Stories and Patrol Logs + Screenshots and Videos (merged) - Page 296

Gryffon300 · 07-28-13, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grislyatoms

I don't believe I would surface for a deck gun attack in that situation with any of them still afloat...

Tough choice. I believe I would concentrate on the FC, then the Kongo. I wouldn't bother with Yamato. 3 more may not sink her, while the others at least have a pretty good chance.

Agree. Wilco. thanks

Gryff

Armistead · 07-28-13, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gryffon300

Agree. Wilco. thanks

Gryff

Good patrol!

Not sure what mods you use, but if TMO, you can forget using your deck gun on a capital warship. I did sink a smaller carrier escort with the deck gun after two torp hits, but took a lot of shells.

What I would've done in your situation depends on the number of torp hits on the two BB's.

Bubblehead1980 · 07-29-13, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gryffon300

To: SubSim Tactics Advisory Group, SubPac N2
From: Capt Marcus Griffin, Balao SS-285
RE: Targeting Dilemma

Deviated as requested Flash Traffic STOP Intercepted TF Yamato; 2 x Kongo; 2 x FC w heavy escort 33N 141E 15:00 21/05/43 STOP 1 x Kongo; 1 x FC sunk STOP Yamato; 1 x Kongo; 1 x FC disabled dead in water STOP 3 torps remain STOP
Plan A: 1 torp each - confidence level high would finish FC & Kongo, but Yamato?
Plan B: 1 x torp Kongo; 2 x torp Yamato, finish FC w gun
Plan C: 3 x torp Yamato; gun for FC & hope for Kongo STOP
Have this night despatched carrier pigeon with microfilm of Obs Scope recon shot of Yamato, FC and (distance behind & left of FC) Kongo STOP
Will surface tomorrow night usual time and await transmit directive STOP
END END END

(Seriously, so what would YOU do?)

Flash update STOP In last hour Hiyo has succumbed to fire from original single torp STOP Modified Plan B & C only remain STOP Please advise as previous STOP
END END END

Time date location of this tf ?

Gryffon300 · 07-29-13, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

Time date location of this tf ?

As suggested in first line, first detected transiting Truck to Home waters (Tokyo Wan) at about 13:00 - 21st, May '43 near coordinates indicated (not far from where Flash message suggested they may end up).

Here is a screen shot from the following day after I loitered overnight on the surface about 1000yds outside of the circle, centred on the DiW Yamato, while we recharged, got some breathable air, and waited for The Beast to sink (dream on). The 3 parallel tracks were the line of travel of the columns. If you ever get the chance, its a great nut to crack. I'll probably save and re-run like a Single Mission to see if I can improve the outcome..

I'll also throw in a shot that I took just after I took down the last Kongo, near to my then-current position. They can seek, but they will never find!

You will note that the second Hiyo is still afloat almost a day later. But it IS officially 'sunk'! - see red icon 500 or so yds from Yamato at centre of compass circle.)

Cheers

Gryff

Rest In Pieces.

Got to get to my Patrol Zone now and hunt for some unaccompanied Merchants to harass with the gun - can't go back with unexpended ordnance!

Gryffon300 · 07-29-13, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armistead

Good patrol!

Not sure what mods you use, but if TMO, you can forget using your deck gun on a capital warship. I did sink a smaller carrier escort with the deck gun after two torp hits, but took a lot of shells.

What I would've done in your situation depends on the number of torp hits on the two BB's.

Thanks Armistead. I did once finish a carrier with gun, and you are right, it took my entire HE and half my AP reserve, but it finished her off. DiW, with heavy list, I figure would be worth a go.

The Kongos were not much trouble with 2 or 3 fish (well aimed and at the right depth), but I gave up counting how many effective hits (among the duds) on the Y. I was certainly able to count 5 nice holes at the bottom of her hull on one side and one on the other, when cruising beneath her with periscope extended for a nice underwater view (I think it was you that gave me that great idea).

By the way, the mosquitoes are troublesome this time of year, don't you find?

