Stories and Patrol Logs + Screenshots and Videos (merged)

[c13Garrison]

The first patrol orders came in. We were to sail straight to Japan and seek out IJN targets off of the Bungo straits. I checked the charts and decided to make for the Kii Straits instead, thinking our best chance for traffic would require established shipping lanes. We cast off and started to make way, and I saw how irked the Admiral was with me. The band was three docks down, playing off newly promoted Lieutenant Commander Ryan. We circled Ford Island on the way out, checking out the wreck that had been made of the fleet.

The outbound was uneventful, fueling at Midway and then arriving on station on December 28th. We parked about 25 miles out to sea and waited, surfaced at night & periscope depth during the day.

Early on New Year's Day lookouts spotted sails to the south coming north, a line of 3 sampans. We submerged and went astride their line of travel, surfacing and engaging them with guns. They were destroyed with no complaint.

Two days later at 2130 on the 3rd sonar reported a merchant approaching from the north, and a quick plot showed it was bearing right down on us. I ordered back 2/3's and right rudder to set up a shot. It hove into view, a Hakusika Maru, on perfectly calm seas and with light fog. I opened tubes 1 & 2, setting the first for magnetic and the second for contact. At 1900 yards I fired both. The first blew premature, but the second ran true...

"500 yards...400...300...Impact, ...now!"

Thud.

Digby looked up over his glasses from the stop-watch he held.

"Bugger."

I looked at him deadpan.

"Alright. Surface the boat, stand by guns, independent fire & fire at will."

The boat surfaced and we swiftly began our robust engagement. They replied with AA guns only, and our hits came fast and sure at 1000 yards. She went down swiftly.

We were just restoring our station after the sinking when sonar reported a warship contact approaching at long range and medium speed.

"Periscope depth! Prepare tubes 3 & 4."

We waited until the small shadowy shape revealed itself, a patrol boat of some kind.

"Set 3 & 4 for magnetic detonation and running shallow...."

I watched the ship approach on a constant heading slightly to port, and fired both tubes at about 2200 yards. This time the first torpedo allowed me to believe in it for a full 12 seconds before it blew premature. ...I took a deep breath and watched the second fish continue to bear. The target didn't change course, so I thought I had a chance...but it ran through on past the target, too deep to trigger.

I looked at Digby and frowned.

"Digs, that thing's got a single 3" gun and a couple machine guns. We've got two 6"'ers and are four times her mass."

"Yes Sir, though we are a bit far from home to handle damage if things go awry."

"They won't go awry. Battle surface, stand by all weapons!"

We surfaced turning to starboard, both guns turning promptly into action. At about 1200 yards the minelayer started zigzagging and closing the range on a constant bearing. We were suddenly having a much tougher time on this small target pointing towards us than we did on the big freighter 20 minutes ago. It started scoring hits before we did, and soon Cob shouted up the hatch-

"Sir, forward bulkheads destroyed and the torpedo room is flooding!"

I frowned and watched the hits starting to fall for us, but she was still charging us down and now at 700 yards.

"All ahead Flank!"

There were now 3 large holes at our bows, and we'd hit the thing 5 or 6 times to no apparent effect, despite one of them clearly blowing up right in their bridge. The range was down to 400 yards.

"Crash dive!"

I cursed as we plummeted to the conning tower. How could that thing be so durable?

"Make your depth 150 feet, come left to 270 ahead 1/3."

"Aye Sir!"

The Jap was turning away to port as we too were going to starboard, so at least we didn't need to worry about depth charges as we dove for safety. We were turning through to our heading when Hull shouted out-

"The boat's not trimming Sir! Depth 160!"

"20 degree angle on forward planes."

Ordering to make for a shallower depth stopped our descent, but we were not rising. I ran forward to to the torpedo room, and it was a frightful mess. Killpatrick's party was desperately at work trying to shore up the bulkhead and there was a frightful amount of water standing as we were slightly bow-down, but it looked like given time they could manage it.

We made a large circle through 270 to 180, and held on at slow for about 20 minutes. Sonar had the Jap still circling where we dove, so I ordered periscope depth to see how she was faring.

"The damn thing's on an even keel and making 12 knots Digs, despite a good 10 percent of her hull missing and no bridge. ...we'd better let her go. We took a lot more damage than I wanted to. For the rest of the patrol our diving limit is 150 feet."

Digs looked at me with a quizzical spark in his eye.

"I'll change my definition of 'awry' accordingly Sir."

I smirked a bit and shook my head.

We started heading east, but in time we recovered from our damage and were navigable, so I took us up the coast towards Tokyo since we'd only fired 4 torps. We took station off Tokyo Bay on January 6th, and listened for traffic. There was none.

"Digs, Tokyo seems very sleepy. I don't think we can let a chance like that pass. I think we're going to push in tonight and look at Yokohama's anchorage."

Digby looked at me with hesitation.

"We can't dive past 150 feet sir. We'd be hard pressed to evade a dedicated attack."

"Well the harbor is only 120 feet deep, so that won't matter will it?", I said with a wry smile.

"Very good sir, with some due caution though" he chuckled.

That evening as dusk fell we headed into Tokyo Bay. The plot was 4 hours, and it was entirely unremarkable. Not a single contact on the way in, only a distant merchant as we took station.

"Alrighty, up scope depth 65, lets have a look."

I was shocked by what I saw. Dead ahead was a Fuso class battleship, and turning through 360 revealed an Ise class dead astern.

"Bingo Digs. ...set tubes 5 & 6 for magnetic and 20 feet."

We fired both tubes astern at about 1100 yards, and for once they worked perfectly. So perfectly in fact that the second torp was wasted. #5 detonated right underneath B turret and within 4 seconds a massive explosion ripped through the whole ship. Every porthole and hatch licked flames from inside, and the second torp probably combusted the only combustibles left as the after magazine blew.

Smiling to myself I circled round to consider the bow target. However, our torpedo performance was to regress to the mean.

#1; premature.
#2; detonated under after magazine, no relic fire, slight list to starboard and stern begun.
#3; premature.
#4; premature.

I was fuming silently as we waited for reloads. When #5 was ready I lined it up and fired.

"Circle runner!"

"All back depth 90!"

The fish was set for magnetic, so we had no idea if we could get far enough away before it passed. Sonar listened with riveted consternation on his face as it circled back...and missed our bows by about 30 yards. If we'd had forward momentum, we would have been sunk.

"Digby get these damn torpedoes torn apart before we kill ourselves!"

Digby glanced at me and made his way forward. We had a final moment of worry as the torpedo expended its propulsion and started to sink down towards us, but it exploded about 150 yards forward on the bottom and caused no damage. We went back up to 65 feet and lined up the next torpedo...

#6; premature.
#7; hit forward, but it must have been deep for only a small fire showed.

I was waiting for #8 to load, and contemplating my next shot, when the ship started listing noticeably faster to starboard and taking water by the bows. Before #8 was loaded she heeled over completely and started to settle to the bottom.

I was thinking about what next to shoot at when Sonar reminded me we had a merchant passing slowly astern. Tubes 5 & 6 were up, so I decided to fire. They were both premature.

With disgust I lined up on a Takao class cruiser anchored to the WSW. Turning the boat twice to use all remaining torps we had 4 more prematures and a single hit. It must have been deep though because it only started a small fire beneath the forward turret, though I doubt it was small to the folks in the turret. With our last torpedo's detonation on the way to target I cursed and lowered the scope.

"Set course for open ocean, depth 100 & ahead slow."

On the way out we finally did detect a warship under power, but it was moving slow and away from us, and no matter how hard it was listening it wasn't going to hear us. We made open ocean just as dawn was breaking, but with depleted batteries we could only wait for nightfall due to Admiral Wither's orders. Mid morning however sonar detected a merchant approaching from the south, so with no other contacts I used what battery power we had left to close to about 1800 yards, then ordered Battle Surface. It was a Hakusika Maru, and went down after about 20 rounds. We returned to periscope depth, and at nightfall surfaced to make our escape.

The return to Pearl via Midway was uneventful if lengthy, due to the requirement to run submerged during the day until we were 500 miles from Japan. Upon returning to Pearl I instructed Digby to load the stern tubes with Mk10s before we put to sea again, and both he & Chief Madison assured me they would get to the bottom of the torpedo issue. I frowned unhappily, but finally had my smile when I found out that Admiral Withers was finally actually having me over for dinner. I guess 85,000 tons paid the price of forgiveness.

[in_vino_vomitus]

Nice work, and well told

[c13Garrison]

"Maggie, would you get me a cup of coffee?"

"Yes Sir" replied the curvacious WAC as she got up from her desk.

Thor looked back down at the blank action report, and noticed his hand holding the pen trembling.

He looked out the window at the beautiful scenery of Hawaii, remembering how alien a thought that had so recently been. He took a breath and started to write as the clock struck 0900.
________________________
2nd War Patrol, USS Narwhal

Departed Pearl February 14, 1942, with orders for Bungo Straits again. Requested to watch the straits.

March 7, close to arriving on station, sighted convoy of junks and sampans heading south. Engaged on the surface at long range, action took 40 minutes and was successful but used most of our ammo. 6 ships sunk.

Arrived on station early morning of March 7, 15 miles south of southern narrows of Bungo Straits.
------------------------

He paused, looking out the window as the coffee was delivered. He didn't watch Maggie turn back towards her desk.

_________________
March 8, 1230 hours.
Sonar reports warships approaching at long range, bearing 330 at NW, heading ESE. At 8500 yards periscope sight shows a destroyer escorting a small old freighter. Concluding it must be a high value target, I decide to fire 3 at the freighter followed by one at the destroyer. Settings were shallow and magnetic.

As firing bearing approached noted many small guns on the freighter.

1302 at a range of 1800 yards fired a spread of three then slewed to shoot #4 at the destroyer. I immediately called downscope and set a heading of 240 & 200 feet at 1/3. 2 torpedoes exploded premature, 3rd ran deep of freighter and 4th ran astern of accelerating destroyer. Both ships began maneuvering, and destroyer started echo ranging at 1500 yards.

1308 destroyer lays a pattern of 16 depth charges, & sonar reports freighter Also closing. I reverse our turn, getting a bad feeling, and order 090 to make for the shallower shelf to our east in case depth control became an issue.

1310 freighter lays a pattern of 8 depth charges. I call battle-stations.
1312 destroyer lays a pattern of 12 depth charges. I order 220 feet, finding the thermal layer at 205.
1316 freighter lays a pattern of 8 depth charges.
1317 destroyer lays a pattern of 16 depth charges.
1321 freighter lays a pattern of 8 depth charges.
1323 destroyer drops a single depth charge.
1326 freighter lays a pattern of 6 depth charges.
1329 destroyer lays a pattern of 8 depth charges. We arrive over the shelf, I order a course of 155.
1332 destroyer lays a pattern of 12 depth charges. I order 250 feet, feeling for the bottom. Sonar reports floor close at 230 feet. I order 230.
1336 freighter lays a pattern of 8 depth charges.
1337 destroyer lays a pattern of 16 depth charges. Heavy damage forward, deck guns and periscopes destroyed. Forced deep to 247 feet.
1341 freighter lays a pattern of 8 depth charges.
1344 destroyer lays a pattern of 14 depth charges. Heavy damage forward and aft, bulkheads destroyed, diesels destroyed, batteries damaged, heavy flooding. Boat forced to the bottom at 255 feet, further damage from sea floor. At this point everyone stopped writing anything down, all hands were needed.

Many further attacks occur, then after 3 hours cease all together. Bulkhead repairs are made, and we are able to lift the boat from the sea floor. I order ahead at 1 knot, and we proceed ahead for the remainder of the day and into the night until batteries exhausted. We then wait until just before dawn and surface. There are no ships in sight. We set course for Midway, at our maximum economical speed of 4 knots after waiting out the bulk of the day submerged. I will not take the boat below 70 feet.

March 11th, mid afternoon, Sonar reports a merchant closing from the NE to the SW. It will pass close, so I conclude we will engage if it is unescorted. Periscope confirms it is solo, Kinposan Maru. I set all 4 tubes for shallow and contact and fire at 1800 yards. All 4 hit, all are duds. We turn through the east and south to bring stern tubes to bear. I fire 2 Mk10 torpedoes at 700 yards, both run true and detonate. The ship begins listing and slowing, turning away. Bringing bow tubes to bear, I fire our first reload when target is nearly stationary at 1000 yards. Set for contact, the torpedo strikes and explodes, causing a cargo explosion that destroys the ship. We resume course for Midway, arriving Pearl on April 19th.

Request additional liberty for all crew.
S.Thor Hardin
-------------

Thor looked up, finishing just as Digby entered the office. Maggie looked up with a smile and immediately asked if he'd like some tea. That damned Digby was all charm. He watched her exit and turn down the hall.

"That Maggie, she sure is Celtic United..."

"Hm?"

"Nothing Sir" Digby chuckled. "Here are the master casualty reports for you to sign off on."

Thor looked at the list of 30 names who would receive the Purple Heart, and signed as he said, "Digby, not another Mk14 ever gets loaded on my boat. Understood?"

"Understood, Sir."

Digby saluted crisply and turned just as Maggie brought him his tea. ...damn Mk14s.

(( In a curious note, after this mission where we barely survive, 2 of my engineers picked up the 'Damage Control' special ability, and my torpedo chief became a 'Torpedo Expert', all three abilities appropriate considering what the boat had been through.))

[in_vino_vomitus]

I suspect you have a Time Lord in your crew...........

Nicely told as usual - Congrats on passing the DYSHAP test

















[The DYSHAP test is a test I apply when climbing, to see if my tactics for dealing with a particular problem are correct - it's an acronym for Do You Still Have A Pulse?]

[c13Garrison]

DYSHAP will become an acronym I use often, thank you- and thank you, though I think my two tales about penetrating Truk were rather more exciting. Patrols where either too much or nothing happened will most likely get dealt with by action report. I think I will log them all though, at least as long as I last.

I'm certainly not going up against Bungo Pete again, at least not without first class torpedoes.

[in_vino_vomitus]

It's not so much what happens as the style in which the tale is told - Joni Mitchell could sing you her laundry list and have you in tears.....

[c13Garrison]

"This is... small."

"Yes Sir. Too small."

July 19, 1942, they are close to pulling alongside the submarine tender at Midway. Digby and Thor stand at the rail on the bridge. Sailors are in the midst of deck preparations, and 2/3's the crew had found an excuse to be on the hull. He glances at the patrol report, which had just been typed up before coming topside.

______
Patrol 3

Depart May 8
May 14 join submarine cordon off Midway
June 6th depart for Tokyo
June 20 Kiposan Maru by torpedo
June 22 Heito Maru by guns @0400
June 22 Kasagian Maru by torpedo @1423
June 22 Kasusika Maru by guns @1600
June 23 Akira Maru by torpedo @0500
June 23 Heito Maru by torpedo @0530
June 24 Zinbu Maru by guns @0200
June 24 Nagara Maru by torpedo @1020
Rebase to Midway on July 15
Arrive Midway July 19
--------------------

"I hope we can have more patrols like this. ...the crew needed this one after Bungo."

"True sir, but Midway can't quite serve as a proper surrogate for Hawaii."

"No argument there."

Thor and Digby watched the approach resignedly.

"...Rotten luck getting the rebase order as we were about to tie up at Pearl sir."

"Yeah, somebody somewhere could have managed that better."

They listened disinterestedly to the seagulls as the engines were killed and lines began to be tossed.

"Maggie works at Pearl", Digby stated obviously.

Thor sighed. "Yup. Maggie does."

[JoeCorrado]

Contact! Warship moving slow, closing!

Near Marcus Island on the morning of March 1, 1942 - I wasn't expecting this. The Flying Dutchman! I tried to get closer, maybe even along side- she simply disappeared as I just did come into visual range of her, only to reappear a short time later in a new position. I took it as a good omen!

[fireftr18]

Originally Posted by JoeCorrado

Contact! Warship moving slow, closing!

Near Marcus Island on the morning of March 1, 1942 - I wasn't expecting this. The Jolly Roger! I tried to get closer, maybe even along side- she simply disappeared as I just did come into visual range of her, only to reappear a short time later in a new position. I took it as a good omen!

Arrrh! So ye found ye old Flying Dutchman! Now ye have a ghost of a tale for the kiddies!

[Bubblehead1980]

TMO RSRD USS Tirante-Tench class. 100 realism, contacts on, cams off.

First patrol, assigned to the Area 12- Yellow Sea...which means littoral operations as Japanese avoid deep waters now.

While in extreme southern part of Area 12 West of Quelpart Island on March 2, 1945, convoy shows up on radar.After tracking into deeper waters and with convoy being out of area at nightfall and moderately choppy seas, decided on a submerged attack.Dove off the projected path on the 3 ship, 4 escort convoy.Soon I had 3 small HARUNA MARU tankers with a DE, two Type C escorts and an aux subchaser escorting.I fired 6 Mark 18's from 3,000 yards, three each to the leading tankers.4 hits, one tankers exploded in a fireball, obviously full of fuel, the other listed and was burning, the aux subchaser was on me, I went "deep" to 290 feet, dropping decoys along the way.

The aux subchaser attacked decoys, as did two others escorts but the DD(judging by sound, external cam was off) made an accurate run, but charges were set too shallow, they exploded above, causing minor damage to deck area and conning tower(sonar stack) . The DE then made a follow up run which was much more accurate, caused minor damage in engine rooms but damaged after torpedo room, causing mild flooding, forcing us to use more speed to stay off bottom.Making noise, the others came in.

dropping several sets of decoys at 200 feet, I then went back to 270 while DC party when to work.They began to launch an intense assault on the noise makers while I departed area at flank speed.Using the decoys and disturbances of depth charge explosions(thank you thedarkwraith for this excellent mod) to slip away.Making maybe 7,000 yards, attempted to slow but not enough water pumped out yet, still had to keep speed up, apparently this helped the DE find me again, as closed in and launched an attack but used my final set of decoys at 220 feet to fool him and went back deep, managed to slip away again, shaken, some damage but nothing too major.spent rest of day evading persistent escorts and planes, surfaced after dark, one tanker sunk, other possibly sunk(it later went down but did not get credit as it was well out of contact but a grey "ship sunk": marker appeared along its path about 100 miles away)

tirante then darted across the Yellow Sea to the coast of China since other side was stirred up.Soon learned 3 stern torpedo tubes were not repairable at sea, down to just one stern tube , but plenty of stern torpedoes in reserve.

After a few days of nothing but planes off the coast of China, headed to coast of Korea, dodged a few planes and began running into fishing ships and sampans.Used the Tirante's twin 5 inch deck guns and 40 MM to sink 16 of them in 3 attacks.Encountered a patrol of armed tug and aux subchaser, attempted to attack but Mark 18 missed due to target slowing during the torpedo run.

Moved back to China coast, further north of Qingdao when detected a convoy. Four ships, 5 escorts running maybe 5,000 yards off the coast, would have to wait until night to attack.One escort has radar, could get tricky.Tracked convoy from 10 miles throughout day, as it rounded the shantung promotory(think thats it) and headed for Darien.Attacked after moonset. Fired six Mark 18's from 2100 yards, while turning away, escorts spotted me, all missed as we ran under fire.Soon lost the escorts in the dark, except the radar equipped one who closed in fast and kept track of me, tried a Mark 28 homing fish out the stern tube, it tracked but even at 19 knots couldnt catch the subchaser making 19. Soon managed to pulled away, then using cover of night, headed back to the convoy while the SC dropped depth charges, guess he lost contact and though we pulled the plug.

Back in, I fired last six forward Mark 18's at a large troopship and medium merchant, troopships took 3 hits, 3 others missed the zigging merchant as it slowed.Then a spotlight, an escort standing guard on opposite side spotted me, the pursuit was on again and I fired a Mark 28 homing fish out at the escort, it bypassed it but locked onto the medium merchant I just missed, hitting her stern.0550-the large troopship-KITRUIN MARU sank. outran the Type C escort and avoided the radar equipped SC, now back on scene hunting for me.

What to do? Out of bow torpedoes with one working external tube but plenty of torpedoes, I doubled back to finish off the medium merchant, dodging escorts and backed down to 2000 yards on an AKITA MARU.Fired one Mark 18, which finished off the ship, which went under at 0610. Two ships left, escorts hunting, ordered single tube reloaded, we had a chance to get one more before dawn and convoy reached port.

Trouble though, we soon had an SD contact flying in.only 70 feet below keels, we chose to go all stop and keep slim profile to the radar equipped night flier.Plane circled in but was not aware of us, then left area.Soon we noticed an escort was stationary, listening and was standing in our way to the convoy, so we backed down on the Type C escort to 3,000 yards, fired one Mark 18, which hit and caused a massive explosion, we then sped to other side of convoy while an escort arrived on scene to investigate. Backing down on the last merchants,we now had one more Mark 28 homer loaded in tube.Fired at the lead ship, torpedo hit and ship quickly began to sink the small troopships, TYOHEI MARU(looked larger in TBT in the dark), torpedo being reloaded and knowing wouldnt have time to get in another torpedo attack before final ship reached port and with escorts scattered hunting me, we turned and for a broadside shot from the twin 5 inch deck guns and 40 MM.The 5 inch guns scored immediately hits with first salvo, starting a fire, more hits, 40 MM scored hits then.The freighter returned fire with light machine guns, scored few hits, one crewmen on watch wounded.Soon though shell splashes, the radar equipped escort was back! AHEAD EMERGENCY we ran away, showed him our stern and lobbed few more rounds at the merchant, setting it afire.

After a long chase, we lost the escort and soon the merchant exploded, just 10 miiles from port! An entire convoy sunk, we were a proud ship.

Sailed south to the coast of Korea for some more hunting, still had a few fish left in stern, fuel at 45 percent.Next few days were nothing but a few planes.Ran into a convoy of sampans, went for Battle Surface.To my surprise, they opened fire with machine guns. Closed in and made quick work of them with 40 MM guns(seas were too rough for deck guns) .Back to the coast of the china, radar contact made at 1800, smoke on horizon, ordered ahead flank and closed to investigate, soon we had a small coastal freighter with 4 small patrol boats as escorts, maybe 4,000 yards off the coast, we were tracking and pulling ahead when an SD contact forced us to dive in the shallows.Plane spotted us at scope depth and dropped some close bombs, we surfaced to find one pip closing fast and his radar trained on us, ahead flank we went, outran the escort, forced to dive briefly for the plane again.Surfaced attempting end around, a patrol arrived and forced us to take long way around.The convoy made a sharp turn and entered port at Qingdao, we lost this one.Clearing the area, heading back to extreme southern end of patrol area to finish off last few days of patrol(fuel was getting low and been at sea for 40 days now, time to head home soon. On the final night, planning to leave area at midnight, radar contact, we had a westbound convoy running north of quelpart island. Two contacts with 5 escorts, two of which had radar.Decided to take out one escort, then go after one of the merchants with remaining Mark 18 torpedoes(down to four I believe, one in tube, three reserve) .Closing in on radar signal expecting to get close like did on last radar escort(adjusted radar so its possible sometimes, releasing it as a mod soon) at 5000 yards of so, the escort detected me, here we go again! Problem is, this was not just a escort, this was a DE or DD, it was closing at 30 knots or so for at 20 I was not pulling away, it was overtaking me.Time for a down the throat shot.Also, being in shallow waters, ordered aft deck gun and 40 MM manned in case we were in a bind.

