The Old Sailor's New Patrol Logs

[Sailor Steve]

This is the second time I've used that title, and I don't know how many times I've started over with SH3. Thanks to a new computer for the first time I'll be playing the game the way I've long dreamed of it, decked out to the max.

As is my habit I'll be running four separate careers side by side. The first two will be from Wilhelmshaven starting August 19th, 1939; one in a Type VIIa and one in a Type IX. After that will be one from the 1st Flotilla at Kiel in a Type II and the other from the 7th, also Kiel, in a Type VIIb. After that I'll be adding careers in SH4 and maybe SH5. We'll see.

On the one hand it's more realistic to play one character at a time, but this is a habit I developed in my SH1 days, and I can't seem to shake it.

My starting Mod List:

Permanently Installed:
GWX 3.0
Hardcode Fixes - h.sie
GWX 3 Wil, St Naz and Schluese and other units v7 - Bigboywooly
Remove GWX Compass - ichso
Simfeeling 6-Dials Mod - FLB-Sale_U-999
Anschütz Kompass - Leitender
New Interiors 2.1D - FlakMonkey
(replaces Diving Duck's Open Hatch mod)
Open Hatch Conning Deck Cam Fix - Diving Duck
TMTv2+ThomsensShips v4.4 for GWX3+Xtra Ships
Assisted Plotting Mod - Observer
Waterstream+Exhaust Kombimod v2.3 - Rubini/Racerboy/h.sie
Lifeboats & Debris v4 - Rubini/Privateer
SH4 Maptools for SH3 - Latemail
GWX DFa Flags and Pennants 2010 - Anvart
FM30_UpDown - Anvart
FM NI Fix for FM30 UpDown - FlakMonkey
h.sie's Colored Hull Integrity Indicator
New Lorient - Alfred Keitzer

Sound My Way - From several sound mods:
Das Boot Sound Mod SH3 - Sailor Steve, based on 'Projeckt Schwertfisch', by the SH2 modders
DBSM SH3 Speech Fix - Sailor Steve
Ultimate Aircraft Sounds - AOTD_MadMax
Spirit of Machines - Einbecker
Torpedo Fire (German) v1.02 - Ktl_KUrtz

Das Boot Officers - AILantic
Small Moon - AILantic
No Rank on Crew - Dertien
Das Boot Clothes - lafeeverted
Clean Nav Map - Don't know
English-To-German Names - Phoenix3000
Historically Accurate U-Boat Emblems - Conus
Halo Not Visible Through Body - Anvart
Port People - Pascal
Realistic Blueprint Damage Screens - Pascal
Remove Station Labels
SH3 Color Icons - Capt. Teach
Modified Searchlight Beams - OneLifeCrisis
U-Boat Bases Map with New St. Nazaire - meduza
Head 04 Fix - Anvart
SH3 Officer Faces
Aces' Modified Headphones
Aces' Crew On Deck Stand Alone GWX
Clearsky Clouds - Rubini
A-I Class Destroyers - The Frog
J-Z Class Destroyers - The Frog
SH4 Effects for SH3 - Racerboy/TheDarkWraith
Torpedo Damage Final - Ocean Blue
Tuddley's Barracks Screen
Rick's Alternate Rec Manual - Rik007
GWX Turm Lights Fix - Privateer/Jimbuna
KB's Diesel Sound Mod - kristenburnout
No Continuous 'Ship Spotted'
Torpedoraum Typ II - MCHALO12
New Freecam Mod - Asanovic7
Seabed Repair Mod - Mikhayl
Searchlights Removed - schlechter pfennig
Wooden_Lifeboats_Mod-1.1 - Iambecomelife


JSGME:
SH5 Water for GWX 0.9 20 Km - Rik007
Type VIIa Features - Wreford-Brown
VIIB Early War Skin - Sledgehammer427
Type IIb AI Camo - Sean (changed to IIA)

SH3 Commander:
Ship Names Mod - Sailor Steve
Loading Screens Mod - Sailor Steve
Variable Trim, Variable Torpedo Depth, Variable BdU Judgment on Neutral Sinkings - all by BigWalleye

Always reinstall My SH3 Files
Cameras
Commands_en
Dials
EngNames.cfg
Menu_1024_768.ini

Tools
SH3 Commander - JScones
SH3 Weather - Sqweetis
SH3 Contacts - Nicolás

I have the first campaign all set to go. I've run a 'false' patrol, just to lock the career into Commander, qualified all my petty officers and assigned the sailors to specific teams, and we're waiting for orders.

