Patrol log of U-178 [Archive] - SUBSIM Radio Room Forums

Ducimus

04-29-06, 01:41 PM

Preface:
Ok for too many reasons to explain here, i gravitate towards IX Uboats, and long range patrols to distant waters. Late war it gets hard to survive in these boats. My challenge to myself, and if anyone cares to surpass it once i set a "record" is thus:

1.) Spend the most amount of days at sea with the least amount of patrols.
2.) Set a record for the longest patrol without the use of a milk cow in SH3.
3.) Survive the war.

The plan:
My plan is to go to all the major distant theaters. US east coast, Gulf of Mexico, the Caribean, South America, South Africa, the Indian ocean, and maybe even poke my head around the Pacific ocean near Austrila. To accomplish this, i would need an IXD2 Uboat that started in the 10th flotilla, transfer to the 12th flotilla, and later to the 33rd.

Rather then use a famous Uboat like U-181, i chose a not so famous uboat that started in the 10th, transfered to the 12th, but didnt surive long enough to make it to the 33rd. That boat is U-178. I however, intend on making it to the 33rd and to the end of the war, and sink ships doing it.

Rather then update this patrol log at the end of the patrol, ill try and update it, as i go, while the details are still fresh in my mind, with screenshots when i remember to grab them. So this is a log in progress, and will not be completed for some time, as i wont be finished for some time, because.. well.. ill be at sea... ALOT. :up:

Ducimus

04-29-06, 01:42 PM

Patrol 1
U-178, IXD2, 10th Flotilla
Left at: Feb 05, 1942, 06:00
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid CA76

09 Feb 1942

05:00 BE91
Recieved Convoy report while enroute to station. Estimated to cross our position in 5 hours. Opportunity too good to pass up, as already in intercept position. Sea's rough at 14 kts winds. Submerging to 25 meters and wait.

10:45 BE91
Have made sonar contact with large convoy. 4 high speed screws can be heard amonghst the slower ones. Estimated to cross our bow at close range. Winds estimated at 14 KT's, mediem fog, visiblity poor, despite bad weather, will commence attack.

12:20 BE91
Brought boat to periscope depth. Hard to maintain depth without broaching. Observed one heavy cargo ship cross our bow. Unable to observe long enough to take a shot. Have entered esitmated data into TDC, will wait for next ship in column. Fear of being too close to convoy and being rammed. Maintining constant periscope lookout .

12:30 BE91
Observed light cargo ship. Not visible long enough to take a shot. Again target not in view long enough to take a shot. Entered esitmated data into TDC. Fairly confident of a good firing solution based on these two observations. More contacts approaching, will make good next sighting.

12:47 BE91
Ship sunk! Fired two torpedo's, 0 depth, impact pistol, 3 degree spreed angle, 44 kts.

Ship Beleived to be C2 cargo, estimated at 4800 tons. Heavy fog obscured visiblity. Fired from solutions based on two prior observations. Boat conning tower has broached on the surface. Have lost contact with side escort of convoy, fear he is coming up behind us. Crash diving to 150 meters. Rough sea's should make less then ideal sonar conditions for escorts. .

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1a.jpg

14:00 BE91
Convoy contact fading. Confident we have lost destroyers.

------------------------------------

27 Feb 1942

11:00 CA93
Approching US seaboard. In the intrest of avoiding any aircraft, conserve fuel, and to not advertise our presense - Have decide to submerge at approximately 0600, and surface at 00:00 to recharge batteries and bring in external stores. This shall be the daily SOP for the boat unless the need arises for an end-round approach on a sound contact. Still 2 days out from assigned patrol grid.

-------------------------------------------

03 March 1942

0700 CA84
Entering continental shelf at 25 meters depth.. Echo soundings indcate 70 meters under the keel.

1400 CA76
Entering patrol grid submerged at 14 meters. Soundings indicate 16 meters under keel. Ordered complete silence onboard until further notice. If we are discovered here, our demise is certain.

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1b.jpg
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1c.jpg

---------------------------------------------
04 March 1942

0800 CA76
Sound reports merchant sound contact, closing.

0910 CA76
Sound contact determined to be tugboat through periscope observation. Allowing him to pass. Target not worth the risk of being detected.

-------------------------------------------
05 March 1942
1400 CA76
Alloted 24 hours onstation accomplished. Leaving grid submerged. Will surface at night for surface run off of shelf.

2200 CA84
Destroyer heard on hydrophone check before surfacing. Will stay down.

2342 CA84
Destroyer sounds faint. no other sound contacts. Nothing observable in periscope. Batteries at 40%. Surfacing. Delaying battery recharge in favor for high speed run to get off shelf.

0100 CA84
Depth soundings indicate boat is off shelf. Setting course south. Will follow shore, just off shelf. Recharging batteries, will submerge again at 0600.

------------------------------------------
06 March 1942

23:20 DC14
Ship sunk! Coastal merchant, roughly 2000 tons. Engaged on surface with single stern torpedo. 1900 meters, 44kt, 0 depth, impact pistol.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1e.jpg

----------------------------------------------
07 March 1942

11:20 DC14
Sound reports merchant contact.

11:34 DC14
Sound bearings taken, surfacing to gain position.

12:33 DC14
Dived, sound regained contact. Target has zigged from previous course. Boat is now far off track. Taking new sound bearings to establish new course and will continue pursuit on surface.

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1f.jpg

13:05 DC14
New position obtained, diving.

13:43 DC14
Engaged target, submerged attack. Used aft torpedo tubes. 0 depth, contact pistol, 44kt, at 800 meters. Both impacted.

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1g.jpg

13:50 DC14
Target ship is listing to port. Am following, waiting to see if another torpedo is needed or not.

14:18 DC14
Ship speed remains constant, despite port list. Waited for target to gain 2000 meters distance, then surfaced for gun action. Decided to save on torpedo's.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1h.jpg

14:25 DC14
Ship sunk! Liberty cargo ship. estimated at 7000 tons. Departing area, target most likey sent off an SOS and a report on our position.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1i.jpg

14:41 DC14
Dived for remainder of day. Continuing south towards florida keys. Will bring in aft external stores at 0 hour surfacing. CE reports boats fuel reserves are at 3/4's capacity.

--------------------------------------------------
10 March 1942

18:55 DB65
Sonar reports merchant contact. Getting bearings.

19:42 DB65
Surfaced for night surface attack

19:45 DB65
Used two forward torpedo's, both impacted. Target shot starshell in our vacinity. Illuminated uboat. Gun battle ensued.

19:49 DB65
Ship sunk. Liberty cargo, estimated 7000 tons

------------------------------------------------------
11 March 1942

02:45 DB68
Bridge looksouts spotted ship off port bow, at 2000 meters. Started to quickly Manuvered boat to present low profile before we are spotted.

03:01 DB68
Convinced ship did not spot us. Maunvering for attack on surface.

03:08 DB68
Shot two bow torpedo's. Good hits. Target immediatly shot a starshell off our starboard bow. Another gunbattle ensued. Reversed engines to back out, returned gunfire with deckgun. Several enemy rounds came dangerously close to boat.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1j.jpg

03:13 DB68
Ship sunk! Liberty cargo, 7000 tons.
Leaving area, continuing south.

--------------------------------------------------------
12 March 1942

08:30 DB95
Sound reports merchant at bearing 205. Coming up from behind us. Brought boat up to periscope depth for a look.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_k1.jpg

08:30 DB95
Shot one forward torpedo, using magnetic pistol owing to extreme gyro angle. Torpedo exploded prematurely. 11 kit winds are suspect as to cause.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_k2.jpg

08:34 DB95
Surfaced to engage target with deck gun. Expended all remaining HE rounds.

08:43 DB95
Ship sunk! T2 tanker, estimated 7000 tons.

Gave a nice fireworks show for crew when sudden explosion occured when passing close by looking through debris for survivors.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_k3.jpg

10:44 DB95
Dived to avoid destroyer. No further incident.

-------------------------------------------------------
13 March 1942

18:24 DM23
Another merchant came up our baffles. Same situation from prior patrol entries.

18:28 DM23
Manuvered for a stern tube shot. 1 torpedo, magnetic due to extreme gyro angle. Rough sea's. caused premature detonation.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_k4.jpg

18:36 DM23
Before surfacing to give chase, Observed planes through periscope. Staying down. Letting merchant pass. Continuing south submerged. Plan to round the florida keys and reconnoiter Gulf of Mexico.

------------------------------------------------------------
14 March 1942

18:30 DM26
Ship sunk! C3 cargo,
Fired two bow torpedo, on night surface attack. 5 depth, 44 kt, impact pistol. Target continued, shot 3rd torpedo after zeroing gyro angle, target zigged widened the angle and cause torpedo to bounce off hull. Backed out, manuvered for end round attack, shot 4th torpedo from aft tubes which finished the target.

------------------------------------------------------
22 March 1942

1706 DB45
Proceeded inland for photo recon of American shoreline. Been in Gulf of mexico for a week now. Weather has been unusually clear, and a slight 3 kt breeze. Optimal sonar conditions, but have had no contacts since entering these waters. Hence, deemed photo reconnisance an acceptable risk. As expected, waters here are unusually shallow. If weather was rougher, do not think submerged transit to shore would be possible.

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_la.jpg
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_lb.jpg
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_lc.jpg

1800 DB45
Photo recon complete, departing area. Will surface between 2100-2200 hours for high speed run into deeper water.

------------------------------------------------------------
23 March 1942

0217 DB48
Ship spotted. Investigating.

0240 DB48
Ship sunk! Tug boat 100 tons
Under normal circumstances would have let such a small vessle go by. WIthout any contact for over a week, decided it was needed as a moral booster for crew. Used approximatly 19 AP rounds to destroy a tugboat! AP rounds are definatly not satisfactory. Continuing to leave area at flank speed for deeper water.

0310 DB48
Ship spotted! Investigating.

0315 DB48
Target idendfied as costal merchant. Moving estimated 9kts. Running ahead of target at flank speed for firing position.

0340 DB48
Ship sunk!
Costal merchant 2000 tons. Used 1 forward torpedo, magnetic pistol, depth 8, speed 44kt.
Continuning to leave area.

0426 DB48
Aircraft spotted!
Crash dived. Depth under keel 200 meters. Depth charged. Depth charges fell close aboard while diving, damaging after torpedo room, and moderate flooding. No damage to pressure hull. Repairs underway, after torpedo room should be operational again in a few hours.

Boat's presense here is definatly known now. Will stay submerged for the day. Will surface in between 2200 hours and 2300 hours instead of the usual 0 hour for battery chage.

-----------------------------------------------------
25 March 1942

2019 DB75
Double Sonar contact, merchants. Gathering sound bearings.

2029 DB75
Surfaced to gain firing position. Wind 0 kts, skies clear. Visiblity good, maybe too good.

2100 DB75
Visual contact. Bridge watch reports ships sighted. On perpendicular course to targets tracks. Cannot clearly identify ships, can only see bow wake and smoke. Moving in closer at Full speed.

2105 DB75
Targets identified. Two C2 cargo ships.

2107 DB75
Launched first two torpedo salvo at lead ship. range 1900 meters, magnetic, depth 9, speed 30 KT. Bringing boat to starboard to 0 gyro angle on secondary target.

2108 DB75
Launched second savlo at trailing ship. Range 1800 meters, magnetic, depth 9, speed 44 kt. Salvo should catch up with, and impact around same time as first savlo.

2109 DB75
Lead ship struck with 2 torpedos, Target, C2 cargo, destroyed.

2110 DB75
No detiontion from 2nd salvo. assumed they both missed.
Bringing boat around for a stern tube shot.

2112 DB75
Boat has been spotted, we are being shelled. Target ship has us bracketed. Based on firepower send out way, now assuming ship is a liberty cargo ship. Adjusting solution. Firing aft torpedo's and moving away.

2113 DB75
Uboat has been hit in the stern by merchant shelling.

2114 DB75
Ship sunk! Liberty cargo.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_m1.jpg

2120 DB75
Moving from scene at flank speed. Fear allied air strike. Boat has suffered minor damage to the hull and superstructure. No internal machinery was damaged. Fuel status is good, just under 3/4's capacity. Deck gun ammunition is depleated. Remaining torpedo's are 3 forward, and 1 aft. Will dive at dawn as per usual. This sector active, Unsure if will continue to loiter here or not. Enemy shipping activity, but our presence here is by now, known.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_m2.jpg

---------------------------------------------------
26 March 1942

0000 DB75
Have decided to depart area, heading wesward along coast towards Galvastan port areas. FIrst daylight fluctuates around 0530. Still maintaning 05:30-0600 dive, and 0000 hour surfacing for battery charge.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_n1.jpg
(First light at 0:530)

--------------------------------------------------
28 March 1942
2043 DA93
Soundroom reports merchant contacts. Have gathered bearings. Tracks intersect close to our position.

2122 DA93
Surfaced for night attack. Weather still, a dead calm, 0 wind, no clouds, good visiblity.

2128 DA93
Bridge watch has spotted targets.

2131 DA93
Starting attack run, moving in at flank speed. Cannot clearly identify targets. Must get closer.

2134 DA93
Ordered all engines stopped, gliding boat in last stretch of this run. Bow and stern wakes can clearly be seen. Smoke originating from stern of ship. Believed to be tankers. Type unknown. Setting up for torpedo attack. Will fire tubes 1 and 2 at leading ship, range 1800, speed 40kt, impact pistol, 2 meters depth. Then fire tube 3 at trailing ship, 1900 meters, depth 2, at 44 kt. Exact draft of target ships unknown so opting for contact hits.

2135 DA93
Torpedo 1 has struck lead ship. Torpedo 2 has missed, or was a dud.

2136 DA93
Torpedo 3 has struck trailing ship.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_n2.jpg
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_n3.jpg

2141 DA93
Have brought stern to bear on leading ship, and fired the last torpedo on the boat. Good hit.

2142 DA93
Ship sunk! Tanker.

2144 DA93
Have brought bow around to bear on trailing ship to employ deck gun. 20 AP rounds remain left on board. Have no choice but to use them. Considering it took 20 rounds to sink a tugboat. Finishing this tanker is unlikely, however, have no other ordinance left to use except harsh language.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_n4.jpg

2146 DA93
Ship sunk! Tanker. Leaving area at flank speed. Feel airstrike is onway. Ships had amble time to radio our position.

2148 DA93
Sent BDU status report as follows:
0 torpedo's, 0 ordinance , 68-70% Fuel reserves,
estimated 71,000 tons - captains decision, return to Lorient.

Informed crew that we are returning home.

-----------------------------------------------
31 March 1942

1800 DC39
New daily routine. Surface at dusk, submerge at first light. Plan to spend all night on surface to expedite transit home. Starting now.

------------------------------------------------
5 April 1942

2221 DB95
Have rounded florida, begining tranist eastward towards lorient. Now leaving US waters, intend to stay on surface for atlantic transit and only submerge unless forced to.

-------------------------------------------------
27 april 1942

1240 BE95
CE reports 50% fuel.

--------------------------------------------------
1 May 1942

0020 BF61
Arrive Lorient.

-----------------------------------------------------
Patrol results
86 days at sea
H.I : 90%
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 13
Aircraft destroyed: 0
Patrol tonage: 71710 tons

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_enda.jpg
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p1_endb.jpg

Ducimus

04-29-06, 01:42 PM

Patrol 2
U-178, IXD2, 10th Flotilla
Left at: 02 June 1942, 06:00
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid ED98

02 June 1942
0600 hrs, lorient.

Departing for second war patrol.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_01.jpg

---------------------------
03 June 1942

0524 BE57
Aircraft detected. Crash dived. depth charged. Torpedo tube 6 damaged. Repairs effected. Staying down. Will surface at dusk.

2134 BE 57
Sound reports merchant contacts. Will investigate, surfacing.

2220 BE57
Contacts, 3 merchants in outbound column. Neutral. Avoiding contact, returning to course.

------------------------------------
8 June 1942

0444 GC14
Position report

------------------------------------
18 June 1942
1029 DR25
Position report. Weather has been most foul.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_02.jpg

-------------------------------------
25 June 1942
0900 EE72
Now in caribean, approaching enemy waters. New boat routine until we depart,

Dive : 0500-0600
Surface 2300 - 0000

-----------------------------------
27 June 1942
1830 ED96
Sonar reports warship, long range, not closing.

-------------------------------------
28 June 1942

2318 ED98
Arrived at patrol grid.
D.U.K = 159 Meters.

0650 ED98
Area is well patroled. Boat was forced to dive early as was detected on surface by small patrol boat. Thankfully battery charge was 98% complete at time. Constant warship contacts. Probably looking for us.

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_03.jpg
These Americans are crazy!

0955 ED98
Sonar reports two sets of merchant contacts. Gathing bearings to investigate.

10:15 ED98
Surfaced to gain firing position. Situation hopeless. 15 kt winds, heavy rain, heavy fog. Visibility 0. No hope to mount a successful attack in these conditions. Diving and resuming course.

-----------------------------------
29 June 1942

0506 ED98
Alloted 24 hrs is up. Due to heavy patrols in this area, decided to set course northwards. Intend to reconoiter Bridgetown harbor. Maps would indicate water there is deep enough for a submerged approach.

0723 ED98
Now leaving assigned patrol grid.

------------------------------------------
01 July 1942

0730 EE71
Entering Bridgtown harbor. Weather has lifted, conditions could not be more perfed. Clear skies, calm sea's. Visiblity through periscope excellent.

0754 EE71
Have assessed harbor. Several ships flying columbian flag. Neutral. Found one British destroyer at anchor. Moving into attack position now.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_04.jpg

0756 EE71
Initiating Torpedo attack on anchored DD. Firing Tube 1. 44kt, 5 depth, magnetic pistol.

07:56:20 " "
Torpedo #1 detonated prematurely.

0757 " "
Rechecked TDC solution, firing tube 2, 44kt, 5 depth, magnetic pistol.

07:57:20 " "
Torepdo #2 has detonated prematurely.

07:58
Rechecked TDC solution, firing tube 3, 44kt, 5 depth, magnetic pistol.

07:59 " "
Torpedo Impact! Target is sinking! DD, estimated 1800 tons.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_06.jpg
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_07.jpg
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_05.jpg
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_08.jpg

-----------------------------
05 July 1942

1727 ED??
Ship sunk! T3 tanker, estimated 9000 tons.

Contact intially gained closeby on sound while submerged. Plotted course, Surfaced to found rotton weather. Decide to employ newly installed radar unit to get us in close. Contact was then regained on surface after a bit of waiting, preset TDC on assumed data. Fired tubes 5 and 6, impact pistol, 44kt, 4 depth on hasty solution. Gyro angle 18 degrees, am suprised torpedo's detonated.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_09.jpg

Then went to flank speed, hard starboard rudder and brought bow around and fired tube 4 at 44 kt, 6 depth, impact pistol. While obsessing over a firing solution for tube 4, Nearly collided with target, all back emergency order was issued, collision avoided. Tube 4 detionated against target, sinking him.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_10.jpg

-------------------------------------
8 July 1942

1048 ED54
Ship sunk! Mediem tanker, est 7200 tons.
Used tubes 5 and 6, 44 kit, impact pistol, depth 7. Then brought bow to bear and shot tube 4. Bad weather disallowed use of deck gun.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_11.jpg

1050 ED54
Radio reports would seem to indicate we are in the vacinity of a shiping lane. Will cruise with a zig zag searching pattern 2 grids, going from East to west in order to try and pinpoint exact routes.

-----------------------------------------

10 July 1942

0730 ED58
Fired tubes 3 and 4 at large tanker we've been tracking. 44 kt, 1800 range, impact pistol, depth 7.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_12.jpg

0735 ED58
Surfacing to employ deck gun. Sea's looked calm enough during periscope observation.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_13.jpg

0743 ED58
Ship sunk! Larger tanker, est 9100 tons.

---------------------------------------------
16 July 1942

15:30 EC63
Sonar reports two merchant contacts. Sound bearings indicate will pass nearby. Submerged approach possible, altering course to firing bearing now.

15:40 EC63
Sound reports TWO MORE concontacts approaching behind us.
Tracking all 4. Unbeleiveably enough this second group will pass nearby as well.

15:50 EC63
Periscope observations. UNBELEIVEABLE.
Two tandem merchants colunms are converging on our position. Boat is in ideal position to fire on both at once. Wishing we had more torpedo tubes to fire!
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_14.jpg

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_15.jpg
Targets aft of us

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_16.jpg
Targets off port bow

1600 EC63
Firing tubes 5 and 6 at large tanker 3000 meters aft. Torpedo set 44kt, 8 depth, impact.

1601 EC63
Firing tubes 1 and 2 at Victory cargo ship, 1800 meters forward. torped 44kt, depth 5, impact.

1602 EC63
Two torpedo impact, FIrst impact hit cargo ship off bow. 2nd hit tanker aft of us. 3rd torpedo confirmed premature, 4th torpedo unconfirmed, beleive prematured.

1603 EC63
Firing tubes 3 and 4 at second Large cargo ship off port bow.

1604 EC63
Torpedo 3 and 4 impacted and broke her back!
Ship sunk! Large cargo, 7200 tons!
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_17.jpg

1605 EC63
hard to starboard turn, flank speed, bringing bow to bear on Large tanker we hit. Victory cargo ship has stopped moving.

1610 EC63
Firing tube 1 at Large tanker.

1612 EC63
Torpedo Impact!
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_18.jpg

1613 EC63
With all tubes reloading, and only two reserves located forward left, decided to surface to employ deck gun to conserve torpedo's. Expect heavy action from merchant gun crews.

1614 EC63
Ship sunk! Large tanker 9000 tons

1615 EC63
U-178 is engaged in a Running battle. Receiving fire from both tanker and victory gunship. Putting distance on Victory, while manuvering boat to get out of tankers gun arc. Recieving heavy fire from both. Many near hits.
Ordered CE to put maximum power to the engines!
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_19.jpg
Forward of U-178

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_20.jpg
Aft of U-178.

Crossfire? Surrounded? I say we have them right where we want them, OPEN FIRE!!!!!!

1618 EC63
Uboat has been hit aft and forward, Ordered gun crews to stations and give them everything we got! We'll ignite those bastards!
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_21.jpg

1619 EC63
Ship sunk! Mediem tanker 7200 tons. Ship exploded.
Ordered boat hard to port. coming around to deal with the victory cargo ship!
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_22.jpg
Running gun battle continues, U-178 show's its wounds.

1620 EC63
Ship sunk! Victory cargo 7800 tons.
Ordered all stop to assess damage on boat.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_23.jpg

1625 EC63
Departing area before any assitance arrives.

Sent Situation report as follows:

- Two torpedo's aft in tubes, 4 forward in tubes, 1 internal reserve, 1 external reserve

- Fuel 70-74%

- Uboat damaged, some damage to superstructure, CE says it looks worse then it really is.

- To BDU, "We got more aggressive".

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_25.jpg
U-178 Departs area.

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_24.jpg
The carnage we wrought.

---------------------------------
17 July 1942

0808 EC62
Ship sunk! Victory Cargo, 7800 tons.
used two forward torpedo's. Finished with deck gun at 2000 meters range positioning ourselves astern of the target, presenting ourselves as slim a profile as we could. All internal and external reserves have been utlized. 6 torpedo's remain, all of which are in the tubes.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_26.jpg

-----------------------------------
19 July 1942
Ship sunk! Mediem tanker, 7200 tons.
Calm sea's permitted under the keel shot with magnetic pistol. Target sank beautifly on even keel. All aft tubes empty, only 4 left forward.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_27.jpg

-------------------------------------------
21 July 1942

2234 EC16
Ship Sunk! Mediem Cargo, 5200 tons.
Two forward torpedos left.

------------------------------
24 July 1942

2230 DN79
Ship sunk Mediem Tanker 7200 tons!

2241 DN79
Status report to HQ as follows:
Postion DN79, Torpedo's left 0, Deck gun ammunition 5, Fuel reserves at 70-74%, Total tonnage 86,268. Returning to base.

------------------------------------
27 July 1942

0030 DN92
Leaving caribean area. Starting trans atlantic crossing.

0346 DN69
Destroyer spotted. Crash dived to 120 meters, and went to silent running.

0600 DN69
At silent speed for over 2 hours. Sound reports no contact, DD has moved off.

----------------------------------------
15 Aug 1942

0430 CF29
English welcoming home party of Multiple aircraft spotted. Crash dived. Depth charged. No damage.

-----------------------------------
18 Aug 1942

0810 BE96
-Aircraft spotted, close range. No time to dive. Manning flak guns. Ahead flank, hard to starboard!
-Fended off first pair, destroyed 1 aircraft.
- second pair following first.
- Aircraft have made their run, Crash diving
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_28.jpg

0811 BE96
Depth charged, moderate flooding and equipment damage. Taking on alot of water. Situation is getting under control.

0812 BE96
Sound reports hearing a distant crash in the ocean. Presumably one of the planes we shot at.

0815 BE96
Stopped flooding, boat under control. Proceeding submerged. These continuous air attacks is slowing tranist. Becoming difficult to recharge batteries.

---------------------------------
23 Aug 1942

1220
U-178 Arrives at lorient. It's good to be home! We've made it!
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_29.jpg

Patrol results:
83 days at sea.
H.I: 80.5%
Crew losses: 0
Ships sunk: 12
Aircraft destroyed: 2
Patrol tonage: 86268 tons

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_enda.jpg
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_endb.jpg

Ducimus

04-29-06, 01:42 PM

Patrol 3
U-178, 10th Flotilla
Left at: October 7, 1942, 09:44
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid ET43.

07 October 1942
09:44
Depart Lorient.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p3_01.jpg
U-178 Departs for its 3rd war patrol.

26 October 1942
1333 ET43
Arrive assigned patrol grid.

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p3_02.jpg
0519 somewhere in the south atlantic, just before the daily dive for the day.

30 Oct 1942

0530 ET61
Aircraft spotted, Crash dived.
Moderate flooding and equipment damage. Repairs underway, nothing further to report.

0840 ET61
Sound reports two merchant contacts. Gathered bearings. Will need a short dash on surface in order to gain firing position.

0845 ET61
Brought boat to perisope depth. Persiscope observation shows clear skys, calm seas. Surfacing boat for flank speed dash.

0849 ET61
Aircraft spotted, mediem range crash diving.......

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p3_03.jpg
One min or so after ordering a crash dive. That plane was a little closer then i thought....

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p3_04.jpg
Boat was severly damaged. Radioroom was killed. Looked recoverable. at 70 meters i had changed my mind. Blew ballast. Between the flooding, and the downward momentum of the boat from crash diving, she was out of control. blew ALL high pressure air into the ballast. Went to flank speed. boat was not responding. Max speed was 3kts. Tried to enact repairs, flooding too fast, main pump out of action.

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p3_06.jpg
Everything is smashed! The deck equipment absorbed most of the blast from the aircrafts bombs.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p3_07.jpg
Boat is too heavy, despite best efforts. u-178 cannot stop its decent.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p3_05.jpg
Never give up! Maybe we can get this main pump repaired and save our asses!
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p3_08.jpg
U-178 disappears from view into the depths, never to be seen again.

----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/53.jpg
Name: HANS IBEKKEN
Date of Birth: 04SEP13
Place of Birth: HEIDAU/LIEGNITZ
Date of Intake: 01APR36 (CREW 36)

Promotions
08DEC36 SEEKADETT
01JUL37 FÄHNRICH Z. S.

01DEC39 OBERFÄHNRICH Z. S.

01JUN40 LEUTNANT Z. S.
23AUG42 OBERLEUTNANT Z. S.

Medals
23AUG42 IRON CROSS, SECOND CLASS
23AUG42 IRON CROSS, FIRST CLASS

U-Bootwaffe Postings
25JUN41 1st Flotilla (Commander training)
05FEB42 10th Flotilla (3 patrols)

U-Boat Commands
05FEB42 U-178, Type IXD2 (3 patrols)

Patrol1:
05FEB42 - 01MAY42 (86 days) 13 ships for 71710 tons.
02JUN42 - 23AUG42 (83 days) 12 ships for 86268 tons.
07OCT42 - 30OCT42 (24 days) boat lost.

TOTALS:
3 patrols (193 days) 25 merchants for 157,978 tons
2 enemy planes downed
56 crew lost

Summary
Lieutenant Sr. Hans Ibekken and U-178 were lost sometime on 30OCT42.
http://www.usafband.com/mp3/Taps.mp3

Keelbuster

04-29-06, 06:38 PM

Nice - give er. Look forward to seeing how far you make it. The D2 is a wicked boat - a floating arsenal. I didn't last long with mine, i enjoyed launching fat salvos off the healthy stockpile.

Kb

Ducimus

04-29-06, 07:59 PM

Me, sink?

Not this time! Not this time! :hulk:

Ive quite a few hard learned lessons from previous careers ;)

Sailor Steve

04-30-06, 03:35 PM

Good job, good report. Especially sinking one merchant in very heavy seas. Better than a whole convoy in dead calm. Well, not better, but more satisfying sometimes.

Keelbuster

04-30-06, 03:54 PM

I'm loving this. Nothing like photo-journalism in SH3! Give er harder, but stay cautious - I want to see you survive the war!

Great pics. Nice tonnage too. I'm amazed by your deck gun efficiency. I might have to try the 10.5 again. The 88 has been a bit disappointing lately.

Btw - why set torpedoes to zero depth? Why not like 3m?

Kb

Ducimus

04-30-06, 06:39 PM

Especially sinking one merchant in very heavy seas.Better than a whole convoy in dead calm.

If your referring to that convoy when i started out... Well, i found myself on the starboard side of it. It was sure luck that
1.) i was so close to it.
2) i didnt get rammed.

I wanted to penetrate that convoy and get in between two columns to bring both my bow and stern tubes to bear, but it was too damn foggy, and the seas to rough. On top of that i was skeptical about the length of the IXD2 in between two columns. Yeah, i can probably squeeze it in there, but theres a good chance that i wont be giving my torpedos the 300 meter run they need to detonate.

With all that in mind, i opted to take what i could from the side of it. The first ship that crossed my bow, came out of the mist, and was gone again very quickly. By sonar i knew i had at least another 2 ships that were going to cross my bow. (goign from port to starboard side). So i waited for the second ship, to confirm guessed data from the first. The third ship was my LAST opportunity to fire, it was sort of a calculated gamble. Weather or no, i can't get in this close and not at least TRY to take one.

If it's any other ship in bad weather, the problem is

1.) I know what ships are by just looking at them. Play this game enough, and you don't need an identification book to know what the draft of a vessel is.

2.) ships tend to travel at known speeds. Entering the target speed is a matter of learned repition. (heh, i should probably try NYGM's mods. :roll: )

.

Btw - why set torpedoes to zero depth? Why not like 3m?
...

