View Full Version : What do I do - an interesting dilemma . . .
I am playing SHIII with GWX and it is late 1944. My Type IXb boat (probably the last of this type still on active service) is returning to Lorient after a very successful patrol in the Caribbean Sea (just NW of Trinidad & Tobago) - more than 70,000 tons of shipping sunk that were mostly tankers and, so far, I have evaded enemy warships so I still have three acoustic torpedoes left. The crew are all in good spirits and we have enough fuel to get back to one of the European bases that are still available.
The Radio operator has just reported:
"The base was changed to Penang"
There is no way that I can reach Penang with the fuel that I have left and there are no longer any refuelling options at sea. What are my options?
My current plan is to dock at the nearest French Port and then sail for Penang at the most economical speed. This would be possible but I do not relish the idea of a 20,000 mile voyage that will take the best part of three months. Also this option means that because I will not be docking at my home port I will be loaded with new torpedoes and will not have the option of keeping or choosing acoustic torpedoes which are a necessary defence against warships.
Of course, after docking in France, I could just use SH3 Commander to switch bases to my home base but would this be realistic? In November 1944, could a captain and crew be transported to Penang by air to take over a boat that was already there? Doubtful!
You do have a problem-You don't have a chance of getting there with the fuel remaining.
I would return to France-fuel and load out with what torps are available and head to Asia.
I would take a route that would minimize any encounters with warships( perhaps hugging the coast of Afrika), avoid any contact with convoys if possible. Solo merchants would be my only targets.
The important thing, for me, would be just get there.
Look forward to how you will proceed.:salute:
Aktungbby
07-30-16, 12:27 PM
Is there not a mod for refit at Vigo Bay and is Dakar North a of Freetown not a German post as in SHV? I use Dakar when raiding Cape Town & Freetown (not sure of the dates) in a Type VII and Fifi once PM'd me a mod for Vigo as in Das BOOT. Either would shorten the trip considerably and save a trip across 'the zone of death' to the French Biscay ports!:arrgh!: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dakar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dakar)
Mittelwaechter
07-30-16, 01:34 PM
3 options
- redo the patrol - SH3 command you a grid at Capetown - follow radio orders and sail to Penang.
- dock in France - mod your Basic.cfg default torpedo loadout to your liking - and sail to Penang.
- dock in France and retire.
and of course you could take a small Swedish fast steamer and transport some canned fish to Shanghai - and close to Penang you would radio for help...
Realistically, by 1944, there was no chance of refuelling a boat in Spanish waters or at sea - and most African ports were, by this time controlled by the Allies.
I have docked and refuelled at St. Nazaire and have been allowed one acoustic torpedo in a stern tube so my best chance is to follow orders and try for a quiet trip to Penang . . .
bstanko6
07-30-16, 05:27 PM
I like mittels idea. Retire. You are using an old boat at that time frame. That is probably why you were transferred out to Asia in the first place. Retire and get a better boat!
Aktungbby
07-30-16, 05:44 PM
Realistically, by 1944, there was no chance of refuelling a boat in Spanish waters or at sea - and most African ports were, by this time controlled by the Allies.
I have docked and refuelled at St. Nazaire and have been allowed one acoustic torpedo in a stern tube so my best chance is to follow orders and try for a quiet trip to Penang . . .
I doubt it:D The Germans sent 45 U-boats at various times to operate in the Indian Ocean. Of these, 34 boats were lost; 4 were interned by the Japanese; 3 surrendered and only 4 returned to their home ports https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsun_Gruppe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsun_Gruppe)! http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Germany/KM/IndianOcean/index.html (http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Germany/KM/IndianOcean/index.html) The fatherland thanks U in advance for your devotion and a letter... with postmortem customary promotion to KorvettenKapitän is on file in der GrossAdmiral Dönitz's HQ.:salute:
Well I tried but it would appear that I inadvertently got too close to a fast convoy out of Freetown, I was detected by the escorts before I knew anything was out there and although I submerged and tried to get away as quietly as possible, I soon had four or five of them alternately listening and depth charging me. At first the damage wasn't too bad but then I lost both electric motors and, although I tried to blow the ballast in an attempt to avoid plummeting to the bottom, the end came at a depth of 320 Metres - if the sharks don't get them first, their will be bits of me and the crew floating to the surface . . .
Aktungbby
07-31-16, 01:34 PM
The Fatherland deeply regrets the loss of its latest KKpt! http://cdn4.spiegel.de/images/image-570813-galleryV9-cvwf-570813.jpg (http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/photo-gallery-nazi-submarine-found-near-java-fotostrecke-104075-2.html)http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/world-war-ii-german-submarine-found-near-indonesia-a-934967.html (http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/world-war-ii-german-submarine-found-near-indonesia-a-934967.html)
Tough break.
Did you have a snorkel?
Being old school - I chose not to use the Schnorchel lest it was picked up on Radar - I hate the idea of being detected by the undetectable . . .
In the event they got me anyway . . .
But - being a game I decided to cheat and restart the patrol back at St Nazaire and after an epic voyage of 24680 Km and having dispatched several merchants en-route I was almost within sight of Penang when I received a radio message that "the base was changed to Jakarta" !!!
Not so bad, I have made it into Jakarta with barely the smell of diesel left in the tanks.
Captain Coward
08-05-16, 10:40 PM
This thread made for an interesting read. The first being GJOs saga (quite an adventure for sure!) and the next finding out about the Monsoon Group. I had no idea Germany sent subs into this area. 34 out of 45 u-boats being lost are not very good odds.
I wonder if those signing up for submarine service knew the odds of surviving were so low and joined up regardless? Or were losses not publicized in fear of losing recruits?
I'm new to SH3 and I think, or rather I know, I have a lot to learn in order to survive the war.
Captain Coward
Mittelwaechter
08-06-16, 01:30 AM
You may be motivated by feeling superior and invincible - by family history - by personal hero emotions - by economic considerations - by propaganda - by some optimistic lottery feelings - by general stupidity - by comradery - by the strive for revenge - by mean personal motivation - by competition - by religious belief...
Most might have had no real, true data available for their motivation - or were not smart/humane enough - just as it is today and as it has allways been.
We are made to fight each other, by some old mighty men with an agenda.
We would not talk to each other - or support each other - but shoot each other under certain conditions, brought about by these old leaders.
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