Irish Sea

[robj250]

I'm still on my first patrol (Oct 1939) and have 7 torpedoes left and was think of returning to base by going up through the sea between Scotland and Ireland, then going around Scapa and down to my base.

Has anyone done that?

What are my chances of getting through?

Rob

EDIT: The torpedoes are G7a and I have a VIIB (no upgrades, green crew)

[LeafsFan]

Never even thought of doing it. The Northern entrance is very narrow, and should be heavily patrolled, The southern entrance is much wider, but was heavily mined, at least historically.

HB

[melnibonian]

In 1939 you can get away with such a course. You have to be careful as there are loads of DDs in the area and a lot of minefields. My suggestion would be to run decks awash to minimise your profile. There are loads of ships in the area as well and you can hit them with the deck gun as well. If you're a bit careful and lucky you can get away with a huge tonnage.

Good Luck:up:

[LeafsFan]

In 1939 you can get away with such a course. You have to be careful as there are loads of DDs in the area and a lot of minefields. My suggestion would be to run decks awash to minimise your profile. There are loads of ships in the area as well and you can hit them with the deck gun as well. If you're a bit careful and lucky you can get away with a huge tonnage.

Good Luck:up:

Takes a lot of Cojones to do this.

HB

[melnibonian]

In 1939 you can get away with such a course. You have to be careful as there are loads of DDs in the area and a lot of minefields. My suggestion would be to run decks awash to minimise your profile. There are loads of ships in the area as well and you can hit them with the deck gun as well. If you're a bit careful and lucky you can get away with a huge tonnage.

Good Luck:up:

Takes a lot of Cojones to do this.

HB
I have done it in 1939 and early 1940 but it was mighty scary. Loads of tonnage though.

[robj250]

Gee, I never even thought about minefields. Thanks for that info. When you did it mel, how was it getting through that very narrow spot near the top?

With respect to the minefields, did you stay put at night (like, not move), because they would be very difficult to see at night.

I wouldn't even know what to look for (minefields) as I've never seen one. I guess I'd have to stay on the bridge while running decks awash.

Would you dive and let the DDs go by and just look for the merchants?

[melnibonian]

The minefields are almost everywhere on that area but the mines are under the surface. So if you go to periscope depth and further down you run the risk to hit them. If you're on the surface you don't need to worry about mines, but you need to be careful about DDs and planes. That's the reason why I'm suggesting to run decks awash. If you are attacked you can dive quickly, and you can minimise the chances of being spotted by DDs.

When I did it I was on the move all the time. I was running decks awash and I was trying to set up ambushes to lone merchants. At night I was attacking from the surface and I was finishing up the target with the deck gun. During day time the attacks were done at periscope depth but with all engines stop (that way you avoid being hit by a mine). The conning tower was a bit exposed but if you raise the scope just a bit you can still see and fire a shot. Don't forget the merchants and the DDs are not too good in spotting you early in the war, so you can use it to your advantage and be a bit more aggressive. Because of your small profile you will most probably see the ships before they see you. If it's a merchant you can plan your attack without any problem. If it's a warship you're still running decks awash. You don't need to submerge straight away. Depending on the time of day and the weather you can always position your boat far away from the warship and still keep moving on the surface. If you're spotted or if you need to dive, then you have to pray you're not inside a minefield. If that's the case I would suggest you either go to the bottom and stay there until the danger passes or if you need to be moving try to do it at small speeds and for short periods of time.

As I said before it's tricky and dangerous but it can yield a lot of tonnage, and early in the war it's a unique oportunity.

Good Luck:up: (and trust me you will need it;) )

[Jimbuna]

I beg to differ Rob...the minefields esecially in the narrow section can be too intense :yep:
Consider going north up the west coast of Ireland and around the tip of Scotland :up:

[mookiemookie]

Wow, I never knew it was that heavily mined. I guess I've been very lucky. I know the northern entrance to the Irish Sea has a minefield on kind of the northeastern section of it over by the Hebrides, so I always hugged the coast of Northern Ireland when travelling through that part.

