Night Surface Attack - Kretchmer Style

Captain Nemo · 03-18-09, 07:55 AM

There has been lots of discussion in the past regarding problems relating to night surface attacks on convoys. Here is an example to show that it can be done with good results. I picked up a convoy heading towards the south western approaches at around 6 knots. The date is November 1939 so this is on my side as any warships won't have radar and the convoy is lightly escorted by one destroyer up front and the prize HMS Nelson slap bang in the middle. My objective is to sneak in amongst the merchants and get into a good firing position to launch an attack on the Nelson. The wind speed is 3m/s so the sea is quite calm, no moon and a clear sky. I didn't run with decks awash. Below is some screenshots that illustrate how I did it and views from the conning tower.

As you can see I kept at right angles to the convoy and kept my speed down to 2 knots. In the end I managed to get off 3 torpedoes at the Nelson and one at a Whale Factory Ship. The Nelson went down about an hour after the attack.

The Whale Factory Ship needed another torpedo in a subsequent attack.

I must say that night attacks really get the adrenaline going and require nerves of steel. I just love this sim.

Nemo

03-18-09, 07:55 AM	#1
Captain Nemo Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London, England Posts: 1,144 Downloads: 54 Uploads: 0	Night Surface Attack - Kretchmer Style There has been lots of discussion in the past regarding problems relating to night surface attacks on convoys. Here is an example to show that it can be done with good results. I picked up a convoy heading towards the south western approaches at around 6 knots. The date is November 1939 so this is on my side as any warships won't have radar and the convoy is lightly escorted by one destroyer up front and the prize HMS Nelson slap bang in the middle. My objective is to sneak in amongst the merchants and get into a good firing position to launch an attack on the Nelson. The wind speed is 3m/s so the sea is quite calm, no moon and a clear sky. I didn't run with decks awash. Below is some screenshots that illustrate how I did it and views from the conning tower. As you can see I kept at right angles to the convoy and kept my speed down to 2 knots. In the end I managed to get off 3 torpedoes at the Nelson and one at a Whale Factory Ship. The Nelson went down about an hour after the attack. The Whale Factory Ship needed another torpedo in a subsequent attack. I must say that night attacks really get the adrenaline going and require nerves of steel. I just love this sim. Nemo __________________ "I'm afraid there is no disguising the fact that King's obsession with the Pacific and the Battle of Washington cost us dear in the Battle of the Atlantic". Sir John Slessor GCB, DSO, MC, DL AOC-in-C Coastal Command RAF ___________________________________________