Ok so I just got back from my fourth patrol into the east china sea, and expended all torpedo stores at two convoys for a total tonnage score of 22,000 GRT. I used plotting methods to gather all the info, and actually never used the periscope once to conduct the attack outside of taking quick peaks to re-verify course and speed.
Once I had a series of range/bearing readings from my radar, I set my intercept for 90 AOB. Once in position approximately 1,000 yards from the estimated enemy course line, I ordered periscope depth, battle stations, and silent running. Sonar man informed me of merchants approaching, multiple contacts. I popped up the scope and took a range and bearing on the center ship, set timer, took another range/bearing at 5 minutes, and marked it on the map. Perfect, course 24 and according to the nomograph the convoy was maintaining its speed of 9 knots consistently. Info locked into TDC, check. All I needed to do was ping and shoot.
I raised the attack scope to note the 3 fattest targets and their bearings, then opened all 6 tubes (Mk10 torps this time) and went to the TDC. When my gyro was reaching zero, I went to the sonar station, found my fatboys on hydrophone. One ping, Two Pings, lock range/bearing, adjust AOB to match course on TDC, Fire one! Fire Two!
Next target, Two pings, lock range/bearing, adjust AOB to course, fire three, fire four!
Next target, same, five and six in the water.
All this pinging gave my position away pretty good, so I dove to test depth and went into silent running. On the way down my sonar man joyfully called out six torpedo impacts, unbelievable! within 45 minutes all three ships were beneath the waves, and I had just racked up 15,000 tons in one salvo. I'm so glad I finally understand how to attack a convoy now. Thanks for all your help fellas! Just on a side note, I refuse to use the dials anymore because they seem to have too much of an error margin.
Cheers!
Commander, USS Silversides.
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