Where Are The Big Ships?

[Wigabee]

I have got my new campaign off to a pretty good start, sinking seven ships on my first war patrol. The thing is, all of the ships were under 4,500 GRT and my total tonnage for that patrol was 14,000. Even though that is pretty good, I feel the need to hunt the big ships like C2 Cagroes, Large Cargoes and big tankers. I was wondering if anybody could tell me where these big ships lurk and if there are any tricks I can use to find them. I am not a fan of raiding harbors though just because it isn't realistic. As a side note, I received a message from BDU an my last patrol to not attack warships because it might humiliate the enemy. I was wondering if it would hinder me if I attacked a warship that came my way or if that message is just a nice touch of realism in the game because I would hate to pass up sinking a cruiser or battleship if I crossed paths with one. Any help is appreciated and good hunting!

[Sepp von Ch.]

The really big ships are in VonDos shipyard in NY!:D

http://s9.postimage.org/485g3rly3/postcardzu0.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/485g3rly3/)


http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=859811&postcount=1

[Troublous_Haze]

if you follow my wake you'll never see them :)

[Sepp von Ch.]

I sunk some of the really big ships near Kapetown.:salute:

[troopie]

I don't think there's many big ones left, they always seem to go first. :03:

[Jimbuna]

If your playing stck SH3 look at the map of convoy routes for a pointer.

[Sailor Steve]

I am not a fan of raiding harbors though just because it isn't realistic.
Holding back and looking for big ships isn't realistic either. So many real-life kaleuns never sank anything that they took what they could get. If you play the game "right" you can sink 10 times the tonnage that the best of them ever did.

As time goes on you'll run into more and bigger convoys, and then you will be able to choose which ships you'll sink. I'm always happy to take what I can get, and have had more than one completely empty patrol.

[Wigabee]

Don't get me wrong, I will take whatever I can get but I prefer to keep it real because historically captains didn't really raid ports on a regular basis. I have a map of convoy routes but early in the war, the only countries that supplied Great Britain were neutral and Britain wasn't really supplying anyone. Does anyone know where I could find a convoy with enemy ships in 1939? Thanks, all of your help is appreciated.

[Maceaciadh]

if you are still in 1939 you could sink hood several times over by waiting around the top of scotland for a task force report. i sank her twice by blind luck and missed her once due to bad weather. also patrolling up and down the east coast of britain gets you a regular toannage but watch out for those pesky planes :arrgh!:

[Wigabee]

That sounds like a good place. Where exactly should I wait and how long do you think it would take for a task force to come around? Its early October 1939 for me. What about that message I mentioned earlier about how to not sink enemy warships? Will I be penalized for sinking one if we cross paths or was that message just a touch of realism? Thanks for all of the help and I think I know where I'll be going next! :ping:

[Gargamel]

Try the mission editor, you can find exact locations and dispositions of every ship in the game.

[Jimbuna]

That sounds like a good place. Where exactly should I wait and how long do you think it would take for a task force to come around? Its early October 1939 for me. What about that message I mentioned earlier about how to not sink enemy warships? Will I be penalized for sinking one if we cross paths or was that message just a touch of realism? Thanks for all of the help and I think I know where I'll be going next! :ping:

Here is the Hood, Repulse and Renown returning to Scapa Flow on 6th Sept. 39:

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/9366/21595637.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/708/21595637.jpg/)

[Canovaro]

The website in my signature might be useful for you (click on it).

[HundertzehnGustav]

The chap describes the situation right...
nobody that supplied the UK with materials on big ships can be attacked.
UK doesnt supply anyone.

The question is not only where...
the question is WHEN!

A) keep playing, reach end of 41... now all your targets are targets... true targets.

B) reach the atlantic. far out of land bases where no DD patrols and no plane reaches you. 1942.

subsimming is a patience game...

[Wigabee]

Thanks for all of your replies! My questions are answered. I have gone to Scapa Flow and it has been a major mess of patrol craft and destroyers so that is not my preferred hunting ground for now. I am having a pretty good run right now in between Britain and Ireland and I managed to sink a C2 and some other ships for 16,000 GRT so far and I am tailing a convoy. I will try to intercept it before it reaches Holyhead. For the next patrol, I think I will go to the border of grid BE and BF because from Canovaro's maps, that looks like a place where convoys and task forces meet. On my way do I have to worry about hitting mines in the Strait of Dover? Thanks again and good hunting!

[HundertzehnGustav]

yes you do!
floating, the RN will hunt you. :hmmm:
diving, the Mines might nuke you.:06:

avoid the channel... :know:

[STEED]

I sunk them all. :O: :haha:

[Night60700]

yes you do!
floating, the RN will hunt you. :hmmm:
diving, the Mines might nuke you.:06:

avoid the channel... :know:

Okay...
The channel is safe just follow these rules.
1) Stay close to France
2) Don't worry about mines, if you hit one it will be too late to worry.
3) PT boats are fast but have no sonar, if you see one, dive and wait for them to pass, move fast and change coarse.
4) Don't get into fights, you'll be sunk before they are. Shadow them till your outside the channel, then good luck.
5) Avoid the channel on your return trip. It forces you to scout out the rest of Britten and it saves you some head aches.
6) Take your time, treat these waters like the waters of a port, because they are.
7) Stay close to France, no kidding its better then hugging the British Coast. Hiding under their noses doesn't work, trust me.
8) Sink the battle Ship near the British side of the channel. Yes I know everything I just told you would stop you from doing this...But its 36k tons and a whole slue of awards.
8) Good Luck. Though not technically a rule, you'll still need it.

[HundertzehnGustav]

and dat iss iksaktly way de BDU guy told em to make de Detour of going raund Ingland...

Straits of Dover is like one 50 miles long stretch of harbor waters.
i avoid it like... like a vegan avoids Mcdonalds.

[Jimbuna]

STAY OUT OF THE CHANNEL!! http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif