USS BARB SS-220, was lost on 18 November 1944 at 32-09N 127-36E in Area 9, in the East China Sea, just south of Tsushima Strait.
BARB, chased a convoy all night, after multiple attempts, was unable to attack on surface due to vigilant, radar equipped escorts. Tried for a dawn approach submerged , but was spotted by a PETE floatplane which spotted BARB at periscope depth, alerting escorts.
Escorts located BARB in the waters with 315 max depth waters and after a depth charging lasting from dawn until noon 18 November, BARB had escaped and was cruising at 300 feet, just off the bottom of the sea, when began rise to periscope depth at 1900 for a visual check , after hours of no contact with enemy.
As BARB passed 125 feet on way to periscope depth, heard a brief noise(presumed to be the low flying aircraft), and then two depth charge explosions which severely shook the boat. Followed four seconds later by even more intense explosions. Lights went out for five seconds, flooding reported in stern, damage reports rolled in, along with calls for medic.
I had external cam on this patrol, so went outside after first explosion.
One aerial depth charge had landed to port, could see the explosion bubble dissipating, while the second depth charge landed to starboard and exploded just as I got to external view. So two aerial depth charges bracketed BARB's stern about around the point where stern torpedo room bulkhead to maneuvering room would be on a GATO sub, very close. Perhaps 20 feet, within kill range for depth charges typically. Then I saw the aerial bombs dropped, one of which scored a direct hit on the stern. Yep, the lucky, bomb contacted the stern around the stern torpedo room loading hatch.
(I tried to screenshot, hit the keys but apparently not fast enough as this happened quite fast)
BARB's stern had taken two close depth charges, and a few seconds later, a DIRECT bomb hit seconds later from a EMILY flying boat, which likely detected BARB with MAD (TMO planes have a sensor simulating MAD in late war). and was lined up for attack as we , not aware of the plane, began rising to periscope depth.
Stern was destroyed, wrecked. Large hole blow in it, with port prop shaft and stern torpedo bulkhead destroyed, nearly all equipment smashed and sadly, all but one crewman killed in the stern torpedo room, with one severely injured (health was 20/100. Flooding also in engine rooms , bulkhead 90 percent damaged with all suffering severe injuries in compartment. Hull damage was at 80 percent. Boat lingered a few moments, stern torpedo and engine rooms rapidly flooded, BARB took a down angle by stern and paused at 88 feet, stopping her ascent, began rapidly going down in spite of ahead flank speed.. Blew ballast tanks to get to surface to save the crew but did not rise in time as flooded out compartments stern dragged her down . Boat, in 300 ft waters with angle caught its self and bow was about to break the surface while what was left aft touched bottom. Just then, EMILY made another attack at BARB was at 94 ft, dropping a depth charge above, but not terribly close, yet close enough to shake the boat. Bow slid beneath surface, stern crashed into bottom. Hull collapsed, went to 100 percent. All was lost.
Oddly enough, the boats external model then just disappeared lol but could stay inside, no controls worked, but game did not end. I had to exit. Side effects of altering the damage model is sometimes SH 4 does not play out the "fade to black" sequence . Can also have to do with the bottom. I've been depth charged, pounded into the sea floor before, where sub disappears lol and external model is gone and im dead, but dont get the death fade to black sequence.
Definitely a lucky hit for the plane. This was first time I've been sunk or even severely damaged by aircraft in years lol. Disappointing. really had a great campaign going with the BARB and this patrol was a exciting and successful one already with just eight torpedoes left aft (All but three fired forward, all bow tubes disabled in November 15 depth charge, could not repair at sea)
Survived these depth charge attacks, being fired at, and chased on surfaced, but taken out by a flying boat. Ahhh. Reminded me of how TMO aircraft earned their reputation for being "evil".
BARB, during her 10th patrol, which she was on at time of loss, sunk the following vessels:
AO CHIYODA MARU 5004 tons 8 November
AK JOKUJA MARU 7200 tons 8 November
Aikoku Maru Class Auxiliary Cruiser 14500 tons 10 November
CVE Akitsu Escort Carrier 11800 tons. 15 November
Ah, well to start a new campaign.
Screen shots:
Akitsu Class Escort Carrier (Akitsu Maru Aircraft Transport operated by Japanese Army)
AKITSU exploding a few minutes after taking 3 MK 18 torpedo hits.
Akitsu listing to port
First view of Akitsu through observation periscope.
Akitsu
Akitsu burning
Akitsu on fire listing. Took about 15 minutes to sink.
Akitsu listing
First MK 18 torpedo impact
Second MK 18 torpedo impact
DC pattern on 15 November following sinkng of Akitsu. From a Type C escort.
Believe this was pattern which damage forward torpedo compartment. Caused some flooding , disabled forward dive planes transmission and tubes 1-6. All six bow tubes could not be repaired at sea.
EMILY which sunk the BARB, flying away after initial drop that scored the fatal hits.
Last DC explosion, following follow up drop by the EMILY H8k flying boat.
Unfortunately, the halo effect did not show up on this one as it does usually.
Sunrise 18 November 1944, escort hunting for BARB as she approached convoy,
