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Bubblehead1980 · 02-13-22, 05:35 PM

TMO Update BH V2.0
Donation Narwhal Mod
100 difficulty, cams off, contacts off,

WAR PATROL REPORT
USS NAUTILUS SS-168
WAR PATROL EIGHT
16 SEPTEMBER- 12 OCTOBER 1943

PROLOGUE

Returned to Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, T.H. from SEVENTH War Patrol on 21 May 1943. After voyage repairs proceeded to Mare Island, CA for overhaul. Arrived Pearl Harbor from Mare Island 25 August 1943. LCDR W.H. Brockman Jr., USN, was relieved by LCDR W.D. Davis, USN as Commanding Officer on 26 August 1943. Ready for sea 15 September 1943.

NARRATIVE

16 September

Departed Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, T.H., for Special Mission at 0700. Escorted by PC-461 out of area. Observed a PBY patrol plane at 1624, exchanged recognition signals.

17-18 September

En route to Gilbert Islands via Johnston Island

19 September

Finally docked at Johnston for fuel top off. Foul weather throughout the morning prevented entrance to the atoll. at 1245 .Departed at 1715 hours.

20-25 September

En route Gilbert Islands for Special Mission. Assigned to conduct photographic reconnaissance of Makin, Tarawa, and Abemama Atolls.

26 September

Submerged ten miles off Makin Island at 0600, before dawn.

At 0900, Makin Island was clear in sight. Closed very close to reef within five miles and photographed shore batteries, fuel storage tanks, a anchored inner island freighter estimated at 1500 tons, as well as AA gun emplacements.
Photography of Makin Island completed by 1000, turned South for recon of Kuma and Butaritari Island.

Photographed shore installations on Kuma at 1130 and proceeded to Butaritari Island, arriving off shore at 1500. Butaritari Island, where NAUTILUS landed raiders in August 1942, showed signs of being substantially reinforced since that visit with multiple shore batteries and gun emplacements. Fuel tanks destroyed at the lagoon's port last year were repaired. Observation posts/coastal searchlights also observed. Completed photography of Butaritari Island and proceeded to round island and turn North for final objective at Makin, Bikati Island, which would be reconnoitered on 27 September after dawn.

27 September

Submerged before dawn and closed Bikat Island. At 0900 from 5000 yards, photographed shore installations including shore batteries. A small boat, possibly PC type of 50 tons or so was moored inside the reef near the island.

With objectives at Makin Atoll complete, turned south for Tarawa Atoll at a depth of 100 feet and speed of 4 knots. At 1223, sound reported warship contact bearing 346, closing. At periscope depth spotted smoke plume of a PC type vessel, converted tugboat. When vessel suddenly turned towards NAUTILUS, went to 300 feet and silent running. PC roared above, but no signs of detecting NAUTILUS. Lost sound contact at 1330 maintained silent running until 1600 and secured. Surfaced after dusk and proceeded to Tarawa Atoll.

28 September

Submerged ten miles off Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll before dawn. Photographed enemy installations on the tiny, but reinforced island. Surfaced when clear of area and proceeded to Abemama Atoll.

Submerged off Abemama at 1500. Conducted photography of Abatiku Island,
the reef entrance, south east cape, and Manoku Village areas prior to dusk. Surfaced ten miles off shore and proceeded to east side of Island to complete photographic mission at dawn.

At 0334 a PC type vessel was detected on SJ radar range 9100 yards. Vessel came within 5000 yards but was evaded successfully with no indication NAUTILUS was detected.

Submerged before dawn east of Abemama , photographing installations there. At 1100, conducted photography of enemy shore batteries and gun emplacements on NE Abemama.

Received message from COMSUBPAC at 1104 ordered rendezvous submarine MUSKALLUNGE at 3-7 N 166-26 E. MUSKLLUNGE reported being strafed by enemy fighter planes to the east of the Marshall Islands while en route to patrol area in Palau Islands, with several crew injured. Not able to continue with seriously injured crew aboard, but not wanting to turn back to Pearl Harbor, it was decided to have NAUTILUS provide transport. as was roughly one days sailing time at best speed. Accordingly, NAUTILUS proceeded to designated rendezvous point at 16.5 knots.

29 September

Arrived in area just after dusk and at 2044 SJ made contact with MUSKALLUNGE at Bearing 340 7,825 yards. Fortunately, seas were calm and made transfer (Rescue Raft mod is great) of injured crewmembers a easy task. Upon recovery, exchanged messages of "well done" and god speed" , proceeded at 14.5 knots for Pearl via Johnston Island. While not ideal due to heavy patrols, the "gap" between Gilbert and Marshall Islands was the fastest way home, with injured men aboard and a deadline to return to Pearl by 20 October in order for our vital intelligence gathered to be analyzed properly, chose this route.

30 September

En route Pearl Harbor via Johnston Island. Uneventful.

1 October

Heavy winds and seas set in around 0400, slowly advance to 15 knots.

At 1130 , approximately 125 nautical miles East South East of Mili Atoll, SD radar made contact with aircraft at 12000 yards, closing fast. Submerged to avoid.

After hour and a half, a periscope and SD sweep, it was decided to surface.
At 1300, just after sounding the surface alarm, prior to securing sound gear, sound detected a closing contact, close aboard to port. Unable to stop the ascent, ordered flank speed and quickly assessed the situation on the bridge. With no contact visible, it was assumed (as reported) contact a submarine, quickly confirmed as in the heavy seas the conning tower/periscope shears of the enemy submarine broached and were briefly visible.

Standard procedure for NAUTILUS is to turn away and present stern to such contact. However, given the distance, it was likely the submarine was at its firing point or had in fact fired, opening the angle would have likely exposed NAUTILUS to a torpedo hit. A order of rudder hard to port was given and NAUTILUS turned , her engines and gears groaning. Collision Alarm was sounded and With a zero degree AOB on the enemy sub attempted to run above him to put astern so could submerge and prevent a likely shot by the enemy. As passed above, in the clear but rough seas, the silhouette of the enemy submarine was visible. After passing over the enemy, ordered a hard turn to starboard and to submerge.

Ordered a depth of 200 feet, rigged for silent running. Sound maintained strong contact with submarine and sound of torpedoes in water was audible. Appears NAUTILUS has a true close call. After a hour and a half, sound lost contact with enemy submarine. Maintained silent running until 1600 and secured. Remained submerged until after nightfall when surfaced and proceeded on run at flank speed, changing course in case enemy sub was in area, possible shadowing. (AI subs will in fact stalk contacts have found in testing. Their waypoints are also structured to move ahead and back track to simulate a end around, kind of neat how it works out in the)

2 October

Beginning at dawn, a series of SD contacts throughout the day prevented surface running.

3 October

Only one SD contact all day, remained submerged for majority of day though.

4 October

En route Pearl Harbor via Johnston Island.
Storms, heavy seas, slowed advance.

5 October

En route Pearl Harbor via Johnston Island.

Storms and heavy seas continued.

6 October

Unable to enter Johnston Island due to storms.

7 October

Storms persisting in area. Decision was made to continue on to Pearl Harbor as had fuel required to make the trip, although at slower speeds.

8-11 October

En route Pearl Harbor

12 October

Docked at Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, T.H., terminated war patrol.

SHIPS SUNK
None

No torpedo were conducted on this patrol as primary objective was a special mission and no worthwhile targets were encountered.

Special Mission

Photographic Reconnaissance of Makin, Tarawa, and Abemama Atolls was a complete success. Excellent photographs of shore installations were made. Fortunately, the weather in area was quite cooperative.

Additional Operations

Rendezvous with MUSKALLUNGE (SS-262) was conducted with some ease. Coordinates provided were accurate and MUSKALLUNGE arrived prior to NAUTILUS. Seas were calm and made easy transport of the injured sailors back to Pearl Harbor.

(This photo mission as well as secondary assignment to pick up injured sub is part of the new patrol objectives added to the campaign in V 2.0. The retrieval is conducted by the "rescue raft" , as raft which can be picked up like a survivor in the war. These rafts are present in the first version of the TMO Update mod and spawn from some downed aircraft)

Screenshots

I had the external camera off. However, I had to cheat so used the free roam cam(internal cam) to "walk" off the bridge and down the side, below. Takes time but managed to get this screenshot as passed above the enemy submarine. I hoped to catch torpedoes in the shot but did not. However, they were close enough I could hear them while submerged with the cam as well as on sound gear. Tub turned away it appears as I tried to run him over lol.

02-13-22, 05:35 PM	#5223
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 6,922 Downloads: 550 Uploads: 42	TMO Update BH V2.0 Donation Narwhal Mod 100 difficulty, cams off, contacts off, WAR PATROL REPORT USS NAUTILUS SS-168 WAR PATROL EIGHT 16 SEPTEMBER- 12 OCTOBER 1943 PROLOGUE Returned to Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, T.H. from SEVENTH War Patrol on 21 May 1943. After voyage repairs proceeded to Mare Island, CA for overhaul. Arrived Pearl Harbor from Mare Island 25 August 1943. LCDR W.H. Brockman Jr., USN, was relieved by LCDR W.D. Davis, USN as Commanding Officer on 26 August 1943. Ready for sea 15 September 1943. NARRATIVE 16 September Departed Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, T.H., for Special Mission at 0700. Escorted by PC-461 out of area. Observed a PBY patrol plane at 1624, exchanged recognition signals. 17-18 September En route to Gilbert Islands via Johnston Island 19 September Finally docked at Johnston for fuel top off. Foul weather throughout the morning prevented entrance to the atoll. at 1245 .Departed at 1715 hours. 20-25 September En route Gilbert Islands for Special Mission. Assigned to conduct photographic reconnaissance of Makin, Tarawa, and Abemama Atolls. 26 September Submerged ten miles off Makin Island at 0600, before dawn. At 0900, Makin Island was clear in sight. Closed very close to reef within five miles and photographed shore batteries, fuel storage tanks, a anchored inner island freighter estimated at 1500 tons, as well as AA gun emplacements. Photography of Makin Island completed by 1000, turned South for recon of Kuma and Butaritari Island. Photographed shore installations on Kuma at 1130 and proceeded to Butaritari Island, arriving off shore at 1500. Butaritari Island, where NAUTILUS landed raiders in August 1942, showed signs of being substantially reinforced since that visit with multiple shore batteries and gun emplacements. Fuel tanks destroyed at the lagoon's port last year were repaired. Observation posts/coastal searchlights also observed. Completed photography of Butaritari Island and proceeded to round island and turn North for final objective at Makin, Bikati Island, which would be reconnoitered on 27 September after dawn. 27 September Submerged before dawn and closed Bikat Island. At 0900 from 5000 yards, photographed shore installations including shore batteries. A small boat, possibly PC type of 50 tons or so was moored inside the reef near the island. With objectives at Makin Atoll complete, turned south for Tarawa Atoll at a depth of 100 feet and speed of 4 knots. At 1223, sound reported warship contact bearing 346, closing. At periscope depth spotted smoke plume of a PC type vessel, converted tugboat. When vessel suddenly turned towards NAUTILUS, went to 300 feet and silent running. PC roared above, but no signs of detecting NAUTILUS. Lost sound contact at 1330 maintained silent running until 1600 and secured. Surfaced after dusk and proceeded to Tarawa Atoll. 28 September Submerged ten miles off Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll before dawn. Photographed enemy installations on the tiny, but reinforced island. Surfaced when clear of area and proceeded to Abemama Atoll. Submerged off Abemama at 1500. Conducted photography of Abatiku Island, the reef entrance, south east cape, and Manoku Village areas prior to dusk. Surfaced ten miles off shore and proceeded to east side of Island to complete photographic mission at dawn. At 0334 a PC type vessel was detected on SJ radar range 9100 yards. Vessel came within 5000 yards but was evaded successfully with no indication NAUTILUS was detected. Submerged before dawn east of Abemama , photographing installations there. At 1100, conducted photography of enemy shore batteries and gun emplacements on NE Abemama. Received message from COMSUBPAC at 1104 ordered rendezvous submarine MUSKALLUNGE at 3-7 N 166-26 E. MUSKLLUNGE reported being strafed by enemy fighter planes to the east of the Marshall Islands while en route to patrol area in Palau Islands, with several crew injured. Not able to continue with seriously injured crew aboard, but not wanting to turn back to Pearl Harbor, it was decided to have NAUTILUS provide transport. as was roughly one days sailing time at best speed. Accordingly, NAUTILUS proceeded to designated rendezvous point at 16.5 knots. 