Bubblehead1980
05-12-17, 08:40 PM
TMO RSRD
100 difficulty contacts and cams off.
manual targeting
Balao Class-USS Nerka SS-380
Fun, intense patrol in this sim, but heartbreaking lol
Departed Fremantle on June 7, 1944, assigned to area South East of Hainan Island in East China Sea(added convoys, tankers in particular since for some reason RSRD omitted traffic from this major sea lane yet gives patrol orders there?) . Sank one freighter North of Tawi Tawi on June 12 en route to patrol area. Arrived in area and surprisingly found no contacts. Attempted to act on an Ultra regarding U boat approaching Formosa Straits, but no contact made.Returned to area, only spotted a few patrol plans. Finally on July 16th 1944 about 0600, SJ contact.Went to GQ and closed. Had two contacts and soon was able to deduce they were making high speed.Sound check revealed fast, heavy screws.Continued to close, taking advantage of the light haze/fog after dawn on a otherwise sunny day with fairly calm seas.Could soon tell through binoculars we had two large warships, either heavy or light cruisers. Plot showed them at 20 knots which explained why could not pull ahead , could only match and stay slightly ahead.We continued to stay about 8 miles off their starboard side, pacing, hoping they would either zig towards or slow.After noon it was clear this was not happening, these boys were on a high speed unescorted run for Singapore most likely. Mindful of fuel rapidly burning, crew tiring, decided to dash in at high speed until spotted and fired long range shots with Mark 14's in forward tubes, hope to score hits and slow one down with damage at slow them down when they have to turn to evade.Long shot but could work.
Rushed in at flank speed, using the haze to conceal us targeting the second cruiser since had lead on it(somewhat). However soon saw the flashes from the main turrets and shells splashing distantly, we continued to close, desiring to fire from no more than 6,000 yards. Could hear shells zooming over us. Soon two sets of splashes(one on each side from each set, four total) landed, they had use bracketed at 6900 yards, sent a final bearing on TBT and ordered all six tubes fired. Using the spread knob sent three amidships, one forward of the bow in case sped up and one aft, the cruiser was covered, perhaps would get lucky. Ordered a crash dive just after firing, leveled off at 80 feet, came back to scope depth.
5 of six torpedoes missed as the cruiser(tentatively identified as a Takao Heavy Cruiser) took evasive action but one slammed home just under her bridge. Not bad for such a long range shot on a zigging target still making 19 knots.
While reloading tubes we closed at flank speed submerged, hoping to get more shots into he damage CA. They sailed on, we surfaced when at safe distance, began the dash again, plot showed them slowed to 17 knots now, we could pull ahead but had a long way to go. However, just as were back in position a few hours later to make a submerged approach, they increased speed, damage must have been repaired.Faced with same option as before, we dashed in and with daylight now fading, managed to closer, submerged unseen and closed to 5,000 yards when forced to fire. Fired six in same spread as last time. Of course they saw them coming but one did catch the second CA just under aft turret, starting a fire and slowing her. We had her!
Now, just 8 fish left, 4 forward and 4 aft, all Mark 18's had to close in range and get a shot while forward tubes reloaded. The big cruiser continued to zig and make 11 knots, the forward one stayed nearby. The wounded CA then picked up speed to 15 knots.Damn! but OK could end around and make a night surface attack as was now dusk. Allowed her to pull ahead then surfaced for the end around.
Suddenly an aircraft contact appeared forcing a crash dive, several explosions occurred. Tried to surface but the plane kept hanging in the area as the cruisers pulled ahead.The plane finally disappeared and we surfaced to rush ahead when a new contact from a different area appeared.Soon could see it was heading for us, we plowed ahead determined to catch up. In distance could see two Destroyers in area where we WERE.
Soon an SD contact appeared again forcing a dive, each time would come up plane was in area and the DD's were soon withing 6 miles hunting. surfaced 40 mins later after nightfall. Secured from GQ to give crew a rest during end around proceeding on last course of the two cruisers, which had lost contact with. Unable to regain contact and fuel down to 25 percent after month and half since left port and all high speed runs, decided to head for home.
Encountered two small merchants with two escorts in Karimata Strait, sunk both with two Mark 18's each from stern tubes, made submerged transit of sunda strait next morning and arrived at Fremantle on August 2nd.
