Skin of my Teeth.

Spike88 · 09-06-10, 05:34 AM

So I'm patrolling around Singapore in S-32 my S class submarine. I decide to sneak into the Singapore harbor. Under the cover of dark I sneak in, only to realize it's empty and there isn't even a guard ship.

Realizing this was a waste of fuel and time, I decide to go to my designated patrol area between Sumatra and Borneo.

About halfway to where I'm going I'm told that my port of call has changed from Surabaya to Freemantle, Australia. A quick check of my gas and I decide to head straight there so I don't run out of gas. I set the course and set my speed for standard.

Before I get far my Watch crew calls out that they've spotted a ship.

I go to periscope depth and my Sonarman calls out that it's a Merchant. It's the Hakusika Maru.

I turn 90 degrees and order 1/3rd back so I'll be in the perfect angle and distance for a torpedo attack. When I'm in the perfect spot I order all stop.

About 20 minutes later it comes it's in the perfect position so I launch 3 torpedoes at it. The first one hits it right under the smoke stack. I'm treated to a nice explosion and roughly 8,500 tons.

The second torpedo, despite being useless, also impacts, and the 3rd was never heard from again(I believe it was a dud.)

Excited about my first major kill(The only two other ships I've sunk in a total of 4 patrols was a subchaser and a sampan worth about 120 tons total

). I order the crew to continue on our course.

I decide my best way to get to Freemantle without using a lot of fuel would to go through a strait between Sumatra and Java. Unknowing that this area has recently fallen underneath Japanese rule.

Right upon entering the straight watch calls out Warship sighted. Luckily it's a rather dark night so I wasn't detected. Yet.

I order periscope depth, new heading of 90 degrees, ahead 1/3, battle-stations and silent running. When the ship gets under I pick up at least 20 contacts.

There is only 3 destroyers guarding a whole lot of Merchants.

Jackpot.

I order all stop and wait until the convey comes around me, with little to no work I was in the center. The nearest ship is a rather large merchant at 30 degrees. Perfect!

I notice that spotlights have turned on and there is pinging going on from the destroyers, but the merchants aren't taking evasive maneuvers.

When the ship I have in my sights is at 10 degrees I launch 4 torpedoes at it, and order a crash dive and hard to port. When I pass the thermal layer I order ahead 1/3, and rudder amidships.

A couple minutes later 3 of the four torpedoes impact.

I begin slowly sneaking in the opposite direction that the task force is heading. Destroyers ping a little and drop slightly away from me. Seemed like they didn't know where I was. Still conscious about my gas, I let them all go on their way. The ship I hit never went down.

When I'm sure their gone I surface and continue on my way.

About halfway through the straight we're hit by something. We're in shallow water so I can't dive or I'll risk hitting the ground. I rush topside to see where the attacks are coming from and realize I'm being attacked by a shore battery.

I order flank and steer towards deeper waters. By the time I get there my hull is at 49% and several components throughout the ship are damaged. There is also light flooding.

I order periscope depth, ahead 1/3 and continue on my journey. Everything but my paint scheme get's fixed. When I get out of the straight I go back to the surface and ahead standard.

I get the report that we're down to 50 fuel.

About 300NM I'm running at 5% fuel, and going about 1KT.
at 160NM the tanks run dry. So I order periscope depth and continue at 1kt. For the next 3 days I form a routine of surfacing to get rid of my CO2, and then diving to continue my journey. About 8NM from my last waypoint(which was about 2-3NM away form Freemantle) I'm running at .50 KT with 1/100 Battery left.

I'm almost at the last way point when the Anchor icon shows up in the right hand side of the screen. I click it and end the patrol. Thanking the gods I made it.

If I hadn't, this post would take place in the FUUUU--- moments thread and I would've cursed like a sailor.

I really need to sink more so I can get out of this S class.

09-06-10, 05:34 AM	#1
Spike88 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 3,052 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	Skin of my Teeth. So I'm patrolling around Singapore in S-32 my S class submarine. I decide to sneak into the Singapore harbor. Under the cover of dark I sneak in, only to realize it's empty and there isn't even a guard ship. Realizing this was a waste of fuel and time, I decide to go to my designated patrol area between Sumatra and Borneo. About halfway to where I'm going I'm told that my port of call has changed from Surabaya to Freemantle, Australia. A quick check of my gas and I decide to head straight there so I don't run out of gas. I set the course and set my speed for standard. Before I get far my Watch crew calls out that they've spotted a ship. I go to periscope depth and my Sonarman calls out that it's a Merchant. It's the Hakusika Maru. I turn 90 degrees and order 1/3rd back so I'll be in the perfect angle and distance for a torpedo attack. When I'm in the perfect spot I order all stop. About 20 minutes later it comes it's in the perfect position so I launch 3 torpedoes at it. The first one hits it right under the smoke stack. I'm treated to a nice explosion and roughly 8,500 tons. The second torpedo, despite being useless, also impacts, and the 3rd was never heard from again(I believe it was a dud.) Excited about my first major kill(The only two other ships I've sunk in a total of 4 patrols was a subchaser and a sampan worth about 120 tons total ). I order the crew to continue on our course. I decide my best way to get to Freemantle without using a lot of fuel would to go through a strait between Sumatra and Java. Unknowing that this area has recently fallen underneath Japanese rule. Right upon entering the straight watch calls out Warship sighted. Luckily it's a rather dark night so I wasn't detected. Yet. I order periscope depth, new heading of 90 degrees, ahead 1/3, battle-stations and silent running. When the ship gets under I pick up at least 20 contacts. There is only 3 destroyers guarding a whole lot of Merchants. Jackpot. I order all stop and wait until the convey comes around me, with little to no work I was in the center. The nearest ship is a rather large merchant at 30 degrees. Perfect! I notice that spotlights have turned on and there is pinging going on from the destroyers, but the merchants aren't taking evasive maneuvers. When the ship I have in my sights is at 10 degrees I launch 4 torpedoes at it, and order a crash dive and hard to port. When I pass the thermal layer I order ahead 1/3, and rudder amidships. A couple minutes later 3 of the four torpedoes impact. I begin slowly sneaking in the opposite direction that the task force is heading. Destroyers ping a little and drop slightly away from me. Seemed like they didn't know where I was. Still conscious about my gas, I let them all go on their way. The ship I hit never went down. When I'm sure their gone I surface and continue on my way. About halfway through the straight we're hit by something. We're in shallow water so I can't dive or I'll risk hitting the ground. I rush topside to see where the attacks are coming from and realize I'm being attacked by a shore battery. I order flank and steer towards deeper waters. By the time I get there my hull is at 49% and several components throughout the ship are damaged. There is also light flooding. I order periscope depth, ahead 1/3 and continue on my journey. Everything but my paint scheme get's fixed. When I get out of the straight I go back to the surface and ahead standard. I get the report that we're down to 50 fuel. About 300NM I'm running at 5% fuel, and going about 1KT. at 160NM the tanks run dry. So I order periscope depth and continue at 1kt. For the next 3 days I form a routine of surfacing to get rid of my CO2, and then diving to continue my journey. About 8NM from my last waypoint(which was about 2-3NM away form Freemantle) I'm running at .50 KT with 1/100 Battery left. I'm almost at the last way point when the Anchor icon shows up in the right hand side of the screen. I click it and end the patrol. Thanking the gods I made it. If I hadn't, this post would take place in the FUUUU--- moments thread and I would've cursed like a sailor. I really need to sink more so I can get out of this S class. __________________ Last edited by Spike88; 09-06-10 at 06:08 AM.