Tell us what you're up to in current campaign (lets get this one going lol)

Bubblehead1980 · 02-17-22, 01:57 AM

SH 3 has a very active thread where Captains share what are doing currently. Tried to get it going before but going to try again lol.

Brief write ups and of course screenshots/videos are welcome.

Current:

TMO Update V2.0
100 difficulty Cams off, Contacts on( for this patrol)

USS Nautilus SS-168
Eleventh War Patrol

Ended previous patrol in Brisbane on 13 March 1944 after departing Pearl Harbor on TENTH war patrol 24 January 1944.

20 May 1944

1400 Departed Brisbane for Darwin to embark passengers and supplies for
special mission to Philippines.

1420 Rendezvoused with Australian MS to escort through minefield. (new feature of V2.0, always a escort for player sub at friendly minefields)

1530 Exited Moreton Bay minefield

1700 Conducted trim dive.

1730 Surfaced. Set course for Darwin via Torres Strait.

EddieLyons · 02-19-22, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

(new feature of V2.0, always a escort for player sub at friendly minefields)

Yeah, I could have done with that! I started two campaigns in S-class boats out of Manila that never got beyond Corregidor because of unknown "friendly" minefields! I ran into them while using time compression (x8 to x64).

Only on the third attempt did I realise what had happened when I just happened to notice some blips in the water that I then used the external camera to identify -- I was in the middle of the minefield and had to navigate my way out!

I also had a campaign from Pearl terminated by the "friendly" anti-submarine net at Wake, where I was pulling in to refuel on my way to reconnoitre the Marshalls. (At least now I know which entrance to use at Wake!)

So now I use the mission builder to print out maps of the various "friendly" minefields and anti-sub nets before beginning a new campaign. This is the sort of intelligence that would be available to a commander beforehand, even while enemy minefields and anti-sub nets might be unknown or at best only assumed. So an escort would be doubly useful!

When I exited Pearl on my latest campaign start (USS Nautilus), I used the external camera to take a look at the anti-sub net at the entrance. It lies along the seabed, which raises a question -- does this anti-sub net get raised and lowered periodically? In real life, of course, it was opened to allow vessels in and out. Is this even possible in the game? Or are the anti-sub nets fixed in place?

EddieLyons · 02-19-22, 09:57 AM

In the spirit of this thread (having hijacked it to ask questions about minefields and anti-sub nets!), here's my current campaign:

USS Nautilus - departed Pearl Harbor on 9 Dec 1941, bound for Hiroshima, Japan, to reconnoitre its harbour. (Nice and easy one to start the war with, then!)

Used ahead full to expedite the passage to Midway to refuel. Currently en-route to Japanese home waters at ahead standard, making good progress in fair weather. No ship or air contacts for days; currently north of Marcus Island, about halfway to our destination. Current date is 16 Dec 1941.

KaleunMarco · 02-19-22, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddieLyons

I used the external camera to take a look at the anti-sub net at the entrance. It lies along the seabed, which raises a question -- does this anti-sub net get raised and lowered periodically?

No

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddieLyons

In real life, of course, it was opened to allow vessels in and out. Is this even possible in the game? Or are the anti-sub nets fixed in place?

No and yes.
one additional piece of joyous information is that you (we) cannot penetrate the subnet with torpedoes or deck gun shells. it.is.permanent.

another piece of intel is that you can modify your sub's collision factor in the sub.zon file such that if you do meet up with a subnet, it will not be catastrophic and you will be able to back your way out of it.

Bubblehead1980 · 02-19-22, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddieLyons

Yeah, I could have done with that! I started two campaigns in S-class boats out of Manila that never got beyond Corregidor because of unknown "friendly" minefields! I ran into them while using time compression (x8 to x64).

Only on the third attempt did I realise what had happened when I just happened to notice some blips in the water that I then used the external camera to identify -- I was in the middle of the minefield and had to navigate my way out!

I also had a campaign from Pearl terminated by the "friendly" anti-submarine net at Wake, where I was pulling in to refuel on my way to reconnoitre the Marshalls. (At least now I know which entrance to use at Wake!)

So now I use the mission builder to print out maps of the various "friendly" minefields and anti-sub nets before beginning a new campaign. This is the sort of intelligence that would be available to a commander beforehand, even while enemy minefields and anti-sub nets might be unknown or at best only assumed. So an escort would be doubly useful!

When I exited Pearl on my latest campaign start (USS Nautilus), I used the external camera to take a look at the anti-sub net at the entrance. It lies along the seabed, which raises a question -- does this anti-sub net get raised and lowered periodically? In real life, of course, it was opened to allow vessels in and out. Is this even possible in the game? Or are the anti-sub nets fixed in place?

Haha ohhhh man lol hate had all the issues . Well, I did mention in the readme about the friendly minefields. From the README:

"Manila Bay has a US minefield in 1941 so use caution when exiting/entering. When US retreats the gaps are closed to prevent entry with exception of a small one for boats to get to Corregidor."

Now, I really thought I mentioned stay to the middle lol but apparently I did not, my apologies, will remedy that.

Sub net at Wake is not so much meant to represent a net as a the reef being closed off. UBI got the geography of some places pretty wrong. During the war the way boats/ships accessed Midway was through a channel blown in the reef and a small harbor. In SH 4 there is a small channel that the North. The gap at the west was closed off primarily to represent this, but also to prevent entry by submarine as well once Japanese have the island. If you want to enter the lagoon when US has possession , can go in via the north channel, its a pain to navigate though, as it is quite narrow. AI ships usually get stuck, so have them spawn outside or delete on last waypoint just as enter channel.

There is also a subnet at Midway surrounding enter island to represent the coral reef, which devs failed to include. The access is in the south, marked by boats (no buoys available for SH 4, but working on it) . The channel was quite narrow (actually shocked how narrow it was, may still be) and a challenge in real life to enter, some ships were grounded. Submarine USS Flier ran aground on the reef in Spring 1944 and was stuck for some time. A rescue tug was lost during rescue, along with crew.

Far as Pearl Harbor subnet, that is a glitch or issue i've noticed as well and have not been able to remedy as of yet. Problem with subnets is if you set the depth too shallow, obviously can impede surface traffic when not the intended desire. I found the same problem with a subnet at Sydney, Australia s well and few other places, working to see if can fix this. No, the subnets do not raise//lower/ open/close...would be amazing if they did.

Good move on printing the intelligence, ill look into including it in next release but the escorts will be a thing. Basically impossible to have them spawn and rendezvous for specific times given cant predict when player will start end a patrol but what they will have is a escort going back and forth through the safe zone player will be instructed to look out for and follow. Goes without saying, should always enter/leave in daylight (which was standard for subs anyways in most cases to avoid mine hazards and that of friendly fire incidents. Fyi friendly fire incidents while rare, are now possible in the mod)

Bubblehead1980 · 02-19-22, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddieLyons

In the spirit of this thread (having hijacked it to ask questions about minefields and anti-sub nets!), here's my current campaign:

USS Nautilus - departed Pearl Harbor on 9 Dec 1941, bound for Hiroshima, Japan, to reconnoitre its harbour. (Nice and easy one to start the war with, then!)

Used ahead full to expedite the passage to Midway to refuel. Currently en-route to Japanese home waters at ahead standard, making good progress in fair weather. No ship or air contacts for days; currently north of Marcus Island, about halfway to our destination. Current date is 16 Dec 1941.

Yikes lol I would just ignore that mission as impossible (no sub would have been ordered to do that lol) and conduct patrol in area 7 off bungo suido, sink ships, earn some renown. Unfortunately last release, I did not make it around to changing up patrol objectives. Upcoming release, this has been done. I have eliminated these hollywoodesque photo missions, photo missions in v2.0 are of a more historical and realistic nature as are all special missions. Now more generic, exceedingly boring special assignments. I am currently in the Nautilus myself (Donation Narwhal model, love it) started in Dec 1941, now in June 1944 , based in Australia running supply missions to Philippines, actually been quite enjoyable and challenging. These are part of forthcoming V2.0 of mod.

In fact, I've completely overhauled the orders for variety of patrol assignments/areas for all boats, the language to be more historically accurate (based on actual orders in patrol reports etc have read in research).

Thank you for joining in on the thread though, keep it coming lol. Really hope we can get this going like SH III

Bubblehead1980 · 02-19-22, 01:48 PM

TMO Update BH V.20
USS Nautilus SS-168

4 June 1944

0600 Entered Moro Gulf South of Mindanao, Philippines for approach to Illano Bay and special mission at Turukan, Mindanao.

0700 Submerged in Moro Gulf.

0745 Sound reported warship contact closing fast. Went to periscope depth, spotted a Auxiliary Subchaser, smoking heavily heading in our direction. Rigged for Silent Running, Depth charge and went to 300 feet.

Subchaser located NAUTILUS and dropped several close depth charges, real took shakers and continued hunting. Curiously, no pings were heard, assuming this aux vessel did not have active sonar, but proved to have one fine set of hydrophones, as at 0913, he laid a pattern of charges above , with one coming quite close and causing serious damage to the boat. Most serious of which being nearly disabling the trim pump, flooding in forward torpedo room, and as would discover later, damage to No.1 (control room) and No.2 (conning tower) periscopes, not functional. (Hull damage was pushed to 27 percent also. I hate the hull damage indicator btw lol)

Went to 350 ft and endured numerous depth charges until 1400 when the subchaser continue hunting nearby, staying with NAUTILUS but ceased dropping charges, either because did not have definite contact or depleted his supply.

5 June 1944

Finally lost contact with enemy in Moro Gulf at 0226. Came to periscope depth at 0330 to find neither scope functional. Eased to SJ radar depth, to find contact just 6000 yards astern, "creeping". Went back to 350 feet, heard SC crank up speed ran above NAUTILUS and splashes about one minute later, she dropped two depth charges well ahead of NAUTILUS. Obviously, she heard us, but did not have a fix.

At 0530 came back to radar depth and the contact was 12000 yards ahead to port, apparently stationary. Seas had grown heavy, which no doubt aided NAUTILUS. Secured silent running and surfaced after 22 1/2 hours submerged, under attack*, began repairs and battery recharge.

Submerged at noon to avoid single engine floatplane (PETE) patrolling area and made way towards mouth of Illano Bay in preparation to conduct special mission. Also, avoided the same subchaser twice as swept through the area.

Surfaced at 2103 in Illano Bay, ten miles off Turukan, Mindanao and made way to landing area. Sighted security signal (red smoke ) and approached the beach, coming within 1500 yards, coming along several rafts carrying Col. Bowler and his troops. Sent cargo ashore in rafts beginning precisely at 2200 hundred hours, with operation completed by 0015 6 June.

6 June

0031 as was leaving area, APR-1 detected radar signals astern and SJ soon had a pip at 13000 yards. A apparent patrol was heading to area. At 0037 SJ detected another pip ahead bearing 346 18000 yards, both were closing. They appear to be moving to block our escape. Increased to flank speed and went to GQ with gun crews standing by. Waters were just 42 feet, not deep enough to dive.

Came within 800 yards of coast and skimmed along coastline using it as cover and slipped out of the ever tightening noose of the two contacts, both of which were radar equipped but apparently lost contact as proceeded to a area where NAUTILUS had been previously.

0300 Received orders to return to Darwin at best speed.

Bubblehead1980 · 02-19-22, 06:54 PM

TMO Update BH V.20
USS Nautilus SS-168

23 June

Transiting Sibutu Passage West of Tawi Tawi en route to Darwin (new home port) after two back to back patrols (special missions, arrived 11 June, departed 12 June for next)

0421 About half through pass, SJ made contact , two pips. APR-1 detected radar emissions. Attempted to open range but seems were detected. Possible escorts were alerted to presence shore based radar/observation posts (they are now a feature in TMO Update). Unable to outrun them, submerged and attempted "down the throat" shot on closet DD with three MK 23 torpedoes i bow tubes but all missed as skilled DD outmaneuvered them, barely.

Currently at 390 ft, rigged for silent running, and depth charge, being pinging.

40 minutes into attack...count is 54 depth charges, real took shakers.

Mad Mardigan · 02-20-22, 03:43 PM

This report is from a career start done up for testing for BH1980...

U.S.S Albacore (SS-218)
Skipper: J. T. Mardigan, commanding
Base: Fremantle/Perth, Australia
Date: June, of '43

07/06/43

On getting orders from command, crew made all preparations for getting under way, & shoved off to begin our 1st patrol.

Uneventful for the 1st day or so, until radar watch, picked up an air signal, gave the order to crash dive then ran submerged for the rest of the day. On it getting dark, called for all stop & ran a sonar sweep of the area & getting a report back of nothing on sound, proceeded to do a sweep on the periscope.

On confirm of nothing in the area, ordered surface, so as to recharge the batteries. proceeded ahead 1/3 to continue to make for Sunda Straights, to break through there and proceed to our patrol objective area.

10/06/43

Succeeded on making it through 2/3 of the passage through Sunda... until mid-day, when we ran across a DD & a torp boat. Managed to get in close enough to get a rough ID on them, then had sparks call it in. Waited & kept close tabs on their movement while awaiting word back from HQ.

After a bit, got message from them, of congrats on sighting, but... to break off & make way for patrol objective. Other assets would be vectored in to hit them. After reading that, gave the order to break off, head west for a bit then make turns for getting back on plotted course through the straights.

After having got back on course, ran across another contact, & deciding discretion was the better part of valor, gave the order to submerge... ran submerged the rest of the day, encountering a couple of other contacts patrolling the straights.

At dark, and finally clearing the straights, ran a check as before and determining no contacts about, gave the order to surface.

11/06/43
Early morning, exiting the straights:

Early morning light made contact on a surface vessel. sonar reported it to be a merchant... gave the order to plot its base course, then having that in hand, ordered an intercept course.

After a couple of hours run at all ahead flank, got within sight of the target.

ID'ed her, as a Kigan Maru merchie, GRT 7390, ordered bow tubes 1 & 2 prepped in all aspects. Depth 6, slow runners & impact only. Having learned from the preceding months, on being 1st officer on another sub, the trials & troubles with the Mk 14's... how to best approach attacking with them, until Bureau of Ordnance can get it sorted out on fixing them properly.

As was still early morning, decided to make the attack while surfaced.

Closed within 3000 of her, still unseen, and not having any reports of aircraft or other surface ships about, gave the order to fire both fish, set apart by .75 degrees off either side of dead center.

While both fish were sent on their way, had crew manned & ready on the deck & flak guns... & turned to follow along at distance on the same base course of 052.

After their allotted run time plus or minus a few seconds... got the sweet reward of seeing both fish hit. With the 1st fish striking, watched the target go up in a massive fireball, and can only speculate that she must have been carrying ammo supplies or some other volatile cargo. The 2nd fish was just... icing on the cake, ensuring she went down faster. As she went under within just a few minutes of getting hit by both fish.

On impact of the 1st fish, & seeing no reasons to hang around, gave the order to return to base course... with adjustments as needed then went below to rack out for some much needed & deserved rest. Before doing so, gave the 1st officer Tom, orders to proceed best speed to our objective and if anything, major cropped up before I got in some good rest, to wake Me. Otherwise wanted to get in a good 8 if at all possible.

14/06/43

After several uneventful days, managed to make it to our, insertion point... on route to recon the Singapore port and to snap photos as required of anything of import.

03:37 hrs
Picked up signals of a small group of ships, making turns on a course of 067 had nav plot out a reciprocal course, so as to pass by, ID, radio it in & plot an attack approach. After conferring with the 1st, to give him experience in skippering and in agreement with his recommendation, decided on a surfaced attack, staying on a 180 heading off the targets base course.

ID'ed the targets as 1 Wakatake escort 4 merchies in a 2 x 2 following on the escort, like it's a mother duck. After a bit, managed to ID 3 of the merchies...

1 Kanaga Maru, 1 Shajima Maru & 1 Koto Maru, the 1 directly following behind the escort... couldn't get a clear definitive ID on... but from what is seen of it, is a small fry, anyway. Got the report from Sparks, that HQ had messaged back & the orders were clear... Hit 'em... & hit 'em hard...

Ordered tubes 1 through 4 fore, and tube 7 made ready in all aspects. As before with the Kigan Maru, ordered fish to be prepped to 6 depth, slow and impact only.

On getting a good confirm of aft tube being on track for a clear shot at the escort, ordered 7 fired 1st, then proceeded to unload tubes 1 through 4, 1 fish each at the at the smaller merchie's of the 3 & 2 at the larger one of the bunch... the Shajima. Both fish to be set apart off center by the same as with the Kigan Maru

After sending the last fish off, gave orders to head on a course of 225, ahead flank.

Heard 1 fish premature, despite precautions taken to avoid any possibilities of such occurring. (Still have the odd ones that do that) a few moments later, 1st impact came... on the Kanaga... which like as with the Kigan Maru, went up in a tremendous explosion & settles under fast. fish aimed at the escort missed... likely due to the escorts reaction to the Kanaga going up... which threw off the intercept of it. Will have to see of having fish sent off on other targets and give time for the ones aimed at escorts in My 1st officers firing pinpoint drills. Other than that, not bad on their firing points otherwise... so far.

