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Bubblehead1980 · 04-26-21, 04:22 PM

TMO 2.5 w custom mods.
USS Tambor SS-198
Eighth Patrol
5 June-22 July 1943
Area D3- Southern Gulf of Siam (Thailand) and portion of South China Sea.
100 realism with contacts on and for a change of pace, external cam on.

Departed Fremantle on 5 June, stopped for fuel at Exmouth Gulf on morning of 8 June and proceeded NNW at 15 knots to transit Lombok Strait.

On the evening of 10 June Tambor "Ran the gauntlet" of Lombok Strait on surface at night. There was little moonlight with flat, calm seas. SJ radar contacted what was likely a patrol vessel at southern entrance, steered course around and increased speed to 18 knots, evaded. In middle of strait a small PC type was sighted (SJ did not make contact), Tambor presented her stern and turned away, outrunning the PC.

At the north end of strait around 0130 made SJ contact with what was presumed to be another PC. While taking evasive action and increasing speed again to 18 knots, the PC was visually spotted heading in our direction. Increased to flank speed and presented stern, heading NE, careful to not close the coast of Lombok Island due to reported shore batteries and minefields. The PC turned south, not spotting Tambor. It is assumed that PC types do not have radar. Cleared Lombok Strait at 0200 and headed NW to transit Java Sea and Karimata Strait to patrol area.

Over next few days avoided patrol aircraft and vessels, arriving in patrol area late on 15 June.

At 0400 on 20 June SJ made a lone contact 100 NM SSW of Cau Mau Peninsula (Indochina) in the Gulf of Siam. Went to GQ. Closed at flank speed to gain position for dawn periscope attack. As attempted to pull ahead, noticed by lack of quick advancement target must be making higher speed. As sky lightened observed the target was a warship, a destroyer or destroyer escort type. Dawn was breaking and continued pursuit would take into very shallow waters, so decided to dive and should be able to fire from within 2500 yards. Ordered a dive.

At 0600 the DD was identified as the Royal Thai Navy's Phra Ruang Destroyer. Continued to close at high speed. Upon next observation, target had changed course slightly opened distance. Target was moving at 16 knots.

At 0614 fired two Mark 14's from 5100 yards. One minute into torpedo run, torpedo 1 prematurely exploded. Just 200 yards from target, torpedo 2 prematurely exploded. The DD was alerted by the explosions and began search. Tambor changed course at high speed and at 150 feet heading away. The DD never located Tambor. Attempted to surface at 1000 but a large flying boat remained in area throughout day attempted to locate Tambor. Surfaced after dark and set course to South.

Over next few days encountered nothing but patrol planes. At 1600 on 26 June, SD radar failed to detect a flying boat. Once observed by aft lookout, Tambor dove to 125 feet. Three depth charges/bombs exploded close, causing minor damage and shaking the boat.

At 0100 on 29 June, received an ULTRA indicating an enemy light cruiser would depart Bangkok for Hong Kong at 0600 on 30 June and would transit our area around 1300 on 1 July. After diving for day to avoid numerous planes, set course for desired intercept point.

At 1845 on 29 June, SJ contact. Visually identified numerous smoke plumes in distance, a convoy had been located. After looking over situation, Tambor had time for an attack on the convoy, possibly a follow up and could still reach the desired ambush point for the light cruiser. Pulled ahead of convoy until dark fell, wen to GQ and turned into to convoy for a night surface attack.

Convoy was a four ship one escort convoy on a base NNE course into South China Sea. Zigging roughly every 25-30 minutes. Speed was 9 knots. Closed in on port side to target the two larger merchants. Closed to 2200 yards and fired three torpedoes each at ADA MARU SANYO MARU merchants. Four torpedoes prematurely detonated, which alerted the escorts but one torpedo hit each target. As Tambor turned and sped away, escort was racing in , star shells in the sky., a couple of splashes landed 300-500 yards near Tambor, either from the escort (Shimushu Class Type A Escort) or the burning merchants. Tambor escaped into the night. The escort began dropping depth charges, then came to a stop, listening, convinced Tambor had dived.

Slowed and observed, the two targets were burning and dead in water but not sinking. From 7000 yards, fired two stern torpedoes at each. Two premature explosions occurred, but one each hit their mark. The ADA MARU quickly went down. SANYO MARU lingered but eventually went under.

Gauging the situation, decided to break off attack and head for ambush point due to time limitations and not further expending torpedoes.

