TMO 2.5 w custom mods.
100 realism. cams off contacts off.
USS Ling (Balao) SS- 297
6th war patrol
Area 9 Tsushima Straits-Quelpart ISland-Northern East China Sea.
Departed Pearl Harbor on 28 November 1944. Stopped at Guam to refuel. Crossed through the Nansei Shoto between Okinoerabujima and Yoron Islands on 11 December. Around 0300 while transiting the strait between, spotted a fishing boat. Went to GQ and manned the deck guns. As closed in the boat opened fire with machine guns/ auto cannons, with several shots hitting a few yards away. Opened fire and quickly sunk the vessek. An hour later, encountered two more, which also opened fire as we closed, sunk both by gunfire without damage or injury. Arrived in Area 9 just after midnight on 12 December.
As the sun rose about 35 NM E of Quelpart island, dove to avoid an aircraft. After coming to scope depth, spotted another fishing boat. Inspection from 1000 yards revealed an armed boat machine gun/auto cannons. Allowed boat to move out to 6000 yards, went to GQ surfaced for battle surface gun action. Closed and using 5 inch, 40 MM and 20 MM, sunk the vessel without damage to Ling or injury to crew in spite of a hail of automatic gunfire splashing around.
Patrolled south of Quelapart in the lanes approaching Sasebo/Nagasaki and the straits with no luck, just a few planes. That night sifted to patrolling the south ends of Tshushima Straits, On 13 December, before dawn, SJ made contact. A 9 ship 4 escort convoy emerged from the strait between Quelpart Island and Korea. Convoy turned on a NNE course heading for the Tsushima Strait. Pulled ahead and dove just as the son was coming up with about 330 ft of water below the keel.
Approach was standard and luck was on Ling's side the starboard flank escort moved out of position for a sweep, leaving perfect opening for Ling to move into position at the mid sized MADRAS MARU and BIYO MARU. Fired three Mark 14's at each from 1500 yards away. All six hit mortally wounding both freighters.
Just after impact, dropped scope and ordered 350 ft, silent running, rig for depth charged while making a sharp turn to port to head away from convoy and toward deeper waters. Dropped two decoys roughly 1000 yards apart.
Soon I had three escorts in area. A barrage of depth charges exploded several hundred yards behind us, they were on the decoys. However, an escort located Ling and dropped several patterns, causing minor damage to stern tubes, trim pump, sonar gear, and bow tubes. Dropped more decoys and made a 2 minute run at full speed before cutting engines , while speed bled off, in conjunction with a continued turn to port, giving Ling a roughly SSE heading.
Several minutes later it appeared had lost escorts as were working over the decoys, a close and violent explosion went off near the conning tower, causing minor flooding. Suspect this was from an aircraft who spotted us in clear waters or detected via MAD(TMO has MAD, well simulates it). Soon two escorts were closing in but never picked up Ling's trail again as we limped away. Attempted to surface but air cover kept us submerged rest of the day as convoy entered the straits and into the Sea of Japan.
Surfaced after dark completed repairs and moved south as air contacts and surface patrols were near by.
Moved to a position 10 NM W of Quelpart Island in the East China Sea. After diving for a patrol plane at 1101, routine sound check detected props in the distance roughly SSE Ling. Headed in that direction at full speed after surfacing. Around noon made SJ contact on a convoy heading SW. PPI scope soon displayed an 11 ship convoy with 5 escorts. Decided to approach for submerged attack with Mark 18's in stern tubes, worked way inside the screen and was setup to attack when convoy zigged, which put an escort on a course to run right over us. Went "deep" to 250 ft (the bottom) but was detected. Dropped decoys and began standard evasion as in previous attack. Two escorts seemed to have a fix on Ling and several large patterns exploded near us. Forward and stern batteries were damaged, cutting capacity available from 77 percent to fifty 41 percent, damaging pumps, compression and other equipment. Endured several more close patterns before the disturbances, decoys and radical evasions seemed to allow us to lose these two. However, a sleeper (assumed) located us and stormed in with a close large pattern. After torpedo room took on some water, stern tubes and left prop shaft damaged. Dropped more decoys and turned into the escort (based on sound bearings" went ahead flank as charges dropped then made a hard turn , eventually losing the escorts, limping away. Surfaced that afternoon with most damage repaired and reestablished contact, would wait for dark to make a night surface attack. While conducting the end around, forced to dive twice for patrol planes escorting the convoy.
At 2300 went to GQ and closed from port side of the convoy heading for the China coast just south of Shanghai., for one more attempt before convoy was far out of our assigned area.
At 0032, fired six Mark 14's from bow tubes at two large freighters in middle of convoy from 3100 yards. Five of six torpedoes hit intended target, hit one lead freighter caused one apparently carrying volatile cargo (assume ammo?), other was one fire, wounded. Last torpedo that missed the target hit one in the far column, setting it afire.
While turning away after impact spotlight of flank escort, an old Wakatake Class DD shined on Ling and began firing, missing as we sped away. The sub chaser leading convoy turned toward as we sped away at high speed. Seemed to be losing the escorts in the dark when BAM...a shot hit the tip of the bow (later inspection revealed a hole that blew clean through the superstructure (see attached screenshot) . This caused heavy hull damage and damage to the forward torpedo compartment, minor flooding. Soon another problem presented itself, while Ling could outrun the old Wakatake DD and the SC, it could not outrun what appeared to be a DD or DE closing in fast astern, later identified as a Chidori Class Torpedo Boat (DE). Setting up for a "down the throat shot" with Mark 18's in stern tube via aft TBT. The Chidori closed to 3000 yards and fired two Mark 18's, one of which made a circle run. The first apparently run deep and did not impact. Soon SD had a contact coming in and RWR was detecting...we had a night patrol plane coming in. Soon a large flying boat (EMILY) was closing in AA guns set her on fire and her depth charges/bombs missed, but one landed close, causing large splash just of to port. The plane continued trying to strafe ling and apparently tried a suicide dive attempt as in a final dive, it was hit by the 40 MM and crashed off the port side, very close.
The Chidori was now at 2000 yards, turned its spotlight on and opened fire, as did the two other escorts nearby .Used the aft 20 and 40 MM to shoot at the Chidoris spotlight and bridge area. A fire was started and light turned off but Chidori kept chasing firing its deck gun and auto cannons, other two escorts from further away continued firing their deck guns. Soon a hit just aft of the conning tower at waterline hit Ling, causing damage and casualties in the engine room. Followed by a near miss on part side amidships via the Chidori. Just after the near miss both Mark 18's fired moments before hit the Chidori in the bow, she slowed and lost way while turning as Ling limped away dodging shell splashes from the other escorts, unable to close the distance as Ling disappeared into the night.
Assessing damage...hull damage was considerable (70%, Also, I wish we could remove this counter, just know if you take a gun hit, prob need to head for home such as when Bergall did in real life). Luckily had plenty of fuel aboard for high speed transit back to Guam to refuel before proceeding to Pearl Harbor. One CPO and one PO 2 in engine room were seriously injured as was diesels as mac speed was now just 18.5 knots, not the 20.5-21 in an emergency. Multiple other pieces of equipment were damaged,
With such hull damage did not submerged, made multiple SD contacts with planes, but manned AA guns ready to battle if needed, but luckily the light haze in sky kept us hidden . On 18 December exited Nansei Shoto, evading a radar equipped patrol. Arrived at Pearl Harbor via Guam on 30 December.
Result was three merchants....MADRAS MARU (5243 tons) BIYO MARU (5352 tons) and KOBAYASHI MARU (9452 tons) plus the 1500 ton Chidori and damaged a large freighter (8000 tons?) and a smaller freighter (3000) tons.I was awarded a purple heart as were 6 members of the crew. The CPO's health never recovered above 10 percent, so was transferred off the boat.
Ready for next patrol.
(So this patrol along with tests shows need to raise the light factor back to 3.0 instead of 2.9. Most escorts in TMO are set to veteran skill level and apparently when set to vet the 2.9 light factor allows them to easily spot and shoot up a player. Next patrol will test it with 3.0 to see. I had reduced it since 3.0 seemed to blind some escorts, trying to find the balance).
