The Mysterious DMS Long

[DJAndrews]

Hi, I'm playing Scenario 15 and just had the strangest encounter. I sent a small flotilla of PTs to intercept an IJN convoy west of Woodlark and an unknown ship, the DMS Long showed up leading the PTs. This ship had not previously appeared in the game and wasn't shown as ever becoming available (although other DMS' were en route from PH).

I ran the turn twice with the following results:

First Try:

Night Time Surface Combat at 20,39

Japanese Ships
TK Toa Maru
AP Nissen Maru #3
AP Hokuriku Maru
AP Koyo Maru

Allied Ships
DMS Long, Shell hits 2
PT 38, Shell hits 17, on fire, heavy damage
PT 59
PT 152
PT 157, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PT 162


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Sub attack at 19,42

Japanese Ships
TK Toa Maru

Allied Ships
SS Gato


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Air attack on TF at 19,42


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 34
Beaufort x 14
P-40E Kittyhawk x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 15


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
Beaufort x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Koyo Maru, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nissen Maru #3
TK Toa Maru, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hokuriku Maru, Torpedo hits 1

Allied Ships
DMS Long, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Beaufort at 200 feet
4 x Beaufort at 200 feet
3 x Beaufort at 200 feet
4 x Beaufort at 200 feet


Second Try:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/08/43

Weather: Thunderstorms

Night Time Surface Combat at 20,39

Japanese Ships
TK Toa Maru
AP Nissen Maru #3
AP Hokuriku Maru, Shell hits 43, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP Koyo Maru

Allied Ships
DMS Long, Shell hits 25, on fire, heavy damage
PT 38
PT 59
PT 152, Shell hits 1, on fire
PT 157, Shell hits 24, on fire, heavy damage
PT 162


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Air attack on TF at 19,42


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 23
Beaufort x 5


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Koyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
TK Toa Maru
AP Nissen Maru #3, Bomb hits 10, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Beaufort at 200 feet
1 x Beaufort at 200 feet

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Air attack on TF at 19,42


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 18
P-39D Airacobra x 48
P-40E Kittyhawk x 5
P-38G Lightning x 5


no losses

Japanese Ships
TK Toa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AP Nissen Maru #3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Koyo Maru, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 20,40


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 9
Beaufort x 8
P-40E Kittyhawk x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 15


no losses

Allied Ships
DMS Long, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Beaufort at 200 feet
4 x Beaufort at 200 feet

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In the first case the Long followed the IJN TF and was sunk by a land based attack while in the same hex as the target TF. In the second case, the Long was alone when it was tracked down by Dauntless's and Beauforts (allied planes apparently don't take well to interloping naval vessels). In each case the Long was sunk by a 1000 lb. GP bomb. The "ships sunk" obit lists the Captain as "none" and the crew as having zero experience in both night and daytime combat. Strange, or what?

[Quint]

UV now appears to have it's own version of the "Marie Celeste" legend

[bilbow]

It hasn't happened to me, but there have been reports of DMS Long appearing in Jap TFs. Yes, very weird. I've always wondered if there is some connection betwen the DMS Long and the infamous haunted CVE Long Island. It's too coincidental that the two ships repeately linked to strange happenings have similar names.

[Sonny]

.......... The "ships sunk" obit lists the Captain as "none" and the crew as having zero experience in both night and daytime combat. Strange, or what?

There is the answer right there - they had no captain and no experience! They didn't even know which side they were on (and neither did the dive bombers). Seems some natives probably hijacked the ship and just started sailing aroung making big BOOM BOOM with guns!

[Bobthehatchit]

It hasn't happened to me, but there have been reports of DMS Long appearing in Jap TFs. Yes, very weird. I've always wondered if there is some connection betwen the DMS Long and the infamous haunted CVE Long Island. It's too coincidental that the two ships repeately linked to strange happenings have similar names.

I had the same happen to me, Got the DMS Long sunk sweeping shortland then a month later she re-appeared in a IJN TF.

Had to sink her myself.