First Patrol USS Trepang(Balao) June 1944. 100 realism.Cams and contacts on.
Departed Manus Island on June 7, 1944, assigned to support Operation Forager(invasion of Mariannas) and assigned to patrol an area in Philippine Sea.Arrived on station on June 17, 1944 and began patrolling. On the night of June 18, 1944 around 2100, made radar contact with large group of pips.Moving at 12 knots(estimated) began moving in, setting up for night surface attack, then radar warning equipment began going off as the large formation came on the scope, scratch that deciding to track and attack at dawn via periscope.After a night of tracking, course changes etc, was ahead and ready to attack at dawn, went to GQ and moved in, dove about 7 miles ahead of what I now figured is a Task Force of some type.Going to deep to get under the escort screen , had a few tense moments but at 500 feet and silent running, they didnt know I was there, after feeling was clearing, listening on sound for heavy screw, came up in what I figured would be the best place.Came to scope depth to find myself in the middle of a carrier task force.Alarmingly close to me was the big carrier Taiho(figured by sound it was a big carrier or BB, plotting out estimated trask etc where needed to be) as a course change had occurred, would not be able to make a bow shot in time, so went to 100 feet, ahead standard and began a turn to bring stern around for a shot.Set torpedoes for 25, 15, 25, 15 feet accordingly and came back to scope depth to check on speed and get a working solution. I heard the ships alarm go off, either Taiho has hydrophones and heard me or the plane droning overhead spotted me in the glassy seas, not sure.Up scope to see Taiho making a zig, adjusted , entered speed, aob, bearing, range, opened outer doors and finally on correct bearing at about 700 yards, fired all four stern tubes.All four hit, causing large explosions and fires, I then off and began a turn to bring bow tubes around for a coup de grace if needed when a powerful explosion rocked the big carrier, she began settling by her stern, she was done for.I then began tracking a Shokaku class carrier off in distance, about 6000 yards ahead as pinging started, several DD's were racing in.I was tracking while watching the Taiho sink, I then went deep to avoid the barrages of depth charges from 5 DD's.A large explosion occured, Taiho sank.
I escaped and attempted to surface but with carriers nearby and alerted, I was kept down by large number of aircraft.Surfaced after dusk, attempting to make contact but never regained.After assignment was satisfied, headed for convoy college area(Bashii Channel) .
Arriving in Bashii Channel, dodged a few planes, sank a patrol boat with the deck gun and moved in after a contact report on a large convoy coming from the South China Sea came in, judging by her course and speed, would be in the area withing 48 hours.June 28, 1944, seas were heavy and skies gray, made contact on fast moving convoy coming heading SW.Moved in and down, had a convoy of four large troopships and two escorts.Fired six torpedoes at the Conte Verde Liner, all hit, she went dead in the water and began to sink.Fired all four stern tubes at a Horai Maru, she exploded and sank.Finally, there was a large passenger ship coming on, with one bow torpedo reloaded, I fired, figuring could slow her down, attack later.In this rough weather, escorts were useless, could not seem to locate me. The single fish, set for 25 feet, hit the target, she slowed while a small fire burned and took a list while other torpedoes were loading.Suddenly, she began to sink, a 8000 ton troopships went down after one well placed torpedo, have to love it.I went deep and avoided a few poorly placed depth charges.As the Akizuki DD and Matsu DE speed off to escort their one remaining ship.
I surfaced, 9 fish left and patrolled, spotted a small freighter on June 30 but not worth torpedo and seas too rough for deck gun attack, let her go.On July 1, an Ultra came in about a German U Boat heading for Formosa Straits, entering from the south on July 2nd.Being in the area, I headed there.On the morning of July 2nd, submerged and began listening via sonar, with occasional radar sweeps.Sound soon had faint, light props in the distance, began to close, sound then reported a warship moving at medium speed.Radar showed nothing, visual had a tiny, low speck in the water.This was most likely the U boat, what luck(had never encountered u boats except in Java Sea area) .Unfortunately, we were way out in left field, could not surface so went to 200 feet and ahead flank for a run to close the range.Came back to scope depth, should be able to fire from 1100 yards, perfect.Tracked speed at 9 knots.However, U boat's actual course took her slightly away, would have to fire from less than ideal range of 1800 yards, so decided to fire all tubes in a large spread, should almost guarantee a hit.
Fired 6 torpedoes at 10 second intervals...shortly after 4th left tube, u boat opened fire with her deck gun at my scope and sped up but it was too late, the first fish caught her right in the stern, then another in the bow area , about where forward torpedo room would be,which caused a huge explosion, another hit her amidships, she took an immediate down angle, then another hit her in the conning down, the forced of explosion blew her back to surface(lol), other two fish missed. U boat quickly began to settle with a big forward down angle again while burning profusely, soon, she was gone.
I left the area at high speed, 3 Mark 14's left in bow tubes.Dodged a few planes and avoided a surface patrol.Finally, on July 4th, radar contacts on what turned out to be two Takao Heavy Cruisers and two escorts.I was able to close to 1800 yards, fired 3 at the lead cruiser, all three hit, I went deep to avoid the barrage of charges, which came, some close. THe cruiser languished, burning, and listing, then capsized.Following this a few minutes later, a massive, loud explosion occurred (magazine detonation? however that is simulated) as it was the second loudest/largest explosions I have ever witnessed in SH 4. Rather impressive.
After escapaing the DD's, set sail for home, arrived Manus Island, 90k tons down.
One of my best patrols, a lot of luck running into great targets.I have sunk the Taiho before, but in different time and place and this was lucky finding her as I did.First time I've sunk a U boat in a campaign I believe.Troop convoy was traffic I added, they are rare so nice to see they spawned.
Some screen shots...
