Why, oh why!?

[schlechter pfennig]

Why, oh why, didn't I pay more attention to my fellow Kaleuns when relaxing at the officers club between patrols!?

Although I was quite fond of my Type VIIB, I'd been quite impressed with the Type IX boats I'd encountered. They looked lean and lethal. So, after one peace-time patrol and six war-time ones, and after 276,566 GRT, I decided to request transfer to a Type IXB. And she seemed every bit as lean, lethal and deadly as I'd imagined.

A heavier deck gun (albeit just about half the ammunition), and two flak guns, one light and one heavy. And the double stern tubes, plus all the extra torpedoes! ::whistles::

So after I finish my assigned patrol I head off to the Hebrides channel to hunt, an area I've successfully racked up quite decent kills before. I'm in AN4119, on the surface at 9:15AM, moving at a leasurely ahead standard, when my lookouts call out they've spotted aircraft.

We all scramble off the bridge even as the alarm is screamed out to crash dive. The hatch is dogged down, the engines at ahead flank, and we dive . . . erm . . . we dive . . . ah . . . mein Gott! We are going to dive, right?

I find myself wanting to head to the forward compartment and start jumping up and down. We finally start diving, and I've set the rudder to 25 degrees port, and we'd just reached 25 meters when a stick of bombs go off right overhead.

Thankfully all that happened was the flak guns took some very minor damage. But I'm starting to get a very bad feeling about this. :shifty:

Well, the U-64 has, so far, survived, and is continuing our seventh war-time patrol. She hasn't racked up much tonnage so far, but she does now have her official nickname:

das wälzende warthog . . . the wallowing warthog.

[krashkart]

A fitting nickname. :up:

The IX is a pig when it comes to diving, but you'll get used to her. The dual stern tubes will come in very handy. :DL

[frau kaleun]

and we dive . . . erm . . . we dive . . . ah . . . mein Gott! We are going to dive, right?


I <3 my Type VII. :smug:

:O:

[Weiss Pinguin]

Those extra reloads will pay off in the end. At times I've made four, five, even six attacks, on a single convoy. If you can catch a large convoy coming through Gibraltar, you've got a goldmine. Just play it safe, and definitely do not get caught in shallow water. :o

I kind of like the extra flak cannons myself, more firepower directed at a target ship can only be a good thing, right? :arrgh!:

[krashkart]

I kind of like the extra flak cannons myself, more firepower directed at a target ship can only be a good thing, right? :arrgh!:

:yeah:


I <3 my Type VII. :smug:

:O:

Have you tried the VIIC/42 yet? :D

[schlechter pfennig]

Oooooo-kaaaay . . . that was . . . interesting . . . if you have an odd idea of interesting.

While I was posting the above, I'd decided to bring inside some externals while the weather was nice and calm. I'm in AN1426, at 6:00AM, just as dawn is starting. Should only take about 40 minutes to haul one inside and, while I still have internal reserves, better to grab one or two while I can.

So I come to dead stop, man the watchtower and send out the crew and start the process of bringing inside an external. Seas as smooth as glass, the horizon salmon pink with the barest hint of dawn . . . what could go wrong?

Heh.

Ten minutes into the process a watchman screams out the dreaded "Aircraft spotted!"

I can't dive; not with a torpedo half-in, half-out. So I call for ahead flank, clear the forward deck of personnel and man the flak stations. Throwing the rudder to 25 degrees port I look up and try spotting what's incoming.

Jeez! Not one, not two, but three Swordfish!

Before they manage making their first bombing pass, the heavy flak takes them out; one-two-three. My jaw hits the decksole!

No sooner has the third hit the sea then I clear the flak stations, man the watchtower again, go to all stop and send the torpedo crew back out.

With ten minutes to go, I again hear "Aircraft spotted!" Oh, you have got to be kidding!

Ummm . . . no.

So again I call for ahead flank, clear the forward deck of personnel and man the flak stations, while scanning the skies.

OK . . . who have I ticked off today? There's another three Swordfish incoming!

The heavy flak brings them down, too!

I finally manage reloading the torpedo, then off we go at ahead full. There must be a carrier someplace around, that's the only way I can see having two groups of three Swordfish just swanning around up here, and while I wouldn't mind adding a carrier to my belt I somehow think she --and her escorts-- might have an ideer we're around.


(I usually do not duke it out with aircraft. I see 'em, I dive. This is the first time, ever, I've been in a position --self-imposed at it might have been-- where I couldn't dive. Not a pleasant feeling!)

[Immelman]

So again I call for ahead flank, clear the forward deck of personnel and man the flak stations, while scanning the skies

I got bad news for you mate you can't call ahead flank. The best you could do is ask for minimum maneuvering speed like 2kts. Anything more completely unrealistic. Basically you are a sitting duck out there when reloading externals.

[schlechter pfennig]

I got bad news for you mate you can't call ahead flank. The best you could do is ask for minimum maneuvering speed like 2kts. Anything more completely unrealistic. Basically you are a sitting duck out there when reloading externals.

Drat! Really? ::mutters:: I keep trying and trying to self-incorporate 'real', and I keep stubbing my toe it seems. :(

[Immelman]

Its all good mate that's how we learn!

[frau kaleun]

Have you tried the VIIC/42 yet? :D


If I ever live long enough to get one I'll let you know how she handles. :O:

[Weiss Pinguin]

Drat! Really? ::mutters:: I keep trying and trying to self-incorporate 'real', and I keep stubbing my toe it seems. :(
Oh well, that's what saves are for! Come on then, chop chop :-j

That's quite impressive though, usually my gunners have trouble keeping up with a single bomber, let alone three Swordfish. What kind of gun configuration do you have?

[krashkart]

Jeez! Not one, not two, but three Swordfish!

.......

OK . . . who have I ticked off today? There's another three Swordfish incoming!


Are you playing stock or GWX? When I played stock I found that, as the war progresses, the aircraft get worse and worse. Kinda like the time I went camping on some lava flats without a tent -- mosquitoes thick as storm clouds, swarming out of the junipers and finding every conceivable way to get into our sleeping bags, and my friend and I were the only warm bodies for miles around. Anyway, I got sick of being constantly harassed by aircraft and upgraded to GWX. It's not nearly as bad... at least not yet. I'm still only in early 1940. :hmmm:

If you're playing stock you will begin to see three or four flights of aircraft patrolling as a group, and if one flight finds you the rest will come knockin' on your hatches.

Beware of the Liberators later on. They suck. :rotfl2:


Oh well, that's what saves are for! Come on then, chop chop :-j

That's quite impressive though, usually my gunners have trouble keeping up with a single bomber, let alone three Swordfish. What kind of gun configuration do you have?

I'm betting it's two Flakzwilig and a dual 3.7cm. :hmmm:

[schlechter pfennig]

That's quite impressive though, usually my gunners have trouble keeping up with a single bomber, let alone three Swordfish. What kind of gun configuration do you have?

Only a single 2cm and a single 3.7cm. I've never had my gunners hit anything before, so I was totally startled and shocked at what happened this time. Quite pleased and relieved, too, all things considered! :O:

Are you playing stock or GWX? When I played stock I found that, as the war progresses, the aircraft get worse and worse. Kinda like the time I went camping on some lava flats without a tent -- mosquitoes thick as storm clouds, swarming out of the junipers and finding every conceivable way to get into our sleeping bags, and my friend and I were the only warm bodies for miles around. Anyway, I got sick of being constantly harassed by aircraft and upgraded to GWX. It's not nearly as bad... at least not yet. I'm still only in early 1940. :hmmm:

If you're playing stock you will begin to see three or four flights of aircraft patrolling as a group, and if one flight finds you the rest will come knockin' on your hatches.

Beware of the Liberators later on. They suck. :rotfl2:

I'm betting it's two Flakzwilig and a dual 3.7cm. :hmmm:

I'm playing GWX 3. And it's only May 1940. I suspect there was a carrier somewhere nearby and that explained the patrolling aircraft. And I have NO idea why my flak gunners were so deadly accurate this time (unless the New Uboat Guns 1.2 mod changed something).

I can, however, promise you that I know where three iron crosses are being awarded when next we dock again! :salute:

[krashkart]

Only a single 2cm and a single 3.7cm. I've never had my gunners hit anything before, so I was totally startled and shocked at what happened this time. Quite pleased and relieved, too, all things considered! :O:

Come to think of it, Swordfish were kind of easy to shoot down IIRC. :hmm2:

[KL-alfman]

great gunnery-job your crew did! :up:

imo the type IX has huge advantages (AA-weapons, 22! eels, long-range ability) and one big mistake: diving-time
(this will be corrected though, there's a mod in progress: "Kurfürst's Schnelltauchback")

the type IX should be deployed in a way that it has its points:
- 200m under keel
- hunting in grounds with no or little air-cover
- preferably taking out lone merchants or
- attacking convoys from within (when after the release of all eels you can crash-dive at flank speed)

once I got the chance to fire at 5different targets from within a large convoy. was like new year's fire-works going off!

after mid 1943 I prefer the type VII though. ;)

[sergei]

AN14. Really not a good place to be reloading externals.
You're in an area of lots of allied air cover.

In a IXB I would say go further afield to hunt.
Say the Western Approaches, or the approaches to the Gib.
Nice deep water there too.
And you can head West for a bit when you want to reload externals.

After the transfer to France then maybe Canada, Freetown or the Caribbean.

I'm just guessing most of this, as I haven't run a IXB career yet.
But that's what I'd do.

I wouldn't think the IXB is the right sort of sub for hunting in the AN Grid Squares.

[Jimbuna]

AN14. Really not a good place to be reloading externals.
You're in an area of lots of allied air cover.

In a IXB I would say go further afield to hunt.
Say the Western Approaches, or the approaches to the Gib.
Nice deep water there too.
And you can head West for a bit when you want to reload externals.

After the transfer to France then maybe Canada, Freetown or the Caribbean.

I'm just guessing most of this, as I haven't run a IXB career yet.
But that's what I'd do.

I wouldn't think the IXB is the right sort of sub for hunting in the AN Grid Squares.

Agreed.......nor would I be reloading externals anywhere near a traffic route......far too risky.

[Weiss Pinguin]

Come to think of it, Swordfish were kind of easy to shoot down IIRC. :hmm2:
Yes, if you can hit them. That's the problem :p2:

[Reinhard Dietz]

Yes, if you can hit them. That's the problem :p2:
About that: How much renown does the FiM-92 "Schtinger" upgrade cost? I've got a couple of guys on the bridge who could do very well with a few of those.

[Brag]

When operating in areas where aircraft are a problem , I oder 6 meters depth. In a IX that saves you nearly 15 seconds (mind you, you burn a lot more fuel)

[schlechter pfennig]

AN14. Really not a good place to be reloading externals.
You're in an area of lots of allied air cover.

In a IXB I would say go further afield to hunt.
Say the Western Approaches, or the approaches to the Gib.
Nice deep water there too.
And you can head West for a bit when you want to reload externals.

After the transfer to France then maybe Canada, Freetown or the Caribbean.

I'm just guessing most of this, as I haven't run a IXB career yet.
But that's what I'd do.

I wouldn't think the IXB is the right sort of sub for hunting in the AN Grid Squares.

Agreed.......nor would I be reloading externals anywhere near a traffic route......far too risky.

Well, this is my first time playing with an IXB, too. So the way I was playing it out was this:

I'd already been assigned a patrol area (obviously based upon my old VIIB) so I decided to keep to my familiar hunting grounds as a sort of 'shake down cruise' while I and my crew got familiar with things. Which is why I stayed 'local', :)

As to the lesson learned about reloading anywhere near a traffic route well . . . consider it a lesson well-learned! :yep:

[sergei]

We live and learn mate.
If we're lucky :DL

[Jimbuna]

As to the lesson learned about reloading anywhere near a traffic route well . . . consider it a lesson well-learned! :yep:

SINK EM ALL!! http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[Reinhard Dietz]

imo the type IX has huge advantages (AA-weapons, 22! eels, long-range ability) and one big mistake: diving-time
(this will be corrected though, there's a mod in progress: "Kurfürst's Schnelltauchback")
Whatever that is, I'll take it. My stock IXC takes forever and a day to get deep---good thing I can evade early war escorts. Radar is going to be distinctly not fun in the very near future.

the type IX should be deployed in a way that it has its points:
- 200m under keel
- hunting in grounds with no or little air-cover
- preferably taking out lone merchants or
- attacking convoys from within (when after the release of all eels you can crash-dive at flank speed)
I was getting ready to start a thread on preferred IXC tactics, and this is a good start. Thanks!

[schlechter pfennig]

I was getting ready to start a thread on preferred IXC tactics, and this is a good start. Thanks!

I'll take whatever tips and advice I can get! My usual chariots are Type II and Type VII. :)

[KL-alfman]

I was getting ready to start a thread on preferred IXC tactics, and this is a good start. Thanks!


there are members with much more experience in the type IX (Jimbuna e.g.).

here are pictures of the "Schnelltauchback" (2eels less can be carried):
http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/qq145/UberTorpedo/u249_surrender_04.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/arnd278/9c40-04.jpg

and here is the [WIP]-thread:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=166898


edit:
btw, I would like to know what Jimbuna thinks of the aesthetic aspects of the Schnelltauchback ....

[HundertzehnGustav]

fugly...:o

[Jimbuna]

The Schnelltauchback (quick diving deck) don't look out of place IMHO.

There were some such conversions but they came too late in the war because of the advanced work on the new electric boats.

The Type IX was fast getting past her best days.