Was I wrong

Jan 26, 1941. USS Pickerel, (porpoise class) So We are on our way to drop of a cloak and dagger type guys on the coast just west of Kishiwada (135deg 21min E, 34deg 26min N). Heading North through the shallow straights between Tokushima and Gobo We found ourselves comimg within spitting distance of a plump juicy convoy headed out to sea, loaded up to the gunnels with army supplys to create who knows what kind of headaches for our boys.

Now Comsubpac says our taxi mission is Top secret but the convoy was too tempting. We engaged and sank two modern composite freighters and medium old split freighter. (total of 19k + tonnes)

Was I wrong to risk the mission for such targets?

[AVGWarhawk]

Anything else is secondary to sinking targets.

What if the mission was of such importance to the war effort that it was of a higher priority? would the brass tell a skipper as much or would they keep quiet for the sake of security?

[Chock]

Yes, but only if you are playing it historically and totally realistically. Attacking the convoy revealed that there was a sub there, and that may compromise the agents you drop off, so in theory you should have not attacked it. But, if you take the view that your objective ultimately is to win the war, then I suppose attacking the convoy was fair enough. So on the other hand, if you regard yourself as the man best placed to make an intelligent choice at the time, in theory you should go for it if you deem it imortant. This is of course what happens in the movie Run Silent, Run Deep, where Clark Gable's character goes against orders based on intelligence he determines from his drills and deductions.

Not sure if the sim's AI is complex enough to make career/renown decisions on judgement calls like that though, so if you get away with it, then you were right! I think I'd have attacked them too by the way.

Chock

Chock,
you hit the preverbial nail on the head. My attack revealed my presence and thus would make it so much harder to complete my objective as well as make it so much harder for the agents to avoid detection once ashore. (assuming that the attack would put domestic security forces on a higher alert status as well).

As an update I am now 3000yds north of the attack site and the IJN destroyers have given up looking for us. It helped that the two large freighters sank in such shallow waters that they did not completely submerge, therefore the hulks were creaking groaning and making so much noise in the water that the DDs couldn't hear the Pickerel slinking away at 2knts with her belly brushing the kelp at 125ft.

[tomoose]

...., in reality, would be most specific. You would be told that your 'cargo' is of the utmost priority and you would, no doubt, be instructed to avoid any enemy contact at all costs in order to complete the aim of your mission etc. Conversely you would also be instructed on your course of action after you successfully complete your delivery which would, no doubt, involve attacking any and all enemy shipping etc.

The game orders leave things open to interpretation. Chock kinda sums things up nicely. Just to keep the debate going though:hmm: , I would not have attacked as I would see my primary mission of making sure I deliver the 'spies'. I would be assuming that their safe delivery is critical to the overall war effort (we don't always see the 'big picture'). Any attack prior to delivery would immediately alert the enemy to my presence and subsequently any counter-attack by the enemy is not only jeopardizing the boat but the overall aim of the mission.

Having said that, if my orders gave me any leeway to attack while en route to my objective and a big fat carrier crossed my path..........................

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by simonb1612

What if the mission was of such importance to the war effort that it was of a higher priority? would the brass tell a skipper as much or would they keep quiet for the sake of security?

You listen to the brass and keep quite/undetected.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by simonb1612

What if the mission was of such importance to the war effort that it was of a higher priority? would the brass tell a skipper as much or would they keep quiet for the sake of security?

Yes in real life you would have been issued strict orders to not deviate from your assigned task under any circumstanses.

But... this is a game so 'role play' it as you see fit.

Thanks for the advice about RL situations. Now I only hope that I can complete the drop off as ordered. Things are getting interesting... Currrent position 134deg 58min E, 34deg 16min N. just about to enter very shallow waters SE of Sumoto. Popped my head up for some fresh air as teh Co2 concentration was 21% an got a very rude introduction to a couple of shore batteries Oops. Nothing worse than a few nearby splashes and a lot of egg on face! It is 21.35hrs and the sun is just on the horizon....We are back at periscope depth. The shore batteries called for air support but fortunately they are dropping their ordinance at least 300yds behind me....

How exciting is game??? Great work UBI

[rrmelend]

Originally Posted by simonb1612

Jan 26, 1941. USS Pickerel, (porpoise class) So We are on our way to drop of a cloak and dagger type guys on the coast just west of Kishiwada (135deg 21min E, 34deg 26min N). Heading North through the shallow straights between Tokushima and Gobo We found ourselves comimg within spitting distance of a plump juicy convoy headed out to sea, loaded up to the gunnels with army supplys to create who knows what kind of headaches for our boys.

Now Comsubpac says our taxi mission is Top secret but the convoy was too tempting. We engaged and sank two modern composite freighters and medium old split freighter. (total of 19k + tonnes)

Was I wrong to risk the mission for such targets?

I'm guessing that you meant 1942, otherwise you just created a heck of an international incident.:rotfl:
I'm one of the few who voted yes. Your mission was to drop the guys off without revealing your position and compromising the mission. Your cargo probably made it to shore with out any incident but you never know.

[SilentOtto]

So now you are shooting it up with shore batteries which are going to call for air support which is going to search for you... tsk tsk tsk... those spies must hate you!!

we dropped of our guests early this morning, under a cloudy and moonless sky. Another convoy left from Osaka just as we were backing away from the drop off point so it was a hairy hour or so trying to get into water deep enough to submerge in. We managed to time things perfectly an still bagged a DD and the tail end charlies from the convoy . This was pretty costly however, port side prop shaft and one electric engine destroyed in a depth charge run. We made it out of there with a few of the crew battered but proud to have seen combat and served the USS Pickerel well.
Comsubpac sent us straight to the South china Seas without any time to pull into dock for repairs. The crew were pretty put out at that one but we spent an eventful time there, due to reduced hull integrity and poor manouvering on one prop we really could not engage anything with an escort. We did however engage and sink a couple of medium split freighters that came to close in the fog

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by simonb1612

Now Comsubpac says our taxi mission is Top secret...

I'm a little confused about your wording there. Is "Now..." just a reference, as in "Now let me make this clear...", or do you mean they told you after the fact? If the latter, then they should have told you sooner, but if the former, you should obey orders strictly to the letter.

Because of my confusion, I voted "Other option".

[LtCmdrRat]

Dont worry.
The Main Law In The Sea:
#1.Our Captain is always right
#2. If Captain is wrong see #1

Sailor Steve,

Sorry to confuse, it was just a figure of speech. There was no post mission communications from Comsubpac except to send me on my next mission.