Stories and Patrol Logs + Screenshots and Videos (merged) - Page 294

in_vino_vomitus · 07-22-13, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grislyatoms

"At least that was the last number I saw as her main batteries swiftly rotated and depressed. With an 18" salvo blasting into the water"

That's the point when certain body parts shrivel and shrink!

I wonder what the actual minimum range was for those things? I'm guessing it would be well in excess of sensible torpedo range...

grislyatoms · 07-22-13, 07:05 PM

At that range, I would imagine beehive shells in salvo would be devastating to a shallow submarine. They could fuse them for "pretty close" range in aircraft defense, as I recall.

in_vino_vomitus · 07-22-13, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grislyatoms

At that range, I would imagine beehive shells in salvo would be devastating to a shallow submarine. They could fuse them for "pretty close" range in aircraft defense, as I recall.

They had beehive rounds for 18" guns? Scary............

grislyatoms · 07-22-13, 07:25 PM

They did. 18" shotgun shell, essentially.

c13Garrison · 07-23-13, 08:48 AM

...Damn. When I saw the "firing", I was more concerned that I'd been spotted. I didn't really consider that a sub at 60' depth could be hurt. That's a lot of water resistance to overcome to get a projectile that deep, and in fluid dynamics resistance has to be a bitch.

c13Garrison · 07-23-13, 11:19 AM

The S-36 was on her second war patrol. Due to prolonged time on multiple stations and a fruitless side-trip to scout Cam-Rahn Bay, Java was being invaded before we could resupply, so Darwin was where we finally made port. We had only tallied a single small freighter, so I was inclined to take us back out since we still had operational orders. Looking at the map though it would be a lot of navigational rigamarole to get back on station up south of Okinawa, and then the return trip. Given we had a full load of fuel relatively far north, being docked in Darwin, it occurred to me that Truk wasn't much farther. I could count for sure on finding ships, maybe something significant, and then plot a straight course to Midway to re-provision. It would be a week longer perhaps, but I thought worth a go.

Plotting a course south of New Guinea and cutting up below Bouganville, we approached Truk from the South-East having had to dodge only a few air patrols on the entire sortie. I set a point 12nm south of the southern channel as my aim point.

Still about 20 miles from the closest "safe" surfaced position I had figured, lookouts spotted a small escort closing fast at long range. I watched it for about 30 seconds and concluded it had spotted us. Just like the S-30 & S-37, two members of my Subron now lost, first discovery when surfaced had been made by the enemy. If the ship had had any meaningful armament I'm sure shells raining down would have been my welcoming card to Truk.

I ordered a crash dive but immediately cut to 1/3 speed once we were awash to still the wake, but upped it to slow ahead once we passed the thermal layer. I had tested the boat off Manila on the first day of the war, so while the water was deep here I took her to 400'. Being discovered 30 miles south of a major base was Not my plan, and I had no idea what kind of trouble might be raising steam to come looking for me.

Given the long range of the sighting, by the time it reached our last location we were a few hundred yards on. I heard depth charging, but distantly, and gratefully saw by sonar plot that it started circling our last known position. Seeing we had seemingly dodged a bullet, I proceeded on course, giving myself 8 miles to run before coming up for a peek and maybe a breath of air.

After proceeding about 5 miles sonar indicated a merchant approaching, and 90 seconds of data allowed us to draw a plot that would take him right across our path, heading WNW to transect our NW course. Seeing as this was the first merchantman I'd had a hint of since the Luzon Straits more than 3 weeks prior, I was inclined to intercept given it was being so obliging. We came to periscope depth, and with speed close to zero raised the scope. It was a standard merchantman proceeding alone, and the escort 5 miles astern was no longer being detected. Confirming its track, I dropped the scope and ordered slow ahead to reach our shooting point. Torpedo run would be about 1500 yards. I took a peek at 4000 yards, then raised the scope again when it reached about 1800 yards.

It was sitting pretty in the scope, but I noticed a slight change in bearing and speed. It must have been making a turn to approach the Truk shipping channel as I couldn't fathom that it had spotted us. However, it was now opening the range and making for a dicey shot. With no time to lose since I couldn't exactly surface and scoot around her so close to Truk, I tried to mentally picture how a slow turn to starboard would affect her position at impact, picked 2 points on her forward hull as marks and fired. My goal was to hit her on the back half.

The first torpedo impacted after a 90 second run, painfully long when you know your target is changing its bearing and its rate of change of range. I raised scope to see the second impact right on her screws, while the first was a 2/3's the way down her hull. "Two hits Biggles, right in the works." Smugly I watched her continue to turn, looking for her to lose speed and come to a stop. ...and instead, she Raised speed, and smartly began a zig-zag to the North East. "...that son-of-a... Damn Biggles. Who-ever their chief engineer is he must've gone to Yale." Making 11 knots, I watched her move off, and then was reminded what an ass-stupid thing I'd been doing for the last 8 minutes.

Making 8 knots with the periscope up must've made a pretty mark on the water. Two Zeroes took off from Truk and immediately vectored towards us. "Down-scope, depth 300 ahead standard." I was less concerned about their attack than about the fact that I was in a very bad spot to be visited by my hosts.

Continuing back on my original course at 300', we were watching sonar for news of the merchantman we'd hit, when Sonar reported first one, then two warships closing at long range and high speed. I maintained speed until our plot showed them at 6000 yards, then went to 1/3 & silent running. The afternoon was a long creep then, but we slowly stretched the distance to the two hunters, now circling our last known position. We reached the original point I plotted for my Truk approach, but it felt too close, so I proceeded north 2 more miles, then came up to periscope depth. Nothing in sight, nothing on radar. With speed at zero I decided to surface. The batteries were down to 79%, and I wanted my freighter.

I stood bridge watch with the crew as dusk was settling, very anxious that either a late air patrol launch or falling shell would be the next thing announced, as we lay surfaced just 10 miles south of Truk's southern shipping channel. As we began our watch, Sonar somehow sifted from amongst the krill whispering that the freighter we had hit more than 2 hours before was breaking up. A small reward, yet I felt gratified, and after calling it in HQ was bemused that my assignment to hunt shipping off Luzon had finally been completed. The minutes dragged on, and I began to feel the lighting was poor enough that we might be safe and I could consider heading west, when I realized something. THREE escorts were presumably looking for me, 5 and 10 miles behind me. How many harbour patrols could Truk have? I might have a golden opportunity now.

We stayed up for less than an hour. When the batteries showed 85% I took us down to 120', and plotted a course into the shipping channels. I had 10 torpedoes, I ought to find something worthwhile laying in there. I asked the Chief for 3 1/2 knots, that would make for a 5 hour entry that would get us back out to deep waters roughly at dawn, 11 hours from now. Nobody on the boat could remember when dawn came for some reason, but I guessed 6.

The next 5 hours were erie. Slow ahead, just listening, knowing that only 120' would be like shooting a penny in a puddle if we were detected. Not a single contact came up during the whole road in, not even the hounds far to the south. Calling all stop I ordered periscope depth. We'd reached the edge of the first harbourage, time to take a look... and it was like Christmas. 8 ships lying at anchor in a 7500 yard area. If I'd had twice as many fish I could have a gambler's chance at sinking them all, ...but, I thought there might be something bigger here, and I didn't want to tip my hand for a freighter if I didn't have to. We proceeded deeper.

The next anchorage held another 6 or 7 merchants, and a single subchaser also at rest. Once again, I made the call to pass them by. It would mean going more than half-way in to continue, so I realized I'd probably be exiting to the north by going on, but I wanted to find something worth all this effort. As it stood, I'd had no hint I was even in danger, so going on didn't seem any more daunting than turning around and going back.