Cheers

Gryff

Bubblehead1980 · 07-29-13, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gryffon300

As suggested in first line, first detected transiting Truck to Home waters (Tokyo Wan) at about 13:00 - 21st, May '43 near coordinates indicated (not far from where Flash message suggested they may end up).

Here is a screen shot from the following day after I loitered overnight on the surface about 1000yds outside of the circle, centred on the DiW Yamato, while we recharged, got some breathable air, and waited for The Beast to sink (dream on). The 3 parallel tracks were the line of travel of the columns. If you ever get the chance, its a great nut to crack. I'll probably save and re-run like a Single Mission to see if I can improve the outcome..

I'll also throw in a shot that I took just after I took down the last Kongo, near to my then-current position. They can seek, but they will never find!

You will note that the second Hiyo is still afloat almost a day later. But it IS officially 'sunk'! - see red icon 500 or so yds from Yamato at centre of compass circle.)

Cheers

Gryff

Rest In Pieces.

Got to get to my Patrol Zone now and hunt for some unaccompanied Merchants to harass with the gun - can't go back with unexpended ordnance!

I had to reread the first post, sorry, did not see the time/date/location when i asked this.I was curious as TF's in RSRD are somewhat rare since based on historical data.Much like a real sub skipper, a rsrd player could go entire career without seeing a capital ship.right time, right place kind of thing.The ultra's are great, being within range, plotting, racing to area to see if can make contact.Randomly stumbling across groups is fun as well.

grislyatoms · 07-29-13, 05:41 PM

My entire SH4 career I have never encountered a capital ship. Nor a submarine. Encountered a British sub one time just east of the English Channel in GWX.

Anyway, good hunting/shooting, Skipper!

Sure is a pretty sight seeing her capsized like that

grislyatoms · 07-29-13, 06:01 PM

We finished our "SOJ via La Perouse strait" patrol fairly well. Came back with unexpended ordnance (two fish in the forward tubes, 23 rounds of 5 inch) as fuel was bingo after running down the coast of Hokkaido. Still, pretty good patrol, 27K tons. Crew got an issue of rum grog each (out of the Skipper's personal stash, for medicinal purposes only) as we approached Midway.

Reloaded, refitted with improved SJ radar.

New assignment: "SOJ via La Perouse strait".

I DON'T LIKE SHALLOW, NARROW WATER!

Come on, subpac!

grislyatoms · 07-29-13, 06:47 PM

I guess we all have a "Biggles" or "Bernard" on our boats.

Mr. Moore, one of my sonar folks.

"Target bearing 352, constant speed. Target bearing 354, constant speed" At that point I have my finger on the trigger.

"Contact lost".

I call him, alternatively, either "Gilligan" or Ensign Parker...

Gryffon300 · 07-29-13, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grislyatoms

My entire SH4 career I have never encountered a capital ship. Nor a submarine. Encountered a British sub one time just east of the English Channel in GWX.

Anyway, good hunting/shooting, Skipper!

Sure is a pretty sight seeing her capsized like that

Tusen tack! Yes, wait till you see my Plan Z tactical approach coming soon!

Sounds like you could do with a new sound man. Maybe that's why you have never encountered any 'Heavies' - he never reports them! (Just his way of keeping safe. Or maybe he is a British agent? Just thinking...)

Cheers, Bear

Gryff

Gryffon300 · 07-30-13, 04:51 AM

OK, with thanks to Torpedobait

("The thing is, even though the bow or stern may be sitting on the bottom, it is not considered "sunk" until your crew reports the sinking. It may take 10 torpedoes for the Yamato, maybe more if you wait too long between reloading and hitting her again." 'SH4: WoP - Anyone encountered this bug? Little angry' - #15) for the reinforcement of the idea discussed several times of late regarding the race between damage accumulation from your attack and repairs underway from the Damage Control teams. I ran a different attack profile, hitting the Yamato with far less hits, but closer together. Here's the story:

__________________________________________________ _______

Journal 1: Cptn Marcus Griffin

Yes, that's right, they've upped my rating and given me another stripe. I like to think it's been because we've been pretty successful and brought the Balao back from several patrols now with no major damage, but, truth be told, it's probably as much to do with the fact that we have lost some good crews and skippers that need replacement. Fortunes of War, eh?

I don't know if you have heard after trying to get in touch with Mrs Miyagi, but if not I have appalling news. I have had an uncensored letter smuggled to me from Kesuke where he tells me that both his wife and child died in the tripple-cursed internment camp. He feels the Government and country he is fighting for killed his family. "They have stolen my life." I don't know how or if he will ever get over it.
__________________________________________________ ______
[Extract]
17/05/43
So that leads up to the start of what will probably prove to be our greatest single contribution to the war. We got some Flash Traffic while on our way to deployment in the Formosa Strait requesting that anyone within range attempt an intercept of a Task Force on its way from Truck back to Japan. We got to the designated area a day early, so were able to take out a merchant that night with the gun.

21/05/43
After lunch, radar picked up an oncoming group - hopefully our TF. We had to steam hard for a couple of hours to intercept, but we got there in time to be submerged with smoke on the horizon.

They were steaming at 16 - 18 knots to the NW and we approached from the West, heading NE. At radar depth we were able to see that there were three columns with a roving screen. Once we had plotted the track of the main columns, we went quiet and all stop at depth (below the layer) in line with the westernmost column track. We selected that to place ourselves between two forward escorts.

Once they were level, I came off Silent; went to Flank; ordered Battle Stations; and ordered Periscope depth, aiming to be able to see by the time we were between the first two tracks (which were all 2200 yds apart) and set for fore and aft shots. Once there, we had a look and I nearly had a heart attack! A screen of 5 or more escorts, two Kongo Battleships; two Fleet Carriers; and the Yamato! The first column was an FC; the second was the Yamato followed by a Kongo; and the third an FC followed by the other Kongo.

Although the furthest FC was nicely in my green zone, at nearly 3,500 yds, I thought it was a low percentage shot, and so, refrained (besides I wanted all 6 forwards for the Yamato). I set all 6 to 35' and rears to 25', opened all doors and counted down. Within a minute or two, she was almost in my green zone, so I started launching, starting at 5 degrees forward (I will use forward and aft in this, rather than left or right, so you don't have to remember whether I'm shooting from the forward or aft tubes and whether they are crossing from left to right etc), then 3; 1; 0; 1; 3.

As soon as the last was away, I ordered up a bearing 10 deg further E and spun around and lined up on the FC in my '6'. The change in bearing brought the FC into the green and, instead of my usual two, I let one go at 3 deg forward, by now at about 2000yds. Just before firing, the first torp impacted the Yamato. All 6 torps hit, with only one dud.

By then, I had spun to my starboard to lock onto the Kongo trailing the Yamato. I was, by now, crossing his track, so it was bearing down on me square on at less then 1000 yds. He was zig-zagging by now, so I was hoping he would be at a down-swing (away from me) when he got to my '6' otherwise he would be too close to fire on.

Again, I was intent on only hitting him with 1 to slow him down, so I could retain 2 for another salvo at the Yamato. As you know, I had a go once before in Truck, but took too long between reloads and re-fires, which allowed them too much time to repair, I wasn't going to make that mistake again!

So, while I waited for the Kongo that was charging down my throat, I had a look at how the re-loads were going and tube one was seconds away from ready. Knowing this, I locked on to the other Kongo about to cross my bows at about 1800 yds on the far track, set the torp to 3 forward / 25' and, before it reached the green, let rip. I then spun around as the other Kongo was going through my hot zone (thankfully at about 500 yds - everything was working for us!) and sent one away at 5 deg forward, then ordered hard to starboard to come to bear on the Yamato with my last two.

As I swung, I got a hit on the stern Kongo while I was setting the fish to 35'. The Yamato seemed to be taking on a list and slowing, so I set 0 and 3 forward at about 2150 yds and fired. About then the forward Kongo got a hit as I was ordering down scope and, ordered hard to port and laid in a bearing to parallel their track and 300', as the escorts were taking a mild interest in me by this stage. As I was going under, the sweetest sound of all - BOTH fish got the Yamato forward!

I was determined to close for the kill on any and all that I could, so stayed at Flank (NOT my usual style, believe me!) and jigged around changing direction and depth regularly after every DC pass. Chef-o yelled about a few busted plates, and our teeth got a right Royal rattling, and I still haven't got rid of the ringing in my ears, but we managed.

As you can see, the escorts were a little put out.

While we were rattling around down there, we heard a great sound - one of my hits was going down - the FC - with only one torp in her belly! Fabulous. The crew got a 'Yay!' out of that, believe me. By then I was slipping the noose (slightly) on the escorts, so, still at Flank, if you can believe it, I ordered P depth and aligned on the nice low thugga-chugga-thugga coming from the Big Bloke.

I could not credit what was in the scope, so I changed eyes, but the view was the same.

You can see the sunk FC in the background (the fire & the smoke to the far left is only burning oil from her before she keeled over), and a heavily listing Kongo, but, far more interesting (at least from a propaganda perspective), is the Yamato, obviously in huge distress.

I took this shot less than ten minutes later:

I have better shots from an aesthetic point of view, but, even to a layman, this one is definitive for identification, with the three-gun turret visible. And all with only 7 effective torp hits! Well. My my. We'd done it. No 'Yay's!' this time - just stunned silence as I ordered a return to the deeps to try and shake the escorts. I figured that we could pick up the rest at our leisure, because last time the Yamato was in trouble no-one would leave her. In fact, we had seen an FC and a wounded BB RETURN from miles away to support the Admiral (and, no doubt, stand ready to pick up survivors if required) - but not this time.

Within short order the escorts were fleeing after the vanishing heavies and soon were just smoke on the horizon. Of course, now full of bravado, we upped and after them. On a ten nm parallel track, which we had to adjust once to the west when they jigged, at 20 knots (turned off battery recharge - still had 75%), we overtook first a slower Kongo, then the rest doing 18 knots many hours later. (Dodging some air-cover from the Hiyo en passant.)

In the dead of night we again positioned ahead and went silent stop as the escorts barrelled by, then we put two into the fresh Hiyo, followed by one, then a second into the Kongo, then went down to wait. As we were coming up to see what was taking the on-fire Kongo so long, a new player came barrelling through. It was the other Kongo (or its twin)! It had been repaired and pumped out, I guess, 'cause she was fast and trim with no list. So, for being so obliging, I put two into her and, within half an hour, both Kongos were on their way to the deeps.

So, there you have it. I still have torps to spare, but we got an entire TF. By not allowing the Yamato time to repair, I ended up with a long chase, rather than a turkey shoot. But, I GOT the YAMATO! Doing it the other way, it was much easier to get the rest of the fleet, but I ran the risk of running out of torps and still not getting the main prize.

I'll evade the rest of this angry but dispirited escort and move on to our patrol zone and do some more damage before heading home. I'll break out the last of the Christams egg-nog brandy for the boys as soon as we are out of detection range and back to normal stations. We all deserve it!

______________________________________________ End extract.

Marcus

in_vino_vomitus · 07-30-13, 06:14 AM

Nice shooting Captain - Well told as usual

in_vino_vomitus · 08-01-13, 03:51 PM

Back from our second patrol. Seasoned veterans now! Once again there was no death-defying heroism. No braving the gauntlet of destroyers to visit ruin on the enemy. Mostly this was because the enemy was so hard to find, but having found him, sneaking past his watchdogs wasn't so hard to do. Our torpedoes performed no better this time, and poor Lothar, our chief torpedoman worked his people very hard indeed maintaining them. Certainly when Dieter reported the duds, we knew it was through no fault of theirs, but still they suffered. I don't think anyone got less rest than they did, and seaman Moller had two fingers broken pulling a battery out in heavy seas. These are very heavy batteries.

Still, we claimed 35,000 tons, which is reasonable hunting. Our gun crew claimed two scalps in the 'Kanal. One going out and the other returning. The second one was settling in the water, there was no smoke, or any sign of burning, and the gun crew were holding fire, when suddenly an explosion blew the bow clean off. We were about 800 meters away, but we still felt the shockwave. Whatever they were carrying, it was better on the seabed than being fired at the Wehrmacht.

I said the enemy was hard to find. We spent nearly three weeks patrolling along the convoy routes and at first we were all very excited when a ship was heard, but soon the excitement stopped. After chasing down one vessel and getting into position to fire, Grandfather demanded I check our position. I told him we were 100Km west of Lisbon, he had me go over my figures three times, and I confess I was afraid he'd caught me in some schoolboy error, so I checked and rechecked, and told him I was as sure of our position as it was reasonably possible to be. "If you say so Leutnant", he replied "I just wanted to make sure we weren't off Panama, since that's the only flag I've seen this month".

The next time we saw a merchantman, we didn't even try to be stealthy. We went to full ahead and sailed straight for them. I don't know who was the more surprised. Us at seeing the Red Ensign, or them when we torpedoed them. They took no evasive action whatsoever. I can only assume they thought we were one of theirs. We were less than five hundred meters directly off his starboard beam. The old man ordered the tubes opened, took a guess at the speed and fired in about ten seconds after spotting the flag. One cannot take satisfaction from such a victory, but war is not a matter of style, and this time at least, our eels ran true.

The next day, we found the convoy we were looking for, and as I have said, approaching it undetected wasn't difficult. We fired twelve eels, some of them missed, which was strange since everything seemed perfect. We sank two and damaged one more. It seems almost a waste of time hiding from the Royal Navy. The first time I heard their ASDIC, I thought for sure we were going to suffer, but they never found us. I know how you hate me tempting fate, but this really does seem too easy......

I hope to have a more entertaining tale for you next time.

Your obedient Nephew

Phillipp

c13Garrison · 08-01-13, 06:56 PM

Just a quick note from familial purgatory, I very much enjoyed "grandfather's" quip about Panamanian flags.

Carry on, my wayward sons!

Gryffon300 · 08-02-13, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by in_vino_vomitus

Back from our second patrol. Seasoned veterans now!

I know how you hate me tempting fate, but this really does seem too easy......

I hope to have a more entertaining tale for you next time.

Your obedient Nephew

Phillipp

Nice patrol for getting the drift of your boat and crew, and well told. I was wining like a stuck pig my first patrol, for also never caught a convoy, so you are doing better than I did! Enjoy!

(I've skinned a few knuckles slinging batteries around, too, so - my sympathies to your crew.)

A great yarn (and my thanks to you for the kind comments on my adventures), but I suspect you may be being lulled into a false sense of security. If you can hear their ASDIC, eventually, they will figure out how to listen for a return! What is called for is a finely judged balance of Aggression and Fear (we won't tell der Fuhrer about that last one, OK?)

Be courageous, my friend, but PLEASE, don't let me hear you come back like that dog Jurgens did last week boasting of sinking a Hospital Ship - the cheers and back-slapping made me ill. (I suspect, being a true Man of the Sea, that his father will disown him if he ever finds out.) I know you to be an honourable man. I have observed it in you often, so I'm sure you won't be like him and abandon your true spirit of martial chivalry!

May your spears fly true, my friend.

Gryff

07-29-13, 05:41 PM	#4432
grislyatoms Medic Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 169 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	My entire SH4 career I have never encountered a capital ship. Nor a submarine. Encountered a British sub one time just east of the English Channel in GWX. Anyway, good hunting/shooting, Skipper! Sure is a pretty sight seeing her capsized like that __________________ "Na Männer...alles klar?"

07-29-13, 06:01 PM	#4433
grislyatoms Medic Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 169 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	We finished our "SOJ via La Perouse strait" patrol fairly well. Came back with unexpended ordnance (two fish in the forward tubes, 23 rounds of 5 inch) as fuel was bingo after running down the coast of Hokkaido. Still, pretty good patrol, 27K tons. Crew got an issue of rum grog each (out of the Skipper's personal stash, for medicinal purposes only) as we approached Midway. Reloaded, refitted with improved SJ radar. New assignment: "SOJ via La Perouse strait". I DON'T LIKE SHALLOW, NARROW WATER! Come on, subpac! __________________ "Na Männer...alles klar?"

07-29-13, 06:47 PM	#4434
grislyatoms Medic Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 169 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	I guess we all have a "Biggles" or "Bernard" on our boats. Mr. Moore, one of my sonar folks. "Target bearing 352, constant speed. Target bearing 354, constant speed" At that point I have my finger on the trigger. "Contact lost". I call him, alternatively, either "Gilligan" or Ensign Parker... __________________ "Na Männer...alles klar?"

07-30-13, 04:51 AM	#4436
Gryffon300 Engineer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 213 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	Plan Z OK, with thanks to Torpedobait ("The thing is, even though the bow or stern may be sitting on the bottom, it is not considered "sunk" until your crew reports the sinking. It may take 10 torpedoes for the Yamato, maybe more if you wait too long between reloading and hitting her again." 'SH4: WoP - Anyone encountered this bug? Little angry' - #15) for the reinforcement of the idea discussed several times of late regarding the race between damage accumulation from your attack and repairs underway from the Damage Control teams. I ran a different attack profile, hitting the Yamato with far less hits, but closer together. Here's the story: __________________________________________________ _______ Journal 1: Cptn Marcus Griffin Yes, that's right, they've upped my rating and given me another stripe. I like to think it's been because we've been pretty successful and brought the Balao back from several patrols now with no major damage, but, truth be told, it's probably as much to do with the fact that we have lost some good crews and skippers that need replacement. Fortunes of War, eh? I don't know if you have heard after trying to get in touch with Mrs Miyagi, but if not I have appalling news. I have had an uncensored letter smuggled to me from Kesuke where he tells me that both his wife and child died in the tripple-cursed internment camp. He feels the Government and country he is fighting for killed his family. "They have stolen my life." I don't know how or if he will ever get over it. __________________________________________________ ______ [Extract] 17/05/43 So that leads up to the start of what will probably prove to be our greatest single contribution to the war. We got some Flash Traffic while on our way to deployment in the Formosa Strait requesting that anyone within range attempt an intercept of a Task Force on its way from Truck back to Japan. We got to the designated area a day early, so were able to take out a merchant that night with the gun. 21/05/43 After lunch, radar picked up an oncoming group - hopefully our TF. We had to steam hard for a couple of hours to intercept, but we got there in time to be submerged with smoke on the horizon. They were steaming at 16 - 18 knots to the NW and we approached from the West, heading NE. At radar depth we were able to see that there were three columns with a roving screen. Once we had plotted the track of the main columns, we went quiet and all stop at depth (below the layer) in line with the westernmost column track. We selected that to place ourselves between two forward escorts. Once they were level, I came off Silent; went to Flank; ordered Battle Stations; and ordered Periscope depth, aiming to be able to see by the time we were between the first two tracks (which were all 2200 yds apart) and set for fore and aft shots. Once there, we had a look and I nearly had a heart attack! A screen of 5 or more escorts, two Kongo Battleships; two Fleet Carriers; and the Yamato! The first column was an FC; the second was the Yamato followed by a Kongo; and the third an FC followed by the other Kongo. Although the furthest FC was nicely in my green zone, at nearly 3,500 yds, I thought it was a low percentage shot, and so, refrained (besides I wanted all 6 forwards for the Yamato). I set all 6 to 35' and rears to 25', opened all doors and counted down. Within a minute or two, she was almost in my green zone, so I started launching, starting at 5 degrees forward (I will use forward and aft in this, rather than left or right, so you don't have to remember whether I'm shooting from the forward or aft tubes and whether they are crossing from left to right etc), then 3; 1; 0; 1; 3. As soon as the last was away, I ordered up a bearing 10 deg further E and spun around and lined up on the FC in my '6'. The change in bearing brought the FC into the green and, instead of my usual two, I let one go at 3 deg forward, by now at about 2000yds. Just before firing, the first torp impacted the Yamato. All 6 torps hit, with only one dud. By then, I had spun to my starboard to lock onto the Kongo trailing the Yamato. I was, by now, crossing his track, so it was bearing down on me square on at less then 1000 yds. He was zig-zagging by now, so I was hoping he would be at a down-swing (away from me) when he got to my '6' otherwise he would be too close to fire on. Again, I was intent on only hitting him with 1 to slow him down, so I could retain 2 for another salvo at the Yamato. As you know, I had a go once before in Truck, but took too long between reloads and re-fires, which allowed them too much time to repair, I wasn't going to make that mistake again! So, while I waited for the Kongo that was charging down my throat, I had a look at how the re-loads were going and tube one was seconds away from ready. Knowing this, I locked on to the other Kongo about to cross my bows at about 1800 yds on the far track, set the torp to 3 forward / 25' and, before it reached the green, let rip. I then spun around as the other Kongo was going through my hot zone (thankfully at about 500 yds - everything was working for us!) and sent one away at 5 deg forward, then ordered hard to starboard to come to bear on the Yamato with my last two. As I swung, I got a hit on the stern Kongo while I was setting the fish to 35'. The Yamato seemed to be taking on a list and slowing, so I set 0 and 3 forward at about 2150 yds and fired. About then the forward Kongo got a hit as I was ordering down scope and, ordered hard to port and laid in a bearing to parallel their track and 300', as the escorts were taking a mild interest in me by this stage. As I was going under, the sweetest sound of all - BOTH fish got the Yamato forward! I was determined to close for the kill on any and all that I could, so stayed at Flank (NOT my usual style, believe me!) and jigged around changing direction and depth regularly after every DC pass. Chef-o yelled about a few busted plates, and our teeth got a right Royal rattling, and I still haven't got rid of the ringing in my ears, but we managed. As you can see, the escorts were a little put out. While we were rattling around down there, we heard a great sound - one of my hits was going down - the FC - with only one torp in her belly! Fabulous. The crew got a 'Yay!' out of that, believe me. By then I was slipping the noose (slightly) on the escorts, so, still at Flank, if you can believe it, I ordered P depth and aligned on the nice low thugga-chugga-thugga coming from the Big Bloke. I could not credit what was in the scope, so I changed eyes, but the view was the same. You can see the sunk FC in the background (the fire & the smoke to the far left is only burning oil from her before she keeled over), and a heavily listing Kongo, but, far more interesting (at least from a propaganda perspective), is the Yamato, obviously in huge distress. I took this shot less than ten minutes later: I have better shots from an aesthetic point of view, but, even to a layman, this one is definitive for identification, with the three-gun turret visible. And all with only 7 effective torp hits! Well. My my. We'd done it. No 'Yay's!' this time - just stunned silence as I ordered a return to the deeps to try and shake the escorts. I figured that we could pick up the rest at our leisure, because last time the Yamato was in trouble no-one would leave her. In fact, we had seen an FC and a wounded BB RETURN from miles away to support the Admiral (and, no doubt, stand ready to pick up survivors if required) - but not this time. Within short order the escorts were fleeing after the vanishing heavies and soon were just smoke on the horizon. Of course, now full of bravado, we upped and after them. On a ten nm parallel track, which we had to adjust once to the west when they jigged, at 20 knots (turned off battery recharge - still had 75%), we overtook first a slower Kongo, then the rest doing 18 knots many hours later. (Dodging some air-cover from the Hiyo en passant.) In the dead of night we again positioned ahead and went silent stop as the escorts barrelled by, then we put two into the fresh Hiyo, followed by one, then a second into the Kongo, then went down to wait. As we were coming up to see what was taking the on-fire Kongo so long, a new player came barrelling through. It was the other Kongo (or its twin)! It had been repaired and pumped out, I guess, 'cause she was fast and trim with no list. So, for being so obliging, I put two into her and, within half an hour, both Kongos were on their way to the deeps. So, there you have it. I still have torps to spare, but we got an entire TF. By not allowing the Yamato time to repair, I ended up with a long chase, rather than a turkey shoot. But, I GOT the YAMATO! Doing it the other way, it was much easier to get the rest of the fleet, but I ran the risk of running out of torps and still not getting the main prize. I'll evade the rest of this angry but dispirited escort and move on to our patrol zone and do some more damage before heading home. I'll break out the last of the Christams egg-nog brandy for the boys as soon as we are out of detection range and back to normal stations. We all deserve it! ______________________________________________ End extract. Marcus Last edited by Gryffon300; 07-30-13 at 05:09 AM.

07-30-13, 06:14 AM	#4437
in_vino_vomitus XO Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Preston, Lancs, UK Posts: 418 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	Nice shooting Captain - Well told as usual __________________ 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

08-01-13, 03:51 PM	#4438
in_vino_vomitus XO Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Preston, Lancs, UK Posts: 418 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	Dear Aunt Grethe Back from our second patrol. Seasoned veterans now! Once again there was no death-defying heroism. No braving the gauntlet of destroyers to visit ruin on the enemy. Mostly this was because the enemy was so hard to find, but having found him, sneaking past his watchdogs wasn't so hard to do. Our torpedoes performed no better this time, and poor Lothar, our chief torpedoman worked his people very hard indeed maintaining them. Certainly when Dieter reported the duds, we knew it was through no fault of theirs, but still they suffered. I don't think anyone got less rest than they did, and seaman Moller had two fingers broken pulling a battery out in heavy seas. These are very heavy batteries. Still, we claimed 35,000 tons, which is reasonable hunting. Our gun crew claimed two scalps in the 'Kanal. One going out and the other returning. The second one was settling in the water, there was no smoke, or any sign of burning, and the gun crew were holding fire, when suddenly an explosion blew the bow clean off. We were about 800 meters away, but we still felt the shockwave. Whatever they were carrying, it was better on the seabed than being fired at the Wehrmacht. I said the enemy was hard to find. We spent nearly three weeks patrolling along the convoy routes and at first we were all very excited when a ship was heard, but soon the excitement stopped. After chasing down one vessel and getting into position to fire, Grandfather demanded I check our position. I told him we were 100Km west of Lisbon, he had me go over my figures three times, and I confess I was afraid he'd caught me in some schoolboy error, so I checked and rechecked, and told him I was as sure of our position as it was reasonably possible to be. "If you say so Leutnant", he replied "I just wanted to make sure we weren't off Panama, since that's the only flag I've seen this month". The next time we saw a merchantman, we didn't even try to be stealthy. We went to full ahead and sailed straight for them. I don't know who was the more surprised. Us at seeing the Red Ensign, or them when we torpedoed them. They took no evasive action whatsoever. I can only assume they thought we were one of theirs. We were less than five hundred meters directly off his starboard beam. The old man ordered the tubes opened, took a guess at the speed and fired in about ten seconds after spotting the flag. One cannot take satisfaction from such a victory, but war is not a matter of style, and this time at least, our eels ran true. The next day, we found the convoy we were looking for, and as I have said, approaching it undetected wasn't difficult. We fired twelve eels, some of them missed, which was strange since everything seemed perfect. We sank two and damaged one more. It seems almost a waste of time hiding from the Royal Navy. The first time I heard their ASDIC, I thought for sure we were going to suffer, but they never found us. I know how you hate me tempting fate, but this really does seem too easy...... I hope to have a more entertaining tale for you next time. Your obedient Nephew Phillipp __________________ 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

08-01-13, 06:56 PM	#4439
c13Garrison Ensign Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Chicago-ish, USA Posts: 223 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	Just a quick note from familial purgatory, I very much enjoyed "grandfather's" quip about Panamanian flags. Carry on, my wayward sons!