Wow. Shallow Water Drama!

[Dutch]

I was sent to partrol the K Striaght just north West of Java in early 42. I patrolled there for 3-4 days and then on noon of the third day I caught warships incoming on my hydrophones.

I surfaced and sprinted towards them. With smoke on thye horizon I sent a contact report (as per my orders) and was instructed to engage, plotted an intercept course submerged and lay in wait. Two CA's without escort traviling on a course of 120 at 12 kts. I fired four torpedoes into the gut of the first one and ended around to fire four more at the second. The first one erupted into a ball of fire and slowed to a halt while the second took evasive actions. I fired the aft four but to no avail. Two missed and two duds, but I effectively killed one of them and cruised back to my original patrol zone.

Upon returning after a day and a half of listening to the phones I picked up more warships inbound. Again as before I sprinted towards them and upon visuals I sent a contact report. Three ships in total 2 CAs and a DD. Had the Japanese learned a lesson from earlier in the week? Regardless of this unpleasant developement I went to pd and crawled into position.

I let loose four "individual kisses" towards the leading CA. Two duds, One under the fore turrent, and one right under the funnel by the forecastle area. With only 115 ft of water I dove and became as a hole in the water as I listened for the approaching escort. For a while I thought I had duped the escort but shortly afterwards I heard the screeching of its pings against me, which began to come more frequently.

I ordered flank speed and hard to port in just a timely manner as to barely avoid the depth charges. My enemy and I did this dance for atleast an hour (wrecking my nervous to the point that I badly needed a ciggerrette, which I had then continued) untill it finally lost my trial. sneaking away to the SE at 1kt I crept. Suddenly the cry of active sonar bellowed in my ears and once again we began our dangerous game. It charged me and I attempted to evade. But I was not so lucky this time around and a few (no more than 3) depth charges hit close enough to do substantial damage to my electric engines. I was now hopelessly adrift in a sea of death. I allowed my sub to sink down towards the bottom, which bought time for my crew to attempt repair of the engines.

I again began my escape at 1 kt not just racing against the iron-clad will of the Japanese Escort but also against the forces of nature as my crew did a balancing act to keep out the rushing water. After many more exhausting hours the sun began to set and the escort rejoined the remaining CA to the south leaving its crippled sister to fend for herself against the wolves. I fired two more torpedoes and watched as it gracefully sank beneath the waves.

For the first time in my SH4 career I had two CA's under my belt which were not easliy won. While it is possible to evade escorts at shallow depths it is very instense and dramatic. What a blast I had. Now i remeber why I love sub sims!