Bubblehead1980
06-13-10, 05:14 PM
TMO 2.0 100 realism USS Plunger Porpoise class December 1941-January 1942 Area 6 off and in Kii Suido.I found one part of my patrol turned out to match the Plunger's first patrol in January 1942 in the same area very closely.
My alternate career is 1941 out of Pearl Harbor with USS Plunger.Refueled at Midway, arrived off Japan around January 2, 1942.Going by the early war tactics I stayed submerged during daylight(helped avoid a bunch of dives, aircraft was heavy but prefer the yo yo method i use in later career) and had a few days of no contacts.
Finally on 6 January around dusk after I surfaced for battery charge, my lookouts spotted a ship at bearing 080, I scanned and saw a large single smoke plume from many miles away in the fading light.I ordered GQ and flank speed to make contact and go for a dusk scope attack.The ship was making 12 knots though so took a minute to get into position, finally I dove but it was dark and not all that easy to see target.Closed to just 800 yards and could see target, fired two Mark 14's at the mid sized freighter, one set to bust the keel, one set to impact the side at 10 feet.About 10 seconds into torpedo run, the first fish prematurely exploded.The second ran true and slammed into the side of the ship but no secondary explosions and she kept moving although slowly.I fired two more fish set with corrected data, one weny haywire and took a weird jog to starboard, thought had a circle runner but not, the secondran true but prematurely exploded about 50 yards from target, which made me think I had a hit at first then noticed crew reported no impact.All four bow tubes empty, batteries low and no chance of getting a good stern shot, I decided to let them go, then surface, charge batteries and tail them all night and attack at daylight.Tailed them all night and recharged, was getting ready to dive for attack when SD contacts reported, two closing fast at just 6 miles.I ordered a dive and barely got under as two planes (probably zeros, external cam disabled) bombed me.I went to 100 feet and made turned towards target and went back to GQ, closed in based on sound contact and last visual postion when marked on map.After a few minutes, went to periscope depth for a look, planes gone but had ship in sight at 5,000 yards, had to go to flank speed to close in in time to fire from 1100 yards.Dropped scope and went to 100 feet again.
Made it to firing point, back to scope depth, up scope, all info into TDC is correct, opened outer doors on tubes 1 and 4, set for 29 feet for keel shot and 10 feet for side shot.Suddely, planes spotted at 043, had to chance it, fired both fish, dropped scope and ordered a dive to 200 feet.Torpedo number 1 prematured as did number 2.Then large explosions close, sub shaked viloently but no damaged reported, leveled off at 200 feet as more and more bombs fell, obviously in the clear water they could still see me and were trying to bomb me, so went to 250 feet, bombing ceased.
After 20 minutes, back to scope depth, planes were gone, ship was steaming off at 6 knots zigging.I decided to risk a deck gun attack since crew was exhausted and could not go for another all day/night chase and had been at it just a few hours shy of 24 hours.So surfaced for deck gun attack with AA gun manned in case of planes returning.Closed in at 3000 yards and opened fire, two misses, then a hit, then another hit, more misses and several good hits, finally one hit and the ship exploded, a large mushroom cloud of flame shot into the air, the ship went dead in the water as deck gun continued to hammer, finally the ship began to sink, we rushed away at flank speed.SD contact 20 minutes later forced a dive, stayed down rest of day to rest.After running on surface all the night, moved towards entrance to Kii Suido.
This next part is the historical part my patrol has most in common with actual first patrol of Plunger.Trying to make the last few miles to the entrance to Kii Suido on surface, stayed up later than usual past dawn.Soon a warship spotted report was yelled, a check showed a possible destroyer closing fast making a large bow wake, we had been spotted, no chance of outrunning the DD, so went to GQ and ordered a dive.Once under I ordered 250 feet, test depth, no sense in trying to fight a DD with unreliable tropedos, better chance to sneak away.This DD closed in fast and began pinging(which was a shock to the real life Plunger when this occured, they didnt know the Japanese had active sonar) the pinging was long scale and DD changed directions for a moment, obviously not sure where I was now.Silent running seemed to be working, then ping ping, DD went to short scale and came roaring in as he passed overhead I ordered flank speed, 4 charges splashed into water, all close and shook the boat, but no damage and not close enough.After 30 seconds, cut back to ahead 1/3 and put on 20 degrees right rudder.Lost me for 10 minutes then found me again, Ping ping ping, roared overhead, 6 charges dropped.All close but two were too close, trim pump was damaged as was compressor, air shot into conning tower and control room from ruptured lines.
