Slim Pickings in Aug, 44 Patrol

[scrapser]

I'm now stationed at Bergen and my first patrol is to AM27. I tried sailing through the channel, did my 24 hours and then went hunting only to find nothing but small or coastal merchants. So I started the patrol again only this time sailed north of Scapa Flow and down the west side of Ireland. Again, nothing but small merchants (I did run into one lone C3).

Anyway, has anyone else noticed a drop in juicy targets in this time period? I'm thinking of heading down to Gibraltar to see what's in the neighborhood.

scrapser

[joea]

Good luck, in 1944 you'll need it. :P

[Nopileo]

Yes, in 1944 there are much fewer lone ships, as most them only travel in organised (more or less) convoys. This is especially the case if you're using RUb.

So the best tip is to use your map and hang out in the convoy lanes. The convoy map mod is a great tool if you don't like paperwork... :ping:

[crazyhorse]

I'm on patrol 26, June '44, with the 7th Flotilla out of St. Nazaire. Since late '43 I consider 20k or better acceptable tonnage, considering the air cover. Just finished patrol 25 with 40k and change. Targets are few and far between, but usually in pairs when found. The most common is a C3 running with a Small Tanker or Merchant. Patience is the name of the game now, and attacking with a vengeance when targets are found. I've had to man the flak guns and fight off air attacks while running at Full to intercept a couple of targets. Adding the multi-flak gun conning tower on the VII-C was problably the best renown investment I've made so far. Not knowing what to expect I failed to qualify any flak-gunners, so I'm making up for the lack of skill with fire power and it seems to be working so far. Have downed 11 Allied aircraft before reaching blue water out of St. Nazaire on this patrol. It may not be historically accurate, but I do what I have to do within the parameters of the game. This career began June 22, real time, and it's been great fun with many harrowing times. Hope to make it all the way through, but it's one patrol, one attack, one crash dive at a time on the way.

Good Hunting!

[Nopileo]

I've also noticed another great 'fishing spot': That fjord/channel/bay into Bristol is crawling with lone merchants and ships traveling in pairs (this is in 1942 though. Not been there in '44). And those 18,000 ton large cargos in RUb certainly help the tonnage. I found three of them in there on my last visit, and another one in the English channel. 'Sadly' I've heard they will be toned down in the next release, which is fair I guess.

[oRGy]

They're already toned down in the patch for 1.43 on Beery's site.

[Carcassonne]

I agree :yep: on the fewer lone merchants in '44; however, the juicy targets are most definitely still around, they're simply in the convoys. Good luck in '44 attacking a convoy, it gets butal...the happy days are no longer around for you :nope:

I also like hunting west of spain...the days are filled with aircraft, but the nights do spawn some nice targets that are lone or paired and best of all unescorted :yep:

edit: just west of spain, 200 or so miles.

[SmokinTep]

Heck, in 44, I'm to busy trying to stay alive........ :lol: