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Old 04-03-22, 01:59 PM   #67
Sammy-rai
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1943 January 15, just off the SE coast of New Ireland -

Weather: overcast sky, calm waters, good visibility.
No contacts this day.

The captain and officers of the SnapperII were down in the dumps after the dressing down received via radio communications. Before they had left Brisbane, the scuttlebutt had been that the base's new sub commander, Admiral Fife, would be cleaning house and removing those skippers he deemed 'unfit'. Skeezix had not considered himself in any danger. But now he was being threatened with a court martial while in the middle of a patrol!

As if that were not enough, the SnapperII received new orders to begin patrolling the SE coast of New Ireland for 'small convoys'. "Well boys," mused Captain Skeezix, "looks like they decided to put me in the backyard. We'll all be hunting fleas from now on."

Making good use of their free time, the captain and his men spent a good portion of the day practicing attacks via radar and sonar inputs.
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1943 January 16, just off the SE coast of New Ireland, kl 2100 -

Weather: heavy rain, choppy waters, poor visibility.

Sonar reported three contacts traveling in single file formation. A preliminary speed measurement was taken in conjunction with the plotting of the convoy's path. Speed: 14.5 knots. Battle stations were sounded.

The SnapperII went to full speed and eventually lay submerged in a position 90 degrees to the convoy's path, at a distance of 1100 meters. (The attack team was now leery of being so close that they would not be able get a fix on a target before it steamed past them out of range.) As was their custom, they would try to launch a torpedo when it was 15 degrees off the bow. Bow torpedo tubes were duly opened. The captain then ordered all torpedoes set to 'high' speed with magnetic detonators 'on'.

The exec took up the attack periscope for a quick look-see. "Holy Jeezus, everything is black! Can't see where the ocean ends and the sky begins." He looked enquiringly at Captain Skeezix. "We stay put for the time being." was the captain's reply.

Two more speed measurements were taken as the convoy drew near: 14 knots was agreed upon as the new speed. At 25 degrees the exec took the periscope up to get a fix on the first vessel. "Still can't see a thing ! Too dark and the waves too choppy." The captain ordered the SnapperII forward at flank speed for 10 seconds, then slowed her down to 1/3 speed. Closer now, the exec took another look but still failed to make visual contact on a vessel. "For Christ's sake are you blind ?" - The skipper shoved his exec aside and took the periscope himself. "Give me a bearing on the last vessel!". Despite the sonarman's reports, Skeezix could not sight a vessel either.

"Zero the TDC - we'll fire straight ahead blind!". The TDC was duly zeroed and the first torpedo launched, but by now the last vessel was crossing the Snapper's bow, according to the sonarman. Frustrated, the captain laid his forehead against the perisope column.

Results: 1 torpedo fired, no hits.

Comments: The Captain ordered radio silence for the next 24 hours and has now retired to his cabin.
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