Chasing a crippled ship...

[sniperpr1]

Hi, after encountering a convoy, and proceeding to periscope depth, I put three fish on the side of one of the merchants. I went down to evade the destroyers and came back up. When I came back up, to my surprise, the merchant continued with a heavy port list, but was able to move along and away. Does anyone have any suggestions for me to pursue the convoy on the surface and away from the escort screen so I can finish this maru off? Thanks a lot...

[FAdmiral]

Without knowing all the facts that you know, my answer with be Negative.
You are the Captain, make a decision on what to do ! A reckless one may
get you sunk but at least with a cautious one, you live to fight another day.

JIM

[Quillan]

If the ship is still making way and keeping up with the convoy, the only thing you can do is what is called an end-around. Basically, you have to get well behind the convoy, far enough off that even with escorts sweeping out you'll never be within visual range. Then you have to hit high speed (Ahead Full or Ahead Flank) and race in a large arc around the convoy to get back ahead of it. During this arc you again have to be well outside any possible visual range (on a clear day that means 8-10 nautical miles from the center line of the convoy) until you're wlel ahead of it, then close back towards the path and submerge to wait. If it's daylight, it's nearly impossible unless you're outside of air patrol territory or you're willing to risk running on the surface and being attacked.

Now, if the ship can't keep up with the convoy, just wait (and follow) until there is sufficient separation between it and the convoy, then take it. Just keep in mind that if they see you (say if you surface to use the gun) they'll call for help, and one of the escorts will come racing back to try and kill you.

[AVGWarhawk]

Like Quillan said. Start making for a end round. Get the projected course and time you might believe they will be in a certain spot on the course. Floor you sub on the surface for max speed. Stay out of their sight while doing this. Once you arrive to that projected spot, sit a wait for the ambush. Skippers did this for days sinking the ships in covoys.

I do this by using the map. I set my waypoints and allow the sub to navigate itself.

[nfitzsimmons]

If the ship is still making way and keeping up with the convoy, the only thing you can do is what is called an end-around. Basically, you have to get well behind the convoy, far enough off that even with escorts sweeping out you'll never be within visual range. Then you have to hit high speed (Ahead Full or Ahead Flank) and race in a large arc around the convoy to get back ahead of it. During this arc you again have to be well outside any possible visual range (on a clear day that means 8-10 nautical miles from the center line of the convoy) until you're wlel ahead of it, then close back towards the path and submerge to wait. If it's daylight, it's nearly impossible unless you're outside of air patrol territory or you're willing to risk running on the surface and being attacked.

Now, if the ship can't keep up with the convoy, just wait (and follow) until there is sufficient separation between it and the convoy, then take it. Just keep in mind that if they see you (say if you surface to use the gun) they'll call for help, and one of the escorts will come racing back to try and kill you.

I've had a couple of cases in which a damaged freighter was slowed to 2-3 knots and the rest of the convoy (and escorts) slowed down as well. I've also seen situations where a crippled ship was left behind. Curious...

[Quillan]

So far, my experience with this game is that if the ship slows down, the convoy slows down as well, but if the crippled ship drops below about 2 knots they'll leave it behind. Back in SH3, the wouldn't slow down beyond what would happen because they started zig-zagging. Task forces are another story, however. They seem to maintain speed rather than slow down.

[Strikor]

Just be sure you don't lose radar contact. If you do, it might unload the freighter from memory and end up fully repairing it. I once knocked the props off a tanker and had to submerge for around 8 hours once. When I came back he was gone since I didn't have him on visual or sonar for such a long period of time.

[tater]

I had a cripple get left behind, and instead of using my only torpedos left (aft tubes), I tried battle surface. Came up, started hitting him with the deck gun. Took many rounds to finish him, but he must have called the escorts since I got a ship spotted message, and when I realized it wasn't a lifeboat I looked through the TBT to see a DD with a bone in his teeth headign straight for me. Crash dive! Luckily he pounded the crap out of a hole in the water instead of me.

[sniperpr1]

I've tried everything suggested, but: There are four destroyers that have more or less an idea of where I am; I have no radar; It's dawn and there are aircraft in the area. Any other suggestions, I'm getting tired of following the merchant and getting blown up every time, submerged or in the surface. Also, I try using the torpedoes I still have, but even though I get a very accurate solution thy never hit... Not even one!!!

[Quillan]

Well, given that situation I only see two real choices: you can either move away submerged and be content to shadow them until nightfall when you can safely run on the surface again, or give up on the target. With the escorts both having an idea where you are and staying around the target, you can't engage directly without extreme risk. The planes will prevent you from using the surface to go around and get in front of them again. If the convoy is still running slow, you can remain submerged and keep up with or even pass them sometimes, but you'll have to evade those DDs first.