Why love and hate this sim lol

[Bubblehead1980]

5th war patrol USS Plunger off Truk August 1942. TMO


Arrived in area patrolling little south of Truk n August 24 1942. Missed the Eastern Solomons Battle but figured would have a lot of fleet traffic in days and week or so after as ijn units returned to base.

Received SJ radar during last upkeep at Pearl Harbor. Around 0200 made contact. Closed and turned out to be three large ships with one escort heading towards Truk. Raced ahead, dove at 0300 for a classic moonlight periscope attack.

With targets about 4000 yards picked out the main target, the trailing freighter, looked to be the Heian Maru (11,000 tons). Plot showed on next observation they have adjusted course some, would need to close about 500 yards for the ideal torpedo run. Went ahead standard , next observation we were right on, just trying to get a good speed plot. Lowered scope . On next observation, it was now raining(!) Could not see the target or the other ships and was just 1600 yards away. I went to radar depth, decided to try shooting on radar bearings, had a good chance.

Suddenly, like a scene from Das Boot, the destroyer escorting the convoy was on sound at short range, moved scope to bearing, even on low power he was filling my scope. Ordered a dive to 200 feet. DD roared over, as we passed 100 feet 4 depth charges exploded close by, minor leaks and damaged to pumps.

Went deep and took a few charges before dd lost us, most likely du eto the stormy conditions as we came back to scope 2 hours later, seas were rouggh and storming. Surfaced and headed south to clear the area in case patrol was dispatched.

Caught a convoy with a light cruiser coming out of Truk on August 30, sunk it and a tanker. Took a beating dfrom escorts but survived.

Night of August 30 found what suspect was the convoy mean to resupply Guadalcanal (Battle of Eastern Solomons) as it had a screen three CA and one DD just ahead of it moving at same speed.Nighttime periscope attack, Fired four torpedoes at an unidentified heavy CA(possibly Aoba class). Solutions was correct but two prematurely exploded, one dud and one missed ahead due to evasive movements.Fired stern tubes at CA, both missed.

DD's seemed clueless ot my location as dropped charges several thousands yards away. Moved into the convoy, came to radar depth, closed on contact. spotted a large troopship. As closed in scope revealed a DD laying to, listening. Fired last torpedo at the Horai Maru. DD began moving. Ordered a dive to 250 feet, some reason the submarine broached and we came to 26 feet. The DD shined his spot light and fired with automatic weapons as well as main battery. Main battery missed but AA guns were scoring hits. One main battery round score a near miss by the forward torpedo room. The close explosion caused some minor damage, minor flooding. We were now heading for 250 but with damage.As passed 100 feet, torpedo impact reported. DD closed in dropped a few charges but seemed to lose me.

Few more DD's closed in had some close charges but nothing too close. Was weary of going too deep due to the minor hull damage. Surfaced at 0400, out of torpedoes and with damage, headed for Pearl Harbor.


Love the challenge of this sim but man it can be aggravating between weather changes, torpedo failures etc


Anyone ever have the the broaching issue before ? First time had that happen that I can recall. Would have been bad if main guns had hit me.