PETC
08-10-15, 01:06 AM
I've played Silent Hunter III off and on for a few years, but for some reason I never even read the Community Manual. I dove into that a few weeks ago, and I'm enjoying the game much more now. But, that doesn't mean I'm not still Dog-Meat, Newb of the Seas.
I forgive you if after reading hundreds of similar stories you would rather not spend your time reading this, but I hope some find entertainment from my words.
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I started in 1939 in the 1st Flotilla, captaining the Type IIA U-2. My only goal was to sink more shipping than any other IIA captain. Should be simple. My first few patrols were uneventful. Third patrol I got my first kill, fourth patrol had two successful attacks for just over 20,000 tons. Fifth patrol found two more successful attacks, but netted much less. Sitting on the eve of my sixth patrol in early February, 1940, I was essentially tied for 6th most tons sunk. Feeling pretty good I embarked.
The patrol was shaping up to be a boring one, with most of my patrol route complete with no contacts, and nothing being gifted by the BdU. I dove to pick up contacts out of boredom, and there one was! After figuring its course and speed we plotted an intercept course and all went according to plan. Within two hours the Empire Class Freighter was sitting at the bottom of the shallow waters off England's east coast. As I was about to finish up and see if I could find anything on the way home, I got news of a convoy in my backyard. I did the mapping and realized we not only had a chance, but we could be set up real nice for when they come through, so we set a course.
Before I was even in visual range, I dove to pickup some contacts. There they were, so many contacts! But whats this? They're not supposed to be that close... Either, the reported speed had been incorrect, they changed speed, or I messed up, all equally probable. Whichever the cause, we were closer than I imagined. I could identify at least three warships among the freighters. Perhaps at this point, as the captain of a single boat with three torpedoes and no deck gun, this is where some of you would have opted out. I decided: "It'll probably be alright." and surface to sprint up closer.
This would be a good time to inform you that this foolish attack was taking place:
a.) By a single submarine
b.) In broad daylight
c.) Against a moderately well defended convoy.
d.) In less than 25 meters of water.
e.) Less than 30 clicks off the coast of England.
For some reason none of this set off red flags. :/\\!!
And then, the worst possible thing that could have happened did happen. The moment the watch officer stated he had a contact, we crash dove. Shortly after the dive, the sonar man reports: "Warship! Closing Fast! Bearing 060" I was still a decent distance away... but it was possible he had spotted me. I braved the periscope and found that he was on a different course than the rest of the convoy. He was heading straight for me.
I turned the ship towards him, I still had three torpedoes after all. I opened tube one, and as soon as I had a shot I took it. I knew it was a long shot, but I figured it was one of my only shots. As the fish neared closer to the approaching warship, the captain noticed it and turned hard starboard. The torpedo impacted her port side mid-ship, and she was dead in the water. Excellent! But there was more than one of these guys, and one of his buddies was already coming after me at full steam. I didn't have much time.
Shortly afterwards the pinging began. Then the depth charges came.
I dove just about to the bottom and did all the prudent things. We danced for hours. I felt there was simply no escape, but his aim wasn't very good. At one point he started shelling the water in the wrong direction and I got hopeful, but he found me again. After that I nearly made it an entire kilometer away, and was feeling safer, but, he found me again. This went on for an agonizingly long time, and then, my chance! He was making a turn that would be almost directly in front of me... If I could just get my bow on him I might be able to disable or sink him. By this point the convoy was long gone, and if I could put him out of commission I could make my escape.
I ascended to periscope depth, but he had out-turned me. I gave the order to dive once more, but the subs conning tower had poked above the waterline just enough for the destroyers deck guns to get a bead on me. I was now being shelled. Some misses, many close calls, and two direct hits to the conning tower. No major damage, as long as I don't need the radio, or the periscope...
Eventually I made it to water deep enough to help me and I managed to sneak away from him. I set course for a patch of deeper water nearby and planned to wait there until night, and then surface and attempt repairs on the radio. As I descended into the deep basin, I came to a dead stop and just waited. During this time, I decided to check out the damage to my conning tower and switch to my external Cheater Cam. What I saw froze me.
A mine, sat less than 10m abreast of my submarine... its chain descending to the bottom. I was pretty sure that mines needed to be struck to go off, but I didn't know if the wake turbulence generated by my props would be enough to blow me up. Either way, I was drifting, and if I continued to sit there there was a large chance I would drift into the mine. So I left. Carefully. Then I went to change my pants.
I made it back to port a few days later, having learned many new lessons to apply to my Seventh, and hopefully, less terrifying patrol.
