Advice on Convoy attack needed

[Penelope_Grey]

Hi guys,

I know I have been playing a month, but I am currently faced with a difficult situation. I was tailing a convoy out of Giberalter hanging back waiting till night to fall. So I waited and waited and waited, avoided getting caught, night has come.

So I was all set, saved my game ready to begin my attack. There is only one problem. I am coming at the convoy from its 180 and I am already inside the escort screen.

So as I chase up to get ahead of the convoy at ahead flank I always everytime seem to get surprised by this corvette. The conditions are, clouds none, fog light, winds 5 meters p second.

What would you advise me to do to get my boat into attack position which would minimise my risk of getting detected, currently I tried running pararell to the convoy so, should I go outside the escort screen give the convoy a wide berth and then charge back in on the front?

Any advice is appreciated. I could ask my older brother, but, I want to get by on my own steam. And develop my own tactics.

[Brag]

Hi guys,

I know I have been playing a month, but I am currently faced with a difficult situation. I was tailing a convoy out of Giberalter hanging back waiting till night to fall. So I waited and waited and waited, avoided getting caught, night has come.

So I was all set, saved my game ready to begin my attack. There is only one problem. I am coming at the convoy from its 180 and I am already inside the escort screen.

So as I chase up to get ahead of the convoy at ahead flank I always everytime seem to get surprised by this corvette. The conditions are, clouds none, fog light, winds 5 meters p second.

What would you advise me to do to get my boat into attack position which would minimise my risk of getting detected, currently I tried running pararell to the convoy so, should I go outside the escort screen give the convoy a wide berth and then charge back in on the front?

Any advice is appreciated. I could ask my older brother, but, I want to get by on my own steam. And develop my own tactics.

I would go outside the screen, a good 10 Kms out and race ahead, get into ambush position, submerge and let them come. You may want to read my article on connvoy attacks on my webbie.

Good hunting

[danlisa]

The weather is not to your advantage.

I would break off the attack and then set a parallel course to them but be outside of visual range. Make stops for hydrophone soundings. Travel at flank speed to get in front of the convoy then position yourself for an ambush.

Be warned the convoys coming out of Gib make a few course changes.

You had already reached that conclusion, trust in your instincts Kalean.:yep:

[Penelope_Grey]

I just read it.

Generally I know the position of the convoys course. They are only doing 6 knots. I am doing 17 to 18 knots. So I think my best bet would be to go wide then bomb back in and use the vertical.

Thanks.

[Penelope_Grey]

Thanks danlisa. I'll give it a go later on tonight. I got to go to tesco pick up some essentials.

I'll let you know how it goes, but I only got 4 torps so I may just nail the fiji cruiser in the middle.

[robbo180265]

I would do what the others are suggesting. Swing out wide,fly past them and then attack from the front at a two O'clock or ten O'clock position come in under the lead escort (go silent when near). When clear come up to periscope depth and fill your boots.

Works for me:up: (most of the time)

[Brag]

As Danlisa says--word of caution. If convoy turns toward you, you can run smack into the escorts, so stay at low TC. I got killed in the same are doing what you are going to do. In this case low visibility does not work in your favor.

[Heibges]

You say you are already inside the destroyer screen?

From which bearing are you being surprised by the Corvette?

I've done a surface attack against a convoy from the stern, but it is tough because your eels will have to chase their targets.

Definitely a Real Time situation.

[Penelope_Grey]

Bearing 300 to 340 is where he is sweeping. Basically, I prefer to attack convoys on the surface at night its my preference, but till now I have been fortunate that everytime I have encountered a convoy I have been coming from the front, or in from the sides, so have pretty much been in a strong attack position already.

This time however, not in a good attack position. My guess is there are only 4 perimeter escorts, with the Fiji in the middle of the convoy. So its not heavily escorted.

I am over deep water as well so diving is no issue. I am still not quite ready to play yet, Im having a little surf on the web looking for any mods I may like etc... then... I will go have a crack at it shortly.

[CruiseTorpedo]

Buy this book about uboat tactics, it's very handy and helped me a lot!!

http://www.amazon.com/U-Boat-Commanders-Handbook/dp/0939631210

It's packed full of methods for surface and submerged day and night attacks, includes every from stalking, where to get positioned, on and on. You'll love it! Pretty cheap too at 9 bucks, I bought it at the u505 museum in chicago.

[Heibges]

The Uboat Commanders Handbook is the best $9 a uboat subsimmer can spend.

It will give you step by step instructions for:

1. Standard UBoat SOP
2. Conducting the Overhaul Manuever
3. When to use hydrophones.
4. Nightime Surface Attack
5. Underwater Surprise Torpedo Attack
6. Gunnery Raid
7. Operations against Convoys
8. Avoiding Asdic

[AVGWarhawk]

To hell with that end round!!!!!!!!!!!! Surface the boat..full ahead...cut off the battery charging...you will need all the horses from the diesels. Man(woman) the deck gun.....have your torps prepared...depth set, AOB, speed of target, doors open!!!!!!! Press the attack!!!!!!(BDU) Come in standing on the bridge like you own the world....let them have all the tubes when you see the whites of their eyes. Watch 'em scatter from the hell fire and brimstone!!!! The DD will be busy wondering just what kind of fool Kaleun would pull this stunt!!! In the mass confusion submerge!!!! Rinse and repeat:smug:

This always works for me on patrol #2;)

[GT182]

:hmm: AVG, that's why you always died on Patrol #2. :roll: ;)

[Penelope_Grey]

I did it!! I did a standard box intercept and I torpedoed the Fiji cruiser for just short of 11,000 tons! Oh I can't wait to see the renown!

I am currently at 80m skulking at silent running, I already had one lot of Depthcharges fall on me. but for now I am calling it a night, I'll escape the Corvette later. Might have to hit 160m if his black swan friend shows up.

[AVGWarhawk]

:hmm: AVG, that's why you always died on Patrol #2. :roll: ;)


Did not say anything about that in the operating manual I found in the glovebox!!!

[AVGWarhawk]

I did it!! I did a standard box intercept and I torpedoed the Fiji cruiser for just short of 11,000 tons! Oh I can't wait to see the renown!

I am currently at 80m skulking at silent running, I already had one lot of Depthcharges fall on me. but for now I am calling it a night, I'll escape the Corvette later. Might have to hit 160m if his black swan friend shows up.


:up: I would hit 160m anyway...give them no reason to be able to sink you!

[Foghladh_mhara]

I did it!! I did a standard box intercept and I torpedoed the Fiji cruiser for just short of 11,000 tons! Oh I can't wait to see the renown!

I am currently at 80m skulking at silent running, I already had one lot of Depthcharges fall on me. but for now I am calling it a night, I'll escape the Corvette later. Might have to hit 160m if his black swan friend shows up.
I'm obviously way to much of a nervous type to be a kaleun. Any time i see a warship i dive to 100m and leg it. Show me an unescorted tramp steamer anytime

[Puster Bill]

if it is night, and you are already inside the escort screen, I would say go for it. Just don't be stupid and go at flank speed, which is the quickest way to get spotted. Go to all ahead 1/3rd, or about 9 or 10 knots. That will allow you to catch up reasonably quickly (before day), and get a few shots in.

I would use one torp per target, magnetic. What you want to do in this case is stop them or slow them down, so that you can finish them off later when the escorts have left. Sinking them outright is the ideal situation, but you aren't in a good position for that.

The other alternative is to back out, haul around at flank, and do a daytime submerged attack. That one I find less attractive, as you will have to deal with all of the escorts, not just 'Tail End Charlie'.

[NipplesTheCat]

:hmm: AVG, that's why you always died on Patrol #2. :roll: ;)

Did not say anything about that in the operating manual I found in the glovebox!!!
Does my U-boat have a glove box? For that matter,...where is the spare tire located on a type VII?

[Rykaird]

[Does my U-boat have a glove box? For that matter,...where is the spare tire located on a type VII?

On my boat, I am the spare tire.

[Linavitch]

On my boat, I am the spare tire.
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[AVGWarhawk]

:hmm: AVG, that's why you always died on Patrol #2. :roll: ;)

Did not say anything about that in the operating manual I found in the glovebox!!! Does my U-boat have a glove box? For that matter,...where is the spare tire located on a type VII?
It is to the right of the CD player(gramaphone):D Check the stern for the spare tire. Works great as a dock bumper.

[Penelope_Grey]

I use Brenda as my dock bumper, its about all she is good for.

[AVGWarhawk]

I use Brenda as my dock bumper, its about all she is good for.

Obviously Bernards sister:o

[Morts]

I use Brenda as my dock bumper, its about all she is good for.

Obviously Bernards sister:o
correction
your sister:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[AVGWarhawk]

I use Brenda as my dock bumper, its about all she is good for.
Obviously Bernards sister:o correction
your sister:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

What gave it away? The beard?:shifty:

[Morts]

I use Brenda as my dock bumper, its about all she is good for.
Obviously Bernards sister:o correction
your sister:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

What gave it away? The beard?:shifty:
ya that too and the ammount of uboats given to you and the lack of them comming back:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: