Situation...

[Deep-Six]

I have a situation that begs to be brought up. Currently I am south of Tokyo Bay on a heading of WNW and I am submerged. I have spotted two Jap merchants heading NNW, moving at 17 kts. 7000+m seperate me from them.

Now here are my two choices, I could surface and get to 2000m and then submerge or 2 stay submerged.

What would you do in my situation.

[Zero Niner]

Depends.

Day? Night?
Sub damaged?
Are they heading towards you? Away from you?
Do you have radar? (Easier to do an end-around if you have)
Any escorts?
If night, where is the moon, relative to your planned approach route?

Too many variables to give a simple answer, need more details.

Initial consideration - 17 knots is awfully fast for a merchant, perhaps they are troop ships? This is the only category of merchants that can go that fast, I think. Unless they are headed for you, you won't be able to intercept them submerged.

[MonTana_Prussian]

I have to agree with Zero-Niner. Too many variables here. Give us some more info and maybe I can give an answer for you.

[Deep-Six]

Ok, I did forget to add that this is daytime. and my sonar does detect an escort. It is not visible just yet. I dont have radar, only air-search. Early Gato class 1942.

[Teh_Diplomat]

Ok, I did forget to add that this is daytime. and my sonar does detect an escort. It is not visible just yet. I dont have radar, only air-search. Early Gato class 1942.
Stalk the Merchants by matching speed during the day remaining at the same distance - granted you have the fuel for this and the return to base - then when night falls you can sneak in closer undetected for better odds for the shots.


You could also - depending on their course relative to yours - meet them at a later point by plotting their couse with the ruler, and triangle. I always estimate this part, but for parity with regards to speed you would both get the same distance. Ideally you would like to be going faster than the enemy to get ahead of him and lie in wait in a position to line up a shot for the best odds of succesful torpedo hits.

[Zero Niner]

Hmmm, so there's at least one escort. It's best to assume there's more than one and plan accordingly.

At 17 kts, you'll have to go at flank speed in order to outpace the convoy. I think it's best to do an end around ie get ahead of the convoy & lie in wait. It'll be slow as your overtake speed is only 4 kts. If fuel is a concern I'd suggest letting this one go. Better to live to fight another day, etc. There'll always be another target.

[kikn79]

In the words of Cmdr Morton:

"Don't stop till they're on the bottom"

"Sink the Sunzabitches"

[Quillan]

What is their position relative to yours? If they are heading in your direction, I'd stay underwater and try to get as close as possible without being detected. If they're 7000 yards away in the daytime, you WILL be spotted if you surface. As it stands right now, 7k yards is within Mk XIV torpedo range at slow speed, so I'd try for a shot. If they're moving at 17 knots, it almost has to be passenger ships of some sort used as troop transports.

[Deep-Six]

What is their position relative to yours? If they are heading in your direction, I'd stay underwater and try to get as close as possible without being detected. If they're 7000 yards away in the daytime, you WILL be spotted if you surface. As it stands right now, 7k yards is within Mk XIV torpedo range at slow speed, so I'd try for a shot. If they're moving at 17 knots, it almost has to be passenger ships of some sort used as troop transports.

You sir, are correct, they are Old passenger liners. I will let these guys go and wait for a better one to come around. I will try to post a pic and let you guys take a look at it.

[Deep-Six]

Here is the picture that I promised.:D

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t170/Lyrkiller/SH4Img2008-05-15_093046_906.jpg

[Quillan]

You could try a shot there, but it would be iffy. They're moving away from you and rather quickly. It'd probably take something around 8 minutes for the torpedoes to cover the distance, and at 17 knots they'll be almost 5000 yards on from where they are now. Even if that's not outside the max range of the torpedo at the point of impact, the angle would be very steep and you might not get a detonation. Couple that with the date (lots of deep runners and duds in 1942) I'd say pass on them like you decided. That looks like the Izu peninsula there? They are so close to making port you'd never be able to pull off an end-around before they made port.

[Zero Niner]

Also they'll have plenty of warning from the wake/bubble stream of the torps fired from such a long distance, it would easy to evade if they spot it early enough. Probably the right decision under the circumstances. Part of the fun of SH4 is making tactical decisions.

[MonTana_Prussian]

With all the new info you provided,I'd go with your call and let them go. Too many risks involved.

[gimpy117]

If they are at 17 knots they are ocean liners and are at least 8,000 some tons a peice and might even be biger ones...i dunno if the small ones can move that fast.