Berinhardt
02-09-08, 08:33 AM
Last night I came across a large convoy at night, and had to set up my approach from the surface starting a few miles out. I thought for sure the destroyers would make a run for me sooner or later, but they didn't.
The destroyer patrolling the perimeter close to my location ignored my at 2,000 feet, and I dove to periscope depth and turned away from her instead of pushing my luck. At 800 feet she was still sweeping back and forth using passive sonar. I opened my stern tube doors - no response. At 600 feet, I launched a torpedo - the destroyer made no attempt to evade - just kept her pattern at medium speed. I hit her right under the keel and sunk her. The fleet started to break up and scatter - but the other two escorts did nothing!
Over the next hour I sank seven more merchants, emptying my forward tubes and half of my aft with the sub at periscope depth moving ahead 2/3rds, and my crew at battle stations. The escorts still didnn't respond.
As fast as my crew reloaded the tubes, I continued to sink the convoy until I only had four topedoes left and four ships - two escorts and two old freighters.
Since its a long way back to Pearl from the South China Sea, I thought I'd save the last four fish until I was closer to home. So I turned away from the convoy and at 7,000 meters distance and 3am I surfaced. Now, the final two escorts suddenly turned sharply and headed staight for me at high speed.
What gives? Is this common?
The destroyer patrolling the perimeter close to my location ignored my at 2,000 feet, and I dove to periscope depth and turned away from her instead of pushing my luck. At 800 feet she was still sweeping back and forth using passive sonar. I opened my stern tube doors - no response. At 600 feet, I launched a torpedo - the destroyer made no attempt to evade - just kept her pattern at medium speed. I hit her right under the keel and sunk her. The fleet started to break up and scatter - but the other two escorts did nothing!
Over the next hour I sank seven more merchants, emptying my forward tubes and half of my aft with the sub at periscope depth moving ahead 2/3rds, and my crew at battle stations. The escorts still didnn't respond.
As fast as my crew reloaded the tubes, I continued to sink the convoy until I only had four topedoes left and four ships - two escorts and two old freighters.
Since its a long way back to Pearl from the South China Sea, I thought I'd save the last four fish until I was closer to home. So I turned away from the convoy and at 7,000 meters distance and 3am I surfaced. Now, the final two escorts suddenly turned sharply and headed staight for me at high speed.
What gives? Is this common?