GWX and SecSupportGroup

[Ducimus]

I only have two words to say about that.

They're back!




Im glad someone finnally added them back in. I remember back in the days before the supermods when people ran Improved Convoys. Man oh man the 2nd support group in that mod was an asskicker. I used to DREAD biscay bay, and NOT because of the aircraft (although i was running improved airpower at the time too). Then, at some point, they were forgot about. Never saw them in UC vanilla, GW11a, and i dont think they appeared in any NYGM' mods either, although i could be mistaken.

So all this time, i knew i was sailing freely through the bay (i dont count the aircraft, they worry me, but not like the 2nd support group did). They did traumtize me so much that i never forgot about it, i knew they werent in any of the newer mods, but i was nervous just the same. I lost a couple good long careers to that group. The depth charging i got back then was on an epic scale. It was like playing the U505 mission in a campaign game, maybe even worse.

So yeah they are back, and yup, i did run into them. No they didnt kill me, but yes, i do beleive i was a bit nervous about that encounter. So then...... Watch yourself in the suicide stretch. (On the plus side if this worries you, they're not elite's. The ones in Improved convoys were elite)

[Letum]

Ahhh, Isn't that Captian F.Walkers group?

[Ducimus]

Johnny walker. Guy was reputed to be a hardass. I read someplace he'd ask uboat men what boat they were from before bringing them onboard, and if they didn't answer he'd leave them in the water to die.

http://www.mikekemble.com/ww2/walker.html
http://www.mikekemble.com/ww2/walker2.html

[Letum]

I read a very pro-allied bias biography of him a few years ago. Like almost all destroyer captains he opened fire on u-boat crews exiting the conning tower if it was not clear if the u-boat was sinking, but Ive never heard of him throwing survivors back in.....perhaps he did, like I said, the book was very pro-allied as it was published soon after the war. :hmm:

*edit* looking at the records at U-boat.net, there are u-boats lost to F.J.Walker that had entire crews surviving.

[Schatten]

I read a very pro-allied bias biography of him a few years ago. Like almost all destroyer captains he opened fire on u-boat crews exiting the conning tower if it was not clear if the u-boat was sinking, but Ive never heard of him throwing survivors back in.....perhaps he did, like I said, the book was very pro-allied as it was published soon after the war. :hmm:

Well that just sounds like sound tactics there, opening fire on U-Boat crews coming up through the conning tower on a boat that wasn't obviously sinking. They could be doing anything from trying to abandon ship for a reason you don't know about to trying to man the guns. Yeah manning the guns may not be a brilliant move but if you were a DD captain in that position would you risk it? Not likely.

[Letum]

I read a very pro-allied bias biography of him a few years ago. Like almost all destroyer captains he opened fire on u-boat crews exiting the conning tower if it was not clear if the u-boat was sinking, but Ive never heard of him throwing survivors back in.....perhaps he did, like I said, the book was very pro-allied as it was published soon after the war. :hmm:
Well that just sounds like sound tactics there, opening fire on U-Boat crews coming up through the conning tower on a boat that wasn't obviously sinking. They could be doing anything from trying to abandon ship for a reason you don't know about to trying to man the guns. Yeah manning the guns may not be a brilliant move but if you were a DD captain in that position would you risk it? Not likely.
Yup, there where small arms and machine guns in the u-boat and AA guns and a 88mm on the deck.
The British naturally did not trust the Nazi's.
It was totally understandable that if no clear signs of sinking or surrender where made that the first people out of the conning tower would get shot.
This is why it was customary for the captain to leave the u-boat first, it is the other way round on surface ships.


*edit* Sorry for going OT!

[Jimbuna]

Never actually read any books solely about the guy, but wasn't he a 'workaholic' who suddenly collapsed and died out of sheer 'bodily exhaustion' whilst ashore ? :hmm:

[Letum]

yer, He had a fatal stroke due to nervous fatigue.
He's a interesting guy.