Does this happen often?

Tally Ho · 08-23-07, 01:47 PM

After a few false starts, SH4 Up and Running with TM 1.5...

Captain Tally Ho, USS S-40 out of Manila patrols Celebes Sea, is transferred to Java while at sea, sinks two freighters en route to new home totalling some 4,700 tons.

Combat-blooded and hopeful of further success, S-40 is sent to land troops on Phillipines, en route encounters Jap Task Force, unable to get firing solution on cruisers or escort carrier, but sinks DD 1,687 tons and evades 4 others, continues and lands commandos on Luzon. Dispatched to Luzon Strait to patrol. Encounters two freighters in consort en route, torpedoes one, deck guns the other, 6,500 tons total. Continues on to patrol area.

After several days of no sightings, evading aircraft, S-40 comes across small convoy, five freighters escorted by one DD in heavy weather night action. Lets DD pass by, then raises scope to obtain solution on largest freighter. Watch officer (and possesed of supernatural Bushido senses) Tokeshi Doshu aboard DD spots scope raised for 10 seconds on starless night in foamy stormy seas from1500 yards (oh well), DD commander attacks. S-40 fires two torps at large freighter, both just miss. While evading oncoming DD, tries a snap shot with other two at small freighter very close, but freighter turns toward, closes range, torps both hit but bounce off, having had only 300 yards to run and did not arm. S-40 dives deep.

Charging DD blasts S-40 with depth charges. Forward torpedo room severely flooding, plane control severed, batteries damaged, many injured crewmen. Depth control briefly lost, regained only by partial blowing of ballast to attempt to rise to 70 feet and moving forward slow. After painful creep North, evading further DD runs, S-40 ultimately loses her pusuer and, by 3am is able to surface and effect repairs.

With no remaining fish, severely damaged hull, no plane control, and prospect of repeated air attack come dawn, S-40 retires to the southeast before completing patrol mission, beginning a long, harrowing 3-week limp home to Java. Ultimately, S-40 brought home safe with no souls lost.

Here's the rub....

In 2 war patrols, Dec '41 through Feb '42, USS S-40 does the following:
Successfully completes 1 patrol assignment (Celebes)
Successfully lands troops undetect on Luzon
Sinks 5 ships (including 1 DD) totalling almost 13,000 tons
Retires early from 1 patrol assignment following engagement, all torps expended and heavy damage, damaged boat brought home safe through dangerous seas, no losses.
LCdr Tally Ho earns Purple Heart and Bronze Star for Valor for actions saving S-40.

So, I come to base feeling reasonably proud of all this, and am told 'The Admiral decides I am more suited to a position on his staff. Now go fetch his coffee.' or somesuch, and told my career is over, a miserable failure that could have perhaps been mitigated if only I had been more aggressive, or words to that effect.

This elicits a blank stare from me, then much cursing at the monitor...

While I do not doubt the realism of a sudden reassignment to a staff position for even a moderately successful sub skipper, it made for a horribly unsatisfying game experience. In three months (two at sea) I had sunk 5 ships, attacked everything in sight, fled battle only when I was heavily damaged and with no weapons, and brought my crew home safe (and was decorated for it). I was proud, happy, and looking forward to the continuance of a promising career, only to have what felt like a 'random encounter' senslessly cut it all short and make it feel like a waste.

What makes this happen? Is it just a random chance? Did I do something wrong? Should I (against all common sense) have lingered with a crippled, toothless boat in the patrol area until the star turned gray? As my last action as the commander of S-40, can I turn my deck gun on the admiral's staff car? What gives?

LCdr Tally Ho
Staff Attache to Adm. A. Dufuus
Surabaya NAS, Java

08-23-07, 01:47 PM	#1
Tally Ho Swabbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The American Heartland Posts: 13 Downloads: 12 Uploads: 0	Does this happen often? After a few false starts, SH4 Up and Running with TM 1.5... Captain Tally Ho, USS S-40 out of Manila patrols Celebes Sea, is transferred to Java while at sea, sinks two freighters en route to new home totalling some 4,700 tons. Combat-blooded and hopeful of further success, S-40 is sent to land troops on Phillipines, en route encounters Jap Task Force, unable to get firing solution on cruisers or escort carrier, but sinks DD 1,687 tons and evades 4 others, continues and lands commandos on Luzon. Dispatched to Luzon Strait to patrol. Encounters two freighters in consort en route, torpedoes one, deck guns the other, 6,500 tons total. Continues on to patrol area. After several days of no sightings, evading aircraft, S-40 comes across small convoy, five freighters escorted by one DD in heavy weather night action. Lets DD pass by, then raises scope to obtain solution on largest freighter. Watch officer (and possesed of supernatural Bushido senses) Tokeshi Doshu aboard DD spots scope raised for 10 seconds on starless night in foamy stormy seas from1500 yards (oh well), DD commander attacks. S-40 fires two torps at large freighter, both just miss. While evading oncoming DD, tries a snap shot with other two at small freighter very close, but freighter turns toward, closes range, torps both hit but bounce off, having had only 300 yards to run and did not arm. S-40 dives deep. Charging DD blasts S-40 with depth charges. Forward torpedo room severely flooding, plane control severed, batteries damaged, many injured crewmen. Depth control briefly lost, regained only by partial blowing of ballast to attempt to rise to 70 feet and moving forward slow. After painful creep North, evading further DD runs, S-40 ultimately loses her pusuer and, by 3am is able to surface and effect repairs. With no remaining fish, severely damaged hull, no plane control, and prospect of repeated air attack come dawn, S-40 retires to the southeast before completing patrol mission, beginning a long, harrowing 3-week limp home to Java. Ultimately, S-40 brought home safe with no souls lost. Here's the rub.... In 2 war patrols, Dec '41 through Feb '42, USS S-40 does the following: Successfully completes 1 patrol assignment (Celebes) Successfully lands troops undetect on Luzon Sinks 5 ships (including 1 DD) totalling almost 13,000 tons Retires early from 1 patrol assignment following engagement, all torps expended and heavy damage, damaged boat brought home safe through dangerous seas, no losses. LCdr Tally Ho earns Purple Heart and Bronze Star for Valor for actions saving S-40. So, I come to base feeling reasonably proud of all this, and am told 'The Admiral decides I am more suited to a position on his staff. Now go fetch his coffee.' or somesuch, and told my career is over, a miserable failure that could have perhaps been mitigated if only I had been more aggressive, or words to that effect. This elicits a blank stare from me, then much cursing at the monitor... While I do not doubt the realism of a sudden reassignment to a staff position for even a moderately successful sub skipper, it made for a horribly unsatisfying game experience. In three months (two at sea) I had sunk 5 ships, attacked everything in sight, fled battle only when I was heavily damaged and with no weapons, and brought my crew home safe (and was decorated for it). I was proud, happy, and looking forward to the continuance of a promising career, only to have what felt like a 'random encounter' senslessly cut it all short and make it feel like a waste. What makes this happen? Is it just a random chance? Did I do something wrong? Should I (against all common sense) have lingered with a crippled, toothless boat in the patrol area until the star turned gray? As my last action as the commander of S-40, can I turn my deck gun on the admiral's staff car? What gives? LCdr Tally Ho Staff Attache to Adm. A. Dufuus Surabaya NAS, Java