Bubblehead1980
07-20-13, 02:56 PM
TMO RSRD USS Finback-Gato class.October 1944. 100 realism, cams and contacts on.
After 30 days off Indochina with 5 ships down(convoy battle of course of couple days) low on fuel, a tired crew(fatigue level was high) and two Mark 18's forward, four aft, headed for home.On the evening of October 22, 1944 approached Balabac Strait, At 1201, radar made contact, with some fish left, decided to check it out, soon on the scope could see we had either had a large convoy or TF, soon gathered a TF judging by the 13 counted escorts forming a loose ring around the main body in two long columns and the speed, estimated at 18 knots.
Spent the night getting ahead, finally at 0515 was in good position, ordered a dive and closed in at 100 feet.Lucky held as some of the forward screen made high speed runs out in left field, leaving a temporary opening, noticed this on scope as we dove, adjusted plot, moved in for stern shot.Avoiding the lead escort which came out way for a minute, we came back to scope depth, stern pointed towards main body, huger group of cruisers and BB's. Had a Takao Heavy cruiser at 2000 yards, fired all four Mark 18's at him, target was making 16 knots but after a long torpedo run, all four hit, leaving the CA on fire and listing.During the run I made the turn and brought bow tubes to bear on another CA, fired two at another Takao Heavy cruiser making 15 knots now and zigging after torpedoes impacted the other cruiser.Soon multiple DD's were closing in at high speed and pinging, but we stayed up to watch, soon both fish hit the second cruiser in the bow area, under the forward turret.Disappointed there was no explosion of magazine but just a small fire, we went deep and avoided a hailstorm of depth charges.
soon, the first cruiser exploded(heard it) and went down.About 15 minutes later, the second cruiser, severe flooding in her bow, stern in the air, went down as well.
After dodging an intense, prolonged depth charging, surfaced at 0800 and headed sped ahead to send another contact report.Around 1400 as the group slipped into Mindoro Strait, sent contact report and headed for home.
Only after the attack while waiting for torpedoes to hit second target did it occurr to me the date and that I had stumbled upon Kurita's Center Force on it's way to Leyte Gulf, which was attacked in same area by USS Darter and Dace in October 1944.Also discovered timing of attack was close as contact was made around midnight on 23 October and attack occurred at 0524. Darter and Dace together sunk and damaged several cruisers, including Kurita's flagship.
Once again, one of the cool parts of RSRD, major groups are at historicaly accurate time and location like that I stumbled onto it, always fun.Even more fun the attack times matched up.Few images...
http://i.imgur.com/6aDHjOe.png
http://i.imgur.com/6ptHkmD.png
http://i.imgur.com/fwDtPaq.png
After 30 days off Indochina with 5 ships down(convoy battle of course of couple days) low on fuel, a tired crew(fatigue level was high) and two Mark 18's forward, four aft, headed for home.On the evening of October 22, 1944 approached Balabac Strait, At 1201, radar made contact, with some fish left, decided to check it out, soon on the scope could see we had either had a large convoy or TF, soon gathered a TF judging by the 13 counted escorts forming a loose ring around the main body in two long columns and the speed, estimated at 18 knots.
Spent the night getting ahead, finally at 0515 was in good position, ordered a dive and closed in at 100 feet.Lucky held as some of the forward screen made high speed runs out in left field, leaving a temporary opening, noticed this on scope as we dove, adjusted plot, moved in for stern shot.Avoiding the lead escort which came out way for a minute, we came back to scope depth, stern pointed towards main body, huger group of cruisers and BB's. Had a Takao Heavy cruiser at 2000 yards, fired all four Mark 18's at him, target was making 16 knots but after a long torpedo run, all four hit, leaving the CA on fire and listing.During the run I made the turn and brought bow tubes to bear on another CA, fired two at another Takao Heavy cruiser making 15 knots now and zigging after torpedoes impacted the other cruiser.Soon multiple DD's were closing in at high speed and pinging, but we stayed up to watch, soon both fish hit the second cruiser in the bow area, under the forward turret.Disappointed there was no explosion of magazine but just a small fire, we went deep and avoided a hailstorm of depth charges.
soon, the first cruiser exploded(heard it) and went down.About 15 minutes later, the second cruiser, severe flooding in her bow, stern in the air, went down as well.
After dodging an intense, prolonged depth charging, surfaced at 0800 and headed sped ahead to send another contact report.Around 1400 as the group slipped into Mindoro Strait, sent contact report and headed for home.
Only after the attack while waiting for torpedoes to hit second target did it occurr to me the date and that I had stumbled upon Kurita's Center Force on it's way to Leyte Gulf, which was attacked in same area by USS Darter and Dace in October 1944.Also discovered timing of attack was close as contact was made around midnight on 23 October and attack occurred at 0524. Darter and Dace together sunk and damaged several cruisers, including Kurita's flagship.
Once again, one of the cool parts of RSRD, major groups are at historicaly accurate time and location like that I stumbled onto it, always fun.Even more fun the attack times matched up.Few images...
http://i.imgur.com/6aDHjOe.png
http://i.imgur.com/6ptHkmD.png
http://i.imgur.com/fwDtPaq.png