[Bubblehead1980]

TMO Update V2.0
100 difficulty.
Cams/contacts off.

USS BARB SS-220 in Luzon Straits operating in "Wolfpack" with USS TUNNY SS-282 and USS QUEENFISH SS-393 (AI torpedo firing subs)



August 30, 1944
__________

1321 Received ULTRA and action addressed to BARB QUEENFISH TUNNY.
Convoy reported en route Takao to Manila. Expected transit
area 0000 31 August Conduct coordinated attack.


1330 COMTG 17.5 set intercept point at 20-55N 119-43E.
QUEENFISH TUNNY acknowledged order for coordinated attack.
BARB on course 139 18 kts.

1900 Contact with QUEENFISH (Radar signals)
at designated attack coordinates.

1930 Submerged until dark to avoid possible detection by aircraft, patrols in
advance of convoy.


2245 Periscope depth. Aircraft spotted! Bearing 007 5000 yards (Aircraft
Contact No.4) Ordered 150 ft.

2247 Spotted TUNNY on surface bearing 244 6.5 NM.

2250 Aircraft heading right for TUNNY. TUNNY detected AR submerged. Do
not believe TUNNY was spotted as aircraft cruised on.
(AI sub reached last waypoint to simulate a dive as it arrived at ambush site, GREAT timing lol)

2309 Sound has many prop noises ahead bearing 005, distant.

2330 Radar depth. SJ contacts bearing 004 28355 yds (Ship Contact No.3)

2350 Chose to make night submerged attack due to near full moon providing
too great of visibility for surface attack. GENERAL QUARTERS-TORPEDO-SUBMERGED.

2356 Spotted smoke and outline of enemy ships (Convoy) bearing 017 8 miles estimated.




August 31, 1944
___________

TORPEDO ATTACK NO.1

0022 Contact report sent.
Convoy sighted.
Position 21-04 N 119-43E.
Convoy course 160 Speed 11 kts

0025 Tubes 1,2,3,4,5,6, made ready to fired.
Torpedoes set to low power. Heavy escort screen and last minute course
change by convoy required firing from longer range.

0030 Selected one large AO in middle column, one mid sized AO in starboard
column as targets.

0033 Fired tubes 1,2,3 at Target No.1 (AO 10000 tons) Range:6750 yards.
Torpedo Depth: 5ft.

Fired tubes 4,5,6 at Target No.2 (AO 6000 tons) Range: 5540 yds
Torpedo Depth:5 ft


0039 Search lights on, star shells. Torpedo wakes spotted.
Damn phosphorescence!


0040 Torpedo impact on far side of convoy with a mid sized AK.
Unsure of identity as only saw vessel briefly due to flash
of explosion illuminating vessel.

0041 Escorts heading in BARB's direction, fast.
Ordered 350 ft, rigged for silent running and depth charge.

0044 Thermal layer at 216 feet
21-4N 119-44E

0046 Pinging.

0047 Enemy above. Splashes.

0048 DC explosions. Tooth shakers.

0050 Another enemy above. Splashes.

0051 BARB at 375 ft. Boat shaken.

0053 Enemy above. Large pattern of splashes.

0054 Large pattern exploded above. BARB at 395 ft. Pushed to 411 feet by
explosions above.

0101 Many DC explosions astern, not close.
Believe enemy lost contact with BARB.
BARB at 390 ft.

0103 Many DC explosions astern.

0105 More DC explosions astern. Estimated range 3000-4000 yards.

0117 More DC explosions astern.

0210 Convoy moved on SSW course. Depth charge explosions and gunfire
audible on sound bearing 293, long
range. Believe QUEENFISH and/or TUNNY attacked convoy.


0215 Periscope depth.

0220 SJ contact bearing 178 8500 yards.

0223 Surfaced. Began to close contact, as could be damaged AK torpedoed.

0225 Contact is DE type vessel. APR-1 detected radar emissions from contact bearing. Turned away on pursuit course of convoy. DE increased speed and closed location of BARB's surfacing. BARB slipped away into night.

