G2 wants me to recon whaaa.....

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

In my current campaign at the start of my lastest patrol and I guess the top brass seeing my abilty for the impossible( such as sinking a Kongo class BB in Kobe after reconing Osaka :D, or raiding Truk at least twice.), but now intel wants me to photograph an IJN carrier force that is in Rabaul and its mid 1943:nope:! I have a very bad feeling about this if it was '41 or '42 I wouldn't mind but going there now is almost like getting the death sentance as its now the main IJN base in that part of the PTO. It would seem like the brass want to be rid of me.:dead:

[Slyguy3129]

Nuts!

Just pretend your on the USS Enterprise, that particular Captain had a habit of turning certain death into a fight chance. Kobi Ashi Maro anyone?

[commandosolo2009]

So, you're in mid 1943? Me too. I guess my next patrol would be the one you're talking about. If Commander Submarine Force Pacific gives me this, I'd sure send him a fine bottle of Chardonnay, all the way from France.

I mean I cant find one goddamn carrier after 12 (yes twelve) tours, 2 boat changes, all the gadgets BuOrd gracefully supplies us with. I'd surely want to know the location of every carrier.


And back to your post, I think its a great opportunity, just needs a day of real life commitment, and taking it slow and steady.


I was almost into Tokyo before my laptop C'dTD and subsequent reloads seemed corrupt. Just might do it in a real life freeday.

[WernherVonTrapp]

I've raided the port at Rabaul at least a half-dozen times so, it can be done. Pointers: You may have to take out 1 or more patrol boats. Usually, an Auxiliary Gunboat but also may include a Small Subchaser or a converted minesweeper. Don't worry though, sinking them will not alert the fleet. Ignore Junks & Fishing Boats. Also, once you reach the shallows, stay at about 30' depth and no faster than 2/3 speed. Be especially watchful of shore batteries. I'm playing TMO and those shore gunners are like marksmen. If they don't get you on the first volley, they won't miss a second time. Keep your distance from both sides of the shorelines. Wait until just after dark to begin since it may take 4 to 6 hours to complete. I think you can pull it off.:up:

[Jan Kyster]

...now intel wants me to photograph an IJN carrier force that is in Rabaul and its mid 1943:nope:! I have a very bad feeling about this if it was '41 or '42 I wouldn't mind but going there now is almost like getting the death sentance as its now the main IJN base in that part of the PTO. It would seem like the brass want to be rid of me.:dead:LOL! Now this is funny! We're there on December 4, 1943...

Here's a page from my "logbook" at closing time last night:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/ScreenShots/Logbook.jpg

Went from Brisbane Command to Pearl for a major overhaul - new paintjob, new radars, engines "fixed" and what not... :D

First order out of Pearl: same as yours!

Weather was fine with medium fog and a light breeze, so we took the trip surfaced up the strait in the morning light. Plan is to go deep into the bay and wait for darkness. A destroyer is patrolling the entrance... must probably take him out first...


Perhaps I should wait until I hear your experience - if we are ever to hear from you again? :shifty:

[I'm goin' down]

In my current campaign at the start of my lastest patrol and I guess the top brass seeing my abilty for the impossible( such as sinking a Kongo class BB in Kobe after reconing Osaka :D, or raiding Truk at least twice.), but now intel wants me to photograph an IJN carrier force that is in Rabaul and its mid 1943:nope:! I have a very bad feeling about this if it was '41 or '42 I wouldn't mind but going there now is almost like getting the death sentance as its now the main IJN base in that part of the PTO. It would seem like the brass want to be rid of me.:dead:

I read the above post, went to the barnyard, and the chickens began to cluck. Then I heard viiolins playing.

[commandosolo2009]

I've raided the port at Rabaul at least a half-dozen times so, it can be done. Pointers: You may have to take out 1 or more patrol boats. Usually, an Auxiliary Gunboat but also may include a Small Subchaser or a converted minesweeper. Don't worry though, sinking them will not alert the fleet. Ignore Junks & Fishing Boats. Also, once you reach the shallows, stay at about 30' depth and no faster than 2/3 speed. Be especially watchful of shore batteries. I'm playing TMO and those shore gunners are like marksmen. If they don't get you on the first volley, they won't miss a second time. Keep your distance from both sides of the shorelines. Wait until just after dark to begin since it may take 4 to 6 hours to complete. I think you can pull it off.:up:



Skip to the last reply on this reply
In my current campaign at the start of my lastest patrol and I guess the top brass seeing my abilty for the impossible( such as sinking a Kongo class BB in Kobe after reconing Osaka :D, or raiding Truk at least twice.), but now intel wants me to photograph an IJN carrier force that is in Rabaul and its mid 1943:nope:! I have a very bad feeling about this if it was '41 or '42 I wouldn't mind but going there now is almost like getting the death sentance as its now the main IJN base in that part of the PTO. It would seem like the brass want to be rid of me.:dead:


Skip to the last reply on this reply
Nuts!

Just pretend your on the USS Enterprise, that particular Captain had a habit of turning certain death into a fight chance. Kobi Ashi Maro anyone?


Went from Brisbane Command to Pearl for a major overhaul - new paintjob, new radars, engines "fixed" and what not... :D

First order out of Pearl: same as yours!

Weather was fine with medium fog and a light breeze, so we took the trip surfaced up the strait in the morning light. Plan is to go deep into the bay and wait for darkness. A destroyer is patrolling the entrance... must probably take him out first...


Perhaps I should wait until I hear your experience - if we are ever to hear from you again? :shifty:


See this? Rabaul is a BIG NO to Lockwood. Tell him if he goes there first and makes it out alive, I'll go all bells and whistles.

With only Starboard engine working, a non recharging battery, and totaled periscopes, I forfeited the chase and backed slow into the abyss.. It was leaking and the crew sustained damage.

Hull took a direct blow from a Minekaze that we were not yet in their visual range (= elite crew). We got under for 8 hours, bottomed, fixing the main pump at 80 meters, and I ordered a gentle lift using ballast tank till we reached 400+ echolot ping, then ordered back full, and maintain 90.. Luckily he didnt go after us, since we had one of his depth charges upclose:

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd414/Perch176/gaprabaul.jpg



With special emphasis on periscopes and dive plane transmission, we were soo lucky we got out instead of sinking.


Queue Das Boot Gibraltar detection

"We are sinkeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnngggggg!!!!!"

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd414/Perch176/hullrabaul.jpg

Crew had some injuries, and as soon as we got back to Perth, each got a Purple Heart with letter of recommendation to office of recruitment.

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd414/Perch176/crewrabaul.jpg


Lesson: STAY AWAY FROM IT... Shallow waters = Death Guaranteed:damn:

Signed: Capt. CS2k9, Skipper USS Balao (SS-285)

[Slyguy3129]

Ouch looks like a rough day on the job. Notice the orders didn't say it would be easy. Seems to me they thought you were the best man for the job. Against all odds you managed to bring your ship and her crew back! Job well done there is no such thing as a no win scenario.

On a related note the first three careers I started with OM had me patrolling the middle of the English Channel with a Type IIB. Notice I said three. I died twice and am currently trying to limp home after completing my mission and sustaining heavy damage. Unfortunately there is a DDE hovering around me and I can't reach deep water withe the batteries I have left. Oh well it was a blast.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

Well I managed to get in and out without being detected and it turned out my campaign was much later than I thought it was(October 1943). I killed two DDs with one torpedo each. One Mutsuki DD that was hit under the foward turret and torpedo turret, and a Akizuki DD that was hit aft of the funnel. The big differance was that I used the MK18 instead of the MK14 so the DDs never know what was coming. After the photo recon was done I asked for new orders and am now patrolling within a 135nm raidus in the Bismark Sea and managed to raid a convoy and sunk a Troop Transport and medium merchant. Oh CommandoSolo2009 I got your boat!!

[WernherVonTrapp]

Proof that it can be done:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/rabaul1.jpg

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/rabaul2.jpg

:smug::D

[commandosolo2009]

neat, but one thing, what was your speed and depth on entry? As far as I know, the submarine cannot go in past 18m or she will rub the belly against the seabed, and the shoreline is packed with coastal artillery. Please explain how.

[Armistead]

Been in there a few times myself, seems you have to stay around 50 ft or so, but submerged enough the shore guns won't shoot at you.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

I went in on silent running at around 57ft with all bow tubes open so I could shoot at any DD that came within 1,000 yrds. The DDs that I attacked I sank them at dawn. Went to 90ft during the day then up to 57ft at dusk snapped the photos with the O-scope. I will note that the carriers wheren't all the way in the harbour its self but at the crook in the coast where the pointer on the chart is.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7103/sh4img20110120164914687.png
And the two DDs that I attacked.
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/7914/sh4img20110120120650687.png
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1981/sh4img20110120121949703.png

[Hylander_1314]

Had the same mission about the same time. Photo Recon carrier strength at Rebaul. 4 DDs patroling the entrance and harbor. Evreything was always fine until I would torpedo the Fubuki DD and the game would crash. Didn't matter what I did. I couldn't complete the mission, because if I didn't sink the DDs, they were on me like flies on you know what. If I sank them including the Fubuki, the game would lockup.

I finally ignored the mission, went and sank a bunch of ships in a TF and a convoy, and returned to base. Really sucked as I was getting the best of the DDs in the harbor, and at the entrance.

[magic452]

The last time I did that mission I got into the harbor without too much trouble, sank 1 DD on the way in and avoided another once inside.

Found the two CV's and promptly said "Fire one, Fire two, etc.
Two carriers down. :yeah: :yeah:

Forgot to take the stupid pictures. :know: :damn:

Lockwood was not interested in pictures of two oil slicks. :nope: :nope:

Magic

[Jan Kyster]

Lockwood was not interested in pictures of two oil slicks. :nope: :nope:Between you and me, Lockwood is a bit... erhm... http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/smilies/pillepalle2.gif
In another life we were ordered to patrol Korea Strait and were warned to avoid the Bungo Strait at all cost.
Once patrol was complete, new orders came in: patrol deep in Bungo Strait... :damn: :shifty:


I went in on silent running at around 57ft with all bow tubes open so I could shoot at any DD that came within 1,000 yrds. The DDs that I attacked I sank them at dawn. Went to 90ft during the day then up to 57ft at dusk snapped the photos with the O-scope. I will note that the carriers wheren't all the way in the harbour its self but at the crook in the coast where the pointer on the chart is.Thanks! :up:
That's my exact plan and have tomorrow afternoon free for finishing this little job.

The darnest thing with this sim is, that you can't play for half an hour. Suddenly you find yourself in all kinds of trouble and then... 8 hours gone... :nope:

[commandosolo2009]

Job well done there is no such thing as a no win scenario.


Oh, yes there is... and of all the ppl here, you pay hefty for your slip ups...


Unfortunately there is a DDE hovering around me and I can't reach deep water withe the batteries I have left.

To my understanding, you dont need an engine to reach deeper, and you control your depth with ballast and planes... I suggest you check a depth slightly close to your crush depth, wait there and he'll eventually get bored and leave... If you wish to TC, dont exceed 128x and put all your conning tower crew elsewhere... They're gonna have you spam and eventually break your keyboard.

[WernherVonTrapp]

neat, but one thing, what was your speed and depth on entry? As far as I know, the submarine cannot go in past 18m or she will rub the belly against the seabed, and the shoreline is packed with coastal artillery. Please explain how.

I can't explain what you should do to complete your mission. I can explain the procedure that I use (every time) I raid Rabaul. I have developed my tactic by using pointers that I've picked up from everybody else here. I certainly am not the first to raid this harbor and I have tailored what I have learned from others into a tactic which not only works for me but, I also feel comfortable with.

I always approach from the shallows where you see my sub departing in the second picture. I approach on the surface at Standard or 2/3 speed. Once I'm past that small shallow inlet, I'll dive to PS depth and take a listen on sonar. Usually at this point I'll have a contact, usually two. Mind you, when I do this, it's always early evening and dark enough to approach on the surface, preferably during a new moon.
Once I have my contact location and distance, I'll run at "decks awash" (for every class of sub this depth is different) until I get a visual. I then go to PD with the intent on sinking what usually turns out to be a patrol boat or two between myself and the harbor.

On this particular attempt, 3 Mutsuki DDs were heading right toward me at flank speed. This was before I crossed the shallows and was still in St. George's Channel. I did not engage these DDs and headed further east to avoid them. They passed harmlessly at 5000yds and continued south on their merry way. You don't have to engage these ships right away. Try to determine their course and if possible, bypass them.

After sinking any warships in the outer bay, I surface and proceed at 2/3 or standard speed (given the situation) until I approach the shallows of the harbor inlet. Here, you have to be careful since there are almost always shore batteries at both opposing points of land near the harbor inlet. I go to about 32' depth and proceed (under the cover of darkness -reminder) until I'm safely out of range of these points (usually 4500 to 5000yds). I try to pass these points at equal distances, say 3000yds on the left, 3000 on the right. Then I return to decks awash to gain some more speed. Usually, there is another patrol/warship inside this shallow bay, not to mention a fishing boat or two, maybe a tug and a sampan. I usually avoid them but will take them out if need be.

I continue toward the docks keeping equal distances from any land outcroppings since this is where gun emplacements are usually located. If my crew spots a shore battery, I go to 32' depth and slow my speed to lessen the wake. I'll take out any parked war ships at distance first, usually 6000yds or further. They're easy to hit since they're not moving but they can fire at you at range or, even worse, send up star-shells for the shore gunners to spot you. Once they're gone, I pick off all the docked ships from 4300yds or closer. I repeat the same tactic when I exit. So, there you have it.
Sorry if it's long but, there's really no way to explain this in one or two sentences.

