Lucky convoy...

[Bubblehead1980]

TMO RSRD 100 realism...no map contacts, no external cam.

May 1943..En route to Area Parlor NW or Mariannas. First patrol of USS Cisco(Balao Class) upon completion of Sea Trials in Mare Island, CA(New Construction Career) While crossing area "Dunkers Derp" one night about 2300 hours, made contact, closed to find it was a convoy, 9,000 yards away(early model SJ does not always work properly).Went to GQ, excited, perfect set up for first attack and a surface one, night was dark, cloudly, barely any moon out, light fog, heavy seas.Closed to 3000 yards off 3 ship, one escort convoy and fired 4 at large trailing freighter, two at smaller middle freighter.All six fish detonated prematurely, alerting the convoy.Surprisingly, the escort(an old coal burning PC) did not come to my area, began dropping depth charges and sweeping with searchlight.) I switched to aft TBT, brought stern tubes around and fired all four at large freighter.... in the now 3800 yard torpedo run, 3 prematurely detonated, fourth missed astern(possible gyro error, as it was far astern, speed was correct, others were on correct path) Annoyed, secured from battle stations for an end around, dawn would come in a few after reload complete, would dive, get in close and attack.

COMSUBPAC replied to contact report to sink the convoy(in lieu of ordering break contact) so pursued ahead. Around 0700 as was about to call GQ and moved ahead to dive for a dawn scope attack, it began to storm(luck), heavy seas, rain, overcast, heavy fog.With orders to attack, moved 5 miles ahead of convoy, keeping radar contact, decided to see if storm would clear.After two days and nearly 370 miles out of area, storm was raging, decided needed to get back to my area, so broke contact.

I try to play as realistically as possible and this patrol certainly gave some of the aggravation.Ten torpedoes fired, nothing to show for it due to malfunctions.The storm came in(could have used cntrl N to change weather but again, try to play realistic as possible) After 22 days in Area parlor with no contacts but a couple planes, low on fuel, began to head home when contact report of a fast moving ship heading south came in.Headed north along likely track and finally , radar contact at 1230. Spotted smoke at 5.5 miles out, ordered a dive and closed.Perfect 1000 yard, 90 degree shot on an Akita Maru freighter making 12 knots. Fired four fish, 2 prematurely detonated, two hit, leaving a large hole amidships, her engines stopped, she began to sink but then stopped, being stubborn.Fired two more, one prematured, other went into circle run, forcing us deep.Came back, brought stern tubes around.Fired two, one suffered gyro error and took hard job away to port, other was on target, hit Akita Maru, which mustve had ammo as it exploded in a giant fireball, split in two, collapsed masts and sank not long after.Headed home via Midway then Pearl Harbor.

Challenging yet fun patrol, but definitely aggravating losing convoy due to torpedo issues and weather, but it happens.

[c13Garrison]

I have played with dud torpedoes all the time, and I can't Ever remember such a stroke of misfortune. That's an incredibly unlikely cascade of circumstance, that many premature detonations. I admire your spirit though, to take it all in stride.

I too try to stay 'in mode' with my missions. I was tempted to re-position myself towards Midway to be near the battle, but my next orders said East China Sea, and even though I would have little margin in regards to fuel I went ahead and followed orders, and then got back to Darwin with less than 1000 miles of cruising to spare. Not really close, but far too close for my taste.

[Bubblehead1980]

I have played with dud torpedoes all the time, and I can't Ever remember such a stroke of misfortune. That's an incredibly unlikely cascade of circumstance, that many premature detonations. I admire your spirit though, to take it all in stride.

I too try to stay 'in mode' with my missions. I was tempted to re-position myself towards Midway to be near the battle, but my next orders said East China Sea, and even though I would have little margin in regards to fuel I went ahead and followed orders, and then got back to Darwin with less than 1000 miles of cruising to spare. Not really close, but far too close for my taste.


Well I tweaked the premature explosions to be a bit more realistic.I noticed I didnt get that many of them esp in calm seas, stock and mods have it where in heavy seas, prematures happen often, in calmer seas not.I found this to not be historical, so I tweaked the to rate to 50/50 in any sea state.This keeps tonnage down to historical levels for this time period, also i never know when torpedoes are going to work or not, so it adds to the sim for sure.I have fired 20 torpedoes with no prematures, then next patrol, all but four are prematures or duds, sometimes its half prematures, half works, just depends. This time, happened to one of those patrols.Once July 43 roles around and magnetic exploders are deactivated, then get duds, i fire at standard angles and all until around the time the order went out advised to fire at 45 degrees or less, conning the sub into position for these shots, esp on a convoy is tough but does cut down the duds. Just adds to the challenge of playing with cams and contacts off.

The patrol I mentioned in the OP was definitely one of the more trying due to weather and torpedo problems, plus playing with cams and contacts off.Wonder how many times that exact scenario played out in 1942/43 for subs in the PTO? I've read of a few. One thing playing it on a computer sim, could only imagine how aggravating and disheartening it was to have all that happen but then again, they seemed to take it in stride.

[Azgrim]

That was interesting patrol. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I still don't play with duds because i don't have such nerve to be calm when long and hard fire-decision goes south only because of dud or premature or else.
But 1 or 2 more patrols, and I think I'll go more hardcore.