Tactical decision: what would you do?

[MKalafatas]

Trying to penetrate Rabaul harbor in an S-boat, in February '42. The time is 1900 --- quite dark. Enemy destroyer (type as yet undetermined) patrolling 3000-4000 yards outside the harbor in deep water.

The harbor itself, of course, is shallow. I don't know what, if anything, is inside.

My options:

(1) Confront the destroyer in deep water outside the harbor, and then penetrate.

(2) Sneak around the destroyer, get into the harbor, and deal with him on the way out.

My inclination is to go with option (1), as the risk is relatively low. If I fight the destroyer first, should I:

(a) ambush him with a spread?
(b) ping him to provoke a charge, and shoot down-the-throat?

Haven't had much luck ambushing destroyers.

Curious to know how everyone deals with this problem.

[TorpX]

Personally, I would just stay out of the harbor.

You don't say if the object of the operation is photo-recon, or to attack shipping. If recon I would just try to avoid alerting the destroyer. If attacking, I would try to torpedo him at night when he is unaware and more vulnerable.

[Hinrich Schwab]

Originally Posted by MKalafatas

Trying to penetrate Rabaul harbor in an S-boat, in February '42. The time is 1900 --- quite dark. Enemy destroyer (type as yet undetermined) patrolling 3000-4000 yards outside the harbor in deep water.

The harbor itself, of course, is shallow. I don't know what, if anything, is inside.

My options:

(1) Confront the destroyer in deep water outside the harbor, and then penetrate.

(2) Sneak around the destroyer, get into the harbor, and deal with him on the way out.

My inclination is to go with option (1), as the risk is relatively low. If I fight the destroyer first, should I:

(a) ambush him with a spread?
(b) ping him to provoke a charge, and shoot down-the-throat?

Haven't had much luck ambushing destroyers.

Curious to know how everyone deals with this problem.

I wouldn't even consider your course of action unless I was in a Gato class boat. I wouldn't try it unless I was in a Balao class boat. An S-Class is out of the question. That thing can't run deep enough to get away if something goes wrong. I would creep away and find a softer target.

[HW3]

I would slip around to the North of Rabaul to where the the straight just starts to open up into the Bismarck Sea, and set up shop there. Something is bound to come along there shortly.

[WernherVonTrapp]

I've raided the harbor at Rabaul numerous times, though I don't recall ever attempting it in an S-Boat. I did go in with a Porpoise Class though. The problem with Rabaul is it's isolation. You never know what you'll find until you're actually in there. Sometimes, there is an additional patrol boat inside the harbor, but I guess that depends on the mod you're running, if you're running any.
Usually, I enter and exit from the shallow inlet to the SE. There's always a DD, a Mine sweeper or subchaser patrolling the outer perimeter. I always take this patrol craft out as stealthily and expeditiously as I can by sneaking up and torpedoing from a high speed range. You have to lead the target since they usually speed up just prior to impact, so aim slightly ahead of center. Once that boat has been dispatched, you have to go in at just below "decks awash" depth (or just deep enough for battery power) just prior to hitting the harbor's shallows and WATCH OUT for the shore guns. You may not always see them, but they're there!

You may also run into a Sampan or Fishing Boat once inside. Ignore them, unless they get too close or are blocking your approach. You won't be able to see everything that's in there until you clear the bend on the right. Since the ships are docked, you can use a long range attack to avoid getting any nearer to shore installations. Usually, I find the harbor replete with fat juicy targets. On a couple of occasions, I wasted a lot of time and effort to find a few low tonnage targets.
Good Luck sir. In an S-Boat no less, you got big 'uns.

Oh yeah, you always run the risk of getting caught in the middle of incoming/outgoing traffic. I once narrowly missed being mauled by five (5) DDs that were on their way out. It was all a matter of happenstance timing that saved me.

[donna52522]

You don't say what your using, stock, TMO, RFB....w/without RSRDC?

Do you have mission orders, or do you want to just raid the harbor?

If your just raiding it I wouldn't even try it, wait until you get a better boat and if you have RSRDC raid Truk, easy to get in and out and always a good bag.

Last time I went into Rabaul on a raid, I was setting up for a shot when the U.S. Navy flyboys showed up and sank everything worth sinking !!!

[Diopos]

Mr MKalafatas (Greek descent?)
Just save and give it a go. Regardles of the result it will be an excellent exercise on:

1. silent running
2. trying to establish the patern of the DD and see if you can "time" your maneuver to minimize the possibility of being detected.

Again this is just an excercise. I'd never do it. Attacking the DD and then entering the harbor well ... sounds somewhat unrealistic. You would have informed everybody of your presence. Bypassing the DD, getting some kills and then trying to exit you would still have to deal with an alerted DD and probably in shallow waters.

Of course if Hirohito is visiting ...

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