Attacking in Heavy Fog

[Deffenger]

Does anyone have any tips or tactics for attacking convoys or single ships in heavy fog? I'm an SH3 newb, having only completed ten cruises, I'm still early in the war with no radar. Can I even mount an attack if the visibility is less than 300m? The only sucess I've had in these conditions is when I came up dead astern of a Coastal Merchant, overhauled him on a parallel course, keeping him in sight, then when I was about halfway past him, turning 90 degrees and firing the stern tube just as I got beyond 300m and was losing sight of him. I've tried to attack convoys in these conditions, but the threat of collision makes it too hairy! Thanks in advance!

[slow_n_ez]

Surface attacks in fog are best ......Be prepared like having all tubes open .. think fast .. act quick .... 300 + meters for a hit of course ....

[_Seth_]

Originally Posted by Deffenger

Does anyone have any tips or tactics for attacking convoys or single ships in heavy fog? I'm an SH3 newb, having only completed ten cruises, I'm still early in the war with no radar. Can I even mount an attack if the visibility is less than 300m? The only sucess I've had in these conditions is when I came up dead astern of a Coastal Merchant, overhauled him on a parallel course, keeping him in sight, then when I was about halfway past him, turning 90 degrees and firing the stern tube just as I got beyond 300m and was losing sight of him. I've tried to attack convoys in these conditions, but the threat of collision makes it too hairy! Thanks in advance!

Welcome aboard,kaleun

[C-4]

Attacking in heavy fog sure is hard, but don't worry about it. Try submerging and using SONAR. It will give a rough bearing to the target, which will help a lot. Other than that, I can't help a heck of a lot. I remember my first missions in fog, and they were frustrating.

If you started the campaign in Sept. 1939, that fall is really foggy, as I recall. Once you get to winter 1939 or Jan 1940, the fog will go away.

[zzsteven]

Originally Posted by C-4

Attacking in heavy fog sure is hard, but don't worry about it. Try submerging and using SONAR. It will give a rough bearing to the target, which will help a lot. Other than that, I can't help a heck of a lot. I remember my first missions in fog, and they were frustrating.

If you started the campaign in Sept. 1939, that fall is really foggy, as I recall. Once you get to winter 1939 or Jan 1940, the fog will go away.

The weather has no relation to the date, the time, or reality. What you experienced during that period will probably be totaly different for another player.

zz

[C-4]

Are you serious? I thought it's foggy only in the fall, as it probably is in reality.

[zzsteven]

Originally Posted by C-4

Are you serious? I thought it's foggy only in the fall, as it probably is in reality.

Yes, I am serious. The state of the weather is random. The condition of fog is a misnomer, it's really the visiblity condition. How can you have fog with a 15m/s wind?

zz

[Rose]

Why is a surface attack necessary? My method is to never let them know what hit 'em. Its just as easy to get a bearing with periscope and sonar as it is on the surface.

[Pants]

I stay submerged,raise scope to verify the target, then switch to TDC and attack from there..but thats just me, as you can see there are various ways to attack, you just have to find what suits your playing style

[Jimbuna]

I use sonar and periscope. Even though you can't actually see the ship, in my experience you tend to see the funnel smoke first..I then add a little 'guesswork' to the plot and just hope for the best :hmm:

[Achtung Englander]

if there are destroyers out there - dive and have a cup of coffee, you will live longer

[irish1958]

Actung Englander
That's true. I can't see the dd's but they can see me and the heavy seas and 15 ms winds don't appear to hamper them in the least.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Rose

Why is a surface attack necessary? My method is to never let them know what hit 'em. Its just as easy to get a bearing with periscope and sonar as it is on the surface.

In real life the periscope didn't let in enough light at night, unless there was a very bright moon. Surface attacks were almost the only way to do it at night, and a lot of captains preferred the night surface attack to any other. In medium weather there was a chance the submarine would broach, or accidentally surface, which made the periscope very difficult to use and staying surfaced easier. In bad weather, represented in the game by the 15 m/s winds, torpedoes were likely to porpoise and dive, or just go off course. Very bad weather usually meant no attack at all.

[_Seth_]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

In real life the periscope didn't let in enough light at night, unless there was a very bright moon. Surface attacks were almost the only way to do it at night, and a lot of captains preferred the night surface attack to any other. In medium weather there was a chance the submarine would broach, or accidentally surface, which made the periscope very difficult to use and staying surfaced easier. In bad weather, represented in the game by the 15 m/s winds, torpedoes were likely to porpoise and dive, or just go off course. Very bad weather usually meant no attack at all.

And the real war uboat-kaleuns didnt have a little green triangle on their reticle to tell them when to launch the eels...

[Rose]

Originally Posted by _Seth_

And the real war uboat-kaleuns didnt have a little green triangle on their reticle to tell them when to launch the eels...