Not long after the Kanaga went up like a roman candle... heard & saw impacts on the Koto & the Shajima... with the Koto slowing down a tad.

By this time, could make out the escort in the general area where we had been, nosing about looking for us on the impression that the attack had come from a submerged sub. Little did the crew know that we were indeed making the attack on the surface.

After the impact on the Shakima, gave orders to proceed on course 275 for a bit then proceed to run on a heading of 300... working our way back around so as to parallel them on a base of 067 so that we could then give it another run to attack.

Had fore torp crew, begin loading up some new fish that HQ wanted in action testing of, as a replacement to the Mk 18's or maybe even a replacement to the 14's... not sure as to which but... orders are orders. Figured shoot off 2, 1 each at the Koto & the Shajima... & could always send off a pair of 14's if needed to.

04:10

After doing the final approach on the end run and in good posit, tubes 3 & 4, were ready in all respects... sighted on the Koto, which by now... was trailing a bit further behind owing to the damages inflicted by the 1st fish. Gave the order to fire 4... waited about 20, 25 seconds and after having a good bead on the Shajima, ordered 3 fired. after firing 3, gave orders to go to 045, with the deck & flak guns manned & ready.

04:11/04:13

1st of the 2 Mk 23's impacted & sent the Shajima on a 1-way trip to join their fellow crew men to Davey Jones retirement home for wayward sailors... but not before they got sight of us & began to fire. Seconds after they began, came the impact & huge explosion of the fish hitting. She went under pretty fast after the fireball rocketed skyward. A half minute maybe less... the 2nd Mk 23, tore into the Koto & sent it on its way to join the others. Have to say, if with the rest of those fish on hand... preform as well as those, will have to give a hearty recommendation to HQ, to get them out to the rest of the sub fleet in the flash message to be sent off after getting clear of this engagement.

04:25

Have swung around to a heading of 265, to get clear of the area and making turns for all ahead full. Within a half hour, will give the order to head on a course of 225, to get us back on track for the course plot worked out by the nav crew... so as to proceed at best speed, before having to dive to make way to our prospective recon posit.

Left the last merchie & escort go... so that they can spread the terror & fear message... Is a Wolf loose & it's a very hungry Demon Wolf...

04:26
Had Sparks, send to HQ... an after actions report, to date... along with My, recommendations on the new fish, included in it.

Of the crew, they've performed well... with considerations for some in the forward torp room, of being recognized for going above & beyond, even after being injured.

Still, have to make that insertion point to do the recon & then... completing that, finding out just what HQ wants done after that.

End report... To, be continued...

After action tally, up to now... :

M. M.

Bubblehead1980 · 02-20-22, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Mardigan

This report is from a career start done up for testing for BH1980...

U.S.S Albacore (SS-218)
Skipper: J. T. Mardigan, commanding
Base: Fremantle/Perth, Australia
Date: June, of '43

07/06/43

On getting orders from command, crew made all preparations for getting under way, & shoved off to begin our 1st patrol.

Uneventful for the 1st day or so, until radar watch, picked up an air signal, gave the order to crash dive then ran submerged for the rest of the day. On it getting dark, called for all stop & ran a sonar sweep of the area & getting a report back of nothing on sound, proceeded to do a sweep on the periscope.

On confirm of nothing in the area, ordered surface, so as to recharge the batteries. proceeded ahead 1/3 to continue to make for Sunda Straights, to break through there and proceed to our patrol objective area.

10/06/43

Succeeded on making it through 2/3 of the passage through Sunda... until mid-day, when we ran across a DD & a torp boat. Managed to get in close enough to get a rough ID on them, then had sparks call it in. Waited & kept close tabs on their movement while awaiting word back from HQ.

After a bit, got message from them, of congrats on sighting, but... to break off & make way for patrol objective. Other assets would be vectored in to hit them. After reading that, gave the order to break off, head west for a bit then make turns for getting back on plotted course through the straights.

After having got back on course, ran across another contact, & deciding discretion was the better part of valor, gave the order to submerge... ran submerged the rest of the day, encountering a couple of other contacts patrolling the straights.

At dark, and finally clearing the straights, ran a check as before and determining no contacts about, gave the order to surface.

11/06/43
Early morning, exiting the straights:

Early morning light made contact on a surface vessel. sonar reported it to be a merchant... gave the order to plot its base course, then having that in hand, ordered an intercept course.

After a couple of hours run at all ahead flank, got within sight of the target.

ID'ed her, as a Kigan Maru merchie, GRT 7390, ordered bow tubes 1 & 2 prepped in all aspects. Depth 6, slow runners & impact only. Having learned from the preceding months, on being 1st officer on another sub, the trials & troubles with the Mk 14's... how to best approach attacking with them, until Bureau of Ordnance can get it sorted out on fixing them properly.

As was still early morning, decided to make the attack while surfaced.

Closed within 3000 of her, still unseen, and not having any reports of aircraft or other surface ships about, gave the order to fire both fish, set apart by .75 degrees off either side of dead center.

While both fish were sent on their way, had crew manned & ready on the deck & flak guns... & turned to follow along at distance on the same base course of 052.

After their allotted run time plus or minus a few seconds... got the sweet reward of seeing both fish hit. With the 1st fish striking, watched the target go up in a massive fireball, and can only speculate that she must have been carrying ammo supplies or some other volatile cargo. The 2nd fish was just... icing on the cake, ensuring she went down faster. As she went under within just a few minutes of getting hit by both fish.

On impact of the 1st fish, & seeing no reasons to hang around, gave the order to return to base course... with adjustments as needed then went below to rack out for some much needed & deserved rest. Before doing so, gave the 1st officer Tom, orders to proceed best speed to our objective and if anything, major cropped up before I got in some good rest, to wake Me. Otherwise wanted to get in a good 8 if at all possible.

14/06/43

After several uneventful days, managed to make it to our, insertion point... on route to recon the Singapore port and to snap photos as required of anything of import.

03:37 hrs
Picked up signals of a small group of ships, making turns on a course of 067 had nav plot out a reciprocal course, so as to pass by, ID, radio it in & plot an attack approach. After conferring with the 1st, to give him experience in skippering and in agreement with his recommendation, decided on a surfaced attack, staying on a 180 heading off the targets base course.

ID'ed the targets as 1 Wakatake escort 4 merchies in a 2 x 2 following on the escort, like it's a mother duck. After a bit, managed to ID 3 of the merchies...

1 Kanaga Maru, 1 Shajima Maru & 1 Koto Maru, the 1 directly following behind the escort... couldn't get a clear definitive ID on... but from what is seen of it, is a small fry, anyway. Got the report from Sparks, that HQ had messaged back & the orders were clear... Hit 'em... & hit 'em hard...

Ordered tubes 1 through 4 fore, and tube 7 made ready in all aspects. As before with the Kigan Maru, ordered fish to be prepped to 6 depth, slow and impact only.

On getting a good confirm of aft tube being on track for a clear shot at the escort, ordered 7 fired 1st, then proceeded to unload tubes 1 through 4, 1 fish each at the at the smaller merchie's of the 3 & 2 at the larger one of the bunch... the Shajima. Both fish to be set apart off center by the same as with the Kigan Maru

After sending the last fish off, gave orders to head on a course of 225, ahead flank.

Heard 1 fish premature, despite precautions taken to avoid any possibilities of such occurring. (Still have the odd ones that do that) a few moments later, 1st impact cam... on the Kanaga... which like as with the Kigan Maru, went up in a tremendous explosion & settles under fast. fish aimed at the escort missed... likely due to the escorts reaction to the Kanaga going up... which threw off the intercept of it. Will have to see of having fish sent off on other targets and give time for the ones aimed at escorts in My 1st officers firing pinpoint drills. Other than that, not bad on their firing points otherwise... so far.

Not long after the Kanaga went up like a roman candle... heard & saw impacts on the Koto & the Shajima... with the Koto slowing down a tad.

By this time, could make out the escort in the general area where we had been, nosing about looking for us on the impression that the attack had come from a submerged sub. Little did the crew know that we were indeed making the attack on the surface.

After the impact on the Shakima, gave orders to proceed on course 275 for a bit then proceed to run on a heading of 300... working our way back around so as to parallel them on a base of 067 so that we could then give it another run to attack.

Had fore torp crew, begin loading up some new fish that HQ wanted in action testing of, as a replacement to the Mk 18's or maybe even a replacement to the 14's... not sure as to which but... orders are orders. Figured shoot off 2, 1 each at the Koto & the Shajima... & could always send off a pair of 14's if needed to.

04:10

After doing the final approach on the end run and in good posit, tubes 3 & 4, were ready in all respects... sighted on the Koto, which by now... was trailing a bit further behind owing to the damages inflicted by the 1st fish. Gave the order to fire 4... waited about 20 25 seconds and after having a good bead on the Shajima, ordered 3 fired. after firing 3, gave orders to go to 045, with the deck & flak guns manned & ready.

04:11/04:13

1st of the 2 Mk 23's impacted & sent the Shajima on a 1-way trip to join their fellow crew men to Davey Jones retirement home for wayward sailors... but not before they got sight of us & began to fire. Seconds after they began, came the impact & huge explosion of the fish hitting. She went under pretty fast after the fireball rocketed skyward. A half minute maybe less... the 2nd Mk 23, tore into the Koto & sent it on its way to join the others. Have to say, if with the rest of those fish on hand... preform as well as those, will have to give a hearty recommendation to HQ, to get them out to the rest of the sub fleet in the flash message to be sent off after getting clear of this engagement.

04:25

Have swung around to a heading of 265, to get clear of the area and making turns for all ahead full. Within a half hour, will give the order to head on a course of 225to get us back on track for the course plot worked out by the nav crew... so as to proceed at best sped, before having to dive to make way to our prospective recon posit.

Left the last merchie & escort go... so that they can spread the terror & fear message... Is a Wolf loose & it's a hungry demon Wolf...

Of the crew, they've performed well... with considerations for some in the forward torp room, of being recognized for going above & beyond, even after being injured.

Still, have to make that insertion point to do the recon & then... completing that, finding out just what HQ wants done after that.

End report... To, be continued...

After action tally, up to now... :

M. M.

Nice

Mad Mardigan · 02-20-22, 04:35 PM

Thanks... & with this... makes like... the 2nd stab at, aka... go at doing up a detailed & as close to theirs, patrol report.

M. M.

Bubblehead1980 · 02-20-22, 09:15 PM

TMO Update V2.0
Narwhal mod
100 difficult, cams off, map contacts on for this patrol. .

USS Nautilus SS-168

13 July 1944

0600 Submerged 15 miles off BABAYAN POINT,MINDORO reconnoiter area prior to schedule operations after dark.

0900-1200 Examined area via periscope, all clear.

2000 Surfaced, prepared for operations and closed the shore.

2131 Spotted a Japanese boat, armed tug anchored close to landing area.
Seas were too heavy for gun action and did not want to alert enemy
forces in area. Withdrew.

2145 Received orders to proceed to alternate landing site near SAN ROQUE,
MINDORO and conduct operation on evening of 14 July.

2200 Received message from COMSUBSOWESPAC, RAY (SS-271) will transit
near our position en route her patrol area between 0000-0800 14 July.

14 July

0400 Off Coast of SAN ROQUE. Reconnoitered the area, proceeded to point 1
10 NM off shore and prepared to submerged at dawn.

0528 Sighted RAY bearing 164 7000 yards. Exchanged recognition signals.
12-12N 120-46 E Course 315 15 knots.

0700 Submerged. Avoided numerous patrols throughout the day.

2000 Surfaced. Prepared for landing operation.

2200 Began landing cargo and personnel via rubber boat 1800 yards off
off shore. Sighted friendlies in rubber boats, brought them aboard.

15 July

0034 Special Mission Completed.

0035 Received ULTRA. Two tankers with escorts departing Coron for Subic
Bay 0600 15 July. Estimated convoy will transit Mindoro Straits
between 1200-1800 hours . Ordered to conduct joint attack with RAY.
RAY recalled to area.

0125 Received message from RAY stating will take North end of strait, giving
NAUTILUS first crack at tankers.

0300 In center of Mindoro Strait, making SJ radar sweeps every quarter hours

0421 Avoided two DE type patrol vessels. One equipped with radar, based on
reading of APR-1.

0600 Submerged in ambush position., making SJ sweeps at radar depth
every half hour.

0630 Sound detected faint noises of submarine bearing 182, believe to be
RAY.

1354 Detected distant props on sound bearing 290

1400 Radar depth. SJ contacts bearing 297 range 23250 yards.

1401 General Quarters

1418 Surface to pull ahead.

1425 convoy zigged to NW toward NAUTILUS.

1428 Submerged for attack.

1446 Sighted convoy. Two AO, four escort course 290 12 knots.

1450 Convoy zigged to SW throwing NAUTILUS out of position. Went to 250 ft, closed at flank speed to
close. Convoy zigging often. Heavy seas making periscope observation challenging.

1503 Periscope depth. Convoy on course 265 12 knots. NAUTILUS 3300 yards off track.
Identified KINKUSUI 3980 tons , followed by DAISHIN MARU 5150 tons 900 yards astern. Two Type A Etorofu Escorts forward
astern, two Type B Mikura Escorts each flank.. Targeted DAISHIN MARU

TORPEDO ATTACK NO.1

1505 Bow tubes readied for firing. Depth set to 8 ft. MK 18-2 torpedoes in all tubes.

1507 Fired tubes 1,2,3,4 2900 yards.

1510 Torpedoes missed, convoy zigged to starboard after firing

1512 Pinging. Ordered 300 ft. rigged depth charge, silent running.

1515 Short scale pinging. Enemy closing in.

1516 Escort above. DC splashes. DC explosions above.

1517 More DC explosions, boat shaken.

1527 Close DC explosions. Damage reported.

1535 large pattern, boat shaken.

1540 Multiple escorts hunting. While have somewhat of a fix on NAUTILUS, heavy seas and thermal layer are helping.

Currently at 385 feet, attempting to slip away as barrages of depth charges go off in general area, killing a lot of fish.

Full story and conclusion

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sho...d.php?t=107786

EddieLyons · 02-21-22, 05:08 PM

Captain's Log

USS Nautilus (SS 168)
(Note: All times in Base Time)

9 Dec 1941 13:00
Departed Pearl Harbour on our first war patrol, following the Japanese attack two days ago. Mission is to penetrate Japanese homeland defences to recon and photograph vessels in Hiroshima docks. No easy task, especially in such shallow waters, and in a vessel of this size. We have zero intel on what defences might be present in the approaches to the target, so we'll be going in blind and having to feel our way.
For the first leg, we shall use full ahead to expedite our arrival at Midway for refuelling. A few hours there, then it's on towards the Japanese archipelago.

9 Dec 1941 18:01
Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Japanese forces have landed on the Malay Peninsula and in the Philippines. Guam, Manila, Singapore and Hong Kong, among other places, have all been bombed. And after many years of conflict, China has finally declared war on Japan and its invading army. The scale of Japan’s offensive defies belief!

10 Dec 1941 18:01
Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Japanese aircraft have sunk the British battleship Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Repulse off the Malay Peninsula! It appears the Japanese really mean business.

11 Dec 1941 18:01
Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Germany and Italy have declared war on the US! The US Congress has replied in kind. Finally! This formalises what has already been the case in the North Atlantic for months, where the US Navy has been in combat with Hitler’s U-boat menace, protecting Atlantic convoys and President Roosevelt’s neutrality zone!

13 Dec 1941 07:31
Hooked up to the submarine tender at Midway to refuel. As soon as the tanks are full we'll depart.

13 Dec 1941 12:00
Fuel tanks are full, so we have cast off to resume our westward course. We shall proceed at ahead standard to balance our need for speed with the need to retain fuel for the return trip. So far weather has been set fair, and the barometer shows no sign of change.

13 Dec 1941 17:31
Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: TF14 under Adm Fletcher are en-route to relieve Wake Island. Good luck to them!

16 Dec 1941 18:01
Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Japanese forces have invaded Borneo.

20 Dec 1941 18:01
Message received from COMASIATICFLT: Manila is under constant enemy air attack, so AF boats are to operate from Surabaya, Java, with immediate effect.

21 Dec 1941 13:15
144°58’E, 31°20’N, 435 NM SE of Tokyo. First contact with the enemy!
At 12:55 lookouts spotted an aircraft bearing 032, long range. In binoculars it appeared to be a multi-engine flying boat. I initially ordered a dive to periscope depth, but with the aircraft on a direct intercept course I changed the order to a crash dive and all hands to battle stations. As the aircraft initiated an attack run, I ordered a hard turn to starboard, into the attack. No bombs or depth charges were dropped, but the aircraft attempted to strafe us before we made it under. I ordered depth to be held at 120 ft, course 330°, flank speed, then initiated a course change to port to 224°, and reduced speed to ahead two thirds. At 13:00, three depth charges or bombs were heard to detonate, apparently at some distance from us.

21 Dec 1941 20:30
We held course, speed and depth for seven hours with no further contact. Following a clear hydrophone sweep, I ordered periscope depth at 20:09. A visual sweep showed no surface or air contacts, so I ordered the boat to surface at 20:13. Batteries are down to 50%. We have resumed course at ahead standard, as the sun sets.

23 Dec 1941 18:01
Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Wake Island has fallen to the Japanese! Poor bastards!

24 Dec 1941 04:30
133°41’E, 32°06’N, 165 NM SSE of Hiroshima.
At 04:06 lookouts reported a ship ahead, bearing 001, long range. Ordered speed reduced to one third ahead, and binoculars showed it to be a small sailing vessel. Within minutes, two others were spotted, at 345 and 016. A binocular sweep showed no other vessels within visual range, so I ordered a course change to 180° to avoid contact, diving to periscope depth, ahead two thirds. They are probably just fishing vessels, but best to avoid them in case they are part of a picket, or equipped with radios.

24 Dec 1941
Hydrophone and periscope sweeps show no contacts within range, so I ordered the boat to surface and resume course, ahead standard. Weather remains set fair, with little to no change since we departed Pearl and Midway.
I feel we have been very fortunate to make it this far into Japanese home waters with so little contact with the enemy. Surely this can’t last?

24 Dec 1941 10:45
We have crossed the 133°E meridian, so, with sunrise approaching, at 10:35 I ordered the boat to periscope depth, ahead one third to conserve battery power. While this limits our speed to 2 kts, it should put us in a favourable position by sunset. I intend to remain out of sight and undetected while we approach the Bungo Suido, aiming to squeeze through under cover of darkness. A hydrophone sweep has revealed no contacts within range.

24 Dec 1941 21:00
132°36’E, 32°17’N.
Hydrophone and periscope sweeps have revealed no contacts. The sun has set. I have ordered the boat to surface, ahead standard. We shall continue on the surface under cover of darkness to approach the entrance to the Bungo Suido. The First Quarter moon should help, if the weather remains clear.

24 Dec 1941 22:18
132°23’E, 32°22’N.
Have turned to 336°, ahead standard, on approach to Bungo Suido.

24 Dec 1941 22:30
My Nav Officer and I have plotted a route into Hiroshima harbour. Looking at the map, and our complete lack of intel on minefields and anti-sub nets, or other defences, it’s clear from his face that he thinks this is a suicide mission. I won’t say so, obviously -- I have to maintain the morale of my crew, after all -- but I don’t disagree. What were COMSUBPAC thinking?!

Bubblehead1980 · 02-22-22, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddieLyons

Captain's Log

USS Nautilus (SS 168)
(Note: All times in Base Time)

9 Dec 1941 13:00
Departed Pearl Harbour on our first war patrol, following the Japanese attack two days ago. Mission is to penetrate Japanese homeland defences to recon and photograph vessels in Hiroshima docks. No easy task, especially in such shallow waters, and in a vessel of this size. We have zero intel on what defences might be present in the approaches to the target, so we'll be going in blind and having to feel our way.
For the first leg, we shall use full ahead to expedite our arrival at Midway for refuelling. A few hours there, then it's on towards the Japanese archipelago.

9 Dec 1941 18:01
Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Japanese forces have landed on the Malay Peninsula and in the Philippines. Guam, Manila, Singapore and Hong Kong, among other places, have all been bombed. And after many years of conflict, China has finally declared war on Japan and its invading army. The scale of Japan’s offensive defies belief!

10 Dec 1941 18:01
Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Japanese aircraft have sunk the British battleship Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Repulse off the Malay Peninsula! It appears the Japanese really mean business.

11 Dec 1941 18:01
Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Germany and Italy have declared war on the US! The US Congress has replied in kind. Finally! This formalises what has already been the case in the North Atlantic for months, where the US Navy has been in combat with Hitler’s U-boat menace, protecting Atlantic convoys and President Roosevelt’s neutrality zone!

13 Dec 1941 07:31
Hooked up to the submarine tender at Midway to refuel. As soon as the tanks are full we'll depart.

13 Dec 1941 12:00
Fuel tanks are full, so we have cast off to resume our westward course. We shall proceed at ahead standard to balance our need for speed with the need to retain fuel for the return trip. So far weather has been set fair, and the barometer shows no sign of change.

13 Dec 1941 17:31
Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: TF14 under Adm Fletcher are en-route to relieve Wake Island. Good luck to them!

16 Dec 1941 18:01
Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Japanese forces have invaded Borneo.

20 Dec 1941 18:01
Message received from COMASIATICFLT: Manila is under constant enemy air attack, so AF boats are to operate from Surabaya, Java, with immediate effect.

21 Dec 1941 13:15
144°58’E, 31°20’N, 435 NM SE of Tokyo. First contact with the enemy!
At 12:55 lookouts spotted an aircraft bearing 032, long range. In binoculars it appeared to be a multi-engine flying boat. I initially ordered a dive to periscope depth, but with the aircraft on a direct intercept course I changed the order to a crash dive and all hands to battle stations. As the aircraft initiated an attack run, I ordered a hard turn to starboard, into the attack. No bombs or depth charges were dropped, but the aircraft attempted to strafe us before we made it under. I ordered depth to be held at 120 ft, course 330°, flank speed, then initiated a course change to port to 224°, and reduced speed to ahead two thirds. At 13:00, three depth charges or bombs were heard to detonate, apparently at some distance from us.

21 Dec 1941 20:30
We held course, speed and depth for seven hours with no further contact. Following a clear hydrophone sweep, I ordered periscope depth at 20:09. A visual sweep showed no surface or air contacts, so I ordered the boat to surface at 20:13. Batteries are down to 50%. We have resumed course at ahead standard, as the sun sets.

23 Dec 1941 18:01
Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Wake Island has fallen to the Japanese! Poor bastards!

24 Dec 1941 04:30
133°41’E, 32°06’N, 165 NM SSE of Hiroshima.
At 04:06 lookouts reported a ship ahead, bearing 001, long range. Ordered speed reduced to one third ahead, and binoculars showed it to be a small sailing vessel. Within minutes, two others were spotted, at 345 and 016. A binocular sweep showed no other vessels within visual range, so I ordered a course change to 180° to avoid contact, diving to periscope depth, ahead two thirds. They are probably just fishing vessels, but best to avoid them in case they are part of a picket, or equipped with radios.

24 Dec 1941
Hydrophone and periscope sweeps show no contacts within range, so I ordered the boat to surface and resume course, ahead standard. Weather remains set fair, with little to no change since we departed Pearl and Midway.
I feel we have been very fortunate to make it this far into Japanese home waters with so little contact with the enemy. Surely this can’t last?

24 Dec 1941 10:45
We have crossed the 133°E meridian, so, with sunrise approaching, at 10:35 I ordered the boat to periscope depth, ahead one third to conserve battery power. While this limits our speed to 2 kts, it should put us in a favourable position by sunset. I intend to remain out of sight and undetected while we approach the Bungo Suido, aiming to squeeze through under cover of darkness. A hydrophone sweep has revealed no contacts within range.

24 Dec 1941 21:00
132°36’E, 32°17’N.
Hydrophone and periscope sweeps have revealed no contacts. The sun has set. I have ordered the boat to surface, ahead standard. We shall continue on the surface under cover of darkness to approach the entrance to the Bungo Suido. The First Quarter moon should help, if the weather remains clear.

24 Dec 1941 22:18
132°23’E, 32°22’N.
Have turned to 336°, ahead standard, on approach to Bungo Suido.

24 Dec 1941 22:30
My Nav Officer and I have plotted a route into Hiroshima harbour. Looking at the map, and our complete lack of intel on minefields and anti-sub nets, or other defences, it’s clear from his face that he thinks this is a suicide mission. I won’t say so, obviously -- I have to maintain the morale of my crew, after all -- but I don’t disagree. What were COMSUBPAC thinking?!

Nice report. Orders are meh. I would use Captain's discretion and patrol area for shipping, too much risk to photo Hiroshima.

Bubblehead1980 · 02-22-22, 05:55 PM

TMO Update V2.0
Donat Narhwal Mod
100 difficulty, cams off, map contacts on.

18 September 1944

0000

Position 3-16 N 122-33 E in Celebes Sea, cruising on course 295 at 8.5 knots
en route to Cebu and Mindanap for special assignment. Passengers and cargo aboard.

0040 Lookouts spotted vessel bearing 073 range 5000 yards closing fast! SJ was off at time as "sweep" is made every fifteen minutes. OOD turned away at flank speed, vessel, now identified as a DD or DE, continued closing.

0041 GENERAL QUARTERS. I rushed from my cabin to the bridge.

0044 Spotted vessel closing. Large DD, possibly Shimakaze class.
Planned stern shot, but vessel began to zig and fire guns. Ordered
boat to dive, splashes close!

0046 Ordered 300 ft. Rigged for Silent Running and Depth Charge.

0050 DD roared above as NAUTILUS passed 220 feet.

0053 DC explosions. Real tooth shakers.

0055 Serious damage reported forward torpedo room. Damage Control Party
dispatched.

Damage Control Report

1. Leaks in Forward Torpedo Room, flooded bilges and resulted in about one
foot of water in compartment. DC party stopped leaks at 0100.

2. Hull damage reported forward.

3. Forward Batteries

4. JP Listening Gear

5. Forward Dive planes Transmission

6. High Pressure Air line leaks

7. Light bulbs and glass fixtures

8. No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 torpedo tubes damaged, likely non operational.

0134

NAUTILUS at a depth 350 feet, pinging and depth charge attacks continue. Due to possible hull damage, not advisable to increase depth.

0143

After last DC run, which shook boat. DD went quiet, likely above listening for NAUTILUS.
Currently at 350 feet, just waiting this skilled DD commander out....

02-17-22, 01:57 AM	#1
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 6,922 Downloads: 550 Uploads: 42	Tell us what you're up to in current campaign (lets get this one going lol) SH 3 has a very active thread where Captains share what are doing currently. Tried to get it going before but going to try again lol. Brief write ups and of course screenshots/videos are welcome. Current: TMO Update V2.0 100 difficulty Cams off, Contacts on( for this patrol) USS Nautilus SS-168 Eleventh War Patrol Ended previous patrol in Brisbane on 13 March 1944 after departing Pearl Harbor on TENTH war patrol 24 January 1944. 20 May 1944 1400 Departed Brisbane for Darwin to embark passengers and supplies for special mission to Philippines. 1420 Rendezvoused with Australian MS to escort through minefield. (new feature of V2.0, always a escort for player sub at friendly minefields) 1530 Exited Moreton Bay minefield 1700 Conducted trim dive. 1730 Surfaced. Set course for Darwin via Torres Strait. Last edited by Bubblehead1980; 02-18-22 at 12:46 PM. Reason: CTD. Started over. Thread invalid

02-19-22, 09:57 AM	#3
EddieLyons Seaman Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 32 Downloads: 78 Uploads: 0	USS Nautilus campaign In the spirit of this thread (having hijacked it to ask questions about minefields and anti-sub nets!), here's my current campaign: USS Nautilus - departed Pearl Harbor on 9 Dec 1941, bound for Hiroshima, Japan, to reconnoitre its harbour. (Nice and easy one to start the war with, then!) Used ahead full to expedite the passage to Midway to refuel. Currently en-route to Japanese home waters at ahead standard, making good progress in fair weather. No ship or air contacts for days; currently north of Marcus Island, about halfway to our destination. Current date is 16 Dec 1941.

02-19-22, 01:48 PM	#7
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 6,922 Downloads: 550 Uploads: 42	4/5/6 June 1944 TMO Update BH V.20 USS Nautilus SS-168 4 June 1944 0600 Entered Moro Gulf South of Mindanao, Philippines for approach to Illano Bay and special mission at Turukan, Mindanao. 0700 Submerged in Moro Gulf. 0745 Sound reported warship contact closing fast. Went to periscope depth, spotted a Auxiliary Subchaser, smoking heavily heading in our direction. Rigged for Silent Running, Depth charge and went to 300 feet. Subchaser located NAUTILUS and dropped several close depth charges, real took shakers and continued hunting. Curiously, no pings were heard, assuming this aux vessel did not have active sonar, but proved to have one fine set of hydrophones, as at 0913, he laid a pattern of charges above , with one coming quite close and causing serious damage to the boat. Most serious of which being nearly disabling the trim pump, flooding in forward torpedo room, and as would discover later, damage to No.1 (control room) and No.2 (conning tower) periscopes, not functional. (Hull damage was pushed to 27 percent also. I hate the hull damage indicator btw lol) Went to 350 ft and endured numerous depth charges until 1400 when the subchaser continue hunting nearby, staying with NAUTILUS but ceased dropping charges, either because did not have definite contact or depleted his supply. 5 June 1944 Finally lost contact with enemy in Moro Gulf at 0226. Came to periscope depth at 0330 to find neither scope functional. Eased to SJ radar depth, to find contact just 6000 yards astern, "creeping". Went back to 350 feet, heard SC crank up speed ran above NAUTILUS and splashes about one minute later, she dropped two depth charges well ahead of NAUTILUS. Obviously, she heard us, but did not have a fix. At 0530 came back to radar depth and the contact was 12000 yards ahead to port, apparently stationary. Seas had grown heavy, which no doubt aided NAUTILUS. Secured silent running and surfaced after 22 1/2 hours submerged, under attack*, began repairs and battery recharge. Submerged at noon to avoid single engine floatplane (PETE) patrolling area and made way towards mouth of Illano Bay in preparation to conduct special mission. Also, avoided the same subchaser twice as swept through the area. Surfaced at 2103 in Illano Bay, ten miles off Turukan, Mindanao and made way to landing area. Sighted security signal (red smoke ) and approached the beach, coming within 1500 yards, coming along several rafts carrying Col. Bowler and his troops. Sent cargo ashore in rafts beginning precisely at 2200 hundred hours, with operation completed by 0015 6 June. 6 June 0031 as was leaving area, APR-1 detected radar signals astern and SJ soon had a pip at 13000 yards. A apparent patrol was heading to area. At 0037 SJ detected another pip ahead bearing 346 18000 yards, both were closing. They appear to be moving to block our escape. Increased to flank speed and went to GQ with gun crews standing by. Waters were just 42 feet, not deep enough to dive. Came within 800 yards of coast and skimmed along coastline using it as cover and slipped out of the ever tightening noose of the two contacts, both of which were radar equipped but apparently lost contact as proceeded to a area where NAUTILUS had been previously. 0300 Received orders to return to Darwin at best speed.

02-19-22, 06:54 PM	#8
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 6,922 Downloads: 550 Uploads: 42	21 June 0426 TMO Update BH V.20 USS Nautilus SS-168 23 June Transiting Sibutu Passage West of Tawi Tawi en route to Darwin (new home port) after two back to back patrols (special missions, arrived 11 June, departed 12 June for next) 0421 About half through pass, SJ made contact , two pips. APR-1 detected radar emissions. Attempted to open range but seems were detected. Possible escorts were alerted to presence shore based radar/observation posts (they are now a feature in TMO Update). Unable to outrun them, submerged and attempted "down the throat" shot on closet DD with three MK 23 torpedoes i bow tubes but all missed as skilled DD outmaneuvered them, barely. Currently at 390 ft, rigged for silent running, and depth charge, being pinging. 40 minutes into attack...count is 54 depth charges, real took shakers. Last edited by Bubblehead1980; 02-20-22 at 03:12 PM.

02-20-22, 03:43 PM	#9
Mad Mardigan Admiral Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi. Posts: 2,327 Downloads: 491 Uploads: 0	Re: Testing on TMOverhauled-BH v2.5 This report is from a career start done up for testing for BH1980... U.S.S Albacore (SS-218) Skipper: J. T. Mardigan, commanding Base: Fremantle/Perth, Australia Date: June, of '43 07/06/43 On getting orders from command, crew made all preparations for getting under way, & shoved off to begin our 1st patrol. Uneventful for the 1st day or so, until radar watch, picked up an air signal, gave the order to crash dive then ran submerged for the rest of the day. On it getting dark, called for all stop & ran a sonar sweep of the area & getting a report back of nothing on sound, proceeded to do a sweep on the periscope. On confirm of nothing in the area, ordered surface, so as to recharge the batteries. proceeded ahead 1/3 to continue to make for Sunda Straights, to break through there and proceed to our patrol objective area. 10/06/43 Succeeded on making it through 2/3 of the passage through Sunda... until mid-day, when we ran across a DD & a torp boat. Managed to get in close enough to get a rough ID on them, then had sparks call it in. Waited & kept close tabs on their movement while awaiting word back from HQ. After a bit, got message from them, of congrats on sighting, but... to break off & make way for patrol objective. Other assets would be vectored in to hit them. After reading that, gave the order to break off, head west for a bit then make turns for getting back on plotted course through the straights. After having got back on course, ran across another contact, & deciding discretion was the better part of valor, gave the order to submerge... ran submerged the rest of the day, encountering a couple of other contacts patrolling the straights. At dark, and finally clearing the straights, ran a check as before and determining no contacts about, gave the order to surface. 11/06/43 Early morning, exiting the straights: Early morning light made contact on a surface vessel. sonar reported it to be a merchant... gave the order to plot its base course, then having that in hand, ordered an intercept course. After a couple of hours run at all ahead flank, got within sight of the target. ID'ed her, as a Kigan Maru merchie, GRT 7390, ordered bow tubes 1 & 2 prepped in all aspects. Depth 6, slow runners & impact only. Having learned from the preceding months, on being 1st officer on another sub, the trials & troubles with the Mk 14's... how to best approach attacking with them, until Bureau of Ordnance can get it sorted out on fixing them properly. As was still early morning, decided to make the attack while surfaced. Closed within 3000 of her, still unseen, and not having any reports of aircraft or other surface ships about, gave the order to fire both fish, set apart by .75 degrees off either side of dead center. While both fish were sent on their way, had crew manned & ready on the deck & flak guns... & turned to follow along at distance on the same base course of 052. After their allotted run time plus or minus a few seconds... got the sweet reward of seeing both fish hit. With the 1st fish striking, watched the target go up in a massive fireball, and can only speculate that she must have been carrying ammo supplies or some other volatile cargo. The 2nd fish was just... icing on the cake, ensuring she went down faster. As she went under within just a few minutes of getting hit by both fish. On impact of the 1st fish, & seeing no reasons to hang around, gave the order to return to base course... with adjustments as needed then went below to rack out for some much needed & deserved rest. Before doing so, gave the 1st officer Tom, orders to proceed best speed to our objective and if anything, major cropped up before I got in some good rest, to wake Me. Otherwise wanted to get in a good 8 if at all possible. 14/06/43 After several uneventful days, managed to make it to our, insertion point... on route to recon the Singapore port and to snap photos as required of anything of import. 03:37 hrs Picked up signals of a small group of ships, making turns on a course of 067 had nav plot out a reciprocal course, so as to pass by, ID, radio it in & plot an attack approach. After conferring with the 1st, to give him experience in skippering and in agreement with his recommendation, decided on a surfaced attack, staying on a 180 heading off the targets base course. ID'ed the targets as 1 Wakatake escort 4 merchies in a 2 x 2 following on the escort, like it's a mother duck. After a bit, managed to ID 3 of the merchies... 1 Kanaga Maru, 1 Shajima Maru & 1 Koto Maru, the 1 directly following behind the escort... couldn't get a clear definitive ID on... but from what is seen of it, is a small fry, anyway. Got the report from Sparks, that HQ had messaged back & the orders were clear... Hit 'em... & hit 'em hard... Ordered tubes 1 through 4 fore, and tube 7 made ready in all aspects. As before with the Kigan Maru, ordered fish to be prepped to 6 depth, slow and impact only. On getting a good confirm of aft tube being on track for a clear shot at the escort, ordered 7 fired 1st, then proceeded to unload tubes 1 through 4, 1 fish each at the at the smaller merchie's of the 3 & 2 at the larger one of the bunch... the Shajima. Both fish to be set apart off center by the same as with the Kigan Maru After sending the last fish off, gave orders to head on a course of 225, ahead flank. Heard 1 fish premature, despite precautions taken to avoid any possibilities of such occurring. (Still have the odd ones that do that) a few moments later, 1st impact came... on the Kanaga... which like as with the Kigan Maru, went up in a tremendous explosion & settles under fast. fish aimed at the escort missed... likely due to the escorts reaction to the Kanaga going up... which threw off the intercept of it. Will have to see of having fish sent off on other targets and give time for the ones aimed at escorts in My 1st officers firing pinpoint drills. Other than that, not bad on their firing points otherwise... so far. Not long after the Kanaga went up like a roman candle... heard & saw impacts on the Koto & the Shajima... with the Koto slowing down a tad. By this time, could make out the escort in the general area where we had been, nosing about looking for us on the impression that the attack had come from a submerged sub. Little did the crew know that we were indeed making the attack on the surface. After the impact on the Shakima, gave orders to proceed on course 275 for a bit then proceed to run on a heading of 300... working our way back around so as to parallel them on a base of 067 so that we could then give it another run to attack. Had fore torp crew, begin loading up some new fish that HQ wanted in action testing of, as a replacement to the Mk 18's or maybe even a replacement to the 14's... not sure as to which but... orders are orders. Figured shoot off 2, 1 each at the Koto & the Shajima... & could always send off a pair of 14's if needed to. 04:10 After doing the final approach on the end run and in good posit, tubes 3 & 4, were ready in all respects... sighted on the Koto, which by now... was trailing a bit further behind owing to the damages inflicted by the 1st fish. Gave the order to fire 4... waited about 20, 25 seconds and after having a good bead on the Shajima, ordered 3 fired. after firing 3, gave orders to go to 045, with the deck & flak guns manned & ready. 04:11/04:13 1st of the 2 Mk 23's impacted & sent the Shajima on a 1-way trip to join their fellow crew men to Davey Jones retirement home for wayward sailors... but not before they got sight of us & began to fire. Seconds after they began, came the impact & huge explosion of the fish hitting. She went under pretty fast after the fireball rocketed skyward. A half minute maybe less... the 2nd Mk 23, tore into the Koto & sent it on its way to join the others. Have to say, if with the rest of those fish on hand... preform as well as those, will have to give a hearty recommendation to HQ, to get them out to the rest of the sub fleet in the flash message to be sent off after getting clear of this engagement. 04:25 Have swung around to a heading of 265, to get clear of the area and making turns for all ahead full. Within a half hour, will give the order to head on a course of 225, to get us back on track for the course plot worked out by the nav crew... so as to proceed at best speed, before having to dive to make way to our prospective recon posit. Left the last merchie & escort go... so that they can spread the terror & fear message... Is a Wolf loose & it's a very hungry Demon Wolf... 04:26 Had Sparks, send to HQ... an after actions report, to date... along with My, recommendations on the new fish, included in it. Of the crew, they've performed well... with considerations for some in the forward torp room, of being recognized for going above & beyond, even after being injured. Still, have to make that insertion point to do the recon & then... completing that, finding out just what HQ wants done after that. End report... To, be continued... After action tally, up to now... : M. M. __________________ Last edited by Mad Mardigan; 02-20-22 at 04:43 PM.

02-20-22, 04:35 PM	#11
Mad Mardigan Admiral Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi. Posts: 2,327 Downloads: 491 Uploads: 0	Thanks... & with this... makes like... the 2nd stab at, aka... go at doing up a detailed & as close to theirs, patrol report. M. M. __________________

02-20-22, 09:15 PM	#12
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 6,922 Downloads: 550 Uploads: 42	July 13/14/15 1944 TMO Update V2.0 Narwhal mod 100 difficult, cams off, map contacts on for this patrol. . USS Nautilus SS-168 13 July 1944 0600 Submerged 15 miles off BABAYAN POINT,MINDORO reconnoiter area prior to schedule operations after dark. 0900-1200 Examined area via periscope, all clear. 2000 Surfaced, prepared for operations and closed the shore. 2131 Spotted a Japanese boat, armed tug anchored close to landing area. Seas were too heavy for gun action and did not want to alert enemy forces in area. Withdrew. 2145 Received orders to proceed to alternate landing site near SAN ROQUE, MINDORO and conduct operation on evening of 14 July. 2200 Received message from COMSUBSOWESPAC, RAY (SS-271) will transit near our position en route her patrol area between 0000-0800 14 July. 14 July 0400 Off Coast of SAN ROQUE. Reconnoitered the area, proceeded to point 1 10 NM off shore and prepared to submerged at dawn. 0528 Sighted RAY bearing 164 7000 yards. Exchanged recognition signals. 12-12N 120-46 E Course 315 15 knots. 0700 Submerged. Avoided numerous patrols throughout the day. 2000 Surfaced. Prepared for landing operation. 2200 Began landing cargo and personnel via rubber boat 1800 yards off off shore. Sighted friendlies in rubber boats, brought them aboard. 15 July 0034 Special Mission Completed. 0035 Received ULTRA. Two tankers with escorts departing Coron for Subic Bay 0600 15 July. Estimated convoy will transit Mindoro Straits between 1200-1800 hours . Ordered to conduct joint attack with RAY. RAY recalled to area. 0125 Received message from RAY stating will take North end of strait, giving NAUTILUS first crack at tankers. 0300 In center of Mindoro Strait, making SJ radar sweeps every quarter hours 0421 Avoided two DE type patrol vessels. One equipped with radar, based on reading of APR-1. 0600 Submerged in ambush position., making SJ sweeps at radar depth every half hour. 0630 Sound detected faint noises of submarine bearing 182, believe to be RAY. 1354 Detected distant props on sound bearing 290 1400 Radar depth. SJ contacts bearing 297 range 23250 yards. 1401 General Quarters 1418 Surface to pull ahead. 1425 convoy zigged to NW toward NAUTILUS. 1428 Submerged for attack. 1446 Sighted convoy. Two AO, four escort course 290 12 knots. 1450 Convoy zigged to SW throwing NAUTILUS out of position. Went to 250 ft, closed at flank speed to close. Convoy zigging often. Heavy seas making periscope observation challenging. 1503 Periscope depth. Convoy on course 265 12 knots. NAUTILUS 3300 yards off track. Identified KINKUSUI 3980 tons , followed by DAISHIN MARU 5150 tons 900 yards astern. Two Type A Etorofu Escorts forward astern, two Type B Mikura Escorts each flank.. Targeted DAISHIN MARU TORPEDO ATTACK NO.1 1505 Bow tubes readied for firing. Depth set to 8 ft. MK 18-2 torpedoes in all tubes. 1507 Fired tubes 1,2,3,4 2900 yards. 1510 Torpedoes missed, convoy zigged to starboard after firing 1512 Pinging. Ordered 300 ft. rigged depth charge, silent running. 1515 Short scale pinging. Enemy closing in. 1516 Escort above. DC splashes. DC explosions above. 1517 More DC explosions, boat shaken. 1527 Close DC explosions. Damage reported. 1535 large pattern, boat shaken. 1540 Multiple escorts hunting. While have somewhat of a fix on NAUTILUS, heavy seas and thermal layer are helping. Currently at 385 feet, attempting to slip away as barrages of depth charges go off in general area, killing a lot of fish. Full story and conclusion https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sho...d.php?t=107786 Last edited by Bubblehead1980; 02-21-22 at 03:43 AM.

