Newby skipper's weirdest contact

[Leemon]

ok, so playing SH4 around 2-3 months, RSRDC was using since after first campaign, and TMO bit after few more campaigns - and till now Im in love on this game.
And this morning in-game event was most weird than I had till now, which made me to share with You with making first post here after 2 months of reading around forum...

So, its 1942 October, with USS Tuna Tambor class sub for 7th (or 6th - not sure) patrol received orders to proceed approx 200-300nm south of Guam for antishiping patrol in Japan - Rabaul shipping lanes. As we get there, since we didnt get any exact patrol area - I have marked virtual route between Japan and Rabaul which was about 300-400nm width and was zigzagin along that route southeastbound towards Rabaul at 2/3 ahead - around 10knts.At first days we was geting only 3 Air radar contacts, afterwards we where diving to save depth of 160 feet - none of them had spot us.

About midway, which was roughly I guess was around 400-300nm northeast of new Ireland - and it was end of October or start of November My crew reported sound contact - Warship - bearing 288 closing and moving slow. First thought that radar again buged and not reporting, even doe i didnt even go there, which usually helps. So, I immediatly go on bridge and outside clear daylight, no fog just heavy winds - which usually means if sound warship reported he already see me and i would be soon raped. Im scanning with binoculars reported bearing - nothing - no smoke, no ships - at same time sonar reports bearing 289. So, slowing down to 1/3, radar depth and making 180 turn to right to start ploting targets course. At same time i go to radar - to check myself, then comes to mind slow moving warship - it must be Carrier or something big. I keep excited looking in radar for my target - and nothing, i was like wtf! ok, so i go to map check range - zoomed in by sonar line i notice that that thing headed straight at me, and range was bit less than 5nm - i was like oh CRAP! Go to periscope, scanning horizon - and damn still nothing. I go to hydrophones to listen my self - and I barely hear a same damn engine sounds as my sub - and I was oh CRAP CRAP CRAP - i have heading towards me unknown submarine which probably its submerged which most likely know that im here and if not yet soon should be incoming torpedoes!

So, after convincing my self that its single player campaign and its just AI, also to stop consider options between surfacing and bag out at flank speed or going bellow test depth till extreme CO2 levels, turned on silent runining ahead 1/3, periscope depth straight to him, and keep scaning horizon for periscope head (lol). I made time acceleration to skip that damn slow 90 degree right turn 1/3 speed, and soon as I finished turn and was heading towards contact - my sonar man lost it. Again but very carefully scanning horizon for periscope pixels - still nothing. Checking map to check where was lost contact, and range was about 8000yrds - Im sure i would see him even in heavy waves at such range - but was nothing outside. So i go to hydrophones my self (stupid drunk crew) to check my self, but nothing - no sound - and that scared hell out of me - i have incoming submerged silent running submarine.

What to do? Since it was me, stupidest way (i was bit late to work at time =) was to keep pinging in area of +-10 degress of last know position and wait for echo to find hes location - but it didnt worked. Im scanning outside again - nothing. Checking map to plan next moves, and here there is grey sign of sunken ship. (face palm) Son of .... I would better sacrifice my ship just to know what the hell was there.

So here is question:
What possibly was there? Using TMO + RSRDC, but noticing with each patrol more unstabilty of game - it may be also stock traffic...

Japs submarine? - They have same engines sound, and would submerge if they spot me and go to the crush depth?

USS sub? - Course was of that sub from Japan to Rabaul, possible it USS Sub was going for next patrol near Rabaul?

Anyways, after this i just quit game and rushed late to work, and there was no saves for reply or external view option to check what was that!
Tomorow noon i should get chance to play again, and i will try to recreate same situation to catch him again - only next time will be flank speed direct to him just to have a chance wtf is there.

So here I am - Leemon, Your fresh skipper already with war story for kids

[Shkval]

Similar experience http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...un+vs+deck+gun

[captgeo]

Welcome aboard

[fireftr18]

Welcome aboard, Leemon.
Now clean those windows.

Sounds like your contact lost a battle with heavy seas. It happens on occasion that a ship or boat will spontaneously sink.

[AVGWarhawk]

Possible the ship had ended the waypoint it was assigned. It disappears. Perhaps the ghost ship Flying Dutchman. Welcome aboard!

[Armistead]

Sounds like a sub, but you can usually spot them at 3-5000 yards, but you gotta look good. A jap sub on sonar sounds a lil like a heartbeat, quite compared to normal engine.

Wait until you pick up your first dolphin on sonar. I thought AM radio static was coming though my speakers....chirp chirp....

[fireftr18]

Originally Posted by Armistead

Sounds like a sub, but you can usually spot them at 3-5000 yards, but you gotta look good. A jap sub on sonar sounds a lil like a heartbeat, quite compared to normal engine.

Wait until you pick up your first dolphin on sonar. I thought AM radio static was coming though my speakers....chirp chirp....

I never picked up a dolphin before. I never really listened. I just assumed the sounds were just generic sounds and specific sounds weren't included. Is it a stock or mod sound?