Unescorted convoy in 1945??

[Bubblehead1980]

Was fun but def not going call it easy because they could lay down some fire with all the deck guns if needed.I had to back away at emergency speed after the torpedos hit the first tanker, the ships put me in their spotlight and opened up, several rounds came close to hitting me.Their speed and zig patterns made attacks difficult also.

Reminded of the USS Wahoo's attack in January 1943 when they caught a convoy off New Guinea unescorted, sank the entire convoy in 24 hour running battle.43 can be explaind though, just found it really odd to catch a convoy unescorted in 45, so wondering if it was an error/oversight by lurker or if convoy really was unescorted due to the short distance and shallow waters they traveled.Plus in RL prob had air cover if not surface escorts.

[Davy_Jones]

how shallow was the water

[Armistead]

They certainly would've lack escorts, DD's for sure. Since lurker put it in be nice to know the historical accurancy of it or not. I know many thought the battle of Balikpapan should'nt have taken place, around April to July 45. Fought mostly my the Australians and they lost many. I do recall it was reinforced early war, had a large oil pipeline and a few airfields.

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by Armistead

They certainly would've lack escorts, DD's for sure. Since lurker put it in be nice to know the historical accurancy of it or not. I know many thought the battle of Balikpapan should'nt have taken place, around April to July 45. Fought mostly my the Australians and they lost many. I do recall it was reinforced early war, had a large oil pipeline and a few airfields.

Turns out it was historically accurate...mostly....found this in the Japanese Convoy History, which is in the RSRD readme.That is the convoy, says it was unescorted until the 17th.Guess the short trip and coastal route in shallows made them comfortable enough to run without escort.

1300.
14th. January, 1945.
From: Surabaya, north-east Java.
To: Makassar, south-west Celebes Island, Bandjarmasin - southern Borneo - Balikpapan, south-east Borneo.
TAI MARU convoy.
Tai Maru, Shoyu Maru, No. 11 Sanko Maru, Kako Maru, Nanmei Maru (Makassar bound.)
Hosei Maru, ****sushi Maru (Balikpapan bound.)
Nittei Maru (Bandjarmasin bound) (8).
No escorts.
On the day of departure the convoy at 1930 anchored at Kanbin Island, it left there at 0700 on the 15th. The same
day at 1540 the convoy anchored at the south corner of Tanjun, at 0700 on the 16th. it left.
At 1350 on the 17th. Submarine-chaser No. 56 joined the convoy, at 2300 Nittei Maru left the formation bound for
Bandjarmasin.
At 0400 on the 18th. the convoy moved into squalls, consequently Nanmei Maru's where-abouts became unknown,
three hours later a search was begun but the ship was not found. At 1430 that day the convoy anchored in the area
north-north-west of Dato Island, at 2330 Patrol-boat No. 36 joined the escort.
At 0600 on the 19th. the convoy left the Dato Island area, at 0800 the next day Auxiliary minesweeper No. 3 joined
the escort. At 1740 on the 21st. the convoy arrived at Makassar. Here at 1500 on the 22nd. Hosei Maru and
****sushi Maru left together with Patrol-boat's No. 108 and
No. 36. At 2210 on the 23rd. they were joined by the auxiliary submarine-chaser No. 2 Shonan Maru, at 0900 on the

26th. they arrived safely at Balikpapan.

[Armistead]

Great info Bubble, lurker still keeps the faith....

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by Davy_Jones

how shallow was the water

Less than 60 feet under keel in some places.Like most late war convoys, was hugging the coast.