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Quillan · 04-22-07, 01:25 PM

I had an interesting experience with a task force last night and this morning, and I'm wondering if it was a deliberate thing or a fluke. I was cruising just southeast of Japan when I got a report of a task force. The TF was very close, perhaps 30 miles away, and heading straight for me, so I went to investigate. The TF contained no less than 4(!) carriers, 3 Shokaku fleet carriers and one Akitsu escort carrier, plus a seaplane tender. (I suppose it was a good thing it was nighttime, with all those aircraft so close to me.) I sank the lead Shokaku, fired 3 torps at the second but missed with one and failed to cripple it. I slipped out and went to make an end around to get back ahead of it and finish off that carrier. Dawn broke midway, and I shot down 4 Val dive bombers before I got into position, at which point I submerged and started heading towards the course of the TF.

Well, they apparently changed course from ENE to NE in the meantime, because I caught the trailing edges of sonar contacts back where I'd shot down those planes. However, what did I come across but the Akitsu, steaming along by itself? Did they really detach the escort carrier just to prosecute the submarine contact? They didn't leave any destroyers behind, at least that I saw, but the TF only had 5 escorts to begin with.

04-22-07, 01:25 PM	#11
Quillan Samurai Navy Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 579 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	I had an interesting experience with a task force last night and this morning, and I'm wondering if it was a deliberate thing or a fluke. I was cruising just southeast of Japan when I got a report of a task force. The TF was very close, perhaps 30 miles away, and heading straight for me, so I went to investigate. The TF contained no less than 4(!) carriers, 3 Shokaku fleet carriers and one Akitsu escort carrier, plus a seaplane tender. (I suppose it was a good thing it was nighttime, with all those aircraft so close to me.) I sank the lead Shokaku, fired 3 torps at the second but missed with one and failed to cripple it. I slipped out and went to make an end around to get back ahead of it and finish off that carrier. Dawn broke midway, and I shot down 4 Val dive bombers before I got into position, at which point I submerged and started heading towards the course of the TF. Well, they apparently changed course from ENE to NE in the meantime, because I caught the trailing edges of sonar contacts back where I'd shot down those planes. However, what did I come across but the Akitsu, steaming along by itself? Did they really detach the escort carrier just to prosecute the submarine contact? They didn't leave any destroyers behind, at least that I saw, but the TF only had 5 escorts to begin with. __________________ We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, that we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.