Urgent Flash! Convoy must be sunk..what would you do?

Armistead · 03-13-12, 12:39 AM

Date: September 29, 1943

Flash:
Convoy consisting of lage Euro Liner and large tanker, leaving Shantou harbor, proceeding NNE @ 17kts hugging the China Coast. Expected to port at Fuzhou late 10/2/44. Euro liner suspected to be carrying over 3000 elite Japanese marines and filled with ammo, tanker rinding low, suspect full cargo of fuel oil. Expect heavy escort protection including radar DE Matsu with radar. Aircover expected heavy around this group. Minefields suspected!

I order flank. My guess is the convoy will pass somewhere near Xiamen. We arrive on stations with the view of Xiamen lighthouse off the coast. There is a small island, I'm guessing the convoy will pass between it and the China coast. We're forced to dive 5 times due to plane coverage.

Conditions:
Light fog
Partail Clouds
250-350 ft deep water at our location, water more shallow along convoys suspect route.
Wind- 6-8meters

Finally, radar contact, we have two large contacts and multiple small contacts. This could be our group.

The situation...

At about 17:00 hours we ID large Euro liner.

Sonar reports 5-6 Escorts, We finally visually ID 2 DD's, 1 DE Matsu and 1 Type AB, cannot ID other escorts.
Wow...they're guarding this group with everything but the kitchen sink...

Group is turning ENE heading in our general direction.

What would you do? Just so you know this is one of the groups I added to RSRD which really contains no convoys hugging the China Coast, it contains 6 escorts, 4 with veteran crew ratings, 2 with elite ratings, both liner and tanker set to elite rating.

03-13-12, 12:39 AM	#1
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,864 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	Urgent Flash! Convoy must be sunk..what would you do? Date: September 29, 1943 Flash: Convoy consisting of lage Euro Liner and large tanker, leaving Shantou harbor, proceeding NNE @ 17kts hugging the China Coast. Expected to port at Fuzhou late 10/2/44. Euro liner suspected to be carrying over 3000 elite Japanese marines and filled with ammo, tanker rinding low, suspect full cargo of fuel oil. Expect heavy escort protection including radar DE Matsu with radar. Aircover expected heavy around this group. Minefields suspected! I order flank. My guess is the convoy will pass somewhere near Xiamen. We arrive on stations with the view of Xiamen lighthouse off the coast. There is a small island, I'm guessing the convoy will pass between it and the China coast. We're forced to dive 5 times due to plane coverage. Conditions: Light fog Partail Clouds 250-350 ft deep water at our location, water more shallow along convoys suspect route. Wind- 6-8meters Finally, radar contact, we have two large contacts and multiple small contacts. This could be our group. The situation... At about 17:00 hours we ID large Euro liner. Sonar reports 5-6 Escorts, We finally visually ID 2 DD's, 1 DE Matsu and 1 Type AB, cannot ID other escorts. Wow...they're guarding this group with everything but the kitchen sink... Group is turning ENE heading in our general direction. What would you do? Just so you know this is one of the groups I added to RSRD which really contains no convoys hugging the China Coast, it contains 6 escorts, 4 with veteran crew ratings, 2 with elite ratings, both liner and tanker set to elite rating.