PS: If you only knew how long it took for me to type this, with my skills.:roll: ;)

[andy_311]

And for your next mission you will be ordered to do a carrier recon in Manila in 44 were you have rake's of dd's patroling the harbour inlet not to mention the subnets and mines.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

No I think the buggers will order me to go and recon Osaka or someother mainland Japanese port in '44. There you got DDs, mines,nets and planes with radar!:o

[Elektroniikka-Asentaja]

So you got in there.. and what's even more important, out from there?

I might remember wrong but isn't there some quick mission or something where you need to go to Rabaul? Because I took a look at it in map and it felt very, very, very familiar. And I've never been there in career... Should go take a look there.. Perhaps I'll find something cool :D

And hey, does anyone know where they keep those Yamatos parked or where they build them? :D Perhaps I'll pay a visit to emperors dry dock :rock:

Happy hunting! :salute:

[WernherVonTrapp]

And hey, does anyone know where they keep those Yamatos parked or where they build them? :D Perhaps I'll pay a visit to emperors dry dock :rock:

Happy hunting! :salute:Try Kure or Truk lagoon. There are also a number of battles that she was involved in, if you're looking to take her out at sea.

[commandosolo2009]

Try Kure or Truk lagoon. There are also a number of battles that she was involved in, if you're looking to take her out at sea.


I found a Hiryu class Fleet Aircraft Carrier at Hiroshima, in a deep burrow just leading to Hiroshima port. however, after I fired my remaining 10 eels, 5 of them camer under, 1 exploded tiliting her to one side, and the remaining 5 went onto an aft course thanks to the hydrophone send bearing to tdc bug.

I left in great :damn: and to my bad luck, I camped in a similar deep burrow just southwest of the carriers burrow, to end up being shelled to zero hull integrity, by the accurate shore batteries.... Luckily I had a save just before I even went to Hiroshima, on the outside continental waters, that I decided I'll visit port later after I acquire the Mark 18 so I have an ace under the sleeve. Also, on this patrol, I sank me a Akizuki destroyer (and guess what by a fan spread of 6 Mark 14 eels, where one only detted under and crippled the ship), a LMT, LMCF, and a MMCF totalling above 25000 GRT. My return to the base was not yet warranted, since I had to refuel by stopping by Midway of course while dodging Wakes' air cover. Eventually I got the Mark 18s and the improved SJ-I and yet to embark on the next patrol to test the Mark 18 with a warship mostly since I want to see the effect on their speed change and detection response. I will report all of this in my upcoming Gato class shakedown sheet thread, stay tuned.

[andy_311]

No I think the buggers will order me to go and recon Osaka or someother mainland Japanese port in '44. There you got DDs, mines,nets and planes with radar!:o

Don't know what it is with Osaka but do a harbor raid there sink the carriers,enter the port sink the heavy cruiser,carrier if it's in there assuming you enter from the south leave on the northern entrance and make your way towards Nagasaki (follow a tug boat or something depending what mod your running) it's slow and hard but you do avoid the brunt of planes that are hunting you down.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

I've never goine to Nagasaki but the small port of Kobe which is very close to Osaka is a good target as the last time I visted there, there where two BBs, a heavy Crusier and around two to three carriers. Truk is always worth a vist if you want to find the big IJN ships. I once found the Yamato there and was in the process of sinking it when I had a power cut:nope::damn::doh:.

[commandosolo2009]

I've never goine to Nagasaki but the small port of Kobe which is very close to Osaka is a good target as the last time I visted there, there where two BBs, a heavy Crusier and around two to three carriers. Truk is always worth a vist if you want to find the big IJN ships. I once found the Yamato there and was in the process of sinking it when I had a power cut:nope::damn::doh:.


Could you point out that was in what year of the war, and where exactly is Truk? because I cant find it on my stock map. I know its about midway between Carolines and Palau islands, but its November 1943 and I need a Capital on my logbook fast. I just raided Rabaul, and I got my rudder taken off by a depth charge and my port side gaped thanks to arty on the beach. I went there twice and got DDs engaging friendly Spitfires, but couldnt surface untill I actually got inside, which to my bad luck, had the escorts spot me that easily and engage me. It was gone and I died. Is there a better version of the Mark 18 with homing feature or longer range perhaps? And when does the Mark 18 become cheap? Its 1943, late November. Please advise.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Truk Lagoon:
http://www.trukodyssey.com/images/chuuk.jpg
http://www.trukstophotel.com/graphics/WorldMap.gif

:up:

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

Yeah Truk isn't included in stock but its in RFB and TMO2.0(which I'm currently running) and you can find IJN warships everything from DDs, light and heavy cruisers, carriers and the odd battleship now and then at the northern side of Udot, around three merchants on the west side of Fefan and on the east side between Fefan,Uman, and Tonoas according to the chart provided by Wernher. Heres what Truk looks like in TMO 2.0.
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/2739/sh4img20110125172125045.png