G2 wants me to recon whaaa.....

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

Well I managed to get in and out without being detected and it turned out my campaign was much later than I thought it was(October 1943). I killed two DDs with one torpedo each. One Mutsuki DD that was hit under the foward turret and torpedo turret, and a Akizuki DD that was hit aft of the funnel. The big differance was that I used the MK18 instead of the MK14 so the DDs never know what was coming. After the photo recon was done I asked for new orders and am now patrolling within a 135nm raidus in the Bismark Sea and managed to raid a convoy and sunk a Troop Transport and medium merchant. Oh CommandoSolo2009 I got your boat!!

[WernherVonTrapp]

Proof that it can be done:

[commandosolo2009]

neat, but one thing, what was your speed and depth on entry? As far as I know, the submarine cannot go in past 18m or she will rub the belly against the seabed, and the shoreline is packed with coastal artillery. Please explain how.

[Armistead]

Been in there a few times myself, seems you have to stay around 50 ft or so, but submerged enough the shore guns won't shoot at you.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

I went in on silent running at around 57ft with all bow tubes open so I could shoot at any DD that came within 1,000 yrds. The DDs that I attacked I sank them at dawn. Went to 90ft during the day then up to 57ft at dusk snapped the photos with the O-scope. I will note that the carriers wheren't all the way in the harbour its self but at the crook in the coast where the pointer on the chart is.

And the two DDs that I attacked.

[Hylander_1314]

Had the same mission about the same time. Photo Recon carrier strength at Rebaul. 4 DDs patroling the entrance and harbor. Evreything was always fine until I would torpedo the Fubuki DD and the game would crash. Didn't matter what I did. I couldn't complete the mission, because if I didn't sink the DDs, they were on me like flies on you know what. If I sank them including the Fubuki, the game would lockup.

I finally ignored the mission, went and sank a bunch of ships in a TF and a convoy, and returned to base. Really sucked as I was getting the best of the DDs in the harbor, and at the entrance.

[magic452]

The last time I did that mission I got into the harbor without too much trouble, sank 1 DD on the way in and avoided another once inside.

Found the two CV's and promptly said "Fire one, Fire two, etc.
Two carriers down.

Forgot to take the stupid pictures.

Lockwood was not interested in pictures of two oil slicks.

Magic

[WernherVonTrapp]

Originally Posted by commandosolo2009

neat, but one thing, what was your speed and depth on entry? As far as I know, the submarine cannot go in past 18m or she will rub the belly against the seabed, and the shoreline is packed with coastal artillery. Please explain how.

I can't explain what you should do to complete your mission. I can explain the procedure that I use (every time) I raid Rabaul. I have developed my tactic by using pointers that I've picked up from everybody else here. I certainly am not the first to raid this harbor and I have tailored what I have learned from others into a tactic which not only works for me but, I also feel comfortable with.

I always approach from the shallows where you see my sub departing in the second picture. I approach on the surface at Standard or 2/3 speed. Once I'm past that small shallow inlet, I'll dive to PS depth and take a listen on sonar. Usually at this point I'll have a contact, usually two. Mind you, when I do this, it's always early evening and dark enough to approach on the surface, preferably during a new moon.
Once I have my contact location and distance, I'll run at "decks awash" (for every class of sub this depth is different) until I get a visual. I then go to PD with the intent on sinking what usually turns out to be a patrol boat or two between myself and the harbor.

On this particular attempt, 3 Mutsuki DDs were heading right toward me at flank speed. This was before I crossed the shallows and was still in St. George's Channel. I did not engage these DDs and headed further east to avoid them. They passed harmlessly at 5000yds and continued south on their merry way. You don't have to engage these ships right away. Try to determine their course and if possible, bypass them.

After sinking any warships in the outer bay, I surface and proceed at 2/3 or standard speed (given the situation) until I approach the shallows of the harbor inlet. Here, you have to be careful since there are almost always shore batteries at both opposing points of land near the harbor inlet. I go to about 32' depth and proceed (under the cover of darkness -reminder) until I'm safely out of range of these points (usually 4500 to 5000yds). I try to pass these points at equal distances, say 3000yds on the left, 3000 on the right. Then I return to decks awash to gain some more speed. Usually, there is another patrol/warship inside this shallow bay, not to mention a fishing boat or two, maybe a tug and a sampan. I usually avoid them but will take them out if need be.

I continue toward the docks keeping equal distances from any land outcroppings since this is where gun emplacements are usually located. If my crew spots a shore battery, I go to 32' depth and slow my speed to lessen the wake. I'll take out any parked war ships at distance first, usually 6000yds or further. They're easy to hit since they're not moving but they can fire at you at range or, even worse, send up star-shells for the shore gunners to spot you. Once they're gone, I pick off all the docked ships from 4300yds or closer. I repeat the same tactic when I exit. So, there you have it.
Sorry if it's long but, there's really no way to explain this in one or two sentences.

PS: If you only knew how long it took for me to type this, with my skills.

[andy_311]

And for your next mission you will be ordered to do a carrier recon in Manila in 44 were you have rake's of dd's patroling the harbour inlet not to mention the subnets and mines.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

No I think the buggers will order me to go and recon Osaka or someother mainland Japanese port in '44. There you got DDs, mines,nets and planes with radar!

[Elektroniikka-Asentaja]

So you got in there.. and what's even more important, out from there?

I might remember wrong but isn't there some quick mission or something where you need to go to Rabaul? Because I took a look at it in map and it felt very, very, very familiar. And I've never been there in career... Should go take a look there.. Perhaps I'll find something cool

And hey, does anyone know where they keep those Yamatos parked or where they build them? Perhaps I'll pay a visit to emperors dry dock

Happy hunting!

[andy_311]

Originally Posted by Kptlt. Hellmut Neuerburg

No I think the buggers will order me to go and recon Osaka or someother mainland Japanese port in '44. There you got DDs, mines,nets and planes with radar!

Don't know what it is with Osaka but do a harbor raid there sink the carriers,enter the port sink the heavy cruiser,carrier if it's in there assuming you enter from the south leave on the northern entrance and make your way towards Nagasaki (follow a tug boat or something depending what mod your running) it's slow and hard but you do avoid the brunt of planes that are hunting you down.