Best hunting grounds in the Atlantic: Input encouraged!!!

Kaptlt.Endrass · 05-01-14, 05:56 PM

The name says it. Your opinion on the best hunting grounds in the Atlantic.
1940-41: Gulf of Wales. Large amounts of large cargos that are alone. Went in from Lorient with 14 fish and spent everything on merchants at Bristol and Merthyr harbors, both defended by lone ASW trawlers. Also expended all deck gun ammo, came back with 94% integrity only because I ran into a anti sub net. Patrol total, 60925 tons. (Side note:The merchants are almost all carrying ammo and fuel, and air cover is minimal. Was deck gunning two ships and jumped by Hurricanes, stayed on surface and took no damage.)

UKönig · 05-01-14, 07:52 PM

If you're talking about the most successful hunting in the Atlantic that I have ever found, then the award goes to New York City.
Tankers, small and large, merchants, all sizes, and best of all, passenger liners.
In vanilla SH3, the ocean liner is worth almost 25,000 tons. The reality, for the ship as depicted in the game, the tonnage is closer to 80,000.
For those interested, the liners Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary (each about 80,000 tons) were converted to troopship duties during the war. At their peaks, they each carried about 15,000 soldiers to battlefields in Europe. In fact, if I remember correctly, Queen Mary still holds the record of most troops transported in a single crossing. It got so bad that hitler offered a bounty of 250,000 reichsmarks to any Uboat who could verify the sinking of either (preferably both).
Pros/cons
Pros: take north side of long island, if you can slip in undetected, destroyers will not think to follow you, they like to take the main gates.
Cons: at least 2 very shallow (10m or less) points, forcing you to surface and 2 choke points, requiring careful maneuvering. If you pick a bad time to do this (you'll know) you may have to deal with aircraft (bombers) with no AA. But if you can get past the choke points, into the harbour, the bombers cannot get you w/o hitting the city at large.
Best to dive at the bridges (brooklyn i think) or else everything in the harbour with a cannon will start shooting at you, even through the buildings (with no clear line of sight). It's a bit tricky trying to line up some shots with the piers in the way, but if you can pull it off, it can be very rewarding. Draft clearance is enough for a type 7 and 9 to operate, but not a 21.
If I save most of my fish from my patrol, I can usually add anywhere from 30-60,000 tons to my haul...

UKönig · 05-01-14, 08:08 PM

But if you hunger to challenge the best the British navy has to offer, well my friend, head on down to the straits of gibraltar, you won't have to wait long...

Kaptlt.Endrass · 05-01-14, 10:02 PM

Been there, done that my good fellow Kaluen. The U-65 was nearly sent to the briny deep that fateful night. In other news...

Jimbuna · 05-02-14, 04:51 AM

250km west of Gibraltar.

GreyBeard · 05-02-14, 06:45 AM

September 1939, Irish Sea. Not necessarily large cargo ships, but definitely lots of. A good start for a beginning career.

HW3 · 05-02-14, 08:52 AM

My favorite areas are BE65 & AM52.

maillemaker · 05-02-14, 09:24 AM

Most of my best work comes with a Type IX as soon as you can get one.

Find lightly-escored convoys off the east cost of Britain, bait the escorts into a chase and kill them with down-the-throat magnetic torpedoes, then surface and use the deck gun and remaining torpedoes. If you find a pesky merchant with an early deck gun, you'll have to dispose of them first. I have on several occasions wiped out entire convoys.

Steve

flag4 · 05-02-14, 10:22 AM

BF 13/15

Mittelwaechter · 05-02-14, 01:55 PM

AL 2/5 + AK 2/5

Herr-Berbunch · 05-02-14, 04:03 PM

In or abouts BF17

And I've never hear of the Gulf of Wales before.

But definitely BF17 is worth the trip.

Jimbuna · 05-03-14, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

In or abouts BF17

And I've never hear of the Gulf of Wales before.

But definitely BF17 is worth the trip.

Not far from the Irish Channel I believe.

irish1958 · 05-03-14, 07:42 AM

WNW of the British Isles, the closer the better and the less safe.

Rammstein0991 · 05-03-14, 12:46 PM

My best hunts (including nailing the Highland Brigade iirc) are north of Ireland, AM51-AM52-AM02

Early to mid war these grounds are packed to the gunnels with ships, many of whom travel alone, the pickings are so easy I have taken down dozens of (unescorted) merchants there with a deck gun alone.

Aktungbby · 05-03-14, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaptlt.Endrass

1940-41: Gulf of Wales.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

And I've never hear of the Gulf of Wales before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Not far from the Irish Channel I believe.

An extensive but thumbnail hunt for the 'Gulf of Wales' turns up NADA however that body of considerable expanse to the east of the St George Straight and exclusive of the Bristol Straight is Cardigan Bay, proper. There are two more northerly Welsh named 'bays' as well. Interestingly, the Irish Sea and the Celtic Sea are not the same thing; a point I had not picked up on heretofore.

There is a Strait of Wales in the Canadian Archipelago which was a traverse of the fabled Northwest Passage but I don't believe the hunting is good there. A further perusal of my National Geographic World Atlas; vol VI. also shows nothing additional beyond my two included maps >

05-01-14, 05:56 PM	#1
Kaptlt.Endrass Sonar Guy Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: No Longer On A Big Grey Floaty Thing Posts: 395 Downloads: 96 Uploads: 0	Best hunting grounds in the Atlantic: Input encouraged!!! The name says it. Your opinion on the best hunting grounds in the Atlantic. 1940-41: Gulf of Wales. Large amounts of large cargos that are alone. Went in from Lorient with 14 fish and spent everything on merchants at Bristol and Merthyr harbors, both defended by lone ASW trawlers. Also expended all deck gun ammo, came back with 94% integrity only because I ran into a anti sub net. Patrol total, 60925 tons. (Side note:The merchants are almost all carrying ammo and fuel, and air cover is minimal. Was deck gunning two ships and jumped by Hurricanes, stayed on surface and took no damage.) __________________ "That flag and I are twins, born in the same hour from the same womb of destiny. We cannot be parted in life or in death; so long as we float, we shall float together." As much as I dislike it sometimes, I'm a tin can sailor, through and through.

05-01-14, 10:02 PM	#4
Kaptlt.Endrass Sonar Guy Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: No Longer On A Big Grey Floaty Thing Posts: 395 Downloads: 96 Uploads: 0	Been there, done that my good fellow Kaluen. The U-65 was nearly sent to the briny deep that fateful night. In other news... __________________ "That flag and I are twins, born in the same hour from the same womb of destiny. We cannot be parted in life or in death; so long as we float, we shall float together." As much as I dislike it sometimes, I'm a tin can sailor, through and through.

05-02-14, 04:51 AM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 181,218 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	250km west of Gibraltar. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!! GWX3.0 Download Page - Donation/instant access to GWX (Help SubSim)

05-02-14, 08:52 AM	#7
HW3 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Gresham Oregon Posts: 6,439 Downloads: 453 Uploads: 0	My favorite areas are BE65 & AM52. __________________ "Some ships are designed to sink...others require our assistance." Nathan Zelk

05-02-14, 10:22 AM	#9
flag4 Watch Officer Join Date: May 2007 Location: as far away as possible Posts: 1,625 Downloads: 147 Uploads: 0	BF 13/15 __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] ' We are here on Earth to fart around. Don't let anybody tell you any different.' Kurt Vonnegut

05-01-14, 07:52 PM	#2
UKönig Captain Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 495 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	If you're talking about the most successful hunting in the Atlantic that I have ever found, then the award goes to New York City. Tankers, small and large, merchants, all sizes, and best of all, passenger liners. In vanilla SH3, the ocean liner is worth almost 25,000 tons. The reality, for the ship as depicted in the game, the tonnage is closer to 80,000. For those interested, the liners Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary (each about 80,000 tons) were converted to troopship duties during the war. At their peaks, they each carried about 15,000 soldiers to battlefields in Europe. In fact, if I remember correctly, Queen Mary still holds the record of most troops transported in a single crossing. It got so bad that hitler offered a bounty of 250,000 reichsmarks to any Uboat who could verify the sinking of either (preferably both). Pros/cons Pros: take north side of long island, if you can slip in undetected, destroyers will not think to follow you, they like to take the main gates. Cons: at least 2 very shallow (10m or less) points, forcing you to surface and 2 choke points, requiring careful maneuvering. If you pick a bad time to do this (you'll know) you may have to deal with aircraft (bombers) with no AA. But if you can get past the choke points, into the harbour, the bombers cannot get you w/o hitting the city at large. Best to dive at the bridges (brooklyn i think) or else everything in the harbour with a cannon will start shooting at you, even through the buildings (with no clear line of sight). It's a bit tricky trying to line up some shots with the piers in the way, but if you can pull it off, it can be very rewarding. Draft clearance is enough for a type 7 and 9 to operate, but not a 21. If I save most of my fish from my patrol, I can usually add anywhere from 30-60,000 tons to my haul...

05-01-14, 08:08 PM	#3
UKönig Captain Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 495 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	But if you hunger to challenge the best the British navy has to offer, well my friend, head on down to the straits of gibraltar, you won't have to wait long...

05-02-14, 06:45 AM	#6
GreyBeard Engineer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: LI, NY Posts: 209 Downloads: 257 Uploads: 2	September 1939, Irish Sea. Not necessarily large cargo ships, but definitely lots of. A good start for a beginning career.

05-02-14, 09:24 AM	#8
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	Most of my best work comes with a Type IX as soon as you can get one. Find lightly-escored convoys off the east cost of Britain, bait the escorts into a chase and kill them with down-the-throat magnetic torpedoes, then surface and use the deck gun and remaining torpedoes. If you find a pesky merchant with an early deck gun, you'll have to dispose of them first. I have on several occasions wiped out entire convoys. Steve

05-02-14, 01:55 PM	#10
Mittelwaechter The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,304 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	AL 2/5 + AK 2/5 __________________ 10 happy wolves rear 90 blinded, ensnared sheep. 90 happy sheep banish the wolves. Arrest the 1% - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ6hg1oNeGE

05-02-14, 04:03 PM	#11
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	In or abouts BF17 And I've never hear of the Gulf of Wales before. But definitely BF17 is worth the trip. __________________

05-03-14, 07:42 AM	#13
irish1958 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 3,250 Downloads: 320 Uploads: 11	WNW of the British Isles, the closer the better and the less safe. __________________ Irish1958

05-03-14, 12:46 PM	#14
Rammstein0991 Engineer Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: NC USA Posts: 219 Downloads: 164 Uploads: 0	My best hunts (including nailing the Highland Brigade iirc) are north of Ireland, AM51-AM52-AM02 Early to mid war these grounds are packed to the gunnels with ships, many of whom travel alone, the pickings are so easy I have taken down dozens of (unescorted) merchants there with a deck gun alone.