Three more attacks, several charges each but no damage.Another attacked came, 5 charges, boat shook viloently, bulkhead damaged in forward torpedo room, luckily nothing too bad and crew had it fixed quickly, took on just a little water.After 6 more attacks, including one that damaged conning tower bulkhead, luckily minor damage, seemed to have lost me, as he began to sit sillently but believed he was sitting right on top of me.Began to sneak away when pinging started, as he closed I ordered flank speed and 275 feet 8 charges dropped, all missed.This determined, vicious attack last 6 1/2 hours game time(about 2 real time) Surfaced later the evening with damage repaired and headed away from the coast to give crew a rest.Destroyer was believed to be Fubuki class but could not confirm.
This from the wiki on the Plunger and read other accounts but this is a short summary.Shortly after Plunger under David C. White arrived on station, Plunger was seen by a Japanese destroyer which came on using powerful echo-ranging sonar—or "pinging." Hearing the pinging was a jolt. The submarine force had not known for certain, until now, that the Japanese had such gear. The Japanese not only had it, they knew how to use it. The destroyer found Plunger and unleashed twenty-four close depth charges. It was a vicious, determined attack, the first for both the hunter and the hunted in Empire waters. It jarred the boat and crew severely. White was thankful that he had put back into Pearl Harbor to repair the weakness in the hull.
Funny how the game can mimic history for the same boat, in same area in same time frame.I also ended up only sinking 1 ship as Plunger did on first patrol.Came across a Horai Maru with escorts, fired from long distance of 5000 yards (target was escorted and oving at 17 knots) one hit with little effect and other prematurely exploded(of course) DD's were clueless and never came near me.Another attack on a large merchant traveling alone expended remaining fish, one missed and other prematured.Planned a deck gun assault but planes prevented this and ship slipped into the Kii Suido.Out of torpedos, I turned for home and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 31 January, 1942.
Fun but challenging patrol, in fact most fun 've had in early war patrol in a while.Was very surprised by the challenging escort this early in war, they are usually nancys.
TMO 2.0 is great:salute:
My alternate career is 1941 out of Pearl Harbor with USS Plunger.Refueled at Midway, arrived off Japan around January 2, 1942.Going by the early war tactics I stayed submerged during daylight(helped avoid a bunch of dives, aircraft was heavy but prefer the yo yo method i use in later career) and had a few days of no contacts.
Finally on 6 January around dusk after I surfaced for battery charge, my lookouts spotted a ship at bearing 080, I scanned and saw a large single smoke plume from many miles away in the fading light.I ordered GQ and flank speed to make contact and go for a dusk scope attack.The ship was making 12 knots though so took a minute to get into position, finally I dove but it was dark and not all that easy to see target.Closed to just 800 yards and could see target, fired two Mark 14's at the mid sized freighter, one set to bust the keel, one set to impact the side at 10 feet.About 10 seconds into torpedo run, the first fish prematurely exploded.The second ran true and slammed into the side of the ship but no secondary explosions and she kept moving although slowly.I fired two more fish set with corrected data, one weny haywire and took a weird jog to starboard, thought had a circle runner but not, the secondran true but prematurely exploded about 50 yards from target, which made me think I had a hit at first then noticed crew reported no impact.All four bow tubes empty, batteries low and no chance of getting a good stern shot, I decided to let them go, then surface, charge batteries and tail them all night and attack at daylight.Tailed them all night and recharged, was getting ready to dive for attack when SD contacts reported, two closing fast at just 6 miles.I ordered a dive and barely got under as two planes (probably zeros, external cam disabled) bombed me.I went to 100 feet and made turned towards target and went back to GQ, closed in based on sound contact and last visual postion when marked on map.After a few minutes, went to periscope depth for a look, planes gone but had ship in sight at 5,000 yards, had to go to flank speed to close in in time to fire from 1100 yards.Dropped scope and went to 100 feet again.
Made it to firing point, back to scope depth, up scope, all info into TDC is correct, opened outer doors on tubes 1 and 4, set for 29 feet for keel shot and 10 feet for side shot.Suddely, planes spotted at 043, had to chance it, fired both fish, dropped scope and ordered a dive to 200 feet.Torpedo number 1 prematured as did number 2.Then large explosions close, sub shaked viloently but no damaged reported, leveled off at 200 feet as more and more bombs fell, obviously in the clear water they could still see me and were trying to bomb me, so went to 250 feet, bombing ceased.
After 20 minutes, back to scope depth, planes were gone, ship was steaming off at 6 knots zigging.I decided to risk a deck gun attack since crew was exhausted and could not go for another all day/night chase and had been at it just a few hours shy of 24 hours.So surfaced for deck gun attack with AA gun manned in case of planes returning.Closed in at 3000 yards and opened fire, two misses, then a hit, then another hit, more misses and several good hits, finally one hit and the ship exploded, a large mushroom cloud of flame shot into the air, the ship went dead in the water as deck gun continued to hammer, finally the ship began to sink, we rushed away at flank speed.SD contact 20 minutes later forced a dive, stayed down rest of day to rest.After running on surface all the night, moved towards entrance to Kii Suido.
This next part is the historical part my patrol has most in common with actual first patrol of Plunger.Trying to make the last few miles to the entrance to Kii Suido on surface, stayed up later than usual past dawn.Soon a warship spotted report was yelled, a check showed a possible destroyer closing fast making a large bow wake, we had been spotted, no chance of outrunning the DD, so went to GQ and ordered a dive.Once under I ordered 250 feet, test depth, no sense in trying to fight a DD with unreliable tropedos, better chance to sneak away.This DD closed in fast and began pinging(which was a shock to the real life Plunger when this occured, they didnt know the Japanese had active sonar) the pinging was long scale and DD changed directions for a moment, obviously not sure where I was now.Silent running seemed to be working, then ping ping, DD went to short scale and came roaring in as he passed overhead I ordered flank speed, 4 charges splashed into water, all close and shook the boat, but no damage and not close enough.After 30 seconds, cut back to ahead 1/3 and put on 20 degrees right rudder.Lost me for 10 minutes then found me again, Ping ping ping, roared overhead, 6 charges dropped.All close but two were too close, trim pump was damaged as was compressor, air shot into conning tower and control room from ruptured lines.
Three more attacks, several charges each but no damage.Another attacked came, 5 charges, boat shook viloently, bulkhead damaged in forward torpedo room, luckily nothing too bad and crew had it fixed quickly, took on just a little water.After 6 more attacks, including one that damaged conning tower bulkhead, luckily minor damage, seemed to have lost me, as he began to sit sillently but believed he was sitting right on top of me.Began to sneak away when pinging started, as he closed I ordered flank speed and 275 feet 8 charges dropped, all missed.This determined, vicious attack last 6 1/2 hours game time(about 2 real time) Surfaced later the evening with damage repaired and headed away from the coast to give crew a rest.Destroyer was believed to be Fubuki class but could not confirm.
This from the wiki on the Plunger and read other accounts but this is a short summary.Shortly after Plunger under David C. White arrived on station, Plunger was seen by a Japanese destroyer which came on using powerful echo-ranging sonar—or "pinging." Hearing the pinging was a jolt. The submarine force had not known for certain, until now, that the Japanese had such gear. The Japanese not only had it, they knew how to use it. The destroyer found Plunger and unleashed twenty-four close depth charges. It was a vicious, determined attack, the first for both the hunter and the hunted in Empire waters. It jarred the boat and crew severely. White was thankful that he had put back into Pearl Harbor to repair the weakness in the hull.
Funny how the game can mimic history for the same boat, in same area in same time frame.I also ended up only sinking 1 ship as Plunger did on first patrol.Came across a Horai Maru with escorts, fired from long distance of 5000 yards (target was escorted and oving at 17 knots) one hit with little effect and other prematurely exploded(of course) DD's were clueless and never came near me.Another attack on a large merchant traveling alone expended remaining fish, one missed and other prematured.Planned a deck gun assault but planes prevented this and ship slipped into the Kii Suido.Out of torpedos, I turned for home and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 31 January, 1942.
Fun but challenging patrol, in fact most fun 've had in early war patrol in a while.Was very surprised by the challenging escort this early in war, they are usually nancys.
TMO 2.0 is great:salute: