Early patrols - and nothing?

[von Buelow]

Sorry if this question has been asked before... but I've been on the first 2 patrols on career mode and only had like 4 contacts, 1 sunk, 2 got away and 1 neutral...

is this typical? will I get more action as the war progresses?

[von Buelow]

oh, and any advice is appreciated on general srateegary...

should I complete my patrol, then seek out targets of opportunity in known shipping channels/closer to the UK coast?

I was thinking of just coming to a dead stop and listening for a bit... thoughts?

should I sink French ships "because I can"? :yep:

[Iceberg]

You have to look for them!

I always go to my assigned patrol area for the required 24 hours then I head 2 one of my favorite hunting ground: Either in the area of AM53 or BF12. (good for early in the war)

You'll see a lot of traffic in these area. Spend some time on the surface then some time submerged to listen. Do it yourself, if you're early in the war, your guy manning the hydrophone won't be nearly as good as you. And a hint: increase the volume of the hydrophone, cut the engines and listen!

Good hunting

Iceberg

[von Buelow]

cool :up: I'll try that tonight for mission 3 !


now I gotta look up Hydraphone ops :huh:

[Bill Nichols]

On my second patrol, I didn't find anything in my patrol area, but I did find something on my way to it... a carrier and battleship :D . The Brits now have one less flattop! :arrgh!:

[gonzman]

Where were you?

I've been playing SH3 since release, i think i've seen a battleship once, never a carrier.

I always get Coastal Merchants and DD's.

[TreverSlyFox]

In early war I've always had good luck in AM17 SE 1/4 or at the edge of the shallow waters of AM02 in the SE 1/4.

I'm on my 2nd patrol out of 2nd Flotilla, Wilhelmshaven in a VIIB. Just picked off 2-T3s, 1-T2 and an Aux Cruiser from a convoy in AM17 heading E at 6 kts just as it was entering the shallow waters SE 1/4 about 50Klm North of the South Grid line.

Last patrol I picked off 2-T2s and an Aux Cruiser from a convoy in AM02 just before the shallows at the entrance to the North Channel in the SE 1/4.

[Takeda Shingen]

In the early war, I prefer to pick at the unescorted costal traffic around the British Isles. The Grid Squares that I am partial to are (no particular order):

1. BF14 and BF 17: C2's, T2's, Coastal Merchants (must be lost) and an occasional T3.

2. AM53: Mainly incoming/outgoing C2's with the occasional inbound convoy. I tend to ignore the convoys, however, because of the availablility of unescorted targets and my preference for deck gun usage, which prolongs my patrol endurance. Watch for patroling ASW ships.

3. AN15 (near the coast): Costal and small merchants only, but in greater frequency than many other grids. Good for deck gun kills. Again, watch for ASW ships.

4. The ever-popular AN14: The place to find BB's, CV's and (unfortunately) DD's. Also some C2's and coastal traffic.

I hope this proves useful.

[von Buelow]

Tak, your list is printed out... I'll post results as I progress - thanks! :rock:

[von Buelow]

well, I forgot to take my list home with me, so I decided to prowl around... came up on a convoy right when I had to go to bed (was pushing midnight)

anyways, so now I'm sitting at about 6000M away, and closing froma big convoy! :up:

I see like 15 ships to hit including some C2s, C3s and T2s, surrounded by 3 (or more) escorts, to include a Y & W (?)... only 5 eels to play with


now I just gotta figure out how to attack them and get away clean :roll:

[rik007]

As long as you are not in 1943 or later sneaking away will not be the problem. Good hunting!

[FAdmiral]

Check your map that came with the game. It lists the convoy
routes and it does pay off to pay attention to them. Hanging
around one of those lanes will eventually get you some good tonnage....


JIM

[von Buelow]

paydirt! got a huge convoy (surrounded by escorts) - just by snooping around

[FAdmiral]

Thats the Spirit !!! You just have to look in the right places...


JIM

[the_rydster]

Best idea is to submerge every once in a while and check the hydrophone yourself.

Hang around the Transatlantic convoy routes and wait for a contact. You get some mega convoys going past.

Never seen anything better than a DD when it comes to Military vessels. I think these Task forces are a big myth ...invented by the developers to keep you playing longer in the hope of finding one! No doubt they will be going hell for leather 20+ Knots so no chance of intercepting probably. :P

[von Buelow]

I just snoop along the coastline... look for shipping lanse and just hang out. I picked up a C2 kill with eels and a merchant kill using my FLAK gun :up: just by hanging out

Re: convoy detected, got a C2 and a armed trawler with little resistance (trawler was by accident)



Now that I've upgraded subs, I have a lot more eels, and a lot more lurking to do...



what a great game :arrgh!:

[urseus]

I came across a massive taskforce by accident once i think back in march during one of my very early patrols. 3 Battleships 8 destroyers.

I was very inexperienced.

I fired 1 magnetic torpedo at a battleship. I didnt know keel depth. It went under, didnt detonate, and then just ran out of fuel.

Horays! Best sub captain ever!

If i ever meet a force like that NOW that ive restarted my game after my 24th patrol..