Tell us what you're up to in your current campaign!

[Bubblehead1980]

Share stories of your current patrol!

Please include Date, sub class, homeport(Pearl, Fremantle) and patrol area.


12/18/1941
USS Porpoise(Porpoise Class)
Pearl Harbor, HI

100 miles South-West of Wake Island

Left Pearl Harbor on 8 December and headed for Wake Island at Full Speed(16 knots) in order to stand guard against possible IJN invasion.Arrived in Area around midnight on 17 December.Stayed on surface since in friendly area.At 1117 a large four engine aircraft was spotted by lookouts(no SD radar yet) approaching from the South, ordered a dive and submerged to 150 feet.Bombs soon fell, close but no damage.
Went on a periscope patrol until dusk, surfaced and recharged batteries.

Dove at dawn on 18 December for submerged patrol.Around 1400, sound picked up fast screws.Surfaced to try and close.Soon two destroyers were spotted racing towards us and began firing, ordered GQ and a dive to 250 feet, evading several depth charges and closed in direction of heavy screw noises.After a long run at high speed, came to scope depth to find four large heavy cruisers of the IJN in my scope, at 7,682 yards.Prepared for a long range shot, since could get no closer due to low batteries and a DD staying in area as well as high speed(17 knots of the TF) As stood by to fire, the TF made a sharp zig away, no use in firing, went deep until DD cleared area, surfaced and recharged batteries overnight.

Dawn, searching an area west of Wake Island now, lookouts reported an aircraft, a dive was ordered as a lone "Kate" torpedo plane, not armed with bomb or torpedo made a strafing run, injuring the OOD and a lookout.

submerged for an hour then back to scope depth, surfaced until 50 miles away, then dove again for scope patrol(hate this but like to follow early war tactics in early war, adds a challenge) Around 1200, sound had heavy screws, along with merchant screws and DD's.Closed in a bit but could tell would not be able to get close enough for a shot, surfaced for a n end around.During the end around we were apparently spotted, once again a Destroyer raced in, forcing us to dive and this one was part of the A team, forced us to 250 feet and to stay at 2 knots on silent running.Finally escort left after 21 depth charges, some close.

Surfaced for recharge, will try again.Good thing is got off some contact reports.

Soon

[Armistead]

This may have been my hardest patrol ever, certainly rewarding. I thought the patrol before was my hardest, but this beat it. I finally found the large carrier fleet entering the Indian Ocean in support of Java.

Course I told one of my long stories, but here is what made it so hard.

After first attack, 3 carriers down, one Kongo damaged I had to chase it on the surface or let it go. It still was making 17 kts and I was a good 10nms in the rear when I gave chase. I fought and dealt with planes non stop. Became a pain as I finally had to yo yo with each plane sighting, took 3-4 hours of game play just to get to dark.

The upsetter was the next attack. I was taking stad measures, getting ready to shot when a Kongo ran over me. I was looking in the scope, then underwater, it pushed me to 100 ft, damged my scope. Since they were going fast, I had to shoot. Got a few hits, but not the wounded Kongo I was after...That mistake meant another long end around.

Last attack, no charge, 50% damage and 3 torps left. I aimed at the Kongo and a damn carrier cuts across and ruins the setup. It was too close to shoot. Had to wait for it to pass before I could shoot, but got it.

Barely escaped with my life...
Very nice group, 5 carriers, 5 BB's..bout 20 othrs.

Battle of Savu.
http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6421019045/m/9401009588

Patrol before, got 5 carriers..
http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6421019045/m/7411023588

[Diopos]

Armistead,
it is reports like yours that fastfed reads and ends up in starting threads like this one ---> link (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=175809)

:D

.

[Thrair]

Him and me both. :P

Early war, I'm usually fine once I get into a Gato. I love those boats. Got a soft spot for em.

Later war, I run into more...... difficulties.

*EDIT* As for what I'm during right now, it's fairly boring. Steaming towards a patrol. Got a pair of sampans on the way.

[Armistead]

Bubble, Did you ever try the battle of Savo. Fastfed said he couldn't find it on the right night Aug 8. Since that was close, I went ahead and waited Aug 8 myself...US invasion force never showed up, nor did the japs, so somethings wrong somewhere. I'll go look in the mission file, but only mod different I'm running now since last time is radar mod, new version scaf. TMO shouldn't be the problem since RSRD runs after. I've found it several times without problems before. All other historical traffic has been fine, so not sure whats up.

[Bubblehead1980]

Bubble, Did you ever try the battle of Savo. Fastfed said he couldn't find it on the right night Aug 8. Since that was close, I went ahead and waited Aug 8 myself...US invasion force never showed up, nor did the japs, so somethings wrong somewhere. I'll go look in the mission file, but only mod different I'm running now since last time is radar mod, new version scaf. TMO shouldn't be the problem since RSRD runs after. I've found it several times without problems before. All other historical traffic has been fine, so not sure whats up.


I did make it to the Battle of Savo Island about a week and a half ago in an S-Boat.The US invasion force showed up on morning of August 7 as supposed to.The night of August 8/9 the Japanese cruisers arrived, sank the picket destroyer northwest of Savo, one cruiser was left dead in water from gunfire/torpedos from the DD.The force then came right to me, I fired my four Mark 10's submerged from 800 yards and scored four hits, 20 minutes later the Furataka heavy CA exploded and sank.The escorting DD forced me deep, I came back up and gave the cruiser dead in the water four more torpedos(took four to finish her off, she was stubborn) so i missed the engagement between the Allied and IJN cruisers.I surfaced and went around the north end of the island, just before dawn saw the IJN cruisers finishing off two US cruisers in distance(via bincoulars), which were burning furiously.I dove and closed on yet another Furataka, fired two to conserve my last torpedos, both hit, thebig ship didnt slow down but within ten minutes have developed a serious port list and slowed to just 8 knots.I was working back into position to administer the coup de grace but could not , seems this one was getting way, then after another 20 minutes, in the distance, I saw the cruiser capsize, she was done! The big belly of this cruiser stayed visible for an hour before she finally slipped intot he deep.

Three heavy cruisers in one night, not bad.

[Armistead]

List of mods bubble. Only thing I can figure is one of the mods I'm using is somehow messing up this campaign.

[Bubblehead1980]

List of mods bubble. Only thing I can figure is one of the mods I'm using is somehow messing up this campaign.


TMO 2.0(didnt have beta at the time)
RSRD
RSRD patch
different smoke
EAX sound
speech overhaul
tbt filter red
gramaphone 2

[clayp]

Nothing.....:haha:

[Thrair]

Nothing.....:haha:

Ze goggles!

[Armistead]

Battle of Eastern Solomons.
Aug 23.42

Couldn't find either of the 3 groups, so I headed back to Truk. At the south harbor got a faint contact, no noise, so pinged it..was the Yamato, one small carrier, 4 escorts.

It was heading for the south entrance, just 20 nms away going fast, so I rushed to cut it off. Dang ping sent a escort looking for me. I had to dive and the escort fell behind. I got on the surface figuring it was gonna hit the south entrance and despawn....and I couldn't find it. I check sonar, nothing where it was, figured it despawned.

Actually the group turned NW heading for the shallow entry on the SW side of Truk. I wasn't expecting it there and the DD was in my baffles, but so was the group when I checked sonar.

I figured once it got through the reef it would despawn, so more for the heck of it, I did a save to gave chase and see what it would do, in the end no harm, no foul.

Headed back. The DD had gone back to the group, but as they were heading into the harbor, DD's saw me. Anyway I dived flank, DD's went over me and hunted far behind. I surfaced and chased the Yamato and Carrier all the way through the shallows. I wanted to fire my M14's at the carrier bringing up the rear. All it's escorts were outside the reef and couldn't get through it to get to me. I stayed 3000 yards behind the carrier, just out of it's machine gun range and the Yamato wouldn't or couldn't shoot. He got a angle a few times, but missed, once hit the carrier. He finally got an angle on me, so I dived and let loose all 6 at the carrier going away, 4000 yard....

Never know if they would've hit, half way in route the ships vanished...despawned....

I was surprised how far they went, almost to the channel.

I went through one of the very small openings in the reef to the NW with a little subchaser tug giving chase. I can't believe he followed me through the opening out to the ocean, but he got left behind.

When I saw those big guns go off, that's when I dived. I wonder if they hadn't vanished if I could've got the Yamato to sink the carrier...

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-07_233159_503.jpg

[WernherVonTrapp]

Sorry, nothing glamorous to report right now.:yawn:
RFB/RSRDC

February 4, 1944
Balao Class
Home Port: Guam
Last assignment: Patrol Japan-Luzon Sipping Lanes

Nothing was found in the barren section of ocean I was sent to patrol for 96 hours. Right now I'm finishing up some harbor raping at Okinawa (Naha, Itoman). Got 50k worth of tonnage so far but, I'm almost out of torps and DG ammo. Will have to refit as soon as this last Merchie sinks.

[corsair15]

March 8, 1942
Tambor Class

Position: (Not sure) about 200 Miles west of Guam.

Right now I'm trying to get in range of a HUGE Task Force. However, during my travels of course I've run into delay after delay. Airplanes forcing me under all day, Subchasers coming out of nowehere; the norm.


Today was different though. As I was trying to close the distance between me and the and task force, and allow myself some time to prepare for the attack, I ran into two airplanes, followed by two escorts. I spotted the escorts on the horizon, dove to periscope depth and waited for them to be in range since they were heading for me; but the AOB was nearly zero, so I couldn't get a great fix on what kind of ships they were. I mistook them for Akizuki's when they were actually Fubuki's. Fired a spread (4 fish).

No hits, I had the wrong range. They spotted my scope and forced me under. I dove to about 300 feet, rigged for silent running already, I increased to Flank, dropped ONE decoy, made a 45 degree turn to port, decreased speed to 2 knots, and got away unscathed. Waited an hour for them to give up sinking me, returned to surface, and here I am.

Bout to have to go back under though, more airplanes.

[clayp]

No matter what I do I cant find any of those big battels..:hmmm: You have heard of the expression dumber than a rock..Well :yep:I prove it..

[Armistead]

I was just in the biggest all around battle ever..Attacked large IJ TF, had two Kongos. I missed them, but got one CA..They went on pass Savo and took on about 16 US vessels, largest Northhamptoms. I was behind trying to get in the fray, but the IJN won it hands down, Kongos just outranked the field..but what a battle.

The IJN limped off, I was able to sink one listing Kongo from the battle and stopped the other dead in the water. DD's worked me hard, about 40% damage. Finally hid under the Kongo.

Morning came, IJN had ships all over spread out. US planes finally show up in mass and attack the BB non stop. Scared, I pulled away from it and finally torped it...It sunk. The DD's then came at me, no doubt they would've got me, but US planes attacked non stop until all DD's were deep six...

Can't beat that. I had just fought Santa Cruz and came to Tulagi to refit and caught this battle...After it was over, dang if another CA TF came in.
I didn't have nothing left in me for it and let it go...

One refit, about 238K tons sunk...woo hoo....with a lil help from the navy...

[corsair15]

USS Tambor
Tambor Class Sub
May 8, 1942
1,000nm West of Midway Atoll
Course 265*


On my way to patrol zone near Honshu. Was forced to return to Pearl after my task force incident yesterday. I couldn't get in range of the Task Force because of the Carrier Group. They sent like 20 Airplanes at me. I shot down 4 of them before I realized it was hopeless; they just won't be leaving me alone. The sad part is that the Task Force was less than 20mi away from me. I tried running on the surface, keeping the AA Gun manned constantly, it was way too risky though. They sent air patrol after air patrol. I managed to sink a Medium European Composite and Huge European Liner that were part of a smaller TF that was trailing behind the larger one. Headed back to pearl because I ran out of torpedoes and (really I wanted an assignment somewhere else, like the Marianas) but that didnt help. So here I am, back on my way to Japan.

Quick question. What is the maximum rank you can attain as a Submarine Captain in this game? I made Captain for the first time last night on the Los Angeles mod (yes it was easy, this submarine rocks hard) but can you make Rear Admiral Lower Half or is Captain the limit for this game?

[Bubblehead1980]

Just loaded up a patrol and finished....

TMO 2.0 RSRD

10 March-16 April 1944

Gato, USS Gurnard

Celebes Sea "Chokepoint" South of Davao Gulf

Returned home with 49,000+ tons sunk.The victims include two Taiyo escort carriers.Also took out one small and two large merchants.I had just two Mark 18's left in stern tubes.

