfaced to keep batteries charged if needed, was moving along at 8 knots around 1400 hours when suddenly an enemy destroyer emerged CLOSE off port bow(no SJ radar set yet), heading west at moderate speed.Immediately turned to port at flank speed, enemy alarm sounded and automatic cannon fire tracers began flying our way.Narrowly avoiding a collision we snaked past her stern .DD turned to starboard, not firing main deck guns(assum too close?) but scoring hits with automatic cannons.Opened up on her stern area with aft .50 cal machine gun after calling for General Quarters during the turn. At flanks peed, we headed away and enemy DD's main deck guns opened fired, some splashes landing near but not hitting, soon we were out of visual contact due to fog and changed course back to south. Last seen the enemy DD was coming about to chase us down.We managed to escape, definitely a close call.

Back on course, weather cleared later in evening, dove to 100 feet until dark.Surfaced, charged batteries and entered the East China Sea. Near Quelpart Island, encountered two large junks. Ordered BATTLE SURFACE. Using deck guns and .50 cal, sunk them both. Dove at dawn , heading for the strait south of Kyushu, to exit he East China Sea.

Preparing to dive at dawn, a roving patrol of two DD's coming in sight, citing critically low fuel, decided not to attack and submerged, planning to transit the strait after dark.

Surfaced into clear, but moonless night. Went to Ahead Full speed, 0200, half way through the strait, spotted a gunboat guarding the strait, turned away and evading, exiting strait around 0400. Batteries went on charge, dove after dawn for submerged periscope patrol/transit. three patrol planes spotted throughout the day.



Deciding to maintain surface run after dawn, SD contact appeared and quickly closed.Ordered a dive, but plane was closer than appeared, and quickly closed in for attacked.As boat hit 84 feet, several bombs hit near by. No damage.Remained submerged during rest of day and for next several days, surfacing at night.


Clearing Empire waters, opted for surface transit. Flying boat (likely from Wake Island) appeared, forcing a dive and submerged transit rest of day. Continued towards.

June 11, 1942 250 miles from Midway, fuel critically low.Next day, reached Midway with just 2 miles of range left(according to navigator) before fuel was gone.For a minute, though would have to come in on battery lol. Note, this sub's most fuel efficient speed is NOT ahead standard(like other subs in TMO ) but is 8 knots.

Refueled and headed for Pearl Harbor arriving on morning of June 16, 1942.

Special mission accomplished, one ship(Hakusika Maru of 8,000+ tons, not the Biyo as previously identified) sunk.


Note:

Took screenshots but not showing up on my SH 4 folder.

[cookiemonste]

I think I fixed most of my problems and I got to say, this game is a harsh mistress, but once you know how to treat it, you will be rewarded.

Patrol 6, May 22nd 1942, USS Skipjack (SS-184) orders were to head directly to convoy college and wait for further orders. We never got there though, because I intercepted an convoy. It was stormy night and my sonar officer picked up some merchant ships. Followed to investigate, found a convoy. The crew spotted the convoy from just 2000 yard.

We fired a torpedo at the biggest shadow and went to periscope depth.
The damn Mk. 14 Torpedos were still not working, premature explosions and duds were the fuel to keep my rage for the Buero of Ordonance burning.

Managed to sink one 4000 tonner with tw torpedo hits.

And then the familliar "ping" returned, tw Minekaze Destroyers were searching for the boat.
But I was lucky and the Torpedos hit and destroyed the targets. That were two enemy destroyers sunk. The path was clear and I decided to follow the sound contacts submerged.

That was a bad decision, because a escort heard us.
So we went down 190 feet and tried to shake him with silent running and our tango to dodge the depth charges.

Well, he was no fool and so we went deeper. 278 feet deeper, he still pinged the boat and my nerves would wear thinner with each "ping"

Then one depth charge hit the boat, nothing was seriously damaged, the pumps were back in action two minutes later my crew was trying to stop the flooding. I must say these american boats were quite durable. The stern torpedo room was flooded but we stayed at depth.
The deepest depth the boat reached was 295 feet.

In the early morning hours the flooding was still not under control so I decided to go to periscope depth to fight the escort.

That was a critical moment, because we were listing to stern the bow of the boat broke out of the water, I had to order ahead flank to stabilize the boat. But I was lucky again, two Mk. 14 torpedos turned the escort into a fireball.

The boat was submerged and I ordered to return to Freemantle.
With only two torpedos in the bow and one in the jammed stern tube, it was not worth the risk.

On the way back we got attacked by an float plane and some minutes later we picked up warships comming our way. And more merchants. Another convoy.

We waited for 5 hours at 160 feet for the convoy to pass.

And at the 7th of june, we were back in Freemantle.

[Bubblehead1980]

Rarely play with S boats but decided to and really enjoyed he challenge.

TMO RSRD

100 dififculty..contacts on, cams off.


USS S-38.

Departed Cavite, Manila on 12/8/1941 with orders to reconnoiter Lingayen Gulf area.After doing so, heading North along Luzon Coast on morning of 10 December, orders to proceed and recon Appari Northern Luzon.

About 15 NM North of Lingayen Gulf, spotted many smoke trails over horizon.Closed until dawn, then dove to 100 feet, coming back to scope depth every 30 minutes to check.After a long approach, time was 0900, came to scope depth, had a convoy apparently anchored off coast preparing to land troops. 6-8 large ships in a single line at center with 12 escorts in a ring protecting the ships. Plot showed could close to 2500 yards from ships, stay just outside the screen, as getting in undetected was highly unlikely.

Ordered a dive to 200 feet, silent running in at a noisy(in s boat) 2 knots.After closing, came up for an observation at 0930 and was 4,800 yards from ships.Picked out the lead, a large merchant identified as Nagara Maru class.Slipped down to 100 feet and closed in slowly for a shot from 2500 yards with a 35 degree AOB. Mark 10 torpedoes set for shallow depth.

When plot showed were closing to firing point, came back to scope depth.Took an observation, set gyros, took a range reading.Dropped scope, opened outer doors. Scope up, now at 2500 yards. Just outside the escort screen, hoping to not be detected.Fired four torpedoes, two at middle of target, one bow mast, one stern mast.Dropped scope and began backing away slowly.

Soon heard an alarm sound, raised scope, torpedoes were close but had been spotted.One escort (subchaser) was now racing , 3 fish passed just ahead of her but number four slammed into her side, causing a massive explosion and fire, which blazed from bow to stern.Other three fish continued on as transports kicked up spray trying to get underway.Pinging soon started as other escorts began searching for us.

Two fish missed astern of the Nagara Maru but one slammed into her stern.With escorts closing, forced dive for 200 feet. Avoiding depth charges and persistent hunters until 1600 when sound contacts disappeared.We came back to scope depth. No vessels in sight. A debris field(love the mod) was found in location where the escort was hit(credit awarded) . The transport apparently limped away.Attempted to locate the landing force, but unable.Proceeded toward Aparri.

A large flying boat(MAVIS) bombed us just before 0700(no SD radar) but hanks to lookouts and crash dive, escaped with minor damage.

Closed Aparri on morning of December 11, no enemy activity in area.Surfaced after dark, recharged batteries. Around 0300 message received to patrol "South of Formosa" .Headed North between Fuma and Camuguin Islands.Came to bridge at 0600 and while searching spotted smoke trail off starboard.In the morning haze just ahead of smoke, could see light whisp of smoke and outline of what appeared to be a large warships, possibly a heavy cruiser.Called crew to GQ and closed on surface, taking advantage of the dark skies.


Contact report sent.Luckily, this force what appeared to be a CA with three escorts was moving at just 8 knots, allowing us to move ahead for a nice set up. finally at 0648, dove 6000 yards to port off the CA's track and closed in. Approaching a slow speed and 100 feet, coming up briefly for scope checks.Plotted ship at 8.7 knots on course of 015.Plot showed we would reach a firing position of 1100 yards, not as close as would like but would work.

0800 raised scope, target was close enough now, she was not a cruiser but a Chitose Class Seaplane Carrier, 9,000 tons.With one minesweeper(who's black smoke gave the TF away) and two subchasers escorting.Minesweeper was leading, subchasers about 800 yards off each side.

Continued to close, next observation showed port escort was off checking behind, freeing us to get closer.

Outer doors opened, now at 1,000 yards, time to fire. Torpedoes set for 10 feet, 5 feet, 10 feet, and 5 feet respectively. Speed 8 knots, AOB 80 degrees. Put wire of scope on center of target and fired two, then fired one at the bow and another just behind, in case she sped up when spotted torpedoes.

Raised scope to view impact as torpedo run time was up.Alarm sounded, torpedoes spotted by the target, too late, all four slammed into the target causing a fire and then two massive secondary explosions.She soon took a list.All three escorts now racing in for me, dove for 200 feet.

What followed was an intense and unusually accurate depth charging for this point of the war, these escorts were not pushovers. Endured 45 minutes of depth charges, several close ones, destroyed one periscope, damaged another, heavily damaged trim pump, forward batteries, minor flooding in control room. Sonar damage, radio damaged.

After some dodging, they finally seemed to lose me but hunted me until nearly nightfall. Batteries were at 25 percent when surfaced.Found a debris field where target sank. Awarded credit for the seaplane carrier, 9,000 tons.

Conducting repairs(topside heavily damaged, one periscope head destroyed, TBT destroyed, deck gun heavily damaged) headed NW to patrol off Luzon and South Formosa.

Crash dive at dawn to avoid a MAVIS flying boat. Bombs fell distant. Several days of submerged patrol located nothing.

Finally on night on December 17, found a enemy merchant in the dark.Dove for periscope attack.Sunk a Zimbu Maru. With one torpedo left, headed for Manila arriving on 19 December 1941.

Short but fun patrol. S boats are a real challenge at this point.

[cookiemonste]

Now the real challenger: command an S-boat throughout the entire war.

Originally Posted by cookiemonste

Now the real challenger: command an S-boat throughout the entire war.

Well ... that would be like a tricycle with a Bazooka a Tiger or Panther tank attack.
Oh, yes ... was tried, but we also know what Wittmann did with such foolish people in the Sherman's.

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by cookiemonste

Now the real challenger: command an S-boat throughout the entire war.

indeed

Well ... fortunately it is only a game.

[cookiemonste]

I think I will try that in one campaign.
Take this screenshot as a token of my apreciation:

Soll das etwa ein Sonnenuntergang sein?!?

Dies ist ein Sonnenuntergang...

[icecommander]

So I my first patrol in the Wahoo, got a patrol order to operate in the marshal islands for 24 hours, I didn't have any contacts, So I decided to sneak into truk.
And guest what i found, a shokaku class carrier and a yamato class battleship.
So i decide to fire a few at them, the shokaku sank with in 3 torpedo hits. The yamato was stubborn and it took almost all of my torpedoes to sink it, and to top it off escaped unharmed. so basically i kinda shortened the war.

[propbeanie]

Excellent job icecommander. Unfortunately, the Truk Lagoon is shallow, and salvage operations are already underway. You ~WILL~ be required to do it again...