Quilty
Magister
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2008
- Messages
- 2,406
So, instead of cluttering up the old thread about this SH4 mod, I decided to make a new one where I'll put reports of my patrols.
I've been playing SH5 for some time now, and though it has been improved, SH4 with the OM mod is the good, old, reliable beast I keep returning to every now and then. I'll be starting out in mid-1941 in order to reacquaint myself with the game, but things will heat up soon enough.
So, let's begin.
We are ordered to patrol the mid-Atlantic, and on the way there we're continually harassed by attacks from the air. However, no merchant ships are encountered. We finish the first patrol point with no contacts, the second one (just SW of Iceland) is uneventful as well, and then we're ordered back to SE of Britain.
Here we are, sailing back south.
On the way there we occasionally submerge to check for sound contacts, and something large is heard in the rainy distance.
It has a pretty huge spread, and it's moving slowly, which means it's probably a merchant convoy. We can hear several escorts as well.
We start moving toward it at full speed while submerged, and soon enough we find ourselves surrounded by slow-moving contacts. However, it is some time before we actually make visual contact.
Out of the gloom behind us emerges a tanker! It seems it has spotted us because it starts picking up speed, but we're too close for it to escape its fate.
After some quick maneuvering, we shoot four torpedoes at it, two of which are duds, and two of which hit.
At the same time one other tanker sneaks up on us, so we shoot our two rear torpedoes at it.
If I remember correctly, both were hits, but so far neither of the two tankers is sinking, and at the same time we can hear the escorts approaching.
I order a dive to 140 meters when we finally get a kill report on the first target.
The tanker begins to sink, and I order silent running so we have a better chance of making it out alive.
Since the other tanker is not sinking, I decide to disengage silent running, go back to periscope depth once the torpedoes are reloaded and try again. It's risky, since the escorts are nearby, but we need to try it.
Two more torpedoes are wasted on this resistant tanker.
Finally, it's time to dive again and hope that we've done enough damage this time.
Luckily, we have, and the second tanker sinks.
I'm quite satisfied with the total tonnage from this attack and decide to make my way out of the convoy. I'm not sure how many escorts are out there, but I've tested my luck enough.
We keep an ear on the escorts and after a few hours make it out alive. The first patrol is not finished yet, and we have plenty of torpedoes left for another attack on a convoy, so I'll keep you updated.