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HowFar · 06-14-11, 01:10 PM

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

06-14-11, 01:10 PM	#1
HowFar Bosun Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Olympic Peninsula in western Washington Posts: 64 Downloads: 502 Uploads: 0	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