Second Patrol

[derrinurban]

October 1939, second patrol, we get sent to BE61. Things are going well, we sink a few small merchants and a couple of C2's on the way. Get to our patrol area, patrol for 24 hours. Oh well guess there is not much action here, lets go up to AM52 bag some convoys. It was windy with rough seas, medium visibility, so not much of a surprise I didn't see anything.

Just then things took a turn; not necessarily for the better. I get a contact, merchant, heading East, Slow. Excellent.:arrgh!: His course takes him right in front of me. Just doesn't get any easier. Take a look, it's an Ore carrier.

Periscope depth,

No sooner do I get down, SO starts calling out contacts like crazy. Multiple merchants and a warship, heading N, Slow.

What a lucky day, nail the ore carrier, turn around and speed north to get into firing position on a convoy. I was just about doing a happy dance at the computer. Wait patiently, fire two fish into the ore carrier and down it goes. Lets get that convoy, Ahead full, course North.

Spend the next while getting ahead of the convoy sneaking into a good firing position. Raise the periscope and get a map convoy update message about that time. Neutral Convoy, heading North, Slow. I take a look at the map, yep it is the convoy I have been tracking.

Neutral convoy, just my luck. Well I might as well take a look, say hi, sure sounds good. I surface and head for the convoy at ahead 1/3. Lookout calls out a warship sighting, no problem, but lets check the UZO to make sure. American. Great maybe we can trade for some cuban cigars.

I get to about 2000 m, all the while give a friendly wave. Suddenly, deck gun taking damage, flak gun taking damage, sir we are under attack.

WTF, take another look through the UZO and the American destroyers are bearing down on me and firing like mad. Great, good idea, let's say hello, see the pretty "neutral convoy" sail by, won't that be fun. :damn:

Spent the next couple of hours, evading and repairing, evading and repairing, as the destroyers dropped lots of presents down to me. What a friendly bunch.

I assumed if they were neutral, they would not attack. Once again, idiot.:damn:

So, beware, neutral may not always mean friendly. They still may not be happy to see you. What a winner move.:88)

DU

[meduza]

There are usualy some Allied merchants in the "neutral" convoy, so it's worth checking. Just be careful to identify each ship. The escorts never seam to be neutral though. :D

Welcome aboard! :arrgh!:

[St. Cobra]

yeah usually a couple of juict tankers in a neutral convoy....just harder to identify at night.

i chased a liner running at 18knt's for hours wondering if it was o.k to attack...but seeing as she was running with all lights out, she was fair game in my eyes....all 14000 tonnes of her....moohahaha:88):88)

[bookworm_020]

In real life America was escorting convoys well before they came into the war.

[Torplexed]

In real life America was escorting convoys well before they came into the war.

True...but I don't think the US started doing it this early. October 1939. :hmmm: Certainly not engaging U-Boats at this point.

[derrinurban]

True...but I don't think the US started doing it this early. October 1939. :hmmm: Certainly not engaging U-Boats at this point.

I did not think so either, well live (thankfully) and learn. Maybe depends on whether or not there are british ships in the convoy. If it is a completely neutral convoy, maybe they won't attack/defend the convoy.:hmmm:

DU

[Snestorm]

I've read other posts on this type of situation, and all the experts seem to agree that it shouldn't happen. But it does.
I foolishly did the same thing with 2 "neutral" US flagged merchants encountered.
They fired on us. No damage done to anything but my temper.
That was in my early days of playing. Some time after that I read the Uboat Commanders Handbook, which clearly stated that I should have dived and remained undetected.
At least we lived to learn.