Night Surface Attack...Two Escort Carriers sunk.(pic heavy)

Bubblehead1980 · 10-09-10, 01:40 PM

TMO 2.0
RSRD

March 1944, Gato Class USS Gurnard
Celebes Sea "Choke Point" South of Davao Gulf.

After about 8 days in patrol area with just one small freighter down, was getting bored when late in the evening, while fighting fairly heavy seas, radar made contact, set an intercept course for the 4 contacts plowing through single file.Soon only had three contacts.Seas were heavy and although phosphoresence was heavy, decided on a night surface attack but at 3800-4000 yards for safety...Within rang eof my Mark 23's loaded in bow tubes.

Soon was off the projected track and could see through the TBT, two carriers and one DD astern.Although concerned as to where the the fourth ship(most likely a DD) was, worried about targets.The carriers were moving at 19 knots, closed to 3600 yards and fired all six bow tubes at the leading carrier, identified as a Taiyo Class Escort Carrier.

The torpedo run seemed to take forever but all six hit, one dud but the others hit, leaving the carrier a flaiming wreck, she soon began to sink.The escort went into action but didnt see me as I slowly backed away.Soon the second carrier turned north and would pass near me, I couldnt speed up enough to get into position for a stern shot, so ordered a dive.After some tracking, had the second carrier moving at 13.5 knots, readied the Mark 18's in the stern tubes and fired, while firing the carrier's angle sharpened and closed the distance, the first two hit, the last two didnt run long enough to arm, so did not explode.

The carrier soon went dead in the water as I went deep to avoid the DD.
After 20 minutes, I came back to scope depth to find the DD off in distance and the carrier still dead in the water with a nice list and the bow area burning.After 10-30 more minutes(some in a little TC) the carrier finally sank

After looking over the map, i noticed a gray ship sunk mark on the map, back a few miles before made visual contact, apparently the seas swamped the lead DD or it collided, not sure.

Great patrol so far, 12 torpedos left.

10-09-10, 01:40 PM	#1
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 7,100 Downloads: 605 Uploads: 44	Night Surface Attack...Two Escort Carriers sunk.(pic heavy) TMO 2.0 RSRD March 1944, Gato Class USS Gurnard Celebes Sea "Choke Point" South of Davao Gulf. After about 8 days in patrol area with just one small freighter down, was getting bored when late in the evening, while fighting fairly heavy seas, radar made contact, set an intercept course for the 4 contacts plowing through single file.Soon only had three contacts.Seas were heavy and although phosphoresence was heavy, decided on a night surface attack but at 3800-4000 yards for safety...Within rang eof my Mark 23's loaded in bow tubes. Soon was off the projected track and could see through the TBT, two carriers and one DD astern.Although concerned as to where the the fourth ship(most likely a DD) was, worried about targets.The carriers were moving at 19 knots, closed to 3600 yards and fired all six bow tubes at the leading carrier, identified as a Taiyo Class Escort Carrier. The torpedo run seemed to take forever but all six hit, one dud but the others hit, leaving the carrier a flaiming wreck, she soon began to sink.The escort went into action but didnt see me as I slowly backed away.Soon the second carrier turned north and would pass near me, I couldnt speed up enough to get into position for a stern shot, so ordered a dive.After some tracking, had the second carrier moving at 13.5 knots, readied the Mark 18's in the stern tubes and fired, while firing the carrier's angle sharpened and closed the distance, the first two hit, the last two didnt run long enough to arm, so did not explode. The carrier soon went dead in the water as I went deep to avoid the DD. After 20 minutes, I came back to scope depth to find the DD off in distance and the carrier still dead in the water with a nice list and the bow area burning.After 10-30 more minutes(some in a little TC) the carrier finally sank After looking over the map, i noticed a gray ship sunk mark on the map, back a few miles before made visual contact, apparently the seas swamped the lead DD or it collided, not sure. Great patrol so far, 12 torpedos left. Last edited by Bubblehead1980; 10-09-10 at 07:30 PM.