G2 wants me to recon whaaa.....

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

In my current campaign at the start of my lastest patrol and I guess the top brass seeing my abilty for the impossible( such as sinking a Kongo class BB in Kobe after reconing Osaka , or raiding Truk at least twice.), but now intel wants me to photograph an IJN carrier force that is in Rabaul and its mid 1943! I have a very bad feeling about this if it was '41 or '42 I wouldn't mind but going there now is almost like getting the death sentance as its now the main IJN base in that part of the PTO. It would seem like the brass want to be rid of me.

Nuts!

Just pretend your on the USS Enterprise, that particular Captain had a habit of turning certain death into a fight chance. Kobi Ashi Maro anyone?

[commandosolo2009]

So, you're in mid 1943? Me too. I guess my next patrol would be the one you're talking about. If Commander Submarine Force Pacific gives me this, I'd sure send him a fine bottle of Chardonnay, all the way from France.

I mean I cant find one goddamn carrier after 12 (yes twelve) tours, 2 boat changes, all the gadgets BuOrd gracefully supplies us with. I'd surely want to know the location of every carrier.


And back to your post, I think its a great opportunity, just needs a day of real life commitment, and taking it slow and steady.


I was almost into Tokyo before my laptop C'dTD and subsequent reloads seemed corrupt. Just might do it in a real life freeday.

[WernherVonTrapp]

I've raided the port at Rabaul at least a half-dozen times so, it can be done. Pointers: You may have to take out 1 or more patrol boats. Usually, an Auxiliary Gunboat but also may include a Small Subchaser or a converted minesweeper. Don't worry though, sinking them will not alert the fleet. Ignore Junks & Fishing Boats. Also, once you reach the shallows, stay at about 30' depth and no faster than 2/3 speed. Be especially watchful of shore batteries. I'm playing TMO and those shore gunners are like marksmen. If they don't get you on the first volley, they won't miss a second time. Keep your distance from both sides of the shorelines. Wait until just after dark to begin since it may take 4 to 6 hours to complete. I think you can pull it off.

[Jan Kyster]

Originally Posted by Kptlt. Hellmut Neuerburg

...now intel wants me to photograph an IJN carrier force that is in Rabaul and its mid 1943! I have a very bad feeling about this if it was '41 or '42 I wouldn't mind but going there now is almost like getting the death sentance as its now the main IJN base in that part of the PTO. It would seem like the brass want to be rid of me.

LOL! Now this is funny! We're there on December 4, 1943...

Here's a page from my "logbook" at closing time last night:


Went from Brisbane Command to Pearl for a major overhaul - new paintjob, new radars, engines "fixed" and what not...

First order out of Pearl: same as yours!

Weather was fine with medium fog and a light breeze, so we took the trip surfaced up the strait in the morning light. Plan is to go deep into the bay and wait for darkness. A destroyer is patrolling the entrance... must probably take him out first...


Perhaps I should wait until I hear your experience - if we are ever to hear from you again?

[I'm goin' down]

Originally Posted by Kptlt. Hellmut Neuerburg

In my current campaign at the start of my lastest patrol and I guess the top brass seeing my abilty for the impossible( such as sinking a Kongo class BB in Kobe after reconing Osaka , or raiding Truk at least twice.), but now intel wants me to photograph an IJN carrier force that is in Rabaul and its mid 1943! I have a very bad feeling about this if it was '41 or '42 I wouldn't mind but going there now is almost like getting the death sentance as its now the main IJN base in that part of the PTO. It would seem like the brass want to be rid of me.

I read the above post, went to the barnyard, and the chickens began to cluck. Then I heard viiolins playing.

[commandosolo2009]

Originally Posted by WernherVonTrapp

I've raided the port at Rabaul at least a half-dozen times so, it can be done. Pointers: You may have to take out 1 or more patrol boats. Usually, an Auxiliary Gunboat but also may include a Small Subchaser or a converted minesweeper. Don't worry though, sinking them will not alert the fleet. Ignore Junks & Fishing Boats. Also, once you reach the shallows, stay at about 30' depth and no faster than 2/3 speed. Be especially watchful of shore batteries. I'm playing TMO and those shore gunners are like marksmen. If they don't get you on the first volley, they won't miss a second time. Keep your distance from both sides of the shorelines. Wait until just after dark to begin since it may take 4 to 6 hours to complete. I think you can pull it off.

Skip to the last reply on this reply

Originally Posted by Kptlt. Hellmut Neuerburg

In my current campaign at the start of my lastest patrol and I guess the top brass seeing my abilty for the impossible( such as sinking a Kongo class BB in Kobe after reconing Osaka , or raiding Truk at least twice.), but now intel wants me to photograph an IJN carrier force that is in Rabaul and its mid 1943! I have a very bad feeling about this if it was '41 or '42 I wouldn't mind but going there now is almost like getting the death sentance as its now the main IJN base in that part of the PTO. It would seem like the brass want to be rid of me.

Skip to the last reply on this reply

Originally Posted by Slyguy3129

Nuts!

Just pretend your on the USS Enterprise, that particular Captain had a habit of turning certain death into a fight chance. Kobi Ashi Maro anyone?

Originally Posted by Jan Kyster

Went from Brisbane Command to Pearl for a major overhaul - new paintjob, new radars, engines "fixed" and what not...

First order out of Pearl: same as yours!

Weather was fine with medium fog and a light breeze, so we took the trip surfaced up the strait in the morning light. Plan is to go deep into the bay and wait for darkness. A destroyer is patrolling the entrance... must probably take him out first...


Perhaps I should wait until I hear your experience - if we are ever to hear from you again?

See this? Rabaul is a BIG NO to Lockwood. Tell him if he goes there first and makes it out alive, I'll go all bells and whistles.

With only Starboard engine working, a non recharging battery, and totaled periscopes, I forfeited the chase and backed slow into the abyss.. It was leaking and the crew sustained damage.

Hull took a direct blow from a Minekaze that we were not yet in their visual range (= elite crew). We got under for 8 hours, bottomed, fixing the main pump at 80 meters, and I ordered a gentle lift using ballast tank till we reached 400+ echolot ping, then ordered back full, and maintain 90.. Luckily he didnt go after us, since we had one of his depth charges upclose:

With special emphasis on periscopes and dive plane transmission, we were soo lucky we got out instead of sinking.

Queue Das Boot Gibraltar detection

"We are sinkeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnngggggg!!!!!"

Crew had some injuries, and as soon as we got back to Perth, each got a Purple Heart with letter of recommendation to office of recruitment.

Lesson: STAY AWAY FROM IT... Shallow waters = Death Guaranteed

Signed: Capt. CS2k9, Skipper USS Balao (SS-285)

Ouch looks like a rough day on the job. Notice the orders didn't say it would be easy. Seems to me they thought you were the best man for the job. Against all odds you managed to bring your ship and her crew back! Job well done there is no such thing as a no win scenario.

On a related note the first three careers I started with OM had me patrolling the middle of the English Channel with a Type IIB. Notice I said three. I died twice and am currently trying to limp home after completing my mission and sustaining heavy damage. Unfortunately there is a DDE hovering around me and I can't reach deep water withe the batteries I have left. Oh well it was a blast.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

Well I managed to get in and out without being detected and it turned out my campaign was much later than I thought it was(October 1943). I killed two DDs with one torpedo each. One Mutsuki DD that was hit under the foward turret and torpedo turret, and a Akizuki DD that was hit aft of the funnel. The big differance was that I used the MK18 instead of the MK14 so the DDs never know what was coming. After the photo recon was done I asked for new orders and am now patrolling within a 135nm raidus in the Bismark Sea and managed to raid a convoy and sunk a Troop Transport and medium merchant. Oh CommandoSolo2009 I got your boat!!

[WernherVonTrapp]

Proof that it can be done:

[commandosolo2009]

neat, but one thing, what was your speed and depth on entry? As far as I know, the submarine cannot go in past 18m or she will rub the belly against the seabed, and the shoreline is packed with coastal artillery. Please explain how.

[Armistead]

Been in there a few times myself, seems you have to stay around 50 ft or so, but submerged enough the shore guns won't shoot at you.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

I went in on silent running at around 57ft with all bow tubes open so I could shoot at any DD that came within 1,000 yrds. The DDs that I attacked I sank them at dawn. Went to 90ft during the day then up to 57ft at dusk snapped the photos with the O-scope. I will note that the carriers wheren't all the way in the harbour its self but at the crook in the coast where the pointer on the chart is.

And the two DDs that I attacked.

[Hylander_1314]

Had the same mission about the same time. Photo Recon carrier strength at Rebaul. 4 DDs patroling the entrance and harbor. Evreything was always fine until I would torpedo the Fubuki DD and the game would crash. Didn't matter what I did. I couldn't complete the mission, because if I didn't sink the DDs, they were on me like flies on you know what. If I sank them including the Fubuki, the game would lockup.

I finally ignored the mission, went and sank a bunch of ships in a TF and a convoy, and returned to base. Really sucked as I was getting the best of the DDs in the harbor, and at the entrance.

[magic452]

The last time I did that mission I got into the harbor without too much trouble, sank 1 DD on the way in and avoided another once inside.

Found the two CV's and promptly said "Fire one, Fire two, etc.
Two carriers down.

Forgot to take the stupid pictures.

Lockwood was not interested in pictures of two oil slicks.

Magic