Balttle of Leyte, attack northern carriers.

[Sandman_28054]

Here was my experience in the Battle of Leyte Gulf:

Ok, here is the situation.

After being given a Photo recon mission, I'm on my back towards Luzon. (Map ref. A2) Turning south, I reduce speed to 2/3 hoping to find targets of opportunity.

Two days later I'm near the mouth of Manilla. Suddenly it occurs to me that the Battle of Leyte Gulf is due to commence in 15 days.

Situation 1: I went to the wikipedia and found a good spot to sit and wait for Kurita's Central Force.

Oct. 23, 1500pm, radar reveals a large task force to the SW heading SW.

This is a huge task force. I can't see any ships but count'em, 15, yes 15 escorts surrounding a central force of an estimated 15 ships.

Thinking ahead, I save the game.

I begin to manuver to a good ambush spot.

The task force closes to within 3000 yards. Raise periscope.

Damn! Rain, heavy seas, and think fog.

Since I'm really not that good at underwater sonar attacks, should I still advance and attack the task force?

Situation 2: Same as before except I sail further south and position myself between the Island of Negros and Mindinao. While waiting, a "jap submarine" is spotted. After a short chase and drawing to within 5900 yards, I open tube 3 and fire a cutie. 4 minutes later it is sunk. Back to my original position.

Oct. 23, 1200pm, radar picks up a task force moving SE from the NW.

This just happens to be Shima's task force. I immediately take a position straight in front where the task force is coming at me.

After an hour of playing cat and mouse, the result is Shima's Task force of:

2 Mogami Class Heavy Cruisers

1 Nana Light Cruiser

4 Escort Class DD's

Were sitting at the bottom of the sea.

Surface and save game.

Navigate back to my original spot.

One hour later, radar officer yells out another task force heading due east. (Obviously this is Admiral Nishimura's Task Force)

I head south attempting to intercept at a 90 degree angle.

No such luck.

At 6500 yards, I am picked up by a destroyer.

I order ahead flank (what the hell, they already know I'm here) and head for the first Fuso BB in my sights.

In this task force are

2 Fuso class Battleships

1 Mogami Class Heavy Cruiser

6 Destroyers of different classes.

Long story short, all that is left are two Mutsuki class DD's dropping DC's all over the place in a vain attempt to find and sink me.

Amazing how deep a Balao class sub will go if you have the guts to try. (500 ft. was where I hid)

After 3 hours of moving west at 1 knt, the two remaining DD's are moving away.

I surface and "save game".

Once I am convinced they are far enough away that they won't bother me, I send a status report.

Total of 18 shps sunk for 119028 tons.

One of the best days I've had in a long, long while.

Question, Kurita's task force is bigger, but due to weather, I did not attack and chose to strike at the southern forces. Should I load a previous save and attack Kurita's task force, or just let sleeping dog's lie?

What would you do?

I am interested in hearing your opinions.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=167916

And here is my experience against Admiral Kurito's fleet:

Well, update...

I had attacked both southern task forces and sank those, and made a hasty retreat back to base for rearming.

I posted this thread and gave the details. (See post #1)

Against all advice given, I went back to an earlier save point and decided to try again.

This time, I decided a frontal attack would be unnesessary.

I catch sight of Kurita's Task Force as they exited the San Bernadino Strait and shadowed them as they moved around and ran SouthEast staying just far enough out of range of the main Force, but about 10,000 yards from the tailing DD. Just far enough away not to attract attention, but close enough to maintain radar contact.

After 9 hours of trailing, Kurita was being attacked by American planes, and was manuvering all over the place. Finally, he made his mistake.

I went to the wikipedia and printed off a map of the battle of Leyte Gulf, and I knew that at one point, Kurita makes a big circle.

I found his intersect point and took a position there.

16 Type 18 "fish" and 8 "Cuties" were waiting on him.

My initial attack took place heading south.

Sank:

4: Asashio Class DD's

1: Maya Heavy Cruiser

1: Kongo Class BB

1: Yamato Class BB.

Then the fun started.

DD's all over the place. I dive to 450 feet and order silent running.

With all the dive bombers and torpedo planes attacking the fleet, I guess the DD's were too occupied with them and I slipped away fairly unmolested.

I crept along at 1 knt. for about the better part of an hour.

I ordered periscope depth because I could hear the fleet still firing away at the planes.

When I reached the surface, I raised my periscope and found out, I was in the heart of Kurita's task force!

The Task force evading the bombers and tropedo planes had done nothing but ran a big circle.

Fully loaded tubes, I took aim and fired another round.

Sank:

1: Asashio Class DD

1: Akizoki Class DD

1: Yamato Class BB

2: Takeo Class Heavy Cruisers

1: Fuso Class BB

1: Mogami Class Heavy Cruiser

Guys, if you ever get a chance to met this task force, there are tons of choice targets. Talk about a target rich enviroment!

From 1500pm until 1900 pm, the fleet I encountered just circled. If I had more fish I know I could have taken more ships out.

Remember, this fleet circles in one place for more than 6 hours on 24-10-44. So you can attack, dive, attack, dive, attack, dive, quite a few times if your careful.

I managed to escape.

Sinking the two southern forces combined, I got: 119028 tons.

Attacking Kurita's task force my way, I sank a total of 258,341 tons!

That is the way to hit 'em!

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=167916