Encounter north of Rabaul, the final chapter

[nfitzsimmons]

10:18
First target has sunk. Second target speed is still 11 kts. Range to target now 450 yds and closing.

10:19
Target two turning to port. AOB is now 70 degrees port. Range 300 yds. Have ordered emergency dive.

10:20
Target two passed directly overhead. Possible a deliberate attempt to ram us? Our depth now 110 ft; he didn’t clear us by very much. Tracking both targets on sonar.

10:25
Returned to periscope depth.

10:28
Target two is burning but no change to speed. Course is now 065.

10:30
Surfaced the boat; following target two at 11 kts. Seas down considerably. Ordered Action Stations Surface.

10:35
Opened fire on target two with deck gun. Range 900 yds.

10:45
Multiple hits with AP shells. No change in target speed. Fires appear to be out.

10:50
Target two has changed course to 165. Radar shows target three on a course of 225, range approximately 30,000 yds, bearing 140.

10:55
Seas still dropping, still heavy rain and poor visibility. Tubes 1 and 2 reloaded. Will attack target two on the surface.

11:00
Target two AOB 40 degrees starboard, range 800 yds. Fired tubes 1 and 2, torpedo depth 8 ft, spread angle 2 degrees left.

11:00
Two hits on target two amidships.

11:10
Target two speed has dropped to 7 kts, course now 180. Shows no signs of sinking. Must be carrying a load of cork.

11:12
Opened fire with deck gun again. Fired 10 rounds of HE, 8 hits, no visible results.

11:15
Fired 10 rounds AP 6 hits, target speed is now 4 kts.

11:25
Explosions on target two. Down by the stern.

11:40
Major fires forward and aft on target two. Target is now dead in the water.

11:45
Target three course now 180, range 42,000 yds. Plotting intercept. Ordered turns for 16 kts.

12:00
Target range now 33,000. Course unchanged. Tubes 2-5 reloaded.

12:10
Target range now 25,000. Course unchanged. Tube 6 reloaded.

12:20
Seas almost calm. Still raining, visibility approximately 1,000 yds. Target range now 17,000. Course unchanged. Tube 1 reloaded.

12:30
Range to target course intercept 2,500 yds. Range to target 13,000 yds. No change in target course or speed.

12:40
Reduced speed to 3 kts. Range to target course intercept 1,800 yds. Range to target 10,000 yds. No change in target course or speed.

12:50
At periscope depth. Maintaining speed of 3 kts. Range to target course intercept 900 yds. Range to target 8,000 yds. No change in target course or speed.

13:00
Ordered speed of 1 kt. Range to target course intercept 1,200 yds. Tracking target on sonar. Estimated range to target 4,000 yds. No change in target course or speed.

13:10
Range to target course intercept 800 yds. Range to target 2,000 yds. No change in target course or speed. Ordered all stop.

13:15
Range to target 1,000 yds. No change in target course or speed. Target visible. Small modern composite freighter. Target speed 9 kts.

13:17
AOB is 110 degrees port. Fired tubes 1 and 2. Torpedo depth 8 ft, spread 1 degree right.

13:18
Two hits, one amidships, one aft.

13:25
No change in target course; speed now 4 kts.

13:30
Ordered course 180, speed 6 kts. Following target. Target course and speed unchanged.

14:00
Target course and speed unchanged.

14:10
Surfaced the boat. Target bearing 090, range 500 yds. Called for Action Stations surface. This target appears to be carrying armor, at least 3 tanks are chained down on the forward well deck.

14:30
Hat hit target with 14 AP shells at a range of 500 yds. Target course and speed unchanged.

14:40
Turning to port; will engage with stern tubes to help equalize torpedo inventory.

15:00
AOB 100 degrees starboard. Range 700 yds. Fired tube 7. Torpedo depth set to 10 ft.

15:01
Hit starboard amidships. Target course and speed unchanged.

15:20
Engaged again with deck gun. Nine hits with HE from 1500 yds. Continuing to match speed and course with target.

16:00
Target slowing, speed now three kts. Continuing to match speed and course with target.

16:30
Target has stopped.

16:45
Major explosion onboard target. Target has broken in two. Heavy fires.

17:00
Resuming course to assigned patrol area.


Note: I played this in real time last Saturday. Spent the entire day at it.