When torpedoes go bad

[swdw]

Ok, I knew about the dud simulation and other things but this caught me and my boat totally flat footed.

Ran across 2 unescorted freighters. Got the first one submerged. Popped up and chased the other one down on the surface, as she was moving at a good clip. Fired 2 torpedoes while still on the surface, one hit and one veered off- *&#% torpedoes. So we move in to use the deck gun and as I give 20 degrees right rudder to position for the shot, I scan the port side just in time to see the fish that missed maybe 200+ ft from the boat and circling right back on us.

Rang up ahead flank and threw the rudder over hard. Just not enough time left for the boat to respond. Thank god the fish was set on contact influence because it malfunctioned and the warhead exploded before reaching the boat. Even with that, took some serious damage. Came to all stop, quickly shuffled all the best mechanical men to the damage control team as we were getting heavy flooding in 2 compartments. Don't know how, but the DC team saved the boat.

Since the freighter we hit had slowed to 2 knots, we followed her track out of sheer stubborness and finished her off with the deck gun.

Started heading back for Australia mostly running on the surface because we have only 25% battery capacity left after all repairs.

Ran into a mine sweeper. Took a chance on going to PD. Whew, she's holding together. Thought . . .aww why not engage the ship, cause the boat could spring a leak any second while trying to sneak off. Took a shot and hit the minesweeper hard in the stern. Wish I had a video of it. Lifted the stern clean out of the water several feet.

So we're limping back to Australia, trying to conserve fuel and not bothering to chase that Task Force contact that keeps getting reported in our area.

Learned a valuable lesson- watch the torpedo when it veers off sharply.