Nothing like playing on full realism.....

[Bubblehead1980]

TMO 1.7 100 realism Started a New Construction career in 1942, assigned the Gato Class USS Drum(favorite Gato sub actually, since i have visited her in Mobile Bay many times.

On third war patrol, off Tokyo Bay, on submerged periscope patrol to avoid heavy planes and nearby coastline, spot a DD heading south, go to GQ, set up approach.Seas are flat and glassy, so i know i prob wont be able to get close enough for a good shot but some plotting showed i could get to 1800 yards at firing point if he stayed on straight course, so with some luck i figured.

As I am closing the distance, a low flying patrol plane came into view when i raised scope next, the DD then suddenly presented a 0 degree AOB and was kicking up quite a bow wake heading for me, plane had alerted him.I soon went to 100 feet to avoid the plane, which dropped bombs or charges(external view disabled) I then went back to periscope depth and turned into the DD.

I soon ID'd the dd as a Yugumo Class Destroyer.At 2000 yards he began pinging and weaving, making a Down The Throat shot more difficult but I continued to close in on him.At 650 yards, I fired the first Mark 14, then three more, the last one being at 500 yards as I dropped the scoped, ordered planes set for deep dive, went full right rudder and held on.Just as I passed 70 feet....HUGE, loud explosion which shook my sub furiously, could hear glass shattering, lights flickered, as my boat plunged for the deep.Pretty soon I could hear breaking up noises and more explosions.I figured I must have hit the sub(couldve check the log but I try not to do that, little unrealistic) so after speeding away to make sure the DD wasnt going to sink and come down on top of me, I go back to periscope depth.

A sweep around showed only a oil slick, some floatsam, smoke and two lifeboats about 600 yards behind me.I check the log, credit for one Yugumo class Destroyer sent to the bottom.

I had 6 percent hull damage, nothing too serious.Went to 250 feet and headed away from area in case ASW units were sent in.Just as about to secure from GQ, sound had merchants closing fast.

Back at periscope depth, could see smoke from two large merchants, no escorts visible or on sound.Began tracking.....making 17 knots in a single column.Closed in to find two Horai Maru troopships heading into Tokyo Bay.Closed at flank speed, set up to fired three fish at each ship.

Raised scope when lead transport was at 358, bearing 0 mark, fired three , then switched and fired three at the trailing ship.Down scope, began turn in case stern tubes needed.Soon heard explosions 10 seconds earlier than torpedo run shouldve been completed.Up scope, can see the plume of water still present, mustve been premature explosions...GD magnetic exploders.Soon heard more explosions, five prematures total.Number six prematured just before impact, maybe 10 yards at most, blah.Soon a low flying floatplane was in view, I went deep, bombs and charges exploded close but no damage.

At 160 feet, more bombs, mustve spotted me even this deep, went deeper, more bombs and charges, finally went to 300 feet as shuips entered shallows of Tokyo Bay at high speed, I headed south at 3 knots and 300 feet.Secured from GQ

Pretty soon had reports of warships closing, went to silent running and 1 knot.

The hunters searched, passed over me five times but never picked me up, soon left.

I surfaced at midnight after 18 hours submerged, headed away for battery charge and to clear area for a couple days so it could cool down.

Just can't beat TMO on full realism....