By A Hair!

Fish40 · 08-20-11, 12:36 PM

November 43', and it's my first patrol in my newly aquired Balao (SS Balao). Our first patrol area was NW of the Palau Isls. After a fruitless 72hrs, we were sent to patrol the chokepoints in the Celebes Sea where we finally drew blood. Although a modest kill in the form of a 4k ton freighter, the crew was happy for the victory. Little did I know, that this was to be our only kill!

I tried patrolling the lanes that our victim was traveling for several days in the hopes that another target would wander our way, but no go.

After patrolling several other areas that were assigned to us via radio messages, and comeing up empty, it was time to start heading back. A brief and exciting encounter with an enemy Destroyer off the Palaus on the way back nearly ended it for us thanks to faulty torpedoes

I was mindful of my fuel levels, but my determinations to get us more than 4k tons had left me dangerously low. Plotting a course for Midway, and asking my Navigator our max range at current speed (10kts), confirmed my fears. A sick pit formed in my stomach as I realised we would be just over 100 miles short of Midway. The electric motors may save us, but I'd hate to depend on batteries. I plotted courses for every alternate base in the area, but Midway was the closest at this point.

I'm happy to report that after altering my course and speed slightly, I think I'm gonna make it! My Navigator now tells me our max range is 1259nm, and the distance to Midway is 1155nm. The seas have been fairly calm with partially cloudy skies. If this weather holds, we should make it by a hair!!

08-20-11, 12:36 PM	#1
Fish40 The Old Man Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Yonkers, NY U.S.A. Posts: 1,507 Downloads: 154 Uploads: 0	By A Hair! November 43', and it's my first patrol in my newly aquired Balao (SS Balao). Our first patrol area was NW of the Palau Isls. After a fruitless 72hrs, we were sent to patrol the chokepoints in the Celebes Sea where we finally drew blood. Although a modest kill in the form of a 4k ton freighter, the crew was happy for the victory. Little did I know, that this was to be our only kill!I tried patrolling the lanes that our victim was traveling for several days in the hopes that another target would wander our way, but no go. After patrolling several other areas that were assigned to us via radio messages, and comeing up empty, it was time to start heading back. A brief and exciting encounter with an enemy Destroyer off the Palaus on the way back nearly ended it for us thanks to faulty torpedoes I was mindful of my fuel levels, but my determinations to get us more than 4k tons had left me dangerously low. Plotting a course for Midway, and asking my Navigator our max range at current speed (10kts), confirmed my fears. A sick pit formed in my stomach as I realised we would be just over 100 miles short of Midway. The electric motors may save us, but I'd hate to depend on batteries. I plotted courses for every alternate base in the area, but Midway was the closest at this point. I'm happy to report that after altering my course and speed slightly, I think I'm gonna make it! My Navigator now tells me our max range is 1259nm, and the distance to Midway is 1155nm. The seas have been fairly calm with partially cloudy skies. If this weather holds, we should make it by a hair!!