Metric craploads (yes, that's a scientific measurement....the "Metric Crapload":rotfl: ) of tonnage going in and out of the Bristol Channel though. I'd say it's worth it. Why not? Yeah, you WILL get attacked by DD's, Elcos and the occasional airplane. But it's early in the war and they should be relatively easy to avoid. Besides, it's your first patrol. You're not losing much if you get sunk. ;)

[melnibonian]

Besides, it's your first patrol. You're not losing much if you get sunk. ;)
Just a crapy crew that cannot hit a barn door with the deck gun;) :D :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Abd_von_Mumit]

Besides, it's your first patrol. You're not losing much if you get sunk. ;)
Just a crapy crew that cannot hit a barn door with the deck gun;) :D :rotfl: :rotfl:
What the hell?! How you say ”You don't loose much”?! It's a life risk, and life is not something that you can order twice paying by PayPal! :D

[melnibonian]

Besides, it's your first patrol. You're not losing much if you get sunk. ;)
Just a crapy crew that cannot hit a barn door with the deck gun;) :D :rotfl: :rotfl:
What the hell?! How you say ”You don't loose much”?! It's a life risk, and life is not something that you can order twice paying by PayPal! :D
No no. That was a joke for Rob as he was complaining about his deck gun crew in another post:D

[mookiemookie]

Besides, it's your first patrol. You're not losing much if you get sunk. ;)
Just a crapy crew that cannot hit a barn door with the deck gun;) :D :rotfl: :rotfl:
What the hell?! How you say ”You don't loose much”?! It's a life risk, and life is not something that you can order twice paying by PayPal! :D

:rotfl: Don't worry. My advice to him would have been very different if he were going to try it in real life. The beauty of SH3 is that you can be reincarnated as many times as you like!

[Abd_von_Mumit]

Oh men… <rotfl> I was joking too, really… :D

[melnibonian]

Oh men… <rotfl> I was joking too, really… :D
I know that. No worries;) :up: :up:

[Brag]

In the stock-game, I was ordered into the Irish sea (about a year ago, so don't remember details) Can't add much to what Melnibonian said. Lots of DDs in the area and most of the time in sound contact with some merchant. I stayed stationary/submerged during the day and travelled on the surface at night. Bagged a number or merchants and made it through to the Celtic Sea. :D

Best of luck.

[Eyebiter]

Amount of merchant traffic makes it worthwhile in 1939. Plenty of target practice for the deck gun crews.

Unlike the stock game with GWX it's best to avoid the frequently encounter armed trawlers (530 tons). Trying to duel on the surface with the deck gun usually results in major damage to the U-Boat. Normally don't want to waste a torpedo on a boat that small. Best bet is to dive, go silent, and change direction to avoid.

Have a good sonar operator because it's common to detect two or three ships at the same time. Usually try to follow the single slow merchant contacts until the warships are out of range, then surface and move in for a deck gun attack on the unprotected freighter.

[Iron Budokan]

I've tried this early in the war and racked up a goodly number of ships. I've not tried it with GWX, though, and suspect it would be a lot more difficult with that mod enabled.

[LeafsFan]

That would be a safe bet.

HB

[Sailor Steve]

Since Liverpool was one of the main convoy staging areas it should be well nigh impossible.

Can't say about GWX though.

[The Munster]

I beg to differ Rob...the minefields esecially in the narrow section can be too intense :yep:
Consider going north up the west coast of Ireland and around the tip of Scotland :up:

Next time you're round here, call in and I'll put the kettle on :rotfl:

[bookworm_020]

The area between Londondairy and Belfast is a nice hunting area. I was able to pick up an extra 30,000 tons with my deck gun and still have some ammo left over. There is also a light ship off Belfast which is always fun to lob a couple of shells into!

[robj250]

Thank you guys for the invaluable information.

I will be sure to let you know via this post how I made out

Rob

[Jimbuna]

I beg to differ Rob...the minefields esecially in the narrow section can be too intense :yep:
Consider going north up the west coast of Ireland and around the tip of Scotland :up:

Next time you're round here, call in and I'll put the kettle on :rotfl:

your on :up: :rotfl:

[robj250]

Well, I can see it's goning to take me a while to get up near Belfast, or to run into a string of merchants. I've been running decks-a-wash and ahead slow. I just snuck past one V&W without her finding me, cause I will need the remaining 7 torpedoes I have left to sink the merchants.

I sure hope it's daylight when I get near all those minefields in the "choke" near the top before I get into the open sea again. That way I'll be able to see them it I have to submerge to avoid being seen or escaping "trouble"

I'm not too keen on how shallow the Irish waters are. No room to dive deep if I have to.

Rob

[melnibonian]

Keep up to good work Rob and Good Luck:up:

[Gezoes]

I've tried this early in the war and racked up a goodly number of ships. I've not tried it with GWX, though, and suspect it would be a lot more difficult with that mod enabled.

Yup, dito here.

Never noticed the mines though (GW1.1)

Rob, I went the other way, from north to south. You however, are sailing north. That means you will cross into AM53, the convoy bottleneck. Might want to save a couple of fish eh? :ping:

Good luck and let us know! I would say low battery power could be a problem?

[Jimbuna]

If your able to Rob...take a few screenshots for everyone...that'd be nice :up:

[robj250]

If your able to Rob...take a few screenshots for everyone...that'd be nice :up:

Well Jim and the other guys. I snuck into Keltishe See at decks-a-wash. I encountered a V&W DD but snuck by her. Then I had to dive from being spotted by an aircraft. Then later I came across a tanker and a merchant at night, Sunk them both, but they were zig-zaging so much I wasted a couple torpedoes. That left me with 3 torpedoes, so I turned and high-tailed it out of there and am now heading for Kiel via around the Islands and over top of Scapa and down to Kiel Canal.

I will post the snap shots tomorrow. In the order I encountered them.

Rob.

[melnibonian]

Well Jim and the other guys. I snuck into Keltishe See at decks-a-wash. I encountered a V&W DD but snuck by her. Then I had to dive from being spotted by an aircraft. Then later I came across a tanker and a merchant at night, Sunk them both, but they were zig-zaging so much I wasted a couple torpedoes. That left me with 3 torpedoes, so I turned and high-tailed it out of there and am now heading for Kiel via around the Islands and over top of Scapa and down to Kiel Canal.

I will post the snap shots tomorrow. In the order I encountered them.

Rob.
Keep up the good work Rob:up:

On the area around Scapa Flow there is quite a bit of traffic so you might get a bit more tonnage before you reach Kiel.

[robj250]

My trip into Irish Sea Oct 7 1939
Keltishe See
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/5759/snap01691kd9.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/5759/snap01691kd9.jpg)
Heading in decks-a-wash
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7360/snap0170dl8.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7360/snap0170dl8.jpg)
Spot V&W Destroyer
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/3323/snap01701sy8.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/3323/snap01701sy8.jpg)
V&W Destroyer
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9612/snap01702nu7.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9612/snap01702nu7.jpg)
Aircraft which caused me to dive
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/4732/snap0171ul6.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/4732/snap0171ul6.jpg)
Spot tanker at night
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/4971/snap0172ka3.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/4971/snap0172ka3.jpg)
Torpedo hits tanker
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/6554/snap0173py6.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/6554/snap0173py6.jpg)
Tanker sinking
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8422/snap0176ni0.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8422/snap0176ni0.jpg)
Torpedo hits merchant
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7333/snap0177rb7.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7333/snap0177rb7.jpg)

[bigboywooly]

Hmmm
Nice
Interesting pic the V&W one - he is only just under 4km away yet he isnt charging at you like everyone seems to think
And you are parallel - showing the biggest aspect of the boat

Lets hope you make it home ok now eh
Nice shots Rob

[melnibonian]

Great pictures Rob:up:

Keep up the good work and get back to Kiel for drinks, medals, girls and a long party until the next patrol;) :D :D :up:

@BBW: DDs can be avoided in the open sea. As you tend to spot them from quite a distance if you position yourself at a distance of 8-4Km you can pass them by without much trouble, especially if you're running decks awash. Obviously the weather conditions are important. If it's night or the weather is bad you can come even closer without problem. I sneak passed 1.5Km from a DD in March 1940 at night, in medium fog and with waves of 15 meters!!!! It was a scary moment I tell you and I will not like to do it again;)

[bigboywooly]

Oh I know you can
Have done it myself
Tis most of the others :rotfl:

[melnibonian]

Oh I know you can
Have done it myself
Tis most of the others :rotfl:
Be patient. They'll learn the hard way eventually;) :D

[bigboywooly]

lol
Patience is a virtue I am steadily losing
Off for a new career now anyway
1943 so should be fun

[Jimbuna]

Great pics Rob :yep: ...good luck on the trip home :up:

[The Munster]

lol
Patience is a virtue I am steadily losing
Off for a new career now anyway
1943 so should be fun

Lucky you BBW, I can't get past 1940 ! Attacked a Convoy and sank 2 piddling ships totalling 3200 tons [verdammt] then DC'd by a Flower which did a great job on my boat; using LRT and all front compartments lit up like a Xmas tree and times to fix looked like telephone numbers.
Headed N, Convoy headed S .. thought the Flower would get sick at some stage and get back to the Convoy .. nope, even started running over the top of me ping ping ping without dropping DC's .. taking the mick or wot ?!
Haven't got the knack of getting away yet, either, deep, PD or somewhere inbetween so will scour the threads for inspiration.

[bigboywooly]

Is a new career Kpt
I killed my last crew surfacing in a convoy in the fog
Collided with a N class DD
That was 41

So thought try a later war one

[The Munster]

Oh I see what you mean, think I'll try a different year too .. sick of the 'needle being stuck' on 1940. Cheers :up:

[robj250]

Well, I'm just about home. I just have to find the point where I can get the automatic routing back through the Kiel Canal.

Rob

[bigboywooly]

Well, I'm just about home. I just have to find the point where I can get the automatic routing back through the Kiel Canal.

Rob

Stop just short of entering the canal
Then bring up the inbound route
Then tell your nav to return to course and they should join your boat with the inbound route

[Sailor Steve]

Hmmm
Nice
Interesting pic the V&W one - he is only just under 4km away yet he isnt charging at you like everyone seems to think
And you are parallel - showing the biggest aspect of the boat

Lets hope you make it home ok now eh
Nice shots Rob
I'm confused. I see two shots, one obviously external. The only onboard shot is from the periscope, indicating he is submerged. Why would his periscope be spotted at 4 km?

[bigboywooly]

Twas a sly remark about all the comments " I get spotted at 8km and attacked "
Obviously depends on your style of play
Your right , there is no need to be spotted at that range
Thundering along with you peri fully extended or decks awash might on the other hand

[robj250]

Twas a sly remark about all the comments " I get spotted at 8km and attacked "
Obviously depends on your style of play
Your right , there is no need to be spotted at that range
Thundering along with you peri fully extended or decks awash might on the other hand

BBW
I got back to Kiel and now I'm looking for the Dec 23 upgrade. I notice I have the Dec 23 Correction file which had a folder and inside the folder is a data folder and a mods folder and documentation folder, Do I put the GWX Correction folder in Mods for installation by JSGME?

Next question, I read somewhere that there was a zip file that goes with it, but I don't seem to have it.

Once installed, can I add Furbars sub skin for VIIB and SObers 3D waves?

SOrry to be a bug, but I don't want to bugger up the upgrade.

Rob


Thanks
Rob

[bigboywooly]

Click below my sig on the GWX D\L
The patch is in there

If its one of the latest GWX skins from Fubar then yes
The older ones that come with a dat file cant be used

[robj250]

Okay, I d/l the GWX_Dec23__Corrections.7z. I noticed there are other files: GWCxfg2SH3Cmdr2.7.zip, Coloured_contacts.7z, and GWX.exe,7z (all 2007)
The Furbers skins have data files so I guess I cannot use them, where are the GWX skins for subs?

Rob

Edit: That d/l was exactly what I had d/l before. Do I put the whole folder GWX_Dec23rd_Corrections in the mods section in Silent Hunter III? I'm sorry, but that is confusing, because it also has a mod folder in it and a data folder in it.

[bigboywooly]

Extract the Dec 23rd zip file into - C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\SilentHunterIII\MODS

There are some GWX skins in the mods section
Danlisa\Seth\Steed and Fubar among others have all done some

The - GWCxfg2SH3Cmdr2.7.zip is for GWX SH3commander users
The - Coloured_contacts.7z replaces the grey contacts with colour , also gives you the orange marker back too

The exe is just the installer exe for GWX

The mods folder in the patch just replaces something in the Mods folder - confusing I know but just extract into the path above and all will be ok

[fredbass]

All GWX mods should have a folder of their own. Each one should go in the Silent Hunter III/MODS folder.

Commander is a separate program really, that's why it has it's own separate folder as does SH3Gen.

The only other mod I can think of that wouldn't be in the mod folder is the weather mod. It's just added directly to the main Silent Hunter III folder.

So in a nut shell, any mod folder in the Silent Hunter III/Mods folder will be displayed as an available mod on the left side of JSGME until you enable it.

[melnibonian]

Rob you just put the Dec 23 update into your MODS directory (C\Program Files\Ubisoft\SH3\MODS and you enable it with JSGME. Make sure before you enable it to rollback SH3Cmd and disable all other mods you are using. After the update is enabled you can add again any mod you like.

As far as skins are concerned you can download anything you want from Fubar's page http://hosted.filefront.com/fubar45/ and from danlisa's skins you can use for the time only the IXC and IXB Weathered http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=100505