i need some tips on attacking convoys

[avers]

hey guys, every time I try to go after a convoy, I can never find it! How can I track convoys accurately and how can I attack a convoy without being detected?

[UKönig]

I think it's funny (odd) that you are having trouble finding convoys as at least in my game, I run into them even when I least want to (Low-no ammo left).

They've covered a range from civilian to military task force, all tanker, or mixed cargo, lightly defended by rookies to heavily defended by veterans who *hate* u-boats.
You asked a several pronged question that will be difficult to answer. If you play realistically and with mods to enhance, then you may be stuck doing a lot of the sensing work yourself. Check for R/T reports, draw search circles to a given range (probably at least as far as your hydrophones can go) and dive to listen often. You may even have to plot a course into a choke point, so that a convoy more or less has no choice but to pass over at some time. Which entails its own risks as I am sure you can well imagine.

I am a lazy captain and not so great at math, so I let the game help where it can. I keep my contacts on (although I could probably turn them off now with simple experience), and I think it feeds me convoys just to be sadistic.

I am not so great when it comes to convoy action, despite what my tonnage count may suggest. I get a lot of it from attacking stationary targets in harbour. (I admit I will *game the game*, but only because it's a game).
Anyway, Convoy attacks teach you how to use spreading salvo shots for fast strikes and sinkings. If you take your time (like I do) then best is to pick out 2 or 3 of the fattest targets and try to quickly send shots off at intervals that will allow all torps to strike at or close to the same time. Any longer and the targets will start to dodge. Speed up, slow down, any trick to make you miss.
And then prepare to get bombed. Up to you to keep making runs at them, or be happy with any hits or kills and just leave the area. It's all relative.

My best convoy was my 12th patrol.
With a combination of torpedos and deck gun shots, I destroyed almost every ship with a British flag. I left the Yankee ships alone, totally, and they respected neutrality to the letter. It was a shooting gallery at one point, I just sailed up along side, worked my way into the convoy column, and just started potting SMs one by one. Waved to the Yanks as we sailed past, and they let us go, unharmed. I miss those days...

[Pisces]

hey guys, every time I try to go after a convoy, I can never find it! How can I track convoys accurately and how can I attack a convoy without being detected?So what exactly are you doing to get to it?

If you receive an icon on the map you also get a radio message with course, speed, time and size information. Single units do show as an icon on the map, but do not come with a radio message.

Do you use that message to predict where it is going, and steer to that position? Or are you going directly to the icon itself? If the latter, then consider that they are moving. And likely not there anymore when you arrive.

This is a graphical method to calculate the course direction in which you should go to meet them:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=88961

[Zosimus]

If you're looking for convoys, then you have to go where convoys are. I have found BF14 to be the best place to find convoys, but the worst place for engaging them. I try to find one in BF14 that's headed west or southwest and follow it out into deeper water.