Short on torpedoes, need advice

[robj250]

I am approaching a large comvoy with 13 merchants and 7 warships. I only have 9 towpedoes left forward, 2 stern. Depth under keel 120 metres. HI is 92%.

How should I handle it?

Should I fire 2 torpedoes at each ship I pick to try and stop them dead in the water and head for deeper water and come back later and finish them off with the deck gun, or what?

Using SH3 and a VIIC/42 in March 1944

Rob

[AVGWarhawk]

Two each until torpedos are exhausted. Surface later to finish off if needed.

[P_Funk]

ONLY 9? You musn't love the duck do you? ;)

[melnibonian]

Rob since you're in 1944 I would suggest caution. The Destroyers are deadly from 1943 onwards. I would fire as many torpedoes as possible to as many targets as possible from the largest possible distance to avoid detection. In situations like these there is a high chance you will get yourself killed if you try to get too close. If despite all this you still want to go for the kills try to fire a couple of torpedoes to the most important ships. Be prepared though to get a heavy beating afterwards if you get detected by the DDs.

Good Luck:up:

[robj250]

Here is what I thought I might do. I'm have the convoy on sonar so I can see how far away they are, well approximately. Long range anyway. and I will wait until the escorts have passed me and are astern.

I thought I might go to 50 Metres, ahead standard, (not silent) to get in the front of the convoy and then go to periscope depth. Take as many as I can and then dive as deep as I and and go hell bent for election for the deeper water.

Bad Idea?

Or should I go silent runing to the convoy.

After sinking a ship or two, go deep and silent running, dead stop?????

[melnibonian]

Potentially it can work but there is a HUGE chance the Destroyers will pick you up in their hydrophones. Don't forget no matter how deep you go they can always run faster than you and they can always reach you with their depth charges. I would have followed a different approach. Stay in periscope depth, go to silent running (if you are closer than 20Km from the convoy, otherwise you can take a few chances) and plot an intercept course. Most probably you will not be able to come really close but if you manage to approach within 4-5 Km you can still cause some damage. I would fire all the torpedoes I can from that distance and then turn back and go really deep. If it is possible fire the "nornal" torpedoes first and then the FAT/LUT ones. That way after the first torpedoes hit and the convoy starts zig-zaging you still have some chances of hitting something with the pattern torpedoes.

Good Luck

[AndyW]

Here is what I thought I might do. I'm have the convoy on sonar so I can see how far away they are, well approximately. Long range anyway. and I will wait until the escorts have passed me and are astern.

I thought I might go to 50 Metres, ahead standard, (not silent) to get in the front of the convoy and then go to periscope depth. Take as many as I can and then dive as deep as I and and go hell bent for election for the deeper water.

Bad Idea?

Sounds good, but I would always run on silent mode except for the reloading time. This is going to happen during night in fair weather, right?

Your first attack should sink two big merchants with 2 torps each and demage onother with your stern torpedo (1 torp would be enough for a pyro ship). Than I would crash dive deeeeeeeep and run with the convoy to reload. If you're lucky they don't ping you and you may have a second salvo, but I woudn't put my money on it.

But this is mere theory :know: - well not really: I sunk a whale factory ship and a medium tanker that way in March 1944, but then again the escorts weren't too clever as I expected them to be, maybe because the weather was (thankfully) awful.

Now 7 warships and beeing pinged in 1944 would be tough.

Good luck!

Cheers,
AndyW

[ubootcomrade]

The tactic i use in sinking ships is this: first look at your ship identification after you pick a juciy target,chect the ships draught and set at least a few meters below the draught ie: medium merchent draught 9.0, set to 9.5 with a magnetic pistol, aim smack bang in the center and you will more than likely destroy the ship with one fish...THIS IS A TESTED AND PROVEN WAY AND IT DOES WORK...SO HAPPY HUNTING:up:

[robj250]

Here is what I thought I might do. I'm have the convoy on sonar so I can see how far away they are, well approximately. Long range anyway. and I will wait until the escorts have passed me and are astern.

I thought I might go to 50 Metres, ahead standard, (not silent) to get in the front of the convoy and then go to periscope depth. Take as many as I can and then dive as deep as I and and go hell bent for election for the deeper water.

Bad Idea?

Sounds good, but I would always run on silent mode except for the reloading time. This is going to happen during night in fair weather, right?

Your first attack should sink two big merchants with 2 torps each and demage onother with your stern torpedo (1 torp would be enough for a pyro ship). Than I would crash dive deeeeeeeep and run with the convoy to reload. If you're lucky they don't ping you and you may have a second salvo, but I woudn't put my money on it.

But this is mere theory :know: - well not really: I sunk a whale factory ship and a medium tanker that way in March 1944, but then again the escorts weren't too clever as I expected them to be, maybe because the weather was (thankfully) awful.

Now 7 warships and beeing pinged in 1944 would be tough.

Good luck!

Cheers,
AndyW

I am heading directly at them at 1600 (still daylight, in front, heading to them)
I am only using Ga7 (steam running) The weather is calm.
I may have a chance to change direction so that I will be on their starboard side, but I have to have them in my sight before I can fire a torpedo.

[robj250]

The tactic i use in sinking ships is this: first look at your ship identification after you pick a juciy target,chect the ships draught and set at least a few meters below the draught ie: medium merchent draught 9.0, set to 9.5 with a magnetic pistol, aim smack bang in the center and you will more than likely destroy the ship with one fish...THIS IS A TESTED AND PROVEN WAY AND IT DOES WORK...SO HAPPY HUNTING:up:

So, reading all my information, how should I make my approach to the convoy?

Periscope depth, speed 1 knot, silent running?

[ubootcomrade]

The tactic i use in sinking ships is this: first look at your ship identification after you pick a juciy target,chect the ships draught and set at least a few meters below the draught ie: medium merchent draught 9.0, set to 9.5 with a magnetic pistol, aim smack bang in the center and you will more than likely destroy the ship with one fish...THIS IS A TESTED AND PROVEN WAY AND IT DOES WORK...SO HAPPY HUNTING:up:

So, reading all my information, how should I make my approach to the convoy?

Periscope depth, speed 1 knot, silent running?

get ahead of the convoy and turn around so that the convoys headin' straight at you,then use my tactic from a distance of 1000-1500 meters but you can use your own approach method if you want

[ubootcomrade]

The tactic i use in sinking ships is this: first look at your ship identification after you pick a juciy target,chect the ships draught and set at least a few meters below the draught ie: medium merchent draught 9.0, set to 9.5 with a magnetic pistol, aim smack bang in the center and you will more than likely destroy the ship with one fish...THIS IS A TESTED AND PROVEN WAY AND IT DOES WORK...SO HAPPY HUNTING:up:

So, reading all my information, how should I make my approach to the convoy?

Periscope depth, speed 1 knot, silent running?

get ahead of the convoy and turn around so that the convoys headin' straight at you,then use my tactic from a distance of 1000-1500 meters but you can use your own approach method if you want

if your useing gas/steam torps i suggest fast speed because they are going to get a shock wheather they see you or the torpedos first;)

[Hakahura]

Stay Silent

Fire 2 shots at each target, the juicyest possible and go deep.

Don't even reload near Escorts.

Remember take your time, a convoy battle can last days.

[robj250]

I just noticed there is a destroyer (don't know what kind) going back and forth in front of the convoy.

Should I take it out?

Also, should I do a Zig-Zag approaching it?

Or sit still at periscope depth, silent running and wait for it to come to me and then send a magnetic steam torpedo at it?

Reason for all my questions, is because I'm actually scared to approach the convoy, but in my last movie, part 7, I'm sorta committed myself to go into the convoy.

Reason being, I haven't attacked a convoy for a long time.

[Brag]

Leave that destroyer alone! Go for the merchies:roll:

[stabiz]

In your situation I would lie dead in the water at periscope depth, but keep the periscope down and follow their movements with the hydrophones. I would leave the destroyer alone unless it comes straight for you, and fire two torps at each of the two fattest merchants or warships in there. Then crashdivw as deep as you can, and shake off the escorts, reload, and get at it again.

If the destroyer comes for you either crash dive and let them go, or fire a magnetic at 300-400 meters. This will likely give you some damage, and maybe even a destroyed periscope.

Its up to you, kaleun!

[robj250]

Well, I made it out.
I had to take out the destroyers that came at me and I sunk a couple ships as well, I think.
Sheesh, that sure was nerve wracking.
All the destroyers came after me, I had no choice but to take 3 out and then crash dive to 100 metres and get away.

[robj250]

I hit a Liberty Cargo with 1 torpedo (magnetic) and a Tanker (magnetic) but I didn't get credit for them.

Should I go back and see if I can find them?

Rob

[robj250]

I went back to the attack site and could not find either of the merchants I hit, so now, with the remaining torpedoes I have I'm heading back the long trip to Bergen.

Thanks very much for everyone's input. It really helped. Much appreciated.

Rob

[AndyW]

Hey robj250, why don't you go for the convoy a second time? I assume you have still have 4 torps left, your boat is in good shape and a convoy of 13 merchants (two of them crippled) with only 4 escorts is a worthwhile target to go for in 1944.

Cheers,
AndyW

[robj250]

Hey robj250, why don't you go for the convoy a second time? I assume you have still have 4 torps left, your boat is in good shape and a convoy of 13 merchants (two of them crippled) with only 4 escorts is a worthwhile target to go for in 1944.

Cheers,
AndyW

I did go bad looking for them Andy, but I could find them. It's a shame to let those two cripples get away.