Stranded About 4-500 Nautical Miles from The Emperor

[Jack Cutter]

So...I've been doing pretty well. I've managed to catch some escorted convoys off guard. I've sunk about 15,607 tons of Japanese merchants and warships...however...

I got a bit greedy last convoy. I fired all my tubes (forward and aft) on a convoy and recieved around 4-5 hits. That's amazing. I've never had this much tonnage as a US captain. I'm speechless. However, like I said...greedy. As I was blasting away torps, a destroyer got a little bit close and depth charged me pretty good. I was around 200ft when I was hit. I thought for sure I was dead. No hull damage. I'm astounded. I was ready to be squashed into nothingness. I survived...or did I?

My aft torpedo tubes were all damaged. All four tubes. And so where my prop shafts. I escape the escorts while submerged at 300ft at about 2knots. When the 4 destroyers have finally given up, I surface at night and start my damage control team on repairs. They fix the props. They fix the tubes. The only thing left destroyed is my dive plane transmissions. No big. I'm just a shout away from Midway to end this nightmare...however...I CAN'T TURN!!!

Nothing is reported to be wrong with my rudder transmission. I take a look with external cams only to see that my rudder is GONE. ......

I'm so confused. The only reported damage is to the dive planes, not my steering systems. I cannot get my sub to turn. Rudder is full 40 degrees starboard or port at standard speed and nothing. I'm stuck in a straight line headed for Tokyo! I'm doomed...or am I?

Anyone might know what could be wrong?