RSRD can be frusrating....but this is why don't give up.

[Bubblehead1980]

TMO RSRD USS Guardfish-Gato December 43/January 1944 100 realism. cams off, contacts on.

Transferred from Brisbane to Pearl after a successful first patrol in November-December 1943. Departed Pearl Harbor for patrol area south of Guam on December 21, 1943. Arrived in Area on January 1, 1944.Days went by as nothing but a patrol plane or two came into contact, then on January 11 at 1922, radar contact.We closed in on the contact, which was heading NNW roughly, it was also apparently moving fast, plot had them based on radar at 18 knots, soon they kept closing, they had increased speed to 20.5 knots, fortunately we were off their track and ahead.Decided to to track and then attack at dawn when could see what were shooting at, it was obviously something large and fast, and well escorted.Dawn began to break ,could make out, we have two large ships, possibly battleships about 8,000 yards astern.Ordered a dive 2,000 yards off their track just after their dawn zig to the NW. Attacked the second target (both now identified as Kongo Battleships escorted by Asashio Destroyers) Fired 6 torpedoes at the second Kongo for five hits, third hit set off a masssive explosion , must have hit the magazine. Ship soon took a heavy list as it burned from bow to stern.DD's closed in and hunted me for 5 hours, few close charges.A massive explosion occured about an hour after the attack and the Kongo was heard breaking up.Surfaced later to find a large debris field, we had sunk her.

We were now about 150 miles out of our area, so headed back at full speed.Around 0700, radar had more fast moving contact, we closed and found ourselves chasing.Soon far off in distance, could see the high mast of another battleship, much larger than Kongo(it was the Yamato) and best yet, we were slowly closing in an end around, as they were making 16 knots.Soon though one of the DD's made a run in our direction late in the evening and managed to spot us, soon the DD and Yamato were firing their guns, after they came extremely close, ordered a crash dive and set up for a down the throat shot but the DD turned around and sped away.Attempted to pursue but they increased speed and outran us Rest of the patrol was dry, returned home with one 32,000 ton BB sunk.

Had a crack at the Yamato and if had not ran into the Kongos would have been in perfect position, no end around needed but ah well, luck of the draw.

This was an example of why in RSRD some patrol orders seem pointless, send to dry areas but they send you there to have a chance at big targets.This area is dead of merchant traffic but since its not a seemingly "natural" point a lot of the big warships use it.Japanese did route capital ships outside of the usual lanes at times to avoid submarines.

[JoeCorrado]

Sounds like a rewarding patrol, and from a strictly historical perspective- a huge, huge success that would have had the ComSubPac himself waiting for you at the docks ready to pass out a bag full of medals and invite you and your officers to join him for dinner to discuss your success!

I can certainly understand the thrill of contact, the chase and the hoped for results... and a single kill that happens to be a battleship is likely to still represent the pinnacle of most any sub commanders career- and make you a hero on a national scale in real life... I get it.

But from a purely "entertainment value" perspective... well, you know me. Like a spoiled brat!

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by JoeCorrado

Sounds like a rewarding patrol, and from a strictly historical perspective- a huge, huge success that would have had the ComSubPac himself waiting for you at the docks ready to pass out a bag full of medals and invite you and your officers to join him for dinner to discuss your success!

I can certainly understand the thrill of contact, the chase and the hoped for results... and a single kill that happens to be a battleship is likely to still represent the pinnacle of most any sub commanders career- and make you a hero on a national scale in real life... I get it.

But from a purely "entertainment value" perspective... well, you know me. Like a spoiled brat!

Plenty of entertainment between the two chases.Just grinds my gears that I missed a shot at the Yamato. I had no idea either would be plowing through there within 24 hours of another.

Only thing disappointed me is the ineffectiveness of the the Destroyers.I know they were set to elite(I went back and made all capital warships and their escorts set to elite except for a few cases) so they would be tough to sink and escorts would be tough. The DD's attacked me after hitting the Kongo, were rather ineffective in ideal sonar conditions.When I have time am going to overhaul the destroyers in RSRD.Make sure they have best sensors and probably adjust their depth charges, notice some only have throwers and not charge racks, need both to lay out a good pattern.

[Admiral Halsey]

My favorite thing is when you are just about to go home empty handed when a nice juicy convoy or task force appears over the horizon. I've had that happen to me plenty and it brings a smile to my face every time.

[Rammstein0991]

Originally Posted by Admiral Halsey

My favorite thing is when you are just about to go home empty handed when a nice juicy convoy or task force appears over the horizon. I've had that happen to me plenty and it brings a smile to my face every time.

Thats why I often make at least one harbor stop, to make sure I dont go home empty handed

[Armistead]

I'm currently reading "The Battle of the Java Sea." It's amazing to see the plans of both sides regarding this campaign. The US/British/Dutch knew it was probably coming, had several meetings on what to do when it happened, but failed to address it. It was clear all assets should've been removed, that the naval battles were in vain and a waste of life and ships. The battles may have served some delaying purpose if there was a mass plan to reinforce Singy, Borneo, Timor, Java, etc.... There was no plan, no hope of success to do so.

[Admiral Halsey]

Originally Posted by Rammstein0991

Thats why I often make at least one harbor stop, to make sure I dont go home empty handed

I do that to but only if it not doing so would make it two dry patrols in a row.(Otherwise it feels like i'm cheating.)

[Dread Knot]

Originally Posted by Armistead

It was clear all assets should've been removed, that the naval battles were in vain and a waste of life and ships. The battles may have served some delaying purpose if there was a mass plan to reinforce Singy, Borneo, Timor, Java, etc.... There was no plan, no hope of success to do so.

I believe the only US ground reinforcement that made it to Java before the net closed was a Texas National Guard artillery unit. And it was originally earmarked to reinforce the Philippines.

I guess in retrospect the whole area was a write-off after Pearl Harbor and the sinking of 'Force Z', but politically some gesture had to be made.

[TorpX]

Originally Posted by Armistead

I'm currently reading "The Battle of the Java Sea." It's amazing to see the plans of both sides regarding this campaign. The US/British/Dutch knew it was probably coming, had several meetings on what to do when it happened, but failed to address it. It was clear all assets should've been removed, that the naval battles were in vain and a waste of life and ships. The battles may have served some delaying purpose if there was a mass plan to reinforce Singy, Borneo, Timor, Java, etc.... There was no plan, no hope of success to do so.

I haven't read anything devoted to the battle, but I did read Capt. Hara's account of it in JAPANESE DESTROYER CAPTAIN. It seemed like a sickening, useless slaughter. So many allied ships lost, at negligable cost to the IJN. He compared the Java Sea battle to the Layte Gulf battle, with the positions of the USN and IJN reversed.

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by TorpX

I haven't read anything devoted to the battle, but I did read Capt. Hara's account of it in JAPANESE DESTROYER CAPTAIN. It seemed like a sickening, useless slaughter. So many allied ships lost, at negligable cost to the IJN. He compared the Java Sea battle to the Layte Gulf battle, with the positions of the USN and IJN reversed.

What's amazing is all the meetings, plans to deal with the Jap invasion the preceding year and no real agreement. More interesting was defending Singapore, one Admiral thinking they could hold with all their big fortress guns facing the harbor, another warning the Japs would come through the jungles from behind. They thought that impossible, but the Japs cut through rather easily..

It is rather sad that it was known no real hope for the allied forces and they should've retreated. It's not like their action served any purpose at all, because no assets to deal with it. Still they fought and died bravely, knowing it was basically hopeless.

Touching story. To think what this man went through..

[Bilge_Rat]

I had read about the Java battle in S.E. Morisson's history of the U.S. Navy. Most of the forces were dutch as was the commander. There was some wishful thinking that they could defend Java against the japanese. The Dutch also did not want to simply abandon Indonesia which they viewed as Dutch territory.

The U.S. forces involved were a scratch force, basically what was left of the old Asiatic fleet.

As to the actual battle, the ships were a hodgepodge of Dutch, U.S. and CW with a Dutch commander. They had never trained together, had different tactics, language, communication codes. The battle plan of the Dutch admiral was basically "Follow me". During the battle, the U.S. ships did not understand most of the orders given and were just trying to survive. Yes, a real mess...

[Armistead]

In high school Red was voted "Most likely to get sunk."

[Red Devil]

Can someone give me a link to RSRDC for SH4 1.4. I thought I found it but it came down as 1.5, which I dont have/didnt want.

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by Red Devil

Can someone give me a link to RSRDC for SH4 1.4. I thought I found it but it came down as 1.5, which I dont have/didnt want.

Doubt it's around, nearly all the good mods are for 1.5.Why don't you want 1.5? it improved many bugs from 1.4 and runs with all the great mods.Definitely missing out not having 1.5

[Red Devil]

Bubble, I was told it was for U Boat and multi play only