GoldenRivet's 1X Patrol [Archive] - SUBSIM Radio Room Forums

GoldenRivet

07-31-08, 06:19 PM

U-202 will embark on her 1x patrol under the command of KaptLt. Jon Wintergarten on July 31, 1941 from Brest, France at 9:00PM Central Time (USA, Texas)

I will be simulating the full legth patrol without time compression.

the date in game will start on July 31, 1941 at 2100 hours (Brest, France), this will correspond with a real life date and time of July 31, 2008 at 2100 hours (Texas, USA)

in theory... it will be approximately sunrise at my house when it is sunrise on the U-boat. It will be approximately sunset at my house when it is sunset on the U-boat... it will be time to eat, sleep, surface and submerge in 100% real time.

midnight attacks on board the boat will take place at midnight in my house (assuming no time zones are crossed)

Cruise Schedule:

Depart Brest, France at 2100 hours

The boat will remain submerged for sleep hours from 2200 - 0400 hours

0400 hours surface to recharge air and batteries

scheduled sound checks will occur at the following times:

0800
1200
1600
2000
2200 - overnight

in the interest of historical accuracy i will make at least one mandatory post per day in the form of a "Daily Situation Report" within it i will include the condition of the boat, contacts, sinkings, fuel status, weapons statuis etc.

GoldenRivet

07-31-08, 06:20 PM

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/1416/crewlistnr4.jpg

KeptinCranky

07-31-08, 06:47 PM

Oh dear oh dear, so it has begun then? :D

I'll be following your progress mate, good luck out there :up:

Laffertytig

07-31-08, 07:30 PM

your a maniac!:D I assume your gonna pause or save it from time to time right?

GoldenRivet

07-31-08, 08:16 PM

your a maniac!:D I assume your gonna pause or save it from time to time right?

every hour, unless im asleep

GoldenRivet

07-31-08, 08:55 PM

DAY 01
________________________________________________

FROM: U202
TO: BDU

31JUL1941 2049 HOURS

DAILY COMPULSARY REPORT

DEPARTED BREST EN ROUTE TO ASSIGNED PATROL AREAS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE : FOURTEEN TOREPDOS ON BOARD : TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY ROUNDS DECK GUN HIGH EXPLOSIVE : ONE THOUSAND ROUNDS AA : WEATHER OBSERVATION OMITTED : EXPECT NEXT REPORT WITHIN TWENTY FOUR HOURS : J WINTERGARTEN :: END

-------------------------------

U-202 Log Book

We are en route now to our assigned patol areas. First we will pass through KM grids BF51 BF42 BF43 and BF17 where we will spend a few days in search of merchant shipping transporting supplies to and from the Med and areas of North Africa. Then, we will turn northwest to patrol the choke point in the western approaches in the vicinity of grids AM52 and AM02. Finally we will turn west to patrol the area of the Rockall Banks before returning to port. Ernst estimates the entire patrol should take anywhere from 12 to 15 days depending on weather and the frequency of encounters with the enemy. Thus far, all systems appear operational. we should lose contact with land in approximately 4 hours. Plan to surprise the crew with a crash dive to be followed by a weapons test at approximately 0100 hours.

bookworm_020

07-31-08, 09:12 PM

GoldenRivet

07-31-08, 09:17 PM

This could be intersting, that's if he doesn't go nuts before it all over!:doh:

In the intrest of realism, have you limited yourself to food that is historical accurate?? One working toilet for 30 men for half the patrol? Sleeping in a bunk that's warm when you get in?:hmm:

One toilet

there is not thrity men in my house, i'll eat whatever is in the house, and my bed is always warm :lol:

kaarlo

08-01-08, 01:00 AM

This is a new idea for me, good luck herr Kaleun, i shall read your reports! :D

But in order to achieve 100 % realism, you should kick out your weapons officer. Those duties were divided between IWO (torpedos) and IIWO (flak & deck gun).

Sleeping in a bunk that's warm when you get in?:hmm:

The captain has an own bunk, and it's green leather mattress won't have time to warm up once the action starts...

Schöneboom

08-01-08, 02:13 AM

Hmm, interessant, GR... I suppose your L.I. has improvised a shower using water heated by the diesels, or you'll just lay on more "eau de Kaleun" (sorry, couldn't resist). :D

Gute Jagd!

Penelope_Grey

08-01-08, 03:31 AM

This could be intersting, that's if he doesn't go nuts before it all over!:doh:

In the intrest of realism, have you limited yourself to food that is historical accurate?? One working toilet for 30 men for half the patrol? Sleeping in a bunk that's warm when you get in?:hmm:
One toilet

there is not thrity men in my house, i'll eat whatever is in the house, and my bed is always warm :lol:

Yes, electric blankets are great for that! :up:

Good going on this patrol, I couldn't do it!

Chisum

08-01-08, 04:01 AM

Vacillator

08-01-08, 04:09 AM

Happy hunting GR!

I hope to read every report, including one reporting your return to France. :up:

GoldenRivet

08-01-08, 04:15 AM

Day 02
_______________________________________

U-202 Log Book

We started the diesels about 7 hours ago and have been running on the surface through the night. Brest is about 120km astern of us at this point. I expect we should enter the Shipping lanes of the Keltische See within 18 to 20 hours. Crew is eager and optimistic about enemy contact there. I have posted my best watch crew in order to addres the possibility of encountering enemy aircraft in the Biscay crossing. Weather is cooperating so far and we are making good speed. Last nights crash dive results were excellent, the crews respons put the boat clearing periscope depth within 23 seconds. It will be at least lunch time before we can test the boat in deep water.

GoldenRivet

08-01-08, 04:17 AM

Good luck Herr Kaleun !
:o
Unfortunatly, I'm afraid you can't do it as you want because Microsoft will probably force you to reboot !
I can't imagine a computer open during an entire patrol without crashing !

:-?

screen saver and power saver are disabled for the time being... i have also disabled all known automatic updates with reboots and switched them all to manual.

Just completed my first save... i intend to save about every other hour so if the computer decides to sh*t the bed i have only lost 2 hours tops.

hope it works out.

almost 7 1/2 hours running now with no problems :arrgh!:

Laffertytig

08-01-08, 04:38 AM

wont your pc fry after bein switched for day/weeks on end? and what if u have to leave the house durin a convoy attack or while your bein depth charged?

Fincuan

08-01-08, 04:56 AM

wont your pc fry after bein switched for day/weeks on end?

I don't know about his PC in particular, but generally modern PCs can run for months or years without problems. At home I have an old Debian-based server (233 mhz P2, modded to be extra quiet), which has been running since mid-2005 with only a few short "service breaks"(cleaning, a few minutes at most). Currently the uptime is just short of 12 months. Granted it's not the same as playing SH3 nonstop.

Good luck for your patrol GoldenRivet :up:

Puster Bill

08-01-08, 06:28 AM

wont your pc fry after bein switched for day/weeks on end? and what if u have to leave the house durin a convoy attack or while your bein depth charged?

His PC won't fry. In fact, it's less stressful to leave it running.

Where I worked we once had a PC that was turned off every day at COB, and turned back on every morning. One morning, it wouldn't boot. Since it was under a maintenance contract, we sent it out to our vendor.

The problem turned out to be that the constant heating/cooling cycles from turning it on and off had worked the processor chip out of the socket (before the days of ZIF locking sockets). All it took to fix it was to push the chip back down.

Besides which, the PC I'm posting this on has been on continuously, except for during thunderstorms, for 2+ years with no ill effects.

GoldenRivet

08-01-08, 08:06 AM

wont your pc fry after bein switched for day/weeks on end? and what if u have to leave the house durin a convoy attack or while your bein depth charged?

my PC routinely runs for days on end already, besides, i have a lot of time off the next couple of weeks.

i hope to have a good patrol but one that only lasts about 12 days:up:

Cezbor

08-01-08, 08:22 AM

Good luck captain, .... by the way .... are you sure you took adequate supplies, f.e. beer?;) You know thirst may kill you faster then ASW patrols:-?

Kielhauler1961

08-01-08, 11:50 AM

Good luck GoldenRivet! I read a thread over on the Ubi forum (some time back) that somebody tried a x1 patrol in a type IX! He was never heard from again! By the way, the boss has just asked if you could come in Tuesday....?:)

bert8for3

08-01-08, 12:05 PM

msge begins

From: U-843
To: U-202

Yr dep noted per BdU advice. Good hunting.
KL Bert

msge ends

GoldenRivet

08-01-08, 12:51 PM

From: U202
To: Bdu

01aug1941
1300 Hours
Bf5114

Daily Report

No Sightings No Contacts :: Have Received Your Message Regarding Status Of La Spezia :: Fourteen Torpedo, Two Hundred Nineteen Rounds Deck Gun Remaining Nine Hundred Eighty Rounds AA Remaining :: Fuel Food And Water Status Good :: Weather As Follows :: Wind Two Two Seven Degrees At Three Knots Sunny Sky Scattered High Cirrus Clouds Visibility Excellent Calm Seas :: Continuing On Course At This Time :: Request That You Forward Any Reports Of Enemy Contact Relevant To Our Area Of Operations :: Expect Next Report Within Twenty Four Hours :: End

GoldenRivet

08-01-08, 05:37 PM

From: U202
To: Bdu

01aug1941
1743 Hours
BF4323

UPDATED WEATHER :: SEA VERY ROUGH :: WIND TWO TWO ZERO DEGREES AT TWENTY NINE KNOTS :: SKY CLEAR AND VISIBILITY EXCELLENT :: BARO PRESSURE FALLING RAPIDLY :: NOTHING OTHER TO REPORT :: End

KeptinCranky

08-01-08, 06:15 PM

From U 505:

Hmm, I wonder, how will you handle the situation I'm currently in at 1x TC

Bad weather, fog rain, 15m/s wind, the whole shebang, a convoy, about 500km west of Ireland Februari 1942, convoy heading NE, first picked up heading NNW in BE38 and stalked it (at TC) to AM48 where it turned NE, weather still the same for about 48 hours now

have been shadowing fairly close, between 10 and 25km, monitoring hydrophones regularly waiting for weather to clear. counted at least 5 Escorts, that by this time may have radar so needs constant vigilance....

How to deal with 48+ hours of shadowing, employ spare crew that's around? extra coffee?

your thoughts?

GoldenRivet

08-01-08, 06:45 PM

the best course of action in that scenario would be to have at least one other person here with me who was as into SH3 as i am... this way we could monitor the game in shifts.

the course of action would be much the same as in real life... stalk the convoy and wait for the weather to break. frequent sound checks to keep an eye on them. and a realization that the weather might not break before the convoy reaches the shallows. at which point if that is the case... plan B: return to course and hope for another encounter.

1x TC is maddening in that regard. right now im about 400KM west of Brest... and i have been at sea now for 22 hours. my last ship contact was the escort from port which turned around and faded into the distance behind us... after that the gulls gave up interest and headed inland... after that the light house outside of brest faded steadily away and at that point it was just U-202 and the sound of the ocean.

this morning i set my alarm for 4:00 am to follow my routine, cook breakfast, check on the progress and crew etc doing a sound check so close to france was pointless so i skipped it.

I was worried about the threat of aircraft but gambled and remained on the surface throughout most of the night last night and thoughout today

i have done three crossword puzzles now, cooked lunch and about to have dinner and my main source of any scenery in SH3 is an endless sprawl of blue waves.

im currently past my 10th save game. with mnay many more to go for sure.

the computer has not missed a beat fortunately. I have dual monitors and through the past 22 hours and 14 minutes of game play i have "task switched" about a thousand times without any problem.

given sea state and wind conditions the use of the deck gun is out of the question right now. its unfortunate that we cant forecast weather on here because as of yet... no matter what target i come across it will have to be hit with torpedoes.

one thing is for sure... whatever ship i encounter is going to the bottom... come hell or high tide!

KeptinCranky

08-01-08, 07:01 PM

I can empathize a bit, I'm now going into the thrid night stalking that convoy and it's only about 150km to where it gets shallow, I don't mind that much, I'm well versed in 120m max depth evasion (GWX testing helps :D) the convoy is only going 6 knots and zigzagging a lot so i still have hopes, but I'm in a IXc and supposed to be Paukenschlaging about now... not harassing convoys well inside the western approaches...:hmm:

I have taking up the habit of gnawing my nails in frustration the past 5 hours though, I can't imagine doing that at 1x TC...:doh:

GoldenRivet

08-02-08, 11:39 AM

DAY 03

From: U202
To: Bdu

02AUG1941
1145 Hours
BF1883

NO CONACTS NO SIGHTINGS :: WEAPON LOADOUT REMAINS UNCHANGED :: WELL INTO KELTISCHE SEE AND PERFORMING NUMEROUS SOUND CHECKS :: HEAVY SWELLS WIND ONE ZERO NINE DEGREES AT SEVENTEEN KNOTS :: LIGHTNING OBSERVED AND NO RAIN YET :: VISIBILITY FAIR :: END

VonDos

08-02-08, 11:53 AM

From: U-111
To: U-202

Good hunting!

BasilY

08-02-08, 04:40 PM

the best course of action in that scenario would be to have at least one other person here with me who was as into SH3 as i am... this way we could monitor the game in shifts.

Someone can create an on-line program where 2-4 players can work in shifts conrolling the boat. Say some one in Australia, one in the US, and, of course, one in Germany. As long as they make a pact to forsworn all other un-necessary activities such sex, business trips, family gatherings for the next, said, 6 years, while play this game. Of cause, things can always end earlier.:roll:

Kpt. Lehmann

08-02-08, 06:51 PM

Hang in there GR! You can do it! :rock: :rock: :rock:

GoldenRivet

08-02-08, 07:03 PM

Thanks!

right now im in grid BF18... in what would be grid BF1813 if the grids went according to this http://www.uboat.net/maps/grid.html at high zoom.

Im at 40 meters depth creeping ahead slow with occasional drifting at all stop doing a rather lengthy sound check... the weather above is limiting the visibility to about 8KM or so. i figure the sonar officer will hear a ship long before the watch will see one!

Confidence is high that i will encounter something in the next 10 hours, this has been a hot spot for me in the past, i hope it will be now.

Im a rather impatient person, and doing a 1x patrol requires a great deal of self discipline and patience.

its rather difficult to convinve yourself that it is normal to do a 4 to 6 hour sound check! when under time compression it only takes a matter of minutes to pass such time.

keeping my fingers crossed.

:arrgh!:

Laufen zum Ziel

08-02-08, 07:14 PM

Sounds great, good luck and keep us posted.

I have the time to try it but not the guts. Last time I tried I got tied up reading Brags book and ran into a DD. lost my As- but finished the book.

Kpt. Lehmann

08-02-08, 08:06 PM

If you wind up in Grid BC... watch out for icebergs. Just spotted a couple there.:ping:

GoldenRivet

08-02-08, 11:07 PM

well i dont plan on going that far west. thanks for the heads up though. I have seen a great number of them in the region your talking about though.

:up:

GoldenRivet

08-03-08, 01:04 PM

DAY 04

From: U202
To: Bdu

03AUG1941
1257 Hours
BF1442

RECIEVED CONTACT REPORT RELEVANT TO GRID BF15 :: GIVEN SPEED AND DIRECTION INDICATED IN REPORT THE TARGET IS UNREACHABLE :: CONTINUING ON PLOTTED COURSE :: NO CONTACTS :: WEATHER REPORT AS FOLLOWS :: HEAVY RAIN ROUGH SEA VISIBILITY APPOROX ONE KM :: WEATHER IN THIS AREA PREVENTS EFFECTIVE U-BOAT OPERATIONS AT THIS TIME :: END

____________________________

U-202 log book

This morning at around 0900 we received a contact report from a U-boat which was returning to port. The report gave indication of a single unescorted ship heading ENE at medium speed. Given the position, course and speed of the target we would intercept them about the time they arrived in port! the decision was made not to persue the contact. The rain is relentless. No sooner do we enter a rich hunting ground and the weather goes ape ****!

Weather is probably the biggest counter to U-boat operations. If the Allies could find a way to control the precipitation patterns in the atlantic ocean they could effectively render the kriegsmarine useless. The tactical considerations to a U-boat in poor weather are many. The visibility becomes so limited that sighting a ship becomes impossible therfore the boat must rely on hydrophones. This requires the boat to remain submerged which then limits the speed to a snails pace. If a commander takes the risk to charge ahead on the surface he will have a sea sick crew to contend with, and worst of all, a destroyer could come rushing out of the driving rain at any moment with no warning. on top of all that... if hydrophone contact is made with a potential target, intercepting it in such weather is not only a massive risk for collision, but an intercept of the target can be a time consuming if not impossible feat.

Unless the weather improves significantly in the next several hours, all optimism for enemy contact in this area will be completely shot! and our next opportunity to enter heavily traveled shipping lanes will not come for another 1,700 KM.

Frustratedly,
J. Wintergarten

GoldenRivet

08-03-08, 09:22 PM

DAY 04

From: U202
To: Bdu

03AUG1941
2127 Hours
BF1446

CONTACT REPORT RECEIVED ON LARGE OUTBOUND CONVOY :: INTERCEPT COURSE PLOTTED :: EXPECT CONTACT WITH ENEMY IN APPROX TEN HOURS :: END

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATEjQhdfA8U&feature=related

_______________________

U-202 Log Book

Despite the terrible weather, someone out there has made contact with a large outbound enemy convoy in grid square BF4124. We are changing course to intercept in hopes that the weather improves. Expect enemy contact within ten hours.

Drakken

08-04-08, 12:23 AM

Allright! It's time to make some space in the bow torpedo room! Sink these Tommies! :arrgh!:

GoldenRivet

08-04-08, 12:36 AM

U202 Log Book

Good fortune has passed our way, though the sea is still quite rough, the rain has given way to clear skies!

i hope we have an easy time of locating this convoy!

Chisum

08-04-08, 04:39 AM

Hang on !

;)

GoldenRivet

08-04-08, 08:17 AM

DAY 04

From: U202
To: Bdu

04AUG1941
0825 Hours
BE6381

WE HAVE REACHED THE INTERCEPT POINT :: NO VISUAL CONTACTS :: VISIBILITY REMAINS EXCELLENT :: NUMEROUS SOUND CONTACTS AT MEDIUM RANGE CLOSING :: SUSPECT WE ARE IN EXCELLENT POSITION FOR ATTACK :: THE HUNT IS ON :: END

rifleman13

08-04-08, 08:30 AM

Go get 'em!

VonGlaus

08-04-08, 04:15 PM

Do ya think he's being depth-charged right now?:hmm:

GoldenRivet

08-04-08, 05:25 PM

DAY 04

From: U202
To: Bdu

04AUG1941
1730 Hours
BE6377

ESTABLISHED VISUAL CONTACT WITH CONVOY AT 0940 HOURS :: FIRST SHOTS IN OPENING ENGAGEMENT OCCURED AT 1019 HOURS :: SPEED OVERESTIMATED :: FIVE TORPEDOES EXPENDED FOR A TOTAL OF TWO HITS :: SANK ORE CARRIER DAMAGED TANKER :: DEPTH CHARGED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS THRITY MINUTES BEFORE BREAKING CONTACT :: RELOADED AND REJOINING CONTACT AT THIS TIME FOR ANOTHER ATTACK :: END

Drakken

08-04-08, 06:14 PM

W00t! Thumbs up, herr Kaleun! :up: :up: :up:

Brag

08-04-08, 06:32 PM

Excellent beginning of patrol, Herr Kaleun! Keep up the good work.

Laufen:
Sorry to hear the book distracted you to death.:nope:
Is Kingmaker a book to die for?

GoldenRivet

08-04-08, 07:48 PM

DAY 04

From: U202
To: Bdu

04AUG1941
1945 Hours
BE6377

MAINTAINED DISTANT VISUAL CONTACT WITH CONVOY AND ESTABLISHED ATTACK POSITION AT 1801 HRS :: ENGAGED TWO SHIPS WITH A SALVO AT 1835 :: TOTAL PATROL RESULTS FOLLOW :: TWO ORE CARRIERS AND ONE MODERN TANKER FOR 26.470 TNS :: VERY LITTLE RETALIATION AFTER SECOND ATTACK :: CONVOY FADING W BY SW SPEED EIGHT KTS :: OBSERVED ATTACK AREA :: MUCH DEBRIS OIL SLICK AND SURVIVORS IN RAFTS VISIBLE :: FIVE TORP REMAIN ABOARD :: THREE INT TWO EXT :: SEA STATE DOES NOT FAVOR LOADING EXTERNALS :: BREAKING CONTACT REQ ORDERS :: END

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KIl8-GADyE

SandyCaesar

08-04-08, 09:22 PM

Nice.

You're not even at ordered area, and you've already gotten 26k tons? They're breaking out the beer at BdU.:rock:

Carry on, GR!

GoldenRivet

08-04-08, 09:45 PM

From: U202
To: BdU

04AUG1941
GRID BE6384
2155 HOURS

SIGHTED DAMAGED STRAGGLERS SEVERAL KM IN TRAIL OF CONVOY LIKELY DAMAGED BY ANOTHER U-BOAT :: FOUR SHIPS TYPE UNKNOWN :: ONE BURNING BADLY :: ESTABLISHING AMBUSH POSITION :: END

bookworm_020

08-04-08, 09:54 PM

Talk about coming up roeses! One convoy then another! I don't think you will be getting to your patrol area before running out of torpedos, but I'm sure going home eary due to running out of torpedos and gun rounds will make them forgive you and buy you a beer or two!:up:

GoldenRivet

08-04-08, 10:17 PM

From: U202
To: BdU

04AUG1941
GRID BE6384
2225 HOURS

EXPENDED REMAINING INTERNAL TORPEDOES ON STRAGGLERS :: TWO HITS ONE DUD :: TWO TRAMP STEAMERS SUNK :: TWO TORPEDOES REMAINING :: BOTH IN EXTERNAL STORAGE :: SEA STATE DOES NOT FACILITATE LOADING EXTERNALS :: I AM CONSIDERING A RETURN TO PORT :: WILL REMAIN SUBMERGED THROUGH THE NIGHT UNTIL 0900 05AUG EXPECT COMPULSARY REPORT UPON AM SURFACING:: TOTAL PATROL TONNAGE 29.760 :: REQUEST ORDERS :: END

joegrundman

08-04-08, 11:27 PM

Well Done:up:

GoldenRivet

08-04-08, 11:42 PM

thanks!

the outlook for a good patrol was quite poor when the weather went sour. fortunately it improved just hours before intercepting that convoy.

Im confident that another u-boat was attacking this convoy because lagging behind the convoy was those four stragglers. i only had enough torpedos loaded to bag two of three of them... too bad about the dud! ill settle for two.

the third one didnt look like he was in the proper shape to last too long.

in keeping with historical accuracy i will only load externals when the sea calms down.

Im not sure whether or not i want to head back to port and wrap up a great 1x patrol or head for corrientes and try to get ahold of some extra torpedoes! :hmm:

if i head for home it will no doubt take me another couple of days to get there... perhaps three days at good speed. that would mean the total patrol length would be about 8 days... seems a little unrealistic. but i guess for a VII boat that ventured into the Keltische See and got lucky it would be about right.

im tempted to go get in touch with a resupply ship :up:

joegrundman

08-05-08, 12:12 AM

if you are nearer to home than a supply ship, you should head home. Then start your next patrol :D

Laufen zum Ziel

08-05-08, 10:16 AM

GR,
Great report. Makes me want to try again.

Brag,
Great read on the book but not while at see with DD's
lurking around.

Brag

08-05-08, 03:10 PM

Well done, GR. Not many idle days there.

New Balz story out for your entertainment.

Gigalocus

08-05-08, 04:00 PM

What happens if your asleep and your attacked?

GoldenRivet

08-05-08, 04:04 PM

in order to prepare for such an event, i typically submerge during the night to about 40 - 80 meters and rig for silent running.

the volume us turned up slightly so that the creaks and groans are barely audible in my bedroom. (my office is right across the hall so with both doors open this is easy)

hopefully, the sound of pinging, or the sound of the crew calling out a sonar contact would awaken me.

My wife had the idea of going to the store and purchasing some cheap baby monitors. place one by the PC and the receiver by the bed at night. this way i can stay on the surface and make better headway.

typically, i go to sleep about 1am and wake up around 7:30am so in reality there is not much time which has passed in the game. the risk of being attacked while asleep is minimal.

GoldenRivet

08-05-08, 04:44 PM

From: U202
To: BdU

05AUG1941
GRID BE1745
1650 HOURS

BEGINNING RETURN VOYAGE :: ESTIMATE ARRIVAL TIME OF 2200 HOURS ON THE SIXTH :: END

Gigalocus

08-05-08, 04:45 PM

Well I certanly wish you luck in your hunting!

Lets hope you don't sail into a destroyer, or miss a juciy aircraft carier sailing unescorted whilist you lower yourself with sleep!

Hows the food? Or have you opted for modern food stuffs?

GoldenRivet

08-05-08, 04:51 PM

From: U202
To: BdU

05AUG1941
GRID BE1745
1655 HOURS

SIGHTED A LONE MERCHANT :: SHADOWING :: END

Brag

08-05-08, 05:48 PM

Ummmm. TCx1 with wife. Heh, that takes guts. :o

KeptinCranky

08-05-08, 06:00 PM

Yes, the lady does deserve a medal after this, :D

GoldenRivet

08-05-08, 06:24 PM

hey you know... she has been a trooper... even comes in here and checks on the crew while getting ready for work in the morning while im asleep (she leaves early).

GoldenRivet

08-05-08, 06:45 PM

From: U202
To: BdU

05AUG1941
GRID BE1745
1850 HOURS

SANK TRAMP STEAMER FOR 1.840 TONS :: MERCHANT SUFFERED ONLY ONE CASUALTY :: DISTRIBUTED THREE BOTTLES OF WATER AND FOUR LOAVES OF BREAD TO SURVIVORS IN RAFT :: TOTAL PATROL TONNAGE AS OF THIS DATE 31.500 TONS :: ONE TORPEDO REMAINING :: RESUMING RETURN PASSAGE TO BREST :: END

GoldenRivet

08-05-08, 09:38 PM

U202 Log Book

Though it seemed at first we would have nothing but rotten luck with poor weather and lack of contacts, finally the luck had changed. on days four and five we managed to intercept a convoy which had previously been attacked by another one of our U-boats. Upon intercepting this convoy the initial attack was only mildly successful with the sinking of an ore freighter and another ship being damaged but soldiering on. We were depth charged, and despite a few charges coming close to us the tommies were off by a wide margin on a majority of their attack runs.

The second attack on the same convoy yielded better results, another ore carrier sunk along with a tanker sent to the bottom! The allied destroyers didnt even put up a fight! We broke contact with the convoy, and not a short time later stumbled upon 4 damaged tramp steamers straggling behind the convoy just by pure happenstance. The 4 tiny ships were obviously laboring to keep a pace of 3 knots. one was listing to port, another to starboard, one was obviously flooded by the bow... the fourth had a small fire on the aft deck.

opting for the weakest of the targets we managed to sink two of those tramp steamers before beginning the trip back to brest france.

finally, today just before 1900 hrs we had spent about 2 hours shadowing a lone merchant the smoke of which was only barely visible on the horizon. unfortunately it was no great troop ship or tanker... but another lowly tramp steamer. After sinking it we distributed a small amount of food and water to the survivors. There was but one casualty, his body floating face down in the water just a stones throw from the raft. He appeared to be a RN gunners mate assigned to this particular armed merchant i deduced this from the gunners helmet upon his head.

the remaining crew from the tramp steamer begged for passage to france. The captain of the small craft was a young and strong looking man. his face was clean shaven except for large sideburns. He said they had begun to take on water when some of their hatches had given way in a storm the previous night. He was considering a return to Southampton when the torpedo hit but feared the ship wouldnt make it back to land.

further discussion with the crew revealed that I was correct about the gunners mate... he was the last man off the boat, and had jumped feet first from the stern of the ship without removing his helmet... this action broke his neck and caused his death.

SandyCaesar

08-06-08, 12:06 AM

Well done!

31k tons on 1xTC? That's an excellent haul. :ping:

Wishing you a happy voyage home. Keep ready, though. No loose talk about luck, good or bad--don't want to jinx it, now.;)

GoldenRivet

08-06-08, 01:24 AM

I wish i could chock it up to skill Sandy, but i have to give a lot of the credit to luck.

When i received the report of the convoy i turned to intercept it with all my fingers and toes crossed in hopes that the rainy stormy weather we SH3 players know all to well would clear up before it came time to attack.

luck popped its head in and cleared the sky for me not a few hours before my plotted intercept point was reached!

That first encounter with the convoy had my heart pounding and my palms sweating in the way that some first person shooters will get a player revved up!

the entire time i was picking targets through the scope i was thinking to myself "Dont screw this up! Dont screw this up!" unfortunately i sort of botched the first strike. I could have taken out 3 ships in the initial attack, but unfortunately i miscalculated the speed and out of 5 shots i only scored a couple of hits.

I got impatient and input the speed indicated in the contact report of 8 knots into the TDC. In reality the ships were slightly slower - perhaps 6 knots - the short version.... i got impatient and it cost me. live and learn.

the luck came through again after the second strike when i came across the damaged convoy stragglers... that was about as close to a freebie as you can get in SH3. those poor bastards might as well have dropped anchor and had targets painted on them

then several hours later when i least expected it... no less than 5 minutes after i posted in the forum that i was heading back to port... my watch crew spoted ANOTHER ship!

like i said... i got lucky... and i doubt that if i do a 1x patrol again i'll have an experience as good as this one.

i went into this thing fully expecting to see a few lone merchants out there once in a blue moon... i never expected that i would intercept and attack a large convoy by the end of Day 4!