Your favourite hunting grounds

[Paul Riley]

I would like to begin a thread containing your favourite hunting grounds with some of your biggest kills to date in that area.Please also include the dates if possible too.
I shall begin with mine from a new campaign I started about 2 mths ago using GWX3 (check my signature for full details of my career and campaign status,which I update regularly) :D

Date - December 1939
Hunting Ground - BF11-BF14
Tonnage - 36.958 GRT , including our largest kill so far a 12.000 tonne Whale Factory Ship and a 9.000 tonne Modern Tanker.
Notes on Area - This is a very lucrative spot I chose just south of Ireland covering approx 200km on a north/south patrol line in deep oceanic water slightly west from the shallower continental shelf,bringing in lots of cargo including oil from Canada,and later the USA to Britain.I also logged traffic passing SE through the area possibly heading for either France or Spain,no further details available to confirm this however.

Gute Jagd!

[mr chris]

Have not played SH3 in about 6 months but when i did AM52 and the South western Approaches (BF13) were my two top areas to patrol. Hmmm tonnage in abundance.:arrgh!:

[Paul Riley]

Have not played SH3 in about 6 months but when i did AM52 and the South western Approaches (BF13) were my two top areas to patrol. Hmmm tonnage in abundance.:arrgh!:

The BF grids are great :up:

[STEED]

SE England Sept39-Dec39

W and SW off Island Jan40-Sept40

SW of Freetown Africa Sept40-Dec40

W and SW and S off Island Jan41-Oct41

E of Canada Oct41-Dec41

E of America Dec41-Jan42

N of South America and the Caribbean Feb42-Dec42

N of Norway and Russia Jan43-Dec43

W of South Africa and the Indian Sea Jan44-Dec44

The Baltic Jan45-May45

[Paul Riley]

SE England Sept39-Dec39

W and SW off Island Jan40-Sept40

SW of Freetown Africa Sept40-Dec40

W and SW and S off Island Jan41-Oct41

E of Canada Oct41-Dec41

E of America Dec41-Jan42

N of South America and the Caribbean Feb42-Dec42

N of Norway and Russia Jan43-Dec43

W of South Africa and the Indian Sea Jan44-Dec44

The Baltic Jan45-May45

Good results Steed :up:
I'll be looking forward to one day hammering the Arctic routes :arrgh!:

[Leandros]

Generally, without specifying any time, I would mention these Areas:
The sound between Lands End and Scilly Isles. Just position yourself in the middle and bide your time. Stay submerged at day and ventilate early night and morning. If any warships approach silence the boat and lay quiet. If it is near enough use an electric torp without moving around.

Another favourite is outside Lerwick at the Shetlands. Plenty of destroyers skirting to and from. The water is rather shallow on the outside so if you sink any their masts shall show above the surface. Once five of those were shown beside each other.

Of course, there is constant traffic on the western approach to Gibraltar. Use the same tactics as above.

If you are looking for large convoys the place to be is just outside the north-western approaches, north of Ireland. Position yourself outside of the shallowing water. You shall usually get reports from the BdU on large convoys and if you stay submerged you shall pick up something almost every day. Later during the war you might as well stay surfaced as you pick up the escorts' radar transmissions on a longer range than the sonar.

[Paul Riley]

Generally, without specifying any time, I would mention these Areas:
The sound between Lands End and Scilly Isles. Just position yourself in the middle and bide your time. Stay submerged at day and ventilate early night and morning. If any warships approach silence the boat and lay quiet. If it is near enough use an electric torp without moving around.

Another favourite is outside Lerwick at the Shetlands. Plenty of destroyers skirting to and from. The water is rather shallow on the outside so if you sink any their masts shall show above the surface. Once five of those were shown beside each other.

Of course, there is constant traffic on the western approach to Gibraltar. Use the same tactics as above.

If you are looking for large convoys the place to be is just outside the north-western approaches, north of Ireland. Position yourself outside of the shallowing water. You shall usually get reports from the BdU on large convoys and if you stay submerged you shall pick up something almost every day. Later during the war you might as well stay surfaced as you pick up the escorts' radar transmissions on a longer range than the sonar.


Good tips,thanks :yep:
Although I dont normally opt for attacking in coastal areas or too close to ports,deep open water is my preference (in an ideal world of course).
The convoys north of Ireland sounds interesting,would they be running in early 1941?

[Jimbuna]

The most prolific area has got to be 250km west of Gib or the Rockall banks.

For bottlenecks try the western and southern approaches.

[Paul Riley]

The most prolific area has got to be 250km west of Gib or the Rockall banks.

For bottlenecks try the western and southern approaches.

As always,good stuff jim :salute:
Rockall banks eh,that sounds up near Scotland,will have to consult my good friend google here ;)
Edit: looks to be ESE of Scotland about 200km or so,SW of the Faroes,will check this area out on my return to base in a bit.

[Sailor Steve]

I don't have one. I always go where they tell me.:sunny:

[Paul Riley]

I don't have one. I always go where they tell me.:sunny:

Ergh,lighten the leash a bit Steve,BDU send you to some ridiculous spots sometimes,a long time ago I once got posted to the very bottom of the map near Cape Town,I told Doenitz to "pi$$ off,you bloody go!" and threw my coffee all over his suit,wouldnt matter anyway,I abandoned that career to begin my new one with GWX3 :O:
Suffice to say Doenitz exploded with rage from my coffee attack on him,and he threw his all over me,and then it just got out of hand,with water bombs and cushions etc LMAO

[pickinthebanjo]

Good tips,thanks :yep:
Although I dont normally opt for attacking in coastal areas or too close to ports,deep open water is my preference (in an ideal world of course).
The convoys north of Ireland sounds interesting,would they be running in early 1941?

I just got back from there, as it's one of my spots also. That patrol was from 02/10/1940-30/20/1940 and there were alot more convoys than I was willing to chase. I racked up some 59000tons in grids: AM5155, AM5286, AM5289, AM4931, AM4931, AM4998 And down in BF1588, BF1221, BF1237, BF1361 X3, BE3933 X2 I gave Precise Quardenates

[Paul Riley]

I just got back from there, as it's one of my spots also. That patrol was from 02/10/1940-30/20/1940 and there were alot more convoys than I was willing to chase. I racked up some 59000tons in grids: AM5155, AM5286, AM5289, AM4931, AM4931, AM4998 And down in BF1588, BF1221, BF1237, BF1361 X3, BE3933 X2 I gave Precise Quardenates

Thanks for the info :up:

[timmy41]

North West of scapa flow, where the water gets deep. There are plenty of task forces early in the war out there, and I have sunk the rodney and an illustrious class out there, along with several southhamptons and destroyers.

Obvoisly the 2 bottlenecks entering english ports from the west will give you plenty of contacts, but you still want to stay beyond the shallows or youll run across ASW trawlers, Elcos and tons of other minor units that WILL report your position. As long as you stay outside of the shallows they wont find you as they dont go out that far.

ive been sitting 250k west of Gibraltar and patrolling N and S for over 2 weeks now and nothing but aircraft, dont understand why.

[Paul Riley]

ive been sitting 250k west of Gibraltar and patrolling N and S for over 2 weeks now and nothing but aircraft, dont understand why.

Strange that,maybe they went on strike? :hmmm:

[timmy41]

Strange that,maybe they went on strike? :hmmm:
lol maybe, so far the only merchant I have seen was japaniese!

[Jimbuna]

lol maybe, so far the only merchant I have seen was japaniese!

I'll jump in quickly while Paul works out his return of service :haha:

Are you using the GWX3.0 supermod?

If so, do you have either the Indian Ocean or Black Sea mod enabled?

[timmy41]

I'll jump in quickly while Paul works out his return of service :haha:

Are you using the GWX3.0 supermod?

If so, do you have either the Indian Ocean or Black Sea mod enabled?
Yes GWX3. I dont have either of those enabled as I have no intention of going that far at this time. I think I may have just been unlucky, as there were plenty of aircraft!


hmm, do aircraft report my position to convoys so they can avoid? will they report my position to destroyers and task forces?

[Jimbuna]

Yes GWX3. I dont have either of those enabled as I have no intention of going that far at this time. I think I may have just been unlucky, as there were plenty of aircraft!


hmm, do aircraft report my position to convoys so they can avoid? will they report my position to destroyers and task forces?

Aircraft are unable to report your position to convoys but will report your position to any units within an approx. 50 km radius to your pasition as well as any air unit within their endurance range of your position.

[Randomizer]

North Channel and Hebrides Straight fall 1944 - winter 1945.
Best patrol to date November - December 1944 with 3 ships for about 11,000 tons plus a V/W Class destroyer. Sunk by aircraft in Trondheim Fjord while returning to base.

[armyguy]

The BF grids is my favourite i got two whale ships at one time in BF 16 for 24k
Tons :woot:

The two ships got me 105k now time to get a IXB :arrgh!:

[Paul Riley]

The BF grids is my favourite i got two whale ships at one time in BF 16 for 24k

Tons :woot:

The two ships got me 105k now time to get a IXB :arrgh!:

I cant stress enough how lucrative the BF grids are,esp BF11-BF14 :yeah::yeah:

[RConch]

AN 11 and 13 late 1939, got two AMCs for about 30K tonnage for the two. Same time the area is good for singles passing thru.
There after move to AM 52 and 54 for convoys and singles.
Also BF 14 and 17 prior to the fall of France.
CG 94 west of Gib after wasting a week at DJ 15 (dry well for me).

[Snestorm]

Am53,
am19,
bc43,
ed86,
bf13.

All those grid numbers WERE capitalized, but got changed to small letters! Why???

[Leg]

caribbean

[frau kaleun]

All those grid numbers WERE capitalized, but got changed to small letters! Why???

If all the letters in your post are capitalized, they'll automatically be changed to small case, the reason being (I suppose) that it's assumed you either had your CapsLock on by mistake or were trying to SCREAM at someone or it's a spam infiltration.

[Jimbuna]

I cant stress enough how lucrative the BF grids are,esp BF11-BF14 :yeah::yeah:

Problem being it's not very realistic 'haunting' the same area ad infinitum and it certainly soon turns tedius and boring.

Sail the seas....see the world.

I joined the navy to see the world
But what did I see
I saw the sea


http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[AgentToreno]

I really like the area ESE of Scapa Flow and up near the Shetland.

Patrol #2 had me sailing to AN41 (I stuck around the upper left corner of AN41, almost touching AN16) with my Type IIA. Busted a small freighter, then nailed an ore carrier about 2 hours after the freighter blew bubbles. I have only 2 torpedoes left now, but every couple hours another ship drifts by. I'm holding out for another ore ship if possible before I RTB. After sailing here from Kiel, patrolling some days, and chasing 2 ships down, I still have enough fuel to put on a fiery Rammstein concert all the way back to port. Still waiting on the VII to hit the market so I can haul more ordinance with all this fuel..

I haven't seen any convoy action there (yet), but the singles come from multiple directions so you *can* be picky. Sink a ship, and you can have your batteries and air replenished by the time another comes. Just stay under during the day until you get a hit on the hydrophone, then scope for planes before you surface to intercept.

While intercepting a ship, I was able to mark about 14 observations with 3min 15sec between each one, totally unmolested by aircraft or warships.. And that was done while surfaced in daylight. In other words, time is on your side. Even with a nasty 200 AOB and 4500m distance, you got plenty of time to overtake -> calculate/turn 90 -> submerge -> close the distance and LOS!

BUT: Keep in mind this is October '39, so results will vary if your war is more progressed than my war.

[Snestorm]

If all the letters in your post are capitalized, they'll automatically be changed to small case, the reason being (I suppose) that it's assumed you either had your CapsLock on by mistake or were trying to SCREAM at someone or it's a spam infiltration.

Thanks for the info.
Now I can avoid the problem in future.
Ekstra cool!

[Snestorm]

I joined the navy to see the world
But what did I see
I saw the sea


http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

I saw The Atlantic and The Pacific,
but The Atlantic wasn't romantic,
and The Pacific wasn't what it's cut out to be.

Sailing, sailing . . . . . .

[Canovaro]

Hunting grounds?
I have all the answers :DL

[krashkart]

Before I added GWX to the mix, I would make a complete loop around Britain. Now I can't do that, so for the most part right now I'm trolling around for the new sweetspots. :DL

When it's outright action I'm looking for, I fire up my uber-godmode mods and hit the areas I set aside for cannon fodder. :yeah:

[nikimcbee]

I like Rockall Banks, Cape Hatteras, Grand Banks.

[Weiss Pinguin]

BF15 and whereabouts are pretty good, as is the northeast corner of the BE sector. Also, if you find yourself assigned near the strait of Gibraltar, you can catch a lot of convoys going in and out if you sit to the west of the entrance.

[JMV]

An old thread on hunting grounds :
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=114147
also : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom//showthread.php?t=151045
and : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=116182

[Immelman]

I love the Med! Beautiful weather, sandy beaches :sunny:
No seriously I don't know why people say there is no action in the Med :nope: maybe they stay inside the grid zones. All I know is of the coast of Alexandria, Port Said and Tobruk, there are ships aplenty from '40 till '45 anything your heart desires.

Single contacts, convoys, BB task forces you name it you can find it. I feel like I am on Safari in the Med's warm and inviting waters. My favorite pray is of course the Ocean Liners bound for Africa with fresh troops on board trying to reinforce Monty. There is nothing more satisfying then taking out an entire infantry division singlehandedly in a few hours of stalking, knowing that it would take Rommel about a month to accomplish the same feat on land :arrgh!:

[Jimbuna]

Despite obviously knowing where the traffic is scripted in the area I occasionally like to sit off Port Said and pick off the traffic exiting the Suez Canal.

One day I'll enter it and see just how cramped that channel becomes when a convoy is transitting it :DL

[Immelman]

Yes I know! I love Port Said! There is place NW of it where there is deep water region surround by shallow water. I love tooling around in that "pond" and picking of ships that pass by. :arrgh!: The real challenge though is surviving until late '42 were finally the 'Biscay Cross' (radar warning) becomes available. The bigest threat in the Med is ACs.

As for crossing the Suez... I have been close in and know that there are naval guns, pillboxes and what not. Even if they some how miss you some AC is going to nail you. I wouldn't try that unless it was before of after the War...

[Exakt]

Yes I know! I love Port Said! There is place NW of it where there is deep water region surround by shallow water. I love tooling around in that "pond" and picking of ships that pass by. :arrgh!: The real challenge though is surviving until late '42 were finally the 'Biscay Cross' (radar warning) becomes available. The bigest threat in the Med is ACs.

As for crossing the Suez... I have been close in and know that there are naval guns, pillboxes and what not. Even if they some how miss you some AC is going to nail you. I wouldn't try that unless it was before of after the War...

Use the cover of night to slip in while surfaced, but i do believe it is shallow and could be difficult to navigate submerged with a convoy traveling in it at the same time.

[Jimbuna]

You could always script a mission having you start off in the Bitter Lakes :03:

[Canovaro]

An old thread on hunting grounds :
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=114147
also : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom//showthread.php?t=151045
and : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=116182

That last one is the old OS thread.
The new thread is:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=155855