Struggling to actually find anything to sink

[Aviv]

It's September 1940 running the latest version of WoS and I am on Patrol 3, right now about equal distance between Rockall and Ireland. Nothing in sight. Spotted a few destroyers roaming around but other than that there's no sign of life. I'd expect to at least see something

Other than sinking one measly ship on Patrol 1, Patrol 2 was fruitless and now I am wondering if I'm missing something. Where can I find the best shipping lanes? Is the number of ships greatly reduced from SH3 or even SH4?

I've been struggling to have much fun with SH5 since I got it last summer, I'm willing to give it more chances until I just stick to SH4 for good.

Any help appreciated.

[XenonSurf]

by hitting E you get to see a lot of charts, also the main shipping lanes. All you have to do is activating the right maps, the upper part is scrolable.

To 'see' something, also dive to 20+ feet and use your hydrophones.

[THEBERBSTER]

Hi Aviv
Go down to towards Loch Ewe Grid 38
The coast line opposite to where you are now.
There are ships coming up from the South and from Ireland.
Peter

[vdr1981]

Make a good use of incoming radio reports as well...There's plenty of traffic in TWoS but again the ocean is pretty large...

[Cyborg322]

Originally Posted by Aviv

It's September 1940 running the latest version of WoS and I am on Patrol 3, right now about equal distance between Rockall and Ireland. Nothing in sight. Spotted a few destroyers roaming around but other than that there's no sign of life. I'd expect to at least see something

Other than sinking one measly ship on Patrol 1, Patrol 2 was fruitless and now I am wondering if I'm missing something. Where can I find the best shipping lanes? Is the number of ships greatly reduced from SH3 or even SH4?

I've been struggling to have much fun with SH5 since I got it last summer, I'm willing to give it more chances until I just stick to SH4 for good.

Any help appreciated.

Get in the habit of diving to below 30m where you can pickup targets at longer range with the Hydrophone do this at regular intervals to increase your chances . Sometimes your sound guy does not pickup sounds even tho they are easily heard so doing it manually can help

Some areas are a little bleak just at the point you are to give up often big convoys crop up ( some very big )

You will get times when searching feels frustrating but it just makes running into convoys more exciting.

It was like that , ever watch "Das Boot" ?

I wouldn't give up you will run into rich pickings at some point you may just be a bit unlucky

[XenonSurf]

Radio messages are very important, that's true. The last icon on the right in the map may flash, that's a new incomming message which can be a convoy report, generally with approx speed and approx course, but this helps you a LOT actually. Use your plotting tools on the map and calculate your interception time, make it so to attack at night if there is good moon, or at dawn or sun set preferably.

Then your second source of info about convoys is the Captain's Log. I find the TC doesn't always stop when important messages are added there, also convoy messages that are much more precise. So consult it in regular intervals.

If you have points to distribute to the crew, consider your sonar man first and spend a lot for him so he gets better
But don't expect miracles from him, you are always better than him: man the sonar station yourself.

[skin-nl]

When i don't find little or any ships in my patrol i seek a shipping lane....and i'll wait, also to save diesel

There a plenty ships in TWOS to sink