What are you up to in your current camapign (lets get a sticky going)
 

Taking this idea from SH3 forum. Tell us what you are up to in your current campaign?

Boat name/class
Homeport
Patrol

Details etc.

About to begin 2nd patrol USS Pollock SS-180 (Porpoise Class) out of Pearl Harbor, assigned to area off Truk. Patrol will coincide with the invasion of Guadalcanal.

First patrol out of Aleutians June-July 44. Sunk 4 merchants with torpedoes. Sunk two Daihatsus near Kiska. Plane from Attu bombed us (SD radar failed to detected and lookouts did not spot until 6,000 yards. DD's from Holtz Bay steamed into area and detected us while pumping water out aft torpedo. DD landed a close charge, which caused flooding in control room and bow torpedo room. Subs , rated for 250 feet test depth sunk to 530 feet before could stop the plunge. More charges followed but heavy seas seemed to save us. Charges were well above us at 250-300 feet. Eventually slipped away and repaired damage. Went on to sink two more ships, torpedo failures caused to miss out on two targets, including a DD as two ran right under the DD even though set shallow.Returned home.

19 January 1942
Just returned from my First patrol with USS Tuna ss-203 Tambor Class Submarine

The boat did well considering it’s not even a year since commisioning

Returned Too Midway after patroling the Home waters near Honshu and sunk an incredibly 40.000 tons of enemy shipping .

Primarily Big merchants and a modern tanker

Avoided Air patrols during day by being submerged

Received the Navy Cross for this brilliant First patrol
We have now recieved orders that we are going too the waters around Shanghai

The Crew are eager to get going

USS Sailfish (Sargo Class)
12 December 1941
Cavite Naval Base , Philippines.

First mission to deliver supplies to Formosa. No enemy contacts.

After completion, I sent a status report and was given new orders to patrol northwest of Luzon near Convoy College.

Picked up distant sound contact , surfaced and racing south to prosecute.

No court Martials given ?

The ppl still remember the former name of your submarine Squalus...
and ive heard rumors about the Word Squalfish
being Said

USS Pollack SS-180
Porpoise Class
Transferred to Brisbane after first patrol
Departed for assigned area off Truk on July 20 1942


While in en route via Solomon Sea a surfaced IJN submarine came into view just after dawn. SJ radar did not make contact.Managed to slip ahead undetected and dove off projected track on silent running. Submarine came into view making 15 knots. From 1100 yards fired three Mark 14 torpedoes. Two prematurely exploded 50 yards or less from target. The submarine was able to avoid the third torpedo, barely. As it passed just ahead of the bow, the magnetic exploder was triggered. The sub's engines stopped, seems the shock wave damaged the sub(?). Set up to fire fourth bow torpedo, on final observation saw it pick up speed, so held to adjust solution. Sub's engines started up again and began fleeing at high speed but seemed to be going under, "diving" (AI subs cant dive in SH 4, likely taking on water due to damaged hull from the close torpedo explosion). Adjusted speed, fired fourth torpedo. The sub's conning tower was under as torpedo passed over and exploded. Sound could still hear the sub's props. As I recently added AI torpedo mod to IJN subs (not sure if works yet) was worried about torpedoes, so ordered 250 feet and evasive movement. Lost contact with sub soon after. No credit in log for sunken submarine.

Made submerged run for rest of the day at 4 knots, surfaced at night and headed for patrol area....

Radio Report from USS Tuna SS-203

February 19 1942
23:15 PM

Sunk Large tanker East of shanghai

14816 Tons

4 torpedoes expended - 1 dud

Returning to Patrol area

will keep radio Silence for the next 3 Hours

July 30 1942 after arriving in patrol area off Truk and sinking a large tanker and small merchant running together (no escort) heading SW from Truk, orders to divert to New Georgia Sound (The Slot) to patrol for enemy vessels ahead of Operation Watchtower-The invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi.

Arrived August 4th. Spotted two merchants off Southern Bougainville. Sunk both of them. Headed down slot. Mid day August 7th SD radar picked up large air raid heading for Bougainville.