I hope you enjoyed reading this wall of text.
tl;dr: I am an ignorant rookie, played a bunch of dumb games, won a bunch of dumb prizes.
I forgive you if after reading hundreds of similar stories you would rather not spend your time reading this, but I hope some find entertainment from my words.
=====================
I started in 1939 in the 1st Flotilla, captaining the Type IIA U-2. My only goal was to sink more shipping than any other IIA captain. Should be simple. My first few patrols were uneventful. Third patrol I got my first kill, fourth patrol had two successful attacks for just over 20,000 tons. Fifth patrol found two more successful attacks, but netted much less. Sitting on the eve of my sixth patrol in early February, 1940, I was essentially tied for 6th most tons sunk. Feeling pretty good I embarked.
The patrol was shaping up to be a boring one, with most of my patrol route complete with no contacts, and nothing being gifted by the BdU. I dove to pick up contacts out of boredom, and there one was! After figuring its course and speed we plotted an intercept course and all went according to plan. Within two hours the Empire Class Freighter was sitting at the bottom of the shallow waters off England's east coast. As I was about to finish up and see if I could find anything on the way home, I got news of a convoy in my backyard. I did the mapping and realized we not only had a chance, but we could be set up real nice for when they come through, so we set a course.
Before I was even in visual range, I dove to pickup some contacts. There they were, so many contacts! But whats this? They're not supposed to be that close... Either, the reported speed had been incorrect, they changed speed, or I messed up, all equally probable. Whichever the cause, we were closer than I imagined. I could identify at least three warships among the freighters. Perhaps at this point, as the captain of a single boat with three torpedoes and no deck gun, this is where some of you would have opted out. I decided: "It'll probably be alright." and surface to sprint up closer.
This would be a good time to inform you that this foolish attack was taking place:
a.) By a single submarine
b.) In broad daylight
c.) Against a moderately well defended convoy.
d.) In less than 25 meters of water.
e.) Less than 30 clicks off the coast of England.
For some reason none of this set off red flags. :/\\!!
And then, the worst possible thing that could have happened did happen. The moment the watch officer stated he had a contact, we crash dove. Shortly after the dive, the sonar man reports: "Warship! Closing Fast! Bearing 060" I was still a decent distance away... but it was possible he had spotted me. I braved the periscope and found that he was on a different course than the rest of the convoy. He was heading straight for me.
I turned the ship towards him, I still had three torpedoes after all. I opened tube one, and as soon as I had a shot I took it. I knew it was a long shot, but I figured it was one of my only shots. As the fish neared closer to the approaching warship, the captain noticed it and turned hard starboard. The torpedo impacted her port side mid-ship, and she was dead in the water. Excellent! But there was more than one of these guys, and one of his buddies was already coming after me at full steam. I didn't have much time.
Shortly afterwards the pinging began. Then the depth charges came.
I dove just about to the bottom and did all the prudent things. We danced for hours. I felt there was simply no escape, but his aim wasn't very good. At one point he started shelling the water in the wrong direction and I got hopeful, but he found me again. After that I nearly made it an entire kilometer away, and was feeling safer, but, he found me again. This went on for an agonizingly long time, and then, my chance! He was making a turn that would be almost directly in front of me... If I could just get my bow on him I might be able to disable or sink him. By this point the convoy was long gone, and if I could put him out of commission I could make my escape.
I ascended to periscope depth, but he had out-turned me. I gave the order to dive once more, but the subs conning tower had poked above the waterline just enough for the destroyers deck guns to get a bead on me. I was now being shelled. Some misses, many close calls, and two direct hits to the conning tower. No major damage, as long as I don't need the radio, or the periscope...
Eventually I made it to water deep enough to help me and I managed to sneak away from him. I set course for a patch of deeper water nearby and planned to wait there until night, and then surface and attempt repairs on the radio. As I descended into the deep basin, I came to a dead stop and just waited. During this time, I decided to check out the damage to my conning tower and switch to my external Cheater Cam. What I saw froze me.
A mine, sat less than 10m abreast of my submarine... its chain descending to the bottom. I was pretty sure that mines needed to be struck to go off, but I didn't know if the wake turbulence generated by my props would be enough to blow me up. Either way, I was drifting, and if I continued to sit there there was a large chance I would drift into the mine. So I left. Carefully. Then I went to change my pants.
I made it back to port a few days later, having learned many new lessons to apply to my Seventh, and hopefully, less terrifying patrol.
I hope you enjoyed reading this wall of text.
tl;dr: I am an ignorant rookie, played a bunch of dumb games, won a bunch of dumb prizes.