Talk about luck..(pic heavy)

[Armistead]

Found the TF for the battle of Santa Cruz . Has two Shokaku's, two Kongos, 4 CA's...escorts..

The set up, DD's earlier came at me from about 7NMs away. I dived and evaded. This SS shows them behind now. I came up to radar depth to check it out.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_004000_456.jpg


My set up was off, so I had to use sterns. rather close shot as he zigged away, but he also blocked the 3 DD's now coming back
Get enough hits to sink the carrier.



http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_032214_958.jpg

I hard right flank to get back around to use bows on the Kongo..I really bust him, all six hit. Sorta get the picture, carrier is burning/sinking to the right and the DD's the carrier were blocking are now on the way, but all shots are on the way and I'm headed for the deep.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_032519_970.jpg

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_032633_037.jpg

Carrier going under as Kongo explodes...

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_033422_438.jpg

So another end around, daylight by the time I got set up. The group was running close formation. I was worried about CA's and DD's blocking shots since that has been a problem last few patrols, so I set my M10's at Kongo's keel, M14's I alter, 5-15ft to spread damage.

The set up.
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_040514_877.jpg

Shot at Kongo with 5 torps..Did not plan this, but smart I had run the ones I shot at the keel, they pass under the CA.
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_040751_164.jpg

Two together
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_040912_197.jpg

Not sure what happened with the CA. I did aim at a nearer one after the Kongo with last torp. I think it probably hit the one behind it. I never recall a torp hit, just saw it. When the Kongo exploded they were right beside each other, but I got credit for it, so one had to hit..the Kongo blowing up probably finished it off as I doubt one torp would've sunk it...

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_041057_935.jpg

The carrier had zigged left and I poured on flank to get some distance..Now this gets a little strange...so pay attention.

I shoot..

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_041041_669.jpg


Get hits, now see the ones passing forward...


[IMG]http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_041159_312.jpg

It appears they went under....or did they, could they have passed in front, carrier was going 16kts...the one coming hits...
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_041212_172.jpg

OK, bam, I get a hit on the DD and sinks its. So either the torps ran under and came back up or whatever, or one of those was a shallow runner and passed in front of the carrier, although it doesn't look like it, I believe both with shallow runners and passed in front of the carrier...
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_041403_097.jpg


So, the CA sinking, Kongo beside it, Carrier listing and DD back left sinking.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_041502_021.jpg

After sometime I come back up and sink the stopped carrier..

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_042403_771.jpg


See the flying life raft....never seen one fly as the carrier sunk.....
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2010-10-09_042634_588.jpg

So total sunk
2 Carriers
2 BB's
1 CA
1 Fubuki DD,

139K tons one attack...3 torps left, but didn't want to go back through hell for another CA...should've.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Boy, you sure do always end up in the thick of things.:03: Really weird what happened with that one carrier torp that struck the DD. From the SS, I would've swore it went under the carrier instead of in front but, then again, strange things do happen in the heat of battle. I know in that running RFB/RSRDC, some of the drafts listed for the merchants in the ID book are incorrect. The true drafts are usually less than those listed but, that's only 1 or 2 ships in the book. Don't know if it's the RFB or RSRDC side of it that lists them wrong. :o

[Armistead]

Had to run in front of the carrier, if they went under the carrier, not sure how they would've hit a DD, but that one SS. Course fast as that carrier was going....oh well, love getting DD's when I don't expect it.

Anyway, wife comes home today so my week of playing to my hearts content....is over...:cry:

[Dignan]

Awesome patrol. Great pictures. I wish I could get one of those weeks of freedom you describe.

[Armistead]

Awesome patrol. Great pictures. I wish I could get one of those weeks of freedom you describe.


I got lucky, she went to her moms for the weekend...woo hoo...