Convoy Discussion

[drowssapma]

Just wanted to make a thread regarding what your expectations are when you see a convoy. I am getting better, but still don't have the hang of it. So, right now I'm in a Type VIIB and let's say I encounter a convoy of 10-12 ships. I look for the biggest and juiciest target and fire tubes 1 and 2. I will then look for smaller targets and fire tube 3 to one, and 4 on the other. If I get REAL lucky and something is behind me, tube 5 will be fired. Expectations on this are usually 1 to 2 ships. Destroyers will then keep me at bay for quite a while, so any additional shots are not happening. The convoy will be long gone before I can put my head up again, so no more attacks. So how's your luck given this scenario?

[Fifi]

Always trying to infiltrate convoy rows, firing 2 torp to best target, 2 others to someone else, rear one to one behind and...escape.
If convoy is running medium or slow, and weather not too bad, i try to catch him again and repeat.
Always from front or 3/4 front.
Always submerged even at night (Kretschmer surface tactic is not doable in SH3, other than making all ships almost blind at night)

[drowssapma]

So, you go in the middle (or one of the rows) as opposed to on the outside?

[Fifi]

Yes, i enter external (right or left) row by front, then turn to be almost perpendicular to ships...usually...at least until end 42.
Of course if escort don’t spot me before. Sometime, quite rarely, i have to abort because spotted.
Can fire when 300m close.

[Anvar1061]

I usually summon a wolfpac. But if it is not there, then I go into battle on my own.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/images/smilies/Kaleun_Salute-1.gif

[A Soviet Fanboi]

Always trying to infiltrate convoy rows, firing 2 torp to best target, 2 others to someone else, rear one to one behind and...escape.
If convoy is running medium or slow, and weather not too bad, i try to catch him again and repeat.
Always from front or 3/4 front.
Always submerged even at night (Kretschmer surface tactic is not doable in SH3, other than making all ships almost blind at night)
Attacking from front always results in a torpedo going dud. And if your trying to change depth of the torpedo to 1m below the keel of the target, then there is a high chance that the Magnetic detonators won't explode or atleast 2 out of 4 won't explode or would prematurely explode while reaching the target. So how do you manage this? I have tried going perpendicular after I am in the convoy, sometimes it works and sometimes I get very close to my target.

[A Soviet Fanboi]

I usually summon a wolfpac. But if it is not there, then I go into battle on my own.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/images/smilies/Kaleun_Salute-1.gif
I always inform Bdu about the convoy but everytime it tells me to attack on my own. Is there any trick so that when I inform the Bdu about the convoy, the other uboats join with me to attack?

[Anvar1061]

1 of 5

[John Pancoast]

Just wanted to make a thread regarding what your expectations are when you see a convoy. I am getting better, but still don't have the hang of it. So, right now I'm in a Type VIIB and let's say I encounter a convoy of 10-12 ships. I look for the biggest and juiciest target and fire tubes 1 and 2. I will then look for smaller targets and fire tube 3 to one, and 4 on the other. If I get REAL lucky and something is behind me, tube 5 will be fired. Expectations on this are usually 1 to 2 ships. Destroyers will then keep me at bay for quite a while, so any additional shots are not happening. The convoy will be long gone before I can put my head up again, so no more attacks. So how's your luck given this scenario?

If desired, it is easy to regain contact with a convoy. Simply note the time you lost contact to the current time and then using their speed and course, plot where they should be and go there.
I.e., if it's been two hours since you lost the convoy, they're heading 270 degrees at 6 knots means they'll be approx. 22 km away. Plot a course to go after them.
Also, night surface attacks are easy to do in the game from outside the convoy, as are day submerged either inside or outside.

[drowssapma]

If desired, it is easy to regain contact with a convoy. Simply note the time you lost contact to the current time and then using their speed and course, plot where they should be and go there.
I.e., if it's been two hours since you lost the convoy, they're heading 270 degrees at 6 knots means they'll be approx. 22 km away. Plot a course to go after them.
Also, night surface attacks are easy to do in the game from outside the convoy, as are day submerged either inside or outside.