[Admiral Halsey]

That variable BDU judgment on neutrals looks interesting. I'm guessing it randomizes whether you get a penalty from sinking a neutral vessel?

[BigWalleye]

Originally Posted by Admiral Halsey

That variable BDU judgment on neutrals looks interesting. I'm guessing it randomizes whether you get a penalty from sinking a neutral vessel?

Actually, it's a bit gentler than that. Based on my reading of Blair, there was historically no case of a U-boat commander being disciplined for sinking a neutral. The main question was whether the tonnage would be credited to his score. Generally, it was.

IIRC, there was one case of a commander sinking a neutral and causing an awkward diplomatic situation. According to Blair, the Kaleun in question was a Queeg and held in low regard by his brother officers. Dönitz was planning to have him court martialed, but the guy got himself - and his entire crew - killed first.

To avoid the temptation to shoot first and ask questions later, I made things just a bit rougher than historically correct. I reasoned that, early in the war, it would not be known how BdU would react to sinking a neutral. It was possible that they might react more strongly than they did, so early-war there is a chance that you will be penalized, even though that never actually happened. After the first 4 months, though, the only question is whether you will get credit. By 1942, you can pretty much count on getting the benefit of the doubt.

Copy and paste the section below at the end of the file

<SH3_Cmdr>\Cfg\Randomized events.cfg

;--------------------BdU REVIEWS NEUTRAL SINKING

[NEU0:data\Cfg\Basic.cfg]
ApplyToPeriod=19390101|19400131
ChooseFrom=5
RndMidPat=1
0_RENOWN|NEUTRAL=-1
1_RENOWN|NEUTRAL=0
2_RENOWN|NEUTRAL=0
;-------------------------
[NEU1:data\Cfg\Basic.cfg]
ApplyToPeriod=19400201|19401231
ChooseFrom=5
RndMidPat=1
0_RENOWN|NEUTRAL=0
1_RENOWN|NEUTRAL=0
;------------------------------
[NEU2:data\Cfg\Basic.cfg]
ApplyToPeriod=19410101|19411231
ChooseFrom=5
RndMidPat=1
0_RENOWN|NEUTRAL=0
;------------------------------------
[NEU3:data\Cfg\Basic.cfg]
ApplyToPeriod=19420101|19451231
ChooseFrom=10
RndMidPat=1
0_RENOWN|NEUTRAL=0

;--------------------end BdU REVIEWS NEUTRAL SINKING

[Sailor Steve]

Did you not also tell me to set my SH3/Data/Cfg/Basic renown to

[RENOWN]
RenownReachGridObjCompleted=0
RenownPatrolGridObjCompleted=0
CompletedPatrol=0
NEUTRAL=1
ALLIED=1
AXIS=-1*
WrongShipSunk=-5000
FirstRankRenown=100
SecondRankRenown=350
EndCampaign=-5000

*I also set my AXIS to -1 rather than -10 on the basis that while every kaleun who sank a friendly ship was tried, every one of them were also exonerated. I didn't want to get away free, so I made it -1 rather than 0.

[BigWalleye]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Did you not also tell me to set my SH3/Data/Cfg/Basic renown to

[RENOWN]
RenownReachGridObjCompleted=0
RenownPatrolGridObjCompleted=0
CompletedPatrol=0
NEUTRAL=1
ALLIED=1
AXIS=-1*
WrongShipSunk=-5000
FirstRankRenown=100
SecondRankRenown=350
EndCampaign=-5000

*I also set my AXIS to -1 rather than -10 on the basis that while every kaleun who sank a friendly ship was tried, every one of them were also exonerated. I didn't want to get away free, so I made it -1 rather than 0.

Thanks, Steve. Forgot about that.

[RushTheBus]

Nice setup Steve. Looks really extensive! Hope to hear how it works out from you, ill be keeping an eye here!

[Sailor Steve]

And...maybe not. I loaded it up for the first real patrol, and 30 minutes later the bar hadn't moved through the half-way point. I used Task Manager to check it, and it said "Not Responding". I got out of it and tried to load it without Commander. Crashed. I tried it with Commander again, and, running out of patience, only waited 20 minutes this time.

I'm going to dump the career and start another one to see what happens. Tomorrow is blues night, so I probably won't do it until Tuesday. If I decide there's too much of a load I'll probably start over from scratch and dump New Interiors. They are fun to look at but not vital.

We'll see what happens.

[RConch]

Good luck Steve! I know it has been a long time coming to fully enjoy the simulation.

[Sailor Steve]

After re-installing everything again I've started a new career. U-31, a Type VIIA under the command of Erwin Albrecht, was one of 14 boats to depart several ports on August 19, 1939. Under FdU orders not to use the English Channel, U-31 sailed up the North Sea and around the north end of the British Isles, then south to the area west of the Channel. U-31's latest position report indicates that the boat arrived at BF18 on September 1st, the same day Poland attacked the German border.

Two game sessions of about two hours each, and so far everything is running fine.

[Sailor Steve]

From: U-31
To: FdU

1939.9.9

0930 Sank British freighter 'Cairn' type 5000 tons.

[CCIP]

Great to sea you at sea and sinking things once again!

[Sailor Steve]

Well, I ran into some trouble with uncontrollable diving. It seems to be fixed now, but the career is starting over. Again.

[Sailor Steve]

It took me some time to iron out my "final" problems (hope hope hope), but I finally got underway again. It took awhile to actually play a whole patrol. No complaints there. I don't care how long it takes as long as I'm having fun, and I was definitely having fun this time. It took me three days to transcribe my handwritten log. All that said, here is my first patrol of my first new career. I'm using Wreford-Brown's Type VIIa Features mod, so my top speed is 17 knots and I only have 11 torpedoes.

Log of Oberleutnant Hans Art, U-Bootflotille Salzwedel, Wilhelmshaven. U-Boot type VIIa, U-27.

19.8.39
1132: Departed Wilhelmshaven.
1157: Exited Wilhelmshaven locks.
1208: Passed outer buoy. Set speed 7 kts for cruising.
1424: Exited Jade into North Sea. Opened orders - we are to patrol grid BF16, south of Ireland.
1800: Entered time zone GMT. Set clocks to 1700.

20.8.39
1030: AN6663. Course 332, 7 kts. Clear, Sea 3, Wind 4 m/s, Waves 2 m.

21.8.39
1030: AN3483. Course 332, 7 kts. Clear, Sea 3, Wind 5 m/s, Waves 2m.

22.8.39
1030: AN2836. Course 332, 4 kts. Clear, Sea 8, Wind 18 m/s, Waves 6 m.

23.8.39
1030: AN2228. Course 290, 7 kts. Clear, Sea 6, Wind 11 m/s, Waves 3 m.

24.8.39
1030: AF7819. Course 250, 7 kts. Clear, Sea 5, Wind 9 m/s, Waves 2 m.

25.8.39
1030: AN1129. Course 250, 6 kts. Clear, Sea 7, Wind 15 m/s, Waves 4 m.

26.8.39
1030: AM3427. Course 250, 6 kts. Clear, Sea 6, Wind 14 m/s, Waves 4 m.

27.8.39
0220: Entered Time Zone GMT -1. Set clocks to 0120.
0930: AM2541. Course 250, 6 kts. Clear, Sea 7, Wind 16 m/s, Waves 4 m.

28.8.39
0930: AM0242. Course 207, 5 kts. Clear, Sea 8, Wind 18 m/s, Waves 6 m.

29.8.39
0930: AM5478. Course 207, 4 kts. Clear, Sea 8, Wind 19 m/s, Waves 7 m.

