About approximationa ngles and what to do?

[Feygor]

Hello, im a newb to the silent hunter world, and really liking it. Recently I started a german career in sh4, 44% realism (shame on me I know) did some missions, sank some ships, missed quite some shots, got my ass blown quite often and kinda progressed in the career. My main problem is the approach to convoys. When it has escorts and depending of the angle im approaching, I realize that by the time I switch to silent navigation and try to get closer to the merchants while evading the escorts the merchants are already far far away. Im just quite clueless at the moment and been reading a few pages of forums so far but dont seem to find an answer for this. The only ocassions I got in a good position into an escorted convoy was when I intercepted it from a good angle and was there before they reached the spot (quite before : / ), so I just stood quiet waiting then shot. Then again I dont really know if thats the correct procedure or im totally lost. Thanks in advance. If theres some similar post like this just redirect me and delete my post, dont want to spam.

[Hitman]

Wellcome aboard Feygor, you just got hooked by the submarines and won't easily get off

im a newb to the silent hunter world, and really liking it

You like being a newb, or the silent hunter series? just joking!!

My main problem is the approach to convoys

Coincidentally, there has been a recent thread about that here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=150829

For german U-Boat captains (SH3 but will also work with SH4 UBM): http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=96026

And you can always take a look at this other thread (US submarines): http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=146795

The only ocassions I got in a good position into an escorted convoy was when I intercepted it from a good angle and was there before they reached the spot (quite before : / ), so I just stood quiet waiting then shot. Then again I dont really know if thats the correct procedure or im totally lost.

Well, that's also what happened to real submariners, so you seem to be just experiencing the proper results. A convoy will normally be much faster than your submerged sub, and also trying to go fast underwater you will get detected easily. Therefore, WW2 submarine doctrine for all navies called for doing an end-around in the limit of visibility of the convoy at high speed using your diesels on the surface, and then submerging to wait for the convoy. While you do the end-around, it's the ideal time to plot the enemy convoy's course and speed and draw a line in the chart with its route, so you can simply race ahead, submerge and wait.

In any case, be aware that this type of game needs patience and also lots of practice, just adjust the difficulty level to what you are comfortable with and go ahead, enjoy it!

[Rockin Robbins]

And remember that even the best laid plans sometimes get thrown in the mixmaster and you end up with total chaos from your carefully planned attack. People say that Hitman and I are masters of attack, but watch this to see what happens when it all goes berserk. http://files.filefront.com/TTSE+001+.../fileinfo.html

In this case the spacing inside the column of targets worked against me and I ended up with egg all over my face and high speed targets scattered everywhere!

Also don't forget that fleet boats and U-Boats are different. The surest way to frustration is to demand that the U-Boat TDC work just like the fleet boat TDC or versa visa. Learn each on its own terms and THEN your knowledge of one will begin to feed on the other. As an example, read my instructions for doing the stern, middle of target, bow spread with the fleet boat. It's a little bit intimidating at first and you have to tolerate some accumulated error during the process.

With the U-Boat coupling of periscope to TDC, that one is as simple as point, shoot, point, shoot, point, shoot. If the U-Boat guys were bothering to read my fleet boat stuff they'd be scratching their heads and wondering what all the fuss is about.