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View Full Version : Wow, close call.


Bubblehead1980
07-11-11, 01:16 AM
TMO 2.1 RSRD

First career I've played in several months as have been too busy to do so.

Started a patrol with SubPac in November 1943, Gato USS Redfin.First patrol was the Japan-Peleliu shipping lanes in the Philippine Sea.Found two convoys, sank five ships for 25k tons, one depth charging, no damage.

Second patrol was off Mariannas patrolling the Truk-Japan shipping lanes in January 1944.Around midnight on 26 January radar detacted a convoy about 8 miles away.Moved in for night surface but too much it was too bright out, so opted for a close in night scope attack on the 4 ships, one escort convoy moving at 11 knots.

Fired three fish at a Hakusika Maru(8,000 tons) and an Akita Maru(3,000 tons or so).The first three fish ran hot , straight, and normal.The fourth went into a circle run forcing me to go ahead flank and gain depth, which alerted the escort.The other two fired normally.The first three hit and decimated(external view off but sounded like it and soon had credit for the Akita) the Akita, the other two hit the large Hakusika but did not destroy her.

I was soon at 300 feet running silent to avoid the Type A/B escort.The first run was a miss and I went to 325 feet.The second run was also a miss.The third, he got lucky, heavy damage to aft torpedo room and engine room bulkheads, flooding.Compressor destroyed, aft batteries damaged, diesels and electrics damaged, port prop shaft destroyed.

The boat soon took a heavy angle while crews raced to stopped flooding, we were bobbing at around 250 feet or so and survived three seperate runs with no more damage.After nearly 45 minutes had bulkheads nearly repaired and it seemed if luck would hold out we could pump out the water and live.Then the escort made another run and the pattern badly shook the boat.The bulkheads that were nearly repaired yet again were heavily damaged in addition to all four stern tubes being destroyed, stern planes damaged, radar damaged, aft batteries took more damage in addition to forwards.

I decided the best choice to was to surface, fight,and try to make a run for it(much how USS Salmon was forced to do in October 1944 after taking severe damage) I ordered ballast blown and set the gun crews.We surfaced and began a full speed run(which was only 14.5 knots due to damage)

The escort began to fire automatic weapons, striking the boat and injuring some one deck.Deck gun began pounding away but missing due to the harsh angle.I used to aft mounted 40 MM bofors to attack the escorts waterline, bridge, charge racks and gun mounts.One shelled splashed very close and sent hull damage from 20(due to depth charges) to 38.Soon after, the escort erupted in a large ball of flame, mustve hit something explosive.The light automatic fire continued but the escort turned back and rejoined the convoy as we slipped into the night.

Made it back to Midway, took four days to repair damage we could.Quite an adventure for second patrol back.

Daniel Prates
07-11-11, 09:28 AM
Soon after, the escort erupted in a large ball of flame, mustve hit something explosive.The light automatic fire continued but the escort turned back and rejoined the convoy as we slipped into the night.

Great story. This particular part that I quoted was worth some screenshots.

Armistead
07-11-11, 09:34 AM
Welcome back. If I'm fighting Type AB's, I'll head for deep water, 5-600 ft, if it's available of course.:D

Sometimes you have no choice but crash to the bottom or surface. I find the 20's actually work much better taking out charge racks. If I think I can live and control my dive, but can't take another hit, I'll let one make a run, blow tanks as he starts the run so I surface behind him and shoot off the racks and dive again. Least he can't drop anymore. However, like you, I'll let the crew man the deckgun and me the 40 and usually you can take a lone small escort out rather fast.

It's more of a glitch, but you can surface to about 32ft in a Gato and able to get on the 40 and not near as much damage to your boat can be done.

You should load the Madmax large DD pack. It just reworks the DD's for both sides. He did adjust the sensors, radar and ship loadouts also, but if anything they appear to be meaner. You don't have to add them to traffic since they use the existing models.

Bubblehead1980
07-11-11, 05:57 PM
Great story. This particular part that I quoted was worth some screenshots.

Ah I was a bit too caught up in the action and forgot to take screenshots.

Bubblehead1980
07-11-11, 05:58 PM
Welcome back. If I'm fighting Type AB's, I'll head for deep water, 5-600 ft, if it's available of course.:D

Sometimes you have no choice but crash to the bottom or surface. I find the 20's actually work much better taking out charge racks. If I think I can live and control my dive, but can't take another hit, I'll let one make a run, blow tanks as he starts the run so I surface behind him and shoot off the racks and dive again. Least he can't drop anymore. However, like you, I'll let the crew man the deckgun and me the 40 and usually you can take a lone small escort out rather fast.

It's more of a glitch, but you can surface to about 32ft in a Gato and able to get on the 40 and not near as much damage to your boat can be done.

You should load the Madmax large DD pack. It just reworks the DD's for both sides. He did adjust the sensors, radar and ship loadouts also, but if anything they appear to be meaner. You don't have to add them to traffic since they use the existing models.

Hmm ill check it out.How do I get the hospital ships in RSRD? and are you aware of how to make changes to things? I would like to eliminate unescorted singles at some point.PM me