I Would Like Some Tactical Advice...

[SilverGhost]

...specifically to what methods you fellow kaleuns use to approach a convoy.

I've tried the arrive ahead of time at 90 degree AoB and wait. I've decided that this tactic puts me to exposed to the leading escorts and I usually can't get to the big targets from the sideline.

Now I've been trying the "arrive slightly ahead of time directly in the path" and turn into the convoy submerged and sneak into the middle.

One problem I'm having is gauging where the "center" rank and file is. It's easy to overshoot the estimated line of travel and end up too far on the opposing edge of the line...which usually ends up with less than desired results! I'm also arriving generally at the point where my sonar man has a "long range" fix on the convoy. The black indicator paths are long and it's a gamble as to where the true direction of travel will be.

Obviously, I can't spend a lot of time on the surface in the approach pattern as the lead escorts will detect you. And once submerged, my speed cannot compensate for any position errors as a "slow" convoy is still at least twice as fast as I am.

Any advice on improving my set-ups would be greatly appreciated!

[AVGWarhawk]

I also use the 90 degree approach. I go deep to avoid the escort. Once he has passed I make my run to the merchants. I exit out the back of convoy. Sometimes I can submerge into the track of the convoy and wait. That usually works. Your best bet is attack at night. Wait at some distance at 90 degrees of the convoy track. Once the patrol craft pass, make a high speed run at the convoy, let all you available tubes go and the stern tube if you can, dive deep and exit the back of convoy. Repeat as neccessary.

[AirborneCZ]

are you talking about vanilla SH or GW?

in vanilla you generally simply wait submerged in path of convoy silently and wait til leading DD passes over you, sink them and slip away hidden behind some cargo that masques your signature,

in GW i havent played it yet lol but as they state in manual, you should observe DDs protection paths patterns and find "hole" to slip inside....

[SilverGhost]

I'm using GWX.

[MRV]

How do you do that, approaching by 90 degrees. I always find myself being directly in front of the convoy because of the way I intercept it.:D

I managed to break into an convoi in early war on surface at night with GWX yesterday, after the first torps hit, I went to PD. Due to the many merchants around me no escort could hear me.

Great work on the sensors ;-)

[SilverGhost]

MRV...

Generally speaking, I go after a convoy where the plot to intercept is always ahead. I don't bother with fast task forces, or convoys where I have to "chase".

If you're going to intercept ahead of the line, you'll have the luxury to set up whereever you choose at a 90 AoB and wait it out for however long or short it takes. I have found though, the longer you have to wait the odds increase that the convoy will change its bearing and there you sit...!:-?

[Jimbuna]

I always reckon it's best to be ahead of the convoy, facing it thereby leaving as small a profile as possible :up:

[Corsair]

The year of the war is very important, you wil use different tactics at different times, but always preferably at night. Early in the war, you can with some patience get close running on the surface, decks awash if needed. As the war goes on, you must rely on longer shots or try "dead stick" approach, submerged less than 20m and silent/slow and let the convoy come over you. Then it's like with flight sims "one pass and haul ass"...
Playing DiD, I learned not to be too greedy and prefer to sink less at one time but live for another day.

[Jimbuna]

The year of the war is very important, you wil use different tactics at different times, but always preferably at night. Early in the war, you can with some patience get close running on the surface, decks awash if needed. As the war goes on, you must rely on longer shots or try "dead stick" approach, submerged less than 20m and silent/slow and let the convoy come over you. Then it's like with flight sims "one pass and haul ass"...
Playing DiD, I learned not to be too greedy and prefer to sink less at one time but live for another day.

Yeah...later on in the war...launch then dive...reload and plot a course to get ahead of the convoy again...don't get too greedy and allow the escorts to sus you out...live to fight another day :up:

[Letum]

Don't wait around....try to arrive in your fire zone just before you need to fire.

[MRV]

MRV...

Generally speaking, I go after a convoy where the plot to intercept is always ahead. I don't bother with fast task forces, or convoys where I have to "chase".

If you're going to intercept ahead of the line, you'll have the luxury to set up whereever you choose at a 90 AoB and wait it out for however long or short it takes. I have found though, the longer you have to wait the odds increase that the convoy will change its bearing and there you sit...!:-?

OK I must say I haven't tried that in GWX yet, in GW 1.1a I experienced that I was spotted almost everytime when being ahead of a convoy and tried to quickly move to its sides. So almost everytime I broke into the convoi and started shooting the most valuable merchants passing by at port and starbord.