Article 32 hearing of LCDR Eugene D. Williams

[Armistead]

July 28, 1943

Article 32 Hearing

Plaintiff : USN, Subsim Bureau of Investigation. US Govt.
Defendant: LCDR Eugene D. Williams, USN, USS Grenadier
AKA Red October

This is a preliminary hearing to discuss possible charges of:

Failure to attack the enemy in order to progress career.
Dereliction of duty.
Falsifying reports, logs.
Failure to provide medical care to crew.
Failure to follow commands and orders.
Wantonly shooting and killing 21 protected wading birds.

The intentions of this court are to prove that LCDR Eugene D. Williams was given orders to intercept and attack IJN TF, but left area of patrol without orders and proceeded to Truk Harbor, infiltrated harbor, and made an approach on stationary TF in harbor. That is his approach LCDR Eugene D. Williams proceeded into 65 ft of water to perform attack, claiming to sink a Yamato BB, HIryu Carrier and Heavy Cruiser. This court will prove that LCDR Eugene D. Williams in fact did not sink any ships, except a possible Sampan. This court will prove that LCDR Eugene D. Williams falsified reports and patrol logs to promote is claims and seek false promotion. This court will prove beyond doubt that LCDR Eugene D. Williams put sub and crew at unnecessary risk in attacking a neutral Sampan posing no threat, causing damage to submarine and serious injury to several crew members. This court will further prove that LCDR Eugene D. Williams became unable to command, blaming his failures on crew, a glitzy game and even voodoo. This court will also prove that LCDR Eugene D. Williams disobeyed direct orders from Admiral Armistead. Further we will prove that he placed blame and accused the Admiral's staff of aiding the enemy without evidence or cause.

Let it be known, that this is a hearing, that any and all evidence found can lead to further prosecution, including court martial and dismissal from the Subsim Navy. Be in known all Subsim rules are in place.

Let the record show that LCDR Eugene D. Williams refused plea deal offered, refused military counsel and will be defending himself.

At the conclusion of this hearing, the court and general membership of Subsim will make recommendations regarding LCDR Eugene D. Williams fitness to command.


Admiral Armistead

[Red October1984]

I will tell the story from the top when I am provided a JAG Lawyer.

[Armistead]

Court in session.


Calling LCDR Eugene D. Williams to the stand.

Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?

LCDR Eugene D. Williams, you're the commanding officer of the USS Grenadier?

What mods do you use?

Are your mods properly installed and working correctly?

Have you made any changes to any mod you may be using?

Regarding your patrol of May 20, 1943 - July 18, 1943, what were your orders?

Please explain why you decided to infiltrate Truk Harbor?

Briefly explain what happened during your attack in Truk Harbor?

Let it be known that Lt. Goose is hereby authorized to question the defendant, any and all witnesses, including cross examination. Per Subsim, rules, any member of outstanding character may question any and all members.

Anyone that post here is subject to cross examination.

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by Red October1984

I will tell the story from the top when I am provided a JAG Lawyer.

You were given numerous opportunities to accept military counsel and did not respond. Request denied.

Answer the questions or be held in contempt. You WILL honor this court and it's processes.

[Red October1984]

I swear to tell the truth

Yes I am the Commanding Officer of the Grenadier

I run Trigger Maru Overhauled v2.5, Run Silent Run Deep Campaign Mod v502, Traveller Mod v2.02, Improved Stock Environment v3, Authentic Flags Mod, Less Plankton v1.2, and the Subsim New Narwhal v1.8.5

The mods are properly installed and run correctly aside from the odd graphical error. There have been no changes other than the Camera File that Admiral Armistead supplied to me himself.

Regarding my patrol, I was sent from Pearl Harbor to intercept the IJN Task Force that was going to Truk.

I decided to infiltrate Truk because I was ordered to.

