Quote:
Originally Posted by propbeanie
Thanks. Got it... Did you happen to notice a report of a neutral group on your NavMap at any time prior to, or just after, discovering the stopped transport? You are probably in too close to the origin of the group though, for it to have reported yet. What had the weather been like the 24 hours before you found it?  |
I loaded a Save point which tracks completely with my memory, aside from the weather, which I did not note the first time.
3/18/44 @ 1900 Midway time
Wx clear with no wind
Nothing on map other than sonar tracks for small group listed below.
Location: 16 km SW of Twin Seamount midpoint, speed stationary
3/18/44 @ 2059
Group detected 25 km ESE of our position (four ships including Whale Factory), heading W
Small Group 17 km W of us, heading WNW
Weather clear
3/20/44 @ 0427
Patrol timer expires. Course set for Midway
3/20/44 @ 0433
Radar contact 26 km NNE of us, 13 km NNE of Twin Seamount midpoint. Later determined to be SPC
Wx clear. Nothing else on map.
End rerun.
There were no other surface contacts or reported groups on the NavMap during the rerun, nor do I recall any.
IIRC, the SPC was oriented toward the SE.
FWIW, we encountered unexpected pairings of Medium European Freighters with Crab Boats several times on this long patrol. IIRC, that's what the Small Group mentioned above was.