Finally approaching Truk proper, it was after 4am when I raised scope again. Another anchorage, more merchants, but there, finally, my hard earned prize; ...a 6,000 ton light cruiser. I looked around, there had to be something bigger... Going back down we pressed on another 6000 yards, then popping the scope to look around again. More merchants up to the north, one to the far west, but not a single other warship. Somewhat frustrated, given the hour I resigned myself to bagging just what was off Truk port here. It would be daylight by the time I got to deep water, and I definitely didn't want planes spotting me in shallow water. I started maneuvering to set up my first shot, closing to a point 1500 yds from the cruiser and 2000 from a freighter at a different bearing. It would be a significant offset to shoot both on a common bearing, so I was deciding which way to slew the boat first.

"Con Sonar! New Contact Warship bearing 005 Long range closing fast!" ...I would have said '****, Biggles', but at this point it was hardly necessary. We all just had.

Without changing bearing I ordered "Shoot 1!" on the freighter, turned the scope about 70* starboard and ordered "Shoot 2 3 4!" on the light cruiser, then with not a single revolution of the propellers took us to the bottom. 133' down, we prayed while listening for the explosions of our torpedoes. ...which didn't come. I went to the plotting table, trying to figure out how I could miss stationary targets at under 2000 yards. Because of the offset, their 150 yard or-so straight run from the tubes before turning must have made for a significantly different solution than I'd allowed for. The fish probably missed by less than a boat length. Disappointed, we sat on the bottom waiting to pay our bill.

The waiter, however, never brought the check. The escort only pinged once at about 2500 yards, then slowed, and leisurely went Right over us, turning east -and not searching. We listened for 20 minutes, until it passed detection. "...Well. We'll have to thank the guy that picked up our tab. Secure from silent running Biggles, lets let them re-load." After another 25 minutes we came to periscope depth again. I switched to the Attack scope, because it was growing so light out that the night scope gave an imperfect view. I didn't know how far away the escort was, but I reasoned that it wouldn't be easy to get back to my location given the landmass that was likely between us. I set my bearing dead on the light cruiser and fired 2. They both hit, the second causing a large explosion aft. However after 90 seconds the ship showed no sign of even settling, so given I didn't want to hang around Truk in broad daylight I went ahead and fired a third. The fish was just clearing the tube when the cruiser's masts noticeably dipped towards me. It had rolled about 30* by the time the 3rd fish hit, so it probably hit decking for all I know. There was a 2nd large explosion, this one had to be the after magazines, and it rolled on its back settling by the stern.

I turned towards the other freighter, plotting our exit course as I did so. Firing #4, the torpedo hit, but because I didn't want to wait for another reload I just hoped that it would cause enough flooding to do it in. If it ever did sink though we didn't pick it up. Half-way out the north channel I risked periscope depth just to see what I might have missed, but only found one medium freighter which I put the last two fish in. We then made our agonizing way out the north channel, finally making deep waters, and continued on to put some distance between us and the harbour. 10 miles out I came up to take a peek, and with nothing detected we surfaced.

15 1/2 hours we'd been under, but we'd made it. Although there wasn't a huge warship prize to be found, it was good to know that "showing" ourselves 15 miles offshore might be a useful tactic to use in the future, and to discover that we could successfully hide on the bottom. Grateful for the lowering overcast skies, we set our course for Midway. "Secure from battle-stations Biggles. Let's break out the apple cobbler, I think we all deserve a treat." It was June 6, and looked to be a quiet voyage back. We were all relieved.

...

1_TriggerMaru_Overhaul_2-5
1_TMO_25_small_patch
RSRDC_TMO_V502
Fixed Zero Bomb Load RSRDC
LST_TMO_v2
RSRDC_V5xx_Patch1
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Submarine Hull Numbers
TDW_Ship_Plane_Fire_Damage_v1_3_SH4
Easier AI for TMO 2.5 by Orpheus

Gryffon300 · 07-25-13, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by in_vino_vomitus

I wonder what the actual minimum range was for those things? I'm guessing it would be well in excess of sensible torpedo range...

That's exactly what I would have thought, but, if my high-school maths still works for me (no guarantees), then it is MUCH closer than I would have credited!

Most BB main guns could achieve a declination (negative elevation) of 5 degrees. Now, I had a look at the Yamato specs, as a for instance, and just a rough measurement puts the centre of the lowest turrets (the fore and aft mains) at about the same height above water level as it's draft, which I rounded to 10m.

Ignoring the height point location (the 'muzzle' or the point of origin near the centre-line of the ship), and the ballistic curvature at this short distance, a 10m height with a -5 deg elevation gives a distance to splash down of a mere 115m! (If I can believe my calculator..) That takes out your periscope. If the shell can penetrate water to the required extent, then at 20m deep, you have to be a further 230m away for the shell to be visiting the helmsman.

So, assuming a level sea, and deep water penetration through a couple hundred of metres of wet stuff, then a mere 350m gets you deaded. (Even if the shell doesn't make it, hydro-shock compression overpressure may well rupture the hull - but that's only a hypothesis. I need someone to test it: if you'd like to volunteer - I'm sure the Yamato would be delighted to accommodate you!)

My Old Man had a direct experience with this kind of thing. A combined Aussie/US group was moving along the coast off Korea ('51, I think), when they came under fire from some mobile shore batteries on high cliffs. The group made smoke and scattered all over the joint (not very effectively in some cases). Most headed out, but the skipper on one Aussie Frigate panicked and got his heading 180 deg wrong and ended up, once he broke through the smoke and confusion, heading TOWARD the batteries.

The Yanks all thought he was crazy brave, but all on board knew he was just going into panic mode (as usual). It worked out. The theory was always that they survived through a combination of poor gunnery by the Koreans and then getting so close in that they couldn't depress the guns sufficiently to come to bear on the Frigate, so all the shells went screaming overhead (a few into funnels etc, but no harm done - just as well they had no howitzers!). The Frigate, on the other hand, was able to chew away at the cliff-top and took out the battery.

It reinforces my thought that much military 'heroics' are just mistakes by people doing things that they haven't thought through properly... But that's just me.

In case you are wondering, the Skip didn't go on to fame - although he got mentioned in dispatches for this action - too many subsequent SNAFUS: like getting effectively stranded up an ice-bound river by blocking the intake ports with said ice, thus preventing the steam heat-exchanger from working. The engine room could only achieve 1-2 knots headway after they (brilliantly) jury-rigged a way to use BILGE WATER as a substitute.

His best trick, though, was ordering full astern over a full pattern spread of depth-charges (over the protests of the Chief ERA). Lifted the back-end of the ship out of the water; broke a couple of stoker's ankles; made it impossible to see or breath in the engine room for 15 mins with the asbestos in the air shaken off the pipe lapping; and bent a prop shaft. It would have been worse had not the ERA delayed executing the order by repeatedly asking for confirmation. The skip got side-ways 'promoted' to a shore-based position. Love the military's version of the Peter Principle.

Cheers

Gryff

in_vino_vomitus · 07-25-13, 06:54 AM

Yeah, I went and looked up naval artillery online and was surprised to find the guns depressed that far, I'd assumed there would be no operational requirement. I'd be interested to know how much water a shell with that much mass and inertia would penetrate. Probably not much, since unlike rifle bullets, shells are really designed to expand on impact

I can relate to the experience of the inept skipper. I've known a few infantry officers who'd have been unlikely to make it through combat without some friendly fire. A company commander in my unit was once court-martialled for losing his rifle on exercise. Someone had obviously taken it while he was asleep, and the rumour was that it had been disassembled and buried on the training area. He got a slap on the wrist, some loss of seniority and an administrative posting, which may well have saved lives further down the line. Anyone whose weapon can be taken from them while asleep, doesn't really count as a soldier - Queen's Commission notwithstanding...

