[Bubblehead1980]

TMO 2.5 Update BH with patch patch (in development)
100 difficulty no cams or contacts.
USS TANG SS-306(Balao Class)

Also testing out a new way of merchant ship ID. To add to the fog of war so to speak and not make ship identification such a sure thing. I have added multiple versions of the ships and they all have nondescript names like "LARGE AK" for large cargo ships, Large AO (for Tankers) etc. with tonnage variations set quite large in their files, so player is crediting with different ships, even if look similar. Provides variety or appearance of variety and
makes identification not so easy, easily at night when it was difficult to identify targets beyond their type such as AO, AK etc.

AK=Cargo Ships
AO=Tanker
AP=Troopship

Just testing, not sure if like it or not yet.


Somehow deleted the data I recorded for my patrol report, so just going with a narrative from memory.




Departed Pearl Harbor on June 8, 1944, set course of patrol area 12 via Midway with orders to operate off KYUSHU as part of a coordinated attack group with SEALION(Area 9) and TINOSA (Area11-A) as required.


Arrived Midway on June 11 and refueled, then proceeded towards area on course. Passed Yakushima Island and transited Colonet Strait night of 23 June, 1944. A rendezvous with SEALION and TINOSA off OINIKI SAKI ( I have made it where when player rendezvous with sub and "drop off" or pick up a raft. Worked in single mission, but in campaign had issues) . A storm system blew into area and was unable to locate other boats. Proceeded via orders to patrol KOSHIKI STRAIT off KYUSHU, submerged at dawn for patrol in the strait.


Sound detected prop noises at 1300 , TANG came to periscope depth and spotted smoke bearing 165 . Went to General Quarters and closed to find a mid sized AK similar to HEITO MARU or KOTO MARU 4200 tons on course 146 at 8 knots. Closed target and fired two MK 23 torpedoes at range of 1000 yards. Both torpedoes hit a minute later, leaving the vessel on fire, listing heavily. Twenty one minutes later, vessel sunk at 31-55N 129-59N in Koshiki Strait. Secured General Quarters and went to 125 feet, leaving area. During periscope observations, spotted a BETTY aircraft patrolling area of sinking.


Surfaced at 2300 and at 2331 SJ made contact on large convoy in KOSHIKI STRAITS. Closed convoy, detecting radar emissions. PPI scope indicated seven large ships with twelve escorts* . TANG moved into position for night surface attack as convoy began to hug the coast of KYUSHU, likely destined for NAGASAKI.

Avoided front of convoy do to radar equipped escort likely in the lead(wish had map contacts on at this point) and attempted to fall in line with port side screen but they closed ranges and TANG was unable to slip through the screen. After several attempts, noticed the rear of convoy a gap in the tail end escorts. Headed opposite direction 8000 yards off port side of convoy, then made a "u turn" and approached from astern at flank speed, waiting for the stern escorts to provide the opening.

Finally after twenty minutes, as convoy made slight zig, turning with the curve of the coast line, the escorts fell out of position slightly and TANG zipped inside at high speed, passing one escort at just 1900 yards , keeping stern pointed at her for low profile. Once inside, increased speed back to flank to catch up to the merchant vessels inside.

Spotted large AP at 0150 and positioned parallel to the vessel, once ahead turned to starboard to bring bow tubes to bear and fired three MK 23 torpedoes from tubes 4,5,6., turning away to open range and stern swinging around in case need follow up attack. Forward of TANG once turn complete was a large AK, , readied tubes 1,2,3,. All three torpedoes hit the AP, which slowed and began to settle. Gunfire, star shells, spotlights, and alarms went off, but TANG was hidden well inside convoy, unseen at moment. Two escorts on port side began dropping large patterns of depth charges. At 0200 , fired tubes 1,2,3 at large AK and swung back to starboard to move ahead towards other ships. During this interim, the AP torpedoed previously suffered a series of explosions and quickly sunk. Multiple rafts spotted in water.

At 0201 all three torpedoes hit the large AK. The forward deck guns and machine guns opened fire on TANG, while another AK illuminated her with searchlights and opened fire TANG raced away at high speed showed stern to present minimal profile to gunners. Check of PPI scope and from bridge shows escort vessels closing fast. TANG continued moving along sighting a large AO, estimated 10000 tons, similar to GENYO MARU.

Moved along side the zigging vessel, brought stern tubes to bear at 2000 yards and fired all four torpedoes. Three of MK 18 torpedoes hit and ships erupted in a massive fireball, igniting as tankers loaded with fuel tend to do.

All torpedo tubes empty, TANG now began racing for a gap in the screen to exit. However, now had three escorts closing. Changed course and put engines on overload, making 22.5 knots, raced away dodging gunfire.


Momentarily, the pursuers lost contact as TANG pulled away and began to reload torpedoes for a follow up attack. Thus far, two of the ships attacked (AP and AK) had sunk. The AO was dead in water, a flaming wreck, but afloat. TANG would reload and close to finish the ship off, if possible. With four bow and two stern tubes now reloaded, headed back into the convoy , initially heading for tanker when sighted a large AK and let three MK 23 torpedoes fly, two of which hit the target setting off massive explosion, TANG turned and managed to evade as an escort rushed into the scene of attack. As TANG progressed along looking for next target in the convoy, dodging escorts , crew reported SD contact. A night flyer coming in.

