Quote:
Originally Posted by Armistead
Yep, it is in RSRD. I watched it, but was too far behind to get involved, but just a basic DD battle.
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Yay! I won the battle of Vella Gulf. Well, after I thoroughly researched the battle prior to playing. I picked a spot about 8500yds east of Vella Lavella at the entrance to the gulf. I was headed/pointed eastward where I just sat, waiting for an ambush. Sure enough, around 22:30 hours, I pick up a sonar contact SE of my position. It was the American TF. Then, at about 23:00 hours, I get another contact NW of my pos. That was the Tokyo Express, 4 DDs. I plotted their course using sonar and then went to radar depth. Sure enough, they were headed toward me on a SW course. Radar soon picked them up and I had, for the most part, accurately estimated their course, with the exception of a minor adjustment to my attack position.
Then, at the last minute, they changed their course to SSW and were coming right toward me. I put the sub into reverse (back standard) and once I reached speed went to Back Slow. The DDs (2 Fubuki and 2 Shiratsuyu class) were doing about 29kts once I had them on visual. I let 2 torps go at the lead Fubuki and went deep, still in reverse. About 1 minute later I heard, "
Torpedo Impact!". Two of the DDs continued on their way, 1 Shiratsuyu stayed behind, dead in the water, to protect the flank. I found him about 3900yds dead ahead of me when I reached PD. The seas were very rough (a big plus) and I let two more torps go at the Shiratsuyu. Again I went deep and one torp hit home. Two DDs down. Now, I start checking my sonar to see what's going on. I'm gloating, rubbing my hands together and thinking, "
Our boys in the TF must be giving those Japs a good whooping right about now", snickering to myself. I decided to take some screenies of our TF (DDs) making their torpedo run on the Japs, got some good ones too. After a while of listening, I'm thinking, something ain't right here. The sonar is still picking up all the players, Japs included. Then it hit me. Oh shoooooot, when I took out the first DD in their straight line of approach, the rest started zigging, removing the element of surprise for our own TF. I go to PD, which took literally forever and I see the last 2 remaining Jap DDs sitting still in the water, about 4200yds ahead. I think to myself, "I can use a little help here guys", hoping our TF will preoccupy the Japs so that I can slip away. "
What's this?", I ask the sonar PO. He tells me, "
They're moving away, sir. Our TF is moving away at very fast screws." Of course, I blurt out, "
For the love of Pete" as I dash to the periscope. OK, I got myself into this mess, I'll get myself out of it. Two torps left while the rest are still being loaded (silent running), I fire one at the lead Fubuki. Funny, he just sat there and took it but, hey, a kill's a kill, right?
The last remaining Shiratsuyu pulls a "
feet don't fail me now" and whisks away at 15kts. Right across the front of my bow. I hit him at 3400yds away. "Surface the boat", was my last command. Funny, on the way back to Tulagi, there were alot of planes flying overhead at 2:00am in the morning. From their directions of travel (jap airbases nearby), I knew they were both ours and theirs. Nevertheless, I arrived safely back at Tulagi, only to be reprimanded by Admiral Turner for nearly screwing up the operation. Seems the TF commanders got together, synchronized their stories and took all the credit for the battle. I got a letter of reprimand in my file now.
After all that.