China Coast.Namkwan Harbor..January 1945.Screenshots..

[Bubblehead1980]

TMO RSRD USS Finback-GATO Class . Transferred to SubPac after a year operating out of Fremantle. Departed Guam on January 3, 1945, dropped off Commandos in Celebes, then refueled at Ulithi.Headed to China Coast to hunt, south of Shanghai, ran into a convoy on January 20/21 which proved to be a tough target due to a radar equipped escort, forcing a long range shot from 6500 yards, enemy radar managed to locate me just as torpedoes were getting close, forcing me to run, all six torpedoes missed intended targets(big tanker and merchant) but one hit something.After pulling away from escorts, doubled back to unprotected side while escorts circled around dropping charges(assuming I submerged) Closed in on tanker constant helming while submerged, unseen escort started pinging, forcing me to fire(only 250 feet below me) I went to 200 feet, deploying a lot of decoys, escorts closed in dropping charges, determined not to get beat up and knowing with the dark night i had a chance, I surfaced and sped away, dodging gunfire from escorts as they pursued, after a few tense minutes, I slipped into the night.One torpedo hit something while I sped away.After losing the escorts, i noticed a lone pip stationary at scene of first attack, i doubled back, it was none other than a radar equipped PB, dead in water and sinking by the stern, the one torpedo that hit in first attack.Ah the justice, the SOB that ruined my attack, ended up catching a torpedo, closed to 5000 yards, fired with deck gun, first shell was direct hit, lit the PB on fire and she began sinking, closed in and used forward 40 MM to finish target off.Now at 0600 and with convoy out of my area, crew exhausted, headed for deeper waters.Submerged for the day to avoid swarms of enemy planes.

Decided to check out Namkwan Harbor on January 22/23 1945(as USS Barb did) I closed and as darkness fell, I sped in.Dodging multiple patrol craft, I entered the harbor to find a large convoy there(as USS Barb did, I gave it a 50/50 chance of appearing so not sure if itll be there or not, it was this time) closed in, fired all four forward fish, two at a tanker, two at a large unknown ship(turned out to be a troopship) brought stern around, fired two each at two more targets, then sped away, while speeding away, torpedoes began to hit.Tanker exploded in a huge fireball, the big ship was on fire as well.Then stern fish hit, both on fire and appeared to be listing.Soon two escorts were in the area hunting as we sped away.Soon more explosions were heard and had credit for two more ships...for a total of 3 confirmed sunk in the harbor, a 4th was listing badly and on fire but never got credit for it.Out of torpedoes, headed for Guam.

[grislyatoms]

Troopship. Drool.

Isn't that just the way? A little gnat suicidal PB keeps you from scoring a hit that may, with time, turn into a huge tonnage score.

Troopship running 20 knots with a torpedo to her wheels presents an *opportune* target.