You just cannot get away from them!!! (Lenghty little tale here ;))

ddiplock · 05-30-11, 06:36 PM

Middle of 1942, took USS Triton (Tambor class) out of Fremantle for her first patrol, one of the first boats to be equipped with the new SJ Surface Radar.

Commander Mack Larkin is surely pleased with this, as with it being his first command should make things alot easier for him and crew. On entering the Sulu Sea, Triton's radar detects a large Japanese TF bearing down on them, detected out at a range of some 8 to 9 miles. Conditions are absolutely perfect, seas calm, no wind and a blazing sun high in the sky!!! Couldn't be better for torpedo actions.

Larkin orderes Triton down to Periscope depth and rigs for SR while they creep along at 2 knots, waiting....waiting as the Japanese TF bears down on them.

Larkin identifies a Japanese Mogami class Heavy Cruiser near the front centre, by far the largest warship in the group. Larkin decides this will be Triton's first kill of the war.

The Task Force moves onwards, as Larkin gently and quietly manuevers Triton into position. Larkin raises the Periscope and is calculating angles and ranges when all hell breaks loose with the high pitched pings of one of the destroyers. Triton has been detected!!! I guess perfect conditions can work against a submarine too.

Larkin lowers the scope and takes Triton and crew deep. Triton is only rated to 250FT test depth, yet the boat makes it down to a staggering 480ft and holds together.

Unfortunatley at this depth, a depth charge lands close by, destroying all the aft tubes and bursting open the bulkheads and damaging the rear dive planes. The crew then races for the next couple of hours, fighting the flooding as Triton sits badly lopsided down deep, her enginss running at flank speed just to maintain depth and stop her from sinking as she slips past the 500 mark.

It may of been luck, or it may of been the TF moved far enough away, but either way, the destroyers broke off their pursuit of Triton. After several repeated ballast blows, Triton breaks the surface.

Larkin no longer comfortable taking his boat into Manila Harbour to snap pictures of Japanese carriers, and, putting his crew ahead of the war effort, and without sinking a SINGLE enemy ship, he orders the boat round and heads back to Austraila!!!

His superiors were disappointed at his lack of aggression shown for so new a submarine commander, but the men didn't begrudge him for bringing them back safe and sound.

Triton's crew have had their first encounter with the Japanese, and all being said went badly wrong for them. They're shaken, but they are determined. Triton will be repaired, and will sail forth again to challenge the Japanese with Mack Larkin leading the way!!!!

Nice little story there, no sinkings, no medals....but I view the fact I brought my boat and crew home to be more important in this regard. I had just better improve my performance next time!!! What a friggin mess. No matter how deep I went, I just could NOT get away from those Japs. Its as if they had stolen ASDIC from the British and could detect me no matter how deep I went, so much for the thermal layer!!!

05-30-11, 06:36 PM	#1
ddiplock Samurai Navy Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 552 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	You just cannot get away from them!!! (Lenghty little tale here ;)) Middle of 1942, took USS Triton (Tambor class) out of Fremantle for her first patrol, one of the first boats to be equipped with the new SJ Surface Radar. Commander Mack Larkin is surely pleased with this, as with it being his first command should make things alot easier for him and crew. On entering the Sulu Sea, Triton's radar detects a large Japanese TF bearing down on them, detected out at a range of some 8 to 9 miles. Conditions are absolutely perfect, seas calm, no wind and a blazing sun high in the sky!!! Couldn't be better for torpedo actions. Larkin orderes Triton down to Periscope depth and rigs for SR while they creep along at 2 knots, waiting....waiting as the Japanese TF bears down on them. Larkin identifies a Japanese Mogami class Heavy Cruiser near the front centre, by far the largest warship in the group. Larkin decides this will be Triton's first kill of the war. The Task Force moves onwards, as Larkin gently and quietly manuevers Triton into position. Larkin raises the Periscope and is calculating angles and ranges when all hell breaks loose with the high pitched pings of one of the destroyers. Triton has been detected!!! I guess perfect conditions can work against a submarine too. Larkin lowers the scope and takes Triton and crew deep. Triton is only rated to 250FT test depth, yet the boat makes it down to a staggering 480ft and holds together. Unfortunatley at this depth, a depth charge lands close by, destroying all the aft tubes and bursting open the bulkheads and damaging the rear dive planes. The crew then races for the next couple of hours, fighting the flooding as Triton sits badly lopsided down deep, her enginss running at flank speed just to maintain depth and stop her from sinking as she slips past the 500 mark. It may of been luck, or it may of been the TF moved far enough away, but either way, the destroyers broke off their pursuit of Triton. After several repeated ballast blows, Triton breaks the surface. Larkin no longer comfortable taking his boat into Manila Harbour to snap pictures of Japanese carriers, and, putting his crew ahead of the war effort, and without sinking a SINGLE enemy ship, he orders the boat round and heads back to Austraila!!! His superiors were disappointed at his lack of aggression shown for so new a submarine commander, but the men didn't begrudge him for bringing them back safe and sound. Triton's crew have had their first encounter with the Japanese, and all being said went badly wrong for them. They're shaken, but they are determined. Triton will be repaired, and will sail forth again to challenge the Japanese with Mack Larkin leading the way!!!! Nice little story there, no sinkings, no medals....but I view the fact I brought my boat and crew home to be more important in this regard. I had just better improve my performance next time!!! What a friggin mess. No matter how deep I went, I just could NOT get away from those Japs. Its as if they had stolen ASDIC from the British and could detect me no matter how deep I went, so much for the thermal layer!!!