I'm amazed by your deck gun efficiency. I might have to try the 10.5 again
Kb

Sea's have been consistantly rough for most of the patrol. I didn't want to risk hitting the part of the hull where the side curves round to from the bottom of the ship. A hit in such a location, the torpedo would deflect. ESPECIALLY on liberty ships, those shallow drafts in a pitching sea is a formula for a miss. In hindsight, well, i think ill try 2-3 meters like you suggest. Target ship might flood more, and well, the deck gun is out of HE rounds. :roll:

As for my deck gun, uboat.net says an ixd2 has 150 rounds for its deck gun. So I modded mine to have 140 rounds. s 20 starshells, 40 AP, and 80HE instead of the typical 60HE. I did have a few misses, but most of my rounds hit, which surpised me. I let the AI gunner do the work this patrol, and while they usually miss a fair amount.. not this time out. WHich i found surpising.

Ducimus

05-01-06, 12:42 PM

Good greif. Im out of torpedos! Patrol 1 is... almost over..

All i gotta do now is.... get home :88)

Keelbuster

05-01-06, 01:44 PM

Threadfin

05-01-06, 03:28 PM

08:30 DB95
Shot one forward torpedo, using magnetic pistol owing to extreme gyro angle. Torpedo exploded prematurely. 11 kit winds are suspect as to cause.

What do you mean here, looks like a straight enough shot, minimum gyro. Do you mean the expected approach angle is extreme?

Ducimus

05-01-06, 04:09 PM

Yeah, poor wording on my part. Extreme approach angle.

Or, In other words, a contact pistol would have been impossible to use. Too much angle. Torpedo would have deflected off the hull and not detonated.

Ducimus

05-01-06, 05:30 PM

Damn- hairy patrol - what kind of plane was it that bombed you? Lucky there - no major flooding or damage. Also, hit by the liberty! I can't wait to find out what your hull integrity is. If you get a fuel leak out there you could have a long paddle ahead of you.

Tug boats are the worst - somehow they are so tough; I stopped engaging them because they drain ammo so badly.

Sweet tonnage. 71k is a great start. Gotta get yer crew all decorated and trained-up.

Kb

Well ive had more hairy patrols. With ALOT more plans bombing the piss out of me. I am surpised at some off the occurances that happend though.

The plane that bombed me, im pretty sure was a sunderland. As planes go he wasnt very fast. But he did thrash the aft compartment good. Normally planes dont scare me, but im running improved air power these days , and those bastards HURT now. Even if down to 30 meters ive had them rattle stuff loose. A direct hit from a plane now = 20- 30% HI. (ive had it happen to my U-333, good story on that one btw)

Hull integrity is 90%. Gunfire on merchants is unmodified. The IXD2 however, does have the most Hitpoints of any uboat, excepting maybe the XXI. However, I think that hit should have done a wee bit more damage.

On a side note i find it no coincidence it's all been in the aft compartment. Crash diving an IXD2, sure the bow can be down 10-12 meters, but your stern's still broached. It likes to linger there a couple agonizingly long seconds.

I finished the patrol this morning before work. Ill finish the log sometime tonight after work. Also think im going to install the unfied campaign mod (aka HT 1.48)

http://www.subsim.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=50377&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Right now im basicaly runnning my owned modded version of the vanilla game with HT1.47 and a modified version of IC.

Ducimus

05-04-06, 01:27 PM

Hookay. Redid a few of my game mods. Primarly got Unified campaign to work. So i should be using the same RND SCR layers as everyone else now. I was using an older version of Improved convoy that i retouched. Started patrol 2.

Its a bit more exciting now since i dont know where everything is, although ive got a pretty good idea ;)

Keelbuster

05-04-06, 02:05 PM

Nice. Is that patrol boat burning from bad weather?

Ducimus

05-04-06, 02:30 PM

Nice. Is that patrol boat burning from bad weather?

Yup, i didnt touch him. I guess the waves got too rough for him. It happens occasionally.

Myxale

05-04-06, 02:31 PM

:rock:
Cool Log Herr Kaleun!

I love reading my fellow Kaleuns Logs. Congrats on the hit in heavy sea!
A good and exciting read!
:hmm:

Ducimus

05-05-06, 04:30 AM

Damn this stinking weather! :-j

Ducimus

05-06-06, 02:38 AM

CHeck out the 16th july entry on the 2nd patrol log!

That, gentleman is a 1 in a million situation, garunteed that ill never have ships dropped in my lap like that ever again! And if i keep this crap up, im not going to survive the war. :roll:

You snobby VII skippers in the north atlantic can eat yer heart out!

IX skippers rock it harder! :rock:

Myxale

05-06-06, 03:24 AM

:rock:
Damn you Kaleun!
That was so Hard Rock!

What an exciting patrol!

AgentCooper

05-06-06, 08:45 AM

Sorry for newb question, but how do you determine impact torpedo's depth? I saw in the first patrol you used 0 depth, later on 7?

Thanks.

rogerbo

05-06-06, 10:19 AM

Sorry for newb question, but how do you determine impact torpedo's depth? I saw in the first patrol you used 0 depth, later on 7?

Thanks.

The impact depth depends on the weather and what ship you have in front of your Fish.
In rough weather you set it to 0 so that when the Torpedo is hiting the enemy who is moving up and down gets hit realy on the straight part of the ship. If he gets hit in the lower reien where the Ships do have the round area which will end in the keel then the Torpedo just drops of without exploding.

If the weather is calm then you can set the depth lower wich will increase the chances that the Torpedo gets spoted to late for any evasion and as the Enemy is calmer in the Water you still will hit the straight part.

For all the seasoned kaleuns, please overlook if i'm not using the right terms but if AgentCoper is asking like this then he might be new to SHIII

Ducimus

05-06-06, 10:55 AM

Yeah thats pretty much why.

In rough weather the ship rocks up and down. So the draft its presenting constantly changes.

With ships with real low draft, say, 9 - 10 meters its not so crucial. Ill run the depth at 4-5 meters on those in rough seas. But ships with that have a shallower draft, like, 6 meters or less, ill run the torpedo's pretty much on the surface. Its frustrating watching your torpedos run right under your targeted ship, thats why you'd do this.

Ideally you want to hit them below the waterline..... under the keel, but in rough seas its odds are against you. On top of that magnetic pistols are more prone to explode prematurely in rough weather.

Ducimus

05-06-06, 02:57 PM

My god, i finished patrol 2.

I damn near didnt make it back, and patrol 2, most definatly outdid patrol 1.

Patrol 3, it appears im going to the waters just off of freetown.

Gonna take a day or two break before i run that one though. I need some time in port ;)

PeriscopeDepth

05-06-06, 03:36 PM

This is some enjoyable reading, keep it up! :up:

PD

AgentCooper

05-06-06, 07:06 PM

Thanks, guys

Ducimus

05-07-06, 02:40 PM

Click here for U-178.

http://www.usafband.com/mp3/Taps.mp3

'Nuff said.

:cry:

Keelbuster

05-07-06, 05:05 PM

Oh god. She's done in. Those rotten air patrols. I've had that exact end before - the crash dive can be your doom if they're right on top of you.

Man...a sorry thing - I was getting hyped about 178. On the other hand, getting it early on is sorta better - it doesn't hurt that much.

Will you re-berth? I'm into the patrol reports w/pics. Great stuff.

Also - I see you have 6 torpedomen and 1 repairman. I would have at least 2 repairmen in addition to a repair officer so that my repair team can be Maximum efficiency - in the situation you were in, apart from your perilous downward momentum, you also had a terminally flooding stern quarters (i think?). A dead compartment = dead boat. But if you have a good repair team you can fight it down to manageable levels. Also, by late in the career (not like they gave you a chance for that), I have all my officers with the repair specialty so that they can auto-fix flooding in their compartments. If you have this setup, you can apply the repair team to your most critical situation. I the face of wicked air cover, repair can be more important than flak. I don't bother with more than 3 torpedo men because speed is never a big deal for me with torpedo reloads (i never have time to reload within an attack).

Anyway, my condolences. will you attempt another personal challenge?

Kb

Ducimus

05-07-06, 05:55 PM

Well ultimatly it was my own bloody fault.

I had this nagging voice that surfacing was a real bad idea. I should have listend to what my guts were telling me. But.. i just HAD to get into a firing position.

On top of that, i didnt realize the main pump was out of action right away. This cost me precious seconds.

Honestly its amazing i wasn't dead already. I pushed that boat hard.

Also - I see you have 6 torpedomen and 1 repairman. I would have at least 2 repairmen in addition to a repair officer so that my repair team can be Maximum efficiency

Acutualy i had TWO officers who were certified in repairs. The One in the Motor room, AND my navigator. My problem was that i panicked. (hence not realing the main pump was out of action right away).... and i totally forgot to assign one of those officers to the damage control team.

When i saw that plane coming in, and took that screenshot, the first thing i thoguht was.. "well, this is it". After that, it was utter confusion. You have to realize all of this happened within the time span of 60 seconds.

At first i thought..

"damage?"

then..

"This isnt serious, no H.I loss, ill stop the boat at 50 meters and get a way from that bloodly plane, or he's REALLY gonna put a hole in me."

Then i thought,
" this doesnt feel right were going down too fast."

I past the 50 meter mark, QUIIIICK.

Then i started looking at the damage and the flooding more closely.

At 70 meters i was realzing theres too much water in the boat, and she was going down quick. I checked the boats angle (to make sure i wasnt about to make my decent even faster), blew ballast and went to flank. At that point i clicked on the damage control team.

Then i realized the motors wouldn't put out more then 3kts.

Then i went about spreading crew about the boat to make sure all compartments had crew in it to respond to damage and flooding.

The flooding didnt stop, thats, when i realize the main pump was out. I then diverted ALL of my attention to that.

By that time it was too late.

edit:
Next thing ill challenge myself with is either:

a.) Make the longest single patrol ever.
b.) soemthing to do with a VIIB or IXB. See how long i can survive the war from beginning to end or something. But i don't see myself keeping a detailed log like i did here.

Keelbuster

05-07-06, 10:14 PM

At first i thought..

"damage?"

then..

"This isnt serious, no H.I loss, ill stop the boat at 50 meters and get a way from that bloodly plane, or he's REALLY gonna put a hole in me."

Then i thought,
" this doesnt feel right were going down too fast."

I past the 50 meter mark, QUIIIICK.

Then i started looking at the damage and the flooding more closely.

At 70 meters i was realzing theres too much water in the boat, and she was going down quick. I checked the boats angle (to make sure i wasnt about to make my decent even faster), blew ballast and went to flank. At that point i clicked on the damage control team.

Then i realized the motors wouldn't put out more then 3kts.

Then i went about spreading crew about the boat to make sure all compartments had crew in it to respond to damage and flooding.

The flooding didnt stop, thats, when i realize the main pump was out. I then diverted ALL of my attention to that.

By that time it was too late.

I know exactly what you mean. Death can come real quick from air attack. I lost a great boat that way - by the time i had surveyed the damage, I was nose down in the depths.

Anyways, if you ever want to post patrol logs, I'll read em.

Kb

Khayman

05-07-06, 10:55 PM

Patrol 2
U-178, IXD2, 10th Flotilla
Left at: 02 June 1942, 06:00
From: Lorient
Mission Orders: Patrol grid ED98

That's my favourite patrol grid :D

Like you I found that air patrols were frequent there. One U-Boat commander said it was just as bad as Biscay. It's definately a case of submerged running during the day, and crossing fingers when you have to surface to get into a shooting postion. The nights weren't too bad though.

On my first patrol there I made the mistake of chasing down a merchant in broad daylight on the surface. He was unarmed and I thought I'd use the deck gun. It never occured to me he would radio for help, or that the help would arrive before I got close enough to open fire. Four aircraft appeared and made my life interesting. I learned to be more cautious after that. :D

On another patrol there my watch spotted aircraft and I was in two minds whether to fight or dive. I decided to crash dive and the resulting bombs destroyed all of my flak guns. This was when I'd just reached the area! So I spent my patrol there with no flak guns at all. It made my mind up though, crash dive was the only option for the remainder of that foray.

At least the water there is deep. My last patrol grid in a new career was CA73 just off Norfolk. I popped my periscope up to see if I could see a sound contact. An aircaft spotted my periscope and headed straight for me. Go deep fast you might think, but not in 28m of water! Instead I blew ballast and waited agonising seconds for the boat to surface so I could man flak guns. My men managed to shoot it down (and got some well deserved medals back in port).

For all the hassle though I still love the Caribbean. Lots of tankers and lots of excitement. I hope dying didn't put you off it :)

Ducimus

05-07-06, 11:26 PM

For all the hassle though I still love the Caribbean. Lots of tankers and lots of excitement. I hope dying didn't put you off it :)

I died in the south atlantic, not the caribbean. ;)

Your talking to Mr. Paukenschlag here! :up:

Khayman

05-07-06, 11:34 PM

I died in the south atlantic, not the caribbean. ;)

Your talking to Mr. Paukenschlag here! :up:

Ooops :oops:

I should have gone to bed (it's 5:30am for god's sakes!). It's better than rambling nonsense while half-asleep :D

spork542

05-08-06, 08:11 PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! :o I will avenge U-178 if it's the last thing I do. Well I'll try at least. :shifty:

Myxale

05-09-06, 04:11 PM

:cry:

Salute Sailors!
Such a sad day! You started so strong and then...

:(

PS. I don't understand why did you hesitate, Ok panic - i give you that, but "Ich verlange ordentliche Meldung" is one of the first thing i holler.
As fot those logs, they were great even it the final outcome of your Boot was a sad one! I really would like to see more of you in that department!
:hmm:

Ducimus

05-09-06, 04:45 PM

I don't understand why did you hesitate,

For starters i underestimated the distance the plane was too me. I should have stayed on the surface and manned the flak guns. So that was mistake number 1.

Mistake number 2 is i underestimated the severity of the damage after the that goose laid his eggs.

When the bombs hit, the first thing i did was check the damage report.
My thoughts were thus (al of which flashed through my head in about a second):

1. "Pressure hull not damaged, whew! What luck!"

2. "Crap, conning tower is smashed, ill bet my periscopes and RWR are out Ill have to cut short my patrol dammit!"

3. " We're flooding. I dont see how, he didnt get my pressure hull. Oh well, nothing we havent handled before. It always looks worse then it really is. Planes always do this to me, although this time it looks like we caught it good. Cant be that bad, pressure hull is 99%, he barely scratched me"

4. "I need to get under at least 30 meters before he comes back or ill catch those too."

5. "Ill stop that boat at 50 instead of 70 meters where there pressure isnt so bad and deal with this flooding"

6. "Wow the flak and deck gun is destroyed. He hit me harder then i thought"

7. Why isnt this flooding stopping, hey were going down kinda fast.

8. "50 meters, boat not responding. Schite, am i gonna have to blow ballast, that will be a first. Ill try flank speed and raise depth first. If i surface im done for."

9. "3 kts at flank speed, now at 70 meters, boat not responding.. Schite, blow tanks NOW"

10. "whats the problem with those damn repairs?"

11. " boat still dropping fast, coming on 100 meters, blow tanks again!"

12 " repairs? whats the problem?!, oh crap main pump damaged"

13. BLOW tanks again! My god were dropping like a rock. Focus on that dam pump, MAYBE we can save it but i doubt it, its too far gone.

14. 220 meters.. CRAP! Dammit Its no good, ive lost the boat.

15. Watch depth gauge and wait for the ineveitable.

Such were my thoughts.

Myxale

05-10-06, 01:53 AM

:(
Sorry man, i've had such hopes for your Boot.

And as for your Logs. Well it eas stated in one U-Boot Book, that writing log is one form of novelwriting for some Kaleuns!
If my patrols were that rich, i would write for sure!
The logs i write are dry, cuz there's notthing happening!

:doh:

Ducimus

05-10-06, 11:46 AM

The logs i write are dry, cuz there's notthing happening!

:doh:

Look at the bright side, if your trying to survive the war, its probably better :P In reality, with a few exceptions, generally speaking, the most action packed and famous boats didn't live very long.

It seems SH3, is very much like real life in this regard.

Of my prior careers.

U-128:
In a fantastic engagement, sank 1 battleship and 1 light cruiser in a night surface attack in early 1941, and by shear luck, a missed torpedo intended for said battleship, hit a SECOND one behind the first, slowing him down for annother appraoch, and i sunk THAT one too.

This boat, as i recall, was sunk by aircraft.

U-189:

This one hurt the most. My longest surviving Uboat and it looked like i might acutally survive the war. Captain walker and his destroyer group did a number on me when leaving biscay.

U-333:
In an uncanny simiularity to the actual U-333, this boat was also rammed by a destroyer and depth charged. I made it back to port with only 27% hull integrety. I thought i had a real lucky boat this time.

This boat was ultimatly destroyed by aircraft in what was arguably the most dramatic deaths ive ever had. I was caught on the surface at daybreak just as i was about to dive for the day. The bomb hit starboard side where the diesal rooms were. Engines destroyed. entire bridge watch was killed. Couldnt manuever, and the boat was sinking slowly by stern. I could do nothing stand there on the bridge and wait for him to circle around for his second run.

Keelbuster

05-10-06, 12:31 PM

Captain walker and his destroyer group did a number on me when leaving biscay.

I've never been caught by that HK group. One time, late war, in Biscay I heard fast screws and set an intercept course. When I popped the scope I didn't see any tall masts. To my horror, there were only five black swans (i think) in a column formation, moving very fast in a wide arc. Luckily they were turning away from me. I disengaged silently, and shuddered thinking about what would have happened if they had detected me. Certain death, I suppose. That must have been one BAD trip for U-189.

Kb

Ducimus

05-10-06, 01:51 PM

For U-189, i hadnt even exited biscay proper. I was closer to the Northern coast of spain, but not quite on the "priening route". I was crusing, outbound in route for another caribean patrol. They key thing here is, i left my radar on, which i think the game detected.

So im outbound and I get "Radar signals detected", and crash dive. As im sitting down there i get a single high speed screw report. Then another, and another, and another. MOving fast, right for me.

It's was obvious by then who it was. So i went deep, fast and tried to get out of that general vacintiy. Which didnt do me any good. I don't know what it is with HK groups like that, but if they smell you out, their on you link stink on ****.

It was a grueling 2 hour fest. But i was surviving, and it looked like i might get out of it. The upper decks were trashed, utterly. It was during this depth charging that i made a decision NEVER to remove the deck gun.

One depth charge landed right accross the main deck. The only reason i didnt sink me is cause it hit the deck gun first. Blew it clean off, BUT, the boat survived hull intact.

Another depth charge landed right on the wintergarden. THe Flak guns absorbed the damage. I surived, hull intact.

Another one exploded just above the conning tower. Left a big scorch mark. Destroyed the periscopes, Radar, RWR, and snorkel, the conning tower was red in the damage report, but i survived.

You know how i really died?

I ran out of time to play, saved the game, with the intent of finishing it later. I was sort of left on a cliffhanger.

So i came back later, reloaded the game, and everytime i reloaded the game, my boat was being spinned 360 degrees (imagine the boat rotating so the conning tower is going aruond in circles around the hull) and died.

I really felt cheated. I might have made it. I thoguht about acutally reloading that game from an earlier point given the circumstances, but my feeling for that career sank. They were dead regardless , and i just coudlnt continue with it. It felt cheap to do so.

Gert Bretthauer

05-10-06, 01:59 PM

Very nice log to read Ducimus. To bad U-178 got nailed. R.I.P.

This thread actually made me start a D.I.D. campaign. U-53 was the number.

First time I played a campaign on 100% realism. Got tired of my Elite weapons officer. My first patrol made me feel like a green Kaleun (actually I AM a green captain, lol).

My first engagement was a long one and it only resulted in the loss of U-53. I was sneaking up on a medium sized convoy, 2 escorts - or so I thought (november 1939). Sea was pretty calm but the visibility was poor. I got detected by the side escort (who was sailing starboard of the convoy, it seemed like it was really sweeping the area - or maybe it saw my boat on the approach). I crashdived to 180 mtrs when it came straight for me. First DC wave damaged me slightly. I used the silent run / break starboard/port at flank speed when he made his attack run strategy which paid off after 20-30 minuts. This boat, and his partner in crime who arrived at the scene after 10 minuts orso, kept DC-ing my last known area.

I figured the convoy was unprotected now so when I was at 2km I surfaced and made a dash for the convoy. When I finished my plot I went for the attack run and 10 seconds away from firing my torpedo's when... another destroyer spotted me and started shelling. I never saw - or heard - this baby. It's third salvo damaged my boat while it was about to go under. I don't think I have to tell you what his DC's did to poor U-53.....

Things like this happen at 100%. I think I let myself be tempted by the big T3 tanker in this convoy. I did a piss poor job at checking out screw sounds - missed the damn thing....

Anyway - U-101 just embarked on it's maiden voyage. Let's hope I do better this time....

Myxale

05-10-06, 02:01 PM

Keelbuster

05-10-06, 03:21 PM

Well to walk into HK-Walker is a honor of a bad things for sure!
:(

The most exciting thing ever ( beside my almost death by taking damage and sinking down to around 320m due flooding) was actually just tiring. I spotted a small convoy at the lower end of the Channel. After sinking three, i thought i was cool...wrong this resulted in 3 hours real time punding by three angry DD. Lucky for me one run out of DC's And i somehow managed to slip last them and sink one too.
But there nothing cool about it i was tired. Just went to sleep after that.

I freaked everytime i thought i escaped and the PING was heard again. But those are old logs. Ever since...it's just sailing... :rotfl:

I know exactly what you mean about the exhaustion thing. When my baby (U-71) was on her last patrol before she went missing (may she rest peacefully in the depths), I took a wicked pounding from 3 high-quality Black Swans. It was like a fireworks show - 20 DCs at a time. It lasted hours. I evaded them several times and was re-acquired. It almost ran me out of decoys and i had light damage all about the boat. But I was worse off than U71- I was dizzy, covered in sweat, my heart was beating irregularly, and I was sick to my stomach. It was a FULL on stress response. I just crashed, kinda panting, close to tears. That was some of the most intense gaming I've ever experienced. Reminds me of those old DiD campaigns in Xcom....terror sites...whole squads of seasoned veterans turned into crysalids...the horror...i will never..forget.

Kb

Ducimus

05-10-06, 04:38 PM

Keelbuster

05-10-06, 05:48 PM

You know, im thinking about resurecting U-189. That was my most favorite, long lasting, and successful career. And while i died, it wasn't REALLY my fault.

I did start a new career already. U-123, an IXB. ALready on my second patrol, its dec, 1940, and im already bored. This is just too easy. Infact its patheticaly easy.

This is after i attacked a convoy, took out 3 ships. slipped out the back of the convoy. Not so much as ONE active sonar ping from the 3 escorts. I surfaced with the ship still in sight, sent off two contract reports, reloaded all 6 tubes, AND im bringing external stores in.. been shadowing for about 4hours, not a peep from the escorts...

zzzzzzZZZZZZzzzzZZZZzzz :snore:

http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/shadow_convoy1.jpg
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/shadow_convoy2.jpg

nevermind im just out of their visual range :roll:

Dude, I think it's fair to reload 189; it was a crash. I always reload for that (though I never had the spin-cycle death that claimed yer sub). What patrol were you on? I guess the question is: will you remember yer boys? I have a hard time going back to old boats.

A bit OT, but, right now i'm the Kaleun of U-45, Type VIIB, upgraded (pulls 21kts on surface in good weather, 5kts at 1/3, PD, and 8kts at flank PD. I'm proud of this boat. She's a fast hunter, like the motorcycle of submarines. She packs a light load (14 torps), but when commited it can tear the living shiatsu out of a single convoy. It's also perfect for a task force assault followed by some single merchant attacks. Short patrols keep the action up - no major transit across the ocean. Anyway, I'm very proud of her. She's on patrol 12, July 41, and yes, it's been a boring couple of years, but the boys are getting _good_ at what they do. Among the latest notables, we've caught an illustrious, a revenge, and a few cruisers. I'll keep you posted if anything crazy happens, but I don't expect it until next year. Although, I was DCed hard in '40 by a black swan with side lauchers. So, it's possible in early war to get caught up, but not that likely.

You seem to like the epic patrols overseas - ever play a Biscay Bandit (i.e. VII)?

Btw - you should try turning off map contacts and do the plotting yourself. I'll never go back to auto-update. I love the data-collection/estimation aspect of this game.

Kb

Ducimus

05-10-06, 06:34 PM

Dude, I think it's fair to reload 189; it was a crash. I always reload for that (though I never had the spin-cycle death that claimed yer sub). What patrol were you on? I guess the question is: will you remember yer boys? I have a hard time going back to old boats.

I'd have to restart. When i die in a career, i get the logs from SH3 commander and save those, but i delete the career so im never tempted to use it again. Dead is most truly dead on my computer :D

I think ill restart u-189 a little earlier. Say,05 Nov 41. and get a grid to patrol near halifax. Takes me 20-25 days the cross the atlantic. that gives me a week or two to site see NY harbor or what not before the US enters the war. At which point ill let loose with the torpedo's.

I think this time ill just keep a photo log if i do a log at all. This log, was acutally alot of work to keep up. Id write the occurances in a notebook, then transcribe it to this thread, scale all the pics, save them as JPGs, and then FTP. Its a fair bit of upkeep.

Keelbuster

05-10-06, 07:03 PM

I know about the labour of keeping a patrol log. I did that with u71 - it's like a full-time job. NOrmallly I play SH3 on my main box while working on my laptop. But when I was recording patrol logs on my laptop, I got interrupted so often that it became a full time thing. Now I don't bother with the logs. I'll tell a good story when it happens.

But when you say 'restart' - what do you mean? What is the number without the crew?

Kb

Ducimus

05-10-06, 07:16 PM

But when you say 'restart' - what do you mean? What is the number without the crew?

I have a personal set of rules that i try to follow when for sh3 career games:

Basicaly:
1. Boat must not be too famous or over used by others. (you'll never see me with u505, u96, u47, etc, although i broke this one when starting with u123, all the more reason i need to abandon that one)

2. Tower Emblem must match the one acutally used by the boat. ( I coudlnt find U-178's unforutnatly)

3. Start time must at least be in the same year as the boat first appeared. Not neccessarly accurate by month and day, but at least the same year it was commissioned. (following this rule, then i should start jan42 instead of fudginig it and starting nov41 for u-198)

4. Must belong to same flotilla it did in real life.

5. Dead is dead. Period.

6. Choose a new boat, dont reuse one you already tried.

So to answer the question, I had already started U-198. I failed. THat boat is done. Dead, end. period. So using that number, with that emblem would be going backwards in a manner of speaking. I had already used that one. So it would be restarting.

Keelbuster

05-10-06, 07:35 PM

Ducimus

05-10-06, 08:11 PM

I do manual targeting. Although i admit i have the WO as backup incase im not feeling good about a solution, but i always try to obtain the solution first myself. The whole "silver bullet" thing with unrealistic tonnages it brings was my primary motivator.

Manual tracking i freely admit i've not been doing, and would be hard pressed to abandon map updates. Although i should take the advice and try at some point.

Myxale

05-11-06, 02:28 AM

I hear ya Keepbuster. Imagine how tiring this can get for us...and now just think about the real deal! Jesus what a torture.

I always start a unknown Boot and unknown Kaleun-persona. I don't feel ok using the Real numbers or Names. Beside it's me pretending to be a U-Boot man, not someone else!

WaW II will Rock!
It will add a factor of human-ess the game needs badly!
I registered; finished the Training run and sent my Log. Now i just wait for the answer!
:hmm:

Rose

05-22-06, 05:30 PM

ive been waiting for an answer for like 1 week now, and WAW1 is almost done :( I was hoping to get in on the last patrol...

Ducimus

06-02-06, 10:43 PM

I know i said im burnt out on patrol logs, but ive been mulling another one over.

What can i say, i like telling a story, i just hate the upkeep that comes with telling one.

They say a picture is worth a 1000 words, so would anyone be intrested in a patrol log that:

1.) Entries ripped straight from SH3 commander, with minimal verbosity.

2.) Pictures to go along with said entries.... black and white one, pictures that are processed to look semi authentic. Like the two i posted here: (only a bit smaller, so they fit on the page better and maybe a little sharper in clarity )
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=83681&page=44

3.) all pictures would be taken from a first person perspective. No external camera this patrol. Although i think i would enable the event camera. Other caveots being i revamped indian and caribean traffic, and am now running NYGM ship damage mod. So i should be in for some intresting times.

Would that be worth the time and effort for me to post and you to read? Or is verbosity and writing style what makes patrol logs worth reading?

(kinda like this one , War diary of U-189 i was doing awhile ago: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=88654
Ironically this was my favorite boat, but i have to say, this was ALOT more work then i wanted to put into it. )

Salvadoreno

06-02-06, 11:08 PM

Can u tell me the mods you are using DUCIMUS?!

Ducimus

06-02-06, 11:29 PM

Mods im using constantly change, cause im constantly tinkering.

Even the thread i started in the mod forum "modding vanilla" that has just about everything i was using in it, is out of date now.

Generally speaking, besdides Graphics mods:

- One higly customized version of UC vanilla. (see thread in mod forum, "La rachelle anyone?" for detials)

- the usual assortment of Sensor mods for myself and the AI.

- The usual depth charge mod/fixes with a bit of extra OMMPH from your standard ones.

- Just started using NYGM Ship damage mod, and im really liking it.

- Improved airpower from HT 1.47

- boats with range/endurance fixes.

etc etc, I dont run NYGM or GW in specfic, im one of those do it yoursellf'ers. Been mixing/tweaking/combining stuff since IUB or RUB. :roll:

Sailor Steve

06-03-06, 12:38 PM

I posted patrol logs similar to what you are suggesting. Some called them inspirational, others called them boring.

No offense to the writers here, but I'd rather read action reports than soap opera, no matter how inspired. I'm interested, Ducimus.

JU_88

06-03-06, 01:21 PM

My experience with an IXD2 was not a good one, Sunk on my maiden patrol just after leaving Bergen and the fjauds behind, I was out in the open North sea for less than and hour when 3 Avengers swooped down and Blew me to bits before the boat could even start to dive. :down: :nope:

Admiral Chris

06-03-06, 02:41 PM

i myself have never used a IXD but thats all set to change
i have had 2 completed patrols and just recently upgraded my VIIC to an IXD so this will be my first patrol in one.
i will maybe do a visual log aswell but i will never be as good or as long as Ducimus's.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE DUCIMUS ON A SUPERB AND HIGHLY DETAILED PATROL LOG.
this made GREAT reading to me and i also learned a few things too:D
I whish my fellow IXD Commander the very best for more patrols ;)
LEUTENANT Z.S CHRIS,