Kill Bragging

[_Seth_]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

This is commonly known as "Taking one for the team".

True! Like the "Reuben James"..

[bookworm_020]

Do I dare ask what is a Reuben James???? I know about the ship, but who, or what is Reuben James

[_Seth_]

Originally Posted by bookworm_020

Do I dare ask what is a Reuben James???? I know about the ship, but who, or what is Reuben James

In March 1941, Reuben James joined the convoy escort force established to promote the safe arrival of war material to Britain. This escort force guarded convoys as far as Iceland, where they became responsibility of British escorts. Based at Hvalfjordur, Iceland, it sailed from Argentia, Newfoundland, 23 October 1941, with four other destroyers to escort eastbound convoy HX-156. While escorting that convoy at about 0525, 31 October 1941, Reuben James was torpedoed by German submarine U-562. [sic--should be U-552] The ship had postured itself between an ammunition ship in the convoy and the known position of a German U-Boat Wolfpack. Its magazine exploded, and the ship sank quickly. Of the crew, 44 survived, and 100 died. Reuben James was the first U.S. Navy ship sunk by hostile action in World War II.

Taking one for the team...

[SubConscious]

My two most memorable kills were pretty simple. I managed to sink a T3 Tanker in Vanilla SH3 with about 10 rounds from my 88mm deck gun. That was pretty amazing (at least to me). The other was a convoy attack: There was a T3 tanker running abreast of a T2 tanker in the middle of the convoy. I couldn't get between them, so I took a position off the bow. I launched on the further T2 just in the nick of time - they were moving pretty quick. As it turned out, both torpedoes impacted a the same time, at almost exactly the same position on each ship: Just forward of the engine room. I was watching with my external camera, wishing shortly thereafter that I had recorded the event. The T3 blew up and went down pretty quickly. The T2 required a second shot, so it wasn't as glamorous as it could have been.

[Melonfish]

heh, i did once actually aim for the V&W destroyer sat in the back of column 4 once it was early 1940 so i find a convoy in the english channel (stock game) and figure to take out the one major threat to me then pick off the fat targets (the two armed trawlers aren't THAT dangerous and easy to kill)
so i set a warhead for magnetic and fast speed and fire her off sticking it 2m under the destroyers keel. the torpedo passes clean under the destroyer and strikes the small tanker in the rear of column 3 abaft the bow mast not really making it list much either. for my troubles i got sunk by the destroyer who upon seeing my torpedo's wake made a beeline for me and dropped a DAMMED accurate pattern of depth charges, two of which annihilated my bow compartment dooming me to a watery grave.
'bugger' is all i said.
pete

[HunterICX]

I destroyed the Royal Navy all myself...no big deal...as long there is enough eels

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by bookworm_020

Do I dare ask what is a Reuben James???? I know about the ship, but who, or what is Reuben James

US Navy destroyers were commonly named for American sailors who were noted for their service or died in the line of duty.

Reuben James was born in Delaware, Ohio about 1776. He joined the U.S. Navy and served on various ships, including the frigate USS Constellation. During the Barbary Wars, the American frigate USS Philadelphia was captured by the Barbary pirates when it ran aground in the pirate capital of Tripoli, on the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, along with a group of volunteers that included Boatswain's Mate Reuben James, entered the harbor of Tripoli under the cover of darkness in an attempt to burn the Philadelphia so that the pirates could not make use of her.

The American volunteers boarded the Philadelphia on 16 February 1804 and were met by a group of Barbary pirates who were guarding their prize. During the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, Reuben James, with both of his hands already wounded, positioned himself between Lieutenant Decatur and a swordwielding pirate. Reuben James, willing to give his life in defense of his captain, took the blow from the sword but survived and recovered from his wounds. Reuben James continued his career in the U.S. Navy, including many years with Decatur. James was forced to retire in January 1836 because of declining health brought on because of past wounds. He died on 3 December 1838 at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/.../DD/dd245.html

Also, legendary folk singer Woodie Guthrie wrote a song about it:
http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/ww2T...ubenjames.html

[Threadfin]

My best wasn't a kill at all. I'd say it was my best shot. Here's the exerpt from the patrol report

Aug 5
1259 Radio report of lone, fast enemy ship heading NE through BF grid toward Bristol channel. This is just southeast of U-49. Plot course and go to ahead flank to see if we can close for attack before she gets by.

1350 Barely visible through the mist is a huge, two stack transport. Due to the separation on her stacks, we believe she is already abreast. Speed clocks at 21 kts. At ahead flank, U-49 is barely holding 18 knots, so the shot had to happen now if we were to take it. Her flag was not visible at this distance, but certainly this ship was the subject of the 1259 report, and was classified in that report as enemy.

1351 With 5 foreward, and one after torpedo remaining, and not enough fuel for more than 4 days, all foreward tubes were quickly prepared for a four-shot G7a spread, 30 knot speed with 5 degrees deflection. Some quick calculation invloving the current range, bearing and AoB meant that these torpedos, if they were to have any chance of hitting her, would have to travel a very long way indeed, likely in excess of 10,000 meters if our current range info of 7400 meters were accurate. G7a's with 44 or 40 knot setting cannot travel in excess of 10,000 meters before they end-run detonate, so that left only the 30 knot speed. With the target's speed of 21 kts, that would mean an overtake of only 9 kts. It would be quite some time before we knew if we had hit her, and certainly this point, if the highly unlikely interception occurred, would be out of our visual range. We would dive immediately upon firing, as aircraft had been sighted almost continuously since weather broke yesterday.




1352 With virtually no chance of success, a four shot G7a spread with 5 degrees deflection from 7400 meters, AoB 90, 30 knot speed, depth 8 was fired at this ship estimated to be 40,000 tons.

Almost at the instant the last torpedo was fired U-49 attacked by Hurricanes out of the sun. First bomb missed, but the second landed close enough to cover the bridge with water and knock some hull plates loose. Damage assesed as moderate and we dove as planned, but with with a bit more urgency than I would have liked.

1452 Ten minutes after firing the torpedos an impact is heard through the hydrophones. Fritz is grinning ear to ear. She is slowing. U-49 closes area liner expected to be if she has slowed drastically or come to a stop.

1501 Screws have stopped. She's dead in the water or sinking. Continue to close scene on last sound bearing.

1505 Liner in sight, smoking near rear stack, with small fire visible, but other wise appearing high and level. Single remaining foreward G7a fired on 090 port track, range 2100. Impact below front stack. Ship apparently unaffected, assumes no noticable angle or list. Swing for remaining stern fish.


I fired 1 more fish, but did not sink her. I'd guess that the torpedo that struck the liner traveled well in excess of 10,000 meters before impact. The range was 7500 meters at firing, and the lone liners are making 21kts. All things considered this is the one attack I'm most proud of. A ten-minute run!! Manual targeting of course.