29 September Arrived in area just after dusk and at 2044 SJ made contact with MUSKALLUNGE at Bearing 340 7,825 yards. Fortunately, seas were calm and made transfer (Rescue Raft mod is great) of injured crewmembers a easy task. Upon recovery, exchanged messages of "well done" and god speed" , proceeded at 14.5 knots for Pearl via Johnston Island. While not ideal due to heavy patrols, the "gap" between Gilbert and Marshall Islands was the fastest way home, with injured men aboard and a deadline to return to Pearl by 20 October in order for our vital intelligence gathered to be analyzed properly, chose this route. 30 September En route Pearl Harbor via Johnston Island. Uneventful. 1 October Heavy winds and seas set in around 0400, slowly advance to 15 knots. At 1130 , approximately 125 nautical miles East South East of Mili Atoll, SD radar made contact with aircraft at 12000 yards, closing fast. Submerged to avoid. After hour and a half, a periscope and SD sweep, it was decided to surface. At 1300, just after sounding the surface alarm, prior to securing sound gear, sound detected a closing contact, close aboard to port. Unable to stop the ascent, ordered flank speed and quickly assessed the situation on the bridge. With no contact visible, it was assumed (as reported) contact a submarine, quickly confirmed as in the heavy seas the conning tower/periscope shears of the enemy submarine broached and were briefly visible. Standard procedure for NAUTILUS is to turn away and present stern to such contact. However, given the distance, it was likely the submarine was at its firing point or had in fact fired, opening the angle would have likely exposed NAUTILUS to a torpedo hit. A order of rudder hard to port was given and NAUTILUS turned , her engines and gears groaning. Collision Alarm was sounded and With a zero degree AOB on the enemy sub attempted to run above him to put astern so could submerge and prevent a likely shot by the enemy. As passed above, in the clear but rough seas, the silhouette of the enemy submarine was visible. After passing over the enemy, ordered a hard turn to starboard and to submerge. Ordered a depth of 200 feet, rigged for silent running. Sound maintained strong contact with submarine and sound of torpedoes in water was audible. Appears NAUTILUS has a true close call. After a hour and a half, sound lost contact with enemy submarine. Maintained silent running until 1600 and secured. Remained submerged until after nightfall when surfaced and proceeded on run at flank speed, changing course in case enemy sub was in area, possible shadowing. (AI subs will in fact stalk contacts have found in testing. Their waypoints are also structured to move ahead and back track to simulate a end around, kind of neat how it works out in the) 2 October Beginning at dawn, a series of SD contacts throughout the day prevented surface running. 3 October Only one SD contact all day, remained submerged for majority of day though. 4 October En route Pearl Harbor via Johnston Island. Storms, heavy seas, slowed advance. 5 October En route Pearl Harbor via Johnston Island. Storms and heavy seas continued. 6 October Unable to enter Johnston Island due to storms. 7 October Storms persisting in area. Decision was made to continue on to Pearl Harbor as had fuel required to make the trip, although at slower speeds. 8-11 October En route Pearl Harbor 12 October Docked at Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, T.H., terminated war patrol. SHIPS SUNK None No torpedo were conducted on this patrol as primary objective was a special mission and no worthwhile targets were encountered. Special Mission Photographic Reconnaissance of Makin, Tarawa, and Abemama Atolls was a complete success. Excellent photographs of shore installations were made. Fortunately, the weather in area was quite cooperative. Additional Operations Rendezvous with MUSKALLUNGE (SS-262) was conducted with some ease. Coordinates provided were accurate and MUSKALLUNGE arrived prior to NAUTILUS. Seas were calm and made easy transport of the injured sailors back to Pearl Harbor. (This photo mission as well as secondary assignment to pick up injured sub is part of the new patrol objectives added to the campaign in V 2.0. The retrieval is conducted by the "rescue raft" , as raft which can be picked up like a survivor in the war. These rafts are present in the first version of the TMO Update mod and spawn from some downed aircraft) Screenshots I had the external camera off. However, I had to cheat so used the free roam cam(internal cam) to "walk" off the bridge and down the side, below. Takes time but managed to get this screenshot as passed above the enemy submarine. I hoped to catch torpedoes in the shot but did not. However, they were close enough I could hear them while submerged with the cam as well as on sound gear. Tub turned away it appears as I tried to run him over lol.