How do you guys attack a convoy?

[ddiplock]

I'm just curious on some of the methods you guys use to attack a convoy. I made a mistake in my approach to a convoy, clearly the number of escorts forming ring around the convoy was one of the contributing factors.

What I had done was raced ahead of the convoy then swung west to come in at the convoy from the side but was spotted by the escorts.

How do you guys do it?

Would it be best to get ahead of the convoy and then sit right in their path, turn to head into the convoy from the very front, sitting rigged for silent running at periscope depth and then attack when you're past the escorts and among the convoy??

Means you'd have to rely on magnetic detonators alot more as getting perfect angles will be alot harder. Approchaing from ahead and at the side seems to be crappy now with the number of escorts in this convoy I encountered, and its only March 1941 :shifty:

[John O]

Depending on the year and the number of escorts, my tactics are different. Early in the war, I usually take on the escort if there are only one or two and then go after the merchants. Usually I do this from an oblique point (30-40 degrees) in front of the escort and always in silent running. I never attempt a reload when an escort is around. Later in the war when the escorts are more numerous and have better equipment for detection, I try to get inside the escorts shield by coming in behind one (120-130 degrees) and take a shot or two at a merchant in the rear of the convoy. Don't get greedy but attempt to get out quickly. If there is a "rear end charlie" escort behind the convoy, try to avoid him. Go deep quietly, don't change course more that 5 degrees at a time. Doesn't always work but there is always the game save feature of the game. Use it and refine your attack.

[Rhodes]

It depends! Depends of N factors. The game, gwx or stock, year of patrol, luck, mods that are fully manual or not, surface night attack/ day attack, pitch black night or moon light night!

Mainly now, with the gwx 3.0, until 42/43, night attacks are the best, if I manage to intercept the convoy, a 45º angle aproach or get ahead of the convoy and run a paralel course to it, heading in it direction. The thing is, if the convoy only have a lead escort or plus that, 2 "front side" escorts.
Also, deck wash and pick the most juice targets (tankers, that normaly are in the midlle of the convoy), and try to get a good impact angle (60º-120º; previous middle or late 41).

As many people already said, firing the toperdos at some distance, improves the chances of a surface gateaway! With the type II torpedo it's a lot harder since the 3km range (erroneous I think).

submerge attacks, what you said, is a good way to attack, or try to head to the convoy but near one of it sides and them turn to have a near 90º solution!

[papa_smurf]

Well, like said it depends on the year/how many escorts/weather etc. But mainly I run an attack like this (which may not be successful). :

Once I receive a convoy contact, or on the rare occasion stumble into one, I will then plot an intercept course that will put me in front of the convoy, giving me time to assess whats in the convoy/ get into a firing position - usually 60 to 90 degrees AoB to the convoy.

Whilst doing this I will dive on several occasions to plot its course through hydrophone soundings, and get an idea of it size/number of escorts.

Once im in a good position I choose my targets (usually the biggest ships i.e tankers), get into firing position and start the attack run - if I can get past the destroyer screen this makes this much easier. Immediately I order a crash dive and go to around 120m, as the escorts will be looking for you!
I then spend time evading the escorts and in most cases getting past them so I can re-acquire the convoy for another attack. This way I can make at least 3 attack runs, before I slip away leaving much confused escorts.

This would work upto late '43 (especially of the US coast), but after that forget stuff lie this - If you can make a convoy attack, do so, but it will be VERY difficult to escape let alone survive.

Hope this all helps, and good hunting:arrgh!: