Are Japanese Destroyer Captains Demented Or What?

Seminole · 07-05-08, 04:44 PM

Today I put 4 fish into a large troop transport escorted on all sides by DEs. I dropped down to 290 feet, below a thermal, and crept away at 2 kts....undetected ansd unmolested.

The destroyers circled the oil slick of the hapless transport, tossing directly into it, pattern after patern of depth charges. They kept this up until the oil slick dissapated, then continued bombing the beejeebers out of the remaining flotsam. I suppose they stayed at it until they were out of charges to drop. If there were any survivors among the flotsam the DEs most certainly made shark chum out of them.

A couple of days ago I was reconing carriers in a harbor. I was runnung with about 6 inches of water above the scope and 6 inches below the keel. This time 3 destroyers were circling around dropping charges eveywhere but where I was. I was thinking how easy it ought to be to pick one, maybe all 3, off when suddenly there was an explosion on the stern of one of the subhunters. I don't know if he blew his own rear end off, by going too slow, or a depth charge exploded on deck but he went down fast by the stern with his bow sticking up 45 degrees out of the shallow water. He was still there after I took my pictures and left. The other DEs went over to investigate and for a time at least they were off my trail for a while. Again whats up with these guys? Anyone on board the hunters could have looked over the side and counted the crabs crawling along the seafloor. They could hardly have missed my boat bellysliding along though the grass and rocks....but they did!

Which brings up another point...why do so many hate these special ops missions? I find them very exciting and a change of pace. According to Hoyt's Submarines At War they are fairly historical . In fact, while on that subject, Hoyt's book could almost be an explainatory manual for SHIV.

Captain Dave · 07-05-08, 08:14 PM

Strange indeed. I don't have an explanation.

The Fishlord · 07-05-08, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seminole

A couple of days ago I was reconing carriers in a harbor. I was runnung with about 6 inches of water above the scope and 6 inches below the keel. This time 3 destroyers were circling around dropping charges eveywhere but where I was. I was thinking how easy it ought to be to pick one, maybe all 3, off when suddenly there was an explosion on the stern of one of the subhunters. I don't know if he blew his own rear end off, by going too slow, or a depth charge exploded on deck but he went down fast by the stern with his bow sticking up 45 degrees out of the shallow water. He was still there after I took my pictures and left.

Whenever a depth charge is dropped it has a random chance of a premature explosion before or after it gets to its assigned depth. His DC probably exploded right on the deck or right after he dropped it.

Quote:

The other DEs went over to investigate and for a time at least they were off my trail for a while. Again whats up with these guys? Anyone on board the hunters could have looked over the side and counted the crabs crawling along the seafloor. They could hardly have missed my boat bellysliding along though the grass and rocks....but they did!

Strange...don't have an answer

Quote:

Which brings up another point...why do so many hate these special ops missions? I find them very exciting and a change of pace. According to Hoyt's Submarines At War they are fairly historical . In fact, while on that subject, Hoyt's book could almost be an explainatory manual for SHIV.

I don't know, I've never heard of people hating them and I certainly don't...

Raptor1 · 07-06-08, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seminole

Which brings up another point...why do so many hate these special ops missions? I find them very exciting and a change of pace. According to Hoyt's Submarines At War they are fairly historical . In fact, while on that subject, Hoyt's book could almost be an explainatory manual for SHIV.

Well, the whole idea of taking a picture of a Fleet Carrier instead of putting 6 torpedoes into it is rather pathetic...

I only really hate the agent insertion/supply missions, too boring

kylesplanet · 07-06-08, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seminole

Today I put 4 fish into a large troop transport escorted on all sides by DEs. I dropped down to 290 feet, below a thermal, and crept away at 2 kts....undetected ansd unmolested.

The destroyers circled the oil slick of the hapless transport, tossing directly into it, pattern after patern of depth charges. They kept this up until the oil slick dissapated, then continued bombing the beejeebers out of the remaining flotsam. I suppose they stayed at it until they were out of charges to drop. If there were any survivors among the flotsam the DEs most certainly made shark chum out of them.

A couple of days ago I was reconing carriers in a harbor. I was runnung with about 6 inches of water above the scope and 6 inches below the keel. This time 3 destroyers were circling around dropping charges eveywhere but where I was. I was thinking how easy it ought to be to pick one, maybe all 3, off when suddenly there was an explosion on the stern of one of the subhunters. I don't know if he blew his own rear end off, by going too slow, or a depth charge exploded on deck but he went down fast by the stern with his bow sticking up 45 degrees out of the shallow water. He was still there after I took my pictures and left. The other DEs went over to investigate and for a time at least they were off my trail for a while. Again whats up with these guys? Anyone on board the hunters could have looked over the side and counted the crabs crawling along the seafloor. They could hardly have missed my boat bellysliding along though the grass and rocks....but they did!

