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Old 01-08-20, 06:01 PM   #1
Hazelwood
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Default Hunt for Wounded Bear

I usually prefer playing missions I've put together myself but once in awhile give the "canned" ones a go. I have found "Hunt for Wounded Bear" problematic. It's a darn long way from Perth, Australia to the alleged zone of engagement. By the time I am there I am down to 20% or less of diesel. The Shokaku task force never shows up (I have cheated by examining the route with the Mission Editor so know I'm on the right spot). I sit there on the water for days, dodging aircraft and the occasional destroyer but no task force. I have tried relocating my starting position to the first leg of the task force route and, sure enough, they arrive and I sink the Shokaku. Evidently there's nothing broken (?) I'd enjoy hearing from other skippers concerning this mission and their luck with it.

I could try sailing all the way to Japan and greet them there but by then we're down to batteries or even oars.

Cpt. Hazelwood
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Old 01-08-20, 09:03 PM   #2
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In Stock, I think I've been successful at catching them one time, and that was years ago. I went directly north, through Makassar Strait, Sibutu Passage and into the Sulu Sea and caught them before they went up through the Mindoro Strait west of Panay. They've got a shorter distance to travel than you, but that is the closest point for your paths to cross. Only problem is the multiple routes the ship can take, and you would never know if you were out in front of it, or behind it ~except~ that it will report once every 24 hours where it is - er, sorry, ruined the immersion - the coastwatchers will report it once every 24 hours... You don't need to do Ahead Flank all the way. You'll burn all your fuel, but Ahead Full might be called for. Ahead Standard won't cut it.
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Old 01-11-20, 04:55 PM   #3
Hazelwood
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Much thanks. Bottom line is that it's just tough so I'll stick with it.

Cpt. Hazelwood.
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Old 01-11-20, 05:07 PM   #4
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Yes, it can be tough to track them down, just watch your NavMap just after midnight, perhaps a little before, depending upon which clock the game is watching, and you should get your nightly "Ultra" update... :wink: - at least, that's what I pretend it is. The IJN was rather 'regular' in the comms, just like the BdU was, and with the top-secret codebreakers, which very few knew about in the field, the subs were at times dialed into the movements of some of the groups like they were part of the comm group. Early in the war it was FruPac, but I can't remember from my reading if they changed the name, or would just tell the sub to be at a certain set of coordinates at a certain time on a certain date. Major US advantage. Now, in SH4, you see a little text message to the effect of "Enemy Task Force near 138°42'E, 0°52'N, Speed Medium, Heading WNW" or maybe "Heading 284°", can't remember, but I think it's the less refined "WNW", or maybe just "West" in this case... ?? Roughly 24 hours later, you might get another. If you look on your NavMap and zoom to that area, you would generally see a red square box with a tail on it, signifying where it came from, giving you a general idea of it's direction of travel then. "Medium speed" is about nine knots, which is what you'll mostly see from the Wounded Bear. Don't forget now, she's got some tigers escorting her...
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Old 01-14-20, 02:05 AM   #5
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OK Hazelwood. I did it again! I thought I'd do some screen grabs to show you my approach to the situation, and I really should have "filmed" it... instead, here is a pdf with pictures, and lots of typos to bore you to tears with, but I am rahter proud of myself actually finding them so easily, and then actually sinking the Bear!

The Hunt For Wounded Bear pdf

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Old 01-14-20, 06:13 PM   #6
Hazelwood
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Default Success

Owing in part to your good advice I finally pulled this off, ambushing the carrier task force just north of Basilan Island in deep water (intentionally avoiding the numerous shallows in the area where you could easily be confounded by the destroyers). It took them a long, long time to show up. The destroyer screen was unusually compact but we went deep and slow under them. They never caught on and the poor Shokaku was toast. Figuring there'd be no second chance we fired an over-kill of six torpedoes as close together as possible and headed back down for awhile. Although with less than 20% diesel left I decided to do a proper return home - but to Darwin instead of much more distant Perth/Fremantle. At just a few knots it's amazing how long fuel lasts and we slipped into port a few days later, having even dispatched a small task force near Maluku on the way. We were on diesel fumes for sure but still had the electrics in reserve - never needed. I was taken aback at how scenic the Darwin area proved to be - nicely done land graphics.

This is a great patrol. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Cpt. Hazelwood
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