lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Sept 24, 2022 2:15:52 GMT
March 14, 1959
Halmahera Sea, 0427 LocalThe last set of depth charges still reverberated through the sea and his boat gently rocked in the remains of the explosive turbulence. The Indonesians had come close a few times, and his boat had taken more damage than he would prefer, but it was time to remind the hunters upon the surface that the shark they were hunting had teeth of their own. Zeeleeuw was rising slowly from the depths, with her bow pointed at the prowling destroyer. The transports that were his primary targets had all turned and ran. His sonar team thought that the torpedo boats had run with them. In a voice more appropriate to the family pew back home than the attack center of a submarine, he said, "Make torpedo tubes one through four ready in all respects, including opening the outer doors. Warn the torpedo room crew to expect a snap shot. Raise the Number One scope." Before the head of the scope had even broached the waves he was already scanning the water. It was a dark night, but it might still be possible to spot the shadow from the destroyer. No luck this time. Still, as the water drained away from the lens, he saw the destroyer and it was coming almost right at him. Roel began to snap orders in a frenzy. "Snap shot! Tubes one and two! Angle on the bow, zero-zero-five degrees! Range, one thousand five hundred meters! Shoot!" Zeeleeuw shuddered as both torpedos streaked from their tubes and towards the destroyer. "Both torpedos running hot, straight and normal! Left full rudder, all ahead full! Close the outer doors on tubes one and two! Prepare for another snap shot on tubes three and four!" It was a risk leaving the scope up, the wake could give him away. But with two fish inbound, he didn't think it mattered that much. He kept the lens pointed at the Indonesian destroyer, praying his first two fish would find their mark. He was about to curse his luck and order the next two tubes fired when a mighty explosion rent the night asunder. One of his fish had found the mark afterall. The destroyer that had been harrying him bucked and heaved as the Mark XIV tore into it. The ship went dead in the water with a shudder and he could see men scrambling to get off the stricken vessel. The threat of invasion, at least for the foreseeable future, had ended. Nice, some revenge at last, now lets hope the Zeeleeuw can get away safly. Also is this the first kill of a submarine sins the end of World War II. |
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ssgtc
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Post by ssgtc on Sept 24, 2022 10:46:41 GMT
Yes, this is the first kill by a submarine since 1945. The first 5 kills, in fact. When Zeeleeuw returns to port, she'll have a broom on her periscope and a jolly roger flying from her flag pole
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Sept 24, 2022 10:50:55 GMT
Yes, this is the first kill by a submarine since 1945. The first 5 kills, in fact. When Zeeleeuw returns to port, she'll have a broom on her periscope and a jolly roger flying from her flag pole Indonesia is not going to be happy, that it lost several ships to a single submarine. |
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ssgtc
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Post by ssgtc on Sept 24, 2022 11:55:45 GMT
Yes, this is the first kill by a submarine since 1945. The first 5 kills, in fact. When Zeeleeuw returns to port, she'll have a broom on her periscope and a jolly roger flying from her flag pole Indonesia is not going to be happy, that it lost several ships to a single submarine. Not even a little bit. If the Admiral commanding the assault force hadn't been killed in action, he would 100% be court martialed when they got back to port. |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Sept 24, 2022 11:59:03 GMT
Indonesia is not going to be happy, that it lost several ships to a single submarine. Not even a little bit. If the Admiral commanding the assault force hadn't been killed in action, he would 100% be court martialed when they got back to port. Its always good to die in battle if you know you failed then to go home to get punished for you failures. |
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Sept 24, 2022 13:25:51 GMT
Well that was spectacularly successful and even more amazingly the sub survived.  Its going to dent the Indonesian morale and Admiral Moeljadi, assuming he was with the force and is still alive is likely to see his career ending quickly after a screw up like that. I would expect the government will be looking for some action to take revenge and show that their doing something.
Not sure how well the Dutch can rearm the sub and the invaders will be more prepared next time but hopefully aid will arrive by then.
Zeeleeuw left the Netherlands with a full warload of 24 torpedos. They've fired half of them. If needed, they can conduct one more patrol with what they have (assuming similar targets). After that, I'm not sure. I'm assuming Hollandia/Biak would have at least some torpedos available. And the Mark XIV is still in widespread US service, so the USN could easily supply some from their own stocks in the Philippines. Hordijk and Zeeleeuw got very, very lucky. Against a competent escort, they would have been sunk, no questions about it. Even against what is very much the third string, they still got very close to being sunk and took damage. The Indonesians were completely unaware of the presence of Dutch submarines in the theater. Soviet intelligence had completely missed her sailing and the Indonesians never spotted her in the AO. In a few months, the KGB will find a report from an asset in Cape Town that a Dutch Submarine was refueled at the port on the 26th of February, but it was never forwarded to the proper personnel since the asset in question reported to someone who wasn't involved in the operation to disrupt NATO's response to Indonesia's seizure of West Irian.
I like that. Always great when an enemy makes a cock-up.  |
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Sept 24, 2022 13:28:09 GMT
Yes, this is the first kill by a submarine since 1945. The first 5 kills, in fact. When Zeeleeuw returns to port, she'll have a broom on her periscope and a jolly roger flying from her flag pole
That sounds a bit surprising with all the conflicts since 45. Even if the KMT didn't have any subs for use against the CCP there was the Korean war, Suez Crisis and probably a number of other clashes that slipped my mind. Interesting that no subs had a successful attack for that length of time.
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ssgtc
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Post by ssgtc on Sept 24, 2022 14:30:20 GMT
Zeeleeuw left the Netherlands with a full warload of 24 torpedos. They've fired half of them. If needed, they can conduct one more patrol with what they have (assuming similar targets). After that, I'm not sure. I'm assuming Hollandia/Biak would have at least some torpedos available. And the Mark XIV is still in widespread US service, so the USN could easily supply some from their own stocks in the Philippines. Hordijk and Zeeleeuw got very, very lucky. Against a competent escort, they would have been sunk, no questions about it. Even against what is very much the third string, they still got very close to being sunk and took damage. The Indonesians were completely unaware of the presence of Dutch submarines in the theater. Soviet intelligence had completely missed her sailing and the Indonesians never spotted her in the AO. In a few months, the KGB will find a report from an asset in Cape Town that a Dutch Submarine was refueled at the port on the 26th of February, but it was never forwarded to the proper personnel since the asset in question reported to someone who wasn't involved in the operation to disrupt NATO's response to Indonesia's seizure of West Irian.
I like that. Always great when an enemy makes a cock-up. Thanks! And it's a believable one! How many times has vital intel not been forwarded to the right people because the person who received it originally wasn't on the "need to know" list? |
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ssgtc
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Post by ssgtc on Sept 24, 2022 14:33:47 GMT
Yes, this is the first kill by a submarine since 1945. The first 5 kills, in fact. When Zeeleeuw returns to port, she'll have a broom on her periscope and a jolly roger flying from her flag pole
That sounds a bit surprising with all the conflicts since 45. Even if the KMT didn't have any subs for use against the CCP there was the Korean war, Suez Crisis and probably a number of other clashes that slipped my mind. Interesting that no subs had a successful attack for that length of time.
Yeah, I was surprised by that too. But since WWII ended, there have only been 3 submarines that have conducted successful attacks: PNS Hangoor of the Pakistani Navy sank an Indian Destroyer in 1971. HMS Conqueror of the Royal Navy sank an Argentine Light Cruiser in 1982 A North Korean midget submarine sank a South Korean corvette in 2010 |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Sept 24, 2022 14:46:59 GMT
March 14, 1959
Halmahera Sea, 0420 LocalThe latest set of depth charges rolled off the stern of KRI Gadjah Mada. Depth charges were old tech, but they were effective tech. The depth charge throwers were being reloaded and would launch their deadly charges as soon as the reverberations from the last pattern of bombs subsided and the ASDIC could find the offending boat again. The surviving coasters and the torpedo boats had been ordered to run back to port. The loss of the three landing ships that were carrying the majority of the assault force and the transport with most of the heavy equipment like the artillery, was a blow that they would not be able to overcome. Not now, anyway. Once they regrouped, and had a proper escort force, they could try again. Hopefully. Ironic that a Royal Netherlands Navy submarine sinks a former Royal Netherlands destroyer ( ex-HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes - G16). |
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oscssw
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Post by oscssw on Sept 25, 2022 11:43:28 GMT
Now that is the portrait of a no nonsense Bubblehead . I don't think crossing him would be a very good idea. If I ever was perverted enough to be a Bubblehead I'd thank my Christian God if he was my CO. I really believe he and that brilliant, unstoppable, hard Assed, unforgiving, Sun Downer SOB Hymie ( AKA Hyman G. Rickover Admiral USN also a former Sewer Pipe Commander) would get on well.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE THIS SOB?
Short version
Long version Rickover: Controversy and Genius: A Biography
by Thomas B. Allen & Norman Polmar (A long time friend of Stu Slade ....Enough said!)
Synopsis
The Biography of Admiral Hyman G Rickover,the acknowledges "Father of the Nuclear Navy".Rickover was an acknowledged leader and engineering genius,he was also known for his acerbic (nice way to say a consummate SOB) personality.He served his country for 60 years in the Navy.Over these years he made many powerful friends and just as powerful enemies.Finally president Reagan was able to retire him,something two previous presidents weren't able to do.This is a well research and penetrating biography.
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Post by La Rouge Beret on Oct 3, 2022 5:46:01 GMT
Well done the Cloggies!
Keeping true to the old Bible verse, "tis better to give than receive."
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Its going to dent the Indonesian morale and Admiral Moeljadi, assuming he was with the force and is still alive is likely to see his career ending quickly after a screw up like that. I would expect the government will be looking for some action to take revenge and show that their doing something.
