Convoy Attacks in 41 How do you do it??

[Breeze]

I am a noob to this game I have the bundle of the uboats and the wolves of the pacific I am playing the American Career and Im getting the hang of it but how do you guys sneak in on a convoy I had gotten a good ways ahead of a convoy I spotted threw down some markers of the travel paths of each ship and everything looked good dropped to 45 feet so i could use the periscope good when they got close had sub in silent running was waiting for first tanker to come up to me and as he was getting there the lead destroyer who seemed to go right by me was now behind me and blasting me. It seems these things always find me it is only 1941 and by the threads I read here that should still be easy any tips as to how you guys sneak in on a convoy?

[-Pv-]

You have a lot to learn. 1st off, play the tutorial sub school missions. All of them start-to finish. Play them until you beat them easily. Read the mission objectives and instructions carefully. Read the stickies at the top of this forum. The hints and tricks in there are legion.

Next, the depth you use is different depending on the sub model. Typically you want to use "P" (pariscope depth) or a little deaper for in-close attacks.

Next, you should ba attacking as far away from escorts as the situation allows. You get close enough to them and they'll detect you no matter what you do. The calner the water, the easier you are seen. At dead calm, you sub can actually be seen under the water with the scope lowered.

Be carefull of your speed and profile to the escorts. When in close, keep your speed as slow as possible (yes, you can go less than 3-4 knots) and keep a minimum profile to the cloest escort.

For escorts who are listening at stop, your battle stations crew make a lot of noise. Even more noise when repairing.

Use minimum scope exposure. When the ships are within 3000 yards, raise it long enough to capture the scene and lower it again (just below the waves) and keep doing that until you launch the torps. The attack scope is harder for the ships to see than the observation scope. The O scope lets you see further away. The scopes can also be incremented hight. You don't have to use full up and down.

These are just a few of the basic techniques for close attacks. You'll spend months learning the fine points.
-Pv-

[Capn_Sinky]

Yep, 45 feet might be a little too shallow for your boat. You might be exposing a wee bit too much there. The plotting you got right. Also keep in mind if you are doing and end around you will see the enemy before they see you. You are a much smaller target at long visual range. When I do end arounds I stay on the Nav map and watch for the task force marker and first figure out their heading and stay just in/ out of sight. watch for the sound lines and the task force emblem. Once you are in their direct path submerge.

Run silent and deep (turn the dang music off put on headsets if you got em).

Run beneth the thermocline will make it more difficult for them to pick u up on their passive gear (hydrophones). TRy to keep it below 5 knts. Dont run your engines constantly. Run till you get to 4-5kts and then coast for a bit(will keep them from getting a good position on you)

Use your hydrophone. Listen to the enemy you can tell what his posture, is he unaware of you (ex no zig zagging, no active pinging) or does he know something is isnt quit right, listen to the destroyers, are they suddenly speeding up and slowing down. Or does he know your out there active pinging and racing around.

Come to periscope at less than 5kts, reduces periscope wake. Leave the scope up only long enough to take a quick looksee. you'll be suprised how quickly they can see a scope. Use the command periscope depth, dont guess. In rough seas periscope depth may still be too shallow. Also use the page up and page down keys to raise and lower the scope. Just break the surface dont leave a giant telephone pole pointing to your location.

Above all HAVE PATIENCE!!!! The moment you start gunning the engines and trying to get into a better position will be the moment they hear you and then the ash cans will start falling.

You are the commander, you make the decisions, if you are in a bad position you put yourself there don't blame the game.

You always have two options, take a shot, or wait it out and try again another day.

The boat is like your PC it's a wonderful thing, it does exactly what you tell it to.:up:

The boat is a bi#$% it's like your PC, it does exactly what you told it to.:down:

SAVE SAVE SAVE (not talking about Shoe Carnival either) Save the game at interesting poins so you try it again and again and again till you get it right.:damn:

[seafarer]

Remember that "silent running" does not mean totally silent. It just means you are as quiet as you can make the boat, but you are still making noise. That noise can and will be heard by escorts, especially if you are sitting so shallow.

If your plotting is good, go silent running, but dive to 200-300 feet. Sneak into firing range rigged silent, slow, and deeeeep. Use your passive sonar to listen to the approaching ships. Judge when to come to periscope depth (use the "P" key on the keyboard) to make your attack. If the convoy is more then 2 rows wide, I try to judge it to come up in between rows of ships, then I can quickly target with both fore and aft tubes, then plunge deep again once the fish are out of the tubes (and turn to run down the length of the convoy - harder for the escorts to make attack runs on you if they have to dodge the mess of ships overhead.

[Breeze]

Thank you guys thats some good stuff I have to ask though What is Passive sonar? And how deep can I go on my first mission on my first mission which I think is stupid my radar doesnt work, and the sonar is ok radar only works for planes. I am also not sure as to how deep i can go without dying. I have died twice just diving below 150 feet.

[gimpy117]

im at 800,000 some tons in 43 and i always use the map to get a general course and staying away race ahead at a distance and then when im far enough away get the an intercept point go to peri depth hit silent runing (you will be found if you don't) and let the ships come to me...

[tedhealy]

800,000 :huh: :arrgh!: You've won the war single handed, time to put in a request for a raise :hmm:

[seafarer]

Thank you guys thats some good stuff I have to ask though What is Passive sonar? And how deep can I go on my first mission on my first mission which I think is stupid my radar doesnt work, and the sonar is ok radar only works for planes. I am also not sure as to how deep i can go without dying. I have died twice just diving below 150 feet.

Passive sonar is just your hydrophones - just listening (as opposed to active sonar where you emit a high energy pulse and listen for it's echo's off objects in its path).

At first, all you have is SD Radar - it is an air warning radar and it is non-interactive. It's just always on when you are surfaced and will alert you of any air threats. later, SJ, or surface search radar will become available as an upgrade (and will cost you some renown points) and that is interactive via the radar station.

How deep depends on the underlying water depth and the type of boat. My current career I started in a Sargo class out of Manila. Sargo's are good to 250ft, and I took mine to 300ft once with no damage. I'm now in a Balao class, and have gone to 500ft without harm.

[-Pv-]

Dying near 150ft means your sub is probably damaged. Take a close look at your Damage Control screen. Best head for home and get your boat fixed. You'll have a more successful patrol after you do that.
-Pv-