View Single Post
Old 10-07-10, 12:52 AM   #1
Bubblehead1980
Navy Seal
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Florida USA
Posts: 7,100
Downloads: 605
Uploads: 44


Default Tell us what you're up to in your current campaign!

Share stories of your current patrol!

Please include Date, sub class, homeport(Pearl, Fremantle) and patrol area.


12/18/1941
USS Porpoise(Porpoise Class)
Pearl Harbor, HI

100 miles South-West of Wake Island

Left Pearl Harbor on 8 December and headed for Wake Island at Full Speed(16 knots) in order to stand guard against possible IJN invasion.Arrived in Area around midnight on 17 December.Stayed on surface since in friendly area.At 1117 a large four engine aircraft was spotted by lookouts(no SD radar yet) approaching from the South, ordered a dive and submerged to 150 feet.Bombs soon fell, close but no damage.
Went on a periscope patrol until dusk, surfaced and recharged batteries.

Dove at dawn on 18 December for submerged patrol.Around 1400, sound picked up fast screws.Surfaced to try and close.Soon two destroyers were spotted racing towards us and began firing, ordered GQ and a dive to 250 feet, evading several depth charges and closed in direction of heavy screw noises.After a long run at high speed, came to scope depth to find four large heavy cruisers of the IJN in my scope, at 7,682 yards.Prepared for a long range shot, since could get no closer due to low batteries and a DD staying in area as well as high speed(17 knots of the TF) As stood by to fire, the TF made a sharp zig away, no use in firing, went deep until DD cleared area, surfaced and recharged batteries overnight.

Dawn, searching an area west of Wake Island now, lookouts reported an aircraft, a dive was ordered as a lone "Kate" torpedo plane, not armed with bomb or torpedo made a strafing run, injuring the OOD and a lookout.

submerged for an hour then back to scope depth, surfaced until 50 miles away, then dove again for scope patrol(hate this but like to follow early war tactics in early war, adds a challenge) Around 1200, sound had heavy screws, along with merchant screws and DD's.Closed in a bit but could tell would not be able to get close enough for a shot, surfaced for a n end around.During the end around we were apparently spotted, once again a Destroyer raced in, forcing us to dive and this one was part of the A team, forced us to 250 feet and to stay at 2 knots on silent running.Finally escort left after 21 depth charges, some close.

Surfaced for recharge, will try again.Good thing is got off some contact reports.

Soon
Bubblehead1980 is offline   Reply With Quote