View Full Version : Are ports worth sailing into?
Eichenlaub
05-19-06, 12:04 PM
I was wondering whether it was really worth to sail into an allied port? I entered Scapa Flow somewhere in spring 1941 and all I found was a Fiji Light Cruiser. I did have to sink 7-8 other warships to in- and exfiltrate (I play at 79% realism).
A recent foray into Gibraltar in the winter of the same year gave much the same results: I found one stationary T3 Tanker, a docked Coastal Merchant, a docked Hunt I and some ships that came hunting for me in the lagoon after I started blowing up the moored ships. All in all the trip in and out of Gibraltar (from St. Nazaire) was tiresome (loads of warship contacts) and netted too few results.
You see, I play without mods because of my poor pc specs ergo I must "score" 40,000 tons per patrol to really achieve something.
Are there any ports with decent targets? Any place where I can find some warships other than destroyers?
Kind regards,
Eichenlaub
VonHelsching
05-19-06, 12:31 PM
Using Grey Wolves.
I suggest Dover, early in the war. Two cruisers and one passenger liner...Don't go near the cost, though; lots of mines...
I was wondering whether it was really worth to sail into an allied port?
Yes you never know you may hit jackpot.
tycho102
05-19-06, 01:05 PM
Early in the war, yes. It is worth looking into a port.
Late in the war...no. Definately no.
Ducimus
05-19-06, 01:14 PM
Are ports worth sneaking into?
Depends if your running a mod.
Generally speaking...yes.
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_07.jpg
http://www.ducimus.net/sh3/u178_p2_08.jpg
Khayman
05-19-06, 01:50 PM
Using the Harbour Traffic mod you'll find a passenger liner in Freetown, along with C2's and other merchants. Early war there's only two asw trawlers so it's easy getting in and out. You'll get your 40,000 there no problem.
SeaSpectre
05-19-06, 01:59 PM
I was wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this:
I was sneaking into a harbor, last night, and there were three different ships in port. One of them, however, was already burning and sinking as if it had been torpedoed! :o Am I supposed to think that it's the result of another u-boat? Or is it just a glitch? (I don't run any mods, yet -- just stock v1.4b).
Eichenlaub
05-19-06, 02:13 PM
Seaspectre,
Yes, I have seen it at least twice now. A ship wrecked in low waters, often "standing" on her stern with fumes coming out of her. Don't know why this is, but could be part of the save game errors hard-coded into the game.
Another thing, when sneaking into a port, giving away your position by firing torpedoes can cause warships to set a straight course for your last known position resulting in them running themselves into the ground if a stretch of land is between you and the warships. Just yesterday, two warships self-destructed this way near Gibraltar...
To all:
So, the consensus is that entering ports will provide decent targets. Most of you however were using a mod, and I am not. Just stock with patch 1.4b. Still worth it?
Anyway, I shall try to penetrate Loch Ewe or something like that and see what shows up.
Kind regards,
Eichenlaub
VonHelsching
05-19-06, 02:27 PM
So, the consensus is that entering ports will provide decent targets. Most of you however were using a mod, and I am not. Just stock with patch 1.4b. Still worth it?
For just 1.4b, try a search in old posts. You *will* find dates where ships are in port. I would also suggest to try at least the Unified Campaign for the Vanilla (stock) game (previous versions were called Harbour Traffic) .
Also I suggest to try an external application SH3Gen. Check Global Explorer's thread. It helps you locate ships (in ports too...)
I am just modding for the first time now. But I didn't get the 1.4b patch until a month or so ago.
I've always gone into ports. Mainly Scapa. It's worth it when you see a carrier sitting there, sure. But sometimes, there is nada, of course.
So for me it was always worth it, in the stock game. But it's not like I sank a prize every time. Not close to it.
But the chances of finding something nice (warship wise, anyway) are better than just out in the open waters, I feel.
Though the ultra shallow waters did start giving me a nervous condition I fear. :88)
I spent a few nights in Loch Ewe and I love it there! On one run home I stopped bye to check out the port and after taking out a few DDs a torp boat was out looking for me and it ended up near the shore where the guns are mounted.
I couldnt take the torp boat out because it was basically ashore and my trops would hit ground just before the boat. This did not make the boat even move tho, so I just left the evil place. I think the torp boat was trying to get me to surface so the Guns could take me out.. hehe :P
andy_311
05-19-06, 04:13 PM
I spent a few nights in Loch Ewe and I love it there! On one run home I stopped bye to check out the port and after taking out a few DDs a torp boat was out looking for me and it ended up near the shore where the guns are mounted.
I couldnt take the torp boat out because it was basically ashore and my trops would hit ground just before the boat. This did not make the boat even move tho, so I just left the evil place. I think the torp boat was trying to get me to surface so the Guns could take me out.. hehe :P
Iv'e lost count how many times Iv'e been in LE and I never had them shore guns open up on me.
I still think it's the best place for Capital ships.
Just went into Lock Ewe for the first time ever I think (maybe second, long ago, I dunno)
Just put 4 eels into a battleship. She hasn't sunk yet. But that's okay. I've got four more for her if she doesn't go down.
This'll be my first battleship ever if she does.
So yes. Yes ports are worth it.
On thing Eichenlaud, you say you sank 7-8 warships. You should try sneaking by without sinking them. Destroyers and patrol craft aren't much in the renown dept. You don't have to fire at them. Save your eels man.
:up:
hehe.. its not about the points for me, if I come into a port I like to make sure I am the only one able to leave it :lol:
Sure sure. If I may continue this thread onto some other port questions:
As I've been saying all over the board, I just did some MODs a day or two ago.
I'm using GWs, SH Comndr, and SH Gen. These are enough for me at the moment, I reckon.
But I just want to know how you guys deal with subnets and mines. I've played the game for a year now and have never had to deal with these things.
Subnets: Can you float a little higher than PD, say 9 or 10 meters, and sail over them? Is that the best way, what?
Mines: I have no idea. Should I just not go near the shore anymore? Should I follow enemy ships in and out so I know the safe routes? What?
Help a skipper out!
Sailor Steve
05-20-06, 11:47 AM
I was wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this:
I was sneaking into a harbor, last night, and there were three different ships in port. One of them, however, was already burning and sinking as if it had been torpedoed! :o Am I supposed to think that it's the result of another u-boat? Or is it just a glitch? (I don't run any mods, yet -- just stock v1.4b).
Did you by chance save the game just before entering the port, just to be 'safe'? Saving games near a harbor can cause the ships in the harbor to do all kinds of crazy things.
Khayman
05-20-06, 05:36 PM
Subnets: Can you float a little higher than PD, say 9 or 10 meters, and sail over them? Is that the best way, what?
Mines: I have no idea. Should I just not go near the shore anymore? Should I follow enemy ships in and out so I know the safe routes? What?
Help a skipper out!
You can't go over subnets while submerged. In the shallow waters of a port they go right from the surface to the bottom, so you can't go under them either. You have to find the gap. I use the external camera view :oops: :)
Mines I don't know. I took a look at the campaign_SCR.mis once and found that I'd sailed at periscope depth right through minefields to get into some ports. Either I've been lucky or they are well spaced.
What I do now is use the SH3Gen mod. This marks the approximate position of both subnets and minefields. Makes avoiding mines easier, but doesn't reveal the extent or the gap in a subnet.
Okay. Thanks.
I reckon no more port runs for me. Oh well. :/
andy_311
05-20-06, 08:31 PM
Okay. Thanks.
I reckon no more port runs for me. Oh well. :/
Don't be a chicken you take a risk when you sail out on a patrol harbour bashing is just the same next time your in the area try NY no mines there (I don't want to be quoted on this I just havn't hit any yet)
Meh, just playing Dead Is Dead it seems too much a crap shoot right now.
I was planning a campaign starting in April of 1942 and heading for the New York Harbor in my Type VII. I went once before and used the external camera to check the harbor before I went in. It had 3-4 medium cargo ships, 1 large troop transport liner type ship, 2 large tankers, 2-3 destroyers/destroyer escorts, and numerous tugs. All the ships were laying at anchor. My farking computer frooze up on me before I could head in though.
My question is, can I use the Harbor Traffic mod with the Grey Wolves mod? I tried one time but Jones mod enabler said it would overwrite a bunch of Grey Wolves files, so I didn't install.
Damn you guys are lucky... yesterday after 2 hours of sneaking past warships I got into Scapa Flow ... and there was nothing in it...
I decided to try Loch Ewe once again yesterday and my luck was great, 6 downed parked ships and one was glitched. A DD was in its little dock area but it was in flames! Looked like the Capt. hit reverse instead of ahead!
I am conviced that Scapa Flow is a death trap, they know every eager sub Capt wants to get famous there! hehe
Haha. That's why I used to go to Scapa so much. I'm not a war buff, and don't know much of the history. But I'd read somewhere about some dude 'the hero of Scapa Flow' and figured it was a place to look.
I don't think it's a death trap. Though I've never gone in since I MODded up. I do think Ewe is a death trap, however.
The only times I've been iced in Scapa it was due to my own stupidity.
For anyone who does Scapa much, which way do you go in? I think I went in half a dozen times before I realized there was a Western entrance. Did that one the last two times I went and it seemed a little easier. (again, that's before possible Nets and Mines.)
Eichenlaub
05-21-06, 11:57 AM
Umfuld,
I took out 7-8 DD's and Patrol Craft because on my way to port I was discovered by a DD. The waters in the western approach are shallow and running deep was unsuccesful. Then, more warships started to be called out by my sonarman, meaning that unless I'd get up to PD and fight the 2-3 DD's now, I'd be fighting 5 of them later. Evasion didn't work, they kept teaming up. Once at PD though, my torpedoes found their targets quite nicely. Only then could I slip away. I sunk some more warships inside Scapa as quite a few DD's gave me priceless opportunities, having beached themselves so to say. Near stationary targets were too good to pass up. Renown is not much of an issue momentarily.
