Unescorted convoys

[palatum]

Hi,
does anyone know if there are unescorted convoys ingame? Or convoys with only 1 or 2 escorts? I have only encountered 4+.

And RL convoys, were they escorted from port to port, or were there rendevouz-points where escorts picked up convoys and led them safely to port? If so, does the game model this, so I can find unescorted convoys mid-atlantic?

Thanks in advance

Palatum

[RConch]

If you use GWX, then yes. Just finished a career mission with a convoy in January 1941, with only an A+B, and a Tribal as escorts. I sank a tanker and an Empire.

[Gargamel]

Very early in the war, the British were worried about the German surface fleet. So a good number of convoys in the opening months have little to no ASW capabilities, but are powerhouses in surface warfare. You will frequently find Rodney/Nelson, or other battle ships in early convoys. Those are easy prey. At worst there are 2 DD's with them.

I would usually take out the ASW escorts first. It's risky, and may take a couple passes at the convoy, but once they are out of the picture, sink whatever large vessel is there, pop to the surface, and decimate the convoy with your deck gun.

[palatum]

Thanks, :)
I have encountered one of those previously, Rodney, hiding in the middle of the convoy. Didn't manage to sink her though... 1 DD and a Corwette were also there.

So I presume the escorts protecting a convoy are always there, regardless of where I encounter them? I.e. no extra escorts close to shore?

Palatum

[Gargamel]

ASW assets (of all sorts) are EVERYWHERE. Especially close to shore.

Beware.

[ming]

Just found an unescorted large convoy south of the UK...and I mean unescorted completely. I actually employed a long range shoot and scoot from about 6000m, but then I noticed nothing searched for me at all. I surfaced and sailed right at them and nothing responded. I went right up to them and sank 10 vessels before I was depleted of all armements. Best luck I ever got in this game!:rock:

[Paulebaer1979]

I would usually take out the ASW escorts first. It's risky, and may take a couple passes at the convoy, but once they are out of the picture, sink whatever large vessel is there, pop to the surface, and decimate the convoy with your deck gun.

I do so up to late 42, too. Torps for the destroyers and then the deck gun for the cargoships. Works fine if the cargoships don´t have guns. Depending on your mod this tactic could work even later in the war, too.

[Jimbuna]

Hi,
does anyone know if there are unescorted convoys ingame? Or convoys with only 1 or 2 escorts? I have only encountered 4+.

And RL convoys, were they escorted from port to port, or were there rendevouz-points where escorts picked up convoys and led them safely to port? If so, does the game model this, so I can find unescorted convoys mid-atlantic?

Thanks in advance

Palatum

Make hay whilst the sun shines :sunny:

[maillemaker]

I don't think I've ever encountered a convoy that was unescorted, unless you call 3 ships moving together a "convoy".

But if they've formed into rows, I think they've always had escorts.

Yes, early in the war prior to 1941 I have on several occasions engaged convoys and teased the escorts into chasing me only to sink them with a magnetic torpedo down the throat, and then I have surfaced and annihilated the entire convoy.

It's entertaining with map contacts on to see long smear of a dozen or more red X's on the map.

Steve