I entered from the Southern Channel and moved through the harbor channel to Truk. When it was 0300 hours, I came to Radar Depth. A Japanese merchant spotted my radar and lit me up with it's searchlight. I was then fired upon by Harbor Patrol Boats. I dived to 190 feet and continued my transit through the harbor channel. When I reached Truk, I waited until 0300 again and came to Radar Depth. I detected the IJN Task Force within Torpedo Range. I was once again detected and fired upon by said Subchaser. It damaged my Attack Periscope and it wouldn't raise as quickly anymore after that. I circled around to deeper water to shake the subchaser because I did not want any of the IJN Task Force to detect me until I attack. After I shook it off, I continued my attack. I moved into 65 foot water and got into range of the IJN Hiryu. I fired torpedoes and sunk it. Next, I targeted IJN Yamato. I fired all the rest of my bow torpedoes at Yamato and had to turn and shoot my stern torpedoes. I noticed a grapical error where the IJN Hiryu wreck moved and left burning oil all over the water. I moved around it and continued my attack. When Yamato finally sank to the bottom from my torpedo attack, I used my last two stern torpedoes to shoot at a Heavy Cruiser on my way out of the harbor. When I exited the harbor, Admiral Armistead and Lt. Goose immediately jumped onto my case that I had falsified logs since they had intel from an unconfirmed source that the Yamato and Hiryu had been spotted elsewhere. You can ask any of my officers or enlisted crew. We sunk the Yamato and Hiryu. The Heavy Cruiser exploded into two pieces. I had jokingly blamed Voodoo curses for the graphical issue. At no point in this attack were any crewmembers injured. Two of my watch crew had been injured in an attack from a Japanese Zero on the way back to Pearl Harbor and I promptly assigned my Medic to treat their wounds. The two crewmen are alive and well. They are still fit for patrol. On the way back to Pearl, Admiral Armistead had accused me of these charges and ordered me to return to base. When I reached Hawaii, I circled the island and then returned to port. Nobody went ashore or came aboard for 2 days while I attempted to negotiate with the Admiral. I claimed that there may be a leak in his chain of command and suggested that somebody close to him may be trying to sabotage American Submarines. Lt. Goose was my first suspect because, as far as my knowledge goes, he was the only one who knew my position and knew of my patrol results.

I was awarded the Silver Star for my ~95,000 tons of enemy warships and I gave a Silver Star to my medic for his heroic actions in saving the lives of two of the watch crew and shooting down the IJAAF Zero with the 20mm Flak Gun.

[Armistead]

LCDR Eugene D. Williams

Are your previous patrol reports and log entries accurate and honest? Do they reflect your patrol at that time?

Is it your intention to change any part of your story after the fact, do you in fact intend to add this day more info you didn't include in your report log?

LCDR Eugene D. Williams, you do know how to correctly write and do reports?

LCDR Eugene D. Williams, do you have plans or intentions to now make up stories and lie to this court.

You are under oath Sir.........

[Armistead]

LCDR Eugene D. Williams

Was your crew properly trained by you? Do you feel they were properly trained and ready for the attack you made inside Truk Harbor. Were you confident that your crew was ready for such an attack?

[Armistead]

LCDR Eugene D. Williams

Do you use the external cam {cheat cam}?

If so, do you use it for advantage in the game to plot, attack or gain an unfair advantage against the enemy?

[Red October1984]

Admiral Armistead...

My previous patrol reports do, indeed, reflect an honest accurate patrol. I have only been on one previous patrol. The report is true and honest to what actually happened.

It is my direct intention to tell the true story before this court. I don't have any reason at all to lie or falsify any information.

I do know how to write reports, however, I am still relatively new having only been on one previous patrol.


My crew was properly trained before I left on patrol. This crew performed very well on my previous patrol and I have full confidence in their ability to do the job. They are competent and I know that they were prepared for this attack.

I do use the External Camera but I do not use it for gathering information on the enemy's movements/capabilities or to plot an attack. I use it strictly for the beautiful graphics at sunset/sunrise and screenshot documentations.

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by Red October1984

Admiral Armistead...

My previous patrol reports do, indeed, reflect an honest accurate patrol. I have only been on one previous patrol. The report is true and honest to what actually happened.

It is my direct intention to tell the true story before this court. I don't have any reason at all to lie or falsify any information.

I do know how to write reports, however, I am still relatively new having only been on one previous patrol.


My crew was properly trained before I left on patrol. This crew performed very well on my previous patrol and I have full confidence in their ability to do the job. They are competent and I know that they were prepared for this attack.

I do use the External Camera but I do not use it for gathering information on the enemy's movements/capabilities or to plot an attack. I use it strictly for the beautiful graphics at sunset/sunrise and screenshot documentations.

You say your crew was ready for this attack, but what does the truth say, what did YOU previously say? I enter for the record the following statement by Cmdr Williams.

"Sank ~31500 tons of Japanese merchant shipping. Most of the ships were in the Japanese Home Waters. Luckily, these were lone ships and not accompanied by escorts. The crew isn't ready enough to take on a convoy."

Isn't it clear that your crew had only attacked lone ships, without escorts and that you said that they weren't even ready to take on a mere convoy? If you felt your crew wasn't ready to take on a mere convoy, why would you infiltrate a harbor full of escorts and warships. Isn't it true, you didn't have confidence in your crew, sub or self for such an attack as you attempted?

[Red October1984]

Yes it is true that I said that, but...

At the time, the only convoys I had encountered were close to the Japanese Home Island. When I said that the crew wasn't ready for a convoy, I meant that they weren't ready to take on the escorts and I felt that they need more experience firing at faster-moving targets and there is always room for improvement no matter what you are doing.

When we were ordered to intercept the Task Force, we were told to go to Truk Harbor. This crew has Harbor-Raided before. The ships we were to attack were at anchor and the shallow water was too shallow for depth charges in such a close proximity. The depth charges would've damaged other IJN ships. This was my thinking when I moved into the 65 foot water. I felt that my crew was ready to take this challenge, but, we need more experience before we take on a convoy in deep water where the danger of Depth Charges is real.

[Armistead]

Entering the harbor you log reads

"But then again, there's a BATTLESHIP at anchor a few NM away. Looks like Yamato to me. "

How did you know it was a BB of the Yamato class? During your approach on the stationary TF, you wrote in your log you started having problems with a subchaser over you. Is this correct sir? Did you not say it had no sonar and did not drop any charges on you? How if fact did you know it was a subchaser?

Did you not state in your log that you were NOT able to use your periscope or even come to radar depth? Yet, somehow you knew it had guns! Sir, did you in fact use the external cam to gain advantage here. DID YOU!? Is it possible, that in fact, it was no subchaser at all and even if it was, it made no attack on you? In fact, didn't you claim it didn't even know you were there? Did you indeed break off contact from the TF to deal with claimed subchaser?

You mentioned you didn't even have a deck gun, is this true? Why didn't you secure a deck gun while in port?

Did you not claim you had intentions of surfacing and ramming claimed subchaser.? SIR, why would you even consider attacking a claimed subchaser on the surface and having your position radioed in? You are using the Trav. mod aren't you, well...AREN'T you? Did you shoot any torps at this subchaser, damage it in anyway?

Your reports say you suffered or did no damaged with claimed subchaser. You claimed you were able to escape it into deeper water. Cmdr Williams, was there even a subchaser there? Is it possible that this was a mere sampan or fishing boat?

I enter into evidence the following log entry regarding this portion of the attack.

"I'm not able to raise my periscope or come to radar depth.
There's a subchaser circling above me. No active sonar...no depth charges....just guns.
Again, the need for a deck gun arises... But then again, there's a BATTLESHIP at anchor a few NM away. Looks like Yamato to me.
Batteries are below 25% and I need to surface soon. I think I'm going to head for some deeper waters in the harbor and try to shake this subchaser.
I don't use the external camera for advantages and I love the views also. The sunset/sunrise with the sub in the foreground looks cool--"

You clearly say you couldn't use your periscopes, plural! You couldn't use radar and that you were submerged. Yet, somehow you ID'ed a Yamato BB and a Subchaser with guns over you.

SIr, you indeed did use the free cam or even more probable, you had no clue what was up there. Which is it? I remind you you're under oath.

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by Red October1984

Yes it is true that I said that, but...

At the time, the only convoys I had encountered were close to the Japanese Home Island. When I said that the crew wasn't ready for a convoy, I meant that they weren't ready to take on the escorts and I felt that they need more experience firing at faster-moving targets and there is always room for improvement no matter what you are doing.

When we were ordered to intercept the Task Force, we were told to go to Truk Harbor. This crew has Harbor-Raided before. The ships we were to attack were at anchor and the shallow water was too shallow for depth charges in such a close proximity. The depth charges would've damaged other IJN ships. This was my thinking when I moved into the 65 foot water. I felt that my crew was ready to take this challenge, but, we need more experience before we take on a convoy in deep water where the danger of Depth Charges is real.

So you feel your crew isn't ready for fighting convoys with escort in deep water because of depth charges, but that they were ready to fight escorts with depth charges in 65 ft of water..?

Do you honestly believe that escorts can't or won't drop depth charges on you while in shallow water? Is that what you're really saying Cmdr..?

[Red October1984]

Admiral Armistead

After I was fired upon by the subchaser's machine guns, I was still able to use my periscopes but they did not raise as fast as usual. When I broke off the attack the first time, I had to recharge my batteries. I remember saying this. I went north a bit and ran on the surface for a night to recharge batteries and make repairs. We made visual contact with the subchaser several times. I saw the Yamato through my periscope before I was fired upon the second time.

I did not secure a deck gun while in port because I simply could not. I tried several times, but there was no way for me to get one.

Not everything I put in the reports was written down officially. I added my personal thoughts, ideas, humor, and sarcasm into those reports because, may I remind you, this is a public internet forum. I did not know if the subchaser had sonar or not. That was an assumption on my part. When I said I had the intention to surface and ram the subchaser, I had been awake for 32 hours straight underwater and I was getting fed up. This was an attempt to make a joke.

You are telling me that I said one thing...when I did not. I stated several times that I received damage from the subchaser. I attempted to fire a torpedo at it. I also stated that. When I said that i could not use my periscope or come to radar depth, I was stating that if I did use my periscope or came to radar depth, I would've been discovered and fired upon once again. If you look again, I said "Periscope" without an "S" on it. That means that it wasn't plural. I was not able to use my periscope out of fear of detection. At that point in time, Sonar had reported the Subchaser closing in on me.

I felt that we could attack ships in port in 65 feet of water because I had done it before with this crew. I, being a new skipper, have yet to attack a convoy. I have only been in contact with 2 convoys in my time as a submarine commander. One of them was near the Bungo Straits and was moving too fast for me to intercept. The other one was a group of Junks en route to Tokyo harbor. I did not engage because those targets are not worth it.

Yes, I did believe that the escorts would not drop depth charges in their own harbor. I believed that the water was too shallow for an attack in the close proximity to the Task Force. The Japanese escorts were anchored in the harbor anyway. I could tell that much from the Periscope.

[Armistead]

Cmdr Williams,

Regarding your attack on the Hiryu, how did you ID this ship? You say you sunk it, do you have any SS of this claimed sinking?

Let's review your patrol report, it is your report, isn't it?

"Fine. I guess I'll just take some screenshots to prove that my periscopes are destroyed and there's a moving glitchy wreck.
I'm not that bad. I just don't want to lose this career so early and it's just hard to attack a large group of warships in 65 feet of water.
The game is girthing with the Hiryu. It's been burning for almost a whole day and the wreck moves....It sets the water on fire wherever
it goes and it just creeps around the harbor. Seeing this in my periscope actually broke both periscopes and hurt my watch crew. WTF IS GOING ON?!"

You claim you sunk the Hiryu. Notice, you say both your periscopes are DESTROYED and you have SS's to prove it, where are these SS Cmdr?

You say after you sunk the Hiryu, it caught fire, then wandered slowly around the harbor. You say periscopes are destroyed, but the Hiryu is already on fire, moving or glitching as you say. You claim that just viewing this actually broke both periscopes and hurt your watch crew. How could this happen if both periscopes are already destroyed? Sir, isn't it possible the Hiryu did not sink and in fact was escaping or could it be you were confused and not even sure what was happening? Sir, did you not admit in your log "WTF if goin on?!" Isn't it true, that in this stage of claimed battle, you actually had no clue what was happening, even wrote it down in your log?