First Time Sunk By DC
 

Wow! I just experienced my first sinking by depth charge with a real sense of immersion (TMO 2.1/RSRDC). Just west of Toku (Formosa) I encountered a small task force consisting of a light cruiser (appeared to be a Kuma) and three escorts. They changed course giving me a 0 degree AOB and I couldn't get out of their path fast enough so I tried to make the best of it. I couldn't even get a good ID on them, but from the sound of them they were lighter patrol craft. Although I have the Free Camera enabled I don't use it in cases where it could give me an unrealistic edge, and keep it limited to my lust for eye candy in noncombat situations. I did sink two Matsu DEs over the previous 48 hours (game time) and these did have that broad superstructure. The sea was flat calm and I was making quick peeks at them, but they still apparently detected me at about 3500 yards based on their acceleration. I took two quick desparation shots with Mk 18s and went to 300 feet [in Tautog]. They pounded the hell out of me on the first pass causing flooding in the aft torpedo room and injuring the whole compliment in that compartment. There was plenty of other damage too, but I moved the bulkhead to the top of the repair list since it was flooding fast and damage was at 89 percent. I also swapped the injured crew with the forward torpedo room crew so there were healthy guys in there.

I was really taken aback by the sense of immersion. My boat started to settle by the stern so I bumped my speed up to 2/3 hoping to slow my descent which was currently at 340 ft. I was pounded for close to an hour as I tried to evade those guys and it looked as though I was going to make it. I was really involved at this point and, not meaning to over use the phrase, was really immersed. The whole situation took on a sense of reality, the crew, the angle of the boat as it settled by the stern, the sound of hissing steam and creaking hull, and the steady hum of my pursuers above as the relentless pouning continued. The bulkead repair in the aft torpedo room was complete and pumping was in process and I was really beginning to believe I was going to get out of this mess. But then all hell broke loose with what seemed to be an endless staccatto of depth charges. No exageration, there had to be at least 15 to 20 explosions if not more and everything fell apart. Damged propeller shaft, propeller destroyed, batteries damaged,... the list went on and on, but the backbreaker was the aft torpedo room bulkead damage was back to 89 percent and the engine room bulkhead was at 91 percent with heavy flooding in both. The boat took an extream angle up as she settled by the stern and all I could do is watch the speed of my descent increase. Things really started to happen as I passed 800 feet and the lights went out around 1,100 feet and the Tautog was no more as of January 8, 1945.

I've had other losses in the years since v1.1 such as running out of gas, running aground while at a high TC, taking on an aircraft and getting my engines destroyed and not being able to return home... you know, the typical bonehead losses. But this was my first serious immersed loss. It was dramatic and it actually made me think about submariner's final moments. Trapped in my small space (I always conduct business from the conning tower) with eight other men as the world tears apart around me gives a true feeling of helplessness and desparation. I've always been fascinated by submarines, especially the fleet boats of WWII. I've read a fair number of books on the subject over the years (top 3 are "Submarine", "Pig Boats", and "Silent Victory"), but I have to say that this has added another dimension to my perception of submarines at war.

Apart from my fascination with the experience I am kind of bummed since this was the crew of the Tarpon (fondly referred to as the "Tampon") from the beginning of the war until forced upgrade to the Tautog prior to this patrol. Yes this was my first patrol in the Tautog.

I hope this isn't an indication that I'm losing touch with reality. I really do have a life that includes wife, kids, friends, etc., but I do like to escape it when I can and this is the perfect avenue for me.

Thanks for listening, thanks for the gread mods, and thanks for the opportunity to be a part of the Subsim Community.

T

And you lived to tell us about it.:03::D
Isn't this a fantastic sim?:up:

The greatest to date as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for taking the time to read.

Welcome aboard, matey.

Thanks.

300 ft is way to little! Go much - much! - deeper.
You didn't mention it, but of course you were rigged for silent running and not going above 2 to 3 knots?

And for the love of... do not - repeat: DO NOT! - go anywhere near DDs in flat calm sea!
And most certainly not under any circumstances when using TMO! Never! :nope:

Agree on your top three list, but my list also includes "War in the Boats", "Thunder below!" and "A Tale of two Subs" :D
Suuuure.... of course... :shifty:

Nah, only kidding! http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/biggrin3.gif

Only problem with them is when you try to share your experiences, isn't it?
At least the times I've tried, noone really seems to understand, rolling and fading eyes is usually what I get... :88)


Erh, too late... he was here before you, Daniel :O:

My test depth was 250 so I was a little hesitant to go deeper. I've done it before, but these four (now three) campaigns are my first with TMO/RSRDC so I wasn't sure what to expect as far as an actual crush depth. I now know that I can go much deeper. Yes I was silent and running at 2 knots, although I did bump it up a notch to slow my sinking which may likely have exacerbated my situation.

Trust me, next time I will run like hell as soon as I pick up the sound of DDs.



I don't belive I've read "A Tale of Two Subs", but will now try to pick it up on your recommendation. I can't get seem to get enough on the subject.

Yeah, my wife looks at me with raised eyebrows, but my nine year old son gets it. He has his own copy of each SH3, SH4 Gold, and regretfully SH5. He's pretty good at it too. I'm trying to get him into manual targeting.

Thanks for taking the time to read and respond. I appreciate the input. I've picked up a great deal from you all at Subsim. I can honestly say that discovering Subsim has saved my copy of SH4 from the trash.

Your test depth may be 250, but trust me, your boat can handle it. Last night I was hiding down at 430ft in my Tambor class boat, and it also only has a test depth of 250. Besides, part of the fun is pushing the boat that bit more, just don't go TOO deep, i've made that mistake before and breached the hull and sunk myself.

But yeah, even with a 250 rating, you'll easily be safe going just past the 400ft mark. 300 is way too shallow :P

Also, prob don't need to tell you but, whenever you hear DC's coming down on your head, run the engines to flank and throw the rudder hard left/right depending on where the Destroyer appers to be heading. Should hopefully get you out of the blast area some. While the DC's are exploding round your ears, their sonar will be deaf to your engine noise allowing you to run at flank for a few precious seconds. Scoot and glide, scoot and glide :D

That is a very good career to lose that late in the war. :damn:

Magic

Yes, I wasn't too sure how much deeper to go and I was a being a little conservative, plus the fact that I had escaped so many situations up to now I felt I could do it again. I guess I was getting a little cocky. In the final descent the boat was comfortably holding together past 700 feet and was around 1,200 feet when it finally crushed.

I also wasn't sure about full speed because the ecorts sounded as if they were taking turns on me until the end wehn they all seemed to pound me at once. As one of them passed over me I didn't know if another would pick me up from short to medium range. Oh well, lessons learned...

That last barrage was incredible. It was as if they all hit me at the same time, which I think was the case because I never in the years of playing SH4 since it's initial realease have experienced anything like it. My hat's off to Ducimus and/or Lurker because this felt real. I kind of seal myself off from the world when I do this so I can really get into it. The helpless feeling as I was sinking had a definite air of realism to it. It was an experience that I can't tell my wife about because she would likely check me into some sort of rehab for subsimers, so I had to post. I fugured you guys would understand.

It was painful. For a brief second I considered reloading the last save, but it just isn't the same so I dismissed the notion. I've tried that before and it didn't feel right so I quit that campaign too. Once you've been sunk it's over. Here it is roughly seven hours later and I'm still not over it. Heck, maybe I do need subsim rehab.

Oh yes, and it was January 28, 1945. My initial post said January 8th so I must have muffed the 2 somehow.

Well that explains it all now. Your horoscope clearly said "Don't take any unnecessary chances on the 28th. :know: :hmmm: :D

I know what you mean about reloading saves, it's just not the same.

Magic

you know i m not soow good in sh4 they always sink me, but i dont care i play it for fun.
did'nt you say that you get killed with manny DC'S maybe a subchaser did do that?

That is the way to do it, for fun. :yeah: :woot: Whatever is fun for you is the best way to play.

Magic

Absolutely right! Fun is not a "one size fits all", but is taylor made for the recipient. What's fun for me may not work for many and vice versa. The important thing is is that we're all having it.