Hunting methods for the IXaholics

[Telgriff]

Completed my second patrol, survived 2 DD's 2 Torp Boats and 2 aircraft getting rather upset with my shooting everything that came out of Gilbratar and returned to Brest feeling a little unfilfilled. I am about to upgrade to GWX and have been wondering if the IX users have particular hunting habits per patrol. I found myself following the VII patrol type, go to grid, hunt for 24hrs, hunt on the way back to port. With so much more fuel and lots more fish, I feel I need to be doing ALOT more.

Out of the IXaholics among us, do you go to your grid, do the patrol then pick an area to cruise off to and hunt, or hunt first and then do the patrol on the way back?

[Mauser KAR98K]

Its like this: Promise your crew Christmas in the Carribean, and summers around Russia!

Other than that...BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!

[Ducimus]

I always did the 24 hours in the grid first, and moved on if i thought the area unproductive. Primary reason being i might not have the fuel to come back to same area again later on. So i always thoguht it best to do it first, and get it over with.

[Telgriff]

I always did the 24 hours in the grid first, and moved on if i thought the area unproductive. Primary reason being i might not have the fuel to come back to same area again later on. So i always thoguht it best to do it first, and get it over with.

Thats what I did for my second patrol, but reading some of the patrols other people do makes me feel like I am missing out on some serious tonnage. I went to Gilbratar and back, so not very far, and sunk a couple of C2's and two coastal merchants. Seemed rather pitiful for the IXB (Though I did nail one coastal merchant from 2600 yards with an almost blind shot)

[Canovaro]

There is a jpg file in the sh3 program directory that shows the cargo sea lanes. Maybe you should try to sail those routes on your way to the grid and back. If you have enough fuel you could try to concentrate on patroling those lanes.
Make a P/D stop now and then to listen on the hydrophone (especially when frame rates go low ;)).

Good hunting!

[Canovaro]

I always did the 24 hours in the grid first, and moved on if i thought the area unproductive. Primary reason being i might not have the fuel to come back to same area again later on. So i always thoguht it best to do it first, and get it over with.

I agree.

[STEED]

Hunting methods for the IXaholics

Learn your own style and method. :p :lol:

[Brag]

In GWX 1.02 I always went to assigned grid first. Depending on where I would end up, I would choose logical sealanes or convoy routes. The approaches to Gib have been rich hunting grounds for me. Also the convoy routes from Freetown going north, where I could keep on attacking night after night 'til out of torpedoes.

Now, in GWX 1,03 on first patrol with type VII based in Willi 1939. Things are quite different with this patch! :yep:

[Jimbuna]

Maintain your presence for 24hr in your assigned patrol grid then move on if it's not very productive :arrgh!:

[Herr Russ]

My last career ended when the war was over.. For the last several patrols I had an IXC and loved going to the carribeen.. Weather was usually steady & tankers galore.. Not the usual coastals or small merchants found near the British coast..

Good Hunting!!

[melnibonian]

My suggestions for a lucrative IX patrol are:
1. Go to the patrol grid so that you take your renown.
2. Move on the surface with a speed of 8 knots. This is the optimal speed that will give you a range of about 20,000 Km.
3. Go to far away hunting grounds like Cuba, Curacao, Gulf of Mexico, Newfoundland, Freetown, Cape Town or Rio de Janeiro.
4. Set up as many ambushes as possible to ensure "easy kills". If possible attack on the surface using the deck gun. That maximises your tonnage as you save torpedoes.
5. Try to fire one torpedo per target. If the target does not sink use the deck gun to finish it off (if possible).
6. Finally be pepared for long patrols (60 days or more) and be very very patient.

Good Luck and Good Shooting :arrgh!:

[Foghladh_mhara]

I tend to camp out in the area of the Rockall Bank these days. Shown on the sea lanes map as a meeting point of two lanes. Got assigned a grid there once and spent 3 days of game time waiting for a target to show. Nothing did so I headed south. About 150km later a convoy contact appeared right where I had been sitting! Infuriating is not the word. Grasshopper needs to learn patience :D

[Mauser KAR98K]

I spent a tour going up the Indian River on the Florida Coast. Actually it was my Christmas cruise with my crew. Only ran into a destroy, which I sunk (WITH MY DECK GUN NO LESS) and a few P-38 lightnings that showed no intrest in me. Very slow going being I couldn't accelerate the time that much, but I did navigate the channel pretty well. I used to live near Kennedy Space Center and I actually saw where the Devs. but the banks where bridges were suppose to be at. Creepy feeling.