Convoys in the Med?

[Kalach]

Using:
RUb 1.45
NYGM RUb Campain mod (I don't think this changes convoy routes/frequency though)
and Commander.


I've been playing in the Med a lot lately and haven't encountered a single convoy yet. So I'm wondering if there actually are any :hmm: .
There's been a few TF's and many single ships, as well as reported convoys on the other side of Gibraltar but none here.
I mostly hang around between 100-1000km East of Gibraltar so I doubt they are just too close to their destination and dissapearing...

Does anyone have any knowledge to share on this?


(ooh, Langtrees brothel avatar :-j )

[kiwi_2005]

Im in the med on 4th patrol, VIIC. Found a convoy in CN63 and identified as Axis with italian escorts. In CO 93 i lost a 4 hr chase with a Task force, never knew what the fleet was just they were moving at 20knots heading north. But have yet to find a enemy convoy.

[Cpt.Thorne]

Hi
As a former Kommander of 29.Flotille La Spezia (before it was dis-banded) for WaW I can assure you there are convoys in the Med they just come in a bit later on in the game. There are some in the early years to be found too but after allied landing to the NA through the Med fall 1942 a lot more traffic will be encountered. Big troop transports and tankers.

Here just few examples of radio traffic about convoys attacked

1514 12MAR43

FDU

ATTACK REPORT

DUE TO RADIO PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEND MESSAGES FOR SOME TIME. AFTER LAST REPORT UNEVENTFUL PATROL.

1007 12MAR MULTIPLE PROPELLER SOUNDS PICKED UP. WENT TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND A MEDIUM CONVOY. 16 SHIPS TOTAL. EASTBOUND PROBABLY TO TOBRUK. ESCORTS V&W DD X2, CLEMSON DD AND HUNT I DD. WENT IN UNDETECTED EVEN WITH 5KTS WITH PERISCOPE UP THE WHOLE TIME IN CLEAR WEATHER, THANKS TO RAGING SEAS. SHIPS SUNK: T2 MEDIUM TANKER APP 10000TNS, MEDIUM FREIGHTERS C2 X2 APP 5300TNS EACH, SMALL MERCHANT APP. 3000TNS, AND TROOP TRANSPORT APP. 10000TNS LOTS OF SURVIVORS LEFT ON SURFACE FOR THE ESCORTS TO PICK UP. REMAINING SHIPS ALL THE ESCORTS 2 SMALL MERCHANTS AND 5 COASTAL MERCHANTS. ALL SHIPS WERE FLYING BRITTISH FLAG.

TORPEDOES LEFT 1 AT STERN TUBE. RETURNING TO BASE THROUGH MESSINA STRAIT.

CO55

U391

BdU/FdU

31MAR43

1100 HRS: Hydrophone contact on two high speed screws to southwest (west center naval grid CH76). Closing to investigate possible TF or convoy.

1200 HRS: Allied fast convoy heading WSW from previously reported position. Might be a big one, looks like there are four, maybe even five escorts.

1230 HRS: Forced under by American Somers-class DD. This unit must have good radar, it spotted me despite overcast and haze. Same happened with previous convoy on the 19th. Unit had closed to 2,500 metres by the time I could get under. Decided to take a shot with stern tube FAT II eel in order to hopefully prevent depth charging and give me more time to dive. DC attack at shallow depth by DD knowing position would probably have been fatal. Eel struck destroyer under keel causing her to break off but not sinking her. Hydrophone reports more fast screws approaching, am going to dive deep and try and get distance and then maneuver in front of convoy to attack.

1338 HRS: Am now NE of convoy and have lost contact with DDs. Visual sweep clear, going to surface and attempt to move ahead of convoy.

1857 HRS: Ahead of convoy. Will submerge and wait.

1930 HRS: Depth charged by British destroyer on ingress. He passed right over my position and detected me on the way in, only very minor damage. I think he was taking a pot shot as he seemed unable to reacquire.

1935 HRS: Attack commenced. Fired two torpedoes each at C3 cargo and T3 tanker SS Alwaki. All four torpedoes hit home. The C3 pressed on as if nothing had happened. T3 slowed to four knots and then immediately accelerated back to eight knots and resumed station.

1940 HRS: Decided to take another shot at Alwaki (10,938 tonnes) with the stern tube on the way out in the hope of making something out of the attack. Scored hit at 1942 HRS which believe based on massive explosions and hull popping noises sank the tanker.

Suffered minor damage in a brushing incident with a freighter on the way out; dove underneath her and just barely brushed her keel with my conning tower sustaining only very minor damage. Went out underneath the outbound convoy lane to keep the DDs off me for a bit. Took one bad DC attack on the way out but only suffered minimal damage. Destroyers continued to attack but were bombing our previous location.

2100 HRS: Have decided to RTB rather than risk another encounter with the convoy for the following reasons:

1) Down to only six torpedoes. This would be more than adequate for a single pass attack but would leave us nothing for the return home.

2) Target was a fast convoy guarded by no less than five modern DD, including at least one Somers-class (damaged), one Buckley-class, and one Hunt II-class. It would have been very difficult to maneuver around the convoy again, particularly since I egressed directly out the back of the convoy. By the time I would have been able to reengage the convoy would have been fairly near Gibraltar and enemy air cover.

3) Crew was utterly exhausted and it is a credit to the officers and NCOs that they were able to stay on their feet and perform efficiently during the convoy attack. One more might have been pressing a bit much.

In sum, most disappointed that we did not reengage, as felt like we could have claimed that C3 easily with another attack, plus possibly one or two more or a Liberty-class, but didn't feel with our recent losses that it was prudent to be that aggressive in such a high-risk situation.

Oblt.z.S. Billmyer
U-155

Prost!

[HEMISENT]

My experience with the med is its a great place for the crew to work on their tan, maybe get some extra swimming time in. Oh, and I made the mistake once and forgot to bring extra deck chairs for afternoon schnaaps on the veranda-boy was my crew pissed.
I actually think that one of my officers came up with the idea for ClubMed
Vacations and Cruises from his war patrols with our boat.

Happy Cruising! :()1:

[Dowly]

Prost!

Welcome aboard, Herr Komman... Herr Thorne!

Respectfully, Adolf Bummer III :up: