[TorpX]

[I, perhaps, should have mentioned beforehand that this patrol is in a high-realism career, the only option I allow myself is the external view, and I am careful not to use it to gain an advantage.

Also, I follow orders, at least to the extent they make sense.
I am using my mechanical breakdown rules.
I am using strictly full manual targeting for the S-class (i.e. no TDC).
I am keeping to a max. of 32x (64x submerged) time compression.

.........in case you were wondering why I seemed to be so excited when I finally sunk a lone freighter. ]

After the attack, I did some supplementary calculations. If I had wanted to do a 'straight shot', we might have gotten to about 2550 yds., but the track angle would have been 130 or 135, so I don't see that it would have been an improvement.

Mar. 18________W8+, 7+, 15++ overcast, rain _________40 mi.
Fuel 59%

Mar. 19_____W15++, 0 ________________________ 53 mi.
1752 sound contact! Merchant 301°, long range. GQ, come to 320T.
1826 after sprinting off and on for 25 min., we find ourselves too close, and in danger of being run over.
I dive to 120 ft. It is too dark to use stadimeter. This is making things very tough.
1839 secure from GQ.
1850 surface. CO2 31%, Batt. 66%. W6+, clear vis. not good. We pursue. It is rapidly becoming very dark.
1910 GQ - gun action!
It is very hard to see the target, and it is doubtful if we can get into position for a torpedo attack, without slowing them down.
We manage to get hits on target - maybe 3/4 of our shots hit somewhere, but placing hits along the waterline would be sheer luck.

[If you can barely see anything, that's what it looked like for us.]

We periodically see fires on the target, but these go out after a while. We are in danger of losing sight of them. We seem to be gaining a bit, but dare not get close, as they are likely to be armed. After a while we are down to 50 shells, then 25. I had hoped to retain 25 or 30 for a reserve, but what can one do with only 25 shells, anyway? We've put in too much effort to stop now. I give the order to keep firing...

Finally, the crew fires off the last round. Just moments later, my sharp-eyed XO says 'she's goin' down'. All I can see is two small fires, but it turns out he's right.
We log it: Large old split freighter 8,203 tons [0-52N, 119-29E].
2022 crew stands down, resume course 249T. We pursued about 25 mi. at speeds up to flank.

Mar. 20_________W6+, 11+, 4+__________59 mi., fuel 57%

Mar. 21_________W15++, stormy________ 36 mi.

Mar. 22________W15++, 8+, 3+ pt. cloudy ________47 mi.

0829 sound contact! GC, come to 290T (from 111T). Target zigs and again, we find ourselves in a bad position. Also, though we get close, we cannot see it well enough to ID it.
I decide to attack regardless. I attempt an improvised shot with a 16° lead angle, 100 to 110 starboard track angle.
We launch 4 torpedoes, but all miss. Most likely target was slower than thought. I can see target zig in the distance.
0920 surface. W8+, pt. cloudy 'good' vis., we can make 11 kn. at full.
1000 we get ahead of it, but seems we've been spotted?
We dive. Target looks to be zigging again, so I try another improvised shot.
We must turn almost 180, they zig, and it is now very close!
I order full reverse, and launch 3 torpedoes 10° ahead. The track is nearly a 90 ° track, so we should get hits.
1023 fire 3, longitudinal spread, 28 sec. later, explosions; all 3 hit.
It sinks quickly.

1029 we log it: Medium old split freighter 5,457 tons [0-36N, 119-17E]

1036 secure from GQ. Resume course 091T, at 3½ kn. I estimate we travelled about 16 mi. off course.
1534 sound contact! 101 °, long range.
1540 GQ, full speed, come to 300T.
1547 reduce speed to 3 kn. We are close now.
1556 we see the ship is Dutch. What are they doing out here alone? Secure from GQ. Resume course 095T.
1835 surface. CO2 17%, Batt. 70%.

Mar. 23________W3+, 1+, 15 _________ 62 mi.
Near tip of Borneo.

Mar. 24_______W15, 0, ______________ 88 mi.
1600 PO Root reports radio out of commision.

Mar. 25______W 0, 5, 15, 8, overcast _____99 mi.
We are exiting out PZ to the South. We still hope to find a use for our last 2 torps.
33 days on patrol, 45 days at sea.

Mar. 26______W8, 5, 15, ___________97 mi.

Mar. 27 ______W15, 9, 8, 7, _________133 mi.

Mar. 28______W7, 15 ____________117 mi.
1345 Plot course to Lombok Strait, 359 nm.
I plan on cutting in toward Java, in the hopes of finding another Jap ship, but later think better of it. The seas are rough and it will take too long. This change shortens our course about 120 nm.

Mar. 29 _____W15, 14, overcast, hv. rain_______118 mi.

Mar. 30 ______W14 ____________________
0420 enter Lombok St. ahead standard.
1054 exit strait. Plot course to Fremantle, 1,591 nm., ahead 1/3.

Mar. 31______W14 _________256 mi. (today and yesterday), fuel 42%
We should be able to use 2/3 speed or better from here.

Apr. 1______W9____________148 mi., fuel 38%
Reduce speed to 1/3.

Apr. 2_______W15, 15++_______179 mi.
It is unlikely we will reach base on schedule. I tell the cook that he may have to stretch our food supply.

Apr. 3______W15++, 15_______134 mi.
Dive part of day. Weather is awful.

Apr. 4______W15_________99 mi.

Apr. 5______W15, 15++_____184 mi.
We are only making about 4 to 4.5 kn. at 2/3 now.

Apr. 6______W15++______116 mi.

Apr. 7______W15++, 15_____105 mi.
Storm abates somewhat. Fuel 20%.

Apr. 8______W15, 15++____178 mi.
Use standard speed.

Apr. 9______15++________144 mi.
2328 batter suffers damage. No point in fixing it now.

Apr. 10_____W15++______114 mi.
Food running low, I order crew to break out emergency rations.
61st day at sea!

Apr. 11_____Winds reduced near shore._____100 mi.
0001 Finally reach port. 61 days at sea.

2 torpedoes remaining. No 4in. shells.
4% fuel remaining.
3 merchants sunk.

Note, that from the time we passed through Lombok St. until reaching port, the weather has been very rough. Many hours at W14 or higher. I am glad I didn't try to hang around Java for a few days. No doubt the crew is equally thankful, being in the habit of eating meals every day and all.

It was, I think, a long patrol for our humble sugar boat.

[The zones marked in pink were patrolled extensively. The route marked is only approximate.]

Our score:

We thought we would be warmly welcomed, but perhaps the higher-ups are miffed about our first patrol.
We received no decorations or commendations whatsoever!

I guess there is no glory in the Pineapple Navy.