Originally Posted by Revus
Picking up from the previous attacks of 1 April 43. Already sent HAKUSIKA MARU & an unknown 4,000 ton MARU to the depths, and made another unsuccessful attack on a ZINBU and MOMOYAMA MARU while their OTORI escort attempted to catch us.
Mod: TMO 2.5 Update BH
Difficulty:100%, contacts on.
Boat: USS SILVERSIDES SS-236
Date: 1 April 1943
0712: Surfaced and c/c to 310 at 9 kts.
0828: Lookouts sighted masts on the horizon off the port bow, seems to be broadside moving to the south.
0851: Dove for “SD” contact closing fast. While under, picked up two sound contacts seemingly moving northeast. At periscope depth, sighted two smoke plumes off our port beam and continued on 030 submerged, suspecting these are the remnants of the night’s convoy.
1039: Surfaced and changed speed to full to end-around, keeping the contacts on “SJ”. Contacts tracked at 4-5 kts. at a mean course of 030 with regular zigs.
1112: c/c to 310 to close. Sighted masts coming on shortly thereafter.
Dove to periscope depth for submerged attack.
1221: In position for attack. Of the two contacts, the first is assuredly the ZINBU MARU from earlier, the trailing freighter looked similar to a MOMOYAMA MARU of 4,000 tons. The ZINBU looked to be toting a gun on her stern, the MOMOYAMA seemed unarmed, so decision was made to attack with torpedoes on the first and dash up for a surface deck gun attack on the second.
1228: Fired spread of 3 on ZINBU at 1,800 yds with a 355 gyro angle.
1229: Heavy explosion heard and seen on scope amidships. Two duds heard bounce off her hull shortly thereafter. ZINBU still coming on though with a slight list to starboard.
1229: Decided to hit her again at 1500 yds.
Fired # 4 tube.
1230: Believe the torpedo missed forward, as the MARU slowed significantly after being hit.
MOMOYAMA MARU overtook ZINBU on the right, bringing her to within 900 yds. of us. Decided to not engage with a torpedo as her speed has most likely increased and didn’t want to fire without sufficient data. However, as she passed, it was confirmed that she didn’t possess any defensive firepower, and we’d continue with our original plan. Continued on course submerged until on the ZINBU’s port beam to engage with guns. By this point, she was suffering from catastrophic list to starboard risking capsizing, but was still moving under her own power.
1253: Battle surfaced and engaged the ZINBU with 12 4” high explosive shells along her entire port side, sinking her at 1256. Immediately after ceasing fire on the ZINBU, increased speed to flank to run down the MOMOYAMA.
1302: Fired 25 4” shells into her port side from aft at 2000 yds. sinking her at 1305. Simultaneously, RADAR was picking up a fast moving pip on “SJ” closing on our position. Raced away at flank on course 345 to evade.
1309: Lookouts spotted the masts of the previous night’s DE at 6 miles away to 195t. Dove the boat to 220 feet to make use of the strong layer and continued on course at silent speed.
DE searched for 4 hours as we listened on gear. She dropped 7-9 depth charges well aft of us by at least 5,000 yds if not more. Not once were we detected.
1922: Surfaced.
End result: COB, ready the broom for affixing to the scope upon return to Brisbane; we've made a clean sweep of that convoy.
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