I should give that a try, but I usually give up and go for some single merchants unless another convoy approaches. P.S. I know that I don't know anyone here. I posted this thread on the morning of my 50th birthday. It was going to be a good birthday. I then got a call later on that I don't wish on anyone. My nephew...who was just the very best kid you could ever meet, was shot and killed. Someone who thinks they are some sort of a thug was shooting at another kid and my nephew was coming out of the grocery store. He suffered a single gunshot wound and died 45 minutes later. I don't really know why I am writing this, but I don't know how to feel. Playing this kinda helps me get my mind off the events. My whole family is broken right now. I'm sorry. I don't want to drag the thread down. I just want as many people to know what a good kid my nephew was.

[John Pancoast]

I should give that a try, but I usually give up and go for some single merchants unless another convoy approaches. P.S. I know that I don't know anyone here. I posted this thread on the morning of my 50th birthday. It was going to be a good birthday. I then got a call later on that I don't wish on anyone. My nephew...who was just the very best kid you could ever meet, was shot and killed. Someone who thinks they are some sort of a thug was shooting at another kid and my nephew was coming out of the grocery store. He suffered a single gunshot wound and died 45 minutes later. I don't really know why I am writing this, but I don't know how to feel. Playing this kinda helps me get my mind off the events. My whole family is broken right now. I'm sorry. I don't want to drag the thread down. I just want as many people to know what a good kid my nephew was.

Nothing to apologize for. My sincere condolences.

[iambecomelife]

I should give that a try, but I usually give up and go for some single merchants unless another convoy approaches. P.S. I know that I don't know anyone here. I posted this thread on the morning of my 50th birthday. It was going to be a good birthday. I then got a call later on that I don't wish on anyone. My nephew...who was just the very best kid you could ever meet, was shot and killed. Someone who thinks they are some sort of a thug was shooting at another kid and my nephew was coming out of the grocery store. He suffered a single gunshot wound and died 45 minutes later. I don't really know why I am writing this, but I don't know how to feel. Playing this kinda helps me get my mind off the events. My whole family is broken right now. I'm sorry. I don't want to drag the thread down. I just want as many people to know what a good kid my nephew was.


Very sorry for your loss, and I hope justice is served quickly.

[CapZap1970]

I should give that a try, but I usually give up and go for some single merchants unless another convoy approaches. P.S. I know that I don't know anyone here. I posted this thread on the morning of my 50th birthday. It was going to be a good birthday. I then got a call later on that I don't wish on anyone. My nephew...who was just the very best kid you could ever meet, was shot and killed. Someone who thinks they are some sort of a thug was shooting at another kid and my nephew was coming out of the grocery store. He suffered a single gunshot wound and died 45 minutes later. I don't really know why I am writing this, but I don't know how to feel. Playing this kinda helps me get my mind off the events. My whole family is broken right now. I'm sorry. I don't want to drag the thread down. I just want as many people to know what a good kid my nephew was.
Very sorry about that sad event... My sincere condolences for your loss. Patience, resignation and hope, Justice will be served sooner or later

[Anvar1061]

RIP

[rotten_apples]

I should give that a try, but I usually give up and go for some single merchants unless another convoy approaches. P.S. I know that I don't know anyone here. I posted this thread on the morning of my 50th birthday. It was going to be a good birthday. I then got a call later on that I don't wish on anyone. My nephew...who was just the very best kid you could ever meet, was shot and killed. Someone who thinks they are some sort of a thug was shooting at another kid and my nephew was coming out of the grocery store. He suffered a single gunshot wound and died 45 minutes later. I don't really know why I am writing this, but I don't know how to feel. Playing this kinda helps me get my mind off the events. My whole family is broken right now. I'm sorry. I don't want to drag the thread down. I just want as many people to know what a good kid my nephew was.

Mate, that is unspeakably awful. I'm sure nobody on this thread would be able to provide much by way of comfort, but condolences. It's ok to reach out wherever you need to - much support to you and your family.

[drowssapma]

Thanks, guys. It's just been so rough. I saw my brother on Wednesday and he's like a zombie. There's no life in his eyes. He's not eating, not sleeping, and living off coffee. Unbelievably, his boss actually fired him because he said he is taking the week off. We are looking into whether that is legal or not in his state. In the meantime, SHIII has been keeping my mind occupied. I just really miss my nephew.

[rik007]

@drowssapmama: pure horror & good luck with it.

As for the convoy: my tip is: I first launch 2 torps against targets in a lane further away. Then directly I launch 2 torps against targets in the lane closest to me and then aft.

The result should be that all impacts happen at the same time. So the convoy does not have time to start evasive actions or start zigzagging and I will have maximum possibilty to get away and avoid being detected.

On top of it the spectacle on the surface when the detonations start....

[les green01]

Thanks, guys. It's just been so rough. I saw my brother on Wednesday and he's like a zombie. There's no life in his eyes. He's not eating, not sleeping, and living off coffee. Unbelievably, his boss actually fired him because he said he is taking the week off. We are looking into whether that is legal or not in his state. In the meantime, SHIII has been keeping my mind occupied. I just really miss my nephew.

sorry for your loss and it going to be rough for awhile and from personal experience you probbly going go though a bunch of differnt emotions it does help to keep your mind occupied far as attacking the convoy i like to shadow it for awhile get much of the info i can pick out targets which is the biggest watch the escorts see how they are behaving then make the attack plan then try to time where all the eels hits at the same time

[Bubblehead1980]

Always trying to infiltrate convoy rows, firing 2 torp to best target, 2 others to someone else, rear one to one behind and...escape.
If convoy is running medium or slow, and weather not too bad, i try to catch him again and repeat.
Always from front or 3/4 front.
Always submerged even at night (Kretschmer surface tactic is not doable in SH3, other than making all ships almost blind at night)



Forgive me as I have little experience with SH 3, mostly SH 4 in the pacific. However, SH 4 is basically a clone of SH 3 from what I gather, I mean the fleet boats in SH 4 are actually just U boats with a facade lol (Thus, only two independent engines not four etc) .

I have modified SH 4 in paritcular the mod TMO where can pull off surface attacks, including moving inside columns such as Kretshmer did in the Atlantic, which US subs did on larger convoys in pacific as japanese began sailing in larger convoys.

The vessels are not blind, just use a darker nights mod (nights in SH 4 were way too light) with proper settings in sim.cfg for the light factor.

Of course Allied radar was much better than Japanese so not sure how to deal with that in the ATO. Just surprised no one has found this work around (or have they?) in SH 3.

[Fifi]

Forgive me as I have little experience with SH 3, mostly SH 4 in the pacific. However, SH 4 is basically a clone of SH 3 from what I gather, I mean the fleet boats in SH 4 are actually just U boats with a facade lol (Thus, only two independent engines not four etc) .

I have modified SH 4 in paritcular the mod TMO where can pull off surface attacks, including moving inside columns such as Kretshmer did in the Atlantic, which US subs did on larger convoys in pacific as japanese began sailing in larger convoys.

The vessels are not blind, just use a darker nights mod (nights in SH 4 were way too light) with proper settings in sim.cfg for the light factor.

Of course Allied radar was much better than Japanese so not sure how to deal with that in the ATO. Just surprised no one has found this work around (or have they?) in SH 3.

Yes, that’s what i meant.
To infiltrate convoy at night still surfaced like kretschmer did, merchants should not see you more than 150m away! (Rows are generally 500m spaced)
So merchants should be almost blind at night...that is not the case presently in any SH3 megamod.
Only way to represent this, is to modify the Sim.cfg night settings (and probably fog factor too for different weather types) and maybe the AI sensors dat visual adjustment...not easy task to get the correct settings for all kind of weather, keeping in mind warships must keep some better visuals at night (slightly better than merchant, but still lower than actually)
To me, and according to what Kretschmer wrote in his testimony, cargo ships should not see you surfaced at 150m when dark night, and warship should not see you surfaced at 300/400m!

[Bubblehead1980]

Yes, that’s what i meant.
To infiltrate convoy at night still surfaced like kretschmer did, merchants should not see you more than 150m away! (Rows are generally 500m spaced)
So merchants should be almost blind at night...that is not the case presently in any SH3 megamod.
Only way to represent this, is to modify the Sim.cfg night settings (and probably fog factor too for different weather types) and maybe the AI sensors dat visual adjustment...not easy task to get the correct settings for all kind of weather, keeping in mind warships must keep some better visuals at night (slightly better than merchant, but still lower than actually)
To me, and according to what Kretschmer wrote in his testimony, cargo ships should not see you surfaced at 150m when dark night, and warship should not see you surfaced at 300/400m!


Exactly. I was saying surprised none of the mods have made this possible in SH 3. Then again, I was surprised no one had made it happen in SH 4 as well. As said, SH 4 is basically a clone of SH 3, so sure it can be done.


Definitely complicated and took many hours of testing. The first step is making sure the nights are dark enough. SH 3 and 4 by default the nights even without moonlight war just way too bright. Likely done to make visual identification easier at night for player but it kills realistic night surface attacks. Mods improved it but still far too light. Once changed the environment at night with the darker nights mod with proper settings in .cfg to balance things, have desired result.


I am wondering if the darker nights mod for SH 4 would work with SH. Hmmm. I do not have SH 3 installed currently or I would check. In near future I do plan to get back into SH 3, take a little break from the pacific after a year plus working to update some things. Only modding will do in Sh 3 will be the try and make the Kretschmer style surface attacks happen, if it is not done before. Of course , if one does not exist will need someone to do the darker nights (if the SH 4 mod does not work) as that is beyond my knowledge base at moment.

[John Pancoast]

Exactly. I was saying surprised none of the mods have made this possible in SH 3. Then again, I was surprised no one had made it happen in SH 4 as well. As said, SH 4 is basically a clone of SH 3, so sure it can be done.


Definitely complicated and took many hours of testing. The first step is making sure the nights are dark enough. SH 3 and 4 by default the nights even without moonlight war just way too bright. Likely done to make visual identification easier at night for player but it kills realistic night surface attacks. Mods improved it but still far too light. Once changed the environment at night with the darker nights mod with proper settings in .cfg to balance things, have desired result.


I am wondering if the darker nights mod for SH 4 would work with SH. Hmmm. I do not have SH 3 installed currently or I would check. In near future I do plan to get back into SH 3, take a little break from the pacific after a year plus working to update some things. Only modding will do in Sh 3 will be the try and make the Kretschmer style surface attacks happen, if it is not done before. Of course , if one does not exist will need someone to do the darker nights (if the SH 4 mod does not work) as that is beyond my knowledge base at moment.

Fwiw, moonlight has no effect on SH3 visibility.

[Fifi]

John is right, moon light has no effects.
If you want real dark nights, take the scene dat of my mod (either Ccom or LSH3)

:Kaleun_Salute:

[Bubblehead1980]

Fwiw, moonlight has no effect on SH3 visibility.



Really? Interesting. As said do not have a lot of experience in SH 3. Certainly does matter in SH 4.

[John Pancoast]

Really? Interesting. As said do not have a lot of experience in SH 3. Certainly does matter in SH 4.


Unfortunately yes. Neither does depth charge noise. Btw, if you want more room inside a convoy simply change the ships spacing in the campaign.rnd file. As he mentioned, Fifi also has some nice env. mods.
Sometimes it won't save for some reason but sometimes it does.

[Bubblehead1980]

Unfortunately yes. Neither does depth charge noise. Btw, if you want more room inside a convoy simply change the ships spacing in the campaign.rnd file. As he mentioned, Fifi also has some nice env. mods.
Sometimes it won't save for some reason but sometimes it does.


Well, that is unfortunate. There is a depth charge noise mod for SH 4 by The DarkWraith. I thought he made one for SH 3 as well? It definitely works. Main thing (as can imagine) is gives player precious seconds to run at high speed after charges explode. I increased the duration and amount of noise each charge makes but it made things too easy after they made a few runs.

I have changed the spacing of convoys in spring summer 1944 when IJN began running alliedesque convoys in terms of larger numbers and more escorts. US started using wolfpacks (their version) and night surface attacks became the preferred method.


When I get back into SH 3 I will check out the env mods and mod the sim.cfg to see if get it where Kretschmer style attacks are possible.

[John Pancoast]

Well, that is unfortunate. There is a depth charge noise mod for SH 4 by The DarkWraith. I thought he made one for SH 3 as well? It definitely works. Main thing (as can imagine) is gives player precious seconds to run at high speed after charges explode. I increased the duration and amount of noise each charge makes but it made things too easy after they made a few runs.

I have changed the spacing of convoys in spring summer 1944 when IJN began running alliedesque convoys in terms of larger numbers and more escorts. US started using wolfpacks (their version) and night surface attacks became the preferred method.


When I get back into SH 3 I will check out the env mods and mod the sim.cfg to see if get it where Kretschmer style attacks are possible.

Yes he made one for SH3 too but some found it to cause ctds. Others have made some too.
Haven't tried them myself; the escorts aren't very dangerous anyway so not really needed.

[iambecomelife]

Hope you guys are doing as well as can be under the circumstances. Back on the subject of attacks, I usually find that I am never kept down too long so that repeated attacks are impossible - once the DD's leave me alone I almost always use the "end run" method, racing parallel on the horizon, so I can set up another attack the following night. Unless I am low on torpedoes, damaged, approaching shallow water, or have orders to patrol elsewhere. I'm pretty sure that historically, Donitz would regard just one attack on a convoy as not being enough - leaving you in trouble once you got back to base. :yep:

And I agree night vision by non-player units is too good in stock; but I usually do OK by going to PD & using the periscope only occasionally when I get closer than maybe 5000M.

[astvitaliy1982]

I should give that a try, but I usually give up and go for some single merchants unless another convoy approaches. P.S. I know that I don't know anyone here. I posted this thread on the morning of my 50th birthday. It was going to be a good birthday. I then got a call later on that I don't wish on anyone. My nephew...who was just the very best kid you could ever meet, was shot and killed. Someone who thinks they are some sort of a thug was shooting at another kid and my nephew was coming out of the grocery store. He suffered a single gunshot wound and died 45 minutes later. I don't really know why I am writing this, but I don't know how to feel. Playing this kinda helps me get my mind off the events. My whole family is broken right now. I'm sorry. I don't want to drag the thread down. I just want as many people to know what a good kid my nephew was.

Мои искренние соболезнования вам и вашей семье.

[Kapitän]

P.S. I know that I don't know anyone here. I posted this thread on the morning of my 50th birthday. It was going to be a good birthday. I then got a call later on that I don't wish on anyone. My nephew...who was just the very best kid you could ever meet, was shot and killed. Someone who thinks they are some sort of a thug was shooting at another kid and my nephew was coming out of the grocery store. He suffered a single gunshot wound and died 45 minutes later. I don't really know why I am writing this, but I don't know how to feel. Playing this kinda helps me get my mind off the events. My whole family is broken right now. I'm sorry. I don't want to drag the thread down. I just want as many people to know what a good kid my nephew was.


Terrible! So, sorry for your loss. I wish you and your family much strength and comfort in the days to come.

[Catfish]

@ drowssapma: Very sorry for you loss.. my condolences.
Regarding your brother's boss things are different here (Germany), you usually get one or two days of extra holidays at least for organising, and often more if you talk with the boss.

Regarding convoys, it depends on the time in the war, meaning experience of escorts, radar development, better sonar and so on.
(Be aware that regardless which tactics there is no current sim (except Wolfpack maybe) that models visibility and detection, or the lack of it, right. The modders have done tons of work on SH3, 4 and 5, but there are some things that cannot be corrected w/o having access to the source code, and even then...
There sure is a bit of randomness and "luck" involved, but much less than in reality. Say if a virtual sonar detects a dived virtual U-boat, and it does this with a probability of say 30 percent at a given situation. But this probability number is applied again and again, not once, so after a short time it WILL detect, and it will not "forget" this position. Same for optical visibility and radar.
In the early SH3, when you switched to outside view, you could see those depth charges being thrown exacly at your current position already in 1940, only chance to get rid of them was to dive deep, and run silent, and long)

Ok provided you remain undetected there are the two tactics - surfaced or dived.

Surfaced:
At daylight the only chance is against single or few unescorted merchants early in the war, so they have no guns.

At night you can
1. run ahead, then slow down to very slow (smaller wake), and then let the convoy come up and surround you, you have to be aware of DD, DE and corvettes, of course. If they zig or zag at the wrong time you will either have to reposition, or they present their broadside for a side attack.
You can also get ahead surfaced, dive, and let yourself be surrounded by the convoy, to then surface and pick your targets. But being ahead of the convoy's course means that there will be at least one "wiper" ahead with active sonar, that may detect you – so only silent running, do not extend the periscope, hope you get not detected by sonar.
In reality a boat at perisope depth was almost undetectable even by active sonar, but once more not in all those SH versions.

2. Or get in the convoy straight from a rear position at full speed.

Running inside parallel to the convoy's course, if you are good at the TDC a 90 degree shoot left or right is no problem for torpedoes provided you have some 500 meters distance or more to your targets. If you are closer, choose a smaller angel heading somewhat toward the target, the torpedo needs time for the curve.
If you can identify a corvette and it detected you, you can outrun it surfaced with more than 18 knots, which was frequently done in the early war. Most of the escorts did not have radar until 1943 or '44, but do not depend on it in the sim..
Also reports how a corvette almost rammed a surfacd boat at night without seeing it, but again, not in the Silent Hunter franchise.

3. The sideway attack you mentioned is the best one, but you have to go in at a speed not to be seen by the enemy. A fast attack to go in and out asap, and only dive in an emergency is usually the way to go. With more escorts you have to keep the wake down, so flank speed is sometimes not the best idea, but it always depends.
I do not know whether the moon being behind or ahead of you, or no moon, is being simulated properly, or at all.
Going in surfaced and shooting the deck gun is only possible in the early war, with merchants having no guns, and few or no escorts.


For a submerged attack you either dive close to the convoy, or earlier and let yourself overtaken by it. Again, if it zig-zags at the wrong moment your plan is toast.
Only use the periscope for very short times due to the mentioned 30 percent detection.

Picking out the big ones is of course the right thing, if there is only one escort or a carrier you might deviate from the usual tactics.
Also, while this is a kind of cheat, use impact ignitors since the magnetic ones often malfunction in the sim as they did in reality, early in the war. Gaming the game is of course not much fun, but ..

Use electric torpedoes for shallow runs so the bubbles will not be detected, also you can time your attack with using slower and faster torpedoes, for closer or more distant targets. You can be sure the convoy will change course the second the first impact happens, so try to make them hit in a short time interval.

