a bit too quiet

[She-Wolf]

Hello all, been curled up in me hammock feeling poorly for a bit - but back on the briny now. I have reached my patrol area twice now - still in the middle of the second 24 hour stint. On the first patrol, apart from a couple of planes coming close while I was on the surface recharging the batteries ( I crash-dived to avoid being spotted), I had no sightings of other ships, despite radio messages telling me to press home the attack. This patrol too seems to be very 'empty'. I just wondered - am I doing something wrong? I am all for realism, so this is not a grumble, just wondered really :)

[danlisa]

Complete your 24 hr patrol & then move onto to an area where you might encounter shipping.

BDU doesn't always give you the best intellegence.

Or, after patrolling you're assigned grid, move over one grid and patrol again, this would be close to real life.

AM51 & AM52 are always a good bet.:yep:

[AVGWarhawk]

Usually my assigned grid to patrol comes up fruitless. I move on to other hunting grounds. Pull down your shipping lane maps and find a busy spot. Patrol and they will come:up:. BE22 seems to be a crossroads to me:up:

[Mooncatt]

yup some uboats didnt encounter anything on a patrol.
i try and get in a shipping lane on the way to/from my grid usually hit quite a lot on the way there and back

[Brag]

What is your base, patrol area, and sub type?

[She-Wolf]

ah, right... shipping lanes...hmm. I will check it out tonight.

Guten Morgen Brag. I am based at Kiel, the patrol area is AN 81 ( I think) and I am in a type IIa sub - zat right?:)

[AVGWarhawk]

ah, right... shipping lanes...hmm. I will check it out tonight.

Guten Morgen Brag. I am based at Kiel, the patrol area is AN 81 ( I think) and I am in a type IIa sub - zat right?:)
See if you can move to a base in France.....gets you closer to the fun:up: Get a bigger boat also!

[She-Wolf]

how do I get a bigger boat - flutter my lashes and smile sweetly?:rotfl:

[Kumando]

how do I get a bigger boat - flutter my lashes and smile sweetly?:rotfl:

Ask transfer to another flotilla:up: .

[She-Wolf]

aahhhh! fings is looking up!:D

[AVGWarhawk]

how do I get a bigger boat - flutter my lashes and smile sweetly?:rotfl:

Ask Doenitz....wink wink, nudge nudge:smug:

[Tiny]

Actually I just encountered a convoy in BE97 which was the grid I had got assigned to patrol. :)

[danurve]

Usually my assigned grid to patrol comes up fruitless. I move on to other hunting grounds. Pull down your shipping lane maps and find a busy spot. Patrol and they will come:up:. BE22 seems to be a crossroads to me:up:

Just the other night after a good convoy intercept in AM53 I used Lorient to resupply & fuel. Then I figgured hit BE and check it, well I got jumped by a Hurricaine, thought I would hash it out. 3 more planes show up and I got blasted. Limped back to Brest for repair. There goes two months and only 1 Hurricaine shot down to show for it!
Well, at least I might make it into `41 this time.

[Brag]

ah, right... shipping lanes...hmm. I will check it out tonight.

Guten Morgen Brag. I am based at Kiel, the patrol area is AN 81 ( I think) and I am in a type IIa sub - zat right?:)

Guten afternoonz Frau Kaleun,
When in similar position/situation, I did this:Drew a line from a point about 20 kms east of Peterhead down to Flamborough head. That gives you the most logical route for merchies going either north or south. You should be picking up screw noises by lurking along this line. Don't chase after ships going away, waste of fuel.
I had good luck on the approaches of the Fyrth of Forth and right around Peterhead itself. I presume this is 1939-40? You should find plenty of unescorted traffic about 50 kms off the coast.

Good hunting :D

[High Voltage]

how do I get a bigger boat - flutter my lashes and smile sweetly?:rotfl:
Ask Doenitz....wink wink, nudge nudge:smug:

Tried that....it didn't work. :nope: Next time I'll shave the beard...

[AVGWarhawk]

how do I get a bigger boat - flutter my lashes and smile sweetly?:rotfl:
Ask Doenitz....wink wink, nudge nudge:smug:
Tried that....it didn't work. :nope: Next time I'll shave the beard...

Might want to shower after patrol;)

[11Bravo]

ah, right... shipping lanes...hmm. I will check it out tonight.

Guten Morgen Brag. I am based at Kiel, the patrol area is AN 81 ( I think) and I am in a type IIa sub - zat right?:)

I have done 9 patrols out of Kiel in a Type IIA (U-13) and just passed 100,000 tons. My best hunting grounds have been just next door in AN84. If you get AN81 hug the south-west corner and use your sonar (hydrophones). There is a lot of traffic running north and south around Lowestoft. Singles in '39, convoys in '40. If you get bored, raid Hartlpool to the north or Dover to the south. The real key to finding targets is your sonar. Only use visual during daylight when recharging batteries, and replenishing oxygen. And don't rely on your sonar man for all the work. Take over once an hour or two and do it yourself. I find targets at twice the range as my sonar guy.

If that doesn't work or you want more excitement, use SH3Gen with intelligence maxed out to get the skinny on what's in port, or use the GWX Spy Sat to increase map contacts. I recommend both as a learning tool/infotainment while concentrating on doing it right using the sonar and innovative patrolling.

And ignore all that bigger boat stuff. Size doesn't matter!! :hmm:

[She-Wolf]

crumbs... I still have so much to learn. Well, thanks all, got enough here to keep me busy for a week I reckon. I did not realise we could go off and do our own thing, thought we had to traipse dutifully back to base as soon as the patrol was completed. What can I do about refuelling though? Getting a bit low to do too much gallivanting up and down the coast... time I went back and looked at the guides I think.:up:

[Khourieat]

Complete your 24 hr patrol & then move onto to an area where you might encounter shipping.

BDU doesn't always give you the best intellegence.

Or, after patrolling you're assigned grid, move over one grid and patrol again, this would be close to real life.

AM51 & AM52 are always a good bet.:yep:

Best intelligence?!?

I'm happy when they don't send me to patrol in the middle of continental SPAIN...

I tend to play around BE 13/15, I think, who knows, not me :nope:

[bigboywooly]

crumbs... I still have so much to learn. Well, thanks all, got enough here to keep me busy for a week I reckon. I did not realise we could go off and do our own thing, thought we had to traipse dutifully back to base as soon as the patrol was completed. What can I do about refuelling though? Getting a bit low to do too much gallivanting up and down the coast... time I went back and looked at the guides I think.:up:

If you keep your speed to around 7kts on the way to patrol you should have plenty left when you get there to hunt
Regular sound checks every hour or so when surfaced also helps pick up traffic

Not much in the way of refuelling early war
Docking at a supply ship\friendly port will end your current patrol anyway
Press the F1 and go to resupply for dates and locations of resupply

Nice to see you back Gracie :up:

[AVGWarhawk]

@she-wolf


Get the bigger boat and get the bigger tanks of fuel to help in your endevours of sinking merchant shipping:arrgh!:

Fuel for thought:know: Remember...Doenitz...nudge nudge wink wink! Go get an IXB and have fun on the East Coast of America!

[Einbaum]

Type II idiot here... :lol:

Last patrol was sort of like yours..I was sent to the Shetland Islands, which is probably on the extreme end of the range for this boat (IIA). You need to manage your fuel and the best way is to try and set engine revs yourself. In the command room, look at the engine rev counters, then set the speed...ideally they should be around the 3000 RPM mark which will give you a good speed/mpg ratio. Ask your navigator how far you can go with the current speed and then calculate how far your whole trip will be, to make sure.

I also had a similar patrol where nothing was sighted until the very last hour (of the 24) on my patrol sector. That's the life of a Type II man I'm afraid. We get all the scraps and have to contend with limited fuel, basic comfort and hemarrhoids. Face it...we are second line troops...just an after-thought for Hitler. We are the fat slob of a soldier left behind the lines cos we're basically useless. And that's the way we like it. Some people like to play the hero...some like to play the insignificant, useless, slob of a Captain...sort of like a Thomsen in Das Boot. Cigarette hanging from his lips, boiled egg in his pocket, drunk and puke stained coat. Welcome to the world of the Type II. :yep:

p.s. Anyone who reaches 100k tons in a type II....time to move to something bigger, matey. Highly unrealistic.

[She-Wolf]

hello Bigboy :)

I have been hanging around near Lowestoft (gotta watch out for shallows and sandbanks there it seems), and have had two targets appear on the navmap, but they fade out on the map before I get close enough to see what they are or get a direct fix on them. And then, when I did locate a ship on the sonar, it's sound suddenly disappeared and I could not locate it anywhere on the dial - now why are these strange disappearances happening I wonder? :o

[AVGWarhawk]

There has been a thread started on ghost ships. You hear them and go investigate. Nothing found. I have not experience it but other claim it happens.

[bigboywooly]

The opportune map contacts diasppear after a short time
The ships may have reached their last waypoint if heading inshore so will exit the game

[She-Wolf]

Oh Einbaum, what a picture you paint:o. I think I will give the puke-stained shirt a miss. I will do what you say about the revs = thanks :D

WarHawk... 'oo is zees Doenitz person?

[She-Wolf]

The opportune map contacts diasppear after a short time
The ships may have reached their last waypoint if heading inshore so will exit the game


aahh, maybe that is it then - not ghosties.

[AVGWarhawk]

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Doenitz.html


Oh Einbaum, what a picture you paint:o. I think I will give the puke-stained shirt a miss. I will do what you say about the revs = thanks :D

WarHawk... 'oo is zees Doenitz person?

I did not know if you were kidding or not She-Wolf but the link above is the man who will render a IXB in France so you can continue your u-boat adventures with impunity:know:. Althought the small IIA is fun sports car with few torpedos. It is high time you get into something a little more sporty. Once in the IX models you will become a IXaholic.

[11Bravo]

crumbs... I still have so much to learn. Well, thanks all, got enough here to keep me busy for a week I reckon. I did not realise we could go off and do our own thing, thought we had to traipse dutifully back to base as soon as the patrol was completed. What can I do about refuelling though? Getting a bit low to do too much gallivanting up and down the coast... time I went back and looked at the guides I think.:up:

Fuel management is crucial in a Type II.

When you leave Kiel get into some open water and select a speed. Wait for the boat to settle down at that speed. Then ask the Navigator to report maximum range at that speed. Write down the speed and the range and do so for all the other speeds. Now select one that has enough range for your mission and stick with it for travelling. For me, that is 1/3 ahead.

Once you get to your patrol square, ask the navigator to report the maximum range at that speed. You will get a number about 3/4 what he told you before. Ratio the two numbers and that's how full your gas tank is...3/4 full for example. That means you will need 1/4 a tank to get back. Everything else is for patrolling and maneuvering for attack.

Check your fuel every day. I typically enter Kiel with under 100 km of fuel left. My patrols last about two weeks. The Chief Engineer tells me we are out of fuel while cruising through the Kanal. The Fuel Gage will have read zero long ago. Live on the edge...

[Einbaum]

SheWolf, 11Bravo is another TypeII weirdo like myself. :lol: I have a very similar experience to his...arrive in port with the engine chugging along on fumes. Most people use the Type II as a stepping stone to bigger things. For others like me and Bravo it's a way of playing....adds a whole new dimension, like limited fuel, torpedos and nothing is expected of you. They don't even notice if you've left port....or care. :shifty:

So key to the Type II is management of limited resources I'm afraid. This is a typical TypeII captain:

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/366/bootthomseneg1.jpg


It's from the film Das Boot...I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it already. Yes...the Type II is the mule of the Kriegsmarine, the "school" boat, or the boat for learners. But my is she a beaut under a certain light:

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6903/overcastya3.jpg

p.s. Oh yeah and when I send a patrol report to BDU (submarine HQ), I always get back "who?"...I repeat: "U-3 leaving patrol sector, 0 torpedos left" and they answer something like "..we have a U-3 in the fleet?...ok....then, come back to port...I suppose". Blimming had enough of BDU.

[Brag]

hello Bigboy :)

I have been hanging around near Lowestoft (gotta watch out for shallows and sandbanks there it seems), and have had two targets appear on the navmap, but they fade out on the map before I get close enough to see what they are or get a direct fix on them. And then, when I did locate a ship on the sonar, it's sound suddenly disappeared and I could not locate it anywhere on the dial - now why are these strange disappearances happening I wonder? :o

When you get a sighting report: Take your ruler and draw a line representing the course of your possible target. Then, take the square ruler thingie and draw a course to somewhere where you think you will intercept the target. It will show the time enroute. Calculate how far the target will travel in that time period. Take your dividers and draw a circle of that distance. Adjust your course and voila, you will probably meet your target there.:D

[TarJak]

You can always try the grids that run along the top of the northern coast of Scotland. I've never failed to find some loners running east or west in there. Again about 50-100 km's north of the coast is about right.

[She-Wolf]

my, you are a clever lot. I am torn between tugging on Doenitz's sleeve and slugging it out with the 'little beaut'... I think, for a while I will stick with the IIA, simply because, in real-life I know darn well I wouldn't be doing more than scrubbing the decks, I know so little - and the learning curve is a challenge I want to rise to.

I didn't know, until yesterday that I could work the sonar myself, or that there was a shipping lane chart. I had known about asking the navigator to plot the max distance etc, but had not seen the significance of it in respect of fuel conservation. Each time I come on here you teach me a little more. :up:

[bigboywooly]

Tis what our life is for
:doh:
Wait I mean ................ ummmm
No thats basically it

[She-Wolf]

:know::rotfl:

[hyperion2206]

:know::rotfl:

Just a short question concerning your signature: You are aware that it doesn't make any sense?:p

[She-Wolf]

come now Mr Hyperion sir, where is your perspicacity, your grasp of the quirky? Look again - it makes PERFECT sense if you hold your mouth right when you squint at it one-eyed from beneath furrowed brows and with the sun casting muted dapples from an oblique angle behind your right shoulder! Hmph:smug:

[hyperion2206]

come now Mr Hyperion sir, where is your perspicacity, your grasp of the quirky? Look again - it makes PERFECT sense if you hold your mouth right when you squint at it one-eyed from beneath furrowed brows and with the sun casting muted dapples from an oblique angle behind your right shoulder! Hmph:smug:

Oh, now I see! My bad that I didn't see it right away.:p:lol::rotfl:

[She-Wolf]

aha see - just gotta hold yer mouth right. However, while we are on the subject of sigs, yours is..err. well, I can only make out the second word in morse. Guess I have to hold MY mouth right too !

[Gezoes]

Enter morse code translator or something like that in Google...

I bet he doesn't even know morse code himself ;)

[She-Wolf]

perhaps my morse skills need brushing up - translator you say..hmm, could be useful!:)

[bigboywooly]

:hmm:
Desperately awaiting SH4

Or so it seems

[She-Wolf]

ahh, I thought the first word might be desperately, but I did not have exactly that - and I couldn't work out SH4. Best I could do was SHH. Dumbkopf!:damn:

[bigboywooly]

ahh, I thought the first word might be desperately, but I did not have exactly that - and I couldn't work out SH4. Best I could do was SHH. Dumbkopf!:damn:

Nah thats what I got too but type in Desperately awaiting SH4 and the morse comes out the same :up:

[Morts]

hes sig means

desperatly awaiting SH4

and if you wanna check ur self
go to wikipedia.org and type in morse code in the search

[She-Wolf]

thank you Morts

[Morts]

Np:up:

[Jimbuna]

Np:up:

and your sig reads :hmm:

Submarines drive - far in's sea outside. Submarines hunt torpedoes from the pipes raus, for chase England, England into death.

[Morts]

well i copied it off uboat.net
there it says



U-boats sail
Far, far into the sea
U-boats hunt
Torpedoes out of the tubes
Hunt England, England into death.

[Morts]

it might sound weird because its from a song

"The Uboat Song II":arrgh!:

[Jimbuna]

You must be right...well U-boat net anyways because my German is lousy :D :arrgh!:

[romelus]

my, you are a clever lot. I am torn between tugging on Doenitz's sleeve and slugging it out with the 'little beaut'... I think, for a while I will stick with the IIA, simply because, in real-life I know darn well I wouldn't be doing more than scrubbing the decks, I know so little - and the learning curve is a challenge I want to rise to.

I didn't know, until yesterday that I could work the sonar myself, or that there was a shipping lane chart. I had known about asking the navigator to plot the max distance etc, but had not seen the significance of it in respect of fuel conservation. Each time I come on here you teach me a little more. :up:

if that's the case, i suppose i'll qualify for conjuring up loogies to be applied to officers' shoes with a clean towel and vigorous motion. that is somewhere below the deck girl echelon right?

as in, how the heck do you work the sonar yourself, or find the shipping lane chart? they are not from mods are they? :oops:

[Morts]

You must be right...well U-boat net anyways because my German is lousy :D :arrgh!:

true!!:up: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

i couldn help it

j/k:up: