Carrier Take Down - Finally!! (large post)

[danurve]

Started this patrol thinking it would pan out much like the others. With the exception of since transferring the boat to the 7th. Flotilla getting into tracking and attacking more convoy activity. Having left St. Nazaire April 19th, `41 it wasn’t long motoring through the Bay of Biscay a search plane spotted me. Altered the plot but on the 20th. 3 PBY’s found the boats course. Managed to scratch 2 of them. Back to business and the plot towards AL96. Reports on two separate task forces start coming in. Other radio-messages* with information about the Bismarck and her success against the Hood are reported.
Checking the plot screen I notice I am somewhere in the middle of each task force, yet so far away from each of them. If I plot an intercept at full I might – just might be able to find one of them if they held course. Right, that usually works out real well against a task force traveling 15-25 knots! Typical, just my luck I thought. Not to worry in the mist of pulling hair about what to do I get a contact report of a large convoy headed WSW about a days travel away from the boats current position. Garrrr, as much as I wanted to twist it up against ANY task force once the Convoy report came in the boats task had been decided. That intercept in BE37 was quite successful btw, but depleted most of my forward fish.
I probably should be quite happy from that point, but this was difficult while receiving contact reports and radio traffic of naval activity. A few hours pass the boat was surfaced and returned to the original plot for AL96. Ship Spotted! Single Coastal BE23. Had time to set up for a stern shot and try one of these fancy electric fish. I’m a steamer fan you see. The log reports this taken in AL99, whatever.
Next set of contact reports now has the task force south of my position on a course North. The boat was about short from entering the patrol grid. I had earlier given up thinking to intercept because the original track had its position heading NE.
I caved, burning diesel at full on an intercept plot. I had to see this, with thoughts of warships in the crosshairs.
Ship Spotted! Destroyer, I overshot the plot just a tad but was able to correct to visual range. BE46.
Ship Spotted! Ark Royal Fleet Carrier, Ship Spotted! S.Hampton Cruiser, Jackpot – Yeah!! Almost crapped myself, couldn’t believe it. I’m about 4500m WNW of this task force even. Here’s the problem, I got 4 steamers left, two of them in the Stern. Its late afternoon so even if the escorts don’t hear them, you know they’ll get spotted.
What to do, may not get this close to another task force again much less capatol ships. .. Are you kidding me?
Periscope depth, set torpedo speed to high, running depth to 7.5on 1 & 7 on 4. Cranked her hard to port as soon as the last forward fish left the tube.
On an approximate WSW course I fired tube 5, running depth at 7. Stayed at periscope depth, had to see this in the crosshairs. If I bought it I bought it.

First hit

Second hit

Stern hit




That was completely awesome! Probably my best SHIII score yet. I brought the boat to 160m on a dive 3 degrees to starboard, not a crash dive – and got away! I think partly because only 1 DD stayed behind, the rest of the task force seemed to have a mission. Considering the events taking place, that would be my guess. Game saved, down to 50% fuel & 1 stern fish. I think, if I’m conservative to still make the patrol grid and try scratching one more merchant before returning to port.
Screen after the attack - blue friendly off to the left is the Prinz Eugn
To good hunting!!

[bigboywooly]

Nice kills
Nice pics too

Not often you get in a good enough position to sink those suckers
Now all you have to do is make it home in one piece

Kudos

[Baracuda]

Awesome luck mate, the best ive ever scratched is two renowns in one patrol. But to find a carrier! Happy Hunting

[fredbass]

It's moments like those which always brings me back for more.

Nice story.

[Dowly]

Hehe, I remember my first carrier... *scratches his head* ... well, not really, but I´m sure I was quite a happy guy then.. :hmm:

[Biggles]

Haven't got a carrier yet.....two battleships (three if you count the stock SH3 days), but that's all......

[Pevs86]

Cool, nice read

I was almost certain that ACs were only myth, but now I see proof... I must kill one...

Just curious, but do the ships slide off the deck?

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice danurve, real nice

[andy_311]

I got one last night an Illustrious class (didn't even know she was there) aimed for a cruiser and bagged myself a carrier AF84 1945 but alas her escorts bagged me.

[danurve]

Glad to see the read enjoyed, feels good to share the tale
Thanx for the comments fellow Kaleuns!

Few more screens taken of the attack.

Ark Royal Steaming at center. Does anyone know what the cable-wiring on her sides is about?

Just before she turned over.

Destined for the bloody deep.

[codmander]

Originally Posted by danurve

Started this patrol thinking it would pan out much like the others. With the exception of since transferring the boat to the 7th. Flotilla getting into tracking and attacking more convoy activity. Having left St. Nazaire April 19th, `41 it wasn’t long motoring through the Bay of Biscay a search plane spotted me. Altered the plot but on the 20th. 3 PBY’s found the boats course. Managed to scratch 2 of them. Back to business and the plot towards AL96. Reports on two separate task forces start coming in. Other radio-messages* with information about the Bismarck and her success against the Hood are reported.
Checking the plot screen I notice I am somewhere in the middle of each task force, yet so far away from each of them. If I plot an intercept at full I might – just might be able to find one of them if they held course. Right, that usually works out real well against a task force traveling 15-25 knots! Typical, just my luck I thought. Not to worry in the mist of pulling hair about what to do I get a contact report of a large convoy headed WSW about a days travel away from the boats current position. Garrrr, as much as I wanted to twist it up against ANY task force once the Convoy report came in the boats task had been decided. That intercept in BE37 was quite successful btw, but depleted most of my forward fish.
I probably should be quite happy from that point, but this was difficult while receiving contact reports and radio traffic of naval activity. A few hours pass the boat was surfaced and returned to the original plot for AL96. Ship Spotted! Single Coastal BE23. Had time to set up for a stern shot and try one of these fancy electric fish. I’m a steamer fan you see. The log reports this taken in AL99, whatever.
Next set of contact reports now has the task force south of my position on a course North. The boat was about short from entering the patrol grid. I had earlier given up thinking to intercept because the original track had its position heading NE.
I caved, burning diesel at full on an intercept plot. I had to see this, with thoughts of warships in the crosshairs.
Ship Spotted! Destroyer, I overshot the plot just a tad but was able to correct to visual range. BE46.
Ship Spotted! Ark Royal Fleet Carrier, Ship Spotted! S.Hampton Cruiser, Jackpot – Yeah!! Almost crapped myself, couldn’t believe it. I’m about 4500m WNW of this task force even. Here’s the problem, I got 4 steamers left, two of them in the Stern. Its late afternoon so even if the escorts don’t hear them, you know they’ll get spotted.
What to do, may not get this close to another task force again much less capatol ships. .. Are you kidding me?
Periscope depth, set torpedo speed to high, running depth to 7.5on 1 & 7 on 4. Cranked her hard to port as soon as the last forward fish left the tube.
On an approximate WSW course I fired tube 5, running depth at 7. Stayed at periscope depth, had to see this in the crosshairs. If I bought it I bought it.

First hit

Second hit

Stern hit




That was completely awesome! Probably my best SHIII score yet. I brought the boat to 160m on a dive 3 degrees to starboard, not a crash dive – and got away! I think partly because only 1 DD stayed behind, the rest of the task force seemed to have a mission. Considering the events taking place, that would be my guess. Game saved, down to 50% fuel & 1 stern fish. I think, if I’m conservative to still make the patrol grid and try scratching one more merchant before returning to port.
Screen after the attack - blue friendly off to the left is the Prinz Eugn
To good hunting!!

nice!!! now try it with MTDC and no external view CAPTAIN! i keep missing the buggers hard enough to get into a firing position than miss argggg

[jasonsagert]

Nice post ---AND I'm jealous. I'll get me one of those some day.

J

[HunterICX]

Nice kill, right there
My first carrier hid himself in a slow moving convoy in heavy fog and at night, had to shoot the bugger on Sound I missed 1 torp but hit it with 3 others

EDIT: pic

[danurve]

Had time to polish off this patrol, I thought anything that happens would probably be less then thrilling. I mean what do you do with the game after a score like that?

On course back to AL96 via BE, Ship Spotted! Prince of Wales Battleship!

screens taken at night we all know how the quality goes. Tried to lighten - sharpen them up a bit.

Battleship steaming
A little close
Got in one good punch
Where did that u-boat go

u49 Patrol Log

Keeping the Faith!

[High Voltage]

Good on ya Danurve!!!!
Out of curiosity, which mods are you using for the officer stations, the map screen, and the oversized instruments? Your screenies are great!