View Full Version : Westbound Gibraltar Escorts--Bad News
There is a tricky convoy that spawns in Gibraltar. The only good thing about it, it is difficult to intercept as it changes direction frequently.
In bad weather the escorts are super efficient, must have radar early in the war. They finished my first GWX carreer as I was overhauling the convoy on the surface in low visibility. Their guns blew the sub right out of the water.
Now this:
28 July 1940
Having figured out the convoy changed course every 25 kilometres, I positioned U-53 for an ambush. When I made sound contact I was only 10 kilometers off the convoy's course. I moved away, repositioned, and dove to PD. Sound contact indicated we were on the convoy's path.
We went to action stations expecting the convoy in 45 minutes. Visibility was about 300 meters.
Soundman reported warship approaching very fast. A few seconds later, we heard weak pinging. Through periscope saw a Black Swan passing us 150 meters away. It dropped a load of depth charges.
I stayed quiet but began deep dive.
Shortly, we had 3 escorts and they were pinging us. We were at 30 meters when one of them made a pass overhead and dumped DCs.
Flank speed got us from under that salvo and down to 80 meters. Two ships at a time must have been depth charging. I never heard so many explosions so close together before.
No mater what we did, they had us. Pass after pass was right on top until the convoy arrived overhead and we manged to skulk away.
I don't know about you, but I'm leaving those Gibraltar convoys alone. :-?
Now I need a drink.
Foghladh_mhara
08-14-07, 06:01 PM
Does this mean that kapitan leutnant Johan Sebastian Balz is dead???
Does this mean that kapitan leutnant Johan Sebastian Balz is dead???
hopefully:rotfl:
Foghladh_mhara
08-14-07, 06:16 PM
Does this mean that kapitan leutnant Johan Sebastian Balz is dead???
hopefully:rotfl:
It definately sounds like a different personality is manifesting itself. The gallant herr Balz would never skulk away from a convoy.
Maybe this creation will be a little less... demanding shall we say
Does this mean that kapitan leutnant Johan Sebastian Balz is dead???
hopefully:rotfl:
Dead?
After my incredibly skillful avoidance of the vicious DC attacks, I am writing a letter to Mom. I have also instructed Cook to prepare an adequately good meal to celebrate my masterly avoidance of the enemy's explosive devices. :smug:
I'll se you all in Lorient after I expend my torpedoes. I have 90K on this patrol, so far. :smug:
Kptlt. Johan Sebastian Balz also known as
BB-Balz
Foghladh_mhara
08-14-07, 06:31 PM
Does this mean that kapitan leutnant Johan Sebastian Balz is dead???
hopefully:rotfl:
Dead?
After my incredibly skillful avoidance of the vicious DC attacks, I am writing a letter to Mom. I have also instructed Cook to prepare an adequately good meal to celebrate my masterly avoidance of the enemy's explosive devices. :smug:
I'll se you all in Lorient after I expend my torpedoes. I have 90K on this patrol, so far. :smug:
Kptlt. Johan Sebastian Balz also known as
BB-Balz
Bugger
:smug: Fogh, not my fault I'm soooooo good:sunny: just ask my Mom. :smug: .
Kptlt. Johan Sebastian Balz
Shelton
08-15-07, 05:30 AM
you did well to escape those 3 escorts!
So does that mean when the escorts are pinging you that they know where you are or are they actually looking for your location ?
you did well to escape those 3 escorts!
So does that mean when the escorts are pinging you that they know where you are or are they actually looking for your location ?
At least they know your rough location and are trying pinpoint it. You can tell by the sound when they do have you. The soundman will also report this.:huh:
Kpt. Lehmann
08-15-07, 07:08 AM
you did well to escape those 3 escorts!
So does that mean when the escorts are pinging you that they know where you are or are they actually looking for your location ?
At least they know your rough location and are trying pinpoint it. You can tell by the sound when they do have you. The soundman will also report this.:huh:
Shelton has already read the answer to the question he's now posted here.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=607825&postcount=209
Escorts will first find you with either optics or hydrophones and then switch to ASDIC when in range to do so. They do not automatically know you are there.
Kaleu. Jochen Mohr
08-15-07, 07:23 AM
if i see escorts i do 2 things (now i changed the file's back to stock)
a. kill em when im in shallow water
b. dive to 150m if possible, change course at silent running and when far enuf i cut the engine's while lying on the bottom. :smug:
Shelton
08-16-07, 02:34 AM
yes thanks for that ! :oops:
Packerton
08-16-07, 08:48 AM
I was a Fool to Doubt Balz :lol:
Fenris_Wolf
08-16-07, 09:13 AM
Good job there, I knew Balz is not so easy to kill :up:
Btw, How well does anti sonar coating help you? Does it help reduce your signature to passive detection sonar, ASDIC, or both? Is it a significant upgrade? :hmm:
Thanks.