0226 Ahead at bearing 330-340 observed star shells, cna see large splashes in water at 9000 yards/ Fire and smoke visible as well, likely from damaged/sinking vessels torpedoed by QUEENFISH/TUNNY.
BARB conducted end around and reloaded forward tubes.


0328 Tubes reloaded. Closed convoy for attack.


0331 Submerged for attack 3500 off track of convoy.
Went to 150 ft for high speed run to close large AO.

0332 Sound has many depth charge explosions, distant bearing 305. TUNNY
or QUEENFISH, or both have escorts rather worked up.


0342 Periscope depth. Large AO veered off out of range.
Sighted medium sized AO identified as DAISHIN MARU 5150 tons

0342 Many DC explosions audible.

0344 Closing target at high speed.

TORPEDO ATTACK NO.2

0346: Fired tubes 1,2,3,4 at AO DAISHIN MARU 5000 tons. Range 1700 yards. Torpedo Depth. 8 ft

0346:45 After release of torpedo No 4, noticed target slowed, and began a turn to port, which would likely cause torpedoes to miss. Adjusted TDC speed and AOB to compensate, fired Tube No.5 at 0346:55.

0347 Torpedo No. 5 impact! Tanker went up in massive explosion.
Tanker began to sink. Torpedoes 1,2,3,4 missed.

Observed large AK closing fast, firing at BARB's periscope, coming in to
ram. Ordered 100 feet emergency in case has depth charges (coming
soon merchants will have depth charges to defend themselves in
situations like this.)

TORPEDO ATTACK NO. 3

0402 Periscope depth. Fast set up on AK. Fired stern tubes 7,8,9 range 500
yards. Torpedo Depth 8 ft.

0403 Torpedo impact (all three)! massive explosion and secondary explosions
for nearly a minute. Vessel split in two! Must have been a ammo ship.
AK JOGU MARU 6669 tons sunk at 20-50N 119-41E

0404 AO DAISHIN MARU sunk! 20-50N 119-41E

0405 Large AO spotted ! Ahead flank. One torpedo forward, one aft.
AO will pass astern of BARB. AO fired at BARB's scope.

0406 Sound reports warship closing high speed estimated range 4000 yards.

TORPEDO ATTACK NO.4

0408 Fired tube 10 at AO NAMPO MARU. Range 650 yards.
Torpedo depth 8 ft.

0409 Torpedo impact! Massive explosion and fireball! Tanker slowed, on fire
bow to stern.
Ten seconds later a massive secondary explosion broke tankers back, split
in two.NAMPO MARU 10000 tons sunk at 20-50N 119-41E.

Pinging heard just after last explosion. Escort spotted 275 closing fast.
Ordered 350 ft, rigged for silent running and depth charge.

0411 As BARB passed 275 feet, heard torpedoes impact at bearing 330
estimated range 4000 yards. Submerged submarine detected same
bearing. Appears QUEENFISH or TUNNY's torpedoes found their mark,
again!


0414 BARB at 350 ft. Escort passed above, did not drop depth charges.
Rushed on and dropped on bearing of submerged submarine. TUNNY or
QUEENFISH were in for it.

0421 Pinging

0423 Pinging.
Escort above. Again no splashes, escort moved on to
attack other submarine. Many depth charge splashes heard on its
bearing.


0435 Depth charge explosions and gunfire, distant.

0500 Last depth charge explosions. Sounds of convoy grew distant.

0517 Secured General Quarters to give crew a rest. Maintained Silent Running.


0548 Sound has submerged submarine estimated 6000 yards on bearing 105. Likely QUEENFISH or TUNNY.


0647 One escort remains in area hunting, covering the convoys rear, keeping
BARB and no doubt our pack maters from surfacing for end around
for another attack before convoy departs our area.
BARB has nine torpedoes remaining. One MK 14-3A, and four MK 23-2
torpedoes forward, four MK 18-2 torpedoes aft.