100 difficulty contacts and cams off.
manual targeting
Balao Class-USS Nerka SS-380
Fun, intense patrol in this sim, but heartbreaking lol
Departed Fremantle on June 7, 1944, assigned to area South East of Hainan Island in East China Sea(added convoys, tankers in particular since for some reason RSRD omitted traffic from this major sea lane yet gives patrol orders there?) . Sank one freighter North of Tawi Tawi on June 12 en route to patrol area. Arrived in area and surprisingly found no contacts. Attempted to act on an Ultra regarding U boat approaching Formosa Straits, but no contact made.Returned to area, only spotted a few patrol plans. Finally on July 16th 1944 about 0600, SJ contact.Went to GQ and closed. Had two contacts and soon was able to deduce they were making high speed.Sound check revealed fast, heavy screws.Continued to close, taking advantage of the light haze/fog after dawn on a otherwise sunny day with fairly calm seas.Could soon tell through binoculars we had two large warships, either heavy or light cruisers. Plot showed them at 20 knots which explained why could not pull ahead , could only match and stay slightly ahead.We continued to stay about 8 miles off their starboard side, pacing, hoping they would either zig towards or slow.After noon it was clear this was not happening, these boys were on a high speed unescorted run for Singapore most likely. Mindful of fuel rapidly burning, crew tiring, decided to dash in at high speed until spotted and fired long range shots with Mark 14's in forward tubes, hope to score hits and slow one down with damage at slow them down when they have to turn to evade.Long shot but could work.
Rushed in at flank speed, using the haze to conceal us targeting the second cruiser since had lead on it(somewhat). However soon saw the flashes from the main turrets and shells splashing distantly, we continued to close, desiring to fire from no more than 6,000 yards. Could hear shells zooming over us. Soon two sets of splashes(one on each side from each set, four total) landed, they had use bracketed at 6900 yards, sent a final bearing on TBT and ordered all six tubes fired. Using the spread knob sent three amidships, one forward of the bow in case sped up and one aft, the cruiser was covered, perhaps would get lucky. Ordered a crash dive just after firing, leveled off at 80 feet, came back to scope depth.
5 of six torpedoes missed as the cruiser(tentatively identified as a Takao Heavy Cruiser) took evasive action but one slammed home just under her bridge. Not bad for such a long range shot on a zigging target still making 19 knots.
While reloading tubes we closed at flank speed submerged, hoping to get more shots into he damage CA. They sailed on, we surfaced when at safe distance, began the dash again, plot showed them slowed to 17 knots now, we could pull ahead but had a long way to go. However, just as were back in position a few hours later to make a submerged approach, they increased speed, damage must have been repaired.Faced with same option as before, we dashed in and with daylight now fading, managed to closer, submerged unseen and closed to 5,000 yards when forced to fire. Fired six in same spread as last time. Of course they saw them coming but one did catch the second CA just under aft turret, starting a fire and slowing her. We had her!
Now, just 8 fish left, 4 forward and 4 aft, all Mark 18's had to close in range and get a shot while forward tubes reloaded. The big cruiser continued to zig and make 11 knots, the forward one stayed nearby. The wounded CA then picked up speed to 15 knots.Damn! but OK could end around and make a night surface attack as was now dusk. Allowed her to pull ahead then surfaced for the end around.
Suddenly an aircraft contact appeared forcing a crash dive, several explosions occurred. Tried to surface but the plane kept hanging in the area as the cruisers pulled ahead.The plane finally disappeared and we surfaced to rush ahead when a new contact from a different area appeared.Soon could see it was heading for us, we plowed ahead determined to catch up. In distance could see two Destroyers in area where we WERE.
Soon an SD contact appeared again forcing a dive, each time would come up plane was in area and the DD's were soon withing 6 miles hunting. surfaced 40 mins later after nightfall. Secured from GQ to give crew a rest during end around proceeding on last course of the two cruisers, which had lost contact with. Unable to regain contact and fuel down to 25 percent after month and half since left port and all high speed runs, decided to head for home.
Encountered two small merchants with two escorts in Karimata Strait, sunk both with two Mark 18's each from stern tubes, made submerged transit of sunda strait next morning and arrived at Fremantle on August 2nd.