Well one could write hundreds of pages, but you soon get the feeling for it..
Good luck :salute:

[John Pancoast]

@ drowssapma: Very sorry for you loss.. my condolences.
Regarding your brother's boss things are different here (Germany), you usually get one or two days of extra holidays at least for organising, and often more if you talk with the boss.

Regarding convoys, it depends on the time in the war, meaning experience of escorts, radar development, better sonar and so on.
(Be aware that regardless which tactics there is no current sim (except Wolfpack maybe) that models visibility and detection, or the lack of it, right. The modders have done tons of work on SH3, 4 and 5, but there are some things that cannot be corrected w/o having access to the source code, and even then...
There sure is a bit of randomness and "luck" involved, but much less than in reality. Say if a virtual sonar detects a dived virtual U-boat, and it does this with a probability of say 30 percent at a given situation. But this probability number is applied again and again, not once, so after a short time it WILL detect, and it will not "forget" this position. Same for optical visibility and radar.
In the early SH3, when you switched to outside view, you could see those depth charges being thrown exacly at your current position already in 1940, only chance to get rid of them was to dive deep, and run silent, and long)

Ok provided you remain undetected there are the two tactics - surfaced or dived.

Surfaced:
At daylight the only chance is against single or few unescorted merchants early in the war, so they have no guns.

At night you can
1. run ahead, then slow down to very slow (smaller wake), and then let the convoy come up and surround you, you have to be aware of DD, DE and corvettes, of course. If they zig or zag at the wrong time you will either have to reposition, or they present their broadside for a side attack.
You can also get ahead surfaced, dive, and let yourself be surrounded by the convoy, to then surface and pick your targets. But being ahead of the convoy's course means that there will be at least one "wiper" ahead with active sonar, that may detect you – so only silent running, do not extend the periscope, hope you get not detected by sonar.
In reality a boat at perisope depth was almost undetectable even by active sonar, but once more not in all those SH versions.

2. Or get in the convoy straight from a rear position at full speed.

Running inside parallel to the convoy's course, if you are good at the TDC a 90 degree shoot left or right is no problem for torpedoes provided you have some 500 meters distance or more to your targets. If you are closer, choose a smaller angel heading somewhat toward the target, the torpedo needs time for the curve.
If you can identify a corvette and it detected you, you can outrun it surfaced with more than 18 knots, which was frequently done in the early war. Most of the escorts did not have radar until 1943 or '44, but do not depend on it in the sim..
Also reports how a corvette almost rammed a surfacd boat at night without seeing it, but again, not in the Silent Hunter franchise.

3. The sideway attack you mentioned is the best one, but you have to go in at a speed not to be seen by the enemy. A fast attack to go in and out asap, and only dive in an emergency is usually the way to go. With more escorts you have to keep the wake down, so flank speed is sometimes not the best idea, but it always depends.
I do not know whether the moon being behind or ahead of you, or no moon, is being simulated properly, or at all.
Going in surfaced and shooting the deck gun is only possible in the early war, with merchants having no guns, and few or no escorts.


For a submerged attack you either dive close to the convoy, or earlier and let yourself overtaken by it. Again, if it zig-zags at the wrong moment your plan is toast.
Only use the periscope for very short times due to the mentioned 30 percent detection.

Picking out the big ones is of course the right thing, if there is only one escort or a carrier you might deviate from the usual tactics.
Also, while this is a kind of cheat, use impact ignitors since the magnetic ones often malfunction in the sim as they did in reality, early in the war. Gaming the game is of course not much fun, but ..

Use electric torpedoes for shallow runs so the bubbles will not be detected, also you can time your attack with using slower and faster torpedoes, for closer or more distant targets. You can be sure the convoy will change course the second the first impact happens, so try to make them hit in a short time interval.

Well one could write hundreds of pages, but you soon get the feeling for it..
Good luck :salute:

Moonlight affects are not modeled in SH3.

[Kapitän]

Moonlight affects are not modeled in SH3.


Yes. I still operate as though they are, just for "realism" reasons ...