paulhager
06-11-2011, 05:35 PM
This is the second patrol in which the loadout was 24 Mark 18 electrics. I was hoping to conduct a night surface attack in Patrol 7 but it was not possible to set one up. A night surface attack with electrics is particularly challenging, given the range limitations, and my goal is to try it at least once.
The initial objective was to patrol the approach to Tokyo for 72 hours. I bagged a tanker and a cargo ship with a combination of 2 torpedoes and the deck gun. The next objective was to reach the entrance to the Bungo Strait and then to sink enemy ships. Shortly after receiving this objective, on 1 November, HQ sent a message that “Heavy IJN units” were en route from Truk to Home Waters. They were expected to be a 31° 45’ N, 132° 45’ E on 5 November. I charted a course to the Bungo Strait area, thence to the intercept point, arriving late on 3 November.
The enemy TF appeared at 1640 on 5 November: course 329° true, speed 18 knots. It consisted of 6 ships in line ahead plus 4 escorts in a diamond formation, with the flankers 2,700 yards off the track.
As I attempted to obtain an initial radar solution on the lead ship in the column, I discovered that the 3D TDC was frozen. I saved and restarted. No change. I went to the previous day and I was able to work the TDC controls. I continued from there and moved further SSE. This time, the radar picked up the TF at 1520. Same layout as before – same course and speed. Once again I tried to set up a preliminary radar solution. Frozen again. There was nothing for it but to attack the old fashion way.
I went to flank and set a reciprocal course 1,400 yards starboard of the enemy TF’s track. There was no haze but winds were at 15 m/s. My plan was to approach between the escorts, dive beneath the thermal, then come to p-depth as the lead escort passed.
After running for 5 minutes or so, aircraft appeared – spawned from a CV no doubt. I dived the boat to p-depth and deployed the radar antenna. The planes headed off to the NW.
I went to decks awash (32’) and began to creep forward at 2 knots. During the brief interval while the boat was submerged, the lead escort had reversed course and was running toward the rear of the TF! Very odd behavior…and it had created an opening for my attack.
In short order the TF came within visual range. I sent the contact message to HQ and went to p-depth, raising the scope. HQ’s orders came through: attack. I had a new objective to go with the extant sink ships one.
The escort conducted whatever search the AI had decreed and commenced a high speed dash to the point position. It wouldn’t arrive in time – the lead ship was coming into torpedo range.
The lineup of the first three ships was an Ise BB, a Hiyo CV, and a Fuso BB. If I fired a 5 torpedo salvo against the CV, then switched and fired the last bow torpedo and all stern torpedoes against the Ise, I should be able to get both. I set 2 torpedoes in each salvo for a magnetic keel shot, opened the outer doors, and completed my solution on the CV.
I varied the spread from about +3/4° to –1/2° as I fired. I made a quick switch, got the solution on the Ise and fired a similar spread, then dived.
Because I was unable to use the 3D TDC, deriving the solution on the 2nd target took longer than normal. My timing would be off a little – I hoped it wouldn’t be enough to allow the BB to escape.
All five torpedoes hit the CV – one was a dud. Fifteen seconds after the last hit, the first of 5 torpedoes slammed into the Ise. The time was 1610.
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j408/paulhager/01_11-05-43_1610_AB08.jpg
Both the CV and BB turned to port and slowed. The CV began to list to starboard – the BB initially seemed to be unhurt but it continued to slow.
By 1619, the BB was dead in the water, the CV was listing but still underway.
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j408/paulhager/02_11-05-43_1619_AB08.jpg
The escorts never got a fix on the sub which was moving at a sedate 1 knot at 400’ depth. Eventually, 3 of the 4 hightailed it after the TF while one lingered.
The escort drew away with the damaged CV leaving the BB to my mercy. I dispatched it with two torpedoes from the stern.
I surfaced and began pursuing the enemy CV. It was following the TF course but could only make 7.5 knots. The escort slowly pulled away.
I was down to 10 torpedoes – 9 in the bow and 1 in the stern. My plan was to use the last stern torpedo to finish off the CV, then disengage.
The CV had slowed to 2.5 knots when I was finally in position to attack. I hit it from 650 yards. The single torpedo sufficed.
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j408/paulhager/03_11-05-43_2043_AB08.jpg
My next objective was a 72 hour patrol east of Okinawa. It produced nothing. Near the end of the patrol, I got a message that an enemy convoy would be approaching the Bungo Strait on 12 November. When the objective was achieved, I made a mad dash to the Bungo. A quick call to HQ gave me a new objective – to patrol for 72 hours south of Tokyo bay. I’d fulfill that objective after I attacked the convoy.
While waiting, I was able to bag another tanker. The convoy, however, didn’t show by the appointed time. I might have waited except that I got a new message from HQ – enemy heavy units would be moving to Tokyo. I poured on the coal and invoked the speed specialist.
I got into position and at around 1400 on 15 November, a solitary warship appeared. It turned out to be a Takao CA. I hit it with 3 torpedoes.
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j408/paulhager/04_11-15-43_Takao1_AB08.jpg
Two hours later, a second Takao appeared. I was tired of dealing with the bugged instruments so I targeted it with my remaining 5 torpedoes.
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j408/paulhager/05_11-15-43_Takao2_AB08.jpg
Now empty, I waited for the 72 hours to expire, then set course for home base. There were no further enemy encounters. For my second patrol in a row, I was unable to set up a night surface attack.
Final tally: 2 tankers, 1 cargo, 1 Ise class BB, 1 Hiyo class CV, 2 Takao class CA’s. Total tonnage: 101,082.
The initial objective was to patrol the approach to Tokyo for 72 hours. I bagged a tanker and a cargo ship with a combination of 2 torpedoes and the deck gun. The next objective was to reach the entrance to the Bungo Strait and then to sink enemy ships. Shortly after receiving this objective, on 1 November, HQ sent a message that “Heavy IJN units” were en route from Truk to Home Waters. They were expected to be a 31° 45’ N, 132° 45’ E on 5 November. I charted a course to the Bungo Strait area, thence to the intercept point, arriving late on 3 November.
The enemy TF appeared at 1640 on 5 November: course 329° true, speed 18 knots. It consisted of 6 ships in line ahead plus 4 escorts in a diamond formation, with the flankers 2,700 yards off the track.
As I attempted to obtain an initial radar solution on the lead ship in the column, I discovered that the 3D TDC was frozen. I saved and restarted. No change. I went to the previous day and I was able to work the TDC controls. I continued from there and moved further SSE. This time, the radar picked up the TF at 1520. Same layout as before – same course and speed. Once again I tried to set up a preliminary radar solution. Frozen again. There was nothing for it but to attack the old fashion way.
I went to flank and set a reciprocal course 1,400 yards starboard of the enemy TF’s track. There was no haze but winds were at 15 m/s. My plan was to approach between the escorts, dive beneath the thermal, then come to p-depth as the lead escort passed.
After running for 5 minutes or so, aircraft appeared – spawned from a CV no doubt. I dived the boat to p-depth and deployed the radar antenna. The planes headed off to the NW.
I went to decks awash (32’) and began to creep forward at 2 knots. During the brief interval while the boat was submerged, the lead escort had reversed course and was running toward the rear of the TF! Very odd behavior…and it had created an opening for my attack.
In short order the TF came within visual range. I sent the contact message to HQ and went to p-depth, raising the scope. HQ’s orders came through: attack. I had a new objective to go with the extant sink ships one.
The escort conducted whatever search the AI had decreed and commenced a high speed dash to the point position. It wouldn’t arrive in time – the lead ship was coming into torpedo range.
The lineup of the first three ships was an Ise BB, a Hiyo CV, and a Fuso BB. If I fired a 5 torpedo salvo against the CV, then switched and fired the last bow torpedo and all stern torpedoes against the Ise, I should be able to get both. I set 2 torpedoes in each salvo for a magnetic keel shot, opened the outer doors, and completed my solution on the CV.
I varied the spread from about +3/4° to –1/2° as I fired. I made a quick switch, got the solution on the Ise and fired a similar spread, then dived.
Because I was unable to use the 3D TDC, deriving the solution on the 2nd target took longer than normal. My timing would be off a little – I hoped it wouldn’t be enough to allow the BB to escape.
All five torpedoes hit the CV – one was a dud. Fifteen seconds after the last hit, the first of 5 torpedoes slammed into the Ise. The time was 1610.
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j408/paulhager/01_11-05-43_1610_AB08.jpg
Both the CV and BB turned to port and slowed. The CV began to list to starboard – the BB initially seemed to be unhurt but it continued to slow.
By 1619, the BB was dead in the water, the CV was listing but still underway.
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j408/paulhager/02_11-05-43_1619_AB08.jpg
The escorts never got a fix on the sub which was moving at a sedate 1 knot at 400’ depth. Eventually, 3 of the 4 hightailed it after the TF while one lingered.
The escort drew away with the damaged CV leaving the BB to my mercy. I dispatched it with two torpedoes from the stern.
I surfaced and began pursuing the enemy CV. It was following the TF course but could only make 7.5 knots. The escort slowly pulled away.
I was down to 10 torpedoes – 9 in the bow and 1 in the stern. My plan was to use the last stern torpedo to finish off the CV, then disengage.
The CV had slowed to 2.5 knots when I was finally in position to attack. I hit it from 650 yards. The single torpedo sufficed.
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j408/paulhager/03_11-05-43_2043_AB08.jpg
My next objective was a 72 hour patrol east of Okinawa. It produced nothing. Near the end of the patrol, I got a message that an enemy convoy would be approaching the Bungo Strait on 12 November. When the objective was achieved, I made a mad dash to the Bungo. A quick call to HQ gave me a new objective – to patrol for 72 hours south of Tokyo bay. I’d fulfill that objective after I attacked the convoy.
While waiting, I was able to bag another tanker. The convoy, however, didn’t show by the appointed time. I might have waited except that I got a new message from HQ – enemy heavy units would be moving to Tokyo. I poured on the coal and invoked the speed specialist.
I got into position and at around 1400 on 15 November, a solitary warship appeared. It turned out to be a Takao CA. I hit it with 3 torpedoes.
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j408/paulhager/04_11-15-43_Takao1_AB08.jpg
Two hours later, a second Takao appeared. I was tired of dealing with the bugged instruments so I targeted it with my remaining 5 torpedoes.
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j408/paulhager/05_11-15-43_Takao2_AB08.jpg
Now empty, I waited for the 72 hours to expire, then set course for home base. There were no further enemy encounters. For my second patrol in a row, I was unable to set up a night surface attack.
Final tally: 2 tankers, 1 cargo, 1 Ise class BB, 1 Hiyo class CV, 2 Takao class CA’s. Total tonnage: 101,082.