KlassenT
04-22-10, 10:34 AM
Hmm, I had never yet experienced this until now, but I'm going through my usual early war hell at Java, and I aborted my current orders to patrol off the South China Sea to help defend the area against numerous incoming TFs. All was running smoothly as expected until I was a bit west of the dockyard, flying along with engines at flank, en-route to intercept a radio-reported convoy off to the east. Out of nowhere, my sonarman starts reporting a LOAD of new contacts, well before I should be in intercept position. Being early in the dawn, I'm in a good position for some surface recon; the new contacts should silhouette against the rising sun, leaving me in the relative safety of darkened skies. I get close enough to make out a small army of cruisers and CVs, and I radio in a report.
Command decided they were my new priority target, so I slink under the waves and get into a good forward position. In the midst of gathering enough sonar data to work out some reasonable TMA, I start hearing a real racket. No pings, so ruling out a DD that's sniffed me out, I take a peek through the obs scope and see air support doing a real number on the recently reported TF. Happy that help had arrived, I moved in, rushed a firing solution and managed to help clean up a damaged Maya and score a couple good hits on one of the IJN carriers.
After I retreated off to reload some fish in safety, even more sonar contacts start coming in! Not within visual range yet, I cautiously note the new arrivals and try and plot a secondary intercept to see what might be in store. After several reminders that patience is a virtue, I wait it out long enough to get a quick peek at my newest visitors, only to find it's an allied TF, coming in from the west!
Relieved, I went over and claimed a few more targets for the Spearfish's log books, and let my friends take care of the remaining dirty work. Now, the big question, was I just in the right place at the right time, or will allied units respond to enemy sightings in the same way that IJN forces come bearing down on you when spotted? Without a doubt, it was one of the most memorable engagements I've had in SH4, if only for the urgency of ComSubPac's message coupled with the friendly resources that got thrown at it. Too fun, man, too fun! :arrgh!:
Command decided they were my new priority target, so I slink under the waves and get into a good forward position. In the midst of gathering enough sonar data to work out some reasonable TMA, I start hearing a real racket. No pings, so ruling out a DD that's sniffed me out, I take a peek through the obs scope and see air support doing a real number on the recently reported TF. Happy that help had arrived, I moved in, rushed a firing solution and managed to help clean up a damaged Maya and score a couple good hits on one of the IJN carriers.
After I retreated off to reload some fish in safety, even more sonar contacts start coming in! Not within visual range yet, I cautiously note the new arrivals and try and plot a secondary intercept to see what might be in store. After several reminders that patience is a virtue, I wait it out long enough to get a quick peek at my newest visitors, only to find it's an allied TF, coming in from the west!
Relieved, I went over and claimed a few more targets for the Spearfish's log books, and let my friends take care of the remaining dirty work. Now, the big question, was I just in the right place at the right time, or will allied units respond to enemy sightings in the same way that IJN forces come bearing down on you when spotted? Without a doubt, it was one of the most memorable engagements I've had in SH4, if only for the urgency of ComSubPac's message coupled with the friendly resources that got thrown at it. Too fun, man, too fun! :arrgh!: