Stories and Patrol Logs + Screenshots and Videos (merged)

[kriller2]

Originally Posted by kylesplanet

Kriller2, somewhere our ole buddy Dave has a big grin! Good job.

Thanks , yes I hope so, Dave's spirit is still alive and kicking..

[Penelope_Grey]

Found this picture in my SH4 photo album burried right down the bottom. Its meant to be a funny one, you know, rolling with the "Parker" jokes... I thought it was funny especially as he is not in heavy weather gear!



Them early war conning towers on the fleetboats are something else. The late war ones, pack quite a punch to attacking planes.

[woofiedog]

We were sailing along on the bridge of the Yamoto in the wide vast expanse of Pacific waters and came across this British rust bucket making it way along.

Going into action stations we were questioning why this vessel was out here all by itself and not with another enemy convoy heading to some battlefront outpost here in the Pacific.
After checking the radar posts and lookouts for any other allied vessels in the area. I the commander of the mighty Yamoto decided with sending a number of 18in shells into her and sending her to the bottom of the cold sea.

But after a number of direct hits of our main batteries... there she was still sailing away... like there is nothing going on at all!

We slowly steered the Yamoto in for a closer look at our spectral enemy and noticed first off... where is the crew members that should be manning it's decks or running for the siderails readying themself's to abandon ship. There was None!

At the saame time this sea phantom keep up it's steady head of steam and never varied it's path on it's way to some hellish destination it was to keep. Where ever that could be?

The crew of the Yamoto mean time is getting ever more bewitched by what is before them in this ocean of mysteries.

And as captain of the Yamoto I ordered the gunner's to open fire at will upon this rust bucket to end this charade of a spectacle and prove to the crew that this ship is just like any other enemy vessel we have put to the bottom graveyard along side of Davy Jones.

But this was not to be... :hmm:

As captain of the Yamoto I tried to search for any answer to give to my puzzled and anxious crew.

But what answers can you tell your crew when a rusting bucket of bolts floats by you like it's going to a Sunday picnic after taking the pounding of 18in shells that would sink any battleship after a few solvo's had struck home?

Do You Have An Answer???

Be very weary of those long summer nights... out in the vast spaces of the lonely cold sea and keep a sharp lookout my fellow sailor's and seafarers!



Photos taken of the Specter Ship...





Notice that the radar plot shows a sinking ship below!

[Gunfighter]

Skipper Scratch One Flat Top

Ok Skipper lets get that last one "Just another Day at the Office"

[TarJak]

IJN Taskforce Coral Sea 1942:


Der Wachtmeister:


A moonlight cruise:

[gAiNiAc]

Trim Dive:



Trukkin' To Truk:




Fuso Starry Night:



Sunset Watch:



Another Day In The Office:

[groomsie]

Just started SH4 in mid-May after getting it as a gift, been working my way into it after sub school with the Career, at end of each patrol I give up 1 (or more) items to increase realism. This was patrol #4, at approximately 50% realism, and second with TMO (my only mod right now); I'd just gotten the new "Drum" out of Pearl and the patrol was rather uneventful, nothing sighted except a single merchant in the middle of the ocean with a New Zealand flag, which fortunately I didn't just gun down as I was prepared to do. Got directed to the Carolines (August 1942) and sunk 5 fishing boats / sampans with guns just for something to do basically. Did a routine save and then the game crashed a little while later. Kept thinking the atoll looked vaguely familar and then did a search on Truk--it wasn't listed as such on my map but indeed I had been given the task of patrolling around Truk. Should be good prospects me thinks...gotta be patient.
Working off a FOX transmission, I set up for a fast TF moving in my direction. Sea state was very high but in pre-dawn got a contact to my SE. Started at flank on about 070 to close and investigate. Holy smokes, a TF consisting of 2 Kongos, an Ise, 2 CLs, 2 CAs and 3 DDs. And fast! Headed about 015 at 16 knots, so I turn to try to get in front. But, in the sea state I was only making 16-17 at flank. Watched the sun come up silhouting the TF at about 6-8 miles, could see I was getting no where. Finally opted to send a contact report--I suppose since I had all my torpedoes still my instructions came back to intercept and do some damage. Yeah, if only I could get 1-2 more knots out of this boat...or if the TF would make a turn (toward me of course).
This continued for about 6 hours, until around 1300, when one of the DDs must have saw me as he came out corkscrewing towards me in the waves. He didn't shoot deck guns so either he wasn't sure of what he saw or was too rough for the guns, but at 4000 yards I finally pulled the cork and figured the TF was now gone. But, the DD then began spiraling back toward the TF, but was losing ground/falling behind. At 8000 yards I took a chance and surfaced with decks awash and continued NNE. The DD didn't follow me. Finally I fully surfaced the boat.
Then, a break. Either the TF slowed to permit the DD to overtake them easier or they slowed to enter anchorage (water was shallowing), but their speed dropped to 6 knots. I took the battery off charge and raced ahead as quick as I could in case they resumed speed when the DD rejoined them (its spiral search pattern had it way out of station now, and the other 2 DDs now peeled off and steamed SW at a medium speed).
I got ahead on the projected path, even managing to add some to my battery (which was still only at about 65%) before setting my position keeper on the lead BB and going deep to adjust torp settings, rig for silent, and wait. A few trips up showed I was a bit closer to the path than I originally wanted, so I turned slightly to open the range a touch. I was pretty much set up on TA 345 and with the formation steaming at a slow 6 knots in line ahead was going to parade right down my port side. But I'd hoped to let them pass and shoot at 2 and wasn't playing that way. I set GQ.
At 800 yards I let 3 go at the lead Kongo, then tried 2 at the 2nd ship (Ise). Then I went to about 120 feet and headed east, under my target. I heard 4 hits. After clearing the formation line I came back up, fired 1 stern tube at the Kongo and 2 tubes at the Ise. Then my last stern tube went to the 3rd BB (another Kongo), and began tu turn to bring my 6th bow tube back to bear. Then I hear pinging, look around, and see the Yuguri (sp?) DD who was after me earlier tearing up the other side of the Ise. Tube 1 was now loaded again, so I opened the doors and hit the DD as she came through the BB line with a quick shot, which hit. Now I'm showing the 1st Kongo and the Ise as sinking, and the DD quickly rolled over as well (was hit in the engine room). I fire 2 more shots at the 3rd BB (Kongo)...since the formation was still at 6 knots and range was about 1200 these were 2 more solid hits and indications were this was was headed for the bottom as well. So, 3 BBs and a DD in the bag, on to the next in line, the CLs and CAs. The CLs were Furutaka and Takao class, the CAs were Naka and Yubari (I think). I turned by stern to the Furutaka and hit her two times, and 1 hit on the Takao. Turning back around I fired my remaining torpedoes on this pair, bagging them. Being out of torpedoes and having the sonar tell me of approaching DDs at long range had me drop scope, dive deep, and resume silent running to the south to get out of there. After about 6 more hours (nightfall) and clear hydrophones I cautiously raised my scope, saw nothing, surfaced, and got out of dodge.
Was a real blast getting into a real TF, some lessons learned (such as be patient, stay with a target if possible) and some luck (having the destroyers get out of position). Clearly was my most successful patrol. Now, into Pearl for some R&R, trade in some renown, and decide what to drop on my options board to increase realism further.
Am loving this game and this community.

[kriller2]

sunset


dawn

[DS]

Summer, 1943, USS Halibut Fights to the Death

100% Realism

THE CROSSING

Our mission was a photo recon of Osaka harbor, deep inside the inland seas of Japan. USS Halibut, decked out in an MS-9 all black paint scheme, with a conning tower cut down at the back, set out to sea and had an uneventful trip across the Pacific, diving twice for aircraft radar contacts as she approached the waters East of Japan.

FIRST CONTACT

At about 2200 hours, radar contact was made with two surface contacts. Initial manual radar plots showed the contacts moving North, perpendicular to Halibut's Westerly course. A slight course adjustment was made and the engineer division were advised to increase RPMs to full speed. Sometime later it became apparent that either the initial plot was bad, or the targets had changed course to East North East. Halibut was now West of the radar contacts and was in the unenvious position of having to pursue the contacts who were now East of Halibut, and moving away at was was soon realised to be a radid rate of advance.

THE CHASE

Halibut increased to flank speed and gave chase, updating the radar plot as she went. Several hours went by before visual contact was made at about 4700 yards. The targets proved to be two un-escorted liners, moving at an estimated speed of 18 knots with no zig zags. Halibut continued to struggle to get into a firing position on these two high value targets. Within the hour, what looked like the best opportunity for a shot was developed. Halibut closed on the surface on the lead passenger liner (no doubt carrying many troops), which was the larger of the two ships. Seas were moderatly rough, and the time was pre-dawn with no moon. From about 2000 yards, Halibut took her shot, firing a spread from all six bow tubes. Three of the torpedoes pre-matured about half way to the target, giving her time to put her rudder hard over, casuing the other topedoes to miss, ane the lead liner to steam off to the South at a high rate of speed. With great disappointment, Halibut turned her attention to the second liner, which was still advancing on their original base course. Halibut dove and turned her stern to the second target, making the stern tubes ready for firing in all respects. As the second liner approached within 2600 yards of Halibut through, her Captain must have realised that staying on the track of of a ship that just miutes before narrowly escaped being torpedoes was not a wise tactical choice, and she too turned south at a high rate of speed. We were faced with the choice of another long surface chase with day light (and no doubt air patrols) approaching, or writing off the six wasted torpedoes and continuing with her primary mission. The choice was clear, and Halibut dove to 100 feet, slowed to 1/3 speed, and continued towards Japan, feeling somewhat cheated.

IN JAPANESE WATERS

The next evening, just after sundown, Halibut surfaced for a breath of fresh air and a battery charge at the approach to the straits West of Shirahama. She continued int othe straits, making visual contact with some Sampans, which she ignored. Further into the straits, with the water under her keel shallowing, she made radar contact with a lone eastbound merchant. She set course to intercept.

THE SECOND CONTACT

This time, the approach was relativly easy, due in part to the merchant moving at around 5 knots. Radar plot was accurate, and visual contact was soon made with a medium sized freighter. Halibut dove, made her final approach, and soon sent a spread of 4 bow shots onwards towards the target. Again, two torpedoes prematured, but two torpedoes hit the target in the bow and detonated. The target slowed and soon came to a stop, but showed no signs of sinking. Halibut repositioned to give the boys in the stern torpedo compartment room some extra elbow room. The torpedo in tube 7 was soon on its way, but proved to be a dud, striking the target at a 90 degree angle but not exploding. Tube 8 was fired with the same results. The torpedo from tube 9 was set to run a bit deeper that the others, and it too hit the target, this time with a great explosion. The freighter was finished, and Halibut had made her first kill. Now closer to shore and with only about 60 feet of water under her keel, Halibut headed back towards the center of the straits and for deeper water before continuing her penetration of the in-land seas.

HALIBUT IS BLOODIED

As dawn approached, active sonar was heard approaching. Halibut put up her periscope of investigate, and a small ASW patrol vessel was seen approaching directly towards Halibut while zig zagging on a torpedo evasion plot. It was soon apparent that Halibut had somehow been detected, and this small vessel was after some big game.

With a torpedo attack against this small vessel seen as unlikely to bring success given it's speed and evasive manouvers, not to mention Halibut's less than reliable torpedoes, Halibut took a sounding (the ASW vessel quite obviously already knew where Halibut was and was steam there at high speed) and dove to 170 feet, right near the bottom, before rigging for silent running and chaning course to the South. Soon, the ASW vessel passed overhead, and depth charges were heard splashing. They detonated slose enough to shake Halibut but not cause damage. Halibut continued to evade, but the next depth charge run was closer, and surface armaments, as well as the compressor and some lesser systems took some damage. The hull was still intact. Evasion continued, and several more depth charge runs were close, but not damaging. Still, Halibut could not find deeper water, and it was apparent that the ASW vessel was easily able to track her. Another depth charge attack brough damage to all the stern tubes. Halibut was now clearly in a pickle. While the officers were deciding on a new strategy, another depth charge attack destroyed the stern tubes and started floing in the stern torpedo room. Halibut's choices were clear. Either stay down, and continue to take a beating, or surface and hope the deck gun, though somewhat damaged, was still functional. Staying submerged at 170 feet had not proven effective, so the surface option was taken with some anxiety. It was recognised that the ASW vessel was small and lightly armed, and may not be able to match Halibut in a surface gun action. The crew readied for battle surface action, and Halibut surfaced at flank speed with her stern to the ASW vessel to give the gunners on the stern deck gun the best field of fire while minimizing Halibut's aspect to the Japanese sailors. Gun action ensued, with hits suffered by both vessels, but as predicted, Halibut was able to outlast the ASW vessel, which eventually sank in flames.

HALIBUT CRIPPLED ON THE SURFACE

Halibut found herself on the surface, having out shot the Japanese ASW vessel, but with hull breaches in several compartments. Aborting her photo recon mission, Halibut made best possible speed on the surface to escape Japanese waters in broad daylight. It was not long before Japanese naval aviation arrived, but Halibut made a good showing, downing one twin engine plane without suffering further damage. Halibut continued at best possible speed, exiting the straits and finding the deeper water of the open Pacific which she could no longer take advantage of in her condition. More planes came, and Halibut continued evasive manouvers while being strafed and bombed. Two more Japanese planes were damaged and Halibut was still underway when radar contact was made with a lone fast approaching ship, which soon proved to be a full fledged Japanese destroyer.

HALIBUT'S FINAL ACTION

Fighting on the surface was no longer an option, and Halibut dove to 80 feet, which was as far as the crew dared to take her in her condition. As might be expected, the Japanese destroyer's first depth charge run was devestating, and Halibut was all but finished. Emergency surface was ordered, and the crew donned life jackets, preparing to abandon ship, not sure if Halibut would be able to make it back to see daylight. Halibut though, had proven she could take a beating and still still find room for a bit more. In her last act, she made it to the surface, where the crew quickly abandoned ship as Japanese shells tore into Halibut mercilessly. Having successfully delivered her crew to relative safety, Halibut slipped beneath the waves on her last dive.


LESSONS LEARNED

1. 100% realism limits player ability in a realistic manner that adds greatly to game play. Under these conditions, torpedo attacks on alerted ASW vessles are a high risk proposition, and escorts need to be given the utmost in respect, and avoidance.

2. No surprise here, but shallow water also severely limits tactical options, which sounds fine as theory, but becomes very clear when you find yourself bested and unable to escape even the smallest of ASW vessels. In retrospect, it might have been better, after torpedoing the freighter, to surface and move at high speed for deep water before diving again, rather than slowing advancing for deep water while submerged in the hopes no one will come across you duing your slow transit.

3. From the time that Halibut stern room started flooding from the initial depth charge attacks, I could not find fault with my decisions, because there were no real decisions being made. All actions from that time on were with Halibut totally on the defensive and unable to regain the initiative, reacting to Japanese moves with the only available option at each stage. In essence, Halibut was dead from the time the first sonar ping hit her hull in 180 feet of water. It just took the Japanese some time to finish the job.

[LeeVanSpliff]

Edit: Deleted

[gAiNiAc]

Haha!

Van Spleef!

[LeeVanSpliff]

Originally Posted by gAiNiAc

Haha!

Van Spleef!

The guy looks sort of worried doesn't he?

[Sailor Steve]

Can't say much for the language though.

[LeeVanSpliff]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Can't say much for the language though.

Sorry! Not being an native English speaker I sometimes loose track of what's offensive.

[Gunfighter]

We Don't need the language son the picture is good but a big NO NO for the Language.