[AAR] Balao Big-Time

Rinaldi · 11-19-20, 06:45 AM

Sorry for the delay, been a very busy week or so! Let's revisit the 2nd patrol and debrief:

Administrative Matters

Seaman 1st Class Mason S. Lincoln (Conn Watch 2) is awarded the Navy Commendation Medal
Seaman 1st Class Otis Henry E. Jenkins (Engines 3) awarded the Asiatic-Campaign Medal
Petty Officer 1st Class Marshall White (Aft Torp 2) awarded a bronze star to his
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.
Skate had its SJ set replaced with an improved SJ-1 radar set

Edmunds gave me some limp-wristed lecture about the importance of reaching our patrol zones and I can tell his heart wasn't in it. I'd do it again; the tonnage will be sunk wherever I found it unless I am expressly told to avoid engagement. The men heard no such reservations from command and I didn't share it with them, so as far as they were concerned the patrol was an unmitigated success. They giddily painted kill flags on our conning tower and added it to the Squadron's kill board.

Patrol Summary

965 Renown earned.

9 officers, 63 ratings - ALL OK

Merchants sunk: 6

Warships sunk: 0

Total Gross Tonnage: 20, 331

09 August '43 0255h, 141'03E", 28'19N" - Kasagisan MARU 2433t
09 August '43 0302h, 141'03E", 28'19N" - Hakusika MARU 8197t
09 August '43 0324h, 141'03E", 28'20N" - Momoyama MARU 4084t
10 August '43 0423h, 139'55E", 29'40N" - Kasagisan MARU 2433t
10 August '43 0427h, 139'55E", 29'40N" - Haruna MARU 1617t
10 August '43 0432h, 139'55E", 29'40N" - Haruna MARU 1567t

Torpedoes fired: 24

Torpedo impacts: 13

Torpedo misses: 11
Duds: 0
Gun expenditure: 0

While the enlisted men went off to celebrate and rest, all the leading officers had a sober (don't worry, we hit the Royal Hawaiian hard this time too, we just got the order right side around this time) talk in the Skate's ward room. Again, while accuracy was satisfactory, there was room for improvement. We talked at length about the final attack on the convoy, how easily we picked off targets at point-blank range whilst submerged.

The ability for a submarine to live up to its name and submerge is obviously one of its greatest assets, and there was a clamour to make all attacks submerged henceforth - how quickly the depth charging is forgotten. I ultimately disagreed: so long as Japanese sensors remain so far behind our own there is no reason to put ourselves low and slow at night, we're more vulnerable if anything. We are giving the two sensors they have that don't care what the visibility is outside a chance to detect us. We get our targets with the spreads and continue to rely on the luxury of agility and stealth that only a surface attack can provide. Though I will risk submerged attacks at point blank range when the situation warrants it.

Ultimately:

Our surface approaches were much improved, or the Japanese escorts didn't eat their carrots. We were never spotted before an attack and got to choose how and when to dive. Definitely, a large part of this success comes down to our excellent radar team and the ability to detect emerging gaps in the screen.
The idea of fish-tailing, that is, using the rudder to comb our way down or up a convoy as we attack is one worth continuing. A few more drills and scratch pad practice is going to be needed to game out how to make the torpedoes hit seconds, rather than minutes apart, but the concept was proven. I made a mistake of shooting the closest target first, rather than shooting far and moving in - the thought totally slipped my mind in the heat of the moment.

I'm still waiting on our next orders but I have a feeling we're going to be short in our stay at Pearl once more.

To be continued...

11-19-20, 06:45 AM	#1
Rinaldi Seaman Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 41 Downloads: 199 Uploads: 0	Patrol 2 Debriefing Sorry for the delay, been a very busy week or so! Let's revisit the 2nd patrol and debrief: Administrative Matters Seaman 1st Class Mason S. Lincoln (Conn Watch 2) is awarded the Navy Commendation Medal Seaman 1st Class Otis Henry E. Jenkins (Engines 3) awarded the Asiatic-Campaign Medal Petty Officer 1st Class Marshall White (Aft Torp 2) awarded a bronze star to his Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. Skate had its SJ set replaced with an improved SJ-1 radar set Edmunds gave me some limp-wristed lecture about the importance of reaching our patrol zones and I can tell his heart wasn't in it. I'd do it again; the tonnage will be sunk wherever I found it unless I am expressly told to avoid engagement. The men heard no such reservations from command and I didn't share it with them, so as far as they were concerned the patrol was an unmitigated success. They giddily painted kill flags on our conning tower and added it to the Squadron's kill board. Patrol Summary 965 Renown earned. 9 officers, 63 ratings - ALL OK Merchants sunk: 6 Warships sunk: 0 Total Gross Tonnage: 20, 331 09 August '43 0255h, 141'03E", 28'19N" - Kasagisan MARU 2433t 09 August '43 0302h, 141'03E", 28'19N" - Hakusika MARU 8197t 09 August '43 0324h, 141'03E", 28'20N" - Momoyama MARU 4084t 10 August '43 0423h, 139'55E", 29'40N" - Kasagisan MARU 2433t 10 August '43 0427h, 139'55E", 29'40N" - Haruna MARU 1617t 10 August '43 0432h, 139'55E", 29'40N" - Haruna MARU 1567t Torpedoes fired: 24 Torpedo impacts: 13 Torpedo misses: 11 Duds: 0 Gun expenditure: 0 While the enlisted men went off to celebrate and rest, all the leading officers had a sober (don't worry, we hit the Royal Hawaiian hard this time too, we just got the order right side around this time) talk in the Skate's ward room. Again, while accuracy was satisfactory, there was room for improvement. We talked at length about the final attack on the convoy, how easily we picked off targets at point-blank range whilst submerged. The ability for a submarine to live up to its name and submerge is obviously one of its greatest assets, and there was a clamour to make all attacks submerged henceforth - how quickly the depth charging is forgotten. I ultimately disagreed: so long as Japanese sensors remain so far behind our own there is no reason to put ourselves low and slow at night, we're more vulnerable if anything. We are giving the two sensors they have that don't care what the visibility is outside a chance to detect us. We get our targets with the spreads and continue to rely on the luxury of agility and stealth that only a surface attack can provide. Though I will risk submerged attacks at point blank range when the situation warrants it. Ultimately: Our surface approaches were much improved, or the Japanese escorts didn't eat their carrots. We were never spotted before an attack and got to choose how and when to dive. Definitely, a large part of this success comes down to our excellent radar team and the ability to detect emerging gaps in the screen. The idea of fish-tailing, that is, using the rudder to comb our way down or up a convoy as we attack is one worth continuing. A few more drills and scratch pad practice is going to be needed to game out how to make the torpedoes hit seconds, rather than minutes apart, but the concept was proven. I made a mistake of shooting the closest target first, rather than shooting far and moving in - the thought totally slipped my mind in the heat of the moment. I'm still waiting on our next orders but I have a feeling we're going to be short in our stay at Pearl once more. To be continued...