The best Setup EVER.

[Chardok]

Please forgive me...my meds affevt my motor skill and typif is the firay thing to go.

So, I am patrolling, and I come across a luck shot. I mean I could not have set this up better if I TRIED (which I adid not.). So. I don't waht t o wreck this, so any adice you can give me on how to best decimate this Jappy-wappy convoy, would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, I am 100% NOT detected to this point. And also, It is broad daylight (like 11 AM local time.)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/Chardok/SH4Img2008-02-21_002239_234.jpg

[Rockin Robbins]

I haven't seen anything like that since I ran the stock game in April. You have the velocity vectors going there so you can tell where each ship is going. You have a convoy from the stock game, and looks like clueless escorts.

One think I can't tell is where you are. That is important because it tells me how long it is until sunset. It's a long time regardless. Methinks it's time for a hit and run, end around and early evening attack next. So the object of your present attack is to get some wounded merchies to drop out of formation and give you something to do between now and sunset. I would go left and set up to shoot on an oblique angle so the ships overlap. That way missing one ship hits another.:arrgh!:

Now you decide if you want one shot per ship and take your chances at how many drop out or go for two per ship. I think I'd go for one per ship because you'll be back tonight and a damaged ship that doesn't have to drop out of formation is still a damaged ship. So go left, position yourself on the front right corner of the merchies and shoot a wide fan of six torps to get what you get. Dropouts get sunk afterwards. After your hits, if escorts charge, you submerge, go under the merchies and exit the rear.

Then you do the high-speed end around to do it again at sunset. Then your targets will be individual ships with intent to sink. It gives you the entire night to attack, evade, escape, end around, attack... Every time you are detected after a kill, break contact completely and end around for a new setup. Then it's like the first attack all over again with non-alert escorts.

Good Hunting! Report back.

[DavyJonesFootlocker]

You can shoot a volley of torps in that position but your chances of hitting is narrow. I did that with a light cruiser and got 3 hits out of 4. If I were you I'd fire and, dive deep (about 200) run silent and head North. If you're lucky run parallel and set up another attack. But I suspect those escorts will give you a hard time in which case I'd move away.

P.S. Excuse me but I had a rough night at a House of Ill-repute. Just don't tell the Admiral's daughter- she's a real hottie!:yep:

[AkbarGulag]

Hey Chardok :D

Keep in mind everyone, he is in control of a sugar boat. It appears he can easily take his sub to max depth in these waters also. Broad daylight... goodluck :p

[jdkbph]

Why a Sugar boat? Wouldn't the red line pointing to 60 feet (periscope depth) on the fathometer indicate a larger fleet boat?

If that's the case, I'd turn inside the convoy... getting above the 2nd line of ships from the top and as close to them as possible... so I could unload the forward tubes on the 3rd line from the top and the aft tubes on the top line.

JD

[DavyJonesFootlocker]

Oh, yeah. His Mk. 10 torps can only reach less that 3000 yards. Eeeek! In that case make out your Last Will and Testament to DJFL c/o Sing Sing Prison.:yep:

[bcarter3]

This actually made me chuckle a little, because it reminded me of the first time I actually managed to get into firing range of a convoy last week - and it was in almost an identical position. I ended up getting run over by a large tanker in the convoy, because I stayed in that position, and accidently hit the "s" key which surfaced my boat just as he was crossing over me. Made a neat grinding metal crushing nuts and bolts popping noise though .. and yes predicably the score was tanker 1 - sub 0 (but I got the sucker in a rematch).

Anyhoo, I'm glad you asked the question because I've been wondering myself whats the best way to approach a large merchant convoy like this. I've been setting up off to one side about 3000 yds away. I then wait for the front escort to pass then move slowly into about 1500-2000 yds and try to pick off the ships on the outside edge, two torpedos on each. Now granted, I've been playing on easy mode so I can pretty much do fast auto targeting. Once the fish are away I down periscope and crash dive aiming into the middle of the convoy where I will then go to one third speed and creep out the back. If I get lucky it drops at least one out of the convoy for me to finish off.

I dont know if this is a good tactic, but its been working for me so far. I think though when I make the switch to manual targeting then I will pick the biggest tonnage ship on the outside edge and attempt a hit and run, maybe firing off a three torpedo spread - dunno, I will have to play around with it.

Best thing I can say as a bilge rat, save it, and experiment it. Try a couple of different approaches and see what works best for you. Try the same approach out again if it works well to make sure it wasnt just luck.

Good luck!

[XLjedi]

I don't know if it's the best setup... but when I find myself undetected in the midst of a convoy like that (wolf among the hens, so-to-speak) I like this submerged and moving attack position:

http://www.xl-logic.com/mobo/tutorial_pics/convoy_attack_pos_20080221.png

As the first two targets come abeam on either side, I turn right for a 45° attack angle, fire two, then left for another 45° and fire two more.

If I'm lucky I might even be able to lob a stern shot at a third target before going deep to reload.

[Rockin Robbins]

My first encounter with a convoy like that was in a driving rain. I entered the convoy and shadowed it but couldn't see a single target to identify it! Then I found WernerSobe's tutorial on sonar only attacks. I ended up doing the aaronblood suggestion and sent two to the bottom that I had never even got a glimpse of. THAT was fun.

[bcarter3]

I don't know if it's the best setup... but when I find myself undetected in the midst of a convoy like that (wolf among the hens, so-to-speak) I like this submerged and moving attack position:

<Picture cut to save space>

As the first two targets come abeam on either side, I turn right for a 45° attack angle, fire two, then left for another 45° and fire two more.

If I'm lucky I might even be able to lob a stern shot at a third target before going deep to reload.

How did you get the bearing and speed indicators on the navigation map? Is that a mod, or is that a screen shot from MOBO? All I get on my nav map is velocity tails (I dont know the correct term - shoot me now :) )

[XLjedi]

How did you get the bearing and speed indicators on the navigation map? Is that a mod, or is that a screen shot from MOBO? All I get on my nav map is velocity tails (I dont know the correct term - shoot me now :) )

What? ...you mean like this:
http://www.xl-logic.com/mobo/tutorial_pics/map_vectors_20080221.png

Doesn't your nav map do that?

:lol: I was just playin with Mobo. (Sometimes when I'm bored I just wander around looking for excuses to draw stuff with it.)

[RickC Sniper]

I prefer to sink the two biggest ships in a convoy like that, then evade...do an end around and hit the convoy again.

If I try one torp per ship to slow a few down too often they eventually sink and if you are not in close proximity when they sink you get no credit.

You cannot do a surface attack in this game (at least I can't) so why does it matter if it's day or night? If it's daytime it just takes a bit longer to do the end around

[Orffen]

I prefer to sink the two biggest ships in a convoy like that, then evade...do an end around and hit the convoy again.

If I try one torp per ship to slow a few down too often they eventually sink and if you are not in close proximity when they sink you get no credit.

You cannot do a surface attack in this game (at least I can't) so why does it matter if it's day or night? If it's daytime it just takes a bit longer to do the end around
I had a patrol where both of my scopes got knocked out by aircraft before I made it to my designated patrol area. I came across two merchants and managed to attack both with torps aimed from the TFT (I think that's what it's called).

Unless I've misunderstood what's meant by a surface attack, that is. :)

[RickC Sniper]

Sure you can, against unescorted merchants.

This is a convoy with four escorts. Maybe you can take those on surfaced, but not me.:p :p

[Orffen]

Sure you can, against unescorted merchants.

This is a convoy with four escorts. Maybe you can take those on surfaced, but not me.:p :p
:rotfl:That's an excellent point, totally forgot about that. :lol:

[jazman]

I only ever saw convoys like that in SH3. I can't even remember what to do.

[Capn_Sinky]

OK, did we figure out if he is on a sugar boat or a fleet boat? Also what is the load out? How many fish and what kind? Also, are they zig zaging?

If you are in a s-boat, the escort to the sw is gonna give you a real headach if you fire from your current position. He's only doing 16kts right now but when you fire he'll be doing 25kts and will follow your fish trails right to you and you want be able to go deep enough if you are in a sugar boat. I would point her SE and drift about 500 yds on that heading as soon as the first wave passes you open up on the five that will be directly in front of you and at that close range you should be able to hit em right where you want to. I would aim for the running gear at a dept of 10ft. Wreck their props and rudders. With four Mk 10 fish u should be able to at least slow or stop three maybe get a kill on one. Plus being among the convoy when you fire the escorts will have a hard time locating you. Dive deep and silent head S and reload. When the opportuinty arises return and finish them off.

If you are in a fleet boat, use the same tactic only this time you will have targets both ahead and behind.

I would be careful whatever tactic you use. If you can see the individual ships then either your scope or radar is above water which means it is possible for the merchies to see you and start zig zagging or worse notify the escorts which will make everything way more difficult.


PS: not to be a smart-a but there is no such thing as 100% not detected.

[bookworm_020]

Don't knock his approach! I use it on a regular basis. I just wait till the angle of attack is better and there within spiting distance. I've wiped out many a convoy by doing this!:arrgh!:

[Capn_Sinky]

Sry bookworm, I wasn't knocking his approach, didn't mean for it to come across like that. He is in a very very good position. Anytime you can get past the escort screen an get where he is your doing something right. I was just throwing out suggestions based on boat type.

With my luck, I would be in his position rigged for silent running and the retarded bosun :doh: would blow his freakin whistle to cange the watch and the convoy would scatter like roaches when the kitchen lights are flipped on.

[Chardok]

Sorry guys. I should menation, I'm in a shiny new Gato (I think. And I didn't play last night due to the aforementioned medications knocking me out before 10 oclock (And my day typically doesn't end until 9...little time) At any rate, to clarify I've got a full load of fish, 6 fton four rear, four in reserve in the rear and 10 (?) in the front.

The only problem is, I cannot use my deck gun because I switched int in port from stern to bow, so sinking crippled ships is all but impossible (Every time I fire the DG I CTD) I found the "fix" for it, but it's written in a way that my feeble brain cannot comprehend it.