Attacking a Convoy in Silent Hunter 3

[depthtok33l]

Greetings everyone, I am fairly new to the U-Boat/Atlantic scene, I got into this series from SH4. Really like it so far perhaps more than SH4 :rock:. At the moment I only have GWX installed and I've spent about 34 hours in-game.

Now obviously attacking with U-Boats is very different from Fleet Boats and I'd like to know how you guys attack convoys in this game or at least the standard way of doing so. I have no clue how, I've encountered 3 convoys so far and what I normally do is just get the convoy's speed, pick off a target, get the data and fire a full salvo. I usually hit the one I aimed for but I can't say the same for the rest of my fishes.

Anyways, I've been looking at videos on YouTube however I can't find any decent ones. Most of the videos I've encountered use Automatic Targeting.

Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

:salute:

[UKönig]

That's a pretty big can of worms you opened up just there...

It's a very complicated subject to tackle effectively, because convoy engagements have so many variables.

One of the first things I did, was start reading up on the subject from historical accounts, be they the personal memoirs of the captains, or more general information about the battle of the Atlantic.

I, myself am not terribly great at shooting multiple ships at the same time, but I can offer what I have learned.

One of the most important aspects of a successful convoy engagement is the angle your boat approaches at. The ideal position is 90 degrees abeam, so that if they are sailing right to left (or left to right) the view from your scope will be like that in a shooting gallery. Almost never happens. Count yourself lucky if it does. 45 degrees off the target is good too, as long as you are ahead of it. This way, the target has fewer chances to take evasive action if the torpedo or your scope were spotted, and in all probability, will run right over it anyway.
Once you have your angle of approach worked out, the next step is to get into range. Varies with the types of torpedoes you have on board. Best chance for hits is 2 - 1 Km away. Not always attainable. This is where your experience will help you. If you are too far away at the outset, you may have to shadow the convoy on the surface, using your higher diesel engine output to run ahead of the ships, and then dive, to lie in wait...
That's if everything works out all right. When it doesn't (and it won't) you may have to deal with escort ships or aircraft, outfitted with Radar. They will pick you up, move in to investigate, and hopefully your watch crew or radar set will pick them up in time, forcing you to dive and give up your speed advantage. Very dicey, this convoy hunting business.
In a typical convoy deployment, the most valuable ships will be in the center, or as close to the center column as the formation allows. Tankers, troopships, passenger liners acting as troopships, and heavy cargo, of course. You won't get too many attacks right away so you have to make your shots count. This is where knowing how to set your torpedoes comes in. Do you fire one at a time, or spreading salvo? All at the same depth, or varying depth? Are they G7as and will leave a wake to be spotted by the target? In any case, once you have your targets picked out you have to begin the firing process quickly because these things can change for any reason, at any second. The longer you stay undetected, the better your chances to make multiple hits. Fire at the targets farthest away first. Try not to wait longer than 15 to 25 seconds the latest before sending your next fish on the way. Repeat as many times as targets worth shooting at, but you must do it quickly. If you are successful, your torpedoes should all impact more or less at the same time. It's a nice sight to see really...
But if you wait too long, you may hit one or two out of your four torpedo spread. Once those explosions start to happen, the herd starts to panic. Hard to port, hard to starboard, all stop, all full ahead, anything can happen. One thing is sure to happen though and that is, you missed with tubes 3 and 4.
Some Captains, the daring ones, will try to get as close as possible. Slip down to 20m and all stop or ahead 1 knot at silent running stations, to get through the escort screen. Once the escorts are comfortably away, up to periscope depth, secure from silent running, and prepare to attack. In some cases it's possible to attack on the surface or even from inside the convoy itself! Only time and experience will tell you when to try that.
I hope that helps somewhat, like I said, my method was to read historical accounts and try to apply what they taught me, if nothing else, use the exterior camera to help plan your attacks. And if you did all the torpedo settings manually, well, this would become a nightmare. I make most of my hits with automatic aiming. :know:

[depthtok33l]

That's a pretty big can of worms you opened up just there...

It's a very complicated subject to tackle effectively, because convoy engagements have so many variables.

One of the first things I did, was start reading up on the subject from historical accounts, be they the personal memoirs of the captains, or more general information about the battle of the Atlantic.

I, myself am not terribly great at shooting multiple ships at the same time, but I can offer what I have learned.

One of the most important aspects of a successful convoy engagement is the angle your boat approaches at. The ideal position is 90 degrees abeam, so that if they are sailing right to left (or left to right) the view from your scope will be like that in a shooting gallery. Almost never happens. Count yourself lucky if it does. 45 degrees off the target is good too, as long as you are ahead of it. This way, the target has fewer chances to take evasive action if the torpedo or your scope were spotted, and in all probability, will run right over it anyway.
Once you have your angle of approach worked out, the next step is to get into range. Varies with the types of torpedoes you have on board. Best chance for hits is 2 - 1 Km away. Not always attainable. This is where your experience will help you. If you are too far away at the outset, you may have to shadow the convoy on the surface, using your higher diesel engine output to run ahead of the ships, and then dive, to lie in wait...
That's if everything works out all right. When it doesn't (and it won't) you may have to deal with escort ships or aircraft, outfitted with Radar. They will pick you up, move in to investigate, and hopefully your watch crew or radar set will pick them up in time, forcing you to dive and give up your speed advantage. Very dicey, this convoy hunting business.
In a typical convoy deployment, the most valuable ships will be in the center, or as close to the center column as the formation allows. Tankers, troopships, passenger liners acting as troopships, and heavy cargo, of course. You won't get too many attacks right away so you have to make your shots count. This is where knowing how to set your torpedoes comes in. Do you fire one at a time, or spreading salvo? All at the same depth, or varying depth? Are they G7as and will leave a wake to be spotted by the target? In any case, once you have your targets picked out you have to begin the firing process quickly because these things can change for any reason, at any second. The longer you stay undetected, the better your chances to make multiple hits. Fire at the targets farthest away first. Try not to wait longer than 15 to 25 seconds the latest before sending your next fish on the way. Repeat as many times as targets worth shooting at, but you must do it quickly. If you are successful, your torpedoes should all impact more or less at the same time. It's a nice sight to see really...
But if you wait too long, you may hit one or two out of your four torpedo spread. Once those explosions start to happen, the herd starts to panic. Hard to port, hard to starboard, all stop, all full ahead, anything can happen. One thing is sure to happen though and that is, you missed with tubes 3 and 4.
Some Captains, the daring ones, will try to get as close as possible. Slip down to 20m and all stop or ahead 1 knot at silent running stations, to get through the escort screen. Once the escorts are comfortably away, up to periscope depth, secure from silent running, and prepare to attack. In some cases it's possible to attack on the surface or even from inside the convoy itself! Only time and experience will tell you when to try that.
I hope that helps somewhat, like I said, my method was to read historical accounts and try to apply what they taught me, if nothing else, use the exterior camera to help plan your attacks. And if you did all the torpedo settings manually, well, this would become a nightmare. I make most of my hits with automatic aiming. :know:

This game is more complicated than I thought then, anyways thanks for the input. :salute:

[UKönig]

I'd say they did a pretty good job simulating what combat under the waves aboard a U-boat during the war was like, yeah. Some players complain about levels of realism and historical accuracy, but I think unlike some game engines, this one hangs together very well, and well, it's 2015 now and I am still willing to spend time at it, so it has staying power. That's good to know for when retirement age rolls around... :haha:

[GT182]

Try and get past the escorts... let them go by you. Once inside the convoy reek havoc on the most valuable ships. Change directions but keep after them. If they are half way past you turn and follow, and attack from the rear. They're zig zagging and you'll be able to get a broadside shot at them.

Now, if you are attacked... if one that isn't sinking very fast and hide under it. You will be safe and able to leave when they get tired of looking and leave. Remember their course. You can surface once they're out of sight and to an end run around to get back ahead of them again. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. If you find them and are ahead of them, hit em again. :salute:

[Rambler241]

One of the most important aspects of a successful convoy engagement is the angle your boat approaches at. The ideal position is 90 degrees abeam, so that if they are sailing right to left (or left to right) the view from your scope will be like that in a shooting gallery.
Well, no the "ideal approach angle" can't be 90°, now can it? You then say
Once you have your angle of approach worked out, the next step is to get into range.
Which means that if the approach is at 90° to the centre of the convoy, by the time you get into range, most of the ships will be to left or right, depending on which side you're attacking from. Apart from that, most convoys have flanking escorts, so at some stage you're likely to have to pass fairly close to one. Not a good start.
45 degrees off the target is good too, as long as you are ahead of it.
Around 45° is the only way to do it - maintaining a safe distance from both the leading escort and the flanking escort(s), before commencing your attack. If you aren't ahead, then you have to get ahead, while avoiding detection.
Best chance for hits is 2 - 1 Km away.
Really? Are you suggesting that less than 1 km reduces your chances of a hit?

[UKönig]

Well, no the "ideal approach angle" can't be 90°, now can it? You then say

Abeam of the target as if you are crossing the letter "T" where the short top is the ship course and the long bottom is your torpedo track. Does it make sense now? I told you I am bad at describing things in numbers. The error was mine.
Which means that if the approach is at 90° to the centre of the convoy, by the time you get into range, most of the ships will be to left or right, depending on which side you're attacking from. Apart from that, most convoys have flanking escorts, so at some stage you're likely to have to pass fairly close to one. Not a good start.

Yes exactly why if you get in and are able to make your shots cross the "T" you are lucky indeed. Too bad it's probably what you'll have to rely on while carrying out such a risky move. But that's why you joined the Kriegsmarine in the first place, isn't it.
Around 45° is the only way to do it - maintaining a safe distance from both the leading escort and the flanking escort(s), before commencing your attack. If you aren't ahead, then you have to get ahead, while avoiding detection.
All true
Really? Are you suggesting that less than 1 km reduces your chances of a hit?
Unless this is sarcasm, yes, the closer your barrel is to the target, the less chance the bullet will miss. You can't always get to point blank with a torpedo, and if you are close enough to touch your tubes against her hull, it's probably already resulted in a collision. If you can wait to 500 meters away even against a ship that is zig-zagging, you will still have a decent chance to hit. Take that out to 1.5Km or 3 Km and you can imagine what will happen on your own. These are things I have tried and tested many times over and they never fail. Until they do (for me) I stand by it.

[Zosimus]

Personally I have found that the best way to hit multiple targets is to set yourself between the rows of ships. That way you can fire at a promising target with your fore slavo and another target with your aft. This only works if you're at a 90º angle.

[RJBub1]

This has nothing to do with the convoy subject, however I'm a big fan of your Youtube Channel!

[depthtok33l]

Personally I have found that the best way to hit multiple targets is to set yourself between the rows of ships. That way you can fire at a promising target with your fore slavo and another target with your aft. This only works if you're at a 90º angle.

Unless this is sarcasm, yes, the closer your barrel is to the target, the less chance the bullet will miss. You can't always get to point blank with a torpedo, and if you are close enough to touch your tubes against her hull, it's probably already resulted in a collision. If you can wait to 500 meters away even against a ship that is zig-zagging, you will still have a decent chance to hit. Take that out to 1.5Km or 3 Km and you can imagine what will happen on your own. These are things I have tried and tested many times over and they never fail. Until they do (for me) I stand by it.

Well, no the "ideal approach angle" can't be 90°, now can it? You then say

Which means that if the approach is at 90° to the centre of the convoy, by the time you get into range, most of the ships will be to left or right, depending on which side you're attacking from. Apart from that, most convoys have flanking escorts, so at some stage you're likely to have to pass fairly close to one. Not a good start.

Around 45° is the only way to do it - maintaining a safe distance from both the leading escort and the flanking escort(s), before commencing your attack. If you aren't ahead, then you have to get ahead, while avoiding detection.

Really? Are you suggesting that less than 1 km reduces your chances of a hit?

Come on guys let's keep this a friendly conversation.

This has nothing to do with the convoy subject, however I'm a big fan of your Youtube Channel!
Thanks buddy, really appreciate it!

[UKönig]

Not to worry, I am all about friendly conversation.
Besides, I've dealt with some really nasty people and some really nasty situations, so it takes a lot more than name calling or telling me I'm stupid and don't know what I'm saying to ruffle *my* feathers.
Put simply, the closer you are to your target the less chance you will miss it, and that is a true statement, whether your weapon is a torpedo, a bullet, or even a knife. No offense taken or assumed on my part.

[Johnners]

Hi. I do remember seeing a video by OLC showing his method for attacking a convoy using his gui mod which I found helpful but I can't remember where I saw it - it was a few years ago and I haven't been able to find it in the downloads section (was actually looking for myself a week or so back). Perhaps someone's recall is better than mine and may be able to help?

[GJO]

Personally I have found that the best way to hit multiple targets is to set yourself between the rows of ships. That way you can fire at a promising target with your fore slavo and another target with your aft. This only works if you're at a 90º angle.

This is the only way to get the really juicy targets although not necessarily at 90 degrees. I prefer to get on a nearly parallel course as close to the centre of the convoy as possible - this makes it very easy to get an accurate measure of the convoy's speed - easy enough in the early years (even with a night attack on the surface) - even in later years it is possible to get into the middle of a slow convoy and play havoc.

After 1940 with armed merchants all around, surface attacks become very risky so this method is best used with a submerged attack on slow convoys and even then, too much time spent travelling with the periscope up or at anything faster than 1 Kt will attract the early attention of the escorts.

I rarely fire a torpedoe from within a convoy unless I am on a nearly parallel couse to the target at a distance of between 450 and 500 Metres - I have found that, after much practice, I can get the torpedoes to run at approximately 90 degrees to my course and score a crippling hit on the target. I know some regard this as 'firing from the hip' but I believe many of the more succseful WWII commanders used similar intuitive methods. In other words, many of their deliberations as to distance would have been the result of an inspired guess based on knowledge and experience.

It is essential to get the torpedoes out fast and then escape as quickly as possible - especially in the later years. Those targets that fail to sink are often crippled and can be found later well behind the main convoy to be finished off when the tubes have been reloaded.

[Zosimus]

That's great. So you can fire the torpedoes out the front tubes, have them curve a bit, and hit the ships.

But this doesn't let you use the aft tubes.

[Andrakis]

I've noticed that if you are firing for multiple targets in a convoy, that basing your firing order on the impact time can help mitigate the dodging effect.

That is to say. My further targets will have torpedoes fired at maximum speed, closer targets at slow. The ideal situation is having all of your volleys striking as simultaneously as possible.

That's easier said than done, however. :)

[GJO]

That's great. So you can fire the torpedoes out the front tubes, have them curve a bit, and hit the ships.

But this doesn't let you use the aft tubes.

Yes that is how it was done in real life - the torpedoes are steered by a giro device and once set it will keep the torpedo on a straight course - AFAIK the giros were adjusted by the crew in the torpedo compartment as soon as the officer read out the calculated settings. If the torpedoes course is set to 90 degrees from the subs course, then the torpedo will follow a tight curve until the giro senses that it is going in the right direction. It works with all torpedoes including those in the stern tube(s) - in the game, I haven'y tried setting them up to run at an angle greater than 90 degrees but I can confirm that, at that angle they run nicely.

[GJO]

Don't set the torpedo speed too fast when the targets are within 500 metres!

I have had a few that have failed to detonate and my guess is that the game emulates real life in that each torp needs time to arm itself.

[Pisces]

There is also a bug with the torpedo speed settings when switching between a type 1 and type 2 torpedo. The TDC doesn't update the firing solution for the torpedo that has a different speed setting, so it goes the wrong way. Be mindfull of that and force the speed setting if you switch between types.

[Zosimus]

Yes that is how it was done in real life - the torpedoes are steered by a giro device and once set it will keep the torpedo on a straight course - AFAIK the giros were adjusted by the crew in the torpedo compartment as soon as the officer read out the calculated settings. If the torpedoes course is set to 90 degrees from the subs course, then the torpedo will follow a tight curve until the giro senses that it is going in the right direction. It works with all torpedoes including those in the stern tube(s) - in the game, I haven'y tried setting them up to run at an angle greater than 90 degrees but I can confirm that, at that angle they run nicely.
Well, maybe you haven't explained yourself well, but I just don't see it.

Okay, you're inside the convoy between two rows and running parallel. You claim this lets you figure the speed of the convoy nicely. I say nonsense. If the convoy is going at 7 knots and you're going at 1 knot, then you have no way of "pacing" the convoy. You would need to go at 7 knots to pace a convoy going 7 knots. Whatever method you use to figure out its speed would work equally well at a 90º angle.

Second, I don't doubt that your self-admitted "shooting from the hip" works fine with the fore tubes. You have a ship roughly abreast of you, and you fire a torpedo (or two) out the fore tubes. The torpedoes race ahead of you while turning and smack the ship broadside. Perfect.

However, your aft tubes will be racing backward while the target is plodding foreward. That's going to be a problem. How exactly do you handle that? I suppose you must fire at ships that are substantially behind you. Sure, that's easy to figure out by just hitting F6 and looking at the torpedo trajectory and thinking, "That looks perfect." I wonder, however, whether the real u-boat commanders had F6 screens.

Finally, 90º shots have an advantage that parallel shots don't – it makes it far easier to hide under the cargo ships. Let's assume that you've worked your way into a big convoy and you see juicy targets fore and aft. You can easily fire a salvo at the fore, a salvo at the aft (or vice versa) and time them to hit at the same time. As you are waiting for them to hit, you can find another target and order your helm to turn to that angle.

Once the torpedoes hit, the convoy will react. Half of the time the third target will zig in a way that puts it broadside to you. If that happens, you can salvo that one too, and dive. If not, just dive anyway and kick up the speed. At this point you can easily position yourself under the row of ships as you go deep. The destroyers will need to wait till the ships get out of the way before depth charging. That will give you precious minutes you need to hit 200+ meters deep.

If the weather is decently bad, the destroyers will find it impossible to pick you up with sonar. You easily escape and go out and around to do it again.

[GJO]

Well, maybe you haven't explained yourself well, but I just don't see it.

Okay, you're inside the convoy between two rows and running parallel. You claim this lets you figure the speed of the convoy nicely. I say nonsense. If the convoy is going at 7 knots and you're going at 1 knot, then you have no way of "pacing" the convoy. You would need to go at 7 knots to pace a convoy going 7 knots. Whatever method you use to figure out its speed would work equally well at a 90º angle.

Second, I don't doubt that your self-admitted "shooting from the hip" works fine with the fore tubes. You have a ship roughly abreast of you, and you fire a torpedo (or two) out the fore tubes. The torpedoes race ahead of you while turning and smack the ship broadside. Perfect.

However, your aft tubes will be racing backward while the target is plodding foreward. That's going to be a problem. How exactly do you handle that? I suppose you must fire at ships that are substantially behind you. Sure, that's easy to figure out by just hitting F6 and looking at the torpedo trajectory and thinking, "That looks perfect." I wonder, however, whether the real u-boat commanders had F6 screens.

Finally, 90º shots have an advantage that parallel shots don't – it makes it far easier to hide under the cargo ships. Let's assume that you've worked your way into a big convoy and you see juicy targets fore and aft. You can easily fire a salvo at the fore, a salvo at the aft (or vice versa) and time them to hit at the same time. As you are waiting for them to hit, you can find another target and order your helm to turn to that angle.

Once the torpedoes hit, the convoy will react. Half of the time the third target will zig in a way that puts it broadside to you. If that happens, you can salvo that one too, and dive. If not, just dive anyway and kick up the speed. At this point you can easily position yourself under the row of ships as you go deep. The destroyers will need to wait till the ships get out of the way before depth charging. That will give you precious minutes you need to hit 200+ meters deep.

If the weather is decently bad, the destroyers will find it impossible to pick you up with sonar. You easily escape and go out and around to do it again.

That is all correct - when running approximately parallel, I find it very easy to judge the speed of adjacent targets - it is a bit like walking in a crowd - they are either slightly faster or slightly slower and with slow convoys you can often adjust your own speed to match theirs - the other advantage is that whilst on a parallel course there is more time available to make sure that all is correct. Obviously the stern tubes could only be used for a target that is astern of the 90 degree line - a succesful method here is to discharge the bow tubes first then reduce speed and fire the stern tubes as the target comes into the intended path of the torpedo. I am not sure that it is always easy to escape - I play GWX and the escorts with this mod are very good at locating submarines. I have found that the most effective means of escape is to change direction and then run silently away going as deep as possible . . .

[Zosimus]

As I said, if the weather is sufficiently bad then escape is not a problem. If the wind speed is 0 m/s then you're not escaping no matter what you do.

[GT182]

That's great. So you can fire the torpedoes out the front tubes, have them curve a bit, and hit the ships.

But this doesn't let you use the aft tubes.

Yes you can use the aft tubes. Make it quick to pick up a target and fire off a torpedo. If you have a Type IX sub you'll have two of them to fire. Once the tubes are clear dive fast, go silent, and get out of there. Don't even think of reloading while you're being hunted.

The convoy ships and explosions will mask your departure for a bit. But when the escorts start their hunt.... go deep, go silent, and stay silent. They will give up and leave but it might not be for a long long time. ;)

I'm not sure if doing a game "Save" while submerged is ok now, but it used to be you wanted to be on the surface to do a Save.

[Bosje]

there, see? Can of worms :rock:

seriously though, read up on the many many guides there are here, both on convoy attack and manual targeting.
90 degree is not always the best. early in the war it's asking for duds, and yes if you want to be at 90 on torpedo-firing-time, then you have to be at another angle when you start the run-up.

oh i could go on for hours and hours, but i seem to remember my most fun times with this game were learning it all by experience

edit: look into GWX and read the GWX manual. it's only about 400 pages

[RustySubmarine]

Finding convoys are sometimes a matter of being in the right place at the right time. But for most of the time, it is just luck that a convoy appears within your range. When and if it does, try and get inside the convoy if you can, rather than be outside. This gives you more chance of not being attacked by any escorts. Try and run with the convoy and choose your targets well. Choose larger ships if you can and try not to get too close to your targets. Try to let loose your fish in salvoes from your bow tubes and keep your stern tubes full for anything that might come into range from behind you. Once you have released your fish, stay at periscope depth and engage silent running, try to stay within the convoy and see the carnage and what any escorts do. If things turn for the worse. Then dive deep and try to avoid detection, keep in silent running. If any escorts pick you up they will hound you with depth charges so you need to vary your depth and try to avoid them, but will eventually give up searching after a while, you just need to try and out fox and manoeuvre them. I find this quite a challenge and usually manage to shake them off. When you think you are pretty safe, return to periscope depth to see the situation. By this time, you might be well out of range of the convoy, but at least you will have scored a few hits and still be alive to tell the tale.

[Andrakis]

Has anyone had any success shadowing inside of a convoy after an attack? Let the escorts sniff around but hide near a convoy ship's hull and slowly ride it out, then dive and wait for the convoy to pass by overhead. After the escorts give up, of course.

[RustySubmarine]

Has anyone had any success shadowing inside of a convoy after an attack? Let the escorts sniff around but hide near a convoy ship's hull and slowly ride it out, then dive and wait for the convoy to pass by overhead. After the escorts give up, of course.

I encountered a convoy at night (grid BF14) and managed to sink five merchants plus a Flower class corvette. I managed to stay within in the convoy whilst being stalked with two more destroyers. I dived to 90 metres on silent running before coming back to periscope depth after three hours. I had sustained some damage but not enough to render me unplayable. After repairing most of the damage I managed to limp home on one engine and both deck guns out of action. An Iron Cross was presented and promotion to some of my crew. I had survived my 12th patrol since 1939 qnd it was now December 1941. It was the luckiest escape I have had so far.

[UKönig]

I was able to do something like it in the early war. It was my 12th (or 11th) and about 1940. Lightly guarded convoy. 2 escorts and neither one had radar. That was the only plus. At night, using the large cargo ships for cover, they could not visually detect the sub so well. We also had a large amount of American merchants sailing in this group. As long as I checked my fire against them, they respected the laws of neutrality to the letter.
I came away with almost 80K that time. Haven't been anywhere near to it since.
Although just the other day, U-802 was on the surface, charging the battery in bad weather and light fog (no rain), and twice a destroyer did not detect us or move in our direction. They stayed about 7Km away and did not come any closer, even though their radars could have alerted them just as easily.

[RustySubmarine]

I have three separate campaigns on the go at the moment, with three different boats.

(1) Type 11B based at Kiel on my 3rd Patrol. Started Sept 1939. Present date Nov 1939.

(2) Type V11B based at St Nazaire on my 11th Patrol. Started Oct 1939. Present date Dec 1941

(3) Type 1XB based at Wilmshaven on my 10th Patrol. Started Sept 1939. Present date Sept 1941

So far I have managed to stay alive, but things are going to get harder as the war progresses. I find that the Type 1XB is the best boat, because of the amount of torpedoes it carries and having two rear tubes is an advantage. Not much for the dug out canoe though, due to its lack of torpedoes and depth vulnerability. My encounter inside the convoy described in my previous post was aboard the Type V11 during my 10th patrol.

My next patrol with the Type11B will be to try and enter Scapa Flow, and attempt what Prien managed to do, but not sink the same ship obviously. There are bound to be a few ships at anchor, I can take a shot at. I know it is patrolled by a few destroyers, but I intend to enter under the cover of darkness on the surface to avoid the block ships and nets, unless I am forced to dive.
Wish me luck!