At 1426 on 1 July SJ made contact 78 NM SSW of Cau Mau Peninsula in Gulf of Siam. Went to GQ and raced toward contact. Soon visually identified two warships in distance, moving at high speed. While hoped to shadow into deeper waters, the targets were moving at 19 knots, Tambor would not able to outpace the targets, now identified tentatively as a CL and DD. Ordered a dive along the path to 100 feet (bottom was 125 feet) turned to could attack from port side and not have to turn for deeper waters after attack, closed at high speed, surmising their high speed would prevent escort from detecting Tambor's approach. After a few minutes, came to scope depth and slowed for observation. Target was a Nagara Class CL with a Chidori Class Torpedo Boat escorting. Dropped scope and went back to 100 feet for high speed run, should be able to fire from 1500-2000 yards.

Came back to scope depth after a few minutes, target track had slightly changed which would make , would have to fire from 2300 yards, but a spread of six should cover it. One issue, had been forced into shallow waters max depth was 115 feet, but would take the risk, this was an important enemy warship.

Finally, final observation, fired six Mark 14 torpedoes, set at shallow depth in a nice spread at target which was making 18 knots. Target spotted the torpedoes and attempted to evade but three struck home and detonated, with another hitting but was a dud, two others missed. The target burned before a large, delayed explosion occurred after 45 seconds with numerous secondary explosions presumed to be magazines detonating. Set course for deeper waters, went silent, and to 90 feet. The Nagara was heard exploding and breaking up.

Meanwhile, the Chidori was searching but did not seem to know where we were but with Tambor at just 100 feet and no where to hide, Chidori's sweeps eventually located Tambor as pinging began.

The vessels made five quick initial runs, dropping charges.Tambor's evasive tactics of keeping 5-10 degrees rudder on with burst of speed when covered by the roar of engines and DC explosions seemed to work. No damage was caused but boat was shaken. After a ten minute pause, Chidori closed in running nearly along the "spine" of Tambor and dropped a large pattern.

Tambor was badly shaken, with damage throughout the boat, but nothing too serious. Maintained 6 knots for a nice burst of speed and direction change. Endured several more charge, close but no damage. A few minutes later, a suddenly explosion from what is presumed to be an aircraft spotted shallow submerged Tambor as the escort was 1200 yards away at time, caused damaged to conning tower and control room. Soon the Chidori closed in for another run dropping a pattern, this pattern seriously damaged forward torpedo room, with flooding, all six tubes damaged heavily. Sent the DC party into action. The flooding was quickly stopped with some water needing to be pump, Several large distant explosions were heard, presumed to be aircraft attacking what thought was Tambor.

The Chidori seemed to have lost Tambor as 15 minutes went by without an attack but soon it came roaring in pinging. Dropped a pattern, which was close. This pattern caused heavy damage to trim pump. Maintaining depth became difficult, Tambor hit bottom at one point. For a time we sat on bottom while repairs conducted (hull damage taken from sitting on bottom, we still really need to solve this issue somehow). Several patterns were dropped, with minor damage. Finally but water pumped out, and the trim pump repaired, was able to move along. The Chidori was relentless, making numerous runs over course of next few hours, stopping to listen, search, then returning to drop, then losing contact.

At 2050 the Chidori regained contact, pinging and closing in, dropping a close pattern, and repeating twice more. At this point, practically every system on sub had some degree of damage. Battery power was down to 30 percent, the high speed run followed by the evasion and some forward battery damage burned power. Night was falling (ship rigged for red) and possibility of fighting it out was being contemplated.

Tambor was now in "deeper" water with bottom at 130 feet and was creeping along. Boat was damaged, with low battery power. All forward tubes were not operational, and had just two forward torpedoes left anyways. There were three stern fish left and all were operational. If forced, after night fall would surface with stern towards Chidori and head away at flank speed. Aft mounted deck gun and 20 mm manned. If spotted and Chidori closing, would utilize stern tubes for a "down the throat shot" and the aft deck gun if needed.

However, we still had time and enough juice left to wait it out before dark set in. Chidori continued it's routine of search, attack a few times, then go quiet. We soon realized had made it into an area where map indicated waters were deeper, we did not dare use the fathometer to check, so eased down to 150 feet. On next run in Chidori's charges were not as close and seemed to not have such a fix on Tambor. Decided to creep along, Chidori was still on trail but extra depth seemed to help. Sound went quiet, escort was listening.