August 8th was entering waters off Savo Island for refuel and to take on more torpedoes. large air raid of torpedo equipped Bettys with escorting Zeros attacked landing force. While North of Savo Island, a lone Zero flying at low level jumped , SD radar never detected. Went to GQ and ordered AA gun manned. Chief manning the gun splashed the Zero which appear to attempt a suicide attack as it came back around and dove again. A last minute change of rudder hard to port caused the Zero to miss and slam into the water about 50 yards away, two lookouts and an Ensign on bridge(the GQ OD) suffered minor injuries.


Night of August 8 morning of 9th/ Around 1200 SJ radar made contact with unknown vessels. Closed fast and spotted 6-8 CA and CL with 1-2 DD heading for Savo Sound at high speed. Unable to close range for torpedo attack. Sent contact report and sped to North side of Savo Island to see if could end around for attack.

Around 0130 reports received of large enemy force in savo sound engaging with Allied vessels. In far distance could see flash of gun fire as rounded Savo Island to guard the pass between Savo and Florida Island (Tulagi)

Around 0200, in an unusual moment, SD radar reported a contact. From bridge could hear the humm or a single engine. Out of the darkness flew an unidentified single engine floatplane which buzzed the bridge and dropped a close bomb before bridge could be cleared. In the moonlight with plane an estimated 25 feet above could clearly see the "meatball: insignia of the plane. Must have been a observation plane from the cruiser making a night spotting mission. We went to 100 feet then came back to scope depth. Listening around, could hear heavy screws in distance with gunfire hitting water.


We raced at flank speed into the sound to see if could intercept enemy force. Soon had CA in sights closed on surface . Suddenly large shell splashes landed about 1000 yards to port,Aoba Class CA had us targeted. Crash dive to 100 feet. Soon, sound had the assigned to group was heading our way. Went deep to avoid. Pinged us dropped two charges circled once then headed away at high speed. Came to scope depth. Spotted a CL at 4000 yards. Closed to 2800. Observed an Allied CA explode just as fired four torpedoes at the CA. Two prematurely exploded, one missed and one hit the bow causing fire and heavy damage. Closed while reload commencing.

Sounded reported warship close range. Turned scope to see bow of a CA headed our way at high speed, AA guns firing at scope. Dove to 100 feet as it roared overhead main battery still firing t allied warships. Once fish loaded, came back to scope depth, spotted a CL at 1800 yards closed. Fired four fish. Two prematurely exploded 50 yards or less from target but two hit causing heavy damage. The CL soon began to sink by the bow. The enemy DD, trailing the formation, came rushing in and dropped several close charges, then departed.


Surfaced after dawn. Received a message to help with rescue operations in savo sound. Rescued several survivors, observed some crippled allied cruisers, debris from those sunk.

Battle of Savo Island was a defeat for Allies.

Rearmed and refueled at Tulagi, heading back to assigned area off Truk,..

USS Blowhard S Class
Cmder. Wolferz
Exec - Armistead

We've been stranded on the Mississippi river for 5 years since we were delegated to river patrol. I keep whipping the men into shape only for Wolferz to say "they're not ready yet" grabs his coffee, cusses the coffee, then he vanishes back into his private head. The only way to get him out is old school religious rituals, we have to make a sacrifice, tie a bag of deck shells to the left leg and throw someone overboard. The men are so dedicated when we ask for a volunteer, everyone raises their hand. Wolferz will come out, ask who was sacrificed, mumbles.."getting closer" and retreats back to his head.

FROM: COMSUBPAC
TO: IMPOSTER S-CLASS
DATE: WE DON'T KNOW

CINCPAC is not pleased to hear that you are preforming occult rituals just to get some lazy commander to come out of his mancave! Let the old man be!
As for your self-imposed Mississippi River patrols, you are to report back to Pearl Harbor at once! Desertion is not tolerated! Head back to Pearl Harbor by [DATA REDACTED] or you will be facing a court-martial!
You are a disgrace to the entire US Navy!

COMSUBPAC

Radio Report from USS Tuna SS-203

June 28 1942

Position South of Higashi

Sunk 3 enemy merchants

1 Large Passenger Carrier 9565 tons
3 torpedoes expended 1 was a Dud

1 Large split Freighter 6611 tons
2 torpedoes expended all exploded as intended

1 Large Tanker 14815 Tons
5 torpedoes expended with 3 being Duds!

1 modern tanker got away

The Torpedoes doesnt work as intended
i hope you bring this back to the factory så they can fix this isue
otherwise 1 day it may be a DD coming and if the torpedo dont expload then we will probally not survive to tell the tale

will remain submerged until nights fall

Fall of the Rising Sun Ultimate v1.2

USS Gudgeon SS-211 Tambor Class
Pearl Harbor
LtCdr. Ian ‘Sandy’ MacDonald
July 1942, 4 weeks out of Pearl

First patrol area: Southern Marshalls
Spent 5 days patrolling the assigned area with no enemy contact. We parked ourselves on the convoy resupply route from Truk and Wake Island. COMSUBPAC reassigned us to an area north of the first assignment. 3 days into the patrol, sonar reported a merchant 12 miles away. Attack party began the track and we set-up for a 90° zero gyro shot. The biggest concern was the surface chop. Seas were 4’-5’ due to a recent storm and I debated using the deck gun. We set the torpedoes to run a 5’. Surprisingly, none of them broached. Out of 4 torpedoes, 1 hit, 1 dud and 2 misses. The target was a Japanese auxiliary freighter, about 5000 tons. She was hit amidships and it was fatal. She instantly started to list and finally capsized and sank.

The tracking party officers and myself sat down in the ward room and reviewed the attack. We look at what went right and what needs improvement. The one item we all agreed on was a torpedo attack with high seas has to get much closer to the target track, a run <1000 yards. These review sessions are very helpful in developing better skills and team work.

TMO
USS Pollack SS-180

August 28 1942 East of Truk


After participating in the Battle of Savo Island, refueled and rearmed, headed for patrol area off Truk that was previously diverted from.

East of Truk on August 28 around 0600 SD radar made contact forcing us down. While submerged, sound picked up heavy prop noises. At periscope depth could see large pagoda style mast in the distance. Radar depth brought SJ contacts. Went to GQ and closed at 6 knots submerged.

The plane flew into sight, it was a "Jake" single engine floatplane, screening for the contacts.Apparently it spotted us as soon could hear the roar of DD's racing in a high speed on sound. Went to silent running and 250 feet. Closed projected track of contacts. Two DD's roared overheard one pinged but thermal layer protected us they ran right over searching.

Made a run at 2/3 speed for 10 minutes and slowed, came to scope depth.Right there at 7,000 yards, a CVE leading a battleship with one DD screening, while other DD's and plane were about 6,000 yards astern of us.Dropped scope went to 80 feet, closed quietlly.

Next observation revealed a Taiyo Class CVE and Yamato Class BB. They were alerted, zigging at 14.5 knots. Closed to 1000 yards of Yamato and fired all four Mark 14's. Began turn so fire the two stern tubes. Raised scope. First torpedo prematurely exploded 20 yards from ship, other three all hit home, one amidships, one under the number one forward gun turret and one just astern of the superstructure.


Fired stern tubes, one prematurely exploded shortly after leaving tube. Other hit the stern near props, sound pattern reduced on sonar, indicating one screw had stopped but the BB kept on moving.

Went to 250 feet as the DD was closing in. Other two arrive don scene with the plane and proceeded to give most intense depth charge have had in a while. Forced down to 350 feet, two detonated close by. Minor damage except the trim and hydraulic pumps were heavily damaged(90% and 80%) , boat some leaks, minor flooding in control room and conning tower. After pumping water with pumps not working, boat was tough to control but managed to get away after 4 hours . Remained submerged rest of day, made repairs.

The patrol continues..


Note: In real life, USS Flying Fish attacked Yamato off Truk on 28 August 1942. CO reported hits, but turns out were premature explosions.

A while back when redoing the japanese task force layers, using the tabular record of movement, I recreated the Yamato and Musashi's historical movements in the sim. This makes their appearances pretty rare(as were in real life) and a special thing if locate and attack. A few pseudo historical appearances are included for fun, talking a handful. Also redid the damage profile, these ships are difficult to sink, as were in real life. Testing it 10-20 torpedoes plus bomb hits from aircraft, much as in real life.

Just went from FOTRSU to TMO Again
i missed the harder escorts :haha:



Patrol Report
USS Tuna SS-203

February 2 1942

just got back to Pearl after a harsh start on the war

we set sail on the December 9th from pearl towards the Luzon Strait


Spottet an enemy convoy south of Convoy College

when aproaching on the surface at night, we got spottet by the escorts and was forced to abort and dive deep

before we where able to dive we where hit twice by enemy fire

with flooding in the engine rooms and the control room the situation was bad!

we managed to repair the hull and maintain safety depth just below the thermal layer

after evading the Escorts, myself and the other Officers aboard agreed on returning to Pearl to have the sub taken too drydock for repairs

on the way home we spottet and sank an enemy freighter for 8000Tons

that was our only kill this first patrol

The Admiral told me he was glad that we survived but i know deep inside he was disapointed at us.


I gave him my word, that the next time USS Tuna would be better prepared for what was waiting out there

-Captain Kiel

We don't have engines and I don't think we could row it.

TMO

Departed September 26th 1942 for third patrol, second out of Brisbane. Last patrol helped support Guadalcanal invasion and witnessed disaster of Battle of Savo Island.


Assigned to patrol off Shortland Islands in the New Georgia Sound (The Sot) to interdict "Tokyo Express" making near nightly supply runs to Guadalcanal using Destroyer.

Arrived in Area on 30 September, patrolled submerged off entrance to the bay off southern Bougainville. Noon radar sweep revealed multiple SD contacts, via periscope spotted them visually in distance. Likely air raid heading Guadalcanal from Rabaul. Counted 19 G4M Betty Bombers, 9-15 A6M Zeke fighters.


1500 on October 1st, patrolling between Choiselil and Vella La Vella submerged sound reported high speed screws. Periscope observation revealed masts of destroyers in distance. Went to GQ, a line of nine Destroyers moving at 33 knots, the Tokyo Express. heading to make nightly drop off. Closed to 1000 yards before forced to fire. Fired two Mark 14's , two at a Mutsuki Class DD and two at a Fubuki class DD. All four prematurely exploded 300-500 yards from targets. One DD turned to hunt for us, others proceeded on.

Repeated torpedo failures caused to miss in two other attacks on Tokyo Express on Otober 3rd and 6th. Sunk a tanker off Shortland Island on Oct 8th. Final two torpedoes, fired on a DD patrolling the channel between Bougainville and Choiselil. Both prematurely exploded. Went deep and endured depth charged causing flooding. DD hunted us for 12 hours before giving up, Headed for Tulagi to rearm and refuel, since early in patrol.

While at Tualgi moored by sub tender. An air raid approached. Immediately got under way but "Val" dive bombers arrived overhead while still in shallow water. AA guns along with other ships and shore based opened fire. PO 1/c Lentz downed a "val" dive bomber as it dove on the Pollack.Bomber slashed down 50 yards or less from port side.OOD and lookout injured slightly.

Once in deeper water submerged to 100 feet to ride out

air raid.Surfaced after all clear, tanker in Tulagi Harbor on fire and sinking.Departed morning of October 11th for patrol area. While en route, received alert of IJN Task Force heading down "The Slot" positioned myself between New George and Santa Isabel. That evening SJ radar made contact with IJN force moving at high speed, 30+ knots.

Unable to close for shot but observed as US Task Force intercepted, "Crossing the T" . Casualties on both sides, enemy force was stopped from reaching Guadalcanal.This was the Battle of Cape Esperance. Rescued survivors in life raft from US DD sunk as well as IJN survivors after dawn.

Now October 3th, off Shortland again on patrol...

October - December 1943
USS Balao
Home port is Brisbane
SH4 Stock V1.5


When I completed a mission and sank enough tonnage to RTB I decided to try Tulagi as a remote base and create mayhem in the Bismarck Sea entry to Rabaul... 'Tis easily in range of Tulagi and certainly a target rich environment. :D
On my first TDY at Tulagi I sank 500000 tons in about three months before returning to Brisbane.
After completing the next assigned mission I returned to do the Son of Tulagi Raid and in 9 weeks have sunk 450000 tons. At 500000 will return to Brisbane lest the crew keelhaul me. :har:

Campaigns? You guys are starting campaigns? :doh::haha:

Sorry I do not get the point of your post?


This topic is for campaigns yes
Where we tell our stories from our patrols :-)

November 6, 1942
USS Pollack SS 180
(TMO 2.5 custom mods )

Departed Brisbane 0700 fro patrol area in Truk-Rabaul shipping lanes. 6 hours out of Brisbane spotted a surfaced submarine. Immediately dove and closed to identify, it was a Gato clas submarine heading for Brisbane. Surfaced and waved them on.

November 8th 0554 in the Coral Sea near 1750 S 15455 E lookouts reported a surfaced submarine at 034. In the morning haze difficult to id Closed in silently at GQ and identified it as a japanese I class heading 180 at 13 knots. Closed to 1200 yards and fired two mark 14 torpedoes.Raised scope just orior to expected impact time, the submarine had disappeared. Went to 250 feet and crept out. Two explosions were later heard as torpedoes reached end of their run.

Remained submerged res tof day, surfaced after dark. Voyage to patrol are continues.

(This is one of the subs I added otoTMO. They randomly reach their last waypoint and delete, simulating a sub raondmly "diving". Quite frusrating and makes them elusive targets.

November 12/13 1942...

Flash Message arrived noon 12 November of a convoy heading for Guadalcanal, screened by a large Task Force including two battleships. En route to patrol area, diverted to New Georgia Sound to stand Guard near Russel Islands. Around 0100 made SJ contact, dancing green lines on the A scope revealed large ships. Raced to intercept off Savo Island

Made visual contact, task force zigged, would run right over us. Dove to periscope depth, went to GQ after sending contact report.Reply was orders to attack.

Task Force was making 24 knots, closed in high submerged speed on the port side. Spotted two large Kongo Class BB's, several DD and CA CL, classes undetermined.

From 1100 yards fired all four forward tubes. Two Mark 14's prematurely exploded, but two hit the target. Setting a fire and causing a heavy list but BB and TF sailed on while a DD worked us over with depth charges. One charge came very close...damaging pumps, fuel tank, electric and diesel engines. Minor leaks as well. Went to 350 feet. Soon could hear heavy gunfire and explosions, seems US Task Force made contact with japanese, the main body of which was some distance away but shells were falling near us . After a while came to scope depth, could see explosions and flashes in the distance.

As moved closer to battle once back at scope depth. Found a burning, crippled DD. Planned ot torpedo for the coup de grace, but it exploded and sunk before we could close

Around dawn in the distance revealed a crippled battleship.(Much as in real life, the Hiei was crippled still in the area after this battle, finished off by planes from Henderson Field at dawn) Closed in and fired four fish. Two duds, two impact, fired two from stern tubes, two hits. BB now had heavy list and was on fire when its main battery suddenly changed position and fired a salvo. US DD's and CA's were in range to finish off, a gunfight ensued. Torpedo and dive bombers Planes from Guadalcanal soon joined in. Fired our last four bow tubes, two more duds, two hits. As swung stern to fire last stern tubes the BB exploded and capsized, likely after a division of torpedo planes made their runs.

Surfaced secure from GQ and headed for Tulagi to rearm.

This was the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal(added it TMO a while back, firs t time have witnessed it in the sim) on November 12/13.