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ORIGINAL: BLurking

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America at War

November 12 - Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Japanese aircraft attack the US transports, protected by air and surface forces, unloading troops in Lunga Roads, Guadalcanal. The heavy cruiser USS San Francisco (CA-38) and the destroyer USS Buchanan (DD-484) are damaged. The transports USS Tasker H. Bliss (AP-42), USS Hugh L. Scott (AP-43) and USS Edward Rutledge (AP-52) are torpedoed and sunk off Morocco. The gunboat USS Erie (PG-50) is sunk by a submarine torpedo in the Caribbean. The Japanese submarine I-22 is sunk by PT-122 southwest of New Guinea. US Naval Operating Base is established at Casablanca.

7 December 1942:
The I-3 departs Shortland on her third transport mission to Guadalcanal with her Daihatsu barge loaded with a cargo of ammunition, food and medicine.

9 December 1942:
Three miles off Kamimbo Bay, Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal. That night, LtCdr Togami makes a thorough periscope sweep, then brings the I-3 to the surface. Her crew is preparing to launch the barge when from the darkness Lt Jack Searles' PT-59 and the PT-44's .50-caliber machine-guns open fire! Searles launches two 21-inch Mark 15 torpedoes at the I-3. One hits the submarine amidships. A geyser of water spouts high in the air, followed by tremendous explosions.

The I-3's Chief Gunnery Officer and three seamen somehow survive the devastation, swim ashore and join the Japanese forces on Guadalcanal. The I-3 sinks in shallow water at 9-12S, 159-42E. Her camouflaged hull protrudes out of the water. A huge oil slick spreads for an hour and a half.

18 August 1944:
LtCdr Shimizu attempts to contact the troops at Korim Point, but there is no answer. He proceeds to the reserve area N of Wardo Bay where three American PT Boats (PT-18, -24 and -25) are waiting. They attempt to contact her with blinker gun signals. LtCdr Shimizu crash-dives immediately. The I-165 is depth-charged four times with nine depth-charge patterns. The explosions loosen the fastenings for the supply drums which rise to the surface and are later scuttled by the PC machine-gun fire. During the third attack, depth charges explode right above the sub. They push the I-165 down to the depth of 345 ft (105 m) with a 33-degree diving angle. Although well below her test depth, the hull of the submarine only develops several leaks

13 January 1944:
Departs Rabaul on a supply run to Gali, New Guinea with the RO-104, carrying ComSubDiv 22 and his staff. The I-181's estimated time of arrival at Gali is 16 January, but she remains MIA thereafter.

16 January 1944:
Vitiaz Strait. That evening, the I-181 is damaged in a running battle with an unidentified American destroyer and a PT boat. Her demise is witnessed by the garrison on Gali.*** The I-181 is beached and wrecked on Gneisenau Point in Kelanoa Harbor.

1 March 1944:
Presumed lost SW of New Guinea with all 89 hands.

***Also claimed as sunk 1/16 in St Georges Channel by USN a/c.

13-14 May 1943:
Five miles off Lae. Cdr Morton C. Mumma, Jr. (former CO of SAILFISH), ComTGp 50.1, is riding in Lt (jg) R. E. Hamachek's PT-150. Hamachek and Ens H. P. Knight's PT-152 spot a submarine, probably the I-6*, on the surface making about 12 knots at 6,000 yards. Each PT fires two torpedoes at long-range. The submarine stops and all the torpedoes pass ahead of her. Closing to 4,000 yards, the PT-150 fires one torpedo at the stationary target. Suddenly, the submarine increases speed and the torpedo misses astern. The PTs run parallel to the submarine's course and then turn to decrease the range, but the I-6 crash dives. As the PTs lay to, the submarine fires a torpedo that passes under the bow of PT 150. She is saved only by her shallow draft.

14 May 1943:
Five miles off Lae, New Guinea. Cdr Morton C. Mumma, Jr's (former CO of USS SAILFISH (SS-192) PT-150 is on night ASW patrol with LtCdr Barry Atkins' PT-152. They spot a surfaced submarine at 6,000 yards making 12 knots. Each PT boat fires two Mark VIII torpedoes at long-range. The submarine stops. All four torpedoes pass ahead. Closing to 4,000 yards, Mumma fires one torpedo at the stationary target, but the submarine immediately increases speed to maximum. The torpedo misses astern.

The PT boats run parallel to the submarine's course to gain another favorable firing position and then turn to cut down the range. The submarine crash-dives. As the PTs lay to, a torpedo passes under the bow of PT-150, saved only by her shallow draft. [1]

15 May 1943:
The RO-102 is ordered to return to Rabaul, but does not acknowledge the order.

2 June 1943:
Missing and presumed lost with all 42 hands S of Rabi.

15 July 1943:
Removed from the Navy List.


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Authors' Notes:
[1] Some reports claim that the RO-102 is sunk during this engagement, but the circumstances surrounding her loss remain unknown.

Special thanks for help in preparing this TROM go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan.

– Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.

Any questens that pt boots are overpowered? Happend jan 42 in my turn today. Mid Ocean intercept.

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi
CV Kaga, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
CL Abukuma
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranuhi
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Arare
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
PT PT-36, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

ORIGINAL: spence

Any questens that pt boots are overpowered? Happend jan 42 in my turn today. Mid Ocean intercept.

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi
CV Kaga, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
CL Abukuma
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranuhi
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Arare
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
PT PT-36, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

Since IRL IJN surface ships only sank 7 PTs during the whole war, you were really lucky to get one right off like that[:D]

ORIGINAL: spence

Any questens that pt boots are overpowered? Happend jan 42 in my turn today. Mid Ocean intercept.

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi
CV Kaga, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
CL Abukuma
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranuhi
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Arare
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
PT PT-36, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

Since IRL IJN surface ships only sank 7 PTs during the whole war, you were really lucky to get one right off like that[:D]

ORIGINAL: Rapunzel

Any questens that pt boots are overpowered? Happend jan 42 in my turn today. Mid Ocean intercept.

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi
CV Kaga, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
CL Abukuma
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranuhi
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Arare
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
PT PT-36, Shell hits 9, and is sunk