Bernie -> (4/16/2002 2:12:03 PM)
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by chief [B]My favorite action took place not in SPWAW but in Silent Hunter. I came to periscope depth for a quick peak and found myself in the midst of a Japanese Hunter Killer team of 5 DDs. I quickly lowered my scope but was spotted anyways and they started a run on me. Set torps for running depth of 5 feet, heard engine noise at 1000 yds, waited for 20 secs....up scope, 1st target was inside 650 yds, fired 2 torps, saw second was also in range so I let 2 more forward tubes go, checked my 6 and two others were closing so I gave them 2 each, pulled down scope and headed to port rapidly. Sound man reported 1st target destroyed, a split second later he reported 2nd target destroyed, 3rd and 4th same same. Waited patiently with two remaining bow tubes loaded for the remaining DD, I didn't have to wait long he was coming down on me with a full head of steam. I repeated my 20 second wait and when the scope came up he was 750yds, too far for a safe shot, he saw me and began a turn but by that time he had closed to 625 yds, last 2 torps running. Crash Dive ordered, long pause and sound man reported dud torpedo then he reported a hit. I came to periscope depth and by that time I had no torps ready. The DD had damage and was aft of my position. ordered surface to 39 feet (con and deck gun out of water) and relied on smoke from his fire to shield me from his lookouts, broke surface and manned deck gun 2 shots and a crippled DD joined his ancestors. Total real time ~20 minutes. Never did it again, but I cherished that moment. I wish I had a SPWAW story for this spot but........ [/B][/QUOTE] Ah yes... Silent Hunter... We should compare records one of these days chief... One patrol I had (IIRC) 20 torps and came home with 26 kills, one for each torp, 5 with the deck gun, and an aircraft with the .50 cal... Talk about "pucker factor"! I was dead on the surface with damage from the plane. When my AA crew took him down I think my neighbors 4 houses away heard my yells. :)
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