By 0100, Tambor had been under attack for nine hours and was damaged. Eased up for a scope observation. As passed 100 feet, sound reported warship closing fast. Stopped ascent and went back to 150 feet, turned bow to Chidori to present low sonar profile. Chidori ran overhead and dropped charges, only one was close, others were way off. The close one damaged hydraulic pump, sonar stack, trimp pump, and the diesel engines.

The Chidori ran around pinging dropping charges but never established solid contact again. Finally around 0345, eased up to scope depth, nothing in sight. At radar depth, no contacts. Secured from Silent Running and surfaced, limping away after just over 12 hours submerged and under attack.

Crew repaired damage but forward tubes 1 and 2 were damaged beyond repair, others repaired. Also had hull damage from sitting on bottom (!). Evaluating things, boat was damaged but operation...had five torpedoes and 41 percent fuel left. Decided to continue patrol. At dawn dove for the day to rest, surfaced at night.

On 8 July SJ made a lone contact before dawn. Had located a lone freighter. Closed for dawn submerged attack. Fired three after torpedoes on the 9800 ton KOBAYASHI MARU, two hit, one appeared to suffer a gyro error and went way off firing bearing. The two hits cause massive secondary explosions, the masts and superstructures of the large ship collapsed, and was on fire from bow to stern. The hulk quickly went under. With three merchants and light cruiser sunk, two torpedoes left, damaged to boat, and fuel down to 30 percent, decided to terminate patrol and head for Fremantle.

The transit home was challenging as numerous air and surface patrols in Karimata Strait and Java Sea slowed advance. Also, nearly ran aground on night of 16 July on a small island unseen on map (unless zoomed in very close).

Finally on night of 19 July, "ran the gauntlet" of Lombok Strait, avoiding the patrols. Exited south end of strait around 0300 on 20 July. Checking fuel, had enough to reach Fremantle at Standard Speed, set course for home, forgoing the stop at Exmouth Gulf. Docked at Fremantle on 22 July 1943.

After over a year "down under" Tambor will be transferred to Pearl Harbor after next patrol.

Screenshots:

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04-26-21, 04:22 PM	#5040
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 6,922 Downloads: 550 Uploads: 42	USS Tambor 5 June-22 July 1943 TMO 2.5 w custom mods. USS Tambor SS-198 Eighth Patrol 5 June-22 July 1943 Area D3- Southern Gulf of Siam (Thailand) and portion of South China Sea. 100 realism with contacts on and for a change of pace, external cam on. Departed Fremantle on 5 June, stopped for fuel at Exmouth Gulf on morning of 8 June and proceeded NNW at 15 knots to transit Lombok Strait. On the evening of 10 June Tambor "Ran the gauntlet" of Lombok Strait on surface at night. There was little moonlight with flat, calm seas. SJ radar contacted what was likely a patrol vessel at southern entrance, steered course around and increased speed to 18 knots, evaded. In middle of strait a small PC type was sighted (SJ did not make contact), Tambor presented her stern and turned away, outrunning the PC. At the north end of strait around 0130 made SJ contact with what was presumed to be another PC. While taking evasive action and increasing speed again to 18 knots, the PC was visually spotted heading in our direction. Increased to flank speed and presented stern, heading NE, careful to not close the coast of Lombok Island due to reported shore batteries and minefields. The PC turned south, not spotting Tambor. It is assumed that PC types do not have radar. Cleared Lombok Strait at 0200 and headed NW to transit Java Sea and Karimata Strait to patrol area. Over next few days avoided patrol aircraft and vessels, arriving in patrol area late on 15 June. At 0400 on 20 June SJ made a lone contact 100 NM SSW of Cau Mau Peninsula (Indochina) in the Gulf of Siam. Went to GQ. Closed at flank speed to gain position for dawn periscope attack. As attempted to pull ahead, noticed by lack of quick advancement target must be making higher speed. As sky lightened observed the target was a warship, a destroyer or destroyer escort type. Dawn was breaking and continued pursuit would take into very shallow waters, so decided to dive and should be able to fire from within 2500 yards. Ordered a dive. At 0600 the DD was identified as the Royal Thai Navy's Phra Ruang Destroyer. Continued to close at high speed. Upon next observation, target had changed course slightly opened distance. Target was moving at 16 knots. At 0614 fired two Mark 14's from 5100 yards. One minute into torpedo run, torpedo 1 prematurely exploded. Just 200 yards from target, torpedo 2 prematurely exploded. The DD was alerted by the explosions and began search. Tambor changed course at high speed and at 150 feet heading away. The DD never located Tambor. Attempted to surface at 1000 but a large flying boat remained in area throughout day attempted to locate Tambor. Surfaced after dark and set course to South. Over next few days encountered nothing but patrol planes. At 1600 on 26 June, SD radar failed to detect a flying boat. Once observed by aft lookout, Tambor dove to 125 feet. Three depth charges/bombs exploded close, causing minor damage and shaking the boat. At 0100 on 29 June, received an ULTRA indicating an enemy light cruiser would depart Bangkok for Hong Kong at 0600 on 30 June and would transit our area around 1300 on 1 July. After diving for day to avoid numerous planes, set course for desired intercept point. At 1845 on 29 June, SJ contact. Visually identified numerous smoke plumes in distance, a convoy had been located. After looking over situation, Tambor had time for an attack on the convoy, possibly a follow up and could still reach the desired ambush point for the light cruiser. Pulled ahead of convoy until dark fell, wen to GQ and turned into to convoy for a night surface attack. Convoy was a four ship one escort convoy on a base NNE course into South China Sea. Zigging roughly every 25-30 minutes. Speed was 9 knots. Closed in on port side to target the two larger merchants. Closed to 2200 yards and fired three torpedoes each at ADA MARU SANYO MARU merchants. Four torpedoes prematurely detonated, which alerted the escorts but one torpedo hit each target. As Tambor turned and sped away, escort was racing in , star shells in the sky., a couple of splashes landed 300-500 yards near Tambor, either from the escort (Shimushu Class Type A Escort) or the burning merchants. Tambor escaped into the night. The escort began dropping depth charges, then came to a stop, listening, convinced Tambor had dived. Slowed and observed, the two targets were burning and dead in water but not sinking. From 7000 yards, fired two stern torpedoes at each. Two premature explosions occurred, but one each hit their mark. The ADA MARU quickly went down. SANYO MARU lingered but eventually went under. Gauging the situation, decided to break off attack and head for ambush point due to time limitations and not further expending torpedoes. At 1426 on 1 July SJ made contact 78 NM SSW of Cau Mau Peninsula in Gulf of Siam. Went to GQ and raced toward contact. Soon visually identified two warships in distance, moving at high speed. While hoped to shadow into deeper waters, the targets were moving at 19 knots, Tambor would not able to outpace the targets, now identified tentatively as a CL and DD. Ordered a dive along the path to 100 feet (bottom was 125 feet) turned to could attack from port side and not have to turn for deeper waters after attack, closed at high speed, surmising their high speed would prevent escort from detecting Tambor's approach. After a few minutes, came to scope depth and slowed for observation. Target was a Nagara Class CL with a Chidori Class Torpedo Boat escorting. Dropped scope and went back to 100 feet for high speed run, should be able to fire from 1500-2000 yards. Came back to scope depth after a few minutes, target track had slightly changed which would make , would have to fire from 2300 yards, but a spread of six should cover it. One issue, had been forced into shallow waters max depth was 115 feet, but would take the risk, this was an important enemy warship. Finally, final observation, fired six Mark 14 torpedoes, set at shallow depth in a nice spread at target which was making 18 knots. Target