Which brings up another point...why do so many hate these special ops missions? I find them very exciting and a change of pace. According to Hoyt's Submarines At War they are fairly historical . In fact, while on that subject, Hoyt's book could almost be an explainatory manual for SHIV.

If you are running stock SH4, then most of the DD are pretty lame. One thing to recognize though, there are three different kinds of DD captains, novice, intermediate and elite. Sounds like you ran upon the dummies.

If you want more of a challenge from them, load up Trigger Maru as they are quiet a bit more formidable. Also RFB will make for a more interesting chase.

Seminole · 07-06-08, 07:58 AM

Quote:

If you are running stock SH4, then most of the DD are pretty lame.

Well...I don't know. Most times I'm sitting below a thermal layer waiting for the lead escort to pass so I can approach his convoy and if I slip up the least bit... make the least bit of unwarranted noise..slip above the thermal. by a foot ...on come the mast head lights and then here he comes after me...with a real bone in his teeth.

It just seems the harbor patrol DEs are the lame brains...maybe that is why they aren't "trusted" out to sea...

...'course the other example I gave doesn't speak much for the sea captains either on occassion...

Raptor1 · 07-06-08, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seminole

Quote:

If you are running stock SH4, then most of the DD are pretty lame.

Well...I don't know. Most times I'm sitting below a thermal layer waiting for the lead escort to pass so I can approach his convoy and if I slip up the least bit... make the least bit of unwarranted noise..slip above the thermal. by a foot ...on come the mast head lights and then here he comes after me...with a real bone in his teeth.

It just seems the harbor patrol DEs are the lame brains...maybe that is why they aren't "trusted" out to sea...

...'course the other example I gave doesn't speak much for the sea captains either on occassion...

I'm wondering, what are you referring to as DEs?

I've never heard of a Japanese DE...

Seminole · 07-06-08, 08:48 AM

Come on man..just a generic reference...no need to be purposefully obtiuse...

Raptor1 · 07-06-08, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seminole

Come on man..just a generic reference...no need to be purposefully obtiuse...

I was just wondering, because you might be referring to subchasers/whatever, rather than regular Destroyers

But I take it you do mean regular Destroyers...

CollateralDamage · 07-06-08, 03:11 PM

I'll have to agree with this from my experiences being chased by destys. I find the desty escorts and subchasers a lot more effective in killing me than normal destys.

Especially the (sorry but not 100% sure about the name)Otori/T-something torpedo boat is a real killjoy. Never seem to be able to get away from that one.

07-05-08, 04:44 PM	#1
Seminole Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,012 Downloads: 102 Uploads: 0	Are Japanese Destroyer Captains Demented Or What? Today I put 4 fish into a large troop transport escorted on all sides by DEs. I dropped down to 290 feet, below a thermal, and crept away at 2 kts....undetected ansd unmolested. The destroyers circled the oil slick of the hapless transport, tossing directly into it, pattern after patern of depth charges. They kept this up until the oil slick dissapated, then continued bombing the beejeebers out of the remaining flotsam. I suppose they stayed at it until they were out of charges to drop. If there were any survivors among the flotsam the DEs most certainly made shark chum out of them. A couple of days ago I was reconing carriers in a harbor. I was runnung with about 6 inches of water above the scope and 6 inches below the keel. This time 3 destroyers were circling around dropping charges eveywhere but where I was. I was thinking how easy it ought to be to pick one, maybe all 3, off when suddenly there was an explosion on the stern of one of the subhunters. I don't know if he blew his own rear end off, by going too slow, or a depth charge exploded on deck but he went down fast by the stern with his bow sticking up 45 degrees out of the shallow water. He was still there after I took my pictures and left. The other DEs went over to investigate and for a time at least they were off my trail for a while. Again whats up with these guys? Anyone on board the hunters could have looked over the side and counted the crabs crawling along the seafloor. They could hardly have missed my boat bellysliding along though the grass and rocks....but they did! Which brings up another point...why do so many hate these special ops missions? I find them very exciting and a change of pace. According to Hoyt's Submarines At War they are fairly historical . In fact, while on that subject, Hoyt's book could almost be an explainatory manual for SHIV.

07-05-08, 08:14 PM	#2
Captain Dave Officer Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Herriman, Utah Posts: 247 Downloads: 398 Uploads: 3	Strange indeed. I don't have an explanation.

07-06-08, 08:48 AM	#8
Seminole Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,012 Downloads: 102 Uploads: 0	Come on man..just a generic reference...no need to be purposefully obtiuse...

07-06-08, 03:11 PM	#10
CollateralDamage Seaman Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kador region, Shemah solar system Posts: 32 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I'll have to agree with this from my experiences being chased by destys. I find the desty escorts and subchasers a lot more effective in killing me than normal destys. Especially the (sorry but not 100% sure about the name)Otori/T-something torpedo boat is a real killjoy. Never seem to be able to get away from that one.