SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - Great first attack back in TMO but then...

After couple weeks of working to get my TMO setup right, add ships, traffic in the 9/43-6/44 layers, I set out on patrol from Pearl Harbor in USS Gato with 100 realism, contacts on, no external cam, manual targeting. (Albeit was annoyed I didnt start at the sub base after putting the correct coordinates in my mod) refueled at Midway. Unfortunately I received a silly " gamey and hollywood" insert agent in Qingdao mission so ignored it and went hunting in Area 4 south of Tokyo. Finally around 0330 on january 20 1944 convoy on radar. Dark enough night, went for night surface attack. Convoy had 4 ships 2 escorts heading south.

Worked into position to attack starboard column by 0500. As they came into view, the starboard column had a large freighter with a medium sized behind her, port column had two medium freighters. Lead escort was a Type A/B(brought it over from RSRD into my tmo ship pack) with a Wakatake DD as the trailing escort.

I went below to check the radar scope, take bearings etc. As the column was approaching at 9.5 knots, I went back to the bridge and noticed the moon was starting to rise. Fortunately, it was ahead of us and would provide a nice silhouette of the convoy as it rose, but it did add more risk as lightened up the scene. I thought about going for submerged attack but decided the moon was just be breaking the horizon when was ready to fire, so stayed put.The lead escort did some wild moves ahead sweeping , at one point was just 3,000 yards away, so we slowly turned keep bow pointed at home to present a small target. Suddenly he shot off in opposite direction, leaving us clear.

Convoy was now close, put out a contact report. Worked a solution. Would shoot the big lead freighter(Seia Maru, 7500 tons) with four fish and two to the medium size freighter training (Kinoposan Maru) . As ships closed by, the moon breaking horizon provided a great view of the lead escorts disposition. We wer enow just 2800 yards from the freighters, perfect shot. At 0540 fired two Mark 14's at the Kinoposan Maru and then four at the Seia Maru.

During torpedo run, the lead escort came barreling back at high speed, thought perhaps we were sighted? Not yet, just routine patrolling and getting back in front of the convoy. Soon two hits in the Kinoposan Maru, on fire. Not long after that, boom, four hits on the Seia Maru. We went ahead flank and began our turn away. Some light automatic gunfire splashed from the Kinoposan Maru, star shells from the escorts went up. Just as we finished our turn, a massive delayed secondary explosion rocked the Seia Maru, which quickly went down by the stern. As we raced away the lead escort spotted us and fired a few shells from main battery, which splashed a ways off. The trailing DD was rushing in but did not have us yet. Our speed advantage on the lead escort was a blessing, soon could tell they lost us.

At 0553 the Kinoposan Maru slipped beneath the waves. Two ships down, the escorts stopped, thinking we pulled the plug and were hiding below.

I had conducted this attack entirely in real time. I was sailing away reloading torpedoes, planning a follow up attack to get the other two freighters. Would then attempt to track down the northbound convoy had received a warning about, which plot told would be in the area tomorrow night.

Suddenly noticed a pause, then CTD. Heartbreaking. Perfect attack back, great start. CTD. I did save before started the attack after initial contact but still.