Finally Sunk The Yamato!

[WernherVonTrapp]

OK, I've been playing this game long enough to realize, "Big Deal:roll:" but, in all the time I've been playing, this was the first real crack I had at it, albeit it was docked. I snuck into Truk lagoon last night and I have to tell you, whether it was the RFB side of it or the RSRDC, that lagoon was stocked with more ships than a trout farm on opening day.:o I also experienced my first garphics related CTD, though strangely enough, this only would happen whenever I tried to take a SS. Gameplay, was largely unaffected.
I snuck into the SE entrance and was immediately met by about a half dozen merchants parked just outside the docks at Dublon. It was pitch black last night and that was OK by me. I almost had a full compliment of torps save for 3 aft that I (in retrospect, wasted) used against a Medium European Composite about 100nm SW of the lagoon. After sinking about 3 merchants there (and moving slowly but progressively forward), I pick up several radar contacts between Dublon and the hills SW of there. It was a Yamato class BB parked beside 2 Kongos and 1 Fuso. I tried to use my torps sparingly and in tandem with my deck gun in anticipation. I actually used the DG exclusively to sink the last, but not least, Small Old Engine Aft, prior to slithering between the two hills at Dublon.
As I started to close in on the Yamato, I saw another merchant, a Medium Old Split Freighter, whose DG I was hoping to avoid since I was only at 29' depth and didn't want to waste another torp. As I closed even more, I picked up some more contacts west of Truk and Moen. Low and behold, the Yamato's sister ship was about 14,000yds NW of me and to the SW of that, the big green Hiryu. OMG, what a field day I would've had if I hadn't used my torps on those merchies. There were also a couple of Large Modern Passenger Freighters at 11,000+ tons each and another 7 merchants anchored at various intervals to the east between Truk and Dublon. There was a pesky little Small Subchaser that I had to evade during the engagement and two DDs at the SE entrance too.
The Yamato took 6 Mk-14s along her port side and after a couple of impressive explosion, began listing to that side. I then maneuvered my boat to her starboard and sent 4 aft torps along her opposite length. After several large and smaller secondaries, she slipped beneath the waves. I exited over the eastern reefs only to find a small TF looking for me. I evaded at flank speed on the surface and was harassed constantly by planes as I headed NE. After about 200nm, the planes ceased. My total tonnage upon return was only 60+k and all I got for it was a Bronze Star. I should've gone for the other BBs parked alongside her, as that would've amounted to over 90k, w/the merchants.:nope:

[Schwieger]

If only I had seen that in my type 7, lol, too bad the Germans and Japanese were on the same side.

[Platapus]

Then ole snuck into Truk trick eh?

Wow, 10 torpedoes to sink her? Did any of them malfunction?

Too bad you could not take a screen shot. That would have been some sight.

[Armistead]

That doesn't count...:haha:

I went into Truk to rape for the points and not only were all the large ships docked there, a large TF was in it's staging point in the north passage, so I attacked it instead.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-06-27_000913_532.jpg

Only one problem, with the large TF there, there were 3 Yamato class BB's docked in total.

I attacked and sank many and hung around for 3 days and the TF finally popped up at the SE entry taking off...

Bronze...well, it was docked.

[kiwi_2005]

Gratz!

Ive only sunk the Yamato in the stock game, thats only cause she would show up 3 out of 5 patrols even after sinking her next patrol their she was! Man those Japs are fast builders :)

But in a modded game i've never come across her, carriers yes but the Yamato, not yet.

[Vaux]

Good story! Congratulations on sinking the Yamato. I got a look at the Yamato once in early '42. I was in an S boat headed back to base with only the 4 torps loaded in my tubes. I stumbled across a TF with the Yamato in the center and a Kongo on the outside starboard side, inconveniently between me and the Yamato. I shot all 4 at the Kongo with one miss. It limped off with a significant list to starboard and a little wisp of smoke coming from amidships, but still making good speed. I know the Yamato would have laughed at 4 Mark 10s, but I sure would have liked to have gotten the shot!

[Whippy]

I came across Yamato once at cruise in a fleet that included two other battleships and many other warships "somewhere off Honshu," I really forget where. If I were looking at the SHIV map I could remember

I scored 4 hits, one of which was right in the aft section near the propellers. Two torpedoes missed. She slowed, listed to the port, but continued on. Man that was FRUSTRATING!! :damn: I could do nothing else.

Conrgatulations on the sinking!!

[WernherVonTrapp]

That doesn't count...:haha:

Bronze...well, it was docked.:D Somehow, I knew you would say that.:03:
Hey, I had to take the shot, even if it was a "Gimmie". I've come across the Y at least a half dozen times in the past couple of years but, every single time, it was happenstance (no radar, etc.) and/or she was just out of range of my torps. Once, I even had a full load of Mk-23s but on that occasion, she was just over 5000yds by the time I got into a firing position. I sank one of the outer Kongos in that TF. Was weird how my PC would CTD every time I tried to take a SS while at Truk.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

Way to go on sinking the Yamato, the Ghost of the IJN. I've sunk carriers, battleships,destroyers, and of course merchants but never once encountered the Yamato. :yeah::salute::rock:

[Armistead]

:D Somehow, I knew you would say that.:03:
Hey, I had to take the shot, even if it was a "Gimmie". I've come across the Y at least a half dozen times in the past couple of years but, every single time, it was happenstance (no radar, etc.) and/or she was just out of range of my torps. Once, I even had a full load of Mk-23s but on that occasion, she was just over 5000yds by the time I got into a firing position. I sank one of the outer Kongos in that TF. Was weird how my PC would CTD every time I tried to take a SS while at Truk.

As good as you are with history using RSRD you should have no problem finding the Yamato several places making speed, well escorted.....

Then come brag....:woot:

Seriously, I thought you've sunk it many times....so congrats. I'll harbor rape Truk once in 43 every career, but I don't go for the Y anymore. I'll take out a couple carriers, a BB , couple CA's, ect...Get more points that way.

Is sad you sink a Y and get just a bronze. MY wife sends you a kiss.

[WernherVonTrapp]

MY wife sends you a kiss.:har:Tell her I said thanks. BTW, tell her I like bright red lipstick too.http://www.smileys4me.com/getsmiley.php?show=82:03:

[tater]

I've scratched her paint a few times, not sunk her though, I am never in position for more than a long range hail mary.

I need to finish my "controlled mines" mod, then Truk would be rather more difficult.

[WernherVonTrapp]

I've scratched her paint a few times, not sunk her though, I am never in position for more than a long range hail mary.

I need to finish my "controlled mines" mod, then Truk would be rather more difficult.Yes, I must admit, though this was my very first foray into Truk lagoon, I was rather surprised at the relative ease with which I was able to enter, and then linger about. Maybe they thought an enemy sub would never dare to enter the lion's den.

[tater]

Yes, I must admit, though this was my very first foray into Truk lagoon, I was rather surprised at the relative ease with which I was able to enter, and then linger about. Maybe they thought an enemy sub would never dare to enter the lion's den.

The game doesn't model atolls at all (snicker).

Sneaking into harbors or places like Truk is cheating, frankly, given the game engine. No reefs, weak terrain and sea modeling (shallows, sand bars, currents, tides). Sneaking around Truk should be scary from a TERRAIN standpoint, screw the IJN. Think about currents, for example. Read PRs, and there were times during long DC attacks, etc, where boats were moving more from currents than under power submerged. Sneaking someplace underwater means conserving juice... imagine if you had to use ahead full submerged just to make headway...

Since the AI ships have to be able to get out, any reefs, etc, cannot be too closed in, or the AI will crash. Mines or subnets (the latter as subnets, or analogs for reefs) cannot be too shallow for the same reason.

Bottom line is that it will always be far too easy. Back when I was working on my campaign, I liberally seeded all the deep water at Truk with mines. The deep bits INSIDE, that is. Wake them up then try to sit in a deep pool... bad idea.

It was more punishment for people sneaking in, frankly.

Monitored mines would go a long way. You'd pass the entrance, and every ASW platform within many miles would make a beeline for you. (these are in effect mines with hydrophones, they don't explode, they detect you. While they were mostly used around Japan, my plan was to liberally dose harbors with them to keep players honest.

[Gibus]

.... my plan was to liberally dose harbors with them to keep players honest.
I totally understand your point of view, but we can not say that Günther Prien or Mush Morton was dishonest, no?

[WernherVonTrapp]

Sneaking around Truk should be scary from a TERRAIN standpoint, screw the IJN. Think about currents, for example. Read PRs, and there were times during long DC attacks, etc, where boats were moving more from currents than under power submerged. Sneaking someplace underwater means conserving juice... imagine if you had to use ahead full submerged just to make headway...

It was more punishment for people sneaking in, frankly.
Hmmmm, you're absolutely right.:hmmm: It's funny how I never even (really) considered that, and that's knowing full well of the perils of entering the Mediterranean (submerged) through the strait of Gibralter. The current there was tantamount (metaphorically) to an atmospheric jetstream. I was expecting, at least, a DD or two to be sitting and waiting at every ingress/egress but, nary a DD was to be found inside the entire lagoon. Just a Small Subchaser that litterally moved to and fro along a plot line I was able to draw upon. After sinking the Y, the subchaser just, well, up and vanished.:o

[tater]

I totally understand your point of view, but we can not say that Günther Prien or Mush Morton was dishonest, no?

Morton nosed into an anchorage.*

http://rses.anu.edu.au/geodynamics/gps/png/site_info/wewakmap.jpg

*Based on what I wrote, that seems to be brushing it off. Quite the contrary. Nosing into an incredibly open harbor like Wewak was literally MoH level stuff. It was insane, and audacious.

Compare that harbor to Truk. Or any of the many harbors you are ordered to penetrate in the absurd stock campaign (then take pictures, as if the intel on the ships brought back in a few WEEKS would have any value). Nosing into Truk would have been insane. Going all the way in? LOL.

[Gibus]

(then take pictures, as if the intel on the ships brought back in a few WEEKS would have any value).
I am also totally agree with that. :yeah: