Tactical question

[UnterseeBoogeyMan]

I'm on my 6th Kaluen now (2 KIA to software bugs, 3 KIA to the Royal Navy), and I have an opportunity that can really pay off if I do this right.

I am in AM 19 when I spot a convoy going SSE, escorted by two destroyers, one Tribal and one V&W. It's midnight, I see at least a Modern Medium Tanker and a Large Tanker. Probably at least ten other ships in the convoy. I have 2 ways to play this-

1. Take out the escort in the rear. Then, thru hit and run attacks, pick off the tankers and any medium sized ships in the convoy. With only one escort left, the convoy probably won't break up, and the lone DD will have his hands full. He will make depth charge runs, but he wont be able to stick around to ensure a kill becuase he has to stay with the convoy. Once the big ones are down and the convoy is smaller, pick off the last escort. With by this time there will be mostly Tramp Steamers and Small freighters. If the convoy splits up, hopefully there wont be as many to chase down. Also, I get the
tonnage with the deck gun becuase there's no more DDs t worry about.

2. The safe economical approach. Leave the escorts alone. Strictly go after the merchants. Advantage is I save torpedoes I would have fired at DDs. Disadvantage is I have to do mostly submerged attacks because the gap between the escorts is small. Probably a gap of 4-5000 meters.

Thoughts and opinions are as welcomes as Weihenstephaner with a good Bratwurst. This is more fun to talk about than a game crash or a software bug of evil.

[CapZap1970]

If I were you, I would go for the 1st option.
No doubt about it. :up:
CapZap

[TarJak]

I always go for the merchies and leave the escorts alone. If I can get a sure snapshot or I have a homing torp I might knock one out if I get the cahnce but you are there to sink tonnage not escorts.:arrgh!:

What torps do you have? If you only have steamers then going for the escorts is risky.

[headcase]

I prefer to rid myself of pesky DD's if at all possible. They can't kill me if they aren't there.

[Canovaro]

Always stay away from the escorts!

Just my opinion.
;)

[17thcpikeman]

I am with canavaro stay away from escorts as much as possible I you miss them you have little chance of hitting the merchants as your hands are full with slipping away from the DD's I hit the tankers and large hide!

[ReM]

Don't waste any eels on the escorts.

The torpedoes you have in the tubes came all the way from Germany to sink Allied merchant tonnage, as much as possible.

Valid military targets of opportunity....heavy cruisers/battleship/carriers are exceptions of course....but besides self-defense, attacking escorts is definitely a no-go....imho.

[SmokinTep]

Go after the merchants unless the escort makes a stupid move and you are able to take a shot and ensure a kill.

[Brag]

By sinking the first escort (relatively easy) you alert the other escorts. Trying to sink merchies after that will surely get you killed.

So if you want to succesully get rid of escorts AND sink merchies, plan on attacking the convoy three times (try to sink 1 escort per attack and get go deep each time).

Generally this tactic does not work and you end up wasting a lot of torpedoes to get 3,000 tons --The arithmetic does not work in your favor. The moment you attack an escort, your role of hunter changes to that of prey. That goes against the philosophy of a predator. :cool:

[siber]

I'm with ReM. Realism demands that you ignore the escorts and use your torps on the freighters only.

Think of it this way... If you sink the escorts, the convoy will split and run away individually. If this happens, how will any other subs of the wolfpack find the convoy after you've radioed in a contact report?

Ignore the Destroyers - go for the prize!

[UnterseeBoogeyMan]

yes, I ussually go for option 2 but I thought this was a unique opportunity. Being that it is 1939, I use the G1 bubbly torpedoes that leave a wake. I dont trust the other type, at least not until after Operation Wesserabung. In the past, I have nailed escorts but only within 1000 meters, so they dont have time to turn into the torpedo path.

I may just go back to old habits - take out the merchants, hide, attack the convoy again. If I have deck gun ammo left, I let the small ones in the convoy escape. Then I cruise closer to the British Isles, hope for flat seas and deck gun whatever I see. That's the longrange forcast anyways. Good Hunting, komrades!