The escort began to zig at 3,000 yards making a down the throat shot difficult but after plotting him at 26.5 knots, the pursuer(now identified an Otori/Tomozuru torpedo Boat) continued to overtake him, firing star shells and machine guns in my area.Deciding to chance it, I timed the shot and fired Mark 18 at 1,500 yards while gun crews stood by.The ship's spotlight came on, illuminating the Tirante, just then Mark 18 hit the escort broadside as it turned to adjust.I ordered the aft five inch gun to open fire and 40 MM opened fire.The ship exploded and caught fire from bow to stern, she was finished. What a close one!

The other escorts rushed and slowed to investigate their burning friend, in but Tirante was long gone.Reloading the tube, closed in on the now lightly protected merchants(port side was left open, on escort aft, one on starboard side) we back down to 1800 yards, we have TWO large tankers, NIPPON MARU class.Set one mark 18 for 12 feet and would aim under her stack, hopefully she is full fuel and will blow up easily.Fired Mark 18, missed ahead. Pulled away to reload and plotted speed again, we had speed correct, mustve been a gyro error.Backed down again, fired once more, missed.Speed changed during the run, ah! Final torpedo, backed down on target again and fired.Torpedo took a hard jog to port, CIRCLE RUN! Ahead flank, we sped away just barely avoiding the torpedo.Sent a last contact report and left area, then headed for Guam with 21,000+ tons down.

This was an exciting fun patrol and was also testing out some mods. One is a rework of enemy radar.I adjusted the minimum height for the Type 21 and 22 radars so that they dont automatically pick you up.Profile has a lot to do with it, as I found out, sometimes can get extremely close, sometimes can not, all depends on your angle as well as skill of the enemy.Noticed once alerted by others, their radar does help them locate you.May try adjusting couple more things before release.Of course, Armistead's darker nights is a vital role in this also, the darker nights with TMO visuals by tater for RSRD makes for a challenging yet realistic simulation of night surface attacks.

I also adjusted depth charges so they damage in a manner more consistent with history.No more death blows from far away as in RL they had to be fairly close to cause a "death blow" but they will cause damage to build up, leading to sub becoming a true death trap.

Also adjusted my torpedo mod as be more accurate for late war torpedoes.While the major problems were solved in 43(duds ,prematures and always running deep) US submarine torpedoes still had issues such as running deeper than set(Mark 18 and 14 but not usually by much as opposed to the minimum 10-12 feet by early Mark 14's in 42) gyro errors and circle runs.The Mark 18 seemed to be the most prone to gyro errors and circle runs in later war, this mod reflects it.Still a low chance but it does happen as it did in RL.All these changes are meant to create a challenge via some realism but also give player a chance.

[c13Garrison]

The previous 3 patrols had been a mixed bag, low risk low reward, some time on station off Japan as well as down in the slot. We'd sunk a few destroyers, been first hand wittness to the annihilation of Scott's squadron, and seen the demise of a battleship and a cruiser. Unfortunately that encounter had lost us most all our gun crews. Now with replacement and resupply, we head out to patrol between Davao & Tulagi.

Just about to pass south of Tulagi on March 16, flash traffic informs us of a convoy inbound from Rabaul. We elect to divert and lay in wait for it.

With only 5 hours to arrive on station, we spent all day of the 17th & 18th watching Mobi patrol boats fruitlessly guard Tulagi. With sunset on the 18th we began to realize we'd missed yet another convoy intercept. At 2230 a patrol appeared on radar, so we elected to engage given we'd been in the blind so long anyway. I fired 2 torpedoes at 4000 closing yards with a 1 degree starboard offset, bracketing the target so if it accelerated slow or fast I should get a hit. The ship must've been asleep though for it barely accelerated at all. #1 struck it in the bows, removing everything but the railings. We set course south and deep to be clear of the zone before more help came to look.

Sonar kept tracking the target though, and after a single zig-zag it seemed to stay on course to the SW. I decided to return to periscope and finish her. An awful waste, 3 torps for a boat less than half my tonnage, but it looked to be another dead quiet cruise. Plus, it was the completeness of the thing. I fired 1 more at 3000 trailing yards, and this one barely hit as well, right in the fantail. For all I know the Mobi's wake had set it off. It did do some damage though for she slowed to 6 knots and stayed there. She must have had no hint of us, for she stayed on course.

I figured she'd sink eventually, so when she slipped from sonar I raised speed to 2/3s and came to radar depth to track her. We'd engaged in this for about 5 minutes, the Mobi limping SW (drawing due S of Tulagi) while we held on south. It was 2310.

"Con! Radar surface contacts bearing 306! Many vessels heading 270!"

I looked at Digsby, slightly surprised.

"Even a blind squirrel can find its nuts?", he opined with sublime humor.

"Indeed so. Helm surface and ahead full, plot a track and submerge at 1500 yards on track. Battlestations torpedo."

The boat bustled into activity as we closed the range. We submerged and came all stop to 45* off their track. As the convoy hove into view we saw there were 2 columns of merchants bearing east, apparently escorted only by 2 minesweepers. One was returning from a probe out to the north, the other was on a constant heading west passing us 1500 yards to the south.

I took bearings on 4 merchants, marking their range, and decided to try one fish at each. As the firing bearings came on, I shot at the most distant targets first. When the 4th fish was away the range was 1200 yards.

"Downscope! Make your depth 300 feet ahead slow set course 180."

We listened as we gained depth...

As the chronometer ticked off the seconds, the satisfying and unprecedented sound of 4 torpedo impacts echoed through the boat over the course of 25 seconds. Digby echoed my smug look.

"At 300 feet come right to 270. We'll want to be in position to pick off stragglers."

The lead minesweeper made a half-hearted attempt at finding us, but never came closer than 1500 yards. Slow and quiet had won again. Over the next 15 minutes we heard 2 of the ships break up and sink, meaning 2 others were limping along above.

"Digby, all stop and make your depth 65 feet. Those escorts are way off base, and there were sonar tracks that we're not seeing anymore- let's give the stern tubes some work."

As the boat came up I swept through 140-220. There, 3900 yards behind us was a maru dead in the water, heading 190 and listing to starboard. I continued my sweep, looking for other contacts-

-and realized we were alongside the 4th maru now 120 yards off our beam!

"Flood 5 & 6! Fire 5! Fire 6-"

I was barely able to get the two fish off at the distant contact before the periscope was blasted all to hell. Small caliber rounds amazingly found the conning tower 25 feet under the water causing casualties and damage.

"Depth 250 course 315 ahead slow!"

We slowly descended, but we could hear the minesweepers barrelling in. Over the next 90 minutes they were tenacious, forcing the boat up and down between 200 & 250 feet. Two sets were terribly close, and for the second time our gun crews were hammered. I had the gunners themselves moved to the after battery for treatment, but the 8 loaders...there was nothing to do.

Eventually we shook them, by slowly drawing away. When we were able to surface I plotted an end-around to try to get in front of the convoy as it turned north around Tulagi making for the anchorage. However they continued on 270, apparently heading for Davao. I got in position to fire 4 fish at long range, as frequent air search was hampering my efforts. Unfortunately all 4 missed, though we were able to escape detection entirely. After 3 days on station to satisfy HQ we headed back to Midway, finally no longer Convoy-virgins.

"Its going to be hard to find volunteers to service our guns Captain."

"Well Digby, its a good thing we don't have a volunteer Navy then."

"Indeed sir. Oh, you might be interested in the berthing asignment memo for our docking today- it ends, 'New paperwork waiting your signature - M.'

"M?"

"M Sir."

Digby smiled, and for a short moment I allowed myself to as well.

[Sturmvogel]

i had feeling that i must share these old pics from my patrols
Playing v1.4 with mod goodies







Enjoy

[ETR3(SS)]

What's a short range fighter doing all the way out here?

[SnipersHunter]

@Sturmvogel with which mods do you play ?

[fireftr18]

ETR, I think it came from a small island, er large aircraft carrier.

Just don't follow it. You'll sucked right in and have to escape.