rob89
07-13-08, 11:25 PM
*Warning. There is quite alot of text to read :) *
I don't really know how to begin so I will just jump right into my story.
Basically, this evening, I had the most incredible SH3 experience so far.
My story begins in British waters to the north of Ireland. I was on my way to my patrol grid when a report arrived detailing a large convoy heading east from my position. After many days at sea without a glimse of enemy contact, a convoy was a welcome relief. I duly plotted an intercept course and headed off at flank speed. About an hour later I was rewarded with a yell from my Watch Officer; "SHIP SPOTTED!"
I dived to periscope depth and observed a very large convoy several miles away, slowly steaming back to an English port. I cursed the time of day (it was about midday with clear skies and a blazing sun) and shadowed the convoy from afar waiting for my chance to strike.
After many hours the sun finally began to set and I surfaced my boat and proceeded at flank speed towards the convoy. Visibility was poor but as you know, this suits a u-boats purpose very nicely indeed. The convoy by this time had turned to a different heading and was now directly ahead of me, heading on the same bearing I was.
I followed the convoy at flank speed and watched it through my binoculars.
It was huge.
About 15 merchant ships, 5 destroyers and a battleship in convoy formation, destroyers surrounding the vulnerable merchants in a protective ring.
Now many, more cautious Kaleuns may have balked at the idea of heading right up the backside of a heavily defended convoy but my crew was sick of many days without so much as a glimpse of an enemy ship. They wanted action, and boy were they going to get it.
I kept my heading and approached the convoy from astern. A quick check revealed I was about 3km away.
I edged closer and closer, thanking my lucky stars it was so dark and that I hadnt been spotted.
I picked out 4 of the juiciest ships and continued to approach
I knew I could attack from my current range but I wanted to get closer to guarantee a direct hit from my targets, so I carried on getting nearer and nearer to the convoy.
Suddenly my watch officer screamed that we were under attack, my heart started racing as I frantically tried target the 4 ships I'd chosen.
I fired my 4 forward tubes in quick succession and issued a crash dive order.
My crew rushed into action stations as the alarm bell rang loudly.
A terrific explosion rocked my boat and in horror I noticed my bridge had been heavily damaged by surface gunfire.
Everything appeared to be holding however and we continued our rapid descent into the deep. At 150 metres we held our position and waited to hear if our attack had been a success.
A mighty explosion was heard through the water and my crew let out an explosive cheer.
Our elation was short lived however as the distinctive pinging of nearby destroyers echoed throughout our boat.
We then endured an hour of constant bombardment from the vengeful destroyers as they attempted to destroy us. Just when I thought they had given up they would be back even more determined to sink our little sub.
Finally after an agonising length of time, it was over. My hydrophone operator reported the destroyers leaving the vicinity, heading away at flank speed to catch up with the convoy.
We slowly made our way up to periscope depth and finding that the periscope itself was damaged and unusable, surfaced with no real idea of what may be waiting.
Thankfully the seas were clear from enemy vessels and all that remained of the attack was a debries from the sunken ship. Enemy life rafts floated around the remains of their ship and we were forced to ignore their desperate pleas for help.
I ordered the boat back onto course and we sailed away.
A little longwinded yes, but my god, was it intense at the time. After that attack I went outside for a cigarette and found that I was utterly mentally and physically exhausted. This shocked me because at the end of the day SH3 is just a computer game.
The very fact that a game could immerse me so much that I felt like I'd actually been on a U-boat just goes to show the incredible skill of the games developers and all those who have since modified it.
Anyway, thankyou anyone who actually managed to read all of that. I just felt that I should share my "experience" with you all.
I don't really know how to begin so I will just jump right into my story.
Basically, this evening, I had the most incredible SH3 experience so far.
My story begins in British waters to the north of Ireland. I was on my way to my patrol grid when a report arrived detailing a large convoy heading east from my position. After many days at sea without a glimse of enemy contact, a convoy was a welcome relief. I duly plotted an intercept course and headed off at flank speed. About an hour later I was rewarded with a yell from my Watch Officer; "SHIP SPOTTED!"
I dived to periscope depth and observed a very large convoy several miles away, slowly steaming back to an English port. I cursed the time of day (it was about midday with clear skies and a blazing sun) and shadowed the convoy from afar waiting for my chance to strike.
After many hours the sun finally began to set and I surfaced my boat and proceeded at flank speed towards the convoy. Visibility was poor but as you know, this suits a u-boats purpose very nicely indeed. The convoy by this time had turned to a different heading and was now directly ahead of me, heading on the same bearing I was.
I followed the convoy at flank speed and watched it through my binoculars.
It was huge.
About 15 merchant ships, 5 destroyers and a battleship in convoy formation, destroyers surrounding the vulnerable merchants in a protective ring.
Now many, more cautious Kaleuns may have balked at the idea of heading right up the backside of a heavily defended convoy but my crew was sick of many days without so much as a glimpse of an enemy ship. They wanted action, and boy were they going to get it.
I kept my heading and approached the convoy from astern. A quick check revealed I was about 3km away.
I edged closer and closer, thanking my lucky stars it was so dark and that I hadnt been spotted.
I picked out 4 of the juiciest ships and continued to approach
I knew I could attack from my current range but I wanted to get closer to guarantee a direct hit from my targets, so I carried on getting nearer and nearer to the convoy.
Suddenly my watch officer screamed that we were under attack, my heart started racing as I frantically tried target the 4 ships I'd chosen.
I fired my 4 forward tubes in quick succession and issued a crash dive order.
My crew rushed into action stations as the alarm bell rang loudly.
A terrific explosion rocked my boat and in horror I noticed my bridge had been heavily damaged by surface gunfire.
Everything appeared to be holding however and we continued our rapid descent into the deep. At 150 metres we held our position and waited to hear if our attack had been a success.
A mighty explosion was heard through the water and my crew let out an explosive cheer.
Our elation was short lived however as the distinctive pinging of nearby destroyers echoed throughout our boat.
We then endured an hour of constant bombardment from the vengeful destroyers as they attempted to destroy us. Just when I thought they had given up they would be back even more determined to sink our little sub.
Finally after an agonising length of time, it was over. My hydrophone operator reported the destroyers leaving the vicinity, heading away at flank speed to catch up with the convoy.
We slowly made our way up to periscope depth and finding that the periscope itself was damaged and unusable, surfaced with no real idea of what may be waiting.
Thankfully the seas were clear from enemy vessels and all that remained of the attack was a debries from the sunken ship. Enemy life rafts floated around the remains of their ship and we were forced to ignore their desperate pleas for help.
I ordered the boat back onto course and we sailed away.
A little longwinded yes, but my god, was it intense at the time. After that attack I went outside for a cigarette and found that I was utterly mentally and physically exhausted. This shocked me because at the end of the day SH3 is just a computer game.
The very fact that a game could immerse me so much that I felt like I'd actually been on a U-boat just goes to show the incredible skill of the games developers and all those who have since modified it.
Anyway, thankyou anyone who actually managed to read all of that. I just felt that I should share my "experience" with you all.