02-21-22, 05:08 PM	#13
EddieLyons Seaman Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 32 Downloads: 78 Uploads: 0	Impossible mission?! Captain's Log USS Nautilus (SS 168) (Note: All times in Base Time) 9 Dec 1941 13:00 Departed Pearl Harbour on our first war patrol, following the Japanese attack two days ago. Mission is to penetrate Japanese homeland defences to recon and photograph vessels in Hiroshima docks. No easy task, especially in such shallow waters, and in a vessel of this size. We have zero intel on what defences might be present in the approaches to the target, so we'll be going in blind and having to feel our way. For the first leg, we shall use full ahead to expedite our arrival at Midway for refuelling. A few hours there, then it's on towards the Japanese archipelago. 9 Dec 1941 18:01 Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Japanese forces have landed on the Malay Peninsula and in the Philippines. Guam, Manila, Singapore and Hong Kong, among other places, have all been bombed. And after many years of conflict, China has finally declared war on Japan and its invading army. The scale of Japan’s offensive defies belief! 10 Dec 1941 18:01 Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Japanese aircraft have sunk the British battleship Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Repulse off the Malay Peninsula! It appears the Japanese really mean business. 11 Dec 1941 18:01 Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Germany and Italy have declared war on the US! The US Congress has replied in kind. Finally! This formalises what has already been the case in the North Atlantic for months, where the US Navy has been in combat with Hitler’s U-boat menace, protecting Atlantic convoys and President Roosevelt’s neutrality zone! 13 Dec 1941 07:31 Hooked up to the submarine tender at Midway to refuel. As soon as the tanks are full we'll depart. 13 Dec 1941 12:00 Fuel tanks are full, so we have cast off to resume our westward course. We shall proceed at ahead standard to balance our need for speed with the need to retain fuel for the return trip. So far weather has been set fair, and the barometer shows no sign of change. 13 Dec 1941 17:31 Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: TF14 under Adm Fletcher are en-route to relieve Wake Island. Good luck to them! 16 Dec 1941 18:01 Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Japanese forces have invaded Borneo. 20 Dec 1941 18:01 Message received from COMASIATICFLT: Manila is under constant enemy air attack, so AF boats are to operate from Surabaya, Java, with immediate effect. 21 Dec 1941 13:15 144°58’E, 31°20’N, 435 NM SE of Tokyo. First contact with the enemy! At 12:55 lookouts spotted an aircraft bearing 032, long range. In binoculars it appeared to be a multi-engine flying boat. I initially ordered a dive to periscope depth, but with the aircraft on a direct intercept course I changed the order to a crash dive and all hands to battle stations. As the aircraft initiated an attack run, I ordered a hard turn to starboard, into the attack. No bombs or depth charges were dropped, but the aircraft attempted to strafe us before we made it under. I ordered depth to be held at 120 ft, course 330°, flank speed, then initiated a course change to port to 224°, and reduced speed to ahead two thirds. At 13:00, three depth charges or bombs were heard to detonate, apparently at some distance from us. 21 Dec 1941 20:30 We held course, speed and depth for seven hours with no further contact. Following a clear hydrophone sweep, I ordered periscope depth at 20:09. A visual sweep showed no surface or air contacts, so I ordered the boat to surface at 20:13. Batteries are down to 50%. We have resumed course at ahead standard, as the sun sets. 23 Dec 1941 18:01 Fox Traffic from COMSUBPAC: Wake Island has fallen to the Japanese! Poor bastards! 24 Dec 1941 04:30 133°41’E, 32°06’N, 165 NM SSE of Hiroshima. At 04:06 lookouts reported a ship ahead, bearing 001, long range. Ordered speed reduced to one third ahead, and binoculars showed it to be a small sailing vessel. Within minutes, two others were spotted, at 345 and 016. A binocular sweep showed no other vessels within visual range, so I ordered a course change to 180° to avoid contact, diving to periscope depth, ahead two thirds. They are probably just fishing vessels, but best to avoid them in case they are part of a picket, or equipped with radios. 24 Dec 1941 Hydrophone and periscope sweeps show no contacts within range, so I ordered the boat to surface and resume course, ahead standard. Weather remains set fair, with little to no change since we departed Pearl and Midway. I feel we have been very fortunate to make it this far into Japanese home waters with so little contact with the enemy. Surely this can’t last? 24 Dec 1941 10:45 We have crossed the 133°E meridian, so, with sunrise approaching, at 10:35 I ordered the boat to periscope depth, ahead one third to conserve battery power. While this limits our speed to 2 kts, it should put us in a favourable position by sunset. I intend to remain out of sight and undetected while we approach the Bungo Suido, aiming to squeeze through under cover of darkness. A hydrophone sweep has revealed no contacts within range. 24 Dec 1941 21:00 132°36’E, 32°17’N. Hydrophone and periscope sweeps have revealed no contacts. The sun has set. I have ordered the boat to surface, ahead standard. We shall continue on the surface under cover of darkness to approach the entrance to the Bungo Suido. The First Quarter moon should help, if the weather remains clear. 24 Dec 1941 22:18 132°23’E, 32°22’N. Have turned to 336°, ahead standard, on approach to Bungo Suido. 24 Dec 1941 22:30 My Nav Officer and I have plotted a route into Hiroshima harbour. Looking at the map, and our complete lack of intel on minefields and anti-sub nets, or other defences, it’s clear from his face that he thinks this is a suicide mission. I won’t say so, obviously -- I have to maintain the morale of my crew, after all -- but I don’t disagree. What were COMSUBPAC thinking?!

02-22-22, 05:55 PM	#15
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 6,922 Downloads: 550 Uploads: 42	18 September 1944 USS NAUTILUS SS-168 TMO Update V2.0 Donat Narhwal Mod 100 difficulty, cams off, map contacts on. 18 September 1944 0000 Position 3-16 N 122-33 E in Celebes Sea, cruising on course 295 at 8.5 knots en route to Cebu and Mindanap for special assignment. Passengers and cargo aboard. 0040 Lookouts spotted vessel bearing 073 range 5000 yards closing fast! SJ was off at time as "sweep" is made every fifteen minutes. OOD turned away at flank speed, vessel, now identified as a DD or DE, continued closing. 0041 GENERAL QUARTERS. I rushed from my cabin to the bridge. 0044 Spotted vessel closing. Large DD, possibly Shimakaze class. Planned stern shot, but vessel began to zig and fire guns. Ordered boat to dive, splashes close! 0046 Ordered 300 ft. Rigged for Silent Running and Depth Charge. 0050 DD roared above as NAUTILUS passed 220 feet. 0053 DC explosions. Real tooth shakers. 0055 Serious damage reported forward torpedo room. Damage Control Party dispatched. Damage Control Report 1. Leaks in Forward Torpedo Room, flooded bilges and resulted in about one foot of water in compartment. DC party stopped leaks at 0100. 2. Hull damage reported forward. 3. Forward Batteries 4. JP Listening Gear 5. Forward Dive planes Transmission 6. High Pressure Air line leaks 7. Light bulbs and glass fixtures 8. No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 torpedo tubes damaged, likely non operational. 0134 NAUTILUS at a depth 350 feet, pinging and depth charge attacks continue. Due to possible hull damage, not advisable to increase depth. 0143 After last DC run, which shook boat. DD went quiet, likely above listening for NAUTILUS. Currently at 350 feet, just waiting this skilled DD commander out.... Last edited by Bubblehead1980; 02-22-22 at 06:04 PM.