Tactical dilemma - attacking a port

Mount Suribachi · 12-22-09, 10:44 AM

Aug 1942, my 3rd patrol in S-47 out of Brisbane I was tasked to patrol the Solomons for the 3rd straight patrol

And just like the previous 2 I found no trade in my patrol area

The previous 2 times I ended up lurking outside Rabaul to get my 10k Tons, but this time decided to head to Guadalcanal. Arriving at the port there on the North side, my radar picks up 8+ boats docked there, plus a DD patrolling just north of the entrance. The harbour is wide open along a straight east-west coastline.

Its currently 0700 and I'm submerged approx 2 miles north of the harbour. There appears to be another Destroyer moored on the seaward side of the western pier, and a large merchant on the seaward side of the eastern pier. I think there's 1 or 2 subchasers also moored in the harbour, plus another 4-odd merchants. My dilemma is how to best go about this once it gets dark.

1) Sit and wait for the patrolling DD to go by on his patrol pattern and take him out, then head east and take out the merchant. Either slip away if the other DD or SCs coming looking or try and take them out leaving the merchants sitting ducks

2) Head west and take out the stationary DD, wait and ambush the patrolling DD if he comes to check out the commotion, then pick off the merchants

3) Head east, take the easy kill on the stationary merchant and slip away

4) Other

Please remember, I'm in a rickety old S-42 class. Only 4 bow tubes, no stern tubes!

Thx

12-22-09, 10:44 AM	#1
Mount Suribachi Swabbie Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, England Posts: 5 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Tactical dilemma - attacking a port Aug 1942, my 3rd patrol in S-47 out of Brisbane I was tasked to patrol the Solomons for the 3rd straight patrol And just like the previous 2 I found no trade in my patrol area The previous 2 times I ended up lurking outside Rabaul to get my 10k Tons, but this time decided to head to Guadalcanal. Arriving at the port there on the North side, my radar picks up 8+ boats docked there, plus a DD patrolling just north of the entrance. The harbour is wide open along a straight east-west coastline. Its currently 0700 and I'm submerged approx 2 miles north of the harbour. There appears to be another Destroyer moored on the seaward side of the western pier, and a large merchant on the seaward side of the eastern pier. I think there's 1 or 2 subchasers also moored in the harbour, plus another 4-odd merchants. My dilemma is how to best go about this once it gets dark. 1) Sit and wait for the patrolling DD to go by on his patrol pattern and take him out, then head east and take out the merchant. Either slip away if the other DD or SCs coming looking or try and take them out leaving the merchants sitting ducks 2) Head west and take out the stationary DD, wait and ambush the patrolling DD if he comes to check out the commotion, then pick off the merchants 3) Head east, take the easy kill on the stationary merchant and slip away 4) Other Please remember, I'm in a rickety old S-42 class. Only 4 bow tubes, no stern tubes! Thx __________________ "[Nelson] be damned, lets get the hell out of here" Admiral Felix Stump, commander Taffy 2, Battle of Leyte Gulf.