[FredMSloniker]

In that case, I shall continue! Let me get you caught up.

• 1941, December 10, 1324: Believing they have successfully evaded the convoy's escorts, S-38 first rises to periscope depth, then surfaces. No ships spotted. Lieutenant Commander Fred Sloniker reports sinking of large modern composite freighter, resumes patrol around Aparri, ahead standard.
  
• 1439: Aircraft spotted. As the S-18 class lacks flak guns, it immediately dives to 150 feet, continuing at flank speed.
  
• 1441: Bomb impact on surface of the water. S-38 continues at flank speed along its patrol route.
  
• 1502: Battery power reported at 50%. S-38 surfaces and proceeds ahead standard.
  
• 1518: S-38 reduces speed to ahead one third to recharge batteries more quickly.
  
• 1640: Aircraft spotted. S-38 crash dives, then reduces speed to ahead one third to conserve batteries.
  
• 1732: Sound of explosion detected. Uncertain origin. LtCdr Sloniker decides to wait one hour before surfacing in case a plane is overhead.
  
• 1743: S-38 surfaces, proceeds ahead one third along patrol route.
  
• 2059: Patrol of Aparri complete. LtCdr Sloniker makes routine radio report and is directed to the southern Formosa patrol area (the closest remaining). S-38 sets course, ahead flank.
  
• December 11, 0209: LtCdr Sloniker, believing S-38 far enough from Aparri to not have to worry about patrols, orders speed reduced to ahead one third to more quickly recharge batteries.
  
• 0651: Aircraft spotted. S-38 crash dives, then reduces speed to ahead one third.
  
• 0654: Bomb impact on surface of the water.
  
• 0837: S-38 ordered to surface.
  
• 2315: Battery recharge complete. S-38 moves to ahead flank.
  
• December 12, 0027: S-38 enters southern Formossa patrol area, begins patrol.
  
• December 13, 0100: Flash traffic received, reporting large Japanese convoy in area of 0370N 11030E and ordering units within striking distance to intercept. S-38 is too far to reach convoy in time and maintains patrol.
  
• 1633: LtCdr Sloniker makes routine report.
  
• December 14, 0244: Patrol complete. LtCdr Sloniker makes routine report, then orders S-38 to patrol zone at 2430N 12530E.
  
• December 15, 0152: S-38 reaches center of patrol zone, begins patrol route.
  
• December 16, 1510: Aircraft spotted. Lookout reports aircraft not headed toward S-38, so S-38 dives to periscope depth to monitor its path. Aircraft does not spot it, so S-38 surfaces once aircraft is out of sight.
  
• December 18, 1224: Patrol complete. LtCdr Sloniker makes routine report, then orders S-38 to patrol zone at 29N 12330E.
  
• December 19, 0848: S-38 reaches patrol zone. Begins anti-shipping operations.
  
• December 19, 0849: S-38 sets up patrol pattern off the coast of China, ahead standard. Patrol is expected to last 96 hours.
  
• December 20, 0102: Op Immediate traffic received:
  
  From: CTF3
  
  To: TF3
  
  EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY SHIFT BASE OF OPERATIONS TO SURABAYA JAVA X
  
  Japanese forces continue to advance on Manila, despite the best efforts of the US and local units. S-38 is now based out of Surabaya and will likely return there at the end of its current objective.
  
• 1252: Merchant ship spotted! Medium modern split freighter, apparently unescorted. S-38 dives to periscope depth.

• December 20, 1252: S-38 sights medium modern split freighter, apparently escorted. S-38 dives to periscope depth and proceeds toward the freighter, ahead flank.
  
• 1254: Freighter is unescorted and unaware of S-38's presence. S-38 plots intercept course.
  
• 1308: Realizing that S-38 cannot match freighter's speed underwater, Lieutenant Commander Fred Sloniker orders the boat surfaced. If the freighter spots the boat, it will be able to outrun it, but it is already outrunning it, and some chance is better than none.
  
• 1401: S-38 is able to close within 1500 yards of the freighter without being seen. It is now directly to the stern of the freighter and closing slowly.
  
• 1408: S-38 is within 1300 yards. The freighter suddenly begins to turn, indicating that the sub has been spotted. LtCdr Sloniker orders battle stations and tube 1 fired; torpedo misses.
  
• 1410: S-38 fires torpedo 3. It too misses. S-38 is within 1100 yards of freighter; deck gun is manned and begins to fire on the waterline.
  
• 1426: Despite holing the freighter in several places and doing significant damage to the stern of the ship, S-38 continues to be unsuccessful at causing sinking. LtCdr Sloniker orders tube 2 fired; torpedo misses.
  
• 1430: LtCdr Sloniker orders tube 4 fired. Torpedo impacts on stern of freighter. Freighter loses speed and begins to list.
  
• 1435: LtCdr Sloniker, believing the freighter unarmed, orders S-38 to come alongside the freighter and prepare to use the deck gun if torpedo damage proves insufficient.
  
• 1437: Freighter opens fire on S-38. LtCdr Sloniker immediately orders the boat to periscope depth, but a shot from the freighter punctures the control room pressure hull. The damage is unrepairable, and S-38 immediately sinks to the sea floor. S-38 is lost with all hands.

Forget you, game over screen. I have plenty to regret. That was a good clean kill that I botched because I didn't think a little freighter could be any sort of threat to a submarine. Instead, it proved able to kill the sub in a single shot. Live and learn. Or learn and die, as the case may be.

Click for the January 3, 1942 intro video!

January 3, 1942 rolls around, and Lieutenant Commander Fred Sloniker is hauled out of the drink, hooked up to some jumper cables, and stuffed into the USS Plunger (SS-179), recipient of the most battle stars of any boat in its class. It's a tough legacy to live up to, but hopefully he can manage it.

• January 4, 1942, 0800: USS Plunger departs Surabaya en route to patrol area:
  
  Operational Order
  January 3, 1942
  
  To: Fred Sloniker, USS Plunger (SS-179)
  DEPART ON: January 4, 1942
  
  Proceed to the Molucca Passage Choke Point at the north end of the Molucca Sea via the Banda Sea and conduct combat patrol within 100nm of its center point. Addition direction will be provided via message traffic Make reports as necessary to ABDA Task Force 3
  
  OBJECTIVE:
  Reach Molucca Passage Choke Point
  
  
  
• 0811: USS Plunger, clear of the docks, accelerates to flank speed.
  
• 0958: USS Plunger spots coastal composite freighter. This close to Surabaya, it is almost certainly a friendly ship, but Lieutenant Commander Fred Sloniker orders an intercept course nonetheless.
  
• 1023: Freighter is confirmed flying British colors. USS Plunger resumes course.
  
• January 7, 0430: Having passed through the Flores Sea and Banda Sea without incident, USS Plunger reaches patrol area. LtCdr Sloniker makes routine report, receives new orders:
  
  From: COMSUBPAC
  To: USS Plunger (SS-179)
  Conduct combat operations for the next 72hrs within 100nm of Molucca Passage. If IJN units detected move into your area report to ABDA Task Force 3 ASAP. If IJN units are detected outside of the Patrol area, proceed at your discretion to intercept and destroy.
  
  USS Plunger begins patrol, ahead standard.
  
• January 10, 0428: Having completed patrol without incident, LtCdr Sloniker makes routine report, receives new orders:
  
  From: COMSUBPAC
  To: USS Plunger (SS-179)
  Proceed at best speed to the Tarakan Island and conduct scouting operation for the next 72hours. Remain within 100nm of the center of the oparea. If IJN units are detected outside of the Patrol area, proceed at your discretion to intercept and destroy.
  
  USS Plunger sets course, ahead flank.
  
• 1721: Diving Officer advises fuel reserve at 50 percent. LtCdr Sloniker orders reduction to ahead standard.
  
• January 11, 0507: USS Plunger reaches patrol area. LtCdr Sloniker makes routine report, then orders the boat to a point 30 nm off the coast of Tarakan Island. He believes that any object of interest in the patrol area must pass through this port.
  
• 1428: Task force sighted! Lieutenant Commander Fred Sloniker reports its position to COMSUBPAC, receiving the following reply:
  
  GOOD FIND X WILL DIRECT FURTHER ASSETS TO INTERCEPT X BREAK CONTACT AND RTB AT YOUR DISCRETION X
  
  Disappointed at being ordered not to attack, LtCdr Sloniker nevertheless orders USS Plunger to dive to 150 feet and sets course away from the task force.
  
• 1657: No sound contacts detected. USS Plunger moves to periscope depth, but rough seas prevent survey of area. LtCdr Sloniker orders sub surfaced; no contacts sighted. Hoping to find a target for his as-yet-unused torpedos, LtCdr Sloniker orders USS Plunger to resume patrol of area.
  
  Although the radio message said to return to base at my discretion, the patrol is still marked incomplete. I decided it'd be best to finish the 72 hours before heading back. Anyway, I want to at least shoot at something!
  
• January 12, 2012: Officer on deck spots Hatsuharu-Shigure destroyer, possibly part of larger task group. LtCdr Sloniker reports its position to COMSUBPAC, receiving the following reply:
  
  Roger your contact report. If fuel and weapons permit, maneuver into position and engage IJN units.
  
  LtCdr Sloniker orders dive to periscope depth and course set to intercept destroyer.

What happens next? Find out Tuesday, March 10, at 5 PM PDT on Hitbox!