My last four Mark 23's failed to hit a group of cruisers encountered on 28 March 1944 due to range limitations(fired from 4,000 yards, the TF conducted a normal zig during the run(unalerted to my presence) which pulled them just out of range, bad luck, otherwise a Takao CA wouldve been mine.Possibly the Agano CL I fired one of the four at.Ah well.

Made it home to Fremantle on April 16, 1944.

Screenies of the carrier attack:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=175896

[Bubblehead1980]

UPDATE:Screens at the bottom. Managed to get some patrol time in last night with my secondary career.

TMO 2.0 RSRD

USS Shark-Porpoise Class

Pearl Harbor

Left port on 8 December 1941, refueled at Midway, proceeded to area 130 NM South of Bungo Suido.After days of no contacts, not even a patrol plane, spotted a freighter late afternoon of 31 December 1941 at 9,000 yards, moved into position and ordered a DIVE after going to GQ.Plotted out a good track which would have us 1,000 yards off the freighters SW track.Went to 100 feet and ahead Full.Sonar began tracking.After a few minutes slowed and came to scope depth to check target.A decent sized freighter was visible, dropped to 80 feet and ahead full again.After a sonar ping to check range, sonar reported target was at 5000 yards.Raised back to scope depth and slowed to ahead 1/3 for a quick visual.Target changed course to due west! This through us off track , immediately ordered a course change to compensate and began to track speed, target was making 9 knots.After closing to 3,000 yards with a AOB of 120 degrees, identified the target as a Momoyama Maru freighter.Checked the manual, set torpedos 1 and 2 to run at 20 feet for keel shots and opened outer doors.Finally, fired 1 and then followed with firing 2.

34 seconds into the run, heard an explosion, raised scope to see a plume of water, appears torpedo 1 exploded prematurely.Torpedo 2 soon follwed 1 and exploded.After closing in more, fired two more, one of which prematurely exploded, other failed missed due to evasive movements from the freighter.

Not wanting to waste anymore torpedos, I ordered a battle surface on the merchant since seas were calm and the merchant was unarmed(love early war merchants in RSRD) We closed in to just 600 yards and opened fire, holing the merchant along the water line, also striking hits on the command deck(killing the crew) the 20 MM also raked the decks with fire.

After 76 shells, the Momoyama Maru went dead in the water and sank 30 minutes later.

Hanging out here until 10 January then heading for East China Sea, some good convoys leaving Tsushima Straits around 17 January.


While on patrol in the East China Sea...encountered a lone merchant, small one of the Kasagisan Maru Class.Two torpedos prematurely exploded and with heavy seas, deck gun was not an option, attempted an end around but a pesky four engine patrol plane keep me under and lost contact.Patroled around for days in stormy weather, nearly had a collision with an enemy submarine in the weather, ordered the 20 MM manned and fired scoring some hits but the sub soon disappeared and was unable to track.

Found a Biyo Maru freighter and after 3 torpedos failed to explode or prematurely exploded, scored one hit admiships which set off a large explosion, Biyo Maru split in two and sank with all hands(empty lifeboats)

Finally on January 20 made contact with a convoy in the East China Sea.The convoy was large and well protected for an early war convoy with 4 Destroyers escorting and 6-8 merchants and troopships comprising the convoy.

Fighting heavy seas and a DD that came too close, finally by the afternoon was ahead and able to dive.Closed in at ahead full and 80 feet, came to scope depth and slowed for 3 observations to plot course, speed and pick out a target, with just four Mark 14's left in bow tubes and two left in stern tubes, needed to chose carefully.I was approaching from the starboard which had some large freighters but the port side had several small troopships and one large one.After some plotting, I figured I could get within 2000 yards of the big troopship(firing from starboard side) , so identified the target as a Kiturin Maru class troopship.I dropped to 100 feet and slowed to ahead 2/3 and closed in, while evading the lead DD which was criss crossing the path of the convoy.

Finally when plot checked, came to scope depth and was in correct position, only off by 450 yards which could be easily made up in time to fire.Problem was a large merchant was blocking my field of view so could not fire just when planned to, so dropped scope then raised after 1 1/2 minutes to see I had a shot.Opened outer doors and fired two fish at center of target and used the spread knob to send the others to the bow and stern(prefer to fire torpedos as individual shots on different bearings sent via scope to tdc but this was not common until later, its early war so I play with early war tractics, makes things interesting) dropped scope and raised when torpedo run should be up...just after gettng a look at the transport, number one torpedo hit dead center, number two impacted the side but was reported as a dud. Torpedos 3 and 4 hit near their points of aim(somehow got lucky, no premature explosions), leaving the big transport a flaming wreck. I ordered ahead flank in order to get closer and then make a turn to prepare for a stern shot in case target needed a coup de grace shot , however a big transport was about to steam right over me, so went to 80 feet while racing ahead.Soon came back to scope depth and raised scope and to my shock the transport had turn and we nearly collided with it!! I dropped scope and ordered us to 90 feet.

We soon came back to scope depth in time to confirm our target was down by her stern and sinking, we got her.Soon targeted a smaller freighter with stern tubes and fired, both prematurely exploded.We now had a DD rushing towards us, we grabbed a sounding(just 200 feet below our keel) and went to 165 feet on silent running.

The Hatsuharu(sp?) class DD roared over and dropped some charges but none were close, clearly the intensely heavy seas were shielding us, I used this chance to speed up to 4.5 knots in order to slip aaway while the DD's sonar was masked by his own screws.

After several hours, we were clear, out of torpedos, we headed for home.Since used economical fuel settings during the transit from Pearl Harbor, still had 58 percent of our fuel after 42 days on patrol, so we were able to speed home at ahead full(16 knots) arriving 4 Feb 1942 which ended a tiring but successful patrol.The shark is currently without SD radar(chose to not purchase it, most didnt have it early war) which caused some quick dives to avoid planes.The torpedo issues were also trying.

Some shots from the patrol.


http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-11_231508_921.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-11_211129_984.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-11_211525_800.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-11_211526_369.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-11_231446_400.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-11_231447_011.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-11_211129_425.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-11_210129_818.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-11_210115_723.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-11_210115_138.jpg

[Bubblehead1980]

keep this thread going guys....

[Armistead]

Hehe, seems it really took off last time, I just don't want to spam it with my long patrol reports, but love the idea, so keep it up.

I was looking at that mod that added patrol reports in the game, very detailed, need Microsoft Access. I'll try to find it again.

Here it is,

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=169278&page=2&highlight=SH+4+Commander%2C+Microsoft+access

[tomoose]

USS Pickerel (Porpoise class), out of Pearl
March 42
SW of Bungo Straits

After a relatively quiet patrol I nosed into the Bungo Straits and sure enough picked up a merchant coming in from the NE. It was approx 0130hr and dark so I was able to stay on the surface and match course with the target then speed up for the end-around turn. I managed to pull an almost text-book 90-degree attack the only frustration was the first torp running cleanly underneath with no resulting explosion. Fortunately the 2nd torp was at a shallower depth and caught the merchant forward of midships. I quickly dialed in the 3rd torp and let loose, dropping the target speed a knot to account for the initial hit. The 3rd torp hit in almost exactly the same spot. I must have hit something sensitive as it suddenly exploded and broke in half, bow going down very quickly with the stern hanging on for a minute or two before going under. Two lifeboats observed.

Flush with that victory I radio'd in and got orders to proceed SW towards Luzon. We got lazy however and were caught with our pants down by an aircraft which popped out of the clouds and despite trying to crash dive we were hit astern by one of its bombs. My AA gunner got payback by flaming the aircraft which was fortunate and gave my damage control team time to effect repairs. With 40% hull damage I decided discretion is the better part of valour and turned for Midway (the visual damage showed a HUGE chunk of deck missing which in reality probably would have sunk me). As the wounded recovered (fortunately nothing serious), I sweated out the trip back and only relaxed after we'd passed the 150E easting (which is where the enemy air activity generally starts/ends, once east of that line I have yet to have any enemy aircraft 'spotted' so that's my tripwire on the map so to speak.).

Upon reaching Midway, refuelled and headed for Pearl and the body shop!:03: Not exactly stunning results for a patrol but the crew was certainly happy to still be in one piece.

[Castout]

TMO 2.0 RSRD campaign, Easy AI for TMO.

Porpoise class December 1941

Sighted an escorted tanker or troop carrier dawn but was detected by two armed escorts or destroyers.

Fire spread salvo none hit.

Dived and depth charged for some time

Now it's almost 2 hours later and the escorts have expended their depth charges yet they are still on my tail . . . .

This game is HAAAARD

[Bubblehead1980]

Seas must be calm, sounds like they got a good fix on you....just have to wait them out.

[Bubblehead1980]

TMO 2.0 RSRD
USS Gurnard(Gato)

June 1944 off Halmahera.

After 13 days in the area with one contact (sank a lone Biyo Maru) and being forced to dive often due to planes(3 airbases on Halmahera, so figures) but no other action, radar makes contact around noon on 14 June 1944.The contacts turn out to be a Task Force heading North.This force turns out to be a Battleship Division that did depart in real life on the 14th to join the the IJN carriers in the Philippine Sea to attack the US invasion forces in the Marianna Islands(pretty cool) The TF consists of Two Yamatos, two heavy cruisers, one light cruiser and 6 or 7 destroyers, including an Akizuki.


Decided to stop there and save since I needed to get to bed, hopefully ill get a chance to load it back up this weekend....

[cdrsubron7]

May, 1943

I'm on my first patrol in the USS Finback (SS-230) out of Midway. Assigned to patrol in the Sea of Okhotsk. Sank five merchants for about 31,000 gross tons. After the five merchant was sunk traffic dwindled down to nothing so I headed south and am currently about 60 miles south of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Have about seven torpedoes left and am hoping to put them to good use. :D


I'm running TMO 2.0 qand the latest version of RSRDC.

[Armistead]

Aug 1, 1943.


Almost out of fuel, I patrol the Lombak strait. Getting ready to head back to base and get contacts. Small TF of 4 Kumi light cruisers, seldom have seen this. Speed is 25kts, no DD screen. Best shooting range I could get was 3500 yards. Shot all 10 tubes slow speed, a few prematures, but sunk two out of the group.

RTB

[MaddogK]

After action report
First deployment USS Thresher (Tambor Class)
GFO -w- RSRDC (first time installed)

Sailing out of Pearl 8 Dec 41 and a refuel at Midway assigned 'disrupt shipping' off the east coast of Japan. Sank 1 modern cargo ship. Reassigned to Luzon straight to raid shipping lanes. Waited a week- no action so headed to Balikpapan for refuel. after refuel sailed north Tarakan Island area to intercept expected warships 11 Jan 42, but nothing appears, so around 16 Jan head back to Balikpapan (Borneo) for expected Battle 23-24 Jan 42 and heading into the straight I find a small task force (the one I expected a week earlier at Tarakan) only to find 4 DD's creeping along at 4 kts. I decide to leave them alone and continue south for the battle of Balikpapan. I arrive early and wait, and wait, and wait for another week and nothing appears- not even a fishing boat. So I decide to head back toward Luzan by way of Singapore (which hasn't fallen yet). I make it all the way back to the Luzon straights without sighting a single ship (2 aircraft tho) and wait some more. I FINALLY discover another medium modern cargo ship that I make quick work of with a single torpedo and a few rounds from my deck gun.

I finally get a mission success message and am reassigned to a patrol 150 miles west of Singapore so I start back, then I receive orders to intercept a task force leaving Camrahn Bay around Feb 10 and start running flank speed to make up the 600 miles to intercept. By the time I get to Camrahn Bay I'm 2 days late and left with 1/4 tank fuel so I decide it's time to port again and head to Surabaja. 1/3 speed on the surface from Camrahn bay to the Karimata straights was again totally uneventful. I'm beginning to think the RSRD campaign is broken when I start to pick up some shipping noise. I'm beginning to sweat as my fuel is on vapors, and the depth in the straight is about 70 feet. It's Valentines day.

14 Feb 42
I pick up some strong noise from the south coming out of Botovia and raise the scope. I mutter a few obscenities to myself as I gaze at the carrier, 2 or 3 cruisers, troop transport, and a couple of DD's. I attempt to save the game but SH4 give me an 'unable to save game' message, I keep trying but it doesn't happen. I drop the scope and try to make a run for the deeper water about 5 miles to the north but the fleet is heading straight for me at 10 knots, and I can't outrun them on batteries so I turn east and ring battlestations. I wait till the they're literally on top of me then raise the scope again- The first 3 forward tubes unleash on the lead cruiser and I swing the scope around to pick up the carrier which is directly astern but about 400 yards. I empty the rear tubes on her, and swing the scope back to work the second cruiser. The sonar pinging in the background was suddenly drowned out by a loud screeching as the boat rolls over on it's side. One of the DD's hit the sail and destroyed the scope. I decide it's time to leave this party and kick the rudder full right as the engines turn up to flank. Both DD's are on me now dropping depth charges like mad and I'm taking damage. They're too fast to target with my observation scope, but I try to take one out with my 3 remaining fish in the forward tubes as one crosses my path- ALL miss. Am getting desperate now so I blow the tanks and head for the deck gun as I turn off battery charging and straighten the rudder. I get 12 rounds of AP into one of the DD's and she begins to sink, the other has backed off and his shells start raining down on me. I turn and start to unload on him but it's too late, I'm going down.

SS Thresher sinks to the bottom- sail still above water, 1 cruiser dead, carrier and 1 DD in flames, and the crew of the other DD is laughing and drinking saki. Oh, I get a handfull of medals at my funeral.

[kiwi_2005]

TMO 1.4 RSRDC v370 Stock game

Commander of the USS Sturgeon SS-187 Salmon
Stationed at Surabaru Java,

Primary objective
Reach Molucca Passage and patrol there for 72hrs

Jan 4 1942 leaving base for patrol.

Jan 9 1942.
9.44 Reached Patrol zone. Patroling zone for next 3days.

Jan 14 1942.
05.32 16hrs ago I received orders to make way to Tarakan island and patrol within 100 miles for next 3 days. Now positioned within 300 miles off Tarakan. Celebes Sea.

Jan 15 1942
19.35 Taskforce. DD's spotted long range 9000+ yrds dead ahead of us. Yes my lookout crew are excellent lookouts at night!

Took Sturgeon down to 200feet for sonar detection. Picked up 9 DD's figured they must be escorting something big so moved in slowly
Managed to easily get pass leading destroyers once they were well behind ordered periscope depth to take a look with the nightscope. Spotted a Naka light cruiser dead in the water just sitting there like a duck waiting to be shot at. Moved within 2000yrds and fired 3 forward torpedoes, missing with first two damaging boat with the last one - how did I miss a sitting duck! It happens.. Fired 4th torpedo resulting in a hit and sinking her. Sonar picked up DD's moving fast to our position. Ordered boat back down to 200feet silent running to evade attack run


23.18.
Last few hrs all hell broke loose, depth charges exploded above and behind us but never close enough to do any serious damage manage to fool them with decoys and slip away. Going to stay down for a few more hours before surfacing and continuing the hunt.


Sunk Naka Light Cruiser. 5195 tons

[Bubblehead1980]

TMO 2.0
RSRD
August 8, 1944
Makassar Straight
USS Gurnard-Gato
pics at bottom


Encountered one lone freighter and sank her in a night surface attack.Then went days with no contacts, not even any planes, which si odd.

On August 8 around 1900, made radar contact with a small convoy heading through the northern chokepoint between Borneo and Celebesstayed 7 miles ahead of them for night surface attack.The RWR was alerting to radar signals but decided to try out Tater's changes to the enemy radars in RSRD.

As closed in from the forward area of the convoy, 4000 yards off their track on the starboard side, keep my profile(AOB) at 0 as much as possible to lower the chances of a good radar return for them.Soon could see we had a large Nippon Maru Tanker escorted by Etorufu Subchaser and Momi Class PB.With the lead escort at 3000 yards, I guessed it was not the one were radar.

The trailing escort was 6000 yards away, had not detected me yet but didnt want to press my luck so prepared to fire my Mark 23's from 2600 yards off the track with a 55 degree AOB, not the ideal 90 degree shot but it wouldve worked, just then the lead escort turned towards me but no gunfire or searchlights, star shells, the tanker was turning also, routine course change, the escort would no doubt spot me, I didnt have time to back away, I ordered a dive, we went to 120 feet and silent running and made a turn while adjusting speed in the TDC.Not looking forward to a night scope attack, esp in the heavy seas and moonless night but we would be less than a 1000 yards from target so hopefully could see it. We came back to scope depth just as scope broke surface, the subchaser began pinging .

I then disabled silent running, ordered ahead full, and left full rudder to bring the bow tubes on the tanker, which had slowed to 5.5 knots for its turn, we had a good broadside shot now.The subchaser was closing though and pinging furiously on short scale, he had us and was just 500 yards away.I quickly got a new bearing and range and fired! The first torpedo's gyro must have malfunctioned, it took a weird jog to the left(happens to me now and then) so fired tubes 2,3,4 and 5 at the tanker from 755 yards, dropped the scope and went deep while the subchaser closed in.

As we passed 100 feet, the Mark 23's slammed into the tanker, which set off a huge secondary explosion, tanker mustve been full of fuel and/or oil.As we passed 145 feet, depth charges splashed in the water and detonated, they were close but above us, no damage.We went back to silent running and leveled off at 300 feet and 2 knots.The subchaser was manned by the A because even in heavy seas she keep a decent track on me, forced me to 350 feet to avoid her charges, her second run while I was at 300 feet was close.After a few hours I lost her but took some more charges, mustve still thought I was at 300 feet because could tell they were above me.After 4 hous surfaced and resumed patrol.

Again to Tater, great job on the radar fix for RSRD.





http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-20_005220_827.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-20_005213_420.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-20_005212_753.jpg

[MaddogK]

U.S.S. Thresher
GFO + RSRDC
8 Jan 1942

Restarted career from last save point east of Hakaido, proceeded south to Borneo for resupply and stumbled on the largest convoy I've ever seen in this game while skirting Davao- 24 ships !!! Racked up 28000 tons in about 5 hours of hit and runs before disengaging and proceeding south for re-supply. Being dusk (and 3 A.M. on a work day) I set course and surfaced, kicked on time compression to 64 and closed my eyes for a few seconds... explosions woke me just in time to see my boat sink to the bottom of the sea. A 3 destroyer task force got me 15 miles from the fleet I just left.

Time compression is EVIL !!!
:arrgh!:

[hotrod1525]

USS Walrus Gato Class July 1942
TMO 2 w RSRD

Was given three patrol areas as my objective in the Aluetian Island area. The only prey I have seen was a fishing boat fleet and was going to sink them all, but they were not flying flags. So I pulled up next to one of the boats with sails and the Captain I figured was from Alaska as he had a stetson, a big black mustache, and a suit. So I let them go.

I was on my way to Kiska (my last objective) when I got a radio message saying something like TG8.5 IJN enroute to resupply Kiska, intercept if you can. This was not directed to me but to boats afloat. Also gave a date and I was going to make it with 24 hours to spare. So I have been sitting the harbor for 24hours and no TG8.5 IJN (what ever that is).

Has anybody been on this mission. Whats up. What do you do when you get skunked - not a broom but maybe a skunk tied to a broom, but where will I find a skunk - I can' even find a stinking junk.

[NoGoodLandLubber]

I'm having the same problem trying to track down the Shokaku supposedly hiding out in the Celebes Sea area. I've been over just about every square inch of it and no sign on the carrier group.

I have managed to sink a couple tankers though. I just keep heading back to Darwin to refuel and rearm then go back out and hunt some more.

[hotrod1525]

USS Walrus Gato Class July 1942
TMO 2 w RSRD

Was given three patrol areas as my objective in the Aluetian Island area. The only prey I have seen was a fishing boat fleet and was going to sink them all, but they were not flying flags. So I pulled up next to one of the boats with sails and the Captain I figured was from Alaska as he had a stetson, a big black mustache, and a suit. So I let them go.

I was on my way to Kiska (my last objective) when I got a radio message saying something like TG8.5 IJN enroute to resupply Kiska, intercept if you can. This was not directed to me but to boats afloat. Also gave a date and I was going to make it with 24 hours to spare. So I have been sitting the harbor for 24hours and no TG8.5 IJN (what ever that is).

Has anybody been on this mission. Whats up. What do you do when you get skunked - not a broom but maybe a skunk tied to a broom, but where will I find a skunk - I can' even find a stinking junk.



Well a destroyer and a freighter finally arrived at Noon. I sank the freighter and am now trying to rid myself of the destroyer. Took some damage but was taken care of amazingly fast. I have some crewman that are looking a little pinkish, but I can not figure out what the problem is. It happen right after the depth charge attack. I have 25% CO2 and maybe that is the problem. Can someone enlighten me.

At least now I won't go home skunked!

[MaddogK]

Replay of post #30, this time didn't get as many large freighters as first run-thru but did manage to cut the convoy in half- 12 sunken ships for 34k tons. Was running flank speed to keep up with the convoy and the number of ships kept my misses scoring hits as they kept crossing each others paths. Had a great time taking pot shots at the destroyers trying to run me down with the stern tubes, got 3 of em, 1 torpedo missed and sank a lifeboat (OOPS). Made it back for resupply and on my return to re-engage found a destroyer fleet enroute to the convoy. It was night and we couldn't see each other, and they didn't see the spread I tossed their way till 2 boats erupted in flames.

I'm hoping they let me keep my boat this time when I return to Pearl, I wont take a porpoise no matter how many time they assign it to me. I saw a DD go right thru a cargo ship without damaging either vessel even tho they both emitted that screeching/crunching sound- cheating bastards !

[Bubblehead1980]

TMO RSRD
October 12 1944
Luzon Straits Convoy College area

Following orders and patrolling Convoy College looking for the IJN fleet which should sortie to repel the invasion of the Philippines.I left the external cam on for this patrol so could observe the surface actions that will follow in later October.

While on patrol made a lone radar contact just before dawn, went to GQ and made contact after dawn, a lone HEITO MARU freighter making 10.5 knots heading NNE.Closed in and dived, readied three Mark 18's from tubes 4,5,6 set for 3 feet(blow the side out at the waterline, works very well), 10 feet and 15 feet.

At 2200 yards decided it was close enough and would fire, sonar reported ship had slowed down, I raised the scope to see the ship zigging, must have had hydrophones, dame, went ahead full and closed, plotted target at 6 knots, zigging, closed to around 1000 yards, as the target began its zig towards me, fired three Mark 18's and waited.

Pretty soon number 1 hit with a nice thud and then a massive series of secondary explosions, number 2 fish hit, which caused a large chain reaction and literally blew the ship in two pieces, the entire bow section went airborn and landed facing the opposite direction.The final torpedo passed between the two sections and ran until its battery was depleted, sinking to the depths and exploding.

I have seen many massive explosions in SH 4 from hitting tankers full of fuel, ammo ships, battleship's magazines near turrets but never one like this this, really something.Below are some shots i managed to snap.

http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-24_200234_830.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-24_200234_284.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-24_200052_604.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-24_195902_285.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-24_195906_891.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/jstringr1685/SH4Img2010-10-24_195907_466.jpg

[NoGoodLandLubber]

Nice kill BubbleHead!

I'm still out looking for the Shokaku. Three freighters and two tankers sunk in separate engagements!

[MaddogK]

USS Thresher
25 May 42
Second war patrol

Having returned to PH safely from first patrol with 1% fuel remaining earned Bronze star and kept my command, I was offered no upgrades but did fill my 4 empty crew slots with damage control specialists eager for the taste of battle. We set sail 2apr42 from PH enroute to east China sea with a refuel stop at Midway and a 'drive-by' of Wake island.

Being curious of Wake island I decided to take a look around the island and found it almost unguarded, so I decided to take Thresher into the harbor for some target practice. Found a small minelayer and a medium cargo ship tied up at the piers and crept in at 53 feet below the surface. Sunk both ships but was chased out of the harbor by a small subchaser who gave up at about 7k yards from the mouth of the harbor. I sailed to 10 miles from the harbor, surfaced to lure the subchaser back to me, then sent it to the bottom with a few well placed AP rounds from the deck gun. I then proceeded to patrol assignment SE of Shanghai where I learned to blast fishing boats apart with 2 shots. We also sunk 1 small unguarded freighter for a mission complete, and turned south for a Formosa straight passage.

We heard multiple convoys pass us heading north in the straight but none were reachable so we kept heading south while the rains fell, and the sound of thunder rumbled overhead. It wasn't until we reached Makung did another convoy appear reachable, so we made a night surface attack on the 6 unguarded ships. The first kill was a medium freighter with a pair of deck guns who decided to attack me (an aux something-or-other) so I submerged and launched 3 torpedo's her way. 2 found their mark and put the ship down on shallow bottom. The other 5 decided to run so I surfaced and rang GQ so the deck gunner could work the closest target while I setup for the faster ships. When all was over we launched 2 more fish for 1 kill and the deck gun took the rest, leaving 8 rounds of AP onboard. I decided we should bug out while we still could and went south at flank speed for deeper water as sunrise was only 3 hours away. We passed a small fishing boat convoy on our way out, and finished all of them off with our 8 remaining AP shells (who knew they were 200 tons each). We sank 1 more small freighter with a shot from the rear tubes as we passed thru the Luzon straights enroute to Fremantle to rearm. We sailed on the western side of the Phillipines hoping to catch another big score coming out of Davao but nothing appeared. Made Fremantle in about 1 hour R/L and only spotted a few enemy patrol planes which I allowed to live. I'll be heading back to Formosa in a couple days now that my deck gun has been rearmed, for some more easy kills (42k tons in 1 major engagement) and hope they don't pull some DD's from the front lines and are waiting for me. Also have 4 expert crew aboard (2 sonar, 1 radar, 1 lookout) so hope to be offered an upgrade or new boat when I return to Pearl, so I can put these guys to use.

[Armistead]

Talking about explosions. I ambushed the Java invasion force at Lingayen. I got several double kills, one triple. I hurried back and refitted to ambush it again. I found it where it comes through Jolo, this time I tried to beat my record of 5 ships with one torp, but just got four. Course these ships are loaded causing the mass explosions. Really thought the group of 6 would all go..

Beginning of the war first patrol, wind speed 6kts, the AI was terrible, can't remember them being this bad, hope it's not the sonar fix.

Hit the Nagara, noticed the one in front and back
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-26_001313_224.jpg

The next two blow for 3
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-26_001402_865.jpg

Then another Nagara in front goe's. One is about sunk as the Nagara blow, but you can see the four sunk with one torp.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-26_001504_974.jpg

Can't believe the other Nagara didn't blow, must've had frieght. I counted all sunk ships, 38 total, one refit....docked got credit for 14 ships, so the rest were sunk by other ships explosions. I could refit and attack it again at Java, but time to move on. I believe the way that group is loaded with fuel and ammo that the right moment you could take out many.

Heres another, hit the Nagara and it takes out a pesky subchaser, braindead one at that.
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-25_215541_131.jpg

[WernherVonTrapp]

TMO 2.0/RSRDC
Well, I finally got that Pig Boat assignment I was requesting. Not sure what I was thinking when I requested it since the boat is more cramped than a casino in a convalescent home, it smells like stale sweat on a horse and it's slower than crap coming out a cow's arse. The only good thing about it is that it seems to have a fast dive rate.
Oh well, I asked for it.:damn: Anyway, it's currently Christmas 1941 and the darn Japs have invaded Luzon. My home port is Cavite, Manila though, now I suppose that'll be changing soon. Not much action yet other than some planes spotted. I'm currently on assignment patrolling the San Bernardino Strait and the setting sun is on the horizon:

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/Pig%20Boat/pig1.jpg

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/Pig%20Boat/pig2.jpg

Already, I'm getting complaints up through the ranks about the cramped conditions:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/Pig%20Boat/pig3.jpg

Hmmmmmm, what's this?:stare: Certainly gonna have to have the XO get on that:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/Pig%20Boat/pig4.jpg

Looks like it's gonna be a long patrol. Hope I can keep this crew on their toes. Wish me luck guys.

[Armistead]

Hope you found the large invasion force there north end out of the strait.
It's a good one. Then again I doubt the zebra skin will help much in that old tub, but we got to put someone in em. Cramped quarters, beer and a picture of her could be rather testing, so watch the feller.

BTY, who is the girl in the picture

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-19_212927_607.jpg

[WernherVonTrapp]

BTY, who is the girl in the picture
Why, that's Sherry Britton!:smug::yep:
Oops! I mean, gee, I don't rightly know.:D

[Armistead]

Wow, looked her up. Check out her myspace page, actually two old movies of her stripping act, course PG TV today, but sure it was quite a buzz back then.

She also just died in 2008, think it said age 92.

http://www.myspace.com/longleggedlegacy

Women had bods back then, big curves and then waist

Measurements: 38"-18"-33" Publications: 12/7/1945 - Yank Magazine 1968 - Striparama 13 Spring Night Clubs: Clover Club Leon and Eddie's Minsky's Gaiety




http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/sherry1.gif

[Dignan]

Hope you found the large invasion force there north end out of the strait.
It's a good one. Then again I doubt the zebra skin will help much in that old tub, but we got to put someone in em. Cramped quarters, beer and a picture of her could be rather testing, so watch the feller.

BTY, who is the girl in the picture

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-19_212927_607.jpg

Is this radar room in a mod for the sboat or have I not explored it sufficiently?

[Armistead]

Just the added Captains quarters, it's included with TMO. He used the one from UBoats and made a few changes. You get it with every sub in TMO, but it has no function other than eye candy.

[NoGoodLandLubber]

USS Tuna
26 December 1941
First War Patrol

My crew left Pearl looking to extract a certain measure of payback on the Japanese. We crossed crossed the Pacific and took up station in the area near the Bongo Straits.

Our first kill came at the hands of a small, old split freighter. We picked her up at about 5500 yards cruising along like she owned the place. Excited at the prospect of our first kill I sent three torps her way from about 4000 yards. Unfortunately, they all went wide left; but the old girl just kept chugging along on a steady course.

We moved in to about 2210 yds and picked a point in the water just ahead of her. I released only two fish this time. What do ya know, they both find their mark: one amidship and the other slightly forward. They blew her in half! Two nice, pretty pieces heading to the bottom!

Now that we've got the taste for blood we're going to go north a little and maybe poke our noses into Gobo(?) harbor and see if anyone's home. After that I'll probably need to start looking for a safe place to refuel and rearm.

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu126/RESlusher/SH4%20Kills/OldSplitFreighter-122641.jpg

[I'm goin' down]

My crew was getting very, very bored, so I sailed them over to Truk lagoon for some action. We headed in via the southwest channel and sunk three stationary merchants, and left a fourth on fire. While the 4th merchant was burning, a subchaser spotted us. Before long two more subchasers plus a destroyer had joined it, and all were laying down charges. Explosions were going off all around. What do to? Under fire, no time, uh, make a decision. Okay, let's head over to the terminal a mile away and moor the boat into one of the slots for Jap shipping. Which is just what we did. We made it, being Depth Charged along the way. Once moored in the slot, the boat remained a periscope depth while the destroyers and subchasers went wild droping their payloads all around our position. Impacts from the explosions were absorbed and blocked by the port's concrete quay wall. The destroyer parked alongside the wall, adjacent to our mooring, for a few hours, trying to flush out out. We stayed silent and submerged. Ultimately, it the went off searching for us. With the coast clear, I backed the boat out of its mooring, turned to the channel we sailed in from, and escaped to open water. Damage repaired, one injured, and four merchants sunk. I think the destroyer sunk the last merchant by accident when he was gunning for my boat.

[Bubblehead1980]

My crew was getting very, very bored, so I sailed them over to Truk lagoon for some action. We headed in via the southwest channel and sunk three stationary merchants, and left a fourth on fire. While the 4th merchant was burning, a subchaser spotted us. Before long two more subchasers plus a destroyer had joined it, and akll were laying down charges. Explosions were going off all around. What do to? Under fire, no time, uh, make a decision. Okay, let's head over to the terminal a mile away and moor the boat into one of the slots for Jap shipping. Which is just what we did. We made it, being Depth Charged along the way. Once moored in the slot, the boat remained a periscope depth while the destroyers and subchasers went wild droping their payloads all around our position. Impacts from the explosions were absorbed and blocked by the port's concrete quay wall. The destroyer parked alongside the wall, adjacent to our mooring, for a few hours, trying to flush out out. We stayed silent and hidden. Ultimately, it the went off searching for us. With the coast clear, I backed the boat out of its mooring, turned to the channel we sailed in from, and escaped to open water. Damage repaired, one injured, and four merchants sunk. I think the destroyer sunk the last merchant by accident when he was gunning for my boat.


lol thats pretty creative

[Ducimus]

Just the added Captains quarters, it's included with TMO. He used the one from UBoats and made a few changes. You get it with every sub in TMO, but it has no function other than eye candy.


Im surprised nobody noticed the beer label beneath the bunk. The leggy poster i figure people would spot. I always was a legs man. :O:

[Armistead]

Here's the Java group, this was Feb27th/42

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-26_160002_349.jpg

Now playing cams off contacts on and saw this through my scope, a subchaser warped through the front of the Nagara
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-26_161108_208.jpg

Leave out the series, rather cool, hit the Nagara near the stern, it was loaded and exploded, then the chaser exploded.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-26_161135_411.jpg

[NoGoodLandLubber]

Holy crap, Armistead!! That's one target rich environment!!

I was wondering, generally how close do you guys get before pulling the trigger?? I guess I'm just overly cautious. The closest I've ever come to a surface contact is 2210 yards. I've been subscribing to the "Spray and Pray" philosophy. I've actually had some luck out at about 3000+ yds surprisingly enough.

[NorthBeach]

The answer to, "How close", is situational. Single merch, convoy (escorts?), TF, Harbor raping, weather, depth under keel, day or night, torpedo load-out, year, etc. Strictly speaking, the closer to the target's track you are (allowing, of course, enough distance to arm the torp), the lower chances for a missed shot.

[NoGoodLandLubber]

USS Tuna
12/27/1941
Heading to South China Sea

We managed to sneak into Gobo undetected. Fortunately all that was around was one medium freighter tied up and being loaded, it was dark so I couldn't really tell. We crept in "Danger Close"...781 yards and pumped three torps into her.

After running away like little girls we got orders to head to the south China Sea. On our way there we found a small composite freighter. I wanted to give my crew a chance at some gunnery so we closed to about 1500 yards and laid into her with the deck gun. Apparently she was the one hauling all the C-4!!

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu126/RESlusher/SH4%20Kills/CompFreighterSChinaSea.jpg

[Armistead]

I usually want to be about 1000 yards off the target track. To dodge sonar, I'll wait at about 1500 yards narrow profile, when the lead DD passes I'll turn and hopefully be able to shoot at around 1000.

In the middle of a large convoy, I'm shooting at anything within 500 yards plus...

[MaddogK]

U.S.S.Thresher
2nd patrol 17 apr 42 - 1 jul42
RSRDC 550 GFO 1.1

Having been a bit disappointed with my continual CTD's reloading my last save at Midway 1jun42 I decided to resume the previous save at Luzon straights and sadly avoid the Midway battle. I opted for 'plan B', a refuel stop at Darwin and a retaliatory strike on Truk via the Coral sea route. Roughly a 2 week trip around New Guinea I proceeded north thru the Solomons and arrived south of truk May 31, and crept in beneath the destroyer screen that decided to circumnavigate the lagoon instead of looking for me. I arrived inside the lagoon around midnight toward via the south entrance and surfaced when the first tanker came into sight. 6 hours later with sunrise approaching I decided to exit thru a hole in the breakwater leaving 16 dead ships in my wake, and 3 small subchasers following me that gave up about 50 miles east just as the sun was rising. I was prepared to head for home when I looked at my inventory of torpedos and saw 13 left (guess that would explain the empty deck gun canisters) so i thought about my dishonor of returning to port with all these torpedo's aboard and figured the enemy could prolly get better use of them than me. We travelled back alternating between surfaced and submerged hoping the planes didn't spot me, and at dusk we re-entered the lagoon by the same route we left. We went to the west side this time and shortly started to discover military ships- MANY of them. We saw a light cruiser and killed her with one shot, then a tanker. Then a gift from heaven- a Soryu class carrier. We closed to about 7k yards and sent 4 fish her way and seemingly an eternity later we saw explosions, and shortly afterward a sunk message. Having felt that my duty was done we started to head out, this time to the west.
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/263/truk1.th.jpg (http://img46.imageshack.us/i/truk1.jpg/) Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
After passing a small island toward the west I popped the scope up to take a gander, and surface contacts started to litter the map, and after ID'ing I saw neatly tucked away, in back of the group- the Yamato. Time for 1 last strike, we crept in submerged at 50 feet tail first. at 2000 yards we started firing one at a time. BOOM, BOOM, etc, etc, etc. took everything in the rear of the boat to take her down (8 torpedo's) but as the smoke cleared I could see the Yamato sitting on the bottom.
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9256/yamatoji.th.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/yamatoji.jpg/) Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
I got the crew home to pearl in time for the 4th of July festivities, gave em a 2 week leave, and I stayed in the officers club drinking tequila and polishing my Navy Cross.