Into Harms Way

[G2B]

Radio Message 15 April 1942 0911

From USS Spearfish (SS 190)


Have encountered large enemy Task Force moving NE approximately 14 knots
Position 8*40' N 110*10 E


Approximately 28 ships.
At least 2 Battleships 3 Carriers possibly more......


USS Spearfish Status

Position 8*45' N 110*15 E Heading NNW 4knots

3 torpedoes forward 7 aft
Fuel at half
Crew slightly fatigued from sinking 2 lone merchants last night with deck gun.

Weather
Wind 15 meters ps
Clear skies

We are going into Harms Way



TMO 1.7
RSRD


I was thinking about shadowing them and attacking at nightfall but they have scout planes up constantly. This is what made me suspicious 3 planes on a flight path that lead to nothing but water in both directions. Other problem escort may drop back and spot us. Currently I'm in a position to get ahead of them, just have to watch out for planes spotting me.

Bugger wish I had more fish

Any Advice or thoughts are welcome

[rosentorf]

Good Find! Engage IJN-Warships if position and resources allow it!

Send those flat-tops to the bottom!

[SteamWake]

Some guys have all the luck

[Zero Niner]

Good luck! In all my careers in SH4 I've never encountered anything better than a Kongo-class BB, a few CAs, a couple of CVEs (Taiho class) and the Chitose seaplane tender.

[G2B]

Report

1 Soryu Class 4 Kongo Class 16 Destroyers
2 Hiryu Class 2 Maya Class
2 Shokaku Class 1 Kuma Class


and lots of aircraft

Originally Posted by G2B

16 Destroyers and lots of aircraft

Indeed!

[cwelt]

Originally Posted by G2B

16 Destroyers

That smiley almost made me p!&& my pants.. if you can make a video of your attack run I would LOOOOOOVE to see the fall out once those first fish hit the water.. that's like poking a hornets nest with a stick!!!

[Radio]

I hope your torpedoes will not fail you, I see that you are in early42 which means the Mk14 still has its flaws....

Maybe you should go for the carriers and not the BBs because of that, the Carriers are a tiny bit easier to sink with contact explosions.

Anyway: good luck and yes, please post screenshots!

[G2B]

Report for 15 April 1942

Engagement with IJN Task Force


0911 Tracking large TF heading NE on newly installed surface radar. Attempted to run flank speed on a NNW heading for attack position.

0917 Three aircraft detected on radar heading SW, most likely air patrol from TF. May have been patrol we spotted heading NE that forced us under earlier. Emergency dive to 180' to avoid detection, altered course to run more northerly direction for intercept of TF.

0921 Multiple Sonar contacts closing, pushing the batteries hard to get into position.

0941 Battle stations called. Set depth at 50' maintaining Flank speed. Identified 1 Soryu 2 Hiryu 2 Shokaku 4 Kongo and 2 Maya. 1 Destroyer off the port bow 6000 yards 2 Destroyers off to port 8000 yards. TF arranged in three columns, ships separated by approximately 2500 yards. Escorts loosely patrolling perimeters.

0946 Steep dive to 160' Sonar contacts closing, have several contacts ahead off the port bow.

0949 Two contacts slowing off our port stern changing heading. Some crew members heard very faint pings. Adjusted course to run due N to reduce profile set depth to 200' deeper into thermal layer.

0952 Two contacts moving slow and away E. We avoided detection.

0957 Heading N sonar reports contacts all around us, we have just reached what should be the most southern line in the TF. Set depth to 50' still running flank speed. TF running at 16 knots

1000 Change course to NE to run parallel with TF we are between center column and southern column. Soryu and Hiryu's already ahead 1 Shokaku astern 6000 yards 1 Shokaku portside 3500 yards in center column. 1 Kongo astern 3500 yards 1 Kongo Starboard 1000 yards in southern column.

1001 Set Torpedoes 1 and 3 High speed. Torpedoes 5 and 7 Low. Torpedoes 6 and 8 High. Open tubes 1,3,5,6,7,8 Hold number 2. Adjust course 10* starboard.

1003 Range to Shokaku 4500 yards, Fire tubes 5 and 7 Change course 20* port

1005 Range to Shokake 1800 yards, Fire tubes 1 and 3

1006 Range to Kongo 1000 yards, Fire tubes 6 and 8 Set for steep dive, depth 200' change course 25* starboard. Heard 2 consecutive explosions, within 15 seconds 2 more consecutive explosions,


1007 Again 2 more explosions. Completely surprised, could it be? Not one dud.

1009 Sonar contacts closing fast.

1010 Heard massive explosions and breaking up sounds.

1011 Another massive explosion and breaking sounds, closer. We have 4 contacts closing on our former position fast. Change course 25* starboard, lets look skinny and fuzzy new depth 230'

1030 Speed 1 knot, faint pinging. Sonar contacts moving slow, they must be zigging in on our old position. Sonar contact moving away slow just ahead about 1800 yards. Sounds like we crippled the Kongo.

1032 DC splashes, nowhere near us. Sonar contacts moving slow away bearing 194. Again we avoided detection. We must be the Luckiest boat around. Ahead standard

1035 Set depth 50' change course heading NW Flank speed. Risky but I want that Kongo.

1040 Ahead slow we have 4 Destroyers Se of our position distance ranging from 3000 to 4500 yards moving slow looking for us, it the wrong spot. Crippled Kongo NE at about 4200 yards speed 5 knots. Open tubes 5 and 7 new course SW speed 1 knot.

1044 Fire tubes 5 and 7. Steep dive ahead flank depth 220' course NW.

1049 2 consecutive explosions, going to give some medals and promotions to the torpedo crews. Rig for silent running.

1050 Massive Explosion breaking sounds. Sonar contacts moving fast closing.

1052 Some faint pinging 2 contacts closing slow.

1054 Contacts moving away fast heading NE. I'm not going to complain about not getting rained on here but it seems they needed to be somewhere else in a hurry. Secure from Battle stations. We got really Lucky. Just hope we can RTB



Times and distances may be off a little but this is pretty much how it went

[G2B]

Not to deceive anybody but to get the pics I ran this a couple different times and on those occasions I got rained on severely

What I wrote about was the first run without using external camera

[magic452]

Good post and even better attack.

Magic