RSRD in Kiska area July 27 1942

[Renesisfury82]

Has anyone intercepted the resupply convoy that comes over in flash traffic on July 27 1942? Where does it go on the island since there isn't a dock?

[Armistead]

Fairly sure it sets in the harbor for a day, then leaves.

[Renesisfury82]

What side of the island is the "harbor" on?

[torpedobait]

I think it must be the bay on the northeast side of the island. However, I CTD everytime I try to go there, especially if I try to raise the periscope to do a recon. Never have gone there without a CTD. It's a mystery.

[Renesisfury82]

Well, I found the resupply convoy, sadly it was a modern large composite freighter and a destroyer. I guess I wish I would have know, otherwise I would have gone out to check out the Savo Island battle.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Originally Posted by Renesisfury82

Well, I found the resupply convoy, sadly it was a modern large composite freighter and a destroyer. I guess I wish I would have know, otherwise I would have gone out to check out the Savo Island battle.

There's more than 1 convoy. Resupply convoys made several trips to Kiska, though I do not know their size or composition. I did intercept the invasion TF (by accident) once. Sank 1 carrier.

[Armistead]

They're are many different landing groups for Kiska, Attu, and the carrier attacks at Dutch. Also several TF. Many spawn in the Paramushiro area.
If you play RSRD you'll get several flash messages mid-late 42 through early 43. Basically if your gonna play this area, hang around.

I prefer the action in the Solomons, easier to find.

[Renesisfury82]

Yeah, I was assigned to this area, and I am at least trying to follow orders this career.

[MaddogK]

harbor is on the East side (Kiska harbor). The resupply convoy arrives early in the morning, is 1 or 2 supply ships and 1 destroyer, and I've seen a second group of ships follow the first by a couple hours. They exit to the south at 19+ knots, and the destroyer will not pursue you, but will return fire with it's guns.

[Platapus]

RFB 2.0 + RSRD

For the first time in my many careers in SH4, I got the Kiska mission.

Intercept the supply convoy. Now where will it come from and where it will go?

First of all, I found the air cover around Kiska to be very heavy. For a moment I thought I was playing SH3 in 1944. Yikes!

Kiska does not have a harbor like other coastal cities, but it does have a bay which is pretty deep. Nice.

The convoy will approach (at least in the two times I loaded) from the East along the southern edge of Kiska bay. Once you see the map it is very clear.

I snuck into the bay during the night and sat at 60 feet waiting. For me, the convoy arrived about 1100. One destroyer and one cargo ship going about 14-17 knots! Not a lot of time to get into position.

I set up a fast 90 using a 15 degree lead angle due to the speed. Torpedoes (1942) set for impact only and the minimum depth..

Set speed to 17 based on nomograph (did not have time for a full 3 minute rule! It was moving pretty fast.

Launched one Mk 14 POS at the destroyer. Event camera showed it passing right under the hull right under the stack. Perfect (aka lucky) shot. Torpedo ran too deep. Maybe I should have used magnetic pistol but still don't trust them. One miss.

Oh well, the destroyer is the dessert. The cargo ship is the main course.

Only about 30 seconds behind the destroyer, same set up. Fired four torpedoes to compensate for the Mk 14.

"Torpedo is a dud, Sir"
"Torpedo is a dud, Sir"
"Torpedo is a dud, Sir"
"Torpedo is a dud, Sir"



Normally with a 90 track I can expect one detonation for four torpedoes. But as luck would have it, 0 for 4.

I did not have a chance to shoot the last forward torpedo as I was starting my evasion for the upcoming depth charges.

All in all a crappy mission.

Very frustrating for all the air cover. It seemed a bit much at times.

And to spend all that time getting into position, setting up a rather complicated approach with little time, and then become victim to the Mk 14 POS. Four hits, four duds and one running too deep.

"Sparks, code this message, belay that, send it in the clear!"

From USS Gar: Up yours BurOrd!

If it were not for the problems with the Mk 14, I would have knocked out the destroyer and at least severely damaged the cargo ship, which I could have easily finished off later.

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Very frustrating for all the air cover. It seemed a bit much at times.

Odd, indeed since the Japanese were never able to complete a suitable airfield on Kiska. What kind of aircraft were they? Historically, there was a squadron of Nakajima A6M2-N "Rufe" float planes based at Kiska Bay for a while. The "Rufe" was basically a Zero with large float and wing pontoons installed which degraded performance about 20%. During the 13 months of occupation the Japanese had to work hard trying to keep the seaplane bases on Kiska and Attu islands supplied with planes faster than the violent Aleutian weather could smash them or the Americans could bomb them.

[tater]

The air might be from a CV group. Most should have minimal airgroups due to the poor nature of the way SH4 deals with CVs, but 1 might have slipped through.

[Patrick_Hillary]

*.RSRD/RFB/1.4/.*.Having been ordered to recon of midway and having made hydrophone contact with enemy Task Force, failed to make visual contact. With no update as to orders I decieded to recon Kiska/Attu, around 20th-30th. Seems nobody was home so headed for Toko. Around 350nm NE of Toko made contact with 3 Heavy Cruisers, 22 Knots line ahead. Making preperations to attack. Perhaps there is good hunting to be had in that area. Good luck.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Odd, indeed since the Japanese were never able to complete a suitable airfield on Kiska. What kind of aircraft were they? Historically, there was a squadron of Nakajima A6M2-N "Rufe" float planes based at Kiska Bay for a while.

The few times I did not dive early enough, I could see that they were floaters.

But they must have had about a hundred on the island!