I believe that antisonar coating will reduce your sonar signature by 10%. Every little bit helps.
Yeah, i was able to sneak up onto this convoy.
The weather was really rough, almost impossible to get a good look at the convoy.
My scope was only up a couple of times at a distance of 6 km. of the first ships.
Never the less, a DD came straight to me like i was surfaced and painted bright orange!!!
I turned 90° and asked for a depth of 160 mtrs, but only got to 45 when the b*st*rd killed me and my entire crew...
This is the second time in a couple of days that my carreer was ended by an escort of a convoy.
Can't say there is no difference between stock SH3 and GWX in this matter ;-)
I'm not sure that i will try to attack convoys anymore because of this. (and it is 1941, how good get these guys in '44 or '45????)
How do you attack convoys without being detected and killed?
Regards,
fvd
Report by Kplt. Johan Sebastian Balz.
04 Aug. 1940
For the delight of French womenhood, U-53 under the able command of Kptlt. BB-Balz, arrived in Lorient with 101K tonnes BRT, which included the balzing of a Revenge BB. :smug:
My song so far:
Meet me in Balzimore
you hoochie woochie
meet me there tonight
Chorus:
Hoochie woochie
hoochie woochie :smug:
While I'm in port, you all have a wonderful opportunity to buy me a drink :smug:
Stealth Hunter
08-16-07, 12:40 PM
OK...
Gibralter is quite tricky, but any real U-boat commander would be up to the challenge... especially THE MEDALS... SO MANY MEDALS.:o
IrischKapitan
08-16-07, 02:30 PM
My song so far:
Meet me in Balzimore
you hoochie woochie
meet me there tonight
Chorus:
Hoochie woochie
hoochie woochie :smug:
Brag, you may rather be good at sinking boats but you sure as hell 'aint no composer,
Do what your good at, rather then writing awful songs, Concentrate you efforts on sinking more ships.... So I will leave you in the words of Simon Cowell
"That was terrible, I mean just awful"
EDIT: I dought Herr Doenitz, will hate me for saying that but Kp.Leutenant Kurt Holland has bagged over 110K in fat oilers with two trops still left, I'm to much a valuable asset to the Third Reich.
[/quote]
Brag, you may rather be good at sinking boats but you sure as hell 'aint no composer,
Do what your good at, rather then writing awful songs, Concentrate you efforts on sinking more ships.... So I will leave you in the words of Simon Cowell
"That was terrible, I mean just awful"
[/quote]
Tell that to Kptlt. Johan Sebastian Balz, the greatest asset of the Kriegsmarine :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Packerton
08-16-07, 08:22 PM
Keep Writeing that song Balz You need something to be left behind after your Killed :lol:
Shelton
08-17-07, 02:09 AM
Yeah, i was able to sneak up onto this convoy.
The weather was really rough, almost impossible to get a good look at the convoy.
My scope was only up a couple of times at a distance of 6 km. of the first ships.
Never the less, a DD came straight to me like i was surfaced and painted bright orange!!!
I turned 90° and asked for a depth of 160 mtrs, but only got to 45 when the b*st*rd killed me and my entire crew...
This is the second time in a couple of days that my carreer was ended by an escort of a convoy.
Can't say there is no difference between stock SH3 and GWX in this matter ;-)
I'm not sure that i will try to attack convoys anymore because of this. (and it is 1941, how good get these guys in '44 or '45????)
How do you attack convoys without being detected and killed?
Regards,
fvd
I dont know how this could happen - esp in rough weather - hopefully i wont get an ace crew like this.
Yeah, i was able to sneak up onto this convoy.
The weather was really rough, almost impossible to get a good look at the convoy.
My scope was only up a couple of times at a distance of 6 km. of the first ships.
Never the less, a DD came straight to me like i was surfaced and painted bright orange!!!
I turned 90° and asked for a depth of 160 mtrs, but only got to 45 when the b*st*rd killed me and my entire crew...
This is the second time in a couple of days that my carreer was ended by an escort of a convoy.
Can't say there is no difference between stock SH3 and GWX in this matter ;-)
I'm not sure that i will try to attack convoys anymore because of this. (and it is 1941, how good get these guys in '44 or '45????)
How do you attack convoys without being detected and killed?
Regards,
fvd
I dont know how this could happen - esp in rough weather - hopefully i wont get an ace crew like this.
Visit my webbie. Lots of good articles on how to attack and stay alive :D Better luck in your next carreer.
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