It's funny - I miss my Dad now, more than I did when he died. I'd have loved to hear more about his time in the Navy. I remember once he told me how strange it felt to be standing on the deck of a blacked-out ship, listening to the drone of planes overhead, and knowing that those planes were looking for him. I know that he was part of Combined Ops at some point, and I have a memory of him saying he coxwained a Landing Craft, also that he was in some way involved in the D-Day landings. He never spoke much about that sort of thing, and by the time we were old enough to relate as adults, we didn't have the time. When I was twenty, it seemed that 52 was a reasonable age to die, but now I'm 51 it seems a bit harsh......

One story he did tell me though, is of a time he was stationed in India. The Rum ration was stored in the jail, and a couple of guys who were locked up there, managed to smuggle a keg out to their friends, just before they were released, which was on a Friday. The rum would be missed on Monday, which left that particular watch/mess the weekend to dispose of the evidence. [What does the Navy call a Platoon anyway].

So - the scene he painted was of a tropical beach with about 30 guys collapsed on it like victims of a ground burst and in the middle, this squat, black keg of Pussers rum, like some pagan idol. Every so often one of the bodies would stir, stagger to its feet and over to the keg, fill a mug with rum, stagger away, drink and fall down again. I'm told the stuff was pretty potent........ Anyway, they got rid of it although it sounds like it could easily have gone the other way....

=====================

Also c13G' - You tell a good tale - thanks

As an aside - I know that there's a distance between the round and the muzzle in which the trajectory is completely flat - It's of little interest when discussing small arms fire, but it can have implications for larger calibres. e.g. most tanks can't engage at short distances with their guns over the rear decks. Anyway. I have always understood the term "Point Blank range" to refer to this particular distance - Anyone know if that's true?

c13Garrison · 07-25-13, 11:46 AM

I just recalled something relevant- imagine that...

In the book "Neptune's Inferno", by James Hornfischer, in the chapter describing the duel between the USS Washington & the Kirishima, he makes the assertion that the Japanese specifically had shallow angle shells designed to strike an enemy ship below the waterline. I'm trying to find the source to site...

And I can't find it, so I probably should withhold commentary, but I will introduce that it is a possibility that such munitions existed. If I find anything I'll post it.

- and thank you Vino for the positive commentary. I am now encouraged to perhaps write more in the future, we shall see!

Azgrim · 07-25-13, 12:22 PM

Hello everyone.
When I came to this thread, I didn't even imagine what interesting stories I would find here. Thank you for sharing!

Long story short.

At my current campain I have Gar-class Gudgeon SS-211 Sub.
At the first patrol, somewhere in the ocean, at night, I've encountered jap sub, sailing perpendicularly to my course.

I sunk her.
It was the first sunk ship in this campain.
By the way:

A few days later I was at Wikipedia, reading about names and classes of US subs.
Here's what Wiki says about Gudgeon (the full article):

Quote:

On 11 December, Gudgeon (commanded by Elton W. "Joe" Grenfell) departed Pearl Harbor on the first American submarine war patrol of World War II. ... She was the first American submarine to patrol along the Japanese coast itself, as her area took her off Kyūshū in the home islands. On 27 January 1942, en route home, Gudgeon became the first United States Navy submarine to sink an enemy warship in World War II. Gudgeon fired three torpedoes, and I-73[8] was destroyed; though Gudgeon claimed only damage, the loss was confirmed by HYPO.

As you may see, I-73 is a jap sub.

Is this a coincidence, or just a game script?
I don't know. But I liked it.

What do you think?

grislyatoms · 07-25-13, 02:01 PM

U.S.S. Trout, Tambor class, Captain Bart Mancuso reporting. May '43, Sea of Okhotsk, 8th patrol. 5 merchants, 24,000 (roughly) tons this patrol, 9 torpedoes left, plus 2 mark 27 in the stern tubes I'm reluctant to use. ~80 rounds of 5 inch left. Have used about 1/4 of our fuel. This will be the first patrol in some time in which we have used more ordnance than fuel!

Took some small-arms fire from a crippled cargo ship. Damage negligible. Continuing patrol.

TorpX · 07-26-13, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azgrim

Is this a coincidence, or just a game script?
I don't know. But I liked it.

What do you think?

Coincidence, I guess, but a very good one.

Quote:

In the book "Neptune's Inferno", by James Hornfischer, in the chapter describing the duel between the USS Washington & the Kirishima, he makes the assertion that the Japanese specifically had shallow angle shells designed to strike an enemy ship below the waterline.

I've read that their shell were designed with this in mind. I don't think it was so much they felt they needed to specifically hit targets there, but that the shell increased the available target surface area, and was an advantage. They didn't say exactly what was different about the shell, though. I don't see what you would need to change about the shell, as long as you had a delayed action, base fuze, which you would want anyway.

About the 5 degree declination, that does seem a bit odd. Perhaps they did expect to make devistating close range broadsides with this.

Gryffon300 · 07-26-13, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorpX

Coincidence, I guess, but a very good one.

About the 5 degree declination, that does seem a bit odd. Perhaps they did expect to make devistating close range broadsides with this.

Too right - enemy subs are INCREDIBLY rare. (I've yet to encounter one.) Well done!

As to the gun thing - I'm wondering if the primary idea was to allow dynamic gun travel during aiming to counteract ship roll from the swell. Accurate Naval gunnery from a moving base has always impressed and baffled me..

Gryff

Gryffon300 · 07-26-13, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by in_vino_vomitus

Yeah, I went and looked up naval artillery online and was surprised to find the guns depressed that far, I'd assumed there would be no operational requirement. I'd be interested to know how much water a shell with that much mass and inertia would penetrate. Probably not much, since unlike rifle bullets, shells are really designed to expand on impact

I can relate to the experience of the inept skipper. I've known a few infantry officers who'd have been unlikely to make it through combat without some friendly fire. A company commander in my unit was once court-martialled for losing his rifle on exercise. Someone had obviously taken it while he was asleep, and the rumour was that it had been disassembled and buried on the training area. He got a slap on the wrist, some loss of seniority and an administrative posting, which may well have saved lives further down the line. Anyone whose weapon can be taken from them while asleep, doesn't really count as a soldier - Queen's Commission notwithstanding...

It's funny - I miss my Dad now, more than I did when he died. I'd have loved to hear more about his time in the Navy. I remember once he told me how strange it felt to be standing on the deck of a blacked-out ship, listening to the drone of planes overhead, and knowing that those planes were looking for him. I know that he was part of Combined Ops at some point, and I have a memory of him saying he coxwained a Landing Craft, also that he was in some way involved in the D-Day landings. He never spoke much about that sort of thing, and by the time we were old enough to relate as adults, we didn't have the time. When I was twenty, it seemed that 52 was a reasonable age to die, but now I'm 51 it seems a bit harsh......

One story he did tell me though, is of a time he was stationed in India. The Rum ration was stored in the jail, and a couple of guys who were locked up there, managed to smuggle a keg out to their friends, just before they were released, which was on a Friday. The rum would be missed on Monday, which left that particular watch/mess the weekend to dispose of the evidence. [What does the Navy call a Platoon anyway].

So - the scene he painted was of a tropical beach with about 30 guys collapsed on it like victims of a ground burst and in the middle, this squat, black keg of Pussers rum, like some pagan idol. Every so often one of the bodies would stir, stagger to its feet and over to the keg, fill a mug with rum, stagger away, drink and fall down again. I'm told the stuff was pretty potent........ Anyway, they got rid of it although it sounds like it could easily have gone the other way....

=====================

Also c13G' - You tell a good tale - thanks

As an aside - I know that there's a distance between the round and the muzzle in which the trajectory is completely flat - It's of little interest when discussing small arms fire, but it can have implications for larger calibres. e.g. most tanks can't engage at short distances with their guns over the rear decks. Anyway. I have always understood the term "Point Blank range" to refer to this particular distance - Anyone know if that's true?

Thanks for the info, Vino, and for the excellent tale of your Dad's 'Purloining of the King's Rations', or 'Liberating' them, depending on your point of view. Worthy of a scene from 'The Hangover IV'!

Puts me in mind of my ol' bloke's first encounter with Sake on leave in Japan. They all thought it was 'cat's p***' and 'weak' until they tried to stand up. Whereupon, he would invariably launch into his favourite doggerel:
"He is not drunk who from the floor / can rise, and rising, drink once more;
But drunk is he who prostrate lies / where-from neither can he drink nor rise."

Yes, there are lots of creative ways to 'give someone a message' that they don't belong. The aggravating thing ids that so often its the ratings that have to apply their own summary judgement, rather than 'management' being alert enough to take preventive action and get rid of obviously dead wood.

Gryff

c13Garrison · 07-26-13, 04:45 PM

Lt.Cmdr Chester Garrison, S-36, Patrol 5.

The cold leeched through the hull. After 13 months of tropical air and sun, the waters south of Attu were a huge shift. It could still get dank and stuffy, but now you could actually hear complaints about the chill from time to time.

The orders to proceed to Dutch Harbor, coming just as we were about to dock in Brisbane, were Not eagerly received. No liberty, 6 hours to refuel and provision, then out to sea again, some much needed maintenance getting shelved for an additional 3 weeks. Our route north paid handsomely for the inconvenience though as we stumbled head-long into a Jap task force southeast of Truk. Everything was picture perfect, only the results worthy of note; 1 Hiryu Fleet Carrier struck 4 times amidships, going under within 10 minutes. Due to excessive care and boat management not a single ping or depth charge heard in reply.

Since arrival in Dutch Harbor though, morale had slumped. Down south we had a hope to find big fleet units, but up here the cold seemed to sap the gumption from the human spirit, from everyone on base. The hunting most talked about was for bear and salmon.

Now we'd been on station 50 miles southwest of Attu for 48 days, and despite two traffic reports of inbound convoys we'd had not a single sighting. We were starting to look not at an 0-3 or 0-4 patrol, but a patrol without a single at bat.

"Biggles," says I, "how far to Midway?"

Biggles gave me one of those looks that said, 'My name is Lt. Watkins, but I'm not going to say anything because I'm afraid you'll do something weirder.' "...Just in range sir, if we're careful."

"Set course for Midway then, I'll be damned if I'm going to let the Navy Department deprive us of good hunting. They've all gone Dutchy. We're going back to Truk."

"Quite a long ways from our assigned patrol zone Captain, very sensible." Watkins rolled up the charts.

"That's the spirit Biggles!" With a hearty clap on the shoulder I sent him back to work.

About 3 weeks later we found ourselves off the north shipping channel of Truk. With full batteries we submerged at dusk and began our entry at 130'. Call it bravado or foolishness, but given I'd been in these waters before I allowed slow ahead as our pace. The last time through there'd been ships anchored just about everywhere, so I carefully came to a full stop at every anchorage and went to periscope depth to look around.

At the first and second stops there was nothing, and nothing at all on sonar. That sense of erie-ness I'd felt here before started to return. We were approaching the northern end of the Truk anchorage when Sonar finally had a contact. First one, then a second warship, moving east-to-west across the mouth of the channel. They should pass by long before we got there, so I simply ordered reduced speed. At 1/3 ahead we continued on. Once we were in their baffles I ordered slow ahead. After about 16 minutes they had just about cleared to the west, and we were within 100 yards of exiting the channel.

"Con Sonar new contact! Warship bearing 285 medium speed closing!"

This was horrible timing. The new patrol's plot took it through the same general path as the other two, whose wakes I had manfully been attempting to cross. We were still in the channel, and its plot was heading right towards us.

"Range?" "1100 yards Sir!"

"Back 1/3!" I watched our speed hastily drop towards zero for about 8 seconds. "All stop! Bottom the boat."

I'd done this once before, but I had a feeling the Japanese vigilance was a bit higher for some reason. This 3rd escort might almost be trailing the other two Specifically to mind their baffles.

Our depth settled, approaching 150' where I presumed the bottom to be. To my mild surprise, our depth continued to fall. "180...190...passing test Captain...200...210...220...230...240..-"

CRUNCH, and a valve popped somewhere in the Con, its irritating hiss sounding terribly loud in our desperately quiet state. The bottom was at 246'?

"I damn sure hope we're not in a hole..."

"I could take a sounding if you prefer Captain."

"Shadd-up Biggles."

"Yes-sir."

The patrol approached, and the yeoman drew its plot. With haunting accuracy it drew nearer. Its engines churning overhead sounded ominous as it reached us, then it passed our bows by about 30 feet and continued on its track. We all exhaled in relief, knowing now that we were buried in his own plant noise.

"Alright, give me 5 feet, then ahead at 1 knot."

We lifted a few feet, then proceeded slowly forward. After the patroler's engine noise was lost from us in the deep channels we proceeded slowly ahead.

We reached the approximate center of the northern half of that anchorage, and at all-stop came to periscope depth. I looked around, and now was outright shocked. Not a ship in sight. "This can't be..." I muttered, increasing magnification and ordering all lights out as I peered intensely into the scope. Slowly turning finally allowed me to see a profile bearing 314, it looked like a freighter perhaps 7000 yards away.

"Down scope, depth 200, ahead slow. There's something there, but I sure as heck hope we find more. Plot bearing 320 for 5000 yards."

We crept forward, and the hour passed 3am. There was no helping it, it would be broad daylight when we got out of here. We reached the southern half of the anchorage and came up to look again. Sonar reported distant warships to the far south, but moving slow.

Looking around I had 2 contacts, both maru, anchored SE & NE- not sure how I missed the NE one when we were closer. Two freighters were fine, but with all the active patrolling I was finding I thought sure there had to be more. I made my very careful scan of the horizon again, turning north through west to- I finally smiled. There, against the shores to the far southwest, the unmistakable profiles of warships- and I'll be damned, a carrier.

"We finally found what we came for, but the bad news is they're deep in on a shallow shelf. We'll have to be extremely cautious. ...Biggles, come left to 270, I don't want to turn into the shelf. Ahead 1/3 and take us to 220' for as long as its there."

We circled onto our westerly heading, and when Sonar warned the rising floor was close we came up to 150', then 120', and finally to 50'. We crept out amongst the weeds at 2 knots. Glancing at the clock, I gave myself 4 hours to get back to the deep channels. I was pretty sure I didn't want to be in 60' of water at sunrise.

We moved forward about 2500 yards, and I risked an peek so I knew how to set up. At all-stop I raised the scope. "...Carrier, a couple cruisers, a four-stacker from the ancient past, ...about 6 targets to choose from. ...Let's set 290, maybe we can get 2 on the carrier and 2 on the cruiser, then circle away to the northwest..."

We again moved forward, but a new contact from Sonar caused me to pop up for a look again. Another destroyer closing from the south at slow, so it hadn't seen us, but depending upon what side of that small island it chose to sail it could be tro... wait. What's th- "Bingo!" The Yamato, lying at anchor in a sheltered hollow.

Everything else was out the window. The biggest prize of the war was just sitting there.

I knew we'd have to reload, which meant shooting from a spot that it wouldn't be easy to reach, and I was damn well going to use every fish I had on that bastard. ...there was a subchaser tied up alongside the western edge of the islet. At 1 knot I took us SSE then pointed us SW, straight at the Yamato, 370 yards from the islet, and 150 yards off the bow of the subchaser. "All stop. ...up scope."

Setting the torpedoes to run between 25 and 30 feet, I selected my targeting points. Range was 1200 yards, offset zero. "...open all tubes...Fire 1...Fire 2...Fire 3...Fire 4 down scope bottom the boat..."

The torpedoes ran as we settled on the bottom at 66'. Now came the riskiest gambit yet. "Secure from silent running. Re-load all tubes." As the torpedoes reached their end-run the unmistakeable sounds of men vainly trying to move heavy ordinance quietly echoed through the boat.

The 4 torpedoes impacted, presumably about 100 yards apart along the length of the hull. Our jubilation swiftly died cold as Sonar tripped over himself trying to report.

"Con Sonar, New contacts, many warships, long range, closing- the Subchaser is pinging Captain!"

Of course we could all hear it pinging. The trick was, were we too far forward of its detection cone for it to get an answer. With any luck, we were, and they wouldn't be able to raise steam swiftly and actually start hunting.

"Steady as she goes. Report when Tube 4 is ready."

We reloaded the tubes, keeping track of the bustling activity waking up across the harbor. No-one was moving fast, so my conclusion was that we hadn't actually been detected. For 20 minutes we tracked more and more ships at speed, none of them in a hurry though. The closest was out in the channel we'd left a few hours before, heading our way at a leisurely speed.

"Tube 4 ready Sir!"

"Make your depth 50 feet, up-scope." The sight of the Yamato was a bit disheartening, as it looked absolutely unperturbed. I spread the next 4 torpedoes at different points along its hull, and as soon as #4 was free I lowered the scope and bottomed the boat again.

"Impact!...Impact!...Impact!...dud Sir." Well, that was rotten luck, but I knew better to complain knowing how bad the Mk 14 boys had it.

Reloading continued, as the harbor escorts made their slow listening way south through the anchorage. We probably had the anchored fleet to thank for them not closing faster, as they acted as a navigational hazard and effective screen for us to the northwest, and the islet of course sheltered us to the south and east.

I was starting to worry, as when Tube 4 finally reported ready the closest of the closing escorts was under 1000 yards. Getting out was going to be tight. "Up scope at 50 feet."

The giant lay there quietly. I fired my last 4 torpedoes, one at the screws, and one each at the magazines of the 3 mains. I watched these close. Each torpedo impacted and exploded, not causing the fireworks I was desperately hoping for, but the last torpedo did cause an explosion of some kind, and there seemed to finally be a small remnant of a fire as I lowered the scope; the only apparent mark to indicate it had been the victim of malicious intent.

"...well, its out of our hands now. Set depth 65', come right to 070, give me one knot only, commence silent running and everybody pray like hell."

The next 2 hours were the most unnerving we'd ever endured. No less than 7 escorts closed on our position by the islet, desperately listening for a hint of us to allow them to begin what would amount to a summary execution. Dawn broke as we crept through the weeds right through the formation of the hunters, sometimes so close that I feared a rudder might scrape our tower, and proceeding at 1 knot we had no capacity for evasion at all. Finally passing the lip of the shelf, I gratefully took us deeper, finally settling to 230' back in the anchorage.

Counting on the slowly circling escorts to be making enough noise to mask ours, I allowed 1/3 ahead when we had made just 800 yards from the nearest ones behind us. Taking advantage of the discovery that the waters were deeper than I'd thought, we crept out back to the north at 230', and when the sound of the last warship was lost as we entered the confines of the channel I increased to ahead slow.

When we were 9nm clear of the channel in deep waters and down to 10% battery I ordered periscope depth. With everything showing clear, we surfaced. This time 17 hours we'd been under, but we'd made it. I looked back to the south with my binoculars, hoping to see a tiny column of smoke rising on the southern horizon, but apparently the little blaze I'd started had been safely extinguished. I frowned, knowing that despite my best efforts we were going back to port with nothing to show for it but expended effort and materiel.

"Apple cobbler time Captain?"

"No, ...none for me. Take the Con Lieutenant."

"Yes Captain."

07-22-13, 07:05 PM	#4397
grislyatoms Medic Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 169 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	At that range, I would imagine beehive shells in salvo would be devastating to a shallow submarine. They could fuse them for "pretty close" range in aircraft defense, as I recall. __________________ "Na Männer...alles klar?"

07-22-13, 07:25 PM	#4399
grislyatoms Medic Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 169 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	They did. 18" shotgun shell, essentially. __________________ "Na Männer...alles klar?"

07-23-13, 11:19 AM	#4401
c13Garrison Ensign Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Chicago-ish, USA Posts: 223 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	A first visit to Truk (long post, story form, sorry) The S-36 was on her second war patrol. Due to prolonged time on multiple stations and a fruitless side-trip to scout Cam-Rahn Bay, Java was being invaded before we could resupply, so Darwin was where we finally made port. We had only tallied a single small freighter, so I was inclined to take us back out since we still had operational orders. Looking at the map though it would be a lot of navigational rigamarole to get back on station up south of Okinawa, and then the return trip. Given we had a full load of fuel relatively far north, being docked in Darwin, it occurred to me that Truk wasn't much farther. I could count for sure on finding ships, maybe something significant, and then plot a straight course to Midway to re-provision. It would be a week longer perhaps, but I thought worth a go. Plotting a course south of New Guinea and cutting up below Bouganville, we approached Truk from the South-East having had to dodge only a few air patrols on the entire sortie. I set a point 12nm south of the southern channel as my aim point. Still about 20 miles from the closest "safe" surfaced position I had figured, lookouts spotted a small escort closing fast at long range. I watched it for about 30 seconds and concluded it had spotted us. Just like the S-30 & S-37, two members of my Subron now lost, first discovery when surfaced had been made by the enemy. If the ship had had any meaningful armament I'm sure shells raining down would have been my welcoming card to Truk. I ordered a crash dive but immediately cut to 1/3 speed once we were awash to still the wake, but upped it to slow ahead once we passed the thermal layer. I had tested the boat off Manila on the first day of the war, so while the water was deep here I took her to 400'. Being discovered 30 miles south of a major base was Not my plan, and I had no idea what kind of trouble might be raising steam to come looking for me. Given the long range of the sighting, by the time it reached our last location we were a few hundred yards on. I heard depth charging, but distantly, and gratefully saw by sonar plot that it started circling our last known position. Seeing we had seemingly dodged a bullet, I proceeded on course, giving myself 8 miles to run before coming up for a peek and maybe a breath of air. After proceeding about 5 miles sonar indicated a merchant approaching, and 90 seconds of data allowed us to draw a plot that would take him right across our path, heading WNW to transect our NW course. Seeing as this was the first merchantman I'd had a hint of since the Luzon Straits more than 3 weeks prior, I was inclined to intercept given it was being so obliging. We came to periscope depth, and with speed close to zero raised the scope. It was a standard merchantman proceeding alone, and the escort 5 miles astern was no longer being detected. Confirming its track, I dropped the scope and ordered slow ahead to reach our shooting point. Torpedo run would be about 1500 yards. I took a peek at 4000 yards, then raised the scope again when it reached about 1800 yards. It was sitting pretty in the scope, but I noticed a slight change in bearing and speed. It must have been making a turn to approach the Truk shipping channel as I couldn't fathom that it had spotted us. However, it was now opening the range and making for a dicey shot. With no time to lose since I couldn't exactly surface and scoot around her so close to Truk, I tried to mentally picture how a slow turn to starboard would affect her position at impact, picked 2 points on her forward hull as marks and fired. My goal was to hit her on the back half. The first torpedo impacted after a 90 second run, painfully long when you know your target is changing its bearing and its rate of change of range. I raised scope to see the second impact right on her screws, while the first was a 2/3's the way down her hull. "Two hits Biggles, right in the works." Smugly I watched her continue to turn, looking for her to lose speed and come to a stop. ...and instead, she Raised speed, and smartly began a zig-zag to the North East. "...that son-of-a... Damn Biggles. Who-ever their chief engineer is he must've gone to Yale." Making 11 knots, I watched her move off, and then was reminded what an ass-stupid thing I'd been doing for the last 8 minutes. Making 8 knots with the periscope up must've made a pretty mark on the water. Two Zeroes took off from Truk and immediately vectored towards us. "Down-scope, depth 300 ahead standard." I was less concerned about their attack than about the fact that I was in a very bad spot to be visited by my hosts. Continuing back on my original course at 300', we were watching sonar for news of the merchantman we'd hit, when Sonar reported first one, then two warships closing at long range and high speed. I maintained speed until our plot showed them at 6000 yards, then went to 1/3 & silent running. The afternoon was a long creep then, but we slowly stretched the distance to the two hunters, now circling our last known position. We reached the original point I plotted for my Truk approach, but it felt too close, so I proceeded north 2 more miles, then came up to periscope depth. Nothing in sight, nothing on radar. With speed at zero I decided to surface. The batteries were down to 79%, and I wanted my freighter. I stood bridge watch with the crew as dusk was settling, very anxious that either a late air patrol launch or falling shell would be the next thing announced, as we lay surfaced just 10 miles south of Truk's southern shipping channel. As we began our watch, Sonar somehow sifted from amongst the krill whispering that the freighter we had hit more than 2 hours before was breaking up. A small reward, yet I felt gratified, and after calling it in HQ was bemused that my assignment to hunt shipping off Luzon had finally been completed. The minutes dragged on, and I began to feel the lighting was poor enough that we might be safe and I could consider heading west, when I realized something. THREE escorts were presumably looking for me, 5 and 10 miles behind me. How many harbour patrols could Truk have? I might have a golden opportunity now. We stayed up for less than an hour. When the batteries showed 85% I took us down to 120', and plotted a course into the shipping channels. I had 10 torpedoes, I ought to find something worthwhile laying in there. I asked the Chief for 3 1/2 knots, that would make for a 5 hour entry that would get us back out to deep waters roughly at dawn, 11 hours from now. Nobody on the boat could remember when dawn came for some reason, but I guessed 6. The next 5 hours were erie. Slow ahead, just listening, knowing that only 120' would be like shooting a penny in a puddle if we were detected. Not a single contact came up during the whole road in, not even the hounds far to the south. Calling all stop I ordered periscope depth. We'd reached the edge of the first harbourage, time to take a look... and it was like Christmas. 8 ships lying at anchor in a 7500 yard area. If I'd had twice as many fish I could have a gambler's chance at sinking them all, ...but, I thought there might be something bigger here, and I didn't want to tip my hand for a freighter if I didn't have to. We proceeded deeper. The next anchorage held another 6 or 7 merchants, and a single subchaser also at rest. Once again, I made the call to pass them by. It would mean going more than half-way in to continue, so I realized I'd probably be exiting to the north by going on, but I wanted to find something worth all this effort. As it stood, I'd had no hint I was even in danger, so going on didn't seem any more daunting than turning around and going back. Finally approaching Truk proper, it was after 4am when I raised scope again. Another anchorage, more merchants, but there, finally, my hard earned prize; ...a 6,000 ton light cruiser. I looked around, there had to be something bigger... Going back down we pressed on another 6000 yards, then popping the scope to look around again. More merchants up to the north, one to the far west, but not a single other warship. Somewhat frustrated, given the hour I resigned myself to bagging just what was off Truk port here. It would be daylight by the time I got to deep water, and I definitely didn't want planes spotting me in shallow water. I started maneuvering to set up my first shot, closing to a point 1500 yds from the cruiser and 2000 from a freighter at a different bearing. It would be a significant offset to shoot both on a common bearing, so I was deciding which way to slew the boat first. "Con Sonar! New Contact Warship bearing 005 Long range closing fast!" ...I would have said '***, Biggles', but at this point it was hardly necessary. We all just had. Without changing bearing I ordered "Shoot 1!" on the freighter, turned the scope about 70 starboard and ordered "Shoot 2 3 4!" on the light cruiser, then with not a single revolution of the propellers took us to the bottom. 133' down, we prayed while listening for the explosions of our torpedoes. ...which didn't come. I went to the plotting table, trying to figure out how I could miss stationary targets at under 2000 yards. Because of the offset, their 150 yard or-so straight run from the tubes before turning must have made for a significantly different solution than I'd allowed for. The fish probably missed by less than a boat length. Disappointed, we sat on the bottom waiting to pay our bill. The waiter, however, never brought the check. The escort only pinged once at about 2500 yards, then slowed, and leisurely went Right over us, turning east -and not searching. We listened for 20 minutes, until it passed detection. "...Well. We'll have to thank the guy that picked up our tab. Secure from silent running Biggles, lets let them re-load." After another 25 minutes we came to periscope depth again. I switched to the Attack scope, because it was growing so light out that the night scope gave an imperfect view. I didn't know how far away the escort was, but I reasoned that it wouldn't be easy to get back to my location given the landmass that was likely between us. I set my bearing dead on the light cruiser and fired 2. They both hit, the second causing a large explosion aft. However after 90 seconds the ship showed no sign of even settling, so given I didn't want to hang around Truk in broad daylight I went ahead and fired a third. The fish was just clearing the tube when the cruiser's masts noticeably dipped towards me. It had rolled about 30* by the time the 3rd fish hit, so it probably hit decking for all I know. There was a 2nd large explosion, this one had to be the after magazines, and it rolled on its back settling by the stern. I turned towards the other freighter, plotting our exit course as I did so. Firing #4, the torpedo hit, but because I didn't want to wait for another reload I just hoped that it would cause enough flooding to do it in. If it ever did sink though we didn't pick it up. Half-way out the north channel I risked periscope depth just to see what I might have missed, but only found one medium freighter which I put the last two fish in. We then made our agonizing way out the north channel, finally making deep waters, and continued on to put some distance between us and the harbour. 10 miles out I came up to take a peek, and with nothing detected we surfaced. 15 1/2 hours we'd been under, but we'd made it. Although there wasn't a huge warship prize to be found, it was good to know that "showing" ourselves 15 miles offshore might be a useful tactic to use in the future, and to discover that we could successfully hide on the bottom. Grateful for the lowering overcast skies, we set our course for Midway. "Secure from battle-stations Biggles. Let's break out the apple cobbler, I think we all deserve a treat." It was June 6, and looked to be a quiet voyage back. We were all relieved. ... 1_TriggerMaru_Overhaul_2-5 1_TMO_25_small_patch RSRDC_TMO_V502 Fixed Zero Bomb Load RSRDC LST_TMO_v2 RSRDC_V5xx_Patch1 Improved Stock Environment_v3_TMO&RFB Submarine Hull Numbers TDW_Ship_Plane_Fire_Damage_v1_3_SH4 Easier AI for TMO 2.5 by Orpheus Last edited by c13Garrison; 07-24-13 at 06:02 PM.

07-25-13, 06:54 AM	#4403
in_vino_vomitus XO Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Preston, Lancs, UK Posts: 418 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	Yeah, I went and looked up naval artillery online and was surprised to find the guns depressed that far, I'd assumed there would be no operational requirement. I'd be interested to know how much water a shell with that much mass and inertia would penetrate. Probably not much, since unlike rifle bullets, shells are really designed to expand on impact I can relate to the experience of the inept skipper. I've known a few infantry officers who'd have been unlikely to make it through combat without some friendly fire. A company commander in my unit was once court-martialled for losing his rifle on exercise. Someone had obviously taken it while he was asleep, and the rumour was that it had been disassembled and buried on the training area. He got a slap on the wrist, some loss of seniority and an administrative posting, which may well have saved lives further down the line. Anyone whose weapon can be taken from them while asleep, doesn't really count as a soldier - Queen's Commission notwithstanding... It's funny - I miss my Dad now, more than I did when he died. I'd have loved to hear more about his time in the Navy. I remember once he told me how strange it felt to be standing on the deck of a blacked-out ship, listening to the drone of planes overhead, and knowing that those planes were looking for him. I know that he was part of Combined Ops at some point, and I have a memory of him saying he coxwained a Landing Craft, also that he was in some way involved in the D-Day landings. He never spoke much about that sort of thing, and by the time we were old enough to relate as adults, we didn't have the time. When I was twenty, it seemed that 52 was a reasonable age to die, but now I'm 51 it seems a bit harsh...... One story he did tell me though, is of a time he was stationed in India. The Rum ration was stored in the jail, and a couple of guys who were locked up there, managed to smuggle a keg out to their friends, just before they were released, which was on a Friday. The rum would be missed on Monday, which left that particular watch/mess the weekend to dispose of the evidence. [What does the Navy call a Platoon anyway]. So - the scene he painted was of a tropical beach with about 30 guys collapsed on it like victims of a ground burst and in the middle, this squat, black keg of Pussers rum, like some pagan idol. Every so often one of the bodies would stir, stagger to its feet and over to the keg, fill a mug with rum, stagger away, drink and fall down again. I'm told the stuff was pretty potent........ Anyway, they got rid of it although it sounds like it could easily have gone the other way.... ===================== Also c13G' - You tell a good tale - thanks As an aside - I know that there's a distance between the round and the muzzle in which the trajectory is completely flat - It's of little interest when discussing small arms fire, but it can have implications for larger calibres. e.g. most tanks can't engage at short distances with their guns over the rear decks. Anyway. I have always understood the term "Point Blank range" to refer to this particular distance - Anyone know if that's true? __________________ Forget death - I'll take dishonour! [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] TMO 2.5 1.5 Optical Targeting Correction 031312 for TMO 2.5 1.5 OTC Realistic Scopes for TMO TheDarkWraith_DC_Water_Disturbance_v2_0_SH4 Improved Stock environment v3_TMO&RFB TMO_Alt_engine-sounds TMO_Alternate_JS_Radar_performance TMO17_19_different_smoke

07-25-13, 02:01 PM	#4406
grislyatoms Medic Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 169 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	U.S.S. Trout, Tambor class, Captain Bart Mancuso reporting. May '43, Sea of Okhotsk, 8th patrol. 5 merchants, 24,000 (roughly) tons this patrol, 9 torpedoes left, plus 2 mark 27 in the stern tubes I'm reluctant to use. ~80 rounds of 5 inch left. Have used about 1/4 of our fuel. This will be the first patrol in some time in which we have used more ordnance than fuel! Took some small-arms fire from a crippled cargo ship. Damage negligible. Continuing patrol. __________________ "Na Männer...alles klar?"

07-23-13, 08:48 AM	#4400
c13Garrison Ensign Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Chicago-ish, USA Posts: 223 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	...Damn. When I saw the "firing", I was more concerned that I'd been spotted. I didn't really consider that a sub at 60' depth could be hurt. That's a lot of water resistance to overcome to get a projectile that deep, and in fluid dynamics resistance has to be a bitch.

07-25-13, 11:46 AM	#4404
c13Garrison Ensign Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Chicago-ish, USA Posts: 223 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	I just recalled something relevant- imagine that... In the book "Neptune's Inferno", by James Hornfischer, in the chapter describing the duel between the USS Washington & the Kirishima, he makes the assertion that the Japanese specifically had shallow angle shells designed to strike an enemy ship below the waterline. I'm trying to find the source to site... And I can't find it, so I probably should withhold commentary, but I will introduce that it is a possibility that such munitions existed. If I find anything I'll post it. - and thank you Vino for the positive commentary. I am now encouraged to perhaps write more in the future, we shall see!

07-26-13, 04:45 PM	#4410
c13Garrison Ensign Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Chicago-ish, USA Posts: 223 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	(Long post, again story form, enjoy if you wish) Lt.Cmdr Chester Garrison, S-36, Patrol 5. The cold leeched through the hull. After 13 months of tropical air and sun, the waters south of Attu were a huge shift. It could still get dank and stuffy, but now you could actually hear complaints about the chill from time to time. The orders to proceed to Dutch Harbor, coming just as we were about to dock in Brisbane, were Not eagerly received. No liberty, 6 hours to refuel and provision, then out to sea again, some much needed maintenance getting shelved for an additional 3 weeks. Our route north paid handsomely for the inconvenience though as we stumbled head-long into a Jap task force southeast of Truk. Everything was picture perfect, only the results worthy of note; 1 Hiryu Fleet Carrier struck 4 times amidships, going under within 10 minutes. Due to excessive care and boat management not a single ping or depth charge heard in reply. Since arrival in Dutch Harbor though, morale had slumped. Down south we had a hope to find big fleet units, but up here the cold seemed to sap the gumption from the human spirit, from everyone on base. The hunting most talked about was for bear and salmon. Now we'd been on station 50 miles southwest of Attu for 48 days, and despite two traffic reports of inbound convoys we'd had not a single sighting. We were starting to look not at an 0-3 or 0-4 patrol, but a patrol without a single at bat. "Biggles," says I, "how far to Midway?" Biggles gave me one of those looks that said, 'My name is Lt. Watkins, but I'm not going to say anything because I'm afraid you'll do something weirder.' "...Just in range sir, if we're careful." "Set course for Midway then, I'll be damned if I'm going to let the Navy Department deprive us of good hunting. They've all gone Dutchy. We're going back to Truk." "Quite a long ways from our assigned patrol zone Captain, very sensible." Watkins rolled up the charts. "That's the spirit Biggles!" With a hearty clap on the shoulder I sent him back to work. About 3 weeks later we found ourselves off the north shipping channel of Truk. With full batteries we submerged at dusk and began our entry at 130'. Call it bravado or foolishness, but given I'd been in these waters before I allowed slow ahead as our pace. The last time through there'd been ships anchored just about everywhere, so I carefully came to a full stop at every anchorage and went to periscope depth to look around. At the first and second stops there was nothing, and nothing at all on sonar. That sense of erie-ness I'd felt here before started to return. We were approaching the northern end of the Truk anchorage when Sonar finally had a contact. First one, then a second warship, moving east-to-west across the mouth of the channel. They should pass by long before we got there, so I simply ordered reduced speed. At 1/3 ahead we continued on. Once we were in their baffles I ordered slow ahead. After about 16 minutes they had just about cleared to the west, and we were within 100 yards of exiting the channel. "Con Sonar new contact! Warship bearing 285 medium speed closing!" This was horrible timing. The new patrol's plot took it through the same general path as the other two, whose wakes I had manfully been attempting to cross. We were still in the channel, and its plot was heading right towards us. "Range?" "1100 yards Sir!" "Back 1/3!" I watched our speed hastily drop towards zero for about 8 seconds. "All stop! Bottom the boat." I'd done this once before, but I had a feeling the Japanese vigilance was a bit higher for some reason. This 3rd escort might almost be trailing the other two Specifically to mind their baffles. Our depth settled, approaching 150' where I presumed the bottom to be. To my mild surprise, our depth continued to fall. "180...190...passing test Captain...200...210...220...230...240..-" CRUNCH, and a valve popped somewhere in the Con, its irritating hiss sounding terribly loud in our desperately quiet state. The bottom was at 246'? "I damn sure hope we're not in a hole..." "I could take a sounding if you prefer Captain." "Shadd-up Biggles." "Yes-sir." The patrol approached, and the yeoman drew its plot. With haunting accuracy it drew nearer. Its engines churning overhead sounded ominous as it reached us, then it passed our bows by about 30 feet and continued on its track. We all exhaled in relief, knowing now that we were buried in his own plant noise. "Alright, give me 5 feet, then ahead at 1 knot." We lifted a few feet, then proceeded slowly forward. After the patroler's engine noise was lost from us in the deep channels we proceeded slowly ahead. We reached the approximate center of the northern half of that anchorage, and at all-stop came to periscope depth. I looked around, and now was outright shocked. Not a ship in sight. "This can't be..." I muttered, increasing magnification and ordering all lights out as I peered intensely into the scope. Slowly turning finally allowed me to see a profile bearing 314, it looked like a freighter perhaps 7000 yards away. "Down scope, depth 200, ahead slow. There's something there, but I sure as heck hope we find more. Plot bearing 320 for 5000 yards." We crept forward, and the hour passed 3am. There was no helping it, it would be broad daylight when we got out of here. We reached the southern half of the anchorage and came up to look again. Sonar reported distant warships to the far south, but moving slow. Looking around I had 2 contacts, both maru, anchored SE & NE- not sure how I missed the NE one when we were closer. Two freighters were fine, but with all the active patrolling I was finding I thought sure there had to be more. I made my very careful scan of the horizon again, turning north through west to- I finally smiled. There, against the shores to the far southwest, the unmistakable profiles of warships- and I'll be damned, a carrier. "We finally found what we came for, but the bad news is they're deep in on a shallow shelf. We'll have to be extremely cautious. ...Biggles, come left to 270, I don't want to turn into the shelf. Ahead 1/3 and take us to 220' for as long as its there." We circled onto our westerly heading, and when Sonar warned the rising floor was close we came up to 150', then 120', and finally to 50'. We crept out amongst the weeds at 2 knots. Glancing at the clock, I gave myself 4 hours to get back to the deep channels. I was pretty sure I didn't want to be in 60' of water at sunrise. We moved forward about 2500 yards, and I risked an peek so I knew how to set up. At all-stop I raised the scope. "...Carrier, a couple cruisers, a four-stacker from the ancient past, ...about 6 targets to choose from. ...Let's set 290, maybe we can get 2 on the carrier and 2 on the cruiser, then circle away to the northwest..." We again moved forward, but a new contact from Sonar caused me to pop up for a look again. Another destroyer closing from the south at slow, so it hadn't seen us, but depending upon what side of that small island it chose to sail it could be tro... wait. What's th- "Bingo!" The Yamato, lying at anchor in a sheltered hollow. Everything else was out the window. The biggest prize of the war was just sitting there. I knew we'd have to reload, which meant shooting from a spot that it wouldn't be easy to reach, and I was damn well going to use every fish I had on that bastard. ...there was a subchaser tied up alongside the western edge of the islet. At 1 knot I took us SSE then pointed us SW, straight at the Yamato, 370 yards from the islet, and 150 yards off the bow of the subchaser. "All stop. ...up scope." Setting the torpedoes to run between 25 and 30 feet, I selected my targeting points. Range was 1200 yards, offset zero. "...open all tubes...Fire 1...Fire 2...Fire 3...Fire 4 down scope bottom the boat..." The torpedoes ran as we settled on the bottom at 66'. Now came the riskiest gambit yet. "Secure from silent running. Re-load all tubes." As the torpedoes reached their end-run the unmistakeable sounds of men vainly trying to move heavy ordinance quietly echoed through the boat. The 4 torpedoes impacted, presumably about 100 yards apart along the length of the hull. Our jubilation swiftly died cold as Sonar tripped over himself trying to report. "Con Sonar, New contacts, many warships, long range, closing- the Subchaser is pinging Captain!" Of course we could all hear it pinging. The trick was, were we too far forward of its detection cone for it to get an answer. With any luck, we were, and they wouldn't be able to raise steam swiftly and actually start hunting. "Steady as she goes. Report when Tube 4 is ready." We reloaded the tubes, keeping track of the bustling activity waking up across the harbor. No-one was moving fast, so my conclusion was that we hadn't actually been detected. For 20 minutes we tracked more and more ships at speed, none of them in a hurry though. The closest was out in the channel we'd left a few hours before, heading our way at a leisurely speed. "Tube 4 ready Sir!" "Make your depth 50 feet, up-scope." The sight of the Yamato was a bit disheartening, as it looked absolutely unperturbed. I spread the next 4 torpedoes at different points along its hull, and as soon as #4 was free I lowered the scope and bottomed the boat again. "Impact!...Impact!...Impact!...dud Sir." Well, that was rotten luck, but I knew better to complain knowing how bad the Mk 14 boys had it. Reloading continued, as the harbor escorts made their slow listening way south through the anchorage. We probably had the anchored fleet to thank for them not closing faster, as they acted as a navigational hazard and effective screen for us to the northwest, and the islet of course sheltered us to the south and east. I was starting to worry, as when Tube 4 finally reported ready the closest of the closing escorts was under 1000 yards. Getting out was going to be tight. "Up scope at 50 feet." The giant lay there quietly. I fired my last 4 torpedoes, one at the screws, and one each at the magazines of the 3 mains. I watched these close. Each torpedo impacted and exploded, not causing the fireworks I was desperately hoping for, but the last torpedo did cause an explosion of some kind, and there seemed to finally be a small remnant of a fire as I lowered the scope; the only apparent mark to indicate it had been the victim of malicious intent. "...well, its out of our hands now. Set depth 65', come right to 070, give me one knot only, commence silent running and everybody pray like hell." The next 2 hours were the most unnerving we'd ever endured. No less than 7 escorts closed on our position by the islet, desperately listening for a hint of us to allow them to begin what would amount to a summary execution. Dawn broke as we crept through the weeds right through the formation of the hunters, sometimes so close that I feared a rudder might scrape our tower, and proceeding at 1 knot we had no capacity for evasion at all. Finally passing the lip of the shelf, I gratefully took us deeper, finally settling to 230' back in the anchorage. Counting on the slowly circling escorts to be making enough noise to mask ours, I allowed 1/3 ahead when we had made just 800 yards from the nearest ones behind us. Taking advantage of the discovery that the waters were deeper than I'd thought, we crept out back to the north at 230', and when the sound of the last warship was lost as we entered the confines of the channel I increased to ahead slow. When we were 9nm clear of the channel in deep waters and down to 10% battery I ordered periscope depth. With everything showing clear, we surfaced. This time 17 hours we'd been under, but we'd made it. I looked back to the south with my binoculars, hoping to see a tiny column of smoke rising on the southern horizon, but apparently the little blaze I'd started had been safely extinguished. I frowned, knowing that despite my best efforts we were going back to port with nothing to show for it but expended effort and materiel. "Apple cobbler time Captain?" "No, ...none for me. Take the Con Lieutenant." "Yes Captain."