Dumb luck or good aim?

[Akula4745]

On my way back from patrol north of Saipan with only one torpedo remaining I cruised through my favorite gap just NW of Truk... and what do I find since I am virtually harmless with only one fish left on board? Why a Shokaku fleet carrier, of course. Isn't that always when you find em'? When you are slam out of torpedos? Geez... forever the aggressor I decide to shoot the Shokaku with the one fish... and see what happens from there. What the heck, right? The Shokaku's two Fubuki escorts had lagged slightly behind and I got my one and only torpedo off from just outside 2000 yards. The bubble trail from the Mk14 was painfully obvious to me but everyone on the Shokaku must have been dreaming of sake and geisha girls... they never turned away and it struck the starboard side of the ship just behind the funnels.

http://www.jimdeadman.com/images/truk/impact.jpg

I watched impact from the external camera and took screenshot #1 - then went into an evasive dive... by the time I checked on the Shokaku again (which I estimate to have been 3 minutes tops - maybe less) - the carrier was listing to starboard badly... then I just watched (sorta stunned) and took screenshots as she rolled and sank. In less than 6 minutes - from impact to oil stain - the Shokaku disappeared. The escorts gave me pure h-e-double "L" for six hours afterwards... they were not happy with me. I think my good karma kicked in on this one...

http://www.jimdeadman.com/images/truk/impact_plus_3.jpg
http://www.jimdeadman.com/images/truk/impact_plus_3.5.jpg
http://www.jimdeadman.com/images/truk/impact_plus_3.75.jpg
http://www.jimdeadman.com/images/truk/impact_plus_4.jpg
http://www.jimdeadman.com/images/truk/impact_plus_4.25.jpg
http://www.jimdeadman.com/images/truk/impact_plus_4.5.jpg
http://www.jimdeadman.com/images/truk/impact_plus_4.75.jpg

Check out the escort off the Shokaku's stern in these next four screens... look how quickly she went down.

http://www.jimdeadman.com/images/truk/impact_plus_5.jpg
http://www.jimdeadman.com/images/truk/impact_plus_5.25.jpg
http://www.jimdeadman.com/images/truk/impact_plus_5.5.jpg
http://www.jimdeadman.com/images/truk/impact_plus_5.75.jpg

For any noobs reading this post... the gap in the shoals just NW of Truk is an excellent place to hunt. (wink, wink!)

http://www.jimdeadman.com/images/truk/truk.jpg

Happy hunting!

[FADM Gryphon]

Cheers Skipper!

Congratulation on a job well done. One Torpedo left and you still stuck it to the Japs. Here is your Kill Flag sir.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/dristen/japanese_flagLarge.jpg

[Armistead]

Well, here's what happened in reality with a jap carrier. Fuel vapors start to spread. The Captain wasn't concerned and the DC did their work. They turned on the ventilator's to dispurse the vapors. However they filled the forward compartment of the bottom flightdeck and one spark caused a major explosion... the ship sunk....

I run TMORSRD and more than once have sunk large carriers with one torp....that should be rare and I assume the damage zones could use some work....but for our sake, we'll assume we hit the honey spot of fuel.


Good job and SS's

[captgeo]

Nice work Akula, gold star for you sir.:yeah:

great SS's.

[Akula4745]

Thanks gents... it was the first time I had ever seen anything... especially something that big... go down that fast in this game.

[magic452]

Akula If there are no witnesses around it's always good shooting. :rock:

Magic

[Rockin Robbins]

Vanna, I'll take good aim for 500!:har:

You need to go back to Pearl and modestly proclaim your good luck while jealous sailors buy you drinks and try to talk you into the good aim outlook. Eventually you'll get there! (but will you get back?):dead:

[Akula4745]

LOL - Thanks guys, on your expert advice we will chalk it up to good aim! Drinks for everyone!