What to do? Only 60 ft below keels, no place to dive in these calm seas full of alerted escorts. Just continued moving along , hearing an aircraft and spotting it in distance, circling area of last attack. Suddenly sound of its engines was overhead, there was a BETTY , which strafed TANG and dropped bombs/depth charges, which landed about 75 feet off starboard side. ( I had the AA guns mod enabled which set them to act as deck guns) Plane made another strafing run but was apparently out of bombs. However, it alerted escorts which closed in, forcing TANG to run away. During this time aircraft lost contact with TANG but escorts continued at high speed., but TANG remained ahead. However, one pip seemed to be closing fast, a visual check showed a Matsu Class DE closing very high speed from bearing 110. Most likely, this was the radar equipped escort. Turned TANG's stern to 0 AOB on the Matsu and prepared stern tubes (MK 18) for down the throat shot. However, this low aspect apparently caused Matsu to lose radar radar as it soon was observed to slow, drop two patterns of depth charges, then turn back to the convoy. TANG then turned back to finish off the tanker, dead in the water, which had two escorts trolling the general area, one 5000 yards from the doomed AO.


Closed to 3000 yards and just as was preparing to fire a torpedo, she began to sink and within five minutes had disappeared below. With the remaining vessels in convoy several miles ahead, dawn approaching, TANG, having sunk three large AK and one large AO, set course for deeper waters. A nearby escort seemed to grow curious and began closing the scene at high speed, either spotting TANG or was equipped with radar, fired a star shell, then opened fire. TANG turned her stern to target in case a down the throat show was needed and to provide minimal profile. A second and third escort approaching from astern, on each quarters were closing, nearly boxing TANG in. To complicate matters, the Matsu, unseen in some time and presumed to have moved further north with main body of convoy, was observed rushing in a high speed. The three escorts could be out run and were at 4000-6000 yards, but the DE, at 9000 and closing fast, had a far superior speed advantage. TANG turned to present stern and minimal profile to the MATSU, which was presumed to have radar. Making matters more difficult, seas had suddenly picked up, somewhat heavy, which slowed tang to 20.5-21 knots instead of 22.5 was making on overload. TANG had now crossed into slightly deeper waters with 125 feet below keel . The Matsu was at 5000 yards, other escorts at 3800-5500. Suddenly the nearest escort, the TYPE C slowed somewhat, circled and dropped a large pattern of depth charges. The others followed suit. Well, least they were convinced we had submerged.

The DE continued closing. TANG began a slow gentle turn to starboard with five degrees then ten degrees rudder . The DE fired a star shell, then made an abrupt turn to port and began dropping depth charges! Ah, seems they lost radar contact and convinced TANG had submerged. We resumed course and sped away at high speed, relieved. Secured General Quarters and at dawn, submerged South of Goto Islands to avoid the air patrols, numerous of which were spotted through the day during periscope observations.


Ships sunk during Attack No. 1

Large AP 7000-8000 tons
Large AK 6000 tons
Large AO 10000 tons
Large AK 6000-7000 tons.


* In reality, TANG on her third patrol , attacked a large convoy with 12 escorts in Koshiki Straits off Kyushu on 24/25 June 1944 and sunk four ships. This convoy was added as a "historical contact" in TMO Update to allow player chance to try and pull off the attack. As Cdr (later Admiral) O Kane did, approaching from the rear of convoy worked in the updated TMO, with dark nights etc. Night was dark but not super dark, esp after 0400 when quarter moon, albeit with some cloud cover and light fog was out.



Surfacing the evening of the 25th, TANG proceeded to primary patrol area in the Yellow Sea (Area 12) .


At 2305 on 29 June made SJ contact with large AP off DAISEI Islands groups. Closed and due to full moon, submerged in shallow waters, firing three torpedoes, which promptly sunk the 7000-8000 tons AP.


On July 4 sunk a mid sized AK at 36-10N 125-50E and a small AK on July 6 at 37-30N 123-52E.



Only July 8 off the Shantung Promontory, China in the Yellow Sea, sunk a small AO (empty). The AO's small PC type escort hunted tang and dropped depth charges, two close but heavy seas and a thermal layer at 105 feet (max depth 150 ft) helped hide TANG.


On July 10 , TANG sunk a mid sized AK East of Qingdao, China at 36-6N 120-38E in a night surface attack. AK sunk at 0411 hours.


TANG then proceeded back to the Korea coast to avoid ASW efforts off China coast.

On Jul 12 at 1301, in overcast skies with choppy seas, SD failed to detect a closing aircraft until it was 5.5 NM away and lookouts failed as well. Ordered a dive but a close depth charge caused damage , including flooding in forward torpedo room. In shallow waters with flooding, TANG's angle was difficult to correct and collided with bottom at 170 feet. Most serious damage was flooding and sound heads damaged (new damage model, sound heads can be damaged or destroyer) , which did not function properly for res tof patrol.

On July 12th at 2300 made contact with convoy of two shups and one PC type escort off CHOPEKKI POINT, CHOSEN(Korea) . With just 100 ft below keel, opted for night surface attack. Due to speed area, first four torpedoes missed large AK, but two hit the smaller AK of 2500 tons, which quickly exploded and sunk at 36-50N 124-50E. The escort chased TANG, firing her deck gun, but could not make the speed to catch up.

With three torpedoes left aft tracked the remaining AK and at 0425 fired last three torpedoes, all MK 18. Two torpedoes failed to hit, but the third hit amidships. TANG raced away under fire from merchant and escort, losing escort easily again. The AK soon settled in water and fifteen minutes after torpedo hit, slipped beneath the waves. Out of torpedoes, TANG set course for Midway arriving July 24.


Nine ships sunk for just over estimated 55,000 tons.




Fun, busy patrol which somewhat paralleled TANG's real life third patrol.