30.8.39
0930: AM7692. Course 180, 5 kts. Clear, Sea 7, Wind 16 m/s, Waves 4 m. Off the west coast of Ireland now, heading south.

31.8.39
0930: BF1162. Course 110, 5 kts. Partly Cloudy, Sea 6, Wind 14 m/s, Waves 4 m.
1458: Lookouts have sighted ship.
1505: Heavy tanker, 11,000 tons.
1747: Passed about 15 km in front of us.
1556: Lost sight of him.
2024: Sighted another ship.
2050: Modern-type tanker, 7500 tons, range about 11 km.
2114: Passed in front, 9 km.

1.9.39
0117: Lost sight of tanker.
0148: Entered BF1611. Set slow speed for patrolling.
0930: BF1613. Course 090, 4 kts. Scattered Clouds, Sea 5, Wind 8 m/s, Waves 2 m.
1735: FdU: War with Poland.
1818: Time zone Change. This line crosses patrol grid. Leaving clocks at GMT -1.
1902: Ship sighted.
1905: I don't see him. Neither do they.
1945: Another storm moving in.

2.9.39
0930: BF1666. Course 180, 2 kts. Overcast, Sea 8, Wind 19 m/s, Waves 6 m.
1529: Ship sighted.
1635: Lost sight. Never close enough to identify.

3.9.39
0111: FdU: War with Britain!
0930: BF1687. Course270, 2 kts. Overcast, Sea 8, Wind 18 m/s, Waves 5 m.
1312: OKM: Prize rules are to be followed. IN THIS WEATHER?!!!
1653: War with France - defensive tactics only.

4.9.39
0930: BF1611. Course 000, 2 kts. Overcast, Sea 8, Wind 19 m/s, Waves 6 m.
1100: FdU: Passenger ships off limits.

5.9.39
0405: Lookouts report ship. Set course to investigate, full speed.
0411: Matrose Wendel "thought" he saw something.
0414: Now another report. I see nothing.
0422: Another report. Now I see it too.
0423: Gone again. Whatever it is, it's small.
0425: It's a patrol boat of some kind. Order dive to 20 meters.
0429: No sound contact. Maintaining depth, returning to patrol course.
0630: Surface.
0930: BF1692. Course 127, 2 kts. Overcast, Sea 9, wind 21 m/s, Waves 7 m.
2316: Weather slacking off rapidly. Another patrol boat sighted.
2352: He's back! Only 1500 meters away! Crash dive!

6.9.39
0006: Sound has a contact. Freighter at long range. Order ahead 1/3.
0020: Contact moving north.
0045: Still tracking him. No patrol boat sounds. Surfacing.
0046: There he is! 12 degrees! Ahead Standard.
0057: Freighter, Clan Allen class - 6300 tons.
0113: Racing to get into position. Can see his flag - British.
0122: Fired tube 1. Torpedo exploded before reaching target.
0123: Fired tube 2, set to run deeper. This one hit!
0125: Target slowing.
0134: Target stopped. Crew abandoning ship.
0514: After 4 hours target still not sinking. Sky growing light. Patrol boats may be about. Going for second shot.
0523: Fired tube 3. Nice big explosion.
0558: Target sank. BF2444.
0600: Diving to 50 meters to reload torpedoes.
0915: Surfacing for position report.
0930: BF2411. Course 285, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 5, Wind 9 m/s, Waves 2 m. One ship sunk. 8 torpedoes left.
1332: Sighted patrol boat. Dive to 30 m.
1342: Sound contact - freighter.
1405: After tracking for 20 minutes, surfacing for a look.
1430: Spotted another patrol boat. Diving again.
1455: Sound contact - freighter. Surfacing.
1510: Still no freighter. Sighted another patrol boat. Dive to 20 m.
1512: Two freighter sound contacts. Surfacing again.
1521: Sighted freighter this time.
1522: Silveray class - 4200 tons.
1524: British flag.
1538: Fired tubes 1 & 3. Both hit.
1541: Target stopped.
1550: Target sank by stern. Diving to 50 meters to reload.
1630: Surfaced.
2000: OKM: War with South Africa.

7.9.39
0021: Lookouts report ship.
0238: Another sighting.
0245: Patrol boat. He doesn't see us.
0930: BF1655. Course 240, 4 kts. Clear, Sea 1, Wind 2 m/s, Waves 0.25 m. Two ships sunk. 6 torpedoes left.
1215: FdU: Capital warships off limits.
2235: Lookouts report ship. Good weather, starlit night, some clouds.
2310: Identified as Ikauna class freighter.
2345: Danish flag - neutral. Stopping to inspect papers and cargo.

8.9.39
0038: All in order. Letting him go.
0843: Ship sighted.
0850: Definitely a freighter.
0900: Anshun class - 3400 tons.
0901: He's seen us! Trying to run!
0930: Range 1600 meters. Time for some deck gun practice.
0935: Target already listing, coming to stop.
0938: Ceased fire. 29 rounds expended. 2 missed. 27 hits. Congratulated Bootsmann August Möller on his good shooting.
1000: Interrogated captain. SS Amiénois, 3494 tons. Despite the shelling all his crew are safe.
1217: SS Amiénois sank.
1600: Weather steadily growing worse.
2218: Ship sighted.
2240: Mount Kyllene class freighter - 3350 tons.
2259: Dutch neutrality markings. Sea too heavy to stop them and check.

9.9.39
0930: BF1645. Course 137, 3 kts. Clear, Sea 5, Wind 11 m/s, Waves 2 m. 3 ships sunk. 8 torpedoes left.

10.9.39
0534: Lookouts report smoke column.
0542: Looks small.
0545: It's a trawler, obviously armed. Ordered crash dive.
0547: Leveled off at 65 m. Ordered silent run.
0618: Lost contact.
0700: Came to periscope depth.
0705: Sea is clear. Surfaced.
0930: BF1622. Course 140, 3 kts. Clear, Sea 5, Wind 11 m/s, Waves 2 m.
1007: Ship sighted.
1115: Lost sight.
2000: OKM: War with Canada.

11.9.39
0254: Ship sighted.
0321: Glenapp class freighter - 9000 tons. Range about 7000 meters.
0324: Making 10 kts. Weather has calmed somewhat.
0405: Getting into position.
0409: Definitely British flag.
0412: Fired tubes 1&3. #1 explodes early. Firing tube 2.
0413: #3 hit! #2 missed. Firing tube 4!
0414 #4 hit.
0424: Target sank by the bow.
0930: BF1699. course 000, 4 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea 1, Wind 1 m/s, Waves 0.1 m. 4 ships sunk, 2 torpedoes left.
2332: Ship sighted.
2352: Can see it's a merchant.
2356: Thiokepasti class freighter - 3450 tons.

12.9.39
0008: Norwegian flag. Neutral.
0303: Ship sighted.
0316: Heading away fast. Unable to identify.
0930: BF1667. Course 225, 4 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea 0, Wind 0 m/s, Waves 0 m.

13.9.39
0728: Ship sighted.
0739: Patrol boat. Dive to 30 m.
0930: BF1625. Course 000, 4 kts. Clear, Sea 0, Wind 0 m/s, Waves 0 m.

14.9.39
0930: BF1674. Course 000, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 7, Wind 17 m/s, Waves 4 m.

15.9.39
0728: FdU: We are ordered to return home.
0930: BF1378. Course 285, 4 kts. Overcast, Sea 7, Wind 17 m/s, Waves 4 m.

16.9.39
0930: BF1125. Course 287, 6 kts. Clear, Sea 6, Wind 12 m/s, Waves 3 m.

17.9.39
0930: AM8174. Course 000, 6 kts. Clear, Sea 6, Wind 12 m/s, Waves 3 m.
1100: Russia has invaded Poland.

18.9.39
0930: AM5177. Course 000, 6 kts. Clear, Sea 6, Wind 11 m/s, Waves 3 m.

19.9.39
0930: AM2871. Course 047, 6 kts. Clear, Sea 6, Wind 11 m/s, Waves 3 m.

20.9.39
0930: AM3375. Course 070, 5 kts. Clear, Sea 7, wind 15 m/s, Waves 4 m.
2335: Time zone change, now in GMT 0. Set clocks to 0035.

21.9.39
1030: AM3414. Course 070, 5 kts. Clear, Sea 7, Wind 15 m/s, Waves 4 m.

22.9.39
1030: AM1144. Course 071, 7 kts. Clear, Sea 3, Wind 5 m/s, Waves 0.6 m.
2009: Ship sighted.
2010: Giving off heavy black smoke. Coal fired.
2022: Bamora class freighter - 3400 tons.
2035: Norwegian neutrality markings.
2040: Freighter stopped. Lt. Pschierer leads boarding party.
2057: IWO returns, reports papers good. SS Senta, 3356 tons, carrying a cargo of tobacco from Norfolk to Brevik.

23.9.39
1030: AF7767. Course 071, 5 kts. Overcast, Sea 6, Wind 13 m/s, Waves 3 m.

24.9.39
1030: AF7821. Course 090, 5 kts. Overcast, Sea 7, Wind 15 m/s, Waves 4 m.

25.9. 39
1030: AF7912. Course 090, 5 kts. Overcast, Sea 7, Wind 15 m/s, Waves 4 m.

26.9.39
1030: AF8714. Course 090, 5 kts. Overcast, Sea 7, wind 15 m/s, Waves 4 m.

27.9.39
1030 AN2339. Course 155, 7 kts. Clear, Sea 5, Wind 9 m/s, Waves 2 m.

28.9.39
1030: AN3188. Course 155, 7 kts. Clear, Sea 5, Wind 9 m/s, Waves 2 m.

29.9.39
1030: AN6363. Course 147, 5 kts. Overcast, Sea 7, Wind 14 m/s, Waves 4 m.

30.9.39
0415: Crossed time zone, now GMT +1. Set clocks for 0315.
1122: Entered Jade.
1509: Tied up at Dock.
　
　
Days At Sea: 43
Damage sustained: None
Torpedoes Expended: 9
Deck Gun Ammunition Expended: 29
Ships sunk: 4
Tonnage sunk: 23,245
BF2444: SS Oregon, 6313 tons. Cargo - foodstuffs. Crew 63. Survived 10 (53 lost).
BF1655: SS Perrakis L. Cambanis, 4347 tons. Cargo Copper ore. Crew 47. Survived 47 (0 lost).
BF1645: SS Amiénois, 3494 tons. Cargo General. Crew 46. Survived 46 (0 lost).
BF1977: SS Nagara, 9091 tons. Cargo Iron ore. Crew 93. Survived 85 (10 lost).

[Gunnarr]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

(PATROL LOG)

That was fun to read

So you write everything down yourself on paper?? Also, for stopping merchants and searching, is this sort of a role playing thing or a mod? (I don't have the slightest idea how one could code a way to have a ship stop to be searched. I know that is what you are realistically supposed to do though). Also another question, is one of your mods showing when people are evacuating ship? Or something just write in patrol logs for immersion (I like to imagine them evacuating too) I swear they evacuated in one of these games as a kid... maybe it was SH4?

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Gunnarr

That was fun to read

Thank you. Some people think a straight log is boring. I've always liked reading them. Of course I like the story versions too.

So you write everything down yourself on paper??

Yep. It's the only way I can remember the details.

Also, for stopping merchants and searching, is this sort of a role playing thing or a mod? (I don't have the slightest idea how one could code a way to have a ship stop to be searched. I know that is what you are realistically supposed to do though).

Strictly role-playing. If I want to give them time to abandon ship I'll just parallel his course for 15-20 minutes, then go ahead and sink him. Of course there's no way to simulate scuttling charges. It has to be torpedo or gun.

Before we had working gates on the canal locks I used to stop in the lock for five minutes or so, just to simulate having to wait. Stupid, I know, but I've been playing sub sims so long that just going and sinking stuff got boring a long time ago.

Also another question, is one of your mods showing when people are evacuating ship? Or something just write in patrol logs for immersion (I like to imagine them evacuating too) I swear they evacuated in one of these games as a kid... maybe it was SH4?

Not that I recall. For me it's just all in my head.