(Patroll report) I can now die a happy man.

[ICBM]

At darn last, I torped a heavy Carrier (first Carrier kill) and this time it didn't got away. (http://www.subsim.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=43458) A day that will be remembered by the Allies! :|\
(Funny that many U-boats back I shot a Revenge BB on my 4th patroll close to the same grid, Gibraltar is the place to be people)

2th Flotilla Lorient, U-157, Type IX-C, 4th patroll

[1943 April the 8th 02:21] Patroll start, objective: EK17, Freetown
[1943 May the 2th 09:13] Multiple smoke stacks sighted at 280 when crossing Grid CG95, near Gibraltar
[09:15] Targets seem to move at great speed, spotted 3 massive superstructures at least 2 BB's and a carrier
[09:17] Dived to PD depth, plotted intercept course using 'fast 90' method, targets now at 280 10000m, weather clear, wind 7, moderate waves
[09:21] Identifyed a Nelson BB, an Ilustrious aircraft carrier, a Revenge BB and 7 Cruiser/DD escorts.
[09:22] Choosing the carrier as primary target
[09:22] Setting up atack, all forward tubes, T1 Torpedoes, guessing speed using the slowest BB's max speed: 22kn
[09:27] Targets now at 272, 3000m, ordering silent running, opening tubes, 'fast 90' preset bearing = 340
[09:29] Target now at 339, 700m
[09:29] OPENED FIRE, 1,2,3,4, turning 180 for stern tubes
[09:29] Target taking evasive action
[09:30] Torpedo impact, midships!
[09:30] Torpedo impact, midships!
[09:30] Torpedo impact, midships!
[09:30] Torpedo impact, midships!
[09:30] Multiple secondary explosions sighted, aft deck engulfed in fire
[09:31] Target slows down rapidly, clearly suffering extreme flooding
[09:31] Target sinks fast in upright position
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[09:31] Allied Ilustrious aircraft carrier sunk at grid CG95, 23000t, no survivors
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[09:31] Targeting Revenge BB with rear tubes
[09:31] Aborting atack, Aircraft sighted heading for my position, DD's comming my way, using decoy, dived for 150
[10:12] DD's can't find me
[11:25] Left the erea undisturbed, starting home journey

[1943 May the 6th 20:21] Docked at Lorient, Blonde nurse waves at me, will ask her adress


THE PICS!

[1943 May the 2th 09:13] Multiple smoke stack sighted at 280 when crossing Grid CG95, near Gibraltar
http://home.hetnet.nl/~wouter-himself/SH3/AC_Kill_-_1.jpg

[09:15] Targets seem to move at great speed, spotted 3 massive superstructures at least 2 BB's and a carier
http://home.hetnet.nl/~wouter-himself/SH3/AC_Kill_-_2.jpg

http://home.hetnet.nl/~wouter-himself/SH3/AC_Kill_-_3.jpg

[09:27] Target now at 272, 3000m, ordering silent running, opening tubes, 'fast 90' preset bearing = 340
http://home.hetnet.nl/~wouter-himself/SH3/AC_Kill_-_4.jpg

[09:29] Targets now at 339, 700m
http://home.hetnet.nl/~wouter-himself/SH3/AC_Kill_-_5.jpg

[09:30] Torpedo impact, midships!
http://home.hetnet.nl/~wouter-himself/SH3/AC_Kill_-_6.jpg

[09:30] Multiple secondary explosions sighted, aft deck engulfed in fire
http://home.hetnet.nl/~wouter-himself/SH3/AC_Kill_-_7.jpg
http://home.hetnet.nl/~wouter-himself/SH3/AC_Kill_-_8.jpg

[09:31] Target sinks fast in upright position
http://home.hetnet.nl/~wouter-himself/SH3/AC_Kill_-_9.jpg

[09:31] Allied Ilustrious aircraft carrier sunk at grid CG95, 23000t, no survivors
http://home.hetnet.nl/~wouter-himself/SH3/AC_Kill_-_10.jpg


Now just curious, what target would you people choose? The Nelson (more tonnage) or the carrier wich imho was more important to the Allied war effort? Or even better, targeting both the Nelson AND the Carrier, taking the insane risk of loosing them both?
And how much did I damage the Allied war effort? How many Illustrious Carriers did they have?

[Ula Jolly]

You did an exTREMELY good job at that! And you were lucky, of course. 700m!!! I'd be pissing my pants in joy. :D
Very nice sinkin', too! If I were you, I'd set the first torpedo for magnetic, below keel, just to watch that too! Imagine if she went ABOOF midships! Good Lord, I want an Illustrious.
I think that among these targets, the carrier was the most important one for the war.

[captainclasp]

Personally - depending on time available - I would try for the slam dunk - both BB's and the carrier. Really depends on conditions - but you got into GREAT position - try for a magnetic shot (or 2) into the engine rooms on the targets - flood the engines and they are dead in the water. Then hide underneath them and reload.... but be warned - they can repair - or sink! If they sink - you better be moving QUICK!

Its possible to get parallel to target tracks and, trusting gyro angles will work - shoot your entire loaded compliment fast. In a type IX, let the first target just pass you - fire your 2 aft torps at a hard angle into him - shortest runs are the best, then launch your 2 forward tubes at the 3rd ship in line - they have the longest run time - so shoot them before the 2 that go to the last target - which should be around 1500m or so away if you can get there. Doing so should insure at least partial flooding on each target - slowing them down enough for you to reload and deliver the coup de grace.

But then again - It easy to criteque when I wasnt the one lucky enough to be seeing this thru my scope!!!
Either way - well done and good future hunting!

CC

[Farside]

personally i would have tried for two, two magnetics on the BB and two impacts on the carrier. But if i only had one torp.. i'd go for the carrier :D

[Rubini]

[1943 May the 6th 20:21] Docked at Lorient, Blonde nurse waves at me, will ask her adress

This is the best part for me.... :D


Rubini.

[Von Scheerbach]

Where's the pic of the blonde nurse????? :P

Great job! I'm on my 3rd career and have only ever had 1 crack at a capital ship in the open ocean. I got 1 torp into a Nelson and got chased off by escorts.

[Excalibur Bane]

Well, I managed to sink a Nelson on my 3rd patrol, went back to Loch Ewe on the 4th, caught another one in port and sank it. Revenge was docked too. Hell of a fight to get that bastard to go under. The way the harbor was built, I couldn't get a good shot off at him at a decent angle. Four of my torpedos bounced. I had to park in another stall in the harbor 300 meters away and fire my last one into him. Quite the hassle but worth it.

It does make you wonder though, what those four idle Tribal Destroyer Captain's are thinking as they see their precious Nelson go down in flames and then their Revenge and don't do anything about it, besides fire a few starshells :D

[andy_311]

Lucky you,me personally I try to avoid the approchies to Gibralter like the plague but like the saying goes "let fortune favour the foolish" or something like that. I'll take on a TF any time if it's within range or doing less than 30KNTS am on my 3rd career now and I now in late 43-war end it's safer to play hit and run

[Kalach]

...but like the saying goes "let fortune favour the foolish" or something like that.
I think thats the best way I've ever heard it put :hmm:

I've always stayed well away from Gibralter, but then I've never seen a large carrier or a BB either. I'll have to try down that way one day.

[thasaint]

i'd have gone for the carrier too for realisms sake, perhaps 2 for the carrier's engine room, 2 for one of the BB's engine room, just to stop 'em in the water, go deep, evade escorts, pop back up n finish 'em, but as others have said, tough to critique, i've only ever run into 1 task force within firing range, just 1 CV escorted by CL's and DD's, sunk the carrier and bugged out