spotted the torpedoes and attempted to evade but three struck home and detonated, with another hitting but was a dud, two others missed. The target burned before a large, delayed explosion occurred after 45 seconds with numerous secondary explosions presumed to be magazines detonating. Set course for deeper waters, went silent, and to 90 feet. The Nagara was heard exploding and breaking up. Meanwhile, the Chidori was searching but did not seem to know where we were but with Tambor at just 100 feet and no where to hide, Chidori's sweeps eventually located Tambor as pinging began. The vessels made five quick initial runs, dropping charges.Tambor's evasive tactics of keeping 5-10 degrees rudder on with burst of speed when covered by the roar of engines and DC explosions seemed to work. No damage was caused but boat was shaken. After a ten minute pause, Chidori closed in running nearly along the "spine" of Tambor and dropped a large pattern. Tambor was badly shaken, with damage throughout the boat, but nothing too serious. Maintained 6 knots for a nice burst of speed and direction change. Endured several more charge, close but no damage. A few minutes later, a suddenly explosion from what is presumed to be an aircraft spotted shallow submerged Tambor as the escort was 1200 yards away at time, caused damaged to conning tower and control room. Soon the Chidori closed in for another run dropping a pattern, this pattern seriously damaged forward torpedo room, with flooding, all six tubes damaged heavily. Sent the DC party into action. The flooding was quickly stopped with some water needing to be pump, Several large distant explosions were heard, presumed to be aircraft attacking what thought was Tambor. The Chidori seemed to have lost Tambor as 15 minutes went by without an attack but soon it came roaring in pinging. Dropped a pattern, which was close. This pattern caused heavy damage to trim pump. Maintaining depth became difficult, Tambor hit bottom at one point. For a time we sat on bottom while repairs conducted (hull damage taken from sitting on bottom, we still really need to solve this issue somehow). Several patterns were dropped, with minor damage. Finally but water pumped out, and the trim pump repaired, was able to move along. The Chidori was relentless, making numerous runs over course of next few hours, stopping to listen, search, then returning to drop, then losing contact. At 2050 the Chidori regained contact, pinging and closing in, dropping a close pattern, and repeating twice more. At this point, practically every system on sub had some degree of damage. Battery power was down to 30 percent, the high speed run followed by the evasion and some forward battery damage burned power. Night was falling (ship rigged for red) and possibility of fighting it out was being contemplated. Tambor was now in "deeper" water with bottom at 130 feet and was creeping along. Boat was damaged, with low battery power. All forward tubes were not operational, and had just two forward torpedoes left anyways. There were three stern fish left and all were operational. If forced, after night fall would surface with stern towards Chidori and head away at flank speed. Aft mounted deck gun and 20 mm manned. If spotted and Chidori closing, would utilize stern tubes for a "down the throat shot" and the aft deck gun if needed. However, we still had time and enough juice left to wait it out before dark set in. Chidori continued it's routine of search, attack a few times, then go quiet. We soon realized had made it into an area where map indicated waters were deeper, we did not dare use the fathometer to check, so eased down to 150 feet. On next run in Chidori's charges were not as close and seemed to not have such a fix on Tambor. Decided to creep along, Chidori was still on trail but extra depth seemed to help. Sound went quiet, escort was listening. By 0100, Tambor had been under attack for nine hours and was damaged. Eased up for a scope observation. As passed 100 feet, sound reported warship closing fast. Stopped ascent and went back to 150 feet, turned bow to Chidori to present low sonar profile. Chidori ran overhead and dropped charges, only one was close, others were way off. The close one damaged hydraulic pump, sonar stack, trimp pump, and the diesel engines. The Chidori ran around pinging dropping charges but never established solid contact again. Finally around 0345, eased up to scope depth, nothing in sight. At radar depth, no contacts. Secured from Silent Running and surfaced, limping away after just over 12 hours submerged and under attack. Crew repaired damage but forward tubes 1 and 2 were damaged beyond repair, others repaired. Also had hull damage from sitting on bottom (!). Evaluating things, boat was damaged but operation...had five torpedoes and 41 percent fuel left. Decided to continue patrol. At dawn dove for the day to rest, surfaced at night. On 8 July SJ made a lone contact before dawn. Had located a lone freighter. Closed for dawn submerged attack. Fired three after torpedoes on the 9800 ton KOBAYASHI MARU, two hit, one appeared to suffer a gyro error and went way off firing bearing. The two hits cause massive secondary explosions, the masts and superstructures of the large ship collapsed, and was on fire from bow to stern. The hulk quickly went under. With three merchants and light cruiser sunk, two torpedoes left, damaged to boat, and fuel down to 30 percent, decided to terminate patrol and head for Fremantle. The transit home was challenging as numerous air and surface patrols in Karimata Strait and Java Sea slowed advance. Also, nearly ran aground on night of 16 July on a small island unseen on map (unless zoomed in very close). Finally on night of 19 July, "ran the gauntlet" of Lombok Strait, avoiding the patrols. Exited south end of strait around 0300 on 20 July. Checking fuel, had enough to reach Fremantle at Standard Speed, set course for home, forgoing the stop at Exmouth Gulf. Docked at Fremantle on 22 July 1943. After over a year "down under" Tambor will be transferred to Pearl Harbor after next patrol. Screenshots: image sharing sites Last edited by Bubblehead1980; 05-03-21 at 04:25 PM.