The one time I entered Scapa, I did it through the western approach. Exfiltration succeeded through the southern exit (headed eastwards from there, into the North Sea).
Well, guys, I've made up my mind...I'm going for Loch Ewe next!
Kind regards,
Eichenlaub
deadactionman
05-21-06, 02:53 PM
Without sounding stupid, what happens when you run into a subnet? Do you imediately start taking dammage? Or just get stuck?
Without sounding stupid, what happens when you run into a subnet? Do you imediately start taking dammage? Or just get stuck?
Both! You take damage and...well, you'll not really get stuck, the subnet acts like a wall in the game.
Just hit Scapa on my second patrol. Intel said battleship, but none to be found. (I love that!)
Troop transports, and some good cargo. Like a wimp though I fired two at the transport from 11,000+ m. Both hit, but she stayed up. I was already leaving, so I backed up and fired from the rear. That one hit too from about the same range. And dinged off of her. Grumble.
Anyway, I still like Scapa better. I have very little trouple there for the most part.
HEY? While I've got you reading, is it okay to sink Hospital Ships? I figure yes, but I'm not sure.
Well, I'm pretty sure you lose like 100000 renown, but be my guest!
FYI. Bristol is a good raid-Jan. 42
Last night - 2 patrols, 2 battelships. No mods - virgin 1.4b.
Finished a patrol N/E of Scotland, heading home and snuck into Scapa Flow for a looky, was late December 1940 I think. Sneaked in real quiet, real slow, scraping the barnacles on the sea floor, dodging patrol patterns and lo! Found King George V sitting there, duck like :) Took 6 fish to down the sod. Took me ages to sneak out again too, for some reason the local destroyers got most persistant.
Very next patrol, heading to my patrol area in the north atlantic, just west of Ireland saw smoke on the horizon. Odd, the smoke trails were in a line, not in a box like a convoy. Do a course track. They were moving fast, their course just 2.5kms away, just enough time for me to close a little.
Periscope up, first in line was a destroyer closely follwed by Nelson!! All my Christmases at once! Just enough time to set up 2 steam and 2 electric eels (my initial load-out). One of the eels premmed and blew 1/2 way there, but a ship the size of Nelson don't dodge too well. 3 hits in the bow, must have hit a magazine, it looked like Guy Fawkes. (4th July for you targets, I mean, Yanks).
Again it took a while to slip away, the 6 escorts seemed a little annoyed. In a couple of months I'd sunk 2 years of British steel production!
I was shaking after that. Only time I'd even seen a major ship before (Fiji cruiser) was it's stern from 7k's away - heading away at a bazillion kph.
Cool beans.
I just sank my first two battleships as well. And I missed a task force by 8 or 9 km. Grumble.
Eichenlaub
05-22-06, 05:41 AM
Aaaaargh!
On my way to the patrol zone AM19, I encountered a handful of thick merchants and tankers. I sank 5 ships en route for a total of 44,000 BRT....but I used up all of my torpedoes doing so! No more sense in visiting Ewe.
Next patrol I was ordered to patrol in the vicinity of Reykjavik. Halfway to the patrol grid I blundered into a convoy loaded with juicy targets. I counted three Troop Transports, a T3 and a T2 as well as 2 C2's and a C3...surrounded by 5-6 Black Swans, Corvettes etc. It was somewhere in the afternoon and I made the mistake of engaging immediately. I should have waited until dusk. I fired at and hit both a TT and a T2, slowing them down. Subsequent hits did nothing to them as they all bounced off or missed. Meanwhile, the escorts did a nice job of wrecking my superstructre.
After a while, the escorts abondoned the chase and I surfaced to find that the targets I had damaged earlier had fallen out of the convoy. Without my attack scope, I was forced to finsih them off on the surface. It worked but at great cost. A day later, a Small Merchant and a Coastal Merchant were encountered in a line. Torpedoed them but their gunfire had been accurate enough...I was at Hull Strength 1%!
I aborted the patrol...
Still haven't been to Loch Ewe yet.
Kind regards,
Eichenlaub
andy_311
05-22-06, 08:01 AM
Anouther port a bit of a challenge is Dover in May 45
There you got yourself a liner, 2 cruisers a transport
Sailor Steve
05-22-06, 12:10 PM
I find Wilhelmshaven to be a great hunting ground any year. Lots of fat merchants there, and the occassional battleship.
What I don't understand is, why is my renown always in the negative? Why am I being escorted by armed men to a prison cell? Why are they asking me what I'd like for my last meal? Why...
morgul001
05-22-06, 02:48 PM
Well worth it in my experience.
Slipped into Lock Ewe at the end of my last patrol and found HMS Fiji moored all alone and sank her with two fish. On a previous patrol I had managed to get into Merthyr with a lot of difficulty. Lots of sitting on the bottom with Corvettes and Torpedo boats circling above, then slowly into the harbour once all was dark and quiet. Final result was two cargo ships, two tankers and an armed trawler.
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